The history of Romish treasons & usurpations together with a particular account of many gross corruptions and impostures in the Church of Rome, highly dishonourable and injurious to Christian religion : to which is prefixt a large preface to the Romanists / carefully collected out of a great number of their own approved authors by Henry Foulis.

Sect. 2. That the Temporal Power had formerly the greatest stroke in the Election of Popes; and that it yet hath, though by under∣hand-dealings.

TEmporal Princes finding themselves oftentimes disturb'd and in danger, not onely by the divers Factions arising about the Popedom, but also by the imperious and incroaching humour of the Bishops of Rome, have also restrain'd these Inormities by their Laws.

The Emperour Honorius (of whom we lately heard) being great∣ly troubled by the Tumults and Factions between Bonifacius and Eulalius: To prevent such siding, made a Law, that if a two strove for the Popedom, neither of them should be capable, but a∣nother election to be made. Pope b Vitalianus according to the custom, sent news of his election to the Emperour, without which acknowledgement he should not be Pope.

c Felix the Fourth chosen Pope by Theodorick King of the O∣strogoths, then ruling in Italy: and d Severinus retain'd the same Dignity by the confirmation of Isatius, then onely Exarch in Italy: Platina himself confessing, that in those days, the Election of Popes by the Clergy and People was of none effect, unless they were confirm'd or approved of by the Emperours or their Exarchs. And Pelagius the Second being chosen Pope, when he and the City of Rome were closely besieged by the Lombards, sent as soon as he could possibly to the Emperour at Constantinople, to satisfie and pacifie him, concern∣ing the election without his Imperial knowledge, laying the fault up∣on the siege. And Onuphrius here commenting upon Platina, con∣fesseth the custom of the Emperour's approving the Pope; for which approbation, the Elected was to pay a certain sum of money; and that at every election, there was a special care taken for the pro∣motion of one, who was a known friend and creature to the Em∣perour, and one who would act nothing against the Emperour. But now the case is alter'd.

And why should we suspect the authority of Temporal Princes in these things, having such good proof? and besides this, their own Canon-law assures us that Pope e Hadrian the First freely granted to Charles the Great of France (after Emperour of Germa∣ny) the sole power of chusing the Popes and other Bishops. This being such a fair grant, and with consent too of the Clergy, where∣by a fatal stroke was then given to the Papal jurisdiction; f Ba∣ronius, and others after him [for the Modern Historians do but ac∣cording to the Fable lick up his Spittle] bend their whole power and skill to cry down this as a forgery, thereby to free their Church from this clog.

And to carry it on more cleerly, g Baronius takes upon him to

rail dapperly against the ancient and noted Chronologer Sigeber∣tus Gemblacensis (i. e. of Gemblaurs in Brabant) looking upon him as an Enemy to the Church, for a affirming such a story, which the Cardinal would perswade us to be a meer forgery.

But before he do this, he must also cleer the Canon-law from the same crime; and thus he indeavours to do it: He cannot deny but that this storie and Order is in the Decrees; nor will he accuse Gratian, the Collector of them, to have been dishonest in putting it amongst the rest: How then? onely that Gratian here might not be careful enough, to consider what he did, and so took it out of Sigebertus, and put it down for authentick in the Ca∣non.

But by the Cardinals favour, I shall bring this Argument for con∣firmation of this Canon, which after so much pains he holds forth to disprove it; for they both living at the same time, and hitting so exactly upon the same storie, doth the more confirm its authentick∣ness, it being very probable that neither of them saw one anothers Writings, living so far distant, as the one in Brabant, the other in Italy; and in those days there was neither friendship or correspon∣dencie between those places; if there had been, 'tis probable had the Authors known one another, they had been as great Enemies as their Masters, Henry the Emperour, and Pope Gregory the Seventh.

Baronius endeavours to overthrow this Canon by another Ar∣gument, viz. that the word Investitura was not known in those times: but the Glossaries will assure us the contrary; and for more sa∣tisfaction on this point against Baronius, I shall refer you to the well-read b Goldastus, c Boeclerius, and d Laurentius Banck

But before I leave this, I cannot but take notice of one pretty cheat. I told you formerly of the knavery of their Antiquary Au∣bertus Miraeus in his corrupting ancient Authors; and here he is tardy again: for in his Edition of Sigebertus he quite leaves out this whole storie, as if the Author had writ no such thing; whereas Baronius himself assures the world that Sigebert writ it, and rants against him bitterly for so doing; nor hath any questioned the inte∣grity of old Editions 'till this Miraeus, whom I have formerly pro∣ved (against his Notitia Episcopatuum) to be a notorious forger, e∣ven to the putting forth of his own things for ancient Manuscripts; and so no credit to be given to him, let him pretend what ancient Copies he pleaseth. I have seen one ancient Manuscript of Sige∣bertus, which formerly belong'd to our famous Antiquary Mr. Camb∣den; but to this place I can say nothing of it, because this very place, with above an hundred years besides, have been, God knows how and when, convey'd from the rest of the Hi∣story.

This Grant of Adrian is also mentioned (according to their Ca∣non-Law) by Pope e Leo the Eighth, in his confession of the same Priviledges of electing of Popes, to the Emperour Otho the First. But 'tis to small purpose to trouble my self any more about these things; since, long ago, they have deny'd any such prerogative to remain in Temporal Authority; nor will they grant to the Empe∣rour or Kings any interest of such an Election, but this onely to be done by the Cardinals, who no doubt will chuse according to their

Consciences, and not by favour or reward, every one of them swear∣ing so to do, before every scrutiny.

The Oath. Testor Christum Dominum, qui me judicarus est, me Eligere quem secundum Deum judico Eligi Debere, & quod i∣dem in Accessu praestabo.

And yet when we consider the strange factions, canvasings, and de∣signs in the Conclave, we might think that interest sway'd more there, than this Oath or Conscience. Add to this, that there are always some Cardinals, whose own revenues will scarce keep them in that splendour befitting the red Hat: And these are commonly under∣hand-Pensioners to France or Spain, from whose Kings they receive yearly stipends; and so must always act according to the pleasure of their Pay-Master. Add further, that at every Election the Cardi∣nals act under several Chieftains; and though France and Spain in a manner divide the Conclave, yet others, especially the Duke of Tuscany, have also their Creatures there, who bestir themselves vigo∣rously for the designs of these their Lay-Patrons; who though ex∣cluded from voting, yet are the onely chusers of the Pope by their thus ruling the Cardinals.

As for instance, the death of a Pope being known, 'tis the custom of the King of Spain, &c. to send instructions to his Ambassadour, or some other Confident at Rome, how to carry on the Conclave, that a friend of his might be chosen; and also nominates five or six, any of which he is willing to be Pope; and at the same time sends the names of some others, whom by no means he will not allow to be elected; by which means Cardinal Baronius lost the Title of Holi∣ness, the Spaniard wholly excluding him, for a scratching a little upon the Spanish Territories of Sicily. The instructions being come, the Cardinals of his Faction act accordingly; And he (though he de∣serve the Chair never so much; as for Example, Baronius) who is thus excepted against by a King, 'tis an hundred to one he shall ne∣ver change his red Hat for a Triple Crown.

'Tis true, sometimes a few Cardinals in the Conclave, when they see they cannot bring their own ends about, exclaim pittifully against this mode of submitting their suffrages and consciences to the plea∣sure of this or that King; and now and then Pen and Paper are im∣ploy'd in making little Tracts of Oppositions and Justifications of such Actions; but this scribling and crying out of a few Cardinals, never hinders the rest from prosecuting their intended designs. And thus we see that yet the Temporal Authority hath a main stroke, if not all, in the election of Popes.

And here I cannot but smile at Thomas Bozius, who makes a great deal of noise and blustering in behalf of the Popes jurisdiction; and what an horrid danger and judgement 'twill be, to cross the Bishops of Rome. For, saith he, the Emperours Honorius and Valentinian the Third restrained the Popes of some Temporal Power; and then the Goths, Vandals, and Heruli wasted Italy. Again, that the Em∣perour Justinian made a Law, that the Popes should not be conse∣crated, without first consulting the Emperour, and paying a certain

sum of money for it; and so the Plague or Pestilence seis'd upon Italy, and Totila the Goth took Rome. Again, long after this ano∣ther Law was made, that the Pope should not be consecrated, but in the presence of the Emperours or their Deputies; and therefore be∣sides Plagues, great Earth-quakes troubled Italy, and the Saracens and Huns lorded it there also. And suchlike consequences as these he hath store of, and all as true as the Star fell down, and therefore the Astronomer shot it with his Jacobs-staff.

And truely, the rest is much after the same fashion, the sum of his whole Book being onely this: Italy is more fruitful, hath more and greater Cities and Towns, brave Monasteries and Churches, better Houses and Colledges, and more knowing men and women for these last twelve hundred years, than it was or had before; Ergo, the Pope and his Authority is the greatest happiness that can hap∣pen to Italy.

And is not this a notable wonder, that building should increase in so many hundred years? If this way of Argumentizing be authen∣tick, 'tis coming time, not Scripture or Antiquity, that must prove any Religion, the which upon this account must grow better and bet∣ter; and so as they say, Modern Protestantism must be held a great∣er blessing and benefit than that which they call ancient Popery, in those Nations where the reformed Religion bears the sway.

Notes

• a

  Dist. 79. c. Siduo.
• b

  Dist 63. c. Agatho.
• c

  Baron. an. 526.
• d

  Platin. vit. Severini.
• Vana tunc enim habe∣batur Cleri ac Populi E∣lecti nisi ad Imperatores aut eorum Exarchi confirmas∣sent. Platin. vit. Sever.
• Haec autem una fuit causa, quare Pelagius in∣jussu Princi∣pis, tum Pon∣tifex creatus est, cum extra obsessam ab hoste urbem mitti quispiam non posset. Nil enim tum a Clero in eligendo Pon∣tifice actum erat, nisi ejus electionem Imperator approbasset. Platin. vit. Pelag. II.
• e

  Dist. 63. c. Adrianus.
• f

  Of this cheat in Ba∣ronius, see more in Fran. Ma∣son of Con∣secration of Bishops, lib. 4. cap. 7. p. 166, 167.
• g

  An. 774.
• a

  An 773.
• b

  Rationale Constituti∣onum Impe∣rialium, p. 1, 2, 3.
• c

  Germ Cae∣sar▪ in Caro∣lo Mag. pag. 36, 37, 38, 39.
• d

  De Tyran. p. 157, 158, 159, &c. And their own Glos∣saries upon this Canon, confirm the story.
• e

  Dist 63. c. In Synodo.
• a

  An. 1097. This Tract is left out in some Edition of his An∣nals, the King of Spain ha∣ving made an Edict a∣gainst it. See D'Avily les Estats, p. 235.
• De Italiae statu, lib. 4. c. 3. p. 388. 390.
• Id. p. 395.
• Pag. 403.