Yet ● doe nothing doubt but diuers of them doe holde being taught by their schoolemaster Pighius and other that albeit Peter and the Apostles were subiect vnto the Emperors and vnder other heathen states vnder whom they were borne and abode , yet alter that the Emperours and Kinges of the earth became Christians and did voluntarily put their necks vnder the yoke of Christ , The pops nor bishops haue any secular kingdome . they straightway became ipso facto subiect vnto the Pope Christ his Lieuetenant generall in earth : according to the prophesie of Esay . Cap. 60. the nation and kingdome that will not serue thee Ierusalem shall perish : but how truely let vs consider . For first that the sense of this saying of the prophet is not such as Pighius supposeth but rather this , A place of Esay answered . that euerie nation that will not acknowledge Christ for their God , Lord and Sauiour , and be obedient vnto his precepts and ordinances shall perish , I doe thinke is so apparant that it needeth no proofe and spoken onely of his spirituall kingdome on the earth which his father gaue vnto him as Messias as it is written in the second Psalme . Thou art my sonne this day did I beget thee , aske of mee and I will giue thee the nations for thine inheritance , and the boundes of the earth for thy possession : and then as also in this place of Esay he commaundeth the kinges to serue him in feare , and to accept him for their prince , and embrace his discipline and doctrine or else they should perish . Now seeing this was a newe kingdome , and inheritance giuen him by his father latelie , it cannot be vnderstoode of the bodily and earthly kingdome , for he as God was possessed of that before , and from the beginning ; according to that saying of Dauid . The earth is the Lordes and the fulnesse thereof , the orbe of the earth and all that dwell therein . But of his newe and newly restored kingdome consisting of beleeuing soules , and called the kingdom of heauen , whereof hee thus speaketh , vnto his Apostles and messengers after his resurrection : all power is giuen me in heauen and in earth , wherefore goe ye and proclame , publish and make knowen vnto nations , how my father hath giuen me the Empyre of the whole earth , and that those which shal refuse to weare my badge of baptisme , and to obserue and keepe my lawes & ordinances while they liue on earth , shall after death be shut out of heauen & blisfull paradise . And so haue all both olde and late writers that euer I saw interpreted this place , and not of any earthly and seruile subiection , as Hierome , the nations and kings that will not serue the Church in a good and profitable bondage or seruice that they may be transferred into the Apostolicall dignitie : as Haimo shall serue thee by faith and good works : As Leo de Castro , who interpreteth that by this place of the Gospell : He that will beleeue and be baptised shal be saued ; but he that will not beleeue shal be condemned . And as Frererius an other learned Spanish Fryer , that those which will not come into and continue in the true Church of Christ shall perich : And this to be the true meaning of the Prophet doth the next sentence before plainely conuince . Thy gates shall stand open continually , day and night shall they not be shut , that the strength of the nations or gentiles may be brought vnto thee , and the kinges of them led vnto thee for the nation , &c. Neyther is Pighius his cause any thing better aduanced by an authority of Nazianzene borrowed out of Gratian , A place of Nazianzene an●wered . but afterward alledged by Saunders and Allen more according to the trueth of the text which they doe set downe in these wordes . What will you not be content that I doe speake my minde freely : for the lawe of Christ doth subiect you to my power , and vnto my barre : for we also haue an empyre , yea & I doe say more a more excellent and perfect then yours : vnlesse it be meete that the spirit do submit it selfe to the flesh , and that heauenly thinges giue place to earthly . For who is so blinde that cannot see that Nazianzene doth in this speach chalenge none other then a spirituall gouernment , such as our Bishops haue heere ouer their diocesses , and priestes ouer their parishes a charge of soules , and therefore because it hath the care and ordering of spirituall and heauenly things , he doth affirme it to be more excellent & perfect then the Empyre of kings who do rule ouer the bodies and goods of men : So that no wordes can more manifestly depriue the Pope and priestes of all earthly empyre and commaund in temporall thinges then these doe which doe affirme them to belong to the ciuill magistrate , their office being only occupied in sauing of soules , by spirituall meanes , and onely in matters spirituall & heauenly , as preaching , praying , administration of the sacraments , and ecclesiasticall discipline , and such like appropriated to priesthoode ; and that this was his meaning & mind it is apparant by the wordes which he vseth before to the Citizens of Nazanse in the which he doth acknowledge himselfe , and all the clergie subiect vnto the secular soueraigne saying thus . But among other lawes of our doctrine , we haue also this most laudable law inacted , by the which as bondmen are commanded to obey & to be obedient vnto their masters , & wiues vnto their husbands , and the Church vnto Christ & disciples and schollers to their schoolemasters and pastors ; so are we also prescribed to obey the superexcellent powers , not only for wrath but also for conscience , as we that are bounde to payment of tribute . Neyther let vs so behaue our selues , that we for our wickednes and lewde factes , doe deadly hate the lawe and looke for the reuenging sword , but rather so leade our liues that we may get praise of the power and magistrate : And then after he hath very eloquently shewed by many similitudes that they ought not to blame the harmlesse of the sword , but to impute the smart thereof vnto their owne faultinesse ; he leaueth as he saith the subiectes and turneth his speach vnto the Emperour and the gouernours , for ye must vnderstand that this oration was pronounced in the presence of the people of Nazanse , trembling for feare of the Emperours great displeasure and also of the angry Emperour and his officers , least he should be thought ( these are his words ) to deale altogether partially eyther not seeming to haue the like care ouer them to whome he ought more hoofully to looke vnto , as they that could do most either harme or good , as he had of the other inferiour sorte : or else to haue lost through feare or shame the freedom that he had from Christ not daring to admonish them of their duetie , because of their great dignity and power . And then he vseth the words alleadged by our aduersaries ; what wil ye not be content &c. But I doe not doubt but your maiestie wi●l take this my free speaking in good part , as a holy sheepe of my holy flocke , and a weaneling of the great sheepeheard . And then he vseth very effectuall reasons to moue him to mercy , and finally falleth to pitifull obtestations , by his owne hoary head , his immaculate priesthood which the Angels &c. by Christ his bitter passion , &c. in most suppliant sort , without any one word that any whit sauoureth or soundeth of authority , power or commaund , wisely and godly teaching the subiectes duetifull obedience , and the Emperour and his officers mercy and moderation in gouernment . Furthermore the better to boult out the trueth , in the controuersy I thinke it will not be amisse to search out , whether in the old lawe the high priest who was a type and figure of Christ , and head of all the priestes , and had the supreme ministration of the mysteries of God , The high priest subiect to the temporall magistrate . and in whose name of Pontifex , the Bishop of Rome hath succeeded , was subiect vnto the ciuill magistrate or noe . And that he was is plainely proued in the 2. Cap. of 3. Kings where Salomon deposeth Abiather the high priest , of his office , and confirmeth him into Anathotb because he had gone about to make Adoniah King , and also told him that he had deserued to die ; but he would not put him to death , because he had borne the Arke of the Lord God , before his father Dauid , and had beene a continuall partaker of all his fathers troubles . Then if Salomon might lawfully execute the high priest for treason there is no doubt but that the high priestes were subiect vnto the kinges , as vnto their soueraignes .

But although I will passe ouer in silence , the putting to death of the high priest Achimelech and Azarias by Saul and Ioas because they will cauill they were tyrannicall , yet I will stay a little vpon the suppliant speach of Achimelech because it argueth subiection in the speaker . Saul vpon the occasion of Doeg sent for Achimelech the sonne of Achitob , 1. Reg. 22. 19. Cap. & all the hole howse of his father being priestes which were in Nob , who came euery man vnto the king , and Saul saide : Listen thou sonne of Achitob : who answered I am heere my Lord . And Saul saide why hast thou and the sonne of Ishai conspired against me : and hast giuen him being a traitour ( and so continuing to this day ) bread and a sword , and hast asked counsaile of God for him , that he might rise vp against me ? And Achimelech answering the king thus spake ? Let this crime be farre from me , neyther let the king suspect any such thing against his bondman , nor of any man of the whole howse of my father : For thy bondman knew neither lesse nor much of this matter , &c. Doth there not appeare in these wordes almost a seruile subiection of the high priestes vnto the king ? for by what baser terme can he call himselfe then his bondman ? or by what higher and more soueraigne name could he speake vnto the king then calling him his Lord ? a word that doth signifie the prince to haue his subiectes in such seruilitie : that Octauian the Emperour that did accept the names of Augustus or diuine , of father of his country &c. to haue his name sworne by and his images sacrificed vnto as a God : 19 Cap. 2. Crome . Yet wold neuer admit as Suetonius and Dion doe affirme the title of Lord but abhorred it as reprochfull , although now time and custome haue mollified the worde . But that the high priest had nothing to din matters of state , we haue it set downe in flat wordes in the 19. of the second Paralip , or the Chronicles where this we doe reade . But Amarias the priest and your high priest shall be president or chiefe in those thinges which doe appertaine to God , but Zebadias the sonne of Ishmaell who is captaine of the house of Iuda , shall be ouer those workes which doe belong vnto the king . But now that we haue sufficiently proued the subiection of the high priest of the Iewes , let vs come to Christ himselfe by pretence of being whose vicar and deputie in earth the Pope claimeth this prowde prerogatiue of pearching ouer princes , Christ no earthlie ki●g . and discusse whether that he , as Christ and Messias , ( for I thinke the Pope doth not chalenge to be Gods but Christes vicar , ) was an earthly Monarch or noe ; that he was none , it is apparantly prooued , by his refusing to giue iudgement on a woman accused of adulterie , Iohn . 8. and also by denying himse●fe to bee a competent iudge betweene two brothers , that contended about an inheritance . And finally in that he confessed vnto Pilate in expresse words that his kingdome was not of this world . Iohn . 18. As for the paying of foure drachmes for himselfe & Peter at Capernaum , I thinke with Theophylactus and some other that it was for the halfe sycle ( which is two drachmes ) due vnto the Lord for euerie man that was twentie yeares of age , as we reade in Exodus rather then for tribute due to the Emperour , because mee thinketh it doth better agree with Christes interrogation to Peter , what thinkest thou Peter , of whome doe the kinges of the earth take tribute , of their owne children or of strangers , and he sayde of strangers : Iesus sayde vnto him then are the children free . As though he shoulde haue sayde . This expositi●n is vtterly repugnant to the meaning and purpose of Christ , as the godly reader , doth well vnderstand If Kinges children doe not pay tribute to their fathers , neyther ought I to pay vnto God any , becau●e I am his sonne : But if any man will contend that hee affirmed that he ought to pay no tribute to the Emperour , because he was the sonne of the supreme Emperour God Almightie , I will not greatly striue with him , but I will in noe wise graunt Felicius that he claimes to be discharged , by right of any earthlie Empyre that he possessed as Christ ; for that by no meanes can be gathered out of the text , yea what say you that that famous fryer Dominicus Soto doth holde in learned worke de Iustit . & Iure , that the kingdome of Christ was meere spirituall , and writeth that he had proued it at large in his commentaries vppon Mathew . Moreouer the matter is so manifest that Pighius himselfe is forced to confesse that Christ his kingdome was onely spirituall , and yet he giueth to him whome he woulde haue to be his deputie , temporall superioritie ouer all Christian princes in that hee is Christ his Lieuetenant , with as greate absurdidie as if a man shoulde denie that the Archbishoppe of Canterburie can heare and determine of felonies , and yet holde that his officiall may , or depriue the Constable of authoritie to enter forciblie into any mans house , otherwise then in cases of treason and felonie , and yet graunt it to the Constables deputie , or to say that hir Maiestie can not put in or out at hir pleasure , anie souldiours into hir towne of Barwicke , and yet maintaine that hir Lieuetenaunt of the Towne may doe it . And see I pray you how he answereth this obiection out of the Gospell , as my father sent me so I sende you . Whereas they say that Christ came not to exercise authoritie and empyre ouer Monarches , Kinges and princes , but as he was sente by the father , Christ gaue no temporal power to Bishops nor Pope soe he doth witnesse that the Apostles were sent by him , neyther therefore had they authoritie ouer kinges and princes they gather not aright , for that word ( as ) doth not import a likenes in all points betweene them which were sent , Chist and his Apostles : but doth shew the senders or the authoritie of the senders : As if he had saide , my father sent me but I send you , otherwise Christ was sent by his father to redeeme mankind by his death , but not so neyther to that end were the Apostles sent by Christ , but for this purpose , that they shoulde out of all nations gather together his kingdom in the which all men should be made partakers of his benefits : vnto the which kingdom yet he himselfe had prescribed lawes , and had ordained Peter to be gouernour thereof . Yet had Peter no more authority then the rest of the Apostles . I deny not but that the sending of Christ did in some pointes surmount the sending of the Apostles , but that Christ sent forth his Apostles with a larger commission and power , then his father had giuen him , that no man I thinke will lightly grant Pighius , that knoweth that rule of the Canon Law , yea and I doe thinke of all lawes : Nemo potest pius iuris conferre in alium quam sibi competere dignoscatur . ( No man can giue more right vnto another , then may be knowen is in himselfe , & the saying of Christ , that the scholler is not aboue his schoolemaster , nor the bondman aboue his Lord ; but it is enough for the scholler to be as his master is , and the bondman as his Lord . And Iohn . 13. Verily verily I say vnto you , the seruant is not greater then his master , neither the Apostle nor legate or messenger greater then him that sent him . And with what authority he sent them , it appeareth by the words that immediatly follow : when he had said these wordes , he blew vpon them and said vnto them , receiue the holy ghost : whose sins ye shall remit they are remitted , and whose sins ye shall retaine , they are retained : and can any man call this power an earthly empyre ? And bycause Pighius saith that Christ had ordained Peter gouernour of his kingdome , I pray let vs consider what power he gaue vnto him at the time of his institution or inauguration , his wordes be these , Mat. 16. I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen , and whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vpon the earth shall also be bound in heauen , and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose vpon the earth shall be also loosed in heauen , yee apparantly see that Christ gaue vnto Peter not the keyes of the earthly kingdome or Empire to aduaunce and depose Princes , but of the Kingdome of heauen to let in or shutte out from heauen , neither had hee a sworde or Scepter giuen him as ensigne of a King , but a key a token of a porter . So that except the Pope can shewe annother Chapter then that which was giuen to Peter he will want wordes to carrie away a terrene monarch . But although Pighius doe grant Christe his kingdome to be spiriuall , yet Felisius in his booke vppon the tenne commaundements , Felisius obiections of Christs kingdom answered . on the Commaundement honour thy father and thy mother , will not yeelde thereunto ; but endeauoureth to proue his secular power and monarchy by his practise , in deciding all kinde of causes as of life and death when he badde Peter put vp his sworde ▪ of criminall when he willed the woman taken in adultery to be gone : and of ciuill when he determined the controuersi betweene the Pharisies & the Herodians , whether the Iewes ought to pay tribute vnto the Emperours of Rome or noe . Doubtlesse if Felisius were not accounted for a great learned man among the Catholickes Romaine I would not vouchsafe to shape these obiections an answeare , they are soe friuolous . For who seeth not that Christ his commanding of Peter to put vp his sworde doth no more proue that Christ had authoritie of publique Iustice , then the bidding of any simple gentleman in the Citty of London that his man put vp his sword which he had drawen in a fray against his enemy , will conuince him to be a Iustice of the peace of the same Citty , But that Christ saide vnto the woman taken in adultery that she might begonne her way , for seeing noe man had condemned hir neyther would he : He doth plainly declare that he had noe authoritie to condemne or detaine hir , but that she might be gone for any thing he had to say or deale with hir . Now for the matter of paying tribute it was not brought before him as a competent Iudge by parties sueing and sued by processe awarded , or vppon distresse taken , but onely moued vnto him as a skilful Doctor and learned diuine to be determined , as a doubt betweene the two sectes of the Pharisies and the Herodians ; As if a Protestant and Catholicke should priuately come to Doctor Felisius to know his opinion whether the Pope may depose Christian Princes or noe , but in very deede they came not to Christ to be resolued of the doubt but onely to entrappe him and to see if happely they could bring him within the compasse of treason ; by denying the paiment of tribute vnto the Emperour , and so procure his death by the Romaine president , as seditious ; And therefore he asked them why they tempted him , and willed them to shew him a peny , and then he demaunded of them whose image was stamped on the peece , and they answered the Emperours ; then saide he , giue the Emperour that which is his , and so likwise ynto god that which is gods : a very obscure sentence giuen by a iudge in a sute : but a wise and wittie answere for such false traterous Interrogants . And with the like trisles doth the same Felisius also trouble vs , when he goeth about to proue the exemption of the clergy from free subiection of secular princes because Melchisdech was both a king and a priest , & so likewise Moses a priest & supreme gouernor of the Iseralites : And finally Hely was both high priest , and also secular Prince or iudge of the Iewes : For if Melchisedech were both a King and a Priest what is that to the controuersie that we haue now in hand , whether that Priestes be subiect vnto the temporall Prince : ( but perhaps it touched the matter if we had disputed whether that a Bishop may be also a temporall Prince , See Fenestella . As for a King to be a Priest was an vsual thing in many countries among the heathen : Yea all the Romaine Kings had the chiefe charge of the sacrifices , temples and worshippe of the gods , and therefore when the Kinges were expelled they ordained a priest whom they called the sacrificing King , who should execute those publicke sacrifices which did of right belong vnto the Kings function , but for hatred of their kings made him subiect vnto the chiefe Priest or Pontifiex Maximus : the which office of Pontifiex Maximus all the heathen Romaine Emperours continually had . See Dion . &c. But that Moses was both the ciuill magistrate and also a priest it maketh very much against himselfe , for although we doe grant that Moses was a Priest , yet it is most manifest that he was not high Priest , but his brother Aaron whome yet to be subiect vnto Moses all men seene in the sacred scriptures do knowe , so that nothing can make more for the superioritie of the ciuill magistrate then this example that Aaron being high Priest and head and chiefe of all Priestes , was yet subiect to Moses an ordinary Priest , Moses was a prophet and not a priest . because he had the soueraigntie temporall . Likewise what is it to the purpose if that Hely the high Priest was also created secular magistrate , for so were all the high Priestes after the returne of the people from Babilon , vntill they were conquered by the Romaines and the kingdome was giuen by them vnto Herodes a stranger and Idumean .

Now seeing we haue aboundantly prooued in generall , the superioritie of the ciuill magistrate ouer all men liuing within their dominions , both by expresse places of scripture , and authorities of auncient fathers , and also conuinced the subiection of the high Priest in the olde law vnto the ciuill Prince , and clearely shewed Christs kingdom to be spirituall and that he gaue none other to Peter and the rest of the Apostles and their successors , and haue fully answered all obiections of the aduersaries , I will descende vnto practise and prooue the superioritie of Emperours and Italian Kings ouer the Popes and Bishoppes of Rome by the prescripsion of seauen hundreth yeares after Christ 〈◊〉 kinde of proofe which we Catholickes Romaine exact of the Protestants crying vnto them to shew their successiion . But because Pighius the Popes proctor in the secular primacy doth subiect his client vnto the heathen Emperours , The Pops subiect to the Emperours and Italian kings . I neede fetch my limmitation noe higher then Constantine the greate the first Christian Emperour . Now to shew how he banished Bishoppes perhappes will be thought to small purpose , because they doe giue this earthly Empire not vnto the Clergy but onely vnto the Bishoppe of Rome as Christs lieuetenant generall in all causes as well spirituall as temporall . See for , these histories Paul : Dia● Platina and Sabellicus . But I doe finde that his sonne and successor Constantius did banish Liberius the Bishoppe of Rome because he would not subscribe to the deposition of Athanasius and caused another to be c●osen in his place . Moreouer when the Cytie of Rome and the Country of Italy came by conquest into the possession of the Ostrogothes in Anno Domin. 483. Liberius . Theodoricus the King of the Ostrogothes or of Italy commanded to come before him to Rauenna whether he had transferred the seate of the Empire of Italy , leauing the city of Rome in the gouernement of the Senate , Symmachus . And least some man vnskilfull of antiquities should dreame , that it was then the Popes by the donation of Constantine , Theodoricus I say summoned before him at Rauenna Symmachus and Laurentius who contended for the Bishopperickes of Rome to the diuision of the whole Cytie , I●hn . that he as soueraing might determine the controuersy vpon hearing of the matter . And afterward when Iustinus Emperour of Constantinople had banished the Arrians out of all his dominions , Theodoricus sent Iohn the byshoppe of Rome and their Senatours Embassadours vnto Iustinus willing them in threatning sort to tell the Emperour from him that vnlesse hee did spedily restore to the Arrians theire Churches , and suffer them to liue in peace , that he would extinguish 〈…〉 Italy . They comming to 〈…〉 honorably receiued by him , did with 〈…〉 beeing very hoofull for the safetie of themselues and 〈◊〉 countrymen , entreat the Emperour gratiously to graunt the ●●nor of their Embassage , although it were vniust , and to haue regard and compassion of Italy which otherwise would vtterly perish , with whose teares the Emperour beeing mooued granted them their request . But when the Bishoppe with his associates were returned to Rauenna to make relation vnto the King of the Emperours answere ▪ Theodoricus mooued with malice because 〈◊〉 a defender of the Catholicke pietie had receiued him so honorably ▪ killed him and his fellowes with painefull imprisonment . Then Theodotus , annother king of the Ostrogothes sent Agapetus Agapetus the Bishoppe of Rome Embassadour as his subiect vnto Iustinian the Emperour , which Iustinian not long after hauing recouered Rome from the Ostrogothes , did not by his Lieuetenant , but by his Lieuetenant Belsarius his wife spoyle Siluerius Silberius : the Bishoppe of Rome of his Bishopprick● , & Bishoppes robes : and putting him in monasticall needes confined him into an out Iland Charging him that he would haue betrayed the gate Asmaria that adioyned vnto his house vnto the Ostrogothes , but in deed perhappes there was some other priuie grudge hidden in the Empresse her heart . But the manner of the doing doth manifestly declare for how smale Princes Popes were reputed in those daies , for Belsarius sending an officer for him the Bishoppe was brought into his bedde Chamber , because Belsarius sate by his wife who being that day come from Naples wary was laide downe on her bedde . But the proude Dame had no sooner sene the Bishoppe , but she began to 〈◊〉 and saide , oh sirrha wherein haue I or my Belisarius so so●e offended your maistershippe , that you should betraye vs vnto the Gothes and immediatly b●d away with him , not suffering him to speake one word , And in his roome was one Vigilius Vigilius . placed , who not long after refusing to restore vnto his seate Anthenius who had bene depriued of the Bishopbricke of Constantinople for the heresy of Eutiches ; Th●odora the Empresse who fauoured Anthenius commanded to be arrested at Rome and sent prisoner to Constantinople , where when being vrged with this vniust request he had broken out into this impatient speach that he had thought he had come to Iustinian , but that now he well perceyued it was to Dioclesian . He was so well whipped for forgetting his lesson in the two and twentith of Exodus Non maledices principi populi tui thou shalt not speake ill to the prince of thy people ; that he was almost slaine ( I doe thinke noe Christian or ciuill Emperour much lesse Iustinian woulde so seruilely haue v●ed him whom he reputed the monarch of the world ) and anone after was ignominiously drawen along the cyty in a halter and then put in prison where he continued many yeares with onely breade and water Anno Domini . 591. Pelagius Pelagius the Byshoppe of Rome sent Gregory who succeded him in the see vnto Mauritius the Emperour of the east , to desire him not to be offended for that he had suffered himselfe to be denounced Byshoppe before hee had obtained his consent and confirmation ; for he coulde not sende before that time to Constantinople , because the cytie of Rome had bene straitely beseiged by the Lombards : Now in those dayes saith Platina and all other Historians , writing of those times and affaires the election of the Byshoppe of Rome was voide without the Emperours assent and conformation . And now we are come to Gregory himselfe surnamed the greate a man in such credit with the Popes of latter times and the Catholickes Romaine , Greg●●y the great . that they and wee doe more follow him in the diuine seruice and ceremonies , then all the rest that euer satte in that see before him , and therefore I doe hope that you will the more willingly allowe and embrace his opinion and iudgement of the secular soueraignytye . As I doe not doubte but yee will cauell at manye of my former examples as vniust and tyrannicall , the which I will , not greately sticke to grant you , and yet they doe strongly prooue the superioritie of those princes , and that they were there lawfull , although lawlesse soueraignes , for as substantially doe the banishmentes of the Catholicke Byshoppes by the hereticall Emperours conuince the soueraignetie of the Emperours ouer the Byshoppes : as the confining of the heriticall Byshoppes by the Catholicke Emperours , Neyther am I lesse assured of the subiection of the Byshoppes of Asia vnto the Emperour of Constantinople for that I reade that Valens banished the Catholicke Byshoppes thereof , then I am when I finde that Theodosius banished the Arrian Byshoppes of Asia . For neuer shall wee finde that when the Empire was deuided that euer the Emperours of the East of what Religion soeuer they were did bannish the Byshoppes of the West nor contrarye wise ; but eyther dealte onely with them that were vnder their owne Empire , and who would haue a better proofe that this Island was subiect vnto the Romane Empire then the hauocke that Dioclesian made here of the Christians , and there Church and doth not he as sufficientlie shew himselfe to be a lawefull iudge that hangeth vp twenty true men , a● hee that executeth as many theeues : Neither doe wee reade that these Emperours and Kinges were reprooued for iniuriously punishing them , ouer whome they had noe authoritie by right : but because they punished them against law and right : for matters that deserued noe punishment . But leauing this let vs goe to Gregorie , who had not learned to date his let●ers as the Popes doe now with Anno Pontificatus nostri in the yeare of our Popedome but regnante domino nostro Mauritio Tiberio piissimo Anno decimo quarto , post Consulatum eiusdem domini nostri decimo tertio , in the yeare of the raigne of our Lord Mauretius Tiberius the most godly Emperour the fourtenth , and after the consulshippe of the same Lord of ours the thirtenth , as his foure letters in the ecclesiasticall history of Beda are dated : wherein I doe note three thinges : first that he doth not write the date of his owne creation or inauguration as soueraignes doe ; and secondly as subiectes doe that he writteth the date of the raigne of their Prince : and thirdly that he called him Lord : a worde so hautie and high , that Augustus made an edict that noe man shoulde call him so , noe nor woulde not suffer his Children nor Childrens Children to call him so , Suetonius neither in earnest nor in sporte . Moreouer with what duetifull humilitie are all his letters fraught that he directeth vnto the Emperour calling him in the plurall number after an vnwonted manner , to declare his vnwonted lowlinesse and wonted subiection . Domini my Lordes , and yet because noe man shoulde thinke hee called him so rather of humilitie then of duetie , it is apparant he vseth not that tearme to anye other : But writing vnto Ethelbert the King of Kent he calleth him in Beda , sonne , a name of obedience and duetifulnesse , but yet also of loue as hee also calleth Ch●lderbert the King of Fraunce . ●plaplib . 4. Indicto 12. eplam 96. et 97. But omitting many of his letters I will onely rehearse somewhat out of his threescore and one of the seconde booke , wherein he finding greate fault with the Emperour for making an vniust Lawe as hee saith : that noe Souldiour shoulde enter into Religion , the which woulde haue made him to haue forgotten all humilitie , if hee had beene as proudly spirited as some of his successors haue beene , he thus beginneth his letters . Omnipotenti Deo reus est qui serenissimis Dominis in omni quod agit & loquitur purus non est . Ego autem indignus pietatis vestrae famulus . &c. He is guiltie vnto God that is not pure vnto my renowned Lordes in all thinges that he doth and speaketh , but I an vnworthie seruant of your godlinesse , &c. And anone after , Fatemur Dominis meis , and Dominorum pietas sanxit , I doe confesse vnto my Lordes , and the godlinesse of my Lordes hath decreed . And againe , Ego vero Dominis meis loquens quid sum nisi puluis & verniis : sed tamen quia contra authorem omnium Deum hanc intendere constitutionem sentio Dominis tacere non possum . But I speaking vnto my Lordes what am I but dust and a worme ; but because I do perceiue that this constitution doth tende against God the creator of all , I cannot holde my peace vnto my Lords : Is this the speach of a soueraigne or a subiect . And a little after . Ad hac per me se●uum vltimum suum & vestrum respondebit Christus dicens , ego te & sacerdotes meos manus tua commisi , tu a meo seruitio milites tuos subtrahis . And ego indignus famulus vester sci● &c. vnto this will Christ himself answere by me his vilest bondman and yours , saying , I haue aduanced thee from , &c. vnto the empyre , &c. I haue committed my priestes into thy handes , and thou doest withdraw thy souldiours from my seruice . And I your vnworthy seruant doe knowe . And at the foote of the letter he writeth that which striketh this present controuersie stone dead : Ego quidem Ius●ioni subiectus eandem legem per diuersas terrarum partes transmitti feci & quia lex ipsa omnipotenti Deo minimè concordat , ecce per suggestionis meae paginam serenissimis dominis meis nunciaui , vtribique ergo quae debui exolui , qui & imperatori obedientiam pribus , & pro Deo quae sensui minimè tacui : I beeing subiect to commandement haue caused the same lawe to be sent through diuers partes of the world , and because the same lawe doth nothing agree with God , behold I haue signified it vnto my renowned Lorde by the letter of my suggestion , wherefore I haue in both thinges discharged that which I ought , who haue shewed obedience vnto the Emperour , and yet haue neuer a whit left vnspoken that which I thought in Gods behalfe : In this authoritie I note first , that the Pope doth acknowledge himselfe subiect and seruant vnto the Emperour beeing a Christian and doth call him his leige Lord . Secondlie he doth affirme that God had subiected the priestes and clergie vnto the Christian princes for to serue them : for otherwise it can not answere the other member : and thou doest withdrawe thy souldiours from my seruice : And thirdly that Gregorie a Pope doth acknowledge and affirme himselfe to be subiect vnto the Emperours commaundement , yea and thought himselfe so bounde to obey him , that he might not with a safe conscience refuse to publish such decrees of his as he thought in his conscience vngodly , M●lanus diuini ie , that Gregorie offended not in obeying a wicked & an ●ngodly commandement . the which thing if any cunning Catholique thinke that Gregorie might not lawfully doe , let him reade Molanus a learned Catholique of Louayne his booke de fide hereticis & rebellibus seruanda , of keeping promise with heretickes and rebels , and there he shall finde his fact defended , moreouer the like subiection of himselfe and the clergie vnto the Emperiour doth he acknowledge writing of this verie same matter and Lawe vnto Theodorus the Emperours physition in these wordes words , Valde autem mihi durum videtur vt ab eius seruitio milites suos prohibeat , qui ei & omnia tribuit , & dominarie● non solùm militibus , Eplapelib . 2. Ind●● . in eplape●●lt . sed etiam sacerdotibus concesset . In english this , But it seemeth to me to be harde that he should forbid his souldiours his seruice , who hath both giuen him all that he hath , and also granted him to be Lorde ouer not onely the souldiours but also the priestes . In the same letter also he doth call the king my Lord ; and our Lord . But although I hope that this assertion and iudgement of Grego●●e surnamed the great , a Pope , a canonized saint , and one of the foure approued Doctors of the latine Church , will satisfie all reasonable Catholickes Romane . Yet I will proceede further with the ecclesiasticall practise . Anone after Gregorie and about the yeare of our Lord . 608. Bonifacius the third was a very earnest suter vnto Phocas the Emperour ,