A cleare, sincere, and modest confutation of the vnsound, fraudulent, and intemperate reply of T.F. who is knowne to be Mr. Thomas Fitzherbert now an English Iesuite. Wherein also are confuted the chiefest obiections which D. Schulckenius, who is commonly said to be Card. Bellarmine, hath made against Widdrintons [sic] Apologie for the right, or soueraigntie of temporall princes. By Roger Widdrington an English Catholike.

Chap. 4.

Wherein the authoritie of M. Doctour Barclay a famous and learned Catho∣like is breifly examined.

1. THe fourth testimony, which I broght both in my Theologicall Disputationa 1.1, and also in my Apo∣logie ^b, was of M^r. Doctour Barclay a most learned man, and yet no more learned then religious, (howsoeuer some falsly and vnchristianly do slaunder him) in his booke de Regno printed at Paris in the yeare 1600. with priueledge of the most Christian King of France, where he affirmeth, that Kings, who doe omit, or are neg∣ligent, to keepe Gods commandements, to worship him reli∣giously,

and to vse all care and diligence, that their subiects do not reuolt from true Religion, and fall into Idolatrie, Iudaisme, or heresie, are to be iudged by God alone, because only to God they are subiect, speaking of temporall iudge∣ment and subiection, although the Pope, being the supreme Prince, and vniuersall Pastour of the Chuch, hath power to condemn with spirituall iudgement all kings and Princes, offending against Gods law, as they are Christians, and children of the Church, and to deliuer them to inuisible tor∣mentours to be punished with the rod of the inuisible spirit, and with the two edged sword of Excommunication.

2. But Card. Bellarmine in his booke against D. Barclayc 1.2 little regardeth his authority; and now in his Sculckenius he affirmeth,d 1.3 that Catholikes will make no more account of Barclay, then they do of Marsilius de Padua, and of my selfe (an easie answer to shift off the authoritie of any learned Catholike) And againe, who doth not maruaile, saith D. Schulckenius, that seeing Card. Bellarmine hath in this point clearely and soundly after his accustomed manner confuted Barclay, Widdrington durst not only aduenture to write against him without suffi∣cient ground, but also to oppose the said Barclay, as a testi∣monie of truth against Card. Bellarmine.

3. But notwithstanding this glorious brag of D. Schulckenius so highly commending himselfe, and his cleare and sound confuting of Barclay after his accusto∣med manner, it cannot be denied, but that Doctour Barclay was a very learned man, and liued and died like a vertuous Catholike, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee was in times past, as Posseuine also relateth,e 1.4 a Counseller to the Duke of Lorraine, and Master of Requests, and in the vniuersity of Mussepont a Professour of the Canon and Ciuill Law, and also Deane, and that his booke was printed at Paris with a speciall priueledge of the most Christian King of France, and is by Posseuine related among other approued bookes, and no exception taken by him a∣gainst it. And therefore who doth not maruell, that

D. Schulckenius durst aduenture so bouldly to affirme,f 1.5 that Catholikes will make no more account of D. Bar∣clay, a famous and learned Catholike, then of Marsilius of Padua, a known and condemned heretike, although not for this point touching the Popes power to de∣pose Princes, but for other his assertions which I rela∣ted in my Appendix against Fa. Suarez Wherefore although perchance some Catholikes doe with Card. Bellarmine make small account of Doctour Barclaies authoritie, as also they would make of the authoritie of any other Catholike, were he neuer so vertuous or learned, that should write against them in this point, neuerthelesse other Catholikes doe greatly re∣gard his authoritie for the aforesaid cause, and they are also perswaded, that they haue as probable reasons to thinke, that he did not write partially in fauour of Princes or any other person, as that Card. Bellarmine did not write partially in fauour of the Pope, and some other of his followers in fauour of him, and their Order.

4 Neither hath D. Schulckenius in very truth any great cause so greatly to vaunt of his cleare and sound confuting of D. Barclay, for that both his sonne M^r. Iohn Barclay a learned Catholike hath most clearely shewed the said confutation to be very vnsound, to whom as yet no Reply hath been made, and yet his booke was printed at Paris by the Kings Printer three yeeres since; and also the Bishop of Rochester, a lear∣ned Protestant, hath out of Catholike grounds con∣uinced D. Schulckenius his brag, of the cleare and sound confuting of D. Barclay, to be but vaine. wherefore let Card: Bellarmine first make a cleare and sound Reply to the aforesaid Answers, and then he may haue some cause to boast, that he hath clearely and soundly confu∣ted D. Barclay. In the meane time it can not be de∣nyed, but that notwithstanding all the clamours of our Aduersaries, this doctrine, which doth now so

vehemently maintaine the Popes power to depose Princes is, and hath euer been impugned by vertu∣ous and learned Catholikes.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Cap. 3. sec. 3. num. 28.
• c 1.2

  Per totum.
• d 1.3

  Pag. 110. ad num. 28.
• e 1.4

  In verbo Gulielmus Bar∣claius.
• f 1.5

  Part. 1. cap. 2. num: 2.