time Anacletus sought wyth spendinge and brybinge to winne and confirme all mens good wills towarde him that anye way seemed to fauour him He made Roger kinge of both Sicils to be his freinde Innocentius was busye on the other syde to recouer the Popedome therefore held a councell in Fraunce and condemned Anacletus for an ennemye of the Church Afterward he went to Philip kinge of Fraunce and crowned his sonne Lewes then he wente to Carnotus where he met with Henry the first kinge of Englande perswading with him to send an armye against the Sarracens that kept the holye lande but his purpose was to haue vsed that army for the recouering of his Popedome From him he went to Lotharius kinge of Germanye desyringe him to see him restored Lotharius gyuinge his oath to the Pope prepared an armye to conducte Innocent safe to Rome So Lotharius entred into Italye wyth a puissante armye to restore Innocent to hys place and comminge to Rome deuided his hoast and entred into the Citye ouerthrewe Anacletus with duke Roger and set Innocētius safe in Lateran Innocentius therefore to shew himselfe thanckfull crowned Lotharius Emperour and gaue to Reginold his chiefest Captayne the Dukedome of Apulia that was none of his owne to bestow and all that Roger possessed in Italy ▪ But Reginold dyed soone after and then Roger claymed his right againe and because the Pope withstoode him he toke him againe his Cardinals sodenly ere that they wist would neuer let them depart vntill they had graunted him his whole desire yea to make him kinge of both Sicils and so since that time the kingdome of Sicill is called S. Peters patrimonye But sayth Nauclerus much mischiefe arose vp hereof because the Pope woulde thus take vppon him the bestowinge of Princelye titles robbinge the Emperours of that righte which they had gotten by the sworde Innocentius made a lawe that whosoeuer should strike an annointed priest or shauen clarke shoulde be excommunicated to be absolued onelye by the Pope after this hee dyed Anno 1143. In this Popes time Steuen Kinge of Englande Anno 1136. kept to himselfe and vsed in his owne power the inuesture of prelates And Lotharius the Emperour would haue reclaymed that to himselfe which the Pope toke from Henry the Emperour but that S. Bernard being then of great credite disswaded him About this time was VVilliam bishop of Yorke called S. VVilliam of Yorke who was poysoned in his challice by his Chapleynes 106. Celestine the second CElestine the second a Thuscan succeded Innocent by the commaundement of Conradus his life was so shorte that he could not play the Pope like other At this tyme was a great contagious plague through out al Italy Celestine dyed in the sixt month of his Popeship In his time the bishop of VVinchester in Englande helde a councell where was concluded that if any man abused eyther Church or Churchyard or layde hand on an Ecclesiasticall person he shoulde be excommunicate to be absolued onelye by the Pope 107. Lucius the second LVcius the second borne in Bononia succeded Celestine He was the cause auctor of much discension in Rome for deposing and disanullinge a kinde of office called Patricianship which the Romaynes being weary of the Popes yoke had made in the time of Innocentius because the Popes toke vppon them all swaye within the Citye abroade likewise But this Pope Lucius because he was not able to depose the Patrician alone craued ayde of the Emperour Conradus whoe beinge otherwise busied coulde not assiste him Lucius therefore soughte to attaine his purpose another waye for when the Patrician the Senatours were all gathered together close in the Capitol Lucius toke his oportunitye and came thither with a bande of souldiours in armour meaninge either to destroye the Capitoll or to driue them out The Cityzēs hearing hereof armed them selues forthwith and ranne to succour theyr officer whervppon roose a very bloudye fraye Pope Lucius beinge in the middest of the broyle was so pelted with stones and other lumpes that sone after he dyed therof Anno 1145 ere he had raigned a yeare 108. Eugenius the third EVgenius the thirde sometime an abbot was made Pope by this meanes w t the consente of the Cardinals This Eugenius was scholer to S. Barnard who for his learning was then in great reuerence and cōsidering the time how the Romaynes wrangled to haue auctoritye in the electiō of the Pope they thoughte it safest and surest for the maintenaunce of the Popes auctoritye to chose none of the Colledge of Cardinals but this Eugenius that it mighte be a cause why his scholemaister Barnarde shoulde aduaunce the Sea of Rome in his wrytinges and so it fell out as it appeareth in his 2. booke of Considerations Eugenius at his first creation perceyued the Romaynes woulde be importunate to haue the election of theyr Senatours ratifyed and therefore hee fled wyth his Cardinals from Rome by night to Viterbium where he excommunicated all the Romaynes which caused the Citizens to obeye Iordan chosen Patrician then he ioyned his armye with the hoast of the Tiburtines olde ennemyes to Rome so compelled the Romaynes to sue for peace which he graunted at length vppon condition that they should fullye abolish the principalitye of the Patrician and shoulde restore his deputye to his former place and for hereafter shoulde be contente to take suche Senatours as hee by his Papall auctoritye would assigne them Peace beinge thus concluded he returned into Rome but perceyuing afterwarde that falsehoode was mente towarde him he slipt againe to Tiburie the Romaynes pursued him forthwith with bowes and bils and draue him from Tiburie into Fraunce And at length he returned to Rome and there dyed Anno 1152. 109. Anastasius the fourth ANastasius of a Cardinall became Pope wherein hee did nothinge worthye memorye but that hee bestowed vppon Lateran a riche and massye Chalice and bestowed cost in repayringe S. Maries Churche and so dyed the seconde yeare of his Popeship Anno 1154. This Anastasius after the death of one Henry Mordachus a proud mōke whom Pope Eugenius intruded restored S. Williā archbishop of Yorke which William was afterward poysoned in the Challice comminge to receiue the Communion as Mattheus Parisius sayth In this Popes time y Thames at London was so frozen the cartes and waynes passed ouer the I se and a litle before were two Eclipses one of the Sunne and the other of the Moone after which followed terrible tempestes stormes thonder lightninges raine and winde 110. Hadrian the fourth HAdrian the fourth was an Englishmā borne called Nicolas Breakespeare the sonne of one Dan Robert a mōke of S. Albanes he was first a reguler priest afterwarde a bishop then a Cardinall and finallye Pope of Rome He being chosen by the clergye at Rome would not ascende take the place vntill they had consented vnto him that one Arnold bishop of Brixia whom he counted an hereticke should be banished
lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that cānot pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begīning of the Romaine tyrānye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I cānot hold my peace If at VVitēberg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defēded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are Presidēts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardō mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the coūtrey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would aboūd as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al mē at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaīst thē thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers cōtrouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia Tigurū Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas
congregation in the which they may frely call vpon their God sincerely administer the Sacramentes and may fulfill other rites as they were citizens with the priuiledge and highe fauour of the magistrates Happy is that people who enioyeth these thinges and haue so worthy a bishop which gathereth together the dispersed comforteth the broken in heart fauoureth exiles and confirmeth the weake with example and doctrine But perchaunce I may seeme to haue sayde to much to you and to you all most gentle fathers who are troubled with grauer matters and haue no leysure to reade your prayses And indued with suche modestie that you will scarse attende vnto it But beare with me while I doe but my dutie for I prayse not you but the giftes of God that are of you and commende the happy state of your churches vnto the faythful that they may learne to giue thankes and to imitate you I would haue showen the causes why I inscribed to your name the Papall historie of new Rome partly to haue declared my loue towardes you for your benefites bestowed vpon England other countreis Partly that the learning which you haue spread abroade in these days may be defended with your ayde Our Lorde Iesus Christe the prince of sheepeheardes the maister of al truthe the enemy of Antechriste strengthen and confirme you and all your fellowe ministers with the power of the holy ghoste and preserue you in long health to the comfort and ioye of the Christian flocke to the ouerthrowing of Antichriste and the amplifying of his name Amen Iohn Bale Iohn Bale to the Reader I Desire thee Christian Reader vvhosoeuer thou art that delightest in the glory of Christ against the malyce of Antichriste and I beseech thee in the Lord to conster all thinges to the beste euen those matters vvhich seeme to be spoken more bitterly against that mōstrous beast and not to depraue them vvith slaūderings as I vnderstand some of late haue taken occasion to do by my late booke published of the vvriters of Englande Among vvhom some are not ashamed vntrulye to saye that I deale vniustlye vvith some Princes that gouerne the estates of Christēdome Othersome saye that I speake malepertlye and that against all Christiā modestye that I speake vnreuerentlye of Queene Mary of England because in one place I haue vvritten that Iesabell raigneth in Englāde and glutteth her selfe vvith the bloude of Martyrs vvhere as by that name I did not meane Queene Mary but the tyrannie of Rome that miserablye ouerrunneth all Englande For the places in Nicolas Grimoald Traherne Turner the Phisition Hooper ▪ Ridley Rogers Bradford Filpot and other do sufficientlye interprete themselues to be spoken of the greate Antichriste and his mitred and scraped tormentours For as the holye ghoste hath taughte mee I haue called that Romaine Sinagogge the murtherer of Godlye men vvicked Iesabell the horned beast the impe of the Dragō the doughter of the deuill the spouse of Sathan speaking blasphemies the purple beast the misticall Babilon the great strumpet vvith vvhom the kinges of the earth haue cōmitted fornication vvhich haue dronke of the vvyne of her fornication the vvomā cloathed in purple scarlet gould pearles and precious stones hauing a goulden cuppe full of all filthines lustes of the vvorld the mother of fornication and droncke vvith the bloud of the saintes of IESVS CHRIST the habitatiō of deuils and the cage of all euill spirites and hatefull birdes The occasiō vvhich first moued mee herevnto vvas this Anno domini 1554. our Realme of Englande after the xx yeare of her deliueraunce throughe the mercye of God most shamefullye forsooke the holye Gospel of Christe vvhich is the povver and vertue of God to the health of all beleuers made a nevve professiō vnto the great ennemye of God the Romaine deuil and vvicked Antichrist Of the vvhich execrable deede thou shalt read more in the end of this booke Partlye also the horrible vices vvhich follovv this monster vvhereof the most prudent K. Henry the eight had good proofe vvhen he caused the houses of the hooded hypocrites the colleges of the massemongers in his kingdome before their vtter destruction vvhich vvas in the yeare of our Lord God 1538. to be visited by the vvorshipfull doctours of the lavve Thomas Lee Richard Laiton Thomas Bedill Thomas Barthlet the publicke notarie such others In the vvhich there vvere such svvarmes of vvhoremōgers ruffians filthie parsons giltye of sinne against nature Ganimedes and yet votaries and vnmaryed all so that thou vvouldest thincke that there vvere a nevve Gomorrha amonge them The booke of them is called the breuiary of thinges founde out in abbeyes assemblies colleges c. Out of the vvhich booke I vvill shevv but one or other example to an vnsauery tast thereof In the monasterye called Battel abbey in the Diocesse of Chichester these many gilty of sinne agaīst nature vvere foūd in the visitation Iohn the Abbot Richard Salchurst Thomas Cuthberth VVilliam March Iohn Hasting Gregorie Champiō Clemēt VVestfild Iohn Crosse Thomas Crambroke Thomas Basill Iohn Hamfild Iohn Hierome Clemens Grigge Richard Touye and Iohn Austine These vvere incontinente liuers Thomas Lyuet vvyth one maryed vvife one harlot Thomas Cranbroke vvith the same and other beside Lo this is the chast Religion of the Pope At Canterbury amonge the Benedictine monkes these vvere gilty of sinne against nature Richard Godmersham VVilliam Lichfild Christopher Iames Iohn Goldmistone Nicolas Clement VVilliam Causton Iohn Ambrose Thomas Farlegh and Thomas Morton VVhoremongers Christopher Iames aforesaide vvith three maried vvomen and Nicolas Clement vvith one harlot In the Abbey of S. Augustine these vvere found vnchast Iohn the Abbot vvith one vvoman Iohn Langdan vvith tvvo Iohn Langport vvith one Richarde Compton vvith one VVilliam Reynsforth vvith one VVilliā Godmerstone vvith tvvo Dauid Franckes vvith tvvo Robart saltvvood one Laurence Goldstone one VVilliam Holingborne one VVilliā Milton one Iohn Shrevvsbery one and Thomas Barhā gilty of sinne against nature In the abbey of Bath amonge many other Richard Lincombe had vii harlots iij. maryed vvomen and iiii singlevvomen and he vvas giltye of sinne against nature also VVilliam Benushon had xi harlots beside diuers gilty of sinne against nature In the abbey of Monkenferlege in Salisbury diocesse Levvis the Prior had 9. harlots Richard the Prior of Mayden Bradley had v. harlots and sixe bastardes VVilliam the Abbot of Bristovve had iiij harlots iij. vnmaried one maryed Thomas Abbot of Abingtō beside his ovvne naturall sister of vvhom he begat tvvo children had three other harlots and this mā vvas the father of many that vvas gilty of sin against nature In the abbey of Sulbred in the diocesse of Cicester George VValden Prior had vij harlots Iohn Standney vij Nicolas duke v. Henry Selvvood tvvo vvith many others Iohn Blanke Prior of Bermondsey had xi harlots At the castel of VVyndsor Henry VVoodvvard had very many harlots Nicolas VVhyden had iiij George VVhitthorne v. Nicolas
doughter choaked the mother and engendred the mōster ambition who also like the cursed impe of the bastard her morher did in the ende deuoure her grandmother Religion THE PRELATES or Archebishops of Rome 1. Marcus MArcus a Romaine bestowed a pall vpon the bishop of Hostia who had consecrate the bishop of Rome before other He also cōmaunded that the people and the clergie should on Sondayes after the Gospell were redde singe the Nicean Crede He builded churches and gaue many giftes vnto them died a confessour in the yere 335. 2. Iulius the first IVlius the first a Romaine appointed that a priest shoulde as they forge of him not aunswer his cause any where but before an ecclesiasticall iudge and he reprehended the bishops of the east onlesse they slaunder him because they had helde counsels without his authoritie but they scorned him for his pride he caused churcheyardes to be made and at the lenghth died a confessour in peace Anno. 351. Platina sayth that this Pope appointed certaine notaries to wryte the actes of other men the whiche office sayth he is yet about the Pope remaining But these notaries of our time saith he are such doultes for the moste parte that for wante of learning they can not wryte their owne name in Latin of their maners I will not speake because these offices are bestowed on bawdes and flatterers vnmete to wryte the actes of other men 3. Liberius LIberius a Romaine for ambition as Hierome witnesseth falling into the Arrian heresie forsooke the trew faith and subscribed to Arrius articles And yet this man died a confessour also Anno. 366. though in dede taynted with damnable heresie 4. Foelix the seconde Foelix the seconde a Romaine was preferred by the Arrians who thrust out Liberius and aduaunced him because they hoped he agreed with them in opinion But in the seconde yeare after he was driuen from his seate and Liberius restored And in the yeare of our Lorde 359. He with other spirituall persones was slayne in a tumulte This man sayth Isidorus made lawes for the defense of the Clergie Also Sozomenus lib. 4. ca. 10. Eccle. histor saith that he being bishop did both admitte Arrian heretikes to the ministery and also vsed their communiō though els he yelded to the counsell of Nice 5. Damasus DAmasus a Spanyarde being made Pope in a certaine faction and vehemently accused of adultery did condemne Liberius his dedes he builded temples and beawtified them with iewels he gaue landes and bathes to the Clergie he encreased strange seruice in the churche he added Confiteor to the seruice he appointed the singing of the Psalmes and allowed Hieroms translation of the Bible For then the myndes of the Prelates began to bee more puft vp with ambition Afterward ▪ Damasus as they saye being a diligent gatherer of thinges doone in times past wrote the lyues and decrees of his predecessours the byshops of Rome enterlacing them with many open and manifest vntruthes And in the yere 384. died a confessour Socrates in the eight booke of his ecclesiasticall history and the 24. chapter sayth that when this Damasus was chosen bishop one Vrsinus a Deacon of the same churche did stande in suite against Damasus but whē he sawe that Damasus was preferred for anger he began by all endeuour to gather congregations to him selfe seuered from the churche Also he perswaded certaine obscure and abiect byshops to chose him bishop secretly in a corner And so he was created not in the churche but in a close place of the pallaice called Sicona Whiche being done the people began to wrangle And hereof arose a bitter contention and deadly sedicion not touching religion ▪ but whether of these two Prelates should be bishop Of this grewe so many assemblies and so often brawlinges that in the end the tumulte was so great that many were slayne about it And therfore Maximinus then liuetenant of the citie did punishe sharpely a great numbre both the Clergie and layetie so suppressed Vrsinus and his faction Thus it appeareth that bloudy ambition is not a newe thing in Rome 6. Siricius SIricius a Romaine medling and making decrees in many matters remoued those from saying seruice that had bene twyse maried was the firste that admitted monkes into orders for pretence of single life who before were neuer reckened to be as clarkes He mingled y Antiphones with the Psalmes and appointed that orders should be geuen some at one time some at an other he died a confessour Anno 399. 7. Anastasius ANastasius a Romaine appointed that whyle the Gospel was reading they should stand not sitte He exempted from the ministery those that were lame impotēt or diseased persons and slept with his forefathers in peace being a confessour Anno. 404. 8. Innocentius INnocentius borne in Albania aduaūced the sea of Rome aboue all other and would haue it to be iudged by none He commaunded the faithfull to faste on the Saturday to bewayle with Mary Magdalene our sauiour Christe that was buried ▪ euen as on that daye He deuised that at masse time the Pax should be geuen about in the church and cōmaunded that the church a wayghty matter being ones consecrate should neuer be consecrate any more He made certayne decrees concerning Iewes Pagans Monkes and made the anoyling of the sick to be a sacrament And is counted among the dead confessours Anno. 416. The yeare before being the yeare 415. Alaricus king of Gothes ouerranne Italy wan Rome wasted spoyled and burnt it miserably And sone after him his cosen Athoulfus came thether againe and spoyled all that he had left 9. Sozymus SOzymus a Greke appointed that tapers should be blessed on the holydaye and that the Deacons in saying seruice should haue their lefthandes couered He forbad that clarkes should vse tipling in opē place or haunte tauernes and that no bondmen should be admitted to be of the Clergie And died a confessour Anno. 420. Also this Sozymus suppressed the Nouacian heretikes whiche in time past had borne great swaye in Rome But nowe they were kept vnder for sayth Isocrates the byshop of Rome as well as the byshop of Alexandria had stretched his power beyond the limittes of priesthood stepping into temporall authoritie Socrat. histor eccle lib. 7. cap. 11. 10. Bonifacius BOnifacius a Romaine the sonne of one Iucundus a priest was chosen Pope at suche time as there was great sedition among the Clergie He made decrees that were very necessary God graunte they proue so as that a woman yet though she were a hoodded noonne should not openly touche the altar cloth nor the holy vessels nor smell to the incense And that none should be made priest till he were thirty yeres olde After he had decreed that sainctes eueninges should be kept he died a confessour Anno. 426. 11. Coelestinus Caelestinus borne in Campania patched the Popishe masse vp with these thinges Introitum Graduale Responsorium Tractum Offertorium as his owne deuices And gaue
had raigned 50 yeare in his life he lacked lyuinge and after death he wanted a graue throughe malice of the Pope Pope Paschal held a councell of Princes and bishoppes about matter of gaynes as homages and fealtyes due vnto him also he spoiled the bishop of Rauenna of his lands and toke them into his owne handes But afterwarde because he refused to confirme certaine bishops appointed by the Emperour Henry the fift the Emperour though laâ—e before he had kissed the Popes feete appreheÌ„ded him and cast him into prison where he continued vntill he had coÌ„firmed them all and should by his Seale restore the priuiledge of ratifying a bishop which was graunted to Charles the great and confirme him to be Emperour While sayth Masseus the Pope sate in his chayre after Masse beholde the souldiours cryed vnto him and his clergye Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and forthwith apprehended both him and all his clergye and caryed them out and stripped them out of their apparell so naked that they lefte them not theyr breeches on and ledde them thus haÌ„dled to Soractis mount wher they put them in prison c. This broyle being ceased and Henry being crowned Emperour Paschal renued vnto him the auctoritye of appointing bishops and pronounced openlye in the Church that they were all held accursed who soeuer would disanul the preuiledge which he had graunted Then thy sange Gloria in excelsis because of this peace betwene the Emperour and the Pope But as sone as the Emperour this being done was departed into Germanye the Pope brake al his oathes and went from his word in euerye thinge saying that hee did it not freelye and of his owne accorde but that for feare hee yelded to the Emperours desire Then was the priuiledge condemned and the Emperour excommunicated and terrible tragedyes sturred which were all blazed throughe diuers countryes Also hee by a councell diuorsed the clergye of Fraunce from their wyues as Gregorie had done in Germanye and draue diuers bishops froÌ„ their Seas because they would not leaue theyr wyues Againe to encrease the regiment of Rome he reuiued the strife for the bestowiÌ„g of bishoprickes which wrought great slaughter and bloudshed in all countreyes of Europe Anselmê° archbishop of Canterbury wyth sophistrye and cauillinge vphelde this Popes doing as he did Pope Vâ—banus being both their couÌ„celour at Rome their Uicar here in Englande This Anselmus did depriue kinge Henry the first of all auctoritye in Ecclesiastical causes and denyed to do homage to the kinge thinking and auouching it to be vnlawfall because it was due in the clergye vnto the successours of S. Peter Also he condemned in England the mariage of ministers Pope Paschal dyed Anno 1118. Matthaeus Paâ—siensis wryteth in his Chronicle that when Anselmus accused his soueraigne kinge Henry the first of England before the Pope at Rome for medling with the appointing of bishops and ministers VVilliam VVarelwarst the kinges Proctour did aunsweare stoutlye in hys Princes behalfe and amonge other thinges sayd that the kinge would not for the losse of his kingdome lese his auctoritye in appointing of prelates â–ª Whereto the Pope said If as thou sayest thy kinge to hazarde his crowne wil not forgoe his giuing of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges knowe thou preciselye I speake it before God that I will not suffer him without punishmeÌ„t no not for the price of his head Which beinge heard Anselmus besought the Pope to laye hands in despite of the kinge on those whom he had disgraded so sayth Mattheus the holye seate readye to yelde fauour to all restored them to their former dignities by the intercession of White and red But kinge Henry did depriue Anselmus of all his goodes and confiscated his Archbishopricke and defyed the Popes auctoritye Anno 1110. the Moone was darkened as if she had lost her lighte the yeare following it rayned bloud at Rauenna in Italy at Parma in the month of Iulye Anno 1114. in December the Heauen appeared sodenlye of a very fierye and ruddye colour as if it had burned and the Moone suffered an Eclipse The same yeare the riuer of Thames was drye for two dayes Anno 1 â–ª 17. there were thonders hayle great windes horrible dreadful and houge earthquakes that ouerthrewe Churches Towers walles buildinges and destroyed men 102. Gelasius the second GElasius the second called before Iohn Caietanus of a noble house was sometime a monke he succeded Paschal but not without great discention For because he was chosen withoute the consente of the Emperour one Cincius a maÌ„ of great power in Rome would not suffer this iniurye but went with a troupe of souldiours to PalladiaÌ„ minster where the Cardinals were gathered together and breakinge the gates open he rushed in vppon them and stroke at euerye one that he mette And as for the Pope with his necke wrongde awrye he threwe him on the ground stamped on him wyth his feete and cast him into prison and as the Cardinals were ruÌ„ning away he hoysed them of their Mules and horses to the grounde and vsed all the despite he could toward them But the Romaynes would not suffer this and therfore by the ayde of the Normans they deliuered the Pope made his ennemyes to submit themselues and to aske pardon wyth kissinge his feete The Emperour hearing this sent a great arâ—â—ye out of Germanye to Rome which Gelasius fearing fled by shippe wyth his companye to Caieta and there was made a priest for he was made Pope before beinge but a deacon Henry the Emperour comming to Rome in the absence of Gelasius created Maurice Burdinus archbishop of Bracharie Pope and called him Gregorie the eight and theÌ„ he returned froÌ„ Rome Gelasius hearinge thereof returneth priuilye to Rome and takinge harte to him he commeth into Praxis Church to saye masse where he was so hindred by the contrarye syde that he scant saued himselfe by running away From thence he fled into Fraunce where at the length he was entertayned by an abbot in whose house hee dyed of a pleuresye in the seconde yeare of his raigne In his life by a Legat that he sent he held a councell in Collen where he excommunicated the Emperour and decreed that the Popes of Rome should be iudged by none 103. Calixtus the seconde CAlixtus the second being before called Guido of Burgundy came of the kinges of Fraunce and Englande he succeded Gelasius And after he was coÌ„firmed at Rome he sent a messenger to the said Conon in Germanye to coÌ„tinue the excommunication of his predecessour against the Emperour Hereupon the Emperour was coÌ„pelled to summon a councell of Princes and bishops at Tybur to make peace betweene him the Pope and least the Popes part shoulde haue spoyled his dominions he toke peace vppon vnequall conditions He confirmed to his great dishonour the electioÌ„ of this Calixtus who was chosen Pope at Cluny in Fraunce by a fewe Cardinals whom Gelasius had brought wyth him and yet was the other
to the Popes letter FRederick by the grace of God Emperour of the Romaynes Augustus euermore to Hadrian Pope of Rome and to al those that are vvilling to cleaue to that vvhich Christ began to do and teach sendeth greetinge The lavve of Iustice restoreth to euerye man his ovvne For vve do not dishonour our auncestours to vvhom vvithin this our kingdome vve yelde due reuerence by vvhom vve haue enherited our Crovvne and regall dignitye Is it knovvne that Syluester bishoppe of Rome in the time of Constantine the Emperour had anye kinglye poart But by his godlye graunte the Church obtayned libertye peace vvas restored and vvhat soeuer your princelye pontificality is knovvne to haue it came by the bountifulnes of Princes VVhereby vvhen soeuer vve vvrite to the Pope by good righte vve set our ovvne name former and accordinge to the rule of Iustice vve allovve it to him vvritinge to vs. Loke ouer the Recordes and if ye marked not in readinge vvhich vve auouche there ye shall finde it But vvhy shoulde vve not require homage and royal oathes tovvarde our parson of them that are Gods by adoption and possesse the royaltye belonging to vs Seing that he vvho taught both vs and you takinge nothing of a Prince but geuinge al goodnes to all men yet payde tribute to Caesar for himselfe and Peter and gaue you an example that ye shoulde do the like And so he teacheth you saying Learne of mee for I am humble and gentle of harte Therefore let them eyther graunte vnto vs that belongeth to our royaltye or els if they vvill challenge this for their more commoditye then let them paye vnto God that is due vnto GOD and vnto Caesar that is due vnto Caesar. The Churches are shut to your Cardinals and the Cityes are not open vnto them and reason good because vvee see that they are not feeders but steâ—â—ers of their flockes not kepers of peace but catchers of pence not those that amend the vvorld but that deuoure it But vvhen vvee shall see them such as the Church requireth bearinge peace giuinge light to their countreye assistinge the cause of the lovvlye in equity vve vvil forthvvith succour them vvith necessarye stipends and sustinaunce But ye do much discredit your humilitye and curtesye beinge the sauegâ—rde of all vertues vvhen ye moue to secular parsons such questions as do not much further religion Let therefore your fatherlye vvisedome prouide least vvhile ye sturre aboute such vnmeete matters yee giue offence vnto those vvhich applye themselues to giue eare to the vvords of your mouth as it vvere to a shovver of raine after Harueste For vve cannot but aunsvveare to those thinges vvhich vve heare vvhen vve see the detestable beast of pride to haue crept euen to Peters seate so long as vve purpose God vvillinge continuallye to prouide for peace and the Church Fare ye vvell Here may you discerne somwhat the dealing and spirite of the Romain bishops which I leaue to euery one 's owne indifferent consideration To returne to the matter hereuppon this Pope Hadrian did excommunicate the Emperour and by his Legates sent from Rome prouoked rebellions against him in Italye and other places and brought it secretly to passe that the conspiracye of the rebels should be made the stronger by these lawes confirmed among them by oath that none of them should take peace with him wtoute the whole consent of all the rest And againe that if this Pope Hadrian should dye they should choose none to be Pope but one of those Cardinals that were of the conspiracye against the Emperour But shortlye after God punished this Hadrian very straungelye for sayth Abbas Vspergensis in Frederico primo it came to passe that this Pope Hadrian the fourth going to Agnania to denounce the excommunication against the Emperour after he had taryed there a fewe dayes walked forth with some of his companye to coole him selfe And when he came to a certaine springe of water he drancke thereof and forthwith a flye did enter into his mouth and did cleaue to his throte in such sort that no art of the PhisitioÌ„s could get it away and so he was choaked therew t and died therof Anno 1159. in the fift yeare of his Popeship But the Italians being thus set on by the Pope deuised continuallye treasons against the Emperour amonge other practised to haue murthered him by a certaine counterfeit foole beinge in deede an excellente Musician who had surelye slaine him but that the Emperour driuen to his shift leaped out at the fifte window downe into a riuer which ranne vnder the place where he was The foole beinge taken was also throwne downe out of the same windowe and so he brake his necke After this they hyred an enchanter of Arabia who poysoned his bridle his spurres his ringes and his stirope and such other thinges that with the onlye touching thereof he should haue beene slaine But he was bewrayed and hanged vp This Pope Hadrian made king Henry the second of Englande Lorde of Irelande Carion in his Chronicle wrytinge of Conradus the thirde Emperour of Germanye sayth that it is found written that this Pope Hadrian the fourth euen a little before his death should say that there is no kind of life vpon earth more wretched theÌ„ to be Pope and to get the Popedome by bloud is not to succeede Peter but Romulus whoe for the kingdome slue his owne brother III. Alexander the thirde ALexander the third was borne in Hetruria called first Rolland Chancelour After Hadrian the fourth had his breath stopped and was choaked with a flye this man succeded him beinge farre worse then the other But because that all partyes coulde not agree to elect him nine of the Cardinals that held on the Emperours part did choose another Pope called Octauianus a citizen of Rome being a priest and Cardinall of S. Clements whom they called Victor the fourth And after the death of this Victor the sciesme and discention beinge continued three Popes succeeded in order Paschalis Calixtus and Innocentius all which withstoode this Pope Alexander and made greate turmoyles in the Church of Rome and al perished he yet lyuinge But when the Emperour sommoned a councell at Papia wherby the strife might be ended and the matter debated that he might be confirmed Pope that had the better right this Alexander defyinge the Emperours Embassadours aunswered proudlye that the Pope as he toke himselfe to be is to be iudged by no man and thus sent awaye the Embassadours with great contempte and sendinge his letters throughe all Christendome he plagued both the Emperour and this Victor with excommunications And because he might assure Rome to himselfe hee sente letters forthwith to Iohn Cardinall of sainct Peters Church who supplyed his roume there who by briberye and flatterye so curried fauor with the people that he allured the most parte of the Citye to fauour Alexander and to make those Consuls that did most leane to his part In the meane
time Alexander comminge out of Fraunce into Italy returned forth with to Rome and was curteously receyued and the Cityes of Italy being emboldned by his comminge to shake of their allegeance to the Emperour contrarye to their oath did forthwith reuolte from him king Philip of Fraunce fauouring their part The Emperour knowing of these rebellions conspiracies against him did forthwith gather a newe armye and went into Italye but when he came to Brixia one Hartman the bishop thereof beinge of the Emperours priuye councell but a false hipocrite did disswade him from the warre And perswaded him by the Popes secrete councell to make warre rather against the â—urkes ennemyes to Christian fayth then against the holye father and Christian men addinge withal that now the Soldan oppressed enioyed Hierusalem and al the holy land which his vncle had whilom coÌ„quered with greate power charges He prayed him to trye the force of his army vpon the Agarens Saracens and to recouer these landes therewith furthermore he promised the Emperour to perfourme this that the kinge of FrauÌ„ce likewise should leuye an army to ayde to conquer the Soldan kinge of Aegipt At his supplication the Emperour ledde his armye against the Paganes which he had prepared against the Pope his rebels He traueyled throughe Hungary to Constantinople and sendinge ouer his army he wan manye townes from the Turke as amonge other Philomenia and Ionicus passed into Armenia the lesse conquering all yea God so prospered his victoryes that the Soldan him selfe feared the losse of his kingdome At the length he came to Hierusalem where he suffred the Pagans to passe with life out of the Citye At length hauinge gotten great victories in Iewry he coÌ„sidered how he might defende from the Turkes that which he had wonne and repayre that which was wasted But while he was thus busye here in the East Pope Alexander was not yet quieted but both he and his conspiratours stil feared him if he should euer returne into Italye and therefore Alexander still deuised how to haue him destroyed He sent a cunning painter to go to the place where the Emperour was who the Emperour not knowing thereof shoulde drawe his picture this being perfectly done he commauÌ„ded a secret messenger to conuey it to the Soldan wrote a letter wtall to the Soldan certefying him that it was the Emperours picture and tellinge him that if he would liue quietlye he must worke the feate to haue him destroyed by som traine The Soldan hauiÌ„g receyued these letters the Emperours liuely picture deuised howe to gratifye the Pope and to slay his ennemye but he could neuer get oportunitye neither in battell nor in his tentes to haue him slaine But when the Emperour hauinge wonne Hierusalem retired wyth his army homeward he hauing no feare of himselfe did deuide his armye into diuers partes whereby they might returne the more conuenientlye for vittaile and lodginge one after another But in Armenia being on a time in a great heate and sweatinge partly with trauell partly with the heate of the Sunne mistrusting no daunger in the saluage country full of woddes he taking a fewe horsemeÌ„ with him his chaplein did step froÌ„ his armye Beinge a litle gone a side he alighted from his horse and was about to put of his apparell at a riuers side where coÌ„maunding his horsemen to depart he purposed by himselfe his chaplen alone to baath himselfe because he was exceeding hot where it so hapned that the Soldanes which had lyen in wayte for him as he trauelled negligentlye came and toke him and ledde the noble Emperour prisoner through the woods to the Soldan his horsemen not knowinge thereof attending for him in vaine at length came and sought diligentlye for him till the nexte daye The rumour was broughte to the armye that he was drowned whereuppon all the hoast lamented wepte and mourned heauilye and sought him alonge the floude almost the space of an whole month but when they could not finde him they chose them newe Captaynes and so marched homeward The Emperour being brought to the Soldan did dissemble that he was one of the Emperours chamberlaynes but the Soldan perceyuinge by the picture which he had from the Pope resembling his face that he was the Emperour commaunded the picture to be broughte forth and the leâ—ters to be read before him The Emperour beinge astonished at this treason sawe that it auayled not to denye himselfe he confessed the truth and besought the Soldan humblye to haue compassion on him After the Soldan had talked much with him and saw both by his wordes deedes that he was a worthie and noble gentlemaÌ„ in whom there was no vertue meete for so princely a parsonage wanting and hauinge him in great estimation for his wisedome his good demeanour his faythfulnes and vprighte dealinge thoughte he should purchase himselfe great glorye and renowne to deliuer him Therefore afterward he called the Emperour vnto him offered him liberty vppon conditioÌ„s and curteouslye profered him that he should laye in hostages for his raunsome paying And on this condition he let him go that he shoulde make a perpetuall league of peace with him and should paye an hundred thousand ducates should leaue his chaplen that was takeÌ„ prisoner with him to lye in pledge till it were payd so writings were drawne of the conditions and the Emperour prepared his iorney and bad his chaplen be of good courage promisinge him that he would not take his rest in Germany vntil the moneye were sent and that he saw him returned thether Then the SoldaÌ„ bestowed giftes on the Emperour prouided for his voyage and with xxxiiii horses certaine souldiours conducted him to Brixia and stayed there The Princes vnderstandinge of the Emperours returne for ioye resorted fast vnto him The Emperour loadinge the Soldanes men wyth diuers rewardes sent them backe againe and other with them to conduct them to the coast of the Empire Afterward he held a Parliament at Norimberg callinge together all the Princes of the Empyre to whoÌ„ he detected the treason of Pope AlexaÌ„der and read the traytours Epistle which he sent to the Soldan and tolde them by what meanes he escaped The Princes promised to assist him to performe his promise to the Soldan and in great disdaine against Pope Alexander traitour to the Empyre they offred to ayde him The armye was gathered hee came to Rome and not a man through out Italye withstoode him and sending his Embassadours into the Citye he demauÌ„ded of the Romaynes concealing his owne iniurye that the Church might be brought to quietnes by hearing both the Popes causes heard and that the right bishop mighte haue his place whereby the Church might be gouerned by one If they would do this he promised that he woulde graunte them not onely peace but would restore them all their righte Pope Alexander perceyuinge that by this meanes the Emperour mighte obtayne his purpose to be reuenged on him fled
an anchoresse in S. Albons abbey had this terrible visiion she heard an old man of graue countenaunce crye thre times VVo wo to all that dwel on the earth and then faded away againe Anno 1258. Richard Earle of Cornewall sonne to king Iohn of Englād was chosē king of Almany for his great treasure and the Pope procured that he was chosen Emperour but he did that closely because he had likewyse for the same matter taken a bribe of Alphonsus kinge of Spaine Whereupon a certaine Poet made this Verse Nummus ait pro me nubet Comubia Rome Thus money sayth for loue of me Cornewal with Rome shal lincked be Beside these shiftes made for money this Pope Alexāder vsed another notorious knacke he abusing deluding the simplicitye of the king of England made him beleeue that he would make his sonne Edmond king of Apulia if hee woulde sustaine the charges thereof to maintaine the warres appertayning to it wherupon the king caused his sonne forthwith to be proclaymed king of Apulia and sent to the Pope all the treasure and riches that he could make in his Realme And thus was the king and his sonne deluded and the Realme wonderfullye impouerished by the Popes craft It were to long to discouer all the superstitious wicked deuises of this Pope who at length going to Viterbium Anno 1262. to make peace betweene the Genewaies Venetians according to his owne fansye and because he coulde not haue his will therein he dyed there for anger 125. Vrban the fourth VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles the Earle of Anteganor w t an oast into Italye and made him king of both Sicils After many conflictes the said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent and receyued of the Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill w t the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia whereuppon arose many great slaughters While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse the Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers callinge them Branderesies who had power of life and death in their handes they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour whō banished late before they restored But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye namelye Corpus Christi daye the fifte day after Trinitye sonday vpon this occasion as some and most likely do write namelye Arnold Bostro Petrus Praemonstratensis Anno 1264. as they saye a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar to whom the Pope according to her desire returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe VVe know O daughter that thy soule hath longed with greate desire that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vnto thee that we haue thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament there should be more special and solemne recorde appointing a certaine daye for it namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines and holye with much ioye as is more set out in our apostolicall letters sente for this cause through the world And know ye that we haue caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals bishops and archbishops and other prelats then being at Rome to giue example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour for thine eyes haue seene his saluation which we haue prepared before the face of al people Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes c. This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes Gibelines and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde to the confusion of manye through Italye He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe he dyed for griefe Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope and ceased the same night that he dyed 126 Clemens the fourth CLemens the fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man and had 3. children by his wyfe a sonne two doughters He as his predecessour began continued in sheddinge of bloud he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes This bargaine beinge made betweene them great slaughter bloudshed was committed in diuers places for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill and inheritour of the kingdomes to the former Charles so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes wher his abode was at that time the Pope by report sayd that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples at the first conflict had sufficient victorye yet then the treason reuealing it selfe Conradinus Frederick duke of Austria were taken being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen and the dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by the wickednes of the Pope In the time of
he yelded soueraignity to the sea of Rome he builded scholes for those that should studye Phisicke and the Decretals Briget a woman of Sweaueland came to him to Rome because of a vowe that she had made and procured that there should be Religious parsons both men women of the order of S. Briget Afterward be returning into Fraunce made one Iohn Hawcuth an Englishmā liefetenaunt of his army in the steade of Giles that was dead that he might still defende the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction vntil he should returne for he purposed not to returne to Italye But while he wente into Fraunce hopinge to returne to his court in Rome Anno 1371. he dyed at Massilia poysoned as it is thought Sabellicus wryteth that he made great warre in Italye yea euē with the Princes that his auncetours had set vp against the Emperour he slue manye of them In this Popes time sayth Premonstratensis the archbishop of Collen had a wyfe In his time also the order of the Iesuits Scopetines orders first began as Iohn Palionedorus testifyeth in the third booke and second Chapter of his tripartite historye 142. Gregorie the xi GRegorie the eleuenth borne in Lenomony called before Peter Belfortius was Cardinall of newe S. Maryes and nephewe to Pope Clement he succeded Vrban This Gregorie sayth Platina was made Cardinall when hee was scante xvii yeares old by his vncle Clement and least he should seeme to haue more regard to his kindred then to the Church he sent him to the best learned doctours in Italye to be brought vp in learning especiallye to one Baldus whoe then read the Popes decretals at Peruse where he profited in all kinde of such learninge as Baldus coulde teache him so much that the sayd Baldus for the assurance of his owne affayres being in daunger vsed his auctoritye for his owne safetye Gregorie being Pope sent a Cardinall into Italye to ouersee according to custome the estate of the Church But because as Volaterain sayth almost all the Cityes reuolted frō him by the councell of Katherine a Nonne of Scene which afterward became a saint of Baldus his scholemaster he returned from Fraunce vnto Rome with xii galleyes Or as Sabellicus saith because that he reprouing a certaine bishop for being nonresident was by the same bishop reproued againe that he being the chiefe bishop did yet lye so farre and so long from the place of his Church Anno 1376. he excommunicated out of the Church the Florentines who were the auctours of the reuolting and had taken to their vse al the Popes townes lying about them and because they despised and defyed the terrour and vaine boults of his excommunication he warred vpon them Some other saye he returned into Italye for other causes Masseus sayth that one Briget a woman returned from Hierusalem to Rome wrote to Pope Gregorie that it was the Lords pleasure that the Popes court should returne to Rome Crantzius saith it was because a certaine bishop did sharpelye rebuke him that he woulde leaue his Church and followe the Courte Of whom the Pope receyued this aunsweare And thou quoth he beinge Pope of Rome that ought to be an example to other doest not returne to this bishopricke And therefore he did againe translate his seate from Fraunce to Rome by the perswasion of two women and one bishop in the 70. yeare after the translation thereof This Gregorie demaunded tenthes throughout the whole Empyre and repayred the walles of the City and old buildings with great pompous cost He added the eue to the holye daye of the byrth of the blessed virgin Mary In the time of this Pope king Edwarde the third of Englande made many profitable lawes abridginge the Popes pilladge vsurpation and ambition within the Realme Also certaine souldiours of this Pope Gregorie lyinge in a Citye called Cesenata did not onelye take thinges as victuals and other necessaryes refusinge to paye for it but also did beate like slaues the Citizens vpon further sturre they murthered them pityfully◠sparing neyther man woman nor child though they were sucking babes so that they filled all pittes in the Citye wyth dead karcasses for in a fewe houres vpon one daye they slue in the Citye of all ages viii Thousande and then robbed spoyled the towne and so left it desolate emptye Theodoricus lib. 3. Cap. 2. At the length Anno 1378. he dyed of extreame paine of the bladder Euen at the houre of the Popes death the report is that the Pallaice of Auenio was set on fyer coulde not be quenched till the greater part thereof were burnt Afterwarde ensued the greatest sciesme and deuision that euer happened in the Popedome Then sayth Massaeus the clergye and people of Rome complayning to the Cardinals besought them to choose an Italian not a French man Pope that the Courte mighte not go into Fraunce againe But when they began to make an election sodenlye a controuersy began for the Italians were but foure and the French Cardinals were xiii who mighte easelye haue preuayled but they durst not for the Romaynes stoode readye in armour and made a tumult Therefore on Saturdaye being the ix day of Aprill they choose Vrban the sixt to be Pope who was Crowned on Easter daye being the xviii daye of the sayde moneth Praemonstratensis sayth that in the time of this Vrban the sixte began a newe and straung sect of bedlams both of men and womē who vsed to skip and daunce against all modestye who Anno 1375. came sayth he from Aquisgran into Hannonia and so into Fraunce which might prognosticate the returne of Pope Gregorie and his Cardinals to Rome This sect of Daūcers imagined with themselues that they daūced in riuers of bloud but they that stoode by could perceiue no such thing The people thought that these dauncers were euill baptized by priestes keepinge harlots and therefore the people thoughte to haue risen against the clergye to slaye them to spoyle them of their goods vnlesse God had withstoode it sayth he by certaine coniurations 143. Vrban the vi VRban the sixt being but a poore man and very obscure borne in Naples called otherwyse Barthelmew and at length archbishop of Bare but neuer Cardinal and absent the Romaynes vrging it very sore was chosen Pope He being chosen Pope Iane Queene of Sicill bestowed great cost in tryumphing for ioye and sente to him for presentes fourty thousand dukates in gould siluer besides wynes victuals and other thinges yelding also to him her kingdome and all that she had to be at his commaundemente Likewise her husband the noble Otto duke of Brunswick and Prince of Tarentum offered him the like curtesy But sayth Theodoricus of Nyem lib. 1. cap. 7. sone after Otto after dinner amonge many great estates and Cardinals drancke to the Pope but Vrban was so proud that he suffered the noble Prince to kneele before him a great while ere he would take the cup out of his hande in so much that