Anti-Mortonus or An apology in defence of the Church of Rome. Against the grand imposture of Doctor Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham. Whereto is added in the chapter XXXIII. An answere to his late sermon printed, and preached before His Maiesty in the cathedrall church of the same citty..

CHAP. XXIX. Of the great Reuerence of ancient Chri∣stian Emperors and Kings to the Pope.

BELLARMINE(f) proueth that Empe∣rors and Kings owe subiection to Bi∣shops in sprirituall affaires, as to their Pastors, and especially to the Pope, as to the supreme Couernor of the vniuersall Church, and Father of all Christians. And lest he might seeme by this Do∣ctrine to derogate from the Maiesty of Emperors or Kings, or any way to lessen the reuerence due to their persons and dignity, he proueth by the vndoubted testimonies of Scrip∣ture, of S. Chrysostome, S. Ambrose, S. Gregory, and other learned Fathers, as also by the acknowledgment of the most godly Christian Emperors, and Kings themselues, that the Episcopall and Sacerdotall dignity excelleth the Imperial, as farre as gold surpasseth lead, and the Soule the body; that not only Constantine the great, but God himselfe hono∣reth Bishops, and Priests, with the name of Angells and Gods; that the Bishop is the Father, the Doctor, & Pastor aswell of the Prince, as of the people; and that Christian Princes, when they speake of the B. of Rome, or write to him, ex∣presse their acknowledgment of his supreme dignity, by giuing him the title of Holy Father, and, Most Blessed Father. From whence it must follow, that as Disciples owe obe∣dience to their Doctor, Children to their Father, & sheepe to their Pastor, so Christian Princes in the affaires of their soules, owe obedience to their Prelates and Pastors, and es∣pecially to the Pope, who is the Father, the Archpastor, & chiefe Doctor of all Christians.

Vpon this ground S. Gregory Nazianzen for his pro∣found learning surnamed, The Deuine, feared not to say to the Emperor(g): Will you heare me with patience, to speake my mind freely vnto you? which truly you ought to do for so much as the law of Christ hath made you subiect to my power, and to my tribunall for we (Bishops) haue an Empire also, and that more perfect then yours, vnlesse you will plead, that the spirit is inferior to the flesh and heauenly things to earthly. But I doubt not, but that you will take in good part this my freedome of speach, you being a sacred sheepe of my holy flock and a Disciple of the Grand Pastor, rightly instructed by the holy Ghost, euen from your yong yeares.

And vpon the same ground it was, that holy S. Bernard gaue this admonition to Conradus the Emperor(h): I haue read; Let euery soule he subiect to higher powers; and he that resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God. Which sentence I greatly desire, and by all meanes admonish you to obserue in yelding reuerence to the soueraigne, and Apostolike See, and to the Vicar of blessed Peter, as you will haue it exhibited to you, by the whole Empire.

These learned Fathers did vnderstand right well the ho∣nor due to Emperors and Kinges, & that by reason of their dignity, they are to be held in great Veneration: and yet neuerthelesse conceaued it no vilifiyng of their Maiesty, nor abasing of their Persons, to require from them obe∣dience in spirituall affaires to their Bishops and Pastors; & especially to the Successor of S. Peter, the supreme Bishop of Bishops, and Pastor of all Pastors.

This is Bellarmines Doctrine, and the summe of his dis∣course; which puts you so farre out of patience, that not be∣ing able to confute what he hath so solidly proued, you be∣gin to raile at the Pope(i) for permitting his feete to be kissed, as tasting rankly of Luciferian pride: Which, though it be no Argument either against the fayth or supremacy of the Pope, and Church of Rome, but a friuolous cauill no way pertinent to the question in hand, hath bene already satis∣fied to the full(k).

2. You goe on in the same streame, telling vs(l), that, we make a barbarous boast our Popes, in not admitting of two Em∣perors, Henry the fourth, and Frederick Barbarossa to their presence,

without a•• ••••••••••me kind of subuission; the one, by appoathing vpon his bare seet; the other, by subiecting his neck vnto the Popes feet; while as the Popes one may brag of more fauor then the first, and his asse, thou the second. So you: but your scoffes rebound vpon your owne head, and turne to your shame: for Henry the fourth, a most flagitious Emperor, was excommunicated by Gregory the seauenth, moued and solicited therto, by the many complaints, and extreme importunity of all the Princes Ecclesiasticall, and secular of Germany. Henry see∣ing himselfe for saken by them all, and fearing, least they would depriue him of his Empire, vnlesse he reconciled himselfe to the Church, and procured absolution from the excommunication he had incurred, came of his owne ac∣cord to the Pope, and presented himselfe vnto him, in a pe∣nitentiall habit, and bare-foot, crauing absolution: which after three dayes instance the Pope granted him, & hauing inuited him to dinner courteously dismissed him. This in briefe is the story related more at large by Baronius(m), who hauing proued, that this pennance was no way extorted by the Pope, but freely done by the Emperor, con∣uinceth Ben no (that affirmed the contrary) of a most im∣pudent lye, told, reclamantibus omnibus Authoribus, against the agreeing consent of all Authors. Wherfore you in alleaging Ba∣ronius for your author, that, we make a barbarous boast of the Popes not admitting this Emperor without approaching on his bare feet, impose falsly on Baronius, as Benno did on the Pope.

And as litle truth do I find, in that your other tale of Fredericus Barbarossa: for we are so farre from making any boast therof, that we know it to be a mere fable; in proofe wherof, you bring nothing but the bare testimony of Mas∣sonius, who whether he report it or no I know not, nor is it worth the examining: for you know him to be a mo∣derne, fabulous, and forbidden Author(n), and that this fa∣ble of his is disproued by Baronius(o), and Bellarmine,(p) out of the testimonies of Roger Houeden an historian of that time, & Romualdus Archbishop of Salernum, who being present, and an eye witnesse of all that passed, wri∣teth, that Frederick falling downe prostrate at the Popes

feet, the Pope with teares did most courteously lift him vp in his armes. But what if that Pope had carried himselfe proudly towards the Emperor, is that any Argument to disproue the Doctrine & Primacy of the Roman Church, or any excuse to you for your leauing the Catholike fayth, and departing from the Church of Christ? But such Argu∣ments are fittest for a grand Imposture.

3. Because you cannot answeare Bellarmines Argu∣ments, nor deny the truth of his Doctrine, otherwise then by giuing the lye to the holy Saints, and renowned Do∣ctors of Gods Church, you passe ouer their testimonies, & his whole discourse out of them, with a fraudulent reticence of the particulars, and thinke to be euen with him, making vp by scoffing, what you cannot by arguing: Bellarmine (say you)(q) in his last worke intitled, the Duty of a Christian Prince, dedignifieth, and abaseth Princes, by wresting violently to a generall rule of office and duty, all the examples of honor be could rake out of the ashes of Princes, Kings, and Emperors, yeilded either to Popes, Bishops, or Priests, in the superlatiue excesse of their humility, zeale, and deuotion; and with extreme dotage exacteth very soberly a prebition, and drinking of Bishops, and Priests before them. These are your words, in which you cunningly reduce all Bellar∣mines proofes to examples, that by scoffing at the example of S. Martin (for you mention no other) you may seeme to haue answeared all the rest of his proofes, in which not only Princes by their examples, but the holy Doctors with most cleare and vnanswearable words, auerre the truth of his Doctrine.

Nor, is it Bellarmine, whom you condemne of extreme dotage, but in him, that most ancient, venerable, & renow∣ned Bishop of Tours, S. Martin, a man of Apostolicall san∣ctity, that was (sayth S. Bernard)(r) rich in merits, rich in mi∣racles, rich in vertues; that raised three dead men to life, that restored light to the blinde, hearing to the deafe, speach to the dumbe; that hea∣led the halting and lame, the withered and dry; that escaped great pe∣rills by his diuine vertue; that repelled the flames of fire opposing his owne body against them; that clensed a leper with a kisse, cured the palsy, euercame Diuells; saw Angells, and prophesied things to come.

This Apostolicall Prelate being earnestly inuited to din∣ner by the Emperor Maximus, when diuers of his fellow Bishops assembled in a Prouinciall Synod were present at Court, and seeing them vse base and obiect flattery to the Emperor, and other temporall Princes, making themselues and their Episcopall Dignity contemptible to the Laity, with no small dishonor to Gods Church, and hurt as well to their owne, as to lay-mens soules, he, in whom alone (sayth Seuerus Sulpitius)(s) Apostolicall authority remained, to ad∣monish the Emperor and Princes there present, of their re∣uerence due to their Pastors, and also to let the Bishops & all other Pastors, see their basenesse, in vilifiyng them∣selues to their sheep, giuing them occasion to contemne, & disobey them, in things important for the good of their soules: he (I say) when at dinner the Emperors owne cup was first presented vnto him, by the Emperors command, hauing drunke therof, gaue it not to the Emperor, but to his Chaplaine, because (sayth Sulpitius) he thought no man there more worthy to drinke after himselfe, then his Priest.

This is the example of S. Martin, alleaged by Bellar∣mine, reported and commended by Sulpitius, and many o∣ther ancient and iudicious authors, that haue written his life, as an heroicall act of true Episcopall magnanimity and grauity. If you, and such as vilify the Episcopall function, and lay it (as S. Ambrose sayth(t) vnder lay-mens feet, relish it not, t••is no wonder: but that being the fact of Martin the myrror of Prelates, you should scoffe at it, and at Bellar∣mine for reporting it in proose of Sacerdotall dignity; who can but wonder, and thinke you to faile not only in iudg∣ment, but euen in point of ciuility, & good manners, that will offer to controle S. Martin, and teach good manners not only to him, but to Seuerus Sulpitius, a man of most noble parentage, borne and bred vp in Rome, the Head & Mistres of Ciuill Policy and Vrbanity.

But when you say, Bellarmine hath raked out of the asbesof Princes, Kings, and Emperors, all the examples he could, of honor yielded either to Popes, Bishops, or Priests, in the superlatiue excesse of their humility, zeale, and denotion, and wrested them to a generall

rule of office, and duty, I must craue pardon if I thinke you to ouerlath, and that willingly: for Bellarmine could haue told you, that the holy Bishop and Martyr Ignatius(u), so ancient, that (as he writeth of himselfe) he saw our Sauiour in mortall flesh, prescribing that order of obedience in Christs Church, wherby vnity may be preserued in all, ad∣monisheth Princes and soldiers to obey the Emperor; Priests, Dea∣cons, and all the rest of the Clergy and people, whosoeuer they be, sol∣diers, Princes yea the Emperor himselfe, to obey the Bishop, the Bi∣shop Christ, as Christ obeyeth his Father, that so vnity may be preser∣ued in all. And in his Epistle to the Christians of Smirna he∣aduiseth them in the first place, to honor God, next the Bishop as bearing his image and then the King. He could haue told you, that the 318. Fathers assembled in the Councell of Nice, (one of the foure, which S. Gregory reuerenced as the foure Ghospells) decreed(x) as a doctrine to be belieued by all Christians, that the B. of Rome is aboue all Christian Prin∣ces, and people, as being the Vicar of Christ our Lord ouer all people, & ouer all the Christian Church. He could haue told you, that when pennance was enioyned to Philip the first Chri∣stian Emperor(y) for faultes that were bruited of him, he willingly performed what was enioyned him by the Priest shewing by his deeds, that the feare of God, and a great esteeme of Religion liued in him. He could haue told you, that the most religious Em∣peror Theodosius being excommunicated by S. Ambrose(z) was so farre from denying the authority of S. Ambrose ouer him that he submitted himselfe with all hum••lity, and crauing absolution with harty repentance and teares ob∣tained it. As Arcadius also in like case did of Innocentius Pope(a). He could haue told you, that Iustinian writ to Pope Iohn: We yield honor to the Apostolike See, and to your Bles∣sednesse (which is and euer hath bene our desire) and honor your Ho∣lynesse, as it becometh vs to honour our Father. He could haue told you of Charles the Great, who as he was inferior to no Prince that euer was, in wisdome and valour; so he most excelled in true piety, deuotion, and zeale to Gods cause, & most especially in his filiall affection, and obedience to the See Apostolike, in so much that he hath left an especiall

Constitution, as a perpetuall monument therof, to the world(b). He could haue told you, that Basilius Macedo being present at the eight generall Councell, in his Oration to the Fathers there assembled, made(c) open profession of his obedience to be Bishop and Church of Rome; and that he gaue this memorable aduice to the Laity(d), that, where∣as not they, but Bishops haue the charge of gouerment in the Church, with the power of binding and loosing, the dignity of Pastors belongs to them: and that as well himselfe, as all lay-men are sheep to be fed, to be sanctified, to be bound, and losed from their bonds by them.

And if from Emperors he had passed to Kings, he could haue told you, that howbeit in the time of Lucius the first Christian King of this Iland, there were many Churches sounded in Germany, France, and Spaine, yet he desiring to be made a Christian, required not the Sacrament of Bap∣tisme from any Bishop of those Countries, nearer at hand, but writ, and sent Embassadors to Eleutherius Pope, that from him, as from the supreme Pastor and Gouernor of the vniuersall Church, himselfe, his Queene, and people might receaue so necessary a Sacrament, as they did by the hands of Fugatius, and Damianus, whom Eleutherius sent for that purpose into Britaine(e). He could haue told you, that Of win King vnderstanding that the keyes of Heauen were giuen to S. Peter, and that the Bishop of Rome was his Successor, resolued not to oppose him, but so farre forth as he knew, and was able to obey his decrees in all things(f). He could haue told you, that Pope Adrian the first being dead, and Leo chosen in this place, Kenulphus King of the Mercians writ to him(g), giuing thankes to God, that he had prouided for his flock so solicitous a Pastor, to whose commands (said he) I thinke fit to lend humbly an obedient eare. And hauing asked his benediction, he addeth: This benediction, all the Kings of the Mercians, which haue gone before me, haue obtained. And that which I humbly craue, and desire to obtayne from you, O most holy, is that you accept of me, as your adopted Child, as I choose, and with all obedience, reuerence you, in the place of a Father. He could haue told you, that S. Edward the Confessor writing to Nico∣las Pope(h), addressed his letter to him, with this inscri∣ption:

To the soueraigne Father of the vniuersall Church, Nicolas, Edward by the grace of God, King of England, due subiection.

If from England he had passed to other Countries, he could haue told you, that the most Christian King of France, Lewis the eleauenth, writing to Pius the second, saluted him with this title(i):To our most blessed Father, Pius the second, Pope, filiall obedieuce. And in the Epistle: We haue you that are the Vicar of the liuing God, in so great veneration, that with a willing minde, we are ready to heare your sacred admonitions (especially in Ecclesiasticall affaires) as the voyce of our Pastor: for we professe, and know you to be the Pastor of our Lords flock, and we obey your commands. And among the documents which this holy King S. Lewis, on his death-bed left in writing to Philip his Sonne, this was one(k): Be thou deuout and obe∣dient to the Roman Church, as to a Mother; and shew thy selfe dutifull to the Bishop therof, as to thy spirituall Father.

It were not difficult to adde more testimonies in the same kind of other Kings of France, as of Charles, and Hugh: of Alphonsus the wise, and Ferdinand the Catho∣like of Spaine: of Leo King of the Armenians; of Sigis∣mund of Poland &c. But these may suffice to persuade any iudicious reader, that the most wise, and godly Christian Emperors, and Kings that Christendome hath bred, haue belieued the Pope to be their Pastor, and spirituall Father, and themselues bound to yeld obedience to him in the af∣faires of their soules; and withall to shew the falshood of your contrary Tenet.

Notes

• (f)

  De officio Principis Christia. l. 1. c. 4. & 5.
• (g)

  Orat. ad ciues suos timo. percul. & Princip. irascent.
• (h)

  Ep. 183.
• (i)

  Pag. 160.164.
• (k)

  Chap. 10.
• (l)

  Pag. 160.
• (m)

  Anno 1077.
• (n)

  In indice lib. prohib.
• (o)

  Anno 1177. n. 86.87.
• (p)

  in Apol. c. 16.
• (q)

  Pag. 160. sin. 161.
• (r)

  Serm. in festo S. Mar∣timi.
• (s)

  Vita 8. Martin, c. 23.
• (t)

  Ep. 32.
• (u)

  Ep. ad Philadelph.
• (x)

  Con. 80 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Grac. & A∣rab.
• (y)

  Euseb. l. ••. hist. c. 7.
• (z)

  Th••••d., ••. c. ••7.
• (a)

  Niceph. l. 13. c.33. Ce∣dren. & Gly∣cas in Arcad.
• (b)

  Apud Gratis. d. 19. c. 30. & in Conc. Tribu∣rieu. c. 30.
• (c)

  Act. 6. append.
• (d)

  Oras in fine Conc.
• (e)

  Bed. hist. Augl. l. 1. c. 4. & de sex ae∣sat.
• (f)

  Bed. hist. Augl. l. 3. c. 25.
• (g)

  Conti∣nuat. histor. Bode l. 1. c. 12.
• (h)

  Alred. Rieual. in vi∣ta S. Edward.
• (i)

  Ep. ad Pium 2.
• (k)

  Nangius de gest. S. Lu∣dou. & Su∣rius 25. Aug.