Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What are the assertions of papists in this point?

They do not only say that. Heretick neighbors may be spoyled lawfully of their goods* 1.1, that, protestant ministers may be defrauded of their tythesb 1.2, that, Heretick creditors are not to be payedc 1.3, that Kee∣pers of forts are freed from such Lordsd 1.4, that, wiues are not bounden to such husbandse 1.5, that Fathers may disinherit such childrenf 1.6, that chil∣dren may deny such parentsg 1.7, that kinsfolkes may kill such kindredh 1.8, and that, one borne in an hereticall country may deny his countryi 1.9, but that, by Heresie a man, nay a king, is depriued of al his iurisdiction, whe∣ther naturall, ciuill, or politickk 1.10, And the tenor of the oath of the league in France is thus: If euer I make mariage, vse traffick, yeeld aid, hold friendship, giue credence to hereticks, or once salute them, let God confound mel 1.11.

Shewe this in particular.

One of their owne Bishops saith, As soone as a Christian King be∣comes hereticall, forthwith the people are freed from subiectionm 1.12. A Cardinall saith, As long as the prince continueth excommunicate (as he must doe euer, if he be not a Romanist, for the Pope ex∣communicates ipso facto all hereticks) the subiect is freed from the oath of subiectionn 1.13: but by whome? By the Pope, saith a Iesuite, who vpon iust cause hath power to absolue from oaths both himselfe, (as Gregory the 12. did when hee sware that if hee were chosen Pope he would giue it ouer) and all otherso 1.14. If he be personally ex∣communicate, Then, saith their Lawyer, subiects are freed from their allegiance, and all his hereticall assistants are to bee rooted out, and their Land to be exposed to be possessed of (strangers) Catholicksp 1.15. Nay, saith another Lawyer, if he be not excommunicate, yet if his heresie be publickly knowne,q 1.16 there needeth no pronuntiation of the sentence of ex∣cōmunication, so that (saith the Iesuite) subiects may lawfully deny him obediencer 1.17? How so? For the euidence of the crime, (saith their whole school, & make it a matter of certainty & faith) doth infer a sentēce of condenations 1.18 because (as the more common opinion doth define it) there must we vnderstand the Popes will to haue him excōmunicate, whom vpon the knowledge of his fault he would excommunicate. Nay, suppose that a Protestant Prince haue a iust Quarrell: yet, no warre can be lawfully denounced or waged by the Queen (being excommuni∣cate by name) though otherwise in it selfe it were most iust: because her power is vnlawfulla 1.19.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Decret: pa∣pa. ••pud grat c. 15. q. glossa:
• b 1.2

  A•••••• us Card. Et personus.
• c 1.3

  Symanchalnst cath: Tit. 46. Toletus Ios. In¦sti sacerd. de Excom Gratia. c. 15, quib,
• d 1.4

  ibidem, Sym
• e 1.5

  Sym, Instit,
• f 1.6

  Alanus.
• g 1.7

  Alanus, pars:
• h 1.8

  Grat. l, 5 causa. 13.9. Cap, legi.
• i 1.9

  Alan, pars,
• k 1.10

  Sym. i••stit: Tit, 46. sect. 47
• l 1.11

  Ludou, de Orl. Part. ••9
• m 1.12

  Sim••ncha: Inst: Tit. 23: sect, 11
• n 1.13

  Tol. Instr. sa¦••erd: L: 1. c. 13
• o 1.14

  Ar or, Ies, mar, c. 15:
• p 1.15

  Massov, Iu∣riscons. de ma∣iest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••eccl: par, 2, L, 4. de imp, pag 676,
• q 1.16

  Panorm. cap cum in hom,
• r 1.17

  Valent. Ies. Tom 3, in Tho¦mae d s••, q. 12 p. 2. p••g. ••63
• s 1.18

  Bannes ••n. 2. 2, q. 12. act. 2 concl. 2
• a 1.19

  Alens letter to ••••••ley.