of the Lorde and was consumed with vermine and died miserably because hee yeelded no glorie vnto God and so the persecution ceased Heere is a second mirrour of Gods iudgement against such as oppresse the Church Saint Paul after his conuersion returned fiue times to Ierusalem At his last beeing there hee recited the Historie of his Ministerie in the assembly of the Elders of the Church His preachings were greatly spread abroad neither ceased hee to plant the Gospell wheresoeuer he went as it appeareth in the Acts. He preached at Rome by the space of two yeares although he was a prisoner Where before there was an assembly of the faithfull as the Epistle to the Romanes witnesseth Philippe the Apostle preached in Samaria where there was a Church which retired thither after the death of Saint Steuen In Azote the Church assembled from thence it went into the Maritine Townes Peter the Apostle also preached the Gospell in many Townes as is at large seene in the Historie of the Acts. Origine in his Tome vpon Genesis saith it seemeth that Peter preached in Pontus Galatia Asia Bithinia and Cappadocia to the dispearced Iewes There was also a Church in Babilon as he himselfe witnesseth in the fist of his first Epistle In Phinicia and Siria in Tyre Sidon Serentia Silicia Pamphilia Pisidia Attalia Lycaonia Also in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bithinia Misia and Phrigia Vnto these did S. Peter write The seuen Churches of Asia are named in the Apocalips namely Ephesus Smirna Pergamus Thyatirus Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicia Aboue all the Church of Antioche was most famous where the Disciples were first called Christians Some say this was the thirtie and eight yeare after Christ others fortie Paul and Barnabas remained there one whole yeare Acts. 11. and 13. Saint Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist after hee had preached the Gospell through all Asia he finally retired into the Towne of Ephesus where he remained many yeares From thence the Church might easily spread it selfe into Europe which was nigh therevnto Now we see the beginning of the Kingdome of Christ and as it were a renewment of the world About the yeare 42. the vengeance of God fell vpon Pilate For after the Iewes had accused him of too great crueltie Lord Vitellius then Gouernour of Siria commaunded him to goe to Rome to answere the accusations that were to bee laid against him But as hee was in the way hee died Tiberius as Iosephus reciteth in the eighteenth of Antiquities Chapter fiue Eutropius in his seuenth booke saith that Pilate was nipped and pinched with so great anguishes because Caligula troubled him that striking and beating himselfe with his owne hands he sought to destroy himselfe See Eusebius in his 2. booke Chap. 7. This same yeare it is held that Saint Mathew writte his Gospell in Iudea The same yeare the Tetrach ship of Herodes was deliuered to Agrippa and a great discomfiture now the second time was made of the Iewes in Babilon See Iosephus in the last Chapter of his Antiquities Claudius the fift Emperour was chosen to the Imperial dignitie the aforesaid yeare and raigned fourteen yeares and nine moneths Herodes Agrippa the yeare 15. and the third of Claudius held the Kingdome of Iudea of the gift of Caligula and Claudius Beeing departed from Rome to come to Ierusalem hee thought good to make a shew to the Iewes that he loued their Religion and after to gratifie the high Priests he put to death certaine of the faithfull At this time Churches were gouerned by the Apostles which were instructed in the schoole of the sonne of God and therefore there is no gouernment to be compared to this Yet in this time the dwell had his instruments in Churches gouernment that is to say false Apostles and false bretheren Euen alreadie wrought he the secret of Iniquitie by his Antichrist 2. Thessa 2. and 1. Iohn 2. and 4. There were Heretickes Titus 3. Dogges Philip. 3. Wolues and men speaking peruerse things Acts 20. People which were neither hotte nor colde Apoca. 3. If at this time Sathan had such license how bolde thinke we will he be now that they are gone Amongst them which now gouerned the Church some were giuen Apostles to visit Churches Their charge was to sowe the Gospell throughout the world They had no place assigned Besides the twelue Paul and Barnabas are called Apostles Acts 14. Epaphroditus is called the Apostle of the Philippians Philippians 2. Andronicus and Iunia are called notable amongst the Apostle Romanes sixteene Prophets are they which had the gift not onely to Interpret scripture but also to apply it to the true vse S. Paul preferreth Prophecie before all other gifts Euangelistes hadde an office which came nigh vnto the Apostleship The difference was onely in the degree of dignitie Of this estate was Timothie and his like which succoured the Apostles 2. Timoth. 4.5 Philip is called an Euangelist Act. 21. b. 8. Doctors were for the conseruation of the puritie of Religion that the holy doctrine might bee kept and published Saint Luke ioyneth Prophets with Doctors Acts. 13. a. 1. Priest signifieth Auncient not for that they were of an age but because age commonly hath with it more wisedome experience and grauitie Vnder this name are comprehended as well Pastors as such as were ordeined for the Regiment of the Church S. Peter calles himselfe Priest shewing thereby that it was a common name Deacons is a general name of seruice but is taken for such as had the charge to dispence the Almesses Actes 19. a. 22. Ministers or seruants are called Adioints or such as accompanied the Apostles in their viands Timothie and Erastus ministred to S. Paul Act. 19. a. 22. Bishop and Priest was then one same name and office Saint Hierome in his Epistle to Euagoras witnesseth it But afterward whilest Schismes endured one was chosen from amongest the Priests and set in the most principall place and called Bishoppe or Superintendent And therefore the office of Bishoppe was after helde to bee higher then the Priests Saint Paul commaunded Titus to place in euerie Towne Priests or Bishoppes Titus 1. a. 5.6.7 See Acts 20. f. 28. With the good seede which was all ouer as is said dispersed there beganne also heresies to be cast into the Lords field The first and most pernitious were the Simoniaques The originall whereof was Simon Magus borne in a Towne of Samaria which Iustin calleth Triton and Eusebius Gitton a man exercised in Letters who by his Arts enchaunted many in Samaria before Philip had conuerted them As is recited in the Acts. Chap. 8. After S. Peter had discouered his wicked Hipocrisie hee went away in such despite that making a mingle-mangle of the dreames of Philosophers and Painims with the religions of the Iewes and that which he learned of the Gospell he corrupted and transferred to his owne person that which was spoken of Iesus Christ of the holy Ghost and of the saluation of man
the nigh Prouinces therof of the Churches communion and societie and sent out Letters to declare them excommunicated whereof hee was greatly blamed and reprehended And especially of Ireneus Bishop of Lions by Letters which hee sent vnto him That there was great folly for the difference of a Ceremonie to breake the peace and vnion of Churches and to stirre vp Schisme therein Alleadging to his purpose that the diuersitie of Fastes neuer broke the vnion of Churches and so no more should they in this Eusebius in the Ecclesi Hist Lib. 5. Chap. 5. With this warre the tranquililtie of Churches are troubled and the doctrine of Christian libertie obscured The Romanes ceased not to molest them of Asia to subscribe to their opinion and they became so outragious therein that they which obserued the Feast of Easter the fourteenth of the Moone were called Quatorzian Heretickes condemned as Nicepho reciteth Lib. 4. Chap. 39. This Schisme gaue Montanus and other heretickes occasion and ouerture to lift vp themselues at this time in Phrygia They published certaine lawes touching Fasts Also to breake marriages Affirming that the holy Ghost had not taught all to the Apostles and that he had in himselfe the gift to conferre the graces of the holy Ghost And other such blasphemies whereby hee looked to come vnto some Primacie The Romaine Bishoppes now became more audacious to forge new Ceremonies yea and that to force them vpon other Churches The authoritie to excommunicate conuerted into abuse and so became despised because of not obseruing certaine humaine traditions The dissention touching the obseruation of Easter caused sixe principall Councells to be assembled Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 23. Victor in his second Decretall calls himselfe Arch-bishop of the Romane and vniuersall Church Tertullian a Priest of Carthage who otherwise did well serue the Christian Church finally reuoulted and drewe him selfe vnto the enraged Prophecie of Montanus Saint Hierome alleadgeth this the occasion That Tertullian beeing ledde with enuie and hatred of the Church of Rome could not at the last endure the arrogancie thereof He held one errour touching the Kingdome of Christ and the voluptuous life of the faithfull in this world before the consummation of all things Hee maintained the superstitious and ridiculous Fastes of Montanus calling him in many places the Comforter He brought in extreame vnction after Baptisme the signe of the Crosse offering for the dead and for feasts of Natiuities and other the like dreames of the Montanists His writings witnesse that he was very desirous of Martyrdome and that a Christian man ought not only to beare it constantly but to purchase and seeke it also Ammonius the Phylosopher Origens Schoole-maister perswaded in the Christian faith euen vntill death Although Porphirius say of him that he reuolted Victor with good cause depriued of the communion of the Church an hereticke called Theodotus who was a blasphemer and prince of the heresie which afterward Antemon followed and Paule Samosathonus reuiued For hee was the first that durst say publikely at Rome that Iesus Christ was but pure man of mans seed procreated as well as others See Nice Lib. 4. chap. 21. An other Schisme or diuersitie of iudgements touching the heresie of Montanus and his companions and also of Prisca and Maximilla Prophitesses which Montanus had filled with his fury Some said they were taken with a Spirit of Prophecy and that that they said were Oracles Others maintained that contrary to the custome of true Prophets they were transported and carried away in their mindes and taken with furie and extasie they were also giuen to couetousnesse and ambition contrary to the scripture which forbids Prophets to take gold or siluer The faithfull of Asia assembled many times to examine those doctrines and so newly forged Prophecies The faithfull of Gaul writ their opinion touching the furious errors of Montanus and sent Ireneus into Asia with Letters See Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 4. This Schisme as it was to the condemnation of Montanus and his complices so the true Church was aduertised more neerly to trie spirits whether they were of God or no. Whatsoeuer heauie chastisements the Iewes before had the Lord forgat not his mercy but gaue sufficient witnesse that he calleth his enemies to repentance He preserued Doctors and Pastors and a litle number of faithfuls in Ierusalem which honoured the true God From the sacking or destruction that Titus made vntill that of Adrian the Church of Ierusalem had successiuely 15. chiefe or high Bishops Euseb numbreth them Lib. 3. Chap. 5. After the destruction made by Adrian the Emperour there was no more any Church gathered of the Iewes at Ierusalem but onely of the Gentiles and of them were there Bishops ordeined Al the Iewes were driuen away as it is said by Adrian Marcus then issued of Gentiles was chosen the 16. Bishop the 10. yeare of the Emperour Antoninus after Cassianus the 17. Publius the 18. Maximus the 19. Iulian the 20. Gaian the 21. Symmachus the 22. Caius the 23. Iulian 2. the 24. Capita the 25. Thus dooth Eusebius rehearse it Lib. 5 Chap 12. And in this time wherein we now are that is vnder the Emperour Commodus Maximus the 2. was the 26. Antoninus 27. Valens 28. Dolichian 29. Narcissus 30. Elius 31. Garmanian 32. Gordius 33. Narcissus 2.34 or rather Narcissus the first returning from the Desart whither he withdrew himselfe for that his enemies had accused him to liue vnchastely of whom Eusebius saith that he had the gift to worke miracles and that his false accusers were punished according to the Imprecations which euerie one made As for the time of all these Bishops Euseb saith that he could not well discerne namely in what time euery one of them gouerned the Church Seeing then the Church of the Gentiles had already their habitation in this place the Lord would declare that the true Messias was come and so we need looke for no other This numeration here made of the Bishops of Ierusalem sheweth that other Churches may well number their Bishops as that of Rome glorifieth her selfe in the continuation of hers After the fift persecution raised by Seuerus against the Christians came ciuill warres amongst the Romanes Ireneus had liued long inough in the middest of so many persecutions The greatest renowne that he had was vnder the Emperour Commodus As for the contention concerning the feast of Easter the time in the which it was most lighted was the 4. yeare of the Empire of Seuerus He then bore the Office of a Minister 23. yeares The errour of the Chiliastes was attributed vnto him yet it is not expresly seene in his writings we haue at this day The manner of his death is vncertaine They which haue written of the Martyrs say that he and a great multitude of his sheepe were finally slaine for the confession of the name of Christ vnder Seuerus Leonides the father of Origenes martyred for the Faith
medowes and possessions and their goods should be common and distributed to nourish Ministers the poore and Notaries called Protonotaries which writ the Acts of the Martyrs Origines the tenth yeare of the Empire of Alexander fled from Alexandria into Cesaria of Palestine for a popular sedition there Some say hee was marteried vnder Alexander For although Alexander fauoured the Christians yet were many martyred by his Officers For he made no Edict to prouide for the affaires of the Christians Pontian a Romane Bishop of Rome ruled 6. yeares or nine after Damasus Two Decretall Epistles are attributed vnto him which haue this common argument with many others not to molest nor accuse Priests By Damasus it is attributed vnto him that hee should ordaine sixe Priestes 5. Deacons and 6. Bishops Martian the Scottish Historiographer saith that Pontian was sent into exile into Sardinia the first yeare of Maximin At this time at Rome were 36. Priests Cardinalls that is to say eminent and principall amongst others which especially had care of the saluation of soules Of which they say Marcellius ordained 15. to bury the dead and to baptise Children Our Cardinalls of this time would heere take their originall But indeed they beganne in the time of Innocent the fourth about the yeare of Christ 1244. Iulius Maximin borne in Thrace 26. Emperour without authoritie of the Senate but by the Souldiers because he was a great and puissant man he raigned about three yeares A man inhumane and furious he was slaine of the souldiers at the age of 60. yeares with his sonne of the age of 19. yeares and their bodies cast into the Riuer He raised the sixt persecution against the Christians and especially against the Doctors of the Church for hatred to Manea the mother of Alexander his Predecessor of whose death he was culpable and with his owne hands murdered the houshold seruants of the said Alexander The Romane Senate for hatred it bare vnto Maximin chose new Emperours to maintaine the Common-wealth namely Pupian Balbin and Gordian The two first were slaine in the Pallace at Rome by a sedition of warriors and Gordian remained alone Emperour In this time some Historiographers of small authoritie say that Syriacke was the successor of Pontian as Fasciculus tempo Henry de Hereford Bergomensis and Naucler yet is there not one approoued Author or Historiographer which makes any mention of this Siriake They say that he occupied the state a yeare three moneths and 13. dayes and that after he went to Almaigne into Colongue with a great number of Virgines and that there he was Martired with them And the reason why he was raced out of the Catalogue of the Bishops of Rome they say it was because that willingly he forsooke his dignitie against the will of the Cleargie Let euery one iudge what faith such Historians merite or such authors or forgers of Decretall Epistles attributed to Romane Bishops Celsire an Epicurian Philosopher writ then a booke which he Intituled The Truth wherein hee pursued the Christians with villanies lies Origen writ eight bookes against him Anter Damasus saith that by Nation he was a Grecian Isnarda writeth that he came to be Bishop of Rome because Pontian going away substituted him There is great difference in the supputation of the time of his gouernment Euseb giueth him a moneth Damasus 12. yeares and a moneth A Decrerall Epistle is attributed vnto him vnto the Bishops of Betique and Toledo wherein hee pronounceth it lawfull for Bishops to remoue from one place to an other if necessitie require it and the profit of the Church he was Martired vnder Maximin Fabian Bishop of Rome after Anter. a Romane gouerned 13. or 14. yeares His election is described too miraculous namely by a Doue See Eusebius 51.6 Chap. 19. Three Decretall Epistles are attributed vnto him that the Constitutions of the seuen Sub-deacons which ought alwaies to be with the Notaries which gather together the deedes of the Martyrs Hee was Martired and his wife Darfosa vnder Decius vnto whom he was married before his being Bishop Gordian chosen by the Senate was a Prince of a noble heart wee finde not that hee made any cruell Edicts against the Christians After he had raigned sixe yeares he was subtilly slaine by Phillippes which succeeded him Many heresies which rose vp in former times renewed at this time At Rome Proclus mainteined the heresie of the Cataphrygians Berillus who otherwise was an excellent Doctor in Arabia fell into the heresie of Artemon which denied Christ to haue bene before his Incarnation Origines disputed against him Vnder Gordian there was so great an Ecclips that the day-light seemed an obscuritie as darke as the night There was also so terrible an Earthquake that some whole Townes were swallowed with the ouerturne of the earth Gordian obteined many victories against the Persians and chased Sapor King of the Persians euen to Antioch which then was held of the Persians He recouered both Cares and Nisible and by this meanes came it to passe that the East was brought subiect vnto the Romane Empire Iulius Capitolin rehearseth it in Gordians life To confute Berillus a Councell was held vnder Gordian at Philadelphia in Arabia where Origenes was who ouercame him and brought him into a good way M. Iulius Phillippus an Arabian with his sonne also called Phillip succeeded Gordian in the Empire They were Christians conuerted vnto the Faith by Pontian or Pontius a Romane Senator and baptized by Fabian Hee his mother Seuera and his sonne Philip desirous to resort into the company of the Christians Fabian would admit them vnto the last Vigiles of Easter although he had great desire to persist in the congregation and prayers of Christians vntill he had confessed his sinne which was a murder as is thought and ioyned himselfe with them of whose sinnes Inquest was made and so placed amongst the Repentants Eusebius Lib. 6. Chap. 34. This Philip refused not to do but accomplished whatsoeuer was enioyned him by the Bishop In the raigne of this Philip there were Heretickes in Arabia which mainteined that the soules die with the bodies and that together they shall rise at the day of Iudgement Origines went towards them beeing sent thither and confounded them There are at this day certaine Anabaptistes which say that when man dyeth his soule sleepeth vntil the day of iudgement which is an execrable heresie There were other Heretickes called Helchescites as Eusebius saith Lib. 6. Chap. 38. or Elsecians after Epiphanius and Saint Augustine which dwelt in Arabia in the Region of the Moobites They reiected the Epistles of Saint Paul and mainteined that in the time of persecution it was no sinne to renounce the Faith with the mouth if so bee the heart remained faithfull This Heresie was before sowne by Basilides and confounded by Agrippa Castor an excellent Doctor O what great hurt this wicked heresie hath
Saints of that time were persecuted Carsulan Platina Stella and other of the Popes flatterers attribute wrongfully to these holy Martyrs of the Lord Iesu whole Chariots full of lying decrees to the ende the diuellish ordinances of their ceremonies or rather blasphemies might be approued by their authoritie They attribute vnto him the forbidding of Fastes on the Sundayes or Thursdayes because on them the Painims celebrated the solemnities of their God Saturne Item a decretall touching Baptisme and the Confirmation De consecratione distinct 5. cap. Spirit sanct cap. De his c. Note this for the Bishops of the Romaine Church vntill Siluester the first But what man would thinke that poore and simple Ministers of the word and Pastors of the Church such as then were the Bishops of Rome inhabiting in ditches and caues attending nothing vnder those Tyrants from day to day but only death could haue thought vpon this pride arrogancy which after those Popes vsed in buildings and other ordinances seeing they had neither Temples nor houses whether they might retire Peace was not yet giuen to the Church They yet enioyed not that vnprofitable Idlenesse nor the soueraigne delights of this world nor that whoore which by litle and litle rose vp had not yet her bedde ready yet such haue bene the inuentions of false Prophets to set out the whoores body and so is the Popes Sinagogue founded vpon so euident lies as nothing more Assuredly it were great folly to giue faith to such ridiculous dreames of Sathan forged for the gaine and profits of Priests Better therefore it is in this case to prooue the spirits namely whether they be of God or not as it is said 1. Iohn Chapter 4. seeing many false Prophets are come into this world Vntill this time Pastors were as Starres in the Firmament of the Church shining as well in doctrine as in good example they were also garded by the right hand of him that walked in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes Hitherto men esteemed them as Angels preaching the word of the Almightie God without fiction yea that more is hitherto they were figured by the white horse because in the ministerie they carried the victorious Iesus Christ as well in their hearts as in their bodies and as well in mouth as worke Ceremonies in the celebration of the Supper The memorie of the Lords Supper was not performed but in publike assemblies and therefore the Synode of Gangre vnder the Emperour Constans condemned Eustace Bishop of Seluste in Armenia because contrary to the order of the vse of the Church he permitted some which disdained to come into the Church to Communicate in particular houses Socrat. Lib. 2. Cap. 43. Neither was it lawful to celebrate the Supper in a prophane place as appeareth by Athanasius in the Epistle to them of Antioche Hierome against Iouinian reprehendeth the maner of doing in other Christians at Rome which Communicated in houses Wherfore said he entred they not into Churches c. Deacons distributed the Supper of the Lorde Priestes beeing present with one diuiding the Eucharist and this was after the Canon of the Councell of Nice The Priests distributed the Cup of the bloud of the Lord Doctors of this time often call it Cup or Mistike vessell S. Hierome writing of vessells to distribute the Lords Supper in saith of a Bishop of Tholouze called Exuperius There was nothing so rich as that which carried the body of our Lord in an Osier basket and the bloud in a Glasse By the first booke of Euseb of the Euang. 92. Demonst Chap. 10. One may easily knowe that Christians daily celebrated the memorie of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ And S. Ambrose in his fift booke of Sacraments Chapter 4. reprehendeth the Easterne Churches because they communicated but once a yeare In the Churches of Affrike they which should communicate passed the night in watchings prayers As Athanasius reciteth in the Apologie of his flight adding that all mutually ought before to be reconciled together And in the Westerne Churches al communicated except the Catechumenistes and such as did penance as appeareth by Hierome vpon the 7. Chapter of the 2. to the Corinthians About this time water was giuen with wine as appeareth by S. Ambrose first Chapter of his fist booke of Sacraments They put saith he into the Cup wine then water c. which being mingled was consecrated with the wine The maner of the Churches was to giue the Eucharist in the hand of him that tooke it as appeareth by the words of S. Ambrose to the Emperour Theodosius Reachest thou out thy hands which yet are bloudie and which yet distill the bloud by thee shead to take the holy body of the Lord Darest thou apply to thy mouth the precious bloud of the Lord c. The Priest as he distributed the bread said Take the body of the Lord and in distributing the wine Take the bloud of Christ and at both the Communicant answered Amen Ambrose in the 4. booke of Sacraments Chap. 5. To such as were nigh their deaths they brought the Eucharist Horatius a Priest of the Church of Verseil carried it to Ambrose nigh his death Paulinus in the life of S. Ambrose reciteth it May abuses began in this time to arise Such as made any great voyage either by sea or land carried the Eucharist as appeareth in the Oration of Saint Ambrose vpon the death of Satyrius Touching the ceremonies vsed in administring the Sacrament Denis hath left by writing that which followeth The Bishop hauing ended the prayers before the Aultar began to perfume and compasse all the place after returning to the Aultar he began to sing Psalmes and all followed This done the Ministers in order read something of the holy scripture That read they caused the Catechumenistes with the Enenguinians to goe out and such as were admitted to penance One part of the Ministers kept themselues before the portall of the Temple shut the others did such things as belonged to their charge Such as are elected to minister with the Priests presented the bread before the Aultar and the Cup of blessing Whilest all the Churchmen sung praises and Himnes to the Lord the Bishop which said the praiers pronounced peace to all And after euery one had saluted one an other the Priests and the Bishop washed their hands with water After the Bishoppe in the middest of the Aultar enuironed with Priests and Ministers began to praise and magnifie the workes of the world and propose to the people the signes of the Supper and to declare them vnto them and inuite them to the participation thereof which finally ended in thankes-giuing c. The word Messe was not found amongst the writers of this time And as for the two preparatiue prayers of the Priest meaning to say Masse which are shufled into the workes of Ambros Erasmus himselfelfe iudgeth them not to be S. Ambroses They
of the poore he caused the vessells vailes and other precious things of the Temple to be solde Sozomene lib. 4. cap. 25. And Hierome ad Rusticum accuseth Bishops which vsurpe and make proper that which is common If the liberalitie of Emperours failed the Churches defrayed the charges of Bishops and all others that went to Sinodes Theodoret. lib. 2 cap. 16. Libraries The bookes of the holy scripture which for the most part were lost during the persecutions at this time by the benificence of the Emperour Constantine were written in great dilidence and with magnificence worthy of such an Emperour By the witnes of Athanasius it is plain inough that in the Chrians Temples there were Libraries and therein he accuseth the impietie of the Arrians which tooke out these bookes burnt them Hierome against Rufin makes mention of the Librarie at Cesaria It appeares by the Acts of a Romane Sinode held vnder Siluister that the Romane Church mainteined certaine Notaries to write the acts of the Martirs Schooles There were also Schooles of two sorts Ethnicks or Philosophicall and Ecclesiasticall Nazianzenus in the death of his brother Cesarius makes mention of the Schooles of Palestine wherein he learned Rhethoricke Lactantius held that of Nicomedia Ephiphanius a Sophister kept that of Laodicea That of Cesaria in Cappadocia was renowned bicause Constantius caused Gallus and Iulian his children to be taught there But aboue al that of Alexandria was most famous for blind Didimus who ruled there Rufin Lib. 2. Cap. 7. And Basilius calleth it a goodly shape of all doctrine In Europe that of Athens because of letters was of most acount wherin Iulian had for condisciples Basile and Gregorie Nazianzenus as the said Gregorie witnesseth in his Inuectiue against Iulian. Victorinus Affrican taught at Rome Rhethorike See Hierome in his Treatife of Illustrious men The Salarie or reward was to professors payde after the lawe of Constantine conteined in the title de profess med in the Code At this time there was a man called Arrius a professor in the schoole of Alexandria in Egipt whose Heresie did miserably torment and distract the vnion of the Church He was a man swelled with ambition and presumption One day hauing heard in the congregation of the faithfull Alexander Bishop of Alexandria subtilly and learnedly disputing of the diuine essence after he had shewed that the vnitie thereof was in a priuitie Arrius Logician rather then a Theologian began to dispute and vomit out the pâ—ison he had long time gathered Epip Lib. 2. Tome 2. Necesie 69. rehearseth that Arrius was now found in an errour that Melitius a Bishop in Thebaide accused before Alexander his Bishop who after that looked to him more narrowly and tooke heed to his subtilties Such a care had Bishops at this time one of an other that no euill should goe forward Arrius maintained the Sonne of God to be a creature and the holy Ghost created of him But with what arguments and babble of words he vsed to confirme his error it should be superfluous to rehearse There are long Epistles of Arrius to Alexander and of Alexander to all Churches by which one may more at large know the spring of all this infection Alexander at the beginning sought to stop this euill by silence But seeing that Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia tooke vpon him the cause of Arrius in hatred of the Church of Alexandria Alexander not onely published the Apostasie of Arrius but also excommunicated him and his adherents as Heretickes and Schismatickes which would maintaine that God was sometimes without being Father and that the Sonne was a creature and made who knew not perfectly and exactly the Father It is straunge how so cursed an errour should in so litle time subuert so many Bishops yea the most learned not onely of the East Church but of the West also Epiph. saith that Arrius being chased away went into Palestine But Alexander hasted Letters euery where to the number of seuentie to aduertise the Bishops of Arrius his doings who was receiued of his Protector Eusebius Arrius in the meane time sent Letters to Alexandria naming him Pope and his Bishop The great Councell of Nice Anno domini 320. These debates and contentions brought great dolour and care vnto the good Emperour Constantine and incontinent to giue order therefore seeing this euill from day to day got the vpper hand sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine to Alexander a man of great pietie and authoritie with his Letters Patents to the Church to finde meanes to extinguish this fire whose flames were blowne all ouer Eusebius reciteth the Tenure of Constantines Letters full of all pietie in the life of the said Emperour Lib. 2. Hosius furnished with these Letters came into Egipt and did all that he could to agree Alexander Arrius but in vaine Whereof the Emperour being aduertised was more grieued then before at the request of the Bishops and instance of Alexander as witnesseth Rufin lib. 1. cap. 1. ordained at his owne charge an vniuersal Sinode at Nice a town of Bithinia the yeare of Christ 320. after some and the yeare of his Empire 17. At which Sinode from all the parts of the earth came Bishops and the number was 250. after Socrates li. 1. ca. 8. besides Priests Deacons A colites other multitudes Theodoret. li. 1. ca. 7. saith 318. Bishops and this is about the number wherof the most part of the Elders agree that haue written thereof Some say that the Emperour before he assembled this generall Sinode had caused Arrius to come vnto him and in the presence of some Bishops hauing enquired of his heresie Arrius with an oath answered that he bred no heresies then straight the Emperour in the presence of all said If thou hast sworne with a good conscience that thy oath be made with a full faith then departest thou an Innocent But if falsly thou callest God to witnesse let him whom thou hast offended take vengeance So many spake for him which he before had gained Notwithstanding the Emperour writ large Letters that men should take heede of Arrius that they builded not their Faithes vpon his heresies These letters beganne with these words Constantine the great Augustus c. The place for the Sinode was in the Emperours Pallace wherein hee had placed seates couenable and conuenient for each state and degree The Emperours seate was in the first ranke and it was couered with Golde as Eusebius saieth in his life Liber 3. Hee himselfe made the first exhortation to enter into the matter wherevnto by consent of all Eustachius Bishop of Antioche had charge to answere The Emperour the better to agree with them proposed the great crueltie and tirannie of the persecutions passed that now peace was open vnto them and that it should be a straunge thing the outward enemies being vanquished to stirre vp warres within Theodoret. Lib. 1. Cap. 7. Amongst the Bishops which were there assembled
against Arrius was Macarius Bishop of Hierusalem Eustachius Bishop of Antioche Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine Pathuntius of Egipt and Maximus these two had their eyes put out for the Faith and many other persons which had suffered persecution vnder the aforesaid Titants There was also Spiridian Bishop of Tremythe in Cyprus and Nicholas Bishop of Mirme in Licia a very graue man Also Athanasius then a Deacon of the Church of Alexandria Theophilus Bishop of the Gothes and Alexander Bishop of Alexandria c. Spiridian was he that in Lent presented flesh to a Pilgrim as he passed by and did eate himselfe and caused him also to eate saying that to pure Christians all things are pure Hist tripart lib. 1. Chap. 10. After that license was graunted to the two parties Eusebius Bishop of Nichomedia the Patrone of Arrius presented a Libell full of blasphemies conteining briefly that which hath bene before said That God who is for euer was not alwaies the Father And seeing all things were created of God the sonne also must be a worke made and many other blaspemies This Libell was recited and read with great sorrowe of most part of them which were there because of the blasphemies conteined therein and was torne in peeces to the great confusion of the Author There followed a very sharpe contention of both parts which the Emperour harkened vnto with great patience But finally Eusebius and his consorts fearing to be banished made a countenance to renounce their errours and to subscribe to the determination of the Fathers except Secundus and Theon as Athanasius reciteth in the decrees of the Sinode of Nice But the Bishops after they knew their fraude and how they disguised the truth with words began to vse the word Essence and Homousios that is to say of one same substance Then the Eusebians abhorred these words Homousios and Essentiall as straunge vnvsed in the holy scripture The Fathers declared that necessarily they were constrained to vse these words to signifie that the Sonne was engendered of the substance of the Father according to which bee was consubstantiall to the Father that is to say of one same substance and essence A Philosopher who by no Arguments could be surmounted was finally conuerted by a simple Bishop who said vnto him Harken Philosopher there is one God which made all things in the power of his word and by the sanctification of his holy spirite confirmed them This word which we call the Sonne of God hath redeemed mankinde which was in the bottomelesse pit of hell by his death and resurrection Torment nor trouble thy selfe too much with thine owne arguments and demonstrations in this matter which must be apprehended by faith and that Iesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles hath taught vs. Answere mee doost thou beleeue it is so The Philosopher astonished said vnto him I beleeue and confesse to be vanquished after exhorted others of his profession with him to beleeue the doctrine At the said Councell Constantine hauing receiued diffamatorie Libels accusations debates and particular quarells of Bishops one against an other caused them all to be cast into the fire that none might vnderstand their debates or errours God hath ordeined you Bishops saith he and hath giuen you power to iudge of your selues by meanes whereof we yeelde our selues to your iudgement Men may not iudge you but God alone vnto whom we referre the deciding and determination of your controuersies This humilitie of Constantine afterward brought great damage to his Successors The said Councell would haue forbidden Priests and Deacons to dwell with their wiues but Pathuntius whome Constantine had in such reuerence that hee often caused him to come into his Pallace and imbraced yea kissed the place frō whence his eye was plucked out rising vp confessed that marriage was honourable amongst all men and the bed vndefiled and said that the company of the husband with the wife was chastitie and perswaded the Councell not to set out such Lawes which might giue occasion of fornicatiō both to them their wiues The Councell approued his opinion and so dealt nothing vpō that matter but left to euery one liberty to marry or not according as to euery one should seeme expedient wherefore as before so now also was it lawful for Priests to retain their wiues and to marry But after Siritius Gregorie the seuenth forbad such marriage and commaunded continency which notwithstanding the Easterne Priests neuer receiued It is not then true which some write that Calixus who was before this Councell commanded continencie For then there would haue bene some mention of him in the said Councell and of his decree Eusebius Extract out of the Acts of the Councell of Nice We beleeue in God the Father Almightie Creator of all things as well visible as inuisible and in our Lord Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God borne engendered of him that is to say of his proper substance and therefore God of God borne and not made of the same substance of the Father by which sonne all things were made as well in heauen as in earth who also for the loue of vs men and for our saluatiō discended from heauen tooke our humaine flesh was made man He suffered death passion and after rose again the third day then he ascended into heauen and finally must come to iudge the quicke and the dead We also beleeue in the holy Ghost All such as say that there was a time that the sonne was not and that before be was borne in the earth he was not and that he was created of nothing or of other substance then of the father or that he is the sonne of God but cōuertible mutable the holy Catholicke and Apostolicke Church excommunicateth and anematizeth them It was also amongst other things ordeined in this Councell that no Bishop ought to receiue any of them which an other Bishop hath excommunicated or thrust frō his Church were he Clarke or Laie man But if we vniustly for hatred or anger were excommunicated or chased away It was ordained that in each Prouince the Prelates there should assemble euery yeare twise to holde their prouinciall Councell to knowe and iudge of such matters to the end that if any man had done any thing vniustly it might be retracted by others and that if he had done well it might be approued That in Alexandria and Rome the auncient custome should be kept namely that the Bishoppe of Alexandria should haue care of the Churches of Egipt and that of Rome of such Churches as are about Rome That if two or three Bishops striue or do not agree to consecrate one elected for some dissention In this case they must hold themselues to the determinatiō of others of the prouince and especially of the Metropolitane That the prerogatiue which before times hath bene giuen to the Bishop of Ierusalem shal be kept for him without preiudice notwithstanding of
the Metropolitans dignitie That the Cathares heretikes called Nouatians if they would repent themselues come again to the Church confesse the faith according to the beliefe of the church should be receiued into the order thereof And if their Bishop come with ours let thē sit with our Priests And let the name of a Bishop remaine only to thē which haue alwaies held the catholike faith to no others That in one Citie there be but one Bishop That if any of them which indiscreetly haue bene ordained Bishops being accused of crime do confesse it or be by others conuicted let them be deposed and likewise such as haue erred in the faith and by errour haue bin promoted if after they be knowne That such as in time of persecution haue receiued the faith and with a good hart repent themselues do 5. yeares make their penance with the Catechumenes that is to say such as learn the faith to cōmunicate with thē in praiers only after which terme they may be receiued to y e Sacraments of y e Church That such as for the Faith haue renounced the Campe and after returne thither againe doo there penance 13. yeare and after to be receiued to the Sacraments if a true repentance might be seene in them And notwithstanding that it should be in the faculty power of the Bishop to abridge the terme if he see their penance to be fruitfull and hartie That if that foresaid penitents come to peril of death before their penance be ended that then the Sacraments should be administred vnto them yet if they escaped they should be bound to ende their penance That the Catechumenes which had likewise erred should be three yeares seperated from others and do their penance apart and after be receiued with them That no Bishop nor Clarke presume to clime vp from a little Church to a greater That the Clarke which shall leaue his Church without lawfull cause going vagarant and running heere and there be not receiued to other Churches to the Communion That no Bishop ordaine any who is not of his owne Dioces without leaue of his Diocesan That none take any vsury nor gaine or aduantage vpon Wine or Corne as customably men do giuing new for old or taking the sixt part of the gaine or the tenth halfe and if hee doo it let him be driuen away as one that taketh vnlawfull gaine That Deacons be not preferred before Priests nor sit in their ranke nor in their presence do distribute the Sacraments but only minister vnto them and assist whē they do distribute but when there are no Priests there in that case they may depart them That the Diaconesses because they are not consecrated be accounted amongst Laie-people There were many Canons made and discerned in that Councell and formes of confessions of Faith touching the diuine essence really distinguished truly and eternally into three persons the Father the sonne and the holy Ghost which are one onely God alone eternall infinite and all perfect in himselfe Which persons are coessentiall and coeternall without confusion of properties and relation and without any inequalitie c. But heere it should be too long to recite the said confessions which many good Bishops presented in this Councel And for the most part they are found in the bookes they haue left vnto their posteritie The Fathers then vnited in the true doctrine touching the person of the sonne of God concluded this Article as is aboue said The Emperour Constantine also gaue out a decree and ordinance thereof And euen as Porphirius an enemie to Christian religion in times past receiued the salarie and reward of confusion for his impietie So Arrius and his complices true Porphirians were to all an horrour and abhomination He added further and denounced the paine of death to all such as hid the writings of Arrius without discrying them and burning them in the fire As for the other occasion and cause for which this Sinode was assembled namely touching the celebration of Easter the Emperour being grieued that the inequalitie of the obseruation thereof troubled so many Churches proposed to the Fathers that the decision thereof was made that all men should celebrate it on one same day It seemed vnto him vnfit that so sacred a feast as that should be celebrated after the immitation of the Iewish nation the enemies of Iesus Christ So hauing made these remōstrāces vnto the Councell he asked of Acesius Bishop what he thought thereof but Acesius durst not say cōtrary to him This question then was decided after they had ordained of things Ecclesiasticall and it was agreed therevpon that the celebration of Easter should be obserued on one same day throughout all the world The difference also which was betwixt Miletius Bishop of Licia a Towne in Thebaide and Peter Bishop of Alexandria was agreed Epipha saith Lib. 2. Tom. 2. Heres 68. that the aforesaide Peter helde that they which in time of persecution were fallen into renouncement returning to the Church and confessing their fault if they demaunded pardon that they ought not to be suspended from the communion Miletius maintained that we may not receiue them vntil the persecutiō cease least others by too great facilitie of pardoning offenders should be offended or elfe thereby might be prouoked or induced to fall into like infirmitie Socrates saith that for many other causes Meletius had bin deposed by Peter of Alexandria and that for this ignominy he alwaies after bare euill will vnto Peter and his successors Achilles and Alexander which Theodorus also reciteth Lib. 1. Chap. 8. This is briefly that which may be said in this history of the Councell of Nice which although it was as a thunder-bolt to confound that wicked Arrian heresie yet was it not so destroyed but after it lifted vp the head againe And that more is it was neuer more pernitious to all the Church thē after the death of Constantine when especially it had gotten for the defence some of the Emperours which lifted vp her head notwithstanding that which Athanasius in his Epistle to Epictetus Bishop of Corinth saith is true The faith which the Fathers haue expounded by the holy scripture in that Sinode is sufficient to confound all impietie c. Eusebius in his chap. 27. lib. 3. reciteth that the machinations ambushes laid by the sectaries of Arrius and Eusebius against Athanasius gaue occasion to the Emperor to conuocate in his time many Councells and assemblies of Sinodes There was a Priest who got fauour of Constantia widow of the Tyrant Licinius and the sister of Constantine whom this Priest made beleeue that great wrong was done vnto Arrius at the Councell of Nice and that his faith was not repugnant from that of the said Councell A litle after the said Constantia taken with a mortall disease sent for her brother Constantine and gaue witnesse of the innocencie of Arrius whereby this Priest hauing gotten accesse to the Emperour by
Possidonius writ his life Sedulius Possidonius Sozomenus Socrates and Theodoriretus were Authors of the Tripartite Historie which afterward was brought into one by Cassiodorus Valentinian was made Emperour with Theodosius and they raigned together the one in the East the other in the West Clodio a Painim King of France raigned 18 yeares Hee recouered from the Romaines Torney and Cambray where he was buried Superstition was now farre entred into the houses of great men In so much as Eudoxia the wife of Theodosius the yonger went vnto Ierusalem and frō thence brought the chains wherewith S. Peter was bound by Herode which were ioyned with them of Nero wherevpon afterward was instituted the feast of S. Peter in bonds Item the Relikes of S. Steuen S. Hierome in his Epistle to Eustochius counteth them otherwise Sixtus the third of that name a Romaine gouerned the state of Rome 8. yeares Hee was accused by a Priest of great credit called Bassus to haue committed Incest and to haue violated a religious woman named Chrysogonus and so did Bassus vnderstand of a seruant of the said Sixtus called Peter But in a full Sinode of 55. Bishops by Valentinian Augustus libertie was left to Sixtus to iudge himselfe For it is not lawfull saith he to iudge nor giue sentence against the hie and great Bishop He then tooke his oath that he was innocent of the matter and so was absolued by the Sinode and Bassus banished and all his goods confiscate and giuen to the Church The beginning that the Pope should not be iudged Sixtus then instituted the feast of S. Peter in bondes the first day of August in place of an other Feast which was before made for the victorie of Augustus Caesar which he obtained against Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra Suspition or Idolatrie chaunged but not abolished The Vandales which from the outward parts of Almaine vnder Gratian came into France and after into Spaine finally vnder the conduction of Genserich came into Mauritania and after sell vpon Carthage and there occupied Affricke more then 77. yeares Victor Bishop of a Towne in Numidia which is in Affricke called in Latine Cattena made a booke against the Arrians and presented it to Genseric King of the aforesaid Vandales an Arrian Polychronius Bishop of Ierusalem is chased away Hee in the time of a famine sold all his goods and gaue it to the poore For which chatitie and mercy he was after restored againe Sixtus ordeined that none should bee promoted in the Cleargie into anothers Diocesse or Parish He also before his death gaue all his goods to the poore Hillarie Bishop of Arles left all his goods and went into an hermitage where he composed the life of Saint Honorius Abb. Tritem He had done better if hee had preached constantly and opposed himselfe against the peoples vices Arcadius Probus Paschasius and Eutichius were in great estimation and honour with Gensericus but seeing he could not draw them vnto Arrianisme after many euils finally he martyred them with others yea hee cast certaine Bishoppes out of their places and bookes of Religion and the Christian faith were burnt The Councell of Ephesus the second was assembled by Theodosius wherein Eutiches the heretike was restored and Flauianus a true Catholike condemned by a false accusation For there was Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria President who was of the sect of the said Eutiches This Councell was corrected by the Councell following which was assembled vnder Leo the Pope first of that name as followeth The Towne of Rhemes was taken by Attila and put to fire and sword Nicasius Bishop of the saide place a very auncient man was slaine and his sister Eutropia put to death Leo a Tuscan first of that name gouerned the Romaine Church 21. yeares He ordained that whosoeuer vnreuerently should handle the Images of Saints should be seperated and depriued of the communion of the faithfull He added to the Masse Orate pro me fratres c. Also the Deo gratias is attributed vnto him He added to the Canon Sanctum sacrificium immaculatam hostiam Item hanc igitur oblationem c. Attila sacked all Italie At the sacking of Aquilia one of the honourablest women called Digna cast her selfe from an high Tower into the water for feare to be rauished by the Barbarians For the fairest women were reserued from death that they might be forced of those barbarous people Naucler Merouee the third King of France raigned ten yeares He also was a Painim and was not the sonne of Clodio but the maister of his horse-men Yet to him the king Clodio recommended the gouernment of his kingdome of his wife of his three children trusting vnto his loyaltie which hee had sworne and promised vnto him in the presence of his Princes But soone after the death of the said Clodio Merouee chased away his said three children and caused himselfe to be chosen King When the three children came to age they made warre vpon him and tooke from him all the Countrey of Austria Lorraine Brabant Namure and Hainault Leo ordeined that there should be but one God-father or God mother at Baptisme and at confirmation Some attribute vnto him the ordinance that Alleluya and Gloria in excelsis Deo should not be sung from Septuagesima vntill Easter Letanies were first in Constantinople and after in the West by Lupus Bishop of Troy receiued and approued Item by Mamerus Bishop of Vienna for an Earthquake that happened and further to appease it was sung the Sanctus Deus Sanctus Fortis Sanctus immortalis miserere nobis From hence-forward thou shalt see infinit superstitions traditions and heapes of Councells and Relikes He ordeined fasting the three Rogation dayes Attila Captaine of the Hunnes tooke Rome before whom Leo came at the first and obtained of him to touch nothing at Rome And Attila being asked wherefore so easily he agreed therevnto answered that hee sawe the Angell of God with a sword drawne who threatned him if hee graunted not his request Paul Diaconus The general Councel of Calcedon of 630. Bishops against Eutiches Abbot of Constantinople vnder Martian In this Councell 16. Chap. this decree is set downe If any Virgin vowe and dedicate her selfe to God and likewise a Monke it shall bee no more lawfull for them to marry but if they be found to marry then to remaine excommunicated yet we ordaine that the Bishop of the place if he thinke good may shew the same humanitie and fauour The Narration or Fable of the 17. sleepers named Malchus Maximianus Martinianus Dionisius Ioannes Serapion and Constantinus raised again as it were 200. yeares after their death and preaching the resurrection of the bodie against certaine heretikes affirming the contrary is forged about this time Long great persecution was against the Christians in the Country of Persia In so much that Theodosius made peace with them that they would cease the persecution Abb. Vsp. The Tripartite
done by their commaundement and ordinance Childeric second of that name the 14. King of France raigned two yeares Hee was by treason slaine for his crueltie and his wife bigge with childe was also slaine The Annalls of France Adeonatus or Deodatus Pope borne at Rome ruled there foure yeares and more His father was a Monke called Iouian or Iouinian Hee amplified the Monasterie of Saint Erasmus in the Mount Coelius wherein he was a Monke Hee instituted against Thunders and Tempests which then happened many Supplications and Letanies Supp Chron. Donus Pope a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares After some a yeare and fiue monethes Hee caused S. Peters Court to be paued with Marble and so dedicated the Church of the Apostles and of S. Euphemia and greatly augmented the honour and dignities of the Cleargie The sixt Councell of Constantinople was called vnder this Pope began vnder Agathon and ended vnder Leon the second Here the Church of Rauenna agreed not with the Romane Church beeing not subiect vnto her but called chiefe of it selfe did willingly subiect her selfe for the integritie of this Pope and that with the consent of Reparatus then Bishop of Rauenna In the second volume of Councels But their successors afterward would haue recouered this libertie and auncient freedome againe Wherfore there was a great and long cōtention betwixt the said Churches of Rome and Rauenna Finally the Chuch of Rauenna was made subiect by violence For Iustinian the second inducted and inuited by the Pope besieged the Towne and their goods were pilled many banished and their Bishop which then was called Felix had his eyes put out with an hotte Iron and was after sent into exile into the I le of Pontus Some say this happened in Agathons time Theodorike the fifteenth King of Fraunce raigned fourteene yeares hee was drawne out of the Monasterie of Saint Denis where hee had beene a Monke Hee founded the Abbey of S. Vaast at Arras and was buried there as shall be said Agathon Pope a Sicilian a Monke before ruled at Rome two yeares and an halfe or foure yeares after Naucler It was he that ordained that the decree of the Romane sea should be serued as proceeding from the mouth of S. Peter Dist 19. Chap. Sic omnes In this time the Romane Church encreased much and the Letters of that sea were sealed yet with waxe but after with leade The sixt generall Councell held at Constantinople was of 289. Bishops against the Monothelites which denied two wills and natures in Christ Gregorie or George Bishop of Constantinople left his heresie but Machirus Bishop of Antioche left it not Wherefore hee was cast out of his Bishoppricke The Pope Agathon sent to the Councell Iohn Bishop Portuensis and Iohn Deacon And the dissention that then was betwixt the East church and the West was appeased In this Councell Iohn Bishop Portuensis celebrated the first Masse in Latine and the vse and order thereof was allowed of the said Councell There also the Priests of Greece were permitted to liue in marriage and to haue lawfull wiues but not the Priests of the West Churches The Author of the booke called Fasciculus temp yeeldeth a reason therof saying that willingly he had already vowed chastitie vnder Gregorie But what should they doo if they had not the gift of continencie And moreouer could they vowe for others that came after them Lastly they vowed vppon constraint and authoritie of Councells as appeares aboue It was there also ordained that none should beare a child to be baptised vnlesse he knew the Lords prayer and the beliefe of the faithfull In the second volume of Councells Item not to vowe not to marrie and that Priests which seperate themselues from their wiues because of their sacred orders should bee excluded from the Communion Peter Viret in the Dialogue to them of Orbe A Briefe of the sixe generall Councells Hitherto there hath beene held sixe generall Concells The first at Nicene was of 318. Bishoppes against Arrius vnder Siluester and Constantine the great The second at Constantinople of 150. Bishops vnder Gratian and Theodosius Emperours and Damasus against Macedonius Bishop of Constantinople and Eudoxius who denied the spirit of God The third was in Ephesus of 200. Bishops vnder Celestine Sixtus and Theodosius the great against Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople who called the virgin Mary the mother of Christ man but not God The fourth in Calcedon of 360. Bishops vnder Leo the Pope and Martine the Emperour against Eutiches Abbot of Constantinople who denied two natures in Christ The fift was vnder Iustinian the Emperour and Vigilius Pope against Theodorus and other heretikes who said that the virgin Marie did onely bring forth a man and not God and man There it was ordained that iustly and truly the virgin Marie is called the mother of God The sixt Councell was at Constantinople against Gregorie or George and Machairus and Cirus Sergius Honorius Pirrhus Paulus Petus Bishops which denied two willes as it is said Abb. Trit Theodorus Arch-bishop of Rauenna was a great Almes-giuer and very desirous to keepe the Cleargie in good order for the which hee was hated In so much that on a Christmas day as he was going to celebrate Masse he was left of all whereat beeing much grieued hee went towards Agathon and willingly subiected his Church to the Romanes Nauclerus Leger Bishop of Anthun was in this time Ebroine Prince of the Pallace of France vnder Theoderic caused Legier his eyes to be plucked out the soles of his feete taken away and his tongue and lips cut off and at last cut off his head and his brother Guerin was stoned to death This Ebroine cast Lambert out of the Bishoppricke of Vtrich Ame Bishop of Sens was banished by Ebroine Chron. 519. In this time there was a great pestilence at Rome whereof Agathon died and the Sea was vacant a yeare seuen moneths and fiue dayes Leo Pope the second of that name a Sicilian raigned two yeares or thereabouts Abb. Vrsp After his death the Sea was vacant 11. monethes Supp Chron. This Pope was cunning in Greeke and Latine and made many Epistles and Homilies He ordained that after the Agnus Dei of the Masse they should giue the Paxe to kisse vnto the Assistants Supp Chron. Fasci Temp. Hee permitted to baptise at all times in case of necessitie He ordained by the authoritie of the Emperour that the election of the Bishop of Rauenna should not be good if the Romane Pope did not approoue it but that the Arch-bishop should pay nothing for his Inuesture for many mischiefes came of this largition Supp Chron. and Fasci Temp. The Councell of Toledo 12. and 13. in this time wherein such were anathematized as forbad eating of flesh P. Virel This is meant as it was ordained in the 14. Chapter of the Councell of Bracar 2. See aboue Benet Pope second of that name a
the Market place and incontinently burnt ordeining the paine of death to the gainsaiers Hee depriued Germaine Patriarke of Constantinople of his dignitie Heere beginne Popes to lift vp their hornes against Emperours and to oppose themselues against them For this Pope durst excommunicate the Emperour Leo the third in full Sinode because he desired to abolish the adoration of Images The office of Exerchate ceased then in Italie which had endured 164. yeares or thereabouts and was occupied of the Lombards Supp Chron. and Naucler Touching the Kings of France Because of the great troubles which at this time were in the kingdom of France the greatest part of the kings of France was created after the appetite of him who was maister of the Pallace The kings had but the title their pleasures to build Monasteries and Temples as they thought good This Maister of the Pallace had the Gendarmie in his power as the Gardian and Protector of the dignitie royall This endured vntill these maner of kings were extinct and that the administratiō Royall was deuolued into the family of Pippin le Court which is the 22. king of France the sonne of Charles Marteil Maister of the Pallace bastard sonne of Pippin le Gros Duke of Austrasia a valiant man and an excellent warriour Theodoricke Cala the 20. king of France had the title and dignitie of a king and raigned 15. yeares The Sarrasins of Spaine which they had occupied came into France being called by Erido king of Aquitane who felt himselfe too weake to resist Charles Martel These Sarrazins discended in number 400000. with their wiues children and seruants as meaning to occupie all France wasting destroying all places where they came Endo who was their hoste to inuite them thither seeing so great a multitude made an agreement and retyred on the side of France And Charles Martel met these Sarrasins in Tourrain and made an incredible slaughter of them So that their king Abdirama was there slaine and on the side of France there were no more slaine but 1500. It should be an incredible thing if besides the Historiographers of France straunge writers had not witnessed the same this so miraculous a deliuerance from so barbarous and horrible a multitude beeing so autenticke and so generally knowne The Eccleciastical people of France durst make the world beleeue with lye and all that this Charles Martel was damned because hee exacted certaine tenths of the goods of the Church to help the charges of this so daungerous a warre Can there any Ingratitude or Couetousnesse be greater then is in this Papall Priesthood Eucherius Bishop of Lion of great authoritie a little after the death of Charles Martel namely the yeare 742. saith hee sawe in a vision Charles Martel in the paines of hell because he had vsurped the goods of the Church and had not restored them as he promised Fasci temp And others recite it A lye which is for the profit of the Priests kitchin Incontinently findes his witnesses yea by horrible absurdities Iohn Damascene was in this time Eutrop. and maintained the Popes quarrels touching Images Gregorie Pope third of that name a Sirian gouerned at Rome 10. yeares and more This Pope was cause that all Italie departed from the domination of the Empire because Leon the Empeour would that in Churches there should be no Images of Saints And therefore the Pope made a Councell at Rome to be held where were assembled as many Bishops as hee could get And there it was decreed that we may lawfully honour Images And a generall sentence was pronounced against all violators and gainsaiers of their Canonike conclusiō and they excommunicated the Emperour and depriued him of his dignitie Emperours here may take a good example that they suffer not themselues to be led by Popes least finally they loose their Empires Gregorie restored many Monasteries and builded new adding great lands and reuenewes vnto them for the Monkes liuing He commaunded Priests to make a commemoration of the dead and to pray for them and writ to Boniface Archbishop of Magunce that Christians might offer for their Parents which died faithfully Naucler Some attribute this to Gregorie the 2. in the 2. volume of the Councells He added to the seruice of the Masse Quorum solemnitas hodie in conspectu tuae maiestatis celebratur c. Domine Deus noster in toto orbe terrarum Chron. Sigeb Some Monasteries were richly founded in Almaigne at Fulden at Herfelden and other places Fasci Temp. Rome was besieged by Luitprandus King of Lombardes wherefore Gregorie sent to Charles Martel King Pippins Father the keyes of the holy Sepulchre and S. Peters bands with other goodly gifts to the ende it would please him to deliuer and take the Romane Church from the seruitude of the Lombards Charles Martel writ to Luitprandus and intreated that which the Pope desired Naucler Before when the Citie of Rome endured any violence by other Princes she vsed to demaund helpe of the Emperour of Constantinople but Gregorie the third would not do this So that the tutorship of the Romane Church was transported from the Emperour of Constantinople to other Princes by that meane came it to passe that Rome is retired and exempted from the obedience of the Emperour of Constantinople Naucler The Masse beganne to be sung Paulus Diaconus lib. 6. chap. 17. saith that Luitprandus king of Lombards was the first of those kings which out of Singers did elect Priests and Clarkes to sing Masse which fashion afterward was augmented in the time of Gregorie the fift by the inuention of Robert Bishop of Chartres wherevpon the Song was called of the said Gregorie Gregoriall Song Note that Singing came into the Church by the Lombards which Gregorie the first of that name had renounced Hen. Bullenger Lieuen an English Priest preached in the Countrey of West-falia Fasci temp They of the Towne of Gaunt in Flaunders vse great Idolatries vnto him The Popes come now as into their chiefe force Childeric third of that name 21. King of France hauing raigned nine yeares was chased away and constrained to make himselfe a Monke So from Pharamond vnto Pippin we account 331. yeares From Merouee 302. From Clouis the first made a Christian 252. Zacharie Pope borne in Greece ruled at Rome 10. or a 11. yeares an Inuentor of Cappes and other ornaments tissued of Gold and stones He assigned certaine rents and lands to Priests to liue on and for Lampes in Churches He forbad the Venetians vnder paine of excommunication that they should no more sell Christians as slaues to the Sarrasins as they accustomed to do Pippin surnamed le Court of a Maister of the Pallace became by ambition the 22. King of France and besought the Pope that by his authoritie hee would confirme the kingdome vnto him Chilperic then King of France after hee had raigned nine yeares became a Monke by the aduice and authoritie
of Pope Zacharie and his wife was put into a Monasterie and in his place the said Pippin sonne of Charles Martel and Father of Charlemaigne was made King and consecrated at Soisons by Boniface Arch-bishop of Magunce by the election of all the Barons of France and by the consent and Councell of Pope Zacharie being therevnto required Who not only commanded and confirmed the said election but also absolued Pippin of the oath which he had made to the King and to the Crowne of France Abb. Vrsp This Pope did as much with the King of Lombards called Lachis For he found meanes that he left his kingdome made himselfe a Monke and his children and wife and his brother Astulfe succeeded him In the 2. volume of Councels Carloman Pippins brother was also shauen and made a Monke at Rome by the perswasion of Zacharie and remained in the Abbey of the mount Sâ—rap in Lombardie and after in the mount Cassin Constantine the fift of that name Emperour 74. sonne of Leon raigned 35. yeares This as he was baptized made water in the Font and therfore was he called in Greeke Copronymos What necessitie was there to hold a naked Childe ouer the Font This gaue a forewarning that hee should be an euill Christian Naucler And indeed many crimes were imposed vpon him because hee constantly maintained his Fathers opinion against the Pope touching Images and from thence came also that they say he dyed desperate when he said I am deliuered from the fire eternall Fasc temp Chron. Sigeb and others They which consent not to the Popes Decrees are Iudged damned Vnder Pippin a Sinode was held in Fraunce by Boniface Arch-bishop of Magunce Bucardus Guntarius and other Bishops which had not beene in 80. yeares before In so much that men said that Religion in France was dissipated and laide vnder feete Naucler It was then ordained that eache yeare there should be a Sinode in France That no Church-man should beare Armes That none of them should vse hunting nor keepe Dogges nor Birds of pray That euery Priest and Bishop should hold himselfe in his Parish and do their diligence to roote out auncient heresies that is to say Paganisme and errors of the sacrifices of the dead diuinations enchauntments and other Immolations which are yet done after the manner of Painims nigh Churches vnder the name of Martyrs and Confessors Naucler Paganisme of the Gods was persecuted in France but true Religion was not therefore established In this time the Hunnes called Hungarians occupiped Pannonia They were diuided into seuen bands euery band builded a Castle which yet at this day are called Septem Castra in Latin which is a strong place against the Turkes Edward King of England who otherwise was reputed an vpright man left his wife and entertained Nunnes who was admonished by Letters from Boniface to leaue off that vice Naucler These be the fruites and enticements of that cursed single life Pippin le Court dyed at Paris after hee had raigned 17. or 18. yeares after some leauing his two sonnes Charlemaigne in Soisonnois and Carloman at Noyon Stephen Pope second of that name a Romaine ruled at Rome sixe yeares Hee was carried vpon mens shoulders vnto the Church of S. Lateran and thereof it comes that at this day Popes cause themselues to be carried The Emperour Constantine the 14. yeare of his Empire assembled a Councell at Constantinople of 330. Bishops where it was commaunded that all Images of Saints should be taken and burnt Also he caused all his subiects to sweare no more to honour any Image of God nor of Saintes but condemned to die all such as called to the Virgin Mary for helpe and that had in their houses any Relikes of Saints They commaunded Monkes to Marry and Nunnes to follow the estate of marriage Sigeb After this the Emperor sent the defruition of this Councel to the Pope commaunding him to cast Images out of Churches Sabin King of Bulgaria throughout his Kingdome caused all Images to be taken away after the example of Constantine whereby he came in grace with the Emperour Naucler Stephen went into Fraunce towardes King Pippin demaunding aide and succours against Astulphus King of the Lombardes This King Pippin went and met the Pope and discended from his horse tooke the bridle of the Popes horse in his hand and so ledde him to the Pallace Suppl Chron. Stephen consecrated him and his two sonnes Charlemaigne and Carloman in the Church of S. Denis in France and confirmed them in such manner as hee and his posteritie should holde the kingdome of France in heritage for euer and excommunicated all such which should set themselues against it Fasci temp Also hee transported the Empire of Constantinople into France which afterward Pope Leo approued ratified and put in execution And therefore the Empire was parted into East and West Supp Chron. Fasci temp Naucler From whence came this authoritie to bestowe kingdomes of the world but from the diuel who is called the prince therof Pippin went into Italie to the Popes succours and obteined victory against the Lombards Astulphe was constrained to agree to the Popes will Sigeb The Exarchate which was occupied by the Lombards and appertained to the Emperour is giuen to the Pope by Pippin without any right For the estate of such as held that dignitie and office were assigned the Townes that follow Rauenna Imola Boulonge Mutina Rhegin Parma Placentia c. At this time happened an horrible thing in the Abbey of S. Martin at Tours For all the Monkes which were giuen to pleasures and wickednes dyed suffocated and choaked except one Fasci temp The Parliament Instituted in France Constantine the Emperour sent gifts to Pippin praying him to render vnto him the Exarchate Pippin answered that hee came not the second time into Italie for any temporall profit but in dutie to guard the Church against the Lombards and to take from them Rauenna and the Exarchate and other goods of Italie to giue them vnto the Pope Naucler Abb. Vrsp Thassido Duke of Bauier did homage to the King of France Paul brother of the former Pope 94. gouerned 10. or a 11. yeares In whose election there was great debate For some had chosen one called Theophilactus Buggandus Bishop of Metes at this time was very affectionate towards holie bodies and heaped vp Relikes He transported from Rome into France the bodies of S. Gorgon and Saint Nazare and of many others Rome which before was the butchery of Martyrs now selles bodies and bones Constantine seeing the foolish superstition of Christians at the Sepulchres of Saintes kissing and worshipping their Relikes caused their bones to be taken out of their graues and to be cast into the Sea At this time it was that Sigebert reciteth that in Berithe a Citie of Siria was found an Image of Iesus Christ wherevnto the Iewes did many outrages pearcing his feete hands and
Church of Reate in Italie euen then falling vacant he would not consecrate the Bishop who was chosen there vnlesse hee would first acknowledge that the Emperour should approoue his election But see what followed after As soone as he was come to Rome he beganne to thinke that the right and preheminence giuen to Charlemagine and his successers might bring with it many mischiefes therefore taking the greater hardinesse by the softnesse and benignitie of Lewis thought it good to abolish such a right and there vpon pronounced that the Popes election ought to be in the power of the Cleargie of the Senate and of the Romane people yet fearing to prouoke the Emperours anger against him he added this Interpretation namely that it should be very lawfull for them to elect the Bishop of Rome without the authoritie of the Emperour but that it should not be lawfull to consecrate him without the Emperours presence or his Embassadors So by this meanes for a certaine time were the Emperours kept from the election of the Pope Yet because Stephen occupied not the seate past eight moneths hee could do litle of that hee forethought to encrease his authoritie But he died in his accustomed superstition Anno domini 817. Pascal first of that name a Romane Monke following the traine of Stephen his predecessor was chosen Pope by the Cleargie and people of Rome without the consent of the Emperour And as the Emperour complained of this election Pascal subtilly purged himselfe by his Embassadors sent thither By tract of time this subtill and malitious Pope seeing there was daunger if he longer deferred to augment his authoritie so straungely enchaunted the Emperour Lewis insomuch as he bare great honour to the Romane Church that he consented to remit into the hands of the Cleargie and the people the right of electing of the Pope which had beene giuen before to Charlemaigne and also that hee should by his Letters confirme all Donations made by his predecessors although they were made of things acquired by vniust vnlawfull violence This hee did as one ignorant of their cautelous and deceitfull dealings and sealed them with his seales But after he had Crowned at Rome Lotharie his sonne Emperour to the end that by that meanes he might more easily compasse that which he sought he did so much by treason and secretly that Theodorus and Leon officers of the Emperours house which faithfully held their maisters part had their eyes put out and after their heads cut off by the meanes of certaine mutinous and seditious people And although he were accused to the Emperour as well for the sedition which had bene stirred as for the murder against their persons committed after he had assembled a Sinode of a certaine number of Bishops he purged himselfe by oath Notwithstanding he accused of treason them which were slaine and pronounced that by good right they had bene slaine declaring them to be absolued which murthered them Behold the holinesse of these holy Fathers in their kingdome of perdition Pascal honoured with a most magnificall Sepulchre in the Towne two thousand bodies if he faile not in his account of Saints before dead which were buried in Church yardes He builded all new the Temple of S. Praxides and set in it the bodies of S. Cecilie Tiburcius Valerian Maximian and other Martyrs also of S. Vrbain and other Bishops He reedified some Churches which were like to fall with great age Lewis vpon great deuotion he had to the Apostolike Sea bestowed vpon the people and Cleargie of Rome the power to choose the Pope and the Bishops which authoritie belonged to the Emperours But hee reserued this prerogatiue that the Pope beeing chosen hee should alwaies send to the Emperours to confirme amitie Naucler The Emperour also ratified the donation made to the Pope of Rome by his predecessors and signed it with his owne hand and his three children tenne Bishops eight Abbots and fifteene Earles The Copie of these Letters are in Volateran in the third booke of his Geographie Pascal then tarried not long after to commaund vnder paine of excommunication that none should presume to receiue an Ecclesiasticall Benefice of a Lay-man whosoeuer hee be Supp Chro. Great signes and maruells happened in this time In Saxe a great Earthquake so that many villages as Vrsp saith perished by fire In diuers places it raigned stones amongst haile which slew men and beasts Naucler Eugenius Pope second of that name borne at Rome ruled three yeares A Schisme rose vp in the Church and there was great discord amongst the Cardinalls some choosing Sozimus but finally Eugenius obtained the Papacie for he had in him great appearance of holinesse At this time a Peace was confirmed betwixt Leo Emperour of Constantinople and Lewis the Romane Emperour Naucler The King of Denmarke named Hariolus cast out of his Kingdome by the children of Godfrey came for succours to the Emperour Lewis and obtained helpe to be restored into his Kingdome Chron. Sigeb Translation of holy bodies Now was translation of the bodies of many Saints from Italie into Almaine France and England Fascic temp This was all the Religion of this time Michael Emperour of Constantinople sent Embassadors towards Lewis Debonaire to vnderstand his opinion towching the Images of Saints namely whether they should keepe them or reiect them Lewis sent them to Pope Eugenius to heare his opinion Bonif. Simoneta This Emperour Michael sent to Lewis the bookes of the Hierarchie of S. Denis Chro. Sigeb Lotharie King of Italie came to Rome and was royally receiued of Pope Eugenius hee reformed the estate of the Towne and all Italie and ceased all partialities and appointed at Rome Magistrates to do right to the people Naucler Blond Valentine second of that name Cardinall and Deacon a Romane gouerned at Rome onely fortie dayes an eloquent man Bonif. Simoneta Organes became first in vse in France about this time by a Priest called Gregorie who learned his cunning therein in Greece See the Hist of France Gregorie Pope fourth of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 16. yeares This Pope would neuer accept the Popeship vnlesse first the Emperour would approoue his election and therof he was certified by an Embassage which the Emperour sent to Rome to examine the said election Naucl. and Abb. Vrsp The Sarrasins with the Souldan of Babilon came into Rome and of the Church of S. Peter made a stable for horses and wasted Pouille Calabria and Sicilie and pilled and spoiled all where they went Chron. Euseb and Naucler Naucler saith that in the Councell held at Aixle Chapele vnder this Pope the yeare of Christ 830. there was ordained a meane and rule for Monkes Nunnes Canons and others to liue in There was also ordained that euery Church should possesse rents and reuenewes that so Priests might haue whereon to liue and so to keepe them from applying themselues to any prophane thing or dishonest gaine Prebendes were ordained
moued Bruno to seeke remedie and comfort to his fancie without the word of the Lord was of the diuel and proceeded of his illusions This liberalitie drew many poore and needfull people vnto him that they came by troupes and he alwaies expounded some place of holy scripture in the vulgar tongue for hee was a man learned as the writings of that time witnesse and the Catalogue of the witnesses of the truth the Bishop of the place and the Prelates which carried the keyes as they say and would neither enter nor let others enter beganne to murmure that a Laie man or secular man as they call them should handle or declare in the vulgar tongue the scripture and make assemblies in his house admonishing to cease to do so vnder the paine of excommunication But for all this the zeale that Waldo had to aduance the glory of God and the desire the little ones had to learne was nothing diminished but contrary the resistance and tyrannie of the Prelates gaue occasion to discouer the errours and superstitions of the Romane seate which then were as it were hid in darknesse The like happened in our time for whē the Pope his Priests could not endure that Martin Luther should reprehend their Indulgences they were the cause that a further search was made into their errours and so discouered their abhominable blasphemies Waldo now gathered in the vulgar tongue many places out of the auncient Fathers to cōfirme and strengthen such as were of his side not only by the authoritie of holy scriptures but also by witnesse of Doctors against the aduersaries It is likely to be true by Historiographers yea euen by the writings of the aduersaries that this assembly endured certaine time it may be foure or fiue yeares that Waldo taught in the Towne of Lyons before he was driuen to exile banishment For because he was mightie and had friends he was not so soone exposed to daungers which afterward were laide for him And thus came the appellation of the Pope of Lions Some called them Waldois some Lyonists and some Insabbatati that is such as obserued neither Sabboth nor Feast and many other like names to make them odious and detestable as shall be shewed in the discourse of this Historie Alexander vnderstanding the Emperor marched to come to Rome perceiuing himselfe culpable of the treason he had done him the 7. yeare of his Popedome fled from Rome in the habit of his Coole came vnto Venice remained in a Monasterie where finally being knowne he was led by the Duke the Senate with great solemnitie into S. Markes Church The Emperor vnderstanding y t Alexander was at Venice sent Embassadors to demaund Alexander The Venetians maintained the Pope which the Emperor seeing sent thither his son Otho with an Army yet commanding him not to fight against the Venetians before his comming But Otho led with youth gaue battell lost the victory was prisoner Which the Pope seeing wold not agree with the Emperor vnlesse fist he came to Venice receiued the meanes that he wold offer Frederic to help his son came to Venice the Pope would not absolue him of y e bond of excommunicatiō vntill he presented himselfe at the doore of S. Mark his Church Whē he was come thither the Pope cōmanded him in the presence of all the people to cast himself vpon the ground and to demand pardon of him The Emperor prostrating himselfe vpon the earth at the Popes feete hee set his foote vpon the Emperors neck pressing it downe said It is written Super aspidem basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis Leonem draconem that is to say Thou shalt goe vpon the Aspe Basilike and tread vnder thy feet the Lyon the Dragō The Emperor taking in ill part the contumely answered This was not said vnto thee but vnto Peter But the Pope stepping againe vpon his neck answered Both to me to Peter The Emperour fearing the peril or an hid danger held his peace so was absolued and an accord was made betwixt them vpō condition that the Emperour should hold Alexander for the true legitimate Pope that he should restore to the Romane church all that he had vsurped takē during the war These things ended the Emperor his son departed frō Venice so ceased y e schisme This Pope gaue many priuiledges to the order of Chartreux and Canonized S. Barnard The bodies of three Kings as they call them were transported from Millaine to Colongne by the Bishop of the said place Sabell Eun. 9. lib. 5. The order of the Carmalites began in this time and the order of Willelmins Hermirs Fasc Temp. About this time Henry the second King of England seeing the power of Bishops Cleargie too great in England and that they by oathes made to the Pope did alienate themselues and the Forces of the Realme by such means weakned renewed the auncient rights called the Dignities of the Kingdome And aboue all that which saith That Bishops and Prelates shal sweare to be loyall and faithful vnto the king and the publike vtilitie of the kingdome Thomas Becket Archbishop of Cāterburie gaue that oath to the King but after repented himselfe thereof as of an vnlawfull oath and demanded therfore the Popes absolution The King grieued at such periurie banished him and about fiue yeares he was in France The questiō was long debated at Rome cost much mony vpō Embassadors going betweene the one partie the other Gratian cōpiler of the Decrees was sent on the Popes side Petrus Lombardus on Becket his side The king fearing apparent daungers on the side of France was glad to be quiet but Becket being restored and stil remaining contrary to the king and vnwilling to absolue such as before he had excommunicated he was slain by certaine Nobles of the Realme The 48. yeare after his death there was a disputation in Paris amongst the Doctors whether he were damned or saued There was one Roger a Normane who maintained that he deserued death being a Rebell against the King who is the Minister of God Others contrary maintained that by good right he ought to be held in the number of Martirs because he died for the Clergie and so the Pope Alexander canonized him This Historie sheweth vs what difference there is betwixt the Popes Martyrs and them of Iesus Christ The punishment makes not the Martyr but the cause Many haue written against this Archbishop Becket and condemning him haue maintained the Kings cause Baleus rehearseth it So doth Iohn Eliot and Iohn Bishop of Poitiers Our Ladies Church of Paris is now builded by the Bishop there called Maurice who also founded besides three Monasteries that is Negranx Hermeries and Yeres The Sea of Histories About this time were there seene in the West Countries three Sunnes in September the yeare after three Moones Chro. Euseb Baudwin fourth of that name the seuenth King of
preserued in the middest of the fiercest waues As is said in Esay 60. Thou shalt haue no more the Sunne to shine by day neither shall the brightnesse of the Moone shine vnto thee For the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glory and thy Sunne shall neuer goe downe neither shall thy Moone be hid for the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and the dayes of thy sorrow shall be ended The assurance then of the Church ought not to be considered according nor in regard of things present because it is established in God and feareth no chaunges For God is her light so that she hath no need to borrow any brightnesse from either Sunne or Moone And although the faithfull be not depriued of the commodities of this present life but rather there is nothing either in heauen or earth which God hath not created for the loue of them seeing he hath a particular care of them yet is there one thing much more excellent which the children of God do enioy namely the heauenly light which from all times hath bene cast on it We must then lift vp our spirits vnto God who gouerneth all both aboue and below and not attribute any thing to Fortune as prophane men doo heereunto men pretend to bring all the faithfull Therefore hither men come not to feede the spirit of foolish curiositie or here to learne any thing to babble with vaine ostentation or to take pleasure to heare a well adorned language and assoone as the eyes are taken from off the booke all fruite of that reading is lost but there is neither fact nor chance nor issue which euery man oght not to borrow for himselfe If he finde that some vertuous and well liuing man hath bene well beloued of God and honoured of men that vertue ought to be vnto him as a flame to lighten his heart that following such a man he may come to a like felicitie If contrary he encounter and light on one who for his vices fell into some greeuous inconueniences it is an example to serue him for a bridle that hee do not precipitate and throw himselfe headlong into the same ditch and aboue all such as haue great dignities and are called to doo great things so much more as their ruine is daungerous so much more also ought they to be carefull to looke how faithfully they acquite themselues in their charge committed vnto them But well hath one said that The Historie is a treasure which should neuer depart from the hands wherwith men being aided may more commodiously handle their affaires like to such as they finde registred in histories seeing that almost alwaies alike causes happen and come to passe This small aduertisement may profit if it light not vpon crooked and brutish spirits vnto whom this labour will not be profitable but onely vnto such as with an honest pleasure will ioyne a good desire to carry an humble reuerence to all the workes of God But then O Church of God seeing all things come and are done for the loue of thee it is good reason that thy litle estate or rather glasse of thy condition of that thou hast endured since the comming of thy espouse be dedicated and consecrated vnto thee On the one side thou shalt know the heretikes schismatikes mockers contemners with the tyrants and violent oppressors which haue done vnto thee a thousand euils but on the other side thou shalt see Iesus Christ the stronger who hath not declared himselfe thy head for a world or two but for euer a protector of thine And now is there any vnderstanding that can cōprehend lesse tongue to expresse what he hath done for thee in these last dayes when from thy renting and treading vnder foote we see so many children each where of so fruitfull a mother O admirable bountie O indicible ioy and consolation to see the meruailes of the Lord in these last times Let vs pray that hee will continue that hee hath begun and aduanced to his glory and honour So be it Thine in the Lord Iohn Crispin The order of the Bishops and Pope of Rome after this Booke SAint Peter vpon false tokens called the first in number of the Bishops of Rome Linus Cletus Clement Anacletus Euaristus Alexander Sixtus or Xistus Telesphorus Higinus Pius 1. Auicetus Soter Eleutherius Victor Zephirin or Seuerin Calistus Vrbain Pontian Antherus Fabian Cornelius Lucius Stephanus Zistus 2. Denis Felix Eutichien Caius Marcellin Marcel Eusebius Melchiades Siluester Marcus Iulius Liberius Felix Damasus Siricius Anastasius 1. Innocentius 1. Zozimus Boniface 1. Celestinus 1. Sixtus 3. Leo 1. Hilarius Simplicius Felix 3. Gelatius Anastasius 2. Simmachus Hormisda Iohn 1. Felix 4. Boniface 2. Iohn 2. Agapetus Siluerius Vigilins Pelagius 1. Iohn 3. Benit 1. Pelagius 2. Gregorie 1. Sauian or Sabinian Boniface 3. Boniface 4 Deus dedit Boniface 5 Honorius Seuerin Iohn 4 Theodorus 1 Martin 1 Eugenius 1 Vitalian Adeodatus Donus Agathon Leo 2 Benit 2 Iohn 5 Conon Sergius Iohn 6 Iohn 7 Sisinius Constantine 1 Gregorie 2 Gregorie 3 Zacharie Stephen 2 Paulus 1 Constantine 2 Stephen 3 Adrian 1 Leo 3 Stephen 4 Paschal Eugenius 2 Valentine 2 Gregorie 4 Sergius 2 Leo 4 Iohn 8 Benit 3 Nicholas 1 Adrian 2 Iohn 9 Martin 2 Adrian 3 Stephen 5 Formosus Boniface 6 Stephen 6 Romaine Theodorus 2 Iohn 10 Benit 4 Leo 5 Christopher Sergius 3 Anastasius 3 Lando Iohn 11 Leo 6 Stephen 7 Iohn 12 Leo 7 Stephen 8 Martin 3 Agapetus 2 Iohn 13 Benit 5 Leo 8 Iohn 14 Benit 6 Donus 2 Boniface 7. Benit 7 Iohn 16 Iohn 17 Gregorie 5 Iohn 18 Siluester 2 Iohn 19 Iohn 20 Sergius 4 Benit 8 Iohn 21 Benit 9 Siluester 3 Gregorie 6 Clement 2 Damasus 2 Leo 9 Victor 2 Stephen 9 Benit 10 Nicholas 2 Alexander 2 Gregory 7 Victor 3 Vrbaine 2 Pascall 2 Gelasius 2 Calixtus 2 Honorius 2 Innocent 2 Celestine 2 Lucius 2 Eugenius 3 Anastasius 4 Adrian 4 Alexander 3 Lucius 3 Vrbain 3 Gregorie 8 Clement 3 Celestine 3 Innocent 3 Honorius 3 Gregorie 9 Celestine 4 Innocent 4 Alexander 4 Vrbain 4 Clement 4 Gregorie 10 Innocent 5 Adrian 5 Iohn 22 Nicholas 3 Martin 4 Honorius 4 Nicholas 4 Celestine 5 Boniface 8 Benit 11 Clement 5 Iohn 23 Benit 12 Clement 6 Innocent 6 Vrbain 5 Gregorie 11 Vrbain 6 Clement 7 Boniface 9 Benit 13 Innocent 7 Gregory 12 Alexander 5 Iohn 24. Martin 5. Eugenius 4. Felix 5. Nicholas 5. Calixtus 3. Pius 2. Paul 2. Sixtus 4. Innocent 8. Alexander 6. Pius 3. Iulius 2. Leo 10. Adrian 6. Clement 7. Paul 3. Iulius 3. Marcel 2. Paul 4. Pius 5. Gregorie 13. FINIS A Table of the Romaine Emperours with the declaration of the yeares which euery one raigned AVgustus raigned 56. yeares that is to say 12. with Antonius and Lepidus and 44. alone The yeare 42. of his Empire was our Sauiour Iesus borne  yeares moneths
as the first The Christians after dwelt in Palestine with some assurance and there had Churches Sixtus sent many to preach the faith in France hee was afterward martyred vnder Adrian Pernitious heresies now did spring Saturnin Basilides Carpocrates Valentia and Tatien tore in peeces the doctrine of God forging many Gods denying the humanitie of Christ Valentine and Martian forged that Christ brought from heauen his humane flesh Martian saide there was two beginnings the one good and the other euil Montanus denyed the Diuinitie of Christ and affirmed of himselfe that he was the holy Ghost They admitted and allowed whoredomes and villainous filthinesse against marriage Many were turned from the true doctrine by these heresies blasphemies which proceeded from those horrible monsters Instruments of Sathan Telesphorus 9. Bishop of Rome a Grecian ruled sixteene yeares of the time of Adrian and Antonine It is attributed vnto him that he should enioyne Church-men to abstain from flesh 7. weekes before Easter The Decretall likewise attributed vnto him makes mention of Clarkes but not of laie people yet after by succession of time Lent became obserued of all He instituted three celebratiōs of Christs natiuitie one at midnight an other at the point of day and the last at three He added Gloria in excelsis Deo c. Some say it was S. Hillary others Symmacus This hymne seemeth to haue bin writtē against the Arrians as shall be said hereafter And the fourth Councel of Toledo Chap. 12. makes mention that this Cauticke was made by the Ecclesiasticall Doctors Henry Bullinger Lib. 2. of the beginning of his Decad. Chap. 7. He ordained also that none should presume to celebrate in the morning before 3. a clocke In this Decretall hee is called Arch-bishop of Rome Carpocrates an hereticke was the inuentor of a Sect manner of people called Gnostici For he taught them secrets of Magicke dreames of loue which came by diuellishillusiō Many hereby were deceiued led to destruction They which were not yet instructed seeing the execrable life of those villaines which called thēselues Christians would therefore abolish the Christian faith as if all were alike And all the slaunders wherwith they charged the Christians namely that they were cruell and that they medled with all women carnally without any regard of bloud or parentage yea that they did eate little children came not but from those pernitious heretickes So it falls out at this day For the errours of Anabaptists and Libertines are without difference attributed vnto such as follow the Gospell and with a common name they are wrongfully called Lutherans Adrian builded a Temple and a Sepulchre vnto Antinous whom hee had wickedly abused in his life and ordeined that men should euery yeare celebrate the playes and pastimes called with his name Antinoens He also founded a Citie of the said Antinous name which hee called Antinoe Where for feare of the Emperour Antinous is worshipped as God although men knew what a man he was Adrian died very miserably There came vnto him a great fluxe of bloud hee was also taken with great paine and fell to the dropsie he assayed by Arts Magicke to drawe that water out of his body but nothing helped him neither ceased the bloudy Fluxe Sopartianus reciteth that hee called of his Phisitian for poyson and seeing he would not giue it him he demaunded a knife promising great things to him that would deliuer him one He dyed of the age of 62. yeares hauing no member in his body which was not vexed with torments Aurelius Victor He was punished with bloud for the bloud he shead The persecutions in Asia were exceeding great See Euse Lib. 5. Chap. 15. where at length he describeth the Martyrdome of Policarpus Lib. 4. Chap. 23. The Athenians offended at so great persecutions wherein they had lost Publius their Bishop almost reuolted from the faith There was no torment nor punishment that the Instruments of the diuel could deuise whereof the Christians were not iudged worthy for they were espied in and without their houses They cried against them in all publicke places They whipped them trailed them stoned them pilled their goods imprisoned them plates of yron were applyed to their naked flesh They locked them in an Instrument of Torture euen to the fift point they were put in obscure and lowe places in prison Some strangled them some exposed them to beasts and other infinit torments The dead bodies in prison after they were cast into the fields they set Dogges there to keepe them that they might not bee buried In these hard torments Christians gaue courage one to another and were very carefull to take such order as none should fall from their profession either by infirmitie or for want of abilitie to endure the torments The number of Martyrs of this time were too great to be recited in this litle Treatise But Iustine Eusebius Basile the great and other auncient Doctours haue carefully set them downe in writing These examples ought to encourage vs constantly to maintaine the truth of the Gospell Antonius Pius a Gentile Emperour 16. raigned 23. yeares or thereabout a man benigne and modest He said often that he had rather saue a Citizen then to sley a thousand of his enemies Tertullian witnesseth that hee was not altogether gentle towards the Christians and especially in the beginning of his raigne When Arrius Antonius saith hee ceased not to persecute in Asia the Christians assembling in a company presented themselues before the Iudiciall seate And after hee had sent some fewe of them to the Iibbet hee said to the rest O miserable men If you haue an affection to die haue you not cords to hang yourselues or high places to cast your selues downe Higinius an Athenian a Philosophers sonne gouerned the Church of Rome 4. yeares He ordained that Churches should be dedicated by solemne ceremony Item that the number of Temples should neither be augmented nor diminished without the consent of the Metropolitane See the Decretall De conse dist pri ca. Omnes Bacilicae This was the first who entituled himselfe Pope in his second Decretall He for bad that Summers Sparres Tyles and other matter of Temples should be after applied to any prophane vse but burnt or giuen to other poore Churches and Monasteries and not to the vses of Laie men He instituted that at Catechisme Baptisme and confirmation there should be a Godfather or Godmother De conse dist 4. ca. In cat He ordained that if any woman came to the secōd marriage by whom shee had issue that that issue could not be married to the consanguinitie of the first husband vntill the fourth degree Item that no Metropolitane except the Pope shall condemne any of his Cleargie Priest Suffragane or Bishop of his Prouince vnles first the cause be handled and knowne in the Councell of other prouinciall Bishops otherwise the sentence not to be
reproach Hist Eccle. Lib. 7. Chap. 17. Note how the Sonne succeeded the Father in their Bishopricks And so in Victors time Polictates a Bishop of Asia said that he himselfe was the 8. Bishop of his Auncestors Some say that Galien seeing the long horrible seruitude of his Father vnder Sapor King of Persia as is said caused to cease the persecution by publicke Edicts permitting euery one to liue after his owne lawe Hee was so giuen to his pleasures that when it was tolde him that many Countries were reuolted from him hee did but laugh In so much that his souldiers slew him at Millaine at the age of 50. yeares hauing raigned 15. yeares that is to say seuen with his Father and eight alone Thirtie Tyrants rose vp which sore afflicted the Romane Common-wealth Ignatius saith it Claudus the Emperour raigned almost two yeares Trebellius saith that in his kingdome the Gothes and diuers other people of Scythia pilled the Romaine Prouinces and that there were three hundreth thousande men of barbarous Nations which by force entred into the Romaine Territories against which people as well by sea as by land the Emperour Claudus obteined victorie the first yeare of his kingdome and finally chased them away After him Quintilius his brother was chosen of the Romane Senators and raigned but seuenteene dayes and was slaine or as some say he caused his owne foote to bleed in water hauing vnderstood that Aurelian was chosen Emperour Aurelian the Emperour is rather to be numbred amongst necessary Princes then good for so much praise as his militarie Art deserueth so much his domesticke crueltie takes from him which he exercised euen against his sisters sonne Vopiscus witnesseth that the Emperour Aurelian the first yeare of his kingdome recouered Gaule after hee had vanquished Tetrike who before occupied it this was in the yeare of Christ 274. after Eusebius He also deliuered from the Barbarians the Inhabitants of Auspourge which were besieged by the said Barbarians After this he tryumphed ouer Zenobia and the Persians hauing vanquished them Some say hee founded Orleans and Geneua renowned Townes Eusebius saith of him that he was towards Christians very peaceable at the beginning but soone after he chaunged his good opinion at the perswasion of wicked people Insomuch that he determined to persecute the Churches and letters of his Edict were written and wanted but his signet and hand for to send them vnto the Prouinces but God by his diuine clemencie hindered it For hee dyed suddenly before he could execute his will Some say a Thunderboult light nigh vnto Aurelian and such as followed him euen when he began to persecute the Christians and that soone after he was flaine by one of his houshold and familiars as hee was going the second time to warre vpon the Therikes Herein would God giue his to know that his chosen are not executed at the pleasure of men but when it pleaseth him This was the ninth persecution against the Christians which endured not long for the death of the said Tyrant It should also be noted that euen whilest Aurelian the Emperour raigned foure Tyrants inuaded the Empire namely Firmian Saturnin Bonosus and Proculus As Vopiscus saith After the death of Aurelian the Empire was voyd seuen moneths And after him Tacitus was chosen Emperour a wise and graue man but he was slaine the sixt moneth of his Empire Florian his brother tooke from him his Empire not by the Senates authoritie but of his owne will thinking it belonged vnto him by hereditary right yet notwithstanding a while after he was slain nigh Tharsus hauing raigned 60. daies Some say he caused his owne veines to be opened Probus issued from Dalmatia was declared Emperour a man excellent both in peace and warre hee raigned 6. yeares and foure moneths The first yeare of his raigne he recouered Gaul which the Barbarians and Almaines had againe occupied and brought them vnder the first obedience of the Romanes He reduced all Germanie into a Prouince He tooke away olde Tyrants and brought peace into the world So that he said there should be no more any need of souldiers which caused them so to malice him that they conspired to sley him Manes the hereticke at this time composed many bookes and almongst others one hee Intituled The Misteries of Maniche He was a Persian by Nation And seeing many abhorred his lyes and blasphemies sought all meanes to giue authoritie to his doctrine He made the King of Persia beleeue that he would heale his sonne who was greeuously sicke But after the Kings sonne was taken from the Phisitians and put into the hands of Manes he died The King of Persia caused him to be apprehended and made him to be broyled aliue vpon an hot Iron Suidas and Epipha recite it Hee was a great Magician and S. Augustine saith that the bookes of the Maniches are full of fables of Astronomie S. Ierom in the preface of the Dialogues against the Pelagians saith that the Manicheans affirmed that when they are come to the highest degree of perfection they can no more sinne no not in thought nor by ignorance Felix borne at Rome was ordeined Bishop after Denis the yeare of Christ 280. after Eusebius and the first yeare of the raigne of Probus The last Authors attribute vnto him two Epistles Decretals without authoritie of the Elders The first is written to Paternus Bishop The 2. to all the Bishops of France wherein he declareth that he had determined in a Councell that Messes should be celebrated vpō the memory of Martyrs least it might be quenched The word Messe doth manifestly enough shew the deceit and forging of those decretals For it was not yet vsed neither are there found any Authors of that time which haue written thereof Felix finally suffred martirdom after he had bin bishop of Rome 5. yeares after Euse But after Dama 4. yeres 3. months 5. daies Eutichian a Tuscā of the towne of Lunes succeeded him the year of Christ 284. the 1. yeare of y e raign of the Emp. Probus Two decretal Epistles are attributed vnto him the 1. to them of Boetia cōtaining certain doctrines of y e Incarnatiō of Christ of his body of his Crosse of his death of hell of our saluatiō Damasus attributeth vnto him a ceremony touching the oblation of Gummes fruites as Beanes Pease Raisons and such like The same Damasus saith of him if we must needs beleeue him that with his owne hands he buried 342. Martyrs and that he ordained that none should bury any Martyr without a Damaltike or a Sacerdoll coate and without fire Whosoeuer vnderstands the horror of the persecutions of this time way easily coniecture the lyes of such ceremonies Gratian the great Forger reciteth that Eutichian made many constitutions That Abbesses and Nunnes should not put vailes vpon widowes or maydens which should be Nunnes Item that such as came to Councells about
witnesseth Sabellicus Enne 7. lib. 8. Arithimus Bishop of Nichomedia after he had made a confession of his Faith hee was beheaded with a great troupe of Martyrs Serena Dioclesians wife endured constantly martyrdome This persecution was so cruell that none were spared Hermanus Gigas In Europe at Rome aboue all places was there greatest number of Martyrs The Prouost Rictiouarus in Gaul made a great massacre especially at Cullaine at Treuers and towards Moselle Beda writeth that this persecution came euen into England and then that Saint Alban a man very renowned receiued the crowne of Martyrdome From this time they beganne to finde out diuers kindes of torments but how much the more horrible they were so much more exquisite appeared the constancy of Martyrs Eusebius saith he beheld the persecution made at Thebaida and saith that the glaues axes and swordes of Tormentors were blunted and turned againe with so great slaughter and were altogether tyred when the Christians with ioy of hart singing Psalmes presented them selues to death Sulpitius in the holy history li. 2. saith that Christians then more ardently desired martyrdome then the ambition of the Cleargie afterward demaunded Bishopprickes Beda de temptat and Orosius lib. 7. cap. 25. Dioclesian crooked with age after he had assaied all cruelties that could be deuised to extirpate the Christians willingly dismissed himselfe of the charge of the Empire and went to Nichomedia and being tossed with rage and fury led a priuate life Maximian his companion who obeyed him as the lesser the greater deposed himself at the same time in the Towne of Milaine Dioclesian at Solone passed his time as a Gardener This change was made after they had raigned together the space of twentie yeares What deaths they had shal be told hereafter Marcel borne at Rome one Benets sonne was chosen Bishop about the 20. yeare of Dioclesian after the Chronicle of Henry the first He was a true Pastor of the Lords Church In the booke of Councells there is attributed vnto him two Epistles The one to them of Antioch wherein he exhorteth to follow the Romane Church and that without authoritie thereof no Sinode can bee called But any bodie may see it is but a counterfeyt and not agreeing with the time which then was The other written to Maxentius is altogether impertinent wherein after he hath commended Christian charitie hee reciteth things which are as pertinent so the time of that Church as conuenient to haue bene written to a Tyrant who afterward was named Emperour Such Epistles doo sufficiently shewe that they wore forged by them which after thrust themselues into the sheep-folde of the Lord not to feed but to rule He confirmed in the faith Maurice as hee came from Syria to goe into Gaul with the Legion which was called of Thebes Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximin or Maximian were made Augustes to goe through with the warres which their predecessors Dioclesian and Maximian Herculeus left Eutropius the Father of Constantius a Romane knight of a noble house was discended from Aeneas The Empire as thus parted that Constantius gouerned Gaul Spaine Italie and Affrike and Galerius which Dioclesian had adopted giuing him his daughter Valeria the rest namely Slauonia Greece and the East Yet Constantius who was neither ambitious nor couetous refused Affrike Italie cōtenting himselfe with Spaine Gaul which he gouerned well and peaceably was well beloued of his subiects and no enemy of the Christian faith He had two wiues the first Helena which was of base condition of whom he had Constantine the great which wife he was constrained to leaue and take Theodora the daughter of the wife of Maximian Herculeus He died of a mallady in England two yeares after Dioclesian had deposed himself from the Empire for long time before had he bene made Caesar and adopted by Dioclesian Some attribute vnto him those two yeares of raigning beginning from the natiuitie of our Lord 505. See Pomp. Laet. During his raigne there was stirres of warre He was called Chlorus for the colour of his bright shining face Ignat. Lib. 1. He had of his wife Theodora Constantius who was father of Gallus and Iulian. Maximian Herculian solicited Dioclesian to take again the Empire Some say Dioclesian answered if he once vnderstood the pleasure of Gardens hee would neuer thinke of raigning The Historiographers write that Dioclesian dyed in a rage and fury feeling an infection in all his members See Nicepho lib. 7. cap. 20. Some say hee poysoned himselfe tenne yeares after he deposed himselfe from the Empire fearing Constantine and Licinius who bitterly reprehended him as a fauourer of Maxentius See Eutrop. lib. 9. and Bapt. Igna. lib. 1. Seuerus was adopted and made Cesar by Galerius when Constantinus had left the administration of Italie and of Affrike and to Seuerus was giuen the charge of the saide Countries But at Rome Maxentius was made Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers and without contradiction of the Senate Seuerus not thinking himselfe strong enough to resist Maxentius thought to retire into Slauonia to Maximin but hee was entrapped and ouercome at Rauenna Pompon Laet. Maxentius sonne of Maximian Herculian being chosen Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers in a tumult and hauing gotten the victory vpon Seuerus waxed proud and gaue himselfe vnto pleasures cruelties Then Maximin or Maximian the sisters sonne of Galerius who also by him was made Cesar with Seuerus and had once the charge of the East adopted Licinius which he left in Slauonia after comming to make warre vpon Maxentius was tolde of the treason of his people and so retyred See Pomp. Laet. in the life of Constantine and Galerius Galerius then hauing made Licinius Cesar as is said a litle time after fell into a terrible disease which fretted his entralles whereof he died This was because of his exceeding great lecherie towards all and horrible crueltie towards Christians For an vlcer he had in his bladder did eate his priuy members and as all that part of his bodie rotted wormes came out and no remedie could be found for it So the Phisitians abandoned him For the stench was so intollerable that neither Phisitian nor other durst approach vnto him Wherefore in the ende hee dyed of a death worthy such a man after hee had raigned two yeares alone and with the Cesars and companions of his Empire the space of 16. yeares In the persecution moued by Maxentius Marcel Pastor of the Church of Rome was apprehēded to sacrifice vnto Idols and to renownce his office but hee despised all threatnings and smiled which the Tyrant Maxentius seeing commaunded he should be beaten and chased out of the Towne He retyred into an house of a widowe named Lucine and there secretly maintained a Church Which the Tyrant hearing made a stable of it for horses and other beastes of the house there locked vp Marcel Being thus condemned he left not to do the office of a true Pastor by Epistles which
containe also errors contrary to the doctrine of him As the adoration of the Sacrament the Inuocation of Saints and chiefly of the Virgin Marie The Emperour Constantine hauing ouercome all these tyrants namely Maxentius Maximian and Licinius the Lord gaue rest to his Church which was almost ruinated and troden vnder feete and gaue a gentle spirit to Constantine to repaire by a Monarchy the great dissipation and discord which the misgouernment of many had brought Constantine was long ere hee could vnwrap himselfe out of his auncient and Ethnicke superstitions his wife Fausta maintaining him therein but after hee sawe himselfe peaceable in his Empire there was courage giuen vnto him to applye his power vnto the matters of the Church True it is as for Baptisme that hee deferred it a long time because hee alwaies determined to goe against the Persians and vpon deuotion without knowledge to be baptized in Iordain Eusebius reciteth it in his life yet after all hee honoured it and authorized it by Edicts and Lawes which hee caused to be published Hee had a burning heart to the Faith and was maruellous carefull to helpe the necessities of the Church hee was of nature soft and benigne and delighted in all good workes and not onely reuoked the tyrannicke and cruel lawes that were before made against Christians but gaue to Churches great priuiledges It was not inough for him to account Ministers equall to himselfe but hee honoured and preferred them before him as representing the diuine Maiestie And by such meanes hee was both loued honoured and cherished not as an Emperour but as a Father Euseb Siluester a Romane was constituted Bishop of Rome after Melchiades and gouerned the Church a long time Being ordeined Bishop he exercised not onely the office of a Pastor in teaching but also in reprehending the vices of the Cleargie There are attributed vnto him certain miracles by which he drew many to the Christian faith When Maxentius raigned at Rome to shunne his crueltie Siluester retired out of Rome and remained a certain time at the Mount Soracte and returned vnder Constantine after the death of the said Tyrant Constantine established many lawes First that Christ should be worshipped of all as the true God Item that whosoeuer should doo iniurie to any Christian the halfe of his goods should be confiscated Hee permitted all such as were vnder his Empire not onely to be Christians but also to found and build Temples The word Martir was vsed in the time of Constantine then when in remembrance of the Martirs men builded Temples and about the thirtieth yeare of Constantine a Temple called Martirium Magnum was builded in Ierusalem in the place called Cranium See Sozom Ich. 2. Cap. 26. Constantine caused to bee made a Tabernacle in forme of a Temple which he commaunded to be carried when he went to the warres wherein he held the assemblies of the Christians Sozom. Lib. 1. Chap. 8. Touching the Donation attributed vnto him that is to say that he gaue Rome Italie and other Westerne Prouinces to Siluester as the Romane Bishops pretend it is a matter inuented or at least doubtfull and euen the Popes owne decrees are against it The two last Chapters make no mention of other Prouinces but onely of the Towne of Rome no nor in the auncient volumes of decrees is there any mention nor any thing found in any Author of that time as Antonine saith in his Chronicles See Naucler Of this matter see Laurencius Valla and Iohn le Maire in his Treatise of the difference of Schismes and Councells of the Church Constantine determined to build a Towne of his name and elected Bizantium for it which he compassed with ditches and the Towne builded in the middest he called Constantinople of his name there establishing the Emperial seat of his Empire Bizanzium was an auncient Towne which a litle before was destroyed by Gallien and Pertinax but Constantine restored it and adorned it with rich ornaments brought from all the parts of the world in so much the Hierome writeth that Constantine stripped naked as it were all the Townes of the world to embellish this new Rome For he transported from the Castle which was at Ilion the chiefe Towne of Troy the Palladium and from Troas the Image of Apollo which was of Brasse and of a maruellous greatnesse From Rome a piller of Porphire called Coclis which he enuironed with diuers mettalls and placed it in the market place paued with stones Before wee come to the successors of Siluester wee will briefly touch the estate of the Church at that time And first Of the Ecclesiasticall degrees There were of olde three Ecclesiasticall degrees namely the Bishop the Priest and the Deacon with the Ministers and company of the faithfull Ambrose in his booke of the Sacerdotall dignitie Hierome to Nepotian saith that Bishops and Priests were all one sauing that the Bishop was a name of dignitie and Priest was a name of age but in respect of schismes and necessities happening in the Church there was made a distinction Ambrose in the aforesaid booke witnesseth that the ordination is alike for both are Priests but the Bishop is the chiefe Priest Other names as Subdeacons Acolites and Exorcists came after The name of Cleargie was receiued in this time to signifie all Ecclesiasticall offices and dignities Euseb Lib. 10. Chap. 2. Hierome to Nepotian yeeldeth this reason of the name Cleros saith he in Greeke signifieth Lot in Latine therefore are Clarkes named because they are of the lot and of the inheritance of the Lord or for that the Lord is their Lot that is to say their part and heritage Afterward men called Clarkes such as euery Church nourished at the owne charge to serue after for the ministerie of the Church Metropolitanes were so called by reason of the principall and chiefe Townes whereof they were Bishops and so Zozomen Lib. 3. Cap. 16. He calleth Basile Metropolitane of Cappadocea And the same in Lib. 2. Chap. 8. saith the like of an Archbishops name Patriarke was named the Bishop of all the Prouince Socrates Lib. 5. Chap. 8. The office of a Bishop was to teach the people as also the Priests But in the Church of Alexandria after the poyson of Arrius the Bishop alone had that charge Socrates lib. 5. chap. 22. The ordination of Ministers appertained to the Bishop which is all the right of preheminence that they had aboue Priests as S. Ierome saith to Euagrius Vicars of Bishops are found in the Canons of the Councell of Ancyra Neocesaria and Antioch Chorepiscopi and Basile vseth that name in the Epistle fiftie and foure Amongst the generall Epistles there is one found vnder the name of Damasus to Prosper wherein Damasus beeing asked answereth that Vicars called Chorepiscopi were no more but Priests and that they could not consecrate Priests Deacons Subdeacons nor Virgines nor Aultars neither dedicate
Churches or like things contained in the Epistle whereof let each man iudge considering that time wherein Damasus was To Priests or Lords it appertained also to take vp debates and controuersies It appeareth by Epiphanius Lib. 2. Tom. 2. Heresie 69. that they were also sent Embassadors to Councells to accuse Heretickes The custodie of Ecclesiasticall goods belonged vnto them Sozomen Lib. 5. Chap. 8. saith that Theodoretus a Priest of Antioche was Gardian of the precious vessells Deacons administred onely and executed Ecclesiasticall charges They were carried vnto publike disputations to play the Notaries and gather together the Actes As appeareth in the example of Athanasius who came with his Bishop Alexander then an olde man to the Councell of Nice and did greatly helpe and aide Alexander to discouer and confute the fallacies of heretickes Rufin lib. 1. chap. 14. The constitutions of Siluester as is conteined in the 1. Tome of Councells makes those degrees A commaundement of Subdeacons to obey Deacons and Acolites Subdeacons Exorcistes to obey Acolites Lectors Exorcistes Porters Lectors and to Porters the Abbot and to the Abbot the Monkes Exorcists after Epiphanius were such as interpreted one tongue by an other either at Lectors or at Colloquies In the Code of Theodosius there are certaine constitutions which make also mention of Diaconesses which was a ministry of women for the visitation and inspection of bodies Each Towne had his Bishop Ruffin lib. 1. cap. 6. saith that in the 10. Canon of the Councell of Nice it was forbidden that in any Cities should be two Bishops to the end that the order of Ecclesiasticall gouernment as proceeding from one head might be distributed into diuers actions to Priests and Deacōs wherof the number was indifferent although ordinarily it was of seuen according to the 14. Canon of the Councell of Neocesaria The Eccclesiasticall administration Basile diuideth the Auditors of Gods word into two companies the one of such as were rude and the other of such as had made some progresse therin Ambrose distinguisheth them into Lay-men Clarkes in his booke of the Sacerdotall dignitie chap. 2. Hierome vpō the expositiō of the 7 chap of the 2. to the Cor. diuideth them into 3. that is Catechumenes faithfull and penitent Praiers were ordinarily made for all things necessary for the prosperitie of the Empire for the health of the Church for publique tranquilitie for enemies and for such as were not yet conuerted See Socrates lib. 2. cap. 37. Nectarius first tooke away in the Church of Constantinople the ceremony ordained for penance and confession wherein a Priest particularly applied absolution ordained that each one after the witnes of his conscience should approach the cōmunion The occasion of this defence came of a woman of a noble house who hauing confessed to a Priest that shee had had the company of a Deacon in the Church the Priest reuealed this scandal to the said Bishop and the ceremony of confession was abolished Socrates lib. 5. chap. 9. In the time of Constantine many ceremonies vnnecessary and euill agreeing with the word of God were brought in as candles lighted in the day time which this Costantine instituted in Temples newly by him builded and consecrated worthy ornaments and other things altogether superfluous and superstitious which other Churches then tooke vp Bishops also at this time denounced to their people Feast-dayes As Basile rehearseth of himselfe that he denounced in a Sermon the feast-day of a Martyr Iulitta One new thing not vsed in times past was now brought in The Emperour Constantine gaue power to Clarkes to appeale from ciuill Magistrates to Bishops which thing was the first that gaue occasion to Antichrist to chaunge transforme the kingdome of Iesus Christ into a polliticke kingdome by litle litle to lift himselfe vp aboue Magistrates of Ministers and Doctors to become Dictators and Kings leauing the charge of soules A new thing also of this time the care to build Temples was committed to Bishops As Constantine cōmitted to Macarius Bishop of Ierusalem the building of a Temple which he willed should be builded in the place where the Sepulchre was Sozomene in his 4. booke and 13. chap rehearseth that Basile builded the Tēple of the Towne of Ancyra in Gallatia A new charge also was giuen to Bishops of this time to consecrate Temples to seeke out transport frō place to place reliques of Saints As we may see in the 85. Epistle of S. Ambrose Such graunts peruerted the true office of a Bishop which is to teach and feed the flocke with the pure word of God Of the goods of the Church The Church of this time began to be enriched by gifts largitions munificēces of Princes Maximin feeling himself taken with a greeuous disease made an Edict for the Christians that the houses lands possessions takē away in times of persecutiōs should be restored to the true possessors Euseb li. 9. ch 10. The Emperor Cōstantin not only caused that which had bin takē frō the Christiās to be again restored but also caused to be sold for the cōmoditie of the poore of the Church all the most precious Images of the Heathens Sozomene lib. 2. chap. 5. Moreouer he withdrew from the Reuenewes of euery Towne a certain Impost and ordained it for the profit of the Church and cleargie thereof commaunding by Edict that that gift should passe to them successiuely for euer The same Sozomene li. 1. chap. 3. li. 5. chap. 5. He commaunded further to bring to the treasurie of the Church their goods who had bene martyred which left no children nor kinsfolkes their heires As Eusebius reciteth in the life of Constantine li. 2. Hee willed also that men should distribute Corne in common to the poore Basile in his Epistle 104. witnesseth that many dedicated whole houses to the profit of Churches yea some of their owne motion all their substance vnto Churches which not being permitted daring the raigne of other Emperours was permitted and lawfull by the constitution of Constantine contained in the lawe Ei eod De sacro sanct Eccles The vse of the goods of the Church was applied to sustaine the poore pilgrimes Yet Ambrose in his first booke of Offices chap. 56. excepteth such as had any goods and reuenues of their owne to maintaine them And Hierome in the Epistle to Damasus admonisheth that amongst Clarks there should be none but such as were nourished at the charges of the Church and that had no patrimony or that had no other meanes to sustaine themselues Besides the wages and oblations which Constantin gaue he also granted in all places Immunities to Priests which also the heires of Constantine ratified See the Code de epischo cleris After Ministers the chiefe care was of the poore whose Proctors the Deacons were Cyrillus Bishop of Ierusalem is praised because in a great dearth for the succour and helpe
saith that the Towne was dedicated by him the yeare of his Empire 28. and as he had taken the Empire diuided and vnited it in his person so he diuided it againe as a paternall heritage and made a partition thereof amongst his children whom whilest he liued he created Cesars one after an other that is to say Constantine his eldest sonne Anno. 10. Constantius the second Anno. 20. and Constans the youngger Anno. 30. Whose Empires were very turbulent and endured but 24. yeares 5. moneths 12. dayes according to the Chronicle of Hierome Constantine the Father died at Nicomicha after he had liued 66. yeares and raigned 31. yeares Pompon Laet. Licinius the sonne of Constantia sister of Constantine the great and Crispus sonne of the said Constantine the great with his said son Constantine the eldest were created Caesars the yeare of the Lord 316. But the wickednes of Fausta the wife of Constantine the great caused the death of Licinius and Crispus and many other noble personages See Aure. Victor and Pompo Laet. Crispus was instructed by Lactantius Constantine the eldest sonne of Constantine the great was Emperour with his two brethren after the father the yeare of our Lord 338. The Empire was thus parted namely that Constantine should enioy Gaul Spaine and England Constance should haue Italie with Slauonia and Greece And Constantius should holde Constantinople with the East This partition contented not Consantine hee raised warre against his brother Constance being proud of his Army of Gaul but warring more couetously then warily was ouerthrowne by an ambush nigh to Aquilea and being wounded in diuers places dyed there hauing raigned but three whole yeares and liued 25. See Bapt. Egnat and Pomp. Laet. Constance after he had vanquished his elder brother passing the Alpes came to make warre in Gaul and in two yeares with great difficultie conquered the Countrey which his brother had in partition He at the beginning gouerned well but after gaue himselfe to pleasures and at last became odious to all men So that in the end they conspired against him as he was at hunting and was slaine by the deuice and treason of Magnentius who vsurped his Empire yet he had saued this Magnentius his life Constance liued thirtie yeares and raigned fourteene See Pomp. Laet. Constantius had for his part the Empire of Constantinople with the East Hee vanquished Vetranio who made himselfe Emperour in Hungarie after the death of Cōstance Moreouer to reuenge the death of his said brother Constance hee made great warre against Magnentius In the first battaile there were slaine of one part and the other 53000. fighting men Magnentius had the worst And againe making head was ouercome nigh Lions Constantius was suspected vpon enuie and ambition to haue made away Dalmatius his Cousin-germain a vertuous man who better resembled Constantine the great then his owne father and who was appointed for a copartner with the said Constantius when he had his partition But Constantius liued not long after For as he was going the second time against the Persians vnderstanding that Iulian had made himselfe Augustus he tooke a Feuer and dyed the yeare of his age 40. and of his Kingdome 24. See Eutrop. Aurel. Vict. Pompon Laet. and Bapt. Egn. The Sinode of Sardis in her Sinodall Letters calleth Iulius their friend and companion Theodoret. lib. 2. chap. 8. It followeth that the Bishop or Archbishop of Rome had not the pretended superioritie It seemeth that Iulius was dead when Constantius hauing tamed the tyrannie of Magnentius and Syluanus hee was in Italie to appease the discordes of Athanasius his cause Liberius borne in Rome his father being called Augustus succeeded Iulius the yeare of Christ after S. Hierome 352. about the 12. yeare of Constance Empire his confession was agreeing vnto the Catholique faith and writ to Athanasius very Christianly of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost as may be seene in his Epistle which is affixed to the workes of Athanasius Athanasius in the Epistle to them which leade solitary liues rehearseth how Liberius was subuerted The Emperour Constans sent to Rome one named Eusebius an Eunuke with Letters wherby he threatned him exile and on the other side tempted him with presents to induce him to cōsent with Arrius and to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius Liberius despised both his menaces and gifts as a sacrifice of blasphemie Whereat the Emperour being exceedingly grieued found meanes to get him out of Rome and being come to him threatned him with death But Liberius manfully answered I am ready to endure all rather then of Christians we should be accounted Arrians Why what art thou said the Emperour that with one wicked man troublest all the world The word of Faith said Liberius dependeth not vpon multitude He was then banished by this Emperour Constans into Berrea which is a Towne in Thrace Where after hee had bene two yeares he was called home as saith Theodoret his restitution after some was accorded by the Emperour at the request of many Romanes and of the Westerne Bishops The same saith Athanasius in the before alleadged Epistle Also that Liberius after his two yeares exile feared with threatnings and apprehension of death sealed to the condemnation of Athanasius Ruffin saith the same and Hierome as Baleus saith writeth that by ambition Liberius fell into the heresie of Arrius being once fallen from the integritie of faith We finde some constitutions of Liberius namely not to make noises in fasting time that times of fasting and Lent bee not polluted by the act of marriage that in time of famine and pestilence men should appease the Lords anger by fasting almes and prayers An aduertisement The principall felicitie and ornament of the Church of this time was the multitude of excellent Doctors which by their doctrine sought so farre as in them lay to conserue multiply the puritie of doctrine But this felicitie was greatly obscured partly by the multitude of heretickes and partly by the rage of seditious people and schismatickes In so much that since the time of the Apostles there was no Church that hath endured more dissentions combats and diuisions within it then that of this world Wherevpon by good right Basile the great in a certaine poeme writing of the iudgement of God complaineth saying I haue liued the age of a man and I haue seene great concord amongst the Arts and Sciences But in the Church of God alone for which Iesus Christ dyed I haue obserued so many dissentions that it is altogether dissipated and wasted And comming to the cause As I searched saith he the cause I remembred the place of the booke of Iudges where it is written That then euery one did whatsoeuer hee thought good in his owne eyes Great persecutions were vnder Constantius after the death of Constans against the Catholike Doctors and Bishops by the Arrians Many were put to death euen within the Temples others
Persians and receiued a mortall wound and casting a full handfull of bloud into the ayre hee vttered this blasphemie against Iesus Christ Thou hast ouercome ô Gallelean In the end thou art vanquisher and as hee had lost much bloud being in a burning Feuer hee called for water about midnight and dranke it colde and expired the yeare of his age 31. hauing gouerned the Empire the space of a yeare and seuen moneths Of the publike ioy they of Antioche made for his death see the Tripartite historie lib. 6. chap. 48. Iouinian or Iuuian borne in Hungarie was created Emperour with great ioy of the Armie the next morning after the death of Iulian. He was a Prince naturally liberall and who vnder Iulian had shewed well that he loued better to loose all dignities then to obey one wicked commaundement and against Christian religion Beeing importuned by the souldiers to accept the election he said hee was a Christian and that hee would not bee the Emperour of Ethnicks and Idollatrous people Hee accepted not the Empire vntill all with a common voyce had protested they would bee Christians Eutropius Lib. 10. Socrat. Lib. 3. Chap. 22. One called Lucius an Arrian whom George Bishop of Alexandria had promoted accusing Athanasius when he returned from exile Iouinian would not heare him but knowing Athanasius commaunded silence to Lucius Sozomen li. 6. cap. 5. He customably said to flatterers that they rather worshipped purple then God The Church had rest vnder him and he restored whatsoeuer Iulian had taken away There was a Councell held at Antioche vnder him to establish the faith of the Councell of Nice Sozom. lib. 6. chap. 4. He made peace with the Persians to his great dishonour and to their great aduantage yeelding them fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris also he promised to giue no succours vnto the King Arsaces allied with the Romanes He died soone after of an euill of the stomacke as he was in his chamber wherein for cold he caused to be made a great fire of coles all the night He liued 23. yeares and raigned seuen moneths The originall of Monkes and Monasteries The Monastike life began first in Aegypt Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life which incontinent was disperced into Palestine Armenia and Paphlagonia Sozomen li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at how this world which in it had so many excellent Doctors did straight admit this manner of life which was neuer instituted of God and not onely allowed it but euen themselues instituted it and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes some in sollititude and others in Cities and companies Sozom. li. 3. ch 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life namely that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing to be peaceable that hee ought to haue an honest habit a moderate voice words well disposed to take his refection peaceably and with silence and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation humilitie and simplicitie of heart watchings teares in prayers sobrietie in his speech and eating Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith that Monasteries were shops of vertue abstinence fasting patience and labour Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these vertues Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monasteries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some labour or worke And this was their rule and as it were their Simbole Hee that trauelleth not ought not to eate The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium speaketh of three sort of Monkes in Egypt The first were called Cenobites Sansos in that countrey language as we might say liuing in common The second Anacharites because they dwelt alone in the Desarts far from mē The third they called Remoboth these dwelt two with two or three with three at the most and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for they nourished themselues in common but often had they debates amongst them Before the time of Hierome it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe but that Ambrose in whose time began persecutions of virgins makes often mention of companies of sacred virgins otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found Certaine it is that Sozomen lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies Valentinian borne also in Hungarie was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian borne in Hungarie of a meane place and in fauour of him Valentinian was chosen to the Empire which hee refused but after accepted and made his brother Valens pertaker with him who had the Countrey of the East and made his sonne Gratian Augustus In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire was by them discomfited After Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles was set at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodosius Valens then being chosen a consort of the Empire was at first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian but after hee was infected with the Arrian heresie at the perswasion of his wife and of Eudoxius Bishop of Constantinople an Arrian of whom he was baptised During the life of Valentinian the westerne Church was peaceable and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme against such as were called Homousiastes that is to say the true Catholiques and stirred great horrible persecutions and aboue all in Antioche and Laodicea his brother Valentinian reprehended him and admonished him by Letters to desist as Zonoras writeth but hereby was he stirred so much the more and determined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxius but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne who knowing it be Gods vengeance turned him from his euill will and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares and sustained many persecutions in great constancie and patience died about this time After his death persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Valens Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7. Damasus a Spaniard some write him to bee of Rome the sonne of one called Antonius succeeded Liberius his election was turbulent and bloudie because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church and of the pretended donation
learne the Magike Art by the law Culpasimilis Cod. de maleficis mathematicas Finally the Lord ordained this Emperor Theodosius as a second Iosias wholly to roote vp all the Idols Temples Thod li. 5. ch 20. On the other side the Doctors of the Church were exceeding carefull to refute all this false religion of the Painims and Ethnikes Arnob. Lactantius Theodoret and the most part of them which writ in that time vnto whose bookes we send them that will know more at large Damasus builded certaine Temples and adorned them with gifts he gaue fields and possessions and bathes to the Cleargie He augmented certaine straunge facions of seruing of God He approued S. Hieromes translation of the Bible The hearts of the Archbishops of Rome began to be taken with too much ambition After this Damasus as hee could diligently calculate times to the end that in time to come in the Romane seate might bee placed Bishoppes of renowme hee drew briefly in writing the liues and statutes attributed to his predecessors Bishops of Rome yet this was not without manifest lies As for his faith and doctrine Theodoret giueth great witnesse he had a good opinion of the Trinitie and by his Epistle to the Bishops assembled at a Sinode at Constantinople exhorted them to maintaine the holy doctrine of the sonne of God But in his Epistles although he call the Bishops vnto whom he writ his brothers yet he sheweth himselfe too much giuen to eleuate the dignitie of the Romane seate For he thus beginneth his aforesaid Epistle to them of Constantinople In the reuerence deare children which you owe to the Apostolike seate you doo much for your selues c. Theod. Lib. 5. Chap. 9. He had many combats to maintaine the doctrine of the Councell of Nice especially against Auxentius of Millan Hee condemned many heretikes and amongst others the Apollinaries at a Councell of many Bishops at Rome Hee had firme amitie with Hierome who in his writings gaue great witnesse of him Virgin Doctor of the Virgine Church in his Preface vpon the foure Euangelists calleth him great Priest Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike calleth Damasus his very deare companion in the Ministerie c. Gregorie Nazianz calleth Damasus happie in his Epistle to Clidonius Damasus dyed of the age of 80. yeares in the raigne of Theodosius witnesses Hierome and Suidas after hee had administred his Bishopricke 18. yeares the yeare of Christ after Naucle 385. but after Prosper the yeare 387. Aduertisement From the time of Siluester the first and others after him the Bishops or Archbishops of Rome being inriched by gifts munificences of many began to liue at their ease and to receiue vnvsed apparell as Miters and other pontificall ornaments to make themselues to be accounted of and to prepare the seate for the great Antichrist by their traditions and canons yet neither Siluester nor his successors till Boniface the 9. who was about the yeare 1390. were Lords of Rome much lesse did they holde the domination of the West For wee haue seene that Liberius was sent into exile by Constantius that Iulius implored the aide of Constantius for Athanasius against the furie of the Arrians and that Damasus by vertue of the Letters of Theodosius called the Easterne Bishop vnto the Sinode of Rome And as for the right to choose the Emperours to Crowne them and put on their Imperiall purple and such other solemnities requisite it was partly done by ordinary souldiers And the Emperours Constantine the great Iulian Iouinian Valentinian the first and second were created Emperours and Cesars by the Campe of souldiers Constantine ordained his three sonnes Valens was ordained by his brother Theodosius by Gratian. Arcadius and Honorius by the Father It is not read in any approued Author of this time that any Romane Bishop thrust himselfe in to choose or crowne an Emperour Theodo lib. 5. chap. 6. saith that Theodosius in a dreame sawe Meletius Bishop of Antioche who gaue vnto him the Mantle and the Imperiall Crowne Syricius a Romane the sonne of one Tiburtius succeeded Damasus There are attributed vnto him many ordinances Hee put such as were Bigami that is such as were married twise from the misteries of the Masse and was the first that admitted Monkes to receiue Ecclesiasticall orders because of their continencie which before were not accounted no not amongst Clarkes Fastings and abstinencies The varieties and multiplications of Fastings certaine dayes at this time engendred great disputations and contentions Augustine in his Epistle to Casulan writeth that some men fasted on the Wednesday because Iesus Christ was solde that day And on the Fryday because hee was then on the Crosse As for fasting on Satterdayes there was great strife They of Millain and of the East maintained that none ought to fast on it because Iesus Christ rested that day in the Sepulchre And contrary the Romanes and Affricanes and others fasted it because Christ was cast euen to the ignominie of the Sepulchre P. Martir Monicha S. Augustines mother comming from Affrike to Millan seeing none fast there on the Saterday maruelled greatly Augustine her sonne beeing then not yet baptised came to Ambrose and prayed him in the name of his mother to expound what were best to be done therein Doo answered Ambrose as I doo Augustine by this answere thought he should not fast vpon Saterday because Ambrose fasted not but hee declared his meaning more plainely in these words When I am at Rome I fast on the Saterday because there they fast but when I am returned to Millan againe I there fast not Men attribute to Melchiades Bishop of Rome aboue mētioned the ordinance not to fast on the Sunday nor Thursday because Christians fastes should bee farre from the fastes of Ethnikes and heretikes Epiphan also bringing the reason wherefore wee should fast on the Wednesday saith because Christ that day ascended into heauen And that it is written when the Spowse shal be taken away that then the Apostles shall fast c. and this hee affirmeth to bee a tradition of the Apostles I leaue other Fastes of Angaria that is to say of torment when some calamitie comes and other differences and abstinences and meates which were after inuented as these discourses in their place shall shewe Superstition hath peruerted the exercises of pietie despight or negligence hath caused them to be forgottē in the Church which are two extremities that all the faithfull must shunne Theodosius after hee had established peace in the Church and caused many publike Sinodes to be assembled died at Millain of the age of 50. yeares and raigned 17. that is to say 6. with Gratian and 11. after The same yeare his body was carried to be buried in Constantinople See Aurel. Vict. Pomp. Laet. Paul Diac. lib. 12. Ambrose lamented his death and made a funerall oration wherein amongst other things hee said I loued this Prince who when his soule
was ready to depart from his body had more care of the state of the Church then of the dolours of his death This care for Religion is a singular vertue worthy of a Christian Prince Archadius and Honorius the children of Theodosius and of Placille his wife a vertuous Ladie raigned after their mother the yeare 397. Arcadius was Emperour of the East and Honorius of the West Their father ordained them Tutors before hee died to Arcadius Rufin and to Honorius Stillico and Gildo was also Instituted Gouernour of Affrike Honorius then ruled the Empire at Rome his brother gouerning that of Constantinople Three yeares after this Gildo Gouernor of Affrike carried himselfe as Maister and Lord but afterward he was ouercome by Mascezel his brother whose children he had slaine The Westerne Church about this time receiued the fashion to sing Augustine in his Confessions the 9. booke saith it was by the meanes of Ambrose For in the time of the Arrian fury this holy person being constrained by the people to remaine in the Temple yea euen in the night time fearing it should haue bene deliuered to the Arrians accustomed the people to sing Psalmes and Hymnes to put off griefes and passe away the time The East Church from the beginning receiued singing as appeares by Plinie to the Emperour Traian who was at the time that Iohn the Euangelist liued But Augustine in the same booke confesseth he failed therein in that hee gaue more attention to the Song then to the words that in it are passed and accused that sinne for that the voyce and the Song are made for the word but not the word for the Sōg In that place likewise he reciteth the maner of the Church of Alexandria vnder Athanasius See also Hierome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians Whensoeuer you assemble as S. Paul saith if each one sing Psalmes or Doctrine or Reuelation or Language or interpretation let all be done to aedification 1. Cor. 14. f. 26. The appellation of the Masse The communion of the Eucharist at this time to be called Missa It is twise found in S. Augustine namely in his Sermon of Time 237 wherein hauing exhorted men to pardon iniuries done to one another saith You must come to the Masse of the Catechumenes There we pray Pardon vs our offences as wee pardon them which wee haue offended c. And in an other Sermon 91. he saith In the historie which is read at Masses c. Many doubt whether these Sermons bee S. Augustines But Peter Martir a Diuine of Zurike saith the stile and sentences seeme to bee S. Augustines I am of opinion saith he that in that time of S. Augustine it beganne onely to bee vsurped For if it had beene vsuall S. Augustine would haue oftner made mention of it seeing hee vsed to applye his Sermons after the common manner of speech Iohn Cassian liued in this time vnder the Emperour Honorius The heretikes chased him from the Church of Ierusalem hee came to Marcellis and liued there a Monastike life The word Masse is found in his writings Lib. 3. Chap. 7. and 8. but in an other signification then for the holy Communion that is for the accomplishment and the ende of the congregation of the faithfull For speaking of the sleepe of Monkes he saith Being contented with the time that is permitted to them to sleepe that is from the Masse of the Vigiles vntill the light of the day c. vnderstanding by these words the time wherein they ended the Vigiles As for the deriuation of the name euen as the Latine Doctors which were before this age vsed the word Remissa for remission Tertullian Lib. 4. against Martion in the leafe 24. and Ciprian in his booke of the good of patience so it seeemeth afterward they said Missa for Missio or Demissio that is sending away when the Catechumenes went out of the Temple For after the holy scripture was read in the assembly and that the Sermon was done the Deacon with a loude voyce pronounced Goe or goe out Cathechumenes After this the Cathechumenes went out with the Euergumenes that is to say they which were handled with euil spirits and thirdly such as did penance Dionisius in his Hierarchie makes mention of these orders and so the Latine Church called the celebration of the Eucharist Messe because it was done after the dimission or sending away of the Catechumenes and such as were not capable to bee admitted therevnto And in this signification Ambrose saith Missas facere for sending or letting goe This is the opinion of Peter Martir in his Commentaries vpon the Iudges Some haue said that the word Missa was deriued of the Hebrew word Mas because the gifts which the faithfull offered were said to be presents and sent And the occasion hereof came of the oblations which the Iewes offered at their feast of Pentecost If it were so the Papists abused the word Masse for they will not name it of the almes and gifts which are giuen there but of the oblation they make of the body and bloud of Christ for the quick and dead P. Martyr Catechumenes signified such as were instructed in the faith and were not yet baptized The word is deriued from the Greeke word which signifieth to teach especially by liuely voyce Tertullian calleth them sometimes Hearers or Auditors Augustine calleth them Competitors For before they were admitted to be baptised at Easter they gaue vp their names 40. dayes before During which time the Pastors not onely got information of their faith and doctrine but also of theyr life P. Martir The Papistes Apes of antiquitie had it in custome to send their children to schoole in Lent Rufin before named French by Nation tempted with pride sent presents and siluer to Alarike King of Gothes and stirred him to raise vp warre against Archadius perswading him that that young Prince affrighted would leaue him the Empire His practise was dicouered and Stilico pursued him The souldiers cut off his head and his right hand and after carried them into Constantinople for a shewe See Pomp. Laet. Deuastation of the fourth Monarchie The yeare of the Lord 405. the Gothes entred into Italie with a great and fearfull company But because there is often mention of them we will briefly touch the history of their originall The appellation of Gothes doth not only comprehend one people but many that is to say Gothes Vandales Rugians Hunnes c but the Gothes properly were they which from the I le of Gothland occupied a great part of Lifsland Procopius an Historiographer saith they were Cymmerians and Greekes Being come into Thrace and Hungarie the Romane Emperours sought to driue them backe but could not The first greatest battaile of the Romanes against them was vnder the Emperour Decius wherein he was slain But after the Vandales and Huns comming from Scithia did driue away the Gothes and placed their seates in Hungaria The
Gothes then entered into Italie by the disloyaltie of Rufin which as it is said fell vpon his owne head by the iust iudgement of God Stillico a Vandall by Nation hoping to lift vp Euchere his sonne to bee an Emperour raised vp the Sueuians Vandales and Alenems and other people to the number of 200000. conducted by theyr King Redegastus or Radagastus who afterward was discomfited in the straite of Appenin After Radagastus a new Armie of Gothes came into Italie hauing for their Captaine Alricus or Alaricus who was sollicited by the Emperour Honorius to leaue the Countrey of Italie and to discend into Fraunce which then was so occupied with French Burgonians and other Nations that Honorius dispaired to hold it But as Alaricus prepared his departure Stillico thought to haue surprised him on the sudden beeing vpon Easter day there being a truce betwixt them not yet expired Alaricus the next morning came against Stillico and to be reuenged besieged the Towne of Rome Honorius being at Rauenna The treason of Stillico being disclosed hee caused him to bee beheaded so receiued hee the reward of his infidelitie Then was there found no Captaine for the warre to leuie the siege before Rome wherefore the Towne was taken by Alaricus after it had endured long time the siege This was about the fifteenth yeare of the Empire of Honorius and of the Lords Natiuitie 412. and from the foundation of Rome 1164. Alaricus neither burnt nor wasted Rome but gaue commaundement that they should be spared which fled vnto the Temples of the Christians He died soone after Adolphus succeeded him and came to Rome but by the meanes of Placidia the sister of Honorius he spared Rome and tooke his way towards Gaul and Spaine and so the Gothes left Italie and occupied Spaine which Alaricus before had inuaded and got the domination thererof In so much that the kings of Spaine that came after discended of them Diminution or the Romane Empire From henceforward the fourth Monarchie receiued such calamities that in place to rule and haue straunge people in subiection it selfe was made a seruant vnto barbarous Nations The Towne of Rome the seate of the said Monarchie in lesse then 139. yeares was foure times taken by the Gothes Vandales and other barbarous people The first is that alreadie recited by Alaricus The 2. by Gensericas the Vandall vnder Martinian the yeare 456. The 3. by Totila King of the Gothes which was the most grieuous oppression that euer Rome endured For it was taken and burnt the yeare 21. of Iustinian and from the foundation of Rome 1300. and of Christ 548. The 4. it was sacked three yeares after the other namely the yeare of Christ 551. as shall be seene in this Historie The Pope Siricius added the Anthems to the Psalmes He made a Lawe that orders that is to say the ceremonies and obseruations which they vse in the consecration of their Church-people should be celebrated and giuen by certaine spaces of time betwixt one an other Ambrose Bishop of Millaine was his familiar and writ vnto him some Epistles which are amongst his workes One in the number 49. and the other in the number 54. wherein hee calles him his Father He died about the yeare 399. hauing occupied that seate 15. yeares after Socrat. lib. 7. chap. 9. and Sozom. lib. 8. chap. 25. Anastasius the first of that name borne at Rome succeeded him and gouerned about three yeares Hee ordained that euery one should heare the Gospell standing and not sitting Hee cast out of the Ministerie such as wanted or were maimed in any of theyr members or subiect to any disease Hee ordained that none beyond the Seas should bee admitted to any Ecclesiasticall estate without hauing a Testimoniall sealed with fiue Bishops This was because of the Manechies which came from Affrike to corrupt Churches Chrysostome borne at Antioch disciple of Libanius the Sophister and an Auditor of Andragatius a Philosopher forsooke the estate of an Aduocate and followed Euagrius with two other his companiōs Theodorus and Maximus which after were Bishops after they had well profited in holy scriptures in the Monasteries For then Monasteries were publike Schooles and Abbots or Priors which gouerned them did publikely teach the holy scriptures Innocent the first of that name borne at Albe preferred the seate at Rome before all others and ordained that it should not be subiect to any other He commaunded the faithfull to fast on the Saterday to the ende that that day they might with Mary Magdalen mourne for Iesus Christ being in his graue He ordained that the Pax should be giuen at Masse and that a Temple which once had beene consecrated should be so no more Hee made certaine lawes concerning the Iewes Painims and Monkes and made the Sacrament of Vnction of such as were sicke Chrysostome was often sicke of a disease of the stomacke therfore he abstained from eating in company He was hardie and liberall in reprehension and aboue all in his publike Sermons and therefore was he hated of the Cleargie He resisted Gaiuas an Arrian who begged of the Emperour a Temple in Constantinople for his people See the Tripart Hist Chap. 6. Lib. 10. Constantinople was diuinely aided against Gaiuas who sending souldiers in the night to burne the Emperours Pallace a great multitude of armed men were seene come against them three nights which made them desist and leaue off their enterprise Chrysostome was sent in ambassage towards the said Gaiuas who had wasted all the countrey of Thrace who met the said Chrysostome and commaunded his owne children to kisse his knees and he himselfe kissed his hand Certaine Monkes Egipt Antropomorphites maintained that God had a body whereabouts came many contentions amongst the Bishops Insomuch that the Arrians and Catholiques in the night slew one an other There was an earthquake in Constantinople The siluer Image of Eudoxia was placed nigh to the Temple of S. Saphie and playes celebrated in her honour Chrysostome crieth out against it and in a Sermon vnder the name of Herodias taxeth Eudoxia whereof beeing angry she suborned people to sley Chrysostome but the people guarded him both day and night he was afterward exiled into Pontus The Church of Constantinople so increased by the Chrysostonites that many of them were put to diuers torments After his exile there happened at Constantinople in September a great haile and foure dayes after died Eudoxia See the forealleadged booke Chap. 15.16 20. The Pernitious errour of Pelagius In the time of Innocent Pope of Rome there was in the Countrey of England one called Pelagius who began to teach that we are not iustified by Gods mercie for Iesus Christes sake without Merite but that through our owne workes and naturall vertues we acquire true and perfect righteousnesse before God Against this Pelagius many good Doctors of this time writ but aboue all Augustine hath shewed that by faith onely we are Iustified
augmented when the Romane Empire in the East diminished So the Lord giueth vicissitude courses and chaunges to the things of this world The Histories of France say that the bodies of S. Denis S. Rhut and S. Pleutherius were found at this time by the meanes of an Hart hunted by Dagobert It is no great maruell if the Kings of France be giuen to superstitions seeing sauadge Beasts teach them where holie bodies are Honorius Pope born in Campania ruled in Rome 13. yeares He caused the Tēple of S. Peter to be adorned withal precious things enriched it with goodly Tables couering them richly He ordeined processions on the Saterday with Letanies Pyrrhus Patriarche of Constantinople a Monothelite heretike was sent into exile into the Country of Affrike The Emperour Heraclius was seduced by him and so gaue himselfe to beleeue diuinations and enchauntments and tooke his Niece to wife his brothers daughter making a lawe that it should be so lawfull for all persons Yet euen in this time was the Church greatly diuided by the Artian Sect In such sort that almost each Towne had two Bishops the one an Arrian the other a Catholike and during those dissipations came Mahomet in the Easterne parts Mahomet an Arrabian of a Marchant became a false Prophet and finally a Captaine of Theeues and Robbers with a Monke called Sergius who was an Arrian Nestorian with one Iohn of Antioch an hereticke and a Necromantian Iewe he compiled the Alcoran vnto which the Sarrasins and Turkes shewe obedience The Sect of the Mahometists In the said Alcoran is conteined that they of his Sect shall bee circumcised that they shall abstaine from Swines flesh that they shall drinke no wine and that certaine whole months they shall fast They take as many wiues as they can maintaine and if they keepe company with others they die for it Friday is their Sunday No woman goeth in publike vnlesse she haue her face couered They hold Christ for a true great Prophet and make Moses and Mahomet Christs companions Vadianus The Alcoran promiseth to his followers a Paradice where there are sweet waters and of all sorts of fruites and goodly and fine women also flouds of wine and honey yea briefly all that sensualitie can wish and there they shall enioy all good things eternally Azoara 2. and Naucler They confesse the Resurrection of the dead By Testament they leaue and do great Almes The Alcoran forbiddeth to take siluer or victuals for aduocating or pleading in Iudgement They like to take no wiues of an other Religion then their owne neither to giue their daughters to men of diuers Religions vnles they conuert vnto theirs Azoara 3. And although by their Alcoran they be commanded to roote out all such as contradict their lawe yet they constrain no man to renie his Religion Women must nourish and giue sucke to their owne children and that by the space of 2. yeares They are also commaunded to defend their religion by Armes and strong hand Azoara 5. chap. 5. And by force of Armes to force the Christians and Iewes to agree Azoara 18. Euery one may take sley him whom he knoweth to be incredulous and an heretike in their lawe Azoara 10. They reproach Christians because they worship others then one onely God as the virgin Mary Images of Saints Azoara 13. In the 18. cha he bringeth in God speaking to his prophet Mahomet promising him y e 20. of their mē shal resist against 200. y e 100. of theirs shall ouerthrow a 1000. of others They are also cōmanded to wash thēselues yea the priuie places after they haue done their naturall necessities and after they haue lyen with their wiues and this must they euer do before they pray vnto God Vpon commaundement they goe on pilgrimage into certaine places Azoa 2. They haue Saintes vnto whome they commend themselues and their beasts See their Alcoran which reciteth great miracles They haue Priests and Religious men Some Recluses and contemplatiues which do nothing but pray meditate and these are most esteemed According to their foure Sects they haue also foure opinions touching the saluation of soules 1. Their Priests are of opinion that none are saued but in the lawe of Mahomet 2. Some of their Religious are of opinion that the lawe profiteth nothing but that euery man shall be saued by the grace of God which alone is sufficient to saluation without the lawe and merites 3. The Spiritualls and Speculatiues are of opinion that euery one shall be saued by his owne workes and merites with grace and the lawe 4. There are others amongst them which say that euery one shall be saued in his owne lawe Where Iesus Christ is not knowne all Religion is vaine vncertaine Touching Iesus Christ they hold him to be the sonne of a virgin In the 5. Chap. There they make mention of the virgin Marie and of her parents Of S. Iohn Baptist and of his Father Zacharie In the 3. chap. at the beginning God is brought in speaking and calling Iesus Christ his soule conferring his force and vertue vpon him In the 11. chap. he calleth him Sent of God the Spirit of God and the word diuinely sent to Mary c. They fast euery yeare one whole moneth and one weeke very straitly without eating or drinking in the day time but after the Sun set they eate drinke euen till the day following On the Friday they assemble all together and obserue it as carefully as the Iewes do the Saterday or others the Sunday and in each Towne there is a principal Temple which they called Meschat into which they come that day after noone as well Kings Princes as the common people and attentiuely pray vnto God They which come not to this Church or pray not when they come are condemned in a certaine summe of siluer when they are accused by the Guardes which they commit for that businesse See the Alcoran As they pray they torment themselues pitiously in the continuall agitation of their bodies and cries without ceasing The Pope and Mahomet Antichrist his two hornes are there set vp one after an other namely that of the Pope of Mahomet It were easie to conferre one of them with an other both in doctrine and domination Heraclius had victorie against the Persians and brought againe Zacharias Patriarke of Ierusalem and the holie Crosse first to Ierusalem and then to Constantinople wherevpon the feast of the exaltatiō of the crosse was ordeined celebrated Councells were about this time at Siuil and Toledo 4.5 and 6. At the Councell of Toledo 4. it was ordeined that all the Churches of Spaine should followe the forme of the Romane Church touching praier the Sacraments and Masse One manner of singing Masse all ouer after the manner of Rome See Bullenger of the spring of errours Lib. 2. chap. 8. In the 16. chap. of the
all madnesse that whilest they of the Cleargie be compelled to relinquish the company of their owne lawfull wiues they become afterward fornicators and adulterers with other women and wicked ministers of other sinfull filthinesse These be they which bring vnto the Church of God this Heresie as blinde guides leading the blinde that it might be fulfilled which the Psalmist speaketh of as foreseeing the errours of such men and accursing them after this manner Let their eyes be blinded that they see not and bowe downe alwaies their back For as much then ô Apostolicall Sir as no man which knoweth you is ignorant that if you through the light of your discretion had vnderstood and seene what poysoned pestilence might haue come vnto the Church through the sentence of your decrees they would neuer haue consented to the suggestions of certaine wicked persons Wherefore we counsell you by the fidelitie of our due subiection that with all diligence you would put away so great slaunder from the Church of God and through your discreet discipline you would remooue the Pharasicall doctrine from the Flocke of God So that this only Sunamite of the Lordes vsing no more adulterous husbands doo not seperate the holie people and the kingly Priesthood from her Spowse Christ Iesus through an irreconciliable diuorcement seeing that no man without chastitie not only in the virgins state but also in the state of Matrimonie shall see our Lorde Iesu who with the Father and the holy Ghost liueth and raigneth for euer Amen This Epistle sheweth vs as it were with a finger that in all times the truth of the Lord hath found a passage through the middest of the Furies of this world raising vp faithfull Ministers to oppose themselues against the horrible discipations of the aduersaries The Sarrasins came from Affricke into Italie vnto the Territorie of Beneuent before whome went the Emperour Lewis the second being ayded by his brother Lotharie who dyed in the way at Plaisans Pal. Floren. The King of Bulgaria receiued the Faith made himselfe a Monke and left the kingdome to his sonne who reiected the Faith In so much as his Father came out of the Monasterie and went against him in battaile and hauing obtained victorie put out his sonnes eyes and held him in prison giuing his kingdome to his younger sonne and after returned to his Monastery Naucler and Sigeb The body of Saint Innocent Pope was transported from Rome into Saxonie by the Duke of Saxe Chron. Sigeb Michael Emperour of Constantinople made a fellowe and companion of his Empire one called Basile a Macedonian a puissant man by whom afterward hee was slaine Nauclerus Lewis sonne of Lewis de Bonaire king of Germanie Vncle of Lewis 2. Emperour obtained a victorie against the Cleuois and caused their Dukes eies called Rastrix to be put out because he had falsified his faith Naucler After the death of Nicholas Pope the seate was emptie eight yeares seuen moneths and nine or ten daies as some say Abb. Vrsp. The Britons were vanquished of the French vnder Charles le Chauue king of France Naucler The Normains being ouercome receiued the faith Naucl. The Countrey of Holland was erected into an Earledome or Countie and Flaunders likewise whereof Baudwin was the first Count. Adrian Pope second of that name the sonne of Talarus Bishop ruled at Rome fiue yeares The Emperour hauing sent his Embassadors for the Popes election the Cleargie and Romane people attended not their comming but vsurping the authoritie of choosing proceeded to the election The Embassadors mal-contented the subtil Romanists laid the fault vpon the common people as hard to represse and appease being stirred They satisfied with this excuse saluted Adrian with the name of Pope Platina R. Barns Soone after came Letters from the Emperour signifying that the election pleased him and because strangers could not know the qualitie of him which should be elected he graunted the election to the Citizens Naucler and Cor. Abb. Adrian then ordained that no Lay-man should thrust himselfe into the election of the Pope Naucler 63. Dict. Cap. Nullus He sent three Legates to the Bulgarians who were newly conuerted namely Siluester Leopard and Dominic to ordaine the affaires of that Church after the Romane fashion but after perswaded of the Grecians they cast off the Latine Priests and receiued the Greekes which afterward engendred great hatred betwixt the Latine and Greeke Church and all the diuision of the aforesaid Churches came onely for the Primacie and for the diuersitie of Ceremonies Robert Barns and Nauclerus Edmond the last King of the East Angles was slaine by the Painims of Denmarke Anno. 871. and was Canonized a Martyr Alfredus or Aluredus the 7. English king was crowned by the Pope Adrian Polydore Lib. 5. The Greciās vsed bels by the benefit of the Venetiās Sabell About this time a Councel was held at Constantinople which was called the eight generall Councell Adrian sent thither his Legates Donatus Bishop of Ostia Stephen Nephesin and Marinus a Deacon of the Romane Church R. Barns Ignatius who vniustly was depriued of his Patriarchall dignitie was restored and Photin some call him Phocas was reiected and excommunicated Sabellicus in his 9. booke 1. cap. It was there ordained that they of Bulgaria should be subiect to the Romane church the Emperour Basilius contradicting it Here it was also ordained that no Lay-man should be admitted to the election of a Pope an Archbishop a Patriarke or Bishop but that the Bishop should be chosen by the Cleargie of the Chapter R. Barns Adrian excommunicated Lotharius King of Lorraine brother vnto the Emperour Lewis for his adulterie but comming to Rome as he returned from the warre against the Sarrasins as some say Nauclerus alleadgeth to excuse himselfe receiued the Communion with his Princes but they all died within the yeare And the King Lotharius himselfe died in the way in the Towne of Plaisance Fascic Temp. Chron. Vrsperg and Sigeb In Lombardie nigh Brize it raigned bloud three dayes and three nights after Nauclerus and the Chron. Sigeb And in Fraunce there was a great multitude of Graffe-hoppers with sixe winges fiue feete and two teeth which destroyed all grasse hearbes and Trees They were driuen into the English Seas by the force of exceeding great windes and againe by an other winde they were returned vpon the Sea sandes vpon the putrifaction wherof came such a pestilence that great multitudes of men dyed saith Sigeb Naucler saith that the third part of men died Iohn Scotus a learned man was called from France into to England by Alfredus King there who founded the Schoole at Oxenford where the said Scotus gouerned but after making himselfe a Monke he was slaine by the Monkes of that couent as he was teaching he was cunning in the Greeke tongue and translated into Latin the Hierarchie of S. Denis Naucler Iohn Pope 9. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome ten yeares Suppl Chron. being a
was inuented by him Hugues raigned in Italie tenne yeares whom Lotharie his sonne succeeded King Charles the Simple was by treason taken of Hubert Earle of Vermandois and poysoned in the Castle of Peronne where he died and was buried in the Church of S. Foursi See the Sea of Histories Rodolphe Bourgongne 31. King of France raigned two yeares Before this time there were not so many degrees amongst Gentlemen and Noblemen nor so great diuersitie as there are at this Dukes Marquesses Counts or Clarkes simple Counts and Knights were rather names of offices then hereditarie Seigniories For Dukes Marquesses Earles or Counts were Gouernours of Countries and Lands wherevpon they were committed by Emperours and Kings Duke was a soueraigne chiefe or head of souldiers as may be seene by auncient Letters Count or Earle was a Iudge and Goueruernour ordained in a certaine Towne or Region and so Germanie was full of Countes amongst which some were called Lantgraues that is to say Countes of Regions or Countries Some Maruegraues or Marquis that is Countes of certaine Marshes or Countries Some Countes de Palatin which were Gouernors of some Kingdome subiugated or conquered This may bee seene in the second booke of the Lawes of the Lombards Some were gouernors of Bourgages and so were named Bourgraues The most auncientest name of dignitie after Kings and Princes is the name of Baron which signifieth Lord whose sonnes were called young Lords And this say some was the estate of the Nobilitie before the Othons raigned After their time all things chaunged For then Counts were made hereditarie and were lifted vp aboue Barons Marquesses Lantgraues and Palatins and that more is Bishops haue bene made Princes yea many Counts Abbots Abbesses haue obtained the title of Prince Lewis 4. of that name surnamed Vltramarin 32. King of France the sonne of Charles le Simple after his fathers imprisonment got with his mother Ogine towards his Vncle King of England but as soone as he retutned he was in strife for the Kingdome with Rodulphe of Burgongne who died about eight yeares after at Auxerre Anno. 937. and so Lewis raigned alone Leo Pope sixt of that name ruled at Rome 7. moneths and 15. dayes The Danes at this time were conuerted to the faith Stephen Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 2. yeares and 12. dayes Supp Chron. The Duke of Bohemia Spireneus receiued the Christian faith at the perswasion of the Emperour Henry Suppl Chron. Iohn Pope 12. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 4. yeares 10. moneths and 15. dayes Supp Chron. He did nothing worthy of memorie a coward and is not numbred in the Catalogue of Popes after some Historiographers Lotharie the sonne of Hugues raigned in Italie two yeares The Sarrasins in Italie tooke the towne of Geans and spoiled it Naucler Berenger third the Nephewe of Berenger the first raigned in Italie 11. yeares with his sonne Adelbert In this place Histories are very confused The Emperour Henry the first dyed of the Palsey the yeare of his age 60. and of his Empire seuenteene hauing ordained Otho the great his sonne successor of the Empire by the consent of all the great and Noble men who after was consecrated by the Arch-bishop of Magunce Hildebert Hee had three Competitors which would needs hinder him to bee Emperour that is to say Henry his elder brother Giselbert Duke of Lorraine his brother in lawe and Eberhard Earle of Franconia but he droue them all away and reduced all vnder his obedience Wencelaus Prince of Bohemia was slaine by his brother Boislans vppon ambition to raigne But Otho reuenged the death of the said Wencelaus making warre vpon Boislans which endured fourteene yeares and finally hauing vanquished him he brought the Countrey into his obedience Chron. Sigeb and Supp Chron. Leo Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares 6. monethes and 10. dayes Supp Chron. The heresie of Anthropomorphites which say that God hath a corporall forme was at this time renued Rotherius Bishop of Verone writ against them Stephen Pope eight of that name an Almaine or a Romane after some ruled at Rome three yeares foure moneths and 12. dayes R. Barns Some say he was murthered by certaine Romanes in a sedition In so much as he was neuer publikely seene Chron. Abb. France was afflicted by an horrible pestilence and by inward contentions The faction and puissance of Hugues of Paris troubled King Lewis exceedingly Martin Pope 3. of that name a Romane ruled 3. yeares 6. moneths and 14. dayes He was peaceable and gaue himself to repaire Temples and nourish the poore saith Supp Chron. Agapetus Pope second of that name a Romane a magnanimous man ruled at Rome 9. yeares 7. moneths and 10. daies Supp Chron. He called againe the Emperour Otho to Rome against Berenger Berenger 4. the 7. Emperour of the Lombards raigned 13. yeares The Sea of Histories The Hungarians againe in Italie Chron. Abb. Vrsp Iohn Pope 13. of that name a Romane ruled 9. yeares and three monethes His father called Alberic seeing himselfe one of the greatest power at Rome caused all the noblest and principallest rulers of the Citie of Rome to promise and sweare that after the death of Pope Agapetus they should elect his sonne Octauian Which promise was kept and he was called Iohn This Pope was so excessiuely giuen to lecherie that he maintained a publike stewes for the shame wherof some Cardinals writ to the Emperour Otho that he would remedie the publike scandall and infamie which the Church then suffered and that it was needfull he should in haste come to Rome As soone as the Pope heard of this newes he caused the nose of a Cardinall a Deacon called Iohn to be cut off beeing the principall councellor herein hee commaunded also that the hand of an other Cardinall a Subdeacon called also Iohn to be cut off because hee writ the Letters When the Emperour vnderstood that for no admonition the Pope would amend he caused him to be deposed with note of infamie Otho was crowned by him after he hauing sworne that hee would exalt the Romane Church and the Pope and that in nothing hee would hurt him as more at large is contained Dist 63.100 Tibi domino Otho remained a certain time at Rome after his coronation and admonished this Pope to change and amend his wicked life whereof hee was blamed Otho departing came against Berenger his enemie Albert the sonne of Berenger who with his father retired at Otho his comming seeing Otho departed came to Rome and with the Pope complotted against the Emperour Two Cardinalls aduertised Otho of this conspiracie and of the Popes wickednesse Otho then returned to Rome and the Pope fled after he had reuenged himselfe of the two Cardinalls Otho beeing at Rome caused the Pope to be thrice called commanding him to returne and feare
nothing and he should be in suretie but hee would not returne Wherefore he caused a Councell to be held wherein the Pope was condemned and deposed for his euill life And there was substituted in his place Leo a Romane 8 of that name but soone after the Emperours departure the seditious and inconstant Romanes droue away Leo and recalled the aforesaid Iohn receiuing him in great pompe Leo got him to the Emperour who fearing to molest the Church with a greater schisme permitted the said Iohn to hold his seate But finally beeing surprised in adulterie hee was slaine by the womans husband Robert Barns Chron. Sigeb Nauclerus and Iohn Maire Conferre good Reader these Popes with the first and see the difference The yeare of Christ 958. there hapned at Venice a memorable thing The Duke of Venice Peter of Candie was besieged in his Ducall Pallace and the Venetians angrie against him set fire on the Pallace in so much that not onely the Pallace burnt but also the Church of S. Marke nigh vnto it and more then three hundreth houses about it And as the Duke thus pressed retired into a secret place of the Pallace which was not yet touched with fire the people altogether enraged hauing found him holding yet his onely sonne a young Infant betwixt his armes and requiring vpon both his knees and in great pittie the mercie of the people they were not content most cruelly to murther him with his innocent sonne and wife but after their deathes the bodies of the father and sonne were carried vnto the butcherie and hewen in peeces and after cast vnto dogges Iohn le Maire and Sup. Chron. The cause of this massacre was because he had constrained his first wife to make her selfe a Nunne to the ende hee might with colour espouse the sister of Hugo Marquis of Hetruria of whom he had alreadie had one sonne Wherefore hauing married her the Allies and kinsfolkes of his said wife stirred the people vnto sedition and so they perished vnhappily Supp Chron. About this time flourished Windichinne a Monke of Corney in Saxonie Smaragdus Abbot of S. Michael of the order of S. Benet wrote the booke called Diadema monachorum a right Monkish booke Item vpon the rule of S. Benet and vpon the Psalter another two vpon the Euangelists and Epistles Item one of diuers Sermons Trit Abb. Spauher Benet Pope fift of that name a Romane ruled after Nauclerus 6. monethes and 5. dayes or 2. moneths and 5. dayes after Supp Chron. hee was chosen by the Romanes against the Emperours will after Iohn was slaine in adulterie The Emperour vnderstanding these newes returned to Rome besieged the Towne and so afflicted it that they were cōstrained to present Benet vnto him at his pleasure The Emperour restored Leo to the seate and Benet was depriued not onely of the papall dignitie but disgraced also of his Sacerdotall and after banished and sent into Almaine where hee died in the Towne of Mamburge others say he was put in prison and there strangled Leo then eight of that name a Romane was restored into the Popedome and raigned a yeare and foure moneths This Pope minding to shunne the fury of the Romanes which proceeded to the Popes election by corruptions menaces and subtill deuices ordained in a full Sinode that none should be made Pope without the consent of the Emperour vnto whom aboue belonged the right of election from Charlemaine and others Naucler and 63. dist cap. in Sinodo He restored also to Otho all the donations made to the Romane Church And this was it which they say Constantine Iustinian Pippin Charlemaigne Lewis le Debonaire and Arit part had giuen to the Church All this he reuoked and accorded to Otho the first of that name and to his successors to the end to keepe Italie from oppressors R. Barns The Abbey of S. Quintin in Vermandois was in this time founded Chron. Sigeb Richard Duke of Normandie founded and restored many Churches and Abbeys amongst others the Abbey of Fesanan of S. Ouan at Roan and the Abbey of S. Michael nigh the Sea An Aduertisement Note heere Christian by the passed and subsequent Histories how in this time Christian Religion was so annihilated that it was altogether set to gather dead bones to build Churches and Monasteries to reare vp and transport dead bodyes to honour reliques to dreame miracles to make themselues Monkes and Nunnes to dedicate and consecrate Churches to compose Hymnes and praises of Saints to sing and pray for the dead and such like ceremonies About this time also began the fourth pestilence of the Church that is to say the Schoole Diuinitie mingled with Aristotles Philosophie which after engendred Transubstantiation and other new doctrines by the Questionaries as thou shalt vnderstand by this discourse Iohn Pope 14. of that name an Italian a Bishops sonne called Iohn gouerned Rome sixe yeares eleuen monethes and tenne dayes Supp Chron. Hee beeing apprehended by Peter Prouost of Rome was put in prison in the Castle of S. Angelo where he remained a 11. monethes but when they heard say the Emperour Otho came against them with a strong hand they tooke him out and established him Some say he was sent into exile banished into Campania frō whence he came again after 2. monethes For the Emperor tooke vngeance on thē that persecuted him causing many of them to die by diuers kindes of death such as were found culpable of the fact and banished some into Saxe As for Peter Prouost he was deliuered to the Pope to doo with him at his pleasure Who gaue him into the tormenrers hands so hee was vnapparelled and his beard being cut off he was set vpon an Asse his face towards the taile and his hands bound vnder the taile of the said Asse and so was ledde through the Towne and beaten with Roddes After this he was againe brought to prison and finally sent into exile in Almaine Naucler Iohn Pope in recompence of the benefite receiued of Otho called and declared Otho the second sonne of Otho the first Augustus Palin In the time of this Pope Theodorike or Deodorike Bishop of Mets caused infinit holy bodies to be transported from Italy into France with a peece of S. Stephens Chaine and a part of S. Lawrence Grate which the Pope Iohn gaue him Chron. Sigeb These bee the Iewels of this darke time The King of Denmarke and all his Countrey were conuerted to the faith by Popon Clarke Chron. Sigeb Benet Pope sixt of that name a Romane ruled a yeare and sixe moneths He was put in the prison S. Angelo wherein he was strangled by one called Cinthius or Cincius Others say he dyed of hunger for which iniurie he neuer did Iustice nor vengeance Naucler Roger Bishop of Liege founded the Abbey of S. Iohn the Euangelist in the I le of Flaunders Chron. Sigeb The heroicall acts of this Emperour Otho the first do sufficiently shewe him to bee one
a Magitian Philosopher who had a booke none like it in the Art Magicke Gerbert sought often to steale it from him but by reason his maister kept it very carefully hee could not come by it Yet hee perswaded the Philosophers daughter with whom hee had great familiaritie to get the booke and lende it him to reade which shee did Hauing then the saide booke hee retired and fearing to be surprized with it hee vowed himselfe to the Diuell vppon condition hee would bring him to Fraunce Being returned he kept a Schoole and taught the liberall Arts with great admiration of his Auditors After he was Maister vnto Otho the the fourth of Robert sonne of Hugo Capet King of Fraunce and of Lotharie who afterward was Arch-bishop of Sens by whose helpe hee was aduaunced First to be Arch-bishop of of Rheimes as is saide and after of Rauenna and finally Pope During which time hee alwayes dissembled his Art Magicke and the communication hee had with the Diuell Of whom once desiring to knowe how long hee should liue in the Popedome the Diuell answered him that he should liue til he said Masse in Ierusalem Siluester then giuing himselfe altogether vnto his delights hoping to liue long and thinking of nothing lesse then of going to Ierusalem It came to passe that one day in Lent as he celebrated in the Church of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem he was suddenly taken with a great Feuer then did he remember y t the said place was called of y e crosse of Ierusalem so had bin seduced by the ambiguity of the answer Straight heard he great tumults of diuels in his presence being surprised with feare began to lament And although he was a very wicked man yet fel he not into dispair but seeing he must needs die called his Cardinals told vnto them all his life and the art Magicke which he had vsed to come vnto that dignitie exhorting them to liue holily and before all men cōfessed himself miserable ordeined that his body should be hewen cut in peeces but especially such of his members wherby he had worshipped the diuel and then that they all should be put in a cart and in what place soeuer the horses which drew y e cart should stay there he should be buried And it came to passe that the horses without any cōduction of man carried his body into the Church of Laterane where he was laid in a Sepulchre And at this day his Sepulchre is a pronosticke token of a Popes death R. Barnes Suppl Chron. and Nauler An Aduertisement From the time of Iohn the 8. which was the whore vntil the yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Antichrist raigned at Rome a brazen faced harlot which had despised and troden vnder her feet holy mariage All the Popes which were within this time which conteineth about an 150. yeares were plunged in all voluptuousnes impudency and carnal villanies in arrogancy kissing of feete Sacriledges horrible dissentions homicides vnbrideled impudencies as may easily be perceiued by the discourse of those proceedings In this time now following after the thousand yeare the diuel is wholy vnchained And rightly may this time be called The kingdome of the great Dragons Siluester the second by his Necromancies began to vnloose Sathan hauing couenanted with him to haue the Popedome Benet the 9. did homage to the diuel in woods mountaines In Hildebrand or Gregory the 7. and other Popes thou shalt see what Arts they vsed Otho the 3. the 18. yeare of his Empire was poysoned by a Romane woman which had bin the wife of Crescentius at the houre of his departing from Rome by the gift of a paire of persumed gloues being poysoned And this was in reuenge of her husbands death as saith Crantius Henry second of that name Duke of Banier and Counte of Bamberge surnamed the Lame obteined the Empire by election and raigned 22. yeares Iohn Pope 19. of that name surnamed le Sec as Iohn Blundus by Nation an Italian succeeded Siluester the Magician euen in the same art and studies which he practised Berno saith that there were great cōtentions amongst the Necromancians such as were fauourers of Siluester this Iohn but in the end he carried all away Some say he was poysoned after he had gouerned 5. months This Pope gaue himself altogether to idlenes pleasure as witnesseth Crantius Hydromany was his studie He commanded the Feast of the Commemoration of the dead newly inuented and instituted in the Abbey of Clugny by Odillo as is said which was in the moneth of March to be remitted vntill the second day of Nouember and then obserued also through all Churches R. Barns and Supp Chron. The name of a Cardinall appointed as a dignitie The Historiographers say that at this time the name and appellation of a Cardinall beganne to be in great account as we see at this day Baconthorpius Ro. Barns and Carion Iohn Pope 20. borne at Rome called Fasanus was suspected to haue made away his predecessor These Popes from Siluester vntill Hildebrand gaue themselues to nothing but diabolicall arts This man after he had gouerned foure yeares fiue moneths dyed Naucl. not without some suspition of poyson In this time there was an horrible pestilence yea almost through the whole world Sigeb Fulbert Bishop of Chartres wrote these Respondes to the praise of the Virgin Marie Stirps Iesse c. Et Chorus nouae Hierusalem c. and other prayers Herman a Monke of S. Gall wrote that Salue Regina Alma redemptoris mater Trit Abb. Sergius Pope the fourth of that name a Romane gouerned the Sea two yeares and sixe moneths Suppl Chron. Burchardus first a Monke of Lob the Disciple of Albert aboue mentioned was Bishop of Wormes He compiled the auncient Canons which afterward were abridged by Gratian yea rather corrupted which is easie to iudge in comparing them together Rhenanus in his Annota vpon Tertullian Ierusalem was taken and the Lords Sepulchre destroyed by the Sarrasins and Mahumetists Nancl. and Suppl Chron. Benet Pope 8. of that name a Tusculan gouerned the Romane Church 12. yeares or thereabouts He crowned the Emperour Henry at his comming to Rome and saluted him Augustus Henry the second builded at Bamberge the Church of Saint George and prayed Benet it might be a Cathedrall Church which the Pope agreed vnto vppon condition that the saide Church should paye to the Pope euery yeare an hundreth markes of siluer and a white horse with all his furniture Platina and R. Barnes Conrade 2. of that name obteined the Empire and raigned 15. yeares Naucler He was the sonne of Herman Duke of Franconians and was called Salicus because he came of the Sicambians from whom came the Salicke lawe And the French themselues were called Salickes which vsed that lawe whereof we haue made mention in Pharamond After the death of Henry the 2. Benet was deiected frō his dignitie
as he should be at his prayers The Cardinall Benno rehearseth thus the Historie The Emperour saith he had a custome often to goe make his prayers in the Church of S. Marke in the Mount Auentine As then Hildebrand enquired diligently by certaine spies of all that he did hee gaue charge to marke the place wherein the Emperour prayed oftnest either standing or on his knees and suborned one promising him a great summe of money to lay great stones on the beames or vpper lofts of the Church see the holy councell of this Pope and that he should lay thē so wel that when the Emperour should make his prayers he might let them fall on his head to dash out his braines But as he which had enterprised such a villanie was at hand to accomplish it and went about to handle and remoue a stone the heauie for him the stone by the waight deceiued him and the scaffold which was on the beames being broken the stone and the poore miserable man by a iust iudgement of God fell vpon the pauement of the Temple was all burst with the same stone After the Romanes vnderstood how all things was past they bound the feet of that wicked villaine and by the space of 3. daies trailed him through the streets of the towne But vsing their accustomed humanitie commaunded he should be buried The sonne of Benno saith here yet further that Iohn Bishop of Port who was Hildebrands Secretarie and great familiar comming into the Pulpit which was in S. Peters Church said amongst many other things in the hearing of the people and Cleargie Hildebrand hath done such a thing and we also as deseruers should all bee burned aliue meaning to giue to vnderstand that which hee had done of the Sacrament of the body of our Lord. Whereof Hildebrand demaunding Councell of a certaine thing as of old the Painims did of their Idols cast it into the fire because it gaue him do answere although the Cardinalls which were then present spake against his deed This is a beginning of the fruite of that cursed decree of Transubstantiation applied vnto Charmes and Inchauntments He excommunicated also the said Emperour Henry without lawfull accusation without Canonicall appellation without forme of iustice yea euen for that he was but too obedient vnto him Hee diuided also from him the Princes of the Empire and sought by secret treasons to destroy him but God preserued him O straunge treason proceeding from the sanctuarie or rather frō him who seemed to be the high Priest to gouerne the Church to haue superintendancie ouer Iudges and Elders By menaces also he constrained Bishops to sweare that they should not defend his cause neither should they fauour or helpe him in any thing drawing violently the scripture to make them serue his false dealing Notwithstanding saith Benno so soone as hee arose vp from his seate to excommunicate the Emperour the seate which had lately bene made of new and strong wood by the will of God of it selfe brake in many peeces in a terrible maner In such sort as it gaue to know that he that did sit vpō it would sowe terrible schismes against the Church by so arrogant and presumptuous a maner of excommunication This saith Benno But when he sawe that all his Ambushes could serue him for nothing he beganne to vse open force and emnities and after he had excommunicated Henry declaring all his subiects acquited of their oath of fidelitie which they had deliuered him he sent the Crowne of the Empire vnto Rodolphe Sauoic with this Latine verse such as it is Petra dedit Petro Petrus dià dema Rodolpho That is to say the Rocke hath giuen the Diademe vnto Peter and Peter giueth it vnto Rodolphe Henry then being for this cause sore troubled laid downe his royall apparell and came towards him into the Towne of Canuse with his wife and litle sonne in the time of a strong and sharpe winter through a very daungerous way Being before the gate of the Citie sayth Benno from morning till night without hauing eyther meate or drinke in apparell of cloath and barefooted beeing made a spectacle for Angels and men hee required pardon in all humilitie He endured three whole dayes in a very lamentable affliction In so much that Hildebrand who tooke his pleasure the meane while with his whores and Monkes mocked him He desired sore that he might haue entry into the Citie but it was refused him And as with great instance he demaunded it by the space of three dayes he was answered that the Pope had no leisure to speake with him Henry taking not in euill part that they would not suffer him to come into the Citie remained in the suburbes not without great grieuance For the winter was sharper then of custome Yet to the end he would offend no person he kept 3. whole dayes there without departing Finally the fourth day at the request of the Countesse Matilde who as Histories say loued a litle too much the Pope and of the Abbot of Clugny and of the Earle of Sauoy called Adelrans he was permitted to enter of the Pope But when he demaunded pardon of the Pope setting his Crowne betwixt his hands and in his power he would neither pardon nor absolue him of excommunication vnlesse first he promised to purge himselfe in a ful Sinode of his fault with other vnlawful and vnreasonable conditions All which things he promised and confirmed them by estate yet would they not remit him into his Kingdome Can any body haue haue a more liuely portraite of the Image of Antichrist The Princes of Italy after they knew this were exceedingly offended that the Emperour had so made his agreement with Hildebrand and that so dishonestly and vilely he had submitted himselfe to him who had inuaded the Papacie by wicked practises and who had polluted and defiled all with murders and adulteries c. After this the Pope with his Cardinalls glorying that he had brought the Emperour into seruitude durst now aduenture to enterprise greater things But the Emperour afterward tooke courage and straightway dispatched all that by taking Armes And after many sharp and hard warres he vanquished Rodolphe in battaile Who hauing his right hand cut off made call all the Bishops and Priests on his side Which being come after one had brought him his hand he spake in this sort I confesse that this is worthily come vnto me and wel bestowed vpon me Behold the hand wherewith I haue deliuered the oath of fidelitie to my Lord Henry but at the sollicitation of you I haue so many times vnluckily fought against him and also falsified my faith vnto him and therefore I haue receiued a reward such as my periurie meriteth See if you haue guided mee in a right way So then and now keepe to your Prince the fidelitie which you haue promised vnto him As for me I goe to my Fathers and incontinently after Rodolphe
the order the yeare of Christ 1084. Chron. Sigeb and Emil. lib. 5. and Plati The yeare of Christ 1089. in the time of Gregorie the seuenth and of the Emperour Henry the fourth The Abbey of S. Sauiour of Andim of the order of S Benet in the country of Hainault in a litle Iland called in Latin commonly Aquacinctum or Aquis cinctum was beganne by two noble persons Sicherus and Gualterus which went vnto Ancelme of Ribemont a noble man and demaunded the saide I le beeing part of his patrimony where the Abbey was builded Sigeb Victor 3. of that name borne in Italie called before Didier Abbot of Montcassin and Cardinall of the Court of Rome was made Pope not by election of Cardinalls or of the Romane people but was there inthronized by that harlot Matilde and the Normaines of that faction and gouerned a yeare and foure moneths After he had receiued the Papall dignitie as Gregorie his successour he beganne lustily to maintaine his part against the Emperour and the Pope Clement and hee which was a Monke to defend his predecessor Monke according as he had bene informed by the said Matilde the louer of Gregorie But death kept him from shewing by effect yea with some great publike calamitie that poyson which hee had hidde in his heart and the inraged hatred which hee had conceiued against them For the yeare of the Lorde 1088. hee finished his life with his Papacie and that sooner then he looked for Some Authors as Herman Contract Carsulan Peter de Premonstre and many others recite that he died of poison which was put in the Challice by his Subdeacon as he sung Masse Yet Vincent is of an other opinion as Platina rehearseth it when he saith that he dyed of a Fluxe of the bodie and that is not farre from a suspition of an impoysonment For they which take poyson doo sometimes fall into a Fluxe of the belly because the guts and inward parts are wasted corrupted Some Historiographers slaues of the Romane seate haue maliciously said that this was procured him by the Emperour Henry others by the Pope Clement although this wicked act was done by no other but by his Chaplaine doing his office of Subdeacon Some haue left by writing that in this time many prodigious straunge things against nature appeared For domesticall birds as hennes geese pigeons and peacocks fled into the mountains became wild that the greatest part of fishes as well of Riuers as of the Sea died Philip King of France forsooke his wife Berthe the daughter of Baudwin Counte of Holland of whom he had a sonne and a daughter Chronicles of the Kings of France The Relickes of S. Nicholas were transported from the citie of Mirrhe into the Towne of Bar. Whereof came that famous Idoll which giueth the name of Saint Nicholas in Lorraine Chaunges of many Dukes in the Country of Almaigne Who can here expresse how many euils calamities that Intestine and ciuil warre of Almaigne hath caused being stirred by the Pope not onely amongst the greatest Princes which were slaine therin but also in change of siegnories The Emperour Henry after that his enemy Rodolphe was dead about foure yeares after hee had bene placed in his Imperiall seate gaue the Duchie of Sorabie to Fredericke de Stanfeu his sonne in lawe The race of Franconian Dukes in a small time perished altogether Egbert Marquesse of Misue vnto whom the Bishops had giuen hope to haue the Empire after the death of Rodolphe was also slaine in the battell of the Saxons which the Emperour Henry gained Also Gebbard Father of Lotharie who after was Emperour dyed in the warres Briefly the forces of Almaigne were wholy debilitated and chaunged in this vnluckie warre of the Popes Vrbane 2. of that name borne of Tuscane called before Otho a Monke of Clugny and vnder Hildebrand Cardinall of Oftie was inthronized in the Papacie against the wil of the Emperour by such as had inthronized Victor namely by that harlot Matilde and the Norans then Lordes of Pouille and ruled 12. yeares 4. moneths and 19. dayes This is the Disciple and houshold seruant of Hildebrand whom Benno calleth in despight Turban a schismaticke an hereticke and companion of Liberius the Arrian which Gregorie the seuenth canonized as hath bene said Who saith hee for feare that the poyson of their errours might not be knowne after the manner of Sorcerers mingled hony therewith For subtilly and vnder an intent to deceiue hee added holy scriptures to his lyes and perseuering in his errours with his Hildebrand he was sent into hell with the Apostate Angels Vrbain say some Authours of our time perturber of the world or rather whirle-winde of the tempests of Townes the familiar of Hildebrand watered maintained and caused to grow the pernicious seeds which his predecessors had before dispearsed here and there He excommunicated Guibert Arch-bishop of Rauenna which was named Clement the third because hee had bene chosen by the Emperour At this time all things were in great trouble as well in Almaigne as in other Nations by the disputations then happening betwixt the Cleargy and the people but because Vrbane would not absolue any which had beene excommunicated by Hildebrand fearing to fall in daunger of his life went secretly out of the Towne and after this celebrated many Sinodes The first at Melphe the second at Troy in Pouillie the third at Plaisance the fourth at Cleremont the yeare of the Lord 1094. and the fift at Tours in which he confirmed the acts of the monster Hildebrand and made new Ecclesiasticall ordinances to the ende the Papall authoritie might in nothing be diminished in that which had bene acquired by violence and deceit He ordeined that a Clarke might not receiue Inuesture of a benefice of a secular Prince whatsoeuer hee be Hee writ to Matilde an auncient friend and louer of the Romane Church and armed all her sinagogue against them of the Emperours side whom he calleth heretickes He gaue also to the Arch-bishop of Millaine the Pall Archiopischopall and so confirmed the orders and Sects of Chartreux and of the Monkes of Cisteaux Such as had wiues after they were promoted vnto the order of Deacons he depriued thē of their offices taking also frō Priests their sons their estates and administrations He made the Arch-bishop of Toledo who had made an oath vnto him Primate of all Spaine to the end by that meane the beast of Rome might make subiect all Spaine vnto him He stirred Christian Princes to take armes against the Sarasins vnder colour to recouer the Towne of Hierusalem And for that purpose hee marked with the signe of the Crosse three hundreth thousand men and in the meane while he guided all things for his own profit For the yeare of Christ 1095. because hee would not finde meanes to doo his businesses as he would for many tumults and seditions raised against him he tooke occasion to depart from Rome and come into
neither only abandoned and destituted him of his succours and helpe but vnder colour of the Church and the publike good assaulted him by armes besieged him by circumvention tooke him traiterously despoyled him of his Imperiall dignitie and made him die a poore miserable man in great captiuitie and heauinesse And all this he did saith Rodolphe Galterus not by the commaundement of any barbarous tyrant not at the instigation of some Phalaris but by the Councell of the holy Father of Rome Reioyce saith he you Caligula Nero and you all which haue bene renowned for crueltie for you haue now found one that shall take away the memorie of your name so cruell because he goes much before you that is to say the Pope of Rome who commaunds the sonne to drawe his sword against the Father Henry then the fourth was dispoyled of his Imperiall dignitie and finally his sonne Henry the fift by treason tooke him prisoner the fiftie yeare of his Empire as hee went vnto an assembly held at Magunce he died after he had bene miserably handled in the Citie of Liege Anno. 1108. after the Chron. of Euseb or 1116. after others But the enmitie of this Papall Monster was not yet appeased by this death for in an inraged manner hee did exercise his crueltie against him after his death commaunding by Letters that his body shuld be vnburied cast out of the church and transported from Liege to Spire and to be depriued by the space of fiue yeares of Sepulchre Behold how this proud Antichrist obeyeth Magistrates ordeined of God! But see what God did in the meane time At Spire blood ranne out of Loaues of bread as Vrspergensis faith in his Cronographie The yeare of the Lorde 1106. hee made an assembly of many Princes and Bishops at Guardascall in Lombardie with whom he handled matters appertaining to the Faith that is to say cōcerning the Popes kitchin as of homages of fealties of oaths that Bishops had before made vnto Laie persons He despoiled also the Arch-bishop of Rauenna of his lands applying them vnto his owne profit And this Pope not content with such crueltie caused the body of Guibert Archbishop of the said place of Rauenna to be taken vp who had bin chosen Pope by the Emperour Henry the 4. in the time of Gregore 7. sixe yeares after he was laide in the Sepulchre Now as for Henry the 4. he was an excellent Emperor meete for an Empire of a noble race and an incomparable spirit O that other Princes had possessed such hearts and had not attributed so much vnto that Romane harlot He was affable and benigne towards all liberall to wards the poore It is said that during his life hee fought with Ensigne displaied threescore and two times After many Histories Henry the fift of that name sonne of Henry the fourth and of Berthe Marquesse of Italie was chosen at Magunce by the Gouernours and chiefe of the Empire and raigned twentie yeares Chron. Palm Lewis le Gros otherwise called the good Lewis 39. King of Fraunce raigned 28. yeares and was crowned at Orleance and annointed by the Archbishop of Sens. It is said of him that he often disguised himselfe in the habit of a poore man or of a woman or seruant the better to knowe the truth of some secret matters of his kingdome He was founder of the Abbey of S. Victor in Paris The yeare of Christ one thousand one hundreth and eleuen Henry the fift went to Rome to appease seditions stirred since Gregorie the seuenth and continued in Victor Vrbane and Paschal the second The Emperour and other Princes would vse the authoritie right priuiledges of auncient Emperours For Charlemaigne and others which had obteined the Empire since three hundreth yeares and more vnder threescore and three Popes bestowed Bishopprickes Abbaies and other Benefices Against this authoritie and custome the Pope following by Sinodall decrees mainteined that Ecclesiasticall Benefices ought not to be giuen by Laie-persons and excommunicated as Simoniackes as well such as receiued them as them that gaue them This Emperour then being at Rome after he had kissed the feete of the holy Father prayed him to confirme and to like of such as had ordeined Bishops But as he refused to confirme them he was taken by the Emperour and imprisoned and came not out vntill hee had confirmed them all and yeelded him the right of Inuesture giuen vnto Charlemaigne and therevpon making Letters and Seales and also confirmed the said Emperour Yet after the Pope had said Masse was in his Chaire saith Masseus behold the souldiers came suddenly in crying Yeeld vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and assailed as well him as all the Cleargie carrying them all out from thence and spoyled them without leauing them any thing then put they them in prison in the Mountaine of Soracte Finally after debates and discentions were appeased and the Emperour Henry crowned Paschal renewed the priuiledge of Inuesture of Bishops and pronounced before all the assembly that whosoeuer made of no force the saide priuiledge was excommunicated There was also sung Gloria in exelsis because the peace was made betwixt the Emperour and the Pope But so soone as the Emperour was returned into Almaigne this periured Traitor reuoked all hee had promised with solemne oathes affirming that he accorded with the Emperour not of his good wil but by force and constraint After this hee condemned that priuiledge and excommunicated the Emperour and stirred maruellous Tragedies which incontinently were published throughout all the wide world Hee assembled a Councell at Troyes in Champaigne in Fraunce wherein againe hee forbadde marriage vnto the Priestes of Fraunce as Hildebrand had before forbidden the Priests of Almaigne euen to the chasing of some Prelates out of their Seates because they were marryed Desiring to encrease the Papall authoritie hee renewed the quarrell of giuing Bishopprickes which had caused great calamities throughout the Regions of Europe Ancelme an Arch-bishop of Englande and a Monke augmented the Impudencies of this Pope by such Sophisticke perswasions as he had before done them of Vrbaine For he was their Councellor at Rome and their Vicar in England This Ancelme tirannously depriued Henry the first of that name King of England of the right that Kings haue to prouide officers vsed by the Kings of Israel Dauid Salomon Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias others likewise against the saying of Iesus Christ The Kings of Nations haue rule ouer them c. But so it is not with you He also perpetually condemned the lawfull marriage of Priests in England as hath bene said against the holy lawes as well of the olde as of the new Testament and the manifest examples of the Primitiue Church to the and by the suggestion of Sathan the Cleargie might serue there in all Sodomie to the Dragon called the diuell and to Antichrist his Vicar Bertol Duke of Zeringuen and of Souabe founded the Citie of
Fribourg in Brisgoye Naucler Paschall assembled a Councell at Laterane wherein hee reuoked the right of Inuestures accorded vnto Henry the fift whereby arose a new schisme And the Popes Legates declared the said Henry to be excommunicated whereof rose great euils For the Emperour returned to Rome the second time and the Pope Paschall was constrained to flie S. Barnard of the age of 22. yeares accompanied with 30. persons entred into the Religion of the Cisteaux in the time Stephen liued the third Abbot of that place It rayned bloud in the field Emilian and Flaminian in the moneth of Iune nigh Rauenna and Parma without and within Chron. Sigeb and Palin The Monasterie of Cleruaux was founded whereof S. Barnard was the first Abbot being of the age of 27. yeares and was there by the space of 36. yeares Naucler The fruites of the warre of Ierusalem Foure orders came from Ierusalem Naucler 1. The order of Chanons of the Sepulchre of the Lord and they had double redde crosses 2 The order of the knights of S. Ihon otherwise called the knights of Rhodes and they weare blacke apparell with a white Crosse on their brests 3 The order of Templers which haue the white habit and the redde Crosse 4 The order of Teutoniques or Almaignes or otherwise the knights of the Virgin Mary which had a white habit and a blacke Crosse The Pope Paschal sent to the Bishop of Palerme in Sicilie the Archiepiscopall Pall yet with a condition that by oath he should binde himselfe to the Pope of Rome The said Bishop humbly sent him word that hee maruelled and with him the Princes and Councellours of Sicilie how the Pope demaunded an oath of a Bishop seeing Iesus Christ in S. Mathew cha 5. had forbidden to sweare and that it was not found by any Councell that it was lawfull to exact such an oath The Pope sharpely answered in these tearmes Thinkest thou saieth hee that any Councell can prescribe a Lawe to the Romane Church Knowest thou not that all Councels haue their perfection and vertue by the Romane Church Martin Luther In this time liued Hiltpert or Hildebert Bishop of Mons a fauourer of Transubstantiation as well as Ancelme Matilde or Mehaut Countesse of the age of 66. yeares died and gaue her goods by Testament vnto the Romane Church R. Barnes The Emperour Henry was defrauded by the said Testament for he was cousin of the said Countesse which after gaue occasion of great stirres and murthers R. Barnes Naucl. Baudwin second King of Ierusalem dyed and Baudwin his Nephewe surnamed Burgo was created the third King of Ierusalem Gelasius Pope 2. of that name was a Monke of Mountcassin Chauncellour of the Romane Church named Iohn borne at Gayotte a Citie of Campaigne in Italie Soone after his election he was apprehended by Cincius a mightie man imprisoned but incōtinently he was deliuered by the people The Emperour sent his Armie to Rome Gelasius fearing his comming fledde to Gayette The Emperour created an other Pope a Spaniard called Maurice otherwise Burdin Archbishop of Bracare which was called Gregorie the eight This done the Emperour returned into Almaigne and then beganne the eighteenth Schisme Gelasius condemned the Emperour and the Antepope and sent into Almaigne the Bishop Prenestin to publish the excommunication against the said Henry the fift R. Barnes Gelasius secretly came to Rome but he was knowne of his enemies and with much adoo escaping went for refuge into Fraunce Suppl Chron. He ordeined a Councell at Rheimes whither came bare-footed Robert of Lorraine founder of the order and place of Premonstre and entreated of the Pope Gelasius licence to preach the word of God and also authoritie and confirmation of his order Naucl. Chron. Sigeb This Pope had alreadie dedicated the great Church of Saint Laurence at Florence and had there placed the Ashes of S. Iohn Baptists bones newly brought from Mirrhe confirming them and approuing them for the true Ashes of S. Iohn Supp Chron. This Pope Gelasius died of a pleurisie at Clugny where hee was also buried hauing ruled at Rome a yeare sixe moneths Calixt 2. of that name succeeded him was 5. yeares Pope before called Guy or Guido of Burgongne after Fasc temp and the Sea of Histories or brother after Supp Chron. He was Doctor in the Ciuil Lawe and in Theologie Without contradiction he was chosen of the Cardinalls and honourably receiued at Rome When the Antepope Burdin heard those newes he met him thinking to haue hindered him but he profited nothing for he was in full battell ouercome with the French helpe And being taken by the Pope Calixt and by the Cardinal of S. Grisogon chiefe of his armie he was set vpon a Camell his face towards the taile and in such sort hee made him goe at his entrie then imprisoned him Iohn le Maire Fasc temp Eghardus saith that the said Antepope was powled made a Monke because whē he resided at Sutry he was a partie of many robberies committed vpon such as went and came to Rome Chron. Sigeb Calixtus made continue the Councell at Rheimes in Champaigne which Gelasius had commenced wherein he excommunicated the Emperor Henry the fift as an enemy of the church This excommunication was about the cause of the quarrell of the Inuestures of Bishops Iohn le Maire Henry the fift fearing to be deposed from his Empire as his Father was accorded the right of Inuestures in a full Councell it Rome vnto Calixtus Supp Chron. Calixtus ordeined that the Bishop of Compostella should be made an Arch-bishop for the reuerence of the bodie of Saint Iames who rested there And hee made a booke full of Fables of the miracles of the said S. Abb. Trit He appointed the foure times for taking orders as they call them for before they did take them only three times in the yeare He excommunicated such as tooke siluer for Baptisme and for burying Chron. R. Franc. By this Decree Popish Priests should be excommunicated He founded a Monasterie of the order of Cisteaux called Boneuan Fasc temp He ordeined it should not be lawful for any Bishop to turne from the Romane Church neither to contrary it For said he euen as the Sonne is come to do the will of his Father So it behoueth all Christians to do the will of their Mother that is to say the Romane Church Dist 12. ca. Non decet See how this brazen faced harlot of Rome alleadgeth scripture and is not ashamed to call her selfe a Mother He excommunicated all such as molested Pilgrimes which went to Rome 24 q. 3. chap. Si quis William Duke of Pouille preparing himselfe for the voiage of Constantinople to take vnto wife the Emperor Alexis his daughter recommēded his country to the Pope Calixt doubting the ambitiō of Roger his cosin who failed not incōtinently after the departure of the said William to seize vpon Calabria Pouille Insomuch as William was
of a Regular Chanon he was made Bishop Cardinall and after Pope ruled at Rome fiue yeares and sixe monethes He was sent vnto Norway by Eugenius the third Pope to preach the faith and when he had instructed the people of the said Countrey he was chosen Pope Beeing receiued the Romanes prayed him to leaue the administration of the towne free to Consuls and Magistrates after their auncient maner which be refused wherat the Romanes grieued did many euils vnto a Cardinall In so much that Adrian set all the Citie of Rome vnder an Interdict or excommunication After his election he would by no meanes go to the Church of Laterane to be consecrated vntill first Arnold bishop of Brixe were cast out of the Towne who opposed himselfe against the Administration of ciuill things and of the temporall sword which the Cleargie had vsurped And therefore he called him an heretike solliciting the Romane people to maintain their libertie Magistracie and other offices R. Barns Of this same time was Peter de Blois who in his writings touched the wickednesse of the Cleargie-men In a certaine Epistle which he writeth to a Bishops Officiall he admonisheth him to come out of Babilon detesting the tirannie of Bishops and their Officials calling them infernall harpies which do but powle and sheere the Church of Iesus Christ He often calleth the Cleargie Siria Edom Calues of Bethel Idols of Egipt the fatte of Samaria Priests of Baal and Iudges which forge vniust lawes and many such like names he giueth them This saith he of Rome At Rome all is subuerted by gifts Monkes may do all things by siluer and redeeme by annuall pentions all wickednesse of the flesh There filthinesse began to be sung in the Tabernacle of Geth in the streets of Ascalon So was he made the Prince of Sodome and his Disciples after him are set in the chaire of pestilence Such writing should be noted for their excellencie and raritie The yeare of Christ 1155. Frederic went into Italy Adrian met him euen at Sutry hoping by the Emperours meanes to reuenge himselfe vpon his enemies And as hee arriued at the Emperours lodging the Emperour hasted to meete him and as he lighted he held the left stirrope of his horse and taking him by the hand ledde him into his Castle The Pope greatly disdaining held as a mockery that the Emperour at his lighting held his left stirrope and not his right Insomuch that he departed from his Castle much offended discontent The next morning the Emperour dissembling all like a wise man calling the Pope as hee met him againe held his right stirrope at his lighting For hee had not forgotten his lesson of the day before After they went to Rome and there Frederic was crowned by Adrian at S. Peters and returned into Almaigne Ri. Barnes Iohn of Salisbury Bishop of Chartres was in this time who sharply opposed himselfe against the wickednes of Popes and Cleargie He writ a booke Intituled Obiurgatorium Cleri In his booke Intituled Policraticus he saith thus In the Romane Church are set Scribes and Pharisies loading mens shoulders with insupportable burthens The great Bishop is heauy vnto all yea importable His Legates cast themselues so into the fields as if Sathan were come from the Lorde to torment the Church Iudgement amongst them is no other thing but a true marchandise They esteeme of gaine as of pietie it selfe They iustifie the wicked by gold and siluer and reioyce in wickednes They eate the sinnes of the people They are apparelled nourished in all luxurie whilest the true worshippers worship the Lord in spirit He that sticketh not vnto their doctrine either is he iudged an hereticke or a schismaticke c. Often were there such Doctors in the Church but they durst not speake nor write of all that was needfull In a booke Intituled Speculum that is to say the Glasse It is said that that good Bishop Iohn amongst other complaints hath bene sometimes heard say to the Pope Adrian the fourth his very familiar friend these words The Pope indeed is truly the seruant of seruants because he serueth the Romanes seruants of couetousnesse The same Pope Adrian was heard say to the said Bishop Iohn That there were many Popes which rather succeeded Romulus in murders paracides then S. Peter in feeding of sheep Romulus the first founder of the Citte of Rome slewe his owne brother Remus and so the walls were dedicated in that Parricide Adrian excommunicated William the sonne of Rogier king of Sicily and Pouille and absolued his subiects of their oathes towards him but seeing he profited nothing by that meanes he incited Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople Emanuel promised the Pope to deposed the said William Onely he demanded three Maritime or Sea Townes if he came to his purpose These conuentions made in the meane while the Grecians occupied Pouille and wasted it William vnderstanding these practises prayed the Pope to be reconciled vnto him and that hee would onely graunt him the title of king of the two Sicilies and he would restore him whatsoeuer he demanded yea he would giue of his owne The Pope was content but the Cardinalls kept him from it William then went into battaile against the Grecians and obtained the victorie droue the Grecians out of Pouille and recouered it The Captaine prisoners were bound with chaines Afterward he went against Beneuent and besieged it The Pope and his Cardinalls which by chance were there are prisoners and constrained to demaund peace and to agree wiih him The Pope first absolueth him of his excommunication and pronounceth and declareth him King after hauing done him homage to hold his Land Seignory of the holy Father Adrian returned to Rome and straight fel vnto cōtention For the Consuls would maintaine their franchise ancient libertie Wherfore fearing because the Interdict endured yet he got himselfe Anagnia or Arignianum R. Barns Frederic was not content that the Pope without his knowledge had graunted the title and right of Sicilia because he was thereby defrauded of the Inuestures also for that the Popes Legates pilled so the Countries subiect vnto his Empire Because the Pope began secretly through all the Empire to sowe reasons to retire his subiects from his subiection Wherefore he demaunded homage of the Bishops of the Germaine Nation and oath of fidelitie hee forbad that any should appeale vnto the Romane Sea He commaunded the Popes Legates which appealed not to him to get them out of his Countries The Pope very much grieued at all those things as also that the Emperour set his owne name before the Popes in his Letters missiues which he sent writ Letters vnto him rebuking him for those foresaid things admonishing him to amēd The Emperor answered them frō point to point First that iustly by good right he set his name before his seeing the Pope oweth all humilitie to the Emperour as Christ hath taught And if Popes haue
Bishop of Tusoule was created Pope This Pope although he was accounted a very learned man yet because he had not such knowledge of things that hee had to gouerne as was requisite and also because he was of inconstant and mutable maners as Platina saith hee brought much more domage vnto the Popedome then honour or profit For he did many things wherein he shewed himselfe astonished and light There was one onely point wherein he was worthy praise that is that willingly hee helped many young people which had desire to profit in good Letters in giuing them siluer and Ecclesiastical Benifices and aboue all such as were pressed with pouertie The Venetians then did greatly molest them of the Marquesdome of Ancone because they made traffique of Marchandise into Dalmatia without paying any portage to the Venetian the Pope defended them not as he ought they beeing the Churches subiects for hee was readie inough in words but when it came to lay hand to worke he had neither courage nor hardinesse They of Ancone seeing themselues destitute of the Popes succours taking courage made a sallie vpon the Venetians which had besieged their Towne and droue them away after hauing greatly indomaged them In all things this Pope accustomed not to vse any other Councell but of Iohn de Gauiette by the will and direction of whom all things were gouerned for that by his meanes hee was chosen Pope He sent Embassadors as well towards Michael Paleologne as to Westerne Kings exhorting them in his name that they would make Peace one with another and take Armes against the Sarrasins and other enemies of Christian religion which thing if Paleologne would not do and if he kept not the vnion that he had accorded vnto Iohn would giue his Empire vnto Charles king of Sicilie This Pope promised himselfe long life yea he foretold it by the Starres and affirmed before euerie one that he should liue long But as he affirmed such a folly in the presence of his people a new Vault Valerius calls it a playing Hall Stella a rich and precious Chamber which he had builded in his Pallace at Viterbe fell suddenly the fourth day following the yeare 1277. And the seuenth day after the said ruine being found miserably slaine betwixt the stone and the wood was enterred in the great Church the 8. moneth of his Popedome He knew by experience how great was the vanitie of his Diuination The Sea was vacant by the space of sixe monethes by the meanes of debate amongst the Cardinalls Hee writ certaine Problems following therein Aristotle the Canons and rules of Phisicke The treasure of the poore and certaine Epistles The doctrine of the Waldois After that Waldo and his company were driuen from Lyons one company drew towards Lombardie where they multiplied greatly In so much that their doctrine began to be dispearced through Italie and came euen to Sicilie As the Patents of Frederic the second giuen against them when he raigned witnesseth By the recitall of such as writ against them and likewise by one Reinerius who liued and and writ a litle after this time it may be gathered that this was their doctrine That we must beleeue the scriptures onely in that which concerneth saluation and that no other thing ought to bee receiued but that which God commaundeth vs. That there is but one onely Mediator and therefore we must not inuocate Saints That there is no purgatorie but that all men iustified by Christ goe to eternall life and such as do not beleeue goe to eternall death And that there is neither third nor fourth place They receiue and allowe two Sacraments Baptisme and Communion They said that all Masses and chiefly such as were inuented for the dead were abhominable and damned and therefore ought to be abolished All humane traditions ought to be reiected without holding them for necessarie to saluation That singing and recitall of the officiall and fastings tyed to certaine dayes superfluous feasts the difference of meates as well of degrees and orders of Priests Monkes and Nuns as blessings and consecrations of creatures vowes pilgrimages and all the confusion and great heap of ceremonies before inuēted ought to be abolshed They denied the Popes supremacie aboue all the power he had vsurped vpon pollicies And they admitted no degrees but Bishops Priests and Deacons That the Romane seate is very Babilon and that the Pope is the fountaine of all euils at this day That the marriage of Priests is good and necessarie in the Church That such as heare the word of God and haue a right knowledge thereof are the true Church to which Iesus Christ hath giuen the keyes to cause Sheepe to enter and driue away Wolues See briefly the doctrine of the Waldois which the enemies haue impugned and for which by their owne witnesse they were persecuted in this time Mathias Illiricus in the Catalogue which he gathered of the witnesses of the truth saith that he hath by him the consultations of certaine Aduocates of Auignon Also of three Archbishops of Narbone of Arles and of Aix and likewise of the Bishop of Alban to roote out the Waldois written past 300. yeares by which it appeareth that then and before there were a great number of the faithfull heere and there dispearced throughout all France It may also be collected by the consultations of the said Archbishops that as the number was very great the persecution was very cruell For in the end of them there is thus found written Who is so new in France that is ignorant of the condemnation of these Heretikes Waldois made of long time so iustly A thing so famous so publike as hath cost so great expences sweats and trauells for the Catholique and hath bene sealed with so many condemnations and deathes of those wicked Infidells can it be called into doubt It appeareth then what a butcherie in this time was made of the faithfull and what crueltie the supporters of the Romane Antechrist exercise against the good Nicholas 3. borne at Rome of the house of Vrsins called before Iohn de Gauette the election being deferred vntill the sixt moneth not wthout great debate and contentions amongst the Cardinalls occupied the papall seate Charles king of Sicilie as Senator of Rome had the charge of the Conclaue who insisted much that some of the French Nation might be chosen After then that Nicholas had taken possession of the Popedome meaning to diminish the credit and power of Charles tooke from him the Vicariatship of Tuscane and filled all Italie with vprores and tumults of warre and to the end he might prouide well for his businesses he perswaded Peter King of Arragon these be old Popish trickes to redemaund the Kingdome of Sicilie shewing him that by right of heritage it belonged vnto him because of Constance his wife Which counsell pleased Peter well But what fruite wrought the counsell of this S. Peter Peter hauing gotten into his power a puissant Armie
was at the instance of Phillip le Bell. After he was aduertised of his election he departed from Burdeaux and came to Lyons and sent word that all the Cardinalls then in Italie should appeare there wherevnto they all obeyed without delay or contradiction and the coronation of the said Pope was made publike and solemne in the Church of S. Iust But this ioy and pompe was troubled For as an innumerable people were mounted vpon an old wall of S. Iust to see this great pompe and noblenes the said wall fell and flew duke Iohn of Britaine the King was there wounded and the Pope throwne ouer his horse and rudely troden vnder feete in so much that he lost a rich Carbuncle out of his triple crowne esteemed at 6000. Florents of Gold and more then 12. other notable persons were there wounded and died After the Pope Clement was crowned the king tooke leaue of him and went to marrie his sonne Lays Hutin to the daughter of the Duke of Burgongne called Margarite The Pope on the other side left Lion and made his residencie in Auignon This was the first of the Popes that kept there his Romane Court where it abode the space of 73. yeares before it returned to Rome Iohn le Maire After the end of this solemne pompe and that all things were appeased he created many French Cardinalls But hee made not one Italian onely he restored that dignitie of a Cardinall to Iohn and Iames of the house of Colomnois Moreouer he sent to Rome three Cardinalls with the power of Senators by whose direction the Towne and all Italie was gouerned He gaue to Frederic king of Sicilie the Ile of Sardeigne which was occupied by the Sarrasins vpon this condition that in chasing them away he might incontinently recouer it The yeare 1306. the Iewes were pilled and reiected Fraunce Albert the Emperour riding in the fieldes about noone was slaine by his Nephewe and other Princes of Austrich his companions Munster This iudgement might bee because in warre he had persecuted the Emperour Adolphe who although he was his inferiour vnto him in power yet was he ordained of God and ought him obedience But such murthers remaine not vnpunished Hiero. Marius adding to the words of Platina sayth thus Clement the fift because he desired not to serue others as Iesus Christ commaunded his disciples but rather to be serued euen of Emperors ordained that Emperours chosen in Almaine although they tooke the name of King of the Romanes yet they should receiue of the Pope the rights and name of the Emperour Moreouer that when the Emperour should bee dead whilest the Empire was vacant the gouernment of the townes of Italie subiect to the Emperor should be in the Popes power The Romane Court transported into France where it remained 74. yeares This Clemens who was a publike whoremonger and a great maintainer of harlots Chron. Herm. and Paralip Vrsp. placed the papall seate in Auignon to the end the better to enioy his delights and pleasures He celebrated the generall Councell of Vienne the yeare of our Lord. 1311. wherein he cruelly abolished the order of the Templers to the end to confiscate their goods with their spoiles raised vp the Hospitaliers into dignities called the knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem which had conquered the I le of Rhodes vpon the Sarrasins The Knights of the Rhodes succeeded in the goods of the Templers The Pope excommunicated the Venetians because they had vsurped Ferrare which was of the Churches patrimonie and caused the Croisado to be published against them in Italie till they were constrained to yeeld the said seignorie of Ferrare which they had vsurped of a Lord called Frisius Estensis who had slaine his father to gouerne at Ferrare being notwithstanding aided by the Venetians to doo that wicked act Item he excommunicated the Florentines and them of Luques Henry the 7. would needes make himselfe to be crowned at Rome but it was not without great contradiction and effusion of bloud Robert King of Sicilie sonne of Charles the second King of Pouille was condemned of the said Henry to bee beheaded Clement graunted to all such as coiced themselues against the Turke that at their pleasures and will foure soules should be deliuered from purgatorie But the Theologians of Paris detested this and reprooued it saith Agrip. de vanit This Pope persecuted such as they named Fratricelli and one called Dulcinus of Navarre and published against thē the Croisado for that purpose seruing themselues with the Iacobins The Dulcins were named of that Dulcinus who was executed with his wife Margarite Naucler He had bene taught of one called Gerard. They which detested them and haue written their maner of doings say that they wore white Mantles long haires sometimes walking barefooted sometimes shod Item that they named themselues the order of the Apostles and they preached saying Repent for the kingdome of heauē is at hand Moreouer they said that the authoritie which Christ gaue vnto his Church was expired for the malice of the Prelates And that the Romane Church was reprooued because it was an whore Also that they were the Church followed the rule of the Apostles That all the Popes since Siluester were Preuaricators and vsurpers because they liued not in true humilitie and that therefore men ought not to giue them Tythes Many of Dulcius adherents were taken to the number of 114. persons dwelling in the Mountains of Verseil in Piemont Rhodes in this time wes reconquered of the knights of the Rhodes which before were driuen away Henry 7. of that name sonne of Henry Count of Luxembourg and of Beatrix his wife was chosen Emperour He was not rich of goods that his father had left him but he was the excellentest Prince of his time as well in prudence as in the glory of praise-worthy deeds From the death of Frederic the 2. vntill the yeare 1308. wherein this man was elected the Kings of the Romanes had not entred into Italie namely Rodolphe Adolphe and Albert and therefore almost all the townes of Italie subiect to the Empire were reuolted After Henry was crowned at Aix he determined to enter Italie to be sacred of the Pope but it was not without great danger for great Ambushes which were laid for a him at Millaine by Guido Turrian See the Chronicles of the Emperours Many Templers of the kingdome of France by the commaundement of the Pope and King for certaine accusations were condemned and burnt without Paris Twelue or nine Articles contrary to the faith were imposed vpon them which notwithstanding Iohn Bocace a Florentine excuseth in his 21. Chapter of his 2. booke of the cases of vnfortunate Nobles Their order endured 184. yeares all their goods were confiscated and giuen to the knights of the Rhodes Others say that the best part of their goods was giuen to the king by the Popes consent Chron. of the French Kings Hermanus saith that
custome of his predecessors he would graunt him kindely and with a good and free will the ornaments of the Empire The Pope not onely refused to doo it but pushed backe his Embassadors with great shame and ignominie cyted the said Emperour peremptorily as they speake that he should come vnto Auignon and submit himselfe to the ordinances of the Church The Emperour knowing the tirannie that raigned in the Church knowing also that he had receiued of God the Imperiall maiestie sought on his side nothing wherein he might violate it And therefore to Popes hee would not subiect himselfe as if he were their seruant by meanes whereof he refused to come into Auignon yet because still hee greatly desired to nourish peace he sent againe messengers to make the same request The Pope persisted in his opinion and in token of the hatred he bore to the Emperour he excommunicated the Vicountes vnto whome then the Emperour had giuen the gouernment of the seignorie of Millane The Emperour seeing the Popes heart obdurate calling to him many Princes and Lords of Italie came to Rome where he was honorably receiued of all the people and required that according to custome some would deliuer him the ornaments of the Empire The greatest Lords of Rome together with all the people sent Embassadors into Fraunce to the Pope beseeching him that he would visit the Towne and graunt to the King of Romanes the Imperiall ornaments which if he refused to do they protested to obserue the auncient lawe and to vse the rights of the Romane people Iohn after he had heard the Embassadors draue them back from him shamelesly with rude words and threats which the Romane people seeing determined to graunt to Lewis that which he demaunded and so by the commaundement of all the Cleargie and people he was crowned with his wife by Stephen and Nicholas Senators in the presence of all the Nobles which cryed Lewis Augustus Emperour of the Romanes But what did Lewis hitherto wich was not the part of a good Emperour yet Iohn vnderstanding this accused him as one guiltie of diuine treason and an heretike and published against him certaine very rigorous proces and deiected him out of the dignitie of the Empire and put him out of his kingdome as an heretike rebel against the Romane Church thundring out against him a very cruell pronunciation In this time were certaine Theologians and Lawyers which said that Christ and the Apostles had nothing proper and that the Emperour was no way subiect to the Pope in that which concerneth the temporaltie Of this number were Michael Oecenus and William Ockam Friars Marcille of Padoue and Iohn de Landum Lawyers with certaine others The Emperour Lewis was so fortified by this that he hardly opposed himselfe against all the Popes enterprises publishing in all parts of the Empire an appellation such as followeth We Lewis King of the Romaines propose against Iohn which saith he is Pope that he dooth ill execute the testament of Iesus Christ touching peace which he disturbeth in all Christendome and remembers not that all the honor he now hath was graunted by S. Constantine to Siluester when hee was yet hid He is vnthankfull towards the Romane Empire whereof he hath receiued all that great magnificence which he now abuseth c. As then Lewis the greatest Lords of Rome knew well the vniust deeds of Iohn as also the people frō the least to the greatest who tooke in ill part that their Embassadors which they sent was so ill handled and all with one accord agreed to bring into the Church the auncient custome obserued in electing the Pope namely that being chosen by the people hee should be confirmed of the Emperour And therefore one called Peter Carbaria or Corberia a Friar was created Pope and named Nicholas the fift and as for Iohn he was declared an hereticke and a tyrant of the Church and not a Pastor but a perturber of the peace of Christians All which things the Emperour and the Princes Assistant at the Councell held at Rome submitted to the iudgement of the Catholicke Church This saith Marius This done the Emperour returned into Almaigne and the Pope Nicholas remained in Italie but finally Boniface Counte of Pise deliuered him into Pope Iohns hands and hee dyed being straightly detained and in great miserie See the Suppl Chron. Iohn de Lisle some Iordain a renowmed man in Fraunce was hanged at Montfaucon at Paris for pilleries rauishments Emilius denieth that hee was Father in lawe vnto Iohn Pope as some say King Charles le Bel was the first that permitted the Pope to leuie Tenths in France and he did it to haue part with him But the Pope did it to warre vppon the Emperour Lewis whom he had declared an enemie of the Church Chron. Reg. Fran. The Venetians by their Captaine and Duke called Franciscus Dandalus tooke from the Patriarke of Aquilia their neighbour two Cities that is Polle and Valentia which are in Gorice Benet Pope 12. of that name ruled in Auignon 7. yeares three moneths after Naucler Iames de Furnerio borne at Tholouse of poore parents a Monke of the order of Cisteaux Priest Cardinall and Doctor in Theologie This Pope saith Marius was no more modest or louing to the Emperour Lewis then Iohn his predecessor had beene For he renewed the excommunications and dispoyled him of all royall honor and of the Duchie of Baniere by his sentence This good Prince Lewis assembled at Francford all the Electors Dukes Bishops Counts and all such as were thought cunning as well in humane sciences as diuine and in the presence of all by publike and solemne proclamation hee gaue new authoritie to the auncient Lawes and confirmed them and freely shewed that it onely appertained to the Electors of the Empire and not vnto others to chuse the King of the Romanes So that he which hath the greatest number of Princes voyces he is truly reputed chosen be hee King or Emperour For in substance they be one same thing although their names be diuers which Emperour may exercise and administer the affaires of the Empire without any confirmation of the Romane seate Who also ought to be sacred by the Pope after it shall bee signified by the Princes that hee is Legitimately chosen But if the Pope refuse hee may he proclaimed Emperour Augustus by any Catholicke Bishop whatsoeuer as hath bene long time vsed seeing especially all such vnctions are onely certaine ceremonies inuented by Popes which giue onely the name and not the thing in token of the vnion which ought to be betwixt the Church and the Romane Empire For the Emperour makes not an oath of fidelitie to Popes but for the defence of the faith And seeing it is so how can such an oath giue him any superioritie in things which concerne the Temporaltie Moreouer the Emperor also shewed that it is a false thing to say
to keepe all the aforesaid things And if any had not inough each day to spend eight pence and if he promised not to be confessed and to haue good contrition and to forgiue all iniuries his enemies had done vnto him Moreouer his wife must consent vnto him Finally the Emperour forced them to leaue off these toyes and bables and the Pope forbad them vpon paine of excōmunication from thenceforth not to whip themselues Yet in repentant maner they might whip themselues secretly Imbert Daulphin of Vienne renouncing the glory of the world as they speake tooke the habit of a Iacobin in the Couent of Lyons vppon Rhosne solde the Countrey of Dolphine to the king of France vnder conditiō that the kings of France should not aliene it and that their eldest children should beare the title thereof And this did he in despight of such as should haue bin his heires which had done a thing contrary to his will See the French Histories Bartholus the Legist or Lawyer was in this time and Petrus Bercorij who translated Titus Liutus into French at the King Iohn his commaundement and made the Breuiarie vpon the Bible and the Morall Reportorie Phillip de Valois 49. king of France the Coozin-germain of the three former kings hauing raigned 22. yeares died at Noogent le Roy of the age of 57. yeares Iohn his sonne Duke of Normandie was crowned at Reims the fiftieth king of France and raigned 14. yeares The brotherhood of the order of the starre began in the house of S. Oyon nigh Paris at the instance of King Iohn The knights of this order carried a starre in theyr hattes or on their coates About this time the Iewes were sent out of Almaine because they had infected and poysoned the Fountaines and Pits of water Fasci Temp. Clement the sixt died suddenly being stroken with an Aposteme the yeare 1353. Innocent Pope sixt of that name succeeded borne of Limoges first called Stephen Aubert hee was an aduocate Doctor in the Lawes and the Decrees after he was Bishop of Cleremont and Cardinall of Ostia After he had taken possession of the Popedome looking prudently for his profit in time to come he suspended certaine reseruations made by Clement his predecessor and straight ordained that all Prelates and beneficed men should retire vnto their Churches not to the end to preach the Gospell but to magnifie and maintaine all abuses and Papish rights And that they might gather the fruites thereof to liue in all Idlenesse and dissolution He said well that Sheepe ought to be kept by their owne Sheepheard and not by an hireling This Pope would needs gather a tenthe of all the rents and reuenewes of the Cleargie but the Prelates of France would not consent therevnto therefore it was not leuied yet hee did what he could in Almaine in the Dioces of Spice See Nauclerus The dearenes of victualls was extreame in France for the warres of the Englishmen the quarter of good wheat was at eighteene pounds at Paris He diminished his ordinarie expences which was great in reducing his familie to a certaine number yet not very honest as may be seene in Petrarke He would haue no person in his house but such as should serue either his profit or affections and he very straightly by Edict enioyned all his Cardinalls that they should do the like And said that his life and that of all Ecclesiasticall persons ought to serue for an example to others so that all Christian people may take heed to follow our examples Moreouer hee ordained a certaine sallary or stipend for the Auditors of his Pallace to the end they should steale nothing He was sparing in his diet and liuing say some authors but in expences of warre very large The Vniuersitie of Prage in Bohemia is instituted and endowed with priuiledges by Innocent at the request of the Emperour Charles the 4. Naucler Charles the 4. going to Rome to be crowned his wife was taken at Pise and carried with her Damzels into a Stewes to despite the Emperour but shee escaped from thence in great danger and then appeared the vertue of the Almaines Nauclerus The yeare 1355. Charles the 4. was crowned at Millaine and after at Rome on Easter day vpon condition straight to depart out of Italie Naucler What pride was this to commaund the Romane Emperour to retire out of his owne countrey Franc. Petrarke The Iourney of Poitiers was to the great dammage and confusion of all France and victorie of the English There were slaine the Duke of Bourbon and the Constable of Fraunce the Marshall and others to the number of eight hundreth knights The King of France was a prisoner Phillip his fourth sonne and others as well Counts as knights and men of armes at least 17. hundreth See the Histories of France The yeare of Christ 1359. was held an Imperiall Iourney at Magunce whether the Pope Innocent sent his Legate for the subsidies of the Apostolike Chamber and the said Legate had power to dispence with all Ecclesiasticall persons touching Benefices which they had obtained otherwise then the holy Canons permitted In this assembly were the Archbishop of Magunce Treuers and of Colongne the Dukes of Saxe Bauiere and others The Emperor then called the Legate vnto him said The Pope hath sent you into Almaine to exact a great summe of siluer without reforming the Cleargie After hee said to a Canon of Magunce deliuer mee your hatte and gaue him his which was much worse Then said he to the Princes which were there Locke not I with this hatte more like a warriour then a man of the Church Then turned hee againe to the Archbishop of Magunce and said Wee commaund that you reforme your Cleargie and take away the superfluitie in their garments shooes hattes and other things The Popes Legate hearing this went away all confounded and as it were flying tooke a boate and got him to Cologne Naucler This Pope a true Tyrant of Babilon commaunded that Iohn de Roquetaillaid should be burnt in Auignon because he said something against the Cleargie This man saith Peter de Premonstre prophecied many things should come to passe touching Antichrist and the Popes and therefore was he held suspected of heresie For he began to prophecie the yeare of our Lord 1345. in the time of Clement the sixt and many things were seene come to passe of that he had foretold This Pope ordained the Feast of Iesus Christs Launce and nailes to the end those dead Idolls might bee adored by the Christians Hee Inuironed Auignon with walles and ditches and without the towne founded the Monasterie of Chartreux Before this Popes death there was a great Ecclips of the Sunne such as was neuer seene the like to shewe that that very time was so full of darknesse that scant was there any remainder of the light of truth in the Church There was also seene in his time a a flame after the
a S. Snairy placed it in an Abbey of theyr order called Cadoyn in the Diocesse of Cahors Annales of France How then say they it is at Chambery The Sect of white Mantles in Italie was destroyed For Boniface the 9. made take ther Rector and caused him to die Some say he was burnt See Naucler The Trinetois otherwise called the Bretheren of the redemption of Captiues which was also called the order of Inham multiplied greatly The Turelupins are persecuted they were otherwise called the poore of Lyons many were burnt in Frāce with their babes Iohn Hus. The light brought in by the writings of Wickliffe greatly profited such as came after him and aboue all to Iohn Hus who also cleansed the fountaines of the Gospell which were filled not onely with infectious clay and mire but also euen with mortall poyson which the begging Monkes and prophane Schoole-philosophie had tempered And although the vertue that God had giuen to this person meriteth a longer recitall of his beginning yet we will send the Readers to the booke of Martirs since Wickliffe and Hus. As for vs we haue chiefly to render thankes vnto God that through him and other true faithfull he hath sent vs the light of his Gospell The Pope Benet gaue to Charles the sixt king of France the tenth part of all Ecclesiasticall goods partly that the king should maintaine and defend him and partly to the end hee himselfe might bee partaker of the bootie And as hee made his residencie in his Countrie of Catalongne in a strong Castle called Pauiscole maintaining himselfe to be the true Vicar of Iesus Christ he was condemned many waies by the authoritie of the said Councell He assembled a Councell at Parpignan and created many Cardinalls Finally dying at Pauiscole the yeare of our Lord 1424. he commaunded his Cardinall that straight they should chuse an other in his place and they elected one called Giles Munios Chanon of Bercelone and named him Clement the 8. He incontinently at the Instigation of the king Alphonsus created Cardinalls and did all that which Popes are accustomed to do But after that Pope Martin the first had agreed with the king Alphonsus Giles by his commaundement renounced all the rights which he pretended in the Popedome and was declared Bishop of Maiorque and the Cardinalls created by him willingly renounced their dignities of Cardinalls The witnesse of Mathias Flactius of Esclauonia a diligent Author extracted and taken out of Theodoric of Nyem shall not bee heere impertinent who made a Chronicle of that schisme comprised in three bookes Theodoric of Nyem saith he who was a very familiar Secretarie to a certaine Pope and a good and a wise man hath faithfully described the historie of this schisme which hath bene amongst Popes by the space of 39. yeares before the Councell of Constance Good God what subtilties what fraudes what wickednesse and what straunge acts rehearseth he of those Popes and good spirituall Fathers in that Historie whereby they mocke God all Religion and the Church of Iesus Christ yea molest and do subiect it to their tirannie And surely I cōfesse that although before I had read heard and seene many of their villainies and that therefore I had conceiued in my selfe an euil opiniō of the malice of that Antichrist and of his children yet after I had read this booke I perceiued that they were ten times more wicked then euer I could haue thought before In the same booke also he saith that such are not worthy of the title of Emperour which make a countenance not to see yea dissemble the execrable wickednesse of Popes tirannies Chrysoloras of Constantinople taught Greeke Letters in Italy which 700. yeares before had not bene in vse whose daughter espowsed at Constantinople Francis Philelphe Bertholde Schwartz Monke and Alchemist was the first of Gunnes and Artillerie about this time Scotland conuerted to the Faith Wencelaus Emperour for his cowardise and couetousnesse was deposed from the Empire and his Nephewe elected Iosse sonne of Iohn Henry Marquis of Morauia who was the brother of Charles the fourth of that name Marquis of Brandebourge an vnprofitable man was chosen king of the Romanes by some before Robert as some say being now old because he was the vncle of Wencelaus yet he was neuer crowned For there passed not sixe monethes after his Election Robert or Rupert Duke of Bauiere and Count Palatin of Rhene was chosen after Frederic Duke of Brunswic and of Lunebourge This Frederic was a valiant Prince wise and exercised in Armes and truly worthy to gouerne the Empire but there was long time enmitie betwixt him and the Archpriest of Magunce For before he was crowned the Count of Waldec hauing charge of this gentle Archbishop hee slew him villainously which was cause of great hurly burly and tumult throughout all Almaine vntill the Princes Electors assembled in the Towne of Bopert where they Elected Robert Count Palatin a man well exercised in deeds of warre and a great louer of Iustice but of a small stature But willing to enter into Aix la Chapelle to be crowned the Citizens were against it saying that in that case they could not fauour Robert because as yet they were not absolued of the oath they had giuen to Wencelaus But that the election might not be vnprofitable the Bishop of Colongne crowned Robert in the Towne of Colongne After this Robert made preparation to goe to Rome the yeare 1402. to receiue the Imperiall Crowne but hee was hindred by the Venetians and Millanois and so could not execute that which he had enterprised Hee dyed at Oppenhem the tenth yeare of his Empire and was buried in the Towne of Heidelbourge Innocent the seuenth borne at Sulmo before called Cosmar de Peruse Priest Cardinall of the title of Saint Crosse all Italie beeing in great trouble was created Pope after Boniface the ninth This Pope as Platina saieth beeing yet a Cardinall vsed customably to reprehend the negligence and pucillanimitie of Popes saying that with their carelesnesse the schisme and trouble which was thē so great as well in the Romane Church as in the common-wealth tooke yet no end But being mounted into the Papall seate and in some things following the fashions of Vrbain and Boniface his predecessors which he reprehended being a priuate person not onely he did the things which he condemned so sore before but he could not so much as beare that one should speake to him thereof He gouerned the affaires in such confusiō that once the Citizens of Rome beeing come towards him to require him that they might haue their old libertie be put in possession of the Capitoll of the bridge Miluins and of the Fortresse of Adrian And that that pernitious schisme which was in the Church might be takē away wars seditions banished remonstrating that to do the same the king of France promised to deliuer his hand and that
I that am Pope But although it displeased the others which were there present yet they must needs dissemble it so furious terrible and enuironed with souldiers was hee After his election he remained a certaine time at Bolongne then went he to Rome it beeing the chiefe of his enterprise There he assembled a Sinode to the end to giue the Imperiall Crowne to Sigismond In the first Session of this Sinode as the aforesaid Iohn was sitting on an high seate after the Masse of the holy Ghost was sung there came an Owle who placing her self vpon one of the balkes of the Temple and looking directly vpon the Pope saluted him in a straunge maner with his fearefull song Such as were there present began to wonder looking one at an other and also casting their view vpon the Pope they could scant keepe themselues from laughing As for Iohn hee began to bee much ashamed to sweate and to bee sore anguished and tormented in himselfe Finally finding no other meane whereby hee might remedie his so great confusion after hee had giuen leaue to such as were there assembled he rose vp and retired There was an other Session after this wherein came the like For this Owle could not bee chased away neyther for any cryes no nor yet for stones and staues which were cast at him There were then many which by this spectacle were induced to beleeue that such spirituall pillers haue long time gouerned the Church of Rome Nicholas Clemengis Archdeacon of Baieux reciteth this Historie in his Epistles A Councell assembled at Constance To put end to the aforesaid discords and slaunders they were forced to assemble a general Councel for which the place was assigned at Constance This was against the Pope Iohns wil who desired it might be held in such a place wherein hee had more powre then the Emperour See Naucler Leonard Aretin who were in this time In the said Councell finally appeared Pope Iohn the 24. of that name and arriued at Constance vpon S. Simon and Iudes euen Anno. 1414. Likewise the Emperour Sigismond came thither on Christmas euen after midnight with the Empresse his wife and many other Princes Counts Barons and Nobles which were in number about 30940. persons Courtiers saith the Sea of Histories With the Pope Iohn arriued foure Patriarkes twentie and nine Cardinalls 47. Archbishops and 160. Bishops See Naucler On Christmas day the Pope sung three Masses one at midnight one in the morning and one at noone and Sigismond attired Deacon like sung the Gospell Exijt edictum a Cesare c. Naucler This Councell endured three yeares and seuen weekes after some or about foure yeares after Naucler and there was 46. Sessions See the 2. volume of Councells The yeare 1414. the king of France laid siege before Champaine and it was taken by composition Hee tooke Soissons and after laid siege before Arras but a peace was made by the Duchesse of Holland sister of the Duke of Burgongne The Sea of Hist The Friday after Candlemas day as they call it there arriued at the Councell sixe Cardinalls of Pope Gregories the 12. which approoued the Councell by the authoritie of the said Gregorie Naucler The yeare 1415. was the battaile of Blangy betwixt the English and French wherein the chiefe bloud of Fraunce was shead and it was commonly called La male Iournee The Sea of Histo. In this time Wencelaus king of Boheme was required by the Councell to send Iohn Hus who went thither with the Emperours safe conduct There went with him also Ierome of Prage with one onely Clarke They were admonished and greatly sollicited to desist from their opinions but they were constant They maintained that they were true in their propositions and reasons being founded on the truth of the holy Gospell And contrary that the Romane Church had withdrawne it selfe from the truth and the Apostles doctrine c. See a more ample declaration of this Historie in the first part of the booke of Martyrs They were both condemned to be burned Iohn Hus was first executed about the fourth day of the moneth of Iuly the yeare 1415. and a good while after Ierome of Prage was also burnt in the moneth of September They endured death constantly and merily went to the fire glorifying the Lord euen in the middest of the flame Their Ashes were cast into the Lake of Constance The Bohemians vnderstanding what was done at Constance against their Doctors sacked and spoiled all the Couents and Monasteries of the Countrey and fired them and from that time withdrew themselues from the subiection of the Romane Pope as is said In the said Councell Iohn Wickliffe an English man was condemned an heretike and although dead yet his bones were condemned to be vnburied Also Lay-people were inhibited to communicate the Sacrament vnder both kindes There was also a Decree that the Councell was aboue the Pope and not contrarie That the Councell hath full power to correct iudge and depose the Pope yea to ordaine of all things and not the Pope to Iudge correct or chaunge Decrees and Statutes of the Councell Iohn 24. Pope seeing that in the said Councell many crimes were obiected against him fled away in a disguised habit by the helpe of the Duke of Austrich Frederic and by the Councell of the Archbishop of Magunce although the Emperour did all he could to hinder it Naucler He fledde first to Shaffufe and from thence to Lusemberge and after to Fribourge to take his way towards the Duke of Bourgongne if hee could get thither Naucler The Duke Frederic was cyted in full Councell by the Emperour and that many times And for that hee appeared not the Emperour absolued his subiects of the oath of disobedience which they ought vnto the Duke Also hee depriued him of all his riches and goods and gaue his goods to such as could take and occupie them This gaue many occasion to assaile his person and his goods whereof yet at this day the Cantons and the Valesans hold many places as Bade Melingen Prenigarten Wallestat Diossenhosen which they got by force of Armes Others occupied other Townes and places See Naucler Iohn was taken and brought to Constance and there deteined prisoner at Richman After they prooued against him 40. criminall Articles He was deposed by all the Councell the Wednesday of Trinitie 14. and 15. and hee himselfe approoued his deposition In the second Volume of Councels there is mention made that more then 54. Articles were proposed and proued against him to euery of which he answering cryed Ah I haue yet committed a greater crime namely I haue passed the Alpes and am come into Almaine After his condemnation hee was giuen vnto the Count Palatin who kept him three yeares in Menhen he was not suffered to haue any Italian with him no not his Chamberlaine his Gard were all Almaines and he spake vnto them by signes onely Naucler After the deposition of Pope
Iohn they proceeded also against Pope Gregorie the 12. who was cyted to appeare in person but he would not come there yet either by faire meanes or force hee sent Malateste Lord of Armenia with an ample procuration and power to resigne the said right hee had in the the Papall dignitie into the hands of the said Councell The which was done and the said Gregorie 12. was created Legate in the Marquesdome of Ancone where he died soone after with mourning in the Towne of Racany which is a Port of the Adriatike Sea Iohn le Maeire There remaineth yet the third Antipope Peter de la Lune Of him it was that Gerson often said We must needs take away this man of the Moone called Benet the 13. who would not obey the Councell but died obstinately in the Kingdome of Arragon and commaunded his Cardinalls on his death-bed that as soone ar he was dead they should elect an other which they did and elected Clement the 8. borne at Barselone wherein they profited litle For the Pope Martin as shall bee saide had the Popedome whole and had the obedience of all the Princes in Christendome yet the saide Clement the eight was after made Bishop of Maiorque See Iohn le Maire That Pope Benet troubled much the Emperour Sigismond For seeing hee would not consent to any agreement the said Emperour was constrained in person first to goe into France vnto the King then to the King of England to make an attonement betwixt those two Kings Item towards the King of Arragon in Spaine with certaine Embassadors deputies of the saide Councell to exhort them to hold the hand to the vnion of the Church and to perswade the said Pope to doo as others did which hee would neuer be brought vnto Then the Princes of Spaine the Arragonians the Cathelains Armignaes and the Kings of Fraunce and England seeing his obstinacie followed the opinion of the Councell and withdrew themselues from the obedience of Pope Benet the thirteenth which Sigismond signified to the said Councell Naucler Sigismond returned after to Constance about Candlemas and the Councell with burning Candles excommunicated and depriued the said Benet of his Popedome after declared him an heretike a schismatike the 18. day of March 1417. Naucl. This Pope Iohn whilest he was placed in the Romane seate amongst other Ieasts of a Pope he did that which followeth in diuers Authors He had stirred maruellous warres against the king Ladislaus and assembled a Councell at Rome to find means to driue him from his kingdome He also commanded to make a procession with the head of S. Iohn Baptist for that subtilly and cautelously he had determined to sell it to the Florentins He approoued the Sect of such as named themselues De la Chemise or Frisonniers which lifted themselues vp in the territorie of Luques and admitted the congregation of that new reformation in the Monasterie of S. Iustine commenced at Padoue by Lewis Barbe As Pope Martin the fift was at Florence this Pope beeing deliuered from prison contrarie to the opinion of all so that all that were present maruelled thereat came thither towards him and after he had kissed his feete acknowledged him as his Pope the successor of S. Peter saluted him as if he had bin some earthly God Martin mooued with affection certain daies after receiued him into the number of Cardinals and hee made him Bishop of Tusculū but after certain moneths he finished his life sad and grieuous the yeare of the Lord 1419. in the same Towne of Florence where he was honourably buried with great pompe in the Temple of S. Iohn Baptist by Cosme de Medicis who euer bore him great loue In the said Councell the Counts of Cleues and Sauoy were erected to Duchez by the Emperour Sigismond Things being effected as is said the Emperours will was that there should now be an handling to correct the maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and to reforme the Church but it was said that this could not well bee done during the vacation of the Apostolike seate wherefore it was concluded to proceed to a new election of a Pope Naucler Martin Pope fift of that name called Otho a Romane Cardinal Deacon of the house of Colonnois of one same accord and will by the consent of all was chosen of 33. Cardinalls at the Councell of Constance and was called Martin because hee was consecrated on S. Martins day hee gouerned fourteene yeares The Emperour Sigismond very ioyfull that the Cardinalls had chosen such a Pope and so necessarie to the Christian common-wealth entred into the Conclaue where without regarding his dignitie falling on his knees before the Pope in great reuerence hee kissed his feete On the other part the Emperour receiued him beningly and heartily thanked him for the diligence and paines which he had taken to establish the vnion of the Church Naucler After that the Emperour had long time trauelled to assemble this Councell of Constance desiring to see the particular reformation of the Church excused it that Rome had bene long without an head and the time would not permit to begin a reformation for the Councell had long endured Wherefore an other Councell should bee assigned at Basil where that should be done and so the Emperour was frustrate of his purpose and hope for seeing a reformation in the Church-people In the said Councell was dispatched Letters and Bulls to Lewis Duke d' Aniou to goe take possession of the kingdome of Pouille for him and his Naucler Martin Pope returning from Constance to Rome remained two yeares at Florence and for recompence of his entertainement he ordained that the Bishop of that place should bee a Metropolitane and subiected there vnto the Church of Volaterre Pistorie and Fesides The Hussites came vp at this time which reiected all humane traditions more purely preaching the doctrine of Iesus Christ which engendred many contentions betwixt Lay-men and Clarkes A pestilence was at Florence where died more then 16. thousand men Chron. Euseb Mahomet Emperour of the Turkes died after he had raigned 14. yeares Wencelaus died taken with feare because of a tumult raised at Prage hee fell into an Apoplexie and from that euill into a palsie which within 18. daies tooke away his life the yeare of his raigne 20. Charles 7. of that name king of France the onely sonne of Charles the 6. succeeded his father Hee was assailed by the English and Bourgonions and hauing lost as it were all the Countrey of the Frontiers tooke his recourse into Bourges and there remained a certaine time and therefore the enemies in mockerie called him king of Bourges Henry sonne of Charles his sister called himself in his titles king of England of France and at Paris was crowned king of France A pucell or maide plaide the part of a man at Armes and gaue succours to Orleance which was besieged constrained the enemies to leaue the siege conducted the king
in regarding and contemplating the auncient money precious stones or Images and Portraitures In the Romane consistorie Gregorie King of Boheme was condemned an heretike depriued of his kingdome and after the Pope by his Legate sollicited the Princes of Almaine and the king of Pannonia to inuade the kingdome of Boheme which they did and the said George was cast out of one part thereof Chron. Euseb In the moneth of September a Legate arriued in France to breake the pragmatike Sanction vnto whom Iohn de S. Romain the Kings Proctor generall would not consent for any menaces of the said Legate but said hee would rather loose both his office and goods before hee would yeeld to doo any thing so greatly to the preiudice of the Realme and Common-wealth The Towne of Liege was put to fire and sword by the Duke of Bourgongne because they had put their Bishop in prison who was his Nephewe by his sister as is reported by the Chronicle of Eusebius Others say he was his brother by his wife the Duke of Bourbon his daughter Frederic the third vpon deuotion went to Rome in winter Chron. Euseb Pope Paul hauing made alliance with the Turkes ioyned in league also with the Venetians Chron. Euseb The Pope Paul held Platina the Historiographer in prison wrongfully but his successor deliuered him He destroyed the Abbreuiataires in hatred of his predecessor who had reduced the said estate into order At that time it was a Colledge of learned and studious people in Diuine and Ciuill Lawes Poets Orators Historiographers c. See Naucler He set the Iubile from 25. yeares to 25. yeares not for the saluation of soules but rather to drawe new money vnto him saith Fasci Temp. There is found in the booke of Stanislaus Ruthen a thing worthy to bee noted That is that this Paul hauing read certaine Poesies that were made against him and his daughter began to weepe and amongst his friends began to accuse the rigour of the lawe of his former predecessours which forbadde Priestes to marrie for as much as hee which ought not onely to bee the head of the Church but also of continencie sawe that each one had talke of his daughter to his great dishonour and had theyr eyes continually vpon her And although shee were most excellent in beautie yet did it grieue him that men should thinke that hee had engendred her in whoredome Seeing hee knew well that there was a lawe ordained of God whereby shee might haue bene borne in wedlocke had it not bene for that singlenesse that is the defence for Priests to marrie which hindred it Therefore he had determined to haue set vp againe the marriage of Priests but he could not execute it because death preuented him For as he perswaded himselfe that hee should liue long he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexie and died suddenly hauing well supped the night before After this time the Popedome fell and decayed more and more The Kingdom of Cyprus The Venetians got the kingdome of Cyprus First the yeare 1470. they had established in the kingdome one Iames bastard of Cyprus against Lewis sonne of the Duke of Sauoy and the Queene Charlotte his wife daughter of Iohn king of Cyprus the true heire of that kingdome But for the better vnderstanding of the matter you must know that the said Venetians gaue to the said bastard in marriage Katherine the daughter of Marke Corrario a Gentleman of Venice who vpon their commaundement had ayded the said bastard in all his affaires against the said Lewis of Sauoy and the Queene Charlotte his wife euen to cast them out of Cyprus This Katherine was solemnly adopted a daughter by the Signiorie of Venice but it was not but for to adopt also the kingdome therewith But the said king bastard with his Venetian wife espowsed the cause of their death for as soone as she was espied to bee with childe the Venetians poysoned the said king caused a fame to runne that he died of a Fluxe of the belley and that hee had left his wife and the childe she was with his heire recommending them vnto the Seignorie of Venice When then shee was brought to rest they did with the chide as they had done with the father And they tooke the said Katherine which they called Queene and brought her to Venice and from that time they ceased and tooke possession of the said Kingdome which they haue held since the yeare 1470. vntill this day saith Iohn le Maire Of this Iames bastard and of the oath he made vnto the Souldan see Naucler Sixtus or Sistus fourth of that name a Geneuois by Nation borne in the Towne of Sauonne called before Francis de Ruere generall of the order of Friars and Cardinall of S. Sixtus after the death of Paul succeeded in the execrable Chaire As the solemnitie of his Coronation was done whilest they carried him in his Litter to the Church of Laterane hee was in great daunger of his life in a mutenie which arose suddenly in such sort that he was assailed euen with stones and forsaken almost of all that accompanied his Litter This Pope was very liberall towards his and bore them such an affection that in fauour of them he did and agreed vnto many things against all right and reason He promoted vnto the dignitie of a Cardinall before all others one called Peter de Ruere one of the same order and Nation and had bene nourished from his Infancie with a brother of his called Hierome although it seemed this man was borne foolishly to spend money For in two yeares that he liued after he consumed in all dissolution and violence the summe of 200000. Skutes besides many debts he left Iohn Textor in his Officine makes mention of this Cardinall and saith that in two yeares he spent in dissolutions vanities and incredible luxurie 300000. skutes The yeare 1475. a Citizen of Trent lost in the weeke before Easter commonly called the passion weeke a childe of two yeares olde And hauing sought him through all streetes in the Towne and not finding him he suspected he was carried away by the Iewes which inhabited there Wherefore he got him towards the Magistrate making great sorrow and deliuering his suspitions The Sunday following the Iewes told the Bishop that they had found a childe betwixt the floud called Rusch and the house of Samuel a Iew which the force of the water had cast vp there Certaine men were appointed to visit the childe which was found in the house of the said Samuel with his garments all wette his body was marked with diuers prickes Being asked how this childe came there they answered they knew not but that the fiercenesse of the water had driuen him thither But as soone as they were put to the Racke they confessed and rehearsed the case in order that is to say how they had consulted and chosen amongst them one Tobias to steale a Christian childe and to crucifie him at Easter
constituted there a familiar friend of his Charles Duke of Bourgongne returned the second time against the Swisses Before he had taken from the Duke Rene of Lorraine Nancy wherefore the Duke of Lorraine ioyned with the Swisses And when the Duke of Bourgongne was before Morat they of the Towne came out and altogether inuaded the the Armie of the Bourguignons and put them vnto flight In so much that 17. thousand Bourguignons or 20000. after Fasci Temp. or 22000. after the Sea of Hist were there slaine The spoile was there left to the Duke of Lorraine for recompence who also after recouered Nancy See Nauclerus The third time the Duke of Bourgongne being greeued to haue beene vanquished by so weake a Prince as the Duke of Lorraine was returned and againe besieged Nancy Hee had 14000 combattants and still looked for other Bands of souldiers Vpon this the Duke of Lorraine and the Swisses came vpon them parted in two Bandes The Bourguignons were discomfited and put to flight some slaine in the woods and others drowned There was also slaine the Duke of Bourgongne hauing receiued three mortall woundes one on the head an other in the thigh and the last in the fundament See Naucler The Bourguignons would not beleeue he was slaine but that being escaped hee retired into Almaine and hee had vowed to make his penance there seuen yeares There were amongst the Bourguignons which solde precious stones horses and other such like things to be paid at his returne Yea euen in Bruchel in the Diocesse of Spine there was an olde man which men thought to bee the Duke of Bourgongne making there his penance whom euery one desired to see and therby got he good almes Nauclerus saith hee sawe the said poore man in the said place The king of France vnderstanding of the death of the Duke of Bourgongne tooke Monididier Roy Peronne Abbenille Monstraeul Arras an Hesdin See the Hist. of France Maximilian sonne of the Emperour Frederic the third affianced Mary the onely daughter of Charles Duke of Bourgongne with whom he had Bourgongne Brabant Flaunders Luxembourge Hainaut Zeland Artois Guelders with other Sergnories and lands The said Maximilian had of his said wife one sonne called Phillip and a daughter called Margarite They had two other children Francis and George which died in their youth Phillip espowsed Iane Queene of Chastile of whom hee had Charles the fift Emperour and Ferdinand and foure daughters Leonor Isabeal Mary and Katherine The Iacobins Inquisitors deputed against heretikes as they call them in diuers sorts molested certaine Theologians of the order of Carmes in certaine causes of the faith Amongst which they said one was called Iulian de Bresse an excellent Preacher of the word of God and an other Peter de Neuolaite for whom Mantuan writ an Apologie conteining three bookes But all this was pacified by the Pope Sixtus at the pursuite of Christopher Martignon which Sextus as tutor and defender of Monkes as Stella witnesseth in the Popes liues that he might take away all occasion of enuie and riots amongst them ordained that all Mendicant and begging Friars should bee equall in such priuiledges as all Popes had graunted vnto them The Vniuersitie of Tubinge in the Diocesse of Constance by Apostolicke authoritie was instituted at the instance of the Count of Wittemberge Naucler The Swisses beganne now to receiue wages of the king of Fraunce Lewis the 11. casheering the French Archers because they pilled and spoyled and did many other mischiefes Naucler Platina composed the Popes liues in Latin and dedicated them vnto Sixtus the 4. Wessalus of Frise in this time writ against the Pope his doctrine and traditions Mahomet the second died of poison as was suspected Naucler or else of a Collicke passion of the age of 50. yeares after Naucler of 53. Baiazetes his son succeeded him Paul Iou. Margarite the daughter of Maximilian was brought into France and espowsed vnto the Dolphin Charles the 8. in the moneth of Iuly at Ambroise who afterward was sent backe againe Naucler Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne Maximilians wife Madam Margarites mother being on hunting fell from her horse and died Chron. Euseb and Naucler The Pope Sixtus Canonized S. Bonauenture The last of August died Lewis King of France a very superstitious man He pilled the people to inrich Churches Hee worshipped and kissed bones and relickes of Saints to obtaine health For hee maruellously feared death In so much that in the end of his dayes hee gaue excessiue gifts to his Phisitian each moneth if at the least they might but prolong his life Sixtus made many warres wrongfully against Ferdinand King of Pouille because hee gaue ayde vnwillingly to his sonne in lawe Hercules d'st Duke of Ferrara which was besieged of the Venetians against the Venetians which he excommunicated Also against the Florentines as is said although that the matter better vnderstood hee absolued them and restored them to their honour and Lawrence de Medices likewise Sixtus being deteined sicke in his bed of a Feauer vnderstanding that a peace was made betwixt the Venetians and other Potentates suddenly yeelded the spirit Naucler Innocent 8. of that name borne at Genes the sonne of one called Aaron called before Iohn Baptist Cibo of a Cardinall Priest of the title of S. Cicilie was created Pope of Priests and Monkes after of Sixtus Volaterane saith he was once a poore childe yet faire and was nourished amongst the seruants of Ferdinand king of Sicilie where he learned all the fashions of the Court life Comming from thence to Rome he remained long time in the house of Phillip Cardinall of Boulongne After this he was made Bishop of Sauonne and thirdly of Melphe by the Pope Xistus and also Dataire finally Cardinall after Pope as hath bin said He was of a great stature a white man and of faire representation but of an heauie and dull spirit and far from all studie of good Letters In so much that sometimes when he was Idle from publike affaires hee seemed as though he slept Almost frō the beginning of his Popedome he conspired against Ferdinand king of Sicilie with the Princes of the kingdome See how Popes vse to recompence the amitie of such as nourish and educate them Hee called one named Robert d' S. Seuerin to be chiefe and Captaine of the Armie which he sent against Ferdinand This holy man said that for the Churches dignitie and the defence of Saints it was lawful to take Armes that peace might follow of it Yet seeing himself deceiued he was forced to make peace vpon this condition that his yearely tribute should be paid him and that such as rebelled should not be in daunger But the king Ferdinand kept neither the one nor the other condition although hee sent one named Peter de Vincence an hardie and bold man who was Auditor of the Chamber with his Secretarie to sollicite his causes After these things Innocent wearie of
warring delighted in nothing but a dastardly idlenesse ful of sloath which brought with it nothing but diuers concupiscences fraudes pleasures pompes gourmandizes dissolutions pailliardizes and Idolatries He erected a new Colledge of Secretaries for his owne profit augmenting the number of them which were there before He builded a new Pallace and an house of pleasure of a new fashion He was the first of all the Popes which in an invsuall maner aduanced his bastards vnto honour and riches For hee gaue certaine Townes nigh Rome vnto his bastard Francis and greatly inriched his daughter called Theodorine which he married vnto a very rich man of Genoa Charles eight of that name King of France succeeded his father Lewis the 11. being of the age of 14. yeares The three Estates were solemnly assembled at Tours for the Kings person Hee was very conscionable yeelding vnto the King of Spaine the Countes of Roussillon and Parpignant Hee conquered the kingdome of Naples and the Princes and Gentlemen went thither of their owne charge At Rome the Pope declared him Emperour of Constantinople The King Alphonsus and his sonne Ferdinand for feare retired into Sicilie and Charles entred triumphantly into Naples Then the Lords and Townes in Italie banded themselues against the King to enclose him at his returne yet he got through with a great victorie ouer them at Fonnone for he had fewe people against many and as vanquisher returned into France But at the end of the yeare Naples reuolted vnto the said Ferdinand King Lewis the 11. would not that his sonne Charles should learne any part of the Italian tongue but onely this Prouerbe Qui nessit dissimulare nescit regnare that is hee that cannot faigne and dissemble knowes not how to raigne A poore lesson better beseeming a Tyrant then a King M. Iohn an English man a Priest in this time was burnt at Paris in the place called the Swine Market because in the morning of the day then called Corpus Christi in the great Church of our Lady in the Chappel dedicated vnto S. Crispin and Crispinian he tooke from a Priest that sung Masse his Host and cast it on the ground The Pope Innocent absolued the Venetians which had bene excommunicated by Sixtus for acts before recited and solde pardons and Indulgences as well for the liuing as for the dead He inriched with great presents many Temples through Italie He gaue vnto the Augustins of Bergoine a Church of siluer of an exquisite and maruelous worke He by his Bulles permitted to them of Norway that they ought to sing Masse without wine Moreouer seeing that Pardons nor the Iubile nor the warre against the Turkes serued him any thing to gather siluer hee inuented a new maner of gathering siluer For he found inclosed in an old wall the title which was set vpon the Crosse of Iesus Christ written in three languages Iesus of Nazareth c. with the Iron of the Launce wherwith Christ his side was pearsed Being hindred by a long disease he could not accomplish that which he purposed in his courage But the yeare of our Lord 1492. he deceased out of this world There was a Poet called Marcellus who made an Epitaph in Latin Verses whose sence is this What needest thou seeke witnesses to know whether Cibe be male or female Behold onely the great troupe of his children they will yeeld a certaine testimonie thereof He begot eight sonnes and as many daughters It is not without cause that Rome calls him Father c. The Towne of Arras was againe taken by the Flemmings in the nigh time The keyes of one of the Towne gates was counterfeited and giuen to foure of the conspiracie poore Mechanikes the one of which was called Grisard who had an ordinarie garde of the gate and vsed customably vpon the wall to sing with an high voyce What houre is it It is not time What houre is it It is not day This was to aduertise the enemies when they should approach And when they were nigh hee sung an other Song Marchez la duron duraine marchez la duron durean So the Towne of Arras was by him deliuered into the Emperours hand without any effusion of bloud Horrible things of Roderic Borgia To shewe the horrour of that abhominable seat of Rome it shal not be impertinent to declare how and by what meanes a Spaniard came thither In the time of Innocent the 8. after that Borgia was placed in the number of the Cardinalls and Fathers of the Romane Church his affection was incessantly set to mount higher and to that ende hee inuented each day all the meanes hee thought good and meete to enioy the accomplishment of his desires Finally he gaue himselfe to the diuellish Art of Necromancie to the end that by the helpe of diuells and euill spirits he might enter into the way whch he sawe shut to him as well by the riches as the great credit and prerogatiue of his companions After hee had certaine time employed his studie and diligently watched about the cursed and dammable Art of Necromancie he began to inquire of his diuels wherewith he prooued very familiar if they would not sauour him so much as in the pursuite of the Papall dignitie they would giue him support and helpe Wherevnto they readily agreed but yet vnder this especiall rescription and couenant that by certaine words he should deliuer an oath to shewe himselfe in all things a faithfull protector of Sathan To which this Cardinall of a wicked minde consented onely he required that when hee should come to do his homage and take his oath the diuell would not appeare vnto him in any hideous and fearefull forme but rather vnder some humane forme namely vnder the person of a Protonotaire which hauing graunted him at the time assigned and established on a Sommers day the Cardinall beeing retired into a place called Montcauallus being alone in a chamber the saide Protonotaire presented himselfe vnto him like a man of meane age honourably apparelled who after certaine talke helde betwixt them hee assured the Cardinall that hee should bee Pope Then Roderic Borgia beeing very ioyous began to inquire of him how long hee should raigne This Protonotaire deliuered him a very ambiguous answere namely that hee should raigne the space of eleuen and eight the Cardinall foolishly promised himself the time of 19. yeares in his Papall dignitie although Sathans meaning was but 11. yeares and 8. monethes After Pope Innocent was dead by pluralitie of voyces hee was established Pope And because there should be no want at the solemnities he named himselfe Alexander the sixt before named Roderic Borgia borne at Valence in Spaine the Nephewe of Calixtus late Pope third of that name As one that long time had had the handling of the office of Vice-chauncellor hee knew all the estate of the Court of Rome and knew all the councels and enterprises of the Princes and Communalties of Italie Being then placed
at large in the booke of Martyrs which I haue set forth At the Iourney of Carignan in Piemont nigh Cirisolles the Emperialists vnder the conduction of Alphonsus Dauall are discomfited by the Prince d' Anguien The Emperour taketh againe Luxembourge by composition he taketh Ligni and the Castle after S. Dedier where Rene Prince of Aurange was stricken with a bullet and died to the great griefe of the Emperour Anthonie Duke of Lorraine died not so much of age as of griefe to see the warre so nigh him yea euen as it were in his Countrey Francis his sonne succeeded him who married the Emperours Neece The King of England laid siege before Bologne and in the end tooke it by composition The Emperor being incamped vpon the Riuer of Marne the Count Guillam de Furstemberge was taken by certaine French horsmen as he sounded the Watch. The Emperor being at Soisson made peace with the king of France the 24. of September In the moneth of March Lewis Palatin Elector deceased and had Frederic his brother his successor Henry de Brunswic a sworne enemie of all vertue making no account of Marie the sister of Vlrich Prince of Wittemberge his wife but giuing himselfe to an whore one of his wiues Damzells by whome hee had seuen children was accused by the Protestants in a full Audience of Estates the fift of Aprill and to the end the thing should be more secret they caused to be made an Image like to an whore by certane Apostate women when this was done they caused her to bee buried with great pompe and magnificences after they had made all the Priests thereabouts say Masses Vigills and all the Seruice accustomed to be done by the Papists at the buriall of their dead To this he had nothing to answere but remained confounded The King of France caused a Fort to be built vpon the sea banke nigh Bullen to hinder the victualling of the Towne holding his Armie thereabouts Charles Duke of Orleance the king of France his sonne who should haue bene sonne in lawe or in other alliance of the Emperour the ninth day of September beeing of the age of 23. yeares was taken away by a malladie which held him but fewe dayes Guillam de Fustemberge prisoner at Paris after he had payed 30000. Skutes for his raunsome was set at libertie in the lowe Countrie with the Emperour who honourably and amiably receiued him The Sorbonists of Paris were assembled at Mèlun by the Kings commaundement to determine of Articles to propose at the Councell After long disputation they thought it best wholy to followe them which they had lately caused to be disputed on at Paris The Theologians at Louaine writ 32. Articles of the same subiect that they of Paris Peter Bridly minister in the Church of the Straungers at Strasbourge was secretly called vnto Tornay by such as were there desirous of the Gospell after hee had some litle while caught there the 19. of Februarie he was cruelly burnt with a litle fire See the booke of Martyrs Francis Duke of Lorraine died leauing a sonne a litle child The Bishop of Mets his Vncle and his mother were appointed his Tutors The daughter of Ferdinand married to the sonne of the king of Poland dyeth also This Pope Paul had assigned the Councell of Trent as is said not to remedie the euills of Christianitie for the tranquilitie of consciences or to place Religion in a good seate and estate to the honor and glory of God but to tread vnder feet his truth and to oppresse the Ministers of his word In which place seeing that he did not all he would the yeare 1546. vnder colour that the ayre was there corrupted he transported himself vnto Boulongne to the end by that meane hee might the better take away all libertie from Christians to say their opinions and to hinder the reformation of the Church This Antichrist raised horrible and straunge warres against the seruants of God pursuing them by fire sword imprisonments and all other sorts of punishments Yea he spared not his Cardinalls namely Fulger and Contarien after they had tasted the sauour of the word of God nor the Bishop of Pontus Iohn Baptist nor his brother Paulus Vergerius Bishop of Iustinopoli The chiefe amongst the tormentors were his Nephewes the Cardinall Farnese and Octaua Duke of Parma his brother which beyond all measure glorying therein the yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ 1546. as they were vpon their departure frō Italie into Almaine to make warre vpon the Protestants they vaunted brauely and fiercely that they would make such an effusion of the Lutherans bloud that their horses should swim therin And the meane while that good holy Father Paul tooke his pleasure with his daughter Constance after the old maner They say also that that old man stinking as a Goate sollicited to whoredome an other his Niece who was a very honest maide and no lesse laudable for her honestie and chastitie then for her excellent beautie This Pope as Baleus saith had in his Tables the number of 45000. whores whereof he exacted euery moneth tribute to the end they might haue libertie to exercise their whoredome and as saith the booke intituled Eusebius Captiue they are greatly esteemed they kisse the Popes feete they talke very familiarly with him they frequent day and night with him But such as trust onely in Iesus Christ and embrace the true doctrine are held by the Pope for heretickes and of him are banished set in prisons and stockes and punished by fire sword and Gallies The Elector Palatin reformed in his Countrey the doctrine and Popish ceremonies and receiued the Gospell The Conference of Reiusbourge is held See Sleidan The 7. of Ianuary the Councell began at Trent Alliance betwixt the Pope and the Emperour concluded the 26. of Iune to reduce the Almaines vnto the obedience of the Pantople The Pope binding himselfe to deliuer 200000. Ducats into the hands of the Venetians Moreouer to furnish ten thousand footemen Italians and fiue hundreth light-horsemen waged for sixe moneths Moreouer permitting the Emperour to sell of the reuenew of the Monasteries of Spaine to the valew of 100000. Crownes and to take the moitie of all Ecclesiasticall liuings In the end a peace was made betwixt the kings of France and England vpon conditiō that Bologne should remaine English vntil the king had payed the siluer by him promised On Satterday the 7. of August of this yeare 1546. the Towne of Maligues was in such sort handled with Thunder and Lightning that of long time there had not bene seene the like The Thunderbolt fell vpon a Tower called Saderpoort that is to say the gate of Canon powder where there was more then 800. Barels of Gunpowder which being on a flame augmented the tempest and first laid on the earth that which was about it after it so embraced the Towne that without abundance of raine mingled with the thunder it was thought
first day of Aprill They of Magdebourge opposed themselues with might and maine against them of Wirtemberge and Leipsic and taxed and reprooued them greatly for that concerning indifferent things they had made a way and entry for the Popes doctrine The 10. of Iune the Queene of France was crowned at Saint Dennis In the said moneth of Iune Henry king of France made his entry into Paris commaunded a generall procession and dedicated it with the blood of certaine poore Christians which hee made to be burned for Religion See the booke of Martyrs Le sieur de Veruin for yeelding Bullen to the English men was beheaded at Paris and le sieur de Biex his Father in lawe was condemned to perpetuall prison The Cantons of Basil Schaffuse in Swissia made alliance with the King of France whereof euery one greatly maruelled because he persecuted their Religion with fire and blood Zurie and Berne refused that alliance Sedition in England partly for the chaunge of Religion and partly for common grounds occupied by Gentlemen for their priuate vse there was great bloodshead In the meane time the King of Fraunce tooke certaine holdes about Bologne whereby he put the English in great distresse The fault of all this was laid vpon the Duke of Somerset and therefore he was imprisoned at London This Pope Paul of the age of 82. yeares dyed the 10. of Nouember On all sides Cardinalls ranne to Rome to elect a new Pope Iulius the third of that name borne at Aretio called before Iohn Maria de Monte who was President in the Councell of Trent and Bolongne was chosen Pope the 10. of February after that the Cardinalls which were in great number had long time debated in the cōclaue Some say that this Pope promised by oath vnto the Ferneses to leaue Parme to Octauius Bernese Whilest the Cardinalls were in the Conclaue to chuse the Pope Iulius certaine Letters came into the handes of some of them which were written the 26. of Ianuary by an houshold seruant of the Cardinall of Mantoue called Cornelius Oliue to a friend of his called Hanniball Contin and with them certaine verses made in the vulgar Italian language wherein speaking of his good affection towards him the desire he had to see him he vseth so infamous and dishonest words that hardly can any recite them without shame blushing Hereof came the taunt of such as said it signified that some infamous dishonest Pope should come out of that Conclaue from whence such proceeded They which read these Letters saide as well in Italie as in Almaine they neuer read any more villanous detestable Hereby Reader maist thou iudge what the spirit is which the Papists vaunt so much to haue in their Masses in the election of their Popes The 22. of Frebury Iulius is crowned Pope by the Cardinall Cibo two daies after he had opened the gilded gate with a golden key and celebrated the yeare of Iubile which his predecessor Paul the third had so much desire to see And because of an auncient custome the new Pope might giue his red hat to whom he thought good he made Cardinall a young boy called Innocent whom he had sometimes abused whē he was Legate at Bologne notwithstanding the other Cardinalls approoued it not yea resisted it Moreouer hee receiued him into his house into the number of his Domestickes and familiars A brute went through the towne of Rome yea it was divulged by certaine diffamitorie Libells that Ganymedes was entertained by Iupiter although he was not faire This Pope himselfe dissembled it not but customably in a maner of pastime would account his follies therein Paulus Vergerius hath left in writing this Historie Pope Iulius saith hee determined to make a young youth called Innocent a Cardinal who not only came frō a father and mother of base condition but that was of a most wicked and dishonest conuersation Wherfore as on a certain day he had made this motiō in the presence of the Cardinalls that there was no man which resisted it not but that more is as certaine Cardinalls said freely I pray you what finde you in this young man who deserueth that we should doo him that honour Iulius answered And I pray you what found you in mee to doo mee that honour as to make mee Pope without any desert aduance this young man and hee will merit it The Masse which had bin banished Strasbourge the space of 21. yeares was set vp againe in three Churches the first of February A great number of children ran thither to see so straunge and new a thing The Priests were affraied at it and complained vnto the Emperour The Emperor and the King of France one after the other made publish each in their Countries very cruel Edicts against the Lutherans as they called them About the ende of May the Emperour with Phillip his sonne departed from Bruxelles to come to the Iourney at Auspourge and brought with them the Duke of Baxe captiue leauing the Lantgraue in prison at Malignes In the time of this Pope was Iohn de Case a Florentine Archbishop of Beneuent and Legate of the seate in the territorie of Venice This man who made so magnificall a profession of Popish singlenesse was not ashamed to make a Booke in Italian Rime wherein he praiseth and exalteth that horrible and detestable sinne of Sodomitry yea euen to name it a diuine worke and affirmeth that he tooke great pleasure therein and that he knew no other kind of palidiarzing or whoredome The booke was Imprinted at Venice by one Traian Naun Behold notable Archbishops of the Papall seate with such Iudges doo the Pope and his maister the diuel serue themselues in their Consistories to condemne as heretikes such as teach and write the truth with puritie In a Catalogue of bookes prohibited which he made whilest he was Legate he comprehendeth no other therein but such as make profession of the pure Euangelike doctrine Francis Spiera as is abouesaid fearing the tyrannie of tormentors renied the veritie of Iesus Christ and dyed in extreame dispaire Sleidan also makes mention of the Sodomitike booke aboue spoken of It would be here too long to rehearse the gests and deeds of Iulius the third concerning the Iubile which was in his time the Councell of Trent the confirmation of that Idol de Laureto the debate which he had with the Bishop of Aremin his Steward for a Peacock and many such like things Amongst other viands hee greatly delighted to eate the flesh of Swine Peacocks But his Phisitian had aduertised him that hee should take heed that he eate no swines flesh because it was contrary vnto the Gowt wherewith hee was often tormented but yet hee would not abstaine therefrom The Phisitian secretly aduertised the Clarke of his kitchin that no porke flesh should be serued As then there was none serued the Pope perceiuing it demaunded of his Steward where his dish of
The Historie of the reuoult of England To the ende the Lord may be knowne in his iudgements which daily happen and that he which is to day aloft may take heed hee fall not let vs harken vnto that infamous revoult of England and see how they returne to their first vomite The Wednesday the 28. of Nouember of this yeare the Parliament of England was assembled and in the presence of King Phillip and Queene Marie the Cardinall Poole expounpounded his Legation and exhorted them to the holy seate of the Pope shewing them how greatly bound they were to God who now enlarged vpon them his diuine grace prouiding for them such Princes as they had After he declared vnto them how the holy Father the Pope vsed towards them his benignitie and clemency by him his Legate greatly thanking them that they had receiued him and placed him in his Country and Nobilitie whereof he had bene long depriued and that therefore he held himselfe more bound to procure they might be restored into the Ecclesiasticall Court as his desire was This vile Apostate of the truth calleth that stinking Court of Rome the celestiall Court After he had thus spoken be withdrew himselfe to the end to giue respet vnto the Lords of the Parliamēt to resolue thervpon what to doo The Chauncellour of England straight tooke the Cardinalls wordes and shewed how they had cause to thanke God who had raised them vp such a Prophet out of their owne seed to procure their saluation as the reuerend Legate did Insomuch that all with a common accord concluded to cōsent vnto the vnion obedience of the Romane church The Thursday following they ordained to agree vnto that which the Cardinall had saide so that vpon a common accord they presented a supplication wherein they prayed the King and Queenes maiesties as heads of the kingdome that they would pray the Popes Legate that they might haue absolute remission of their sinnes and errours promising to make voide all such lawes as they had before established against the authoritie of the Romane seate whervnto they would sweare neuer to contradict The King sent the said supplication to the Legate and the day after assembled the Parlament in the place where the king and the Queene with the Cardinall Legate were set And the Chancelor rose vp with great reuerence an high voice vttered the resolutiō made by the Lords of the Parliament praying in the name of all that they wold accept the supplicatō written in Latin tongue shut sealed by the said Chancellor The supplication being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancellor to publish hee red it with an high voice and that done demaunded of all them of the Parlament if their wills were according to the tenor thereof and they all answered yea Vpon this the King Queene rose vp and presented the said supplicatiō to the Legate who red it then presented he the Bulles of his Legation which were red also to make appeare vnto them the authoritie hee had from the holie Father to absolute them That is to say to plunge them into the deepe pit of hell That done the Reuerend made them an Oration in their own language shewing penance which pleased God and that the Angell of Paradice reioyce more at a sinner repenting his sinnes then of ninetie nine iust persons and vpon that brought for his examples cōtrarily drawne to furnish out his impudencie falsly abusing the word of God After he had ended he rose vp and the King and Queene fell vpon their knees before him calling vpon God and the holy Saints that hee would pardon the penitent people of England the authoritie of whose person he representeth Then the Legate pronounced a generall absolution which done they all departed with the King the Queene and the Legate towards their Chappell where was sung Te Deum and after the saide Legate had made his triumphant entries hee yeelded all power and authoritie to the Bishops the first Sunday of Aduent as they call it on which day the Bishoppe of Winchester an other Apostate of the truth made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his Theame Nunc tēpus adest de somne surgere that is It is now time to awake As if before in the time of the Gospell vnder the raigne of king Edward of England they had still slept But that awaking shall be deare sold vnto all such Organes and Instruments of Sathan which haue caused so many murders and bloudshead of Gods children since that time in the Realme of England See the booke of Martyrs A more horrible vengeance of God cannot come to a Countrey then when God withdrawes his light therefrom Ferdinand sent out of their Countrey 200. Ministers of the faithfull in the kingdome of Boheme Touching the true Martyrs of the Lord executed this yeare in England vnder the tyranous raigne of Queene Mary and the disputations held betwixt the Popish Doctors and them of the true Religion See the fourth part of the bookes of Martyrs A Iourney of the Empire was held at Ausbourge and although fewe Princes came thither Ferdinand made a long Oration the fift of Februarie of two principall poynts The first of Religion by reason whereof he said all the disorder and destruction of Almaine happened and that it might be remedied by disputations and communications of Theologians as once had beene begun The second was to helpe and succour the afflicted estate of the warre past and punish such as made the troubles Melancton and other learned people by their Letters comforted the Ministers of the Churches of Boheme which were dispersed ouer Misnia Casal a Towne nigh vnto Po was taken by the French vnder the conduct of Brisac the 3. of March Marcel second of that name a Tuscan by Nation called before Marcel Ceruin succeeded and was borne in a place called the Monte Pelicien in the territories of Florence Of a Cardinall of the title of the holy Crosse in Ierusalem was created Pope by the common consent of all the Cardinalls which were in the Conclaue the 9. day of Aprill 1555. The day following he receiued the Pontificall ornaments in the Church of Laterane but he would not change the name that he receiued at his baptisme Being come vnto the Papacie he was an enemie vnto the Gospell as before he was Pope you may see he was euer In his youth he had some litle profited in humane Letters and so kept the schooles Afterward as Paul the third had created Cardinall Alexander Farnesius the sonne of Peter Lewis his bastard sonne hee gaue his this Marcel for a Schoolemaister Certaine time after the Cardinall Alexander leauing there the studie of Letters applyed himself altogether to handle the affaires wherein as well he as also Paul his grandfather serued themselues with Marcel who was their Secretary The Bishoppricke of Nichastre being vacant hee was made Bishop of that Church yet he alwaies liued
of Flaunders the 18. of Ianuary he made a solemne entry into Antwerpe In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswic espowsed the sister of Sigismond king of Pologne The 26. of the same moneth died at Aitsem Frederick Count Palatin Elector now very old and there succeeded him Otto Henry his brothers sonne who long time before had receiued the Gospell and for that cause was in daunger to haue lost all his goods Shortly after he had receiued his peoples oath of fidelitie he made an Edict that no person shuld sing any Masse or exercise any other ceremonies any where in his countries Mary Queen of EnglaÌ„d did what she could that church goods and lands might be restored because Pope greatly vrged her thervnto But many Princes great Lords held them therfore it could not be done During this Parliament many Innectiue and biting bookes were dispersed in London amongst which some were sufficient to haue stirred the common people to sedition against the Spaniards and to haue with drawne the Queenes loue froÌ„ King Phillip Search was made for the authors of these libels but it was not possible to finde them out Before the Assembly was departed affaires dispatched the Bishop of Winchester the Chauncelor died of a dropsie Thomas Heth Archbishop of Yorke who had sometimes bene in Almaine with him before of Canterbury and once had knowledge of the true Religion was come into his place About the fift of Nouember died the wife of Duke Iohn Frederic of Saxonie the Lantgraues daughter The Duke of Venice Francisco Venerio was deposed from his estate for ill dealing in the charge of victualls and hauing much more regard vnto his particular profit then to the publike weale About the end of February of this yeare the Moâ—râ—aâ—â—e called Dupetit S. Bernard on the valley side of Aouste which is in the subiection of the Duke of Sauoy was seene couered with red snowe and certaine white snowe fell but the whitenesse vanished away and the rednesse remained This was notoriously knowne and seene and the red snowe touched by many inhabitants of the said Countrey These prodiges and maruels admonish vs to beseech the Lord to turne away the tribulations and calamities which the poore world ceaseth not to draw vpon it selfe by his rebellion A frost of three weekes was so sharp in December that Seine was frozen wherevpon followed great mischiefes Oziander with his new doctrine of Iustification had long time stirred trobles in Pruse but after as it were al learned people had condemned him by their writings the Duke of Pruse Albert declared by a publike writing that therein hee would follow the doctrine of the confession of Ausbourge and so enioyned the Ministers of the Churches to teach accordingly and gaue them full licence And to the end the thing might be so fully and surely accorded that the wound might no more renew and be worse Iohn Albert Duke de Megelbourge the Duke of Pruse his sonne in lawe a Prince very well instructed in Letters went into the said Countrey of Prusia and by the meanes of certaine learned people whose labour he vsed hee did so much with Iohn Functius which was hee that chiefly maintained the opinion of Ozeander that publikely he confessed his fault and withall protested that he would neuer teach but according to the tenor of the confession of Ausbourge Others did the like So the Theologians were receiued into fauour and the estate of the Church pacified The 4. day of March began to appeare a Comet which was seene by the space of 12 dayes There is a litle Towne in Aulsâ—iâ— three leagues from Strasbourge called Oberene in that Towne a certaine Gardiner the tenth of Aprill in the absence of his wife was the murderer of his owne children of a girle of the age of 7. yeares of a boy of the age of 4. yeares and of an other yet in the cradle not past sixe moneths old The 10. of may the Duke d' Arscot who was a prisoner in the wood de Vincennes nigh Paris escape and came safe into his Countrey The Bauarois sollicited their Prince Albert to haue libertie of their religion as well as they of Austrich and almost at one time the Prince seeing that Ferdinand his father in law had permitted to his people the same thing was content to doo the like And because there was then some question for siluer he suffered his subiects for a time to receiue the Lords Supper whole and to eate flesh on dayes prohibited when necessitie driues them therevnto Yet he made great protestations that he would not diuide himselfe from the religion of his Auncestors and that this should onely be till by publike authoritie it were otherwise ordained About this time certaine great Lords of Transiluania reuolted from Ferdinand There became also great mutinies in England where diuers Nobles were imprisoned others beheaded and some saued themselues in other Countries As for such as died for the truth of the Gospell we haue amply deducted their estate and extracted their confessions in our bookes of Martyrs Albert de Bauieres began the Imperiall iourney at Ratisbone in the name of king Ferdinand who then was busied in holding the estates in Bohemeâ— and Austrich The Emperor hauing attend 〈…〉 of Septembeâ— and from 〈◊〉 Countries accompanied 〈…〉 â—â—â—ior Dowary of France and Mary Queâ—â—â— of Hungary 〈…〉 cauing al the rule of the lowe Countries to king Phillip his sonne and the administration of Almaine vnto his brother King Ferdinand Dauid George who after called himselfe Iohn de Bruck borne at Delphes in Holland a very pernitious seducer author and Prince of the vilest Sect that euer was making himselfe king and immortall Christ died this yeare 1556. the 24. day of August his wife being dead a litle before He retired with his family which was very great into Basill the yeare 1544. making himselfe a fugitiue from his owne countrey for the cause of the Gospell He bought houses in the Towne and a Castle nigh the Towne called Binningen with possessions of a great reuenew It was easie for this man being very cautelous and subtill and hauing his eyes looking on all sides to gaine the hearts of many and to procure outward reputation who was greatly sustained and augmented by that he had great summes of money and very pretious moueables daily brought him from base Almaine and Flaunders There hapned certaine prodigious signes before his death One of his houses he had two in Basill was burned with fire of lightning and the other which he had sumptuously builded in the Medowes was also consumed by fire and all his pretious moueables which were therin soone after the chamber floores of his house where he made his residence fell downe suddenly yet they say nothing hapned vnto him more intollerable to beare before his death then this that one of authoritie in base Almaine came to the Towne of Basill and
Dauid George knew well that by litle and litle hee should be discouered His Secretaries and disciples were maruellously astonished at his death because they were of opinion he should neuer haue died Although their hope was something maintained by that he had said as after was reported he would againe take life by the space of three yeares and bring to passe excellent things Hee held in his house a state almost royall And for the gouernment of his house and Castle it was well ruled euery one had his estate and office in that family and the labours were so distributed that he had no need in any thing to employ others then his owne In the gouernment of their common good they very strictly obserued three things to the end they might more and more conceale their so pernitious a Sect. First that none amongst them should publish the name of Dauid George Secondly that none should reueale of what state and condition hee had bene wherevpon many thought hee came of some great nobilitie others that he was some great Marchant hauing many factors both by sea and land Thirdly that they should not discouer any one article of their doctrine to any of Basill no not to any Switzer neither should they seeke to drawe any to their doctrine The summe of his accursed doctrine was That whatsoeuer had hitherto bene giuen of God by Moyses by the Prophets by Iesus Chirst himselfe by his Apostles and Disciples is imperfect and vnprofitable to make vs obtaine the true and perfect felicitie and was onely giuen to this vse that hitherto their doctrine might represse men and keepe them vnder as young men and children and so containe them in their offices But the Religion of Dauid George is perfect and hath in it sufficient efficacie and strength to make happie him that receiueth it he being the true Christ and Messias the we beloued of the Father in whom the Father taketh great pleasure borne not of the flesh but of the holy spirit of the spirit of Iesus Christ hauing hitherto beene kept in an vnknowne place for all his Saints to restore in spirit the house of Israel not by the Crosse or tribulations or death as the other Christ but for the loue and grace of the holy spirit of Christ O execrable monster or horrible efficacie of error deception or plasphemies drawne out of the deepe pit of hell In the yeare 1557. many good men mooued with affection to amplifie the kingdome of the Lord through many trauels and perills hauing passed the torride Zone and long time soiourned in the way they fell to inhabit in a Region on the South coast vnknowne vnto our fore elders full of Brasill which before in the yeare 1500. had bene discouered by the Portugales and it was called America of the name of their Captaine and cōducter Americ Vespucius The Inhabitants the eare very sauage and wilde without any forme of Religion or ciuilitie There it pleased the Lord in this time to erect a Church of certaine French men which one Villegagnon had sollicited and gathered together He receiued thē also at the beginning with good countenance and outward ioy seeing his enterprise commended by many notable persons But in the yeare 1557. and 1558. the said Villegagnon gaue sufficiently to know that he was neuer touched with any true zeale or feare of God For after he had persecuted both the Ministers and poore flocke of that Church by many tyrannies and impudent writings with seditious practises he hindred as much as in him lay the aduancement of the Lords glory who after raised vp the Portugales to take the Fortresse which he had builded in the I le by him called Collignyen Valois finding no resistance within because the said Villegagnon being retired into France taken with an apprehensiō that the sauage people would eate him had ordained no such company of people as were necessary for the defence of such a place And although in that number there were some valiant and wel experimented in Armes yet for as much as they were accompanied with such as had no knowledge therein and were ill maintained yea pined away with famine and diseases before they would abide the enemies furie they withdrew themselues with the sauage people Therefore was it easie for the enemies to enioy that Castle which had beene builded at the charges of the king of France and with the sweat and trauel of many good people and the Artillery marked with the Armes of France with certaine munitions of warre transported to Lisbone the principall Towne of Portugall in a trophee and triumph of the victorie The French retiring to land receiued the cruel yoake of that sauage people liuing without any forme of Religion a sad and lamentable thing to rehearse By all Histories as well auncient as moderne we my be instructed that Hypocrites and Apostates haue in all times hindred the course of the Gospell Charles the 5. Emperour after he had resigned by expresse Embassage into the hāds of the Princes Electors the Romane Empire hauing held it about 37. yeares died in his Country of Spaine the 21. of Septēber 1558. in a Monastery of S. Iust of the order of the Hieronymies nigh to Plascencia a Towne scituated betwixt the kingdomes of Castile and Andalonsia Ferdinand 1. of that name succeeded him was cōsecrated Emperor in the towne of Francfort vpon Mein by the Electors and Princes of Almiane with the accustomed solemnities After great and continuall warres by the space of 9. yeares at the instigation and by the practises and meanes of Popes Iohn Maria de Monte surnamed Iulius the third and his successors and adherents as well in Italie Piemont Almaine and France as in the lowe Countries of Flaunders Artois and Lorraine by the Spaniards and French Finally there happening great victories and prises one vpon an other to the ouerthrow and totall oppression of people and subects the third of Aprill 1559. after Easter at a Castle in Cambresis there was a peace concluded betwixt Henry the second of that name King of France and Phillip King of Spaine wherein they promised to yeeld one to an other the landes that were lately conquered They also compounded and agreed of all other controuersies and differances in regard of the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicilie and of the Duchie of Millaine vpon condition of the marriage of the said Phillip with the eldest daughter of Henry which lands should appertaine to the children comming of that marriage By the same treatie of peace there was yeelded vnto Emanuel Philibert Duchie of Sauoy and the principalitie of Piemont which the French had held from his father him more then 24. yeares by the meanes of a marriage betwixt him and Dame Margarite daughter of king Francis the first of that name and the alone sister of Henry reseruing certaine strong places in the said Piemont for a certaine time The yeare 1559. the fift of March the sonnes the sonnes in lawe and
all the family of the dead Dauid George of whom we haue spoken before some also which were not of his family but adherent vnto his Sect were adioyned before the Senate of Basill after information taken of the pernitions Sect which the said Dauid George had alwaies held whilest he liued The Advower declared vnto them that the Seigniorie was dulye enformed that they withdrewe themselues into the Castle of Binningen not as they which were persecuted for the Gospell as they falsly said but for the Sect of Dauid wherewith they were alreadie spotted Eleuen were appointed prisoners out of them to draw the truth The most part examined by the straightest Inquisition confessed the truth of the matter which finally obtained pardon The first of May the Ministers Rector professors and Maisters of the Vniuersitie of Basill hauing all with one voyce condemned the poynts of doctrine professed by Dauid George the Senate beeing fully informed of all proceeded the 13. of May to the indyting and condemning of Dauid George that is that all his writings as full of impietie and mortall poyson also his body or his bones and all that which remained in his graue should be burnt with his Image which was found in his house liuely representing him and that generally all the goods of so wicked a man in what place soeuer they were found should be confiscated and adiudged vnto the Seignorie This sentence was proclaimed according to the custome of the place and all the forme of lawe and of the ordinances of the Towne was obserued in the execution thereof The life maners and death of such pernicious men admonish vs to watch diligently least being deceiued with any beautifull appearance we allow not euill for good and contrary and so fall into the snares of the diuell A peace as hath bene said being concluded betwixt Henry King of France and Phillip King of Ppaine enemies of the Gospell tooke their opportunitie to persecute such as they called Lutherans Commissions were dispatched to go through all the Prouinces of France to attend while the conditions of peace were accomplished King Henry by his Letters Patents on the second of Iune sent to all Bailiffes and Stewards to aide the said Commissioners with power to assemble as they call them ban and arrierban that is as I take it we vse to say tag rag and the Prouost Marshals and their Archers straightly forbidding the sparing of any either vsing any dissimulation or winking at any otherwise that they themselues should be first punished The Cardinall of Lorraine charged a great number of the Councellours of the Parliament of Paris to be fauourers of heretickes And this was vpon the occasion of a deliuerance they made of certaine prisoners for the Gospell by a simple banishment out of the kingdome And did so much that the Mercuriall was held at the instance of the kings Proctor general wherin a great part of the Councellours were of aduise that by an holy and free Councell all matters of Religion should be remedied rather then by persecutions The King Henry being at this Parlament and hauing heard Anne de Bourge Councellour reasoning caused him to be staied prisoner with other Councellors And the 19. of Iune a Coniunction was directed to certaine Iudges to make theis proces During the marriage Feastes of the daughter of Fraunce and the last of Iune King Henry imploied himselfe all that morning in the examinations of as well Presidents as Councellors of the said Parliament and other prisoners and their companions which were charged with the like doctrine When he had dined because he was one of the sustenants at the solemn Turney which was made in the streete of Saint Anthonie he entered into the Listes And after hee had broken good store of staues as brauely as was possible as he was cunning and a valiant man at Armes running against Montgommery the sonne of Captaine Lorges a strong Souldier they encountred so rudely that bursting ther Launces the King was attained with a counter blowe so right in the vizard that the shiuers entred into his head and the blowe was as suddaine as violent so that his braines were wholly astonished without finding either succour or comfort And whatsoeuer any could doo with sending Phisitions and Surgions on all sides yea from Brabant by King Phillip nothing profited Insomuch that eleuen dayes after namely the 10. of Iuly 1559. he expired and finished his dayes in great dolour hauing raigned 12. yeares three moneths and ten dayes To the Christian Readers Hauing gathered from diuers Histories of our time a sort of the most memorable things happening about religious matters and the state of this world since the yeare 1559. vntill this present yeare 1581 and perceiuing that this volume handling the Churches affaires was deliuered vnto the Printer I haue also giuen these my remembrances following to the same Imprinter to ioine thē vnto the former that you may haue a whole briefe and summary from that time of Christ vntil now There remaineth that considering the wonders of God especially in the conduction gouernment of his Church we should pray that it would please him to cause vs to see more more the effect of that promise so precious that he wil be with his vntil the consummation of the world and that we may remaine firme in the profession of his truth vntil the last sigh maugre all the forces of Sathan of Antichrist and of their complices So be it Francis the 2. of that name of the age of 15. yeares fiue moneths succeeded his Father Henry In the beginning of his kingdom the Churches of his realme florished vnder the crosse hauing the fauour of certain Princes and great Lords yet in such sort as the faithfull endured much in sundry places that same yeare 1559. The Church of Paris was one of the chiefe but it was exceedingly molested by slanders and subornations of certaine Iudges and especially of an Inquisitor called Demochares they were charged the Thursday before Easter they procured a great assembly of men women mayds about midnight where after they had preached eaten a cochon in lieu of the paschall Lamb the lamp which gaue them light put out euery one committed wickednes with other Chals Cardinall of Lorraine gouernour of the king who had espowsed Mary Steward Queene of Scotland the said Cardinals Niece impaired made things worse by imputing vnto them of the religiō all the pollutions of the auncient heretikes Insomuch that during the raigne of Francis there was nothing but imprisonments robbing of houses proclimatiōs for banishments executions of them of the religiō with cruel tormēts notwithstanding amongst such tempests they discōtinued not their preachings other exercises of Religion although also many were burned at Paris executed in other places Amōgst which are not to be forgotten Nicholas Guerin Marin Marie Margarite le Riche called the Lady de la Caille a yong Carpēter Adrian Panssi Marin Roussean Giles
le Gourt Phillip Parmentier Peter Millet Iohn Befferoy Peter Arondeau M. Anne du Bourge a man of great pietie very learned a Councellor in the Parliament of Paris The death of this last man was especially amōgst others noted because of the qualitie of his person his constancy astonished also many of his enemies who notwithstanding left not to cōtinue as wel in Paris as in other Parliaments of France in that remainder of the yeare 1559 in al the yeare following during which the French Church before being hid because of persecutions began to shew it self Insomuch that in all Prouinces thoughout the kingdom they of the religion had Sermons openly the zeale of some surmounting the crueltie of others In this same yeare 1559. in the moneth of May the Lord triumphed ouer Antichrist in the cōstancy patience of many Christians executed to death for the witnesse of his truth in the kingdome of Spaine by the practises of the officers of the Inquisition wherof it shal not be impertinent briefly to touch About an 100. yeares ago that Ferdinand and Isabelle kings of Castile established that Inquisition against the Iewes which after baptisme kept their cerimonies Certaine yeares after the Monkes assailed by the doctrine of the Gospell did so much that it was cōuerted practised especially against such as they could discouer to be neuer so litle aduersaries of the Romish traditions For the better establishing of this tyrannie and to lift it vp aboue the King and the Councell of Spaine the Spanish Theologians made thē belieue that the holy Inquisitiō could not erre and for the exercise thereof they had Iudges officers in the most part of the Townes of the realme which alwaies had a watchful eye to bridle all the world But ordinarily they espied the richest the learnest such as of little began to become great for they desired bootie of some they feared y e knowledge of others and the last are odious least they should make head against the Inquisitiō They espied marked very nigh these 3. sort of people that if there came any word out of their mouthes it shuld be noted thogh they spake no word yet would the Inquisitors finde meanes enough against such as worshipped them not sufficiently for after they had shut them in prison they would keep them there a long time without speaking vnto them and at leisure inuent Rymes against them In the meane while no man durst sollicite nor speake for the prisoners If the Father shewed to haue any care of his childe hee was straight imprisoned as a fauourer of heresie No person could haue accesse to any prisoner which was in any dungeon or other obscure place neither might hee write but besides the misery and horror of the prison the prisoners endured a thousand outrages and menaces and after blowes with whips and diuers other the greatest iniuries that can be imagined Sometimes they are suffered to escape by infamy and from some high place they are shewed vnto the people During their imprisonment their processes and their Inditements goe not forward in course of lawe and for ordinarily a prisoner shall be so kept vp tormented two three or foure yeares and if there be any thing done therein there are none but the Inquisitors their officers and executioners that know any newes of them After one hath tortured and beaten them the space of many moneths he that will haue his life he must diuine and gesse at his accusor If then the accused can diuine the name of his accusors and what is the accusation in firmely and strongly denying that which is imposed and laid to his charge and after great protestations to be an hartie and a very affectioned seruant and subiect of the Popedome his life being so saued yet he is not thereby set at libertie but after hauing endured infinit pouerties miserie which they call their penance they are let goe but yet in such sort as they make him weare a kinde of coate of yealow colour called Sambenito which is a publike infamy vnto him and all his race But if contrary the prisoner be an ill diuiner after diuers tortures he is condemned and cruelly burnt They that constantly maintaine the truth of the Gospell are so vngently tormented and cruelly handled that the punishments of the greatest Tyrants which were in the time of the Primitiue Church were nothing in comparison vnto these But then assoone as many persons of high and base condition in sundry places of Spaine beganne to see the light of the word of God the Antichrist his subiects straight discouered certaine assemblies insomuch that the Inquisitors imprisoned a great number of them whereof some were put to death the 21. of May in the presence of the kings sister their gouernesse in her brothers absence of Dom Charles Prince of Spaine and of many great Lords which deliuered their oaths vnto the Inquisition namely the Gouernesse and the Prince to maintaine against all This done with great solemnities the faithfull remaining constant were burnt aliue namely Augustine Cacalla late the Emperour Charles the fifts Preacher Francis de Biuero Priest of Valledolid the brother of Augustine Blanche and Cōstance de Biuero their sister Alphonsus Peres Priest of Valence Christopher del Campo Christopher de Padille Antonio de Huezvelo Catherine Romaine Francis Errem Catherine Ortegne Isabella de Strade and Iann Velasque Many other men and women were then condemned to diuers honourable amends as they call them and to remaine prisoners a certaine time In the moneth of September following the Inquisitors of Siuil caused to be burnt Iohn Ponceus de Leon sonne of the Count de Bailen a Gentleman amongst all Spaniards commendable because of his great pietie constancie and doctrine Iohn Gonsolue Theologian of Siuile Isabelle de Vacine Mary de Viroes Cornelie Mary and Iane de Bohorques Ferdinand de Saint Iohn Iulian Fernand and others in great number For three yeares before a goodly Church was raised and set vp at Siuile which being discouered by the spies of the Inquisition very nigh eight hundred persons were imprisoned insomuch that after that the tormentors did no other thing but hang strangle and burne men and women yet notwithstanding many verie liuely tasted the doctrine of the Gospell and forsooke Spaine the more freely to serue God some flying into England others into Almaine to Geneua Likewise all the Monks of the Couent of Saint Isodore nigh Siuile forsooke their habit and their Country and saued themselues at Francford two of which namely Iohn Leon Iohn Fernand were taken in a Port of Zeland brought againe into Spaine and put to death In this same yeare the Estates of the Empire were assembled at Ausbourge to handle affaires of Religion and it was agreed that things should remaine peaceable and the funerall of obsequies of the Emperor Charles the fift were then made The Embassador of Othon Henry chiefe Elector assisted
enclose them abandoned their Forts left their siege and retired away shamefully Selym Emperour of the Turkes dyed about the 15. of December after hee had ended the warre against the Walaques wherin he lost an infinit number of men and tooke peace with the Venetians His sonne and successor Amurath at his comming in caused fiue of his bretheren to be put to death and two wiues of Selym the one of which who was great with childe seeing the death of her children threw her selfe to the ground out of an high windowe Hauing thus prouided for his estate hee prepared to make warre vpon the Polonians some of which called Kosaques had succoured the Vayuoda of Watachia The 12. of Ianuary 1575. they of the Religion found meanes to get Arguesmortes a strong Towne and of great importance in Languedoc especially for Salt that comes from thence and greatly furnisheth the Prouinces The same day the Marshall d' Danuile made a league with them of the Religion and a publike and large declaration containing the causes of his doings The Duke de Montpensier tooke Fontenay in Poictou and Lusignen yeelded vpon composition This notwithstanding the Churches of that Prouince and other nigh vnto it in some sort maintained themselues euen in the middest of Armes The Duke d' Vzes sometimes affectioned vnto Religion tooke Armes against it but hee prospered not much therein The Churches of Languedoc and Dauphine redressed themselues after the King was retyred from Auignon but their vnion with the Politikes or Malcontents destroyed them within by the wicked liues of many of those Politikes badly aduised King Henry the third was sacred at Reimes the fifteenth day of February and espowsed soone after Louyse the daughter of Nicholas Count de Vandemont in Lorraine So that then and after there was nothing in the Court of France but pastimes such as there is lesse euil to conceale then profit to describe In the mean while warre continued in Languedoc well for the aduantage of them of the Religiō being assisted of the Marshall de Danuille their confederate vnto which part many enclined and ioyned themselues daily In the moneth of April a negotiation and parley was made at Paris betwixt the Kings Councell and the Deputies of Churches the Politikes without any conclusion But contrary the warre waxed hot in Dauphine Languedoc with losse on both sides but they of the religion were the stronger And since we are vpon that point we will set downe in this present Article that which was done in France during this yeare 1575. worthy of note in few words About the end of April the Duke d'Vzes besieged Bais a litle Towne vpon Rhosne and got the Towne but they of the Religion which held the two Castles constrained him to forsake it after he had lost many of his people To reuenge himselfe he burnt a part of the Towne and continued after such sackings and destructions that he became very odious In the month of May sell a tumult at Marseillis and in certaine other places of Prouince against gatherers Farmers of the kings demeasnes which were chased away And therevpon arose a band of Politike malcontents which they called les Raises shauen because they caused their beards to be shauen or some part of them to be knowne by that signe and in Prouence they of the Religion held certaine places as Riez Lourmarin Siena and others some of which soone after were taken out of their hands The 17. day of Iune le Sieur de Monbrun a Daulphenois Gentleman a wife and valiant Captaine of warre ouerthrew le Sieur de Gordes Gouernour of Daulphine who saued himselfe by flight within Gap and left 22. companies of Swisses in the field which were broken and nine hundred cut in peeces straight with Frenlich their Colonell and sixteen Captaines with 18. Ensignes carried away by Monbrun and his people which had a great bootie of Armes especially and lost on their part but sixe men Le Sieur de Gordes after that gathered great Forces and againe meeting in the field he ouerthrew Monbrun who meaning to leape a ditch to obtaine a meet passage for his retrait his horse fell and he vnder him whereby his thigh was broken and so remained prisoner hauing only lost twentie two men and thirtie eight were taken prisoners This happened the ninth of Iuly and soone after by decree of a Parliament at Grenople Monbrun had his head cut off On the other side the Duke of Vzes destroyed and burnt all the flat Countrey of Languedoc with the losse of infinite Corne. Le sieur de Lodignieres ordained Chieftain of the troupes of Dauphine in the place of Monbrun gaue order for the affaires at the beginning of August and tooke many places Vpon these actions and the sixteenth day of September Francis Duke d' Alencon and brother vnto the King conueyed himselfe secretly in the night from the Court then at Paris wherevpon came brutes and discourses maruellous straunge and diuers Two dayes after his retraite hee published by writing the causes thereof declaring that hee meant to procure a good peace and reformation in France Hee writ vnto the Princes and Lordes of the Religion to the Churches to the Marshall Danuile and to the Politikes vnto the same end Insomuch that each one assured himselfe soone to see goodly things and there remained but verie fewe which feared any hid euill as discourses after published doo shewe In the meane time the Prince of Conde tooke order Almaine to leuie an Army to enter into Fraunce and by Armes to obtaine some rest for them of the Religion and for the whole estate hee dealt fully with Duke Cassimere of all things requisite for such a good The King the Queene mother and their Councell were greatly troubled as if all had beene lost by the retrait of the Duke d' Alenson writing to all places calling as they say tag and rag they made leuies and brought troupes into the field and yet without any exployt of warre They made flie a report of souldiers from Almaine and Sueuia yet none entred France during that fourth warre to do seruice vnto the King who in the meane while demaunded siluer of his Townes and for the rest hee bore himselfe as if there had beene no appearance of warre His mother in the meane time got her towards the Duke d' Alenson as some said to make peace betwixt the two brethren and for the quiet of the kingdome In the meane while the King forbad all the nobilitie to come nigh the Duke of Alenson hee sent also certaine troupes to hinder not onely that but the comming of certaine Almaines which le Sieurs de Thore and de Cleruant ledde which were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Guise and Cleruant was taken prisoner with certaine others the tenth of October Soone after was there a truce made betwixt the Queene mother and the Duke of Alenson for sixe moneths wherewith each one was miscontented but the
all Ecclesiasticall censures which are read in the holy Canons in the generall and particular constitutions and in the Bull of the Supper of the Lord. This also was determined against all those which were of his counsell or aide or any way had assisted him in the premisses Besides he cited the King himselfe that within the space of 60. dayes which should begin from the day of the notice to the king that hee in his owne proper person or some one especially in his place should come to Rome there to yeeld reason wherefore he caused the Duke of Guise to bee slaine and held in prison the Cardinall and Archbishop and that the rest that were sommoned should come themselues without deputies to this also hee added that none of them nor the king himselfe no not in case of conscience the houre and dayes of death excepted and not then to bee absolued vnlesse hee obeyed and satisfied the Church in all things which hee was enioyned to doo Without this promise hee might not be absolued not in the full Iubily or the holy marke of the Crosse any indulgence power or priviledge whatsoeuer to him or his predecessors before granted notwithstanding Anth. Cicarella The Huguenots in their writings published at that time acknowledged not that action of the thirteenth of December as a clap of thunder that maketh more noise then it doth hurt nor as a disgrace of fortune wherevnto the greatest personages are most subiect but as a worke of God and as one of the most notable workes that he had wrought for them thereby beginning to worke their reuenge for the massacre of S. Bartholomewes day and to relieue them out of the miserable state wherin they stood In the moneth of Ianuary the Embassadors of the Emperour Rodolphe treated with the Polanders about the deliuerie of Max. Arch-duke of Austria in the territories of Silesia Polonia at Beutena Where vpon certaine conditions to bee by him performed he was enlarged without ransome D. Chytreus Vpon Twelfe eue Katherine de Medices the daughter of Laurentius de Medices D. of Vrbin and Magdelen the daughter of the E. of Bononie and Auerina the wife of H. the 2. King of France and mother of the French K. H. 3. in the 70. yeare of her age and fift day of her sicknesse died at Blois Genebrardus This yeare 1589. the holy Nun before spoken of was found to be a counterfeit Wherfore the Lords pronounced sentence against her in the Monastery of the mother of God of the order of S. Francis in the Citie of Lisbone And for that she had not dealt with nor inuocated the diuell they adiudged her to perpetuall imprisonment M. Cyp. Val. The Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicateth the K. of France The K. came vpon Paris and besieged it straightly The Parisians seeing themselues in that estate resolued of no other remedie for deliuerance of their present miserie but to kill the king To him that would kill him they did promise great rewards Amongst all these was a Iacobine Friar called Iaques Clement borne in a Village called Sorbone neare Seins hauing passed through the hands of certain Confessors and conferred with some Iesuites and others was for a kind of dexteritie in him obserued found meete to strike so great a stroake He was vrged and put forward therein and in the end the D. Demaine the sister of Montpensier other had conference with him in diuers places they requested him to perseuer in this good determination which they knew to rise in him by extraordinarie inspirations to performe so renowned a seruice to the holy vnion the Catholick Church and his Countrie They caused the zealous Sorbonists and Iesuits to preach that the people should yet haue patience for 7. or 8. daies and they should see some wonderfull matter come to passe that shuld make wel with the vnion The Preachers of Roan Orleance and Amiens preached the like at the same time and in semblable tearmes The Friar hauing taken order for his complot departed frō Paris went toward S. Clouis He being presented to speake to the K. the 1. of August said that he had Letters from the President of Harlay and credence on hs part the K. caused him to be called into his chamber where there was no other but the L. of Belle-good and the procurer Generall whom he procured to retire a part The Friar perceiuing himselfe alone and opportunitie put into his hand confirming his countenance more more drew out of one sleeue a paper which he presented to the K. and out of the other poisoned knife with which violētly he sheathed a thrust within the kings small ribbes who feeling himselfe wounded plucked the knife out of the wound wherewith hee strooke the Friar aboue the eye thervpon some gentlemen rushing in could not containe but murdered the murderer although the king commanded the contrary This Friar after for his bloudie deed was canonized a Saint In the annagransme of his name Friar Iaques Clement were found these words in so many letters C'est l'enfer quim'a creè which signifieth It is hell that created or brought me forth The K. died y e next morning following but before his departure he named the K. of Nauarre his brother lawfull successor to the Crowne exhorted his subiects to obey him to remaine vnited and to refer the difference of religion to the conuocation of the estates generall of the Realme who would thinke vpon conuenient remedies for the same to haue a care of religion and pietie and pray to God for him vpon these words he gaue vp the ghost Hist of France D. Chytraeus He liued 37 yeares 10 moneths and 11. daies he raigned 15. yeares and two moneths in this Prince failed the Kings of the race of Valois which had raigned in France from the yeare 1515. to the yeare 1589. vnder their dominions almost all the wonders of former ages had bene renewed Whom H. the 4. of the race of Bourbon succeeded Genebrardus This is worthy of speciall note In the moneth of May 4. moneths before he was slaine a certaine learned man beeing asked by his friends what he hoped of this H. the third K. Per sortes Virgilianas inquirens The booke of Virgill being opened and the 7. verse which number he chose in his mind he found Olli dura quies oculis ferreus vrget Soninus in aeternam clauduntur lumina noctem After his death warres began a fresh betwixt the confederate Catholickes and the king of Nauarre many hotte skirmiges were at the length on the tenth of March a battaile was fought at Harens where the king had the victory but not without the losse of many of his Nobles The D. Demaine presently repaired his Hoste but the K. conuerted all his Forces against Paris and besieged it where was so great a famine that a bushel of wheate was sold for one hundred fiftie crownes a mutton for 26. pounds This siege was
entertain hold the people in a vain hope of deliueraÌ„ce but all this while famine made warre against the Parisians Gregorie 14. before called Nicholas was borne at Millaine his fathers name was Frances Sfondrate of an auncient wealthy family He was elected Pope in the place of Vrbane The 8. day of Ianuary he instituted a Iubily and commaunded it to be published Anth. Cicca After this he made Gcnerall of the Churches army Count Sfondrate his nephew and sent him with an army into France to the maintenance of which warre he contributed fiue hundred thousand ducats besides other 40000. poundes of his owne He created his nephew Duke of Mount Marian the which state for that the great D. of Florence for his conspiracies and rebellioÌ„ against the church was put to death was now void by confiscation and therfore the Pope said he might bestow it where he thought good A great dangerous tumult hapned at Cracouia the king himself being there vnder the name of religion chiefly by certaine schollers who egged on by their maisters the Iesuites assaulted violently such houses where the exercise of religion different from the Popes were celebrated This was soone appeased by the magistrates but the third night when they thought all had beene quiet they gathered their companies together and set fire on the house D. Chytraeus The Princes Romane Catholicke Lords which were the Kings partakers perswaded with him to frame himselfe to the exterior profession of the religioÌ„ and by the D. of Luxembourg who had before made a voyage vnto Rome in their name they practised with the Pope to that end On the contrary side the Protestant Lords beseeched the king to haue them in remembrance who were so faithfully imployed for him Other of his Councel pressed vpoÌ„ him to prouide for his peaceable subiects as wel of the one as of the other religioÌ„ Also that he wold preuent the new attempts of the Pope and his adhaerents against France And these sollicitations begat an Edict for the vpholding of the two religions in his kingdome D. Chytraeus An act was made by the high Court of Parliament at Chalouns and at Tours against the Popes Bulls his Nuntio and his Legate in France This likewise was proclaimed We haue proclaimed and do proclaime Pope Gregorie the 14. of that name an enemy to the common peace to the vnion of the Romane Catholike Church to the King and to his roial state adhearent to the conspiracie of Spaine a fauourer of rebels guiltie of the most cruell most inhumane and most detestable parracide traiterously committed on the person of Henry the 3. of most famous most Christian and most Catholike memorie Christian Duke of Saxonie Prince Elector died of the age 31. yeares D. Chytraeus Gregorie the 14. fell now sicke of a quotidian Feuer hee was also troubled with a continuall flix and the stone whereof he dyed and was buried in the Chappell of the Gregories in S. Peters Church Hee sate in the seate ten moneths and as many dayes and it was vacant 15. dayes Anth. Cicca In this time there was a great dearth through the most part of Italie and other Christian Prouinces after which followed a great plague There dyed in Rome from August 1590. vnto the end of August the yeare following 1591. threescore thousand Idem Innocent the 9. before called Antonius Fachiuertus Cardinall of the 4. holy Crownes He was borne at Bononia and before hee was Cardinall by Pope Gregorie made Patriarke of Ierusalem Fredericus Wilelmus Duke of Saxonie and Iohannes Georgius Elector and Marquesse of Brandebourge had the Protectorship of Christians sonne these no further vrged his mandates concerning Religion and recalled home many Ministers of the Church and Superindents who had not obeyed them and therefore banished by him a litle before his death D. Chytraeus The Duke of Guise by a cord which was giuen him wherwith sliding downe out of a window escaped out of prison and fled to the Lord de la Chastre The great Chancelor of Poland Zamoscius rebelled against his leige Lord with an Armie of 30000. men Pope Innocent the 9. being 70. yeares of age and hauing ruled two moneths odde dayes dyed So that in the space of fourteene moneths 4. Popes dyed Sixtus Vrban Gregorie and Innocent and it is to be thought the most or all of them dyed of poyson For Brazuto is not dead that giueth them poyson This Brazuto killed 6. Popes with poyson as it is to be read in the life of Damasus The seate was vacant one moneth and a day Edmond Coppinger and H. Arthington conferring with one of their sect called William Hacket they offered to annoint him king but Hacket taking Coppinger by the hand said You shall not need to annoint me for I haue bene already annoynted in heauen by the holy Ghost himselfe then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Goe your way both said he and tell them in the Citie that Christ Iesus is come with his Fanne in his hand to iudge the earth Which they did in diuers streets crying also repent England repent and in Cheapeside got vp into a Cart and preached how this Hacket represented Christ that they were two Prophets the one of mercy the other of iudgement sent and extraordinarily called by God to assist him in this great worke and were witnesses of these things For these misdemeanors and spreading of false prophecies as also for his traiterous words against the Queenes Maiestie Hacket was hanged But Coppinger dyed in Bridewell and Arthington long after was reserued in the Counter in Woodstreete in hope of repentance I. Stowe Hippolitus Aldobrandinus Cardinall was elected Pope by the name of Clement the eight When Sebastian King of Portugall went with his Armie into Affrica hee requested hostage of Muhameth to whom hee deliuered his sonne Mulei Xeques him Sebastian sent Magaza but they both being slaine in the battaile of Alcazar 1578. Xeques was sent into Spaine and brought vp vnder King Phillip At the last this yeare hauing before by degrees perswaded to become a Christian was baptised with his kinsman other of his Nobles in the most famous Monastery of S. Laurence and vowed euer after to continue true Christians Genebrardus The 16. of Ianuary Cassimere Duke Palatine to the great sorrow and discomfort of the Church of Geneua departed this life Ladislaus King of Hungarie and Boheme died of the age of 18 yeares This yeare Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes prepared for warre against the Christians The cause was this The truce taken was yet kept betweene the Emperour and the Turke to the great quietnesse of both their subiects But in the meane season a peace was concluded betweene the Turke the Persian Wherefore many of the Turkish Bassâ—es perswaded their Emperour to make war vpon the Christian and so forthwith he dispatched a puissant Army into the confines of Hungary The Emperour
haue bin to conserue and keepe the puritie of the Euangelicall doctrine but suffering to take roote I know not how that which tasted of carnall wisedome in so much that in the place of the true end marke which the Gospell proposeth vnto vs men began to establish vnto vs all the perfection of Christianitie in sufferings and afflictions for the Gospell and in arresting abiding a litle too subtilly vpon the stay of certaine fantastike persons springing from the schoole of Philosophers so fell by litle and litle to that vnhappinesse as to transforme the holy scripture into allegorike interpretations a maruellous baite for the curiositie of humane vnderstanding and a fountaine of infinite mischiefes in the Church True it is that the first inuentors of such things thought nothing lesse then that which came after So much then did the Lord humble his people But about the end of this periode euil was seene to aduance and ceremonies encrease in such sort that men enclined vnto Indaisme and Paganisme the loue of solitude and Munkery the abstinence from marriage and from certaine viands and meates on particular dayes many Feasts and other seeds of superstition after succeeding tooke a maruellous roote So the commencement of praiers for the dead and of the sacrifice of the Masse did then discouer themselues not that the intent of such as made mention of the dead to encourage the liuing constantly to serue God and which brought of their goods into the company of the faithfull for the comfort of the poore after the celebration of the Supper was to bring in the execrable Idolatrie which long time after sprung vp There were also introducted and brought into Baptisme certaine ceremonies yet not such as the ridiculous superstitions which since haue bin forged Finally the good intent began to shewe it selfe and from thenceforth to lift vp the head vntill at the last vpon the ende of the second time of the Church it rose vp aboue the word of God As for the third periode of the first time heerein it was happie in that God during that time raised vp diuers learned persons Greekes and Latines to oppose themselues with liuely voyce at Sinodes as also by their bookes whereof wee haue some number at this day against the impietie of infinite heretikes Amongst other S. Augustine was an excellent Doctor of the Church who notwithstanding is not alwaies so cleare as is to be desired Amongst the Latines this time also brought forth other great persons yet men also which yet is more seene in the Greeke Doctors lesse pure then the Latines especially in the right knowledge of the merite of Iesus Christ and all was the want of a pure and natiue intelligence of the Lords language in the Prophetike and Apostolike bookes Their allegorike interpretations had as it were gotten the vpper hand ceremonies maruellously encreased Monkeries began to take footing the true meanes to diuide the Church and to forge a new seruice of God afterward the veneration of the Martyrs Sepulchres paintings and after Images glistered in Churches The pure doctrine of the Lords Supper began to bee falsified for want of right vnderstanding the manner of Sacramentall speeches and the vertue of the alone sacrifice of Iesus Christ Bishops especially that of Rome thrust into the world and the misterie of iniquitie formed it selfe as it afterward should come into the light For Arrianisme hauing serued for a seed to Mahumatisme and the dispising of the celestall veritie with corruption of manners maintaining the audacitie and boldnesse of the Bishops of Rome this periode finishing gaue entry vnto straunge euils wherewith the Church was ouerthrowne a litle space after Let vs now say something of the second time of the Church which we diuide into two periodes The first from Phocas about the yeare 600. vntill Charlamaine by the space of 300. yeares The second from Charlamaine vnto Charles the fift of that name Emperour about 700. yeares In the first periode of this second time of the Church as the Antichrist of the East thrust himselfe well forward that of the West established his Throne and then was the doore open to all errours which notwithstanding entred not at once but came by litle and litle into the Church Aboue all the opinion of purgatorie fire and of the sacrifice for the dead were the foundation of the Papaltie and of all that vermine of their Cleargie and infinite Sects of Monkes which like Grashoppers from the deepe pit came to spread themselues through Europe But it was in the second periode of the second time that Idolatrie and superstitions obtained the vpper hand Insomuch that the poore Church as it were buried had no more any spring neither appeared there any token wherevpon to cast her eye but onely the inuocation of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost in Baptisme And although from time to time the Lord made shine some flames and torches in the bowells of that darkenesse to redargue and weaken such as rotted in so heauie and palpable ignorance yet was their blindness so lamentable and their sleepe so deepe that for one which lifted vp the head and to whom Antichrist gaue no release nor leaue to approach witnesse all such as during this periode opposed themselues neuer so litle against his tyrannie an infinite remained liuelesse and altogether dead The Lord making himselfe admirable in the mercie which he shewed vpon some and renowned in horrible and iust punishment of their ingratitude which loued better lyes then truth Who can heere recyte the superstitions Idolatries of Antichrist his crafts and subtilties to establish his kingdome and tirannie vpon bodies and soule He had his seruants and instruments of all sorts to leane fasten encrease and multiply his Throne in the Temple of GOD carrying in his browe the name of miserie sitting in the Temple of God calling himselfe God yet vnknown of such as called themselues Christians which he put off vntill the end of the world and to I know not what fancie and dreame of an Antichrist which should be borne but a litle before the second comming of the sonne of God Briefly the great spiritual Babilon the murdresse of soules had her kingdome during this period tyrannizing the Israell of God hid and dispearced in a litle number and by her impostures blasphemies and impieties mocked the true God Father of Iesus Christ whose name auowed with the mouth shee trode vnder her feet by her abhominable errour But the Lord willing to make his worke admirable which was to ruinate Babilon to destroy the man of sin by the breath of his mouth and by the brightnesse of his comming presented himselfe in the third time and by the ministerie of people feeble and of small appearance yet driuen and drawne on with the zeale of his glory first brought in y e knowledge of tongues then the celestial truth maugre all the strengthes of the world and in
Wherefore preachest thou my Iustifications And wherefore takest thou my Testament in thy mouth c. And incōtinently shut the booke then sat he downe sheading teares and lamenting with great cry being not able to speake and all that were present wept with him Suidas addeth that hee was buried in the Towne of Tyre Euse Lib. 7. cap. 1. saith it was vnder the Emperour Gallus 255. or thereabouts and then was it betwixt the yeare 50. of his age or 69. after Nicephorus And as it may be thought he dyed in great pouertie and miserie if not in dispaire S. Ierome although he sometimes handled him rudely yet he admireth him and praiseth him because of his great knowledge in the Epistle to Pammathus and Ocean He praiseth his spirit but not his faith This should make vs walke in feare and care in our vocation Stephen borne at Rome was Bishop of Rome and the successor of Lucius The greatest paine that he had in his gouernmēt was that he opposed himselfe forcibly against S. Cyprian and all the Councell of Affricke touching the difference that then was moued to rebaptise heretikes as it is recited by Eusebius Lib. 7. ca. 2. 3. The contents of the two Decretall Epistles attributed vnto him deserue no credite The one to Hilarie Bishop and the other to all the Bishops of the Prouinces touching accusations made against Priests For it seemes not that the Romane Church was in such prosperitie then that Stephen Bishoppe thereof had no other thing to do and ordaine but with what reuerence a man must handle the Chalice and holy garments or as Isidore and Polydore witnesse of him that he was the first Inuentor of the Couerings of the Aultar Damasus attributes vnto him two ordinances in which sixe Priests fiue Deacons and sixe Bishops were ordeined and saith that after he had gouerned seuen yeares and fiue moneths he was martyred But Euseb Lib. 7. cap. 5. sheweth that hee was but two yeares in his office S. Cyprian writ vnto him certaine Epistles which are in his workes Denis Bishop of Alexandria excellent in doctrine although he suffered not martyrdome but watched in the midst of the Church therfore God preserued him from Martyrdom as Niceph. speaketh Li. 15. ca. 28. Notwithstanding he endured terrible afflictions diuers banishments in two violent persecutions vnder Decius and after vnder Valerian He died very olde and it hapned at what time the two Councells were held against Paul Samosaten An. 12. of Gallien and of Christ 288. hauing gouerned the state of Alexandria 16. yeares and the Church 17. About this time many Nations cast themselues vpon the marches of the Romanes The Countrey of Denmarke was taken out of their hands Likewise the Almaines came euē to Rauenna putting all to fire and blood This was the first waining and decreasing of the Romaine Empire For the Countrey was neuer after recouered Egipt reuolted France was lost Macedonia Pontus Asia wasted by the Gothes Pannonia by the Sarmates Zenobia Queene of the Persians ruled in the East To vnderstand all this diminution and fall of this Empire See Trebellio Pollia a Romane Historiographer Phillip Bishop of Alexandria martyred and his daughter Eugenia at Rome The great Temple of Diana in Ephesus was pilled and burnt by the Gothes A second Cerinthus hereticke promised in the kingdome to come great store of meates and women and that after a thousand yeares should bee the resurrection and the kingdome of Christ should be on earth Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name succeeded Stephen he was of Athens He was ordeined Bishop of Rome by the election of the Cleargie comming from Spaine where he was preaching There are attributed vnto him two Decretals the one to Gayus Bishop the other to the brothers of Spaine the which containe nothing but the forme of the common gouernment which they make vs beleeue was thē Item touching the vowes of Priests But we may easily see that all is forged at pleasure Damasus after his maner reciteth that hee made orders twise ordeining Priests Deacons and Bishops Bergomensis Sabellicus recite that Xistus trauelled much to take away the heresies of the Sabellians Cerinthians and Nepotians Finally that he was accused by them before Gallien and vpon his commaundement beheaded and with him 6. Deacons S. Ambrose in his Offices li. 1. cap. 41. reciteth that as he wēt to death it is said that one Laurence a Deacon spoke to him in this sort Father wilt thou goe without thy sonne And Xistus answered him My sonne I shall not leaue thee There are greacombattes for the Faith prepared for thee thou shalt follow me three dayes after In the meane while if thou hast any thing in thy treasure distribute it to the poore This Laurence was the chiefe of the seuen Deacons of the Church of Rome which had the handling of the goods deputed for almes The Gouernour of Rome being hungry of siluer and perswaded that the Church had gold siluer moueables as Candlesticks Chalices and such like things would needs haue forced Laurence to haue tolde him where those treasures were Laurence to do this hauing taken the terme of three dayes distributed it all to the poore whatsoeuer he had Then hauing gathered together on an heape all the poore lame and diseased which were maintained of almes At the day assigned hee prayed the Gouernour to goe with him to that place and shewing him al those poore and diseased people he said Behold the vessels of siluer yea the Talents in order receiue them and thou shalt adorne the Citie of Rome and enrich the Reuenewe of the Emperour and thine owne The Gouernour seeing himselfe mocked commaunded hee should be stretched on an Iron grate red hotte and soone after the tormentors laid him on it who with great courage endured that cruell and long torment and finally prayed and inuocated the Lord and so yeelded his happie soule Prudencius a Christian Poet in his booke of Crownes describeth this martirdome Denis succeeded Xistus and as Damasus saith of a Monke was made Bishop But it appeareth rather by that which Eusebius Lib. 7. Ca. 7. and S. Hierome say that he was a Priest of the Church of Rome the yeare of our Lord 266. and the 10. yeare of Gallien Two Decretall Epistles are attributed vnto him In the first he exhorteth Vrbain to follow the true Religion The second distributeth and makes partitions of Churches into Parishes and Diocesses Item that two seuerall times he held orders But Eusebius saith Lib. 7. Cap. 30. that Denis died without martyrdome hauing gouerned 9. yeares Others say sixe yeares and sixe moneths The Councell of Antioche against Paul Samosetaine was celebrated in his time wherein the said Paul was condemned and cast out of the communion of the vniuersall Church and Donus a man accomplished with vertues was ordeined in his place He was the sonne of Demetrian who had ruled in that Church without
of Constantine Of the writings of Damasus see Suidas and Hierome in his Epistle ad Eustochium Tome 4. makes mention of Damasus Of Virginitie saith hee read the bookes of that Pope Damasus composed in verse and prose He reuerenced the Sinode of Nice and condemned Auxentius Bishop of Millan an Arrian Theodor. lib. 4. chap. 30. saith that with S. Ambrose hee fought strongly against the Arrian heretikes expresly condemning Sabellius Arrius Eunomius the Macedonians Photin Marcellius and the heresie of Apollinaris Hierome writeth vnto him often and in his Apologie against Iouinian he calleth Damasus a singular man well instructed in the scriptures and Doctor of the Virgin Church Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike calleth Damasus his deare companion praysing his diligence that hee assembled a Sinode at Rome against the Arrians He was charged to haue committed whoordome whereof beeing accused by two of his Deacons namely Concordius and Calitxtus hee defended his cause in a full assembly of Bishoppes and was absolued and his accusers proscripted Sabelli Enu 7. Lib. 9. There were many vertuous Monkes in this time as Paulus Pior Isidorus Apsius Pierius Enagrius Ammonius c. Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 10. One of the Monkes said that the Monke which laboured with his hands was like a theefe Some were cruelly slaine by Valens because they would not goe to warre Anthonie of the age of an hundreth and fiue yeares died at this time Hee sawe in a Dreame as it were swine which destroyed and plucked downe Aultars with their feete and when he awaked hee said that the Church should bee once dissipated and wasted by whoremongers adulterers and men disguised P. Melancton noteth this Prophesie against the whoordome and voluptuos life of Priests and Monkes Amongst other heretickes at this time there was Photinus Hebionite Ennomius an Arrian and Priscilian a Bishop in Spaine who cōfounded the persons in the Trinitie They which they called Donatists said that Christ is lesse then the Father and the holy Ghost lesse then the Sonne and rebaptized the Catholiques The Luciferians and Apollinaries said that Christ receiued an humane body without a reasonable soule The diuinity supplying the place thereof Athalarike King of the Gothes persecuted greatly the Catholiques against his owne people The Burgonions gathered themselues together in number 80000. towards Rhene which afterward receiued the faith Paul Diac. In the Towne of Arras in the Countie of Artois the 4. yeare of Valentinian fell wooll from Heauen with the rayne Hierome in his Chronicle Paul Diac. and Orosius Lib. 7. Herman Gigas saith that it was in the third yeare of Valentinian For Lana some Historiographers haue set downe Manna wherefore yet at this day they of Arras vnluckily do worship it for the Manna of Heauen The Hungarians cast themselues vpon the West Countrie in great numbers The Arrians made burne and drowne many faithfull and Catholique people Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 2. The Huns cast themselues vpon the westerne parts and draue away the Gothes which were cōstrained to giue place and passe beyond Danubia and came into Thrace and from thence into Pannonie Vulphilas a Bishop of the Gothes in Sarmathia translated the Bible into the Gothike tongue for the vse of his people As Ierome did into the Dalmatike for his people And in Creatia which is in the lower Pannonie the Churches there and the Bishops vsed the scriptures translated into their vulgar tongue Auxentius an Arrian Bishop deceasing at Milan there fell a great sedition betwixt the Arrians the Catholiques for the electiō of their Bishop The Proconsul his deputie then was Ambrose a Citizen of Rome who hearing such a noise by reason of his office went hastily to the Church where the people were assembled and after he had made many reasons to reduce the people to concord suddenly rose there vp a common and an agreeing voyce that Ambrose must needs be baptized who was yet a Catechumene and after be consecrated Bishop whervnto he would not consent but by the commaundement of the Emperour Valentinian who incited him therevnto hee accepted the office And then the Emperour gaue thankes to God that hee had called this person from the gouernment of the body to the gouernment of soules Councells held at this time 1. In Aquilege where S. Ambrose assisted against Palladius and Secondianus Arrians 2. In Valentia in Dalphine wherein it was ordained that Bigami might not be consecrated 3. In Laodicea whereof is before spoken c. 4. At Rome against Apollinaris Hist Trip. lib. 9 chap. 16. Valentinian of the age of 55. yeares died of a flux of bloud of a veyne breaking He raigned 17. yeares 6. with Gratian and 11. after his body was carried to be buried at Constantinople S. Aurel. Vict. and Pomp. Before his death he againe declared his sonne Graiian Emperour Procopius the Tyrant vanquished by Valens was taken and hauing his two feete bound vnto two trees and let goe they tore him in peeces Naucle Valens gaue a blowe vnto the Gouernour of the Towne of Edesse in Mesapotamia because hee had not chased away the Christians which daily assembled in ths Temple of S. Thomas It grieued him to put the Emperours commaundement in execution and to cause such a multitude to die wherefore he secretly sent thē word that they would assemble no more there But leauing his counsell and searing nothing the Emperours Edict the next morning all assembled in the said place as they accustomed to doo So then as the Prouost of the Towne with a great company of souldiers went to the said Temple to put in execution Valens his commaund hee encountred a woman who ranne with a litle childe of hers to the assembly of the faithfull to whom he said Whether runnest thou Thither said she whether all others haste to goe How said hee hast thou not heard that the Prouost goeth thither to sley all he findes there I vnderstand it said she and therfore do I make so much haste to be with them And whither leadest thou that litle childe That he may also receiue the Crowne of Martyrdome quoth she When the said Prouost vnderstood these things and the courage of the Christians which ran thither he returned towards the Emperor Valens shewed him this storie how they were ready to endure death for their faith that he thought it very vnreasonable to sley so great a multitude of people Vpon these words Valens moderated his anger Socrat lib. 1. cap. 18. Theo. lib. 4. cap. 17. Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 18. Affrates a very olde Monke departed from Antioch being sent into exile Valens seeing him from his Pallace said to him whither goest thou I goe said he to pray for thine Empire Thou shouldest haue done that in thy house said Valens Yea answered Affrates if thou wouldest permit it and so did I when Christs sheepe were in peace Valens in the end fought vnluckily against