bishoppe Aeneas Syl. in Hist Austral he was a Monke by profession of the superstitious order of Cistertians died amongst the Monkes of that order in the abbate of Moromond so that no exception can be taken against his religion of those that are of the Bishoppe of Romes side to disclaime against him Touching his great skill and experience in stories he was of great fame and renowne for it and wrot a storie from the beginning of the worlde to his owne time He liued about the time of Frederick the first Emperor of that name to whom he was neere in blood and he began to write his storie but before his death he could not finishe it Thus of the nobilitie authoritie religion and geeat skill in stories of Otto Bishoppe of Frising Nowe let vs heare his owne wordes touching the matter wee haue in hand Otto Fris Epis anna lib. 5. cap. 35. Lego relego saith hee Romanorum regum imperatorum gesta nusquam inuenio quenquam eorum ante hunc a Romano Pontifice excommunicatum vel regno priuatum nisi forâ—e quis pro anathemate habendum ducat quod Philippus ad breue tempus a Romano Epipscopo inter poenitentes collocatus Theodosius a beato Ambrosio propter cruentam caedem a liminibus ecclesiae sequestratus sit I reade saith he and reade ouer againe the actes of the Roman Kinges and Emperours and no where I finde any of them before Henry the fourth to haue been excommunicated of the Roman Bishoppe or priued of his kingdome except parhappes one say it to be deemed for a curse Philip. Theodosius that Philippe of the Roman Bishop was set for a small time in the nomber of the penitentes and that Theodosius for a bloody slaughter was of blessed Ambrose sequestred froÌ„ the ingresse of the Church Thus farre Bishoppe Otto his wordes He maketh his auow vpon his skil experience of stories being a famous writer of them that before Henry the fourth hee neuer cold finde any Rom. Emperour of king excoÌ„minged cursed of any Bishop of Rome though he had red and red ouer againe their stories Thus of his authoritie touching this case Now let vs looke into that time when the bishops of Rome began to adueÌ„ture such practises against christian Emperours and Princes Reue. 20. It was about the time that Sathan was let loose out of his chaine as in the Reuelations we reade that Sathan was bound of the Angell 1000. yeeres in the bottomlesse pit and after that hee must bee loosed for a little season Grego 7. Gregorie the seuenth Pope of that name which cursed first Henrie the 4. Emperor of that name was about the yeere of our Lord. 1072. as Platina the writer of the popes liues maketh computatioÌ„ Platina in vita Greg. 7. he was called Hildebrand the monke before And in the Councell of Brixia of 30. Bishops assembled there Concil Brixi he was charged to be Manifestus necromanticus phitonico spiritu laborans Ab. Vrsperg in an 1080. idcirco à vera fide exorbitans that is an open Necromancer and one that wrought by a Familiar or euill spirit and therfore is straid from the true faith Worm a coÌ„cil an 1076 And in the Councell of Wormes of the Bishops assemble there hee is charged with heynous crimes with periuries with abuse of noueltie with infamie Ab. Vrsperg in an 1074. at his death at Salern whether for feare of Henrie the 4. whom hee had cursed before hee was faine to flie hee confessed to a Cirdinall that was familiar with him that hee was set on by the Diuell to reare vppe discorde and warres it Christendome Io. de Heraul lib. de statu eccle ex Ante And taking remorse and sorrowe for it commaunded him to pray forgiuenesse of Henrie the fourth for him and that he should release him of the excommunication against him It is maruell though after a thousand yeeres the Diuel as it were turned loose in the worlde beganne thus to rage in the Romane Bishoppes and to curse and banne Christian Emperours and Princes which so highly were praised for princely qualities and vertues of famous writers of their owne side as before I haue rehearsed about that tyme Gregorie the 7. called Hildebrand did as a brand of hell set Christendom a fire with diuision discorde ciuill and mortall warres And as Bishop Otto voucheth in his trauell of stories of the Roman kings and Emperours hee could neuer finde any of them excomminged or cursed of a Roman Bishop before Henry the fourth of this Gregorie the seuenth was excomminged and cursed as we haue hard before Henr. 4. Grego 7. Was hee not a fit instrument of the Diuell to giue the on set of such diuelish discord ciuill warres rebellions and bloodshed in Christendome And if wee look neerer to the thousand yeeres mentioned before out of the ReuelatioÌ„s after which Sathan should be loosed out of his chaine Syluester 2. Syluester the 2. Pope of that name the great Necromancer Sorcerer Platina in vita Syl. 2. and that wrought by the Diuell in the Sea of Rome was then Pope about the yeere of our Lorde 1000. or 1002. as Platina Charanza Charanza in summa con others set downe the account As if assoone as Satan was let loose out of the bottomelesse pit and of his chain to goe about to deceiue the people which are in the foure quarters of the earth as in the Reuelation S. Iohn writeth Reue. 20. he did take vp his place on earth in the Roman Sea in Siluester the seconde who was about the 1000. yeere after Christ or two aboue as commonly they account Hee as Platina the writer of Popes liues and officer to them as Abbat Tritenhemius of him witnesseth Platina in vita Syl. 2. came to bee Pope by the helpe of the Diuell and on this condition that after death wholy he should be his After Platina telleth how at his death the Diuell deceiued him by mistaking the worde Hierusalem supposing that he should not die till he came to Hierusalem but sodainly he was ouertaken in a place called Hierusalem in the Church of S. Crosse at Rome And he telleth also out of one Martinus that by the clattering of bones and sweat of his graue Syluester the 2. his graue they prognosticate the death of the Pope as the coÌ„mon opinion was There folowed him sundry sorcerers necromancers wicked Popes in the Sea of Rome as Bâ—dict the 9 Benedict 9. who as Platina reporteth appeared in a monstrous shape after his death Platina in vita Bene. 9. because of his monstrous life And in Syluester the thirde Platina in vita Syl. 3. the same Platina saith the Popedome was come to that state that hee got it that with briberie and ambition could carrie it Beno the Cardinall Beno the Cardinall reporteth that from Syluester the second to
foorth lay open the great Patron practiser of treasons The first principall matter rebellions such like disloialties against Christian Princes and Countries which is the Bishop of Rome his adherents followers and practisers for him and by colour of authoritie from him And intreating hereof I will folow this order 1 First I will shewe what engine the Bishop of Rome hath vsed continuallie vseth in the practise of such things by excommunicating cursing and banning of Princes and cursing and interditing of Countries What time chieflie hee began to vse this engine of cursing and banning Princes countries and practising of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties against them By what meanes the Bishop of Rome and his fellowes doe manage and carrie on their practises of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties against Princes and Realmes Of the iudgments of God vpon the cursing banning Popes Thus the order of my proceeding in this part The first is what engine commonly hee vsed and still vseth in such practises The vsuall engin of Bishops of Rome in managing plats of treasons THE vsuall engine which the Bishop of Rome commonly vsed and vseth still in the managing and carrying on of plats and practises of treasons and rebellions against Christian Princes is the excommunicating cursing and banning of them wherein they take on them as if their sentences came from Peter and Paul out of heauen but they open as it were Hell mouth on earth by cursing banning Christian Princes and Realmes and by procuring and practising treasons against the royall persons of Princes and conspiracies and rebellions against their estates and gouernmentes and periuries of people against the othes of their allegiance and shedding of innocent bloode and such other outrages as we haue seene in their plattes but that God hath preuented their practises Though we haue a glasse of present memorie and especially in our owne Countrie set before our eyes of such practises yet by looking into stories of auncient record we shal see how with this vsual engine of excommunicating cursing banning he hath afflicted Christian Princes and Countries heretofore Henry the fourth Emperour of that name Henry the 4. Emperour Io. Cuspin in vita Henr. 4. of Iohn Cuspinian is praysed for a godlie Prince and of such renowne in warres that he fought more battailes in his owne person then either Iulius Caesar or Marcus Marcellus did who carried the prize of that prayse in the world Yet he was excōmunicated cursed of three Popes Gregory the 7. Gregorius 7. Vrbanus 2. Paschalis 2. Vrbanus the 2. and Paschalis the 2. And notwithstanding hee raigned about fiftye yeeres lacking one and sawe the Corses of two of the foresaid Popes notwithstanding their curses Henry the fifth of that name Henry the 5. Emper. rebelled against his owne father and deposed him And Pope Paschal the second as it were blewe vp the trumpet to that vnnatural and parricidial warre as their owne wryters Abbas Vrspergensis in an 1105. and the Abbat of Vrsperg himselfe termeth it Yet after because he would not yeeld to the Popes demaunds and commaundements against his prerogatiue and right he was excominged cursed of 3. Popes as his father before him was Paschal 2. Gelatius 2. Calixtus 2. of Paschal the second Gelatius the second Calixtus the second Notwithstanding he raigned as king 20. yeeres as Emperour 14. yeeres and saw 2. of the foresaid Popes raked on earth before him while he reigned Fridericus 1. Imp. Frederick the 1. Emperour of that name was so valiant and victorious a Prince that his death in the Countrie of Armenia in his exploit against the Soulden and the infidels as the the Abbat of Vrsperg Abbas Vrspergensis in an 1187. Io. Cusp in vita Frid. 2. sayth was an in estimable losse to Christians and besides his valiantnesse in warres Iohn Cuspinian greatly praised him for a peacemaker at home and that hee beganne his reigne with making peace reconciling al rancors and reuenges aunswering to his name therein which signifieth as Vrspergensis Cuspinian noteth asmuch as riche of peace Abbas Vrsperg in an 1152. And yet notwithstanding he was such a peacemaker at home and so valiant a Prince abroad and ventured and ended his life in the countrie of infidels and is so highly commended of the Popes owne wryters he was excominged and cursed of three Popes also Hadrian 4. Alexand. 3. Vrbanus 3. Hadrian the fourth Alexander the third and Vrbanus the 3. and the 4. Pope named Lucius the 3. Lucius 3. predecessour to Vrbanus the third last named of the foresaid three cursing Popes beganne brawles also against Frederick the aforesaid Abbas Vrsperg in an 1176. for pacifying whereof a diet was apointed at Verona and there in the consultation the Pope died So this noble Emperour thus commended of the Popes owne wryters as the Abbot of Vrspergensis Otto Bishop of Frising Iohn Cuspinian notwithstanding of 3. Popes was cursed downe right The fourth was entred into circumstance of cursing but he died and notwithstanding the cursing conspiracies and bloody broyles of the Popes against him foure of them turned vp their heeles before him Io. Cusp in vit Fride 1. Abbas Vrsperg in Chro. And he maugre of their curses reigned 37. yeeres The Abbot of Vrsperge wryting of the end of this noble Emperour cannot conteine himselfe though he were a piller of the Popes side from giuing condigne commendations to him He calleth him a most Christian Prince triumphant in warres couragious curteous and he commendeth his clemencie in vicorie to all sortes Thus the Abbot himselfe powreth out prayses on him though the Popes powred out the poyson of their curses on him Otto Bishoppe of Frising so admired and honored this noble Emp. that he wrat 2. Otto Fris Epis de rebus gestis Fride 1 bookes of the actes of his chiualrie Radeuini praepositi vel canonici supplementum Merula the mouthi and being preuented by death that he could not ende his storie Radeuinus a Canon of his Church put too a supplie of two other bookes to them As for mouthie Merula who in his storye of the vicountes calleth this noble Emperour a barberous Prince regard is not to be had for he saith the like of other kings of Germanie Io. Cusp in vit Fride 1. which exelled in pietie and clemencie as Cuspinian noteth and he followeth his common vaine which hee sheweth in carping and biting the learned men of his time as Philelf Petrarch Dante 's Valla Politiam Beroald and others His iudgment is partiall in reporting the stories betweene the Emperours and the Popes Merula partial to Pops And as Cuspinian noteth being ignorant of the actes of Frederick he followeth Plattina and Blondus the Italian wryters of stories and fowly faleth eftsones Such not onely are partiall to Popes in writing their stories but sometimes parties with them Platina As Platina
Otto Bishoppe of Ostia the Popes Legate was Ab. Vrsperg in chro in an 1086. and there VVekill was made an heretike and called an Arch-heretike This Otto president of this Councel was after the death of Gregory the 7. who died at Salern made Pope in his place and then hee fell a cursing of Henry the 4. as his predecessor had done No maruaile though hee were so apt to coyne heresies and to challenge them to bee Arch-heretikes which helde disputations for the Emperor against the Pope Trowe you what should Otto Bishop of Frising haue bin in their mouthes Wherefore Bishop Otto leaueth his iudgement in suspence if hee had intermedled his iudgement for Henry the 4. against the popes proceedings Would they not haue forgotten his religion his monkerie of Morimond the order of Cistertians whereof hee was professed he should haue been an Arch-heretike as Wigbert and Wekil were Therefore Bishoppe Otto seeing the daunger though he were of the Imperiall house himselfe lappeth it vp in his owne conscience and saith he wil not deale in determining the cause but layeth down the storie Yet hath he left a loupe-hole to loke into his iudgment Thus he qualifieth it with soft words videntur tameÌ„ saith hee culpandi sacerdotes per omnia qui regnum suo gladio quèm ipsi ex regum habent gratia ferire conantur Otto Frisin Episc lib. 7. in Prolog Popes haue receiued their swordes of Princes which they turne on theÌ„ Yet saith he the Priests algates seeme culpable which take in hand to strike the kingdome with their sword which of the grace of Princes they haue receiued Thus Otto And least he should seeme to haue launched to deepe by and by he layeth to a plaster except parhaps saith he they thinke to follow Dauid which first by Gods might ouerthrew the Philistine and after killed him with his owne sword He dare not bide by it least he able for it as the Emperour did Therefore he frameth an excuse for them out of Dauids example who killed the Philistine with his own sword So they are Dauids in this construction and Princes Philistines which are killed with their owne sworde that they gaue to them But howsoeuer Otto seemeth to houer and not to giue directe iudgement in the Emperours cause for drawing himselfe in suspicion and daunger also And howsoeuer he gloseth this example for them they are Philistines in the right intendment which contrarie to Goddes ordinances strike Dauids and Princes elected of God with the sword that of the grace of Princes they haue receiued Otto pointeth at the sore but feareth to lanche it too deepe in saying that Popes strike Princes with the sword which they haue receiued of them The Primitiue Church was striken with the sworde of Princes for the faith of Christ the Popes Church striketh Princes against the ordinance of Christ with the sworde which they haue receiued of Princes Pope Paschal the second who cursed both the father and the sonne Henry the fourth first Pope Pasc cursed the father and the sonne and Henry the fifth after the death of his father in the councell of Rome saieth the Primitiue Church florished with the blood of martirs before God but not before men After in the ende kinges and Emperours The councell of Rome and Roman Princes were conuerted Qui matrem suam ecclesiam sicut boni filij honestauerunt Who to their mother the Church didde honestie and honour in aduauncing her Abbas Vrsperg in aâ— 1112. And bestowed landes reuenewes and royalties on her as Constantine the Emperour and other the faithfull and the Church began to florish then so well before God as â—â—fore men So farre the wordes of Pope Pachal He confesseth from whom they haâ—â— their principalities and royalties and the sworde of which Otto speaketh which they haue turned vpon Princes of whom they first receiued it Further at the same time Pope Paschal said as Albertus Kranz and the Abbat of Vrsperg reporteth his wordes much like in effect Habeat saith he mater ecclesiae dona principum Let mother Church saith hee haue the giftes of Princes dispence dispose and giue them to whom lawfully she may wil. Thus farre Pope Paschals words It is apparant by their own confession froÌ„ wheÌ„c they haue reuenewes royalties principalities and their worldly countenance and the sword mentioned of Otto before If the donation of Constan as they cal it were true as Laurence Valla a noble Roman with long discourse proueth it to be forged yet from the Roman Emperour they claime it Laurence Valla against the donation of Constant But Gregorie the 7. who cursed Henry the fourth before Paschal the second setteth Pope Paschal to schoole and fetteth his conuayance of Rome from Christ Grego 7. Alb Kranz Saxo. lib. 5. cap. 7. as Alb. reporteth the verse which with a Crowne he sent to Duke Rodolph that by rebellion against Henry the â—â—â—th he should winne the Crowne and wear 〈◊〉 A fit Champion to giue first onset on Emperours as Otto his opinion is to curse them to strike theÌ„ with the sword which they haue receiued of theÌ„ as an vnkind Impe persecuting plaging the Empire out of which it sprang Hederae Anaplexicaulis Mathe. in lib. 2. Dios cap. 75. Theophrast wryteth of Hedera the Iui that is called Amplexicaulis Matheolus citing it because it groweth about trees and girdeth them in so ouergroweth them in the end that the trees decay and it florisheth in the decayes of the trees as he saith Necat exiccat ablato alimento it killeth starueth trees by sucking away their nurrishment from them So Popedom hath been to Thempire it growed first out of Thempire after it hath so ouergrowen girded in continually sucked the Empire that it hath starued in manner Thempire The Church of Rome mounted in the decaies of the Empire Otto Fris Epis lib. 7. in prologo in respect of the former estate therof and florisheth it self in the decayes of it and by the fall of the auncient Empire Emperors it is mounted aloft Bishop Otto saith by the decay of TheÌ„pire the Church is growen to a great mountaine and began to grow in great state and authoritie And before he meÌ„tioneth the opinioÌ„s of some Non desunt saith he qui dicunt deum ad hoc regnum immini volitisse vt ecclesia exaltetur There lacke not saith he that say that therfore God would haue the kingdome to deâ— that the Church should be exalted thus Oâ—to Thei glorie of the exaltation of their Church by the decayes of the Empire and ruines of Emperors whoÌ„ by treasons rebellions and outrage of subiectes against their Princes and of the sonne against his owne father they haue ouerthrowen How doth Antichrist exalt himselfe and lift vp his hornes as Vrspergensis spake of lifting vppe the hornes of the Church of Rome Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. by plucking Henry
king to heare thee O that I were made iudge in the land that euery man that hath matter might come to me that I may doe him iustice Thus as a malecontent himselfe he eggeth the people to discontentment mutening against the state and gouernment of king Dauid his father And after from discontentment hee fell to flat treason So likewise Dathan Coreh Dathan Coreh and Abyram Nu. 16. and Abirā first began with discontentment and mislyking after they fell to murmuring and mutening and at last to open rebellion Sheba blewe vppe his trumpe and said Sheba wee haue noe part in the sonne of Isai so in disdaine he called Dauid 2. Reg. 20. He was a murmuring malecontent at first a ranke rebel after Beware we be not touched with the first lest happely wee bee tised on to the later Where affections are framed perswasion is halfe made The fier flyeth to the tow The match and powder are soone mette Euill affections open a gap to others to make an entrance into vs to assaile vs and to lay snares for vs and so they become stumbing blockes to vs and bring vs to ruine Take heed therefore they doe not carrie vs on and be occasions to plucke vs into the gulph of great daungers by custome they growe into an habit as into an other nature then ther is no sence feeling or remorse of them as in the sicknesse called Hectica Febris when it is growne into an habite and nature Hectica Iowbertus de curan sc lib. 2. cap. 1. and setled in the substance of the bodie though they be in daungerous state yet they lacke sence and feeling of greeuous paine Beware that our mindes be not possessed with like sicknesse whereof though we haue not feeling and remorse by reason it is so rooted and setled yet it may plunge vs into daungerous state It is good therefore to hearken to the councell of the holy Ghost by S. Paul 1. Thess 4. 2. Thess 3. how we should carry our selues in outward dealings affaires That we endeuour ourselues to be quiet and to imploy our owne businesse and not to stake our owne and to bee curious in the affaires of others and as busie bodies whome likewise the Apostle S. Peter reproueth to spie and prie in other mens dealings 1. Pet. ◠to be as controulers of other mens causes to put our sickle into other mens corne to haue an oare in other mens matters to bee climing aboue our calling and to put our selues in great and dangerous actions not appertaining to vs. But let euery one as he is called so cōtent himselfe as Paul exhorteth vsing better if God giueth 1. Cor. 7. and beware that by vncontentment he grow not into bitter affections or eager humours against the Prince and estate and become vnquiet and troublesome in publike and priuate dealings mingling his speech with gall and his actions with bitternesse but that he with a quiet minde keepe himselfe within the precinct of his vocation and within the limites of affaires and actions belonging to him least by aspyring with Adonias and by venturing hazarding and ouerreaching hee loose himself and by lifting at burthens too heauie for him he bee crushed of them God giue grace to all Subiectes to carry themselues in true faith to God true fidelitie to their Prince and to nourish louing and loyall affections in dutifull hearts to their Prince and to powre out heartie prayers and supplications to God for her long life and the long preseruation of her Royall person and prosperous raigne ouer vs to the glory of God the singular comfort of his Church and the great blessing of our whole Countrie THE Second part Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties PSALME VII Behold hee trauaileth with mischiefe or iniquitie hee hath conceiued sorrowe and brought foorth a lie or vaine thing Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit and is fallen himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall come vpon his owne head and his wickednes shall fall vpon his own pate I wil giue thanks or praise vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most highest · DEXTRA · TVA · SVSTENTAVIT · ME · Psal 63 · MR · IN · IVGIS · AD · RHENVM · FLV · ¶ The Contentes principall points and chiefe matters of this Treatise 1 THE Bishop of Rome is the great Patron and practiser of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties against Christian Princes and Countries with his adherents followers and practisers for him and by colour of authoritie from him In the treatise of this matter I followe this order 1 What engin he hath vsed continually vseth in the practise of such thinges by excommunicating cursing banning of princes cursing and interditing of countries 2 What time chiefly he began to vse this engin of cursing banning Princes lands and practising of treasons rebellions and such disloyalties against them 3 By what meanes the Bishop of Rome and his followers doe manage carrie on their practises of treasons rebellions such disloialties against christiā Princes Realms 4 Of the iudgements of God vpon the cursing and banning Popes 2 Of the conceiuing of treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties by occasion of these words of Dauid in the seuenth Psalme Psal 7. He hath conceiued sorrow 3 How they trauaile with their treasons rebellions and such like disloyalties and wickednesse by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee trauaileth with iniquitie or mischiefe 4 What fruites Traitours Rebels and such like bring foorth by occasion of these words of Dauid in the same Psalme He bringeth foorth a vaine thing or a lie 5 Of the end of Traitors Rebels and such like by occasion of the words of Dauid in the same Psalme Hee hath grauen and digged vp a pit is falne himselfe into the pit or destruction that he hath made for his trauaile shall fall vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vppon his owne pate 6 Of giuing of thankes and praise to God for his righteousnesse and our deliuerance by occasion of the wordes of Dauid in the ende of the same Psalme I will giue thankes or praise to the Lorde according to his righteousnesse and wyll sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high Against Treasons Rebellions and such like disloyalties NOw I wil bring foorth the vglie monster of treason rebellion such disloialties into the viewe and sight of all As the Lacedemonians were woont to bryng foorth their slaues and vnderlings whē they were drunken to the open gase and sight of the people that all by seeing of them might abhorre the vice that so disfigured man So I will bring foorth the vglie vice that all may see it and see into it that they may shun and loth it And first I will bring
noted how the Pope by sundrie letters and processe had called for the Emperor hee saith but many didde not acknowledge him lawfully chosen without the Emperours consent And yet this is he in the iudgement of Otto Bishop of Frising who first of any Roman Bishop did excōminge and curse the Romane Emperor or King Bishops of Rome in the primitiue Church In the time of generall councels And before Gregorie the 7. The Romane Bishops in the primitiue Church most of them were Martyrs after in the time of the ancient and generall counsels the Catholike faith in the blessed Trinitie was constantly confessed and maintained of them against the Arrians and other heretikes and of those that succeeded them and were predecessors to Gregorie the 7. none tooke on them accordinge to Bishop Otto his protestation to excōminge and curse the Romane Emperor before And were there not Emperors of notorious notes and deserts before some spotted with heresies and some with other greeuous enormities As for the examples of the Emperors Philip Theodotius mentioned of Otto both touching the causes proceedings actiōs in the iudgement of Otto himselfe cannot be obiected for instances against his former protestatiō The Abbat of Vrsperg discoursing the stories of the time Ab. Vrsperg iudgement of Otto his protestation stalleth at the protestation of Otto and first layeth down his words after where Bishop Otto touched the sore he layeth to playsters as a Leach laying to his hande to cure the papall sores being an Abbat and wel willer to the Papall power Ab. Vrsperg in chro tit aenacephaleosis Impe. Conradi c. First hee saith that Emperors and Princes of certaine nations haue been deposed before that time for causes thogh not by authority of the bishop of Rome as Emperors in Constantinople haue been This toucheth not the case of Otto his protestation The second is An instance of Grego 3. an instance concerning the case of Gregorie the 3. which caused all Italie to reuolt from the Emperor of Constātinople excomminged him and priued him of his kingdome Touching this instaunce of Gregorie the 3. who was about the yeere of Christ 731 Platina the writer of popes liues saith Platina in vita Greg. 3. that he excominged and priued the Emperor Cuspinian sayth that hee priued him of the communion and fellowship of the faithfull Io. Cusp in vita Greg. 3. and that hee reuolted from him and caused the tributes payable to the Emperour to be yeelded to the French and yeelded himselfe to the obedience of the French Carrolus Martellus Carolus Martellus carrying then the Regiment of France and called Maior Domus as Platina witnesseth Platina in vita Zacha. 1 Wherefore did he reuolt from the Emperour of Constantinople and caused the tributes of the Empyre in Italie to be turned to the French because the Emperour of Constantinople Leo the thirde of that name had made Proclamations Leo the third Emperor his proclamatiōs against images that images shoulde bee voided out of Churches and burned therof they called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therfore Gregorie the third preferring dead images before the Emperor who was touching his Imperiall soueraigntie the liuelie image of God reuolted from his obeisaunce turned the tributes of the Empire to the French put himselfe at their deuotion excomminged the Emperor priued him saith Platina the officer to Popes Abbreuiator Apostolicus as Abbat Tritenhemius termeth him Ab. Triten de eccle scrip But it was a poore priuing of the Emperour when hee raigned 24. yeeres till of Gods visitation hee ended his life Till God depriued him of his life hee was not priued of his Empire yet Platina the writer of the storie of Popes saieth hee excomminged him and priued him of his Empire thus they vtter great wordes and perfourme small actions Io. Cusp in vit Leonis 3. Cuspinian telleth out of Iohn the Monke of whom he borrowed the storie that the bishop priued the Emperor of the fellowship of the faithfull But Bishop Otto farre auncienter then Platina or Cuspinian late writers in comparison of him and who was before the Abbat of Vrsper Otto Frisin Episc lib. 6. cap. 35. also cōfesseth that notwithstanding he hath read and read ouer again the stories of the Roman Emperors and kings yet he neuer could finde any Romane Emperor and king excōminged of a Roman Bishop before Henrie the 4. of Gregorie the seuenth Bar. Platina Io. Cuspini Platina was more then foure hundred yeeres after Bishop Otto Cuspinian farre later vnder Maximilian the Emperour Iohn the Monke out of whō Cuspini Io. the Monk taketh his report Otto Frising Episc belike is a late writer also But Otto had read the stories of auncient memories and out of his reading affirmeth neuer Emperor to haue been excominged of a Roman Bishop before What maner of excōminging did Gregorie the 3. vse against Leo the third Emperor of Constantinople As he excōminged him so he priued him Hee priued him yet he kept his Empire during life hee excōminged him yet stil the faithfull not only kept communion with him but their allegeance to him So his excōminging was a putting him out of his communion and company and of those that were of his obedience therin because they would not keepe companie with dead images the quicke with the dead Therfore hee made suche stirre for the dead among the liuing in Italie reuolted from the Empire which had aduaunced and fostered the Bishop of Rome in that state to the French and bereaued the Empire of the tributes and manage of Italie and in processe so weakened the Empire of Constātinople The Bishop of Rome weakened betraied the Empire that it became a pray to Turkes and Infidels The Bishop of Rome first pulled it down on his knees after came the Turks and ouerranne it when one is downe he is soone ouercome The Bishop of Rome in defence of dead images displaying the banner of his reuolt in Italie from the Empire of Constontinople and by that meanes impouerishing it by taking away of tributes due to it and weakening the force of it by the reuolt of the men did open as it were the dore to the Turke to ouerrunne the Empyre If wee looke who betrayed the Citie of Constantinople Ioh Io. Iustinian betraied the citie of Constantinople to Mahomet the 2. Iustinian of Gen beareth that infamie If we looke who betrayed the Empire of Constantinople it was the bishop of Rome in effect by carrying Italy to reuolt after him by dispoyling the Empire of tributes disfurnishing it of mē by plucking it as it were on ground by feathering his nest out of the Empire and by the fal therof moūting himself in Italie Thus for answere to the Abbat of Vrsperg to his instance of Gre. the 3. his excomminging and priuing Leo the 3 of his Empire Ab. Vrsper anacephaleosis Imperat. c After that the Abbat
hand was wounded for his periurie A warning to all treason and rebellion against his Prince This may be example to all estates and persons to keepe their hartes and hands true to their Prince according to Godes ordinance least Gods vengeance fall on their harts heads as it did vpō Absolon the traytours hart and vppon their hand which they lifte vp against their Prince as it did vppon the right hand of Duke Rodolph rufully repenting for it Thus the example of Duke Rodolph by whom and how hee was set on of his rebellion and euill successe last of his rufull repentance Now will I discourse the storie of Henry the 5. Henry the 5. his rebellion against Henry the 4. his father The Order the treason and rebellion against Henry the 4. his owne father And for the more orderly treating of it I will referre my selfe to these cheefe pointes First of his cause and pretence and setting on to this treason and rebellion against his father Secondly of the vnnaturall and parricidial warre of the sonne against the father Thirdly of the taking and deposing of Henry the fourth Fourthly of his death and crueltie shewed on his corpes Fiftely of the mone and iudgment of their owne wryters of his case Laste of all of the iudgement of God on Henry the 5. in the ende Thus the order of my discourse◠this storie The first The cause pretence of rebellion of Henry the 5. against his father The first is his cause and pretence and setting on to that horrible treason and rebellion against his owne father The cause and pretence of his treason and rebellion against his owne father was Pope Gregorie the seuenth Pope Vrbane the second and Pope Paschal the second their curses on Henry the fourth his father and withall their priuing him of his Empire What the cause and his desert was that the Popes thus cursed and priued him let vs heare out of their owne writers The Abbat of Vrsperg very parciall on the Popes side against the Emperour noteth this to bee the cause Abbas Vrspergensis in chro in an 1075. Because two Popes of Rome solemnly cited the Emperor to make his apparance at Rome before them and he came not and for contempt against them and because he would not submitt himselfe to them he was of Gregorie the seuenth excomminged and cursed then of Vrbanus the second after of Paschal the second Another cause by Albertus reporte is aleaged out of the aunsweres of the Bishop of Mens and Wormes to the Emperour when they came to depose him for Simonie in collating Bishoprickes Abbacies which they cal the inuesting of Bishoppes and Abbates Alber. Krāz. Saxoniae lib. 5. cap. 20. by the hande of Princes into their royalties they hould of them Thus as in the right of their imperial prerogatiues The imperial right in inuesting of Bishoppes Abbates c Emperours haue held and continued from the time of Charles the Emperour surnamed the great and vnder 63. Bishoppes of Rome aboue 300. yeeres as Cuspinian noteth And after the thousand yeere that the Deuill was let lose out of the bottomlesse pitte Reue. 20. as out of the Reuelation I haue noted he raged in the Bishoppes of Rome against the principates of the earth making a quarrell for inuesting Bishoppes and Abbates by ley hand to the royalties of their dignities which they termed simenicall heresie I wil lay downe the wordes of Iohn Cuspinian concerning the cause Io. Cusp in vita Hen. 5. who was a man of great authoritie and a counceller to Maximilian the Emperour and though he were of their Religion yet without partialitie layeth down the cause Discordiae somes erat saith he talis The cause that bread the discord was such Now 380. yeeres and moe from Charles the great vnder 63. The case of inuestiture for which Popes cursed Emperors Bishoppes of Rome it was lawfull for the king to collate Episcopal dignities Abbatices by a ring a rod which now by authoritie custome most auncient preuileges by the space of so many yeeres was established But after Popes ordeyned that eccelsiasticall dignities or inuestiture might not of any ley parson bee collated and they were excomminged that were inuested in that sort Hitherto Iohn Cuspinian his wordes in the storie of Henry the fift Albertus Cranz Deane of Hanburg Alb. Cranz Sax. lib. 5. cap. 37. and a writer of their owne side doth thus speaking of Henry the 5. lay downe his iudgment of the case If saith he the Emperour meaning Henry the 5. who after was cursed of the Pope likewise for the same cause that he rebelled against his owne father did aske nothing but only the inuestiture of the lands called the graunt of the royalties the free elections to Churches and Abbaies reserued in the vacation he seemeth to demaund right Thus Albert his wordes touching the cause of inuestiture only he doth not like that the prouision for the person shall goe with it for the which he sayeth the controuersie was betweene the kingdome and the priesthood The Abbat of Vrsperg also speaking of the reconciling of Henry the fifth to Pope Calixtus sayth Ab. Vrsp in an 1122. hee did relinquishe the inuestiling of Churches which the German kinges so long hadde exercised and which hee purposed neuer during life to haue left least thereby he should preiudice the honour of his kingdome Thus Vrspergensis And yet otherwhere hee raueth against Henry the fourth Abbas Vrsperg in an 1106. for resisting the Popes censures and calleth him Nabuchodonezer and Iulian and sheweth his euill affected minde to him and his partialitie in wryting his storie which of Cuspinian also is noted Io. Cusp in vita Henr. 4. though in religion he be concurring with him Thus the bishoppes of Rome about that time that Sathan was loosed out of his chaine made schismes and hurleburlees in Christendome by encroching the auncient right of the mperiall prerogatiue touching the case of inuesting aforesaid which continued in the body of the Empire from Charles the great the first Emperour of the West after the diuision of the Empire and vnder 63 Bishoppes of Rome and more then 300. yeeres as Cuspinian noteth And because Henry the fourth would not yeeld vppe this imperiall prerogatiue and the auncient right of the Empire he was cursed of Gregorie the seuenth and other Popes and priued of his Empire though he continued Emperour about 50 yeeres lacking one as the Abbat confesseth And after that auncient right imperiall prerogatiue thus confirmed by authority Abbas Vrsperg in an 1102. custome and most ancient priuileges as Cuspinian witnesseth was called Simonicall heresie In the Lateran councell vnder Paschal the 2. Paschal 2. in Lateran councel who cursed Henry the fourth the father and Henry the fifth the sonne for the case of inuesting and for their mainteyning the Emperial prerogatiue therein and who himselfe had released the inuesting of
the Emperor withdrawing himselfe a while The Bishops of Mens Colon and Wormes with violeÌ„ce deposed their soueraigne Lord Henrie the 4. inuested himselfe in the Imperial robes returning These saith he â—â—e the Imperiall ornaments of estate these by the goodnesse of the euerlasting king and election of Princes haue bin bestowed on me God is able also in these to continue vs and to hold your hands froÌ„ the worke you intend although we be now disgarnished of our forces and armies for supposing our selues to bee in safetie we made no preparation against suche violence But let the feare of God stay you whom pietie doth not reclaime and if you reuerence neither behold we are in presence we cannot resist your force The Bishops staggered The Bishops pluck the crowne from the Emperors head but after they encouraged one the other to set on the Emperor to pluck the crown froÌ„ his head and wheÌ„ they had plucked him out of his seat they turned him out of his Imperiall robes ornameÌ„ts The Emperor fetting deep sighes saith thus vnto theÌ„ God the Lorde of reueÌ„ge see it take reuenge of the wickednes you commit I susteine ignominie and dishonor that neuer the like was heard before for the sins of my youth of the iust iudge I am punished you neuerthelesse shal not be free froÌ„ sin because you haue falsified your othes of loyaltie The Emperor coÌ„pareth his Bishops to Iudas the Traitour you shal not escape the vengeance of that iust iudge your honor neuer prosper your portion be with him that betraid Christ But they stopping their eares go back carrying the imperial robes ornameÌ„ts to his son Thus far the report of the storie of the deposing of Henry the 4. out of Alberâ— who telleth it out of the Chronicle of Germanie for he saith Haec est narratio nostrorum aâ—naliuÌ„ Who that hath bowels of good naturâ— in him would he not rue to heare the pitifull plaint of so valiant a Prince to his sworne subiects that had been aduaunced to so high dignitie of him Hee gaue ghostly counsell to them which shoulde haue giuen it to him But their eares were stopped like the deafe Aspes Psal 48. They wilfully brake the oth of their alleageance they layde violent handes on the Royal person of the Prince they vndertook the execution of treason and the Popes curse vppon the sacred person of their prince by whome they were mounted vp in high estate of honor Thus in the treason and rebellion of the sonne against Henry the 4. his father and in the deposing of him in the ende the bishops which chiefly should haue bene faithfull and loyall to him were the principall actors and instruments against him and tooke on them the execution of the Popes curse and the violent deposing of the Emperor from his Imperiall estate King Iohn of England Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1205 So in king Iohn of England his time the execution of the Popes curse vpon him and the realme was committed to the Bishops of London Ely Winchester and Herford who after they had denounced it against the king the land were fain to flie the land And in that blind time when the Pope sate in the consciences of simple people to binde and loose the king by practise of the Pope and popish Prelates was so encountred and wrapped in troubles that at length he yelded himselfe to Randolph the Popes Legate by oth Fabian 2. vo part 7. in anno 1212 to stand to the Popes order Finally hee was driuen on his knees to take the crowne from his head as Fabian reporteth it to resigne it with solemne wordes into the Popes handes and after to resume it as Feodarie to the Pope as Fabian telleth vppon a yeerely fee of a thousand marks to be paid vnto him So wheÌ„ there is variance in the land and the Pope is vmpire by cursing of Princes and lands hee fingreth and filcheth gaine and setteth a sale his cursings and blessings againe Popish Prelates are the Popes hands and bowels in Countries To whom chiefly doth hee commit the trust of the execution of such things to popish Prelates They are as the Popes hands in countries they are as the bowels of his own body and as if their conscience liued of him they are made actors and instruments eftsoones against their own Princes for him as in the practise of stories we see Running to Rome And if there grow quarrell betweene the Prince them they goe round to Rome The Pope is the vmpire they keepe that string for their bowe whatsoeuer faileth at home Tho. Becket packed him to Rome againste Hen. the 2. Thomas Becket returned with authoritie froÌ„ the Pope against the Prince Anselme Archbishop of Canter Anselme Archbishop of Canterb. sped him to Rome against Henrie the first at his return held a conuocation at London by the authority of the Pope against the Prince Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterburie Lanfrank likewise Archbishop of Canterburie Thomas of York pleated the libel of their preemineÌ„ce at Rome vnder William the conqueror Abbat Benet Abbat Benet had 5. times been at Rome Rome was their paradise on earth to run in pilgrimage to it The Pope as a God sate in dark consciences as hauing Peters key to bind lose The Abbat of Vrsperg who himself had bin at Rome runneth in Romish religion with them and raileth vpon Hen. the 4. for resistance against Popes of Rome yet hee cryeth out on Rome for sucking the gaine of the world and saith Gaude mater nostra Roma Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. quia aperiuntur catarractae the sauroruÌ„ in terra vt ad te confluant riui aggeres nummorum in magna copia our mother Rome reioyce saith he because the sluces and Gulfes of gaine are opened on earth Mother Rome sacketh the treasure of the earth that streames and heapes of money may come flowing in to thee in great abuÌ„dance Thus the Abbat though hee were her deare sonne yet crieth out on his mother Rome for sucking the treasures of the erth And now because his mother Rome hath byn kept so long fasting froÌ„ England the gulf of her great gaine stopped there not only she is hungred but with rauening iawes gapeth coÌ„tinuallie ouer it by practise of monstrous treasons and rebellioÌ„s to pluck it in again Thus of the taking and deposing of Henrie the 4. and of the Bishops that were chiefe instruments and actors in it The fourth chiefe point of the discourse of this storie The 4. The death of Henry the 4. and the crueltie on his corps is of the death of Henry the fourth and the crueltie shewed on his corse After that Henrie the Emperor was of the bishops aforesaide thus deposed and dispoyled of the robes of estate and the Imperiall ensignes he fled to Limburg and lighting on a prince a hunting Alb.
father The Abbat of Vrsperg with too much partialitie and bitternesse against Henry the 4. Io. Cusp in vita Henr. 4. corrupteth the storie and therefore of Cuspinian one of their owne religion is reproued as also Hermānus Contract Hermānus Blondus Platina Merula Mouthie Merula and such others The Italian wryters of stories as Blond Plat. such others are 2. great pleasers of Popes and deliuer not the storie with such indifferencie between Emperours and Popes as they should doe because of the partialitie of religion and of their Countrie and their intertainment following after Popes The freshe fountaine Arethusa of Sicilie by the salte Sea is counted a strange thing in nature Italian wryters of stories Arethusa the foūtaine And in writing of stories it strange for an Italian writer of stories to be free from partialitie of Popes being so neere them and eftsoones appertayning to them as Platina and Blondus and such others Therfore with good iudgment they must be red to sifte the corne from the chaffe the storie from the partialitie of Popes But the Abbat of Vrsperg though he be not of the Countrie of Popes yet because he hath a Pope in his conscience as rolled on the groundes of Poperie runneth thicke with dregges of partialitie to Popes Abbas Vrsperg in chr in an 1106. and so corrupteth the clerenesse of the storie No maruaile though hee call Henry the 4. thus cursed of the Popes an Arch-pirate and Arch-heritike Nabucodonezer and Iulian. Iohn Cuspinian who was of Maximilians councell and of their owne religion Io. Cusp in vita Hen. 4. prayseth Henry the fourth for an eloquent liberall and godly Prince sharpe of wit and warlike and luckie in the warres that fought moe battailes in his owne person then either M. Marcellus or Iulius Caesar the famous warriers in the stories Thus Cuspinians prayses of him Otto Frisin Episc ann lib. 7. cap. 11. Bishoppe Otto reporteth the opinions of others touching his almes deedes and many workes of mercie donne by him in respecte whereof they think he merited of God as out of the humors of the darkenesse of that time they speake to haue the wanton conuersation of his youth wholie he was aliue to bee punished with such afflictions in this present world Thus Bishoppe Otto deliuereth the iudgmentes of others of him Albert Deane of Hanburg and deuout of their side Alber. Kranz Saxo. Lib. 5. cap. 24. yet can not bury in silence his condigne prayses he sayeth hee was a noble a learned a valiant Prince of goodly personage fit for a king and that by the space of 50. yeeres kept the soueraigntie of the publike state yet hee inspergeth him with great vices and pride that would not stoupe Thus Alberts report of him Touching Pope Gregorie the 7. that first cursed him Abbas Vrsperg in chr in an 1800. Brixiense Con. he is charged in the councell of Brixia with haynous crimes and that he is a Necromansier and that dealeth with a familiar And the Bishoppes in the councell of Brixia referre themselues to the authoritie of a councell at Mens holden against him before Ab. Vrsperg in an 1076. Worma concil And in the councell of Wormes hee is likewise charged with great infamies Otto Fris Epis lib. 6. cap. 35. Bishoppe Otto sayeth that hee was the first of his knowledge in the Roman stories that tooke vpon him to excommunicate and curse a Roman Emperour or king The Abbat of Vrsperg saith Ab. Vrsperg in an 74. that vnder him the whole Church began to be turmoild with new errors of schismes that neuer were hard before In the coūcel of Wormes likewise he is charged that the Church of God through the abuse of his nouelties is indaungered with so sore a tempest Abbas Vrspergensis in an 1076. Thus the Bishoppe of his owne religion and wryters of his own side reporte of him and of the strange euils of schismes and diuisions neuer heard of before and of the abuse of his nouelties No marueile then though he were the firste that vndertook the excōmunicating cursing of a Roman Emperour as Otto voucheth and rent the whole Church with schismes and the ciuill and publike state with diuisions and rebellions Bishoppe Otto when hee commeth to the point of the cause touching the deposing of Henry the fourth from his Emperiall state vppon the Popes curse Bishop Otto suspendeth his iudgment passeth it ouer without interlasing his owne iudgement and opinion of the proceedings thereof and sayeth all which thinges whether they were lawfullye or vnlawfullye done wee doe not determine Thus Bishoppe Otto kepte his iudgment in suspence Otto Frising Episc lib. 7. cap. 11. touching the proceedinges against Henry the fourth by laying downe the storie with profession that hee will not lay downe any iudgement of it May wee not as it were at a loupe and hole see the day So we may sound his iudgment by his profession that hee will giue noe iudgement in the cause If hee had liked the Popes curse and the proceedinges against the Emperour he needed not to be daintie of his iudgment whereof no daunger ensued to him which was so plausible on the Popes side and at which the Popes Clergie as it were clapped their handes But because it was a bone in his conscience to haue such outrage done to Princes vppon the Popes curse hee keepeth his conscience cleere for giuing iudgment in the case though otherwise for his religion right on the Popes side the Monkes of Morimond Abbey among whome he dyed and the order of the Cistertian Monkes which he professed might witnesse Aeneas Syl. in Hist Austral If hee should lay downe his iudgment against the Pope in fauour of Henry the fourth he shuld plucke the Pope and his Clergie vpon him Then Otto one of their owne Bishoppes and a professed Monke of the Cistertians order Heretikes against the Pope Henry the 4. Wigbert Archbishop of Rauenna Wekil Archbishop of Mens Abbas Vrspergensis in chro in an 1085. should be an heretike against the Pope also as Henry the fourth was made an heretke for opposing himselfe against the Pope and Wigbert Archbishop of Rauenna was made an heretike because of Henry the fourth he was promoted to be bishoppe of Rome in the place of Gregorie the seuenth and as Wekil the Archbishop of Mens was called an Arch-heretike in the councell of Quintiligoburg as Vrspergensis calleth it because in holding disputatiō against Geberherdus Archbishop of Salzburg for Henrie the 4. his soueraigne Lord he laid downe his reasons of the preiudicing his Soueraigne by the Pope other Princes and that he being dispoyled of his dominion in Saxoni before Duke Rodolphs rebellion was not lawfully to bee called We kill his disputations for Henry the 4. iudged and condemned They were so netled with the disputation of VVekill the Archbishop of Mens for his Soueraigne that they called an other councel at Quintilingoburg where