sixtie yeares hath made vs againe see all the maruells of the worlds passed in the gouernment of his Church as well in the efficacie of his word as in the vertue thereof to maintaine it to fortifie his seruants against all sorts of enemies within and without and to represse tyrants Apostates heretikes and hipocrites which we hope he will pursue more and more and we pray him to do it for the loue of Iesus Christ his sonne vntill that great Sauiour appeare in the cloudes to iudge the qucke and the dead Amen FINIS A Table of the principall things contained in this booke A. ABbey of S. Denis in France builded by Dagobert 190 Absimarus Emperor 206 Abbreuiataries created 465. destroyed 487 Acarius an heretike murdred 69 Acephali heretikes 82 Acolites 91 Achaia and other Countries brought into Prouinces 73 Acchio D. of Millain from whose helme fell the serpent 114 Adamites heretikes in Bohemia 81 Adiaphores 130 Adrian the Emperour chaunged the name of Ierusalem 34 Adrian the 4. angry because the Emp. held his right stirrop 130 Angry because hee placed his name before the Popes 136 He is choaked with a flie 140 Albertus Alasco 145 Aluaes tyrannie 636 His death 641 Amais banished Scotland 643 A Priest dieth for feare 641 A notable act of the Seignory of Venice 653 Antwerpe yeeldeth 655 Augusta 659 Augustus D. of Sax. dieth 657 A Fleet for Lisbon 671 A Iubiley 677 An act against the P. Bulls 677 Albertus made Generall 692 He winneth Callais 693 Articles concerning controuersies in religion 703 Aemilian Emp. 65 Ayme D. of Sauoy became an hermit 89 Albarit Marquesse of Toscane chaseth away the Sarrasins 55 Alban martyred 49 Appellation of the Masse 141 Albert first author of the Carmes 106 Adrian Pope a buggerer yet worshipped as God 36 His death Ibid. Aeliâ—s Pertinax 45 Alexander Seuerus Emp. 53 Albigeois or Albiois opposing themselues against Transubstantiation are ouercome 112 Albinus first K. of Lombard is slaine 67 Alcoran of the Mahomatists 190 Alcibiades Martyr of a scrupulous life 42 Almaine followed the fashion of the Romane Masse 94 Almaine changed by ciuil war 91 Alexander Bishop 13 Alexander ordaineth new ceremonies 36 Alexander martyred 42 Alex. Bishop of Ierusalem 58 Alex. 3. sent vnto the SouldaÌ„ the Image of the Emp. Barbarossa 103 He fled in his cookes attire 109 Hee treadeth vpon the necke of Fredericke Barbarossa 117 Alexander 5. poysoned 122 Alexander 6. poysoned 129 Ambrose beeing sicke receiueth the Eucharist 73 Anacletus 28. Martyr 29 Auicetus Pope 28. Martired Ibid Antonius Pius Emp. 37 Amurathes Emp. of the Turkes 452 Anastatius commandeth to worship a quaternitie 145 Anastatius the Emp. dieth with lightning 99 Annates imposed vpoÌ„ FraÌ„ce 451 Confirmed 460 Antichrist in his ful tiranny persecuteth the faithfull after the yeare 130. according to Sybilla Erithred and makes warre vpon himselfe 153 Anthonius his cohaeritikes 96 Anthonius Bishop of Nicomedia Martyred 73 Anthropomorphits 268 Antinous 36 Antioche shaketh treÌ„bleth 91 Sinketh in an Earthquake 100 Taken by Boemundus the Norman 111 Antiphones and the Introite of the Masse 145 Apollonius beheaded 44 Apostles gouerne Churches 11 False Apostles Ibid. Apostles their charge 9 A fabulous apparition of S. Michaell 61 Arabici heretikes 19 Arcadius and other martired by Genseric 83 Archilaus Herods successor 31 Archpriests and Cardinalls 54 Arrius his adherents excommunicated 103 Could not bee revnited with Alexander 105 Purgeth himselfe by oathes Armacan publisheth conclusions against the Friars 116 Armenia againe receiueth the faith 70 Arnoldus de noua villa a true and faithfull man 399 Arnold Brira opposeth himselfe against the Cleargie vsurping the temporall sword 329 Arnulphus Bishop of Lyons slain 322 Arrius Antonius persecuteth the Christians 33 Articles of the doctrine of the Valdois 339. Of the Bohe. Ibid. Artois erected vnto an Earldome or Countie 227 Asia looseth 13. Townes by earthquake 6 Asia the lesse hath flourishing Churches 8. Persecuted 49 Attyla spoyseth Aquileia and all Italy 153. Taketh Rome 224 Besiegeth Orleance 227. Is discomfited by Meronee 244 Aug. S. dieth 151 Athanasius 109 Aubriot accused of heresie is coÌ„demned to perpetual prison with bread and water 128 Augustines drawne from their Hermitages to preach in good Townes 367 AuignoÌ„ the seat for the Romane Court. 394 Auriflame the French standerd 343 Ausbourge deliuered from the Barbarians 72 Augustus Caesar 1 Aurelian Emp 64. His death 70 B BAbilon hath a Church 10 Battaile of Lepante 602 Baiazeth 4 Emp. of the Turkes slew his brother Soliman 486 Baia. is put in an Iron cage 447 Baiazeth giueth 200000. Ducats to Pope Alexander the 6. to poison GemeÌ„ his brother 451 Basilides heretikes 26 Bauier conquered 223 Beda the Venerable 118 Bellisarius makes Affrica tributary 123 Beneuent giuen to the Pope 326 Bennet the yonger cast into a fornace 190 BereÌ„garius smothered the truth vnder certaine errours 294 He speakes against himselfe Ibid. Benet 1. Pope 176 Beginning of leaden seales 200 Baron 366 Berillus heretike 33 Barnard Monke poisoned H. the 7. 223 Bishop and Priest all one 14 Bishops married 68 Bishop of Rome made vniuersall 92 Bishoppe ought to bee conuinced by 12. witnesses before hee be condemned 129 Bishops make of a Councel a conuenticle and a monopoly 248 Blasphemy new of the Popes keies 313 Blondus the Historiographer 300 Boheme tamed by Charlemaine 156 Is erected into a kingdome 302 Brought into the obedience of Otho 307 Bohemians communicate vnder both kindes 315 Make no account of the Pope â—19 Withdraw from subiection 334 They propound 4. articles in the Councell of Basill 351 Boniface Pope 116 Boniface an English man preacheth in Frise and is there Martyred 221 Burgraues 366 Bruno the first Chartreux with Hugh Bishoppe of Grenoble 307 Bulgaria made subiect to the Romane Church 221 Bull of gold 249 Bull of the Stigmates of S. Frances 110 Bullist and Friars minors doo striue for the gouernment of the Nuns 226 Burchardus compileth the auntient Canons 121 Bells in vse 30 Bell tolls at noone-tide 461 C CAligula afflicteth the Iewes 6 Calyphe the great comparable to the Pope 366 Hee dieth of famine in the midst of his great riches 371 Caluin 579 Charlemaine first called Treschristian 226 Canons obserued by the commandement of Caelestine 153 Canonization of Saints 346 Cardinalls name now in vse 282 Cardinalls alone to weare redde hats 468 Cardinalls named as principalls of the Cleargie 54 Cardinalls exalted against heretikes 58 Carmes called the bretheren of the Virgin Mary 378 Carpocrates heretike 35 Carus Emperor died being stricken with lightning 62 Cataphryges heretikes 35 Catechumenes 101.43 Cathares heretikes called Nouatians 101 Chapplers inuented 362 Cassimere 627 Carmelites 341 Conrade Emp. 263 Celsus heretike 35 Caelestinus Pope 150 Cerdon a stoicke heretike 38 Ceremonies inuented 52.180 Cerinthus heretike 40 Caesar Valentine Alex. the 6. his bastard 482 Chaldeans afflict the Iewes 76 Chanons regular or irregular instituted 307 Calixtus Bishop of Rome 52 Carus Emp. 74
Caius Emp. of Rome 75 Caracalla Emp. 51. slaine 161 Charles K. of Naples sleyeth his sister Iane at the Popes instigation 397 Chartreux order founded 370 Castle of S. Angeto builded Chiliastes renued 67 Chorepiscopi particular Bishops 91 Christian libertie 19 Church of Antioche in great fame 16 Church in Babylon 10 In Affrike troubled by Gensericus 78 Romaine declared principall 111 Church called Sancta SanctoruÌ„ builded 63 Churches flourishing in Asia the lesse gouerned by the Apostles 8 Churches orientall communicated but once a yeare 227 Churches orientall and occidentall appeased 244 Church of Aquilegia reduced 89 Christians persecuted the first time by Nero. 19 The second vnder Domitian 27 The third vnder Traian 28 The 4. vnder M. Aurelius 40 The 5. vnder Seuerus 41 The 6. vnder Iulius Max. 55 The 7. vnder Decius 58 The 8. vnder Galius 60 The 9. vnder Aurelian 70 The 10. and most cruell vnder Dioclesian 76 Christ exerciseth his ministerie suffereth his passion 6 Cleargie Clarkes and their signification 90 The Cleargie augmented 112 Cleargie Romane vsurpeth the election of the Pope 149 The temporall sword 201 They wil haue no reformatioÌ„ 232 Except from common collectors 241 Clarkes enioy immunities 39 That they ought to meddle with secular affaires 160 Clouis baptised and his Nobles 108 Collation of Benefices 209 Colledge of faire women 194 Comet seene three moneths together 397 Commodus strangled 45 CoÌ„municants take the wine and bread in their hands 238 Councell at Ierusalem 192 Councells touching Easter 162 Clerus Bishop 26 Clement the first 27 Claudius Emp. 69 Councells of Philadelphia 56 At Antioche 68 At Nice 96 Councels prouinciall euery yeare 98 Councell Affrican 107 Councell of Carthage 109 Ephesus 112 Of Chalcedon 120 Of Orleance 132 At Tara in Spaine 136 Tolledo 141 Constantinople 155 Councell at Auuergne 161 At Orleance 171 At Lyons 177 Paris 197 Ciuill 200 Tolledo 222 Councells the foure generall to be kept as the Gospell 223 Councell at Rome 128 Councels cannot prescribe lawes to the Romane Church but from thence hath her vertues and perfections 243 Cornelius B. of Rome 60 Councell at Reius 335 At Tours 33. Lateran 349 Councell in France against the K. thereof 359 Councell generall at Vienna 371 Councel National in FraceÌ„ 430 Councel general at Vienna 444 At Parpignan 445 At Pise 459 At Constance 460 Cardinall Albert. 641 Christian Churches of Constantinople 650 Charles Borgia 642 Clement 8. Pope 679 He maketh warre vpon Caesar Est 760 Confession taken away by Nectarius 92 Confession annicular instituted 346 Conon Pope 88 Conrade 1. of that name Emperour 250 Conrade the second 261 Conrade the third 272 Conrade a Merchant of Milain disposeth the Sect of the Fratriceilli 384 Conrade the lawfull K. of Sicilia beheaded by the Popes councell 409 Consecration of water mingled with wine 98 Constance sister of William King of Sicily a Nun was dispended with for marrying 335 ConstaÌ„tius Emp. an heretike 226 Constance pilleth Rome 161 Constance Emp. abiureth his heresie Ibid. Constance slaine at the Bathe 20 Comodus Emp. 44. His death 45 Count or Earle 366 Constantine the great Emperor desired to be baptised in Iordan 83 Hee caused a Tabernacle to bee carried in warre 87. He burneth the libell of the Bishops 92 By his humillitie he raiseth vp the pride of the Popes against his successors 31 Constant the 4. Emp. 198 Constant the 5 Emp. 215. He commanded Images to be cast out of Churches Constant 6. Emp. 222 Constant Pope 2. of that name hath his eyes put out 220 Constant Paleologne the last Emperor of Constantinople 421. murdered at the taking therof CostaÌ„tinople builded in the midst of Byzantium 89 Is fired 112. Is besieged 3. yeares of the Sarazins and ArabiaÌ„s recouered by the Grecians 211. Besieged of Baiazeth 222. is taken Cosroes K. of Persia destroyeth Syria 185. He would abolish Christianitie Ibid. He is ouercome by Heraclius Coronation of Clement the fift troubled with the deathes of many 2018 Cresselius punished for his ambition 334 Croisades take their beginning 299 Crueltie of Pope Pius the fourth 300 Cyrus reedifieth the Temple 4 Custome vpon wine and salte in France 112 Cyprian S. his death 64 D DAgobert instituted a Colledge of faire women 194 Damasus 2. of that name Pope 2â—5 Denmarke with his K. conuerted to the faith 121 Danes and Normans do returne into France 156 Darfosa martyred 89 Darius Histaspes endeth the Temple 12 Dauphin sold to the K. of Fr. 129 Decadence and fall of the Pope 259 Decretalls froÌ„ whence forged 60 Decretalls examined 61 Decretalls gathered together by Raymond the Monke 352 Decretalls attributed to Lucius 71 Degrees Ecclesiasticall 59 Denis Bishop of Alexandria his death 119 Denis B. of Rome and his Decretalls 68 Denis a Romane Abbot made the great paschall Cicle 173 Denis the woman of great Constantine martyred 116 Deus Dedit or Dorithe Pope 186 Deacon and his signification 14 Didier last K. of Lombards 221 Dydius Iulius Emp. 45 Dydinus a blind man a famous Regent in the Schoole of Alexandria 244 Digna a noble matron in Aquilea cast her selfe headlong into the water 153 Dioclesian caused his feet to bee kissed 76 Dioclesia Max. depose themselues of the Empire 78 D. Saunders 642 Duke Alanson 640 His death 645 Duke of Guise slaine 666 Death of the L. Russell 658 Death of the Q. of Scots 659 Dissention in religion 682 Duke of Parma dieth 680 Death of Sixtus the 5. 674 D. de Maine 676 Death of Ch. Burbon 673 D. of Neuers 685 Dissention amongst the Protestant Princes 627 Death of Amurathe 690 D. Lopez executed 688 Dioclesian dyeth in a rage 79 Diuision of the kingdome of Iudea 3 Diuorce permitted for the long sicknesse of a woman 257 Doctrine Euangelicall receiued at Valence in Dauphine 177 Domitian Emperour 26 Domitian slaine 37 Domitius Nero. 28 Donation of Constantine 89.405 Death of the Duke of Guise 577 Decius Emperour 58 His death 59 Diaconesses 92 Deodatus Pope 199 E EAster ordained on the Sonday 39 To be celebrated in one day in all places Ibid. Ebion an heretike 18 Edmond the last King of the Easterne English men slaine by the Danes 271 Edward the 3. King of England elected Emperour 411 Election of the Pope giuen to Charlemaine 253 Giuen to the people and Cleargy of Rome 256 Vsurped by them the Ro. people 271 To the Popes Elders 5 Election of the Emperours giuen to the Germaine Nation 277 Emperour kisseth the Popes feet 219 Empire Westerne endeth 153 Empire Romane decayeth 141.187 Empire of Constantinople transferred into France 218 Empire diuided betwixt two Emperours 79 Empire of the West diuided 262 Empire in discord 303 England first keepeth the Lent fast 194 Euensong of Sicily 362 Estate of France 619.623 Estates of the lowe Countries 620 Estates of Almaine 692 Euangelists which 14 Euaristus martyred 74 Eucharist called oblation 37 Giuen into the hand of the receiuer 91. carried to such as were nigh dead 80. A booke
which they chose from among the people hauing charge of things which belonged to the Temple to Iustice and the gouernment of the Church When Iesus had chased from the Temple the buyers and sellers the next morning the high Priests and Elders of the people came to him asking by what authoritie he did those things Math. 21. About the 20. yeare of Christ and the fift of Tiberius as Eusebius saith in his Chronicle thirteene Townes of Asia were ouerthrowne by an Earthquake namely Ephesus Sardis Mesthenes Megechiere Cesarea Magnesia Philadelphia Hincel Tenus Cume Mirthina Apollonia Diahyrcania Such iudgements of God ought to serue for aduertisements and instructions vnto vs. Our Lord Iesus Christ exercised his Ministerie and office the space of three yeares three moneths and tenne dayes and the beginning is taken from his thirtieth yeare because in S. Luke it is said that Iesus began to be about thirtie yeares of age He suffered death and passion the yeare 34. according to the supputation of many authors Caius Caligula was an horrible Monster who by his wicked life despited heauen and earth vttering his furie through all the iurisdictions of the Romane Empire and by his Edicts would needs make himselfe a God But finally he was taken with a straunge death Iosephus maketh a singular recitall thereof in the 1. Chapter of the 20. booke of Antiquities Chareas Sabinus Aquila and others which of long time had conspired his death slew him cruelly after he had raigned three yeares tenne monethes and eight dayes His body as Suetonius rehearseth was secretly carried to the Gardens of Lamius and being halfe burnt was couered with a litle earth He was of the age of 24. yeares Such a Tirant who had prouoked both God and men against him could no otherwise end his daies Caligula banished Herod the Tetrarch who went to Rome at the perswasion of Herodias the yeare 40. into the Towne of Lions in Gaul where he died in pouertie with the said Herodias his harlot The same yeare the Iewes endured great afflictions One was at Alexandria vpon this occasion Caligula had ordained that through all the Iurisdiction of the Romanes there should be builded vnto him Temples and Aultars where they should worship him as God The Iewes alone resisted his impietie Then were there many Grecians in Alexandria who wished death vnto the Iewes therefore then they tooke occasion to make them odious vnto the Emperour except they obeyed his ordinance When it came to proofe the Iewes resisted it strongly and the sedition about it was such that many were slaine on both sides The cause was finally debated at Rome and Caligula a peruerse man made chase away Philo the Iewe who pleaded the Iewes cause Who then said It behooueth vs whom the Emperour hateth to take courage For it is necessarie that God should helpe when humane succours faileth Caligula vsed to say Would to God the Romane people had but one Head The Iewes also were greatly afflicted in Babilon of the Chaldeans and in Seleucia of Siria There were two brethren Iewes of base condition the one named Asniens and the other Anileus the which being Robbers and Theeues they gathered together a great number of Rake-hells and disordered persons Artanabus seeing this euill encrease thought good to remedie it But it was too late And finally mooued with the prowesse of these two yoong men receiued them into amitie and gaue them the gouernment of the Kingdome of Babilon See Ioseph in the 18. Booke and last Chapter Iesus Christ ascended visibly into Heauen to confirme his Resurrection the better and the glorie of his Kingdome 40. dayes after his Resurrection His Disciples yet dreamed of an earthly kingdome of Messias asked of him if he would not begin it But Iesus Christ after he had spoken of the eternall Kingdome and had blessed them was lifted vp aloft and a bright Cloude receiued him into Heauen where he sitteth at the right hand and power of God Now then we must consider what aduancements and encrease the Primitiue Church made by the Apostles and their Disciples that all the faithfull may know that Iesus Christ the King of glory remaineth not Idle in Heauen but by an admirable manner maintained gouerneth and aydeth his that his Gospell may be sowne through the world But as God shewed that honour to the Land of Canaan as to giue it the promises touching the Redeemer so there also by his death he obtained saluation vnto mankinde Aboue all Countries Asia the lesse had at that time the most flourishing Churches After the Ascention of Christ there was an excellent Church in Ierusalem In the first of the Acts it is recited that there were about sixe score persons at the beginning The holy scripture calleth Churches the publicke assemblies of many faithfull Tenne dayes after the Ascension was the Feast of Pentecost The Lord Iesus then raigning in Heauen at the right hand of his Father powred visibly and sensibly the holy Ghost vpon the Apostles which then were assembled at Ierusalem The word of the Lord tooke his course and the number of the faithfull by litle and litle encreased in Ierusalem by the preaching and miracles of the Apostles Behold the booke of the Acts for the first preachings and the persecutions which came after the death of our Lord. The 34. yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ and the 19. of the Kingdome of Tiberius after the death of S. Steuen the high Priests of Ierusalem stirred more and more grieuous persecutions against the Church Saul which is also Paul was chosen to persecute the faithfull for before his conuersion he burnt with false zeale espying into each house and drawing into prison all he could catch S. Ierome reciteth that S. Paul his parents dwelt in Sischal a Towne of Iuda but when the Romanes tooke the Countrie they went into Tharsis which is in Cilicia where Paul was borne His father was a Iewe of the Tribe of Beniamin and a Burgesse of Rome Act. Chap. 22. Many then were Martired others were constrained to retire themselues into Countries adiacent which occasioned the Gospell to be further spread abroad About the yeare fortie and fiue after the Natiuitie of our Lord Iesus Christ and twelue yeares after his Resurrection the third yeare of Caligula a great persecution was stirred by Herode Agrippa against the Christians wherein Iames the brother of Iohn was beheaded Peter put in prison but the Angell of the Lorde drewe them out most miraculously Soone after the Lord reuenged the death of his For it happened that this Herode went to Cesarea The cause was for that hee hadde enterprised a warre against the Tyrrians and Sidonians which they preuented by gaining the Chamberlaine Blastus and demaunding of a peace One day Herode sumptuously adorned sate downe in Throne and spake to them and the people made an acclamation as if GOD himselfe hadde spoken vnto them But Herode was incontinently strooken by the Angell
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
And as the light of the Gospell got aboue his mysts and cloudes he came to Rome in the time of Claudius the Emperour leading with him an whore called Selene or Helena which he had drawne out of the common Stewes of Tyre in Phinicia he called her the first conception of his vnderstanding and the mother of all by whom from the beginning hee had conceiued to make Angels and Arch-angels He attributed also vnto her almost all things which the holy Scripture yeeldeth vnto the eternall word of God in the creation Hee said also of himselfe that he was the soueraigne God which descended and was transfigured to correct things which had bene euill administred by the Angels And although he appeared in an humane forme yet was he not man and although men thought he suffered in Iudea yet he suffered not So promised he saluation to all them which would trust in him and in his Selene and full libertie to do whatsoeuer their appetite desired For men should be saued by his grace and not by their owne good workes For such workes were not after his nature but from his Angels which by his permission had made the world and had imposed such workes vpon men to drawe them into bondage Behold heere the doctrine of this Maister who afterward brought out the like fruite as pailliardizes adulteries thefts drunkennesse blasphemies against the true God and other the like fruites Briefly Ireneus calleth him the fountaine and father of all Heretickes in the Preface of his third booke of Heresies Of his manner of death Epiphanius accordeth not with Theodoretus Menander the Disciple of this Simon was also a Magician The yeare fortie foure as many thinke Saint Peter came to Rome and gouerned that Church twentie and fiue yeares but hardly can they shewe that he was at any time there nor at what time nor vnder what Emperour For first if Saint Peter were at Rome he came not to Rome at the time they say namely in the yeare fortie foure after the Natiuitie of our Lord Iesus and that which they say that hee ruled the Church twentie and fiue yeares hath no likelihood For it may easily be gathered from the Epistle to the Galath that hee was in Ierusalem the yeare 51. where the Apostles great Councell was held Let the yeares be numbred The yeare thirtie and fiue S. Paul was cōuerted to which adde seuenteen euen vntill that Councell and it comes to fiftie and two How could he then before seuen yeares bee at Rome If hee were there he returned soone But S. Luke then would not haue concealed it if it had beene so neither is it found in any Historie of credit that after Saint Peter was entred Rome hee left that place to returne into the Towne of Ierusalem Moreouer it is certaine he was not at Rome the yeare fiftie eight and three score And that it is so when Saint Paul was ledde thither prisoner he remained there in an hyred house two yeares Heereof Saint Luke makes no mention of Saint Peter And by the second Epistle to Timothie it may be plainely knowne that Saint Peter was not at Rome at the time that S. Pauls death was so nie For then S. Paul hauing occasion to make mention of all that was with him would not haue forgotten Saint Peter if hee hadde beene there Many wise and good men haue handled this matter at large vnto which I referre you The same yeare Herod the brother of Agrippa was made King of Calcide The yeare 45. S. Marke the Disciple of Saint Peter preached Iesus Christ in Egypt and Euodius was first ordeined Bishop of Antioche And there was Iames the brother of Iohn beheaded and Peter deliuered from prison by the Angell The yeare 46. which was about the ninth and tenth of the Kingdome of Claudius the Emperour there was a great Famine through all Greece at Rome and in other parts of the earth and this Famine was foretolde in Antioche by the Prophet Agabus Who being mooued with that hee heard say of the Churches prosperitie of Antioche departed from Ierusalem to come thither with other faithfull Dion and Eusebius make mention of this Famine At this time Helena Queene of the Adiabenians and the King Isares were accounted to serue God faithfully Iosephus speaketh amply thereof in his Antiquities Lib. 15. Chapter 2.3 and 5. The same yeare Agrippa who was called Herodes died after a straunge maner In an assembly at playes he suffered the people to call him God and therefore the Angell strooke him for that he gaue not glory vnto God and he was consumed with Lice Iosephus reciteth it at large and herevnto agreeth the holy scripture But it is worthy to be noted that when he felt the horrible pangs of death beholding his friends he said Looke vpon your God I am now constrained to chaunge my life And the necessitie imposed vpon me redargueth your lye You called me Immortall but now behold how I am drawne to death Iosephus reciteth these things more at length in his Antiquities His Kingdome was chaunged into a Prouince and Cuspins Fadus was made Gouernour of the Iewes The yeare fortie and seuen Abbarus raigned ouer the Arabians and Cassius Longinus was made Gouernour of Siria The yeare 48. Marie our Lords mother died after the common opinion of the age of fortie nine yeares Nancle See also Epiphanius Lib. 3. of heresies If we will beleeue some dreames shee was in body carried vp to Heauen but that tale is so friuolous as he that cannot see it is more then blinde Vpon such foundations Papists began by litle and litle to build the Articles of their faith namely vpon tales and dreames The Councell of Ierusalem recited in the 15. of the Acts was about this yeare and the 6. of the Kingdome of Claudius and the 14. yeare after the conuersion of S. Paul as appeareth by that which is rehearsed in the Galath 2. The same yeare during the said famine Tiberius Alexander was made Gouernour of the Iewes The yeare 49. which was the seuenth of the Emperour Claudius there was so great a sedition in Ierusalem vpon Easter day that twentie thousand men were stifled betwixt the gates as Iosephus saith but as others thirtie thousand The same yeare Cumanus was Gouernour of Iudea and Quadratus of Siria In the 50. yeare a numbring was made of the people of Rome and there were found three skore and foure hundreth thousand an hundreth three and fortie The same yeare Herod the brother of Agrippa dyed and his Kingdome was giuen to Agrippa the younger This was he that gaue audience to S. Paul Act. 25. The same yeare were seene three Sunnes which by litle and litle ioyned themselues together There was also an horrible Famine in Greece and the Iewes were chased from Rome by Claudius The yeare 52. S. Paul did that which is conteined in the 21.17 and 18. Chap. of the Acts. This yeare he came first to Corinthe where
was Bishop 12. yeares The yeare 88. Domitian by the conduction of Fuscus passed ouer Danaw and ledde his Army against Dorpaneus King of the Gothes or of the Dares The Gothes ouercame the Romanes and Fuscus was slaine and the Campe pilled or spoiled Clement a Romane the fourth Bishop of Rome ruled nine yeares He instituted notaries to write the acts of the Martirs their constancie and patience for example and perpetuall remembrance Domitian of the age of 45. yeares was slaine in his Pallace by the coniuration of his familiar friends consent of his wife He was buried without any honor all his Images cast down The Senate disanulled all his ordinances and called againe such as he had exiled S. Iohn the Euangelist from his exile of Pathmos which is an I le in the sea Egea which is betwixt Asia the great the lesse returned into Ephesus where he died of the age of an hundreth yeares or there abouts and was there buried Nerua Cocceius now olde was made the 13. Emperour and raigned one yeare 4. moneths He died at the age of 71. yeares Being Emperor he pronounced al Christians absolued whether accused or banished and called them backe Hee was wont to say that men must rather respect a mans vertue then his race or country He was by the Senate deified Now rose there many heresies in the Church after the death of the Apostles Traian a Spaniard the 13. Emperour raigned 19. yeares 6. moneths and 15. dayes Hee was greatly praised of Historiographers as a debonaire and gentle Prince yet he persecuted the Christians Vnder him was Clement martyred Foure Townes perished in Asia and two in Greece with Earthquakes The third persecution made against the Christians in the time of Traian He feared some hurt should haue come to the Romane Empire by the encrease of Religion There were each day a great number of Martyrs slaine In so much that Plinie the younger hauing then the administration of a Prouince namely Bithinia and seeing the great number of men which then dyed writ to the Emperour how each day many thousands of persons were put to death yet was there not found that they committed any fault neither did any thing against their Romane lawes but only for that they sung certaine Hymnes and Psalmes afore day to a certaine God they called Christ And finally that Adulteries Homicides Thefts and other crimes were prohibited them and did keepe themselues from such faults liuing carefully according to common Lawes Wherevnto the Emperour gaue answere and commaundement to make no more any Inquisition against Christians Yet was not thereby the occasion taken away from them which had a will to shew cruelty against Christians Timotheus a Martyr in this time Anacletus 5. Bishop of Rome borne in Greece an Athenian ruled two moneths and ten dayes We now enter into the times which were incontinent after the Apostles and take their beginning in the kingdome of Traian Anacletus ordeined that no Clarke should weare a beard and commaunded all the faithfull that were at the administration of the Lords Supper either to communicate or to be driuen out of the Temple Eusebius placeth Anacletus in the place of Cletus after Linus and after Clement immediately he makes mention of Euaristus which is the cause of the discord that is found amongst Historians in this place Anacletus ordeined that the Cleargie two times in the yeare should haue Sinodes or Congregations for the affaires of the Church In his writings amongst other things he admonisheth the people to carrie honour and reuerence to their Ministers and to support them He that speaketh euill of a Minister saith he speaketh euill of Christ and he iudgeth him to be seperate from Christ He was put to death vnder Traian Heresies at this time grieued the Church within and publicke persecutions without 1. Cerinthus the Hereticke held that Moyses lawe must bee kept alone Also that Christ was not risen againe but that hee should rise againe He made the Kingdome of Christ carnall 2. Ebion held Christ to be a pure man engendred as others And he called S. Paul the Apostle of the Lawe 3. Menander a Nigromancian c. 4. Basilides these did infinitely spread their imaginations touching the procreation of their Gods and Angels And to yeeld the more astonishment they vsed disguised and barbarous words 5. The Nicholaites would women to be common 6. Saturnin following Simon Magus said also that men might vse women indifferently as the Nicholaites Papias Bishop of Hierapolis Policarpus Bishop of Smirna Ignatius Bishop of Antioche good and Catholicke Pastors Disciples of S. Iohn the Euangelist See how God destituted not his Church of true Pastors to withstand Heretickes Euaristus the 6. Romane Bishop ruled 8. or nine yeares He ordeined that seuen Deacons should be chosen in euery Citie which should marke and keepe by the Bishop as hee preached and taught the people He appointed them also for witnesses of the word of God that none might impose that he had preached euill against the truth He ordeined that marriages should be publikely solemnized in Churches That the Church should obey his Bishop and that the Bishop should not leaue his Church during his life no more then the woman her husband There be two Epistles found of him In the first he makes that Apostolicke seate head of the Church wherevnto he wils that all doubtfull affaires should be brought yet in his second Epistle he contradicts it In Gallatia three Cities perished with an Earthquake Eusebius Euaristus was Martired the last yeare of the Empire of Traian The Pantheon of Rome burnt with lightning Lucian the Apostate and Atheist composed his dialogues vnder Traian The towne of Antioch was so shaken that euen the Mountaines nigh did shake and quake yea euen the Mount Cassius the highest in Siria the Flouds there dried vp and the earth sounded in a strange maner Tiles falling clattered in such sort and the cries of men ouerthrowne were so fearefull and with dust the obscuritie was so thick that there was neuer seene or heard speake of so straunge things The Emperour Traian was then there and likewise people of all Nations of the Romane Empire Dion writeth this horrible confusion the calamities which proceeded this Earthquake which happened at Antioch Ignacius Bishop of Antioch was led prisoner to Rome to be cast vnto beasts and so to be aspectacle vnto the people As he went from Siria to Rome and passed through the Countrie of Asia in all places where he came he preached to the people and Churches the Christian faith exhorting them to perseuer and keepe themselues from the infection of Hereticks which then began to spring in carefully keeping the doctrine receiued of the Apostles The cause was that in Antioch hauing reprehended the Idolatrie of Traian he was apprehended as
Deacons and other Ministers of the Aultar ought to bee chosen such as they can keepe themselues without marrying and that no Clarke should frequent the company of women There is attributed vnto him an Epistle written to the Bishops of Spaine and Fraunce wherein is proposed a kinde of gouernment which seemes not to agree with the time of Lucius Therein is ordeined that in all places there should be two Priests and three Deacons with a Bishop to keepe him company wheresoeuer he went as witnesses of his life As if then there had bene so great tranquilitie as a Bishop might goe take his pleasure or shewe himselfe with great companies The yeare 257. the heresie of Noetus and Sabellius after Theodoret got a passage although before it had beene debated in Affrike by Praxeas and Hermogenes They said that God the Father suffered and therefore S. Augustine saith they were called Patripassians Many Histories make mention of an horrible pestilence in the time of Gallus the infection whereof came into Aethiope and after it had consumed the Southerne people it came into the East and there laid holde on the other parts of the world so that many places were left desolate And this wound endured so long time that scant it finished before the end of tenne yeares Of this so terrible and extraordinary an euill S. Ciprian tooke an argument to make his booke Intituled Of the crueltie Emilian succeeded Gallus and Volusian after he had slaine them Hee was a man of base condition issuing from Mauritaine and was Emperour but three moneths Valerian Licinius Valerianus chosen Emperour a man of noble race excellent in knowledge and honestie an examplarie of a true Censor and Senator in all his life But in him all these vertues were defaced First for that he ioyned with him in the Empire his sonne Galien who was a monster in all abhominarion Item by the persecution that he stirred against the Christians Of all the Emperours there was not one before him which at the beginning hadde beene so soft and milde towards Christians yea familiar in so much as his Court was full of them But after he gaue himselfe to Deuines and Aegyptian Enchaunters hee was perswaded to put to death the seruants of GOD as they which hindered those wicked Enchaunters to kill poore children and to offer vppe the sonnes and daughters of theyr miserable parents A litle after hee had begunne to persecute the Christians hee went to make warre vppon the Persians and in a battaile hee was taken aliue Sapor King of the Persians vsed such crueltie towards Valerian who was of the age of seuentie yeares that when hee mounted on horsebacke hee serued himselfe with Valerians backe to get vp Eutropius Pollio Aurelius Victor Sabellicus and Laetus doo recite this and say hee vsed his age in this miserable seruitude Eusebius in the Oration which hee made heereof to the whole congregation of the faithfull saith that Sapor commaunded that Valerian should bee scorched and salted Gallienus raigned then alone and gaue himself to Idlenesse dissolution and whoordome In his time there was no place in all the Romane Iurisdiction except Italie alone wherein there were not seditions and rebellions Trebellius an Historiographer accounteth thirtie all which at one time were named Emperours some in one Region and some in others Cilicia Cappadocia and Syria were pilled and wasted by the Persians vnder Sapor The Almaines after they had tormented the Gaules entred by force into Italie The Gothes pilled Pontus Asia Macedonia and Greece See the Romane Histories Vnder his rule monstrous things came to passe horrible ouertures and Earthquakes whereof many there were which died of excessiue feare Rome was shaken Libia trembled Aurelius Victor saith that Gallien was slaine with his sonne at Millaine or with his brother Valerian as Eutropius saith They which haue set downe in writing the Romane affaires were of opinion that these mischiefes happening to the Romane Empire came by the wicked gouernment of the Princes But we thinke that the iudgement and vengeance of God prouoked by the former persecutions as well of others as of himselfe fell vpon them S. Ciprian hauing bene sent into exile vnder Valerian and Gallien by Paternus gouernour of Affrike and vnder Maximus who succeeded him in the gouernment was finally beheaded in the time of Lucius after Sabellicus Marianus Scotus saith that Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished for the confession of Christ in the persecution of Valerian and Gallien and that afterward he was permitted to return vnto his Ministerie and that finally he was beheaded and so might he be Bishop the space of three yeares and more Theodorus and Athenodorus Bishops of Pontus in this time Theodorus was after called Gregorie as Eusebius saith Lib. 6. Cap. 30. These two hearing the great renowne of the learning of Origine came to Cesaria where Origine read publikely hauing forsaken Alexandria and were perswaded by Origen to let goe their Philosophie and to apply themselues vnto the holy scriptures Basile the great said that the heresie of Sabellius was extinguished by this Gregorie the great If Nicephorus deserue credit Theodorus or Gregorie liued very long namely vnto the time of Dioclesian Yet Basile in his 62. Epistle which is to the Neocesarians writeth that hee was not very olde when he died Paul called Samosatenus of the Towne of Samosate which is in Mesopotania of Siria vpon the floud Enphrates was ordeined Bishop of Antioch after Demetrius the thirteenth yeare of Galien The Bishops which assisted the Councell of Antioch to refute his wicked doctrine and blasphemies against God and the Lord Iesus haue sufficiently witnessed of him We may not here let passe the Historie of Origines end that is that after the yeare wherein Demetrius ordeined him in the office of Catechist vntil the time he died it seemeth he trauelled fiftie two yeares and more and the most part of that time hee employed in teaching writing busie in the affaires of the Church and refuting of heresies In so much that Athanasius saith of him that hee was admirable of great labour Finally after he had constantly endured many greeuous torments he was led before an Aultar vnto which they had brought a wicked Aethiopian and there was proposed vnto him two things the one either to offer vp sacrifice vnto the Idoll or else abandon his body to the villainous Aethiopian Origen made a signe that hee had rather offer sacrifice Then they thrust a Sensor into his hand For which Impietie he was after excommunicated out of the Church of Alexandria from whence hee retyred into Iudea and being come to Ierusalem the Priests and Elders requested and after constrained him to speake in the congregation of the faithfull because he was a Priest Origen rose vp as if he should make a Sermon but hee only recited his Theame of the 50. Psalme And God said to the Preacher
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
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
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
same ceremonies which were at the burial of bodies were also in this age obserued in the translation and eleuation of holy bodies The Priests of Apollo heretofore made that Apostate Emperor Iulian as he sacrificed in Antioche nie the fountaine Daphne beleeue that the sepulchre of Babyla Martyr nigh vnto the said place was the cause that Apollo gaue no answere Iulian then cōmaunded the Christians which he called Gallileans to take away the said sepulchre then all the Church came thither young and olde virgins and mothers and with great ioy drew out and conducted the Coffer of the bones of Babila singing as high as they could Ruff. lib. 1. chap. 35. And Toch lib. 3. cap. 18. Ambrose in his 85. Epistle to his sister sheweth how this manner of taking vp and translating of the Martyrs bodies was obserued in the west Churches The Reliques saith he of a Saint beeing found either aduisedly or by chance first they are shewed the people and declared it is by some of what Martyr those reliques are after hauing laid them in order they are carried into some Temple and there vigils watches are made all night then the next day a Sermon is made of the life of that Martir See what Ambrose saith who also witnesseth if we must giue faith vnto him that miracles were done there Behold how a new deuotion transporteth not onely the common people but also the Pastors and Bishops The doings of many Painims of this time As for the Gentiles of this time and their superstitions we will heere touch one word as we passe by Certaine it is that Idolatry drew after it all kinde of wickednesse From the Gods they haue drawne out all that infection of Iupiter adulterers rauishments and stuprations of children of Venus the art of whoordome of Rhea all filthinesse of Mars murders and so of the other bodies It is then no maruell if their manner of dooings bee so straunge In Phenicia women were prostituted before Idolls Athanasius reciteth it the women before marriage being deliuered of proofe to their husbands Sozo li. 1. chap. 8. They also accustomed to chastice adultry with an other whoordome and publike constupration Socrat. lib. 5. chap. 18. The Indians had many wiues Hierom. lib. 1. contra Iouinianum The schooles of Magitians had certaine prayers for the dead whervnto they attributed so great efficacy that the powers of the ayre by them appeased let soules flye so into Heauen Arnobius Lib. 2. From hence hath Antichrist drawne the hunting of his indulgences to set vp his seate and inrich it Some Grecians on the dayes they call Pandemi that is to say Populary carried viands and wine to the Sepulchres of their dead They burnt the meate and presented the wine calling the dead by their names Rise vp cried they and eate and drinke and be merry Epipha in Ancorato And what other thing is this then the offertorie of the Masse for the quicke and the dead Many Nations had no marriage nor lawfull coniunction but rather brutall and common And what is that single life which Antichrist would bring in but a burning fire breaking into all abhominable whoordomes In those dayes men superstitiously obserued the dayes of the Moone and enterprised nothing the first day thereof Ambrose Lib. 10. Epist 83. When there was a question to know who should raigne after Valens Ianulicus and Libanius Sophisters and true supporters of Sathan writ in dust the 24. letters of the Greeke Alphabet and laid vpon euery one of them a graine of wheate and barley After they caused a Cocke to come and after the recitall of certaine charmes they let him goe to know by the Letters whereon he tooke the graines the name of the successor The Cocke tooke the graines vpon the Letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Emperour Valens after hee knew this made many to be slaine whose names began with these Letters Zonaras reciteth it They vsed violence against Christians with calumniations and slaunders The first defence of their superstition was that it had bene of long time and that their Elders had alwaies maintained it Arnol. lib. 8. against the Gentiles and so did Simmachus argue against Prudentius The second that it had alwaies bene profitable to the Romane Common-wealth and that thereby the Empire of the world had bene conquered and therefore it worshipped all the Gods which were adored in the world yea the vnknowne Gods Arnob. Lib. 8. And so argueth Maximinus in Eusebi Lib. 9. Chap. 7. The third was of the discommodities that came by leauing the Religion of the Idolls Maximinus the tyrant in his Edicts impureth all publike calamities to the chaunging of sacrifices Euseb Lib. 9. Chap. 7. 1. And contrary they calumniated the Christian Religion that it was new and that their predecessors were ignorant thereof Sozom. Lib. 1. Chap. 18. 2. That the Authors thereof were seditious and desperate persons Arnob. lib. 1. 3. That the Christians were but heapes of poore Idiots and women that vsed to slie the light and onely loued night assemblies 4. That by secret and hidde markes they loued before they knew one an other and that to couer their whoordomes they commonly called one an other brothers and sisters 5. That they are without Aultars without Temples and without Sepulchres In the said booke 8. The Papists at this day which shame not to change the truth with the same slaunders what other thing doo they else but either borrow or renew the olde Ethnikes arguments The Ethnickes also say of the Christian doctrine that which our mockers and Epicures say at this day that it is contrary to all reason For to say that God seeth and makes enquirie not onty of out affaires but also of our most secret cogitations and that he is present euery where this is not onely impertinent and euill becomming God but also it is to grieue and trouble him and to say he is curious and without rest The same Author That to say God loueth not them who willingly come vnto him but his Elect onely This say they is to doo iniurie to God and to accuse him of iniustice That Christians agree not in their doctrine This same did the Philosophers obiect in the Councell of Nice against the Fathers That the scripture is full of contradiction and therefore vncertaine Porphirius and Iulian the Apostate vsed this slaunder Socrat. 3. chap. 23. That all sorts of calamities came vpon them and that God punished them because they beleeued that man is God and after he was crucified to say hee liueth and raigneth Arnob. Lib. 1. Many Princes and Magistrates of this time opposed themselues against these Ethnike impieties And after Constantine the great and his sonne Iouinian caused to shut the Idoll Temples which Iulian had set open and forbad sacrifices Socrat. lib. 3. chap. 24. Valentinian in Europe tooke away the seruice of Idolls Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 20. He forbad that none should
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
Romane ruled at Rome 10 moneths He was humble and soft Naucler He restored at his great charges the Churches of S. Peter and S. Laurence of S. Valentin and S. Marie aux Martyrs Supp Chron. and gaue to the said Churches many Vessels of Golde and Siluer and many vestments and ornaments The election of the Pope taken from the Emperour The Emperour Constantine mooued with the Popes sanctetie ordained that the election of the Pope from thence forward made of the Cleargie and Romane people should bee stable and sure without any more attending the authoritie of the Emperour or of his Lief-tenant Exarche of Italie without whose authoritie before it was not ratified Naucl. and Supp Chron. Iohn Pope fift of that name of Antioche in Siria gouerned the Romane Church a yeare a man moderate and subiect to diseases He was consecrated as also was Leo the second by three Bishops of Ostia Portensis and Veliterus And this maner was alwaies after obserued The Bishop of Ostia as hee sung Masse put the Crowne on his head Before hee was onely ledde to the Chaire of S. Peter and beeing there set he was holden the true Pope without other ceremonie The Emperour Constantine died at Constantinople hauing raigned 17. yeares Conon Pope borne at Rome gouerned the Church of Rome one yeare Fasci temp After the death of Pope Iohn the fift there was great contention about the Popes election for the people or the Cleargie elected one called Peter Archbishoppe The Romane Gendarmie corrupted by siluer did chuse Theodorus a Priest a pernitious man After long strife betwixt these two Conon by all their agreements was confirmed He fell sicke incontinently after his election wherevpon he died Some said he would neuer occupie himselfe in secular matters Iustinian or Iustin Emperour second of that name sonne of Constantine the fourth began to raigne of the age of 16. yeares Hee gouerned himselfe so ill that after tenne yeares of his raigne hee was banished See the Sea of Histories Quilian an holy Scottishman preached in Franconia He conuerted Gosbertaine Duke of the same Countrey who kept Ceilam Sillam or Gelana his brothers wife And for that he preached that he ought to leaue her she made him secretly be slaine Fasci temp and Sigeb Beda the Venerable in this time made many bookes and wrote the liues of many Saints Abb. Trit Sergius Pope a Sirian ruled at Rome tenne yeares after Chron. Euseb a noble restorer of Churches There was a great contention and debate for the election of the Pope after the death of Conon Some had chosen Theodorus a very rich man Others Pascall Arch-deacon who had promised a great summe of money to Iohn Platina Exarche if hee were chosen Each of them maintained his election ambitiously But the Cleargie and Romane people seeing that this sedition would cause effusion of bloud tooke counsell to remedie it Wherefore they chose Sergius reiecting the two others The said Sergius was carried into the Church of Laterane and hauing broken the gates they cast out the factious and constrained Theodorus and Pascall to salute Sergius Pope and approoue his election Pascal accused and conuicted of Art Magicke was sent to a Monasterie and there died obstinate Naucler It is attributed vnto him to haue founded a good part of the holy Crosse which euery yeare they worship at Rome Nauclerus Beleeue this who list For in the time of Heraclius the Emperour it was carried to Constantinople The Church of Aquilea not wholly approouing the first after Naucler Chron. Segeb. Paul Diac. or sixt after Fasci Temp. Councell of Constantinople was reduced by Sergius In this time the Saxons yet Painims receiued the Christian Faith by the meanes of this Sergius After Suppl Chron. The yeare 688. Ebroine a French Tyrant was slaine in his bedde Theodoricke the King of Franc was buried in the Abbey of S. Vaast of Arras whereof hee was founded with his wife called in her Epitaph Doda Clouis third of that name King of France 16. raigned 14. yeares Sergius sent Vmbred to the Frisons to conuert them to the faith Rabed their Duke would not accord thereunto alleadging that it were more meete to followe many then fewe But afterward beeing vanquished in warre by Pippin Grand-maister of Fraunce the Frisons receiued the Faith beeing instructed by Willibrot Bishoppe or Clement after some The Emperour Iustinian broke his faith giuen to the Sarrasins and fought against them wherein he was not happie And after without necessitie brake the peace which his father hadde made with the Bulgarians and entered into the one and the other Misia where hee put all to fire and sword but the Bulgarians ceazed vppon the passages and straights and shut them in so well that they constrained them to doo what they would Hee beeing returned to Constantinople did so many euils to the Christians that euerie one hated him so that they conspired against him and chased him away Leontius vsurped the Empire tooke Iustinian and cut his nosthrills and sent him into exile into Pontus and raigned three yeares Some call him Leond second Emperour 68. The Sarrasins seeing such troubles among the Christians came into Affrica Childebert second of that name 17. King of France raigned 18. yeares Hee founded the Abbey of S. Albane in Angiers Lambert Bishop of Liege was reuoked from exile but because hee reprehended the adulterie of Pippin hee was cruelly slaine by Dodon brother of the Adulteresse The saide Dodon and his complices perished miserably within a yeare Hubert succeeded the Bishop of Liege The Histories of France Absimarus otherwise called Tiberius borne at Constantinople was chosen Emperour by the Souldiours for the negligence which they sawe in Leontius that no aide was sent vnto them for the guard of Affrike which they had recouered of the Sarrasins Absimarus then came from Constantinople and tooke Leontius and cut off his nose and imprisoned him in a Monasterie He raigned seuen yeares Naucler Abb. Vrsp. Iohn Pope sixt of that name a Grecian ruled at Rome 3. yeares After the maner of other Popes he was very curious to repaire Churches to adorne Aultars and redeeme captiues with the papall treasure Some write him a Martyr vnder the kings of Lombardie for defending the rights of the church Fasci temp The Venetians at this time beganne to haue a Duke to hinder quarells and disorders of such as gouerned and the enuie which the Lombards bare to their libertie but after as it were repenting themselues they caused many of their first Dukes to die Moreouer the Dukes ornaments differed not from those of a King and all the Senates Letters the publication of them were in the Dukes name yet he had not the bridle loose for a full authoritie Westfalia after some was conuerted to the faith about this time Iohn Pope 7. of that name ruled at Rome two or three yeares diligent to adorne and repaire Churches
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
France He commanded to assemble an vniuersal Councel of all the church in the Citie of Cleremont in Anuegue and made an Oration of great efficacie For straight there crossed themselues to the combat at least three hundreth thousand men all readie to goe vnto Ierusalem of the number of which there were many valiant Princes who to make mony solde their owne landes and signeories as Hughe the great the King of Fraunce his brother Robert brother of the Duke of Normandie Robert or Rambert Count of Flaunders Raimond Count of S. Giles Stephen Count of Blois Brunamon or Bayamond Prince of Pouille and Godphrey de Bullon who was the chiefe with his two brethren Eustace and Baudwin Also Ansele of Ribemont and many others He excommunicated the King of Galatia because he had put a Bishop in prison and exacted this oath of such as he would promote to orders So God helpe me and these holy Euangelists of God Hee made also certaine their statutes namely Clarkes should euery day say the houres of the Virgine Mary a verie Idolatrous thing and vnto her to dedicate the Saterday with a Masse He ordeined that no person should come into Popish orders vnles he were a virgin that is to say vnmarried whoremonger or buggerer as their acts shewed As for Priests they must needs be without wiues althogh they passed not for whordomes He forbad that Bishops should be ordeined without titles that faith shuld be kept vnto such as Popes had excommunicated He held himselfe close for the space of two yeares in the house of one Peter Leon for the feare he had of one Iohn Paien a Romane Citizen where also he died the yeare of the Lord 1099. and his body was buried secretly beyond Tiber for feare of enemies The same yeare died also Guibert which was called Clement the 3. after he had seene three Popes dead in his time Theodorus Bibliander writeth in this sort of that Hildebrand aforesaid and this Vrbane speaking to the Princes of al estates Hildebrand saith he in inciting the Emperour of Greece against the Turks sowed the seed of the war of Gog and Magog against which crieth the bloud of the Church shead with a miserable ruine and losse by the sword of his tongue O how much blood hath beene shead at the sollicitation of Vrbane the second to the end that vnder the colour of making warre to amplifie the Christian religion and recouer the sepulchre of the Lord he might be put againe in the Romane seate after hauing oppressed such as were of the faction of Guibert Fredericke Barbarossa did so the yeare of the Lord 1188. Frederic 1228. The King of France Lewis 9. who was a Saint after his death did as much the yeare 1288. Sigismond did it twise Anno. 1409. Vladislaus King of Hungarie Anno. 1420. who dyed nigh Varne And at this day what shall we iudge of such as bring the Turke into Christendome to auenge their particular iniuries This Pope Vrbane by excommunications constrained Philip King of France to take againe Berthe his first wife which he caused to be detained prisoner in the Castle of Monstrell vpon the sea and to leaue his second Bertrande who was wife of the Count de Angiou Nice in Bithinie is taken and after the Towne of Ierusalem by the Christians whereof Godfrey of Bulloine was constituted King Naucler Antioche was taken by Boemondus a Norman sonne of Robert Duke of Pouille Supp Chron. The reward that those noble Combatants and fighters for Christendome got was the carrying away of Relickes The Speare which pearced the side of Iesus Christ was found in the said Towne in the Church of Saint Andrewe Supp Chron. Robert Count of Flaunders brought away the Arme of Saint George which he sent into the Abbey of Anchin Sigeb Godfrey was the first King of Ierusalem Baudwin his brother is called the second Naucler Paschall second of that name borne of Italie called before Rainer a Monke and lately created Cardinall of the title of S. Clement by Hildebrand his maister succeeded Vrbane the second in the Papacie When this proud Squire knew hee was chosen he would not mount into the Papall seate vntill first the people had cryed thrice Saint Peter hath chosen Rainer After this beeing apparrelled in a Scarlet Roabe and a Theatre or Crowne vppon his head mounted vpon a white steed hee was ledde to the place of Laterane where the Papall Scepter was giuen him and he was girt with a Baudrier or large Girdle at which hung seuen kayes and as many seales as Ensignes or tokens of the Papall power so much did this great Antichrist and aduersary of God magnifie himselfe by which things signified that according to the graces of the holy Ghost which they distinguished into seuen he had the power to open and shut Churches By this meanes this harlot mounted on horsbacke being come vnto a perfect age in such sort encreased that she got vpō the Beast with ten hornes which she had gouerned vntil our time in great pride arrogancie as had bin foretold Apo. 13.17 This soueraigne Vicar of Sathan on earth imployed all his time in warres and seditions whilest Godfrey de Bulloine and other Christian Princes fought against the Sarrasins in Siria And to the end he might not be esteemed lesse thē Hildebrand he sought all the meanes that might serue to the greatnes of his Romane seate Hee furiously deposed from their dignities all the Bishops and Abbots which had bene ordeined by the Emperour He sent into exile one Albert Theodoricke and Maginulphe who aspired vnto the Papacie He assembled at Rome a Councell of the Bishops of Italie and France Anno. 1101. because of an opinion of a Bishop of Fluence touching Antichrist alreadie borne as Sabellicus rehearseth For seeing so many mischiefes committed in the Church he said Antichrist was alreadie manifested but he was repressed by many iniuries done vnto him He againe prohibited Ministers to marry as all his Prelate predecessors had done and called that marriage the heresie of the Nicholaits He pronounced that they were great heresies to make no account of yeelding obedience to the Roman church and to despise censures and also to receiue Inuesture of Benefices at the hand of a prophane man He renewed the statute of paying tenths to Priests that said Masse and would needes it should be a sinne against the holy Ghost to sell tenths In this Sinode he renewed the excommunication of Gregorie the seuenth and of Vrbane the second against the Emperour Henry the fourth and published it againe And which is more the rage of this cruell tyrant was so inflamed against him that he stirred the sonne of the said Emperour called Henry the fift to take armes against his Father an horrible thing to speak There was neuer inhumanitie nor cruell act if this were not The Sonne yea that onely Sonne not angred or stirred vp by any publike or particular iniurie despised not onely his Parent
be a body wounded to death sent their Embassadors to the K. desiring him to open his eyes to the teares his eares to the complaints of his poore subiects to heare the requests of his neighbours for his owne good the quietnes and honor of his faith his name and reputation The K. answered that he knew what was necessary for himselfe and his subiects that according to the cause and for their good and tranquillitie he had made and changed his ordinances as all Princes in Christendome vse to do and that for his part hauing the feare of God the loue of his subiects liuely ingrauen in his heart hee would do nothing against the honour of his conscience nor the fatherly care he had of his people With which answere they returned not well pleased This yeare Augustus Duke of Saxonie one of the Princes Electors new come from hunting suddenly died being of the age of 60. yeares and was buried at Friberge Genebrardus There died likewise at the same time Margarite of Austria the base daughter of Charles the fift and mother of Alexander Duke of Parma and Gouernour of Belgia Charles Count Palatine married Dorithie the daughter of William Duke of Brunswick at Cella D. Chytraeus On the fourth day of Iune L. Edward Earle of Rutland went Embassador into Scotland for a ratificatiō of a firme bond of peace betweene Elizabeth Queene of England Iames the sixt K. of Scots vpon certain causes necessary and important which was confirmed at Barwicke the 19. of Iune where the Embassadors of Scotland were likewise present I. Vowell The 16. of Iuly not farre from Barwick the borderers of both the Nations of England and Scotland assembled to determine for recompence of all such iniuries as each people offered to other at what time the Lord of Fernhurst Warden of the Scottish borders Iames Steward Earle of Arrane then Chauncelor and Syr 〈◊〉 Russell Knight Lord Russell and Syr I. Forster Knight Warden of their middle Marshes came with their company When the Wardens were set vpon the bench there did suddenly arise amongst the people a contention whereby followed at the first some small fray which beeing perceiued by the Lord Russell hee arose from the bench and called for his horse who meaning to appease the matter went amongst the prease at what time a certaine number of shot comming on him he was suddenly but most vniustly slaine with a peece amongst the rest discharged against him by a Scot borne about that place suspected by the most to be the Lord of Fernhursts brother The losse of which noble Gentleman being of so great a hope was much lamented and that especially for his vntimely death so iniuriously by the Earle of Arrane as the common report went procured and so suddenly performed hee in the 35. yeare of his age did bereaue the Realme of England of a goodly young person well stayed in gouernment bountiful wise and vertuous whose death happened the day before that his honourable father the Earle of Bedford departed this world I. Hooker Fourteene thousand Heluetians who were Catholickes and commaunded to appeare by the King of Nauarre went to the aide of the holy League but before they tooke their iourney they all receiued the Sacrament and swore that they did beare Armes onely for the defence of the Catholicke faith but if the king shuld be found to do any fauour to the Heluetians they promised to lay downe their weapons and returne Anth. Cicarella A Parliament was held in Nouember both for the continuing of the defence of the lowe Countries against the King of Spaine and as for the determining of the treacherous practises of the Queene of Scot shee was forthwith conueyed to Foderinghay Castle in Northampton Shire which sometimes belonged to the Dukes of Lancaster where being tried by the Nobles of the Realme shee was found guiltie and afterward beheaded She was crowned Queene of Scots when she was but 18. moneths old and after in the sixt yeare of her raigne called into France where at 15. yeares she was married to Frances the second then the Dolphin of France being 14. yeares of age with whom she liued three yeares After whose decease she returned into Scotland and was married to Henry Arlye at the age of 22. by whom she had one onely sonne Ieames the sixt now king This husband dead she was married the third time to the Earle of Bothuell who died in prison after this she liued 18. yeares in England Genebrardus Gulielmus Gonzaga Duke of Mantua departed this life whom his onely sonne Vincentius succeeded being of the age of 25. yeares Idem Syr F. Drake returned out of America came into Zeland the other fleete went towards India who tooke two ships out of S. Thomas I le and the Gouernour thereof The one of them perished the other was brought home a rich prize This yeare at Zutphen in Gilderland S. Phillip Sidney Englands Mars and Muse was shot in the thigh with a Musket whereof he died His body was conueyed into England and honourably buried in Powles I. Vowell Frederick king of Denmarke sollicited by the king of Nauarre for aide against Guise sent his Embassadors to Henry king of France who should entreate that the peace of the reformed Religion graunted before by the king and confirmed by oath might bee kept with the king of Nauarre and his followers D. Chytraeus At Augusta after the superintendent was cast out the estate of the Ministers of the Church waxed euery day worse For after that the Gregorian Calendar was receiued of them the pontificall Magistrate assured to himselfe authoritie and right of choosing and calling the Ministers of the Church which priuiledge the Elders and Gouernours of the Church had before with the Ministery held it by the authority of the Emperor who sent Commissioners to that end into the Citie But when the Ministers of the Church would not agree to them they were all commanded to depart the Citie before Sunne set and others of the same confession were called from Noriberga and other places and substituted in their places Whom when the people could not heare nor vse their seruice the pontificall Magistrate besides the garrison that was alreadie in the towne brought more souldiers thereby to terrifie them and bring them to obedience D. Chytraeus Iulius Bishop of Wurtzeburg began to vse great crueltie towards them of the confession of Augusta in his Diocesses banishing many of them and constraining them to sell their goods in so short a space that they left the third part to him William Lantsgraue of Hesse his neighbour disswaded him from this crueltie but following the example of Balthasar Abbot of Fulden who greatly persecuted his subiects vnder the praetext of Religion hee not only incurred the hatred of all men but was depriued of all titles and dignities Idem This yeare vpon the 27. of September Stephen Bathorus King of Poland Prince of Transiluania
ordained that heretikes and schismatikes should be punished with sword power and temporall Iustice And that none should bee admitted to Ecclesiasticall orders by ambition or gifts That Cleargie-men should each day say or sing the seuen Canonike houres That no Patriarke should vse this word Vniuersall but onely the Bishop of Rome That none might ordaine an Abbot vnlesse he were first chosen Canonically Hee added to the Masse the Commemoration of the dead In this time was the fourth Councell of Orleance held where it was ordained that Lent should be vniuersally kept through all Churches In the second volume The second Councell of Tours in this time In the said Councell Chap. 5. it was ordained that euery Citie should nourish his poore and straungers euery one according to his power that no poore might goe about from Towne to Towne In the third Chapter That the Bishop should holde his wife as his sister and that he should gouerne as well his house and family as his Church in such sort as there might bee no euill opinion of him In the 20. Chapter because Priests were suspected to communicate with their wiues it was there ordained that wheresoeuer they went they should haue for adiacents some of the Cleargie who might lie in theyr Chambers to witnesse their chastitie In the twentie and seuen Chapter That Iudges and rich men which oppresse the poore after they haue beene aduertised thereof by their Pastors not to do it that they should be excommunicated if they amended not The first Councell of Paris was held in this time Clotaire the seuenth King of Fraunce raigned fiue yeares and beeing pressed with necessitie hee tooke the third part of the reuenew of the Church against which the Arch-bishoppe of Tours and others opposed themselues Vppon a Friday called S. hee slewe one Gualter Diuitot a Knight in the Temple whose heire for satisfaction was exempted from all seruice and homage as free as the King Annales of France Iohn Pope the third of that name a Romane raigned 12. yeares This Pope ended the building of the Church of S. Phillip and S. Iames which Vigilius had begunne Supp Chron. Iustinian the Emperour after his falling into a phrensie finally died and his Nephew succeeded him Abb. Tri. Iustine the younger Emperour raigned 12. yeares Hee was infected with the Pelagian heresie auaritious and a contemner of God men who vpon great lust to haue more became out of his wits and so died Sophie his wife gouerned long the Empire but by her imprudencie Italie came into the hands of the Lombardes Vpon false reports shee began to hate the the Captaine Narses and said she would send that gelded marchant to spinne with her maides But Narses answered that he would spinne such a webbe as she should not vndoo all her life Abb. Vrsp A great plague in Italie Here began the raigne of the Lombardes in Italie whereof Albionus was the first King Sophorachus Bishop of Paris was sent into a Monasterie by the authoritie of a Councell at Paris Cherebert or Aribeet the eight King of France raigned 9. yeares he was much giuen to women Armenia againe receiued the faith Albinus King of the Lombards was slaine by his wife Rosimonde the daughter of Gondimanus King of Gepilles for that he made her drinke in a dish or masor made of her fathers scalpe The beginning of Exarches Longin a Grecian the first Exarche in Italia after all Italie as it were was occupied raigned in Rauenna a 11. yeares appointed by the Emperour Iustin This office of Exarchate endured in Italie 124. yeares and was a soueraigne Magistrate as a Liefe-tenant Generall for the Emperour Chilperic the ninth King of Fraunce raigned foure yeares Hee was slaine by his owne wife called Fredegonde as he returned from hunting because hee had perceiued her whoredome Hee before had strangled his wife Galfonde the daughter of the King of Spaine at the request of the said Fredegonde See the Annales of France Benet Pope the first of that name a Romane ruled at Rome foure yeares He helped the necessitie of many in the great famine aforesaid especially at Rome yea euen to bring victualls from Egipt for the poore Gregorie was sent by him to preach to the English men Abb. Vrsperg The Lombards tooke and occupied all Italie at the instigation of Narses whom the Empresse Sophie had angred as is said and they entred Millain Aman Bishop of Vtrect or of Liege and Maglorius Bishop of Dole were in this time Abb. Vrsp. Fortunatus an Italian after Bishop of Poiters made 77. Hymnes and the miracles of S. Martin Also hee made the life of S. Hilarie Bishop of Poiters and the life of S. Mauril Bishop When Bishops are thus giuen to superstition what will the people bee S. Vaast of Arras died in this time Tiberius the second Emperour of that name surnamed Constantine raigned 7. yeares Hee was gentle and liberall towards the poore euen to lay out largely the treasures of the Empire for their vse Engippius an Abbot writ the life of S. Seuerin a Monke and a rule for his Monkes Abb. Trit Sigebert King of Lorraine the brother of Chilperike King of France was traiterously slaine at Tornay at the sollicitation of Fredegonde The sea of Histories Pelagius Pope second of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 10. yeares He was elected and ordained about the commaundement of the Emperour at the time when the Lombards held the siege before Rome But when the siege was leuied Gregorie a Deacon who after succeeded Pelagius was sent to Constantinople towards the Emperour Maurice to excuse the Popes election and the Emperour seeing the willingnesse he had to come vnto him contented himselfe This Pelagius ordained that in all the Masses of the yeare there should be but nine Prefaces after the auncient order of the Romanes that is to say Easter Christmas of the Kings Pentecost of the Trinitie of the Ascention of the Apostles of S. Crosse and of Lent Fast Yet this is nothing in respect of the abhominations which by succession of time came into the Masse In this time there was great Raines in so much that men thought there would haue bene a second deluge Great strifes and contentions arose for the Romane seate against Iohn Bishop of Constantinople Pelagius transported the Patriarkship of Aquilea vnto Grad and constituted it the Metrapolitane of all the Prouince of Venice which the Emperour Tiberius confirmed Mauricius Emperor raigned 21. yeares He was sonne in lawe to Tiberius Cappidocian a magnanimous man a good Catholique and profitable to the Common-wealth He made warre vpon the Armenians and Persians and ouercame them The Huns also were brought vnder him Supp Chro. Clotaire the second of that name the 6. King of France raigned 44 yeares At this time Antioche was founded and subuerted for the most part The Councell of Siuille and at Toledo the 3. time In this Councell
it was ordained in the 2. Chapter that in Churches the Apostles Creed should be recited euery Sunday with an high voyce that the people might be better disposed to the Cōmunion after they had made a confession of their faith The Visegothes conuerted to the Catholique faith left the Arrian heresie by the means of their king Recaredus or Richandus and Leander Bishop of Siuile The confession of their faith was sent to the said Councell of Toledo The Councell of Mascon first and second wherein the oblations and offerings of bread and wine are commaunded for remission of sinnes This ordinance is wholly against the word of God and the merite of Iesus Christ by whom alone comes remission of sinnes And this is the beginning of the establishment of merites Great abundance of waters were in Italie and principally at Rome wherewith many were drowned and of the corruption of the dead bodies came a great pestilence Pelagius died of the plague at Rome Pretextatus Bishop of Rouan was called from exile Fredegonde was slaine in the Church on Easter day at the sollicitation of whom this Bishop was exiled Gregorie Pope first of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 14. yeares or after some 13. yeares tenne moneths and sixe dayes This man was called one of the foure Doctors of the Church with S. Augustine S. Hierome and S. Ambrose His Father was a Senator of Rome and of the estate of Seneshall or Captaine The said Gregorie was a Monke after a Deacon and finally the Romane Bishop In this time the Emperors cōfirmed the election of Popes and Churches There arose in this time a great contention for the premacie of the Church For Iohn Bishop of Constantinople was in a full Sinode of the Grecians published and declared the vniuersall Patriarke and the Emperour Maurice commaunded the said Gregorie to obey that Patriarke of Constantinople But Gregorie could not endure that any Bishoppe should be vniuersall ouer all others whervpon it came that he called himselfe Seruant of the Seruants of God See Gregorie in the 32. Epistle to Maurice and 38. to Iohn Patriarke See Iohn Caluin in the Institution of Christian Religion Note here Reader that after the persecutions before Siluester and the heresies before Gregorie now the Church lifteth it self vp by ambition of preheminence which engendred such a combat betwixt the East Church and the West that since that time that schisme is not yet ended The Emperour Maurice was sharply reprehended by Gregorie for that he constrained Ecclesiastical persons to go to the warres the which Gregorie resisted greatly Gregorie sent into England after Naucler or Ireland certaine great persons to preach the Faith and amongst others one called Augustine and Melitus and other Monkes Instituted in the rule of S. Benet to plant that order there and their labour prooued so well that from thence came great troupes of Monkes into France and Almaine Of the number of these Irish Monkes was Colomban and his Disciple Gallus who after preached in diuers places of Almaine and finally hee retyred into a sollitarie place which at this day is called S. Gaul in Suisse Great libertie and immunitie was graunted vnto Blacke Monkes by the Pope Gregorie at the Councell of Lateran by the consent of the assembly In this time raigned Seuerus Bishop of Marseil who caused the Images of Saints and of Christ to be broken seeing the people worshipped them Gregorie reprehended him for breaking them but praised him that hee forbad the worshipping of them See the Register or the booke of his Epistle the 10. part Epistle 4. And Pollidorus Virgil. lib. 6. chap. 13. The building of the Masse The greatest part of the ceremonies thereof came from this Gregorie For he brought the office of the Church as they call it into a forme So that at this day it is called the Gregorian Office He brought all the Masse into certaine lawes and almost such as it is at this day And therefore many say he was the Authour thereof And although he constrained none to follow the Romane forme as hee testifieth to Augustine Bishop of Canterbury yet all Churches followed the manner to celebrate their Masses after the Romane Church the English men by the said Augustine the Spaniards France and after Almaine by Boniface Bishop of Magunce who was of great renowne He made the Antiphones and Introite of the Masse of some verse of the Psalmes Item the Kyrieleison should be sung nine times the Alleluia in the end of the Offertorie of the Communion At the beginnig of the Canonicall houres Deus in adiutorium and in the end of euery Psalme Gloria patri filio c. Item that the Pater Noster should be sung with an hie voyce ouer the consecrate hoste He added to the Canon of the Masse Diesque nostros in tua pace disponas c. And made the Supper with his people in the language of his Country which was Latin common and intelligible to all as he witnesseth in the preface vpon Ezechiel In the Register of his Epistles in the 8. part and 7. Epistle he saith the Canon that is to say the prayer which the Priest saith in secret ouer the Eucharist was made by one called Scolasticus This word Masse was inuented in his time although as aboue the Supper of our Lord be called Messe of the writers who called it with a common name of their time as is said But you must heere note that so oft and wheresoeuer the Church was assembled the Bishops preached to the people and principally at Masse And this custome endured yet in Gregories time but after it was omitted by ignorant Bishops a multitude of ceremonies were brought in in the place of preaching Henry Bullinger He instituted it Rome the great Letanies on S. Markes day against the pestilence which was then with the Procession of order The first conteined all the Cleargie The 2. the Abbots and Monkes The 3. the Nunnes The 4. the Children The 5. Laie-men The 6. Widowes The 7. married women And caused there to be carried the Image of the virgin Marie The people died neezing whereof comes yet at this day that when one neezeth they say God blesse you He instituted a great part of the stations at Rome chiefly such as are made to S. Peter He ordeined for the great multitude of people which resorted to Rome to the said stations and patrons certaine Priests to keepe the Sepulchres of the Apostles and called Chamberlaines which afterward were deputed to keep the Popes Chamber And Leo the tenth made a Colledge of them Briefly this Pope Gregorie vpon deuotion which was not according to knowledge brought into the church a great masse of superstition which by little and little suffocated and choked the true Religion which remained In his time in a certaine Sinode of twentie foure Bishops assembled at Rome the foure generall Councells were approued to be