and Eutyches they in like maner absolued him And finally after his death in the fift general councell his writings against the twelue heades of Cyrillus were damned All these troubles proceeded from one and the selfe same ground to wit vpon the extraordinarie loue hee caried toward his Patriarch Iohn This one thing laid aside hee was nothing inferiour to the most wise accurate and learned writers of the ancient time In the first of his learned dialogues called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he prooueth that the Word became flesh without changing of the diuine Nature into the humane Nature or the humane Nature into the diuine Euen as in the Sacrament of the Supper of the Lord the bread becomes the body of the Lord not by changing the substance of it but by assuming by grace an other vse than it had the very symbol obtaineth the name of the thing represented by the symbol When Papists doe read the dialogues of Theodoritus let them leaue off to bragge of the antiquitie of the doctrine of Transubstantiation and take them to the Monke Damascene the first authour of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he continued at least thirtie yeeres in his ministrie and ended his life as is supposed vnder the raigne of Leo the first Augustine in his young yeeres was infected with the errour of the Manicheans His mother Monica watered her face many times with teares in her prayers begging at God his conuersion to the truth God heard her prayers he was sent to Millan to be a teacher of Rhetoricke by the preaching of Ambrose Bishop of Millan and the deuote behauiour of the people in singing Psalmes to the praise of God the like whereof Augustine had neuer seene in any place before for men in earth praising God with ardent affection seemed to represent the Angels of heauen who incessantly prayse God with vnspeakable desire Also with the reading of the life of Antonius the heremite he was wonderfully moued and began to dislike his former conuersation which hee had spent in worldly pleasures and went vnto a quiet garden accompanied with Alipius with many teares he bewailed the insolencie of his bypast conuersation wishing the time to be now come wherein without farther delay his soule should be watred with the dew of the conuerting grace of God And as he was powring out the griefe of his wounded heart to God with a flood of teares hee heard a voyce saying vnto him tolle lege and againe tolle lege that is to say take vp and read take vp and read At the first hearing he tooke it to haue beene the voyce of boyes or maides speaking in their play such words one to another but when he looked about could see no body hee knew it to be a celestiall admonition warning him to take vp the booke of holy Scripture which he had in the garden with him and read Now the first place that fell in his hands after the opening of the booke was this Not in gluttonie nor drunkennes nor in chambring nor wantonnesse nor in strife or enuying but put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought of the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof At the reading whereof he was so fully resolued to forsake the vanities of the world and to become a Christian that immediatly thereafter he was baptized by Ambrose Bishop of Millan with his companion Alipius and his sonne Adeodatus After this hee returned to Africke and was coadiutor to Valerius Bishop of Hippo as Chrysostome was to Flauianus in Antiocha and after the departure of Valerius he was Bishop of Hippo his vncessant trauels in teaching Gods people and in stopping the mouthes of heretikes and gainsaiers of the truth of God specially Donatists Pelagians and Manichean heretikes his learned writings do testifie When he had liued 76. yeeres he rested from his labours before the Vandales had taken the towne of Hippo which in time of Augustines sicknesse they had besieged In this Century flourished worthy preachers in France such as Eutherius Bishop of Lions Saluianus B. of Marseill who liued at that time when the nation of the Gothes oppressed France and many beganne to doubt of the prouidence of God in respect that wicked men had so great vpper-hand Salvianus in his godly and learned bookes doth declare that it is a iust thing with God to punish men who knowes their dutie best with greatest punishments in respect that oft times they are most negligent doers of it Clauaianus Mammertus Bishop of Vienne is praised by Sidonius with excessiue commendations as if all the graces of Ierom Augustine Basilius Nazianzenus and many other fathers had beene incorporated into his person Hilarius first Bishop of Arls and afterward as appeareth of Vienne opposed himselfe directly to Leo Bishop of Rome and would acknowledge no iurisdiction nor domination of the Bishop of Rome ouer the Churches of France for this cause Leo accused him as an vsurper of supremacie onely because hee would not stoupe vnder his feete but Hilarius came to Rome nothing regarding the anathems and cursings of the Romane B. and in his face affirmed that neither did Christ appoint Peter to be head of the rest of the Apostles neither had the Bishop of Rome a soueraigntie ouer the Churches of Fraunce All the grandure of Leo his speeches was to talke of those few words Tu es Petrus super haâ— petra c. that is thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke c. as if Christ had breathed vppon him and had bidden him receiue the holy Spirit so confidently did he affirme that in these wordes was allotted a supremacie to the Bishoppes of Rome the successors of Peter But this grandure I say of his proud conceites and vaine interpretation of Scripture made not men of vnderstanding incontinentlie to stoup vnder the feete of a proud Prelate Vincentius Lirinensis a mightie impugner of heresies Prosper AquitaÌ„icus SidoÌ„ius B. in some part of Ouernie Martinus Turonensis is coÌ„mended for the gift of many miraculous workes that were wrought by his hands He coÌ„pared virginitie marriage fornication to a medow a part wherof was eaten by the pastoring of beastes another part was hollwed by the rudenes of rooting swine and the third part was vntouched but flourishing in the perâ—ect growth of grasse neere to mowing time Fornication he compared to the part of the medow that was hollowed and misfâ—shioned with Swine Mariage to that part of the medow that was pastored so that the herbes had then rootes but wanted the beautie of their flowres but virginitie is like vnto that part of the medow that is vntouched flourishing with roote blade flower and all kinde of perfection In counting marriage good but virginitie better hee followeth the doctrine of the holy Apostle Paul Râ—â— gius Bishop of Rhemes by whom Clodoâ—eus the first Christian king of France was baptized and the whole countrie of France was purged
widow who hath had concubines who is in a servile condition who is vnknowne Neophycus who is given to war-fare or an attender in Court who is vnlearned or hath not attained to the age of thirtie yeares who hath not proceeded to honour by ascending degrees who by ambition or bribes hath presumed to honour who hath been elected by his predecessor who hath not beene elected by the Clergie and people of his owne citie He who is approved shall be consecrated on the Lords day by all the comprovinciall Bishops at least by three of them Let Levites be of the age of 25. yeeres before their admission and Presbyters of 30. Let Bishops be vnreproveable according to the precept of the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. Let Bishops not onely haue the testimony of a Good conscience in the sight of God but also the testimony of an vnruproueable conversation amongst men Presbyters Levites whom infirmity of old age permits not to abide in their secret chambers yet let them haue witnesses of their honest conversation and remaining places Youth-hood is prone and bent to evill therefore let them that are young be all brought vp in one conclaue vnder the instruction and government of some well approved Senior But they who shall be found lascivious and incorrigible let them bee thrust into a Monastery to the end that stricter discipline may correct the proud minds of insolent youths Seeing that ignorance is the mother of all errours it becommeth Presbyters who haue vndertaken the office of teaching continually to meditate vpon holy Scripture according to the words of the Apostle Take heed to reading exhortation and doctrine 1 Tim. 4. for by meditation of holy Scripture and the Canons of the Church men are made able to instruct others in knowledge and in precepts of good manners Presbyters shal receiue from their owne Bishops an officiall booke to the end that through ignorance they doe nothing amisse neither in celebration of the Sacraments nor in their Letanies nor in their forme of comming to Councels When Presbyters and Deacons are admitted to their offices they must vow chastitie and binde themselues to their Bishops to lead a continent life and after such profession let them retaine the discipline of an holy life A Bishop Presbyter or Deacon who shall happen to be vniustly deposed if they bee found innocent by the tryall of the Synode let them be restored to their former dignities before the Altar by the hands of Bishops in this manner If hee bee a Bishop let him be restored to his Orarium with Staffe and Ring If hee be a Presbyter to his Orarium and Planeta If he be a Deacon to his orarium and Alba If he be a Sub-deacon to his Plate and Chalice and other orders let them receiue in their restitution that which was given vnto them in their ordination If any of the Clergy be found to haue cōsulted with diviners sorcerers let him be deposed from his dignity put into a Monastery to make cōtinual penance for his sacrilege Church-men who dwell in borders confining to a Nation that is vnder hostility with their owne countrey let them neither receiue from the enemies of the countrey nor direct any secret message vnto the enemies If any Church-man sit in iudgement or be iudge in a sentence of blood let him bee depriued of his dignity in the Church Let Bishoppes haue a care of such as are oppressed to reproove the mightie men who oppresse them and if the word of wholesome reproofe profite nothing let them complaine to the king to the ende that by regall authoritie impietie may be subdued Seeing auarice is the roote of all euill let Bishops so gouerne their dioceses that they spoyle thē not of their rightes but according to the determination of anteriour Councels let them haue the third part of Oblations Tithes Tributes Cornes the rest let it remaine vnto the Paroches free and vntouched That thing which one Bishop possesseth without interpellation for the space of thirtie yeeres let no man in that same Prouince be heard in an action of repetition But as concerning them who dwell in diuerse Prouinces the case standeth otherwise lest while Dioceses are defended the boundes of Prouinces be confounded A Church newly builded shall appertaine vnto that Bishop in whose diosie it is knowne that spiritual conuentions haue beene kept A Bishop shall visit yeerelie all the paroches of his diosie and in case he be hindered by infirmitie or by weightie businesse he shall appoint faithfull Presbyters and Deacons to take inspection of the fabricke of the Churches and of their rentes Whatsoeuer reward a Prelate promiseth to a man who vndertaketh any worke tending to the vtilitie of the Church let him faithfully performe his promise Seeing that a part of Church-rentes is bestowed vpon sustentation of strangers and of poore and indigent people if it shall happen at any time those persons or their children to be indigent who haue rendered any rent to the Church let them render a just deserued retribution to their bene-factors in sustaining them to whose beneuolence they are addoted The Deacons are decerned to be inferiour to Presbyters Let the Leuites be content to be cloathed with their Orarium onely vpon the left shoulder and not vpon their right shoulders and let it neither be beautified with colours nor with gold Platina in the life of Zosinus calleth it Linostima Let Clergie-men haue the vpper-most part of their heads bare and shauen and the lower-part rounded not following the example of the Readers of Gallicia who did shaue onelie a little of the vpper-most part of the haire of their head conforming themselues in so doing to the custome of some Heretikes which dishonour is to bee remoued from the Churches of Spaine No strange women shall cohabite with Church-men only their mother or sister or her daughter or fathers sister may dwell with them amongst which persons the bandes of nature permitteth not to suspect any sinne according to the constitutions of auncient Fathers Some of the Clergie who are not married are intangled with the forbidden lust of strange women let the Bishop separate them sell the women and redact the men infected with their lust for a space vnto penance If a man of the Clergy marrie a wife or a widow or a deuorced woman or an harlot without aduise of his Bishop let the Bishop separate them againe Clergie-men who haue cloathed themselues with armour voluntarilie and haue gone to warre fare let them be deposed from their office and bee thrust into a Monasterie there to remaine all the dayes of their life Church-men who are found spoyling the sepulchers of persons departed let them be deposed and be subject vnto three yeeres penance By the commandement of king Sisenandus Churchmen are exempted from all publike indictions and labours to the end
of God who would not for gaining of their liues once fashion themselues according to the similitude of Idolaters in outward and externall things Tertulian in his booke de corona militis declareth that true Christian souldiers abhorred from setting a garland of flowers vpon their heads when they received wages for their painfull seruice in warfare because it was the habit of Idolaters who sacrificed to Iupiter O happy men of God whose vertues the dead colours of Painters cannot represent and the festered manners of this corrupt age cannot imitate When shall the fresh oyle of the grace of God bee powred into our lampes that the light of our faith patience and constant perseverance may shine clearely to the world as theirs did The occasion of this great persecution of Nero was his owne barbarous and cruell fact hee caused the towne of Rome to be set on fire which wasted the buildings of the towne for the space of sixe dayes and to eschew the vile infamy of this barbarous fact hee layde the blaine vpon the Christians and gaue forth edicts and commandements to to persecute them to the death Nero was so hatefull an aduersary to all righteousnesse that Eusebius following the example and words of Tertullian affirmeth that if the Gospell had not beene an excellent good thing it had not been condemned by Nero. It is supposed that Peter was crucified and Paul was beheaded at Rome in the time of this persecution If this be true the very dead bones of Peter and Paul are witnesses against the Romane Church if they continue not in the same faith that Peter and Paul sealed vp with their blood The estate of the Iewes vnder Nero was very hard in respect of the oft change of the Romane Deputies For in Neroes time continued Felix for a space whom the Emperour Claudius had sent to Iudea and after him Festus Albinus and Florus This last Deputy was fashioned according to the similitude of the manners of Nero his Master and the Proverb holdeth true in Nero and Florns Such man such master In the time that Felix was Deputy a certaine Egyptian man pretending to be a Prophet and promising great things perswaded foure thousand of the Iewes to follow after him but Felix sent forth companies of horsemen and footmen who slew foure hundreth of the people that followed the Egyptian and tooke two hundreth of them aliue the rest were scattered but the seducing Prophet escaped and could not be found When Festus was Deputy King Agrippa heard the Apology of Paul and sayd that in a part Paul perswaded him to be a Christian. This Agrippa I say the sonne of Herod whom the Angell of God slewe was advanced to great honours by the Emperour Claudius as his father had beene before him by the fauour of Caius and he possessed not onely his fathers dominions but also the Tetrarchy of Iturea and Trachonitis sometime belonging to Philip the sonne of Herod the great His might and riches procured trouble to the Nation of the Iewes He had a palace situate vpon the West-side of the Temple of Ierusalem and in regard it was builded vpon a mountaine he had a delectable prospect of the towne of Ierusalem yet not content with this hee mounted vp the walles of the Palace by a new building so high that they who were in the Palace might haue seene the Altar and sacrifices of the Iewes offered in the inner court which at that time was called Atrium Iudaorum This doing grieved the hearts of the Iewes They on the other part to cut off the sight of those who dwelt in the Palace from beholding their sacrifices raysed vp the wall of the inner court on the West-side to such eminency that no man could behold the sacrifices of the Iewes from the Palace King Agrippa and Festus with authority commanded the Iewes to demolish their new builded wall In end this matter was referred to the Emperour Nero who being solicited by his wife Poppea gratified the Iewes in this poynt and compelled them not to cast downe their wall Festus died in Iudea and Albinus was sent to be Deputie in Iudea Ananus was the high Priest of the Iewes in those dayes and finding opportunity of time to practice the malice of his heart against Iames the sonne of Alpheus furnanamed Iustus an holy Apostle and kinsman of our Lord Iesus When Albinus was vpon his iourney and had not as yet arriued neither to the coasts of Egypt nor of Iudea this Ananus I say caused Iames furnamed Iustus and the brother of our Lord to bee stoned to death Eusebius writeth that he was throwne down from the pinacle of the Temple This cruelty of Ananus albeit it displeased both King Agrippa and Albinus the Deputy of the Romans and the people of Ierusalem yet wicked men are wiser in their owne generation then the children of light and Ananus sawe that if hee had lingred vntill the Romane Deputy had arriued hee could not haue procured the death of a man counted so inst and so welbeloved of the people as the Apostle Iames was It is to be marked that Eusebius in the forementioned place describeth the Martyrdome of Iames furnamed Iustus before the edict of the persecution of Nero after which folloshed the martyrdome of Peter and Paul in the 12. yeere of Nero his raigne neuerthelesse the Romane Church had forged Epistles decretall whereinto Clemens Bishop of Rome writeth to Iames furnamed Iustus after the death of Peter What credit these decretall Epistles deserue it shall be declared hereafter God willing But Florus who succeded to Albinus was an avaritious and cruell man hee exhausted the treasure that was in the Temple and tooke out of it sixteene talents of siluer And when the Iewes at Ierusalem murmured against him hee came to the towne in great wrath and permitted the souldiers to slay and to spoyle the Citizens of Ierusalem at their pleasure Likewise he afflicted with vnaccustomed cruelty men of noble birth by scourging and crucifying them This was the ground of the warre betweene the Romanes and the Iewes wherein Ierusalem came to that lamentable ruine foretold by our Saviour Christ. Now to returne to the Emperour himselfe and forme of his death After he had raigned 13. yeares and eight moneths the Senate of Rome proclaimed him to bee an enemy to mankind and condemned him to be whipped with wands to the death and to be harled through the City For feare of which punishment he was forced to flie and by slaying of himselfe made an end of his most wretched life Iustin. Vespatian AFter Nero Otto Vitellius and Galba contended for the Empire and were all hastily cut off and made out of the way and Flavianus Vespatian was chosen Emperour by the Roman Arny he reigned ten yeares The Nation of the Iewes at this time for the most part was given ouer into a reprobate minde according as it was
Preaching of his owne death and bloodshed for the redemption of many Neither conquered he free men to make them slaues as other Conquerours had done but they who were slaues indeed to Sathan vnto them he gaue the libertie of the sonnes of God Now these twelue Apostles the more faithfully they laboured in the worke of their ministrie the worse were they entreated by the vnthankefull world according as Christ had foretold The most part of them were put to death the rest were not free of many painefull sufferings and rebukes which they willingly sustained for the name of Christ. Peter and Paul are supposed to haue beene martyred at Rome Andrew to haue beene crucified in Achaia Mathew beheaded in Ethiopia Iames the brother of Iohn was beheaded by Herod in Iudea Iames the sonne of Alpheus called Iustus was throwne downe headlong from the Pinacle of the Temple Simon of Canaan was crucified in the dayes of Traianus being an hundreth and twentie yeeres old when he suffered Martyrdome Bartholomew is said to haue beene martyred in Armenia and Simon Zelotes to haue beene crucified in Brittaine Iohn died at Ephesus Philip in Hierapolis Functius calleth the Towne Hierosopolis Iudas Lebbeus at Edessa Thomas in India and Matthias in Ethiopia Of Evangelists AS concerning the Evangelists they were fellow-labourers with the Apostles in the worke of Christ and were also partakers with them of Christs sufferings The Evangelist Marke died in Alexandria Luke in Bithynia others say in Constantinople Philip who first was a Deacon and afterward an Evangelist died in Cesarea Barnabas in the Isle of Cyprus Where Timothy and Titus did compleate their dayes it is not certainly knowne Chytraeus opinion about Timothy I haue alreadie declared Ierome supposeth that Titus died in Candie The successours of the Apostles and Evangelists are not to be reckoned as the successours of Emperours because he who next obtaineth the Emperiall Diadem and place of gouernment is counted the successour of the last Emperour but he who obtaineth a faithfull Pastors chaire and teacheth a doctrine contrarie to that which a faithfull Pastor hath taught is to be counted a grieuous Wolfe stepped vp into his roome And Nazianzenus calleth such a man an adversarie standing vp in the place of a faithfull Pastor darkenesse succeeding to light a tempest succeeding to calme weather and madnesse obteining place where right reason was wont to be And therefore those Bishops and Doctors following who keepe inviolably that forme of wholesome doctrine which they receiued from the Apostles these I say alone are to be counted true successours of the Apostles Bishops of Rome OF this number was Linus Bishop of Rome who after the martyrdom of Peter Paul governed that Church ten yeeres three moneths and twelue dayes Eusebius thinketh this is that same Linus of whom the Apostle Paul writeth in the last Chapter of his second Epistle to Timothy Eubulus Pudens Linus and Claudia salute thee After him succeeded Anacletus and gouerned nine yeeres three moneths and ten dayes and after him Clâ—mens ruled eleuen yeeres Eusebius also thinketh this is that Clemens of whom the Apostle Paul writeth to the Philippians Yea I beseech thee faithfull yoke-fellow helpe those women that laboured with me in the Gospell with Clement also and with other my fellow labourers whose names are in the booke of life Ignatius Bishop of Antioch had his heart so inflamed with the loue of Christ that when his dissolution was neere approaching he said to the Romanes now doe I begin to be the Disciple of Christ I couet for nothing that can be seene with bodily eyes to the end that I may enioy Iesus Christ let the fire the crosse the beasts the breaking of bones convulsion of members and bruising of the whole bodie and the torments of the Deuill sease vpon me prouided I may be partaker of Iesus Christ. He was deuoured with beasts in the dayes of Traianus and so patiently indured death for the Name of Iesus that he allured the deuouring beasts to approach neere vnto his bodie that it being ground with the teeth of beasts he might be found as fine flowre in the house of his Father About the same time also flourished Papias Bishop of Hierapolis who was a man of great authoritie because of his neerenesse to the Apostles dayes yet leaning more to the report of the doctrine of the Apostles then to the certaintie of their owne writings he fell into the errour of the Chiliastes who imagined that Christ should raise the godly first and liue with them a thousand yeeres in this earth in all kinde of delicate pleasures CENTVRIE II. Bishops of Rome IN this second Centurie the Bishops of Rome for the most part proued faithfull and worthie seruants of Christ. A great number of them were baptized with the Baptisme of Christ and dranke of the cup that Christ dranke of and were drenched with their owne blood and they watered the Church of Rome with the streames of their blood as Egypt is watered and made fruitfull with the invndation of Nilus men of blessed remembrance Damasus writeth that from Saint Peter to Telesphorus all the Bishops of Rome were Martyrs Others added that vntill the dayes of Sylvester who liued in the time of the raigne of Constantine all the Bishops of Rome had the honour of martyrdome But in these hyperbolicke speeches neither hath the distinction betweene a Martyr and a Confessour beene rightly considered albeit well marked by Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 2. neither hath the history of the raigne of Antoninus Pius beene rightly pondered in whose dayes Hyginus and Pius liued and were not slaine for the testimony of Christ. Alwayes it is an envious minde that holdeth backe from worthie men their due prayse and commendation both in doing of good and patient suffering of euill for Christs sake In rehearsing the names of the Romane Bishops I thought meete to follow Ireneus and Eusebius rather then Platina In the first Centurie after the martyrdome of Peter and Paul Linus Anacletus and Clemens were teachers of the Romane Church In the second Centurie follow Evaristus Alexander 1. Xistus 1. Telesphorus Hyginus Pius 1. Anicetus Soter Eleutherius and Victor This Victor must needes be called the 13. Bishop of Rome if Eleutherius be the 12. according to the computation of Ireneus lib. 3. cap. 3. Onuphrius according to his owne custome giueth more credite to olde parchments that he hath found in the Vatican Bibliotheke then to any auncient Father He beginneth earely to distinguish Cletus from Anacletus that by taking libertie to thrust in one moe in the first Centurie he may haue the greater boldnesse to thrust out another of the feminine sexe in another Centurie For it grieueth him to the heart to heare this thing so vniversally affirmed and to see the penne of Platina blushing when he writeth of Iohannes the eight he
with affection then reason Nectarius continued in that office vntill the third yeere of the raigne of Arcadius that is vntill the yeere of our Lord 401. In his time the confession of sinnes done in secret to presbyter Poenitentiarius was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople vpon this occasion as Socrates writeth A certaine noble woman was confessing in secret her sinnes to presbyter Poeniteâ—tiarius and she confessed adultery committed with one of the Church Deacons Eudaemon this was the name of the Father confessor gaue counsell to Nectarius to abrogate this custome of auricular and secret confession because the Church was like to be slandered and euill spoken of by these meanes Socrates can scarse giue allowance to this fact of Nectarius in respect that by abrogation of this custome the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse were lesse coargued and reproued But Socrates considered not that Christ when he talked with the Samaritane woman at the Well sent away his Disciples to buy bread to the ende the poore Samaritane sinner might more freely poure out her secret sinnes in the bosome of Christ who knew all things that were done in secret It is not my purpose to contend with Socrates he is writing an history I am writing but a short Compend of an history he taketh libertie to declare his iudgement concerning this fact of Nectarius in abrogating confession of secret sinnes to presbyter Poenitentiarius No man can blame me to write my iudgement concerning auricular confession It is in our dayes not like vnto the mantle wherewith Sem and Iapheth couered the nakednesse of their Father Noe but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the Deuill couering the nakednesse of his children that is the horrible treasons that are plotted in secret by the children of the Deuill against Christian Magistrates Now is auricular confession for greater causes to be abrogated then of olde presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius Bishops of Ierusalem TO Thermon succeeded Macarius Anno 318. about the seauenth yeere of the raigne of Constantine In his time it is thought that Helena the mother of Constantine found the Crosse of Christ but Ambrose writes that shee worshipped it not for that saith he had been Gentiliâ— error vanitas impiorum that is an errour of Pagans and vanitie of vngodly people But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree whereupon our Lord suffered What necessitie had Helena to be so earnest to seeke out this tree and to commit it to the custodie of all posterities seeing that Ioseph of Arimathea who sought the bodie of IESVS at the hands of Pilate to the end he might burie it honourably yet sought he not the tree whereon Christ was crucified which with little adoe might haue beene obtained Secondly during the time that the Crosse was easie to be found and easie to haue beene discerned from other Crosses How could the blessed Virgine the mother of the Lord and holy Apostles haue committed such an overâ—sight in not keeping that precious treasure if so be in the keeping of it there be so great deuotion as the Romane Church now talkes of Thirdly what is the cause that the Romane Church brags so much of antiquitie when as the worshipping of the crosse one of the maine points of their Religion was vnknowne to the first three hundred yeeres of our Lord and now in the fourth Centurie the crosse is found but not worshipped yea and the adoration of it is detested and abhorred as an errour of the Pagans To Macarius succeeded Maximus who had beene his fellow-labourer as of olde Alexander was to Narcissus Macarius gouerned the Church of Ierusalem in the peaceable dayes of Constantine but Maximus gouerned that same Church himselfe alone in the dayes of Constantius He was present at the Councell of Tyrus but Paphnutius a Bishop and confessor in Thebaida pittied the simplicitie of Maximus whom the Arrians with deceitfull speeches had almost circumueened and he stepped to him and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of vngodly people whereupon followed a bond of indissoluble coniunction not onely with Paphnutius but also with Athanasius who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Councell of Tyrus This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come so that he was not present at the Arrian Councell of Antiochia gathered vnder pretence of dedication of the Temple which Constantine began to build but his sonne Constantius perfected the building of it To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus a man greatly hated by the Arrians in so much that Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Palestinae deposed him no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emperour Constantius with aduise of Arrian Bishops Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus receiued him and he taught in that Congregation with great liking and contentment of the people The strife of Acacius against him in the Councell of Seleucia I remit vnto its owne place In time of famine he had a great regard to poore indigent people and sold the precious vessels and garments of the Church for their support This was a ground of his accusation afterward because of a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the church of Ierusalem which Cyrillus sold to a Marchant in time of famine and againe the Marchant sold it vnto a lasciuious woman and such friuolous things were aggregated by the Arrians who hated the men of GOD. Of other Pastors and Doctors in Asia Africa and Europe BEsides the Patriarchs of principall places God raised vp in this Centurie a great number of learned Preachers who were like vnto the Ibides of Aegypt a remedy prepared by God against the multiplied number of venemous flying Serpents Euen so learned Fathers of whom I am to speak were instruments of God to vndoe the heresies which abounded in this age aboue all other ages Did not Nazianzenus vndoe the Heresie of Apollinaris Basilius the Heresie of Eunomius Hilarius like vnto a second Deucalion saw the ouer-flowing flood of Arrianisme abated in France Ambrosius Epiphanius and Ierom set their hearts against all Heresies either in their time or preceding their dayes It were an infinite labour to write of them all who in this age like vâ—â—â— glistering starres with the shining light of celestiall doctrine illuminated the darknesse of the blind world but the names of some principall Teachers God willing I shall remember Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine liued vnder the Emperour Constantine with whom he was familiarly acquainted He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia whose deposition the Arrians without all forme of order had procured most vnrighteously but he would not consent to accept that charge so that the chaire of Antiochia wanted a Bishop eight yeeres Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius others feeding themselues vpon vaine hopes that Eusebius
per viam expedientiae that is although it be not lawfull by way of iustice yet is it meet to doe it as a thing expedient to be done He exercised his tyrannie and power of excommunication against Andronicus Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople declaring him a schismaticke and heretike because hee neither would nor durst suffer the Grecians to make their appeale from the Greeke Church to the Pope neither would acknowledge him for his superior For the Grecians euer constantly refused to be subiect to the Romane bishop except in that short time wherein the Frenchmen had the Empire of the East and in the time of Michael Paleologus who in the Councell at Lyons submitted himselfe to Gregorie the tenth whereby he procured vnto himselfe such hatred that after his death the Grecians denyed vnto him the honour and place of buriall as hath beene declared In like manner hee excommunicated the Venetians for preferring Azada to the estate of Ferrare yea Francis DaÌ„dalus Ambassador from the Venetians to the said Clement for pacifying his furie and obtaining that absolution suffered a chaine of iron to be tyed about his necke and to lye downe vnder the Popes table there like a Dog to catch the bones which fell from the table vntill the Popes furie was assuaged And lest he should be inferiour to his predecessors in subduing all powers vnder his feet hee ordained that the king of the Romans should not enioy the title and right of an Emperour without confirmation giuen by the Pope Next to Clement followed Pope Iohn the two and twentieth After that the chaire of Rome had beene vacant for the space of two yeeres and three months hee ruled nineteene yeeres foure months and was verie much giuen to heape vp riches so that hee proclamed them to be heretickes who affirmed that Christ and his Apostles had no possessions in the world He would not condiscend to the Coronation of Lewes the fift Duke of Bauaria to be Emperour because hee vsed the Empâ—â— all dignitie in Italie before hee was authorised by the Popeâ—â— which cause Lewes tooke his iourney to Rome and theâ—â— crowned by the Cardinalls and set vp another Pope in 〈◊〉 called Nicolaus the fift against Iohn who was then residâ—â— at a Auiniogue in France and so the church of Rome 〈◊〉 begun to haue two heads Pope 〈◊〉 the twelfe followed and ruled seuen yeeres 〈…〉 and seuenâ—â—eene dayes 〈…〉 Pope Clement the sixt and ruled ten 〈…〉 twentie eight dayes hee reduced the 〈…〉 was kept on the hundred yeere to the fiftieth yeere and to allure men to goe to warre for recouering of the holy land hee set forth blasphemous bulls commaunding the Angells to convey euerie mans soule to Paradise who died by the way giuing also power to all and singular persons signed with the Crosse to deliuer three or foure prisoners whom they pleased best out of the pains of Purgatorie After Clement the sixt followed Innocentius the sixt and ruled nine yeeres eight months and six dayes Hee imprisoned a certaine frier called Ioannes de rupescissa because hee Prophecied of the fall of the Pope and his Cardinalls by the parable of a bird cloathed with other birds fethers which in respect of her pryde were all plucked from her After him succeeded Vrbanus the fift and ruled eight yeeres and foure months In whose time the order of the Iesuits begun Next to Pope Vrban succeeded Gregorie the eleuenth who reduced the Papacie againe out of France to Rome after it had continued there aboue 70. yeeres moued hereunto vpon this occasion Hee had reprooued a certaine Bishoppe who stood by him from long absence from his charge to whom the Bishop replyed againe that the Bishop of Rome himselfe who ought to be a patterne to all the rest was longer absent from the place where his Church did tye him whereby the Pope tooke occasion to remoue his court from Fraunce to Rome When hee returned hee found the estate of Italie greatly disquieted with cruell warres and specially betwixt the Venetians and the Genoans whom the Pope threatned with excommunication if they both desisted not but before hee was able to accomplish this worke he ended his life after he had ruled seuen yeeres fiue months after whose death followed a great schisme in the Church of Rome For the Cardinalls of Italie choosed an Italian Pope whom they called Vrbanus the sixt and the Cardinalls of France choosed a Pope of the French nation whom they called Clemens the seuenth This scisme continued for the space of 38. yeeres vntill the generall Councell holden at Constance during which time were found at least two Popes raigning at one time the one in Auiniogue and the other in Rome In the dayes of this Pope Vrbane sprang vp Iohn Wickliffe in England of whose doctrine somewhat shall hereafter be spoken God willing whom Pope Vrbane such was the prouidence of God could not attend to suppresse being otherwise busied in suppressing his Competitor Clement the seuenth insomuch that this litle sparkle which begun in England enkindled forth with flames in the kingdome of Boheme and many other places to the great hurt of Antichrists kingdome To Vrbane after hee had ruled vnhappily as Platina writeth a eleuen yeeres and eight months succeeded Bonifacius the ninth and ruled foureteene yeeres and nine months hee was impudent in selling of Pardons that hee brought Peters keyes into great contempt After him succeeded Innocentius the seuenth and ruled two yeeres Of other Doctors IN this age God raised vp manie witnesses of his truth as also made the knowledge of letters the studie of tongues to spring vp againe after it had bin suppressed many yeeres in the Roman church for some learned men of the Grecians fearing the crueltie of the Turke fled vnto Italie by whose fruitfull trauaills learning begun againe to reuiue and spread it selfe thorow all parts of the West Of this number was Emmanuell Chrysoloras of Byzantium Theodorus Gaza of Thessalonica and Georgius Trapezuntius with many moe whose names are worthie to bee kept in good remembrance because they brought a good treasure with them out of Grecia where with many afterward were enriched Amongst those witnesses of the truth Marsilius Patavinus is iustly numbered who taking the defence of the Emperour Lewes agâ—inst the Pope who did excommunicate him affirmes in his booke called defensor pacis that the Pope hath no authoritie ouer other Bishops much lesse ouer the Emperour Secondly that the word of God ought only to be iudge in all causes Ecclesiasticall Thirdly that the Clergie and Pope should be subiect to Magistrates Fourthly That the head of the Church is Christ and that hee neuer appointed any vicar or Pope ouer his vniuersall Church Fiftly That Bishops ought to be chosen by their owne Church and Clergie Sixtly That the Mariage of Priests may be lawfully permitted Seuenthly That S. Peter was
Yet hee found that Flavianus B. of Antiochia and Helias B. of Ierusalem altogether disliked reprooued his proceedings neither could they admit the law of obliuion called in the Greeke language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Emperour would haue brought in to pacifie controuersies in the Church as ciuil controuersies at sometimes haue bin pacified for this cause the Emperour Anastatius set himselfe directly against the truth of God and gathered this Councell to vndoe the authoritie of the Councel of Chalcedon Flavianus and Helias would not bee present at this vngodly Councell wherein they damned the Councell of Chalcedon yet they abstained from damning Flaevianus and Helias for a time Neuerthelesse by continuall accusations of these two Bishops as if they had beene mockers of all the Emperours doings they procured their banishment as hath beene declared in the preceding historie IN the 22. yeere of the raigne of Anastatius and vnder the raigne of Clodoueus King of France conueened 32. Bishops in the towne of Aurelia of purpose to settle some order in Ecclesiasticall discipline which through iniurie of time and irruption of barbarous people into the countrie of France had beene brought to great dissolution and misorder The Canons of this Councel are coincideÌ„t for the most part with the Canons of all other Councels THe two former Councels assembled in Spaine namely Ilerdense and Valentinum were vnder the raigne of Theodoricus Now these two Gerundense and Caesaraugustanum are celebrated vnder the same King to wit Theodoricus of the nation of the Gothes raigning in Spaine In Gerunda seuen Bishops conueened made Ecclesiasticall constitutions chiefly about Baptisme that Catechumeni should bee baptized on Easter day and at Pentecost when most solemne conuentions of people were gathered They who were vnder infirmitie and sicknesse might bee baptized at any time and the infant which was likely to die might be baptized the same day wherein it was borne In Caesaraugusta eleuen Bishops seemed to haue beene conueened They forbid fasting vpon the Lords day for superstition or for respect of times or for perswasion It would appeare that this Councell had a desire to abolish the rites and customes of the Manichean heretikes who were accustomed to fast vpon the Lords day IN the dayes of Hâ—rmisda by the mandat of Theodoricus King of Gothes raigning in Italie a Councell was assembled at Rome vpon this occasion It was thought meet by the Emperour Anastatius Theodoricus King of Italie and many others that a Councel shuld be assembled at Heraclea for deciding coutrouersies in religion Many Bishops resorted to Heraclea about the number of 200. but Anastatius suffered no Councell to be holden thereby incurring the great blame of inconstancie and carelessenesse in seeking out the truth for this cause Theodoricus willed Hormisda Bishop of Rome to gather a Councell at Rome wherein the errour of Eutyches is damned of new againe Ambassadours are ordained to be sent to Anastatius the Emperour and to the Bishop of Constantinople to diuert theÌ„ if it were possible from the errour of Eutyches but how inhumanely the Ambassadours were intreated it hath beene declared in the description of the life of Hormisda VNder the raigne of the Emperour Iustinus a Synode was gathered in Constantinople by Ioannes Cappadox Many grieuons accusations were giuen in against Severus Bishop of Antiochia such as sacrilegious spoyling of Temples vnder pretence of eschewing causes of Idolatrie hee tooke away the golden doues that hung aboue the fontes and the altars and hee vttered many blasphemous speeches against the Councell of Chalcedon Ioannes Cappadox albeit hee was of a bad religion himselfe yet the authoritie of the Emperour and consent of the Councell procured that Severus should be damned of heresie whom the Emperour also banished and as some affirme punished him also by commanding that his blasphemous tongue should bee cut out In like manner the Monks of Apamea in a Councell conueened in Syriasecunda accused Severus of bloody cruelty and oppression in besieging of Monasteries slaying the Monks and spoyling their goods The like accusation was giuen in against Peter Bishop of Apamea which accusations beeing sufficiently proued by vnsuspect witnesses this Councell damned Severus and Petrus Bishop of Apamea IN the fifth yeere of King Abnaricus was the second Councell of Toledo conueened partly for renuing the ancient constitutions of the Church and partly for making new constitutions belonging to Ecclesiasticall discipline It was ordained that children whom their parents had dedicated to the Church they should not be admitted to the office of a Subdeacon vntill they were eighteene yeeres of age neither to the office of a Deacon before they were twentie fiue yeeres old and at the beginning of their admission to the office of a Subdeacon namely when they were full eighteene yeeres old and not before that time they should bee presented before the Clergie and people to make an open declaration whether they were of purpose to leade a continent life or to marrie and these who protested they had not the gift of continency are tolerated by the first Canon of the second Councell of Toledo to marrie IN the yeere of our Lord 551. and in the 94. yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian was a generall Councell assembled at Constantinople The principall causes of this meeting are expresly set downe by Euagrius lib. 4. cap. 38. First in respect of the controuersie betwixt Eustochius B. of Ierusalem and Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea Cappadocia Eustochius cast out the Monkes of Nova Laura who obstinately defended the errours of Origen Theodorus Ascidas assisted them and said that Eustochius Bishop of Ierusalem had dealt cruelly and inhumanely with his brethren to pacifie this controuersie was this Councell conueened Also great disputation was in the Church about the bookes of Origen of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuesta and some writings of Theodoritus Bishop of Cyrus and Ibas Bishop of Edessa this was the second cause of this great conuention to put an ende vnto these contentious disputations At this time Menas was Bishop of Constantinople but he ended his life in the very time of the generall Councel The first question mooued in the Councel was this Whether or no men who were dead and had ended their course might lawfully be cursed and excommunicated To this Eutychius a man before this time of no great account answered That like as Iosias not onely punished Idolatrous Priestes who were aliue but also opened the graues of them who were dead to dishonour them after their death who had dishonoured God in their life-time euen so the memorialls of men might be accursed after their death who had harmed Christes Church in their life-time This was thought by the Fathers of the Councell to be pertinently spoken and when his answer came to the eares of the Emperour Iustinian hee appointed that hee should be ordained Bishop of Constantinople for
children and that they shall be accursed who dare presume to seeke the kingly authority without the consent of the whole countrey of Spaine and the Nobility of the nation of the Gothes and that no man shal raile vpon the King or lie in waite for his life IN the yeere of our Lord 652. or as others reckon 650. Pope Martinus gathered a Councell at Rome of moe then an hundred Bishops The errour of the Monothelites obstinately defended by Paulus Bishop of Constantinople was the occasion of this Councell together with the impious edict of the Emperour Constans set out in favour of the heresie of the Monothelites In this Councell over and besides an ample confession of Faith many decrees and constitutions were made all tending to damne those who denyed the Trinity or the divine vnity in the divine nature or the manifestation of the second person of the Trinitie and his suffering in the flesh or the perpetuall virginity of the Lords mother or the two nativities of Christ one before all times and another in time by the operation of the holy spirit or the distinction of the two natures after the ineffable vnity or the distinction of wils and operations in Christ. In like manner all were damned who made opposition to the fiue preceding generall Councels In particular Theodorus of Pharatrita Cyrus of Alexandria Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus Bishops of Constantinople were condemned as patrons and obstinate defenders of the heresie of the Monothelites There is more frequent mention of Fathers than of Scriptures in this Councell a perilous example to the posterity IN the yeere of our Lord 653. and in the third yeere of Chintilla King of the Gothes in Spaine the sixt Councell of Toledo was assembled of 52. Bishops Eugenius Bishop of Toledo being President The occasion seemeth to haue beene the renovation of old heresies and contradiction to preceding Councels After a confession of the Faith Letanies are ordained to be said as was appointed yeerly for preservation of the King It was ordained by the advice of the Councell with consent of the King and his Nobles that no man should be tolerated to dwell in the kingdome of Spaine who did not professe the Catholike Faith and that Kings in all time to come before they were placed in their royall seate should be bound by the obligation of a solemne oath to interpose their authority that this act might bee obeyed Otherwise let the King refusing to put this act in execution be counted accursed and be a faggot of the flames of everlasting fire What Ferdinandus King of Spaine did in driving out of his dominions the Iewes and the Saracens some alledge that it was done vpon the ground of this act but now it is not a fit time to examine that question No man shall presume by Simony or largition of mony to attaine to Ecclesiasticall offices If any of the Clergie obtaine a pension out of the Church-rents let him possesse it vnder the title of Praecaria lest by long possession the Church rents be diminished If any person be cloathed with a religious habite which hee hath voluntarily accepted if afterward hee forsake it let him be excommunicated if hee returne not againe vnto his order The seuenth Canon is a renewing of the foure and fifty Canon of the fourth Councell of Toledo A married man who voweth chastitie in time of sicknesse if he recouer health and haue not the gift of continencie let him cohabite againe with his wife but if shee die he is debarred from the second marriage which notwithstanding is permitted to the wife if shee haue not vowed This Canon is not set downe by precept and commandement but permissiuely through indulgence and a consideration of humane infirmitie Seruants whom the Church hath set at libertie when one Prelate dieth and another succeedeth they are bound to renew the charters of their land which they possesse else their charters shall be voyde and of none effect if they be not renewed within the space of a yeere next after the election of the new Prelate The children of them whom the Church hath set at libertie if their parents bring them vp in learning they shall be brought vp in that same Church from which their libertie did arise and shall serue the Bishop of that Church alwayes without prejudice of their libertie Let no man vpon occasion of an accusation be punished vnlesse his accuser be presented and in case he be a vile and infamous person let no sentence be giuen out vpon the ground of such accusation except in an action of treason against the life of the King He who hath committed hainous offences and fearing punishment fleeth to the enemies of his countrey for refuge let him be excommunicated Let young men honour them who are in great credite and fauour with Princes And let Seniors louingly cherish the younger sort and present vnto them profitable examples of a good conuersation The 14. and 15. Canon intreate of the reward due to them who are found faithfull seruants to the King in whatsoeuer estate especially in the Church and that rentes and landes bestowed vpon the Church shall abide firmely in their possession without reuocation In the 16.17.18 and 19. Canons there is a commemoration of the bountiful kindnesse of king Chintilla toward the Church a prouision that no Church-men should be allured by no deceitfull perswasion to take a course against the king A protestation before God his Angels Prophets Apostles Martyrs and whole Church That no man should enterprise any attempt against the King his Noble estate And they who shall presume to doe to the contrarie are appointed to eternall damnation In the end prayers are made to God to giue a good successe to their meeting and thankes are giuen to the King by whose authoritie they were assembled So it is manifest that by the authoritie of Princes Nationall Assemblies were conueened at this time IN the yeere of our Lord 662. as Functius reckoneth and in the 6. yeere of Chindasuvindus king of Spaine the 7. Coūcel of Toledo was assembled consisting of 4. Archbishops 30. Bishops and a great number of presbyters and messengers from them who could not be present The occasion of this meeting was Theodisclus Bishop of Hispalis a Graeciā borne He had corrupted the bookes of Isidorus and dispersed many errours in his Church he contended for supermacie with the Bishop of Toledo In this Councell Theodisclus was remooued from his office The prioritie of dignitie was conferred to the Bishop of Toledo In the second Tome of Councels six Canons are referred to this meeting First Laickes and men also in spirituall office are forbidden to attempt any thing against the estate of their countrie either by sedition or treason Secondlie it is appointed and ordained That in case any man ministring the Sacrament of the Lords holy Supper be hindred by
any superuenient sicknesse that another shall bee readie to finish the worke which hee hath begunne Thirdly That the Presbyters and the whole Clergie shal be present at the funerall of a bishop Fourthly It is forbidden that Bishops in their visitation should extort or oppresse the Churches which they visite Fiftly That men inclosed into a Monasterie should first receiue instruction in their Monasteries before they presume to teach others Sixtly A commandement is giuen That the Bishops in neare adjacent places should bee obedient to the Bishop of Toledo and at his commaundement they should appeare in the towne of Toledo CAbillonum vulgarlie called Chalon is a towne in Burgunnie not farre distant from Matiscone In this towne by the commandement of Clodoneus king of France conueened 44. Bishops Gandericus Bishop of Lions was President and Laudilenus Bishop of Vienne Theodorus Bishop of Arls because hee refused to appeare before the Councell was suspended from his office vntill the next Councell In this Synode the Canons of the Councell of Nice had great allowance It was forbidden that two Bishops should be ordained in one towne That no man should sel a Christian seruant to a Iew And that two Abbots should not be chosen to gouerne one Monasterie That no labouring of the ground or other secular worke should be done on the Lords day with many other Canons coincident with the Canons of other Councels IN the dayes of the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus and vnder the Popedome of Agatho a Councell was gathered at Rome about the question of the willes and operations of Christ wherein it was decerned by the suffrages of 125. Bishops of Italy France Lombardy of the nation of the Gothes of Britanes and Sclauonians That two willes and two operations were to bee acknowledged in Christ And the opinions of Theodorus Cyrus Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus defenders of the heresie of the Monothelites was damned The vaunting words of the letter of Agatho written to the sixt generall Councell wherein he braggeth that the Bishops of Rome neuer erred in matters of Faith I lay them aside at this time for they are false and vntrue as I haue alreadie prooued and shall prooue hereafter if it please the Lord. IN the yeere of our Lord 671. and in the fift yeere of Recesuvindus King of Gothes the eight Councell of Toledo was conueened To this Assemblie resorted two and fiftie Bishops Great disputation was in this Councell concerning perjurie In end it was resolued That no necessitie bindeth a man to performe an vnlawfull oath For Herod and Iephthah sinned in making vnlawfull oathes but they sinned more grieuouslie in performing vnlawfull oathes Marriage is vtterlie forbidden to Bishops and places of Scripture are miserablie abused to confirme this interdiction of marriage Be yee holy as I am holy 1 Pet. 1.16 And in another place Mortifie your members which are on the earth Coloss. 3.5 Miserable ignorance in this age counteth marriage to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vncleanenesse a member of the bodie of sin which the Apostle commandeth to mortifie Yea and the sub-deacons who pleaded for retaining of their wiues in regard that in their admission no such condition was required of them are in most seuere manner interdited from the companie of their wiues or else to be thrust into a Monastery to suffer penance vntill the last period of their liues Vnlearned men are not to be admitted to the celebration of diuine misteries especially such as are not well acquainted with the Psalter Eating of flesh is forbidden in Lent for three principall causes First Because the fourtie dayes of Lent are the tithes of all the dayes of the yeeres and the tithes should be consecrated to God Secondlie because that Christ by fasting fourtie dayes expiated the sinnes of mankinde Thirdly because it is conuenient that a man made of the 4. elementes for breaking the ten precepts of the decalogue should afflict his bodie foure times ten dayes In the 10. Canon the vertues where with the king shall be indewed who shall be chosen to raigne in Spaine are rehearsed In the last Canon the ordinances of preceding Councels are to be obeyed and the Iewes are to bee deale with according to the actes of the 4. Councell of Toledo Can. 56. 57. 58. 59. and 60. c. IN the yeere of our Lord 673. and in the 7. yeere of the raigne of Recesuvindus king of Gothes by the commandement of the King 16. Bishops conueened in Toledo and made these ordinances following First That founders of Churches and bestowers of rentes vpon the Church and their posteritie should haue a sollicitous care that Church-rents be not abused with misorder if it shall happen to fall out let complaint be made to the Bishop to the Metropolitane or to the king of the countrey Founders of Churches during their life-time haue power to appoint men who shall attend vpon the fabricke of the Church or Monasterie which is builded that it decay not If any Church-man bestow any part of Church-rent vnder the colour of prestation let the cause be clearely contained in an euidence or else it shall be voide Let the goods of the defunct administrator of the Church-affaires be equally diuided betwixt his heires and the Church If a Bishop build a Monasterie let him not bestow aboue the fiftie part of the rent of his prelacie in the charges of building and in case he build a paroch Church for honour of his buriall place let him not bestow aboue the hundreth part of his rent for charges of building To the Bishop belongeth the third part of rent of euery paroch Church in his diosie and whether he leaue that third part to the Church it selfe out of which it is raised or to any other Church his gift shall stand firme without reuocation Let no man vnder pretence of propinquitie and because he is heire intromet with the goods of the defunct Bishop without the fore-knowledge and consent of the Metropolitan and in case the Metropolitan depart this life let no intermeddling with his goods bee made without the foreknowledge of is successour lest by fraud and deceit the Church be damnified If any man ministring in a Church-office alienate a part of Church-rents the supputation of time shall begin to bee reckoned from the houre of his death and not from the time wherein the charter was subscribed and so after his death let the prescription run on The ninth Canon measureth the commodity which a Bishop shall receiue who hath taken paines to burie another Bishop Children procreated by Bishops Presbyters Deacons c. shall not onely be deprived of the heritage some time belonging to their parents but also they shall be mancipated to perpetuall service of those Churches wherein their fathers served Let the reader marke that there is a greater businesse in Councels to procure obedience to one Antichristian
not distribute the Lords bodie indiscreetly to children and to all persons who happen to be present who if they be entangled with great sinnes they procure vnto themselues rather damnation then any remedie to their soules according to the saying of the Apostle Whosoeuer eateth this Bread and drinketh this Cup unworthily hee shall be guilty of the bodie and blood of the Lord Let a man therefore try himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup. By this let the iudicious Reader marke that even in the dayes of Carolus Magnus priuate masses had no place but they who were duly prepared did communicate with the Priest 20. Presbyters shall not suffer the holy Chrisme to be touched by every man 21. Presbyters shall not resort to Tavernes to eate or drinke 22. Bishops and Presbyters shall prescribe to sinners who haue confessed their sinnes penance discreetly according to the waightinesse of their fault 23. Chanons who dwell in Cities let them eate in one Cloyster and sleepe vnder one roofe to the end they may bee ready to celebrate their Canonicall houres From the 24. Canon vnto the 32. are contained constitutions concerning Monkes and Nunnes which I ouer-passe with silence fearing to be prolix Canon 32. All men should studie to peace and concord but especially Christians forsaking hatred discord and envie 33. Lords and Iudges should be obedient to the wholsome admonitions of their Bishops and Bishops on the other part should reverently regard them to the end they may be mutually supported every one with the consolations one of another 34. Lords and Iudges are to bee admonished that they admit not vile and naughty persons to beare witnesse in their iudicatories because there are many who for a contemptible price are ready to make shipwracke of a good conscience 35. Let no man for his decreet receiue a reward For divine Scripture in many places forbiddeth this as a thing that blindeth the eyes of the blind 36. Let euery man be carefull to support indigent persons of his owne family and kindred for it is an impious and abominable thing in the sight of God that men abounding in riches should neglect their owne 37. Christians when they make supplications to God let them in humble manner bow downe their knees following the example of the Martyr Steven and of the Apostle Paul Except vpon the Lords day and other solemne dayes on the which the vniversall Church keepeth a memoriall of the Lords resurrection and at such times they are accustomed to stand and pray 38. Faithfull people must be admonished not to enter into the Church with tumult and noyse and in time of prayer and celebration of the masse not to be occupied in vaine confabulations and idle speeches but even to abstain from wicked cogitations 39. Let not the Consistories and Iudgement-seates of secular Iudges be in the Church or portches thereof in any time to come because the house of God should bee an house of Prayer as our Lord Iesus Christ saith 40. Let it be forbidden that Merchandize be vsed vpon the Lords day or Iustice-Courts because all men should abstaine from servile labours to the end this day may be spent in praising and thanking God from morning till evening 41. Incestuous persons parracides and murtherers are found who will not hearken to the wholsome admonitions of Church-men but persevere in their vitious conversation who must be reduced to order by the discipline of the secular power 42. Let the people be admonished to abstaine from Magicall Arts which can bring no support and helpe to the infirmities of men and beasts but they are the deceitfull snares of the Divell whereby he deceiveth man-kinde 43. A frequent custome of swearing is forbidden wherein men vpon euery light occasion willing to purchase credit to that which they speake they take God to be witnesse of the verity of their speeches 44. Many free subiects by the oppression of their Masters are redacted to extreame pouerty whose causes if our element Soveraigne please to examine hee shall finde that they are vniustly redacted to extreame indigence 45. A false measure and a false ballance is an abomination vnto the Lord as Salomon recordeth The 46. Canon containeth a regrate that tythes were not duly payed to the Church notwithstanding that the Church had giuen in their complaint to the civil Magistrate whereby it came to passe that not only lights in the Church and stipends to the Clergie began to inlacke but also the very parish Churches became ruinous 47. When generall Fastings are appointed for any impendent calamity let man neglect the fellowship of the humble Church for desire to feed his belly with delicate foode 48. Drunkennes and surfeiting are forbidden as offensiue both to soule and bodie and the ground of many other sinnes 49. Lords and Masters are to be admonished not to deale cruelly and vnmercifully with their subiects yea and not to seeke that which is due vnto themselues with excessiue rigour 50. Let Laicke people communicate at least thrise in a yeere vnlesse they be hindred by some grivous sinnes committed by them 51. In the last Canon mention is made that they diligently examined the cause of them who complained to the Emperour that they were dis-inherited by thâ— donation of lands which their Fathers and friends had bestowed vpon the Church and in their bounds they found no man who did complaine Alwaies in that matter if any thing was done amisse they humbly submitted themselues to be corrected by their Soveraigne Lord and King THe Councell of Chalons was the fourth Councell convened in the yeere of our Lord 813. by the commandement of Charles the Great for the reformation of the Ecclesiasticall Estate Many of the Canons of this Councell are coincident with the Canons of the former therefore I shall be the shorter in the commemoration thereof 1. That Bishops acquaint themselues diligently with reading the bookes of holy Scripture and the Bookes of ancient Fathers together with the Pastorall bookes of Gregorius 2. Let Bishops practice in their workes the knowledge which they haue attained vnto by by reading 3. Let them also constitute Schooles wherein learning may be increased and men brought vp in them that may be like to the salt of the earth to season the corrupt manners of the people and to stop the mouthes of Heretiques according as it is said to the commendation of the Church A thousand Targes are hung vp in it even all the Armour of the strong Cant. chap. 4 vers 4. â— 4. Let Church-men shew humility in word deed countenance and habite 5. Let Priests bee vnreproueable adorned with good manners and not given to filthy lucre 6. The blame of filthy lucre wherewith many Church-men were charged for this that they allured secular men to renounce the world and to bring their goods to the Church they endeuour with multiplyed number of words to remoue 7. Bishops and Abbots who with deceitfull speeches haue circumvened
simple men and shauen their heads and by such meanes doe possesse their goods in respect of their covetous desire of filthy lucre let them be subiect to Canonicall or regular repentance But let those simple men who have layd downe their haire as men destitute of vnderstanding who cannot gouerne their owne affaires let them remaine in that estate which they haue once vndertaken but let the goods given by negligent Parents and received or rather reaved by avaritious Church-men be restored againe to their children heires 8. If Church men lay vp provision of come in Victuall-houses let it not be to keepe them to a dearth but to support the poore in time of need therewith 9. Hunting and hawking and the insolency of foolish and filthy iests are to bee forsaken of Church-men 10. Gluttony and drunkennesse is forbidden 11. The Bishop or Abbot must not resort to civill iudicators to plead their owne cause except it be to support the poore and oppressed Presbyters Deacons and Monkes having obtained licence from the Bishop may compeare in Civill iudgement-seats accompanied with their Advocate 12. Let not Presbyters Deacons or Monkes bee farmers or labourers of the ground 13. It is reported of some brethren that they compell the persons who are to be admitted in time of their ordination to sweare that they are worthy and that they shall do nothing repugnant to the Canons and that they shall be obedient to the Bishop who ordayneth them and to the Church in the which they are ordayned which oath in regard it is perilous we all inhibit and discharge it 14. Bishops in visiting of their Parishioners let them not be chargeable vnto them but rather comfortable by preaching the Word and by correcting things that are disordered 15. It is reported that some Arch-deacons vse domination over the Presbyters and take tribute from them which smelleth rather of tyranny then of due order For if the Bishoppe should not vse domination over the Clergie but by examplars to the flocke as the Apostle Peter writeth much lesse should these presume to doe any such like thing 16. Like as in dedication of Churches and for receiving of orders no money is received even so for buying of Balme to make Chrisme Presbyters keepers of Chrisme shall bestowe no money but Bishops of their owne rents shall furnish Baulme for the making of Chrisme and Lightes to the Church 17. It hath beene found in some places that Presbyters haue payed 12. or 14. pennies in yeerely tribute to the Bishop which custome wee haue ordained altogether to be abolished 18. The receiuing of paunds from incestuous persons and from men who pay not their Tythes and from negligent Presbyters is forbidden as a thing which openeth a doore to auarice but rather let Ecclesiasticall discipline strike vpon transgressours 19. Let people giue their Tythes to those Churches wherein their children are baptized whereunto they resort all the yeere long to heare Church-seruice 20. Let peace bee kept amongst all men but in speciall betwixt Bishops Countes whereby euery one of them may mutually support another 21. Ciuill Iudges ought to judge righteously without exception of persons and without receiuing of rewards and let their Officiars Vicars and Centenaries bee righteous men least by their auarice and greedinesse the people bee grieued and impouerished And let the witnesses be of vnsuspect credite for by false witnesses the Countrey is greatly damnified 22. The Abbots and Monkes in this part of the Countrie seeing they haue addicted themselues to the Order of Saint Benedict let them endeuour to conforme themselues vnto his institution and rules 23. The ordination of Presbyters Deacons and other inferiours is to bee made at a certaine prescribed time 24. Concerning Bishops Presbyters Deacons and Monkes who shall happen to be llaine let the Emperour giue determination to whom the satisfacton of blood shall belong 25. In many places the auncient custome of publicke repentance hath ceased neither is the auncient custome of excommunicatioÌ„ and reconciliation in vse Therefore the Emperour is to be entreated that the ancient discipline may be restored againe and they who sinne publikely may be brought to publike repentance and euery man according as hee deserueth may either bee excommunicated or reconciled 26. It is reported that in some Churches there is contention and strife for diuidng of Church rents It is ordained therefore That no Masse shall be said in those Churches vntill they who are at variance be reconciled againe 27. Neither the Sacrament of Baptisme nor the Sacrament of Confirmation should be reiterated 28. Concerning the decrees of affinitie and in what degree Marriage may be bound vp euery man is sent to the Canons of the Church to seeke resolution 29. Seing that the man and the woman are counted in Scripture as one flesh their Parentage is to be reckoned by like degrees in the matter of Marriage 30. The Marriage of seruants is not to bee dissolued which is bound vp with consent of both their masters euerie seruant remaining obedient to his owne master 31. It is rumoured that some women by negligence and others fraudulently doe present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation to the ende they may bee separated from the companie of their husbandes Therefore wee statute and ordaine that such women as either negligently or fraudulently present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation they shall bee compelled to doe penance all the dayes of their life neither shall they in any wise be separated from their husbandes 32. Let a sinner confesse vnto his Father-Confessor all his sinnes which hee hath committed either in thought word or deede because that hatred enuye and pride are such pestilentious botches of the soule and the more secretly that they are couched the more periculously they hurt 33. Sinnes should not onely bee confessed to God according to the example of Dauid who saith I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Psal. 32. vers 5. But also wee should confesse our sinnes to our Father-Confessor according to the precept of the Apostle Acknowledge your faultes one to another and pray one for another that yee may bee healed I at 5.16.34 In preâ—â—â—ibing of penance let fauour and hatred of any person be laide aside and let the injunctions be giuen according to the rule of holy Scripture and according to the Canons and custome of the Church following the example of the Physitions of the body who without exception of persons doe adhibit cuttings burnings and vehement remedies to perilous diseases 35. Many in doing of penance are not so desirous of remission of sinnes as of the accomplishment of the prescribed time of their humiliaon and beeing forbidden to eate flesh or drinke wine they haue the greater desire of other delicate meates and drinkes but spirituall abstinence which should bee in penitent persons excludeth all bodily delightes 36. Let no man sinne of
purpose to the ende hee may abolishe his sinnes by Almes-deedes for that is all one as if a man should hyre God to grant vnto him a libertie to sinne 37. Seeing all Canons of Councels are to be diligently read in speciall such as appertaine vnto faith and reformation of manners should bee most frequently perused 38. Bookes called Libelli Poenitentiales are to abolished because the erroures of these Bookes are certaine howbeit the authors of them be vncertaine and they prepare pillowes to lay vnder the heads of them who are sleeping in sinne 39. In the solemnities of the Masse Prayers are to bee made for the soules of them who are departed as well as for them who are aliue 40. Presbyters who are degraded liue like seculare men neglecting repentance whereby they might procure restitution to their office let them be excommunicated 41. A Presbyter who transporteth himselfe from his owne place shall not be receiued in any other Church except hee prooue both with witnesses and letters sealed with lead containing the name of the Bishop and of the Citie which he liued in that he hath liued innocently in his own Church and had a just cause of transportation 42. Let no Church bee committed to a Presbyter without consent of the Bishop 43. In some places are found Scots-men who call themselues Bishops they ordaine Presbyters Deacons whose ordination we altogether disallowe 44. Presbyters must not drinke in Tavernes wander in Markets nor goe to visite Cities without aduise of their Bishop 45. Many both of the Clergie Laickes goâ— to holy places such as Rome Turon imagining that by the sight of these places their sins are remitted and not attending to the sentence of Ierome It is a more commendable thing to liue well in Hierusalem than to haue seene Hierusalem 46. In receiuing the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ great discretion is to be vsed Neither let the taking of it be long differred because Christ saith Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud yee haue no life in you Neither let vs come without due preparation because the Apostle saith He who eateth and driâ—keth vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation 47. The Sacrament of the body blood of Christ which in one day is accustomed to be receiued of all Christians let no man neglect to receiue it except some grieuous crime doe hinder him from receiuing of it 48. According to the precept of the Apostle Iames Weake persons should be annointed with oyle by the Elders which oyle is blessed by the Bishop these words inclosed in a parenthesis are added to the Text for he saith Is any man sicke amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray for him and annoint him with oyle in the Name of the Lord And the prayer of faith shal saue the sicke and the Lord shall raise him vp And if he haue committed sin it shal be forgiuen him I am cap. 5. vers 14.15 Such a medicine as cureth both bodily spirituall maledies is not to be neglected 49. In the Councell of Laodicea it was forbidden that Masses should bee said and Oblations offered by Bishops or Presbyters in priuate houses This question also was disputed in this Councell 50. The authoritie of the Emperour is to be interponed for reuerent keeping of the Lords day 51. Because the Church is constituted of persons of diuerse conditions some are Noble others are ignoble some are seruants vassalles strangers c. It becommeth them who are in eminent rowmes to deale mercifully with their inferiours knowing that they are their brethren because God is one common Father to both and the Church is one common mother to both From the 52. Canon vnto the 66. are contained precepts of chaste and honest liuing prescribed to Prioresses and Nunnes which I ouer-passe as I haue done in the preceeding Councels 66. It is ordained that prayers and supplications shall be made for the Emperour and his children and for their well-fare both in soule and bodie 67. These things haue we touched shortly to be exhibited to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Hee who desireth a more ample declaration of all vertues to be followed and vices to be eschewed let him read the volume of the holy Scriptures of God IN the same yeere of our Lord wherein the preceding foure Councels were conueened by the mandate of the Emperour Charles the Great another Councell was conneened at Arles The Canons of this Councell were in number 25. 1. They set downe a Confession of their Faith 2. They ordaine That Prayers shall bee made for the Emperour and his children 3. They admonish Bishops and Pastors diligently to reade the bookes of holy Scripture To teach the Lords people in all truth and To administrate the Sacraments rightly 4. Laick people are admonished not to remooue their Presbyters from their Churches without consent of their Bishops 5. That Presbyters be not admitted for rewards 6. It is ordained That Bishops shall attend that euery person liue ordinately that is according to a prescribed rule The 7. and 8. Canons belong to the ordering of Monkes and Nunnes The 9. Canon pertaineth to the payment of Tythes and first fruits 10. It is ordained That Presbyters shall preach the word of God not only in Cities but also in euery Parochin 11. Incestuous copulations are to be vâ—terly abhorâ—ed 12. Peace is to bleeâ— kepâ— with all men according to the words of the Apostle Follow peace and sanctification without theâ— which no man shall see God Heb. cap. 12. vers 14 1â— Let Lords Iudges and the rest of the people be obedient to their Bishop let 〈…〉 judgâ—ment be vsed and no bribes receiued nor false testimonie be admitted 14. In time of Famine let euery man support the necessitie of his owne 15. Let all weightes and measures be equall and just 16. Let the Sabboth day be kept holy without Markets Iustice Courtes and seruile labour 17. Let euery Bishop visite his boundes once in the yeere if he finde the poore to be oppressed by the violence of the mightie then let the Bishop with wholesome admonitions exhort them to desist from such oppression and in case they will not desist from their violence then let the Bishop bring the cause to the eares of the Prince 18. Let Presbyters keepe the Chrisme and giue it to no man vnder pretence of Medicine 19. Parentes and Witnesses shall bring vp baptized children in the knowledge of God because God hath giuen them vnto Parents and Witnesses haue pawned their word for their faith 20. Ancient Churches shall not be depriued of Tythes nor of none other possession 21. That the constitution of ancient Fathers shal be kept concerning Buriall in Churches 22. Ciuill Iudgment-seates shall not bee in Churches 23. The goods belonging vnto the poore if they bee bought let it bee done openly in sight of the Nobles
the sustentation of the Ministery the support of the poore and the fabricke of the Church 15. Let mens bodies be buried in that Parish vnto the which they payed their tythes 16. No buriall place shall be sold for mony 17. Let Laicke people be buried in the Church-yard not in the Church but if they be buried already let not their bodies be remooved 18. The vessels wherein holy mysteries are celebrated are Challices and Platters whereof Saint Bonifacius a Bishop and Martyr being demanded if it was lawfull to celebrate the Sacrament in vessels of wood Hee answered that of old there were golden Bishops and woodden vessels but now by the contrary saith hee the Bishops are wooden Bishops and the vessels are vessels of gold And Sepherinus ministred the Sacrament in vessels of glasse Neverthelesse this Councell straitly inhibiteth the Sacrament to be consecrated in vessels of wood 19. Let not wine without water be offered in the holy Challic◠because both blood and water flowed out of the side of Christ. 20. Priests are shaven to the end they may carry vpon their heads a similitude of the crowne to wit of thornes wherewith the Lord was crowned who is their lot and portion 21. Let not Presbyters who are called before Iustice-seats be compelled to sweare but let them bee put in rememberance of their holy consecration in stead of an oath 22. The tryall of persons defamed by the burning iron is ceased but let no man giue out rash iudgement in secret matters 27. They who haue vndertaken a spirituall office should not goe to war-fare nor accept vpon them ciuill offices according to the seventh Canon of the Councell of Chalcedon 31. A theese or a robber who is slaine in the perpetration of his diabolicall fact let no man pray for his soule nor distribute almes for his reliefe 35. Let no iustice-Courts be holden on the Lords day neither of Festivall nor Fasting dayes 39. A man who marrieth a woman of a strange countrey but not of a strange religion shall bee compelled to cohabite with her 40. It shall not bee lawfull for a man to marrie a woman whom hee hath polluted in adultery during her husbands life-time 45. Hee who hath defiled two sisters let him be subiect to penance all his dayes and remaine continent 46. A woman that hath committed adultery and for feare of her husband who pursueth her vnto the death shee fleeth vnto Bishoppes to seeke reliefe let them travell seriously for the safety of her her life and if that can be obtained let her bee restored to her husband againe but if that cannot be obtained let her not bee restored but her husband during his life-time shall not marrie another 54. A forme of externall repentance is prescribed to them who of precogitate malice and of purpose haue committed slaughter CENTVRIE X. IN the yeere of our Lord 903. a Councell was convened at Ravenna of 74. Bishops It seemeth to bee assembled by Iohn the tenth whereat was present Carolus Simplex the King of France In this Councell the acts of Pope Formosus had allowance and the Decrees of Stephanus the sixt were condemned and burnt VNder the raigne of Carolus Simplex King of France a Councell was gathered at Rhemes apparantly for the place is not certaine for correcting the abuse of Church-rents Noblemen in Court such as Hugo and his brother Robert Master of the Kings horses and Vinemarus with diverse others vnder pretence of sustayning the Kinges honourable estate and paying wages to souldiers had converted to their owne vse a great part of Church-rents especially belonging to Abbies Fulco Archbishop of Rhemes vttered his minde freely in the Councell Vinemarus one of the notable oppressors in the Court defiled the Councell with blood and killed Fulco Bishop of Rhemes The Fathers of the Councell returned vnto their owne Churches with great feare for the like of this was not heard since the second Councell of Ephesus called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a Councell of briggandrie because in it Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople was slaine IN the dayes of Otto the first a great Councell was assembled at Rome against Pope Iohn the thirteenth or as others doe reckon Pope Iohn the twelfth The principall faults wherwith he was charged besides perfidiousnes obiected against him by the Emp. were these following to wit 1. Peter a Cardinall Presbyter affirmed hee saw him say masse and communicated not himselfe 2. Iohn Bishoppe Narrien and Iohn a Cardinall Deacon affirmed they saw him ordaine a Deacon in an horse-stable 3. Benedictus with the rest of Deacons and Presbyters affirmed he received money for the ordination of Bishoppes 4. Likewise they sayd albeit they saw it not with their eyes yet they were fully perswaded that hee accompanied with the widow of Rainer and with Stephana his Fathers Concubine and that he made the sacred Pallace like vnto a bawdy-house 5. That he was an open hunter 6. That he thrust out the eyes of Benedict his spirituall Father and by so doing procured his death 7. That he had gelded Iohn an Archdeacon raised fire and cloathed himselfe with armour in military manner 8. That he did drinke to the divell all the Clergie bare witnesse 9. And that in playing at dice hee craved the helpe of Iupiter and Venus and the rest of the gods of the Gentiles whom the Apostle Paul calleth divels 10. That hee sayd not Mattins nor kept his Canonicke houres nor signed himselfe with the signe of the Crosse. 11. That he distributed the golden crosses and chalices of the Church to his harlots 12. That hee had consecrated one Zacheus a wicked man and vnlearned to be Bishop to the Hungars to the end that by his seditious Sermons he might concitate them against the Emperour Concerning the letter written to Pope Iohn by advice of the Emperour Otto and his proud answer sent backe againe to the Councell together with their last good night to him granting to him such power of binding as Iudas had that is to binde his owne necke to the Gallowes Of these things I haue spoken in the Treatise of Succession IN the yeere of our Lord 975. a Councell was gathered in England at Canterburie The question debated in the Councell was concerning the marriage of men in spirituall offices Dunstanus at this time was Bishop of Canterburie and he was an adversarie to the marriage of men in spirituall offices But the question was so wel discussed by testimonies of Scripture and the Fathers of the Primitiue Church that Dunstanus had cause to be ashamed For this cause hee implored the helpe of the Diuell for he was knowne to be a Sorcerer Satan compelled him to persist in his argument And when they were convened againe and in the heate of their disputation a voyce sounded from the Image of the Crucifix which was in the place of their convention that Dunstanus his opinion was the best This lying miracle so dashed the
multitude of simple and ignorant Priestes that they thought it to bee the Oracle of God but in their next meeting Falthodus whom others call Ethelredus a learned man of Scotland so evidently by testimonies of Scriptures and Fathers prooved that marriage was a thing lawfull to men in spirituall offices that the answer which came from the Crucifix was counted the answer of the Divell whom Dunstanus served because Christ would speake nothing repugnant to his owne Word VNder the raigne of Nicephorus Phocas Emperor of Constantinople and when Polyeuchus was Patriarch the Emperour assembled a Councell at Constantinople The question disputed in the Councell was this Nicephorus having obtained the dominion of the East tooke to wife Theophania the relict of Romanus his predecessor This matter so displeased the Patriarch Polyeuchus that hee debarred the Emperour Nicephorus from holy things pretending these two causes First because the Emperour had celebrated the second marriage Secondly because Nicephorus had beene witnesse in Baptisme to the children of Theophania This question being discussed in the Councell in presence both of Prelats and Counsellers the Emperours marriage was allowed and the acts alledged by Polyeuchus was counted impious made by Capronimus and that they had no force to hinder the marriage The proud Patriarch when he was overthrowne by reason armed himselfe with obstinacie and stiffe neckednesse vntill Bardas the Emperours father came to him and affirmed by an oath that Nicephorus the Emperour was not witnesse in Baptisme to the children of Theophania Thus were the Patriarches of the East serious in observing the traditions of men but remisse and negligent in observing the ordinances of God And this is a sure testimony that defection from the faith had now prevayled both in the west and East IN the yeere of our Lord 992. in the ninth yeere of the Emperour Otto and in the fourth yeere of Hugo Capeto King of France a Councel was gathered at Rhemes against Arnulphus Bishop of Rhemes His hand-writing was produced wherein hee did binde himselfe to bee obedient to Hugo Capeto King of France and never to come in the contrary vnder paine of infamy and perpetuall malediction Notwithstanding he had countenanced Duke Charles who claimed the right of the kingdome as nearest heire thereto being the brother of Lotharius To Duke Charles Arnulphus had opened the ports of the towne of Rhemes and made him Commander of the citie Great disputation was in the Councell concerning Arnulphus His friends would haue had this cause remitted to the iudgement of the Bishop of Rome But many of the Bishops of France mightily opponed to the contrary The discourse is very prolix but the paines of reading is well recompenced with the fruitfulnesse of the disputation This Councell toke this end Arnulphus confessed his fault denuded himselfe of his Episcopall honour and Gilbertus who had beene instructor of Robert the Kings sonne was placed in his roome Likewise Arnulphus was sent to Orlience to be imprisoned there together with Siguinus Archbishop of Senon because hee consented not freely to the deposition of Arnulphus but thought that this matter was overswayed by the tyranny of Courtiers and vsurpers of the kingdome vnlawfully VVHen the deposition of Arnulphus was reported at Rome Iohn the thirteenth was mooued with great wrath and incontinent excommunicated all those Bishops of France who had consented to the deposition of Arnulphus In so doing Pope Iohn kept the accustomed order of the Romane Church to wit to pronounce a sentence before a lawfull cognition and tryall of the cause Also hee sent an Abbot called Leo furnished with the authority of the Romane chaire to appoint a new Councell at Rhemes Hugo King of France was somewhat terrified with the cursing of the Bishop of Rome and feared to oppose himselfe to so many bishops agreeing in one minde and therefore he suffered the councell to hold forward The conclusion of this Councell was that Arnulphus was restored to his former dignitie And left that either the Emperour Otto or Hugo Capeto should be offended Gilbertus was promoted to be Bishop of Ravenna CENTVRIE XI IN the yeere of our Lord 1026. and vnder the raigne of the Emp. Henry the second a Councell was assembled at Aken by the authority of the Emperour who seeing the wrath of God kindled against the word manifold tokens of the anger of God manifested in the Calamities hanging vpon the head of all people and nations he gathered this Councel By the authoritie whereof Priests were commanded to pacifie the wrath of God by frequent saying of masse the people by fasting abstinence Princes by distributing of almes to reconcile themselues to God The Doctrine of repetance and amendement of life was forgotten in this time of horrible ignorance and all religion was turned into outward exercises of fasting of distributing of almes and of saying of Masses Also new fasting daies were inioyned to be kept in most solemne manner to the honour of Iohn the Baptist S. Laurence so that by a multitude of human traditions daily increased the ordinance of God as Christ witnesseth was made null and of no effect IN the yeere of our Lord 1023. and in the 21. yeere of the raigne of the Emp. Henry 2. a Councell was assembled at Halignustat wherein Harido Bishop of Mentz was moderator great pains were taken to make a conformitie vnitie in obseruation of superstitious rites in Germanie such as statut times of fasting and abstinence from marriage at certaine times of the yeere and not casting of the corporall into the fire to quench the fire kindled in a towne which was the custome of foolish Priests at that time that no sword shuld be brought into the Church except the Kings sword and no meetings or confabulations should be in the Church or the poarch thereof and that women should not bee addicted to particular and select Masses such as the Masse of the Trinitie and Saint Michael but let them heare common Masses for the safetie of the quicke and the dead Also Lawes were made in this Councell concerning the reckoning of the degrees of consanguinitie and that no man should iourney to Rome for obtaining pardon for great sinnes before hee had first confessed himselfe to his owne Priest and fulfilled the penance prescribed by him with many other constitutions full of new invented superstition IN the yeere of our Lord 1030. and vnder the raigne of the Emperour Conrad the second a Councell was assembled at Triburia The Emperour was present at the Councell After some constitutions about fasting one arose and said that certaine Epistles were come from heauen concerning peace to be renued on earth he was commanded to write a coppie of these Epistles to be communicat to other Bishops to the ende that nations and people might obserue these new lawes following 1. That no man should weare armoure 2. That no man should seeke restitution of things
THE HISTORIE OF THE CHVRCH SINCE THE DAYES OF Our Saviour IESVS CHRIST vntill this present Age. Devided into foure Bookes 1. The first containeth the whole proceedings and practises of the Emperours both of the West and East for or against the Church as also the wonderfull loue of God towards it by whom it was so preserved that neither by Tyranny it could be subdued nor by policie circumvented 2. The second containeth a breefe Catalogue of the beginnings and proceedings of all the Bishops Popes Patriarchs Doctors Pastors and other learned men in Europe Asia and Affrica with or against the Church together with their deaths 3. The third containeth a short summe of all the Heretiques which haue beene in the Church the time when and the place where they lived as also the persons by whom they were subdued 4. The fourth containeth a short compend of all the Councels Generall Nationall and Provinciall together with their severall Canons which haue beene established either with or against the Church Devided into 16. Centuries By all which is clearely shevved and proved the Antiquitie Visibilitie and Perpetuitie of our Church euer since Christs dayes vntill this present Age. Collected out of sundry Authors both ancient and moderne by the famous and worthy Preacher of Gods vvord Master PATRICK SYMSON late Minister at Striueling in Scotland LONDON Printed by I.D. for Iohn Bellamie and are to be sold at his Shop at the three Golden Lions in Corne-hill neere the Royall Exchange and for William Sheffard at the entering in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard streete 1624. TO THE RIGHT GRATIOVS PRINCE LODOWICK Duke of Richmond and Lenox Baron of Settrington Darnley Teâ—banten and Methuen Lord great Chamberlane and Admirall of Scotland Lord Steward of the Kings household Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honorable privie Councell ALthough it may seeme both to your Grace and others great presumption in me a stranger to trouble your Grace either with the view of these vnpolished lines or this ensuing Historie yet I hope the latter shal be a sufficient excuse for the former For having received it from your Noble Sister the Countesse of Marre at her Ladiships commaundement and especiall direction I revised it put it to the Presse hastened the Printing and now also craue your Graces Patronage thereto not so much respecting the greatnesse of your authoritie as the goodnes of your nature and disposition whereof much might be sayd but that I hold it needlesse to shew the Sunne with a candle Thus humbly commending it to your Graces favourable acceptation and heartily committing you to the Almighties gracious protection I humbly take my leaue resting Your Graces humble servant A. Symson TO THE RIGHT NOBLE VERTVOVS and elect Ladie Marie Countesse of Marre P.S. wisheth grace mercie and eternall felicitie THE estate of the Church of Christ NOBLE LADIE whereof wee reioyce to be accounted feeling members hath beene subject vnto manifold afflictions even from the beginning of the world not like vnto the estate of Moab setled vpon her dregs and not poured out from vessell to vessell yet the more afflicted the more beloved of God whose face watred with teares is faire and whose mourning voyce is pleasant in the sight of God and as doing of good willingly hath a great recompence of reward from God even so patient suffering of evill for righteousnesse sake as it is highly commended in Scripture so it shall be richly rewarded in heaven yea the very heathnick Philosopher Plato to whom the glory of the sufferings for Christ was vnknowne affirmeth that men who suffer scourging binding tormenting boring out of eyes and finally strangling of their breath for righteousnesse sake are exceeding happy are as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth thrice happy although the superlatiue degree of suffering which can be found amongst the heathnicks could never equall the glorie of the sufferings of Christians They who were initiated in the mysteries of Mittera which word in the Persian language signifieth the Sunne could not bee admitted to that honour before they had beene tried by suffering fourscore divers sorts of punishments such as long abstinence from meate and drinke solitarie living in the wildernes a long time tryall of suffering the fervent heate of fire and the coldnes of water and many other torments vntill the number of fourescore had beene completed These voluntarie sufferings like as in the beginning they wanted the warrant of Gods calling so likewise in the end they wanted the hope of Gods reward but the mouth of God himselfe pronounceth Christians to be blessed who die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works follow them The manifold persecutions of the Church may be devided into three rankes some were fierce and bloodie some were craftie the third was and is both craftie and cruell The ten heathnicke Emperours Nero Domitian Traian c. were so prodigall of the blood of the Lords Saints that they poured it out like water vpon the ground The Arrian Emperors were subdolous and craftie but the persecution of Antichrist which is the third goeth beyond the rest both in crueltie and craft yea the experience which we haue had in our owne dayes of the cruelty of Antichrists supposts and their craftie convey of their malicious enterprises intended against our Soveraigne Lord His Royall race and Noble Counsellers doth cleerely proue that the malice and craft of Antichrist goeth as farre beyond the craft and malice of all Emperours as the flood of Noah exceedeth the inundation of Nilus In the first second and third Centuries the faith and patience of Christians was tried by the yoake of ten bloody persecutions For first the Apostles who had heard with their eares the words of the great shepheard of our soules and seene with their eyes God manifested in the flesh were chosen to be faithfull to the world of the doings sufferings and doctrine of Iesus Christ and next to the Apostles their Disciples and true successours sealed vp with rivers of blood that faith which they receiued from the Apostles The fire wherewith they were burnt the water wherein they were drowned the ayre wherein their bodies were hanged the mountaines and wildernesses through which they wandered the darke prisons wherein they were enclosed as people vnworthy of libertie yea all the elements the very light of heauen from whence by most vnrighteous violence they the righteous heires thereof were excluded all these I say were witnesses of their glorious sufferings In the fourth fift and sixt Centuries the knowledge of the Church was tryed by Heretiques who by the mistie clowds of error endeavoured to blindfold the eyes of men and to leade them captiue from the simplicity of the truth of God at which time also the power of the light of God was manifested in discipating the darknesse of errours as the Sun-rising doth the darknesse
of the night In the seventh eighth and ninth Centuries the Romane Church resembling the Harlots of Heliopolis in Phoenitia who having liberty to prostitute themselues to the lust of strangers teach their children procreated by this libidinous copulation to depend only vpon them whom they know not vpon their fathers whom they know not disadvantageth her children with the voyce of God sounding in holy Scripture teaching that it is sufficient to beleeue as the Church of Rome the mother of al Churches beleeveth which in matters of faith cannot erre But wee must depend vpon the voyce of God our heavenly Father Who hath begotten vs by the incorruptible seed of his Word fed vs with the sincere milke of the same and anoynted vs with the balme of Gilead making glad his owne Citie even with the waters of his owne Sancturay The lowd sounding trumpets of vaine and idle words we leaue to the adversaries of the truth for that is their armour wherewith they fight against the Gospell of Iesus Christ. In the tenth eleventh and twelfth Centuries the tyranny of Antichrist was accompanied with a wonderfull growth of lyes falshood and ridiculous fables of which the absurdity of one striving with the absurditie of anotheâ— derogateth in the end credite from them all and as the souldiers of Cadmus who were bred of Dragons teeth kill one another Vincentius is not ashamed to write that they who regarded more their play game dancing then they did the reverend hearing of the masse were plagued with a continuance in dancing without intermission for the space of a twelue-moneth thereafter If penne could blush if hand could tremble if paper could bee ashamed such ridiculous fables had not beene written At this time learning was not to bee found in Pastors sincerity in Councels humility in Prelates and true religion in the multitude of people and Nations For in stead of these there was abundance of Liturgies Processions and Pilgrimages Masses superstitious vowes multiplication of vnprofitable ceremonies confidence in externall service as if it could saue ex opere operato Fastings tyed to dayes and moneths not vnlike to the fasts of the Donatists At this time the vines of Sodome and Gomorrah abounded with grapes of gall and bitter clusters At this time the key of the kingdome of God seemed almost lost the preaching of the kindome of Christ ceased for the most part The authority and preheminence of the Pope over Princes and all men in spirituall offices like the axes and hammers of the Assyrians cutting downe the carved worke of the house of the Lord sounded so lowd in all Churches that the sound of the Gospell could scarcely be heard And although at this time there were some Romane Bishops who spoke against the kingdome of the Divell yet their hearts were so filled by him with ambition avarice vncleannesse contempt of the lawfull authority of Princes superstition and horrible idolatry that hee led them head-long to hell as men may leade dogs though barking aloud whither they please In the thirteenth fourteenth fifteenth and sixteenth Centuries even to these our times there is nothing to bee expected but a discoverie of Antichrists hypocrisie a decay of his vsurped authority an abrogation of his tyrannous lawes and finally an vtter ruine and destruction of his kingdome notwithstanding of all the maintainers and vpholders of the same And surely it is a great encouragement to vs when we see false teachers dayly renuing their forces to fight against the truth as the Philistims did who fought against David in the valley of Rephaim after they had beene often discomfited by him The last period of their reluctation against the Lords annoynted was losse and hurt to themselues and dishonour to their gods whom they were forced to leaue behinde them which David tooke and burnt with fire calling the place Baalperatzim that is the rupture of Baal The adversaries of the Gospell in Christendom by renuing their forces againe are procuring a new name vnto their Idols They cannot bee content with the name of Baal-peor Baal-meon Baal-thamar Baal-chatsor Baal-gad but they will spread out their banners in the valley of Rephaim against the Lord longing for the last name Baal-peperatzim confusion to themselves That this hath beene the estate of the Church euer since the dayes of Christ vntill this present doth evidently appeare out of the ensuing History wherein besides the antiquity and visibility of this our Church your Ladiship may also as in a mirrour behold her wonderful constancie opposed to her enemies cruelty Let the Papists to cover the turpitude of their new found doctrine pretend antiquity as much as they will yet they will never bee able to proue it So did the Hagarens boldly vsurp the name of Saracens although they were only the brood that sprang from the wombe of Hagar the hand-maide of Sarah And the Priests boy in the dayes of Eli came to the Caldron while the flesh of the peace-offering was seething and thrust in his flesh-hooke all that the flesh-hooke brought vp the Priest tooke for himselfe which thing was done by violence the Priest having no right thereto The Roman Church in our dayes having borrowed the flesh-hooke of the Priests boy and violently arrogated vnto themselues the faithfull keeping of ancient Apostolique traditions when wee demand where the Charter containing their title and right wee see nothing but the flesh-hooke with these three teeth in their hand 1. The Church cannot erre 2. Wee are the true Church 3. Cursed be hee that saith in matters of faith our generall Councels can erre Madam accept vnder your Ladiships favourable protection these my travailes in weaknesse not vnlike the writer whose life it hath pleased the Lord to prolong these many yeeres by-past vnder many infirmities of a dayly decaying tabernacle containing a faithfull testimony of my humble endeavour to confirme the branches of your noble houshould in the true faith of Christ. Though there be many that forsake Christ and are as reprobate silver from whom the drosse cannot bee separated yet let the Noble house of Marre follow Christ. And as Helene Queen of Adiabani when she left her Countrey and came to dwell at Ierusalem filled the bellies of the poore with the corne of Egypt and the fruites of Cyprus for it was a yeere of vniversall famine and spared for no cost to doe good to the Saints who were at Ierusalem so I beseech the Lord to raise vp many honourable Ladies such as your Ladiship is to refresh the barren soules of ignorant people in this Land with examples of humilitie modestie godlinesse and all other vertues Now the mercies of the Lord Iesus The Author and finisher of our faith attend vpon my Lord your husband vpon your Ladiship and all your Noble house and The great Mediator of the covenant of God stablish all your hearts in the certainty of his vndoubted truth vnto the end and in
to bee inhabitants of it and was called by the Emperours name AElia Thus we see that the Iewes who would not receiue Christ who came in his Fathers name yet they received another who came in his owne name and like vnto babes who are easily deceived with trifles they were bewitched with the splendor of a glorious name for Barcochebas signifieth the sonne of a starre and hee said to the Iewes that hee was sent as a light from heaven to succour their distressed estate but hee might haue beene called more iustly Barchosba the sonne of a lie Here I giue warning againe that we take heed to our selues left wee bee circumvented with the deceitfull snares of the diuell for it is an easie thing to fall but a difficult thing to rise againe The Christians who lived in the dayes of Adrian were glad to bee refreshed with the crums of outward comfort which are denyed to no accused person in the whole world viz. that Christians shall not be condemned to death for the importunate clamours and cryes of a raging people accusing them except it be prooved that they haue transgressed the Law and haue committed some fact worthy of death Reade the Epistle of Adrian written to Minutius Fundanus Deputy in Asia The good intention of Adrian in building a Church for the honour of Christ voyd of Images because such was the custome of Christians was hindered by some of his familiar friends who sayd that if hee so did all men would forsake the temples of the gods of the Gentiles and become Christians In this point good Reader marke what Church is like vnto the ancient Primitiue and Apostolike Church whether the Church decked with Images or the Church voyd of Images Antoninus Pius TO Adrian succeeded Antoninus Pius his adopted son and raigned 23. yeares Hee was so carefull to preserue the liues of his Subjects that hee counted it greater honour to saue the life of one Subiect then to destroy the liues of a thousand enemies In this Emperours time Iustinus Martyr wrote notable bookes of Apologie for the Christians which were presented and read in the Senate of Rome and mollified the Emperours minde toward Christians as clearely appeareth by his edict proclaimed at Ephesus in time of most solemne conventions of all Asia Antoninus Philosophus and L. Verus AFter Antoninus Pius succeeded his sonne in law Antoninus Philosophus otherwise called Marcus Aurelius with his brother L. Aurelius Verus This is the first time wherein the Romane Empire was governed by two Augusties Albeit Titus had associated his brother Domitian to be a fellow labourer with him in the worke of government yet was not Domitian counted or called Augustus vntill the death of his brother Titus But now at one and the selfe same time two Emperours do raigne Antoninus Philosophus raigned nineteene yeares Lucius Verus his brother nine yeares And so after the death of Verus the whole gouernment returned to Antoninus Philosophus onely Hee was called a Philosopher not onely in regard of his knowledge but also in respect of the practise of Philosophie He was neither greatly pust vp by prosperity nor cast downe by aduersity yet he was a cruell persecuter of innocent Christians Now is the fuell added to the furnace the fourth time and the flame is great and the arme of wicked men who hated the name of Christians is strengthened by the Emperours commandement The trumpets of the Monarches of the world found the alarme against him who made them Kings rulers on the earth The poore innocent lambs of the sheepfold of Christ appointed for the shambles strengthened their hearts in God and in the power of his might chose rather to suffer adversity with their brethren then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season they were content to be racked and would not be delivered that they might bee partakers of a better resurrection whose bodies torne with stripes vntill their very inward bowels were patent to the outward sight witnessed the vnrent firmenesse and stability of their faith They were so supported with the power of that grace that commeth from aboue that they were not terrified with the multiplied numbers of cruell torments newly devised for dashing that invincible courage of faith which was seene in Christians Yea further then this When the persecuting enemies were compelled to change the high tuned accent of their menacing speeches and to craue but a little conformitie to the Emperours desire in swearing by his fortune the holy men of God would not once seeme to fall away from their profession by answering with timerous and doubtfull words but glorified God with a cleare and constant confession of their Christian faith Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and Iustinus Martyr a man of singular erudition were both martyred in the fervent heat of this persecution But aboue all other places the consuming flame of the furnace brast out most vehemently in France that happy Nation wherein both of old and late time so many were found worthy to giue their blood for the name of Christ. Vetius Epagathus Maturus Prothenus Attalus Sanctus and Photinus Bishoppe of Lyons all suffered for the testimony of Christ in France And Blandina a worthy woman suffered many torments and renewed her spirituall courage by continuall iteration of these words Christiana sum that is I am a Christian. In like manner Christians were persecuted with the slanderous speeches of Pagans obiecting vnto them the banquets of Thyestes and the chambering of Oedipus that is the eating of mens flesh and incestuous coppulations But men who are giuen to the momentaneall delights of sin are not willing to die because that by death they are separated from all bodily pleasures The Christians by patient and willing suffering of death for Christs sake clearely witnessed vnto the world that they were not addicted to the deceitfull pleasures of sinne Neverthelesse these slanderous speeches were credited by the pagans and tooke such deepe roote in their hearts that those who seemed before to be more meek and moderate then others now they became full of madnesse and rage against Christians and that which was foretolde by our master Christ it was fulfilled at this time to wit The time shall come that whosoever killeth you shall thinke hee doth God good service The huge number of Martyrs that were slaine in the fury of this persecution are both accurratly and at great length set downe by that worthy instrument of Gods glory who lately wrote the Booke of Martyrs I onely point out shortly the estate of the Church at this time In this Emperours time good men were not wanting who admonished him to appease his wrath against Christians such as Claudius Apolinaris Bishop of Hierapolis and Melito Bishop of Sardis But nothing could asswage his cruell heart vntill hee was cast into the furnace of grievous troubles himselfe for his army that fought against the Germanes and Samaritanes fell
of the booke of martyres Onely I find somethings in this seuenth persecution which the principall purpose wherefore I haue collected this compend will not permit me to passe ouer with silence Namely these first let no ma n thinke that the veritie is weake and hath neede to be strengthened by a lie as Nicephorus is accustomed to doe The seuen martyres of Ephesus whose names were Maximianus Malchus Martinianus Dionysius Ioannes Serapion and Constantinus were lurking in a caue the entrie whereof Decius commanded to be closed with great heapes of stones to the end that the forenamed Christians might be killed with famine which came to passe indeede Yet famine could not separate these holy Martyres from Christ. But Nicephorus the father of many other fables also saith that they fell on sleepe which they continued till the time of Theodosius that is from the 250. vntill the 379. yeere of our Lord and then they did awake out of their sleepe saith Nicephorus But he who will giue hastie credite to Nicephorus fables writing of the 7. martyres who lurked in a caue of mount Caelius and to Euagrius description of Barsanuphius an Egyptian monke who enclosed himselfe in a cottage beside Gaza for the space of 50. yeares and vsed no kinde of bodily refreshment to sustaine his earthly tabernacle he may be easily led to all kinde of errour The second thing worthy to be marked is that many persecuted preachers had wiues and children as the historie recordeth Cheremon Bishop of a citie in Egypt called Nilus fled to the mountaines of Arabia accompanied with his wife and returned not againe to Egypt neither was he seene of those who sought him in the wildernesse Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria who miraculously escaped the crueltie of persecuters maketh expresse mention of his children Deo mihi vt migrarem praecipiente viámque mirabiliter aperiente ego liberi multi fratres egressisumus that is after that God had commanded me to remooue and had miraculously opened a passage vnto me I and my children and brethren went forth If antiquitie be regarded Bishops who doe marrie are not Nicolatian Heretiques but rather such as forbid to marrie teach a doctrine of deuils Thirdly it is to be marked that in time of this vehement persecution many fainted and fell backe from the open profession of Christian faith Others to prouide timous remedie against such defections gaue out a rigorous sentence against such as had fallen of infirmitie that they should not be receiued againe into the fellowship of the church In this opinion was Nouatus and his complices And by their example we should learne to beware of such men as vnder pretence of zeale perturbe the vnitie of the Church and inuent remedies to cure the maladies of the diseased Church which are worse then the sicknes it selfe as the Novatians did Weakenes at some time is to be pitied but deuilish rigour pitying no man who falleth of infirmitie is a lesson that hath no allowance in the booke of God This cruell tyrant after he had raigned two yeeres made warre against the Scythians some call them the Gothes by whom hee was vanquished in battell and fearing to be ouertaken and to come vnder the tyrannie of barbarous people he cast himselfe into a deepe pit where he ended his life and his body could not be found The great desolations that were made in the world about this time by the plague of pestilence the Ethnickes imputed the cause of them to the Christians But Cyprian whose pen the Lord guided better declared that the cause of all these calamities was the worshipping of Idols the contempt of Gods true seruice and the persecuting of innocent Christians Gallus and Volusian AFter Decius Gallus and Volusian his sonne raigned two yeeres Hee walked in the footsteps of Decius Hee was slaine by Emilian who presumed to raigne but he was so hastily made out of the way that Eusebius and many other Historians misknow his name in the Catalogue oâ— Emperours Valerianus and Gallienus VAlerianus and Gallienus his sonne raigned 15. yeeres viz. Gallienus with his father in coniunct authoritie 7. yeeres after his fathers captivity and death hee raigned alone eight yeeres In the first three or foure yeeres of the Empire of Valerian hee was favourable and friendly to Christians and great numbers of them were found in the Emperours Court But afterward hee was seduced by an Egyptian Sorcerer who hated Christians because that by them he was hindred from practicing his magicall charms So the eight persecution began vnder Valerian In this persecution suffered three Bishops of Rome Lucius Stephanus and Sixtus and a Deacon Laurence who was layd vpon an hot broyling iron and patiently endured the torment of fire This is that Deacon who called the poore the treasure of the Church for then is the Church rich when it is rich in good workes and feedeth clotheth and visiteth Christ in his hungry naked and diseased members Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria was banished to Cephro a place in the wildernesse of Libya Priscus Malâ—bus and Alexander were devoured by beasts in Caesarea Palestina Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was beheaded Marinus a Roman Captaine in Caesarea was envied for the dignity and honour he was advanced vnto and hee was accused to bee a Christian and consequently to bee vncapable of great preferments and dignities he was encouraged by Theotecnus Bishop of Caesarea patiently to suffer death for the cause of Christ by taking him into a secret chamber and laying before him a drawne sword and the booke of the Gospell and bidding him take his choice of one of these two which he liked best Marinus liked better the booke of the Gospell then of the sword and was martyred for the faith contained in that sacred booke of holy Scripture Astyrius a noble Senatour caryed the body of this holy Martyr Marinus vpon his own shoulders and buried it hounourably In the end the Lord delivered this persecuting Tyrant into the hand of Sapor King of Persia who not onely detained him in strait captivity but also abused him most filthily and made his bodie a footstoole and trampled vpon his necke at such times as he was about to mount on horsebacke This fearfull captivity of Valerian had vnto it a notable testimony of the wrath of God against persecuters For like as hee trampled vnder his feet the Church of Christ so in like manner the Lord gaue his necke and backe to be trampled vpon by the feet of his enemies This example of Gods heavie indignation somewhat terrified Galâ—ienus his sonne and he gaue out an edict for the safe returning of such as were banished to their own dwelling places and for staying the rage of persecution Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria having liberty granted by the Emperors edict to returne from banishment came back againe to Alexandria wherein hee found such terrible desolation by famine
and pestilence that there remained not of men women and children so many aliue as there were wont to be of ancient hoare-headed men walking vpon their streets the Lord was so highly displeased with the vnthankfull world that hee was determined to consume them who had consumed his people The good carriage of Christians at this time is worthie to be marked who were full of charitie and loue and visited the sicke and did all offices of humanity to those who were diseased or dead whereas the Pagans by the contrary forsooke their dearest friends left them comfortlesse and thrust out such as were halfe dead into the streets and left them there vnburied and to be eaten with dogs This is written in the letter of Dionysius inserted in the history of Eusebius So great difference is betweene Christians trained vp in the schoole of Christ and others who haue not beene fed with the sincere milke of the Word Christians in time of sicknesse were more dutifull to their enemies then others were vnto their friends If any man would defend worshipping of images to bee an ancient custome in the Church by the two brasen images which were set vp in Caesarea Philippi for a memoriall of the miracle that Christ wrought in curing of the woman who had a bloody issue this place of Eusebius will make nothing for him For these images were not made for adoration neither were they set vp in temples nor worshipping places but in the very street before the doore of the woman who had beene cured The places whereunto Christians were gathered together for divine service at this time are called in the mandate of the Emperour Gallienus Caemiteria In these places no man readeth that images were set vp Besides this these images were graven or molten by the hands of Pagans and not of Christians and this fact was done by imitation of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is according to the custome of the Gentiles hee saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the custome of her owne kindred but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as is said Yet may wee take warning by this place to beware of the small beginnings of errour Images haue beene like vnto a base borne fellow who at the first can haue no credit to set his head into the Kings palace but afterward hee getteth accesse into the outer court and in the end his credit daily increasing by degrees he getteth favour to lie in the Kings bed-chamber even so in the first 300. yeere of our Lord images were not brought in into places of holy conventions afterward they were brought in into Churches but not worshipped as the Epistle of Gregorius the first written to Severus Bishop of Marsil cleerly testifieth But in the end adoration of images was in so frequent vse as if it had beene the principall point of the worship of God Claudius and Quintilius CLaudius after Gallienus raigned two yeeres And his brother Quintilius seuenteene dayes Hee is not reckoned by Eusebius in the roll of Emperours Aurelianus AFter Quintilius Aurelianus possessed the crowne sixe yeeres In the beginning of his raigne hee was not a great disturber of Christians Notwithstanding in continuance of time his nature somewhat inclinable to severitie was altered to plaine tyranny which tyranny first hee shewed beginning with the murther of his owne sisters sonne as witnesseth Eutropius After that hee proceedeth to moove the ninth persecution against Christians albeit the mercifull working of God did soone overthrowe all the wicked purposes of the Emperour For as the edict and proclamation should haue beene denounced for the persecuting of Christians the mighty hand of God from aboue did suddenly stop his purpose cleerly declaring to all men that there is no power to worke any violence against the servants of God vnlesse his permission doe suffer them and giue them leaue Here I see that D. Iohn Fox writer of the booke of Martyrs taketh leaue of Vincentius Martyrologie If others had done the like they had not heaped vp so many Martyrs in the dayes of Claudius Quintilius and Aurelian as they haue done For Eusebius had assuredly made mention of it if the number had beene so great as Vincentius recordeth Before the Emperours minde was altered and inclined to tyranny against Christians hee assisted with his authority the Bishops convened at Antiochia for the deposition and excommunication of the heretique Samosatenus and so the Emperours authority being interposed this proud Heretike was compelled to stoope and to giue place and with great ignominy was driven from the towne of Antiochia In his place Domnus was elected to be Bishop of Antiochia a man endued with good graces the sonne of Demetrian who immediatly before Samosatenus governed the Church of Antiochia And here againe it is to be marked that the Bishops at this time albeit it was a time of persecution yet did they not abhorre from marriage for Demetrianus Bishop of Antiochia was a married man and had children and Domnus his sonne so that the prohibition of mariage to men in spirituall offices is not an ancient doctrine Annius Tacitus and Florianus AFter Aurelian was slaine betweene Bizans and Heraclea the Imperiall chaire was vacant six moneths The Senate of Rome elected Annius Tacitus to be Emperour Hee continued but six moneths in his government Eusebius overpasseth his name with silence as likewise the name of his brother Florianus who aspired to the Imperiall dignity Aurelius Probus AVrelius Probus a gentle and peaceable Emperour raigned six yeeres three moneths Hee was envied by his Captaines and Souldiers because hee appointed them to plant vineyards and said there was no great need of souldiers where no enemy was to be feared He was slaine by his souldiers Carus Carinus Numerianus CArus with his two sonnes Carinus and Numerianus raigned after Probus All these three continued not aboue the space of three yeeres And Numerianus was slaine by his owne father in law called Aper Carus was slaine by thunder and Carinus was ouercome in battell and slaine by Dioclesian whom the Romane army had declared to be Emperour while Carinus was yet aliue Dioclesianus and Maximinianus LIke as Dioclesian overcame Carinus the sonne of Carus in battell even so likewise hee slew Aper the father in law of Numerianus with his owne hands Whether this was done for detestation of sinne or for desire of government it is vncertaine Alwayes some affirme that his concubine Druas had sayd vnto him that hee should kill a wilde Boare before hee should bee Emperour And after the killing of Aper which name by interpretation signifieth a wilde Boare hee became Emperour In the beginning of his raigne hee chused for his colleague Maximianus surnamed Hercules father to Maxentius And these two chused other two viz. Galerius and Constantius Chlorus the father of Constantine whom they called Caesars but the honourable title of Augustus Dioclesian
suppresse those who proudly despised the councell of Chalcedon and obstinatly maintained the heresie of Eutyches Notwithstanding the madnes and rage of Eutychian heretiques began in his time immediately after the report of the death of Martianus Procerius Bishop of Alexandria was cruelly slaine by them in the Church haled through the streets and with beastly cruelty they chewed the intrals of his body hauing before ordained Timotheus to bee their Bishop The Emperour banished Timotheus beeing first foreseene that not only Leo bishop of Rome but also all other bishops of chiefe account damned the ordination of Timotheus The terrible earthquake which destroyed a part of Antiochia the more terrible fire which wasted a great part of Constantinople were fore running tokens of the great desolation that should ensue by the detestable heresie of Eutyches Zeno. THe Emperour Leo left his Kingdome to his nephew the sonne of Zeno called Leo but hee fell sicke and died when he had scarce reigned 1. yeere So his father Zeno had the Emperiall soueraigntie 17. yeeres hee was of a bad religion dissolute in manners intemperate effeminate and hated of all men Therefore Basiliscus conspired against him and Zeno fled Basiliscus was a persecuter of the true faith damned by his encyclicke letters the Councell of Chalcedon restored Euthychian bishops to their places againe such as Timotheus Arideus to Alexandria Petrus Cnapheus to Antiochia Paulus to Ephesus fiue hundreth preachers were found who subscribed Basiliscus letters and cursed the councell of Chalcedon So great a plague it is either to haue ignorant Pastors who know not the trueth of God or cowardly teachers who will suffer no rebuke for the knowne truth of God Zeno returned to his Kingdome againe within 2. yeeres hee banished Basiliscus to Cappadocia where he was slaine with his wife and children Hee abolished the encyclicke letters of Basiliscus and eicted Petrus Cnapheus out of Antiochia and Paulus out of Ephesus Timotheus of Alexandria was old infirme and neere to the last period of his life els also he had bin eiected out of Alexandria for Zeno not for loue of the true faith but for hatred of the name of Basiliscus endeuoured to doe all that he had done Vnder the raigne of Zeno came Odoacer assisted with people of Pannonia called Rugi Turcilingi and Heruli and inuaded Italie and slew Orestes at Pagia and compelled his sonne Augustulus to denude himselfe of emperiall honours so that the Romane empire as it began in the person of Augustus Caesar so likewise it ended in the person of Augustulus the sonne of Orestes Odoacer would not vsurpe the glorious title of an Emperour but called himselfe King of Italie and raigned 14. yeeres Zeno on the other part stirred vp Theodoricus King of Gothes to expell Odoacer out of Italie Theodoricus encountred with him diuerse times and preuailed In the end he besieged him in Ravenna vntill a couenant of peace was bound vp betwixt them but it lasted a short time for Theodoricus vnder pretence of friendship called Odoacer and his sonnes to a banket and caused them cruelly to bee slaine Afterward he raigned himselfe alone in Italie 33. yeeres hee reedified the townes in Italie which by violence of warres had beene wasted made desolate and was well beloued of the people and albeit in religion he was an Arrian yet he abstained from persecution of those who professed the true faith The Eutychian persecution is already begun but the Arrian persecution is not yet ended Hunnericus sonne of Gensericus king of Vandales was an Arrian persecuter so vnmercifull that in Africke where his dominion was he had neither compassion on sexe or age he banished at one time fiue thousand professors of the true faith And such as were infirme and weake and could neither trauell by foote nor horse he commanded cords to be knit to their legges and to traile them through the rough places of the wildernes and by such merciles dealing the death of many innocent people was procured but the Lord suffered not this crueltie to be vnpunished for the Lord plagued the Vandales with famine and pest and Hunnericus was so long tormented with venemous biles that in the end he was consumed with vermine and in great miserie ended his most wretched life In this Centurie studying for brevitie I haue ouerpassed some remarkable thinges such as the deceitfull practises of the wise men of Persia to diuert the affection of their King Isdigerdes from the loue he had caried to Maruthas Bishop in Mesopotamia and Embassadour of Theodosius 2. This historie is set downe at length by Socrates In like maner the calamitie of the Iewes who dwelt in the Isle of Candie and were piteously abused by a deceiuing fellow who called himselfe Moses and promised to lead them through the Mediterran sea to their owne lande as Moses led the people of Israel through the read sea this calamitie read in the 7. booke of the ecclesiastical historie of Socrates chap. 38. The Iewes were commanded to cast themselues into the sea and to swim vnto a rocke but they were drowned in the sea and dashed vpon the hard rocke and by the meanes of Christian fishers some few escaped This historie is referred vnto the 434. yeere of our Lord so that it fell foorth vnder the raigne of Theodosius 2. The miraculous conuersion of the Burgundians to the faith of Christ about the same time I haue of purpose ouerpassed willing to be short and to giue a viewe of the historie to those who are desirous to read CENTVRIE VI. Anastatius AFter Zeno succeeded Anastatius and gouerned 27. yeeres He was a patrone of the heresie of Eutyches He banished Euphemius Bishop of Constantinople because hee would not redeliuer vnto him that letter which he had subscribed before his Coronation wherein he was bound to attempt nothing against the true faith and namely against the councel of Chalâ—edon In like manner hee banished Macedonius the successour of Euphemius for the same cause for he had the custodie of the hand-writing of Anastatius and the Emperour gaue secret Commandement to make him out of the way at Gangra the place of his banishment Xenoeas Bishop of Hierapolis a firebrand of Sathan stirred vp the Emperours minde to great rage partly by gathering a Councell at Sidon wherein they damned the actes of the councel of Chalcedon and partly by stirring vp the Emperor to wrath against good men such as were principall defenders of the true faith namely Flauianus Bishop of Antiochia and Helias Bishop of Ierusalem The people of Antiochia were very friendly to their Pastor and finding that a great number of Monkes sauouring Eutyches errour had assembled in the towne of Antiochia to compell Flauianus their Bishop to accurse and abiure the councell of Chalcedon they set vpon the Monkes and slewe a number of them others leaped into the riuer of Orontes where they found a meet buriall for
of the West Now Irene was deposed and banished by Nicephorus who raigned eight yeeres after her banishment CENTVRIE IX Carolus Magnus IN the yeere of our Lord 801. Charles the Great King of France was declared Emperour by Leo the third Bishop of Rome and hee raigned sixteene yeeres in his Imperiall dignity for hee continued King of France forty and six yeeres The Empire of the West had beene cut off since the dayes of Augustulus the sonne of Orestes whom Odoacer King of Rugiheruli c. had compelled to denude himselfe of the Imperiall dignity Now after the issue of 300. yeeres and after the Hunnes the Gothes the Lombards and other Nations had obtained dominion in the West all abstaining notwithstanding of their prevailing power from the name dignity and stile of Emperours Now at length I say Charles the Great is anoynted and crowned Emperor by Leo the third in the towne of Rome And this was the beginning of that evill custome which after followed to wit That Emperours should receiue their coronation from the Bishops of Rome At this time the Empire of the East was in the hands of the Empresse Irene and in the hands of the Emperour Nicephorus who had banished Irene and raigned in her stead The Empire of the East was also weake at this time as appeareth by a covenant of peace which they concluded with Charles Emperour of the West in the which no mention is made of Exarchatus Ravennae to be rendred againe vnto them onely that the Isle of Sicile and the townes and lands which lie from Naples Eastward on the right hand and from Manfredonia sometimes called Syponto on the left hand compassed about with the Seas called Superum Inferum these should remaine in the possession of the Emperours of Constantinople ' Charles a prudent and godly Emperour more sound and vpright in sundry heads of Christian doctrine then many others for hee detested the worshipping of Images as vile Idolatry as appeareth by his bookes written against the second Councell of Nice Charles was very friendly to Christians and defended them against the violence and tyranny of their persecuting enemies namely against Godfridus King of Denmarke a fierce adversary against the Christians who dwelt in Saxony Likewise hee subdued the Slavonians and Bohemians enemies to Christian Religion and was iustly called Magnus for his great exploits and valiant acts which God prospered in his hand Pipinus the sonne of the Emperour Charles was declared King of Italy who died before his father and after his death hee appointed Bernard his nephew to raigne in Italy with expresse commandement That hee should bee obedient to his sonne Ludovicke whome hee ordained to be successour to himselfe in the Imperiall office So the Emperor Charles full of dayes died in the 71. yeere of his age and was buried in Aken Ludovicus Pius AFter Charles succeeded his sonne Ludovicus Pius and raigned 26. yeeres For his gentle and meeke behaviour he was called Pius He received the Imperiall Diadem from Stephanus the fourth at Aken Bernard his brothers sonne forgetfull of the mandate of Charles the Great rebelled against Ludovicus Pius and was beheaded at Aken Likewise his owne sonnes assisted with Hugobortus Bishop of Lions and Bernhardus Bishop of Vienne and other Bishops who did excommunicate the Emperour for adherence to Iudith his wife behaued themselues very vndutifully towards their father Neverthelesse he freely pardoned his sonnes and accepted them againe into favour Also Fredericke Bishop of Vtrecht threatned to excommunicate the Emperour if hee did noâ— forsake the company of Iudith his welbeloved wife and daughter to the Duke of Bavaria because shee was his neere kinswoman to wit in degrees of consanguinity for bidden in the Popish lawe The Empresse willing to bee revenged of the Bishop shee hired two Gentlemen who set vpon him after Church service and slew him in his Priestly garments In his time also the Saracens in huge numbers like vnto Locusts swarmed out of Egypt and Africke and invaded the Isle of Sicile By cutting downe all fruitfull trees burning Townes Temples and Monasteries and by killing Bishops Priests and Monkes they brought the I le to an vtter desolation Gregory the fourth at that time was Pope and hee exhorted the Emperour and his sonne Lotharius to support the distressed estate of the Isle of Sicile They answered That albeit that matter duly belonged to Michael Emperour of Constantinople yet neverthelesse they refused not to vndertake the worke vpon the common charges of the Countrey Now whilest these things were in reasoning Bonifacius Count of Corsica and his brother Bertarius with support of the people of Hetruria arrived with a Navie at Africke and betwixt Vtica and Carthage encountred with the Saracens foure times and slew of them so great a number that they were compelled to recall their forces backe againe from Sicile like as of old the Carthaginians vexed by Scipio recalled Hanniball for the safety of his owne country So Bonifacius returned back againe with an army victorious and richly lodened with the spoyle of his enemies Nothing was more vnprovidently done by the good Emperour Lodovicus Pius then the giving ouer of that right voluntarily conferred to Charles his father by Adrian the first and Leo the third to wit That no man should be elected Pope without the consent and allowance of the Emperour This foresaid right Ludovicus gaue over to the Clergie and people of Rome onely the Romanes for keeping of friendshippe should send an Ambassadour to the King of France declaring whom they had elected to bee Pope Hereby a patent doore was opened to all mischiefe which after followed and to that horrible contention betwixt Emperours and Popes concerning investment of Bishops In his time three Emperours raigned in the East at Constantinople to wit Leo Armenius Michael Balbus and Theophilus Leo Armemenius raigned seven yeeres Hee banished Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople for defending adoration of Images Michael Balbus slew Leo his predecessor whilst he was praising God in the Church and raigned in his stead nine yeeres In his time the Saracens mightily prevailed a number of them issued out of Spaine and tooke the Isle of Candie Another company comming from Africke wasted the Isle of Sicile Theophilus raigned ten yeeres and fought against the Saracens who did oppresse the countrey of Asia but he had no good successe Lotharius LOtharius the sonne of Ludovicus Pius was declared King of Italy and Augustus before his fathers death He was anoynted by Pope Paschalis in the Church of Saint Peter and he raigned 15. yeeres Great hostility and bloody warres fell out amongst the children of Ludovicus Pius to wit Lotharius Lewis Charles and Pipinus fordividing of their fathers Lands In this civill dissention the Nobility of France was so miserably weakened that the Normans and Danes tooke boldnesse to invade the countrey of France which they vexed for the space of twenty yeeres In the East after Theophilus had concluded
Lotharius Conradus Duke of Sueue and sister sonne to the Emperour Henry the fift was elected Emperour and raigned 15. yeeres Henry Duke of Saxonie and Guelphus Duke of Bavaria rebelled against him whom hee easily subdued And hee besieged Guelphus in a towne called Winspergh The men of the towne were saved by the wisedome of the women For they foreseeing that the towne could not endure the strictnesse of the siege they gaue a petition to the Emperour that they might haue liberty safely to depart out of the towne onely with so much as they were able to beare vpon their backs The Emperour supposing they would transport vpon their backs burthens of silver or gold or costly rayment hee condescended to their petition The women preferring the liues of their husbands to all rich treasures came out of the towne every woman bearing her husband on her backe The worthy Emperour admirng the vertue wisedome and piety of the women spared their husbands and would not violate his promise After this the Emperour gathered a great army and set forward to fight against the Turkes and Saracens of whose cruelty against the Christians in Edessa many advertisements were sent to Europe In the way hee conferred with Emmanuel Emperour of Constantinople who with deceitfull promises betrayed the good Emperour Conrad and suffered him not to tarry and get provision of victuals for his army for Emmanuel promised that hee would in all haste send prouision vnto him And while Conradus was besieging Iconium Emmanuel in stead of wholsome victuales sent meale mixed with lyme whereby the army was impoysoned and huge numbers of them died so that Conrad left the siege of Iconium and went backe to Thracia In Ierusalem after Fulco his sonne Baldowin was made the fift King of Ierusalem who repaired Gaza and conquered Askalon and gaue it to the templaries At this time many Christians were in Asia For besides the Emperour Conrad and Lewis King of France Rogerus Count of Sicile all these were sore grieved with the villany done by Emmanuel Emperour of Constantinople and they subdued Corcyra and tooke Corinth and Thebes and the townes of Euboia Conrad and Lewis also went to Ierusalem and ioyned their forces with Baldwin and besieged Damascus but with no good successe After they returned to Europe But the Christians in Asia and Syria dayly decayed in number and courage vntill all the conquered places were reduced againe vnder the dominion of Infidels Fredericus 1. AFter Cunradus Frederike the first surnamed Barbarossâ— was chosen to be Emperour and raigned 39. yeeres He was a man valiant of a quicke Spirit expert in warrefare strong in bodie in Counsel giuing prouident In doing of his affaires magnanimous verie affable to meeke men aâ— enemie to proud persons a man of an excellent wit and mâ— morie whomsoeuer he had once knowne albeit hee had beene absent from him a long space yet the Emperour could call vpon him by his name as if hee had beene dayly conuersant with him He was crowned Emperour by Pope Adrian the 4. to whom hee did this honour when the Pope met him at Sutrium the Emperour lighted off his horse and came on foote to salute the Pope And when our holy father was dismounted from his horse the Emperour did hold his left stirrop in steed of the right and when the Pope was somewhat offended thereat the Emperour softly smiling craued pardon of his ouersight because hee was not accustomed with such seruile offices Before the Coronation of the Emperour Pope Adrian required of him this condition that hee should fight against William Duke of Apulia for recouering of that Dukedome to the Chaire of Rome Neuerthelesse the Pope not expecting the Emperours leasure incited Emmanuell Emperour of Constantinople to driue William Duke of Apulia out of Italie and addressed himselfe and his Cardinals to warrefare hauing first excommunicated William Duke of Apulia On the other part William begged peace from the Pope promising to restore vnto him all that belonged to the chaire of Rome and more also But by the malignant Councel of his Cardinals the Pope would not hearken to conditions of peace hoping to gaine more by warrefare The Duke seeing no hope of peace brought his forces out of Sicile ariued at Apulia and did fight against Emmanuel and did put him to flight This done hee marched foreward toward Benaventure where the Pope and his Cardinalls were expecting victorie But the Duke so strictly pressed the cittie that the Pope and his Cardinals were glad to sue for peace which they refused before The conditions of peace were these that the Duke should invade no possession belonging to the Roman Church and on the other part the Pope should acknowledge William to be King of both Siciles The bad successe of the Popes enterprises was not vnknowne to the Emperour who pondering in his own heart the iniures which his predecessors had suffered by Popes specially in bereauing them of the right of inuesting of Bishops and in sending Ambassadors so frequently to Germanie to the great impouerishing of his dominions whereat the Emperour conceiued such indignation that he charged all Germanie that they should not receiue the Popes Legats in time to come except they were expreslie sent for and that no man should make appellation to Rome also in the Letters sent to the Pope hee prefixed his owne name to the Popes name The Pope tooke all this matter grieueouslie and perswaded the towns of Italie to make defection from the obedience of the Emperour and specially the towne of Millan rebelled against him But Fredericke brought them partly by force and partly by feare vnder his subiection againe In the end the Pope had recourse to the old weapons of his warfare and he excommunicated the Emperour but the Lord suffered not this proud Pope to escape vnpunished for as he was walking with his attendants in a Towne called Anagnia a flie entered into his throte and choked his breath After the death of Adrian the Emperour was not free of trouble in regard of the schisme that fell out in the Roman Church for two Bishops contended for the Popedome to wit Alexander the third and Victor the fourth The Emperour was required to pacifie this schisme who gathered a councel at Papia and desired both the Popes to be present to heare their cause discussed in a lawfull assemblie But Pope Alexander disdained to be iudged of any man and therefore he appeared not before the councell For which cause the Emperour and the councell ratified the election of Victor the 4. Pope Alexander fled to France and cursed both the Emperour and his owne competitor Victor Afterward by money and flatterie powerfull weapons in a declining age he procured such fauour in the Citie of Rome that he was receiued gladly of the most part of the city Pope Victor had ended his life before this time to whom Guido Bishop of Cremona was appointed successour whom they called Paschalis tertius and
yet when the Electors of Germanie condescended to make Frederike the sonne of Henry Emperour the Pope agreed thereto because hee had a more deadly hatred at those who touched the apple of his eye that is S. Peters patrimonio as they call it then at any other sort of people In the East Alexius Ducas otherwise called Murzulfus raigned a short time for hee was taken by the Venetians and Frenchmen who had restored againe Isacius to his kingdome and they threw him headlong ouer a steepe place because hee had murthered his Master for ambitious desire of his kingdome These Venetians and Frenchmen set vp Baldwine Count of Flanders to bee Emperour of the East Thus was the Empire of the East translated to the French nation for a time as the Empire of the west had beene before in the dayes of Charles de maine After him raigned Henry his brother 2 yeeres who hauing no male children left the kingdome to Petrus Antisiodorensis his sonne in law who was cut off by the fraud of Lascharis after hee had raigned two yeeres After him his sonne Robert raigned 7 yeeres hee was crowned Emperour by the Bishop of Rome as the Germane Emperours were accustomed to be To him succeeded his young sonne Baldwine in whose time the Empire returned againe to the Grecians And Theodorus Lascaris sonne in Law to Alexius Commenus who plucked out the eyes of Isacius was saluted Emperour and raigned eight yeeres after whom Ioannes Ducas his sonne in Law raigned 33. yeeres Fredericus Secundus AFter the death of Otto Frederike the second sonne to Henry the sixt obtained the Empire and râ—igned 38. yeeres Hee was by inheritance king of Naples Apulia Calabria and Sicilia His father obtained shortlie after he was borne of the Princes Electors that they should choose his sonne Frederike Emperour after his death which they did crowning him Emperour at Aquisgraue when he was about 20. yeere old From thence hee passed with his nobles and Princes to Rome and there with great solemnitie was consecrated called Augustus by Pope Honorius the third After his consecration he gaue by his charter to the Church of Rome the Dukedome of Fundanuus for by the insatiable couetousnesse of the Roman Bishops this wicked vse and custome grew that except the Emperours Elected and crowned would giue vnto them such great and large gifts they could not obtaine of them their consecration and confirmation which for that intent they deuised Furthermore the said Emperour willing to shew himselfe more bountiful towards the Church of Rome gaue and admitted those constitutions which the Pope himselfe would desire by which doing he gaue a sword in their hands to cut his owne throat for hee did grant to the Canon of proscription devised by the Pope and his adherents that whosoever were excommunicate for diminution of the liberties of the Church and so continued a yeeres space that this person should be within the danger of his proscript and should not bee relaxed before hee had made satisfaction and was admitted by the Pope to the Church and Congregation of good men againe But this liberty of Fredericke was well required by Hononorius for soone after his returning to Germany hee heard of certaine who begun to raise and make new factions against him amongst whom were found Thomas Richard the brethren of Innocentius the third Earles of Anaquinos that held certaine Castles in the kingdome of Naples against him by force which Castles hee besieged and beat downe Richard also hee tooke and sent him prisoner to Sicilia But Thomas escaped and came speedily to Rome where hee was not onely received by Honorius but also when the Emperor began to expostulate with him for the vnseemlinesse of this deed the Pope was so chased that without further delay he thundred out against him like a tyrant his cursings and excommunications After this fell out a ground of a new debate between the Emperour and the Pope For the Christians that were in Asia were so weakened that Iohn surnamed Brennus King of Ierusalem came himselfe to the Emperour and to the Pope to seeke helpe for the distressed Christians who were in Asia This Iohn gaue his daughter Ioel in mariage to the Emperour with the title of the Kingdome of Ierusalem in dowrie with her The Emperour on the other part promised that with all possible expedition hee would leade an armie into Asia against the Turkes wherevpon and by the meanes of Iohn King of Ierusalem the Emperour and the Pope were reconciled againe But before the Emperour tooke his iourney to Asia Honorius died in whose roome succeeded Gregorius the ninth who excommunicated the Emperour a new againe because hee was compelled by sicknesse to come backe from his iourney to Asia and to remaine a space in Europe for the recouering of his health againe The next yeere after to stop the mouth of the slanderous and cruell Pope and to declare to the world that the last yeere hee did not leave off his iourney by his owne voluntary will but by necessity hee set forward with a great army and arrived at Ioppa The Saracens were so troubled with his arrivall that they were content to render to Fredericke the towne of Ierusalem with all the possessions that were scituate betweene it and Ptolemaide and the greatest part of Palestina and the Cities of Tyrus and Sydon which were in Syria and all other territories which Baldwin the fourth at any time had occupied there Also they were content to set at liberty all the prisoners who were in their hands and finally to conclude peace for the space of ten yeeres In the meanetime while the Emperour is thus occupied in Asia Pope Gregory the ninth in the Emperours absence made it knowne to the whole world for what cause he was so earnest to chase him away to the East not that he cared for the welfare of the distressed Christians in Asia but to the end hee might worke him some trouble in his absence as appeared by all these subsequent practices For hee invaded the kingdome of Naples and the rest of the dominions which pertained to the Emperors inheritage and subdued a great part of these dominions to himselfe Likewise he had a secret dealing with Henry the Emperours son to stirre him vp against his father and prevailed so farre in this divellish treason that by the Popes counsell hee put from him his trustie Counceller Ludovicus Duke of Boioria whom his father had ordained to be guider of his sonne in his absence Likewise when the Emperour sent letters out of Asia declaring the good successe that God had given him and therewith desiring the Pope and Christian Princes and people to give thanks to God for the same These letters so grieved the Popes minde that hee rent them in peeces cast them vpon the ground and trode them vnder his feet to the great admiration of the Emperours Legats Againe to colour the rage of his impotent minde with some
So did the Saracens easily recover againe Ierusalem Here also is to be marked that the Popes of Rome who were too prodigall of Christian mens blood continually instigating them to lead armes to Asia for the recovery of the Holy Land yet did they esteeme so much of their owne glory that they preferred it to the Holy Land and the liues oâ— all the Christians that were in Asia as evidently appeareth in the doings of Bonifacius the 8. who had the fairest occasion offered to him of all others of recovering the Holy Land For Cassanus Prince of the Tartarians had conquered Syria from the Saracens and left Governours in it with expresse commandement that they should binde vp a covenant of friendship with the Princes of the West and get support from them for the keeping of Syria in the Christians possession But the Bishoppe of Rome puft vp with pride was so busie to tread vnder his feet the King of France that hee neglected this ocasion the like whereof was never offered in any time following And this negligent dealing was the cause why Capcacus made defection to the Souldan of Egypt CENTVRIE XIV Albertus the first AFter the slaughter of Adulph Albert the first Duke of Austria was made Emperour and raigned ten yeeres and in the end was killed by his Brothers sonne In his dayes sprang vp Otthoman the first King of the Turkes who being a conragious warriour by spoyles and robberies enriched himselfe and subdued a great part of Bythinia and of the countrey lying about Pontus Euxinus and tooke vpon him the name of a King to be called the King of the Turks Henricus the seventh NExt to Albert raigned Henrie the 7. A Prince wise iust honest and beloved of all men neither puft vp with pride in his prosperity neither deiected in mind for any kind of adversity After hee had pacified the countrey of Germany hee tooke his iourney toward Italy to reforme the abuses there but was hastily cut off by the wicked malice of the Florentines as is supposed for they hyred a certaine Monke to poyson the Emperour which thing hee performed and mixed poyson with the bread of the Eucharist wherewith the noble Emperour was impoysoned in the Castell of Bonconvent after hee had raigned foure yeeres and eight moneths Ludovicus the fift Lewis the fift was chosen Emperour after the death of Henry the 7. and raigned 32. yeeres Hee was Duke of Bavaria against whom others had elected Fredericus Pulcher Duke of Austria to be Emperour which was the ground of cruell warrs betwixt the two new chosen Emperours but Fredericke was vanquished in battell and taken prisoner himselfe During the time of these warres the burgesses of Vren Switz and Sylvania or Vnderwalden assisted Lewis of Bavaria and would not acknowledge the Emperour Fredericke Duke of Austria for which cause they were continually vexed by him so that at last they assembled themselues in the towne of Vrania and there entered into a mutuall league of perpetuall society amongst themselues To whom afterward were ioyned Lucernates then Tugani then the Tigurines then the Bernates The last almost of all were the Basilians after whom followed other seven pages who now by a generall name are called the Switzers or the Cantons or Pages of Helvetia The Emperour Lewis after hee had subdued his competitor fell into a greater trouble for hee was excommunicate by Pope Clement the sixt and the Princes Electors were commanded to choose another Emperor which commandement they also obeyed and assembled themselues at a certaine towne of the Diocie of Trevers called Bens and chose Charles the fourth sonne to Iohn King of Bohemia Carolus the fourth CArolus the fourth was chosen Emperour after that his predecessor Lewis was excommunicated by the Pope and raigned 32. yeeres In his time Amurathes the King of the Turkes passed over Hellespontus and tooke the townes of Cestus and Callipolis which was the first beginning of the conquest of Thracia and all other regions of Europe which are now subiect to the Turke This Charles procured at the hands of the Princes Electors that his sonne Vinceslaus should be proclaimed King of the Romans in his owne time Vinceslaus TO Charles the fourth succeeded his sonne Vinceslaus and raigned two and twenty yeeres A man very vnlike his father for hee was sluggish and carelesse more enclined to ryot excessiue drinking and voluptuous pleasures then to any princely vertue In his time Baiazeth King of the Turkes fought a cruell battell against the Christians at Nicopolis a towne of Thracia at the side of Ister and albeit many moe of the Turkes were slaine then of the Christians yet at length the Turkes prevailed against the Christians and put them to flight This is that King of the Turkes who afterward was overcome by Tamberlaine King of the Sythians and being inclosed in a cage of yron was carried about all Asia as a mocking stocke to men and as a spectacle of the wrath of God against all cruell Tyrants The Emperour Vinceslaus for his beastlines was depriued of his Emperiall dignitie by the Princes Electors and Rupertus Duke of Bauaria chosen to be Emperour in his steed In the East during the raigne of those foresaid Emperours ruled Andronicus the sonne of Michael Paleologus and after him Michael and after him Andronicus the younger after whom followed Ioannes Catecunzenus and Calo Ioannes and his sonne Manuellâ— these are all the things worthy of rememberance are left in writing CENTVRIE XV. Rupertus VIncesâ—aus the Emperour for his Cowardize vnhonest life was deposed Rupertus Duke of Bauaria was advanced to the Emperiall authoritie by the Electors of Germanic and ruled 10. yeeres This Emperour went vnto Italie against Galiatius of Millan but hee preuailed nothing In his time Mahomet the Turke when hee had killed his brother obtained alone the kingdome who after the death of Tamburlan the Tartarian recouering againe his fathers dominion vexed with extreme murther and slaughter the Bulgares and Vallaches and tooke the citie of Hadrianopolis which he made his Seat royall Sigismundus AFter Rupertus Sigismund sonne of Charles 4. and brother to Vinceslaus being King of Bohemie and Hungarie was ordained Emperour and reigned 27. yeares Hee was a prudent wittie learned and noble Prince but in warre and deeds of armes vnfortunate for hee was oftentimes ouercome and chased of the Turkes and other enemies By the procurement of this Emperour a great councell was holden at Constance for the vnion of the Church which continued for the space of 4. yeeres In this councell Iohn Husse was burned for preaching against the Bishop of Rome Also Hieronymus of Prague was condemned by the same councell and burned after whose burning in Bohemie was great tumult sedition and ciuill warre For the common people that fauoured Iohn Husse gathered together in great number and choosed a certaine valiant man named Zisca to be their Captaine a man verie witty and
mindes as evidently appeared so soone as the King of Navarre and Prince of Condie came to Orleance and had saluted the King the Captaine of the Kings guard layd hands on the Prince of Condie and the King was informed that the Prince of Condie had conspired against his honour and life Thus by the craft and deceitfull practises of the Guisians was the Prince of Condie brought into great danger and hazard of his life and had assuredly died if the mercy of God had not provided timely reliefe But the Lord pitying the estate of his owne poore Church in France shortned the life of Francis the second who dyed of a putrefaction of his eares And thus was the second high attempt of the Guisians against the Gospell marvailously disappoynted by the sudden and vnexpected death of Francis the second After whose death the innocency of the Prince of Condie was declared by a decree of the Parliament at Paris and the government of the young King Charles the ninth was devolued in the hands of the Queen mother and the King of Navarre Those Gouernours with advice of the States of the Realme thought meet that a free disputation should be appointed at Poyssie a towne in France neere to Saint Germane wherein the controversies of religion should bee freely reasoned in presence of the young King the Queene mother the King of Navarre and other Princes of the royall blood This disputation began the ninth of September anno 1561. For the Protestants part were appointed Theodorus Beza Minister at Geneva Peter Martyr professor of Divinity in Zuricke Nicholas Gelasius Augustinus Marloratus Iohannes Merlinus Franciscus Morellus Iohannes Malo and Espineus a man of great learning who had lately forsaken the Romane Church and embraced the true reformed religion On the other part the Cardinall of Loraine with many other Cardinalls Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty Prelates besides many other Divines and Doctors were ready to pleade the cause of the Romish Church In this disputation after that Theodorus Beza had at length declared the summe of the Protestants faith and the Cardinall of Loraine had answered In the end the Romane Prelats devised a pretty shift to cut off all further reasoning for the Cardinall of Loraine produced the opinion of the Germans about the matter of the Sacrament extracted out of the cōfession of Ausbrugh Jemanded of the Protestants whether they would subscribe to it or no to the end that if they consented to subscribe they might seem to haue convicted themselues of errour in the matter of the Sacrament and if they refused to subscribe then it might bee knowne to the Princes that were present that the Protestants agreed not amongst themselues To this it was answered by Theodorus Beza in the next meeting that if the confession of Ausbrough should be subscribed then it was good reason to require a subscription of the whole confession and not of one line thereof onely also if they vrged the Protestants to subscribe that confession of Ausbrough then let themselues first begin to subscribe the same and when they haue yeelded to the whole confession of Ausbrugh it will be more easie to finde out any way of agreement in matters of religion After this the forme of disputation was changed and a few in number to wit fiue onely on either side were chosen to conferre in quiet and peaceable manner who beginning at the matter of the Sacrament seemed all to agree in this forme that Iesus Christ by the operation of the holy Spirit offereth and exhibiteth vnto vs the very substance of his body blood and wee doe receiue and eate spiritually and by faith that same body which dyed for vs to the end we may be flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones and that we may be quickned by him and receiue all things that are needfull to our salvation And because faith leaning to the word of God maketh those things that are received to be present by this faith indeed we receiue truely and effectually the very naturall body and blood of Iesus Christ through the power of the holy Spirit In this respect wee acknowledge the presence of the body and blood in the Supper The article of the Sacrament being conceiued in this forme was presented to both the parties and many of the Romane Prelates condiscended to the article aboue specified but when they had conferred with the Doctors of Sorbon they all with one consent refused the same and finding that the communers that were chosen for their part did persevere in their opinion they cryed out against them and would giue no further power to them to reason in that cause Thus the disputation of Poyssie broke vp the 25. of November without any agreement of the controversies in religion but rather leaving in the harts of men a seed of greater contention and cruell wars which afterward ensued But before we speak of the warres in France for religion somewhat is to bee spoken of the cruell persecution that the faithfull suffered in Piemont in which countrey certaine townes had received the Gospell and abolished the masse namely the townes of Angrona Lucerne Perose Tallaret with divers others in the convalles of Piemont all which townes are subiect to the dominion of the Duke of Savoy who hearing of the reformation that was made in the foresayd bounds of his dominion sent out his Captaine Triniteus with an army of 500. men against them to sack and vtterly destroy them except they would receiue the masse againe and put away from them their ministers The towne of Angrona was first assaulted and the people fled to the mountaines but being strictly pursued they turned themselues and with slings stones defended their liues and put their enemies to the worse in so much that Triniteus the Dukes Captaine was to deale with them by subtilty and craft rather then by open force and therefore promised vnto the Convallenses that if they layd downe their armour and sent messengers to the Duke to cuane his pardon and would pay to him the summe of sixteene thousand crownes then vpon those conditions they should haue peace The poore people glad to accept conditions of peace performed all that was required but no peace could be obtained of the Duke except they would put away their Ministers and receiue the masse againe Therefore being spoiled both of money and armour by the craft of their enemies and a new army also sent against them they were compelled in time of winter to flie with their wiues and children to the mountaines all over-layd and covered with snow and from thence to behold the pitifull spectacles of the burning of their houses and spoyling of their goods But necessity compelling them to make some shift for their liues they tooke the strict passage of the mountains and resisted their enemies committing the successe to God who so prospered this poore vnarmed people that in few
to slay the King as he was returning from Picardie to Paris Thus vpon the 27. day of December Anno 1584 â—as the King was readie booted and spurred to returne from Picardie to Paris within a chamber at Lououre this stripling went into the chamber amongst the presse and as the King was busily occupied in receiuing his Nobles and in a princely manner kissing them for his farewell suddenly he would haue stricken the King in the bodie with a knife he had in his hand But by reason his Maiesty was very readie to take vp the Lords which were on their knees before him in his stooping he strucke him in the face on the vpper iaw on the right side therewithall cutting out one of his teeth Presently this miserable caitiue was taken and after examination vnderstanding that he was a scholler of the Iesuites the King said And must it needs be that the Iesuits must be confounded by my mouth This parricide being brought to prison freely declared all the circumstances of his euill intent discouering many of the Iesuits secret practises Amongst many other things he remembred he heard the fathers of that holy societie say that it was lawfull to kill the King that he was excommunicated out of the Church that he was not to be obeyed nor taken for their King vntill such time as he was allowed by the Pope The Court of Parliament condemning this Castile of Treason in the highest degree caused him to be brought naked in his shirt before the principall part of the Cathedrall Church in Paris holding in his hand a taper of waxe lighted there to confesse his haynous sinne asking forgiuenesse of God the King and the lawes which done he was conveyed to the place of execution carrying in his hand the murthering knife wherewith he intended to murther the King the which was there first cut off his flesh pulled off with hot burning Pincers both from his armes and thighs after that his bodie was drawne in peeces with foure horses and cast into the fire and consumed to ashes and the ashes scattered in the winde Likewise the said Court of Parliament ordeined that all the Priests and Schollers of Clermont colledge and all other of the same societie of Iesus to be holdeâ— and reputed as corrupters of youth disturbers of the publique peace enemies to the King and State and to avoyde within three dayes after the Proclamation of this edict out of Paris and all other townes and places where their Colledges are and within 15. dayes after out of the kingdome on paine if being found after the time prefixed to be punished as guiltie of the said crime of treason Besides these horrible troubles that were in France in the dayes of this Emperour Rodulph the King of Spaine prepared a great armie to invade the Realme of England This armie was counted invincible and of most admirable preparation it conteined an hundreth and thirtie Ships wherein were as many Regiments having an hundreth seuentie two Ensignes and 20000. fighting men besides the number of 1000. moe that had nothing to doe with armes also their furniture and provision was exceeding great for they had 11000. Quintals of Biscat 14170. Pipes of Wine 6500. Quintals of Bacon 3433. Quintals of Cheese 8000. Quintals of dried fish of all sorts 6320 Bushels of Beanes and Pease 11398. Roues and Measures of oyle 23870. Roues of Vineger And 11850. Pipes of fresh Water besides the victuals and necessaries of houshold that were in great number and of all sorts The armes reserued for store were 7000. Caleeuers their furnitures a 1000. Muskets a 1000. Lances a 1000. Partisants and Halbards 6000. Pikes More Pickaxes Payles and other instruments then would serue for 700. Pioners With this number and in this manner being prepared the armie departed out of Lisbone vnder the conduct of the Duke de Medina Gidonia assisted with 22. Lords of estate councell and experience But it had searce entred into the sea sailing toward the Gnongnes in Gallicia but there arose a storme with so great force that the Navie was constrained to put to land and there to stay till winde and weather serued hauing lost in that storme three Gallies of Portugalls and many of them so scattered and bruised that they were not seruiceable for that Voyage The storme being calmed and the weather good about the 22. of Iulie the Generall caused them to set saile so fortunately that in lesse then fiue dayes after they descryed the point or end of Cornwall and at the same time they were seene from Plimmouth by the Admirall of England and Sr Francis Drake Vice admirall who made them turne their faces and gaue them such a skirmish and that so neere that the Ships were in disorder and a great Gallion lost wherein was found a part of the treasures that the Armie brought with it and all the instructions which the Duke de Medina had and what he should doe having Conquered England At the last the Navie got as farre as Callis where it should haue ioyned with the Duke of Parma but the Armie of England that fought to impeach it followed it and that so nie that it was forced to leaue her Anchor-hold confusedly to flie away Their principall Gallias among other Vessels was by the streames cast vpon the sands hard by the hauen of Callis there with his Ordnance was left for the governor of Callis After this it made toward the North seas passing betweene Norway and Scotland and so toward Ireland where those northerne seas being as then risen according to the time of yeare were very tempestuous and vsed the rest of the armie very hardly for it drowned and sunke 17. great Vessels vpon the coast of Ireland and spoyled broke and ouerthrew diuers others in such manner that of 130. Shippes there were scarcely 30. that returned to SPAINE Here endeth the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF the Church Containing a briefe Catalogue of the beginnings proceedings and deaths of all the Bishops Popes Patriarches Doctors Pastors and other learned men in Europe Asia and Africa since Christs dayes vntill this present CENTVRIE I. Of Apostles AFter the Lords resurrection his twelue Apostles were indued with grace from aboue and sent forth to convert all people to the obedience of Christ whose travels the Lord so wonderfully blessed that within a short time many thousands of all Nations Languages whom God had appointed to eternall life were converted to the faith of Christ. This conquest that Christ made by the Ministrie of twelue poore and contemptible men is more worthie to be called a Conquest then all the valiant exployts of Cyrus Alexander Caesar and other Conquerours For he made this conquest by a small handfull of poore and infirme Disciples also he conquered not onely the bodies of men but also their hearts to his obedience and finally he made this conquest not by shedding of peoples blood but by
occasion it hath beene alreadie declared He lacked not his owne infirmities and errours euen in doctrine He was intangled with the errour of the Chiliasts He supposed that as Christ being thirtie yeere old was baptized so likewise he began to teach when he was fortie yeere old and suffered when he was fiftie because he came to saue all and therefore he would taste of all the ages of mankinde Yet is this opinion repugnant to the narration of the foure Euangelists Clemens Alexandrinus liued in the dayes of the Emperour Commodus He was the disciple of Pantenus These two seeme to be the authors of Vniversities and Colledges For they taught the grounds of Religion not by Sermons and Homilies to the people but by catecheticall doctrine to the learned in the schooles This Clemens esteemed too much of tradition like as Papias did of whom we spake in the former Centurie whereby it came to passe that he fell into many strange absurd opinions directly repugnant to the written word of God affirming that after our calling to the knowledge of the truth possibly God may grant to them that haue sinned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but if we sin ofter then once or twise there is no more renuing by repentance or pardon for sin but a fearefull expectation of iudgement And in his 4. booke of Strom. as it were forgetting his own rigorous sentence against those who sinne ofter then once or twise after their illumination with the light of God he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say whether here or els-where viz. creatures do repent no place is void of the mercy of God In which words he would insinuate that those who repent either in this world or els-where that is in the world to come may possibly obtaine fauour at Gods hand nothing can be written more repugnant both to the word of God and also to his own forementioned opinion Many other worthy Preachers and learned men flourished in this Centurie whose names of purpose are pretermitted In Athens Publius Athenagoras In Corinth Primus Dionysius and Bacchilus In the Isle of Candie Philippus and Pinytus In Antiochia Hieron Theophilus Maximus Serapion In Ierusalem before the daies of the Emperour Adrian the Bishops of Ierusalem were of the nation of the Iewes But after the daies of Adrian who banished the Iewes from their natiue soile Christian Preachers of other nations were Bishops in Ierusalem such as Marcus Cassianus Publius Maximus Iulianus Capito Valens Dolichianus Narcissus the most part of all these liued in this Centurie but Narcissus with some others are knowne to haue liued in the dayes of Seuerus the fift persecuter and some space after him But to write of all other worthy Preachers Doctours in particular it were an infinite labour and far surmounting the abilitie of these ecclesiastick Writers who wrote in ancicient times and much more our abilitie who liue in a latter age CENTVRIE III. Bishops of Rome TO Victor succeeded Zephyrinus the 14. Bishop of Rome who liued in that charge eight yeeres seauen moneths ten dayes Eusebius attributeth vnto him 18. yeeres so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of the gouernment of the Bishops of Rome Eusebius writeth nothing of his decretall Epistles and these that are forged by late Writers are foolish and ridiculous Consecration of the holy cup to be in a vessell of glasse onely A Bishop to be accused before honest Iudges twelue in number whom the Bishop himselfe shall chuse if need be Honest and vnspotted witnesses to be heard in this cause no fewer then 72. conforme and aboue the number of those 70. Disciples whom Christ adioyned as fellow-labourers in Preaching with his Apostles And finally that no definitiue sentence should be pronounced against a Bishop vntill the time his cause were heard of the Patriarch of Rome This is but a mocking of the Church of God to attribute such smelling pride such vnaccustomed formes of Iudicatory such defencing armour fencing guarding vnrighteous men against iust deserued punishment to the simplicitie of an ancient Church humbled vnder the crosse and fighting vnder the yoke of heauie and long-lasting afflictions These false and forged decretall Epistles altogether vnknowne to the Fathers who liued before the dayes of Constantine will procure one day a decree sentence of wrath against those who haue giuen out new intended lies vnder the names of ancient and holy Fathers The canons of the Apostles albeit a booke falsely attributed to the Apostles doe agree better with Scripture then the constitution of Zephyrinus for the scripture saith That by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word shall be confirmed The canons of the Apostles say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Let not an Heretique be admitted to beare witnes against a Bishop neither yet one witnesse onely albeit he be faithfull because that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word shall be confirmed The writer of the canons of the Apostles had some remembrance of the words of Scripture but the forger of the decretall Epistles of Zephyrinus is like vnto a ship-man who hath hoised vp his saile and aduanced his ship so far into the sea that he hath lost the sight of land and townes as the Poet speaketh Provehimur Pelago terraque vrbésque recedunt Surely this lying fellow who euer he hath bin that hath written this supposititious decretall Epistle of Zephyrinus he hath hoised vp his saile and is so bent to lie that he hath lost both sight remembrance of the words of holy Scripture Callistus the 15. Bishop of Rome continued in his charge fiue yeeres Platina saith 6. yeeres 10. moneths 10. dayes The fable of Pope Damasus who affirmeth that Callistus builded a Church to the honour of the Virgin Mary beyond Tyber is reiected by Platina himselfe because the hystorie of the time cleerely prooueth that in the dayes of Seuerus and his sonnes the conuentions of the Christians could not haue beene in magnificke temples but rather in obscure chappels or subterraneall places so that the multiplied number of lies written of the Bishops of Rome who liued in this age and the decretall Epistles falsly attributed vnto them plainly proue that the garment of antiquitie vnder the lap whereof Papists would so gladly lurke is altogether wanting to them Vrbanus 1. was the 16. Bishop of Rome He continued in his office 8. yeeres Platina 4. yeeres 10. moneths 12. dayes Of his martyrdome Eusebius maketh no mention Others who record his martyrdome are not certaine in what Emperours dayes he was martyred I proceede to his successour Pontianus the 17. B. of Rome He continued in his charge 9. yeeres 5. months 2. dayes Euseb saith 6. yeeres He was banished to the Isle Sardinia where he died Of the two decretall epistles ascribed vnto him the second is general written to al men who feare and loue God the
very first words of it proue it to be false forged Pontianus sanctâ— uniuersalâ—s Ecclesia Episcopus c. that is Pontianus B. of the holy vniuersal Church to al them who feare loue God wisheth welfare Such magnificke stiles as these were not as yet in vse when they crept into the Church afterward they were giuen by persons who admired the vertues of some singular and rare men such as Cyprian and Athanasius and Eusebius but no man did vsurpe such proud arrogant ti tles of dignitie in his owne writings directed to other Christians and therefore the learned reject this epistle as composed by some late vnlearned and flattering fellow After Pontianus succeeded Anterus the 18. B. of Rome to whom Eusebius assigned but one month of continuance in his ministrie Damasus assigneth to him 12. yeeres Platina 11. yeeres 1. month 12. dayes and this diuersitie of counting cannot be reconciled Next to Anterus succeeded Fabianus the 19. B. of Rome vpon whose head a doue lighted when the people were consulting concerning the election of a B. therefore with full consent of the whole coÌ„gregation he was declared to be their B. The people at this time were so farre from being secluded froÌ„ giuing their consent to the election of him who should be ordained their Pastour that the consent of the people had the sway in the election of Pastours Func Chron Commentar He suffered martyrdom vnder the raigne of Decius the 7. great persecuter after hee had continued in his office 14. yeeres 11. months 11. daies Many constitutions made by him are cited by Gratianus and inserted Tom 1. Concil One of them I cannot passe by We constitute that vpon euery Lords day the oblation of the altar shall be made by euery man woman both of bread wine to the end that by these oblations they may be deliuered froÌ„ the heapes of their sinnes First marke in this constitution that the bread and wine which the people brought with them vpon the Lords day for the ministration of the holy communion is called the oblation of the altar the table whereupon the bread and wine were laide was called the alter the bread and the wine are called the offering or the sacrifice because part of it was distributed in the holy communion to keepe a memoriall of the Lords death and the rest was giuen to the sustentation of the poore and in that respect also it was called a sacrifice as â—he scripture speaketh To do good to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is pleased The last part of the decreet is blasphemous and falsly attributed to Fabian because the sinnes of men and women who beleeue and repent are forgiuen onely for the merite of that bloodie sacrifice which the Lord Iesus offered vpon the Crosse for our sins But our furnishing of elements to the coÌ„munion sustentation of the poore cannot merite forgiuenes of sins The successour of Fabianus was Cornelius the 20. Bishop of Rome He had a great strife against Nouatus and his complices He assembled a Councell at Rome of 60. Bishops besides Elders and Deacons by whom the heresie of Nouatus was condemned and the Nouatians were separated from the fellowship of the Church Cornelius was baÌ„ished from Rome by the Emperour Decius and sent to a towne in Hetruria called Centum-cellae where hee had great comfort by the mutuall letters that passed betweene him and Cyprian Bishop of Carthage When the Emperour got knowledge of this he sent for Cornelius and accused him as a man who not onely despised the worshipping of the gods was disobedient to the Emperours commandement but also that he was a trafficker against the estate of the empire by receiuing and sending letters beyond sea Cornelius answered that he wrote matters pertaining to Christ the saluation of mens soules and not of matters belonging to the estate of the empire Notwithstanding the Emperour Decius commanded that hee should be scourged with plumbats this was a sort of grieuous whip and afterward that hee should be led to the Temple of Mars with commandement to put him to death if he refused to worship the image of Mars Thus was Cornelius beheaded for the name of Christ after hee had gouerned 2. yeeres 3. daies Or as Eusebius writeth 3. yeares Lucius the 21. Bishop of Rome was successour to Cornelius continued in the gouernement of the Church of Rome 3. yeeres 3. months 3. daies Platin. Euseb. 8. months lib. 7. cap. 2. One decretall epistle is assigned vnto him written vnto the Bishoppes of France and Spaine wherein hee braggeth that the Bishops of Rome cannot erre in matter of faith but the ineptitude of a barbarous Latine stile wherein the Epistle is dited declareth it hath beene written by an vnlearned Asse and not by Lucius Bishop of Rome Stephanus 22. Bishop of Rome ruled that Church 2 yeeres Platin. 7. yeeres 5. months 2. dayes He was greatly commoued against Cyprian B. of Carthage because that by his opinion of rebaptizing those who were baptized by Heretikes the vnitie of the Church of Christ was perturbed and rent Platina writeth that Cyprian before his martyrdome forsooke his opinion of rebaptizing and was content by imposition of hands according to the custome of the Romane Church to receiue such as had beene baptized by Heretikes The constitution concerning consecrated garments that men in spirituall offices should weare in the Church and no where else lest they incurre the like punishment with Baltasar who abused the holy vessels of the house of God in my opinion is not judiciously attributed by Platina vnto this B. Stephanus because the ordinance smelleth rather of Iudaisme then of Christian religion and the reason subioyned to the constitution is altogether impertinent It was sacriledge indeed and a proud contempt of God in the person of Baltasar to drinke common wine with his harlots in the vessels of gold dedicated to the holy seruice of God but an holy preacher to walke in the same apparell in the streete wherein he preached and ministred the communion in the Church this is no sinne nor a thing forbidden by any Apostolike precept But Platina is dreaming when he ascribeth such sriuolous constitutions to a Bishop preparing himselfe for death for Platina supposeth that he was martyred in the dayes of Galliexus Let the reader marke vpon what sandy ground of friuolous constitutions and falsely alledged Popish faith is grounded The decree of Stephanus concerning marriage bearing that the Priests Deacons Subdeacons of the Oriental Church were coupled in matrimonie but in the Roman Church no person in a spiritual office from the Bishop to the Subdeacon had libertie to marrie if it were true as it is assuredly false the Orientall Church hath a great commendation because they would not be wiser then God and they would not lay the yoke of the ordinances of men vpon the
consciences of their Church-men but prohibition of marriage which I haue prooued to be a doctrine of deuils cannot be referred to so ancient a beginning The Romane church desirous to be masked with a shewe of antiquitie they haue attributed Canons to the Apostles which are not found in their writings Yet it is a shame to the forgers of these canons to be found the principall impugners and transgressers of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say A Bishop elder or deacon who vnder pretence of religion putteth away his owne wife if he cast her off let him be excommunicated and if hee perseuere in so doing let him be deposed How can this constitution of Stephanus agree with the Canons of the Apostles Heere I appeale to the consciences of honest and vpright men if they finde not that the lie is not onely repugnant vnto the veritie but also vnto it selfe The supposititious Canons of the Apostles and the supposititious constitutions of Stephanus cannot both consist I know what they answere viz. that the Canons of the Apostles speake of those Bishops Elders and Deacons who had wiues when they were admitted to ecclesiasticall offices these should not put away their wiues vnder pretence of religion but concerning others who were vnmarried in the time of their admission the 25. Canon declareth otherwise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to vnmarried men who are promoted to the clergie we command that if they please they shall marrie but onely readers and singers to wit shall haue this priuiledge It is an vnsufferable thing to heare such leuitie and inconstancie imputed to the holy Apostles that they debarred no man from the office of a Bishop Elder or Deacon because he was a married man O but if any man enter vnmarried to be a Bishop Elder or Deacon then hee must not marrie If marriage had beene an vncleane thing it might haue debarred men from entering into holy offices but if it be a cleane thing it cannot exclude them after they haue entred The other decreet alledged out of Gratian dist 79. Oporrebat ut haec c. that by the constitution of Peter and his successors it was ordained that one of the Cardinall Elders or Deacons should be consecrated to be Bishop of Rome no other Such stiles of preheminence are vnknown to scripture and to the antiquitie of this time Xistus or Sixtus the 2. of that name and in number the 23. Bishop of Rome succeeded to Stephanus and gouerned 2. yeeres 10. months 23. dayes And Func Chron 11. yeeres such vncertaintie is in counting the yeeres of their administration The chaire of Rome through the vehemencie of persecution was vacant without a successour 1. yeere 11. months 15. dayes as Damasus granteth and Onuphrius the corrector of Platina cannot denie If the Bishop of Rome be the head of the Church then was the Church headlesse almost for the space of two yeeres To Xistus 2 succeeded Dionysius 24. Bishop of Rome and continued in his ministration 9. yeeres according to the computation of Eusebius Damasus assigneth vnto him 6. yeeres 2. months Marianus 6. yeeres and 5. months such certaintie is in the cheife and principall ground of the Romane faith concerning the succession of the Romane Bishops that scarse two writers doe agree in one minde concerning the time of their succession To Dionysius succeeded Felix 1. the 25. Bishop of Rome and gouerned 5. yeeres He liued in the dayes of Aurelian the 9. persecuter and obtained the honour of martyrdome In the three supposititious decretall epistles assigned to him the second epistle written to the Bishops of the Prouinces of France very sollicitously careth for Bishops that they be not accused by secular men but with so many caueats as in effect exempteth them from all accusation The language wherin the epistle is indited cannot agree with the ornat stile of the Latin tongue in this age he being a Romane borne as Platina writeth Post quam ipse ab â—s charitativè conventus fuerit Ad summos primates causa ejus canonicè defertur ConciliuÌ„ regulariter convocare debebunt c. The Galilean language manifested not more euidently that Peter was a man of Galile then the first of these 3. phrases manifesteth that the foresaid epistle was compiled in a time of great barbaritie Eutychianus the 26. Bishop of Rome followed after Felix 1. HeeÌ„ continued scarce ten months in his ministrie Caius the 27. Bishop of Rome succeeded to Eutychianus and continued 15. yeeres He liued in the dayes of the persecution of Dioclesian and lurked for a time in subterraneall places In the end he was found out by the persecuters and put to death and with his brother Gabinius and his brothers daughter Susanna suffered martyrdome Here it is to be marked that many martyrs died before the edict of horrible persecution was set forth in the 19. yeere of Dioclesians raigne For Marcellinus succeeded to Caius Anno 298. but the cruell edicts of persecution of Dioclesian were not set forth before the 308. yeere of our Lord. Whereby it appeareth euidently that many Christians were put to death before the edicts of horrible persecution were renued by the Emperour Dioclesian So hard was the outward estate of Christians that they were put to death vpon the warrant of the edicts of Valerian and Aurelian before the edicts of Dioclesian and Maximian came forth To Caius is attributed the constitution of ecclesiastical orders and degrees by which men must mount vp to the dignitie of a Bishop First he must be Ostiarius next Lector 3. Exorcista 4. Acoluthus 5. Subdiaconus 6. Diaconus 7. Presbyter and last of all Episcopus This order of ascending by degrees to the dignitie of a Bishop is confidently referred to the constitution of the Apostles but I say Beatus qui non credit that is happie is he who beleeueth it not Like as within scripture there is no lie so likewise without scripture there is no truth in matters of faith ordering of maners and appointing of ecclesiastical offices all that is necessarie is contained in the written Word of God But now to performe a part of that which I promised in the end of my treatise of Antiquitie and to let eueÌ„ry man see what vnlearned Asses they haue been who haue set foorth the fained decretall epistles of the fathers of this age In the epistle written by Caius to the Bishop Felix aboue-mentioned hee saith If any man of what dignitie so euer he be delate such persons viz. Bishops Elders Deacons for faultes that cannot bee proued let him vnderstand that by the authoritie of this constitution hee shall be counted infamous This constitution hath three parts First that no ecclesiasticall 1 person should be accused before a secular Iudge Secondly if any accusation be intended against Bishop Elder or Deacon it should be qualified by sufficient probation Thirdly if the accuser succumbe
in probation hee should be counted infamous how eminent so euer his dignitie and estate shall be The compiler of this supposititious decretal epistle had no consideration of the time wherein Caius liued It was a time of persecution Christian Bishops were continually drawne before secular Iudges accused of odious crimes whereof they were most innocent and Caius himselfe was compelled to lurke a long time in a subterraneall caue At this time to bring in Caius as it were sitting in a throne commanding that no Bishop should be accused before a secular Iudge c. what is this else but profusion of words without judgement and vnderstanding If this decretall epistle had beene attributed to Bonifacius 8. Gregorius 7. Alexander 3. it had bin a more competent time and the constitution had seemed more probable to the reader Moreouer the language is like vnto the matter it selfe Intelligat jacturam infamiae se sustinere in place of jacturam famâ— Marcellinus the 28. Bishop of Rome succeeded to Caius and ruled 9. yeeres he fainted in time of the persecution of Dioclesian and sacrificed to idols but afterward hee repented as Peter did and gaue his life for the testimonie of Christ. He who accuseth himselfe closeth all other mens mouths from accusation of him hee who truly repenteth by his repentance is restored to all the dignities of the children of God which were lost by sinne hee who suffered martyrdome for Christ and he whose body lacked the honour of buriall for the space of 30. dayes for the cause of Christ onely I say his name should be kept in reuerent remembrance as if hee had not fallen After Marcellinus succeeded Marcellus the 29. B. of Rome who continued in that Ministration 5. yeere 6. months 21. dayes He liued in the dayes of Maxentius by whom he was enclosed into a filthie stable to the end that lacking the salubritie of wholsome aire he might be destroyed with the filth stinke of the dung of beast which thing also came to passe indeed for he died in the stable This holy martyr so long as he liued he made the stable likâ— vnto a sanctuarie for he neuer intermitted the holy exercises of prayer fasting and the church when peace was granted to them by the mercy of God builded a temple in that same place where the stable had beene wherein Marcellus died The name of Marcellus is pretermitted by Eusebius After Marcellus succeeded Eusebius the 30. Bishop of Rome and continued 6 yeeres 1. month 3. dayes In his time Platina writeth that Helena the mother of Constantine found the crosse of Christ. But Onuphrius himselfe is compelled to grant that both Damasus and Platina erred in that narration because Constantine at this time had no dominion in Syria neither was he as yet conuerted to the faith of Christ. But the tyrant Maximinus with great crueltie oppressed the Church of Christ in the boundes of Syria and Iudea And therefore such as read the historie of the primitiue Church let them read with judgement because it is an easie thing to erre if any man giue such vndoubted credit to ecclesiasticall writers as he giueth to sacred scripture Of other Preachers and Doctors TErtullian a learned Preacher of the African Province of the citie of Carthage a man of a quick pregnant wit flourished vnder the raigne of Severus the fift persecuter When hee came to Rome hee was not free of the envie and reproaches of the clergie of the Romane Church and mooved with anger hee declined to the opinion of the heretique Montanus and wrote books against the true Church such as the volumes following De pudicitia De persecutione De iâ—iuniâ—s De monogamia De exsasi lib. 6. and his seventh booke against Apollonius This lamentable defection of Tertullian may bee an example to all men of great vnderstanding and excellent learning not to bee puft vp nor to be high minded lest they fall into the snare of the divell For Tertullian wrote learned apologies for the Christians and mightily confuted the errour of Marcion notwithstanding of all this hee was high minded and ioyned himselfe to the opinion of Montanus If hee had kept himselfe free of this foule spot hee was worthie for his gifts to haue beene counted amongst the most famous Doctors of the Church after the dayes of the Apostles Origen the sonne of Leonides an Egyptian was a young man of seventeene yeeres of age when his father was martyred in the persecution of Severus His wit was so pregnant in his youth and so capable of all kinde of instruction that his father would often vncover his brest when hee was a sleepe and kisse it giving thankes to God who had made him father of so happy a sonne After his fathers death hee sustayned himselfe his mother and six brethren by keeping a Schoole for all his fathers goods was confiscate for his confession of Christ. When Origen had spent his young age the description of his life in Greeke saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when hee was in his mid-age the Churches of Achaia vexed with heretiques sent for him and as hee was vpon his iourney to Athens hee went through Palestina and was ordained to be a Presbyter or Priest by Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem and Theoctistus Bishop of Caesarea This fact offended Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria so highly that he was full of rage against Origen and wherefore because he being a man of Alexandria received ordination to an Ecclesiasticall office from the Bishops of Ierusalem and Caesarea When Bishops become serious in trifling matters and haue a greater regarde to their owne glory then to the advancement of the kingdome of God then that may bee spoken of them which Ierome writeth of Demetrius Qui tanta in eum debacchatus est insania vt per totum mundum super eius nomine scriberet that is Hee was so full of rage against him that hee replenished the world with writings mentioning the name of Origen But consider what fault was in Origen who was craving no ordination And what fault was in Alexander and Theoctistus men whose names shall be had in everlasting remembrance They did nothing of intention to grieue the heart of Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria but onely being carefull of the advancement of the kingdome of God they endeavoured to strengthen the hands of Origen against the heretickes of Achaia by conferring vnto him the calling of a Presbyter No man can iustly offend against me if I cast in this sentence as a common admonition to all Preachers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let vs not bee ouer serious in ridiculous matters The name of Origen was so famous that not onely the Bishops of Achaia sollicited him to come to their bounds for stopping the mouthes of Heretickes but also hee was sent for at two diverse times to be present at the Councels convened in Arabia against heretickes Some Heretickes
afffirmed that the soules of men perish with their bodies and are raised vp againe in the day of the resurrection with the bodies whom Origen mightily refuted Likewise hee was present at the Councell in Arabia gathered against Berillus Bishop of Bostra who denyed that Christ was existent before his manifestation in the flesh and by the travelles of Origen Berillus was reclaimed and reduced to the true faith therefore I reckon him not in the roll of heretickes Firmilianus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia invited Origen to come to Cappadocia where hee detained him a long time Likewise Mammea the mother of Alexander the Emperour sent for him to come to Antiochia and had him in reverent regard Likewise hee wrote to the Emperour Philip and to his mother who was the first Emperour that professed the name of Christ. Hee studied to bee acquainted with the Hebrew language farre contrary to the custome of his owne Nation and hee conferred the Hebrew text with the Greeke translations not onely the Septuagints but also the translations of Aquila Theodosion and Symmachus and he found out the fift sixt and seventh editions Notwithstanding all these excellent gifts and renowned fame of Origen hee wanted not his owne grosse errours and foolish facts In expounding of Scriptures he became a curious searcher out of allegories Yet this father of allegories Origen mistooke the words of Christ spoken of Eunuches There bee some chaste which haue made themselues chaste for the kingdome of heauen these words I say spoken in an allegorâ—coll sense hee tooke in a simple and vnfigurate meaning and gelded himselfe to the end hee might liue without all suspition of vncleannesse No learned man hath commended this fact of Origen so farre as my reading can extend for if a man might lawfully dismember his own body to the end hee might liue chastely why might not a man in like manner cut off his owne hand to the end he should not in hastie motion of anger kill his neighhour But the obedience of the commandements of God is seated in the heart and more commended for voluntary subiection then for necessity of abstinence of committing evill because there is not an instument in the body able to commit transgression Finally by seeking of divinity without the bounds of the holy Scriptures of God in stead of true divinity he was entangled with foolish errors concerning the creation of many worlds one succeeding to another concerning the paines of divels and wicked men after long torments to be finished and concerning the possibility of nature to keepe the whole law of God For which opinions long after his death he was excommunicate in the fift generall Councell holden Anno 551. Concerning his weakenesse in offering to Idols rather then to suffer his chaste body to be abused I haue spoken in the historie of the seventh persecution Hee lived vntill the dayes of Gallus and Volusianus and died in 69. yeere of his age in the towne of Tyrus where hee was buried Cyprian was an African borne in Carthage in his youth altogether given to the studie and practice of Magicall arts His conversion was by the meanes of Cecilius a Preacher whose name after hee bare and through occasion of hearing the history of the prophet Ionah After his conversion hee distributed all his substance to the poore and became first a Presbyter and afterward Bishop of Carthage Hee was banished in the persecution of Decius and martyred vnder Valerian The worthy D. I. Foxe thinketh that Nazianzen commendeth another Bishop of that same name borne in Antiochia and Bishop in Antiochia who suffered martyrdome in the dayes of Dioclesian This Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was a man full of loue a great comforter of Cornelius Bishop of Rome He suffered martyrdome as Ierom writeth that same day albeit not in the same yeere that Cornelius concluded his life by glorious martyrdome Hee had great strife against two contrarie Sects viz. againsh Novatus who was excessiue rigorous against those who had fallen in time of persecution and against Novatiaâ—us and Felicissimus who by the contrary would haue had both Heretiques and Apostates received without all forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline He esteemed much of those who suffered rebuke for the Name of Christ and hee sayd of the metall mynes that those that were condemned for Christs sake to worke in them that whereas they were wont to deliver gold and silver and precious things vnto the world now by the contrary the mynes receiue gold and siluer and the most precious things in the world counting the Confessours and Martyres of Christ the rich treasures of the earth of whom the world was not worthy His opinion concerning rebaptizing such as were baptized by Heretiques albeit it was erronius yet his modesty in not damning them rashly who were of a contrary opinion is greatly praised by Saint Austen who saith that the modestie of Cyprian in his error was more to be regarded then a sound and right opinion concerning baptisme without humility and modesty Hee was a faithfull builder of the house of God not by word onely but also by writing and his bookes remaine to this day as a precious treasure in the Church of Christ. The booke de Revelatione capitis Iohannis Baptisiae is supposititious because in it mention is made of the reverence that Pipinus King of France did to the head of Iohn Baptist when it was transported from Constantinople to France and it is knowne that Pipinus was not borne 300. yeeres after the martyrdom of Cyprian how then could Cyprian write of a fact done so long time after his death The Church of Christ was multiplyed vnder the persecutions of Sâ—verus Maximinus Decius Valerian Aurelian and Dioclesian All these sixe persecutions are comprehended in the third Centurie Bishops of Ierusalem IN Ierusalem was Narcissus against whom wicked men combined themselues together with forged accusations and false testimonies sealed vp with oaths and imprecations to grieue the heart of Narcissus in so much that hee left his calling and fled to the wildernesse where hee lurked a long time But the false witnesses who bare testimony against him escaped not vnpunished by the hand of God One of them and his whole family and substance was burned with fire another of them was stricken with an heavie disease such as hee himselfe in his imprecations had wished vnto himselfe the third was terrified with the sight of the iudgements of God that lighted vpon the other two and hee repented and poured out the griefe of his dolorus heart in such aboundance of teares that hee became blinde All these false witnesses were punished and he who was penitent albeit the Lord pardoned his sinne yet hee chastised him with temporall punishments The Bishops of the next adiacent Churches because they knew not what was become of Narcissus they admitted another called Dios who continued but a short time To him
succeeded Germanion and after Germanion Gordius in whose time Narcissus manifested himself to the Church of Ierusalem who requested him to take his office againe for they reverenced him as a man raised from death to life againe and the punishment of God inflicted vpon his accusers increased their reverence toward him Hee was old and not able to discharge the weighty office of a Bishop therefore Alexander a worthy man was ioyned as fellow labourer with him Eusebius writeth that he was admonished by a celestiall vision of the will of God that hee should bee Bishop of Ierusalem with Narcissus for hee had beene Bishop of another paroach before in Cappadocia by the like celestiall vision Narcissus and other of the Clergie were admonished that the day next following a Bishop should enter into Ierusalem whom God had appointed to be an helper to Narcissus Hee defended Origen against the fury and madnesse of Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria who set both himselfe and others to great busines for a matter of no importance as is sayd In the persecution of Decius he was carryed to Caesâ—rea closed in a darke prison and dyed a Martyr as hath beene declared Alexander is supposed to haue been the 35. Bishop of Ierusalem Mazabanes Hymeneus Lebdas Thermon all these followed Alexander Bishops of Alexandria IN Alexandria to Philetus and Demetrius succeeded Heraclas the twelfth Bishop of that towne Hee was disciple to Origen and a fellow labourer with him in gouerning the Schoole of Alexandria in the end hee was chosen to bee Bishop of Alexandria whose successor was Dionysius the thirteenth Bishop whom God delivered miraculously from the hands of persecuters in the dayes of Decius by the sudden assault of a number of people who had beene at a mariage feast When they heard that Dionysius was taken by souldiers and led away to Taposiris they arose from table and followed with a speedy pace with a tumultuary voice so that the souldiers who had Dionysius in keeping were afraid and fled and so Dionysius by the great providence of God was delivered out of the hands of his enemies After him Maximus Theonas Petrus a Martyr vnder Dioclesian and Achillas were Bishops of Alexandria Bishops of Antiochia AFter Serapion succeeded Asclepiades the ninth Bishop of Antiochia of whom Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem being the prisoner of Christ in Caesarea wrote vnto the people of Antiochia that it was a comfort to him and it made his imprisonment and bonds the more easie that hee heard it reported that Asclepiades a man well exercised in the true faith by the providence of God was made Bishop of Antiochia Philetus was the tenth Zebenus the eleventh and Babylas was the twelfth Bishop of Antiochia of whom Eusebius recordeth that hee dyed in prison like as Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem ended his life in prison both the one and the other suffered such kinde of martyrdome vnder the persecution of Decius In the Catalogue of Emperours catholicke Bishops and Heretiques subioyned to the Ecclesiasticall History of Theodoretus wee reade that Babylas Bishop of Antiochia would not suffer Decius to enter into the Temple wherein Christians were convened and that before hee was beheaded hee gaue direction to burie with his bodie the chaine also wherewith his bodie had beene bound as a funerall ornament of his buried body But Eusebius deserueth best credite who affirmeth that hee dyed in prison and maketh no mention of his beheading Some imagine that hee who died in prison and hee who was beheaded were both Bishops of Antiochia but living in different ages yet seeing the Catalogue aforesaid speaketh of this suffering vnder the Emperour Decius it is more probable that there is some ouersight in the writer of the Catalogue To Babylas succeeded Fabius Hee was entangled with the error of Novatus but was reclaymed againe by the vigilant travails of Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria Demetrianus a married man was successor to Fabius Paulus Samosatenus a pestilent Heretique was the fifteenth Bishop of Antiochia Domnus the sonne of Demetrian the sixteenth Timeus the seventeenth Cyrillus the eighteenth and Tyrannus the ninteenth Bishop of Antiochia The names of the Bishops of Rome Alexandria and Antiochia were the more accurately obserued and registred after the Councell of Nice albeit I recite them before because it happened in that generll Councell that for timous suppressing of heresies the Bishoppes of these places were called Patriarches and had power to convocate Councels within their owne bounds for suppressing of Heretiques Alwayes it fell out farre contrary to the expectation of holy fathers for the Patriarches were the chiefe protectors of heresie as the historie of the subsequent Centuries euidently declareth Neuerthelesse in this Centurie beside those men of God aboue mentioned nothing inferior in spirituall graces to the Bishops of Rome Alexandria Antiochia and Ierusalem there were many worthy men in other places such as Fâ—rmilianus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia a man familiarly acquainted with Origen Gregorius and Athenodorius brethren and Pastours in Pontus Helenus in Tarsus and Nicomas in Iconium Theotectus in Caesarea Palestinae Maximus in Bostra Eusebius and Anatholius Bishops of Laodicea Quirinus Bishop of Scesiana or as others call it Scescania a worthy martyr about whose necke a milstone was hanged as hath beene before declared I make an end of this second head with the greater gladnesse that I perceiue the litle stone hewed out of the mountaine without hands to be waxing and growing to the bignesse of a great mountaine replenishing the whole earth euen in the time of most horrible persecutions CENTVRIE IIII. Bishops of Rome AFter Eusebius Miltiades gouerned the Romane Church 4. yeeres 7. months and 8. dayes His ministration was in the dayes of the raigne of Constantine to whom the Emperour remitted the controuersie betwixt Cecilianus and the Donatistes to bee judged by him and his Collegues Rheticus Maternus and Marinus The Donatistes would not rest vpon the determination of Miltiades and his Collegues And therefore the good Emperour appointed this cause of new againe to be judged in Arles by a number of Bishops of Spaine Italie and France In the Councell of Arles Cecilianus was likewise absolued and the Donatistes againe succumbed in their probation Notwithstanding they appealed to the Emperour Constantine and when the Emperour heard the cause of Cecilianus pleaded before himselfe the Donatists could not proue that either Cecilianus had beene admitted Bishop of Carthage by a man who was Proditor or yet that he had admitted any other man culpable of the like fault to an Ecclesiasticall office If the Bishop of Rome had bin supreame Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes Constantine had done him wrong to appoint other Iudges to iudge in this cause after the B. of Rome and his Collegues had giuen out their definitiue sentence His ordinance concerning prohibition of fasting vpon the Lords day expedient at
that time to be a distinguishing note of true Christians from Manichean heretiques whose custome was vpon the Lords day to fast The purple garment the palace of Lateran the superioritie of the towne of Rome and gouernment of the West which honours some alledge were conferred by Constantine to Miltiades and Silvester is a fable not worthy of refutation all these honours the Emperours of the West successours of Constantine possessed not the Bishop of Rome for the space of many hundreth yeeres To Miltiades succeeded Silvester ministred 23. yeeres 10 months and 11. dayes In his time was the heretike Arrius excōmunicated by Alexander without the fore-knowledge of the B. of Rome It was enough that after excōmunication intimation was made to other bishops which duty the B. of Alexandria neglected not Learned men shold be ashamed of fables to say that Constantine was baptized by Siluester for Siluester was dead before Constantine was baptized And Platina himselfe is compelled to grant that Marcus the successor of Siluester gouerned the church of Rome in Constantines daies And Eusebius testifieth that Constantine was baptized in Nicomedia immediatly before his death Concerning the donatiō of Constantine wherein he conferreth the dōinion of the West to the B. of Rome it is like vnto a rotten egge which is cast out of the basket lest all the rest be set at the lesse auaile No ancient writer maketh mention of any such thing Yea Constantine in his testamentall legacie allotted the Dominion of the West to two of his sons namely to Constantinus yonger to Constans How then had he by an anterior disposition resigned these Dominiōs to the B. of Rome If Papists be not better countenanced by Antiquitie in other things then in this point they haue no great cause to bragge of Antiquitie To Siluester succeeded Marcus and ministred 2. yeeres 8. months and 20. dayes After Marcus Iulius gouerned the Roman church 15. yeeres Sozomenus attributes to Iulius 25. yeeres His ministratiō was in the daies of the Emp. Constantius his brethren He was a defēder of the true faith a citie of refuge to those who were persecuted by Arrians as namely to Athanasius B. of Alexandria Paulus B. of Constantinople Asclepas B. of Gaza Marcellus B. of Ancyra Lucius B. of Adrianopolis All these were vnjustly deposed from their offices by the Arrians had recourse to Iulius Hee was neither ashamed of the Gospell of Christ nor of his aflicted seruants In the councell of Sardica great honour was cōferred vnto him to wit that men vnjustly condemned by Arrians should haue refuge to Iulius to whom they gaue power of new againe to judge their cause This was an Act of the councell of Sardica not of the Nicene councell as was confidently alledged in the councell of Carthage and a personall honour conferred to one man alone for respectiue causes but not extended to his successours as though all the Bishops of Rome at all times should be Iudges of appellation The Arrians were sore grieued for this that Iulius both in word and deede and writ assisted Athanasius and his complices The chafing letters and mutuall expostulations that passed betwixt Iulius and the Arrians conueened in the Councell of Antiochia are to be read in the Historie of Socrates Platina in the grandoure of his speeches is inconsiderate as if Iulius had damned the presumption of the Orientall Bishoppes who durst conuocate an assemblie without licence before obtained from the Bishop of Rome Noe such thing is contained in the letter of Iulius but onely an expostulation that they did not aduertise him of their Councell to the ende hee might haue sent his Ambassadours and giuen vnto them his best aduise Iulius knewe the Constitutions of the Nicene Councell which gaue power to euery Patriarch within his owne boundes to conuocate Councels To Iulius succeeded Liberius and continued sixe yeeres some assigne vnto him eighteene yeeres others nineteene yeeres so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of their gouernment Hee gouerned the Church of Rome in the dayes of Constantius by whom also hee was banished to Thracia because hee would not consent to the deposition of Athanasius which point was seriously vrged in the Councell of Millane Theodoretus giueth ample testimonie of his constancie and freedome of speaking to the Emperour not disagreeing with his name before his banishment In his absence Foelix the second was chosen to be Bishop of Rome to whom Theodoretus giueth this praise that hee adhered firmely to the Nicene Councell but blameth him for this that he receiued his ordination from Arrians Notwithstanding he was more hated by the Arrians then was Liberius was put to death by them after he had gouerned one yeere foure months and two dayes After two yeeres banishment Liberius returned backe againe to Rome Theodoretus is silent in the matter of his praises after his returning Hilarius Bishop of Poitiers affirmeth that hee both consented to the deposition of Athanasius and to the councell of Sirmium There is nothing lacking now to giue out a determinate sentence whether or no the Bishop of Rome may erre in matters of Faith but onely the appearance of the great Aduocate of all euill causes Onuphrius who will needes finde out some olde partchment or some vnknowne manu-script to free the Chaire of Rome from all suspition of errour in matters of faith But Bellermine giues ouer his cause and can finde no sufficient Apologie for him because his letters written to the Emperour Constantius after his returning from banishment smels of Arrianisme After the death of Liberius succeeded Damasus and ruled 18. yeeres in time of the raigne of Iulian of Iouinian and of Valentinian his competitor Vrsinus had many fauourers in so much that the question who should be elected Bishop of Rome was tried by the sword rather then by reasons suffrages and votes so that in the Church of Sisinum were slaine to the number of 137. persons Damasus preuailed and had the vpper hand Hee was friendly to Peter Bishop of Alexandria whom Lucius an Arrian Bishoppe imprisoned but hee escaped and fled to Rome as Athanasius had done before in the dayes of Iulius He damned the Heresie of Apollinaris in a councel met at Rome His Epistle written to the Oriental Bishops wherein he intimates vnto them the condemnitory sentence pronounced and Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus is indited with the swelling pride of a lofty minde breathing soueraignty and preheminence aboue all other Churches as if the Romane Church were that onely Apostolicke chaire whereunto all other Churches ought homage and reuerence So that Basilius Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia complaines of the pride of the West because they cared onely for their owne preheminence but not for the estate of their persecuted brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valens whose estate they knew not neither sent they
messengers to visite them neither would they receiue true information concerning the estate of their brethren Yea and Basilius saith that hee purposed oft times to haue written to the chiefe of them that is to Damasus that he should not count the splendor of pride to be true dignitie and honour Where it is to be marked that when hee speakes of Damasu◠hee called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the principall of them to wit of the Churches of the West but not the supreame gouernour of the vniuersall Church neither the soueraigne commander of the Churches of the East It is ignorance of the Ecclesiasticall historie that makes men to imagine that the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome is an ancient thing When Damasus damned the heresie of Apollinaris in the councel conueened at Rome it was the yeere of our Lord 379. according to the computation of Ierom and at this time the very aiming to supremacie is counted Splendor superbiae that is the splendor of pride Damasus wrote concerning the liues of the Bishops of Rome preceding his time and was familiarly acquainted with Ierom as Ieroms writings clearly declare To Damasus succeeded Siricius and ministred 15. yeeres at what time Gratianus and Valentinian obtained the Emperiall gouernment he ordained that married men who were admitted to Ecclesiasticall offices after their ordination should abstaine from the company of their wiues as if it were great deuotion to a man to transgresse against the wife of his youth the wife of his couenant and his companion in all his wearisome labours His prohibition of the second marriage smelleth of the Heresie of Montanus In his time with pride of the Cleargie at Rome was joyned vnsatiable auaritiousnesse increasing daily by degrees so that the Emperours Valentinian the 11. and Theodosius were compelled by a law to inhibite widows vnder pretence of deuotion to leaue their houses treasures and house-hold-stuffe to the Church to the vtter impouerishing and vndoing the estate of their children Bishops of Alexandria IN the third Centurie wee rested at the name of Achillas Bishop of Alexandria whose successour was Alexander His accurate disputation concerning the vnitie in the Trinitie made Arrius a presbyter in Alexandria to thinke that Alexander was intangled with the errour of Sabellius Hereof arose contentious disputations new opinions exulcerate minds and open schismes This intestine maladie was not vnknowne to the good Emperour Constantine who sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba a man singularly beloued of the Emperour together with perswasiue letters from the Emp. exhorting both Alexander Arrius to leaue accurate and profound disputations and keepe inuiolably the peace and vnitie of the Church But no meanes could auaile vntil this question was decided by the determination of the generall Councell of Nice After the Councell of Nice had damned the opinion of Arrius as Hereticall Alexander continued not aboue fiue months aliue In the last period of his life hee called for Athanasius but he was not present Of whom Alexander said Thou hast escaped but shalt not escape fore-prophecying that Athanasius should vndergoe the weightie charge which hee giuing place to nature and to the calling of God was leauing Athanasius in his young yeeres and childish playes was counterfeiting diuine mysteries and baptizing children yet after such due forme of interrogatories and answeres preceeding Baptisme that Alexander the Bishop durst not presume to rebaptize those who apparently in childish simplicitie had beene made partakers of diuine grace He began no sooner to accept the waightie charge of the Church of Alexandria Anno 333 but the Arrians began to fret and offend knowing how diligent he attended vpon Alexander his predecessor at the councell of Nice and how vigilantly and wisely hee had detected the lurking absurdities of the vilde Heresie of Arrius And they thought the preferment of Athanasius was the vtter vndoing of their opinion Therefore they conspired against him and by a multiplied number of false accusations preuailed somewhat against him euen in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine But in the dayes of Constantius and Iulian almost the whole world conspired against him so that except hee had beene vpholden by that grace that commeth from aboue it was not possible that hee could haue borne out such vnsupportable hatred Iustly did Nazianzene compare him in time of aduersitie to the Adamant and in time of prosperitie to the Magnes In time of aduersitie no trouble ouercame him in time of prosperitie hee allured the hearts of men more intractable then yron to embrace the truth of God Now seeing Athanasius liued sixe and fourtie yeeres gouernour of the Church of Alexandria his great troubles cannot be comprised in better order then by declaring shortly what troubles he sustained first in Constantines dayes next vnder the raigne of Constantius thirdly vnder the raigne of Iulian last to speake of his peaceable end vnder the raigne of the Emperour Valens albeit he was an Arrian Persecuter In the dayes of Constantine first he was accused by an effronted harlot whom the Arrians had suborned to beare false witnesse against him but Athan. guided the matter with wisedome and suffered Timotheus a worthy Presbyter to speake whom hee had brought in with him to the Councell but he was silent himselfe The impudent woman pointing out Timotheus by the finger as if hee had beene Athanasius with clamours voyde of all womanly modestie affirmed that he had abused her in whoredome so that all who were present were ashamed of her impudencie This was done in the Councell of Tyrus to the perpetuall shame of the Arrians who subborned an harlot to accuse the faithfull servant of Christ without a cause Secondly they accused him for this that hee had cut off the hand of Arsenius sometime his owne servant and for greater evidence they produced in the Councell of Tyrus before the Iudges the hand of a man inclosed in a case which hand they affirmed that Athanasius had cut off from Arsenius This they spake the more confidently because they supposed that Arsenius remayned still kept in their own custodie but by the providence of God hee escaped came to Tyrus and was presented before the Councell having both his hands perfect sound and vnmutilated After this the Councell was full of confusion for the Arrians cryed that Athanasius by magicke arts deluded the senses of men and they were purposed by violence and force to lay hands vpon him and to teare him in pieces but he fled by a ship and came to Constantinople where the Emperour was as shall bee declared God willing The rest of his accusations and how they dealt against him most vniustly and falsely and gaue out a sentence of deposition against him in his absence I remit vnto its owne place Vnder the raigne of Constantius Athanasius was compelled to flie at two diuers times First while the Emperour Constans was yet aliue who procured a Councell to
be gathered in Sardica wherein the cause of Athanasius was tryed and he found innocent and was sent backe againe and restoâ—ed to his place For Constantius feared the menacing letters of his brother Constans who threatned to leade an army to the East and to possesse Athanasius in his place againe if his brother lingred in doing of it After the death of Constans Sabinianus was sent to kill Athanasius but hee escaped miraculously as hath beene declared Againe hee was compelled first to flie and afterward to lurke in the dayes of Iulian. Hee was restored againe by the good Emperour Iovinian and he continued in his ministration vntill the dayes of Valentinian and Valens and although Valens was a cruell persecuter yet hee abstained from persecuting of Athanasius for honour of his gray haires and for that hee was reverently regarded of all men Thus Athanasius full of dayes died in peace after he had governed the Church of Alexandria 46. yeeres To worthy Athanasius succeeded Peter whom the Emperour Valens caused to be imprisoned and Lucius an Arrian Bishop to be seated in his roome Lucius was made Bishop of Alexandria against all kinde of Ecclesiasticall order neither did the people craue him nor the clergie of Alexandria approue him nor any Orthodox Bishoppe giue him ordination Peter escaped out of prison and fledde to Damasus Bishoppe of Rome Lucius like vnto a ravening wolfe not onely banished the Homousians out of Alexandria and Egypt but also that which was more insolent and never attempted before hee persecuted the Monkes who dwelt in solitary places of the wildernesse and banished them who had already banished themselues from all the delicate pleasures of the world But marke To what place could men be banished who inhabited the desert places of barren wildernesses Hee caused them especially Macarius and Isidorus to bee transported to an Isle wherein no Christians were to be found but onely Pagans and worshippers of divels When these prisoners of Christ approached neere vnto the Isle the divell left his old habitation to wit the mouth of the Image from whence he was accustomed to speake and hee possessed the Priestes daughter who ran vnâ—â— the shoare and cryed words not vnlike to those which were spoken to Paul and Silas in Philippi by the maide who had the spirit of divination and after this the divell left her lying vpon the ground as though shee had beene dead But the men of God by their supplications to God restored the young woman to health and delivered her to her father The Inhabitants of the Isle who saw the wonderfull works of God received the faith and were baptized in the Name of Christ. Lucius was so dashed with the fame of this wonderfull work and with the crying out of people against him that hee permitted the foresayd Monkes to returne backe againe to their owne places After Peter succeeded Timotheus for one cause worthie to be blamed because hee favoured the vsurpation of Maximus Cynicus who presumed without a lawfull calling to be Bishop of Constantinople And after him Theophilus succeeded whose attempts against Chrysostom I remit to the next Centurie Bishops of Antiochia IN Antiochia after Tyrannus succeeded Vitalius about the time that the rage of the tenth Persecution began to bee asswaged therefore hee re-edified a Church in Antiochia which had beene demolished in the time of the persecution of Dioclesian and his successor Philogonius perfected the building To whom succeeded Eustatius who was present at the Councell of Nice and was Moderator and mouth to all the rest Eusebius sometime Bishoppe of Berytus afterward Bishop of Nicodemia and last of all Bishop of Constantinople did insinuate himselfe in favour with the Emperour Constantine and obtained from him liberty to goe to Ierusalem and to visite the Temples that Constantine had lately builded in Bethlehem Ierusalem and vpon Mount Olivet To him resorted a number of Arrian Bishops who had all secretly conspired against Eustatius and subborned a vile woman to accuse him of whoredome The Arrians vpon the simple deposition of a woman subborned by themselues contrary to all kinde of order deposed Eustatius and perswaded the Emperour to banish him as a man convict both of adultery and of tyranny But the Lord layde his correcting hand vpon the woman whom the Arrians had suborned so that she dyed sore tormented with a grieuous sicknesse and confessed that money was given vnto her to accuse Eustatius and that shee had sworne deceitfully because the childe procreated with her was begotten by Eustatius a Smith of that name but not by Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia The Arrians in the dayes of Constantine had no great vpper hand except onely in the matter of Athanasius his banishment to Triere and in the deposition and banishment of Eustatius to Illyricum But in the dayes of Constantius they tooke boldnesse and planted Arrian Bishops in all principall places so that in Antiochia after Eustatius Eulalius Euphronius Placitus Leontius Eudoxiâ—s all these were Arrian Bishoppes placed by them in Antiochia In the end Meletius was ordained Bishop of Antiochia a man of great gifts whom the Arrians transported out of Sebastia in Armenia and placed him in Antiochia supposing that by his excellent learning many should be allured to their opinion but it fell out farre otherwise for Meletius professed the true faith Onely the reproueable forme of his entrie by receiving ordination from Arrian Bishops was the ground of remedilesse schismes in the Church of Antiochia There had been already two factions in the towne to wit Arrians and Eustatians now the third faction is added of them who were called Meletians with whom Eustatians did not communicate but abhorred them as they did the Arrians This schisme indured after the death of Meletius for the space of fourscore and fiue yeeres Meletius was banished in the dayes of Constantius and Euzoius an Arrian Bishoppe placed in his roome Hee was restored againe by Iulian onely for desire he had to vndoe things done by Constantius and to bring his name to disgrace Likewise vnder the raigne of the Emperour Valens hee was banished the second time Hee governed the Church of Antiochia fiue and twenty yeeres and dyed in Constantinople immediatly after the second generall Councell and was carryed to Antiochia to be buried there The ordination of Paulinus to be Bishoppe of Antiochia Meletius being yet aliue was the foolish fact of Lucifer Bishop of Calaris in the Isle of Sardinia Hee was restored from banishment in the dayes of Iulian. and tooke purpose accompanied with Eusebius Bishop of Vercellis in Liguria who was likewise restored at that same time to visit the estate of their brethren Eusebius addresseth himselfe to Alexandria and conferred with Athanasius But Lucifer went to Antiochia where he found miserable distractions euen amongst those who professed one and the selfe same Faith When exhortation to vnity could prevaile
nothing but the dissention dayly encreased hee ordayned Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia and the chiefe of those who were called Eustatiani to be Bishop of Antiochia This fact of Lucifer was like vnto fuell added vnto the fire and mightily augmented the schisme Theodoretus blameth him for so doing and Eusebius Vercellencis when hee came backe from Alexandria disliked also the fact of Lucifer Wherefore Lucifer would not communicate any longer with Eusebius These sorrowfull times of multiplyed schismes alienated the hearts of a great number of people from the true Church Meletius was restored from his second banishment in the dayes of the Emperour Gratianus Paulinus would on no condition communicate with him because hee had receiued ordination from the Arrians When Meletius had ended his life the people would not admit Paulinus to be their Bishop because they sayd it was not meete that he should be his successor who dispised his fellowship and counsell in his life time To Meletius succeeded Flavianus a worthy man Paulinus albeit hee appoynted Evagrius to bee his successor yet such formes manifestly repugnant to the approoved order of the Church could take no place The Bishoppes of Rome Damascus Siricius and Anastatius were great adversaries to him and mis-informed the good Emperour Theodosius against him but when he appeared before the Emperour hee spake before him both freely and wisely words that liked the Emperour well as they are reported by Theodoretus O Emperour if any man doe blame my Faith as perverse or my life as vnworthy I am content to bee iudged by my very adversaries but if the disputation onely bee concerning principality and eminent places I will not contend with any man but denude my selfe of all superiority and commit the chaire of Antiochia to whom yee like best The Emperour admired his courage and wisedome and sent him backe againe to governe his owne Flocke and was slow to heare frivolous accusations in time to come against Flavianus This was that worthy Bishop who associated Iohn Chrysostome to bee his fellow labourer in Antiochia and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceived against the City of Antiochia for misusing the Image of his wife Placilla Bishops of Constantinople COnstantinople was builded by Constantine Anno 336. in a place where Asia and Europe neerly confines being separated onely by a narrow river called of olde Bosphorus Thracius The cause wherefore this Imperiall Citie was builded in this place was not to resigne the towne of Rome and the government of the West to the Bishop of Rome but as Sozomenus writes that Constantinople or new Rome might bee as a soveraigne Ladie to all those who in the East West North or South were obedient to the Romane Empire Learned men in our dayes are ashamed to maintaine all the foolish fables of the Romane Church for they see cleerly the cause of the building of this great Citie was to keepe firmely both the East and the West vnder the Soveraignty of Constantine and his successors Alexander Bishop of Constantinople prooved a worthy man in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine The Arrians finding themselues to be vtterly reiected by Athanasius they addressed themselues to Constantinople vnder the conduct of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and threatned Alexander that in case hee would not receive Arrius into the fellowship of the Church then they would bring him in authorized with the Emperours command to the griefe of his heart Alexander cloathed himselfe with the armour of God and all the night long prayed in this sense Lord if Arrius be to be received to morrow into the communion of thy Church then let thy servant depart in peace and destroy not the iust with the wicked but Lord if thou wilt spare thy Church wherevnto I am assured thou wilt be favourable then Lord turne thine eyes toward the wâ—rdes of the Eusebians and give not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach and cut off Arrius lest while hee entreth into the Church his heresie also seeme to enter with him and so no difference seeme to bee betwixt Piety and Impiety The next day following the prayer of Alexander Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia with his retinue came with great confidence and pompe to performe all which they threatned they would doe But Arrius was compelled to goe to a secret place where his bowels gushed out and he concluded his wretched life with ignominy and shame To Alexander succeeded Paulus his lot was to gouerne this Church vnder the raigne of an Arrian Emperour Constantius who reiected him and seated Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in his place But this great Patron of the Arrian heresie scarcely was placed in Constantinople when he ended his life The Homousians received againe Paulus to bee their Bishoppe The Arrians chose Alaâ—edonius This was the cause of great strife in Constantinople and the people divided in factions hatefully invaded one another the Emperour hearing of the tumult sent Hermogenes the Generall Commander of his horsemen to remoue Paulus from Constantinople Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperours commandement but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor arose vp with popular tumult compassed the house of Hermogenes set it on fire sâ—ew him and fastned a cord to his legges and trailed him along the street For this cause the Emperour Constantius willing to punish the authours of this tumult hastened to come to Constantinople The people went forth to meet him and with teares confessed their fault and craved pardon The Emperour abstayned from punishing them vnto the death but he cut off the one-halfe of thâ— victuall which the liberality of his father had bestowed vpon Constantinople to bee payed yeerely out of the tributes of Egypt Hee banished Paulus the second tune and seated Macedonius in Constantinople not without effusion of blood Paulus was againe restored by the meanes of the Emperour Constans but after the death of Constans hee was banished to Cucusus a towne of Armenia where hee was strangled by the bloody Arrians The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianisme vnder the raignes of Constantius and Valens The raignes of Gratianus and Theodosius was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith At this time Nazianzen a constant defender of the Faith was chosen Bishop of Constantinople who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great Citie in regard the Bishops assembled in the second generall Councell gaue not a full and vniversall consent to his admission Yet gaue they all their consent to Nectarius a man of noble birth of the countrey of Cilicia at that time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who had received no Ecclesiasticall preferment before that time This man I say they made Bishop of Constantinople with full consent and allowance both of the Councell and people ouer-passing Nazianzenus so fraile are the cogitations of men euen in generall Councels that they are oft times more ruled
would accept that place The Emperour Constantine commended his modestie and counted him worthy to be Bishop of the whole world Neuerthelesse he was not altogether free of the Heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Councell and he was remisse and slacke in the cause of ATHANASIVS He was so familiarly acquainted with Pamphilus who suffered martyrdome in Caelarea that he clothed himselfe with his name and called himselfe Eusebius Pamphili He died about the time that Athanasius first returned from banishment by the meanes of Constantine the younger about the yeere of our Lord 342. Nazianzenus liued in the dayes of Constantius Iulian and Theodosius He was borne in a little towne of Cappadocia called Nazianzum from which he receiued his name He was trained vp in learning in Alexandria and in Athens his familiaritie with Basilius Magnus began in Athens it was increased in the Wildernesse he Preached in Sasâ—ma but because it was a place vnmeete for studies he returned to Nazianzum and was a helper to his aged father After his fathers death he went to Constantinople where he found the towne in a most desolate condition in regard the Arrian and Macedonian heresies had so mightily prevailed that all the principall Churches were occupied by them Nazianzenus onely had libertie to Preach in a little Church called Anastatia because the truth of God which seemed to haue beene buried now by the Preaching of Nazianzenus was revived againe In the second generall Councell gathered by Theodosius because some Bishops of Macedonia Egypt murmured against his admission he counterfeited the fact of Ionas and was content to be cast out of his place to procure peace and concord amongst his brethren He benefited the Church of Christ in the dayes of Iulian by writing bookes of Christian Poesie whereby the Christian youth should haue no harme by the interdiction of Iulian prohibiting the Children of Christians to be brought vp in the Schooles of learning He detected the heresie of Apollinaris and the abominations of Heathen idolatrie whereunto Iulian had sold himselfe more cleerely then any other man had done A man worthie for excellencie of gifts to be called Theologus Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia was so vnited in heart and mind with Nazianzenus that the Pen of Socrates will not separate the Treatises of their liues His father Basilius his mother Eumele his nurse that fostered him named Macrina all were Christians His father was martyred vnder the persecuting Emperour Maximus He left behinde him fiue sonnes three of them were Bishops namely Basilius Bishop of Caesarea Peter Bishop of Sebaâ—ta and Gregorius Bishop of Nyssa He was instrusted in all kinde of learning in Caesarea in Constantinople in Athens vnder Himerius and Proaeresius in Antiochia vnder Libanius At his second comming to Athens he acquainted himselfe with Nazianzenus They spent too much time in searching out the deepenesse of humane learning and it repented Basilius that he had spent so much time in searching out things that are not necessary to eternall life He was ordained a Deacon by Meletius B. of Antiochia and a Presbyter by Eusebius B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia The good cariage of Basilius toward Eusebius is worthic of remembrance albeit Eusebius conceiued indignation against him without a cause yet he would not expostulate with his Bishop but he departed to a solitarie place in Pontus where he remained vntill the dayes of the Emperour Valens Then did the Arrian Heresie so mightily prevaile that necessitie compelled the Churches of Cappadocia to intreat Basilius to turne againe left in his absence Arrianisme should get a full vpper-hand Basilius returned not without the foreknowledge good aduise of Nazianzenus his deare friend who counselled him to preueene Eusebius and to ouercome him in courtesie and humanitie So was he reconciled to Eusebius and after his death was ordained B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia whom God so blessed that the Arrians and Eunomians who seemed to be excellently learned when they encountered with Nazianzenus and Basilius they were like vnto men altogether destitute of learning In the persecution of Valens he was led to Antiochia and presented before the Deputy of Valens who threatned him with banishment and death but he answered him with inuincible courage so that the Deputy was astonished at his answeres He was not afraid of banishment because the earth is the Lords neither was he afraid of death but wished to haue that honour that the bonds of his earthly tabernacle might be loosed for the testimony of Christ. The Emperours sonne Galaces at this time was sicke vnto the death and the Empresse sent him word that she had suffered many things in her dreame for the B. Basilius so he was dismissed and suffered to returne to Caesarea The prouident care of God ouer-ruling all humane cogitations kept before hand some sparkles that were not quenched in the feruent heat of this persecution The multiplied number of his Letters sent to the Bishops of the West whereof he receiued no comfortable answere gaue vnto Basilius iust occasion to suspect affectation of supremacy in the West as his owne words doe testifie which I cite out of the Latine version as most easie to be vnderstood Nihil nos fratres separat nisi animi proposito separations causas robúrque demus vnus est Dominus vna Fides Spes eadem Siue caput vniversalis Ecclesiae vos ipsos esse reputatis non potest pedibus dicere caput non est mihi opus vobis c. That is There is nothing brethren that separates vs except the purpose of our owne mindes furnish both cause and strength to separation There is one God one Faith one Hope Or if yee suppose your selues to be head of the vniversall Church yet the head cannot say vnto the feete I haue no neede of you Nyssa is a Citie of Mysia of olde called Pythopolis The brother germane to Basilius Magnus named Gregorius was Bishop of this towne In the second generall Councell to him was committed the ouer-sight of the Countrey of Cappadocia Albeit the volume of his Bookes be not extant yet he is renowned in the mouths of the learned and the fragments of his writings declare that he hath beene a man of note and marke Concerning sinne he said that albeit the Serpents that stinged vs were not slaughtered yet we haue sufficient consolation in this that we are cured from their venemous bits and stings Concerning pilgrimage to Ierusalem Mount Oliveâ— and Bethlehem he said that a pilgrimage from carnall lusts to the righteousnesse of God is acceptable to the Lord but not a iourneying from Cappadocia to Palestina and that God will giue a reward in the world to come onely to things done in this world by warrant of his owne Commandement Epiphanius was borne in a little Village of Palestina called Barsanduce in the fielde of Eleutheropolis He was
weaknesse was found in him At the councell of Syrmium he was compelled to be present in that assembly of Arrian Bishops to whose wicked constitutions fearing torture and banishment from which he was lately reduced he subscribed Ierom was borne in a towne of Dalmatia called Stridon and was instructed in the Rudiments of Learning at Rome From Rome he went to France of purpose to increase his knowledge and to diuerse other places and he returned againe to Rome where he acquainted himselfe with honourable women such as Marcella Sophronia Principia Paula and Eustochium to whom he expounded places of holy Scripture for he was admitted presbyter He was counted worthie to succeed Damasus B. of Rome his gifts were enuied at Rome therefore he left Rome and tooke his voiage toward Palestina By the way he acquainted himselfe with Epiphanius B. of Cyprus with Nazianzenus B. in Constantinople with Didymus Doctor in the Schoole of Alexandria and sundry other men of Note and Marke In the end he came to Iudea and made choise of the place of the Lords Natiuitie to be the place of his death At Bethlehem Paula a Noble woman who accompanied Ierom and his brother Paulinianus from Rome vpon her owne charges builded foure Monasteries Ierom guided one Monasterie wherein were a number of Monkes The other three wherein there were companies of holy Virgines she guided her selfe Ierom was a man of sterne disposition and more inclinable to a solitary and Monkish life then to fellowship and societie Neither Heliodorus in the Wildernesse nor Ruffinus out of the Wildernesse could keepe inuiolable friendship with him The Letters that passed betwixt August and Ierom declare that Ierom knew not how great a victory it was in loue in humilitie and friendship to ouer-come them who seemed to contend against him Ierom wanted not his owne grosse errours Concerning the creation hee thought that Angels Thrones Dominations were existent before the world was created In his Bookes written against Iouinian he writeth not reuerently of Mariage and he seemeth to condemne the second Mariage He ended his life about the twelfth yeere of the raigne of Honorius in the yeere of his age 91. Ecclesiasticall Writers haue filled their Bookes with excessiue commendations of Heremites and Monks of whom God willing I shall write in a particular Treatise of Monasticall life CENTVRIE V. Patriarches of Rome AFter Stricius succeeded Anastatius and gouerned the Church of Rome three yeeres About the yeere of our Lord 401. hee entred into his office vnder the raigne of Honorius Hee made a constitution that men should not sit but stand when the Gospell was read After him succeeded Innocentius and continued in his office fifteene yeeres hee was an aduersarie to the Novatians and Pelagians and was friendly to Iohn Chrysostome whose deposition Eudoxia the Emperours wife had procured Innocentius sent to Honorius and Arcadius fiue Bishops and two Presbiters to procure the appointment of a Councell wherein the cause of Chrysostome might be examined for hee counted the gathering of an Ae cumenicke Councell the only remedy whereby the vehement tempest of so great commotions as followed the deposition and banishment of Chrysostome could be settled but the aduersaries of Chrysostome procured the messengers of Innocentius to be ignominiously entreated and sent backe againe Heere let the iudicious Reader marke that the power of conuocating generall Councells appertained to the Emperour and not vnto the Bishop of Rome In this mans time according to mine opinion the Roman Church began to swell in pride and to vsurpe iurisdiction ouer other Churches hauing no better ground than a personall and temporall act of the councel of Sardica Zosimus the successor of Innocentius continued not aboue the space of a yeere and 5. months in office or 2. yeeres as Socrates writeth To him Platina ascribeth this constitution that no seruant should be assumed into the clergie but he lamenteth that not onely seruants but also the sons of strange women and flagitious persons were admitted to spirituall offices to great detriment of the Church He sent Faustinus a Bishop to the Councell of Carthage with 2. Presbyters of the Romane Church to craue that no matter of moment and importance should be done without aduise of the Roman Bishop He pretended an act of the councell of Nice allotting this dignitie to the Romane chaire but after diligent search of the principall register no such act was found I expected that Onuphrius now should haue compeared in so maine a point said something to the cause which with tooth naile he defendeth but in his annotations I see nothing except a diuersity of couÌ„ting of yeres for in his reckoning Zosimus continued 3. yeeres 4-months To Zosimus succeeded Bonifacius 1. and gouerned 3. yeeres At his election there was a schisme in Rome Some elected Bonifacius others Eulalius to be their bishop The Emperour Honorius baÌ„ished them both from Rome but after 7 months Bonifacius was restored and was Bishop of Rome at this time they were bishops of Rome to whom the Emperour gaue allowance but they were not Emperours to whom the Bishop of Rome gaue allowance After Bonifacius Coelestinus gouerned the Church of Rome eight yeeres ten months and seuenteene dayes He was an aduersary to the Novatians Pelagians and to Nestorius and his adherents Socrates taketh him vp right that hee was bitter against the Novatians for desire of preheminence In Constantinople they who professed the true faith had libertie to meete together â—albeit in matters of discipline their opinion was not found but Coelestinus silenced Rusticola the Bishop of the Novatians For desire to haue all Bishoppes stouping vnder his soueraignitie Marke the words of Socrates in the Latine translation bearing these words Romano Episcopatus iam â—dim periâ—de atque Alexandrinâ— ultra sacredâ—â—â— luâ—â—tes aâ—d exterum dominatum progrâ—ssâ— that is the bishoprick of Rome euen of old hauing stepped beyond the limites of Priesthood to an externall domination as the Bishopricke of Alexandria had done before Pelagius had propagated his heresie in the Isle of Britaine But Coelestinus hindred the propagation of a wicked heresie by sending Germanus to the Brittaines and Palladius to the Scots Coelestinus more impudently than his predecessours Innocentius Zosimus and Bonifacius vrged a submission of the Churches of Carthage vnto the Romane chaire and that they should accept in fauour Appiarius whom they excommunicated for his appellation from his owne Bishop to the Bishop of Rome but the fathers of the sixt Councell of Carthage would neither absolue Appiarius before his repentance were knowne neither would they stoup vnder the iurisdiction of the Roman Church To Coelestinus succeeded Sixtus the third and continued in office eight yeeres ninteene dayes Hee was accused of the crime of Adultery by Bassus but Sixtus was found innocent and Bassus was found a calumniator and a false accuser
therefore he was banished by the Emp. Valentinian the third and his goods were appointed to goe to the vse of the Church Bassus after his banishment desired to be receiued againe in fauour with Sixtus but his petition was reiected as if he had sinned against the holy Ghost Notwithstanding the flatterers of the chaire of Rome writeth that Sixtus buried Bassus his accuser with his owne hands which seemeth to be repugnant to his vnmerciful forme of dealing in his life-time After Sixtus Leo a deacon in Rome and absent out of the towne was chosen the bishop of Rome and ruled 21. yeeres 1. month 13. daies he stirred vp the Emperour Theodosius 2. to appoint a councell for suppressing the error of Eutyches wherein it was rather coÌ„firmed than suppressed by the craft of Dioscorus B of Alexandria whereof I shall speake hereafter God willing how Eutyches was coÌ„demned in the councel of Chalcedon vnder the raigne of Martianus His wisdome and eloquence in mitigating the surie of Attila hath beene handled in the preceding historie Amongst his constitutions none is more commendable then his constitution against ambitious men who presume continually to high places Hee ordained that they should be depriued both of the higher and the lower place of the lower place for their pride because they had proudly despised it of the higher because they had auaritiously suted it In discipline nothing is better than to beare downe those place mongers whereby it commeth to passe that prerogatiue of place is referred to prerogatiue of gift Hilarius followed and continued seuen yeeres three months ten dayes To whom succeeded Simplicius and continued fifteene yeeres one month and seuen dayes Foelix the third was the successor of Simplicius and continued eight yeers eleuen months and seuenteene dayes Hee gouerned the Church of Rome in the time of the Emperour Zeno and in the time when Odoacer and Theodoricus contended for the superioritie of Italie hee was nothing inferiour to his antecessors in zeale to aduance the Supremacie of the Romane Chayre for hee excommunicated Acatius Bishop of Constantinople because he craued not his aduise in receiuing Pâ—trus Moggus in fauour like as hee had craued his aduise at the first when he excommunicated him This Petrus Moggus was an Eutychian heretike and was iustly excommunicated by Acatius who vsed the aduise of Foelix Bishop of Rome in excoÌ„municating him But when Petrus Moggus testified his repentance by his supplicant bill containing the recantatioÌ„ of his error Acatius absolued him This grieued the proud stomacke of Foelix because his aduise was not craued in all things Therefore he excommunicated Acatius as is said Acatius little regarding the pride of the Romane Bishop gaue to Foelix an hard meeting for he both excommunicated Foelix and razed his name out of the roll of Bishops Ambition was the first great cancker-worme that consumed defaced the beautie of the Church of Rome Gelasius the successor of Foelix an Africane borne ruled foure yeeres eight months and seuenteene dayes The estate of Italie was so troubled by the incursions of barbarous people that the manners of the people were altogether dissolute for hee ministred in the last yeere of Theodoricus King of Italie therefore hee endeuoured to establish discipline in the Church hee claimed superioritie ouer all Churches more manifestly than any of his predecessors had done for he affirmed that the Church of Rome should iudge all Churches and should bee iudged by no Church and that the right of Appellation to the Bishop of Rome from all parts in the world was not a supposititious act of the Nicene Councell as the Councell of Carthage had determined but that it was authentike a Right giuen by them indeed to the Roman Church neither would h e be reconciled with the Orientall Bishops in any case except they would first allow the excommunication of Acatius and raze his name out of the roll of Bishops Platina writeth that hee did excommunicate the Emperour Anastatius a fauourer of the Eutychian heresie but this example once begun was practised in most prodigall maner by the Bishops of Rome against Emperours who maintained no heresie Patriarches of Constantinople IOhn Chrysostome succeeded to Nectarius in the dayes of Arcadius and Honorius hee had beene an helper to Flavianus Bishop of Antioch from whence hee was transported by the authoritie of the Emperour Arcadius and ordained Bishop of Constantinople sore against the hearts of the people of Antiochia In Oratory he had profited in the school of Libanius in Philosophie in the schoole of Andragathius beyond his fellowes His libertie in reproouing of sin both in Court and Clergie procured against him the hatred of Eudoxia the Empresse and hatred of the Clergie who could not suffer their corrupt maners to be reformed Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria was opposed to Chrysostome from the verie first time of his ordination for hee endeuoured to haue Isidorus a Monke brought vp in the wildernes of Schethis and afterward a Presbyter in Alexandria to bee seated in Constantinople but when his plotted course failed he became an enemie to Chrysostome and gladly embraced all occasions whereby he might procure his deposition how he was iustly deposed banished and iourneyed to death by the malice of Eudoxia and Theophilus it hath beene sufficiently declared in the preceding historie Other things God willing shall be handled in the description of the life of Theophilus Chrysostome gouerned the Church of Constantinople 7. yeeres After Chrysostome Arsatius the brother of Nectarius an aged man for he was fourescore yeere old sate in Constantinople scarce 2. yeeres Atticus the successor of Arsatius sate 21. yeeres He was admitted to this office in the time of the minoritie of Theodosius the second at what time Anthemius his counseller a man in wisdome inferiour to none who liued in his time gouerned the affaires of the Kingdome Atticus was not vnlearned he was godly and prudent he inserted the name of Chrysostome into the roll of Bishops and in the publike Liturgie made an honourable commemoration of his name and perswaded Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria to doe the like Socrates affirmeth that God by his ministrie wrought miraculous workes and that a Ievve sicke of the Palsie was baptized by him in the Name of Iesus and immediatly after Baptisme was healed of his disease In staying the progresse of superstition wherein people euen at this time were enclined hee carried himselfe prudently for some of the people of Constantinople resorted to the sepulcher of Sabbatius to pray and to doe some worship to the defunct but Attâ—â—us caused his body in the night season to be raised and to be buried in another place vnknowne to the foresaid superstitious people and so they left off their resorting to the sepulchre of Sabbatius Sisinnius after Atticus ministred 2. yeeres Nestorius followed him in office but his name
is to be reade in the catalogue of heretikes Next to Nestorâ—us was Maximianus who continued not aboue 2. yeeres and 5. months To whom succeeded Proclus and continued 12. yeeres Flaâ—ianus after Proclus gouerned that sea in the dayes of Theodosius the second a faithfull man in his calling but scarcely did he complete 2. yeeres in his Bishopricke Hee deposed and excommunicated Eutyches an Abbot in Constantinople the authour of a pernitious heresie Hee was cruellie troden vnder foot in the second councell of Ephesuâ— called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a councell of brigandrie Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria in that councell fauoured the opinion of Eâ—tyches and by tumultuary dealing so oppressed Flavianus that he procured his death They who attribute too much to the authoritie of Councels let them fasten their eyes vpon this councell and learne that possibly councels may erre and that Patriarches such as Dioscorus was may erre euen in matters of faith To Flaâ—ianus succeeded Anatolius and gouerned eight yeeres And after him Gennadius thirteene yeeres Acatius the successor of Gennadius gouerned seuenteene yeeres vnder the Emperour Zeâ—o Hee gaue a good proofe of his constancie in the true faith at that time when Basiliscus who draue Zeno from his Kingdome condemned the Councel of Chalcedon and compelled bishops to subscribe to the errour of Eutyches The great dissention that fell out bewixt him and the Roman Bishops for Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria and Petrus Cnapheus Bishop of Antiochia it was not for coÌ„municating with them before they renounced their errour as some learned men doe affirme but for plaine emulation such as was of old betwixt Pompeius and Caesar the one could not abide a coÌ„panion the other could not abide a superior The Roman Church manifestly coÌ„tended for superiority the Church of Constantinople on the other part perceiuing what aduantage the Roman bishops tooke of this that their counsel was craued they left off the doing of it And this moued the proud stomacke of Gelasius after the death of Acatius to burst out in these arrogant words that the church of Rome had power to iudge of all other churches but no church had power to iudge of the church of Rome yea and Platina a late writer groundeth the supremacie of the B. of Rome vpoÌ„ this that Acatius B. of ConstaÌ„tinople wrote vnto him to damne the heretical opinion of Peâ—rus Moggus B. of Alexandria albeit the faith of Peter was grounded vpoÌ„ a sure rocke yet the supremacie of the Roman Bishops is grounded only vpon such sandie ground as Platina and other flatterers of the Romane chaire doe cast out in their writings After Acatius succeeded Phrauitas otherwise called Flauitas and continued scarse 4. months some thinke that God in wrath shortned his dayes because that by vnlawfull meanes hee attained to that dignitie to be Bishop of Constantinople The Synodicke letter of Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria written to Flauitas and pondered by his successor Euphâ—mius wherein Petrus Moggus accurseth the councell of Chalcedon it will clearely prooue inconstancie in Petrus Moggus but not a fault in Acatius for many are like vnto dogs who returne vnto their vomite againe and this blame must rest in the bosome of fickle and vnconstant men and not in the bosome of honest men who are deceiued by them Euphemius succeeded to Flauitas and gouerned vnder the raigne of Zeno and Anastatius and would not complete the ceremonies of the inauguration of Anastatius vntill the time that by his oath and hand-writ hee promised to be a defender of the true faith and of the actes of the councell of Chalcedon The hand-writ Anastatius craued to be deliuered backe againe to him which when he could not obtaine Euphemius was compelled to flie for safetie of his life When he pondered the Synodicke letter of Petrus Moggus he abhorâ—ed his name inserted against the name of Fâ—â—lix B. of Rome into the catalogue of Bishops which was razed and cancelled by Acatius one of his predecessors Patriarchs of Alexandria THeophilus ministred in Alexandria in the dayes of Theodosius and of his sonnes Arcadius and Honorius a man both reproovable in his life and inconstant in his faith Hee sent Isidorus a Monke to Rome there to lurke secretly and to expect the event of the battell that was to bee sought betwixt Theodosius Maximus and to congratulate the victor When hee returned from Rome hee endevoured to promote him to the Bishopricke of Constantinople but Iohn Chrysostome was preferred before him After this hee cannot keepe friendship with Isidorus whom he intended once to haue preferred but vpon a light occasion cast him off and excommunicated him because hee would not deliver to him the mony left in testamental legacie to be distributed to the poore This money which Theophilus sister had left to the vse aforesayd Theophilus craved that it might be put in his hands to be imployed to building and repairing of Churches But Isidorus answered that the money put in his custodie should bee bestowed according to the will of the defunct And that it was a worke more acceptable to God to support the poore who are the living temples of God then to build olde and ruinous walles Therefore Theophilus hated and excommunicated Isidorus for this cause Isidorus left Alexandria and addressed himselfe to the wildernesse of Schethis where hee complained to Ammonius Dioscorus Eusebius and Enthymius called Long fâ—atres of the iniury that Theophilus had done vnto him who intreated Theophilus to receiue Isidorus in favour againe and to admit him to his communion but Theophilus gaue vnto them an evill reward for their travels for hee hated them and finding that there were diverse opinions amongst the Monkes of Nitria and Schethis hee put fuell to the fire to the end that diversity of affection might bee added to diversity of opinion a man in all his courses malicious and deceitfull Longifratres fled to Constantinople to complaine to the Emperour Arcadius of the malice of Theophilus and they were humanely and courteously received by Chrisostome but not admitted to the participation of the holy mysteries vntill their cause had beene first iudged To the rest of the Monkes who dwelt in Nitria and Schethis the malice of Theophilus was not vnknowne And fiue hundred of them especially such as were Anthropomorphite came from the wildernesse of Nitria with intention to haue slaine Theophilus but hee met them and with gentle and flattering words lenified their anger for he said vnto them Brethren I see your faces as the face of God They tooke his words in this sense as if hee had sayd that God was fashioned according to the likenesse of a mans body Therefore they desired him to abiure the doctrine of Origen which thing hee willingly did for he hated the bookes of Origen and so he escaped the danger The next practice of his malice was
against Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople whom he hated because he had received and courteously intreated Isidorus and Longifratres who came to Constantinople with intention to accuse him In this matter hee dealt deceitfully like vnto a crafty foxe lying in waite vntill hee found occasion to set on First hee reconciled himselfe to Epiphanius Bishop of Salamin in Cyprus and mooved him to gather a Councell in Cyprus for damning the bookes of Origen and to write to Iohn Chrysostome that he would do the like in his bounds but Chrysostome tooke little regard of the counsell of Epiphanius other things were more necessarie then to trouble the memoriall of a man that was dead long agoe Theophilus was glad to haue this advantage that Epiphanius a man of great account was on his side and so soone as hee found that Eâ—doxia the Emperor Arcadius wife with Courteours and some of the Clergie were incensed against Chrysostome hee was in readinesse as a firebrand of Satan to execute all evill turnes So the man of God as hath beene declared was deposed banished and vniustly put to death by Eudoxia and Theophilus two chiefe procurers of it Cyrillus the nephew of Theophilus on his brothers side succeeded to Theophilus and governed two and thirty yeers A man learned zealous and actiue his ministration was vnder the raignes of Theodosius the second and Valentinian the third Hee was an adversary to Heretiques in his dayes especially to Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople who denyed the personall vnion of the divine and humane Nature in Christ whose opinion as hereticall was damned in the Councell of Ephesus Cyrillus tooke too much vpon him for hee revenged the iniury that the Iewes had done vnto Christians in the night time by setting vpon their Synagogues slaying a great number of them banishing others and distributing their substance as a prey to the multitude that followed him The Iewes had dwelt in Alexandria from the dayes of Alexander the Great to that time but now by the fury of Cyrillus they were vtterly vndone and scattered Orestes the Deputy of Theodosius the second was in the towne to whom Cyrillus would not complaine of the iniury done by the Iewes against the Christians but at his owne hand vsurping the office of a civill Magistrate hee set vpon the Iewes slew scattered and spoyled them as hath beene aboue mentioned This was the ground of vnsupportable discord betwixt Orestes and Cyrillus in so much that fiue hundred Monkes of Nitria came out of the wildernesse to Alexandria to support Cyrillus their Bishop One of them called Ammonius wounded the Governour Orestes and when he was taken and punished vnto the death Cyrillus called him a Martyr buried him in the Church changed his name and called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is admirable The Romane Bishoppes claimed a superiority over their brethren but Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria plainely pretended a superiority over civill Magistrates This mooued Socrates writing of Coelestinus the first to say that the Bishops of Rome and Alexandria had stepped beyond the limits of Priesthood to the affectation of an externall domination The Bishops of Rome kept their owne pride and borrowed from Alexandria a proud vsurpation of domination over civill Magistrats but the wise providence and provident wisedome of our God would haue the mouthes of the Bishops of Rome opened to condemne that civill domination which their successors afterward most proudly vsurped Marke what Gelasius writeth that before the comming of Christ some persons such as Melchisedecke were both Kings and Priests This saith hee Satan imitating in his members would haue Pagan Emperours to be called Pontifices maximi Imperatores but when he came who was indeed both King and Priest to wit Christ neither did the King take vpon him the priestly dignity neither the Priest kingly authority Dioscorus who succeeded Cyrillus his name is to reade in the catalogue of Heretiques but Proterius was the true successour in regard hee kept the true Faith but hee was cruelly slaine by the favourers of Diâ—scorus immediately after the death of the Emperour Martianus Timotheus Salophaciolus governed as Bishop in Alexandria 23. yeeres six moneths in the dayes of Zenâ— and Basiliscus Albeit Basiliscus advanced another Timotheus surnamed Aelurus to be Bishop of Alexandria yet when Zeno was restored to his soverainty againe Salophaciolus received his place againe After Timotheus Salophaciolus followed Iohannes Tabennesiota whom the Emperour Zeno iustly hated for his periury for hee came Ambassador to the Emperour and craued that when their Bishop were dead the Church of Alexandria might haue liberty to choose their owne Bishop the Emperour suspected that hee was ambitiously suting the place to himselfe and therefore did binde him with an oath that when the place should happen to be voyd hee should make no meanes to possesse himselfe of that roome but hee did the contrary and accepted the place therefore the Emperour Zeno banished him hee fled to Felix Bishop of Rome who being mis-informed by Iohannes Tabennesiota made him to thinke that hee was persecuted for the true Faith as Athanasius was who fledde to Iulius Bishoppe of Rome but the Emperours letter assured him of the contrarie that hee was banished for periurie Petrus Moggus who followed is to bee reckoned in an other Catalogue Patriarchs of Antiochia TO Flavius in Antiochia succeeded Porphyrius whose ordination was more secret then becomes the ordination of Bishoppes to bee in absence of the people when they were delighting themselues with the sight of Stage-playes in Daphne Hee consented to the deposition of Iohn Chrysostome No man whom I haue read maketh reverent record of him except Theodoretus who possibly doth not examine him narrowly but for the dignitie of his place letteth him passe with a note of commendation After Porphyrius succeeded Alexander a man much commended by Theodoretus for eloquence but more for peace for hee was not onely an instrument to quiet the estate of his owne Church of Antiochia but also to quiet the estate of other Churches he was the first who inserted the name of Iohn Chrysostome into the catalogue of holy Bishops and perswaded others to doe the same Theodotus was his successor foure yeeres of whom little is written To Theodotus succeeded Iohannes Grammaticus and ministred eighteene yeeres In his time the Councell of Ephesus was assembled by Theodosius the second and Valentinian the third In it there was a pitifull distraction betwixt Iohn Bishop of Antiochia and Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria for a light cause Not because Iohn Bishop of Alexandria favoured the heresie of Nestorius but in respect hee gaue out definitiue sentence before the full number of his brethren were assembled together This dissention was afterward reconciled and Iohannes sent to Cyrillus Paulus Emisenus and craved his friendshippe and was reconciled vnto him Domnus the successour of Iohannes was an vnconstant man Hee consented to the
deposition of Eutyches and afterward in the Councell called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he consented to the reposition of Eutyches Hee received a iust recompence of his vnconstancie for the second Councell of Ephesus deposed him and ordayned Maximus Bishoppe af Antiochia Maximus was admitted Bishop of Antiochia by the second Councell of Ephesus He was presented at the Councell of Chalcedon wherein albeit the second Councell of Ephesus was damned as hereticall and all the acts of it were abrogated yet they gaue allowance to the deposition of Domnus and to the admission of Maximus which thing came to passe by this occasion Leo Bishop of Rome had receiued Maximus to his communion before the Councell of Chalcedon albeit he had received ordination from an hereticall Councell and the Ambassadours of Leo were presidents in the Councell of Chalcedon therefore they overpassed lightly and with allowance any fact that was done by the Bishop of Rome But all the world was set in businesse when Acatius received in fauour Petrus Moggus because it was done without foreknowledge of the Bishop of Rome To Maximus succeeded Martyrius who being absent at Constantinople for necessarie affaires of his owne church Petrus Gnapheus stole away the hearts of the people from him so that at his returning hee was compelled to leaue Antiochia with this good night I forsake a disobedient Clergie a rebellious people and a defiled Church reserving vnto my selfe the dignity of Priesthood Petrus Gnapheus for his deserts is worthy to be reckoned in the roll of Heretickes First he supplanted Martyrius by vnhonest meanes in the dayes of the Emperour Le◠Secondly he obtained a clause to be added to that part of the Liturgie which is called Trasagios sanctus Deus sanctus fortis sanctus immortalis To this I say hee added qui crucifixus est pro nobis which forme of speaking albeit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may tolerate it to bee spoken was sayd by him in an hereticall sense as if the Divinity had suffered paine Thirdly he attributed divine honour to the Virgin Mary and ordayned that her name should bee called vpon in the publique prayers of the Church Hee was banished by the Emperour Leo and restored by Basiliscus Hee damned the Councell of Chalcedon and was banished the second time by the Emperor Zeno and excommunicate by Felix Bishop of Rome and Acatius Bishop of Constantinople Stephanus succeeded in his roome and was incontinent made out of the way by the faction of Gnapheus Calandion succeeded Stephanus and hee likewise was banished by the Emperour Zeno. In the end Petrus Gnapheus subscribed the henoticke letters of Zeno these were letters containing a summe of the true Faith an approbation of godly Councels and a protestation of vnitie with godly Bishoppes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke language signifieth vnitiue or coniunctiue and henoticke letter were written to procure peace and vnion in the Church By these meanes Gnapheus obtained his place againe and is reckoned in the catalogue of Bishops onely for the subscription of the Emperours henoticke letters Patriarchs of Ierusalem TO Cyrillus succeeded Iohannes Nepos After him Polythronius ministred in Ierusalem Hee was oft accused and oftentimes absolved His chiefe accusation was this that hee counted himselfe the supreme Bishop of all Bishoppes Sixtus the third Bishop of Rome was serious in this turne because hee thought that the apple of his eye was touched when supremacie was spoken of Therefore hee sent eight Ambassadors to Ierusasem a Councell of 70. Bishops was gathered and Polythronius was found innocent Notwithstanding he was convict of some other faults namely that hee refused to consecrate a Church vntill ten pounds of gold were payed vnto him for this cause hee was ordayned to dwell without the towne a Vicar to supply his roome and and a portion to bee allotted to him for his sustentation This portion appointed for his sustentation when hee sawe the people of Ierusalem pinched with famine hee solde it and supported their necessity and was for his loving affection to his flocke restored to his office againe To him succeeded Iuvenalis whose vnconstancie God iustly punished Hee was present at the first Councell of Ephesus and consented to the excommunication of Nestorius He was present likewise at the second Councell of Ephesus and consented to the restitution of Eutyches He was deposed in the Councell of Chalcedon and received into fauour againe after the humble confession of his fault This is that famous Author whom the Romane Church citeth for the fable of the Assumption of the Virgin Marie When he returned to Ierusalem a number of turbulent Monkes rose vp against him and desired him to accurse the Councell of Chalcedon which when hee refused to doe they chose another Bishop called Theodosius but the Emperour Martiaxus commandement was straight to fetch Theodosius aliue vnto him therefore hee fled and Iuvenalis returned againe vnto his place The names of Anastatius and Martyrius who followed Iuvenalis for their assenting to Basiliscus and to Petrus Gnapheus are not worthy to be inserted in this Catalogue Of other Pastors and Doctors THeodoritus was Bishop of Cyrus a towne in Syria whose builder seemes to haue beene Cyrus King of Persia a man of excellent learning he liued vnder the Emperours Theodosius 2. Valentinian 3. and Martianus Hee had the ouersight of eightie parishes lying within his ample diocie Hee is bold to affirme in a certaine Epistle written to Leo Bishop of Rome that by his trauailes a thousand soules within his bounds were reclaimed from the heresie of Marcion Hee fell into many lamentable troubles The ground of all was the extraordinarie loue he carried toward his owne Patriarch Iohn Bishop of Antiochia For like as hee accompanied him to the Councell of Ephesus so likewise hee concurred with him in the deposition of Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus but the Councell gathered at Ephesus tooke triall in the cause of Cyrillus and Memnon and absolued them and damned Iohn Bishop of Antiochia and his complices Theodoritus was one of the number The second trouble followed vpon the necke of the first for by instigation of patriarch Iohn hee wrote against the twelue heades or twelue Theses of Cyrillus written against Nestorius wherein he mistaketh the doctrine of Cyrillus as if hee had fallen into the errour of Apollinaris but after that Cyrillus wrote a declaration of his owne meaning it was found that both Cyrillus and Theodoritus professed one faith and they were reconciled Neuerthelesse Theodoritus was damned in the second councell of Ephesus for writing against Cyrillus neither being cited accused nor conuict of any fault Theodoritus complained to Leo Bishop of Rome of the outrage of Dioscorus bishop of Alexandria who had damned him in a Councell before hee was heard Leo absolued him and the councel of Chalcedon after hee pronounced Anathema against the errours of Nestorius
from Paganisme and Arrianisme whereby it was miserably polluted by the Gothes and Vandales was a man of great account Concerning Aurelius and the Bishops of Carthage Memnon and the Bishops of Ephesus some occasion will be offered to speake of them in the head of Councels neither will the nature of a Compend and breuitie whereunto I study permit me to write of euery worthie man of whom I read in this Centurie CENTVRIE VI. Patriarches of Rome TO Gelasius succeeded Anastatius the second and gouerned 1. yeere 2. months 24. dayes hee ministred in the dayes of the Emperour Anastatius hee was hated of the Clergie because he admitted to his fellowship Photinus a Deacon whom Foelix and Gelasius had excommunicated as a friend to Acatius Bishop of Constantinople Platina writeth of him that he ended his life as Arrius did and that his bowells gushed out when he was doing his secret busines The verie flatterers of the Bishops of Rome are compelled to say that some of them were fauorers of heretikes and for that cause punished by God with extraordinarie iudgements but I ground nothing vpon the words of Platina but so much as maketh against theÌ„ whom he intendeth to flatter To Anastatius succeeded Symmachus in the dayes of the Emperour Anastatius and when Theodoricus king of Gothes raigned in Italie great sedition was among the people at his election The one part of the Clergie people chusing Symmachus the other Laurentius to be Bishop of Rome but with common consent a Synod was appointed at Ravenna and there the election of Symmachus was ratified hee continued in office 15 yeeres 6 months 22. dayes Hormâ—sda the successor of Symmachus sate 9. yeeres 18. dayes who by coÌ„mandement of Theodoricus king of Gothes and raigning in Italie gathered a councell at Rome and damned the error of Eutyches of new againe Likewise Ambassadors were sent to the Emp. Anastatius and to Iohn B. of Constantinople to exhort them to forsake the wicked error of Eutyches to acknowledge two natures in Christ to wit the diuine and humane nature But Anastatius answered with proud words Nos imperare volumus nobis imperari nolumus That is we will command but wee will not be commanded Likewise the B. of Constantinople puft vp in pride by the assistance of the Emp. despised the counsell of Hermisda Moreouer against the law of nation they delt in humanlie with the Ambassadors of Hormisda and thrust them into an old and broken ship with straite commandement that they should not arriue at any harbour in Grecia but kept a direct course toward Italy Notwithstanding by the prouidence of God that ship arriued safely at the coasts of Italie The error of the Manicheans began againe to be ouerspread in Rome But Hormisda tooke their bookes and burnt them in the porch of the Church called Constantina Iohn the first gouerned the church of Rome in the dayes of Iustinus the elder to whom also he was sent Ambassador by Theodoricus to craue that the Arrian Byshops whom hee had banished out of his dominions might be restored to their places againe else the catholick Bishops of Italy should expect all kind of rigor at his hands The B. Iohn with many teares perswaded the Emperour Iustinus to condiscend vnto the petition of Theodoricus Neuerthelesse when he returned backe againe to Italy he was cast into prison where he ended his life after he had gouerned the church of Rome 2. yeeres 8. months Foelix 4. the successor of Iohn 1. coÌ„tinued in office 4. yeeres 2. months 13. daies he excommunicated Athanasius Patriarch of Constantinople for heresie hee ordained that Christians before their departure out of this life should be annointed with oyle This custome is now kept in the Roman church and is called the Sacrament of extreme vnction Foelix 4 succeeded Bonifacius 2. whom the Graecians called Agathon but both names soundeth to one and the selfe same thing The schisme that was among the people at his election ceased by the death of his coÌ„petitor Dâ—seâ—â—uâ— he ministred 2. yeeres 2. daies In his time Eulalius B. of Carthage submitted himself vnto the chaire of Rome wherupon BoÌ„ifacius tooke occasioÌ„ of insolent insulting in so far that he is not ashaÌ„cd to writ of Aurelius B. of Carthage August B. of Hippo of the rest of the fathers who were preseÌ„t at the 6 couÌ„cel of Carthage that through the instigatioÌ„ of the deuil they swelled in pride against the Roman church against his predecessors Bonifacius 1. Coelestinus whoÌ„ his predecessors most iustly had excoÌ„municated but now saith he Eulalius hath coÌ„fessed the fault of Aurelius of the couÌ„cel of Carthage submitted himself in humble maner to the chaire of Rome therefore he the church of Carthage are receiued againe vnto peace coÌ„munioÌ„ of the Roman church Marke here how they who would impaire a iot of that supreÌ„acy whereat the church of Rome aimed were forthwith deliuered to the deuil how holy modest learned so euer they had bin a vain timorous beastly body Eulalius is preferred to Aurelius B. of Carthage to Aug. B. of Hippo to a graue couÌ„cel of mothaÌ„ 200. fathers only for this that he submitted himself to the chair of Rome The time is now approching wherein it wil be clearely maÌ„ifested that supremacy was the very aple of their eye touch that once there is nothing but curses to be thuÌ„dred out of mount Tarpeius euen against August himself against reuerent couÌ„cils Iohn 2. was successor to Bonifacius he ministred in the time of the Emperour Iustinian 2. yeeres 4. months he was called for his eloquence Mercurius or nuntius Iovis Agapetus the successor of Iohn 2. vâ—der the raigne of IustiniaÌ„ had scarcely liberty to attend vpoÌ„ his own flocke for immediatly after he was ordained B. of Rome he was sent to the Emp. IustiniaÌ„ by Theodatus king of the Gothes to pacifie his wrath for the Emp. intended to make war against him for the cruell slaughter of Amalasunta his wife this was an vnhonest cause an vnseemely message to the B. of Rome to vndertake It is affirmed by Historiographers that Iustinian secretly sollicited Agapetus to the error of Eutyches that Agapetus answered vnto him couragiously that hee supposed hee was sent to a most ChristiaÌ„ Emperour but he found him to be Dioclesian This liberty is thought to haue done good to Iustinian and that hee imbraced the true Faith more seriously then before and deposed Anthemius Bishop of Constantinople an Eutychian Heretique and placed Menas a Bishop professing the true Faith in his roome Afterwards Agapetus died at Constantinople after hee had beene chosen Bishoppe of Rome eleven monethes and one and twentie dayes and his bodie was put into a chest of leade and transported to Rome Silverius the son of Hormisda sometime Bishop of Rome was successor to Agapetus Theodatus
King of Gothes compelled the Clergie to subscribe to his election hee governed the Church of Rome at that time when Iustinian sent Belisarius to fight against Vitiges Theodora the Emperour Iustinians wife sent to Silverius desiring him that he would condiscend to the restitution of Anthemius an Eutychian Heretique and to the deposition of Menas Bishop of Constantinople Silverius refused to obey such impious commandements Therefore Theodora sendeth a commandement to Belisarius to banish Silverius and to appoynt Vigilius Bishop of Rome who had promised to fulfill her desires Thus was Silverius banished to the Isle of Pontia after hee had ruled the Church of Rome one yeere and fiue moneths Vigilius succeeded Silverius and ruled seventeene yeeres and six and twenty dayes His entry to this office is inexcusable for by open force secret bribes and promises to performe the impious desires of the Empresse hee obtained the chaire of Rome so that Onuphrius cannot finde out an excuse for his vnlawfull entry Theodora the Empresse vrged him to performe his promise and to restore Anthemius But Vigilius as appeared repenting of his great temeritie and rashnesse answered that evill promises were not to be kept for this cause hee was led away violently to Constantinople and a cord was fastned about his necke and he was drawne through the streets and cast into prison hee endured all this contempt the more patiently because hee confessed that for his sinnes hee had deserved greater punishment at the hands of God then this man In the end hee was delivered out of prison by the earnest request of Narses Captaine of Iustinians army in Italy but hee dyed by the way and hee whom so many cares could not destroy the sicknesse of the travell destroyed him at Sicrlâ—e and his bodie was transported to Rome and buryed there But now let vs consider the fondnesse of Baronius who keepeth no measure in his Historie but as the Poet speaketh of a Ship rossed with a vehement tempest Tollimur in coelum subtato gurgite idem Subducta ad manes imos descendinâ—us vnda When Baronius speaketh of the entry of Vigilius he calleth him a thiefe a brigand a man who entred not by the doore of the sheep-fold a false Bishop an Antichrist yet soone after hee calleth him the Vicar of Christ as though by the crueltie whereby he draue his predecessor Siluerius to death he were worthy of the name of the Vicar of Christ. Albeit hee restored not Athemius according to his impious paction with Theodora yet hee wrote vnto the Heretiques Anthemius Theodosius and Severus and confirmed their error by his secret missiue letters as Morenus in his booke called Misterium iniquitatis prooveth His cariage in the fift generall Councell hee being present in the towne of Constantinople shall be declared God willing in its owne place the cord that was lapped about his neck and drew him through the streets of Constantinople could not draw out of his proud stomacke the conceite of supremacie for hee sent his opinion in writing to the Councell but would not bee present to sit in a lower place then Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople and Moderator of the Councell After Vigilius succeeded Pelagius the first hee ruled the Church of Rome eleven yeares twelue moneths and twenty eight dayes In a very perillous time this charge was committed to him namely when the Nation of the Goâ—â—s had chosen Toulâ— to bee their King who was a fierce and cruell man and was called for his fiercenesse Flagellum Dei that is the scourge of God hee led a great army from Tarvisium through Italy destroying and wasting the countrey whithersoever hee went but hee set his face chiefly against Campania By the way hee addressed himselfe in the habite of a simple souldier to mount Cassinates where was Saint Benedict the father of Monkes not because he invented the Monasticke life but because the most part of Monks adhered to the forme invented by him hee was but lately sprung vp in the dayes of the Emperour Iustinus the elder and of Pope Iohn the first yet was his name in great account so that Totilas in a disguised habite went vnto him and conferred with him Platina writeth that Saint Benedict knew him notwithstanding of his deepe dissimulation and with terrifying words disswaded him form vsing cruelty against Christians The counsell was good but Totilus was not obedient vnto it He was slaine in battell by Narses neere to Brixellum and Teias whom the Gothes chose in his roome was slaine in battell at Nuceria so the Kingdome of the Gothes in Italy was vtterly vndone by the valour of Narses After the first comming of Theodoricus into Italy they raigned in Italy seventy two yeeres Now their name dominion and all their might is vtterly quenched Pelagius depended much vpon the friendship of Narses And when Macedonius Bishop of Aquileia died Honoratus Bishop of Millan ordained Paulinus to be his successor Pelagius Bishop of Rome grieved at this Neverthelesse hee complaineth not to Narses that Paulinus was Bishop of Aquileia without his consent but rather because this was done without the foreknowledge of the most noble Emperour Iustinian who like as he had delivered Istria and Venice from the grievous bondage of Totilas so likewise it became them to expect the Emperours answere before they had appointed a Bishoppe in Aquileia Marke the hypocrisie of the Bishops of Rome vnder colour of obedience to the civill Magistrate secretly creeping to their owne soveraignty the chiefe marke whereat they continually aymed Iohn the third succeeded Pelagius and governed twelue yeers eleven moneths and twenty six dayes In the dayes of Iustinus the younger who was successor to the Emperour Iustinian did he minister in the Roman Church and at that time when Alboinus King of the Longobards came into Italie with a great army with their wiues and children and setled their aboad in that part of Italy which lyeth about the river Padus The Empresse Sophia had irritated Narses that valiant captaine with contumelious words and he gaue to her and to the estate of the Empire this hard meeting that hee possessed the Longobards in Italy weaving a web vnto her according as hee promised which shee was not able all her time to vndoe againe The Deputy of the Emperour of Constantinople kept a part of Italy which was not conquered by the Lombards and this was called Exarchatus Ravennae and the Bishop of Rome with the assistance of the countrey kept Rome free from the dominion of the Lombards for a short time At this time did Iohn the 3. governe the church of Rome He brought in new constitutions into the church that Chorepiscopi otherwise called Vicarij Episcoporum would haue no power at all of imposition of hands which constitution he confirmed with a foolish reason because none of the 70 disciples whom Christ adioyned as helpers to the Apostles had power by imposition of hands
Bishops Gregorius flattering Epistle written to Phocas after he had traiterously murthered his master Mauritius his wife and children will be a perpetuall blot to the name of Gregorius The constitution hee made concerning prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices hee was compelled in his owne time to abrogate againe because it was not onely the occasion of vncleannesse but also of secret murthers of innocent babes and whereas the Apostle Paul said It was better to marrie then to burne Gregorie was compelled to say It was better to marrie then to murder The sending of the Monkes Augustine Melito and Iohannes to Brittaine was not so much to reduce them to Christian religion which they had embraced in the dayes of Lucius King of the Brittaines and of Eleutherius Bishoppe of Rome as hath beene declared in the second Centurie the second chapter as to conquer them to the ceremonies and rites of the Romane service Gregorius was the first of whom wee reade that writeth of sacrifices to be offered for relieving of soules tormented in Purgatorie and hee leaneth vpon such ridiculous fables which hee heard of one Foelix Bishop of Centum-cellae as it is a shame to rehearse them but seeing they are not ashamed of lyes let the dung of their owne inventions be cast into their owne faces hee writeth that a Presbyter of Centum-cellae went to the bath-house to wash himselfe where hee found a man vncouth and vnknowne to him but very humble and seruiceable and after he had serued him sundry dayes the Presbyter to requite his kindnesse brought vnto him two consecrated hostes as a blessing and a reward for him who had served him so dutifully but the man with sadde countenance answered This bread is holy and I am not worthy to eate it I was sometime Master and Proprietare of this house but now for my sinnes I am appointed to this seruile occupation if thou would doe a benefit to me offer them to the Almightie God as a sacrifice for my sinnes and thinke that ye are heard of God when yee cannot finde me in this place any longer Surely Popish Purgatorie soule-Masses are first grounded vpon foolish fables and afterward confirmed by dreames of foolish Monkes Patriarches of Constantinople EVPHEMIVS before he would annoint Anastatius to be Emperour who came to that honour by Ariadne the wife of the Emperour Zeno whom he married he craued a confession of his faith with a promise sealed by his hand-write that he should make no novation in Religion during his time The Emperour craued his hand-write againe which seeing that Euphemius refused to render backe againe the Emperour procured his deposition and banished him and placed Macedonius in his roome To Euphemius succeeded Macedonius to whose custodie the hand-write aforesaid was committed by Euphemius which when he would not render the Emperour banished him also and commanded to slay him at Gangra the place of his banishment To Macedonius succeeded Timotheus an vnconstant man and iustly compared to the narrow sea that runneth betwixt Baeotia and Calchis which floweth and ebbeth seuen times in 24. houres so was this Bishop wauering minded and more bent to please men than to be approued of God In witnesse whereof I haue set downe one example The Abbot of the Monasterie called Studitum refused to be ordained by imposition of his hands for he said the hands of that man who hath damned the Councell of Chalcedon shall not be laid vpon me whereunto Timotheus answered whosoeuer accuseth or damneth the Councell of Chalcedone let him be accursed and when this was reported to the Emperour Anastatius to eschew his indignation he said the contrary whosoeuer accepteth the councell of Chalcedone and alloweth of it let him be accursed Iohn of Cappadocia is not worthy that his name should be inserted in this Catalogue a proud avaritious ambitious heretique who could neuer behaue himselfe dutifully neither in a ciuill nor in a spirituall calling He was first the Emperour Anastatius his Deputie and was deposed for aspiring to an higher place Next he became Patriarch of Constantinople and aspired to the dignitie of Oecumenicke vniuersall Bishop It is true that Iohannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsurped the title of preheminence therefore this Iohannes Cappadox was laid aside as an Eutychian heretique and the great invectiues against this vsurped authority are chiefly set against Iohannes Ieinnator But marke how Pelagius the second ere Gregorius trod vpon this pride with a proud mind as Diogenes did vpon the couering of Plato his bed he is not content to damme the decree of the Councell of Constantinople but also he affirmed that it was not lawfull to him to assemble a Councell without libertie first obtained from the Bishop of Rome which thing no man spake before him so Sathan wrought mightily in them both as he doth in the children of pride and disobedience After him succeeded Iohn called Scholasticus and continued not aboue one yeere Evagrius calleth him Iohannes Sirmiensis lib. 4. cap. 39. To Iohn succeeded Epiphanius in the dayes of Iustinian who blessed his armie which went to fight against the Vandales vnder the conduct of Belisarius he ministred sixteene yeeres as Chytreus writeth The name of Anthimus is worthy of the roll of obstinate heretiques He was Bishop of Trapezus but by the meanes of Theodora the Emperour Iustinians wife he was promoted to be Bishop of Constantinople Theodora was too busie in Church affaires and Sophia the wife of Iustinus the second was too busie in ciuill affaires The estate both of Church and Kingdome had beene in better plight if both of them had beene lesse busie Anthimus being deposed and banished for heresie succeeded Menas who kept the true faith and gouerned the Church of Constantinople sixteene yeeres Evagrius reckoneth Basilides in the roll of Bishops of Constantinople Anthimus to be Bishop of Alexandria To Menas succeeded Eutichius of whom occasion will be offered to speake in the fift generall Councell wherein he disputed iudiciously in the question Whether or no it was lawfull to excommunicate heretiques after their death His opinion concerning the bodies of the Saints after their Resurrection that they should be subtle like vnto the aire and winde and not solide and palpable was refuted by Gregorius the first who proued by the example of Christ his body after his Resurrection that the body of the Saints should not be like vnto the aire and the winde for Christ saith Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me haue After Eutichius followed Iohn called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ieiunator this name he obtained by the sobrietie and temperancie of his life Notwithstanding when his stomacke was emptie of meat his heart was full of pride and he followed the footsteps of Iohannes Cappadox and would be called vniversall Bishop against whom Gregorius the first
this time especially Evagrius who concluded his History with the death of Mauritius bringeth in many famous men in this Centurie gifted with power to worke miraculous workes But when I consider the end of these miraculous workes they are brought in either to confirme the sanctimonie of the Monasticke life the adoration of the Crosse or some other grosse superstition Zosymas a monke is commended by him for his prophericall foreknowledge of the ruine of Antiochia and for the miracle of the Lyon who slew the Asse that caried his victualing to Caesarea and likewise the Lyon by his mandate was compelled to beare that same burden which the Aâ—â—e had borne to the portes of Caesarea No man is so senselesse or ignorant but may perceiue that this lying miracle is brought in to the confirmation of the excellency of the monasticall life The miracle of Thomas B. of Apamea tendeth to the adoration of the tree of the Croâ—â—e The miracle of the fire that came out of Barsaunphius shop at Gaza and consumed the most part of them who were in company with Eustochius B. of Ierusalem is a notable lie and tendeth onely to confirme superstition The miracle of the Image of the Virgine Marie detesting Anatolius an hypocrite an Idolater and a sorcerer and yet insinuating himselfe in familiar acquaintance with Gregorius B. of Antiochia in the dayes of the Emperour Tiberius any man may perceiue that this miracle is forged not so much for detestation of hypocrisie Idolatrie c sorcerie as for worshipping the Image of the Virgine with a deuout minde The miracle of Simeones who in his yo uth miraculously tamed a Pard and fastened his girdle about the necke thereof and brought it like a Catte into the Monasterie and afterward liued vpon the toppes of pillars and mountaines fed with branches of trees 68. yeeres this fable whereunto it tendeth all men doe see And finally the golden Crosse sent by Cosroes to Sergiopolis tendeth not onely to the invocation of Saints but also to put our trust and confidence in them as the last words of the Epistle of Cosro es and his wife Sira clearely importeth Now let the judicious Reader pardon me in pretermitting many things written by others left I should wearie them by filling their eares with fables and lyes CENTVRIE VII Of Popes Bishops Pastors and Doctors AFter Sabinianus succeeded Bonifacius the third and continued onely nine moneths in his Popedome finding opportunitie of time by the disliking that the Emperour Phocas had of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bonifacius insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the Emperour and obtained at his hands that the Church of Rome should be called the supreme head of all other Churches To him succeeded Bonifacius the fourth and gouerned sixe yeeres eight moneths and thirteene dayes He obtained from Phocas a Temple of olde builded to the honour of all the gods of the Gentiles called Pantheon this he purged from the abominations of Heathen people and dedicated it to the Virgine Marie and to the Saints Likewise he instituted a Festiuall day to be kept in honour of all the Saints in which day the Bishop of Rome himselfe should read the seruice He esteemed much of the Monasticke like and gaue vnto the Monkes equall honour with the Clergie in priuiledge of Preaching ministring the Sacraments binding and loosing c. so were the Monks associated into the tribe of the Priests After him succeeded Theodatus otherwise called Deus dedit and gouerned three yeeres and three dayes He made an Ordinance that no man should marry the woman to whom or with whom he had beene witnesse in Baptisme because this was counted spirituall consanguinity This was an vndoubted note of Antichrist to make lawes in the matter of marriage not agreeable to the law of God Many doe write that he cured a leprous man with a kisse But from this time forward let vs beware to giue hastie credite to miracles which are brought in for none other cause but onely to confirme a lying doctrine and in holy Scripture they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Miracles of lyes To him succeeded Bonifacius the fift and ruled fiue yeeres and ten moneths He made a constitution that no man who ranne for safetie to a religious place should be drawne out of it by violence how grieuous soeuer his offence had beene A law-Antichristian indeede and much impairing the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate Honorius the first succeeded Bonifacius the fift and ruled twelue yeeres eleuen moneths and seuenteene dayes He was infected with the heresie of the Monothelites and was damned in the sixt generall Councell assembled in the dayes of the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus and hath bin touched in the Treatise of Succession To him succeeded Seuerinus the first and continued one yeere nine moneths and eleuen dayes He was confirmed in his Popedome by Isacius Exarche of Italie for at that time the election of the Clergie and consent of the people was not much set by Isacius also spoiled the treasures of the Church of Laterane being offended with this that the Church-treasures were so rich and that they bestowed nothing to the support of Souldiers who were in great necessitie After him followed Pope Iohn the fourth who exceeded not the space of one yeere one moneth and nineteene dayes in his gouernment Theodoretus the successor of Iohn the fourth was the sonne of Theodorus Bishop of Ierusalem If the Romane Church so much detested marriage in the persons of men in a spirituall calling how came it to passe that they admitted Theodoretus to be Pope who was the sonne of a married Bishop He ruled sixe yeeres fiue moneths and eighteene dayes He excommunicated Pyrrhus Patriarch of Constantinople for the heresie of the Monothelites but after the death of the Emperour Heraclius Pyrrhus returned from Afrike where he had remained a space in banishment he came to Rome recanted his errour and was absolued from excommunication but like vnto a dogge he returned againe to his vomite and was excommunicated of new againe by Theodoretus but Pyrrhus was slaine by the Senators of Constantinople before he was possessed into his former dignitie as partaker of the vile treason intended by Martina and Heracleonas her sonne against Constantine the sonne of the Emperour Heraclius After him succeeded Pope Martinus and gouerned sixe yeeres one moneth and twentie-sixe dayes He sent Ambassadours to Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople exhorting him to forsake the errour of the Monothelites but he misvsed the messengers the more confidently because he saw the Emperour Constans altogether addicted vnto the heresie of the Monothelites Martinus on the other part assembled a Councell at Rome of 150. Bishops wherein he renewed the excommunication of Syrus B. of Alexandria Sergius and Pyrrus Bishops of Constantinople likewise he excommunicated Paulus Bishop of Constantinople for the errour of the Monothelites The Emperour
Constans highly offended against Martinus sent first Olympus the Exarche of Italie either to take Pope Martinus prisoner or els to kill him but his attempts were frustrate not without a miraculous worke of God as Platina recordeth And afterward he sent Theodorus Calliopas who vnder pretence of friendship came to salute the Pope and cast him in bonds and sent him to Constantinople where Constans the Emperour caused his tongue to be cut out and his right hand cut off and banished him to Chersonesus Ponti The chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of foureteene moneths because they had no certaintie of the time of the death of Pope Martinus Next vnto him Eugenius the first was chosen Pope and gouerned two yeeres and nine moneths He was the first that made an Ordinance that Bishops should haue prison-houses for correcting the enormitie and contumacie of the Clergie After him succeeded Vitalianus the first he continued foureteene yeeres and sixe moneths in the Popedome to the singing of Psalmes in the Church by vive voyce he added Organs Next after Vitalianus followed Adeodatus and ruled foure yeeres two moneths and fiue dayes of a Monke he was made Pope In his time there were terrible apparitions in Heauen a great Comete continuing for the space of three moneths terrible thunders the like whereof had not beene heard in any preceding time great abundance of raine fastning the Corne to the ground so that they grew againe and in some places of Italie came to maturitie and ripenesse Great incursions of Turkes and Saracens who spoyled the Isle of Sicilie In all these calamities sayth Platina Adeodatus multiplied supplications for preuenting the fore-signified wrath to come If repentance and abolishing of horrible Idolatrie which had now taken deepe roote had beene joyned with prayers the Lord might haue beene the more easily entreated Donus or Domnus his successor ruled fiue yeeres and ten dayes he reduced the Church of Rauenna after long reluctation to the obedience of the chaire of Rome It is to be noted that all the time they were not subiect to the Bishop of Rome they were called by the Romanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so bent were they to vindicate all declining from their authoritie with opprobrious names of Heresies imposed to the decliners thereof Agatho successor to Donus ruled 2. yeeres 6. moneths and 15. dayes of whom Platina writeth that he cured a leprous man with a kisse as Pope Deus dedit had done before In his time Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour gathered the sixt generall Councell at Constantinople wherein the heresie of the Monothelites was condemned and Macarius Patriarch of Antiochia for his obstinate perseuering in that errour was excommunicate and Theophanius sometime an Abbot was placed in his roome But this I remit vnto its owne place The epistle of Agatho written to the sixt generall Councell is full of Antichristian pride wherein he affirmeth that the chaire of Rome neuer erred and that it cannot erre that euery soule that is to be saued must professe the Romane traditions and all the constitutions of the Romane Church are to be receiued as if they had beene deliuered by the diuine voyce of Peter Likewise he damned the marriage of men in a spirituall calling he commendeth the Masse impudently alledging a writing of Chrysostome concerning the Masse whereas in all the writings of Chrysostome this word of the Masse is not to be found After Agatho succeeded Leo the second who continued onely ten moneths and seuenteene dayes He was the first author of the kissing of the Pax. To him succeeded Benedictus the second and ruled ten moneths and twelue dayes onely In his dayes Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour ordained that in time to come the consent of the Emperour and Exarche of Italie should not be expected but he whom the Clergie and people did elect should forth-with be counted the Vicar of Christ. In so doing the Emperour very vnaduisedly put an hurtfull weapon into the Popes hand whereby the estate of the Empire was encombered and hurt afterward Iohannes the fift his successor continued not aboue one yeere and nine dayes And Conon the first the successor of Iohn the fift ended his course after the issue of 11. moneths and 3. dayes After the death of Conon the election of the Pope was like to be decided by weapons rather than by Suffrages and Votes some fauoured Theodorus others promoued Paschalis and neither of the parties would yeeld to the other In the end the people thought expedient to reiect them both and to choose some third person to the Popedome So they elected Sergius the first and carried him vpon their shoulders to the Church of Laterane In his time Iustinian the second gathered a Councell at Constantinople to perfect and finish the worke which his father had begun Sergius refused to subscribe the Acts of the sixt generall Councell albeit his Ambassadour who was present at the Councell had subscribed them Of the consecrated Hoste he ordained one part to be put into the Chalice to represent the bodie of Christ which was risen from death another part to be eaten to represent the bodie of Christ walking vpon the earth the third part to be laid vpon the Altar vntill the ende of the Masse to represent the bodie of Christ lying in the Sepulchre He gouerned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and twentie-foure dayes Patriarches of Constantinople COncerning the Patriarches of Constantinople in this Century little mention is made of them because for the most part they kept not the right faith but were intangled with heresie After Cyriacus Thomas and Iohannes and Constantinus succeeded whose faith as vnspotted with any blame of heresie hath an honest testimony in Church rolles called Sacra diptytha Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus were miserably infected with the heresie of the Monothelites Pyrrhuâ— once recanted his heresie and was absolued from excommunication by Pope Theodorus but he returned incontinent againe as a dog to his vomite Pope Theodorus when he excommunicated him the second time vsed a new and insolent fórme of doing the like whereof was neuer heard at any time before for he infused some drops of the consecrated cup into inke and writ a sentence of cursing against Pyrrus Paulus also obtained at the hands of the Emperour Constans edicts to be affixed in diuers places whereby all men should be compelled to subscribe to the error of the Monothelites After them Petrus and Theodorus albeit they maintained not the fore-mentioned heresie with so high and proud attempts as others had done yet they were addicted vnto it Gregorius successor to Theodorus in the sixt generall Councell had defended the error of the Monothelites but when he was cleerly refuted by testimonies of Scripture by places cited out of the Fathers he yeelded and embraced the true faith Callyniâ—us ministred vnder the raign of Iustinian the second who demolished a Church neere approching to his pallace
and builded an house of presence wherein the people might cherish the Emperour Callynicus was compelled to consecrate the house by prayer but in regard he was enforced against his heart to pray he made his prayer short in this manner Glory be to God who patiently comporteth with vs both now and for euer Amen For this cause Iustinian hated Callynichus and when he returned backe againe from his ten yeers banishment he caused the eyes of Callynichus to be put out and sent him to Rome there to remaine in banishment Patriarchs of Alexandria IN Alexandria before the Saracens vnder the conduct of Mahomet conquered the countrey of Egypt few of note and marke were to be found in that chaire After Eulogius Iohannes scribo continued in office onely two yeeres After him Iohannes Eleemosynarius is highly commended for his liberalitie toward the poore Cyrus his successor was an heretique following the errour of the Monothelites He payed tribute to the Saracens but when the Emp. Heraclius was wearied of the payment of tribute then all the countrey of Egypt was possessed by the Saracens which incursion of the Mahumetans albeit it cutted not off the personall succession of the Patriarches of Alexandria yet it obscureth the cleare notice of their succession vnto vs who are farre distant from them Patriarches of Antiochia IN Antiochia Anastatius Sinaita is found to haue beene Bishop of Antiochia in the dayes of the Emperour Phocas He obtained this name to be called Sinaita because he had macerated himselfe with long fasting and with hard exercises of an heremiticall life vpon mount Sina Anno 610. hee was slaine in a seditious commotion stirred vp by the Iewes who dwelt at Antiochia who slew many other Christians but they vttered great crueltie ioyned with vile in humanitie against Anastatius in whose mouth they cast the verie excrements of his owne bodie as the Magdeburg Historie recordeth citing the testimonie of Nicephorus After him another of that same name called likewise Anastatius succeeded and was B. of Antiochia He was a Syrian a man of a subtile spirit who circumuented the Emperour Heraclius for at the Emperours command he subscribed the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon onely simulately and for desire of preferment but after he had subscribed that two natures personally vnited were to be acknowledged in Christ he demanded of the Emperour what he thought of the will and operation of Christ whether was two willes and operations in Christ or one will and one operation onely The Emperour troubled with the noueltie of the question consulted with Sergius B. of Constantinople who returned this answere to the Emperour that one will and one operation was to be acknowledged in Christ. The Emperour Heraclius being circumvented by false and deceitfull teachers was ashamed to forsake that opinion which he had once condiscended vnto So this heresie of the Monothelites tooke deepe roote in the East vntill the time that God punishing the contempt of his truth suffered the Saracenes with their blasphemous Mahometan doctrine to be vniversally ouer-spred in the East To Anastatius succeeded Macarius a most obstinate defender of the heresie of the Monothelites for the which cause hee was excommunicated and deposed in the sixt generall Councell and Theophanius an Abbot in Sicilie was made bishop of Antiochia After him are reckoned Petrus Thomas and Ioannes without any further discourse except a bare commemoration of their names Patriarches of Ierusalem THe Church of Ierusalem in this age was pitifully defaced as lying nearest to the incursions of strong enemies both Persians and Saracens Zacharias Bishop of Ierusalem was carried captiue by Cosroes king of Persia and remained a prisoner for the space of fourteene yeeres In the ende hee was restored to his former dignitie at that time when the Emperour Heraclius ouercame Cosrâ—es in warre-fare and recouered the â—rosse of Christ againe which the Persians had spoyled and taken out of Ierusalem This came to passe in the yeere of our Lord 624. To Zacharias succeeded Sophronius of a Monke Hee was made Patriarch of Ierusalem He lacked not his owne commendation in the sixt generall Councell as one who kept the true Faith iuuiolable He was present in Ierusalem when Haumer Prince of Saracenes entered into the Towne and Temple and he was a beholder of the last desolation of the Church in the towne Other Pastors and Doctors IN this Centurie there is great scarsitie of learned men yet that which was lacking in learning it must bee supplied one way or other Some were politique others in the opinion of ignorant people were so deuout and holy that miracles were wrought by their handes and at their sepulchres namely lying miracles aduancing the kingdome of the Antichrist The most remarkeable Bishops of Rauenna in this Centurie were Theodorus Reparatus and Foelix all of contrarie dispositions and so flat opposite one to another as possible could be Theodorus was terrible and couetous and when hee saw that hee was despised by the people and Clergie being desirous of reuenge hee betrayed the libertie of the church of Rauenna in the dayes of the Pope Donus Reparatus being ignorant of that which Theodorus had done and finding the Church of Rauenna subjected to the chaire of Rome for verie heart griefe incontinent hee ended his life Foelix refused to pay vnto Constantine the summe of money which hee demanded as a testimonie of subjection For this cause Pope Constantine desired support from the Emperour Iustinian the second for subduing the Bishop of Rauenna Foelix on the other part hearing that the Emperours armie was approching to Rauenna for the cause aforesayd hee instigated the people to fight for the liberty of their Church Both the armies fought with martial courage In the end the Emperours armie preuailed the Towne of Rauenna was taken many were slaine others were carried captiue to Constantinople the eyes of Foelix were put out the rest were banished to Bithynia What can be found in this historie but pride on the one part ambitiouslie seeking superioritie and on the other part policie sometimes yeelding sometimes despairing and sometimes with bellicous hardinesse presuming to pleade a spirituall cause with weapons of a corporall warre-fare In this Centurie many miracles are attributed to the persons whom the people counted to be deuote Ioannes Bishop of Bergomum in Lombardie was a man of so great reuerent account that Princes were wont by rising our of their Thrones to doe honour vnto him It happened vpon a time that hee reproued Iâ—â—ipeâ—tus king of Lombardis freelie and sharpelie in time of a banquet Iunipertus willing to be reuenged of him prouided that hee should be sent home vpon a strong fierce and loftie horse which was accustomed to cast the riders and to teare and lacerate them But when the Bishop of Bergomum was mounted vpoÌ„ him hee left his fiercenesse and carried him peaceably and calmelie vnto his owne house Ioannes â—gnâ—â— bishop of Wâ—recht in whose hand a
relieued Rome from the siege of the Lombardes but also bestowed vppon the chaire of Rome the dominions of Rauenna and Penta-polis appertaining to the Emperour of the East and which they enjoyed since the death of Narses 170. yeeres In so doing there was such bargaining betwixt the kinges of France and the Popes as was of olde betwixt Herod and the Iewes he gratified them with the blood of Christes Apostles and they gratified him on the other part by giuing to him the glory of God Euen so Zacharias bishop of Rome bestowed vpon Pipinus the kingdome of France which duly appertained to another and Pipinus againe bestowed vpon the chaire of Rome the dominion of Rauenna Pentapolis which duely appertained to the Emp. of the East It shall not be amisse to make a particular rehearsall of the townes territories bestowed vpon the church of Rome by the donatioÌ„ of Pipinus but not of Constantine as they haue rumored most fabulously many yeares agoe In primis Rauenna Bononia Imola Fauentia Commaclum Hadria Pompilii Forum Leuii Forum Cesena Bobium Ferraria Ficoclas and Gabellum all these townes were vnder the dominion of Rauenna And in Pentapolis Ariminum Pisaurum Concha Fanum Senogallia Ancona Auximum Hummanam Aesium Sempronij Forum Mons Feretri Vrbium Balmense territorium Callas Luceolos Engubium together with the Castles and lands appertaining to these townes to wit the Prouinces called in our time Romandiola Marca Anconitana and of olde Aemilia Flaminea PicenuÌ„ Thus we see what a rich reward the chaire of Rome obtained for their defection froÌ„ the Emp. of the East and their fauour towards the kings of France Also for further confirmatioÌ„ of friendship betwixt the bishops of Rome and the kings of France Pope Stephanus the 2. procured that he should be inuited to be witnes at the baptisme of the king of Fraunce his yong son at which time as a man couetous of vaine glorie he suffered Pipinus Charles his son to kisse his feet to hold his stirrope to lead his horse by the brible and finally he was content to be mounted vp and carried vpon the shoulders of men leauing behind him an example of stinking pride to the posterity after following After Stephanus the secoÌ„d succeeded his brother Paulus the first who continued 10. yeeres and one month In antichristian pride he was nothing inferiour to his predecessours for he sent Ambassadours to the Emperour of the East Constantinus Copronymus to exhort him to restore againe the images of the Saints which hee had demolished with intermination of cursing if hee refused to bee obedient to the popes counsell In his time Aâ—stulphus King of Lombardes dyed and Desidâ—rius the last King of Lombards raigned in his stead Constantine the brother of Desiderius King of Lombardis succeeded to Paulus the first a man admitted to the Popedome before he received Ecclesiasticall orders therefore hee was hated of the people of Rome and denuded of his Papall dignity after hee had continued one yeere and one moneth Some writers affirme that his eyes were thrust out and that hee was sent to a Monasterie others affirme that hee was burnt with fire by the hatefull malice of the Romanes To him succeeded Stephanus the third who ruled foure yeeres fiue moneths and twenty seven dayes Hee gathered a Councell at Rome in the which twelue Bishops of France sent thither by Charles de Maine were present with the Bishoppes of Italy who disauthorized Constantine his predecessor and annulled all his decrees Likewise they damned the seventh generall Councell convened in Constantinople by Constantinus Copronymus wherein the worshipping of Images was disallowed But in this Laterane Councel assembled by Stephanus the third the worshipping of Images got allowance And it was thought that God and the Saints were in worser case then mortall Princes in case that Images might be made to represent mortall Princes but not to represent God and his Saints It was rumored in this Popes time that Charles King of France was of intention to marrie Bertha the daughter of Desiderius King of Lombards Stephanus fearing left this marriage should vndoe the friendship lately tracted betwixt the Bishops of Rome and the King of France disswaded Charles from the marriage aforesayd as if the marriage of a woman of the kindred of the Lombards were a mixing of darkenesse with light and of Belial with Christ. And the menacing letter of Stephanus the third prevailed so farre at the hands of Charles the Great that he repudiated Bertha the daughter of Desiderius his lawfull maried wife after he had cohabited with her one yeere and hee married another woman named Hildegarde of the Dukerie of Sweue These are the fruits of Antichristian pride to threaten the torments of hell against the Princes of the world for marriage if so be they fore-see any damage may redound to the chaire of Rome by the marriage of Princes After Stephanus the third succeeded Adrian the first and governed twenty three yeares ten moneths and seventeene dayes In his dayes Charles the Great came into Italy with an army and Desiderius King of Lombards his wife and children to Lions in France and vtterly subdued the kingdome of the Lombards which had continued in Italy 204. yeeres Now in the yeere of our Lord 776. this kingdome was abolished and vndone by Charles the Great king of France for the fauour he carried towardes the chaire of Rome Likewise hee augmented the donation of his father Pipinus and he bestowed vpon the Church of Rome the Isle of Corsica and the places lying betwixt Luca and Parma with the Dukedomes Spoleto and Benevento This being done Charles returned back againe to France carying with him Bertha his brothers wife and her children who came to Adrian Bishop of Rome hoping for favour at his hands and that he should haue anoynted her sonnes to bee Kings of France seeing Carolamannus their father was now dead but he delivered them into the hands of Charles and so Charles the Great raigned without exception as absolute Commander of France Irene the Empresse of the East during his Popedome assembled a great Councell at Nice in Bythinia where the adoration of Images was allowed In this Councell the Popes Ambassadors were present and his owne letter was read in the Councell no man gaue greater allowance to the worshipping of Images then Pope Adrian did as shall be declared God willing in the head of Councels It is to be marked that Platina writing of the death of Constantinus Copronymus is compelled to beare witnesse to the truth and testifie that the opinion of the leprosie of Constantine the Great was a notable fable and that it sprung vp by occasion of the disease of Constantinus Copronymus the father in law of the Empresse Irene To Adrian succeeded Leo the third and governed one and twenty yeeres He was hated by Pascalis and Campalus who lay in wait for him at the Church
of S. Silvester threw him down to the ground spoyled him of his pontificall garments beat him with many strokes and finally cast him into prison and bonds but hee escaped by the meanes of a cubiculare named Albinus and lurked in the Vaticane vntill the time that Vnigisius Duke of Spoleto conveyed him safely vnto his bounds At this time Charles King of France had warres against the Saxons The Bishop of Rome who came to him to complaine of the iniuries which hee had received was sent backe againe very honourably accompanied with the souldiers of Charles King of France and with promise that he should without delay addresse his iourney towards Italy When Charles came to Italy the Popes enemies were so dashed with feare they durst not appeare to accuse him and the Clergie of Rome thought meet that no man should iudge of the Apostolike chaire but the Bishop of Rome should bee his owne iudge Leo tooke the booke of the Gospell in his hands and swore that hee was innocent of all the crimes obiected against him and so hee was absolved and Pascalis and Campulus the friends of the late deceased Pope Adrian were counted worthy of death but Pope Leo interceded for safety of their liues so they were banished to France For this benefit Leo caused Charles to be declared Emperour of the West and crowned him with the Imperiall Diadem And from that time forwards the custome began that Emperours should receiue their Coronation from the Bishop of Rome Notwithstanding of this it was ordained that no man should be elected Bishoppe of Rome without advise of the Emperour of the West and without receiving investment from him Patriarchs of Constantinople THe Patriarches of Constantinople in this Centurie placed and displaced according to the changeable conceits of the Emperours Vnder th raigne of Iustinian the second Cyrus was Patriarch whom Philippieus removed and advanced one named Iohn who had fore-told that hee should bee made Emperour This Iohn was infected with the heresie of the Monothelites and was remooved by Artemius by whom Germanus was advanced to the chaire of Constantinople Germanus continued vntill the raigne of Constantinus Copronymus Hee was deposed and excommunicated by the generall Councell assembled by Constantinus because he allowed the worshipping of Images To him succeeded Anastatius who albeit hee disliked Images yet hee was vnthankfull to the Emperour and favoured the seditious attempts of the people of Constantinople who advanced Artabasdus to the Imperiall dignity Moreover hee slandered the Emperour as if hee had spoken against the divinity of Christ. Hee received a iust recompence of his vnthankefulnesse for he was deposed and scourged and set vpon an Asse with his face towards the Asses tayle and made a ridiculous spectacle to the people After him Constantine a Monke was made Patriarch who at the first seemed to condemne Images but afterward hee was found to bee a maintayner and allower of them The Emperour banished him to Iberia where hee spake contumeliously both of the Emperour and of the Councell holden at Constantinople therefore he was brought back againe from banishment and was beheaded and his body was drawn through the town with a cord and cast into a pit where the bodies of malefactors were accustomed to be cast After him succeeded Nicetas a man vnlearned and advanced by the Emperor Const. Copron. for none other cause but onely for his zeale against the worshipping of Images After him succeeded Paulus Cyprius who in the dayes of Const. Copron. damned the worshipping of images but afterward changed his minde and vnder the raigne of Irene entred into a Monastery and lamented that hee had consented to the abolishing of images The vaine inconstancy of this timorous and superstitious man was the chiefe occasion of the convocation of the second Councell of Nice by the Empresse Irene To him succeeded Tarasius who was present and gaue allowance to the adoration of Images The prevailing power of the Saracens in Alexandria Antiochia and Ierusalem did so obscure the names of the Patriarchs of there cities that I haue no remarkeable thing to write of them in this Centurie Of Pastors and Doctors IN this declining age wherein spirituall grace dayly decayed and nothing increased except an heap of earthly treasures which God permitteth to be poured into the bosomes of them who loue the wages of iniquity Alwayes even at this time some men of good literature and learning did manifest themselues vnto the world such as Bonifacius Bishop of Mentz Damascene a learned Monke Paulus Diaconus a learned writer of histories and Beda a man counted venerable in his time yet all these were miserably infected with the superstitions of their time such as the opinion of Purgatory invocation of Saints worshipping of Images and prohibition of Mariage Bonifacius was a man borne in England in place neere adioyning to Excester he was familiarly acquainted with fiue Popes to wit with Pope Constantinus the first Gregorius the second Gregorius the third Zacharias the first Stephanus 2. And by them he was advanced to many honours First to be the Popes Legate in England Germany and France and afterwards to be Archbishop of Mentz All his studies and travailes tended to this to bring the people of England Germany and France to the subiection of the Romane Bishop and to a conformity of the superstitions of the Romane Church In the name and at the commandement of Pope Zacharias hee disauthorized Childericus King of France thrust him into a Monasterie and anoynted Pipinus the son of Carolus Martellus to be King of France So zealous was he to performe all the desires of the Roman Bishoppes by whom also his name was changed for hee was first named Vinofridus but the Bishops of Rome who delighted in his service called him Bonifacius After he had served the Romane Bishops in slavish subiection 36. yeeres he was slaine by Pagans because he had anoynted Pipinus King of France and for hope they had to enrich themselues by his coffers in the which when they had opened them they found nothing except bookes and reliques of Saints whereof they made no account And his body was buryed in the Monastery of Fulda Damascene a superstitious Monke the disciple of Cosmas lived vnder the Emperours Leo and Const. Copron. hee was a long time in company of the Saracens and with the Prince of Saracens he went to the sepulchre of Mahomet and like vnto a timorous body worshipped the bones of Mahomet fearing to haue beene put to death if hee had not done such homage Hee was a patron of worshipping of Images and was excommunicated in the generall councell assembled by Const. Copron. It is written by Iohn Patriarch of Ierusalem in the History of Damascenes life that the Prince of Saracens was moved to indignation against him by a deceitfull letter sent from the Emperour Leo Isaurus in the which Damascene was charged as a man willing to haue betrayed
the towne of Damascus into the hands of the Emperor Leo. Vpon this occasion saith Iohn Patriarch of Ierusalem the Prince of Saracens cut off the hand of Damascene and on the other part Damascene by humble kneeling before the Image of the Virgin Marie was miraculously cured and restored againe to the power of his hand But this is like to the rest of popish fables and lyes For Damascene writeth many notable fables for cōfirmation of adoration of Images And in case a miracle had beene wrought in his owne person by prostrating himselfe before an Image Damascene had no manner of way ouer-passed with silence the memoriall thereof But we haue to doe with adversaries who are not ashamed of lies Damascene was a diligent reader of the bookes of ancient Fathers as appeareth by his foure bookes De Orthodoxa fide but not so diligent a reader of holy Scripture which is the ground of manifold errors His history of Iosophat King of India is knowne to be a Monkish fable Paulus Diaconus of the kindred of the Lombards became a deacon in Aquileia hee was carryed captiue into France in the dayes of Charles the great who besieged Papia banished Desiderius and made an end of the Kingdome of the Lombards Afterwards he was accused of treason and conspiracie against Charles King of France His malicious and hatefull accusers were bent to haue had his hands cut off or his eyes put out but King Charles pitying him for his learning was content that hee should bee banished to the Isle of Diomedes From thence hee fled and came to Beneventum where Arachis was dwelling who had married Adelporga the daughter of Desiderius In his palace it is thought hee writ his sixe bookes De rebus gestis Longobardorum After the death of Arachis hee came to the Monastery called Cassinense where hee ended his life Beda a man borne and brought vp in England was called venerable and was in great account in his time Onely he was miserably intangled with deceitfull Antichristian errors vniversally overspred in his dayes In writing reading and praying hee was a man of incessant paines Nothing is found in him more commendable then his patient suffering of the agonies immediately preceding his dissolution with a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Albertus Gallus a Bishop in some part of France a learned and godly man opposed himselfe mightily to Boniface the foot-groom of the Roman Antichrist with whom concurred two learned men borne in Scotland named Clemens Presbyter and Samson and offered to prooue both by word and writing that Bonifacius was an author of lyes a troubler of the peace of Christians and a corrupter and deceiver of the people But Pope Zacharias excommunicated them before they were heard in lawfull Assembly and gaue power to his foot-groome Bonifacius to depose them and procured at the hands of the King of France that they should be cast into prison and bound with bonds as schismatickes false teachers and sacrilegious men Such reward men received who were witnesses to the truth of God and reprehended any corruption of the Romane Church In like manner Iohannes Mailrosius and Claudius Clemens learned men of Scotland sent by King Achaius to Charles King of France and the first professors of learning in the Academie founded by Charles the great in Paris these two likewise were disliked of the Roman Church because they could not assent to all the superstions of that Church in this age so miserably deformed CENTVRIE IX Popes of Rome AFter Leo the third succeeded Stephanus the fourth and ruled seuen months He was not elected with consent and allowance of the Emperour but onely by the Clergie and the people of Rome Here it is well marked by Functius that the Roman Church doth obserue their owne lawes so inuiolably that the priuiledge granted to the Emperour by Pope Leo the third it is vndone againe euen in his first successors time to wit in Pope Stephanus the fourth his time In the third month of his Popedome he journied toward France for what cause it is not certaine but it appeareth he would trie the Emperours minde whether or no he was griued for this that he had beene elected Pope without the consent and fore-knowledge of the Emperour When he returned againe finding that Ludouicus Pius the Emperour was not greatly grieued at the matter but accepted his excuse he began to make Commentaries vpon the Decrees of Hadrian the first and Leo the third to wit that they meaned not that the Emp. should bee first acquainted with the election of the Pope but rather that after his election the Emperour should be acquainted with the businesse before the Pope were anointed By such false Glosses and Commentaries they were by degrees excluding the Emperour from all kind of medling with the election of the Pope After Stephanus the fourth succeeded Pascalis the first who was elected without consent of the Emperour Hee sent Ambassadours to excuse himselfe to the Emperour Ludouicus Pius because the Clergie and people had compelled him to accept the Popedome The Emperour Ludouicus Pius on the other part seeing how this matter went and that he was troubled with the vnconstancie ambition and obstinacie of the Romane Church he gaue them libertie to choose their owne Bishop without the fore-knowledge and consent of the Emperour in time to come And Pascalis after hee had ruled seuen yeeres and seuenteene dayes he ended his course Eugenius the second succeeded Pascalis and ruled foure yeeres His Popedome was in the time when Lotharius was appointed to gouerne Italie His commendations are these great Learning great Eloquence with a mixture of great Hypocrisie Valentinus the successour of Eugenius within the space of fourtie dayes after that he was elected of a Deacon to be Pope hee concluded his life To Valentinus succeeded Gregorius the fourth and ruled sixteene yeeres Ludouicke and his sonne Lotharius were Emperours at this time without whose consent hee would not accept his Popedome Gregorie would haue seemed to haue beene a mediator betwixt Ludouicke and his sonnes but he is marked with a note of shame in the Magdeburg history as a man who encreased discord rather than quenched it What he did in the Conuention at Aken which was conueened by the authoritie of the Emperour it shall be declared God willing in its owne place To Gregorie the fourth succeeded Sergius the second ruled three yeeres He seemed to be the first Pope who chāged the name giuen vnto him in Baptisme for he was called Os porci that is the mouth of the Sowe and for the basenes of the name he called himselfe by the name of one of his antecessours Lotharius sent Ludouick his eldest son accōpanied with many Noble persons to be crowned Emperour for Lotharius thought meete to enter into a Monasterie and to lament for his by-past sinnes especially for grieuing the heart of his
with the Deuill that hee enquired of him as Platina writeth how long hee should continue in his Popedome and the Deuill answered euen vntill the time hee should say Masse at Ierusalem Now there was in Rome a Chappel called S. Crucis and vulgarlie it was called Ierusalem In this Chappel in time of Lent the Bishop of Rome was accustomed to say Masse and when Sylvester the second who before was called Gilbertus was saying Masse in that place hee found himselfe attainted with a vehement feuer and remembering that the place was called Ierusalem hee knew that hee was deceiued and put in vaine hope of long liuing by the deuill Hee called for the Cardinals and confessed his fault and desired them to cut his bodie in pieces as it iustlie deserued and to lay it open vpon a Coach to bee buried in that place wherein the horses of their owne accord should draw the Coach So the horses carried the Coach to the Church of Lateran where hee was buried Onuphrius is weake in this that neither can hee be silent neither can hee defend the name of Pope Sylvester with reason but sayes hee was a learned man well acquainted with mathematicall sciences and therefore vnlearned people counted him a Sorcerer By such frivolous excuses all the Necromancers and Sorcerers in Europe might bee excused against the testimonie of wise and learned Historiographers who giue to cuerie man such prayse as their doings deserue Patriarches of Constantinople AFter Nicholaus and Euthymius succeeded Stephanus Amasenus who continued aboue three yeeres To whom succeeded Tryphon admitted vpon this condition that when Theophilactus the youngest sonne of the Emperour Romanus should come to perfect age hee should giue place to him But when the Emperours sonne was 16. yeeres old Tryphon would not giue place vnto him vntill he was circomuened by the craft of the Bishop of Cesarea who pretending to be his friend said to him in this manner Seeing that the Courteours are in hope to haue you displaced in respect of your want of learning I will giue you faith he my counsel to write your owne name together with all the titles and dignities of your calling in presence of many witnesses and send this letter aforesaid to the Emperour to let him vnderstand that yee are not so voide of learning as they talke of To this Counsell Tryphon agreed not foresmelling the subtilitie of the Bishop who gaue vnto him this Counsell But the Courteours so soone as the letter came in their hands subioyned to the words Tryphon Archbishop of new Rome and Vniversall Patriarch the words following that he voluntarily ouergaue his Patriarchship in fauour of Theophilactus the Emperours youngest sonne So was Tryphon by his owne handwritting displaced and Theophilactus seated in his roome He was a young man of 16. yeeres old when he was made Patriarch and ruled 23. yeeres Hee was riotous and full of youthly conceits and in hunting his horse so brused his body that he vomited blood and ended his life To Theophilactus succeeded Polyenctus in the dayes of Nicephorus and Zimisces of whom God willing more shall be spoken in the head of Councels and to him a Monke Basilius who ruled 4 yeeres and after him Antonius Studites Of other Pastors and Doctors LVitprandus a famous Historiographer liued in the dayes of Hugo and Berengarius kings of Italie and in the daies of Otto the first Emperour of the west and Constantine Emperour of the East His learning and skill in Musicke brought him in credit with Hugo King of Italie Also Berengarius king of Italie found no man so meet to be employed Ambassador to Constantine Emperour of Constantinople as Luitprandus who did his message faithfully vpon the charges of his owne father in law But Berengarius rendered vnto him euill for good for hee banished him In time of his banishment he writ his historie of things done in Europe from the yeere of our Lord 858. vntill the 30. yeere of Otto Magnus and dedicated it to Reginomundus a Bishop of Spain It is not certaine in what age Theophilactus liued alwaies his name is inrolled in this Centurie Hee was Bishop of Bulgaria and writ in the Greeke Language fruitefull Commentaries vpon the foure Evangelists and vpon all the Epistles of Paul and vpon some of the small Prophets such as Habacuk Ionas and Nahum Hee followed Chrysostome in his writings so that his bookes are thought to be a short abridgement of the writings of Chrysostome He sharpely refuteth old Heretikes but the defection of his owne time hee doth not so neerely touch Of the Antichrist hee thinketh that hee should spring vp in the decay of the Romane Empire and of marriage that it was honorable and a step to the chaire of a Bishop The names of other men who were more famous then others either for good or evill will be found in the head of Councels CENTVRIE XI Popes of Rome AFter Silvester ruled Pope Iohn nineteene yeeres foure months and twentie dayes of whom no memorable thing is written To him succeeded Pope Iohn 20. and continued foure yeeres foure months Platina for lacke of some remarkable thing in the historie of his life is compelled to remarke the wisdome magnamitie learning and deuotion of Robert King of France who was worthie to gouerne others because his owne heart was gouerned and ruled with reason but of Pope Iohn hee read nothing worthie of commendation To him succeeded Sergius the fourth who gouerned 2. yeeres and 15. dayes To Sergius succeeded Benedict the eight and continued a eleuen yeeres one month and thirteene dayes in his dayes the pestilence so mightilie abounded that the number of them who died in the plague surpassed the number of them who were aliue Which calamitie was signified by a fountaine of wholesome water in Loraine converted into blood The factious Romans remoued him from his Popedome and seated another in his place but afterward they were reconciled to him and receiued him with great Pompe honor to his Popedome againe These are the people who call the B. of Rome the vicar of Christ the successor of Peter the vniuersall Bishoppe the ministericall head of the Church yet will they make insurrection against him when they please and they call others schismaticks when they fall from the obedience of the Bishop of Rome But the Towne of Rome is the mother of scismes no lesse is shee the mother of all spirituall whoredomes Iohn 21. succeeded to Benedict the 8. in the dayes of the Emperour Conrad the second and ruled eleuen yeeres nine dayes Platina commendeth his life but without any particular commendation of his commendable vertues Benedict the ninth succeeded to Pope Iohn and gouerned ten yeeres and foure months and nine dayes a man vnlearned and vitious in his conversation who allured women to his lust by Magicall arts therefore hee was thrust out of his Popedome
conversant with secular men I am discontented and as it were dilacerate with a multitude of secular cares Hee was a stout defender of the authority of the Bishoppe of Rome in so much that he was content to forgoe the favour of his Prince and to bee banished for the excessiue loue hee caryed to the priviledges of the Romane Chaire After the death of Rufus Anselmus was received from banishment by King Henry But because hee would not admit and consecrate those Bishops who had received investment from the King but called them bastards and abortiue births whosoever received investment from secular men great contention arose betweene the King and the Prelat the issue whereof was this that the decision of the question was referred to the Bishoppe of Rome who gaue sentence in favour of Anselmus because Anselmus suffered trouble for maintaining of the Popes authoritie The King was irritate and exasperate with the Popes decree and spoyled Anselmus of all his dignities Who remained for the most part in Lions during the time of his second banishment But the King reduced him againe from banishment and was reconciled with him After his returning from his second banishment hee lived three yeeres and died in the yeerâ— of our Lord 1109. having continued Bishop of Canterburie thirteene yeeres In his bookes no errour is more intollerable then this that hee equalleth the Virgine Mary with Christ attributing to her all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge as the Apostle Paul atiributeth them to Christ our Saviour CENTVRIE XII Popes of Rome AFter Vrbanus the second followed Paschalis the second and ruled eighteene yeeres 6. moneths and 7. dayes Called before Reginerus a man brought vp in the Monasteries of Italy hee seemed to shun the high preheminencie of the Popedome but the acclamations of the people often repeating that Saint Peter had chosen good Reginerus to be Pope bowed his flexible minde and inclined it to the Popedome hee then putting on a purple garment and a Diadem vpon his head was brought vnto the Church of Lateran vpon a white pamphrey where a Scepter was put in his hand and a girdle tyed about him having seven Seales and seven Keyes hanging thereupon for a recognizance of his seven-fold power and seven-fold grace of God resting vpon him to wit of binding loosing shutting opening sealing resigning and iudging He excommunicated the noble Emperor Henry the fourth following the example of three of his predecessors to wit Gregorie the seventh Victor the third Vrbanus the second Hee stirred vp Henry the fift against his naturall father Henry the fourth and caused the body of the noble Eemperour Henry the fourth who died at Leodim to bee raised out of his sepulchre to be carryed to the towne of Spire and to want the honour of Christian buriall five yeeres O Antichristian pride O barbarous inhumanity O cruelty and rage ranscending the cruelty of Pagans who persecuted the Church of Christ for the space of three hundred yeeres In his time the Bishop of Florence taught that Antichrist was already borne and manifested to the world Vpon which occasion Paschalis assembled a Councell at Florence and with terrible threatnings put him to silence and damned his bookes Also hee assembled another Councell at Tretas a famous towne in Campanie in France where hee ratified the decrees of his Predecessors in condemning the mariage of Priests as the heresie of the Nicolaitans and receiving Ecclesiasticall rents from Lay persons as Simonie Of his revocation of the priviledge of investment of Bishops granted to the Emperour Henry the fift I haue spoken already in the historie of the life of the Emperour His Competitors were Albertus Theodoricus and Maginulphus whom hee easily subdued To him succeeded Gelasius the second and ruled one yeere and fiue dayes He was elected without consent of the Emp. Henry 5. which procured vnto him great griefe For Cincius a noble man of Rome of the family of Frangepanis invaded the Pope and Cardinals and trod the Pope vnder foot and cast him in prison and bonds but the citizens of Rome relieved him and threatned to destroy the familie of Frangepanis if they set not the Pope at liberty After this trouble another followed the Emperour sent an army to Rome and authorized another to be pope whom they called Gregorius the eight The Pope fled to Caieta the place of his nativity but when the army returned to Germany hee came to Rome where hee found his estate to be ieoperdous Therefore hee fled to France and dyed of a plurisie in the Abbey of Clumack After Gelasius succeeded Calixtus the second sometime Bishop of Vier and kinsman to the King of France he governed fiue yeeres ten moneths and thirteene dayes Hee compelled the Emperor Henry the fift to agree to his election albeit Mauritius Burdinus otherwise called Gregorie the eight whom the Emperour himselfe had authorized was yet aliue Also hee compelled the foresayd Emperour to ouergiue all right which hee claimed to investment of Bishops and election of Popes so much did the Roman Antichrist prevaile by the thunder bolts of his curses that hee compelled the Emperour by these means to stoupe vnder his feete Also he besiedged Sutrium a Towne of the Romans wherein Mauritius Burdinus his Competitor had his remaining Hee tooke the Towne and his Competitor hee carried Captiue to Rome setting him vpon a Camel with his face toward the hinder-parts thereof and in the end thrust him into a Monasterie He assembled a Councell at Rhemes wherein he renewed the ordinance against married Priests ordaining that not onely they should be spoyled of their liuings and offices but also that they should be debarred from the communion of Christian people Like as these verses doe testifie O bone Calixte nunc omnis clerus odit te Quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti Hoc destruxisti postquam tu Papa fuisti Also hee held another Councell at Rome where it was statute and ordained that it should not be lawfull to the people to repudiat their Bishop or to choose another during his life-time grounding their ordinance vpon a place of Scripture a wife is bound to the law of her husband so long as her husband is aliue After hee is dead shee is loosed from the Law of her husband So learnedly did these Aecumenique Asses expound places of holy scripture After Calixtus succeeded Pope Honorius the second and ruled fiue yeeres and two months In his time Arnulphus an eloquent man a famous Preacher came to Rome whether out of the wildernesse or out of any other place wherein he had exercised a ministeriall office it is vncertaine alwayes it is thought of all men that he was sent of God hee sharpely rebuked the dissolute Loosnesse incontinencie auarice and pride of the clergie of Rome so that hee incenced their hearts against him speciallie for this that hee said it was no wonder that they sought his life for if
Saint Peter himselfe were aliue and did rebuke the lewdnesse of their conversation they would not spare to take Saint Peters life also Moreouer hee sayd they were full of vncleannesse and were blinde guides leading the people headlong to Hell but the Lord would haue in remembrance their iniquities and call their wickednesse to account Thus the hatefull indignation of the Clergie being kindled against him for preaching the truth they layed waite for him secretlie and tooke him and drowned him Platina alledgeth that this fact displeased the Pope alwayes there was no inquisition to know the authors of this fact not punishment of malefactours who shed innocent blood in secret that manifested vnto the world the Popes indignation About this time was a booke written called Opus Tripartitum the author whereof was vnknowne but it is supposed to haue beene compiled by Arnulphus It contained great complaints of the manifold abuses of Church-men After Honorius succeeded Innocentius the second and ruled fourteene yeeres seuen months eight dayes Hee was a man of a militarie spirit albeit not fortunate in warfare For he made warre against Rogerius Duke of Sicilie whom hee besieged also in a certaine Castle But William Duke of Calabria Rogerius his sonne not onely relieued his father but also laid hands on the Pope and his Cardinals and made them Captiues and prisoners Rogerius delt friendly with the Pope and his Cardâ—nals and set them at libertie and obtained at the Popes hand whatsoeuer hee pleased except the name and title of a king At this time when the Pope was busied in warrefare the Romans advanced one called Peter the sonne of Leo a man of noble birth in Rome to be Pope And when Innocentius adressed himselfe to Rome hee did finde the faction of his Competitor to be strong and mighty therefore he sayled to Pisca and from thence to Geneua and from thence to France where hee assembled Councels at Clermont and at Rhemes and deliuered his Competitor to Sathan In the end hee was restored to his chaire againe by the Emperour Lotharius the second In his time the Towne of Rome being wearied with the tirâ—nnie of the Popes tooke resolution to be gouerned by Consuls The Pope to obviat this conceite of the people made an ordinance that whosoeuer did violently put hands on any person of the Clergie hee should be excommunicate and no man should haue power to absolue him but onely the Pope After Innocentius succeeded Coelestinus the second Hee was chosen Pope without the consent of the people as witnesseth Onuphrius he ended his course in the fift month of his Popedome To him succeeded Lucius the second and gouerned the Pestilentius chaire as the Magdeburg historie recordeth in a time when the Pestilence had great vpperhand in Rome Hee concluded his course in the eleuenth month of his Popedome After Lucius succeeded Eugenius the third sometime disciple to Bernard and ruled eight yeeres foure months and twentie dayes He so bestirred himselfe against the Senators of Rome that partlie by cursings and partly by force hee brought them in subiection and compelled them to receiue such Senators as the Pope by his authoritie pleased to assigne vnto them But it came to passe that hee who was desirous to be terrible and awfull to the Romans hee feared them in like manner that they were conspiring secretlie against his estate Therefore hee fled to Tybur and from thence to Fraunce to leade an armie to the East for the support of distressed Christians But this voiage had no good successe notwithstanding that the Popes blessing and Bernards Councell who was Abbot of Clarauall and much regarded at that time were both interposed to advance this often reiterated warrefare against the Turks When the Pope returned from France to Rome accompanied with great forces the people of Rome were affraid but the Pope soone after concluded his course at Tybur Anastatius the fourth succeeded Eugenius who continued in his Popedome one yeere foure months and twentie foure dayes To Anastatius succeeded Pope Adrian the fourth a Monke of the English nation employed by Pope Eugenius to goe to the people of Noroway whom hee brought vnder the Roman superstition and therefore was advanced by Pope Eugenius to the dignitie of a Cardinall and after the death of Anastatius the fourth he was promoted to the Popedome Hee would not goe to the Church of Lateran to be consecrated vntill Arnoldus Bishop of Brixia was driuen from the Towne of Rome because hee had counceled the Romans to claime to the auncient gouernment of their Towne to be guided by consuls and Senators But the proud Pope insisted so seriouslie against Arnoldus and the Romanes that hee compelled them by the force of his multiplied curses not onely to expell Arnoldus out of the Towne of Rome but also to submit themselues absolutely to the gouernment of the Pope The proud cariage of this Pope towards the noble Emperour Fredericke the first his bad successe in warrefare against the Duke of Sicilie and his miserable death in the Towne of Anagnia hath all beene touched in the historie of the life of Fredericke He ended his course after hee had ruled foure yeeres and ten months After Adrian the fourth succeeded Pope Alexander the third who had great debate against his competitor Victor the fourth called before Octavianus in respect the Emperour and the Princes of Germanie and a great number of the Clergie of Rome adhered to Pope Victor And on the other part to Pope Alexander adhered the kings of England France and Sicilie And this scisme indured a long time for remouing whereof the Emperour Fredericke appointed one councell at Papia and another at Diuion To the first hee would not appeare because hee thought the Pope should be iudged of no man To the Second he should not appeare because the councell of Diuion was not assembled by his owne authoritie but by the commandement of the Emperour This Litigious decertation tooke this effect that the Emperour and Bishoppes conuened at the foresaid Councels decreed Victor who appeared and was ready to submit hâ—s cause to the iudgement of a lawfull assemblie him I say they decreed to be Pope lawfully elected Pope Alexander fled to France and in the councell of Clermont hee excomunicated both the Emperour and his Competitor Victor these were the weapons of their warrefare against the Emperours and all others whom they supposed to be their aduersaries After the death of his Competitor Victor Pope Alexander being at Rome the Emperour Fredericke came with a strong armie thereto and Pope Alexander fled to the Venetians What Tragedie fell out in Venice forcing the noble Emperour to stoupe vnder the feete of the Pope for excessiue loue that hee caried towards his sonne hath beene declared in the Historie of the Emperour Frederickes life In this Popes dayes was Thomas Becket Bishop of Canterburie slaine Henry king of England purged himselfe to the Pope that
hee was innocent of his slaughter Notwithstanding seeing his indignation against the foresaid Bishop was the occasion of his slaughter It was inioyned to the king of England that hee should hinder no man in his kingdome from appealing to the chaire of Rome And that in time to come no man should be declared king of England without the Popes consent Thus are the neckes kingdomes honours and liues of the mightie Monarchs of the world troden vnder the feete of the Roman Antichrist After this proud Prelat had tyrannized 21. yeeres and 29 dayes hee ended his course After Alexander the 3. succeeded Lucius the 3. and gouerned foure yeeres two months and eighteene dayes Hee was no lesse desirous to abolish the consults of Rome then his predecessours were but his attempts succeeded not so well For hee was driuen out of Rome with his complices and a number of his fauorits were punished by thrusting out their eyes Others were carried thorow the streets vpon Asses hauing their Miters vpon their heades and their faces toward the hinder part of the Asse The Pope fled to Verona where he Lurked vntill he died To him succeeded Vrbanus the third and continued one yeere ten months and twentie fiue dayes In his daies was Ierusalem recouered by Saladin a Prince of the Turkes and commander of Aegypt which tidinges so pierced the Popes heart with griefe that hee ended his life at Ferrara Gregorie the eight followed who continued not in his Popedome aboue the space of fiftie dayes To him succeeded Clemens the third and ruled three yeeres and fiue months In this time died William King of Sicilie without children and the people of the Isle elected Tancredus a bastard sonne of Rogerius to rule ouer them After Clemens succeeded Pope Celestinus the third and continued six yeeres seuen months and eleuen dayes In his time died Saladin a mighty Prince of the Turkes And Pope Celestinus thinking it was a meete time to fight against the Turkes for the recouering of the holie Land incited the Emperour Henry the sixt and the King of France to vndertake the ieopardous warfare against the Turks wherein many had spent their blood and seldome with good successe The Emperour Henry sent the Duke of Saxonie and the Bishop of Mentz with a well appointed armie to the foresaid warrefare but went not himselfe The King of France was willing to haue vndertaken a iourney toward the East but was stayed by the irruption of the Saracens who dwelt in Mauritania They had passed the straites and invaded that part of Spaine which was called Betica and conquered it The king of Fraunce then fearing left the Saracens should be puft vp in pride for their late victorie and that they should invade his dominions kept his armie at home in France for safegarde of his owne countrey The Germane armie returned againe within short time as hath beene declared in Henry the sixts life Patriarchs of Constantinople TO Nicolaus succeeded Leo Styppiota and Michael and Theodosius and Basilius Nicetas and Leontius and Dositheus of whom I thinke not expedient to write any further except simplie to insert their names Patriarchs of Alexandria IN this age the armie of Christians which went to fight against the Turkes conquered out of their hands not onely Ierusalem but also Antiochia and the region round about it Whereupon it followed that the Patriarchs were established of new againe after long intermission in Antiochia and Ierusalem Not such as were accustomed to be of olde hauing equall power with other Patriarchs within their owne bounds but rather vassals and slaues to the Bishoppes of Rome as may appeare by the Catalogue following The first of these Latine Patriarchs was Bernardus who ruled that church thirtie sixe yeeres After him succeeded Radulphus who would not be subiect to the Bishop of Rome but affirmed that both Antiochia and Rome were the chaires of S. Peter Antiochia was before and a more ancient chaire and therefore should haue the prerogatiue aboue Rome Notwithstanding of all this hee was cited by his Aduersaries to appeare before the Bishoppe of Rome and to answere to the faults that should be obiected against him Namely for violent vsurpation of iurisdiction ouer churches belonging to the Archbishop of Tyrus as Biblus Tripolis and Aradus This citation Raymond Prince of Antiochia compelled him to obey He was sent backe againe to Antiochia but the people and Clergie receiued him not Therefore hee lurked in Monasteries and in the ende was deposed from his office by a councell assembled in Antiochia After him succeeded Raimericus and ruled twelue yeeres Hee was hated of Raynoldus gouernour of Antiochia because hee disallowed his marriage bound vp with Constantia Likewise hee was misvsed by him and the balde part of his heade was ouerlaied with honey and he was compelled to sit in the time of the feruent heat of the sommer day to be molested with the flies and waspes The king of Ierusalem hearing of this pitifull demeanour of the Patriarch of Antiochia sent Ambassadors to Raynold and so the Patriarch was set at libertie who dwelt at Ierusalem forsaking Antiochia all the rest of his life-time After him Sotericus was Patriarch who continued in office short time To him succeeded Theodorus Balsamus a very ambitious man whom Isacius Angelus Emperour of Constantinople put in hope that he would promote him to be Patriarch of Constantinople if the Canons of Church did not hinder When all was done the ambitious Prelat staied stil at home for the Emperour did not sollicit him seriously but was onely trying him to see if for hope of further preheminencie he would violate the Canons of the Church To whom succeeded Almericus Patriarchs of Ierusalem THe first Latin Patriarch of Ierusalem after it was conquered from the Turkes was Dabertus sometime Bishop of Pisa. He crowned Godfrey the first King of Ierusalem with a crowne of thornes To him succeeded Gibelinus sometime Bishop of Arls. Hee was sent to Ierusalem to decide the question that fell out betweene Dabertus and Ebremarus but it happened that Dabertus about the same time dyed and Ebremarus was remooved because hee had intruded himselfe in office Therefore with vniforme consent Gibelinus was made Patriarch of Ierusalem To whom succeeded Arnulphus who for his vicious life was called Mala corona Pope Pascalis the second hearing of his bad conversation sent to Ierusalem the Bishop of Aurange who deposed him from his office Notwithstanding hereof this vitious Prelat tooke iourney to Rome and with flattering speeches and largition of mony prevailed so much at Rome that he obtained his office againe After him followed Guarimundus a man more expert in warfare then in his owne calling For hee supplyed the place of King Baldwin who was detained captiue by the Turkes And hee was a couragious Warriour at the siege of Tyrus To him continued Stephanus who continued not
in office aboue the space of two yeeres And after him Gulielmus ruled fifteene yeeres After whom succeeded Fulcherus and continued Patriarch twelue yeeres Hee was hated of Raymond master of the Templaries who caused the bells to bee rung in the time when hee preached to the people so that the people could not profit by hearing his Sermons For this cause he went to Rome to complaine of the iniuries done vnto him but some of the Cardinalls were corrupted with money so that he obtained nothing at the hands of Adrian the fourth who was Pope at that time and so returned againe with shame After him followed Amalricus and ruled two and twenty yeeres In whose dayes Saladinus a Prince of the Turkes recovered Ierusalem out tht hands of the Christians Of other Pastors and Doctors FRom the beginning of this Compend I haue kept this order that I haue not overcharged a little booke with mention-making of all things that are written neither haue I pretermitted in the heads which I entreat matters of greatest importance so farre as my memory and vnderstanding could comprehend In this age the Scholastique Doctors began to arise of whom Petrus Lombardus was the first who afterward was made Bishop of Paris but I supersede to write of them vntill the next Centurie Arnulphus was an eloquent man and a mighty preacher who reprooved the Clergie of Rome for the lewdnesse of their conversation Wherefore the Clergie hated him and drowned him secretly in the night time as hath been declared in the historie of the life of Honorius the second At this time was set forth a booke called Opus Tripartitum Arnulphus was supposed to bee the Author thereof It contained an heavie complaint of the enormities and abuses of the Church of the number of their holy-dayes and all lusts of vncleannesse according to the saying of whores and naughty women who bragged that they gained more in one day then in fifty other dayes Likewise it complained of the curious singing in Cathedrall Churches whereby many are occasioned to spend much time in singing which might bee better spent in more necessarie sciences It also complained of the rabble and multitude of begging Fryers shewing what idlenesse and vncomely behaviour hath proceeded thereof Also it toucheth the vnchaste and voluptuous behaviour of Church men aggravating their faults by the similitude of storks who are accustomed to beate those storkes out of their number that having a mate ioyne themselues vnto another What then is to bee done with Church-men who professing chastity doe defile other mens houses so that the stinke of their vncleannesse is knowne to the whole world Finally it wisheth reformation to begin at the Sanctuary as the Prophet speaketh In this age also was Vualdus a Merchant-man of Lions in France whom God enlightned with the true knowledge of his word and remooved from the eyes of his minde the common vaile of ignorance that overcovered the eyes of the most part of men who liued at this time in such sort that albeit Antichrist was sitting in the chaire of Christ yet very few either perceived him or abhorred his tyrannie This man Vualdus was stirred vp by God after this manner Some of the chiefest heads-men of Lions were walking abroad and it chanced one of them the rest looking on to fall downe by sudden death This Vualdus being one of the company and a rich man beholding the matter more earnestly then the rest was touched with a deepe and earnest repentance whereupon followed a carefull study to reforme his former life in so much that hee first begun to distribute large almes to the poore and to instruct his familie in the knowledge of the Word of God and to exhort all them who resorted vnto him to repentance and amendment of life The Bishops envyed the travels of Vualdus nothing regarding the words of holy Scripture Let the Word of God dwell plentifully in you and edifie one another with Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs And being mooved with great malice against him threatned to excommunicate him if hee ceased not from catechizing those who resorted to him But Vualdus neglecting the threatnings of the wicked sayd hee must rather obey God then men Whereupon followed cruell persecution of him and of all his adherents So that they were compelled to fly from Lions and the Bishop seazed vpon their goods These were called Waldenses or Pauperes de Lugduno The doctrine and articles which they professed were these 1. That onely the holy Scripture is to bee believed in matters pertaining vnto eternall life and that it contayneth all things necessary to salvation 2. That there is onely one Mediator of God and man the man Christ Iesus and that Saints â—re not to be invocated as Mediators 3. That there is no Purgatorie fire but all men are either iustified by faith in Christ or else they are in the state of condemnation 4. That all masses namely such as are sung for the dead are wicked and to be abrogated 5. That all mens traditions are to be reiected at least not to be accounted necessary vnto salvation 6. That constrained and prefixed fasts bound to dayes and times difference of meats such variety of degrees and orders of Priests Fryers Monkes and Nunnes superfluous holy-dayes so many sundry benedictions and hallowing of creatures vowes peregrinations with all the rablement of such rites and ceremonies brought in by man should be abolished 7. The supremacie of the Pope vsurping aboue all Churches and especially aboue all politique Realmes and Governments or for him to vsurpe both the swords is to be denyed 8. That no degrees are to bee received into the Church but onely Priests Deacons and Bishops 9. The Communion vnder both kinds to bee necessarie to all people according to the institution of Christ. 10. That the Church of Rome is Babylon spoken of in the booke of the Revelation and the Pope the fountaine of errors and the very Antichrist 11. The Popes pardons and indulgences to be reiected 12. The mariage of Priests and men in spirituall offices they hold to be lawfull and necessary 13. Such as heare the true Word of God and beleeue it are the true Church of God to whom the keyes belong to driue away wolfes to institute true Pastors to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments These are the most principall articles of Vualdenses to the which the rest may be reduced 14. Concerning the Supper of the Lord their faith was that it was ordayned to be eaten and not to bee shewed and worshipped for a memoriall not for a sacrifice to serue for the present ministration not for reservation to be received at the table not to be caryed out of the doores in pomp And this they proue by an old Chronicle called Chronica gestoruÌ„ and by the testimonie of Origen who writing vpon Levit. saith thus Whosoever receiveth this bread of Christs Supper vpon the
second or third day after his soule shall not be blessed but polluted Therefore the Gibeonites because they brought old bread to the children of Israel it was ioyned them to hew wood and beare water In this age also are found some learned men who detested the pride of the Bishop of Rome such as Hildebertus Archbishop of Towrs a disciple of Berengarius and an excellent Poet who made this distinchon of the towne of Rome Vrbs foelix si vel dominis vrbs illa careret Vel dominis esset turpe carere fide Bernard Abbot of Claravall borne in Burgundie was respected in his countrey aboue others who although hee lived in a most corupt age yet he was found in the doctrine of iustification as may appeare by the words which hee vttered on a time being diseased after this manner I grant saith he I am vnworthy and that I cannot obtaine the kingdome of heaven by mine owne merits neverthelesse my Lord hath a double right to it First by this right that he is his fathers heire Secondly by right of the merit of his suffering With the first right he contenteth himselfe The second he bestoweth on vs by whose free gift I claime a right thereto and am not confounded Hee detested the corruption of manners which abounded in his time as may bee knowne by the words of Hugo Cardinalis It seemeth saith he good Iesus that the whole vniuersitie of Christian people haue conspired against thee and these are the chiefe persecutors who haue the principall roomes in thy Church Hee admonished Count Theobald who bestowed great cost in building of Abbies and Churches that he would rather support them who were of the houshold of faith and that he would be carefull to build the immortall and everlasting tabernacles of God Hee subdued his body by fasting beyond all measure whereby his stomacke became so diseased that oftentimes it rendered againe the small portion of food which it had received Hee was very superstitious in receiving the reliques of the Saints In so much that when hee came to Rome and the head of the Martyr Casarius was offered to him to take of it what part hee pleased hee was content to take one tooth onely And when his associates could not draw out the tooth it was so fast fastened vnto the Iawbone Bernard counselled them to pray that the Martyr would willingly conferre vnto them one of his teeth Many visions and miracles are attributed to him but they smell so much of superstition as it is easily knowne that the most part of them are invented and forged by the deceiving teachers of this age He died in the 64. yeere of his age leaving them that were about him three testamentall lessons 1. That they should offend no man 2. That they should giue lesse credite to their owne opinion then to the iudgement of other men 3. That they should not be vindictiue nor desirous of revenge for wrongs done vnto themselues He esteemed much of the prophecies of Hildegardis a Prophetesse in France whose wordes Bernard thought to be indyted by divine inspiration In this age also flourished Anselmus Bishop of Havelburg whom the Emperour Lotharius 2. sent to Calowannes Emp. of Constantinople Hee disputed with Nichetes Bishop of Nicomedia in the temple of Sophia about the old error of the Grecians who affirmed that the holy Spirit proceeded onely from the Father and not from the Sonne Hee refuted very learnedly the obiections of Nichetes who obiected that two fountaines and beginnings were set vp in the Godhead if the holy Spirit proceeded both from the Father and the Sonne Wherevnto Anselmus answered that when the Councell of Nice sayd Deus de Deo lumen de lumine They established not two Gods nor two lights in the Trinitie Euen so when it is sayd Principium de principio there is not brought in two beginnings but one only And whosoever saith he denyeth that the holy Spirit proceedeth from the Son denyeth also that he proceedeth from the Father For the Scripture saith I and the Father are one I am in the Father and the Father in me and againe Hee that seeth mee seeth the Father From this argument they went to another concerning the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome Anselmus prooved the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome by three arguments 1. Because the Councell of Nice had preferred the chaire of Rome to all other chaires 2. Because Christ assigned superiority to Peter when hee sayd Thou art Peter and vppon this Rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it And I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt binde on earth is bound in heauen and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 3. The chaire of Rome was free of heresies when Constantinople and other Churches of the East were defiled with heresie To the first argument Nichetes answered that the Councell of Nice called the Bishop of Rome the Bishop of the principall chaire but not the principall Bishop for that dignitie hee received from the Emperour Phocas but not from the Councell of Nice To the second argument he answered that the power of binding and loosing was not given to Peter onely but also to all the rest of the Apostles And like as they were all partakers of that same heavenly grace whereof Peter was partaker in the day of Pentecost so likewise they all received that selfe same power of binding and loosing And Peter alone received not the power like as he received not the grace alone Thirdly whereas it was alledged that the Romane Church remained vnspotted with heresie when as other Churches were defiled with it Nichetes answered that it was true that Arrius Macedonius Nestorius and Eutiches did spring vp among the Grecians and they likewise were chiefly refuted and suppressed by the the Grecians And the fountaine of all heresies being humane Philosophie it was no marvell that greatest heresies sprung vp where men of greatest learning and vnderstanding were found and it is likely that the fewer heresies sprung vp in the West because they were men of lesse learning and not of so deepe vnderstanding as the people of the East CENTVRIE XIII Popes of Rome AFter Caelestinus succeeded Innocentius the third and ruled eighteene yeeres he excommunicated Iohn king of England for not receiuing of Stephen Langtowne Archbishop of Canterbury being approued by the Pope he brought the said king so low that he was in the ende constrained to resigne his crowne of England and Ireland to the Pope and to receiue the same backe againe from the Pope to him and his heires for yeerely payment of a thousand marks He confirmed the order of the Dominike or blacke friers and the order of Franciscans or begging Friers To him Henry the sixt when hee departed this life left the tuition and
protection of his sonne Fredericke the second But Innocentius followed the footesteps of Iudas but not of Saint Peter made Otto Duke of Saxon Emperour in preiudice of Fredericke who was committed to his protection But thorow the prouidence of God the spirit of dissention fell betweene the Emperour Otto and the Pope so that hee was excommunicated by the Pope and the Empire was giuen to Fredericke Also hee gathered a generall Councel at Rome called Lateranense whereof hereafter After him succeeded Honorius 3. and ruled ten yeeres 7. months 13. daies he excommunicated the good Emperour Fredericke 2. and in this age it is to be noted that almost no Pope can be found who set not out his thunderbolts of cursings against kings and Emperours Next to him succeeded Gregorius the ninth and ruled one yeere three months he caused the booke of the Popes decretalls to be compiled and had cruell warres against the Emperour Fredericke whom hee excomunicated diuers times as hath at length beene declared in the life of Fredericke Caelestinus 4. followed after him who liued not in the Popedome aboue the space of 18. dayes To him succeeded Innocentius 4. and ruled 11. yeeres 12. months 12. dayes he helde a Councell at Lyons wherein he excommunicated the Emperour Fredericke of new againe and deposed him from his Emperiall dignitie and gaue the same to William Count of Holland Hee died miserably for hee invaded the kingdome of Sicilie with an armie hoping to bring it vnder his subiection after the death of Fredericke but was disapointed and repulsed by Manfred king of Sicilie And as hee was in Naples a voyce was heard in the Popes Court saying Surge miser ad iudicium that is rise O wretched person and appeare to iudgement and the day following he was found lying dead in his bed To him succeeded Alexander the fourth who did fight against Manfred king of Sicilie vnprosperously but being ouercome in battell hee had refuge to his old armour of cursing and excommunicated Manfred He damned the Booke of William de Sancto amore which hee writ against the order of begging Friers and died in the seuenth yeere of his Popedome After him followed Vrbanus the fourth and ruled three yeeres and one month Hee stirred vp Charles Duke of Angeow against Manfred and gaue vnto him the kingdome of Sicilie and Calabria with the Dukedome of Apulia to be holden of the Pope as superior for yeerely paiment of a certaine duety to the Church of Rome which was the occasion of great troubles which after followed To him succeeded Clemens 4. and ruled 3. yeeres 9. months 21. daies He finished the worke which Vrbanus begun for hee gaue to Charles Count of Angeow not onely the Dukedome of Sicilie but also the stile of the kingdome of Ierusalem prouiding alwayes hee should pay yeerely in few-farme to the church of Rome fortie thousand crownes This Charles by instigation of the Roman Bishop first slew Manfred king of Sicilie and afterward slew Conradinus sonne to Conrad who came to Italie to possesse the kingdomes duely appertaining to him So was the kingdome of Sicilie taken from the posteritie of Fredericke and put in the hands of Frenchmen After him Gregorius the tenth ruled foure yeeres two months ten dayes He held a generall councell at Lyons whereat Michael Palcologus Emperour of Constantinople was present as will be hereafter delared God willing He made peace beweene the Venetians and the Genuans who not onely at home but also in Asia had bloodie warres one against another to the great encouragment of the Infidels Also hee interdyted the Florentines from all holy seruice because they eiected the Gibelius out of their towne whom the Pope being in France had receiued in favour and brought backe from banishment Hee was so highly displeased with them that passing by the towne of Florence vpon a time being required of his fatherly clemencie to lose them from the foresaid interditment hee vtterly refused to doe it Next after him Innocentius the fift died after hee had ruled sixe months ad two daies After him Hadrianus the fift died hauing ruled fortie dayes Ioannes 22. who succeeded to Adrian died after he had ruled 8. months Hee was smothered by the sudden fall of a chamber newly built in the place of Viturbium for his solace and pleasure and this iudgement fell vpon him immediatlie after he had foolishly promised to himselfe long life and said to his friends that he knew by the position of the starres that he would liue a long time in this world After him followed Nicolaus the third and ruled three yeeres three months fifteene daies He was a mortall enemie to Charles king of Sicilie whom his predecessours Vrbanus and Clemens advanced He tooke from him the lieutenanrie of Hetruria the dignitie of a Roman Senator Likewise hee stirred vp Peter King of Arragon to claime the kingdome of Sicilie as iustly pertaining to him by right of Constantia his wife Daughter to Manfred king of Sicilie And finally by his craft and wickednesse the countries of Flaminea and Bononia with the exarcht of Rauenna which had remained a long time vnder the Emperours iurisdiction were brought vnder the dominion of the Pope of Rome In Religion he was verie superstitious and caused cases of siluer to be made wherein he put the skulls of Peter Paul Next vnto him followed Martinus the fourth and ruled foure yeeres and one month Hee receiued Charles king of Sicilie in fauour and restored vnto him the dignitie of a Roman Senator which Nicolas his predecessour had taken from him and was so contrarious in all his doings to Nicolaus that whereas Nicolaus stirred vp Peter king of Arragon to claime the kingdome of Sicilie as belonging to him by right Martinus by the contrarie excōmunicated the king of Arragon as a spoiler of the Church-goods because hee invaded the kingdome of Sicilie Notwithstanding in this Popes time the Frenchmen who were in Sicilie being hated of the people were pitifullie destroied For they had agreed among themselues that vpon a certaine day at euening time when a signe was giuen by ringing of a bell that they should cut off in one houre all the French blood that was found in Sicilie which thing also they performed with such crueltie that they ript vp their owne countrie-women that were with child by the Frenchmen to the end there should no remnant of French blood remaine among them and from this excessiue crueltie the Prouerb yet remaineth Vesperae Siculae This Pope also tooke the Concubine of his Predessour Nicolaus and caused to abolish all the pictures of Vrses and Beares that were found in his palace fearing left his harlot by a deepe imagination and impression of these Pictures should bring forth children rough like Beares as shee had done before Honorius 4. followed and ruled 2. yeeres one month he ratified the sentence
vice of heresie the Pope both may and ought to be accused After this the vehemencie of his disease more and more increasing and because the nights were somewhat longer the third night before his departure the Bishop feeling his infirmitie to grow vpon him willed certaine of his Clergie to be called vnto him thereby to be refreshed with some conference or communication vnto whom the Bishop lamenting in his minde for the losse of soules through the auarice of the Popes court said on this wise as by certaine Aphorismes Christ came vnto the world to saue and to winne soules Ergo he that feareth not to destroy soules may hee not worthily be counted Antichrist The Lord created the world in six daies but in the restoring of man he laboured more then thirtie yeeres wherefore hee that is a destroier of that about the which the Lord so long laboured is not hee worthy to be accounted the enemie of God and Antichrist These and many other enormities of the Roman Church when the Godly Bishop had reproued as all kindes of Auarice Vsurie Simonie Extortion and all kindes of filthinesse fleshly lust gluttonie and their sumptuous apparell then sayth hee this old verse may be truly verified of the Court of Rome Eius avaritiae totus non sufficit Orbis Eius Luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Afterward hee went about more to prosecute how the foresaid Court like a gulfe neuer satisfied euer gaping so wide that the flood of Iordan might run into his mouth aspired how to vsurpe the goods of them that die vntested and of Legacies beqâ—eâ—hed without forme of law whereby more licentiously to bring this to passe they vsed to ioyne the king to be fellow and partner with them in their spoiles extortions and robbings Neither sayth he shall the Church be deliuered from the seruâ—tude of Aegypâ— out by violence and force and with the bloodie sword And albeit sayth hee those be yet but light matters yet shortly more great and grieuous things then these shall be seene And in the end of this his prophecying which he scarcely could vtter with sighing and weeping his tongue and breath begun to faile And so the Organ of his voyce being stopped made an ende both of his speech and life This is that Bishop who not onely in his lifetime resisted the pride and insolencie of the Bishop of Rome but also after his death God made him a terrour to the Pope who dreamed that Robert Gostred came to him and with his staffe strake him on the side and said vnto him Surge miser veni adiudicium after the which dreame within a few dayes hee ended his life Others doe adde that a voyce was heard in the palace where the Pope lay at Naples saying Surge miser vem adiudicium as hath beene declared in the life of Innocentius Quartus Of Monkes BEcause the orders of Monkes most abounded in this age albeit they begun long before therefore haue wee casten in this treatise in this Centurie howbeit wee declare the Order of Monks that sprang vp before or at this time About the time of the raigne of Iustinus the elder as hath beene declared in the seuenth Centurie Pope Iohn the first being Bishop of Rome Benedict a father and fauourrer of Monkes gathered together all scattered religious persons and begun a peculiar order vpon the Mount Cassinus where he built a most renowned Cloister giuing them there a rule prescript and forme of liuing Afterward the same Bennet hauing much people resorting to him built 12. other Monasteries and filled them with religious men Of this order is reported to haue beene 24. Popes of Rome 182. Cardinalls 1464. Archbishopps and Bishops 15000. and 70. renowned Abbots as sayth Pope Iohn the 22. There hath beene of this Order 5655. Monkes canonised and made Saints This Bennet also invented an order for his sister Scolastica and made her Abbesse ouer many Nunnes Her cloathing was a blacke coate cloake coule and vaile and lest the scripture should deceiue her and Hers it was commanded that none should read it without the consent and permission of their superiour Here is to be seene how God is sought in all monasticall orders when as amongst them his holy word is expelled This order of Bennedictin monkes when it was nerely decaied in shaddow of Godlines was quickned againe by one Otlon or Otho and was called the order of Clumacensis Howbeit their cloathing and rule was according to the appointment of Bennet And this monkish order was richly endewed with great substance and yeerely rents by a certaine Duke of Aquitania called Guillidinus in the yeere of our Lord 913. In the yeere of our Lord 850. Pope Leo the fourth gouerning the Sea of Rome the monkish religion of Camaldinensis was devised by Romoaldus of Rauenna in the mount Apenninus Their coule and cloake and all their cloathing was white They kept perpetuall silence Euery wednesday and fry day they fast on bread and water they goe bearefooted and lie on the ground Pope Innocentius the 7. being B. of Rome the monkish order of Hieronimians began vnder the name of S. Ierome who leauing his natiue countrie went vnto Iury there not far from BetheleÌ„ builded him an house where he liued very devoutly in the later end of his life Those Apes and counterfeites of S. Ierom weare their cloathes of white and a cope platted about their coate girded with a lether girdle The order was endewed with diuers priuiledges and liberties by certaine Bishops of Rome as Gregorie the twelfth and Eugenius the fourth Pope Gregorie the first borne of a noble stocke and very rich forsaked all and became a Monke After the death of his father he builded six religious houses in Sicilie giuing them a forme and rule of liuing He built another within Rome in the name and honour of S. Andrew wherein he dwelt with manie monkish brethren which from time to time keeping his rule diligentlie are called Gregorians Their habit is a copper-colloured cloath according to their rule Pope Gregorie the sixt bearing rule Ioannes Gualbertus a Knight begun this order in a certaine mouÌ„taine called Vallis Vmbrosa that is to say a shaddowed valley vnder Bennets rule with adding thereto and changing of blacke cloathes into gray In the yeere 1038. Pope Alexander the second being B. of Rome the sect of the Grandimontensis Monkes was invented by Stephen of Auernia Their order is to lead a strict life as Monkes vse to doe to giue themselues to watching fasting and praying to weare a coate of Mailes vpon their bodyes and a blacke cloake therevpon Pope Vrban the second bearing rule Robert Abbot of Molisme in Cistert in a wildernesse or forrest in Burgundie did institute the order of Cistertians albeit some ascribe this to one Ordingus a Monke that perswaded the aforesaid Monke to the same They weare red shoes and white Rotchets on a blacke coate all shauen
neuer at Rome Eightly That the Clergie of Rome is a den of Theeues Ninthly That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leades to eternall death In another treatise he disputes of free iustification by grace and that workes are no efficient cause of Saluation Sed causa sine qua non for the which doctrine hee was condemned by the Pope I passe by a great number who clearelie discouered the corruptions and Apostasie of the Church of Rome such as Ioannes de Gunduno Gregorius Ariminensis Andreas de Castro Dante 's an Italian Taulerus a Preacher of Argentine in Germanie Franciscus Petrarcha a man famouslie learned who in his workes in Italian verses speaking of Rome calles it the whoore of Babilon the schoole and mother of errour the Temple of heresie the nest of treacherie growing and increasing by the oppression of others Likewise Ioannes de rupe scissa who was cast in prison by Pope Innocentius the sixt also Conradus Hager a Germane of the citie of Herbipoli Gerardus Ridder Michael Cesenas Provinciall of the Gray friers Petrus de Corbaria with one Ioaxnes de Pâ—liato This foresaid Michael general of the gray friers writ against the tyrannie pride and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome to be the whoore of Babilon drunken with the blood of the Saints He affirmed there were two Churches one of the wicked florishing wherein raigned the Pope the other of the Godly afflicted also that the veritie was almost vtterlie extinct and for this cause hee was depriued of his dignitie and condemned by the Pope Notwithstanding he stood constant in his assertions and left behind him many fauourers and followers of his doctrine of whom a great part were slaine by the Pope Some were condemned as William Ockam who writ both in defence of the Emperour Lewes whom the Pope excommunicated and likewise in defence of Michael generall of the gray friers whom the Pope had cursed for an heretike and some were burned such as Ionnes de Castellione and Franciscus de Arcatara Likewise Armachanus a Bishop in Ireland and Matthias Parisiensis Ioannes Montziger rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica Iacobus Milnensis and one Milezius Henricus de Iota and Henricus de Hassia Likewise in this most desperate time when the estate of religion was vtterlie corrupted and the onely name of Christ remained amongst Christians his true and liuely doctrine being vtterly vnknowne and turned into an heape of shadowed Ceremonies which so increased that there was no end of heaping vp of ceremonies invented by man at this time I say the Lord raised vp Iohn Wickliffe a professor of Diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Oxford who seeing that error by long vse and custome had beene so deeplie rooted in the hearts of men that it could hardly be plucked out hee medled not with all at once bâ—â— firsâ— bâ—gâ—â—nne to touch the matter of the Sacraments and discoâ—er 〈◊〉 â—rrours that men were fallen into in this head of 〈◊〉 but this byle could not be touched without the great griefe and paine of the whole world For first of all the whole rabble of Monkes and begging Friers were set on rage and madnes against him and after them the Priests and then after them the Archbishop Simon Sudburie tooke the matter in hand who for the same cause depriued him of his benefice which then he had in Oxford Notwithstanding being supported by the friendly assistance of the Duke of Lancaster sonne to king Edward the third and some other friends whom God raised vp for his protection he bare out the malice of the Friers and Archbishop Likewise Pope Vrbane was so busied with suppressing of another Pope Clement the seuenth set vp against him that he could not spare any time to suppresse Iohn Wickliffe and so it came to passe thorow the prouidence of Almightie God that the enemies of the true light with fretting minds were compelled to see the sparkles thereof not being able to quench them The chiefe heads of doctrine which hee maintained against the Roman church were these That the substance of bread remained in the Sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration That it is not found in the Gospell that Christ instituted or confirmed a masse That it is a presumptuous Speaking to affirme that the infants of the faithfull who die vnbaptised are condemned That in the time of Paul there were onelie two orders of Clerks to wit Elders and Deacons neither was there in the time of the Apostles any distinction of Popes Patriarches Archbishops Bishops but these the Emperours pryde did finde out That the causes of diuorcement for spirituall consanguinitie or affinitie are not founded on the scriptures but onely by the ordinance of men That he who is most seruicable and humble in the church and most inamored with the loue of Christ the same is the neerest vicar of Christ in the militant Church If corporall vnction were a Sacrament then Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance of that vntouched Whatsoeuer the Pope and Cardinals doe command which they cannot deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures the same is to be accounted hereticall and not to be obeyed That it is but a follie to beleeue the Popes Pardons That it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the church of Rome to be supreme head of other Churches A Deacon or Priest may Preach the word of God without the authoritie of the Apostolike sea The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Sathan neither is the Pope immediatlie the vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles That the Emperour and Secular Lords are seduced who so inrich the Church with ample possessions If any man enter into any priuat religion whatsoeuer it be hee is thereby made more vnapt and vnable to obserue the commandements of God Of Monkes POpe Clement the sixt bearing rule Iohn king of France sonne of Philip invented the sect and order of those Monkes which in Latine are called Stellati whose maner is alwayes to weare a starre vpon their brest signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the cleere shining of good workes Yea that they themselues are the light of the world according to the saying of Christ vos eslis lux mundi yea are the light of the world Item That they shall rise againe at the later day all shining and glistering as the most cleere and pleasant starres according as it is written by the Prophet They that informe many into righteousnes shall be as the starres world without end In Anno 1336. Pope Boniface the ninth raigning a certaine man called Gerardus being of great learning and vertuous conversation ordained a certaine fraternitie or brotherhood of learned godlie men to teach schollers and to bring vp youth not onely in good letters but also in good maners that by those means there might be
learned men alwayes in store to beare rule in the Church of Christ and to gouerne the common-wealth according to the praescript and rule of Gods word This Gerardus being but a Deacon preached the word of God purelie and feruently and when hee was moued by his friends to be a Priest hee alwayes answered that he was vnworthie to haue such an high office affirming that hee would not haue the cure of soules not so much as by the space of one night for all the gold of Arabia In Anno 1379. Pope Vrbane the fift greatly allowed the order of Iesuits and gaue vnto them many great and singular priuileges coÌ„manding the Monkes of that order to weare a white kirtle and a russet coule and that they should be called of all men Clerici Apostolici that is the Apostles clerks This order of Iesuits was the invention of Ioannes Columbinus in SeÌ„a a citie of Hetruria They were not at the beginning Priests or consecrated persons but were men of the lay sort giuen and addicted willingly and freely to prayer and to labour getting their liuing with the trauell of their hands and sweate of their browes liuing as it were in common after the example of Christ and his disciples They are called Iesuits because the name of Iesus should be often in their mouths In Anno 1368. Pope Boniface bearing rule the order which is called Ordo Dealbatorum was invented by a certaine Priest in Italie who pretended such a modestie and grauitie both in words and countenance that euery man tooke him for a Saint The professors of this order were cloathed with long white linneÌ„ euen downe to the ground hauing coules vpon their heads like vnto Monkes The chiefe point of their profession was to lament the state of mankind to bewaile the sinnes of the people to pray for redresse of the same at the hands of God They neuer went abroad without a Crosse with the Image of the Crucifixe caried before them which Crosse the Lucenses keepe at this day with great reuerence as a most precious relike and daylie make vowes and offer gifts therevnto But Pope Boniface aforsaid conceiuing that they should doe no good to his honorable estate if they continued forasmuch as they all appeared before men righteous good and Godlie and the Pope with his complices most wicked euill and vngodlie caused the author of this order a seditious person to be beheaded at Viterbium Some say that hee was burnt as a superstitious Hypocrite and attainted of some heresie In Anno 1400. CENTVRIE XV. Of Popes of Rome AFter the death of Innocentius Sephinus the Cardinalls perceiuing the great schisme that was in the Church of Rome by reason of diuers Popes ruling at one time bound themselues together by horrible oathes that they would endevour by all their might to haue the Church of Rome restored againe to her wonted vnitie and for this cause they elected Gergorie the twelfth to be Pope after they had caused him to sweare that hee would by all possible meanes trauell to restore the peace and vnitie of the Church But Gregorie although hee writ to Benedict the thirteenth Pope in Avinion exhorting him to vnitie and peace and Benedict on the other part with pleasant words protested his earnest desire of peace and vnitie yet both the one and the other kept their dominions and Popedomes and continued the Schisme So that the Cardinalls thought it expedient to gather a Councell in the towne of Pisa wherein they deposed the two aforesayd Popes Gregorie and Benedict as persons who by conclusion amongst themselues sought rather their own gaine then the vnitie of the Church of God and they elected Petrus Cretensis Cardinall of Millan to be Pope whom they called Alexander the fift but he continued not aboue the space of eight months in his Popedome He was counted verie liberall and gaue so large and ample benefices to others that he left almost nothing to himselfe and was accustomed to speake of himselfe that he was a rich Bishop a poore Cardinal and a beggerly Pope After whose departure Ionnes 23. is chosen Pope howbeit the two other Popes who were deposed in the Councell of Pisa were yet aliue and had great sway and nothing reguarded the decrees of the Councell of Pisa because that Councell was convocated by a number of Cardinalls only who had no lawfull power to appoint a generall Councell Thus was the scisme augmented rather then empaired by the Councell of Pisa and in stead of two Popes then three afterward were ruling at one time In this Popes daies the Emperour Sigismund tooke great trauell to quiet the estate of the Church and to remoue the scisme but found none other way how this matter might be brought to passe but onely by gathering a generall Councell in the Towne of Constantia At this Councell Ioannes 23. was personally present and was required to giue ouer his Popedome farre contrarie to his expectation for he looked for ratification of his Papacie because he was more obedient to the Councel then the other two but finding that the Councel was fullie bent to depose all the three Popes to set vp one whom they should chose in place of them all he begun to be grieued at his owne proceedings that he had hazarded to come to the Councel to their iudgement to submit himselfe his honorable estate wherefore he thought best secretly to flie out of the towne but flying could not availe him any thing for hee was brought backe againe by the Emperour from Friburge to Constantia and cast into prison and deposed by the Councell after hee had ruled foure yeeres and ten months The other two Popes Gregorie the twelfth and Benedict the thirteene although they were absent yet sustained the like sentence of deposition Martinus 5. was chosen Pope after whose election the Emp. Sigismund was so filled with gladnesse that the scisme was now taken away and peace restored to the Church that forthwith he did remoue to the conclaue where the Cardinals Commissioners of countries were assembled for election of the Pope fell downe before him kissed his feet After his election earnest sute was made for reformation of the corrupt maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and that Bishoppes Abbots and other Prelates might bee compelled to attend vpon their owne callings that superfluous feastings and abuses of fasting and canonisation of Sainctes might be abrogated and that the orders of Monkes daily multiplying might â—ee reduced to a more tolerable number But no reformation at all was obtained Onely Pope Martine thought meet to dissolue the Councell of Constance And for satisfaction of the hearts of all men and to put them in hope that some reformation was intended the Pope consented in the Councell of Constance that immediatly after the issue of the Councel another should be kept in Papia within the space of fiue yeeres immediatly following the same and
those Heretikes I cannot tel One thing I know that it shuld not be comely in my person to offend the chast eares of Christians by renuing the memorial of that beastly vncleaÌ„â—es wherof Epiphanius expresly writeth They were justly called Borboritae or Caenosi because they were filthily pollued in the mire of vncleaÌ„nes The followers of Carpocrates had in secrete places images of gold siluer which they called the images of Iesus therewith al the images of Pithagoras Plato Aristotle they worshipped theÌ„ al. So that the worshipping of images the adoratioÌ„ of the image of Iesus himself is not a custome borrowâ—d froÌ„ the ancient fathers of the first 300. yeeres but rather a custome borrowed froÌ„ old heretikes such as Carpocrates and his follower Marcellina By their vnhonest filthy conuersation it came to passe that the true professours of the Gospell were vilely slandered by persecuting Pagans objecting to Christians the bankers of Thyestes and the chambering of Oedipus as is said before This superlatiue degree of excessiue vncleannesse could not indure long because euery one of these Heretikes Saturninus Basilides and Carpocrates with augmentations of new inuented absurdities changed the fashion and countenance of their error and so in the ende it euanished But the beautie of the true Church of Christ euer like vnto it selfe in grauitie sinceritie libertie temperancie and holinesse of vnreprouable conuersation brightly shined among the Grecians and Barbarians The countrie of Valentinus was vnknowne to Epiphanius Hee was brought vp in learning in the schooles of Alexandria In his foolish opinion of the pluralitie of Gods as well masculine as feminine the multitude of heauens and ages or eternities which he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thirtie in number deepenesse and silence being beginning of all the rest In this his opinion I say Epiphanius conjectureth that he hath followed Hesiodus in his Theogonia yet the man being ambitious by permutatioÌ„ of names he would seeme to haue bin the author finder out of these mysteries Against whom Ireneus hath written fiue bookes wherein hee both discouereth and also refuteth the vanitie of his errour Marcus one of his disciples a notable sorcerer inuented a new forme of Baptisme to baptize in the name of the vnknowne father of all things in the name of the veritie the mother of all things and in the name of him who descended vpon Iesus All the disciples of the schoole of Valentinus are called Gnostici with the forenamed Heretikes Saturninus Basilides and Carpocrates they all denied the resurrection of the body and supposed that saluation did belong onely to the soule of man Valentinus and his disciple Marcus with Colorbasus and Heracleon all their opinions were so intricate and obscure that men of meane vnderstanding could not conceiue them and men of deepe iudgement would not conceiue them because they had not spitted out their braines as Epiphanius speaketh that is their head was not so voide of wisdome as to hearken to the new inuented toyes of braine-sicke men Cerdon and Marcion were authors of the opinion of two gods or two beginnings the one they called the authour all good things the other the author of all euill things They denied the verity of Christs humane nature and the veritie of his sufferings whereupon of necessity followeth this conclusion that we are not saued indeed but only to vse Marcions own words putativè that is in fantasie or supposition The death of Christ is the true ground of our saluation if he only seemed to die died not indeed then we seeme to be saued but are not saued indeed They denied also the resurrection of the body Marcion was justly called by Polycarpus Primogenitus diaboli that is the first borne of the deuill This heresie by the worke of that old serpent was dispersed in Italy Egypt Palestina Arabia Syria Cyprus Thebaida Persia in many other places This is the cause wherefore Tertullian after him Epiphanius inveighes so sharply against this pestileÌ„t heretike Marcion He was the inuenter of a strange and new custome in Baptisme that after a man hath bin once baptized he may be baptized again the second time third time also This he did to wash away put in obliuioÌ„ the foule fault of whordome committed by him His father was a Preacher of Gods word in Pontus he himselfe had vowed chastity afterward polluted himselfe with whoredom was cast out of the church by his owne father when he came to Rome at the time when Hyginus the ninth B. after the martyrdome of the two great Apostles was lately departed this life he was not admitted to the fellowship of the Church of Rome therefore he joyned himselfe to the fellowship of Cerdon and augmeÌ„ted his errour To the two beginnings of Cerdon he added the third in this maner First he said there was one supreme vniuersall God him he called the good God who created nothing that is in this world Secondly there was a visible God who was Creator and maker of all things and thirdly there was the deuill as mid-thing betweene the visible inuisible God No heresie sprang vp in this Centurie that was so vniuersally ouer-spred in many nations and countries as the heresie of Marcion was So bent is the corrupt nature of man to follow a doctrine of lies when it is coloured with a shew and pretence of reuerence toward God For they feared to attribute the making of any thing that is euill to God who is infinite in goodnesse But this was needlesse feare because creatures which now are euill they haue not this wicked disposition by the creation of God but by their owne voluntarie defection from the first estate wherevnto God created them Lucianus and Apolles were the disciples of Marcion whom many did follow in so much that Marcionists were called Lucianistae and Apelleiani Neuerthelesse Apelles could not agree with his master Marcion in al things for he graunted that Iesus Christ the son of the good God had a true body yet not made of the substance of the Virgin Mary but of the foure elements that he died rose againe not putative as Marcion said but truely and in very deede yet he thought that this true body of Christ like as it was composed of the elements so likewise after his resurrectioÌ„ he dissolued it into the foure elements and afterward returned to heauen from whence he came This errour Epiphanius abhorreth for many great absurdities First saith he did Christ build vp againe that Tabernacle which men destroyed to the end that he himselfe incontinent after the building of it should destroy it againe by a dissolution of it into the elements Secondly if Christ dissolued his owne body why would he not let his disciples see at least the relikes of his body resolued into elements to the end they might haue honored the
Epiphan I passe by almost with silence because they were like vnto abortiue birthes continued not long to perturbe the peace of the Church Now concerning other Heretickes by whose venemous doctrine the Church of Christ had great strife and perturbation Artemon and Beryllus Bishops of Bostra in Arabia denied the diuinitie of Christ and affirmed that he was not existent before hee tooke flesh of the Virgin With Beryllus Origen conferred and reduced him backe againe to the true faith and therefore I set not his name in the Catalogue of Heretikes because he added not vnto the fault of his bad opinion an obstinate defending of the same The heresie of Helcesaitae otherwise called Sampsei because of the short continuance of it is scarce worthy to be reckoned They mixed the religion of the Iewes Gentiles and Christians together but were more addicted to the supperstition of the Iewes then to any one of the other two They reiected the writings of the Apostle Paul and affirmed that a man who denyed the Lord with his mouth in the time of persecution if so be hee adhered to the faith in his heart hee had committed no sinne They carryed about with them a singular book which they sayd was sent downe from heaven and they promised remission of sinnes to every man who would hearken to the words of that booke Novatus a Presbyter at Rome was a man of a contentious spirit and men that are humorous high-minded and contentious they are wise to doe evill but they can do no good Such a man was Novatus who disquieted with schisme and heresie two of the most notable Churches in the world at that time viz. Carthage and Rome by giving out a rigorous sentence against those who in the time of persecution had fallen albeit they had repented after their fall and all outward tokens of vnfained repentance had beene seene in them yet his opinion was that they should not be admitted againe to the fellowship of the Church This opinion was not onely repugnant to the wordes of Isai Ezech. 18. Mat. 11. and to innumerable moe places of sacred Scripture but also it was a foolish opinion advancing the kingdome of the divell and not the kingdome of God For the two great wheels of the cart of the divell whereby he carryeth men headlong to hell are presumption and desperation and mercâ—lesse Novatus teaching a doctrine that strengthened not the knees of the weake hee did what in him lay to moue sinners to despaire There Cyprian Bishop of Carthage who excommunicated him and Cornelius Bishop of Rome who did the like with the advice of a graue and worthy Councell gathered at Rome are to bee counted wise men because they endevoured timely to suppresse those errours that weakened the hearts of the children of God I reade of no heresie preceding the heresie of Arrius and Eutiches that continued longer time in the Church of God then the heresie of Novatus partly because it crept in vnder pretence of zeale to the glory of God and vnder pretence of a detestation of sinne partly also because the Novatian Heretiques in the question concerning the divinity of Christ were conformable to the opinion of the true Church Thirdly because in the time of the Arrian persecâ—â—ion the Novatians were banished and troubled with no lesse hatâ—full malice and despite then the members of the Church were yea and the true Catholiques and Novatians being companions of one and the selfe-same suffering were content also to giue their liues one for another And the foresayd author saith Parúmque abfuit quin coadunarentur that is They were neere-by vnited and agreed together to wit the true Catholiques and Novatians But what was the impediment that hindred their vnion Reade the Historie and it shall not be found in the true Catholiques but in the obstinacy and wilfulnesse of the Novatians And so it falleth out at all times that men who are the authors of heresies and schismes are also the principall hinderers of the redintegration of the vnion of the Church The razing and demolishing of the Temple of the Novatians in Cyzicum a famous towne of Bithynia together with the calamity of the people of Mantinium a towne of Paphlagonia cleerely prooveth that the Novatian heresie continued vntill the dayes of Constantius the sonne of Constantine an Arrian Emperour and a persecuter of the true faith The favour that they obtained in the dayes of Iulian I passe over with silence But in the dayes of the raigne of Theodosius the Novatians by the Emperours edict were permitted to haue publique conventions in Constantinople to enioy such priviledges as other Christians had and to possesse the Oratories and Temples wherein they were accustomed to serâ—e God All this toleration and liberty was granted to them by the good Emperour Theodosius because in the head of Doctrine concerning the divinity of Christ they damned the Arrians agreed with the Homousians The Magdeburg historie saith that this heresie continued in Constantinople to the time that it was conquered by the Turkes I haue written of this heresie at great length to admonish all true Christians that it is not enough to adhere to some points of the true faith and to suffer persecuion for righteousnes at sometimes and to loue brotherly fellowship at some times so that we are content to sacrifice our life for our brethren all these things did the Novatians and were favoured by the Emperour Theodosius as is sayd yet they were both Schismaticks Heretiques because they would be wiser then God and debarre them from the bosome of Christs compassions whom Christ inviteth to come vnto him saying Come vnto me all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you Let the example of the Novatians admonish men who studie to singularity and to bring in new customes or opinions in the Church of God to take heed that their opinions bee not repugnant vnto the written Word left after they haue continved a long time in the end they bee reiected as opinions foolish vaine hereticall and not agreeing with the Scriptures of God His followers were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Puritans Let this name rest in the bosome of Hereticks And men who are not guilty of the faults that were in the Novatians if they be vndeservedly charged with this name given of old to Heretiques let them say with humble hearts that in one sense they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they are purged from sinne in the fountaine of the blood of Christ. But in no other sense and meaning can true Christians bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 except onely in this because their sinnes are freely forgiven in Christ and God hath begun the worke of sanctification in them to bee a testimony that they are planted in the stocke of Christ In this sense speaketh the Evangelist Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is
Now are yee cleane through the word that I haue spoken vnto you The heresie of Sabellius began to shew it selfe vnto the world about the yeere of our Lord 257. vnder the raigne of Gallus It was set forth by Nortus in Ptolemaida afterward by Hermogenes and Prazeas and last it was propagated by Sabellius the disciple of Noetus Alwaies the heresie rather taketh the name from the disciple then from the master They confessed that there was but one God onely but they denyed that there were three distinct persons in this one Godhead viz. the Father Sonne and holy Ghost By this their opinion they confounded the two Greeke words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if there were no difference betwene them No man dare presume to say that in God there are three distinct substances therefore Sabellius and his adherents sayd that there were not three distinct substances or persons in the Godhead but the three names of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost were given to one person only but pointed not out distinction of persons or substances in the Godhead By this opinion they were compelled to grant that it was the Father who cloathed himselfe with our nature and dyed for our sinnes and they were called Patrispassâ—ani because their opinion imported that the Father suffered In the raigne of Gallienus and about the yeere of our Lord 264. a certaine Bishop in Egypt called Nepos began to affirme that at the later day the godly should rise before the wicked and should liue with Christ heere in the earth a thousand yeeres in abundance of all kinde of delicate earthly pleasures The ground of this errour was the misvnderstanding of the words of the Revelation of Iohn chap. 20. vers 5.6 In refuting of this heresie Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria bestowed his travels with good successe for hee disputed against Coracion a man professing this errour in Arsenoitis a place of Egypt whom hee refuted in presence of many brethren who were auditors of that disputation for the space of three dayes from morning till evening So that in the end Coracion yeelded and promised that hee should not maintaine any such opinion in time to come About that same time that is in the time of the raigne of Gallienus Claudius and Aurelianus Paulus Samosatenus Bishop of Antiochia a pestilent fellow denyed the divinity of the Sonne of God and affirmed that Christ obtained the name of the Sonne of God through his vertuous behaviour and patient suffering but he was not naturally and truely the Sonne of God begotten of the substance of the Father His life correspondent to his doctrine was wicked and prophane He was so covetous of vaine-glory that he built vnto himselfe in the Church a glorious seat according to the similitude of a princely throne and from this seat hee spake vnto the people whom he was accustomed to reproue with sharpe words if they had not received his words with cheerfull acclamations and shoutings such as were wont to bee vsed in Stage-playes The Psalmes also that were sung in Church to the praise of God hee abrogated and was not ashamed to hire women to sing his owne praises in the Congregation of the Lords people For this his damnable doctrine and lewd life he was most iustly deposed by the Councell convened at Antiochia and excommunicated by all Christian Churches in the whole world and was so detested by all good men that Fâ—rmilius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and Dionysius Alexandrinus who for his olde age might not travell and be present at the Councell of Antiochia yet they both damned the Heretique Samosatenus by their letters sent to the Congregation of Antiochia but not to the Bishop thereof because hee was not worthy that any man should salute him either by word or writ Manes a Persian otherwise called Manicheus a man furious and mad answering well vnto his name set forth the venome of his heresie in the time of the raigne of Diclesian a man both in speech and manners rude and barbarous in inclination divelish yet hee durst to call himselfe the holy spirit as Montanus had done before and to represent Christs actions in chusig vnto him twelue disciples whom hee sent forth to propagate his errors into diverse parts of the world His heresie contained a masse or venomous composition of old extinguished errors which hee renued and massed together such as the error of Cerdon and Marcion concerning two beginnings The error of Encratitae in prohibition of meates which God hath appointed for the vse of man with thanksgiving specially flesh and wine Hee vtterly reiected the old Testament as many other Heretiques had done before him Hee ascribed not sinne to the free will of man and his voluntary defection from the estate of his first creation but to necessity because mans bodie was made of the substance of the Prince of darknes This was that heresie wherewith Augustine was infected before his conversion but the Lord who brought forth light out of darknesse and made Paul sometime a Persecuter to be a Preacher of his Gospell and Cyprian a Sorcerer to be a worthy Preacher and Martyr this same gracious Lord I say in the multitude of his vnspeakeable compassions drew Augustine out of this filthy myre of abhominable heresie and made him liste vnto a bright starre sending forth the beames of light to comfort Gods house The opinion of Manes concerning the creation of the world and the creation of man the manifestation of Christ in our nature rather in shew and appearance then in verity and the horrible abhomination of their vile Eucharist no man can be ignorant of these things who hath read but a little of the bookes of Augustine written against the Maniâ—heans In the end like as Manes exceeded all the rest of the Heretiques in madnesse of foolish opinions even so the Lord pointed him out among all the rest to be a spectacle of his wrath and vengeance For the King of Persia hearing of the fame of Manes sent for him to cure his sonne who was deadly diseased but when hee saw that his sonne died in his hands hee cast him into prison and was purposed to put him to death but he escaped out of prison and fled to Mesopotamia Neverthelesse the King of Persia vnderstanding in what place Manes did lurke sent men who pursued him tooke him and excoriated his body and stopped his skin full of chaffe and set it vp before the entry of a certaine Citie of Mesopotamia If any man bee desirous to haue greater knowledge of this remarkeable Heretique both in respect of his life and death hee may reade the fore-mentioned chapter of the Ecclesiasticall history of Socrates and he shall finde that the first man called Manicheus who renued the error of two beginnings was a man of Scythia He had a disciple first called Buddas afterward Terebynthus who dwelt in Babylon This man
the lye whereunto his heart was inclined But in the Councell of Constantinople holden after the Councels of Ariminum and Seleucia he transferred all the blame vpon Aëtius whom the Emperour banished so that it is a strange thing that this errour should haue had the name also from such a feeble patron as Eudoxius was to be called the errour of Eudoxiani Macedonius rather by the authoritie of the Emp. Constantius then by the consent of the people was made Bishop of Constantinople Paulus lawfull Bishop of Constantinople was banished to Cucusus a towne of Armenia and there hee was strangled by the Arrians also 3150. of the people were slaine and troden vnder feete at his violent entrie This bloody Tyrant denyed the diuinitie of the holy Ghost He was deposed by the Emperours procurement because hee durst presume at his owne hand to transport the bones of the Emp. Constantine from one Church to another His followers were abhorred more then any other branch of the Arrian heresie for their inconstancie They sent Messengers to Liberius Bishop of Rome and consented in all points to the Nicene Faith but afterward like vnto dogges they returned to their vomit a gaine Hee was damned as a notable heretike by the second Generall Councell gathered at Constantinople by the Emperour Theodosius Anno. 386. He died in a little Village neere to Constantinople and Eudoxius obtained his place Photinus Bishop of Sirmium in Illyria was the Disciple of Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra in Galatia These two renewed both the heresie of Sabellius and Samosatenus and augmented the blasphemous opinion of Samosatenus with this addition That the kingdome of Christ was not euerlasting but it had a beginning when he was borne of the Virgin should haue an end at the latter day This heresie hath the name from the disciple and not the master in regard that Marcellus continued not so obstinately in his errour as did Photinus his disciple but renounced his errour was receiued into the fellowship of the Church in the Councell of Sardica but Photinus was deposed at the Councell of Sirmium and banished by the Emperour Constantine Neuerthelesse after his deposition banishment he continued obstinately in his errour wrote bookes both in Latine and Greeke in defence of his heresie whereby his name became infamous and he was counted the author of this heresie Audaeus was a man of Syria vnder the raigne of Valentinian and his brother Valens He published an errour That God was like the similitude of a mans bodie This errour hee conceiued through wrong vnderstanding of the words of Scripture wherein it is said Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenesse With this errour many vnlerned Aegyptian Monkes were intangled They pretended great innocencie and chastitie in their liues and separated themselues from the societie of the Church couering their impietie with this pretext that they saw vsurers and vncleane persons tolerated in the Church About this time saith Theodoretus that is in the dayes of Valentinianus and Valens sprang vp the heresie of Messaliani Albeit this name be vnquoth yet the Greeke names giuen vnto this heresie are more significatiue they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they counted prayer the onely exercise necessary to the children of God euen as if a man could talke with God by prayer before he hath first heard God talking with him by the preaching of the Word Likewise they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is men rauished in the spirit after long continuance in prayer When they were transported and out of their wits then they supposed that the holy spirit was sensibly infused into them whereby their bodies were made free of all perturbation and their soules were auerted from all inclination to euill in such sort that they had no neede of fasting to subdue their bodies nor of Doctrine to restraine the disordered affections of their soules This Pestilent heresie was ouerspred in many places but it was mightily suppressed by Letoius B. of Meletina Amphilachius B. of Iconium in Lycaonia Flaniāus B. of Antiochia who with great dexterity drew out a cōfession out of the mouth of Adelphius an aged man a propagator of this heresie in Edessa This Heresie albeit it had many patrons such as Dadoes Sabas Adelphius Hermas Simeones yet from none of them it receiued the name but rather from the actions and passions wherevnto they inclined Apollinaris Bishop of Laodicea in Syria gloried in the quickenesse of his wit and delighted to make contradiction to euery thing that any man could speake and so it came to passe as Ruffinus writeth Heresim ex contentione generauit that is to say Through contention he procreated an heresie affirming that in the dispensation of Christes Incarnation hee assumed the body of a man onely but not the soule of a man because his diuinitie supplied the place of his soule And when hee was argued by euident places of Scripture that Christ in his humane nature was a perfect man hauing not onely a body but also the soule of a man as when he sayd His soul was heauy vnto the death left he should haue seemed to bee vtterly conuinced and ouercome hee confessed that Christes bodie was quickned with a naturall life but the diuinitie o f Christ was in place of a reasonable soule This heresie was damned in Councels conueened at Rome Alexandria and Constantinople Hee augmented the schisme at Antiochia where there had beene alreadie three factions to wit Eustatiani Meletiani and Pauliniani Now Apollinaris dwelling in Laodicea a towne of Syria neere approaching to Antiochia hee was the author of the fourth faction In the dayes of Iulian hee compiled histories of Scripture in Greeke Poesie In the dayes of Valentinian and Gratian he defended his Heresie In the dayes of the Emperour Theodosius he concluded his life His sonne in name learning and bad vse of excellent gifts was like vnto his father Vitalius presbiter in Antiochia was a serious defender of the heresie of Apollinaris in so much that the followers of Apollinaris were called Vitaliani Donatus was a Bishop in Numidia who contended with vnsupportable hatred against Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage challenging him that he had receiued ordination from Foelix Altungensis who was proditor that is who in time of persecution had deliuered the booke of holy Scripture to be burnt or as others say because hee admitted to an Ecclesiasticall office a Deacon who had committed the like fault The cause of Cecilianus was oft agitat before the Councell of Carthage before Miltiades B. of Rome before the Councell of Arles and by the Emp. Constantine but the Donatistes at all times succumbed in probation Therefore they were enraged because they could not accomplish their wicked designes against Cecilianus they fell from the vnity of the Church Inueterate schismes oft times
of the Pelagians They affirmed that men by nature were able to fulfill the whole lawe of God howbeit more easily and better if they were supported by the grace of God They denyed moreover that there was originall sinne and sayd the posterity of Adam were sinners by imitation of Adams sinne but had not received sinne by carnall propagation They said moreover that children had not need to be baptized for remission of sinnes and that godly fathers in Scripture when they confessed their sinnes they did it rather for example of humility then for necessity and guiltinesse of sin This pestilent heresie was spread abroad in many places but chiefly in the Isle of Brittaine because Pelagius being driven from Rome came to the Isle aforesaid and infected it with his error but by the diligent travels of Germanus Altisidorensis and Palladius sent from Coelestinus Bishop of Rome both England and Scotland were freed from that error Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople lived in the dayes of Theodosius the second Hee was an eloquent man but his head wanted braines when hee spake against the personall vnion of the divine and humane nature of Christ. He denyed that the Virgin Marie could bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Deipara that is the mother of God but only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the mother of Christ. Hee was condemned as an Heretique in the Councell of Ephesus and banished by the Emperour Theodosius to the wildernesse of Thebaida and was plagued by God with extraordinary iudgements as other Heretiques had beene before for his blasphemous tongue was consumed with wormes and rotted in his mouth and so hee ended his wretched life most miserablie Eutyches was an Abbot in Constantinople hee fell into an errour farre different from the heresie of Nestorius for Nestorius would not grant the personall vnion of two natures in Christ but Eutyches confounded the natures and would haue the humane nature so swallowed vp by the immensitie of the divine nature in Christ that there was nor two natures in Christ but one onely to wit the divine nature He was condemned in the Councell of Chalcedon as will bee declared hereafter God willing This heresie much perturbed and troubled the Church in respect of the fautors and favourers thereof both in Policie and Church Chrysaphius a principall ruler in the Court of Theodosius the second Basiliscus and Anastatius Emperours were favourers of this heresie and of Bishops not a few such as Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria Timotheus Aelurus who entred into the chaire of Alexandria like vnto a Wolfe with sheading the blood of Proterius the true shepheard and Petrus Moggus Bishoppe of Alexandria and Petrus Gnapheus Bishoppe of Antiochia all these maintained the heresie of Eutiches a long time And now appeareth the fruit of humane wisedome who chose Patriarches to suppresse heresies and yet they are the principall maintainers of it Likewise a multitude of wicked men specially Monkes cryed out against the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon which were assembled by the authority of the Emperor Martianus these were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had no principall head vpon whom they depended all these countenanced the heresie of Eutiches whereby it became the more pernicious to the Church It is to be vnderstood that old heresies such as the heresie of the Manicheans and the heresie of the Donatists sprung vp of later time were in vigour and strength as yet whereby it came to passe that Augustine is compelled to write in his time against many Manicheans such as Faustus Fortunatus Felix Secundinus and against Donatists such as Gandentius Parmenianus Emeritus Ticonius so that it is evident that the Church in this Centurie and in the former was chiefly perturbed with the multitude and diversitie of heresies CENTVRIE VI. IN this and the next Centurie I finde that the error of Eutyches is like vnto a roote of bitternesse which budding out with new branches not seene before but fostered with the venomous sappe of the old roote that seemed to bee abolished did mightily perturbe the Church The error of the Monothelites was but a branch of the error of Eutyches of which hereafter In this Centurie a great number of people especially of Monkes favouring the heresie of Eutyches spake against the Councell of Chalcedon These were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had no principall head vpon whom they depended and they were anterior to Anthimus or Anthimius Bishop of Constantinople and to Theodosius Bishop of Alexandria and Severus Bishop of Antiochia therefore they were not called Anthimians Theodosians or Severites but indeed they might haue beene called Eutychians but the vulgar name given vnto them was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Another branch which sprang vp from the root of Eutyches heresie was the errour of those who supposed that the flesh of Christ was voyd of all kinde of humane infirmitie expresly contradicting holy Scriptures which attributeth vnto the body of Christ hunger and wearinesse and other infirmities which hee voluntarily accepted for our sakes And where it is sayd that the Lord Iesus did eat and drink to this they answered that hee seemed to eaté and drinke as hee did after his resurrection but hee had no necessity of eating and drinking But the verity of his death stoppeth the mouth of all these Heretiques for Christ was content to taste of all our infirmities death it selfe not excepted that we might know hee will be a mercifull high Priest because hee hath tasted of our infirmities and can haue compassion on those who are in trouble In this opinion was the Emperour Iustinian in his old dayes whose vices did almost equall his vertues especially in comporting so much with Theodora the Empresse to the great advancement of the error of Eutyches and hinderance of the Gospell In this Centurie the defenders of the bookes of Origen were Theodorus Ascidas Bishop of Caesarea Cappadocia and the Monkes of Noâ—a Laura whom Eustochius Bishop of Ierusalem eiected out of their Monasteries as shall bee declared hereafter Finally there were some Heretiques who durst derogate perfection of knowledge to the sonne of God in his divine nature These were called Agnoitae whom I leaue as buried in the dust according to their name never worthy to haue beene knowne in the world CENTVRIE VII IN this age partly through the malice of Satan and partly through the power of the wrath of God punishing the contempt of his truth heresies did mightily abound for the heresie of Arrius began to reviue againe and many of the Kings of Lombardis were addicted vnto it in speciall Rhotaris the sonne of Arioaldus who appointed that in every towne of Lombardie there should be two Bishops having equall authority the one a Catholick Bishop the other an Arrian In England and Scotland the heresie of Pelagius was renewed as Beda testifieth The Monkes of Syria propagated the heresie
were two Gods the one authour and creator of good things and the other of euill things Alwaies it is certaine that they counted the Clergie of the Romane Church a corrupt rable And for this cause Innocentius the third sent vnto France twelue Abbots of the Christian order with Didatus Bishop of Oxfurd and Dominicus who was afterward the author of a new sect of Dominike Friers All those came to France for cōfutation of Albigenses But when the Pope perceiued that they yeelded not to his foresaid Ambassadours he pursued them with cruel warres and sent out an armie against them vnder the conduct of Leopold Duke of Austria and Simon Count of Montfort who vsed great crueltie against the townes of Bitera Carcassus Vaurus Careum Apistaginum Galliacum Causacum Funum Marcelli Fanim Antonij Modacum and diuers others wherein Albigenses had their residence In the towne called Castra Mineruae an hundreth and twentie were burnt quicke In Paris about the same time 14. Priests were accused as guiltie of this sect and ten of them were burnt with fire one at London At Penuense Agenois Castrum which was long besieged 74. Souldiers were hanged the rest who would not recant their opinions were burnt with fire Yet after this the French armie being troubled with other warres the Albigenses increased of new againe and were supported by Raymond Count of Tulosse and Peter king of Arragon against whom Simon of Montfort leading out his armie slew of their host twentie thousand men In Avinion Lewis the eight for suppressing of their sect dimolished the walls of the towne razed from the groūd 300 houses in Avinion and was minded to haue vsed greater rigour if hee had not bin preuented by death Almaricus a man of Carnotum a towne in France vttered strange opinions cōcerning God whom hee affirmed to be the essence of all creatures the soule of heauen that all creatures should be counerted into the substance of God againe with many other foolish things who was refuted by the Schoole of Paris and after that he had appealed to the B. of Rome was sent backe againe to recant his errour which thing also he did rather with his mouth then with his heart Likewise about Tullouse sprang vp certaine heretikes called Patereni and Gazari from the authors of this sect who affirmed that married men were not in the state of grace could not be saued This opinion was damned in the Councell of Lateran In this age also sprang vp Begardi Beginae and Bizochi who are all reckoned to be of the sect of Fratricelli who imagined that a man might attaine in this world to the estate of such perfection that he might be altogether voide of sin And that he who had attained thereto was neither vnder subiection to ciuill nor spirituall gouernours but was freed from all subiection to mortall men and that they had no neede of prayer and fasting and such other exercises whereby increase of grace is obtained CENTVRIE XIV POpe Iohn the 23. of that name taught that soules so soone as they were dispoyled of the bodie should not see God before the last iudgement Against whom Thomas Wallafe a Iacobin an English-man opposed himselfe but was thrust in prison Afterward Pope Benet who succeeded Pope Iohn made a decretall wherein hee confuted and condemned as hereticall the doctrine which his predecessor Iohn had publiquely preached touching the happy soules and it was determined and declared that the soules which had nothing to purge incontinent as they are departed from the bodie doe see the face of God CENTVRIE XV. THE Councell of Basill confirmed that the Virgin Marie was conceived without originall sinne CENTVRIE XVI WHen the Gospel began to spring vp in Germany thorow the malice of Satan sprang vp also a Sect of pestilent Heretiques called Anabaptists so called by reason they thinke that Infants should not bee baptized vntill they come to perfect age and can giue a confession of their owne faith They maintaine wicked opinions concerning Christ himselfe his Word his Church his Magistrates Concerning Christ that hee tooke not flesh and blood of the Virgin but brought it from heaven concerning the Word that God not onely revealeth his will by the written Word but also by visions and dreames wherevnto the Anabaptists do leane more then to the Word concerning the Church that it is not a true Church wherein there is any spot or wrinckle concerning Magistrates that their office vnder the New Testament is not a calling approved of God Some other wicked opinions they maintaine but these are the chiefe And it was no wonder that men who had layd such grounds of seditious doctrine were also found in their liues to be authors of very seditious commotions and insurrections against Princes Like as Thomas Muntzerus one of the first Fathers of this sect gathered a great number of common people who made insurrection against their superiours and albeit this first attempt of the Anabaptists succeded very vnprosperously for the Princes of Germany overcame in battell those seditious people and tocke Thomas Muntzerus himselfe and beheaded him whose memorie was so perturbed with beastly feare that hee could not recite the beliefe but the Duke of Brunswicke was constrained to recite it before him and hee followed after him for lacke of memorie yet others would not take warning by him to abstaine from the like seditious attempts For in the yeere of our Lord 1533. Iohannes Leidensis a Taylor of Holland came to a towne of Westphalia called Munster and hee had seduced many and increased the number of his faction hee expelled and banished the Citizens of Munster and vsurped to himselfe a kingly authority being assisted with the support of Cniperdolingus a vaine man and a false Prophet who affirmed that it was revealed to him by God that Iohannes Leidensis should haue the dominion of the whole world and that he should raise vp a mightie army and destroy the Princes of the world and should onely spare the simple multitude so many of them as would forsake impiety and imbrace righteousnes Likewise hee affirmed that it was the will of God that Iohannes Leidensis should send throughout the whole world eight and twentie Apostles to exhort the world to repentance and to receiue the doctrine of the Anabaptists which thing Leidensis was willing and readie to performe But the Princes of Germany and the Princes of other Countries tooke those seditious Apostles and gaue vnto them the reward which seditious Preachers iustly deserved so that of all the number of his Apostles onely one who by fleeing conveyed himself away escaped the punishment of Death Thus Iohannes Leidensis was called King of new Ierusalem and tooke vnto himselfe many wiues of whom also hee beheaded one in the open market-place because she had compassion of the poore besieged people of Munster of whom many died through famine For the Bishop
of Munster assisted with the Princes of Germany besieged the town very strictly and in the end prevailed and tooke this new made King Cniperdolingus his false Prophet aliue and adiudged them not onely to be hanged in chaines of iron but before their hanging to haue their flesh seared with hot iron pincers Thus came the authors of this most vnhappy sect vnto a most miserable and shamefull destruction Of this Sect of Anabaptists sprang vp in Holland an impudent fellow David Georgius who affirmed that hee was Christ the Messias and Saviour of the world yet for feare of punishment hee fled out of the Low Countries and came to Basile where he remained vntill the day of his death all which time hee not only obscured his blasphemous errors but also behaved himselfe in outward show so humbly and modestly that hee was in good account and became wealthy also Yet after his death it was knowne that he had seduced many with his blasphemous errours Therefore the Councell of Basile commanded that his body should bee raised out of the graue and burnt with fire in token of their detestation of his abhominable errors About the same time also sprang vp Michael Servetus a Spaniard who renewed the blasphemous doctrine of Arrius affirming that God the Father is onely the true God and that neither the Sonne nor the holy Spirit is eternall God but that the Sonne is a creature and had the beginning of existence when God created the world He was taken in the towne of Geneva cast in prison but he would not be reclaimed from his blasphemous errors Therefore the Councell of the towne thought meet with flames of fire to stoppe the breath of this blasphemous man who durst set his mouth against the heauen to blaspheme the Sonne of God After his death many were found who maintained his errors as namely Valentinus Gentilis Gregorius Blandrata a Physitian in Italy Matheus Gribaldus a Lawyer and Paulus Alciatus with many others Amongst whom Valentinus Gentilis was bold to put in print his blasphemies and he called the summe of faith set forth by Athanasius Symbolum Satanasi calling Athanasius himselfe Satanasius but after hee had blasphemed the Sonne of God a while both by word and writ in the end hee was taken in the towne of Berne where hee suffered the iust deserved punishment of death Many other sprang vp in this age who were teachers of false and hereticall doctrine but because they had few followers so that the errour died with the author thereof wee haue no great need to enroll their names and errors in this booke at large but shortly to poynt them out Gasper Suenkefeldius a man borne in Silesia maintained this errour that the outward ministerie of the Word and Sacraments was not necessarie to eternall life because that by the illumination of Gods holy spirit without the ministerie of the Word men might be saved Andreas Osiander thought that Christ was our Mediatour onely in respect of his divine nature and on the other part Stantcarus refuting Osiander fell into the contrarie extremitie that Christ was Mediatour onely in respect of his humane nature Flaccius Illiricus supposed originall sin was a substance Huberus beleeved that all men were elected vnto eternall life and Franciscus Puccius defended this opinion that all men of whatsoever religion they were should bee saved if they led not a very impious life and evill conversation Finally in this age was cleerly discovered that hee who sate in the chaire of Christ as Christs Vicar was the very Antichrist and they who depend vpon the Pope as generall Bishop of all Christs sheepe were notable Heretiques giving the glorie of Christ to Antichrist denying the sufficiencie of the written Word bowing and kneeling to Images praying to creatures and accounting them mediators of their intercession sacrilegiously imitating the holy Sacrament of the Supper and taking from the people the vse of the Cup offering dayly a new propitiatorie sacrifice for sinne as though Christs sacrifice once offered vp vpon the Altar of the Crosse were imperfect damning marriage in some persons and forbidding meates which God hath allowed to bee eaten with thanksgiving with many other errors which the Lord hath cleerly detected to haue beene a long time by-past in the Romane Church Here endeth the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOK OF THE HISTORY of the Church containing a short Compend of all the Councels together with their severall Canons since Christs dayes to this present CENTVRIE IV. COuncels may bee divided in Generall Nationall or Provinciall and Particular Councels Generall were called Oecomenicke Councels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the greek language signifieth the world because from all quarters of the world wherein Christ was preached Commissioners were sent to these Councels and they were gathered by the authoritie of the Emperour Nationall or Provinciall Councels were such as were gathered by the authoritie of the Emperor in one Nation with the assistance of other neere approaching Nations for suppressing of heresies deciding of questions pacifying of â—chismes and appointing Canons and Constitutions for decent order to be kept in the Church The third sort of Councels were particular Councâ—ls by Bullenger called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such as the Councels of Gangra Neocaesaria and many others gathered vsually by Patriarchs and Bishops in a corner of a Countrie but for the like causes that nationall Councels were assembled Let no man expect a recitall of particular Councels except at such times as some matter of great moment enforceth me to speake of them ANcyra is a towne of Galatia in this towne were assembled Bishops of diverse Provinces about the yeere of of our Lord 308. as is supposed The principall cause of their meeting was to constitute a forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline according to which they who either willingly or vnwillingly had sacrificed to Idols in time of persecution should bee received into the bosome of the Church againe when they were found penitent There were many rancks of persons who had defiled themselues with Heathenicke Idolatrie such as Libellatici Thurificati Sacrificati and Proditores The Councell of Ancyra took order chiefly with those who were called Thurificati and Sacrificati that is with them who either had cast vp incense vpon idolatrous Altars or else had eaten of meates sacrificed to Idols to whom it was inioyned to testifie their repentance a long time before they were received to the communion of Gods people some one yeere some two yeeres others three or foure yeeres some fiue or six yeeres and aboue according to the heauinesse of their transgression In this Councell it was ordained that Deacons who in time of their ordination did protest that they had not the gift of continency but were disposed to marrie if they married they should remaine in their Ministerie but they who in time of imposition of hands by
their silence had professed continencie if afterward they married they should bee remoued from their Ministrie Also it was ordained that Chorepiscopi these were Countrie Bishops in the Latine language called Vicarii-Episcoporum These I say were commanded to abstaine from ordination of Elders and Deacons and from vsurping of doÌ„inion ouer the preaching Elders who were in Cities Likewise it was ordained that whosoeuer did abstaine from eating of flesh as from a creature in it selfe vncleane he should be depriued of his dignity This Councell was subscribed by â—8 Bishops IN the yeere of our Lord 330. and in the 20. yeere of the raigne of Constantine as Eusebius reckoneth others referre it to the 333. yeere of our Lord for there is great diuersitie in this counting The Councell of Nice in Bithynia was gathered not by Silvester nor by Iulius but by the authority of the Emperour The name of the towne answered to the successe of the Councell for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke language signifieth victorie and when the veritie encountered with the lie in this Councell the veritie preuailed and got the victorie The matter entreated in the Councell was concerning the opinion of Arrius a presbyter in Alexandria who denied that the Sonne of God was consubstantiall with the Father but affirmed there was a time wherein the sonne was not and that he was created of things not existent This opinion was so vnquoth and abominable to the Fathers conueened in the Councell of Nice that they vtterly damned and anathematized the opinion of Arrius Onely 17 Bishops adhered to his blasphemous opinion The Emperour liked well the determination of the Conncell and threatned to punish them with banishment who did refuse to subscribe the determination of the Councell for they had concluded that the sonne of God was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is consubstantiall with the Faith Of the number of feuenteene who were fauourers of Arrius only two to wit Secundus a B. of Ptolemaida in Aegypt and Thomas Bishop of Marmarica adhered to Arrius vntil the end of the Councell with a a few moe whom the Fathers conueened at Nice deliuered vnto Sathan and the Emperour banished them the rest for feare of punishment subscribed to the deposition of Arrius with their handes but not with their hearts such as Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia Theogonius of Nice Menophantus of Ephesus Patrophilus of Scythopoâ—is Narcissus of Neronias otherwise called Irenopolis of Cilicia these I say and some others subscribed the summe of Faith set downe by the Nicene Councell and the deposition of Arrius About the controuersie of keeping the festiuitie of Easter day a conclusion was taken that it should be kept vpon the Lords day and not vpon the fourteene day of the first month of the Iewes called Nisan And this was done for keeping of vnitie and peace in the Church for it was expedient that that thing which was vniuersally done should also bee vniformely done for auoiding of schismes in the Church Neuerthelesse Socrates granteth that it is but an ancient custome not authorized by any Apostolike commandement About Marriage many were in the opinion that Bishops Elders and Deacons who were married before their ordination should in time to come abstaine from the companie of their wiues But Paphnutius a Bishop in a towne of Thebaida a chaste man who neuer companied with a woman entreated the Councell that they should abstaine from making such an ordinance because Marriage is honorable and the cohabitation of a man with his married wife is chastity Likewise it was a diffiicult matter to be performed and it opened a doore to vnchast liuing Yet Paphnutius inclined too much to this opinion That Bishops Elders and Deacons who were vnmarried should abstaine from marriage The Councel would make no constitution about such matters but remitted marriage as a thing indifferent to euery mans free arbitriment The Canons of the Nicene Councell pertaining to matters of discipline in number 22. reade them in the history of Russin The appointing of three Partiarches one in Rome another in Alexandria the third in Antiochia with power to conuocate within their owne boundes particular Councels for timous suppressing of heretikes It was like vnto a faire morning presenting vnto the world the countenance of a faire day but at Euen the face of the Heauen is couered with blacke cloudes troubling the earth with the tempest of changed weather Euen so these Patriarches for the most part became in the end chiefe propagators of notable heresies as the historie following God willing shall declare THe Nationall Councell of Tyrus was gathered by the commandement of the Emperour Constantine in the thirtieth yeere of his raigne Eusebius by ouer-passing with silence a due commemoration of the malice and falsehood of the Arrians against Athanasius giueth occasion to Socrates to suspect that Eusebius Pamphili was not a sound follower of the Nicene Councell To this Nationall Councel conueened threescore Bishops from Aegypt Lybia Asia Europe The most part of them were Arrians who had solde themselues to iniquity of purpose with false accusations to oppresse the innocent seruant of Christ Athanasius The crimes laide vnto his charge were fornication the slaughter of Arsenius and cutting off of his hand the ouerthrowing of the holy Table the breaking of the holy Cup and burning of the holy volumes No assembly was so full of partialitie confusion clamour and vnrighteous dealing as this assembly at Tyrus in so much that Paphnutius a Bishop in Thebaida arose and left the Councell of vngodly men and drew with him Maximus Bishop of Ierusalem fearing lest his simplicitie should haue beene circumueened by the subtiltie of deceitfull Arrians How Athanasius fled to the Emp. and declared the vnrighteous proceedings of the Councell of Tyrus it hath bin declared already In this assembly PotaÌ„ion Bishop of Heraclea a man full of spirituall libertie finding Eusebius Pamphili sitting as a Iudge Athanasius standing outbraided Eusebius as a man who in the persecution of Dioclesian was enclosed in that same prison with himselfe but Eusebius escaped out of prison without the markes of the rebuke of Christ which Potamion and other faithfull Confessors could not get done In like manner Athanasius refused to compeare in Caesarea Palestinae where Eusebius was Bishop as a place suspect for fauour carried to Arrians All these things brought the name of Euseb. Pamphili in some disliking The issue of the Councell of Tyrus was this the Arrians in his absence deposed him and amongst the rest Arsenius was one of them who subscribed the deposition of Athanasius with that same hand that the Arrians had alleadged was cut off by Athanasius so effronted are Heretikes defenders of false and lying doctrine The Emperour Constantine commanded the bishops assembled at Tyrus to addresse to Constantinople but when they came thither they durst make no mention of the
fornication of Athanasius of the hand of Arsenius of the Table Cuppe and bookes aboue mentioned but they forged new accusations against him whereunto the Emp. gaue too hastie credit and banished Athanasius to Triere Immediatly after the Councell of Tyrus many Bishops were assembled at Ierusalem for the dedication of the Temple which the Emperour Constantine had builded at the place of the Lords sepulchre Concerning the Councell of Antiochia wherein the Arrians deposed Eustatius and the Councell of Arles wherein Cecilianus was absolued from the accusation of the Donatists no further discourse is needful then is contained in the history of the liues of these two Bishops GAngra is a towne of Paphlagonia In this towne were assembled certaine Fathers to the number of 16. about the yeere of our Lord 324. The occasioÌ„ of their meeting was the heretike Eustatius who admiring the Monasticke life or as others affirme fauouring the heresie of Encratitae and the ManicheaÌ„s he spake against Marriage against eating of flesh and hee damned the publicke Congregations of Gods people in Temples and said a man could not be saued except he forsooke all his possessions and renounced the world after the forme of monkish doing These opinions were daÌ„ned in the Councell of Gangra The subscriptions of the fathers of this Councell after their Canons are worthie to be remarked These things say they haue wee subscribed not vituperating them who according to Scripture chooseth vnto themselues an holy purpose of a continent life but them onely who abuseth the purpose of their minds to pride extolling themselues against the simpler sort Yea and damne and cut off all those who contrary to Scripture Ecclesiasticall rules bring in new commandements But wee admire humble Virginity and we approue continencie that is vnder taken with chastity and Religion And we embrace the renounciation of secular businesse with humilitie And wee honour the chast boÌ„d of Marriage And we despise not riches joined with righteousnesse good workes And we coÌ„mend a simple course apparrel vsed for couering the body without Hypocrisie Likewise we reject loose and dissolute garments And we honour the houses of God assemblies that are in them as holy and profitable not debarring men from exercises of pietie in their owne priuate houses But places builded in the name of the Lord we honour and Congregations assembled in the places for the common vtilitie wee approue And good workes which are done to poore brethren euen aboue mens abilitie according to the Ecclesiasticall traditions we blesse them And we wish all things to be celebrated in the Church according to holy Scriptures and the ordinances of the Apostles IN the time of the raigne of Constantine in Eliberis a towne of Spaine were assembled nineteene Bishops of Presbyters thirty six The end of their meeting was to reforme horrible abuses both in Religion manners which in time of the ten Persecutions had preuailed in Spaine And now in time of peace such enormities and festered manners could hardly be amended Many Ecclesiasticall Canons were made in this Synode to the number of 81. Whereof wee shall rehearse but a few and such as clearely pointeth out the principall end of their meeting They ordained the Heaâ—hnicke sacrificing Priests called of old Flamines if they were content to abstaine from sacrificing to Idols and to learne the groundes of Christian Religion after three yeeres repentance they should be admitted to baptisme Likewise they ordained that Christian Virgins should not be giuen in marriage to Pagans lest in the floure of their youth they should be entangled with spiritual whooredome In like maner that Bishops should receiue no reward from men that did not communicate with the Church They ordained that nothing that is worshipped should be pictured on the wall And that in priuate houses no Idols should be found And in case the masters of houses were afraid of the violence of their seruants at least they should keepe themselues pure and cleane which if they did not they should be counted strangers from the fellowship of the Church And that if any man happen to be slayne in the action of breaking downe images his name shall bee enrolled in the catalogue of Martyrs because it is not written in the history of the Gospell that the Apostles vsed any such forme of reformation whereby they signifie that by wholsome doctrine images should be cast out of the hearts of men rather than broken with popular violence and with the tumultuary attempts of priuate men Any iudicious man may perceiue by these Canons both the time when and the cause wherefore this Councell was assembled THey who count the first Councell of Carthage to be that Councell whereinto Cyprian with aduise of many other bishops of Numidia Lybia and other partes of Africa ordained men who were baptized by Heretikes to be rebaptised againe they commit a great ouer sight to reckon the first Councell of Carthage to be holden vnder the raigne of Constantine whereas it is certainely knowne that Cyprian was martyred in the dayes of Valerian the eight persecuting Emperour But the first Councell of Carthage that was kept in Constantines dayes was that Councell whereinto the Donatistes coÌ„demned Caecilianus Bishop of Carthage whose innocencie afterward was tryed by many Iudges In it there was no matter of great importance concluded and therefore I ouer-passe it with few wordes as an assemblie of little account All these Councells aboue mentioned were assembled in the dayes of Constantine the Great Now followeth Councells gathered in the dayes of his sonnes The cause pretended for the gathering of the Councell of Antiochia in the dayes of Constantius the sonne of Constantine was the dedication of the Church of Antiochia which albeit Constantine had builded yet fiue yeeres after his death and in the seuenteenth yeere after the foundation of the Temple was laide Constantius his sonne finished and perfected the worke And vnder pretence of dedication of this Temple as said is this Assemblie of Antiochia was gathered Anno 344. but indeed of purpose to supplant the true Faith To this Assemblie resorted many Bishops to the number of 90. But Maximus Bishop of Ierusalem and Iulius Bishop of Rome neither came they to the Councell neither sent they any messenger in their name fearing as the truth was that they were gathered for euill and not for good At this time Placitus the success out of Euphronius gouerned Antiochia Now when they were meâ— together many accusations were heaped vp against Athanasius First that hee had accepted his place againe without aduise of other Bishops Secondlie because at the time of his returning backe againe to Alexandria there fell out great commotion amongst the people and some were slaine others were contumeliouslie beaten and violently drawne befor justice seates Mention also was made of the decrete of the Councell of Tyrus against Athanasius It was an casie matter for the
Arrians to imprint into the vlcerate mind of Constantius an hatred against Athanasius In this Councell they set downe diuers summes of Faith first secretly couering the venome of their heresie but afterward as it were repenting they manifested themslues more clearly in their owne colours After this Councell followed terrible earth-quakes in the East wherewith many townes were shakeÌ„ especially the towne of Antiochia with continuall earth-quakes was shaken for the space of a whole yeere The principall designe of the Councell was to eject Athanasius out of his chaire to alter the sum of Faith set downe in the Nicene Councell as euidently appeared by sending of Syrianus to destroy Athanasius and to place Gregorius in his roome but Athanasius escaped the danger by the great prouidence of God and fled to Iulius Bishop of Rome and the Arrians displaced againe Gregorius and appointed Georgius a man of Cappadocia and more fit for their purpose to be bishop of Alexandria THe fauour that Iulius Bishop of Rome shewed to Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria Paulus Bishop of Constantinople Asclepas Bishop of Gaza and Lacius Bishop of Adrionopolis was the cause mouing the Arrians to haue so frequent meetings in Antiochia Very sharpe letters passed betwixt Iulius and the Orientall Bishops Iulius blamed them because they had both rashly and vnrighteously deposed the fore-named bishops They on the other part expostulated with Iulius because he had receiued to his fellowship men deposed by theÌ„ whereas none of the East Church had admitted Novatus to their communion whom the Bishop of Rome had excommunicated After the issue of three yeere another Councell was conueened in Antiochia about the yeere of our Lord 348. wherein the Arrians set foorth a newe summe of their Faith in very ample and prolix manner and different from all other formes set downe before the copie whereof they sent to the Bishops of Italy by Endoxius Bishop of Germanicia and Martyrius and Macedonius but the Bishops of Italy would not receiue it contenting themselues with the summe of Faith set downe in the Nicene Councell IN the yeere of our Lord 351. by the commandement of Constantius and his brother Constans a great nationall Councell was gathered in Sardica a towne of Illyricum of Dacia Many Bishops of the West to the number of three hundred resorted to this assembly but from the East only seventy six They who came from the Easterne parts would not vouchsafe to be present in the Councell except Protogenes Bishop of Sardica and Osius Bishop of Corduba had separated from their fellowship Paulus Bishop of Constantinople and Athanasius Bishoppe of Alexandria But the cause of their absenting themselues from the Councell indeed was this as Theodoretus prudently recordeth because the forgers of salse accusations against the men of God whose cause was appointed to be iudged in this Councell durst not abide the tryall of honest Iudges and men of vnsuspected credit The Councell finding that the Arrians couvicted in conscience durst not compeare to accuse Paulus and Athanasius whom notwithstanding they had deposed in the Councels of Tyrus and Antiochia proceeded to the tryall of their cause and findeth all the accusations of the Arrians against Panlus Athanasius Asclepas and the rest to bee but a masse of forged calumnies and lyes Arsenius was found to be aliue whom the Arrians had alledged Athanasius had slaine As concerning the overthrowing of the holy Table and breaking of the holy Cup by Macarius whom Athanasius had imployed and therefore the blame was layd vpon him it was found to be a notable lye because when Macarius entred into the Church of Mareota where this fact was alledged to bee done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were present in the Church And such kinde of persons were not permitted to be present at the celebration of divine mysteries Ishyras also who was the principall forger of all the afore-mentioned calumnies was found to haue beene tyed to the bed by infirmity at that time when Macarius was alledged to haue done all these things And finally it was found that Ishyras had received a Bishopricke as the wages oâ— iniquity from the Arrians before hee had beene admitted Presbyter in any Church Also the supplicant bils of Paulus Asclâ—pas Marcellus c. were read tryed and examined and they were all found honest and vpright men and they were all recommended by the letters of the Councell of Sardica to their owne flocks On the other part the Bishops whom the Arrians had intruded in the places of the fore-mentioned brethren they deposed them and abhorred their memorie such as Gregorius in Alexandria Basilius in Ancyra and Quintianus in Gaza of whom they discerned that they were not worthy the name of common Christians much lesse to bee called Bishops commanding all people to forsake their fellowshippe and neither to send letters to them nor to receiue letters from them The like sentence they pronounced against Theodorus of Heraclea Narcissus of Neronias Acacius of Caesarea Palestinae Stephanus of Antiochia Vrsatius of Sigidun in Mysia Valens of Myrsa in Panonia Menophantus of Ephesus and Georgius of Laodicea principall patrons of the Arrian heresie The Arrians on the other part assembled themselues in Philippopolis a towne of Thracia and there they damned of new againe Paulus and Athanasius Likewise they damned Iulius Bishop of Rome Osius Bishop of Corduba Protogenes Bishop of Sardica Maximinus Bishop of Triere and many others whom they cursed also because they had admitted to their fellowship those Bishops whom they had deposed Sozomenus is in that opinion that the Councell of Philippolis succeeded the Councell of Sardica From 35. Provinces did Bishoppes resort vnto the Councell of Sardica From this time forward there was added diversitie of affection vnto diversity of opinion and those who dwelt in the East did not communicate with them who dwelt in the West Some Arrian Bishoppes dwelt in the West such as Auxentius Bishop of Millan and Vrsatius and Valens But by the vigilant travels of the Bishoppe of Rome and other godly Bishops of the West it came to passe that these Seminaries of errors did not prevaile much in the Westerne parts This is that Councell wherein Iulius Bishop of Rome for his good carriage and good deservings was appointed to be Iudge of Appellations when the like case fell out that righteous men were oppressed with the vnrighteous dealing of Heretiques But remember that this is a constitution of the Councell of Sardica and not of the Nicene Councel And this was a priviledge both personall and temporall for extraordinary causes conferred to Iulius but not to bee extended to all his successours nor yet to continue at all times IN the yeere of our Lord 356. and fiue yeeres after the Councell of Sardica by the commandement of the Emperour Constantius a Councell was gathered in Sirmium a towne of Illyria Bullenger calleth it a towne of Pannonia Photinus Bishop of Sirmium
had renued the heresies of Sabellius and Samosatenus A disputation was instituted betwixt Basilius Bishop of Ancyra an Arrian Heretique and Photinus a Sabellian Heretique in which disputation Photinus was thought to be overcome and was damned by the Councell as an Heretique and banished by the Emperour In this Councell they set downe summes of Faith one in Greeke and two in Latine wherein albeit they abstained from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neverthelesse they gave great glorie to the Sonne of God But in the end they repented and by the Emperours authority would haue recalled backe againe the copies of the summes of Faith set forth at Sirmium but the mandates of the Emperour commanding in most rigorous forme to deliver backe againe the copies that were past abroad could not bring to passe that that thing which was once divulgated should be againe suppressed The weaknesse of Osius Bishop of Corduba kythed in this Councell hath been touched in the history of his life AFter that the Emperour Constans was slaine by Magnentius the whole Soveraignty both of the East and West was in the hands of Constantius alone The Arrians moved him to assemble a Councell at Millan partly for ratification of the sentence pronounced against Athanasius in Tyrus amd partly for the subversion of the Nicene Faith The Occidentall Bishops to the number of three hundreth at the Emperors commandement assembled at Millan But neither would they ratifie the deposition of Athanaesius nor yet alter the summe of faith And some of them with libertie and freedome accused the Emperour of vnrighteous dealing For this cause many worthie Bishops were banished such as Liberius Bishop of Rome Paulinus B. of Triere Dionysius B. of Alba Lucifer B. of Calaris in Sardinia Eusebius B. of Vercellis in Liguria If in this Councell Osius B. of Corduba was banished as Theâ—doretus recordeth it would appeare that the Councell of Millan preceded the Councell of Sirmium because that Osius immediatly after he was reduced from banishment was compelled to addresse to the Councell of Sirmium But I haue followed the order of Ecclesiasticall writers IN the yeere of our Lord 363. and in the two and twentith yeere of the raigne of Constantius the Arrians having a great vantage of the flexible minde of Constantius mooved him to appoint a place wherein a generall Councell should be gathered for confirmation of their Faith Whether this place was the towne of Nicomedia or Nice alwaies it was shaken with earth-quake and the God of heaven hindered the purposes of their mindes The next course was that two nationall Councels should be convened one at Ariminum in Italy as a meet place for for the Bishops of the West to convene at and another in Sâ—lâ—â—cia of Isauria as a meet place for assembling of the Orientall Bishops To the Councell of Ariminum more then foure hundred Bishops did resort In this nationall Councell compeared Vrsatius and Valens with Germanus Auxentius and Caius and Demophilus desiring that the wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as words not found in Scripture and grounds of vnsupportable contention in the Church should bee cancelled and razed out of the summe of Faith and that the Sonne of God should be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of like substance with his Father The Fathers convened at Ariâ—ninum altogether disliked this proposition of Vrsatius and Valens and adhered for the most part of them closely to the Nicene Faith and excluded from the fellowship of the Church Vrsatius and Valens with their complices aboue menâ—ioned as the letter of the Councell written to the Emperour cleerely beares With the letter the Councell sent twenty Ambassadors chosen and selected men who should giue further instruction to the Emperor concerning the matter of Faith But Vrsatius and Valens prevened the Ambassadours of the Councell and by sinistrous informations hindered them from accesse to the Emperour onely their letter was read whereunto the Emperour turned a differing answer bearing that for the present hee was busied with weighty affaires of the kingdome but when hee should finde any breathing time hee would hearken vnto them The Councell sent the second time to the Emperour desiring they might haue libertie before the winter season to returne to their owne flocks and herewithall they assured the Emperour that in the matter of Faith they would adhere to that which was comprehended in the former letter To this second message no answer was returned Therefore the Bishops wearied with long attendance returned every man to his owne flock the Emperor counted this dissolution of the Councell without warrant of his anthority to bee a contempt of his Soveraignty Therefore he gaue charge to Valens to publish the summe of the Arrian Faith read in Ariminum albeit it was both disapproued and reiected with power also to Vrsatius and Valens to eiect those bishops out of their places who would not subscribe to the Arrian Faith and to ordaine others in their roome Vrsatius and Valens being strengthned with the Emperours commandement not onely troubled the Churches of the West but also went to Nica a towne in Thracia where they gathered a number of Bishops of their owne faction and approved the summe of Faith read by Arrians in Ariminum being first translated into the Greeke language and this they called the Nicene Faith deceiving themselues with vaine hopes as if men had beene so senselesse as to be altogether deceived by the similitude of words Nica in Thracia and Nice in Bithinia Moreouer Athanasius was as yet aliue who could haue discovered both the blasphemie of the Arrians at Sirmium and the falshood of the Arrians at Nica for at Sirmium in the first Session of the Councell it was written by the Clerke of the Councell Presente Constantio sempiterno Magna Augusto Consulibus Eusebio Hypatio Loe saith Athanasius writing to his friends the Arrians will not call the Sonne of God everlasting but they say there was a time wherein hee was not but they call the Emperor Constantius being a mortall man everlasting Emperour SElucia is a towne of Isauria or Cilicia from whence Paul and Barnabas sayled to Cyprus Isauria lyeth betwixt Lycaonia and Cilicia and in an ample signification it comprehendeth Cilica In this towne convened 160. Bishops of the East in the moneth of December of that same yeere of our Lord wherein the Councell of Ariminum was assembled Leonas one of the Princes of the Emperours court and Lucius otherwise called Lauritius Captaine of the bands of souldiers in Isauria were appointed to attend the peace of the assembly and that all things should bee done decently and in order The Emperour gaue commandement that the matter of faith should bee first intreated but afterward hee gaue commandement that the liues of them who were to bee accused should first bee examined Whereupon arose contention in the assemblie some vrging the
of Christ. And the bookes of holy Canonicke Scripture which are to be read in time of holy Conuocations of people are particularly reckoned out both of olde new Testament And in this Catalogue of canonicke bookes no mention is made of the bookes of the Machabees of Ecclesiasticus and other Apocreeph bookes VNder the raigne of the Emperours Valentinian and Valens and about the yeere of our Lord 370. With aduice of both the Emperours a Councell was gathered in Illyricum wherein the Nicene Faith had confirmation and allowance The Emperour Valens was not as yet infected with the poison of the Arrian heresie LAmpsacum is a towne situated about the narrow passages of Hellespontus The Macedoniā heretikes sought liberty from the Emp. Valens to meete in this towne who granted their petition the more willingly because he supposed that they had accorded in opinion with Acacius Eudoxius but they ratified the Coūcel set foorth at Seleucia damned the Councel holden at Constantinople by the Acacians The Emp. Valens being deceiued of his expectation commanded them to be banished and their Churches to be giuen to the fauourers of the opinion of Eudoxius This dash constrained the Macedonians to take a new course and to aggree with Laberius Bishop of Rome But these Camelions when they had changed many colours they could neuer be white that is sincere and vpright in Religion VNder the Emperour Valentinian in the West Damasus bishop of Rome gathered a Councel in Rome wherein he confirmed the Nicene Faith and damned Auxentius Bishop of Millan with Vrsatius Valens and Caius Likewise hee damned Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus IN the yeere of our Lord 38.3 or as Bullinger reckoneth 385 in the third yeere of the raigne of Theodosius a Generall Councell was gathered at Constantinople consisting of 150. Bishops of whom 36. were entangled with the heresie of Macedonius who called the Holy Spirit a creature a minister seruant but not consubstantiall with the Father and the Son In this Councel the Macedoniā heretikes were louingly admonished to forsake their errour to embrace the true faith and that so much the more because they had once already sent messengers to Liberius and professed the true Faith But they continued obstinately in their errour departed from the Councell The heresie of Macedonius was dāned the Nicen faith confirmed with amplification of that part of the Symbole which concerned the holy Spirit in this manner I beleeue in the holy Spirit our Lord giuer of life who proceedeth from the Father with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped glorified They ordained Nectarius B. of Cōstantinople that Constātinople shuld haue the prerogatiue of honour next to Rome Great care was had of Prouinces that they should not of new againe be infected with Heresies For this cause the name of Patriarches in the Councell of Nice appropriated to a few in this Generall Councell is communicated to manie To Nectarius Megapolis and Thracia was allotted Pontus to Hellodius Cappadocia to Gregorius Nyssenus Meletina and Armenia to Otreius Amphilochius attended vpon Iconium and Lycaonia Optimus vpon Antiochia and Pisidia Timotheus vpon the Churches of Aegypt Laodicea was recommended to Pelagius Tarsus to Diodorus and Antiochia to Meletius who was present at the Councell and ended his life in Constantinople To other Bishops a care and sollicitude of their owne boundes was committed with this caueat that no man should inuade the bounds belonging to another but if necessitie so required Synods should be assembled and euery one being desired should mutuallie assist his neighbour THe great affaires of the Church the care of their brethren in the West compelled them to meete againe in Constantinople where they wrote a Synodicke letter to Damasus B. of Rome to Ambrose Britto Valeriāus Acholius Anemius Basilius to the rest of the Bishops cōueened at Rome Wherin they declare the māifold troubles they had sustained by heretikes now albeit in the mercie of God they were ejected out of the sheepe-folds yet like vnto rauening wolues they were lurking in woods seeking oportūity to deuour the sheepe of Christ. They excuse their absence because the infirmitie of their Churches newly recouered from the hands of heretikes could not permit many of their number to journey to Rome Alwayes they sent their beloued brethren Cyriacus Eusebius Priscianus to countenance the assembly at Rome In matters of Discipline they recommended vnto them the Canons of the Councell of Nice namely that Ecclesiasticall honours should be conferred to persons worthy that with the speciall aduice and consent of the Bishops of that same Prouince with assistance of their confining neighbours if neede required After this manner was Nectarius B. of Constantinople Flauianus B. of Antiochia Cyrillus B. of Ierusalem ordained Heere marke that the consent of the Bishop of Rome was not necessarie to the ordination of the Bishops of the East And the vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome smelleth of Noueltie and not of Antiquitie This Synodicke letter sent from Constantinople would seeme to import that the Councell which Damasus gathered at Rome was assembled in the dayes of Theodosius or els that hee had gathered two assemblies in Rome at diuers times and yet for owne purpose GOdly Emperours and Kings such as Constantine Theodosius and Dauid were very carefull of the vnitie of the Church that it might be like vnto a compact Citie as Ierusalem was when the tower of Iebus was conquised then the people worshipped one God were obedient to one Law and subject onely to one Soueraigne Theodosius in the fifth yeere of his raigne caring for the peace of the Church conueened a great Nationáll Councell at Constantinople not onely of Homousians but also of Arrians Eunomians and Macedonians hoping that by mutuall conference possibly they might in end accord The good Emperour consulted with Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople Nectarius with Agelius a Bishop of the Novatians Agelius with Sisinius an eloquent man and a mightie Teacher and a Reader in his Church This man considering that by contentious disputations Schismes were increased but not quenched gaue this aduice to Nectarius that hee should counsell the Emperour to demande of Heretikes in what account they had the holy Fathers who preceeded their time The Heretikes at the first spake reuerently of the Fathers but when they were demaunded if in matters of Faith they would giue credit to the testimonie of the Fathers the Heretikes were diuided amongst themselues Therefore the Emperour rent in pieces the summes of the Arrian Eunomian and Macedonian faith and ordained the Homousian Faith onely to haue place THe second Councell of Carthage was assēbled vnder the raigne of Theodosius neere vnto the time of the Generall Councell holden in Constantinople In it first the summe of the Nicene Faith is confirmed The continencie of
Bishops Elders and Deacons is recommended with abstinence euen from matrimoniall societie so earlie began men to bee wiser then God But in the twelfth Canon of the third Councell of Carthage it may bee perceiued that this constitution as disagreeable from Gods word was not regarded because Bishops in Africa married and had sonnes and daughters and these are inhibite to marrie with Infidels and Heretikes in the Canons a fore-saide The making of Chrisme and consecrating of holie Virgins is ordained onely to belong to Bishops The Canons of this Councell for the most part tend to this to aduance the authoritie of their Bishops fore-smelling as appeares the vsurpation of preheminence in the Bishops beyond sea THe third Councell of Carthage was assembled in the yeere of the Lord 399. Aurelius Bishop of Carthage seemeth to haue bin Moderatour of the Councell Augustine Bishop of Hippo was present Many good constitutions were accorded vpon in this Councell as namely that the Sacramentes should not bee ministred to the dead That the sonnes and daughters of Bishops and others in spirituall offices should not be giuen in marriage to Pagans Heretikes or Schismatikes The men in spirituall offices should not be intangled with secular businesse according to the precept of the Apostle 2. Tim. 2. verse 4. That men of the Cleargy should practise no kind of vsury That no man shall be ordained Bishop Elder or Deacon before hee haue brought all persons of his owne familie to the profession of Christian Religion That Readers who are come to perfect yeeres shall either marrie or els professe continencie That in the ministration of the Sacrament or Sacrifice to wit Eucharistike nothing should bee offered except bread and wine mixed with water of the fruites of the Cornes and Grapes That the Bishop of Rome should bee called the Bishop of the first seate but not the high Priest nor the Prince of Priestes That nothing except holy Canonicke Scripture should be read in the Churches vnder the name of holy bookes ABout the yeere of our Lord 401. vnder the raigne of Honorius was assembled againe a great nationall Councell in Carthage of 214. Bishops Augustine Bishop of Hippo was also present at this Councell Manie Canons were set downe in this Councell almost equall with the number of conueened Bishops That persons married for reuerence of the blessing pronounced to the marriage should not companie together the first night after their marriage That the Bishop should haue his dwelling place neere vnto the Church his house-holde-stuffe should be vncostly his fare should be course and vndelicate and that hee should conquiese authoritie vnto himselfe by fidelitie and vprightnesse of an holy conuersation That a Bishop should not spend time in reading the bookes of Pagans the bookes of Heretikes if necessitie required he might reade That a Bishop entangle not himselfe deepely with houshold businesse to the end hee may attend vpon reading Prayer and Preaching That a Bishop admit no man vnto a spirituall office without aduice of the Clergie and consent of the people That a Bishop without aduice of his Cleargie pronounce no sentence els it shall haue no force except they confirme it That a Bishop sitting shall not suffer a presbyter to stand That an assembly of Heretikes conueened together shall not be called Concilium but Conciliabulum That hee who communicateth with an Heretike shall be excommunicate whether he be of the number of the Laikes or of the Cleargie That such as refuse to giue vnto the Church the oblations of defunct persons shall bee excommunicate as murtherers of the poore Heere marke what is meaned by Oblationes Defunctorum not soul-masses said for the defunct but the charitie which they haue in testamentall legacy to the poore That no woman shal presume to baptize CENTVRIE V. COncerning Councels gathered in the daies of Arcadius and Honorius by Epiphanius in Cyprus and Theophilus in Alexandria vnder pretence of damning the bookes of Origen and in Constantinople first and last by the malice of Eudoxia the Emperour Arcadius wife to the deposition of Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople I hope I haue not need to make a new declaration of things which are amply declared in the preceding history ABout the yeere of our Lord 419. a great number of Bishops were assembled in the Towne of Carthage whose names are particularly expressed in their Synodicke letters sent to Innocentius the first Bishop of Rome In this assemblie they damned the opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius which hath been aboue rehearsed as hereticall The answer that Innocentius returned to the Councell is intermixed with words of swelling pride as if no Decree could be firme vntill it had allowance of the Romane chaire yet the fift Councell of Carthage had pronounced Anathema against the opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius before they sent their letter to Innocentius Amongst the canons of this Councell the two last are to be remarked namely the fourteenth and fifteenth canon The one declareth that no Church was consecrated without the reliques of the Martyrs the other declareth that adoration of reliques at this time was the custome of Ethnickes supplication is appointed to be made to the Emperors that reliques which are found in Images groues or trees or such other places should bee abolished THe first Councell of Toledo in Spaine was assembled vnder the raignes of Arcadius and Honorius The yeere of our Lord wherein this Councell was gathered is much contraverted therefore I overpasse it contenting my selfe with some notice of the time of the Emperour in whose time the Councell was gathered It seemeth to haue beene assembled for confirmation of the Nicene Councell and refutation of some errours The canons concerning prohibibition of marriage to some persons are foolish and the admitting of a man to the communion who wanteth a wife and contenteth himselfe with one concubine onely is foolisher so perilous a thing it is in a iot to depart from the certaine rule of the written Word of God MIlevitum is a towne of Numidia in it many Bishops were assembled vnder the raigne of Arcadius whose names are particularly expressed in the letter sent from the Councell to Innocentius Bishop of Rome which letter is inserted in the Epistles of Augustine together with the answer of Innocentius the first Two principall causes mooved them to assemble together First to finish the work they had begun in the fift Councell of Carthage in condemning the heresies of Pelagius and Coelestius by whom as yet many were deceiued and perverted from the true faith Augustine Bishop of Hippo was not onely present but also President The opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius concerning the power of mans nature not supported by the grace of God and free-will of man to doe good of it selfe is so solidly refuted and that by arguments taken out
Menas died suddenly in time of the Councell Vigilius Bishop of Rome was in Constantinople in time of this Councell but would not be present at the Councel left the dignitie of the Romane chaire should bee impaired if the Patriarch of Constantinople had beene equalled with him in honour for Eutychius after Menas was moderator of the Councell The generall conuention tooke this effect That the writings of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuesta were vtterly condemned and the replyes of Theodoretus to the 12. heades of Cyrillus with the letter of Ibas written to Maris a Persiā were damned Finally the errours of Origen were damned Theodorus Ascidas together with the Monks of Nova Laura who defended the errours of Origen all were excommunicated and the 4. preceeding generall Councels were confirmed with full allowance The Councell of Mopsuesta immediatly following tended onely to this to know when the name of Theodorus sometime B. of Mopsuesta a towne of Cilicia was razed out of the roll called sacra diptycha And the ancients both of Clergie and people assured the Emperour Iustinian that the name of Theodorus was razed out of the rol of holy Bishops before their time VNder the raigne of Childebertus king of France were frequent meetings of Bishops in Aurelia a town of France commonly called Orleans Many superstitious constitutions were hatched amongst them especially about prohibition of marriage for this doctrine of deuils had now gotten the vpper hand in the West The verse of Homer may be written in the frontispice of these Councels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is It is a shame to tarie long and to returne emptie If they meet so oft somefruites worthy of their meeting should haue beene brought out to the world but it is a wearisome thing to trauell a long time in the wildernesse of Arabia albeit in it there bee large fieldes yet it is a barren ground and the paine of wearisome trauelling is not recompensed with the delight of any refreshment that can be had there This I write not to hinder any man from the reading of these Councels also for some good things are to bee found in them but to wish that the short time wee haue to liue in this world should not be vnfruitfully spent In the second Councel Simonie is damned and the receiuing of money for admitting a man to a spirituall office is vtterly derested In the third Councell Periurie is abhorred in a man hauing a spirituall calling but softly punished by 2. yeeres excluding of him from the communion In the fourth Councell it is ordained that in the offering of the holy Calice nothing shall be presented except wine onely vnmixed with water because it is a sacrilegious thing to transgresse the holy mandate and institution of our Sauiour Christ. In the fifth Councell it is condescended that no man shall be ordained Bishop without consent of King Clergie and people according to the ancient constitutions of the Church and that no sprituall office shall be bought by money The heape of constitutions about the keeping of Pasche day and Lent about the prohibition of marriage betwixt Christians and vnconuerted Iewes about seruants not to bee admitted to Ecclesiasticall orders about assemblies to be at the least yeerely conuocated by Bishops about Ecclesiasticall rents not to be dilapidated The nature of a short Compend cannot permit mee to insist in such things VNder the raigne of Theodobertus king of France the Fathers who were present at the Councels of Aurelia conueened also in the Councell of Overnie and ordained that no man should presume to the office of a Bishop by the fauour of men in credit but by the merites of an honest and vnreprouable life That the dead body of a Bishop in time of his funerall should be couered with the pall otherwise called Opertorium Dominici corporis which couered the Altar left the honour done to the body should be a polluting of the Altar with many other constitutions which of purpose I ouerpasse with silence VNder the raigne of Aribertus king of France a Councell was assembled at Tours In this Councell it was ordained that the Clergie and people in euery Congregation should prouide support for their owne poore and not permit them to wander to vncouth places for indeed this custome of wandering hath brought in Atheisme amongst the poore when they leaue their owne Congregation they leaue also their owne Pastor who attended vpon their conuersation and they fall into the snare of the deuil It was also statute and ordained that a Bishop should count his wife as his sister and that he should no manner of way companie with her and for this cause hee should haue Presbyters and Deacons so familiarly conuersant with him that they might beare testimonie of his honest behauiour to wit that he neuer companied with his wife The Romanists who count the prohibition of marriage to be the soule of their religion could not ouerpasse this Canon without a censure Now let vs heare what Censura saith Intellige hunc Canonem iuxia vsum Orientalis Ecclesiae in qua coniugatus promouebatur ad sacerdotium that is Vnderstand this Canon according to the custome of the Orientall Church wherein a married man was promoted to the Priesthood well excused The B. of Rowen Burges Tours c. are conueened in the towne of Tours to prescribe rules to the Orientall Church or at least rules vnto their own bishops to liue after the forme of the Orientall Church which neuer came in their minde to doe as may evidently be knowne by the sixt generall Councell Moreouer it was ordained that no Priest or Monke should receiue in bed with him another Priest or Monke to the end they might be so vnreproouable that they would abstaine from all appearance of euill In this Councell was set downe very strict prohibitions that no man should oppresse the Church and conuert vnto his owne vse any thing duely belonging to them left hee incurre the malediction of Iudas who was a thiefe and kept the bag and conuerted to his owne vse a part of that mony which belonged to the poore IN the Councell holden at Paris order was taken concerning admitting of Bishops to their offices that no man should be admitted Bishop without the full consent of Clergie and people and that no man should presume by fauour of Princes onely without the consents aforesaid to become Bishop in any place REcaredus king of Spaine of the discent of the Gothes who were miserably infected with the Arrian heresie assembled a Councell of 62. Bishops at Toledo where he renounced the Arrian heresie and embraced the true faith the whole nation of the West Gothes in Spaine did the like about the yeere of our Lord 585. VNder the raigne of Mauritius a Councel was assembled at Constantinople for trying of the cause of Gregorius Bishop of Antiochia whom Asterius Deputie in the East had accused
of incest but Gregorius was declared to be innocent his accuser was scourged with roddes and was banished In this Councell the name of Oecumenick Bishop was attributed to Iohn Patriarch of Constantinople TThe first Councel of Matiscon was assembled about the time of Pelagius 2 as the second Tome of CouÌ„cels recordeth In it commandement was giuen that no man of the Clergie should cite another man hauing a spirituall office before a secular iudge And that a Bishop or Presbyter should not intangle himselfe with carnall lust after hee is promoted to so high dignitie but the woman who before was his wife now let her be his sister and let the husband be changed into a brother Marke how subtilly Sathan vnder pretence of lothing matrimoniall chastitie is bringing in all kinde of vncleannesse into the Church THe second Councell of Matiscon was conueened in the twentie foure yeere of the raigne of Gunthranus king of France In it complaint was made that Baptisme was ministred vsually vpon euery holy day insomuch that vpon Easter day scarce were two or three found to be presented to Baptisme This they ordained to be amended and that no man except vpon occasion of infirmitie presume to present his child to Baptisme but to attend vpon the festiuall dayes prescribed of olde that is Easter and Whitsonday Also it was appointed and ordained that the Sacrament of the altar should be ministred before any communicant person had tasted of meat or drinke That no person who fleeth to the Church as to a citie of refuge be drawne backe againe by violence from the bosom of the Church or be harmed in that holy place That a bishop must not be attached before a secular iudge That the houses of Bishops shall be kept holy with exercises of prayers and singing of Psalmes and shall not be defiled with the barking of dogges and muting of haukes That secular men shall doe reuerence to those who are of the Clergie euen vnto the lowest degree of theÌ„ in such sort that if the secular man doe meere any of the Clergie walking on foot he shall honour him by vncouering his head but if the secular man be riding on horsebacke and the Clergie man on foote then the secular man shall light downe from his horse and shall doe reuerence to the Church-man this age smelleth of Antichristian pride In the third Councell at Matiscon there is nothing to be read but a contentious disputation betwixt two Bishops Palladius and Bertramus foolish questions scarse worthy to be disputed in Grammer schooles Whether or no a woman may be called Homâ— IN the yeere of our Lord 595. and in the thirteene yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Mauritius Gregorius first Bishop of Rome assembled a Councell at Rome of twentie foure bishops thirty foure Presbyters wherein first of all he confirmed the first foure generall Councels He ordained that at the celebration of the Sacrament there should be lesse singing and more reading of Psalmes and Gospel because weake people transported with the delight of a sweet and delicate voyce marked not how men of a lewd life drew neere vnto the Altar of God He ordained also that laicke boyes should not be cubiculars to the bishops or Rome but that Presbyters Deacons or Monkes should be witnesses of the honestie of their conuersation And that the Beare wherein the body of the Bishop of Rome is brought forth to be buried shall not be ouerspred with any couering aboue the Beare That for ordination of men in spirituall offices no reward shall be craued For like as the Bishop should not sell the imposition of his hands euen so the minister or notare should not sell his voyce and pen. If hee who is ordained voluntarily giueth any thing as a testimonie of his thankfulnesse this is not forbidden to be receiued Gregorius standing before the place where the body of Saint Peter is buried pronounced many Anathems wherevnto the rest of the assemblie with vniforme consent said Amen Amongst the rest the Presbyter or Deacon who marrieth a wife is deliuered to the deuill and a man who marrieth his owne spirituall sister whom in our language we call his gossope hee is likewise deliuered to an euill Heard to be kept Albeit Gregorius be not counted the worst amongst the bishops of Rome yet when hee followeth not the certaine rule of the written word of God hee is wandering in the mist as boldly as others did before him THe Councels which I haue ouerpassed with silence such as Gradense Braccarense Lateranense Lugdunense Pictaviense Merense lest I should ouercharge a litle booke with an vnnecessarie burthen or trouble the reader of superstitious rites damning of old 〈◊〉 and of euery contentious disputation more 〈◊〉 belonging to ciuill iudges than to spirituall conuentions I referre mine excuse in this to the wisdome of the iudicious Reader CENTVRIE VII IN the yeere of our Lord 607. and vnder the raigne of the Emperour Phocas a Councell was assembled at Rome of 72. Bishops 30. Presbiters and 3. Deacons In this councell the priuiledge of supremacie giuen by Phocas to the Roman Church was published Likewise it was ordained vnder paine of cursing that during the life-time of a Bishop no man should talke of the election of another That no man by largition of money should purchase vnto himselfe a spirituall office and that no man should consult concerning the election of another Bishop or Pope before three dayes were expired after the death of the defunct and that the Bishop should be elected by the Clergie people and their electioÌ„ should be ratified by the Magistrate of the Citie and the Pope by these words Volumus et iubemus that is we will and we command otherwise the election shall be voyde and of none effect Bonifacius the fourth gathered another assemblie in the eight that is in the last yeere of the raigne of Phocas wherein he gaue power to Monkes to preach to minister the Sacraments to heare Confessions to bind and loose and associated them in equall authoritie with the Clergie BRacara or Braecara vulgarly called Braga is a towne in Portugall In the yeere of our Lord 610. and vnder the raigne of Gundemarus king of Gothes raigning at that time in the countrey of Spaine assembled some Bishops of Gallicia Lusitania and of the Prouince called Lucensis of olde It was ordained That euâ—rie Bishop should visit the Churches of his diosie and see that baptisme was duly ministred and that Catechumeni twenty dayes before their baptisme should resort to the purifications of Exorcismes and should bee instructed in the knowledge of the Apostolick Symbol and that the people should bee exhorted to beware of Idolatry adultery murther periury and all other deadly sins That Bishops should not lift vp the third part of the oblations of the people but that it should remaine in the parish Church for furnishing light and for repairing
the fabrick of the Church and that the Bishop should compell noue of the Clergy to attend vpon him in servile workes That Bishops for ordination of the Clergy should receiue no rewards That neither a little balme nor yet the price thereof should be exacted from the people for their baptisme in any time to come lest they should seeme with Simon Magus to sell the gift of God for money That Bishops before the dedication of Churches shall see a charter containing a sufficient maintenance for them who shall serue in the Church and for a substantiall furniture of lights thereunto A Church builded for gaine and contribution of the people redounding to the vantage of the builder shall not be consecrated Parents who are poore and present their children to baptisme if they offer any thing voluntarily it shal be accepted but they shall not be compelled to pay any thing neither shall a pledge be required from them left poore people fearing this with-hold their children from baptisme If any of the Clergie bee accused of fornication let the accuser proue his accusation by two or three witnesses according to the precept of the Apostle else let the accuser be excommunicate That Metrapolitane Bishops shall signifie to others of the Clergie the time of the observation of Easter or Pasch day and the Clergie after the reading of the Gospell in like manner intimate the day vnto the people That whosoever tasteth meat or drink before he consecrate the oblation of the Altar shall be deposed from his office IN the yeere of our Lord 613. assembled in a towne of France called Altissidorum otherwise Antissidorum vulgarly Auxerre a number of Abbots and Presbyters with one Bishop and three Deacons In this Councell they damned Sorcerie and the seeking of consultation at Sorcerers in the first third fourth and fift Canons wherby it appeareth that Sorcery hath been in frequent vse in France Many superstitious constitutions were set down in this Synod concerning the number of Masses prohibition of tasting meate before Masse concerning buriall prohibition of Baptisme before the festivity of Easter-day except vpon necessity and feare of approaching death prohibition of Matrimoniall copulation with their owne wiues to Presbyters and Deacons after their blessing and consecration with prohibition of marriage also to the widowes of the defunct Presbyters Deacons or Sub-deacons this was a yoke of Antichristian subiection indeed Brothers and sisters children are forbidden to marrie It is not lawfull for a Presbyter to sit in iudgement when any man is condemned to death It is not lawfull for a Clergie-man to cite another of the Clergie before a secular Iudge It is not lawfull for a woman with a naked hand to touch the holy Eucharist It is not lawfull to take refreshment of meate with an excommunicate person If any of the Clergie receiue an excōmmunicate man without the knowledge of him who did excommunicate him he shall receiue the like sentence that is he shall likewise be excommunicated It is not lawfull for a Presbyter in banqueting time to sing or dance Many Canons to the number of 45. were concluded in this Councell but I haue determined not to over-lade a little booke with commemoration of an heape of vnprofitable vnnecessary and superstitious Canons IN the yeere of our Lord 364. and in the 24. yeere of the raigne of the Emp. Heraclius a Councel was gathered in Hispalis a towne of Spaine vulgarly called Civill la grand It was gathered by Isidorus Bishop of Hispalis at the command of King Sisebutus who was both present President in this Councell For two principall causes was this Synod convened namely for suppressing the heresie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was a branch of the heresie of Eutyches secondly for decision of questions which arose amongst Bishops concerning the marches bounds of their dioceses with some other Ecclesiasticall causes They had 13. Sessions or meetings as is declared 2. Tom. Council In the first action Theodulphus Bishop of Malaca complained that by iniury of warres an ancient parish Church was separated from his towne and possessed by others It was concluded that he should be repossessed againe into his ancient priviledges and that prescription of time should haue no place if it were knowne that hostility and war-fare had hurt a man in his rights In the 2. Session the controversie betwixt Fulgentius B. of Astigita and Honorius B. of Corduba concerning the marches of their dioceses was debated and men were chosen to visite the bounds and to decide the controuersie In the 3. Session compeared Cambra B. of Italica a towne of the province of Spain of old called Baetica he cōplained against one of his Clergie named Passandus that hee being brought vp frō his infancy in the Church of Italica yet had fled without any iust cause to Corduba It was ordained that whosoever fled from his owne Church vnto another should be sent back againe and be put into a Monastery should be devested of his honor for a time to the end that the sharpnesse of discipline might correct the licentious liberty of vagring and wandering In the 4. Session it was complained that some were consecrated to bee Levites in the Church of Astigita who had maried widowes This ordination was annulled and it was ordained that none of these Leuites should be promoted to the honor of a Deacon In the 5. Session a Deacon of the Church of Agabra complained of the ordination of three persons in that Church one was ordained to bee Presbyter and two to bee Levites The Bishop being blind laid his hands vpon them but one of the Presbyters pronounced the blessing Now the Presbyter who had pronounced the blessing was dead before the Councell of Hispalis therefore they remitted him to his owne Iudge but the three persons afore-said admitted to Church-offices they deposed them from their offices as persons vnlawfully admitted In the 6. Session it was found that Fragitanus a Presbyter of the Church of Corduba was most vniustly both deposed and banished by his Bishop For remedy that the like mis-order should haue no place in time to come it was statuted ordained that a Bishop without advice of his Synode should not presume to depose a Presbyter In the 7. Session Chore-episcopi Presbyters are debarred frō the high priviledges of the Episcopal office namely from the consecration of Presbyters of holy Virgins Churches Altars from laying hand vpon men converted from heresie conferring vnto them the holy Spirit frō making of Chrisme signating with it the fore-heads of them who are baptized from absolving publickly in time of Masse any penitent person and sending testimonials to forraine parts called Formatae epistola and finally from baptizing consecrating the Sacrament blessing the people and teaching them receiving penitents when the Bishop was present The 8. Session intreated concerning Heliseus a servant whom
with great libertie they may attend vpon spirituall seruice Let Bishops have some of their owne Clergie to be rulers of their house-holde-affaires according as the Councell of Chalcedon hath ordained A man is made a monke either by his parents deuotion or by his own profession but whether he be embarked into the Monasticke life the one way or the other there is no redresse againe vnto a secular estate Persons of the Clergie who are desirous to enter into a Monasterie and to leade a contemplatiue life let not their Bishops hinder the purpose of their minde because they haue intention to enter into a better trade of living Bishops haue power to constitute Abbots to governe Monasteries and to correct enormities that shall happen to fall out amongst them but not to redact them to servile offices nor to convert the rents of the Abbie to their owne vse as a possession duly belonging to themselues The Monks who leauing their Monastery returne againe to a secular life and marrie wiues let them be brought back againe to their owne Monasterie there to doe penance and to lament for their by past sins Religious men who wander vp and downe in a Nation and are neither members of the Clergie nor Monkes of any Monasterie let the Bishops restraine their licentious libertie and appoint them either to serue in the Clergie or in a Monasterie except such as through infirmity or age haue gotten an exemption They who haue confessed the committing of any deadly sinne cannot be promoted to Ecclesiasticall honors Secular men who in receiving their penance haue been content to be shaven and to put on a religious habit if they revolt againe and will needs become Laickes and be incorrigible then let them be counted apostates and excommunicate from the fellowship of the Church Widowes who haue put on a religious habit and vowed chastitie if they marrie they haue damnation according to the wordes of the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.12 Iewes are not to bee compelled to receiue the Christian faith but these who already by constraint haue received it in the dayes of the noble King Sisebutus seeing they haue been already partakers of our Sacraments let them be compelled to persevere left the Name of the Lord Iesus bee blasphemed and the Faith which they haue embraced bee counted vile and contemptible They who receiue the bribes and rewards from the Iewes to cloake their vngodlinesse and to foster them in their infidelity let them be accursed and counted strangers from the Church of Christ. Iewes after their conversion to the Christian faith if they be found to haue circumcised their sonnes or servants by the commandement of the most religious King Sisenandus it is ordained that the circumcised children of the Iewes shall be separated from the fellowship of their parents and the servants shall bee set at liberty for the iniury done vnto their body by circumcision Iewes who are punished to death for any contempt done by them against Christ after their baptisme this punishment shall not preiudge their children from right to enioy their goods if they be faithfull because it is written The sonne shal not beare the iniquity of the father Ezech. 18.20 Let not Iewes after their conversion haunt the company of other superstitious Iewes as yet addicted to the abolished law of ceremonies left they be perverted if they transgresse this ordinance such of them as haue professed Christianity shall be given in service to Christians others shal be appointed to be publickly scourged Iewes who haue married Christian women if they will not embrace Christian religion let them be separated from their wiues company and let the children be brought vp in the faith of their Christian mothers Iewes who haue once professed Christian Faith and haue sliden backe againe from it shall not bee admitted witnesses before a Iudge albeit they professe themselues to be Christians because like as their faith is suspected so in like manner their humane testimony is to be doubted of Let no Iew be preferred to any publique office Let no Iew presume to buy a Christian servant which if hee doe the servant shall be taken from him and shall be set at liberty Bishops who haue not benefited the Church by any proper donation of their owne goods they should not impoverish their Church by setting at liberty Church-servants which thing if hee presume to doe his successour shall reduce those servants againe to the possession of the Church whom iniquity without any iust right hath absolved A Bishop who setteth a servant at liberty having first by permutation set another of the like worth and merit in his place shall deny liberty to the fore-said servant either to accuse or to beare witnesse against the Church wherein hee was a seruant else he shall forfeit his liberty and bee reduced to his former servile condition in that same Church which he would haue harmed and in the meane time the permutation afore sayd shall stand firme and stable Hee who hath augmented Church-rents either by conferring or accquiring some augmentation vnto it hath some liberty to set Church-servants at liberty prouiding alwayes they abide vnder the patrociny of the Church Because the patronage of the Church never dieth let those servants whom the Church hath set at liberty and their posterity be obedient to the Church depend vpon their patrociny If they be vnthankfull let their liberty bee forfeit and let the Church defend them from all insolency and wrong Servants who are set at so full liberty that their patrons haue kept no band of subiection over their heads if they be vnspotted and vnreproueable they may bee promoted to Ecclesiasticall offices But it is vnseemly that any man shal be received into a spirituall office who is bound vnto the servile subiection of an earthly Master In the end earnest supplications are ordained to be made to God for preservation of King Sisenandus and the Nation of the Gothes and many Anathenus are pronounced against them who shall presume to violate the oath of allegeance made to the King In the end the Acts of this Councell are subscribed by Isidorus Bishoppe of Hispalis and seventie other Bishops IN the first yeare of Chintilla King of the Gothes and about the time of the raigne of the Emperour Heracleon convened with Eugenius Bishoppe of Toledo twenty other Bishops In this Councell nothing was entreated except a mandate was given concerning the yeerely Letanies that should be made three dayes immediatly following the Ides of December and if the Lords day intervened these three dayes Letanies should be deferred vntill the beginning of the next weeke In these three dayes pardon for sins should be humbly begged at the hands of God with teares The rest of the ordinances of this Councell appoint supplications to be made to God for the preservation of the King and his
precept concerning prohibition of marriage than to all the ten Commandements of Gods law Let not a servant be accepted to serue in the Ministery of the Church before he be first set at liberty When servants are set at liberty let the supputation of time begin at the death of him who set them at liberty and not at the time when the charter was made Servants set at liberty shall neither marry a woman of the Romane nor of the Gothes blood and they shall be subiect to the Church that set them at liberty and if necessity compell them to sell lands let the land be first offered for a competent price to one Minister in that Church from which their liberty did arise Iewes who are baptized shall in time of solemne feastes attend vpon the Bishop of the parts where their dwelling is to the end that hee may beare testimony of the integrity of their faith If this cōmmandement be◠ansgresed the Bishop shall ordaine the Iew either to be scourged or to be subiect to such abstinence as he thinketh most fit In the end thanks being rendered to God for their meeting and for the vnitie of their iudgements and supplications being made to God for the weale of the King Recesuvindus in soule and body the Councell was dissolved IN the eight yeere of the raigne of Recesuvindus King of Gothes assembled in Toledo one and twenty Bishops They decerned concerning the Feasts of the nativity of our Lord and of the Lords mother at what times they should be kept Punishments are appointed for men of the Clergy and Monkes who are not found dutifull to the King and the Countrey That men vnmeet for spirituall offices should not bee intruded into the Church neither for propinquity of blood nor for hope of lucre and gaine That widowes professing a religious order shall receiue an habit convenient for that order And that women who depart againe from their professed order shall be punished That Parents shall not render their children to religious orders before they be eighteene yeeres of age Finally Protamius Bishop of Bracara being convict of adultery was removed from his office and Fructuosus was placed in his roome IN the seventh yeere of the raigne of Bamba King of the Gothes ninteene Bishops and seven Abbots were assembled in Toledo by the Kings Commandement Quiricus Bishop of Toledo being President In the beginning after a protestation of a decent order to be kept in their Assembly that no tumult nor contentious disputation nor indecent laughter should disturb the comely modesty of their Assembly they set downe a prolixe confession of Faith and Canons belonging to Ecclesiasticall discipline in the forme following 1. That Bishops should bee well acquainted with Scriptures and apt to teach 2. That Metropolitan Bishoppes should try how the Pastors of their Dioces increase in knowledge◠That the forme of singing vsed in the Metropolitane Church shal be likewise vsed in other inferiour Churches 4. That persons who haue discorded shall not stand at the Altar vntill the time they bee reconciled againe 5. That Church-men shall not judge in actions of blood 6. That Bishops should not giue sentence before a sufficient triall of the cause 7. Bishops who commit adulterie or murther shall be deposed and excommunicated beside the punishment to be inflicted by the secular Iudge 8. No reward shall be taken for ministration of the Sacramentes 9. Bishops before their ordination shall giue their oath that they haue not acquired that dignitie by rewards either giuen or to be giuen 10. He who is to be preferred to any Ecclesiasticall office let him first sweare that hee shall continue constantly in that true Catholicke faith and that hee shall be obedient to Ecclesiasticall Canons 11. Let no man refuse to receiue the Sacrament of the Supper when it is offered by him who hath a lawfull calling to ministrate it 12. Absolution should bee pronounced when perill of death impendeth albeit complet satisfaction be not made 13. The holy Sacrifice shall not be ministered by persons possessed with deuils or transported with the passions of madnesse 14. He who ministreth at the Altar shall haue other concurring with him to the end that if he be suddenly oppressed with any infirmitie the other assistant brother may supply his place 15. Councels are ordained yeerely to bee kept IF order of time be not precisely kept in commemoration of the Councels of Bracara and Toledo let no man maruell some regard must be had to the memorie of the Reader and it is not meet◠that the Councels of Toledo being many in number and so frequently conueened following vpon the necke of another except the eleuenth Councell conueened twelue yeeres after the 10 should be miserably disioyned if such things be not comported with by the fauorable Reader it will bee hard to abridge this head of Councels to the contentment of a learned Reader This Councell of Bracara by Caranza is called the first Councell of Bracara In it many old opinions of the Priscillianists and Manicheans concerning prohibition of marriage and meates are condemned together with the heresies of Samosatenus Photinus Cerdon and Marcion Canons set forth in this Councell are so coincident with the Canons of other Councels that there is no necessity to make rehearsall of them In the 30. Canon of this Councell it is ordained That no poesie shall be sung in the Church except the Psalter of the old Testament IN the 4 yeere of Bambas King of Gothes eight Bishops were assembled in Braga In the beginning of the Councell for confession of their Faith they made a new rehearsall of the summe of the Nicene Faith After this they set downe eight ordinances in manner following 1. That all superstitious opinions being reiected bread and wine mixed with water onely should be offered in the Sacrifice and not the liquor of milke nor pure vnmixed wine nor bread dipped in wine Here marke that the giving of vnmixed wine to the people in the Sacrament or Sacrifice is called superstition such bitter fruits do ensue vpon magnifying the traditions of men that Christs owne institution is called superstition 2. That vessels dedicated to God bee not abused and imployed to secular and humane vses 3. A Presbyter when he sayeth masse let him bee cloathed with his Orarium on both his shoulders and be signated on his brest with the signe of the Crosse. 4. Let no person of the Clergy cohabit with women no not with their owne sisters without witnesses of their conversation 5. Vpon Festivall dayes reliques enclosed in an Arke shal be borne vpon the shoulders of the Levites as the Arke of God in the old Testament was accustomed to bee borne 1 Chron. 15.15 and not about the necke of a Bishop and in case the Bishop will needs carry them himselfe then shall he walke on foot with the rest of the people and not be carryed in a coach by his Deacons Here marke
how mens traditions are equalled to the commandements of God 6. Presbyters Abbots and Levites for the dignity of their calling shall not bee punished with stripes by the Bishoppe lest in dispersoning the principall members of his owne body hee bring himselfe into contempt of his subiectes 7. Let no honour be sold for promise of rewards 8. Let governours of Churches haue a greater regard to the weale of the Church then to their owne particular affaires In the end thankes is given to God and the King for their meeting they subscribe the fore named ordinances Here marke that in the country of Spain the King still keepeth in his owne hand power of convocating Councels IN the yeere of our Lord 681. and in the 12. yeare of the raigne of Constantius Pogonatus a general Councell was assembled at Constantinople by the authority of the Emperour and not by the commandement of Pope Donus nor Agatho his successor nor of Leo the 2. the successor of Agatho as the Divall letter of Constantine directed to Pope Donus and received and obeyed by Pope Agatho cleerly testifies As for the number of Bishops convened there is an infinite discrepance betwixt the authors who make rehearsall of their number the least number reckoned is 150. The question discussed in this Assembly was about the wils and actions of Christ. Macarius Patriarch of Antiochia and Stephanus his disciple pertinaciously defended the errour of the Monothelites confirming also their opinion by the testimony of Honorius sometime Bishop of Rome whose letters written to Sergius sometime Bishop of Constantinople being read in the open audience of the Councell made it cleerly knowne that he also was infected with the erour of the Monothelites For this cause Honorius Bishop of Rome Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus Bishops of Constantinople Cyrus Bishop of Alexandria and Macarius Bishop of Antiochia were all excommunicated likewise Polychronius a ridiculous Monke and his complices were excōmunicated and with great shame and ignominy reiected from the fellowship of the Church For he offered to proue the opinion of the Monothelites to bee the truth of God by writing the summe of that opinion in a paper and over spreading it vpon a beere wherein a dead man was laid hee put the Councell in hope that hee would raise the dead man to life againe but after tryall hee was found to be a lying and a deceitfull fellow and he likewise was excommunicated This Councell made no Canons and Constitutions concerning Church-discipline as other Councels had done before For this cause Iustinian the 2. the son of Pogenatus gathered these same Fathers who had beene in the preceding Councel to perfect the worke which they had begun They made many Constitutions but two in special which displeased the Romane Church First they annulled the doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices Secondly they ordained the Patriarch of Constantinople to bee in equall authority with the Pope of Rome These Constitutions and Canons Pope Sergius refused to subscribe albeit his ambassadors in his name had subscribed them in Constantinople BAmbas King of the Goths resigned the title of his royall authority to Euringius and he was content to be shaven and enter into a Monastery In the first yeere of the raigne of Euringius 33. Bishops with some Abbots and 13. Noblemen of the Court convened at Toledo The King amongst many other things protested that he was content that whatsoeuer thing in his lawes seemed repugnant to reason it should be corrected by the prudent advice of this Councel The Fathers of this Councell for confession of Faith adhered vnto the Councell of Nice After this the hand-writings and seales of Bambas and the Nobles of his Court and the testimony of Iulianus ArchBishop of Toledo are presented whereby it is knowne that Bambas had resigned his government in favour of Euringius willing them to chuse him to be his successor So it came to passe that Euringius was solemnly proclaimed to be King and the people were assoyled from the oath of allegeance made to Bambas and were astricted to the obedience of King Euringius In this Councell it was forbidden that new Bishoprickes should be erected in villages and the Bishop of Emerita begged pardon for this that he had ordayned a Bishop in a certaine village being compelled so to doe by the commandement of King Bambas They who stand at the Altar and sacrificeth are commanded to eate of the sacrifice as often as they offer it The acts made in preceding Councels against the Iewes were renewed and amplified in this Councell and thankes was given to God and the King for their meeting Other Councels of Toledo vnder the raignes of Euringius and Egita seeing there is little written of them worthy of Commemoration I over-passe with silence CENTVRIE VIII IN the yeere of our Lord 712. a Councell was assembled at London where Bonifacius was present and Brithuvaldus the chiefe Prelate of England and the Kings of Saxons ruling in England were commanded vnder pain of cursing to be present at this Councell The purposes intreated in this Councell were two to wit concerning the adoration of Images and prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices About worshipping of Images no disputation was heard whether that service did agree with the written word of God or not This was counted a sufficient wartant for bringing Images into places of adoration and for worshipping them especially the Image of the Virgin Mary that Eguvinus a superstitious Monke in England of the order of Saint Benet who afterwards was made a Bishoppe affirmed that the Virgine Marie appeared vnto him in a dreame and declared that it was her will that her Image should bee set vp in the Churches and worshipped These dreames once confirmed by the oath of Eguvinus and approoved by Constantine Bishop of Rome and obtruded by Bonifacius the Popes Legate they were embraced in England with little contradiction in such a corrupt time The other purpose entreated in this Councell was prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices This doctrine of the Romane Church was not received without reluctation of the Clergie Onely a ground was laid whereupon followed a building of the doctrine of Divels ABout the same time that is about the yeere of our Lord 712. it is supposed that the Emperour Philippicus gathered a Councell at Constantinople for vndoing of the sixt generall Councell in the which the errour of the Monothelites was condemned and that hee did this according to a promise made to a Monke named Iohn who fore-told him that hee would bee made Emperour and craved this promise of him that when hee should bee advanced to the Imperiall dignity he should vndoe the sixt generall Councell But the writers of this History doe not make particular mention of the Fathers who were present at this Councell The rest of the History is cleere that Philippicus razed the pictures of the
Whitsonday except necessitie feare of death require preuening of these times 5. That vnitie and concord should bee kept in the Church because we haue one common Father in heauen one Mother to wit the Church in earth one Faith one Baptisme and one Celestiall inheritance prepared for vs Yea and God is not the God of dissention but of peace according as it is said Blessed be the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God The sixt and seuenth Canons intreat of Orphanes and poore people whose weaknesse is to be supported but no man should take vantage of their poore and desolate estate The eight Canon recommendeth vnitie to be kept betwixt men in spirituall offices and ciuill Iudges a Canon indeede if it had beene obserued verie necessarie for the estate of this time The ninth tenth Canon prescribeth to the Clergie Preceptes of a modest and sober life with abstinence from the delicate pleasures of the world and from Theatricall Spectacles from pompes and vnhonest banquets and to bee more readie to goe to the house of mourning to comfort them who are heauie hearted than to the house of banquetting Vsurie auarice ambition and taking of rewardes for the benefites of God such as vse to be taken for medicinall cures is forbidden To beware of deceit and conjurations to flee hatred emulation backe-biting and enuying wandering eyes and an vnbridled tongue a petulant and proude gesture are forbidden filthie words and workes are altogether abhorred chastitie is recommended the frequent visitations of the houses of Widowes and Virgines is prohibited due obedience is to bee giuen to Seniors to take heede to doctrine reading and spirituall songes as it becommeth men who haue addicted themselues vnto diuine seruice Precepts concerning the behauiour of Monkes Nunnes and the fabricke of their dwelling places I ouer-passe with silence left I should ouercharge a short Compend with an heape of vnnecessarie thinges In the 32. Canon the difference betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set downe 33. The great Litanie or Rogations to bee obserued three dayes by all Christians with fasting fackecloath ashes walking barefooted and all kinde of humble carriage 34.35 and 36. Publicke Fastings and keeping of Festiuall dayes is commanded 37. The Sabboth day is to be kept holy In it no Merchant Wares to be sold and no criminall cause to be judged 38. and 39. Tythes are precisely to be payed And men fleeing to Churches for safeguard are not to be violentlie drawne out of their refuge 40. In Churches and the portches thereof let no secular judgements be exercised 41. Let no ancient Church be spoyled of tythes and possessions for the building of new Oratories 42. Concerning Church-rentes bestowed for reparation and vpholding of Churches 43. and 44. That no Priest say Masse himselfe alone for if hee haue no person present except himselfe how can hee say Dominus vobiscum or Sursum corda or such other passages Also frequent offering of the Sacrifice of the Masse and presenting of the Paxe is recommended to Christian people 45. That euery person bee acquainted with the Lords Prayer and the Beliefe and they who can no otherwise comprehend these things let them learne them in their owne vulgar language 46. Drunkennesse is detested and they who continue in this sinne without amendement are ordained to be excommunicated 57. God-fathers shall attend that their spirituall children bee brought vp in the true Faith 48. Filthie libidinous songes are not to bee sung about Churches 49. The cohabitation with women is forbidden to all the members of the Clergie 50. Let all Bishops Abbots and Church men haue such Aduocates and Agentes in their affaires who are men that feare God and are haters of all vnrighteous dealing 51. Let not the dead bodies of the Saincts be transported from place to place without the aduice of the Princes of the countrey or the Bishop and Synode 52. No dead bodie shall bee buried within the Church except the bodie of a Bishop or of an Abbot or of a worthie Presbyter or of a faithfull Laicke person 53. Incestuous persons are to bee searched out and separated from the fellowship of the Church except they bee penitent 54.55 and 56. Marriage in the fourth degree of consanguinitie is forbidden and that no man shall marrie his spirituall daughter or sister neither the woman whose sonne or daughter hee hath led to the Sacrament of Confirmation and in case they be found to be married they shall be separated againe And no man shall take in marriage his wiues sister neither shall a woman marrie her husbands brother IN the yeere of our Lord 813. a Councell was assembled at Rhemes by the cōmandement of Charles the great for it is to be remarked that he not only assēbled that famous Coūcell of Frankford Anno. 794. in the which adoration of Images was condemned but also when he was now aged saw many abuses in the Church hee endeuoured by all meanes possible to procure reformation of the lewd manners of Church-men Therefore he appointed at one time to wit Anno 813. fiue National Coūcels to be conueened in diuers places for reformatiō of the Clergie people One was conueened at Mentz as hath bin declared Another at Rhemes the third at Towrs the fourth at Cabilone or Chalons the fift at Arles In all these Councels no opposition is made to the Councell of Frankford neither was the adoration of Images auowed in any of these Councels So much auaileth the authority of a Prince for suppressing of false doctrin and heresie In this Councell at Rhemes Wulfarius Archbishop was president 44. canons are rehearsed in the 2. Tome of Councels made in this Councell In the 1. Can. it was cōcluded That euery man should diligētly acquaint himself with the Articles of his faith 2. That euery man shuld learn the Lords Praier cōprehēd the meaning thereof 3. That euery man promoted to Ecclesiasticall orders shal walke worthily cōforme to his calling 4. The Epistles of Paul were read to giue instructiōs to sub-deacons how they shuld behaue thēselues Yet is there not one word in all the Epistles of Paul of a sub-deacon 5. The Gospell was read to giue instructiō to Deacons to minister condingly in their office 6. Ignorant Priests are instructed to celebrate the Seruice with great vnderstanding 7. In like manner they are instructed how to prepare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Sacramēt of Baptisme 8. The holy Canons were read out of the Decretall of Innocentius for ordering the life of Chanons 9. The rule of Saint Benedict was read to reduce Abbots and their Conuents to a remembrance of their order 10. The Pastorall booke of Gregorius was read to admonish Pastors of their dutie 11. Sentences of diuers ancient Fathers were read to admonish men of all rankes both Prelates and subiects to bring forth the fruit of a good conversation 12. These things being done they set downe
a forme of receiuing of confessions and prescribing of penance according to the Canonicall institutions 13. They reasoned about the eight principall vices to the end their diuersitie being distinguished every man might know what vices he should eschew and teach others to beware of the same 14. That Bishops should take heed of the reading of the bookes of the Canonicke Scripture and the bookes of Fathers and should attend vpon the preaching of the Word of God 15. That Bishops should preach the Sermons and Homilies of holy Fathers in such sort as all the people might vnderstand them The 16. Canon is coincident with the 12. 17. That Bishops and Abbots permit no man to solace the company with filthy gesting in their presence but let poore and indigent people be refreshed at their tables with lectures of divine Scripture and praising of God according to the Precept of the Apostle that whether wee eate or drinke let all things be done to the glory of God 18. Gluttony and Drunkennesse forbidden to Bishops and the Ministers of God 19. Let not Bishops bee rash to iudge in things secret which are to bee referred to the iudgement of God who can manifest things hid vp in darknesse and discouer the secrets of the heart 20. Presbyters shall not transport themselues from a low place to a greater 21. Whosoever by paying money procureth a preferment in the Church shall be deposed 22. No Church-man shall cohabite with a woman except it be with his mother or sister or such like persons by whose company no suspition of vncleannesse can arise Precepts given to Monkes and Nunnes I passe by as I did in the former Councell Canon 35. The Sabbath day shall be kept holy and in it no servile worke shall bee done according to the Lords commandement 36. Let no man bestow vpon the Church that thing which by vnlawfull meanes hee hath fraudulently with-drawne from others 37. Nor yet by lies and deceitfull meanes with-draw any thing duly belonging to the Church 38. Let tythes be precisely payed 39. Let no man presume to receiue rewards for his decreet and sentence 40. Let prayers and oblations be made for the Emperour and his noble race that it would please God to preserue them in all happines in this present life and vouchsafe vnto them celestiall ioyes in company of the Angels in the life to come In the 41. Canon mention is made of a certaine rent left by King Pipinus of Good memory which they wish the Emperour Charles Pipinus sonne should not alter nor transferre into another summe in respect that by so doing many periuries and false testimonies might ensue 42. And that no man should be remoued from his mansion to whom the Emperours almes is distributed 43. And that the statute may bee confirmed by his Highnesse allowance whereby all contentions and strifes are ordained to haue a decision and end 44. And that the statute made in Bononia concerning false witnesses may be ratified and confirmed with augmentation if neede require for eschewing of periuries false testimonies and many other inconueniences IN the yeere of our Lord 813. and at the commandement of the Emperour Carolus Magnus a Councell of many Bishops and Abbots was assembled about establishing of Ecclesiasticall discipline in the towne of Towers In the first Canon all men are admonished to be obedient to the Emperour Charles the Great and to keepe the oath of allegeance made vnto him and to make prayers and supplications for his prosperity and wel-fare 2. All Bishoppes shall diligently reade and frequently peruse the bookes of holy Scripture the histories of the Euangels and the Epistles of Paul together with the bookes of ancient Fathers written thereupon 3. It is not lawfull for any Bishop to bee ignorant of the Canons of the Church and of the Pastorall booke of Gregorius in the which every man as in a liuely mirrour might see himselfe 4. Let every Bishop feede the flocke committed vnto him not onely with doctrine but also with examples of good conversation 5. A Bishop must not be giuen to sumptuous banquets but be content with a moderate diet lest hee should seeme to abuse the counsell of our Lord saying Take heed that your hearts be not surfeited with gluttony or drunkennesse but let holy lecture be at his table rather then the idle wordes of flattering fellowes 6. Let strangers and indigent people bee at Bishops tables whom they may refresh both with corporall and spirituall repast 7. The delicate pleasure of the eare and eyes are to bee eschewed left by such pleasures the minde be effeminate and inchanted 8. Let not the Lords servants delight in vaine gesting nor in hunting nor hawking 9. Let Presbyters and Deacons follow the foot-steps of their Bishops assuring themselues that the good conuersation enioyned vnto their Bishops is also enioyned vnto them 10. Let Bishops haue a great sollicitude and care towards the poore and be faithfull dispensators of Ecclesiasticall goods as the Ministers of God and not as hunters after filthy lucre 11. It is lawfull for Bishops with consent of Presbyters and Deacons to bestow out of the Church treasure to support indigent people of that same Church 12. A Presbyter is not to be ordained vntill hee bee thirtie yeere old 13. Let the Bishop make diligent inquisition in his owne parish Church that no Presbyter comming from any other parts make seruice in his Church without letters of recommendation 14. Let a Presbyter leaving a low place and presuming to an higher incurre that same punishment which a Bishop deprehended in the like fault should incurre 15. A Presbyter who attaineth to a Church by giving money for it let him bee deposed 16. Let tythes bestowed vpon Churches by advice of Bishops be faithfully distributed to the poore by the Presbyters 17. The families of Bishops shall be instructed in the summe of the true faith In the knowledge of the retribution to be given to good men and the condemnation of people and of the resurrection and last iudgement and by what kinde of workes eternall life may be promerited and that the Homilies containing these instructions shall bee translated into Rusticke-Latine-language to the end that every person may vnderstand them Marke in what estimation the Latine language hath beene at this time that instructions in Rusticke and barbarous Latine are counted better then instructions in good French language 18. It is the dutie of the Bishop to instruct his Presbyter concerning the Sacrament of Baptisme what it is that they should desire the people baptized to renounce namely that they should renounce the divell and all his workes and his pomps Now the workes of the Diuell are murther fornication adulterie drunkennesse and other such like faults But the pompes of the Divell are pride ostentation swelling conceits vaine-glory loftinesse and such other faults as spring vp from such grounds 19. Presbyters are precisely to be admonished that when they say the masse and do communicate they doe
and Iudges of the Citie 24. Let fugitiue Presbyters and Church-men bee inquired and sent backe againe vnto their Bishop 25. He who hath a benefice bestowed vpon him for helping the fabricke of Churches let him support the building of them 26. They who sinne publickely let them make their publicke repentance according to the Canons These things haue wee shortly touched to bee presented vnto our Lord the Emperour and to be corrected by his Highnesse wisedome IN the yeere of our Lord â—â—â— and in the third yeere of the raigne of Basilius Emperour of the East and vnder the raigne of Lewis the second Emperour of the Westâ— the Ambassadours of Pope Adrian the second came to Constantinople Basilius the Emperour gathered a Councell against Photius the Patriarch of Constantinople In this Councell great policie was vsed to haue all things framed to the contentment of Adrian Bishop of Rome Foâ— no man was admitted to the Councell except only they who had subscribed the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome aboue all other Bishops They who refused to subscribe the fore-saide supremacie were contemptuously rejectâ—d and not admitted to the Councell So did the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome proceede to further grouth by flattering of Basilius who slew his associate Michael as it was founded in the flatterie of Bonifacius the third who flattered that vile murtherer Phocas who slew his master Mauritius In this Councell Photius was deposed and excommunicated his bookes which he wrote against the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome were commanded to be burnt Photius was accused for this that he had accepted the office of a Bishop before hee he receiued other Ecclesiasticall orders Photius alleadgâ—d that this was no sufficient cause of deposition in respect that Ambrose Bishop of Millan Nectarius bishop of Constantinople and of late dayes Tarasius with consent of the Bishop of Rome of Laickes were made Bishops The Ambassadours of Pope Adrian the second answered that Ambrose was endewed with extraordinarie giftes Nectarius was called at an extraordinarie time to wit when heresie was so ouerspred that it was an harde thing to finde out a man who was not spotted with heresie and concerning the aduancement of Tarasius to be Bishop of Constantinople to whose admission Adrian the first gaue consent they answered That it was done for a speciall cause in regard hee was a zealous maintainer of the adoration of Images This answer declareth that in case Photius also had beene a zealous maintainer of the adoration of Images the Roman Bishop and his Ambassadours could haue dispensed with the want of Ecclesiasticall orders preceeding his admission to his Bishopricke as they did in the person of Tarasius In this Councel also the Ambassadoures of Adrian magnifying the authoritie of the Pope affirmed that the Bishop of Rome might judge of the actions of all other Bishops but no man might judge of him And albeit the Orientall Bishops in the sixt Generall Councell cursed Pope Honorius after his death yet it is to be marked say they that hee was accused of heresie And in this case onely it is lawfull for inferiours to resist their superiours and to disclaime their peruerse opinions In this point also they said That none of the Patriarches and Bishops proceeded against the defunct Bishop of Rome without the consent of the Roman Chaire going before them Now obserue good Reader with what fidelitie Onuphrius defendeth the name of Honorius the first as free of all suspition of heresie when as the Ambassadours of Adrian the second for verie shame durst not presume to doe it More-ouer the worshipping of Images in this Councell got a new allowance againe and it was commanded That the image of Christ should be holden in no lesse reuerence than the bookes of the Gospell The Bulgarians also were made subject to the Romane Bishop And Ignatius Patriarch of Constantinople in regarde he was restored to his place againe by the meanes of the Bishop of Rome hee made no opposition to the contrarie Neuerthelesse this alteration continued but short time for the Bulgarians droue out of their bounds the Latine Priests and were serued with Greeke Priests againe Diuers Canons were constituted in this CouÌ„cell but so coincident with the Canons of other Councels that it is a superfluous thing to make a rehearsall of them In the subscription of the Actes of the Councel great controuersie fell out for the Grecians could not abide the name of Ludouicke Emp. of the Weâ— because they thought that the honourable name of an Emp. only belonged to their owne Soueraigne Lord who was Emp. of CoÌ„stantinople More ouer a number of them came to the Emp. Basilius and requested him that their subscriptions might be redeliuered vnto them againe wherein they had subscribed to the supremacie of the Romane Bishop or else the Church of Constantinople would be in perpetuall subiection to the chaire of Rome These subscriptions afore-sayd were restored againe but with great difficulty CAarolus Caluus convocated a Councell in France at Acciniacum consisting of ten Bishops The Bishops of Lions Vason and Trier were chiefe Presidents in the Councell Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes accused in this convention his owne nephew Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum as a man disobedient to his Metropolitan and a man who for private iniuries had excommunicated all the Presbyters of his Church debarring them from saying masse baptizing Infants absolving of Penitents and burying of the dead And Hincmarus Bishoppe of Rhemes proponed vnto the Councell 50. Canons which he desired to be read in the Synode and they allowed all the Canons written by the Bishop of Rhemes Also they condemned Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum of petulancy and compelled him to subscribe obedience to Charles his King and to his Metropolitan hee was also deprived of his office and his eyes were thrust out But Pope Iohn the ninth vnder the raigne of Carolus Crassus restored him to his office againe being the more affectioned vnto him because hee had appealed from his owne Bishop and from the decreet of a Synode in his owne countrey to be iudged by the chaire of Rome IN the yeere of our Lord 899. and in the eight yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Arnulphus in the Towne of Triburium twenty and two Bishops of Germany were assembled who made many constitutions a great number whereof Caranza is compelled to over-passe with silence lest he should make a superfluous repetition of Canons mentioned before First it was concluded in this Councell that excommunicate persons if they repent not are to be subdued by the Emperour Canon 10. That a Bishop shall not bee deposed before his cause bee iudged by twelue Bishops and a Presbyter by sixe Bishoppes and a Deacon by three Bishops 11. A Church-man who committeth slaughter shall bee deposed albeit hee hath beene enforced vnto it 12. Baptisme shall not bee ministred except at Easter and Whitsunday without necessity require 13. Tythes are to be paid for
taken from him 3. That no man should reuenge the wrongs done to his blood and kindred 4. That men should be compelled to pardon them who smote them 5. That euery Friday a fasting shall bee kept with bread and water 6. That on Saturday there should be an abstinence from flesh and fat things 7. That men should content themselues with this kinde of fasting for remission of all their sinnes so that they neede none other kind of repentance That all men should be bound by an oath to obserue these new lawes they who refused to sweare obedience to these ordinances should be separated from the Church and they should neither be visited when they were sicke nor buried when they were dead These new lawes which came not from heauen but from the instinct of an euill spirit many were content to receaue Others who were of more sound iudgement specially the B. of Cambry reiected them as repugnaÌ„t most part to the word of God to the coÌ„stitutions of the Church to the peace of wel-ordered common-wealths to charitie Alwayes consider that this was a time of horrible darknesse and ignorance wherein any durst affirme in face of a Councell that such lawes came from heauen as were flatlie repugnant to the written word of God IN the yeere of our Lord 1046. and vnder the raigne of the Emperour Henry the third an assemblie was gathered by the Emperour at Sutrium a towne of Italie for pacefying an horrible schisme in the Roman Church for three Popes contended for the Popedome to wit Benedict the ninth Silvester the third and Gregorie the sixt when the fathers had conueened at Sutrium and the Emperour had considered the causes of the scisme and the ambition of Prelats striuing for superioritie they thought expedient to remoue all these three monsters and to choose one Sindigerus Bishop of Bamberg to be Pope whom they called Clemens the second Moreouer the Emperour did bind the Romans with an oath that they shuld in time to come abstaine from the electioÌ„ of the Pope ABout the yeere of our Lord 1050. Leo the ninth assembled a Councell at Rome against Berengarius Deacon at Angiers vpon this occasion was the Councell gathered Berengarius saw that the opinion of Transubstantiation was ouerspred in his time to wit that after the words of coÌ„secration the substance of bread evanished and the substance of the body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament vnder the accidents of bread and wine which opinion he disaproued and followed rather the opinion of Augustine Ioannes Scotus about the Sacrament of the supper He writ also letters to Lanfrancus B. of Canterbury about this question The Messenger who carried the letters did not find Lanfrancus in Normandie whether he was directed Therefore he deliuethe letters to some of the Clergie who opened the letters of Berengarius and sent them to Pope Leo the ninth After the sight whereof he assembled a Councell at Rome and read the letters of Berengarius and condemned him though absent as an heretike LEo the ninth assembled another Councell at Vercellis against Berengarius in the moneth of September of the yeere of our Lord 1050 so that both these Councels were holden in one yeere against Berengarius Berengarius was warned to bee present at the Councell Lanfrancus Bishop of Canterbury was also present In Berengarius name compeared two of the Clergie who were taken and cast into prison The issue of the Councell was this The Bookes of Ioannes Melrosius Scotus de eucharistia were read in the Councell and condemned Leo likewise appointed in many Prouinces Synods to be assembled against Berengarius notwithstanding he persisted constantly in his opinion vntill the dayes of Pope Nicolaus the second IN the yeere of our Lord 1055. Pope Victor the second assembled a Councell at Towrs against Berengarius The Popes Ambassadours were present at the Councel and Berengarius answered that hee adhered to no particular opinion of his owne but he followed the Common doctrine of the vniversall Church and that hee would not be contentious This gentle answere mitigated the kindled affections of his Adversaries yet he persisted in his own opinion for this cause Lanfrancus obiected against him that he deluded the Councel of Towrs with general doubtsome words IN the yeere of our Lord 1059. Pope Nicolaus 2. assembled a great Councel at Rome of 100. 13. B. Berengarius was present at the Councel Berengarius through infirmitie submitted himselfe to be corrected by Pope Nicolaus 2. and the Councel They prescribed to him a forme of renounciatioÌ„ of his error as they called it which Berengarius accepted recaÌ„ted Notwithstanding afterward he published in writing a refutatioÌ„ of the doctrine of Transubstantiation damned his owne recantation Manie other constitutions were made in this Councel such as that the election of the Pope should belong to the Colledge of Cardinals that no man should heare a Masse sayd by a married Priest that no Laick person should be iudge to a man in a spirituall office that no person should marrie any of his owne consanguinitie vntill the seventh generation with many other foolish constitutions IN the yeere of our Lord 1060. as appeareth Pope Nicholaus the second sent Petrus Damianus to hold a Councell in his name at Millan The questions disputed in the Councell were two chiefly to wit about Simonie and the errour of the Nicolaitans It was accounted Simonie to receiue investment by staffe and ringe from a secular man It was counted the errour of the Nicolaitans when Priests married wiues And Damianus to bring such mariages vnder the Compasse of Heresie hee said that faults in manners if they were obstinatlie deâ—â—nded they became Heresies But suppose this was true as it is a false definition how can it bee called the heresie of the Nicolaitans seeing that Nicolaitans were not called Heretikes in respect they had wiues but in respect they made their wiues common as I haue declared in the first Centurie The issue of this Councell was that the whole Towne of Millan both Clergie and people was in an vprore complaining that the Towne wherein Ambrose was Bishop should be brought in subiection to the Ordinances of any other Church Damianus was in great feare to bee rent in pieces albeit the Archbishop of Millan was sitting at his one side and the Bishoppe of Luca at his other After that the tumult was pacified Damianus did speake vnto the Clergie and people manie things concerning the prerogatiue of the Chaire of Rome and the Bishop of Millan standing before the Altar did sweare that hee should bee obedient to the ordinances of the Roman Church in extirping the heresie of Simonie and of the Nicolaitans and many of the Clergie following his example did the like and were content like inconstant fooles to receaue penance for cohabitation with their owne lawfull wifes IN the yeere of our Lord 1066.
The Emperour Henry the fourth assembled a Councell at Mantua for pacifiing the scisme of the Roman Church which arose betweene Alexander the second and Candalus who was called Honorius 2. They contended one against another with armoure violence shedding of blood and cursings For Alexander conueened them who were of his faction at Rome deliuered Honorius to the Deuill as an ambitious and bloodie man On the other part Honorius assembled his fauourers at Parma and cursed Alexander because hee bought the Popedome by money from the Romans and because hee accepted the Popedome without the foreknowledge and consent of the Emperour For pacifying of the outrage of these Roman vultures the Emperour appointed a Councell to be assembled at Mantua wherein Alexander was declared to be Pope Candalus had pardon and Gilbertus by whose Councell Candalus accepted the Popedome was made Archbishop of Rauenna 1. In this Councell it was ordained that no man should heare Masse sayd by a Priest who had a concubine 2. The sonnes of Priests may be accepted to Church orders prouiding the authoritie of the Pope be interponed to giue allowance thereto 3. He who is admitted to a Church-office willingly and wittingly by a Simoniake person shal be remoued from his Order 4. Monks destinat for monasterie shall not be admitted to offices in the Clergie 5. Members of the Clergie shall not accept Ecclesiasticall benefices from Laicke persons 6. No Ecclesiasticall office or benefice shall be sold for money but freelie giuen to them who are learned and godly 7. No person excommunicat shall haue power to excommunicate others POpe Alexander the second sent two Cardinals to Englād to pacifie the troubled estate of the Church there they conueened a Councell at Winchester wherein they deposed certaine Bishops Abbots from their offices and namely Stigandus Bishop of Canterburie Against whom these crimes were obiected First that he had possessed the chaire of Canterburie Robert Archbishop thereof being aliue Likewise that he possessed another Bishopricke with it as namely the Bishoppricke of Winchester and thirdly that he had receiued his pallium from Benedict the tenth a man vnlawfullie elected and reiected by fathers THe Emperour Henry the fourth was young when his father died and it was couenanted amongst the Princes and Bishops of Germanie that during the minoritie of the Emperour Henry the Princes and Bishops by course should attend vpon the young Emperour and should gouerne the estate of the country The Archbishop of Breme when hee had ended his course he gaue not place to others as it was couenanted but insinuated himselfe into the fauour of the yong king by giuing him Libertie to liue according to all the youthly conceits of his owne heart The rest of the Princes and Bishops were offended at this imperious carriage of the Archbishop of Breme and they assembled themselfes in Triburia which in our dayes is called Friburg In this Councell it was decreed that the Bishop of Breme shuld be declared to be an enemie to the countrey except he deliuered the king to be brought vp according to the couenant aforesaid IN the yeere of our Lord 1069. a Councell was assembled at Mentz vpon this occasion The Emperour Henry the fourth disliked his wife and delt secretly with the Bishop of Mentz for divorcement from her promising to bee addicted to his Councell and to interpose his authoritie to bring the people of Turingia vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Mentz and to compell them to pay tithes vnto him The Emperour Henry could not blame his wife of any fault Onely he caried no good liking toward her when the Coūcell was conueened at Mentz Petrus Damianus came Ambassador from the Pope and by many arguments disswaded the Emperour from the intended diuorcement It agreed not with human lawes not with the constitutions of the Church nor with the Emperours honour and it would raise a great scandal in the Church And it was the Emperours dutie to punish such faults in others but not to giue them example of sin in his owne person Finallie if the Emp. would not obey wholsome admonitiō he had power to vse the Censurs of the Church against him and to withhold him from the honour of his coronation The issue of the Councell was this the Emp. desisted from his purpose of diuorcement honoured his Lady with ornaments agreeing to her Princely estate but cohabited not louingly with her IN the yeere of the Lord 1974. Gregorie the seuenth otherwise called Hildebrand hauing alreadie prepared a way to execute Antichristian pride in Councels of Millan and Mantua before hee was authorised Pope Now in his Popedome hee beginneth to execute those vnhappie decrees of Millan and Mantua And hee commaundeth the Bishop of Mentz to separat the Priests of his bounds from their wifes or else to depose them from their offices The Bishop of Mentz willing to obey the Popes commandement assembled a Councel at Ersurd wherein he declared what cōmandement he had receiued On the other part married Priests said they had libertie to marry by the written word of God and in doing so they followed the example of the men of God and fathers of the Church Thirdly they confirmed by many reasons that it was lavefull to marrie speciallie for avoiding fornication and that it was an auncient custome in the Church that men of spirituall offices married wiues Finally with humble supplications and requests they entreated the Bishoppe of Mentz that hee would not separate them from the company of their louing wiues and deare beloved children But all these reasons and supplications mixed with teares prevailed nothing at the Bishops hand because hee said a necessity was laid vpon him to obey the Popes commandement The married Priests arose and departed out of the Councell and consulted amongst themselues what was meetest to be done Some of them thought it expedient to depart from the Councell and not to returne to it againe Others thought it better to returne to the Councell againe and to put hands on the Bishop and spoyle him of his life before hee could promulgate the prohibition of marriage which the Apostle calleth the doctrine of divels The Bishop being advertised of this conspiracy against his life resolued with faultering words to mitigate their wrath promising to write to the Pope to abstaine from imposing such hard conditions to married Priests so was their fury asswaged This tumult was scarce pacified when another greater arose The avaritious Bishop exacted tythes from the people of Turingia besides the covenant that had past betweene him and them at Gerstundun after great contentention and effusion of blood yet the Bishop overpassing the covenant claymed rigourously more then was covenanted The people of Turingia being inraged were purposed to haue revenged the iniuries which this avaritious Prelate had done vnto them with shedding of his blood and the fervent heate of their rage was so great that all the Bishops and members of the Clergie
who were assessors to the Archbishop of Mentz departed from him fearing the rage of commoued people This Councell began with pride and ended with fury and tumult The Bishop of Mentz in great wrath departed to Helegenstad because he could hardly digest the repulse which he gat in the Councell IN the yeere of our Lord 1075. in the moneth of October a Councell was assembled at Mentz wherein the Bishop of Chur as Ambassador from the Pope Gregorie the seventh was present and straitly commanded the Bishop of Mentz vnder paine of deposition from his prelacie to proceed against married Priestes according to the Popes commandement The Bishoppe terrified with the Popes threatning convened a Synode at Mentz The married Priests finding that the Bishoppe againe was willing to execute the Popes vngodly commandement they left supplications which they had vsed in the Councell of Erfurde and with their hands and a vehement commotion of their bodies so terrified the Bishop of Mentz and the Popes Ambassadour that they were glad by flying to escape the danger of their life Not daring to assemble any mo Councels to that effect AFter this Pope Hildebrand in the lofty conceits of his proud and Antichristian heart intended to gather a Councel at Rome in the time of Lent And he gaue warning to the Emperour to compeare before him and to answer to such things as had bin obiected against him The Emperor thought it no time to slumber nor sleepe when this seditious Pope threatned to cut him off from the body of the Church if hee did not compeare before his Iudgement-seat Therefore the Emperour assembled all the Bishops of his kingdome to the number of 24. in the towne of Wormes Many Abbots also were present The question intreated in this Councell was concerning the deposition of Pope Hildebrand As they were devising concerning this purpose in the Councell Hugo Blancus a Cardinall came from Rome with letters from the Popes enemies with many accusations against him These were read openly in the Councell Hildebrand was accused of periury and ambition of avarice and of pride and they desired that Hildebrand might bee displaced and another seated in his roome The determination of the Councell was this that Hildebrand who called himselfe Gregorie the seventh a forclopen Monke an vsurper of the Popedome without consent of the Emperour and against his oath a false interpreter and wrester of holy Scripture a renter of vnity a man who mixed all divine and humane things so together that he polluted them both a man who heard the false accusations of vngodly people who in one cause would be an accuser a witnesse a Iudge and an enemy who separated husbands from their wiues and preferred whoredome to lawfull marriage who stirred vp the people against their Bishops and teachers who counted no man consecrated lawfully except hee had bought his Prelacie from his dependers and begged it from himselfe a seeker of popular applause and a deceiver of the people vnder colour of religion â— a man who like to Decius and the rest of the persecuting Emperours and worshippers of false gods vsurped both Empire and the Priesthood For all these forementioned causes the holy Emperour the Bishops and Senators and Christian people assembled with them decerned that Hildebrand should bee remooued from the Popedome and that the sheepe of Christ should not be committed to a Wolfe This decreet was subscribed by all the Bishops who were present at the Councell IN the yeere of our Lord 1076. another Councell was assembled at Triburia The Princes of Saxonie and Sweue came to the Councell with obstinate mindes setting their whole indeavours against the Emperour Henry the fourth He approached neere to the towne but the river of Rhene was interiected betweene them The Emperour in all submissiue manner promised to amend all the faults whereof they complained But their hearts being possessed with a superstitious favour to the chaire of Rome and being inclinable to sedition alteration of the State they returned a very hard answer to the Emperour wherein they made a commemoration of all his youthly infirmities and how their expectation of his amendment had often-times deceiued them But seeing their consciences witnessed vnto them that infirmities in Princes is no sufficient cause to shake off the yoke of their obedience Therefore in the end they pretend that in case they adhered any longer to him they were in danger to incurre the condemnation of their own soules because hee was excommunicated by the Apostolick chaire This Councell is like vnto a looking glasse wherein two things may bee evidently seene to wit the inconstancy of people and pride of the Roman Antichrist bearing downe the authority of Princes for desire of his owne advancement THe Pope had appointed a day of compearance to the Emperour to be iudged in Lent as hath beene declared heretofore This Councell was full of cursings flattering the Romanes and prodigall largition of money to those who followed the Pope For in this Councell Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna was cursed The Emperour Henry the fourth was not onely cursed but also denuded of his Imperiall dignity as if the Bishop of Rome had power to conferre the kingdomes of the world to whom hee pleaseth The flattering words of the Pope to the Romane Nobles Senators and People are beyond all measure of moderation For hee called them the head of the world having power to conferre all spirituall and civill dignities to whom they pleased Like as 270. yeeres agoe they transferred the Empire from the Grecians to the Germanes And like as the Emperour may displace an vnworthy souldier even so a souldier may forsake an vnrighteous Captaine After this hee distributed to his followers 15000. talents of siluer and so by cursings flattery and prodigality hee bewitched the Romans and engaged them against the Emperour IN the yeere of our Lord 1080. the Emperour Henry the fourth assembled of Germany and Italy 30. Bishops in the towne of Brixia-Notice together with many Princes of his kingdome All these consented that Hildebrand should be deposed from his Popedome and Gilbertus Bishoppe of Ravenna should be placed in his roome because Hildebrand was a subuerter of Ecclesiasticall order a troubler of the Imperiall estate a perturber of peace stirring vp dissention among brethren contention among those who lived peacebly divorcement among married persons and had troubled every thing that was setled in godlinesse and peace The tenour of the Decree followeth We who are assembled together by the providence of God in Brixia decerne that Hildebrand that obstinate preacher of sacrilegious flames and burnings a defender of periuries and murthers a Sorcerer and Inchanter a man who calleth in question the true Faith concerning the body and blood of Christ. We say they decerne that such a man should bee deposed and expelled from the Popedome and except nee forsake it after intimation of this Decree that hee is to be condemned perpetually IN the yeere
of our Lord 1081. the Emperor irritate with the incessant attempts of the Pope against his life and estate thought meet once to put an end to this labour and to the distresses of the Empire Therefore hee besieged the towne of Rome and tooke it Hildebrand with the rest of the Wolfes who had troubled the sheepfold of God they fled The Emperour with the advice of the Roman Senate appointed a Councell to be assembled at Rome wherein fugitiue Hildebrand should appeare and render an account of his adminstration but hee would not appeare Therefore he was deposed as a profane and wicked man a louer of discord a bloody man and an invader of the Apostolick chaire by Sorcery And Gilbertus by some called Wigbertus was placed in his roome AFter the death of Gregory the 7. the Romans had no regard to Gilbertus whom the Emperor had made Pope but they chose another who was Abbot in Cassinates named Desiderius He was not chosen by the Cardinalls nor by the Pope of Rome but by Mathildis and the Normans Commanders of Apulia as Functius recordeth all these were enemies to the Emperour After his election to the Popedome he was called Victor the third He assembled a Councell at Beneventum which was his natiue soyle There hee cursed Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna as an vsurper of the Chaire belonging to Gregory the seventh his predecessor Likewise he cursed Hugo Archbishop of Lions and Richard Abbot of Marseil because as it seemeth they had been his competitors This man walked closely in the footsteps of Hildebrand but his time was short for hee died before hee could execute the proud conceits of his minde after he had ruled one yeere and six months Platina attributeth vnto him onely the continuance of one yeere and foure moneths IN the yeere of our Lord 1095. Vrbanus the second gathered a great assembly at Clermont in Overnie of France The lessons of Hildebrand were forgot by his successours Therefore in this Councell and the Councell of Placentia and other Councels which I haue ouerpassed studying to shortnesse It was ordayned that no spirituall office nor rent annexed thereto should be received from the hand of a secular man in this Councell it was ordayned with advice of many Christian Princes that an army should bee raised vp and march toward Ierusalem for support of distressed Christians and recovery of the holy Land out of the hands of Infidels as hath beene declared in the History of the life of Vrbanus the second CENTVRIE XII THe multitude of Councels assembled in this Centurie if they should all be particularly rehearsed I doubt not but the Reader would bee wearied in reading them for they exceede the number of an hundred and fifteene Councels So that I am compelled to reduce them vnto certaine principall heads and to produce examples of every head so shall the intention and designe of them who assembled Councels in this time be cleerly knowne Some Councels were assembled for prohibition of Priests marriages others for excommunication of the Emperour some for the question of investment of Bishops being most willing to extort this priviledge out of the hands of the Emperour and to conferre it to the Bishops of Rome Some were gathered for deciding the question which arose by plurality of Popes contending hotly one against another for the Popedome Many Councels also were assembled for advancing of the warre called Bellum sacrum and setting forward Christians to fight against the Saracens for conquering the holy Land out of their hands Some few were assembled against men whom they supposed to bee Heretiques such as Abelardus and his disciple Gilbertus and Vualdenses When a few examples of every one of these heads shall be commemorated the luxriant superfluity of the Councels of this Centurie shall not be found inconvenienly abridged ALexius Emperour of Constantinople sent letters to Vrbanus the second wherein he declared the rage of the Turkes and implored support from the West Vrbanus assembled a Councell of all Nations at Paris and was present himselfe at the Councell incitating the hearts of all men to driue out the barbarous Turkes from the place wherein the redeemer of the world did suffer In this Councell were appointed an hundred thousand men out of Aquitania Normandie England Scotland Ireland Brittannia Galitia Wastemia France Flanders Lorane and other Nations toward the holy Land with Hademarus a Bishop who had power of binding and losing in the Popes name IN the yeere of our Lord 1110. the Bishop of Florence openly preached that Antichrist was already come which hee cleerely perceived by that horrible change of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ into an earthly Monarchie for the Bishops of Rome were rather Warriours then Preachers of the Word of God They opposed themselues to Emperours and most contemptuously abused them they depraued the articles of Faith prophaned the Sacraments instituted by Christ. Idolatry dayly increased hypocriticall discipline through propagation of Monastique orders and humane constitutions were out of measure extolled Moe were advanced to the Popedome by deceit weapons and slaughter then by free election Matrimoniall chastitie was banished from the order of Clergie-men who count themselues holy And finally the Bishop of Rome was like vnto a gulfe devouring and exhausting the substance of the world and administrating his turnes rather by force then reason These abuses and others like to these presented to the Bishop of Florence a notice that Antichrist was come alreadie and openly domineered in the Church Pascalis the second who was Pope at this time thought it was no time to slumber or sleepe in such a matter Therefore hee convened a Councell at Florence and called the Bishop of Florence to his accounts The arguments by which hee prooued that Antichrist was already come are buried in silence Onely hee was sharply rebuked and commanded that in time to come he should vtter no such doctrine IN the yeere of our Lord 1102. and in the third yeere of the raigne of Henry the first King of England Anselmus Archbishop of Canterburie a man much addicted to Pope Paschalis assembled a Councell at London for prohibition of the marriages of Priests This was an vncouth thing in England and some counted it an holy designe others a matter perilous as it was indeed lest men attempting things that were aboue their strength should fall into the snare of the Deuill and into horrible Lusts of vncleannesse which thing came to passe For horrible Sodomie had place among the Clergie and the yeere following Anselmus was compelled to conuene another Councell at S. Pauls in London and to make constitutions for punishment of those who were found to bee polluted with that vild lust of vncleannesse Neuerthelesse Anselmus was one of the number of the Antichristian Clergie who would be wiser than God and finde out better remedies than marriage to stay the intemperat lust of men who had not the gift of Continencie IN the yeere of our
Protectors entered into the Monasterie of Cluniake Concerning his opinions I haue spoken of them in the head of Heretikes IN the yeere of our Lord 1160. The schisme that fell out betwixt two Popes striuing for the Popedome after the death of Adrian the fourth to wit Alexander the third and Victor the fourth gaue occasion to the Emperour Fredericke the first being at that time in Italie to appoint a Councel to be assembled at Papia For remouing of the scisme and for deciding the controversie by declaring to which of the contending Popes the Popedome should belong Both the Popes were warned to appeare before the Councell The Emperour was present the first day of the meeting of the Councell and declared to the Bishoppes that hee was not ignorant that to the Emperour belonged power to convocate Councels like as Constantinus Theodosius Iustinianus had done before him and of latter time Carolus Magnus and the Emperour Otto Notwithstanding since that matters pertaining to diuine worship ought to be iudged by Bishops hee remitted the iudgement of this present controuersie to the fathers met together in the assemblie And he so departed out of the Councell Pope Alexander the third refused to appeare before the Councel of Papia for hee would be iudged by no man Pope Victor the fourth appeared and was content that his cause should be examined and iudged by the Councell The Councell tooke this effect that Victor the fourth was declared to bee Pope Alexander the third on the other part beeing full of indignation cursed the Emp. and Pope Victor and their adherents and gathered a Councell of his fauourers at Clermount wherein hee openly deliuered to Sathan the Emp. Fredericke and Pope Victor and Count Palatine and all other principall fauourers of Victor so great patience was in Pope Alexander when his papall dignitie was called in question Hee mixed as it were Heauen and Eartth together not for zeale to the glorie of God but for zeale to keepe his papall preheminence For beside the Councell which he assembled at Clermont hee gathered another at Towrs Anno 1164. and was no lesse prodigall in his cursings then hee had beene before in the Councell of Clermont against the Emperour and his Competitor Victor yea and hee sent an Ambassadour to Ierusalem and Antiochia and to the Princes and Patriarchs of the East for propagation of his owne authoritie IN the yeere of our Lord 1180. and in the twentieth yeere of the gouernment of Pope Alexander the third a great assemblie was conveened at Rome by the Popes authoritie an hundreth and fourescore Bishops were assembled together in the Church called Constantiniana Their consultation was about the forme of election of the Pope in time to come And first it was appointed and ordained that in case the Colledge of Cardinals did not with vniforme consent agree who should be elected Pope if the two part of them did consent to the election of any person the dissenting of the third part should be no sufficient cause to reiect him who was elected Secondly it was ordained that all Ecclesiasticall dignities conferred by Octavianus and Guido who now are accounted schismatikes shall be null and of none effect And that no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop before hee be 30. yeeres old neither shall any man bee admitted to be a Deacon or Arch-deacon or to haue the gouernment of a parish before hee be twentie fiue yeeres of age That Bishops and Archbishops in their Visitations doe not overcharge the Church of their boūds with vnnecessary charges expenses speciallie the Churches that are poore If a Bishop admit any man to bee a Presbyter or Deacon without the title of a place that may affoorde vnto him things necessarie for the maintenance of his life let the Bishop himselfe sustaine him vntill he prouide a liuing for him except he be able of his owne patrimonie to sustaine himselfe That no man shall be excomunicat or suspended from his office before hee be lawfully warned to appeare and answere for himselfe except in such causes as deserue summar excommunication That no reward be taken for admitting men to spirituall offices and that no money be taken for blessing them that are married or for ministration of any other Sacrment For at this time marriage was counted a Sacrament of the Roman Church That no Ecclesiastical office be prōised to any man before it be vacāt by the decease of the possessor For it is an vnrighteous thing to put any man in expectation of another mans liuing whereby hee may wish his brothers death And when any place shall happen to be vacant let it be planted againe within six months or else hee who hath the right of plantation shall loose it at that time and the Chapitar or Metrapolitan Bishop shall haue power to prouide the vacant place That the Brethren called Templarij or hospitales shall not abuse the priuiledges granted by them to the Chaire of Rome by receiuing Churches out of the hands of Laicke people by admitting to the Sacraments in their Churches and to buriall persons excommunicated nor by admitting deposing Presbyters without the fore-knowledge of their Bishops and by occasion of their fraternities which they haue multiplied in many places they shall not weaken the authoritie of Bishops but they shal doe al things with aduice of their Bishops and they who shall be found to haue disobeyed this ordinance shall vndergoe the discipline their actions in the contrary shall be declared to be of none effect That Monkes shall not be receiued into a Monasterie for gaine and that they shall possesse no goods as properlie belonging onely to themselues Men admitted to holy orders let them either liue continently without the companie of women or otherwise let them be depriued of their offices and liuings Subdeacons and others in Law offices who are sustained in the Church let them not appeare as procurators and advocates before secular iudges except a matter belonging to himselfe or to the Church or to the poore be questioned Like as it is written no man that goeth to warre entangleth himselfe with worldlie businesse c. Let such men bee preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities who will be actuallie resident with their people and vndertake the cure of their soules by doing the worke of the ministerie in their owne persons otherwise let them depriue them of the office and benefice conferred to Rome and hee who doth conferre them without these conditions let him lose the right of conferring offices and benefices Pluralitie of benefices is forbidden as a vice smelling of auarice and ambition and is perilous to the people whose soules are neglected by Pastours attentiue to the world heaping vp riches and not carefull to feed the flocke of God By this also many worthy men are ouer-seene whose trauels might bee worthily bestowed in feeding the flocke of God Moreouer some Laickes
are bold without consent of Bishops to place and to displace Pastours to distribute Ecclesiastical liuings according to their pleasure And to burthen Church-men with exactions and taxations whensoeuer they please This forme of doing is ordained to be punished with excommunication And he who receiueth a Church from a Laicke person without his owne Bishops authoritie is to be debarred from the communion and in case he perseuere obstinatly in his sin he is to be depriued of Ecclesiastical orders Also Laicke persons who transfer the right of tythes to other Laicke persons they who receiue thē and deliver them not to the Church shall want the honour of Christian buriall Church-men who haue accquired riches by Church-rents howsoever they die let their goods pertaine to the Church Moreover because some Bishops are found in some parts who permit them whom they call Decani for a summe of money to exercise Episcopall iurisdiction it is ordained that hee who so doth shall bee depriued from his office and that the Bishop shall haue no power to conferre any such office Let not the votes of a few persons in the Church hinder the ordination of them who are thought meet by the most part to be ordained to Eclesiasticall offices If a question arise concerning presentations of diverse persons to one Church or concerning the gift of patronage if the foresayd question bee not decided within the space of three moneths the Bishop shal place in the Church the man whom he thinketh to be most worthy Seeing that the Church as a provident mother should provide all things necessary for the soules and bodies of the people left the poore and indigent parents want the benefite of good education in learning It is appointed and ordayned that in every Cathedrall Church a worthy benefice shall be bestowed vpon a Schoole-master to the end the teacher receiving a competent reward for his travels a patent doore may be opened to the increase of learning Diuers Churches are so heauily over-loadned with tribute and taxations by Consuls Gouernours of townes and Rulers of Provinces that the estate of Bishops is worse then was the estate of the Idolatrous Priests of Egypt in the daies of Pharaoh for the Priests had an ordinarie of Pharaoh and they did eate their ordinary which Pharaoh gaue them wherefore they sold not their ground which Pharaoh gaue them But now all charge of civill affaires are layd vpon Gods Church Therefore it is ordayned vnder paine of cursing that Governours and Rulers of Provinces desist in time to come from such doing except the Prelates vpon consideration of the great necessitie of the countrey would voluntarily consent to support the necessitie of the Laiques Seeing that Pope Innocentius the second and Pope Eugenius the third our predecessors of good memorie condemned the spectacles on market-dayes and holy-dayes for ostentation of their valure and strength skirmishing one against another in sight of the people whereby it came to passe that some were slaine and their soules were in ieopardie These spectacles are also damned by vs and if any person be slaine in them let him want the honour of Christian buriall This containeth a commandement of superstitious observation of dayes Let no men presume to alter the ancient custome of exactions without the authority and consent of Princes Persons diseased with leprosie it is permitted to them to haue their owne Church and their owne Pastor They who furnish armour to the Saracens who fight against Christians or who take Christians prisoners who are busie in their lawfull callings or who spoyle them who haue made ship wracke let them be excommunicated Manifest vsurers shall be debarred from the communion and if they repent not they shall want the honor of Christian buriall and no man shall receiue their offering Iewes and Saracens shall not be permitted to haue Christian servants in their houses no not vnder pretence of education of their children Also the testimony of a Christian against a Iew shall be admitted and if any Iew through the mercy of God be converted to the Christian religion hee shall in no manner of way be secluded from his possessions In the last Canon after a smooth preface that Pope Leo said Ecclesiastical discipline is content with a Priestly iudgment but vseth not bloody revenges Alwayes Pope Alexander in this Councell thought it lawfull to borrow the power of secular Princes to persecute those whom he called Heretiques in Gasconie Tholuse and other parts These he calleth Cathari Patrini or Publicani but out of question they were Valdenses who being driven out of Lions Pope Alexander would grant them no corner in the world to rest in But meitated by his cruell edicts all Princes Nobles Lords Governours to pursue them with fire and sword and all kinde of hostility promising to them who so doth if they bee vnder Ecclesiasticall censure indulgence and relaxation of two yeeres of the compleat time of their penance and to those who doe zealously pursue them such security in their persons and goods as vseth to bee conferred to such persons as visite the holy graue and are taken vnder the protection of the Church Others of Aragon Navarre and other places whom also hee calleth Heretiques and who practised against Christians all kinde of mercilesse in humanity neither sparing sex nor age I cannot vnderstand of what kinde of Heretiques he meaneth for their heresie is not expressed CENTVRIE XIII ABout the yeere of our Lord 1215. Pope Innocentius the third gathered a generall Councell at Rome wherein the doctrine of Transubstantiation was ratified Also the Grecians were ordayned to turne to the obedience of the Church of Rome to the end there might be one shepheard and one sheepfold and that they should desist from detesting the Priests of the Latin Church whom the Grecians so abhorred that they would not say masse vpon the Altar which the Latin Priest had touched vntill it had beene cleansed and washed Also that they should not rebaptize such as were baptized by Latin Priestes and that all these things should be observed vnder paine of cursing And finally it was concluded that an army should bee sent vnto Syria for reliefe of the Christians there and the recouery of the holy Land and that processions supplications and fastings should be kept monethly for the more easie obtaining of it LIkewise in the yeere of our Lord 1273. Gregorius the tenth gathered a generall Councell at Lions where Michael Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople was present who by the slaughter of Theodorus Luscaris sonne committed to his custody had vsurped the Empire This Michael I say being present at the Councell acknowledged the superiority of the Church of Rome wherevnto the other Grecians were so farre from condiscending that they abhorred the said Emperour and would not suffer his body to be buried amongst other Christians In this Councell also was concluded that
Councell of Basil with his Apostolike letters But after the death of the Emperour who died in the sixt yeere of the Councell Eugenius tooke vpon him greater boldnesse and first held a contrarie Councell at Ferraria and afterward at Florence pretending that he behoued to meet with the Greekes for vniting of them to the West Church who because they would no wayes passe the Alpes he was compelled for their commoditie to keepe a Councell in some neerer place The Councell of Basil although weakned by the Emperours death proceeded not the lesse to the deposition of Eugenius and elected Amedeus Duke of Sauoy to be Pope whom they called Foelix the fift To this Councell were the Bohemians and Morauians invited who after they had receiued sufficient suretie and pledges for their safe passage returning againe sent Ambassadours to the Councell by whose earnest trauels it was obtained that the Bohemians and Morauians should haue the communion celebrat vnto them vnder both kinds The Historie of this Councell was written by Aeneas Syluius who was present at the same and liked well of the proceedings and determinations thereof as may appeare by his owne writings and namely by a certaine Epistle of his written to the Rector of the vniuersitie of Colen wherein he reioyceth for a certaine treatise of the said rectors which came into his hands reprouing the rudenesse and rashnesse of such as deny the Bishop of Rome and his consistory to be subiect to the Generall Councell and that the supreme tribunall seat of iudgement standeth in the Church and not in one Bishop Notwithstanding the same Syluius who by his learned writings advanced the decrees of the Councell of Basil yet afterward being promoted to that papall dignitie himselfe turned his coat and returned againe to the old filthy pride of the Chaire of Rome which magnifieth it selfe not onely aboue the Church but also maketh it selfe companion to God himselfe IN the yeere of our Lord 1439. while as the Councell of Basil was yet sitting vndissolued Eugenius the fourth perceiuing that matters went against him in Basil he held a contrarie Councell at Florence where he brought to passe that the Emperour and Patriarch of Constantinople with the rest of the Grecians there present were perswaded to receiue the sentence of the Church of Rome concerning the proceeding of the holy Ghost also to receiue the communion in vnleauened bread to admit Purgatorie and to yeeld themselues to the authoritie of the Romish Bishop wherevnto notwithstanding the other Churches of Grecia would in no wise assent at their comming home in so much that with a publict execration they did condemne afterward all those Legats which had consented to those Articles that none of them should be buried in Christian buriall It is to be noted in this Councell that the Grecians who agreed to other opinions of the Roman Church yet could neuer be induced to beleeue their doctrine of transubstantiation Notwithstanding they were content to set forth vnto the people a Bull of agreement which they called Bulla Consensus and the difference of opinions in that point of doccrine was not thought a sufficient impediment to stay the promulgation of this agreement Howbeit afterward as it were forgetting what they had done themselues in the Coūcels of Florence their Bulla Consensus they cry out that there is no agreement vnitie amongst the Protestants because there is some difference of opinions about the Sacrament among them In the time of this Councell Iosephus Patriarch of Constantinople died Eugenius required that presently before the dissolution of the Councell another should be chosen but to this the Grecians would not agree affirming that it was not lawfull to choose a Patriarch of Cōstantinople but onely in their owne Church there The Emperour Paleologus after his returning liued not long And finallie this agreement was counted of the Grecians infortunat and an euill presage immediatly before the vtter ruine of the Orientall Empire and the destruction of the towne of Constantinople For within 14. yeeres after this agreement at Florence the famous citie of Constantinople was taken by Mahomet Emperour of Turkes the Emperour Constantine the Brother of Paleologus was slaine and the Empire of the East was cut off CENTVRIE XVI THis Councell of Trent begun in the yeere of our Lord 1546. the fourth of Ianuary in the Popedome of Paulus the third In the first session thereof an oration was made by the Popes Legat declaring the causes of the calamitie of the Church In the second Session the Articles of faith were read and confirmed and that was kept the fourth of Februarie The third Session was kept the eight of April wherein it was decreed that the old Latine translation of the Bible should onely be vsed and accounted authentike in Churches and Schooles and that the rule in expounding of the Scriptures should bee this to expound them as the Church and the ancient fathers haue expounded them before As also the number of the bookes accounted holy and Canonicke Scriptures were rehersed the fourth Session was kept the 17. day of Iune where it was decreed that all men should beleeue that originall sinne was vtterly taken away in Baptisme in such sort that the concupiscence which remaineth in our nature after Baptisme is not to be accounted a sinne vntill wee giue the consent of our minde thereto And because the Law of God plainely condemneth it and the Apostle Paul in plaine words sayeth I had not knowne concupiscence to haue beene a sinne except the Law had sayd thou shalt not covet lest they should seeme to Proclame to the world their manifest contradiction to the Scriptures they lenifie their decree againe with this distinction that the Apostle calleth it a sin not because it is a sin properlie and indeede but because it commeth of sin tendeth also thereto Howbeit with those fathers licence the Apostle Paul declareth his owne sense and meaning that hee calleth concupiscence sinne because it is a transgression of the Law so that he accounteth it a sinne properly and indeed Also in this Session they decerne that the mother of our Lord was not conceived in originall sinne In the fift Session was decerned that even after the fall of Adam and in the nature of man before his regeneration there remaineth a free-will to doe good which being wakened by God and stirred vp is a fellow-bearer with his grace In the sixt Session was concluded that man is iustified partly by faith in Christ and partly by workes and that our iustification stands not in a free forgiuenesse of sinnes and a free imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ to all them who beleeue in him The seventh Session was kept the third of March an 1547. wherein was decerned that all men should beleeue that the Sacraments of the Church were seven in number to wit Baptisme Confirmation the
11. Canon 22. Canon 13.14.15 16. Canon 17. The 10. Councel of Toledo The 11. CouÌ„cel of Toledo The second Councell of Brac. The 2. Councell of Brac. The 6. Councell holden at Constantinople The 12. Councel of Toledo A Councell at London The Councell of Constantinople vnder Philippicus A Councell at Rome assembled by Gregorie 2. Sigebert in Chron. A Councell at Rome assembled by Gregorie the third A Councell holden in France by Boniface Archbishop of Mentz Canon 1. Canon 2. Canon 3. Canon 4. Canon 5. The 7. general Councell assembled at Constantinople Hist. Magd. cent 8. cap. 9. The second Councell of Nice Basil. contra Eunomium â— 1. The Councell of Frankford The Councell of Mentz The eigth Councel of Rhemes The Councell of Towrs Note The Councell of Chalons Note Note The Councelâ— of Arles Note The eight general Councell Hist. Magd. cent 9 cap. 9. Caraâ—za de Coâ—cilâ—â—s The Councell of AcciniacuÌ„ Hist. Magd. cent 9. cap. 9. The Councell of Triburium or Strasburg The Councell of Ravenna The Councell of Rhemes The Councell of Rome Luitprond hist. l. 6. c. 6 7. The Councell of Canterbury in England Hist. Magd. cent 10. cap. 9. The Councell of Constantinople The Councell of Rhemes against Arnulphus Another Councell at Rhemes restoring Arnulphus Mat. 15. The Councell of Halignustat The Councel of Triburia Nevv lawes Hist. Magd. cent 11 cap. 9. The Councell of Sutrium Contract Vspergens Platina A Councell at Rome against Berengarius A Councell at Vercellis against Berengarius A Councell at Towrs against Berengarius Another CouÌ„cell at Rome against Berengarius The Councell of Millan The Councel of Mantua The Councell of Wintomiâ— in England Another CouÌ„cell of Triburia or Friburg The Councell of Mentz The Councell of Ersurd 1 Tim. 4. Another Councell at Mentz The Councell of Wormes Another Councell at Triburia Another Councell at Rome The Councell of Brixia Another Councell at Rome The Councell of BeneventuÌ„ The Councell of Clermont A Councell at Paris A Councell at Florence A Councel at London The Councell of Mentz Mat. 2. Mat. The Councell of Troyes in Champaniâ— 2 Thes. 2.7 The Councel of Triburia The Councel of Senon The Councell of Papia Tyrius lib. 18. cap. 29. A Councell at Rome Canon 1. Canon 2. Canon 3. Canon 4. Canon 5. Canon 6. Canon 7. Canon 7. Canon 9. Canon 10. Canon 11. Canon 12. 2 Tim. 2.4 Canon 13. Canon 14. Canon 15. Canon 16. Canon 17. Canon 18. Canon 19. Gen. 47.22 Canon 20. Canon 21. Canon 22. Canon 23. Canon 24. Canon 25. Canon 26. Canon 27. Concilium Lateranense The conclusions of this Councell Concilium Lugdunense Note The Councell of Vienna Liber Clementiarum received by the Councell The contents of this booke The feast of Corpus Christi ordained Note The Templars rooted out The Councell of Constance The occasion of this Councell Note All the three Popes deposed A decree against Iohn Wickliffe Against the Communion in both kinds Iohn Husse condemned Ierom of Prague condemned The Councell aboue the Pope Martin not having leasure to reforme the abuses of the Clergie erects an inquisition for repressing of the Hussits The Councel of Basil. A generall Councell aboue the Pope Eugenius seeketh to translate the Councel from Basil to Bononie but by the Emperour is forced to ratifie the Councell of Basil. Eugenius after the Emperours death holds contrarie Councels Eugenius deposed The Bohemians obtaine to haue the Sacrament vnder both kinds Aeneas Syluius changeth his opinion with his state of life The Councell of Florence Note The agreement of the Grecian Church with the Roman an euill presage of the destruction of the Grecian Empyre Concilium Tridentinum Sessio prima Sessio secunda Sessio tertia Sessio quartâ— CoÌ„cupiscence accounted no sinne Sessio quinta Sessio sexta Sessio septima Diuers Bishops remoue from Trent to Bononia Note The Pope vnwilling the Bishops should returne to Trent The Emperors Ambassador protesteth against the Councell of Bononia Sessio prima The King of France by his Ambassador protesteth against the Councell of Trent Sessio secunda Sessio tertia The Protestants confession of Faith â—eiected The wars betwixt the Emperour and the Duke of Saxony cause of the Councels breaking vp Sessio prima Sessio secunda Sesso tertta quarta Sessio quinta Sessio sexta Sessio Septima Sessio Octava Note Sessio â—ona
againe after the issue of that Councell seuen yeeres after an other generall Councel should be kept and after that third Councell an ordinarie forme should be obserued of assembling generall Councells euery tenth yeere whereby reformation of abuses in the Church might bee more easilie obtained This Pope Martine after hee had gouerned 14. yeeres and 3. months died at Rome After him succeeded Eugenius the fourth gouerned sixteene yeeres In his time was the Councell of Basile kept which the Pope with aduice of his Cardinalls was minded to translate to Bononia But the Emperour Sigismund and other Princes and Prelats assembled at Basile were so highly offended against the Pope that they warned himselfe and his Cardinalls to appeare before the generall councill otherwise they would proceed against them as persons contumacious and disobedient to the voyce of the Church This warning so terrified Eugenius that hee gaue out his Apostolike letters to ratifie and approue the Councell of Basile neuerthelesse after the Emperours death the authoritie of the Councell being greatly empaired hee tooke vpon him greater boldnesse to transferre the Councell to Ferraria and from thence also to Florence pretending that the Emp. of CoÌ„stantinople Paleologus the rest of the Grecians who were now to be present at the generall councell would not trauell beyond the Alpes but would abide in some neerer place The Councell of Basile on the other part proceeded to the deposition of Eugenius 4. For his contumacie and placed Amecdeus Duke of Sauoy in his roome whom they called Foelix 5. Thus was the peace of the Roman church troubled of new againe some following Eugenius and others followed Foelix and the third sort being Neutralls neither following the one nor the other because they were so tossed with the contrarie decrees of the councell of Basile and Florence that they knew not what to follow This Pope as Platina writeth was bent to warres not being seemely in a Bishop for besides those which hee made in Italie hee stirred vp the Dolphin of France to invade the towne of Basile with an armie of horsmen of purpose to dissolue the Councell there and finallie hee stirred vp Vladislaus King of Poloma to fight against Amurathes King of Turkes contrary to his promise and truce taken betweene them to the great shame and hurt of Christianitie as hath beene declared After his death Nicolaus the fift was chosen to be Pope and ruled eight yeeres To him Foelix quintus who was elected Pope in the Councell of Basile was content to submit himselfe prouiding alwayes that hee might haue the dignitie of a Cardinall and that hee should bee appointed the Popes Legat in Germanie and in his owne countrey of Sauoy The Cardinalls also whom hee had made in his time should keepe their dignities and honours This hee did at the earnest desire of Frederike the Emperour in the yeere of our Lord 1449. In the which yeere also Nicolaus the fift set forth a decree of approbation of the Councell of Basile howbeit neither this Pope nor any other following him will bee subiect to the authâ—â—itie of generall Councells yet did hee approue the Councell of Basile wherein it was ordained that the Bishop of Rome should bee subiect to the Councell as a child is subiect to the voyce of his mother After Nicolaus succeeded Calixtus the third and gouerned three yeeres three months sixteene dayes hee was verie bent to fight against the Turkes and sent Messengers to all Christian Princes in Europe to stirre vp their hearts to make warre against the Turke with one consent of minde and to stay his further progresse and conquest in Europe but all his trauailles were spent in vaine for the Princes harkened not to his Councell Likewise hee sent messengers to Vsumcassanus king of Armenia and Persia whom with supplications and gifts hee stirred vp to make cruell warres against the Turke which warres also haue since that time continued vntill our dayes to the great disturbance of the crueltie of the Turke intended against Europe After him succeeded Pius the second who before his Popedome was called Aenâ—as Syluius a man of great witt learning and eloquence and gouerned six yeeres Hee was no lesse bent to make warre against the Turkes then was his Predecessour before him but his enterprise was staied by the dissention which was amongst Christian Princes for then and long after was great warre betweene Ferdinand of Naples and the Duke of Angeow and in diuers other parts of Italie Likewise These wise and worthie sentences vttered by him declared that he had a great gift of vnderstaÌ„ding knowledge Hee said that popular men should esteeme learning as siluer and noble men should count it like gold and Princes should count it in steade of pearles and precious stones Also that like as all riuers haue their courses to the sea and poure in their waters into the Ocean euen so great Courts are the maine Ocean receiuing the floudes of all kind of vices Likewise that if there seemed of old great reason to inhibit the marriage of Priests there was now greater reason to permit it Also that hee who giueth too great libertie to his child fostereth a domestike enemie within his owne bosome That lust dishonoureth in euery age but vndoth him vtterlie in his old age He died in the towne of Ancona where he was minded to haue blessed the armie which was to haue gone against the Turkes After Pius succeeded Paulus the second and gouerned six yeeres ten months Likeas he was not very learned in his own person so was hee also an aduersarie to learning and counted all men that were learned in humanitie to bee heretikes as Platina who writeth this of the Pope had good proofe in his owne person for hee was cast in prison and cruelly tormented by the Pope without a cause and in the ende lest his crueltie against many learned men should make him to bee hated of the people hee accused them of heresie hauing no better ground for it then this that they accounted much of the old Academique Philosophers For he laied this as an vnfallible ground that who soeuer would once make mentioÌ„ of Academia either in earnest or iesting words he was to be reputed an heretike Of other Doctors IN this age sprung vp Iohn Husse in the couÌ„try of Bohemia who by reading of the bookes written by Wickliff attained to knowledge and deprehended many grosse errours of the Roman church in so much that Pope Alexander 5. hearing thereof begun at last to direct his bull to the Archbishop of Suinto requiring him to see to the matter in due time to prouide that no man in churches schooles or other places should maintaine any such doctrine citing also Iohn Husse to appeare before him After whose death Pope Iohn 23. in like maner sought by all meanes to suppresse Iohn Husse because he seemed more willing to teach the Gospell of Christ
then the traditions of Bishopps and therefore by his Cardinall de Columna Iohn Husse was cited to appeare at Rome where hee appearing by his procurators was notwithstanding excommunicated as an obstinate Heretike because hee appeared not personallie at the appointed day The Bohemians notwithstanding cared litle for all this but grew in knowledge daylie In the meane time it hapned by the occasion of Ladislaus king of Naples who had besieged the Popes townes and territories that Pope Iohn raising vp warre against the said Ladislaus gaue full remission of sinnes to all them who would warre on his side to defend the Church When this Bull of the Popes indulgences was come to Prague Iohn Husse and his fellowes not able to abide the impietie of those pardons began manifestly to speake against them And albeit Winceslaus king of Bohemia who then fauoured the Pope gaue out strict commaundement that no man should speake against those indulgences yet of Iohn Husses companie were found three Artificers who hearing the Priest speaking of the forsaid indulgences did openly speake against them calling the Pope the Antichrist wherefore they were brought before the Senate and committed to prison But the people ioyning themselues in armes required them to be let loose The magistrates one the other part albeit they satisfied the people with gentle wordes and faire promises for a time yet when the tumult was asswaged they sent to the prison and secretlie beheaded the three foresaid artificers whose names were Iohn Martine and Staston The people hearing of this tooke their dead bodies and with great solemnitie buried them in the Church of Bethleem at whose funerall diuers Priests fauouring that side did sing thus These be the Saincts which for the testimonie of God gaue their bodies c. Thus the citie of Prague was divided The Prelats and greatest part of the Clergie and most of the Barons who had any thing to lose did hold with the Pope especially Steuen Pallats being chiefest doer of that side On the contrarie part the communes with part of the clergie and students of the vniuersitie went with Iohn Husse Winceslaus the king fearing lest this should grow to a tumult being moued by the Doctors and Prelats and Counsell of his Barons thought best to remoue Iohn Husse out of the citie who had beene excommunicated before by the Pope The people on the other part began mightilie to grudge and to cry out against the Prelats and Priests who were the workers hereof accusing them to be Simonits couetous whoremasters adulterers proud not sparing also to lay opē their vices to their great ignominie shame wherevpon it came to passe that the king seeing the inclination of the people being also not ignorant of the wickednesse of the Clergie vnder pretence to reforme the Church began to require great exactions from such Priests men of the clergie as were accused knowne to be wicked liuers And thus the Popish clergie while they went about to persecute Iohn Husse were intrapped themselues in great tribulation brought in contempt and hated of all men At this time were three Popes raigning together by reason whereof a generall Councell was ordained and holden at Constance in the yeere of our Lord 1413. And this councell being called by Sigismund the Emperour for the taking away of the schismaticall dissention of so many Popes ruling at one time to the great disturbance of all Christian nations it pleased the said Emperour to send vnto Iohn Husse Bacheler of Diuinitie in the countrie of Bohemia his safe conduct and letters of protection inviting him to come to the Councell and promising him a libertie of safe returning vnto his owne country without any maner of empeachment trouble or vexation Notwithstanding as soone as he came to Constance he was cast into prison before he was heard And when he was brought forth to the Councell there befell a strange and shamefull matter for his aduersaries had scarsly read one article and brought forth a few witnesses of the same against him but as he was about to open his mouth to answere all that were about him began so to cry out that he had no leasure to speake a word The noise and trouble was so great and vehement that a man might well haue called it a noyse of wilde beastes not of men much lesse was it like a congregation of men gathered together to iudge and determine so graue and weightie matters The next time he was brought foorh to the convent of the Franciscans where the Emperour himselfe was present and exhorted Iohn Husse to submit himselfe to the generall councell otherwise said he my safe conduct cannot nor should not be a protection to any who maintaine hereticall doctrin The day after which was the eight of Iune he was brought out againe to the same place and in his presence there were read thirtie nine Articles the which they said were drawne out of his bookes which were iudged by the councell to be hereticall and hee of new againe was required by the Emperour to submit himselfe to the councell Iohn Husse answered that hee would not maintaine any opinion with obstinate minde but if the Councell would instruct him clearlie that any of his Articles were repugnant to the holy scriptures of God he would renounce and forsake the same affirming also most constantlie that the most part of all those thinges that were alledged against him were falsly forged and neuer thought nor vttered by him when they saw that by no exhortation Iohn Husse could be moued to acknowledge his doctrine to be errōeous to recant the same vpon the sixt day of Iulie he was brought to the head church of the citie of Constance there in presence of the Emperour and councell was degraded of all Priestly orders and dignities and a definitiue sentence was giuen out against him wherein hee was condemned as an heretike for that hee preached and openly defended the articles of Iohn Wickliffe which were condemned by the Church of Rome and likewise had appealed to the Lord Iesus Christ as the most high Iudge which appellation they counted a great contempt of the Apostolique Sea and the Ecclesiasticall Censures and Keyes After this hee was put into the Secular Iudges hands to be burnt as an Heretique having vpon his head a crowne of paper with vgly pictures of divels painted thereupon Which rebuke as also the torment of fire hee most patiently sustained with Psalmes and spirituall Songs lauding God vntill the winde droue the fire vpon his face and choaked his breath And after his bodie was consumed with fire they cast the ashes of the burnt body into the river of Rhene Thus died Iohn Hus the faithfull Martyr of God the sixt of Iuly 1516. Now while as Iohn Hus had beene lying in prison and so hardly handled his faithfull companion Ierom of Prague came to Constance the fourth day of Aprill anno 1415. who there
Eucharist Penance Extreme Vnction Orders and Matrimonie After this seventh Session the Popes Physition affirmed that the ayre of Trent was corrupted whereupon many of the Bishops were moved to depart from Trent to Bononia onely the Bishoppes of Spaine remained still at Trent being commanded by Charles the Emperour so to doe For the Emperour had gathered in Ausbrugh an assembly of the States of Germany and had induced the most part by menaces and threatenings and some also by alluring promises to submit themselues to the generall Councell of Trent And this being obtained of the States of Germany the Emperour sent the Cardinall of Trent together with his Ambassadour Mendoza desiring that the Pope would cause the Bishoppes that were retyred to Bononia to come backe againe to Trent But the providence of God pitying the weakenesse of Germany whom the Emperour had induced to bee obedient to the Councell of Trent hardened the Popes heart who would not consent that the Bishops should goe backe againe to Trent but vpon strict conditions 1. That the Bishops of Spaine who remained yet still at Trent should first come to Bononia 2. The Emperour should make good that all the States of Germany should absolutly submit themselues to the Councell of Trent 3. That the Fathers to be gathered againe at Trent might haue liberty to depart out of the towne freely and safely when they pleased and to make an end of the Councell when they would thinke good The Emperours Ambassadour Mendoza seeing that his Masters petition was little set by declared that the Councell was not lawfully translated from Trent to Bononia and therfore protested that all things that should bee done there should bee of no force Thus the first meeting of the Councell of Trent vnder Paulus the third had an end and their remaining together at the Councell of Trent was two yeeres The second meeting of the Councell of Trent THe second meeting of Bishoppes in the Councell of Trent was in the dayes of Pope Iulius the third in the month of September anno 1551. In the first Session of the Councell which was kept the first of September Abbas Bollosanus Ambassadour of the King of France appeared declaring that the King was so disturbed with warres within his dominions that he could not send the Bishops of his Land to Trent Next that the King of France acknowledged not the convention kept at Trent for a generall Councell but for a convention gathered for the weale of a few not for the common vtility of all the Church and therefore neither hee himselfe nor the subiects of his kingdome were bound to be obedient to the decrees of that convention The second Session was kept the eleventh day of October wherein the doctrine of Transubstantiation was confirmed yet diverse questions pertaining to those matters were deferted till the comming of the Protestants of Germanie to whome allso they granted their safe conduct The third Session was kept the 25. of November wherein was confirmed that Penance and extreme Vnction were Sacraments of the new Testament The Ambassadours of the Protestants would haue given in the confession of their Faith and summe of their doctrine to the Councell but the Popes Legate repelled them because they did not signifie in the title thereof that they would submit themselues to the Councell In the meane time there was warre in Germany betweene Charles the Emperour and Maurice Duke of Saxonie which was the cause of the hastie dissolution of the second meeting of the Councell of Trent vnder Pope Iulius For the Bishops of Mentz and Cullen made haste to returne to Germany Likewise all the Bishops of Italy hearing that Duke Maurice had taken the town of Ausbrough returned home the Spanish Bishops alone who remained a space behind the rest at Trent assembled themselues together the 29. of Aprill anno 1552. and put off the Councell till a new meeting after the issue of two yeeres or more as should be found meet The third meeting of the Councell of Trent THe Bishops of Spaine supposed that the Councell should haue met againe within two yeeres Neverthelesse there intervened nine yeeres before it could be gathered againe For after the death of Iulius the third vnder whom the second meeting was succeeded Marcellus who lived not aboue the space of 20. dayes in his Popedome and after him Paulus the fourth who governed foure yeeres two moneths and 27. dayes And after him Pius the fourth in whose time this last meeting of the Councell of Trent was appointed Their first Session was kept the 18. day of Ianuary anno 1562. wherein was decreed that the bookes written by diuerse Authors since the springing vp of heresies for so they called the preaching of the Gospell should be viewed and revised and that all who had fallen backe from the vnity of the Church of Rome vnto any kinde of heresie should be exhorted to returne againe with promise of great clemency and indulgence if they would so doe The second Session was kept the 26. day of February anno 1562. wherein certaine persons were specially nominated and chosen to examine those bookes which was suspect of heresie and to report their iudgement backe againe to the Councell Likewise all men were exhorted to resort to the Councell with peaceable hearts voyd of all contention and heate and safe conductors were promised to them who would come thereto In the third and fourth Session nothing was done but the time of keeping the next Session was appointed In the fift Session kept the 26. day of Iuly anno 1562. it was decreed that the Laike people were not bound by an absolute necessitie to communicate vnder both formes of bread and wine But the Church had power to dispose concerning the outward ministration of the Sacraments providing the substance were kept according as they should find expedient for the good of the receiuers The sixt Session was kept the 17. day of September anno 1562. wherin was cōcluded that the whole Masse was a propitiatorie sacrifice for the quicke the dead whosoeuer should say that it was onely a sacrifice of thanksgiving and a commemmoration of Christs death onely are pronounced to be accursed The seventh Session was kept the 15. day of the moneth of Iuly anno 1563. wherein certaine Canons were set forth concerning the Sacrament of Orders and it was accounted a Sacrament of the new Testament In the eight Session it was not onely decreed that mariage is a Sacrament of the new Testament but also the Roman Church assembled at Trent as a troubled Sea that can not rest but cast out her froth and filth to the shore laying aside all shame and due reverence to the Scriptures of God they pronounce all men to be accursed who will not grant that the Church hath power to dispense with the Law of God conteined in the 18. of