Charlemaign's Ambassadors coming to Constantinople found that design spoil'd by a great alteration for one Nicephorus having made the Army sure to him besiegeth Irene takes her prisoner is himself declared Emperour giveth an Oath of Allegiance to the Army banisheth Irene confining her to the Island Lesbos where she pines away with anguish and grief and so Nicephorus struck up a peace with Charlemaign and the Empire 's divided Thâ— Charles was the first that was Emperour of the West or Germany at whose Coronation the Pope did Adore him as used to be done to ancient Emperours that is as b Dupleix saith the Pope a Alors le Pape au report de nos Annales adora Charles à la maniere des anciens Empereurs c'est à dire s'humilia devantluy les genoux à terre le recognoissant comme Empereur Romain Scipion. Dupleâ—x Tom 1. pag. 449. § 4. kneeling on the ground humbled himself before him acknowledging him to be Emperour of Rome The French and Spaniard are yet at dispute concerning their Relation to this Charlemaign and the Empire the Castilian affirming himself to have much of this Charles his bloud in him being in part descended from him and so hath more right to the Empire than the other the Royal-line of Charles ending in France by the coming in of Hugh Capet This is as furiously opposed by the French but being nothing to my purpose I shall refer those of the Spanish Interest to the Reasons of b Vindiciae Hispan Chifletius whilst those who stand for the French may consult the Answers to them by David Blondellus where the Monsieur may clog himself with a bad method and multitude of Genealogies with a Preface as some say of the Gate of Myndus bigger than all the other work or Building And almost an hundred years ago Matthaeus Zampinus wrote an Apology for Hugh Capet as descended from the ancient French Kings and related also to Charles the Great But this by the by Sect. 2. The miserable and troublesome Raign of the Emperour Lewes le Debonnaire by the many Rebellions against him CHarles le Maigne or the Great being dead there succeeded him as Emperour and King of France his Son Lewes le Debonnaire i. e. the Courteous or Affable by the Latines call'd Ludovicus Pius one though very good-natured and religious yet was his life nothing but trouble and misery I shall not say any thing of the Tumultuous Saxons Hunns Normans and suchlike people but tell you what oppositions he received from his own Kindred and what Rebellions and Treasons were waged against him by his own Sons Bernard Son to Pepin Son to Charles the Great and so Nephew to this Lewes le Debonnaire was call'd King of Italy and there year 800 lived to keep those people in subjection to the Empire but by his inconsiderate Rebellion against his Uncle Lewes he lost both it with his liberty eyes and life too Lewes having made Laws to restrain the excess of some Bishops procured him the hatred of some of the proud Clergy amongst the rest three were most eminent in this Faction and Rebellion viz. Anselmus Bilius the First Archbishop of Millan Wolfeldus Bishop of Cremona in Italy and Theodulphus Bishop of Orleans in France these fob'd up Bernard with strange hopes of success if he would war against his Uncle Lewes and in several discourses with him play'd their Cards so well that having at first breath'd into him discontent to which his own proud humour perswaded him then hopes of carrying all at last ingaged him to appear in open Hostility titling of himself a P. Berthault Florus Francicus pag. 118. J. de Serres King of France which he also resolved to seise upon to which purpose he had got a strong Army and fortified the Alpean passages into Italy The Emperour Lewes informed of this imploys his whole care to provide himself with a sufficient force which having gathered together from several places marched towards his Enemy Bernard understanding the great strength of Lewes and his own Souldiers running away from him whereby he knowing that he was not able to stand against him having consulted several ways for his own safety he found none that were probable to succeed but his submission and knowing the Emperour of all men to be most merciful and good-natured taking his opportunity he goeth to Lewes acknowledgeth his fault and humbly begs his pardon and so did others the chief of this Rebellion by which means a full discovery of the design was made but that which incensed most was that the Emperour by these confessions understood that some of his own chief Councellors and most intimate familiars were privy to and ingaged in the Treachery They are all imprisoned and an Assembly being held at Aken in Germany they are all there declared according to their old Laws guilty of High-Treason and so the chief of them adjudged to death The Emperour was very willing to spare Bernard onely to have confined him to perpetual imprisonment But the other Councellors about him so aggravated the pride arrogancie and this Treason of Bernard that Lewes though with grief consented that he should have his b Jo. de Bussieres Tom. 1. pag. 333. eyes pull'd out it being the common punishment in those times which accordingly was c Giacop Filip da Bergamo in his old Italian Chronocle it may be through a mistake declares the punishment thus Bernardo essendomenato in Aquisgrana fu decapitate fol. 304. b. done and the third day after he dyed for grief The Bishops who were found guilty of this Treachery were deprived of their Dignities and thrust into little Covents As for the Emperour Lewes he no sooner heard of Bernards death but he was hugely troubled publickly repenting that he had consented to such counsel openly confessing his cruelty as he call'd it and order'd all the Plotters to be set at liberty and restored to their former Beings But now let us proceed to a more unnatural Rebellion and first for the better understanding of it the Reader if he please for memory-sake may glance upon this small Scheme Charles the Great the First Emperour Lewes le Debonnaire to him was first given France but out-living his two Brothers he became Emperour Hermingardis Daughter to Earl Nigranus Lâ—tharius after the overthrow of Bernard made King of â—aly and was by his Father joyn'd with him in the Empire Pepin had Aquitane given him he dyed before his Father leaving two young Sons Lewes had Bavaria given him by his Father and his Brother Lothaire was forced to give all Germany and is call'd King of it Judith Daughter to Welfo Earl of Altdorf Charles the Bald was King of France and at last Emperour he was poysoned as some say by his Physitians Some have indeavoured to declare the true grounds of this unnatural Rebellion but others suppose that ambition was the real cause whatever might be the pretence one of them being this Lewes fighting against
THE HISTORY OF POPISH TREASONS AND USURPATIONS THE HISTORY OF ROMISH Treasons Usurpations Together with A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT Of many gross CORRUPTIONS and IMPOSTURES In the CHURCH of ROME Highly dishonourable and injurious to Christian Religion To which is Prefixt A Large PREFACE to the ROMANISTS Carefully Collected out of a great number of their own approved Authors By HENRY FOVLIS B. D. Late Fellow of Lincoln-Colledge in Oxford S. Joh. 18. 36. Jesus answered My Kingdom is not of this world S. Luke 12. 14. Who made me a Ruler over you LONDON Printed by J. C. for Richard Chiswell at the two Angels and Crown in Little-Britain 1671. THE PREFACE Gentlemen I Am apt to fancy that at the first sight of these Papers I shall be loaded with your severest Censures condemn'd as the worst of Hereticks nay and branded as the greatest of Lyers and Slanderers And all this because I onely tell you what the Pope and his boldest Champions would have you to believe because I tell you what grand Authority his Holiness hath what great power and jurisdiction lyeth in your selves what bloudy actions have been done to maintain these priviledges and as a Preparative to all have afforded you the Glories Commendations and Prerogatives of your Religion from Brutes and Blocks Fools and Devils themselves with suchlike odd Arguments as some of your Graver Wits have troubled themselves confirm'd their Religion and pleasured us with But My Masters I may assure my self of a mitigation of your Fury when you have seriously considered that here I say nothing but what is asserted and vindicated by your own Authors approved of by your own Authority and agreeable to the Sentiments and Doctrine of the Pope himself From whence will follow that with what ill will or names you prosecute me for these Collections you must do the same to his Holiness and the greatest Assertors of his Religion I being but the Compiler or Transcriber of their words and actions which used to be your Patterns and Examples to live by and now to turn tail to oppose and contradict the Pope and his Learned Doctors not to believe in his infallible Documents might renew a Dispute about your disagreements or that there might be two contradictory Truths this may be true at Rome and yet the quite contrary also true in England as Father Coton and other Jesuits affirm'd at Paris In short thus to withstand the Pope would shew your selves no good sons of his Church though it might good subjects to your King which is a great part of a good Christian But by way of Apology for my self I must add that your own Writers occasioned and provoked these Collections that their slanders ingaged me to a Vindication and this Retort and I think Duty and Truth obligeth me to justifie my Mother the Church of England as well as they theirs of Rome And to deny us this favour would be a Restraint beyond all Story for if yours take upon them the liberty to oppose and defame our Church it would be strange if you would not allow us in England to vindicate her And by the by it had been well if they had not so much troubled themselves in opposing our Oath of Allegiance and clamouring against the Magistrates for requiring it which yet is more talk'd of then done seeing these Papers will shew both from Principles and actions that some mens Doctrines are so dangerous and pernicious that the strictest Oaths are scarce strong enough for them and that this especially is favourable enough considering the occasion of its making and the seditious Principles of some people 'T is said that those of ill names are half hang'd and the poor woman that durst not kill her Landlords ill-lucky Dog got her designe by crying out he was Mad whereby the Neighbours presently knockt him on the head And thus it fares with our Religion Of all names nothing more odious then a Traytor and the Romanists will scarce have any to be such but those of the Reformed Church which Charge they lay so heavy upon us and with such often Repetitions that most of their Gentry who in this and other things are apt to be Priest rid now use it as the onely Argument to bespatter the Church of England and I fancie have got some Proselytes by the strength of these Reproaches But I would have them to remember once for all that every one in England is not of the Church of England and for other Churches at this time I shall not concern my self and for ought that I know our Presbyterian and Independant are as great enemies to our Church as the Romanist Certain I am the Papists ought to be cautious in their Accusations against these mischievous Non-Conformists also lest at the same time they do but condemn themselves and I a Utinam eorum nonnulli qui rectissime damnant non pessimè imitarentur Bp. Sanderson de jurament Prael 7. § 3. wish there were no reason for such a supposition yet it is too true that at the same time that the former were Rebels against the King in England the Romanist was as active in Ireland despising and vilifying his Majesty through his Viceroy then Marquess of Ormond as much as those did the King in England And though here the Presbyterians imprison'd the King renounced him by their Non-Address and by their other villanies set up the Scaffold and the Independants and other Phanaticks struck off the Head yet will the Irish-Romanists gain small honour by this Objection seeing they did as much as lay in their power to act the same to their Viceroy by fighting against him excommunicating him combining to take away his life or to deliver him up to the Independant Army by trayterously offering themselves and Kingdom to the command of Forreigners as Lorraine the French the Spaniard nay the Pope himself Not to insist here how grateful the Kings Murther was to several Romanists and how formerly they have gloryed in the Murther of other Princes Yet will their Writers take the confidence to declare their innocencie and loyalty to the face of the whole world and thereby not onely seem to quit and clear themselves but at the same time bespatter and asperse what in them lyeth us wicked Hereticks as they are apt to call us Pedro de Ribadeneyra a Jesuit of no small Sanctity and credit amongst them being a Disciple and acquaintance of their Founder Ignatius though as arrant a Railer as the best of them would gladly perswade the world that a Hoc i. e. Evangelium mentiri docet hoc pejurare hoc fingere hoc dissimulare hoc adulare hoc Hypocritas esse hoc Principes ovinam pellem induere nihilominus laniare occidere sanguinem prosundere more luporum gregem dominicum devotare Quantas Deus bone seditiones quantas turbas tumultus novum hoc vestrum Evangelium ab eo tempore quo primum eme◠sit in mundo excitavit Quot
runs thus Beate Petre Apostolorum Princeps inclina quaesimus pias aures tuas audi me servum tuum quem ab infantia nutristi usque ad hunc diem de manu iniquorum liberasti qui me pro tua fidelitate oderunt odiunt tu mihi testes es Domina mea Mater Dei B. Paulus frater tuus Pro Ecclesiae tuae honore defensione ex parte Omnipotentis Dei Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti per tuam Potestatem Authoritatem Henrico Regi filio Henrici Imperatoris qui contra tuam Ecclesiam inaudita superbia insurrexit totius Regni Teutonicorum Italiae gubernacula contradico omnes Christianos a vinculo Juramenti quod sibi fecere facient absolvo ut nullus ei sicut Regi serviat interdico O Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles incline I pray your pious ears and hear me your servant whom thou hast nourished from his infancie and till this day hast delivered from the hands of wicked men who hate me for my trusting in thee Thou art my Witness and our Lady the Mother of God and your Brother St. Paul that For the honour and defence of thy Church on the part of Almighty God the Father Son and holy Ghost by thy Power and Authority I deprive from any Government and Rule of all Germany and Italy King Henry Son to the Emperour Henry who with an unheard-of pride hath opposed and rise against thy Church And I absolve all Christians from the Oaths of Obedience which they have or shall make and do here interdict and forbid any to serve him as a King In this I follow a An. 1076. § 25 26. Baronius which is worded otherwise than that set down by b Pag. 177. Platina the reason of which difference and variations let those look to it who boast of Originals in the Vatican though in this we may make one serve to interpret the other Presently after this Gregory sends to the Germans to know whether Henry would submit himself and acknowledge his offences against St. Peters Church but if he would not that then another King might be chosen who would be obedient to the Roman See and he would confirm the Election Upon this the Chief met at Tribur neer Mentz The Emperour perceiving his case to be but bad many of his chief friends forsaking him and others for fear durst not seem for him so apt were the simple people then to be gull'd and terrified by those Roman bibble-babbles or the seditious Nobles was in a peck of troubles seeing himself so neglected And thus finding few friends and no remedy he sends to those who met at Tribur desiring their favours and pardon for what he had formerly done amiss and promiseth amendment if they would onely look upon him as a Monarch all this they refuse pretending his Excommunication and Deposition by Gregory and several other suchlike trifling excuses Henry thus seeing all hopes lost in Germany resolves to submit himself to the Pope to effect which he designed a journey into Italy The factious Germans informed of this resolve to way-lay him and if they could possibly intrap him and get him into their clutches but by making the farthest about the neerest way to his journies end he escapes all their Ambushments and Malice Yet was his journey most difficult and hazardous by reason of the extremity of the Frost which put him several times in great danger in his passage over the Alpes Having entred Lumbardy many Italian Bishops and Nobles wait upon him entertain him with all respect complain to him of the Popes actions and wish that he had friends and strength enough to depose Gregory of whose Popedom they were really weary Yet did not this much better the Emperours poor condition Anno 1077. For those who had been his friends and well-wishers in Germany and other places seeing Henry himself brought so low as to drudge for pardon thought it their securest way to do so too and so they also gad to Italy and bare-footed without any linnen about them humbly beg absolution of the Pope which after some hardship and waiting they obtain with an injunction never to acknowledge Henry till he had asked pardon of and satisfied his Holiness Henry thus seeing his condition grow worse and worse thought it wisest to make the best he could of a bad Market and unwilling to loose the Empire resolves to satisfie the Pope if any thing can do it and being informed that Gregory was at Canossa a strong place in the Territory of Reggio in the Dukedom of Modena thither he goeth to supplicate for pardon and restoration This Castle of Canossa was compass'd about with three Walls and belonged to Mathilda or Maude a Lady of great Revenues and intimately acquainted with the Pope seldom parting from him 'T was now the depth of Winter nor had the memory of man known a severer Frost yet doth Henry some say also with his a Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. pag. 332 233. Empress and little Son without any Princely Attire or Linnen and which was more without Shooes or Stockings or Hat thus bare-footed bare-leg'd and b Blondus Ital. Iâ—lust de Lombard pag. 357. bare-headed some say with a c Mornay pag. 253. pair of Sizzers and a scourge in his hands intimating that he was there ready to be polled and whipt trudge it to Canossa hoping to be let in to the speech and favour of his Holyness to which purpose he thought he had made way by some of the Popes friends but here he found himself deceived yet we may suppose he had some favour being permitted to enter within the second Wall where in this pittiful plight he waited to be let in all day long fasting but the Popes spirit would not yet come down The night comes the Frost continueth and his stomach might well think his throat Blondus Hist Decad 2. lib. 3. pag. 200. cut yet doth he not stir but with this cold comfort expects compassion Having thus with pain cold and hunger past over the tedious night two to one but next morning he might hope for better success but he was served with the same sauce as the day before And thus he past over three days and three nights enough to get desperation if not death in a better man than Pope Gregory who thus despised the birth dignity and patience of so great an Empeperour But the fourth day some others with Mathilda as if ashamed of the arrogancie of Gregory and the unparallell'd humility of Henry with much ado perswaded Hildebrand to allow the Emperour his presence but yet before this was done Henry was to deliver up his Crown and the rest of his Royal Badges and Ensigns to the Pope and acknowledge himself not fit or worthy to Rule And having gone thus far on his knees he humbly begs Absolution which after a great deal of clutter was granted though the remedy
her King and elder Brother Henry and conjures them also to loyalty to throw away all private Interests and Factions and conclude in a firm peace and union The Confederates perceiving that they wanted an Head and so a main pretence to countenance their Arms to the people and that whatever they had hitherto gained was more by their dissembling then strength that also the Pope Paul II had censured them if they continued in open wars For King Henry was held an obedient son to the Bishops of Rome for which Calixtus III had sent him formerly an Hat and a consecrated Sword which they use to bless upon Christmas-Eve at night laying them upon the Altar where they say Mass And farther they recollected that upon Henries death Isabella was like to be Queen whereby they could procure no favour or benefit to themselves by opposing her peaceable desires Upon these considerations they consented to an Agreement so Articles are drawn up a Peace concluded on Donna Isabella is declared Princess of the c Las Asturias formerly of a larger extent is now â— little Province between Galicia Leon and Biscay lying upon the Cantabrian sea 'T is twofold Asturia de Oâ—iedo and Astur de Santillana As the Heirs of England are called Princes of Wales and those of France les Dauphins so are those to the Crown of Castile call'd Princes of the Asturias Upon what occasion this â—hort Scheme may shew Alphonso XI had amongst other Children Henry a Bastard Earl of Transâ—amara took the Kingdom from the Tyrant Pedro and stab'd him with his dagger he had John I. who had Henry III. Don Pedro el Cruel had amongst others a bastard call'd Constancia she was marryed to John of Gant Duke of Lancaster son to Edward III King of England Upon the death of Don Pedro sirnamed the Cruel though his bastard-Brother Henry II. seised upon the Crown and was acknowledged for King yet John of Gant Duke of Lancaster pretended the right to lye in him by reason of his Wife Constance and made some bustle about it Henry dying there succeeded his son John I. with whom and Lancaster a peace was concluded Lancaster to renounce all his Title to Castile and King John to marry his son Henry to Lancaster's Daughter Catherine which accordingly was accompish'd so both their pretensions united And for more honour Don Henry the young son was to be call'd Prince of the Asturias since which time the eldest sons of Castile were call'd Princes and the younger are titled Infantas This hapned about the year 1388. And so much by the way concerning the Title of Prince of Asturias yet do I finde Jehan Froissart who lived at this time to tell us that Henry was call'd Prince of Gallicia in his French Edition 1530. vol. 3. fol. 96. and fol. 143. In the old English Edition vol. 2. cap. 154. fol. 170. and cap. 176. fol. 214. Asturias and lawful Heir to the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon with their dependants What troubles hapned in Castile after this treaty being not considerable I shall pass over Donna Isabella now declared Heir several matches were consulted of but she secretly joyned her self with Don Fernando Prince of Girona and the eldest son living to John II King of Arragon At this marriage King Henry was greatly vext as being contrary to his desire and without his knowledge But at the long run the King becomes more pacified and at last a 1474. dying she succeeds as Queen of Castile and Leon although some busled for Joane the supposed Daughter of King Henry but she is generally thrown by as a bastard being begot of his Queen Joane by one Don Bertrand de la Cueva afterwards prefer'd for his kindness being created Earl of Ledesma Master of Santiago and Duke of Albuquerque As for Henry himself he is by all esteem'd as frigid and uncapable of such loves Not long after John II King of Arragon b 1479. dying that Kingdom was united to Castile by the fortunate former marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella Here might I descend into the troubles of Navar and tell how Don Carlos Prince of Viana took up Arms against his Father John King of Navar and Arragon Upon which quarrel began the great Factions of those of Beaumont and Grammont the first adhering to the Prince and the latter to the King and the feuds of these two potent Families was one of the main causes of the loss of Navar to the Spaniard those of Beaumont assisting Don Ferdinand in the conquest against their own King and Country Of which more hereafter In short the Prince being not able to keep the field withdrew himself to Naples for sometime thence returns endeavours new troubles upon which he is taken and secuâ—ed Upon this the Catalonians rebel and though Prince Carlos was set at liberty and c Some say he was poyson'd by his Step mother D. Joane to make way for heâ—â—â—son Ferdinando to the Crown of Arragon dyed presently after yet they continue their Treasons The people of Barcelona publickly declare King John an Enemy to his Country and so they would withdraw themselves from his obedience And the Catalonians sent to Henry IV. of Castile to desire him to take them under his protection they being resolved no more to obey the Crown of Arragon Don Henry accepts them so they set up the Banners of Castile At last after a tedious War they are vanquish'd forced to submit and King John giveth them all freely a pardon But of Spain more in the next Century A CONTINUATION OF THE REBELLIONS AND Treasonablepractices OF THE ROMANISTS Particularly in Spain Scotland and Ireland From the year MD. to MDC BOOK VI. CHAP. I. 1. John and Catherine King and Queen of Navar deprived 2. Pope Julius II. Sect. 1. John and Catherine King and Queen of Navar deprived THe Conquest of Navar being acted suddenly we year 1500 shall make the story of it but very short At the beginning of this Century we finde John d'Albret or Don Juan de la Brit and Donna Catherina King and Queen of Navar which had boasted it self a Kingdom almost DCCC years Ferdinand II King of Arragon having by his marrying with Isabella Queen of Castile enlarged his Authority and Dominions as also by his banishing the Jews and subduing the Moores to him in Granado made his Government more secure cast many a greedy a Jo. de Bussieres lib. 15. § 16. Spondan an 1512. § 21. thought upon the seising the Kingdom of Navar and then all of Spain Portugal excepted would be his own At last opportunity good enough as he thought offer'd it self which was thus Pope Julius II. a zealous Hotspur falling out with Lewis XII King of France Fernando sides with the Pope and having rais'd an Army not onely demands passage for it through Albrets Territories but the command of his strongest Castles and Fortifications and which was most the possession and custody of Prince Henry eldest son to Navar
his own Queen as appears by his slaunders against her and his respect to Philip both which these following Letters will testifie To the most Mighty Monarch of World the Great King M S. F. 97. Laud. in Bibl. Bâ—dl â—xon fol. 180. of Spain give this at his Princely Palace of Madril Most Mighty Monarch I Humbly salute your Imperial Majesty giving your Highness to understand of our great misery and violent order wherewith we are of long time opprest by the English Nation Their Government is such as Pharaoh himself never used the like for they content not themselves with all Temporal Superiority but by cruelty desire our bloud and perpetual destruction to blot out the whole remembrance of our Posterity as also our old Catholick Religion and to swear that the Queen of England is Supreme of the Cburch I refer the consideration thereof to your Mâ—jesties high judgement the rather for that Nero in his time was far inferiour to this Queen in cruelty Wherefore and for the respects thereof Right Mighty Potentate my self with my followers and retainers and being also requested by the Bishops Prelates and Religious men of my Country have drawn my Sword and proclaimed Wars against them for the recovery first of Christs Catholick Religion and next for the maintenance of my own Right which of long time hath been wrongfully detained from me and my Father who by right succession was lawful heir to the Earldom of Desmond for he was eldest son to James my Grandfather also Earl of Desmond and for that my Vncle Gerald being the younger Brother took part with the wicked proceedings of the Queen of England to farther the unlawful claim of Supremacy usurped the name of Earl of Desmond in my Fathers true Title yet notwithstanding he had not long enjoyed his name of Earl when the wicked English annoyed him and prosecuted Wars that he with the most part of those that held of his side was slain and his Country thereby planted with Englishmen And now by the just judgement and providence of God I have utterly rooted these Malepart a a Boughs bowse out of the Orchard of my Country and have profited so much in my proceedings that my dâ—sterly Enemies dare not shew their faces in any part of my Country but having taken my Towns and Cities for their refuge and strength where they do remain as it were Prisoner for want of means to assail them as Cannon and Powder which my Country cannot yeild Having these wants most noble Potentate I have presumed with all humility to address these my Letters to your High Majesty craving the same of your gracious clemency and goodness to assist me in this godly enterprise with some help of such necessaries for the Wars as your Majesty shall think requisite and after the quiet of my Country satisfaction shall be truely made for the sâ—me and my self in person with all my forces shall be ready to serve your Highness in any Country your Majesty shall command me And if your Majesty will vouchsafe to send me a competent number of Souldiers I will place them in some of my Towns and Cities to remain in your gracious disposition till such time as my ability shall make good what your Majesty shall lend me in money and Munition and also your Majesties high Commission under the Broad Seal for leading and conducting these Souldiers according to the Prescript Order and Articles of martial discipline as your Majestie shall appoint me and as the service of this Land shall require I praise the Almighty God I have done by his goodness more then all my Predecessors for I have reclaim'd all the Nobility of this part of Ireland under the dutiful obedience of Christs Church and mine own Authority and accordingly have taken Pledges and Corporal Oaths never to swerve from the same and would have sent them to your Majestie by this Bearer but that the Ship was not of sufficiencie nor strength to carrie so Noble Personages and will send them whensoever your Highness please So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the World but your Majesties assistance which I daily expect Thus most Mighty Monarch I humbly take my leave and do kiss your Royal hands beseeching the Almighty of your Majesties health and happiness Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV of March MD XCIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat per Tho. White Mayor of Waterford Another Letter of the same date To the most mighty Monarch of the World the Great King of Spain give these at his most Princely Palace at Madrid YOur Majesty shall understand that the Bearer hereof Captain M S. F 97. fol. 188. Andrew Roche hath been always in the service of the Queen of England and hath performed her manifold services at Sea whereby he had great preferment and credit and being of late time conversant with Catholicks and â—eachers of Divine Instructions that were sorry for his lewd life made known unto him the danger wherein his soul was So that by their godly perswasions he was at that time reclaimed and converted to be a good Catholick and to spend the residue of his life in the defence and service of the Church Since which time of reconcilement he was to repair to your Majesty with his Ship and Goods as 't is well known to your Highness Council who consiscated that Ship to your Majesties use himself being at that time strucken with extream sickness that he was not able to proceed in the Voyage and when his company return'd into Ireland they reported that the a a Adelantado or the Spanish Admiral Lantado wished rather his Person then his Ship which made him fearful ever since to repair thâ—ther till he should deserve his freedom by some worthy service to your Majesty The b b Let some Romanist tell us the meaning of this for none was Hâ—â—buâ— King 〈◊〉 Vâ— of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 England Heir Apparent to the Crown of England had been carryed â—y him to your Highness but that he was bewrayed by some of his own men and thereby was intercepted and himself taken prisoner where he remain'd so long till by the providence of God and the help of good friends he was convey'd into Ireland to me in a small boat â—â—d having thâ—se occasions to your Majesty and being assured of his trust faith and confidence towards me have committed this charge into his hands the rather for that I understand your Royal Fleet is directed for England this year to the end he may be a Leader and Condâ—ctor to them in the Coast of England and Ireland being very expert in the knowledge thereof and in the whole Art of Navigation And thus with all humility I commit your Highness to the Almighty Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV or March MD LXXXXIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat
1399. who declared that after their diligent search they could finde nothing in it worthy of correction or amendment and so 't is intitled the Golden Book and hath been several times printed with approbation Henricus Sedulius hath writ a vindication for it and e Martyrol Francisc IV Novemb. Sect. 4. 5 6 7 8. Arthurus à Monasterio will have nothing spoke against it but commends the Author as worthy of f IV Octob. 11. belief and so I hope one may the more freely present them with that they so much magnifie Nor have the Predicant Fryars less extolled their Patron St. Dominick Vid. Antonin Archp. Flor. chron part 3. tit 23. who as they say had power over all Celestial Terrestrial and Infernal things and that both Angels and Elements did serve and obey him that he shew'd an easier way to Heaven than St. Paul did and that the Prophet intended this Dominick by the g Zech. 11. 7. Staff of Beauty as he did St. Francis by the bands and ten to one but he thought of both alike God they say never denyed him any thing that he h Nic. Jansenius vit Domin l. 2. c. 3. p. 119. asked that he received the Holy Ghost with the same glory of a flaming i Id. l. 1 c. 8. p. 56. Tongue as the Apostles did and had also the gift of k Id. l. 2. c. 11. p. 170. Tongues given him by Inspiration They go on and tell us that St. Dominick himself never committed l Id. l. 2. c. 14. p. 188. Villegas flos Sanctorum IV August mortal sin from the day of his birth and the other Fryars of his Order exactly m Villegas ib. imitated the Apostles in Life Works and Miracles And what favours might not St. Dominick be capable of since he was seen to proceed from Gods n Nic. Jansen l. 2. c. 14. p. 190. breast but Christ onely from his mouth And by this way of o Nic. Jans l. 2. c. 14. Antonin part 3. tit 23. Nic. Jans l. 2. c. 12. p. 179. comparing do they make our Saviour and this Fryar contend as I may say for superiority and yet in Miracles Dominick carries the day Nay so great was the Virgin Maries affection as they say to this Spaniard that not long since even within the memory of man viz. 1606. the Fryars of Soriano in the farther Calabria in Italy not having a Picture of their Founder Dominick she with Mary Magdalene came from Heaven and with their own hands presented them with his Picture which she bid them hang up in their Chappel and for ought that I know there it yet hangs and if you will believe them cures the blinde lame and such like diseases and miracles Nor do I know any reason why this Picture might not do as pretty feats as well as the very p Nic. Jansen p. 242. dust at Calervega in Old Castile where he was born though I think q Phil. Briet Geogr. Tom. 1. l. 5 p. 298. some doubt of the place And if this do not shew her love sufficient they will tell you other stories as that she preserves the Fryars of this Order safe and sure from harms-way under her r Ben. Gâ—non Chron. B. Virg. p. 212 218 223. Mantle and that by her Intercession she hath obtain'd of her Son that none of this Order shall continue long in s Id. p. 221. mortal sin and several other such like Tales for old Women to pass away the time withal Neither will their back-friends the Jesuits be wanting in magnifying their Founder and Order as that their t Imago primi Saeculi soc Jesu p. 64. Valderama serm Society was not of humane Invention but proceeded from Christ himself that the first Colledge of it was in the Womb of the Virgin Mary that instead of u Act. 9. 15. St. Paul their Patron Ignatius Loyola was him whom Christ declared should carry his name before the Gentiles as the Portugal Doctor w de societatis Origine p. 14. Jacobus Payva would perswade the world that this is an Order which the Prophet x Is 65. 22. 18. 2. Isaiah hath several times prophesied of as the Jesuits of y Imago primisaeculi soc Jesu p. 25. 60. Flanders testifie and that God the Father was seen to commend this Order to his Son Jesus by way of Protection Valderama Deza and Rebulloza though of other Orders have in their Sermons extoll'd this Ignatius to a wonder as that the name of Jesus was I know not how imprinted in his hands that he did greater Miracles than others for as Valderama saith Though Moses did great wonders with his Rod and that was onely by the vertue of the name of God written on it and also what the Apostles acted were onely by the power of the name of God But as for Loyala the Founder of the Jesuits he onely by his own name writ in a piece of Paper did more Miracles than Moses and all the Apostles which was admirable Nay that as long as he lived his actions were so holy that none but Popes as St. Peter none but Empresses as the Mother of God none but some Soveraign Monarch as God the Father and his Son had the happiness and favour to behold them And that which was spoke of our a Heb. 1. 2. Saviour Pedro Deza applies to the Institutor of this Order telling his Auditors and the world that In these last days God hath spoken to us by his son Ignatius whom he hath appointed Heir of all things 'T is true these three Sermons of Valderama Deza and Rebulloza were b 1 Octob. 1611 censured by the Sorbonists at Paris but within nine days after Francois Solier a French Jesuit and one well known for his many Translations and who also turned these three Spanish Sermons into French writ against this Sorbone-censure accusing the Faculty of Paris of c Leâ—tte justificative p. 25 32. Ignorance Impudence and Malice and that they acted more by Passion than Reason And a little after this Jaques de Montholon though there might be some probable Reasons that the true Author was the noted Jesuit Peter Cotten Confessor to Henry the Fourth but be it who it will under the name of Montholon was a large d Plaidoyâ— pour les Jesuites p. 462 463. Apology writ for this Order which towards the latter end hath also a Vindication of these Sermons and that printed too by publick Authority and lastly that they were received with applause and approbation needs no farther evidence than their several Impressions and Translations But besides these others are not ashamed to tell us that God did often e Imago primi saecula soc p. 584. Exod. 33. 11. talk with Ignatius Loyola as he talked with Moses face to face and as a man speaks unto his friend that the Virgin Mary is such a Patroness of this Order that she f
Hieron Platus de bono statu Religiosi l. 1. c. 34 p 108. Imago soc Jâ—s p. 1. â—0 preserves it also under her Mantle or Garments And which is more that God hath granted the same benefit to this Society that was formerly bequeath'd to the Benedictans that for the first three hundred years not any that dyed in this Order should be g Imago societ Jesu p. 648 649 damned And so much for the Jesuits and their Founder Ignatius Loyola whose life I have writ formerly in another Treatise They tell us that Pachonius was in that esteem with God that an h Dâ—â—â—ultius â—â—â—r Exempl cap. 7. tit 77. Sect. 1. Angel from Heaven brought the Rules for him and his Brethren to live by But the Trinitarian Fryars go a little higher affirming that the i â— â—â—â— Hist de Bâ—â—â—ie de les Câ—â—saiâ—â— â— 6. c. 1. Sect 2. p 466 Father Son and Holy Ghost were their Founders and Institutors which in part is hinted at by these Verses so common amongst them and for ought that I know may yet be seen over the Door of their Cloyster in the Suburbs of Arras in Artois and several other of their Covents Hic est Ordo Ordinatus Non à sanctis fabricatus Sed à solo summo Deo This Order made by God himself we see And not by Saints or men as others be The truth is this Order of the Trinity begun by two French-men betwixt four and five hundred years ago though I shall not give too much credit to the Miracles they say occasioned it was upon a Charitable Account viz. to redeem the Christian Slaves from the Turkish Tyrannical Bondage whereupon I shall willingly agree with i Caâ—aâ— gloâ—mundâ— part ◠〈◊〉 â—3 Cassanaeus and his Arch-bishop Antoninus of Florence that this Order should have preheminency above the rest But I fear of late days the Slaves are not so much regarded as their own preferments Though the Carmelite-Fryars will not draw their Institution so high yet they plead pretty fair for Antiquity and continuance by affirming the Prophet a D' Avity discours de l'Origine de toutes les Religions Sect. 26. Elias to be their Founder and that their Order shall remain to the end of the world which grand Priviledge as they say the Virgin Mary b Gonon Chron. p. 319. told one of this Fraternity the Prophet desired of our Saviour Christ at the time of his appearance to him in his c Mat. 17. 2 3. Mark 9. 2 3 4. transfiguration on the Mount But this is not all the benefit belonging to these people for they assure us that all of this Society shall stay no longer in Purgatory than the next Saturday after their death and this they publickly d Vid. P. du Moulin Defence de la foy Catholique Article 21. p. 441. printed in certain Theses at Paris 8 Octob. 1601. and mainly defended by Doctor Cayer Besides this they tell us that the Virgin Mary perswaded Fryar Francis to enter himself into this Order and then in Heaven she would give him a Crown of Flowers which she then shew'd him and that he obeying this advice because neither himself nor their Covent at Siena through poverty was able to buy him an Habit an e Gonon p. 203. Angel very freely came and gave him one And lastly that she appear'd to our Country-man Simon Stock so call'd from his f Jo. Pitseus de Scriptor Angl. p. 345. living in a hollow Stock or Trunk of an Oak General of this Order holding a Scapulare in her hands positively assuring him that all the Carmelites who dyed in that Habit should be g Gononus p. 256. saved Here might I tell how the Premonstrensian Monks so call'd from the Village Premonstré in Picardy whither their Founder Nortbert Arch-bishop of Magdeburg retired himself for Devotion affirm they received their habits h Gonon p. 159. from Heaven by the Virgin Mary And here might I shew how the Cistercian Monks so call'd from Cistertium Cisteaux in Burgondy where they began for all this affirm the Virgin Mary to be kinder to them than others by i Id. pag. 156. protecting them under her Arms and Cloak or Mantle and many such like fopperies of other Orders but this may serve for the present to give the Reader a taste of their Fooleries in the too too much magnifying of their respective Orders and Societies CHAP. II. Thinking to honour their Religion the Romanists relate 1. several ridiculous Stories to the abuse of the B. Virgin Mary 2. and childish Fopperies to the reproach of our Saviour Jesus Christ THe hardest Students have their Intervals and the greatest Scholars SECT I. Several ridiculous Stories to the abuse of the B. Virgin will now and then have a frolick or crotchet to divert their more serious thoughts Methinks it was not amiss in Mr. Geast formerly of Cambridge when under the Parliamentary persecution and their Prisoner for his Loyalty and Honesty to throw away an hour or two to finde out a Mystery in their abominable and treasonable Presbyterian-Covenant viz. that the number of the words in its six damnable Articles agrees with the number of the Beast 666. The Learned Thomas Lansius pleas'd himself in these two opposite Consult German in Prefat â—d Lectorem Verses the one exhibiting a Catalogue of good things the other of bad Lex Rex Grex Res Spes Jus Thus Sal Sol bona Lux Laus Mars Mors Sors Vis Lis Styx Nox Crus Pus mala Fex Fraus and took the pains to know how many alterations they would indure by which he found out that either of them by the transposition of words might be changed excluding bona or mala XXXIX Millions DCCCC Hundred XVI Thousand and VIII Hundred times And Bernardus Bauhusius the Poetical Jesuit of Antwerp made this Verse of our Saviour Rex Dux Sol Lex Lux Fons Spes Pax Mons Petra Christus Epigram lib. 2. pag. 39. which he saith may be converted 3628800 times And in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary he composed this Verse Tot tibi sunt dotes Virgo quot sidera Coeli which he saith may be changed a thousand twenty two ways according to the number of the Stars And Erici de Puys Puteanus bestowed a great deal of time and Paper to prove it yet as he might increase his number of the Stars so if the Verse will bear it might he the changes too if Lansius his account be true that VIII words may be varyed 40320 times Nor need any of these seem strange when we consider what variety and multitude of Languages and Words are composed of XXIV Letters Against such commendations as this of the Virgin Mary I shall say nothing leaving every man to imploy his Ingenuity upon what he pleaseth But for any to think they can or should advantage her glory by fathering a thousand lies and fopperies upon her is beyond reason
the Virgin Mary as that she was of such Zeal that if the Jews had not crucified our Saviour Jesus Christ b Vid. Hen. Estiene Apol. pour Herodot pag. 301. Rivet Apol. pro B. Virg. l. 2. c. 5. p. 248. she would have done it her self with her own hands because forsooth she had no less Charity than Abraham had who was going to kill his son What might I say of the extravagances of their Poza who brings all the pen-lavishments of the Pagan Poets concerning their Heathen Goddesses and Whores to compleat the commendations of the Blessed Virgin And again of the folly of another who would have Moses to allude to her because he saith that the gathering together of the Waters was call'd in Latine a Vid Rivet l. 1. c. 9. p. 66. Maria Seas And many other such like Fopperies to say no worse have they abused her with insomuch that Doctor Andrè Rivet of France thought himself obliged to write an Apology for her where may be seen several other of their absurdities of her But to conclude with these follies concerning the Blessed Virgin it is not amiss to see how they bury and carry her into Heaven She desiring to dye an Angel tells her the time shall be three days after Vid. Rivet lib. 1. cap. 22. Gononus p. 29 30 31 32 33. brings from Paradise a bough of a Palm-Tree to be carried before her Hearse and mourning Garments for the Funeral Then the Apostles were hurried to her in Clouds from whom she received the Eucharist and Extream Unction Then Christ with the Angels Patriarchs Prophets Martyrs Confessors and Virgins who sang her Requiem and so she dyed Christ commanding the Apostles to bury her body which spake after her soul was gone out of it in the Valley of Josaphat which accordingly was done St. Peter and St. John complementing one another who should carry the Palm Christ and all the Angels assisted but the Jews endeavour'd to spoil the solemnity yet some of them had better have been quiet unless they believed when they could not see Having lain some time in the Grave her soul entred into her Body again to make way for her Assumption which they make a glorious and very orderly shew thus marshalling it first went the Apostles then the Angels who were on the world then the souls flying to Heaven then the souls from Purgatory and fifthly the Angels who were Guardians to these souls Again these were met from Heaven 1. By the Patriarchs 2. The Prophets 3. Martyrs 4. Confessors 5. Virgins 6. All the Saints 7. Angels assistants who go seldom out of Heaven And 8. and lastly the Trinity Father Son and holy Ghost every one of which company made a speech and now was b Coelâ—m fuisse evacuatum Heaven they say quite empty and nothing in it And thus all things being ready and prepared for her motion to Heaven up they have her and as she pass'd through the Orbs the respective Planets according to their duty met her every one of them making a wise Speech to her to intice her to stay with them and the Planet Venus pleaded very dapperly hoping to perswade her to stay and live with her telling of her how she was the Goddess of Love and is call'd Lucifer being the brightest of all the Stars how she pleaseth all the five Senses c. and which is best of all they make the Planet quote in her Speech Bartholomeus Glanvellus an English-man who lived about thirteen hundred years after the Blessed Virgins death And it seems Venus went very fair to have won her for they say the Angels perswaded her not to stay there telling her how Venus was an crrant whore and so desired her to leave that place and ascend higher where was a better Crown and Habitation for her Yet they will tell you that she left not the earth so carelesly but that she left many holy Reliques in the custody of St. John as pledges of her Gononus p 32. 33. affection to us such as the Swadling-bands of our Saviour his Winding-sheet her own Girdle the Vail which she wore when she was married her Kemb the Ring wherewith she was married Christs Napkin that was wrapt about his head in the Sepulchre his Fore-skin his Crown of Thornes and to shew her self a good House-wife she bequeath'd also to us her very Spindle wherewith she used to imploy her self Reliques I must confess that if I knew certainly where to have them I should have a vast esteem for But when I finde such apparent cheats in such ware that many times pieces of Dogs Cats and suchlike animals have been worship'd Vid. Jo. Polyand Disput de Reliq and Lord Herberts Hist Hen. VIII Anno 1538. for holy Reliques of Saints and such incertainty where the truth lies I am the less zealous As for Example Christs Fore-skin the people of Akin say they have it those of Antwerp affirm they have it Heldesham in Germany brags of it the Romans say 't is in St. John Laterans Church And again both Byzanson and Charroux in France boast that 't is there And yet others say that it is at Calcata twenty miles from Rome Again what a Monster will they make of St. John Baptist those of Rome assuring us that his whole head is in the Cloister of St. Sylvester those of Malta say they have the hinder part of it Amiens and St. John Angelique brag of the fore-part And although a Hist l. 3. c. 6. Theodoret declareth that Julian the Apostate burned to Ashes the body of this St. John yet they will have the Finger wherewith he pointed saying Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world was saved but if you have a minde to see it you must trudge to Lyons to Bourges to Bezanson to Fortuits to Tholouse and also to Florence every one of these places affirming they have it Thus St. Andrew hath two Bodies one at Tolouse another at Melple And St. Anthony hath two one at Arles another at Vienna St. Matthias hath three Bodies one at Rome another at Padoa and a third at Triers So hath Lazarus at Authun at Marseilles and at Avalon And St. Sebastian hath four Bodies one nigh unto Narbonne a second at Rome a third at Soissons and the fourth at Piligni near unto Nantes To St. Anne they give five Heads Lyons Apt in Provence St. Annes in Turingue Duran in Juliars and fifthly Tryers all these places boast of such a Skull And for St. Sebastian for ought that I know the present Romanists give him as many Arms as the old Romans wounded them with Arrows for they allow him no less than twelve viz. one Arm at Mombrison in Forest one at St. Servins de Tolose one at Case-Dieu in Auvergne and one at Anger 's besides these two at Soissons two at Piligni two nigh unto Narbonne where he was born and lastly two in St. Laurences Church
to make a Cistern or Bathing-place in the Capitol and therein wash his body with the warm bloud of Edict Constant Rich. Broughton Eccles Hist Age 4. cap. 5. little Children and to effect this upon his consent the Flamens prepared a great number of Infants some write a Pet de Natal l. 2. c. 22. Jac. de Vorag Hist 12. Jo. Trevisa Policron fol. 212. Alonso de Villigas Flos Sanctorum 31 Decemb. la vida de San. Silvâ—stre three thousand and was going to kill them to fill the Bath with their bloud but Constantine being moved to compassion by the cries and lamentations of their Mothers abhorred such cruelty and wickedness causing the Children to be restored to their Parents with rewards and means to carry them to their dwelling places The night following the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul appear to him saying Because thou hast hindred this wickedness and hast detested to shed the blood of Innocents we are sent to thee by Christ our Lord and God to tell thee how to be cured Hear us therefore and do what we admonish thee Sylvester the Bishop of this City flying thy Persecutions with some others of his Clergy are hid in the Cliffs of Mount Soracte send for him and he will provide an holy Bath in which thou shalt be wash'd and so clensed from thy disease Constantine the next morning sends to finde out Sylvester to whom being come he told the storie of his Vision and asked him what Gods Peter and Paul were and desired to see their Pictures which being shewed him he declared that they were the very same who appeared to him the night before Upon this he was Baptized by Sylvester and so clensed from his Leprosie an hand from Heaven at the same time touching him as he himself saw Upon this the Emperour became hugely Munificent to the Church of Rome by his Decree ordering that she shall be above the IV Patriarchal Seats Antioch Alexandria b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constantinople and Hierusalem and that the Bishops of Rome shall be above all others in the world all things belonging to Christianity to be govern'd by them In proof of this he built a Church in the Lateran where to maintain lights he gave Lands and Possessions in Asia Thracia Graecia Africa Italy and several Islands he gave his Palace also in the Lateran with his Crown and all his other imperial Habiliments Badges and Authority and the more to exalt him the Emperour himself like a Foot-boy led the Popes Horse about by the Bridle and bestowed upon him and his Successors the City of Rome with the c Provincias loca Civitatis Edict Constant Places Cities and Provinces of Italy and the Western Countries and then in a solemn manner curst and damn'd to the pit of Hell all those whether his succeeding Emperours or any others who any ways opposed or violated this his Donation And this Edict or Donation of Constantine is dated at Rome Constantine and Gallicanus being Consuls Thus we have the storie and the Imperial Decree of Donation which have made such a noise in the World and all as true as the Tale of this Sylvester's d Guil. Gazet Hist des Saincts Tom. 2. 31 Decemb. Pet. de Natal l. 2. c. 22. tying up and there to remain till the day of Judgement a huge Dragon in a Den which every day onely with its breath slew above e Jac. de Vorag Hist 12. three hundred men which quite puts down the storie of Sir Eglomore Now the better to batter down the imaginary Castle of the Popes Temporal Authority and that the Cheat and Forgerie may appear more visible we shall shew that the Foundation of all is a meer lye the occasion of such a Donation viz. the storie to be false and then the Decree it self as a consequence must vanish also However the Edict it self shall also be proved a Counterfeit by such Arguments and Authorities as Hottoman Dr. Crakinthorpe Laurentius Valla du Plessis our Country-man Cook c. affords us but with as much brevity as can be That the storie and occasion of such a Donation is false appears plainly I. Valerius Crispus was alive after this supposed Baptism and so his murther could no way intitle Constantine to the Leprosie and for Sozom. l. 1. c. 5. Trip. Hist Cassiodor lib. 1. cap. 6. Evagr. l. 3. c. 40 41. Nâ—ceph l. 7. c. 35. Platina vit Marci Broughton's Hist Eccles pag. 476. § 2. Id. pag. 494. § 9. Jo. Mariana de rebus Hispan l. 4. c. 16. truth of this we need go no further than this that they cannot deny but both their Ancient and their Modern Authors declare this Crispus to have been Baptized with Constantine and alive after the Synod supposed to be held at Rome upon this christning of the Emperour Nor was Constantine a Tyrant II. The Leprosie it self is confest by their a Viâ— Marci vit Hadrian I. Canus loc Theol. l. 11. c. 5. § 5. Naucler generat 11. Platina and others to be a meer forgery not mentioned by Eutropius Orosius and such-like ancient Writers nor was there any cause for such a Disease Constantine being a good Emperour III. Constantine did not persecute the Christians till this supposed Leprosie Euseb vit Constant l. 1. c. 5. l. â— c. 1 4 12 13 14. l. 10. c. 16. Cedren Hist Sozom. l. 1. c. 8. but on the contrary hugely favoured them in somuch that Licinius the Heathen Consul accused him to his Souldiers for so doing And which is more he did not onely countenance them but was a profest Christian himself his Father Constantius favouring that way and his Son Constantine instructed in it and some say in Britain at b Broughton's Eccles Hist p. 460 461. § 5 6 7. Abington in Barkshire but of the latter I say nothing IV. Being thus a Christian he could not be ignorant what S. Peter and S. Paul were in that time of Sylvester and so not to suppose them to be Gods after an Heathenish manner And if he were ignorant how came he to know what they were for in his supposed Decree where the storie is he doth not tell us that they told him If they did 't is probable that they would not leave him a supposed Pagan in the dark but also declare what they were besides telling their names nor doth he say they told him that V. Again being thus a Christian he would not make use of Heathen Priests either to clense him from his iniquities nor need Aegyptius or Osius upon that supposed infidelity inform him of the Efficacie of Christ and his Religion Neither would he consent to the wicked advise of the Pagan Flamens for his Cure by the bloud of so many Innocent Children VI. If Constantine had consented to this cruelty yet 't is not probably that he need either have such a number slain as some say three thousand nor would he have had it
so publickly done as to be frighted from it by the cries of their grieved Mothers VII Constantine was not baptized by Sylvester nor at Rome Anno Euseb vit Constant l. 4. c. 61 62 64. Socrat. l. 1. c. 26. Theodoret. l. 1. c. 31. Sozom. l. 2. c. 32. 324 but after this a little before his own death at Nicomedia in Bithynia in lesser Asia and that by one Eusebius Bishop of that City This last quite overthrowing the occasion of the Donation they bend all their force to null it but the chief of their Objections are thus answered Object I. That he was baptized at Rome and so not at Nicomedia needs no dispute The Font wherein he was baptized being at Rome Answer If so 't is nothing to the purpose seeing several Monuments are there which were neither made there nor first erected there and by this Argument their Reliques and Bodies of Saints will make some holy men to be born or have dyed here and there and every where for some of them by the several places pretending to have them must have several bodies apiece besides there is no good proof of such a Baptistory Object II. Of this there is proof enough for Ammianus Marcellinus an Heathen mentions Lavacrum Constantinianum at Rome and is not this the Font of Constantine Answer No but a Bath or Bathing-place so call'd mentioned also by a De Occid Imp. l. 7. Sigonius and both him and b Lib. 27. prope Constantini lavacrum Marcellinus intimate so much themselves by saying That the people would have set on fire the house of Lampadius neer or adjoyning to the Bath of Constantine And of these sorts of Baths there were many of them at Rome and that very large ones too and this shews that it could not be meant by a Font or Baptistory in a Church for if so then reason would tell us that the Authors would rather have said neer such a Church Object III. Constantine was present at the Nicen Council and therefore baptized before that Council and so not at Nicomedia in his latter days Answer This is no consequence for long before this Constantine call'd a Euseb vit Constant l. c. 37. Bin. not in Concil Arel § ad Council at Arles where he was also present and yet not then baptized as they themselves confess Object IV He was present at prayers with the Christians long before his death and therefore not baptized at his latter end at Nicomedia Answer Nor will this hold water for any might be at their prayers till the receiving of the Sacrament at which time the Catechumeni i. e. such as were instructed in the Faith but not yet Christned and others were to withdraw Object V. But Constantine was present at the receiving of the Sacrament and so must be baptized Answer He was not nor can they gather any such thing from Eusebius if he were present it will not follow that he received Besides an Emperour so favourable to the Christians and one that call'd their Religion Crakinthorp p. 70 72 73 74. his own both for Devotion and Curiosity as also good Example to gain Prosolytes might be allow'd more priviledge than others as being onely present if he were so Object VI. Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia was an Arian so that if Constantine had been baptized by him he would have shew'd his Communion with that Heresie Answer If he had it doth not contradict the storie but he did not agree with them 'T is true this Eusebius was an Arian but a cunning jugler and carried himself otherwise before the Emperour But when Constantine perceived that he was an Arian he was so far from Theodoret. lib. 1. cap. 19. favouring or siding with these people that he banish'd him with a severe Epistle or Order against him and those of his Faction Yet after upon his seeming repentance he had the liberty to return where he carried himself as against the Arians though his heart was for them and so the Emperour seeing onely with mans eyes thinking his Conversion to be real might lawfully be baptized by him and yet none of his way or faith in those points Object VII It was not Constantine the Great who was baptized by Eusebius at Nicomedia but his Son Constantine who was an Arian and expell'd Pope Faelix from Rome so that the old Historians mistook the Father for the Son which caused this error Answer This Constantine the Son was dead or kill'd many years before Faelix was chosen to sit in the Roman Chair Nor was he an Arian that we know of And him who you aim at all this while is Constantius another Son of Constantine the Great with whom and Faelix there was some clashing Constantius being look'd upon as an Arian and one that had been twice baptized and one of them by one a Athanas de Synod p. 350. Socrat. l. 2. c. 37. l. 1. c. 26. Fuzoius Bishop of Nicomedia And that you mistake in saying that this must be Constantine the Great b Vit. Felius Platina himself will assure you Object VIII Constantine the Great was not baptized at Nicomedia but onely Bathed in hot waters for the health of his body Answer Neither Barrel better Herring certainly Aug. Steuchus Eugubinus is put hard to it when he brings such a childish reason as this but the Country Clown rather than say nothing affirm'd Tenterden Steeple to be the cause of Goodwin Sands and truely Steuchus at this time reasoneth after the same sort as appears by Eusebius who lived at that time was well acquainted with the Emperour Constantine and at large writes this History of his a Vit. Constantine l. 4 c. 61 62. Baptism at Nicomedia by the Bishop of that City The Emperor himself confessing that he staid so long for the receiving of this Sacrament because he thought to have gone and been Baptized in Jordan after the Example of our Saviour Christ But being thus overtaken with sickness and neer his end rather than dye without it was Baptized as abovesaid at Nicomedia But because some of them have said that though the supposed occasional storie may be false yet the Donation is true as appears by the Decree it self of such a Donation we shall prove here that the Decree it self is a meer Cheat and Counterfeit and then the whole design must vanish And that it is a forgery is plain because I. It saith that Constantinople was then one of the four chief Sees or Patriarchships whereas I would have them to prove that that dignity was before this or then given to this City for some write it was not till many years after this and so it must speak by Prophesie II. In this Decree is mentioned the very word a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constantinople whereas at the time of this writing there was no such word the City being then call'd Bizantium nor was the name changed till sevâ—â—al years after this supposed Baptism
himself either cock-sure of Heaven or lived more idle or lazie or freer from trouble or danger if he got but a Monks Cowl on and lived hum-drumming in a Cell or Monastery made a Decree against as I may say run-away Souldiers against whom I onely concern my self in the former censure In which he Ordain'd that no Souldier unless he was dismiss'd should enter himself in a Monastery to turn Monk except he were lame or otherwise unfit for the Wars And this he sends to Pope Gregory ordering him to see it put in practice and divulged Gregory looks upon this as an unjust law even contrary to Christianity and desires the Emperour to consider how he can answer it at the day of Lib. 2. Ep. 62. Judgement yet declared that he had fulfill'd his duty by yeilding obedience to his commands and so had accordingly published the Order abroad But I warrant you Gregory the Eighth and our Modern Popes would not thus obey the Emperours and yet they will not say that this Gregory the Great an holy Saint in their Calendar in this his obedience and humility was erronious or committed a fault In the Emperours Army there was one Phocas a common Captain or Centurion but a most cruel and wicked man who upon a Mutiny in Sclavonia made himself very active so that they flew into open Rebellion and in this humour he plaid his Cards so well that he became the onely Ring-leader those that were loyal being forced to flee insomuch that they heaved him upon a Shield an old Ceremony not onely in Armies but also in France and Spain in proclaming their Kings and shouted him up for Emperour Having gone thus far in villany he proceeds and to loose no time in all haste marcheth to Constantinople and that with such a strength that the Emperour Mauritius who of late had led a very religious life having sent to all places to be pray'd for was forced to flee and so in a little Bark with his Wife and Children stole out of the City over the Chanel to Chalcedon now call'd Scutari or Calcitiu but being overtaken by Phocas his Souldiers was brought back to Constantinople where Phocas had the Emperours Children which then he had seis'd on murther'd before the Fathers face the poor Mauritius onely repeating that of the Psalmist Just art thou O Lord and righteous are thy judgements And which was more the Emperour having there one of his Sons a little Childe the kinde Nurse of it through a strange pitty love and loyalty stole it away and put her own Childe in its stead to be slain But the Emperour not to be out done in compassion unwilling to allow of such a cruel charity withstood the design and so had his own innocent Infant murdred before his face and at last was himself also slain then their heads were cut off and their bodies exposed to all manner of contumelies There were also murder'd Petrus Brother to the Emperour and many of the Loyal Nobility Theodosius eldest Son to Mauritius who had also been some years before Crown'd Augustus and co-Emperour to his Father being sent upon this Rebellion to Cosâ—hoes of Persia to desire his aid and assistance against Phocas was also overtaken and beheaded And to make the Tragedy compleat one Scholasticus an Eunuch having saved the Empress Constantina Daughter to the Emperor Tiberius thus a Father-in-law and Predecessor to Maurice and her three Daughters hid them secretly in a Church yet was not this so privily done but Phocas heard of it and sent to have them delivered Cyricius the Patriarch of Constantinople made some opposition nor would he yeild them up till Phocas had by Oath sworn to do to them no violence which for some time he kept thrusting them into a Monastery but at the years end had them all four most barbarously butcher'd Here we have Phocas one of the most absolute Villains in the world as for Mauritius a An. 602. § 23. Baronius himself cannot but give him many commendations yet he will quickly shoot his bolt to finde out the Reason of all these Judgements against him and all this because forsooth he would not comply with the liberty of the Church as they call it and was not a sure Friend to Gregory for this is that which he aims at And now let us see how Pope Gregory behaved himself towards this Villain he no sooner hears of this abominable Murther and how the Tyrant had made himself Emperour but he hath the Statues of Phocas and his Wife carryed through Rome in triumph with a great many pretty cantings and then with a great deal of state and glory placed up amongst the other Emperours Nor was this all for he writes to Phocas congratulating his good success as the Angels did the Nativity of our Saviour a Baron an â—â—3 § 3. Glory be to God in the highest who as it is written changeth the times and translateth Kingdoms For which we rejoyce that thou art come to the Empire Let the heavens rejoyce and let the earth leap for joy and of your gracious actions let all the people be exceeding glad In another b Id. § 5. Letter to the same Tyrant he rejoyceth and thanks God that he is Emperour and that Mauritius was taken away And in another to Leontia Wife to Phocas he thus begins c Ib. § 6. What tongue can declare what minde can conceive the thanks which we owe to God for your Empire And yet if we consult Historians they will assure us that this Phocas was not onely a cruel furious and bloudy fellow but also a drunkard wencher yea and an Heretick too But d Ib. § 9. Baronius and e Tom. 1. pag. 333. Coquaeus are very busie to quit him of the last fault and so make him a good Roman Catholick But be as bad as he will 't is confest that his Wife Leontia was guilty of the same vices Whereby I can scarce think of Pope Gregory's Letters but I must at the same time remember the flattering and wicked Addresses of late days made to Oliver and his Son Richard by their canting Armies and suchlike knavish Phanaticks who in the hight of their wickedness would impudently pretend the Spirit of God to be their Informer I do not here compare Pope Gregory to these Villains yet I can easily perswade my self that he had not as the Turks story of their great Prophet the Pigeon or Holy Ghost at the writing of these Letters directing him at his ear as they say sometime he had and so they always paint him The Patriarch of Constantinople having as aforesaid somewhat angred Phocas for not delivering the Empress Constantina and her Daughters to his cruelty without an oath of security and the Tyrant seeing himself thus bravely courted by the Infallible Roman condescended to the request of Pope Boniface the Third and so decreed That the Church of Rome should be the e Hic Rogante Papa Bâ—nifacic
their heads and revolted chusing for Emperour one Theodosius a good man but of no great birth being onely a Collector of Subsidies Theodosius thus Emperour though really against his will took Anastasius and gave him his life but made him a Monk but he continued not long for Leo who was General to Anastasius the Second resolves in vindication of his former Master to oppose him and so having got a great Army marched towards Constantinople and in the way took prisoner a Son of Theodosius Upon this the Father began to grow fearful and not daring to resist so great a power yeilded himself upon promise to have his life secured which was granted Theodosius and his Son as they say being both shorne and made Monks And Leo being thus successful was made Emperour having three who had sat in the Imperial Throne his Prisoners viz. I. Philippus Bardanes whom Anastasius had cast into prison and pluck'd out his eyes II. Anastasius who was forced into holy Orders by Theodosius III. Theodosius who thus submitted to Leo and was also put into holy Orders Sect. 4. The Popes censures and troublings of the Emperour Leo the Third about Images LEo the Third before this call'd Isaurus Conon from his Country Isaurus in Asia sirnamed also by his Enemies Iconomachus from his hatred to Images for which cause Pope Gregory the Second falling out with him was the occasion of great mischief to Christendom This Leo a Tollendi ut ipse dicebat Idolatriae causa Platin. vit Gregor II. declaring against Idolary as he said commanded that all Images in the Churches of Constantinople should be taken down and sent to Gregory the Second at Rome to have his Orders there also obey'd but this the Pope stifly withstands affirming the Emperour to have nothing to do in things of Religion and perswaded all people in this to oppose the Emperour which took such effect that in Constantinople it self some men did not onely reason against the Imperial Decree but the women assaulted those who according to Order went about to execute Leo's commands insomuch that he was forced to use severity against those who opposed his Edicts And in Italy so zealous were the people by the perswasion of the Church-men that in Ravenna where the Imperial Authority most resided they flew into such open Tumults or Rebellion that they murther'd Paulus the Fourteenth Exarch being the Emperours Lieutenant or Deputy in Rome it self they took Petrus the Duke and put out his eyes and in Campania they beheaded the Duke Exhilaratus and his Son Adrian who there took the Emperours part against the Pope who now began to shew themselves Enemies and two to one if the Emperour could have got the Pope into his clutches he had made him smart for his opposition But Gregory on the other side had play'd his Cards so well that he had dwindled the Imperial Jurisdiction in Italy to nothing by his Excommunication and suchlike Censures not onely forbidding any more Tax or Tribute to be paid him but that he should not at all be obeyed And here a Quo tonitru exitati fideles Occidentale mox desciscunt penitus à Leonis Imperio Apostoâ—ico Pontifici adherentes Sic dignum posteris idem Gregorius reliquit exemplum ne in Ecclesia Christi regnare sinerentur haereâ—ci Principes si saepe moniti in errore persistere obstinato animo invenirentur Baron anno 730. § 5. Baronius according to his custom huggs and applauds Gregory for his Censures against the Emperour whereby he got the people to his own Devotion and also left a good Example to Posterity not to permit obstinate Heretical Kings to Rule as the Cardinal saith who never lets any piece of Rebellion pass without commendation But for all this Leo kept his Imperial Seat in Constantinople and continued in his resolution against Images and so had them pull'd down nor could Gregory the Third who succeeded his Name-sake stop his proceedings though by his Censures with the consent of the Roman Clergy he did not onely declare him deprived from the Communion of all Christians but also deposed from his Empire But Leo never thought himself the worse for these brutish Thunderbolts and so raigned as Emperour to his dying day having sat in the Imperial Throne twenty four years And his Son Constantine the Fifth carryed the same Opinion against Images which did not a little perplex the Popes in his time But the Popes quarreling about these trifles was the occasion that the Emperour of Constantinople lost his jurisdiction in Italy Ravenna being about this time taken by Aistulphus the two and twentieth King of the Lumbards in Italy Eutichus the Fifthteenth and last Exarch forced to flee this Exarchical Government having ruled as the Emperours Deputies almost CC years in Italy keeping their Seat at Revenna but the Popes gain'd by this for the Popes as some say having made Pepin King of France in requital desired his assistance against the Lombards who accordingly march'd into Italy beat Aistulph took Ravenna from him which with many other Cities he gave to S. Peter whereby the Pope in a manner held himself Master of that which he now doth in la Marcha di Ancona Romagna di Vrbino Bononia and Ferrara which they say was confirm'd by his Son Charles the Great with the Addition of the Dukedoms of Spoleto and Tuscany and the Islands Sicily Corsica and Sardinia reserving to himself the Soveraignty of them but some men give that which is none of theirs to give and so might Charlemaign but right or no right the Popes do not use to loose any thing that is to be had This Charles the Great also b An. 774. beat Desiderius who succeeded Aistulph and was the last King of the Lombards and so that Kingdom and Rule ended after they had triumph'd in that part of Italy from them call'd Lombardy and the adjacent parts for above CC years and now the Pope began to strut it with the proudest throwing off the jurisdiction of the Western Empire having his daring Lombards thus brought to nought and Charles the Great the Champion of Europe his freind doubly ingaged to him the See of Rome authorising his Father Pepin to be King of France the first step to Charles his greatness and after as they say Crown'd him the first Emperour of the West in opposition to that of the East or Constantinople Sect. 5. The deposing of Childerick the Third King of France HAving here treated somewhat of Pepin and Charlemaign let us see how they came to their greatness and government There having raign'd in France Eighteen Kings since Merouce some say Grand-childe to Pharamund who was the first that brought these German people into France and there setled them there then succeeded in the Kingdom Childerick or Helderick by some falsely call'd Chilperick of which name there hath also been two Kings of France About the year DLIX Clotaire the First set up the Office of the Du
the Moors in Catalonia as his Father Grandfather and great-grand-Great-grand-father had done before him there was one a Imperial Hist pag. 392. Bernardo del Carpio Nephew to King Alonso who was so famous in those Wars against the Saracens for his great prudence and success that the Emperour Lewes took a special liking to him and being of such great Birth and Duke of Barcenona he took him to him into France making him a special favourite At this promotion of a Stranger the French took pet and at last by rumours and false news so increased the charge that the crime also fell heavily upon the Empress Juditha as one too familiar with the said Bernardo and as one that had so much possess'd the Emperours affection that she not onely ruled all but intended also to get all for her Son Charles from the Emperours other three Children But the truth is these reports are by the Wisest held to be false and impertinent for the Emperour to satisfie the world of the first order'd Bernardo to depart from him which accordingly he did returning into Spain and for any other crime lay'd to him having beg'd leave he publickly challenged according to the custom of those times any his accuser against whom he would clear his innocencie by Combat but none appearing he purged himself by Oath As for Judith Lewes for peace-sake had sent her into a Nunnery nor would he receive her again till before her Enemies she had clear'd her self And a late judicious b Jo. Henr. Bâ—â—eler Comment de rebâ—s saeculi IX X paâ— 65. Historian sheweth us that the ancient Writers of those times do confess that the accusations lay'd against Judith were all false and lyes And their other pretence viz. the indeavours to have young Charles to over-top his Brothers is very impertinent considering how he had given to one a great part of Germany to another a great command in France and the Eldest viz. Lotharius he had had him crown'd Emperour though himself then living according to the custom of those times the better to confirm his succession in the Empire But were these pretences true I see no Authority to warrant this Rebellion which all Authors cry out against and acknowledge the cause of all to be meerly Ambition Arrogancie with hopes of domineering To this Rebellion several of their proud Prelates had an itching De Bussieres Tom. 1. pag. 349. humour nourishing within themselves an hatred against the Emperour because he had by Law restrained their Military Pomp most of them then going habited and acting like Souldiers not troubling their thoughts with their Office as Bishops onely to sweep up the Revenues The chief of these were Ebo or Ebbo Archbishop of Rheims at first a beggerly fellow but by the Emperours favour thus prefer'd Jesse Bishop of Amiens and such like and some of the chief Nobility were great promoters of this villany as Hilduin Hugo Monfredus c. And who must head these but Pepin the Emperours Son and so having got a considerable Army together he marcheth against his Father and in his way takes Orleans The Emperour upon notice of this sends his Empress for security Anno. 830. or policie to a Nunnery at Leon in Picardy himself going to Compeigne neerer Paris Pepin hearing of this sends a party of his Confederates to Laon where by force they take out Juditha and carry her to their General where she is threatned with all manner of torments and deaths unless she will use all her Arguments and Interest to perswade Lewes to become Monk and resign the Empire and she her self to turn Nun. Upon this she is carryed to Compeigne where she privately perswades the Emperour to be as cunning as possible in this great concern and having discovered to him some other hints she returns to the Confederates by whom she is sent to Poictiers and there thrust into the Abbey of a De S. Croix S. Radegonde and there by force vailed as a Nun Pepin and his Confederates publickly rejoycing at this fine act of theirs thinking that now they had all at command and as heart could wish Whilst these Insolencies were acted in France Lotharius or Lotaire the Eldest Brother was in Italy at his command but that he leaveth and cometh to be an Actor with the rest At his first coming in his Councils were divided for though he declared against any incivility to be done to his Father yet he punished all Don Bernardo's Relations he could met withal one he banish'd and another he commanded to have his eyes pull'd out and then did as much as approve of all that had been hitherto done and so the Emperour remain'd without any Power or Authority excepting the bare Name Having gone thus far 't was at last supposed the most plausible means to bring their designs about to have a publick Meeting or Assembly held where they did not question but their actions would be approved of and the Emperour forced to resign Upon this it behooves Lewes to play his Cards well now or never and having consulted all ways at last he found none that had any hopes of security but to trust to his old Friends the Germans where if he could procure the Assembly to be kept he question'd not but all would go well for he thought that at this time he had little reason to confide in his Country-men the French who had thus in time of such need left him in the lurch And accordingly he behaved himself so cunningly that he not only got the Parliament to be held in Germany but a so that none should appear at this meeting in a Warlike posture and accompanied with no more than his own Family and Attendants And having thus secured himself he goeth to the place appointed with his Son Lotharius where seeing himself strengthned with the affection and assistance of a great many Germans he pluck'd up his courage and began to oppose the vapours of his Enemies and in full Parliament being informed that the two Lord Abbots Halduin and Walachus his main opposers had come to the Meeting attended with Armed men boldly ask'd them how they durst appear so accompanyed against the Edict and to punish this their insolencie commanded both of them with their Souldiers to depart the place confining the first to reside and winter at Paderborn in Westphalia and the other at Corbie in Picardy This action quite broke the hearts of the rest of the Conspirators and put them to their wits ends and scarce knowing which way to turn themselves the next night the chief of them went to Lotharius to consult what should be done nor need this take up much time of consideration for they found but two ways either presently to put it to the venture of the Sword or to withdraw themselves from the Parliament till they could increase their force either to carry all France which they doubted not of or by some policie to get the Emperour out of the
Germans protection but by all means they perswaded Lotharius never to comply with his Father and having thus vented their wicked counsels they returned to their Lodgings The Emperour Lewes was not idle all this while but kept his Spies on foot by whom he understood the design of this Conventicle Upon which next morning he sends to his Son Lothaire advising him not to be rul'd by such wicked counsel nor to trust to such false Friends who had rebell'd against their Soveraign and would in time to aâ—dvantage themselves desert him too for all their present fair promises desiring him to leave the Confederates and to come to him where he should be lovingly received Lotharius at last thinks it best to obey his Fathers good advice and accordingly goeth to him where he was accepted with the dearest affection of a Father The Conspirators inform'd of this knew not what to do but at last thought it best to perswade the Vulgar to Sedition and so presently gave out that Lotharius was seis'd upon closely clapt up in prison and by the appointment of his inraged Father was presently to suffer unless by violence he were released The people upon this hurry into Tumults and so in a tumultuous manner reel towards the Palace breathing forth nothing but destruction and the relief of the supposed Prisoner and in this fury fall upon the Emperours Life-guard who loyally and valiantly for preservation of their Master defend the Palace-gates and keep off the inraged Rabble and Confederates Lewes informed of this outrage and danger resolved to undeceive them and taking with him Lothaire shew'd themselves to the insolent Rebels whom he desired his Son to satisfie and pacifie Lotharius having commanded silence and obtain'd it informed the people of their mistake and in a large Speech declared the agreement and amity between his Father and himself The multitude by this means being pacified the whole design of the Faction and Rebellion fell to the ground by which means Lewes obtain'd so much courage and authority that he had the chief of the Confederates seis'd upon and in publick Parliament convicted of high-Treason and so condemned to death But such was the mercie of the Emperour that he onely had the Clergy-men deprived and some of the Laity for security sake confined to Monasteries And as for his Rebellious Son Pepin forgetting all animosity he received him into the height of his paternal affection And having thus eas'd himself of one Rebellion he sent for his Empress Juditha from the Abbey of Poictiers whom yet he would not receive to his bed till according to his Laws she had purged her self from all the crimes and objections lay'd against her And thus peace being made between him and his Children he dissolved the Parliament sending his Sons to their respective charges viz. Lotharius to Italy Pepin to Aquitaine and Lewes to Bavaria But not content with this favour and mercie to compleat his Charity after the holy Feast of Easter was finished he by a general Act of Oblivion pardoned all those whom he had before punished deprived or confined freely granting to every man the liberty of departing and injoying what they did formerly according to their own humours and pleasures Now we might suppose that all would be quiet the chief of the Rebels by the Emperours mercie not onely being shamed but obliged into loyalty but we shall finde the contrary For the aforesaid Bernardo having by his intreaty procured another Parliament to be held for the publick clearing of himself from all accusations lay'd against him accordingly he came and according to the unjust and heathenish custom of those times offer'd to prove his innocencie by Combat but none appearing to fight him by Oath he publickly prov'd himself unguilty The Emperour to satisfie all parties sent to his Son Pepin who seemed the greatest Enemie to be present at this meeting and purgation of Bernardo But Pepin doth not presently obey but protracts the time till the Parliament was dissolved and all finished which affront so much incens'd Lewes that he commanded Pepin to be seis'd upon who at last giving his Keepers the slip escaped and fled to Aquitaine where upon what account I know not he got Bernardo to revolt from the Emperour and joyn with him in the same Rebellion But Pepin being seis'd upon again was to prevent his farther mischief carryed whence he had most sway and confined to Trevers in Germany but from this restraint and judgement he also escaped and being at liberty made it his whole design to molest and oppose his Father filling all places he could with Insurrections which so incensed Lewes that seeing by fair means he could not reclaim his Son he deprived him of all jurisdiction over and to Aquitaine and whatever else he possest giving the same to his Sons Lotharius and Charles Pepin seeing himself thus deprived of all resolved to make others as bad as himself and first he felt the pulse of his Brother Lothaire which with a little bad counsel he moved to beat according to his own desire and in this humour they both resolved to renew the Rebellion to depose their Father and so rule all and to this Treachery their a Ipsique Antistiâ—es Buccinatores belli pâ—ae caeteris voce scripto opâ— multo maxime exemplo sactionem promovent Jo. de Bussiers Hist Franc. Tom 1. p. 359. Prelates and Clergy were the main Trumpeters by their preachments scribling and bad Example According to the plot the Sons march'd against their Father Pope Gregory the Fourth coming from Italy some say with Lotharius to the quarrel but whether to end it or foment it I cannot swear but the report went then strong that the Pope assisted the Sons By this time the Armies drew near one another in Alsatia and were ready to joyn Battle in a large Field call'd by the Germans b Lugenfeld i. e. the Field of lyes or deceit between a Campus Mendacii Basel and Strasbourg But here the Pope seem'd to offer his assistance to a reconcilement The Sons perceiving that the more they delay'd the stronger they would grow by the hourly coming over to them of some of the Emperours Army desired Pope Gregory to enter into a treaty with their Father who accordingly goeth to Lewes whom he found armed amongst his Officers and Army To be short time is thus delay'd for several days and then conditions granted by the Emperour with which Gregory returns to the Confederates But this was the ruine of Lewes for whilst this design was cunningly driven on the Sons by their Agitators had so wrought with the Imperial Army that the morning after Gregory's return they did not onely run away by piece-meal but upon a sign given by whole Troops Regiments and Squadrons they basely revolted and march'd over to the Sons leaving the poor Emperour onely attendant with a few of his faithful and loyal Servants from which cheating and treacherous action the place hath ever since to
this day been call'd as aforesaid Lugenfeld The Emperour seeing himself thus left in the lurch by his perfidious Army and so neer his Enemies that there was no hope of escaping and if he could knew not whither to go desireth his Friends then left with him to depart and shift for themselves that so they might avoy'd the fury of their Rebellious Enemies not willing that they should suffer ruine for their fidelity and honesty and having thus perswaded them with tears and sighs of both parties they stole away And being thus left onely with his Wife his young Son Charles and a few Servants he sent to his Rebellious Sons that he would deliver himself into their hands provided they would take care that no affront or violence should be done to him and those few with him the Sons consent to it and command him to come to them who forthwith mounting on Horse-back with his few Friends rode to their Camp where the Empress was taken from him delivered to his Son Lewes and by him sent into Italy and there thrust into a Nunnery at Tortona in the Dukedom of Milan and the Emperour with the rest of his Companions were also confin'd And now they parted all amongst them and rewarded themselves Pepin was restored to Aquitaine Lewes had Bavaria with some other Additions and Lothaire possest the Empire and most of France and so the other Brothers departed to their Dominions Lothaire had his Father in his custody whom he carryed to Soissons and there thrust him into the Abbey of St. Medard and his Son Charles into another Monastery and having appointed a Parliament for the better colour to his Rebellion to be held at Compeigne at the time appointed they met where the condition of the Emperour was considered a company of lying accusations brought in against him invented crimes falsely lay'd to his charge and what not to make him odious to the people Hebo the Archbishop of Rheimes and other Prelates the Ring-leaders of the Rebellion spoke and acted furiously against him In the mean time they sent to him to see if he would quietly and freely resign the Empire which he absolutely refused to do declaring he would never part with his Authority protesting against them as no Judges over him he being their Soveraign and they onely his Subjects But this put not the least stop to their villany on the contrary rather increasing their insolencie and so in a formal way like our bloudy High-Court of Justice proceeding against him whom though not heard nor permitted to approach or speak for himself they adjudged not worthy to Rule and by their pretended authority did there deprive him of all Right Power Jurisdiction or interest he had to the Diadem and so adjudged him to a Monastical life never to meddle hereafter in any Business Nor was this all but that the Action might carry the greater shew of Equity with it they by some false Friends had so cunningly dealt with the Emperor underhand that for all his former resolution for peace-sake he was over-perswaded or threatned to confess himself guilty and that in the most publick and vilest fashion to procure to themselves the greatest honour with the people and most ignominy to himself And the manner was thus Lewes was carryed to Compeigne and then in the great Church of the Blessed Virgin before the Parliament and People he kneel'd down upon an Hair-cloth and did publickly confess before them all that he had done many things amiss whilst he sway'd the Scepter But this they thought not sufficient and therefore the Bishops commanded him to make a farther and fuller acknowledgement of his crimes and offences to which purpose they had aforehand drawn up a large writing of a great company of sins abuses and enormities of all which he was there declared guilty The forged Charge it self being long false and imperfect I shall refer you to a An. 833. Baronius and the excellent French Antiquary b Hist Franc. Scriptor Tom. 2. pag. 331 332 333. Andrè du Chesne to whose learned Collections his industrious Son Francis five years after added two other large c Paris 1641. Volumes This slanderous Paper being given into the Emperours hand he was made to read it before them with a loud voice and with trickling tears to acknowledge himself guilty of all those untruths which done the Prelates subscribed their names as Witnesses and for a farther confirmation of it 't was then lay'd upon the High Altar as a full and compleat Testimony against Lewes Yet did not all this satisfie for as yet the Emperour had not been dispossest of his Imperial Badges and so to finish their malice first they make him take off his Sword and Belt both which were laid also upon the Altar then the Bishops pull off his other Royal Robes instead of which first they put on him an Hair-shirt then the other Weeds belonging to a Monk so Mass being ended the people are dismist and poor Lewes thrust into a Monastery whence the Parliament being dissolved Lotharius leads him in that pittiful habit and condition to Aken or Aix in Germany Here have we seen a good pious and virtuous Emperour brought to the worst of ignominies by his own Rebellious Sons and Subjects and now his unnatural Childe Lothaire ruled and sway'd all according to his own pleasure which stir'd up discontent in many whilst the patience of the holy Lewes at the long run moved pitty and compassion in others But not to dwell on this sorrowful subject too long to be short several consult seriously about the business resolve to be eas'd from their bondage determine the restauration of Lewes to which purpose after some consideration some Grandees levy men which at last increase to a considerable strength and so send to Lotharius to have his Father restored who replyeth That none can grieve more than he for the hard dealings against his Father but he being deposed by the Decree of the Bishops he cannot be restored without their consent and desires the presence of some of those Gentlemen to consult with him In the mean time he had departed from Germany carrying his Father Prisoner with him to Paris and thence to S. Denis But perceiving himself not able to cope with his Enemies who came too suddenly upon him he withdrew into Burgondy leaving his Father behinde him In the mean time those who intended the Restauration of the Emperour came to S. Denis release Lewes to whom they offer their service and desire him to take upon him the Empire again This he denyeth unless he were declared innocent and restored by Bishops because by them he had formerly been deprived Upon this some Bishops are got who in the great Church at S. Denis declare the former sentence illegal with their own hands take off him his Monkish Attire invest him with the Soveraign Purple gird his Sword and Belt to him again and all this publickly before the people And so we
have him Emperour once again But his Son Lotharius was far from submitting to or acknowledging any legality in this action and so having got a considerable Army he ruineth all before him making Vienne in Dauphinè and other places there submit to him thence he returneth into Burgondy where he taketh Chalons upon the great River Soane which he destroyeth and he headeth the two loyal Noblemen Gosselinus or Gotselin and Sanila or Samila and to highten his cruelty and Rebellion takes the Lady Gerberg out of a Nunnery where she profest made her be put into a Wine-vessel and so thrown into the River Soane where she was drown'd and â—hence proceeded in his fury to other places in France But the patient Emperour sent to his Son Lothaire a pardon and took him into his favour again the Son being the more willing to accept of it because he now found that he was not able to withstand his Father And now we might think again that all would be quiet and after so many pardonings and favours they would let the good Emperour live in peace But we finde quite contrary for his Son Lotharius troubles him again in Italy but this being pacified his youngest Son Lewes rais'd forces and rebell'd in Germany the news of which being brought to the good Emperour so hugely troubled and perplext him that it put him into a disease which never left him till his dying day which followed not long after all which Anno 840. would be too tedious here to relate the former action being satisfactory enough to any man of the heinousness of these unnatural Rebellions We have formerly hinted of Pope Gregory the Fourth coming from Rome into France in the time of these late Rebellions and how by his means time was protracted at Lugenfeldt to the ruine of the Emperours Cause and his Dethronization To which I shall add nothing but onely this by the by that some will not at all grant that the Pope himself had any design against Lewes but meerly came upon a good intent to make peace amongst them Against which Objection I shall not trouble my self with a Reply but onely refer the Readers to the Learned Collections of a De rebus seculi Iâ— X. pag 68. Henricus Boecherus and the Lord b Myst Iuique pag. 157. du Plessis where they may finde by some instances that it was the opinion of the ancient Historians and those who lived too about the same time that the Pope joyn'd with the Sons in Rebellion against the Father However it be 't is confest by all parties that in France the Pope left a very ill name behinde him for his too much as they thought compliance with the Sons The truth is the Emperour might very well take some distaste against Rome for that noted sedition there in which Theodore chief Secretary to the Church of Rome and Leo the Nomenclator had their Eyes pull'd out and Noses cut off and so slain in the Lateran it self and no one crime objected against them but their affection to the Emperour Of which action Pope Paschal the First was accused by some but he indeavour'd by his Agents to clear himself of this crime to the Emperour but this not satisfying and seeing Lewes farther resolved to finde out the business he by his own Oath declared himself guiltless and yet at the same time so stout was Paschal that he would not permit those who had slain them to be punished or to fall under any secular Judge and the reason of all this was because they were people that belong'd to the Family of S. Peter A pretty Maxime yet were it worse it would be authentick enough in that houshold And Jaques de Montholon a false name I suppose for I think the true Author was the great Plaidoye pour les Peres Jesuites res Jesuites p. 403 c. French Jesuite Pierre Cotton when in this case he makes it his design to make an Apology for his Society handleth the Question so slightly cunningly and with such Leger-de-main shifting himself according to his other Writings this way and that way that every man may take him as he thinks fit and so may be of any side either accusation or vindication But this by the by 'T is true Pope Paschal did also declare those who were slain to be guilty of death and that they justly suffer'd but this was so little satisfactory to Lewes that he sent some again to Rome to examine and try the business but the death of the Pope in the mean time render'd that Journey useless By this we see that the Emperours yet kept up their Jurisdiction over Rome nay and the Pope too in relation to their Elections For when Gregory the Fourth was Hon. Boeclâ—rus pag. 84. chosen at Rome he was not Consecrated nor acknowledged as full Pope till the Emperour Lewes his Ambassadors had been at Rome and throughly examin'd the Election and informed the Emperour who consenting he was then Consecrated And a Vâ—â— Greg. IV. Platina himself confesseth somewhat to this purpose viz. This Gregory was of such modesty that being chosen by the Clergy and people of Rome he would not enter into the Popedom till he had been confirmed by the Emperours Ambassadors sent for that intent to Rome and who diligently examin'd the Election And the reason why Lewes did thus concern himself with the Popes Chair was as the same Platina saith b Ne jura Impeâ—iâ— amitteret That he might not lose the Rights and Priviledges of the Empire And some years after this Leo the Fourth being chosen Pope and Consecrated without acquainting the Emperour Lotharius with it yet was this action winck'd at by the Emperour upon a reasonable and necessitating excuse viz. the Saracens raging up and down Italy they could not conveniently send with the accustomed Grandeur information to Lothaire and by reason of such Pagan Enemies the delay of having an authentick Bishop was then dangerous And their own c Page 497. lls n' osâ—ent le Consacrer sans le Consentement de l'Empeâ—eur qui s'en estoit reservè la Connoissance qui d'ailleurs vengeoit severement le mespris s'â—l n'y estoit appelle Parmi cela c'estoit comme chose impossiâ—le d'envoyer vers luy tout le pais estant convert de ces Iâ—fidelles Coeffeteau doth make this Apology confessing that otherwise they durst not be Consecrated without the Emperours approbation or confirmation To which we may add that the people of Rome at these times and by the Popes order or consent swore Allegiance to the Emperours These things with some other d Du Plessis p. 154 155. reasons mentioned by others well considered may give a notable blow to that which they call the Donation of Lewes to the Popes as for those of Pepin and Charles the Great they are talk'd of but I have not seen them set down in set words And the vast e Falmen Brutâ—m
force the friends of Sergius being there more powerful Formosus to get himself eas'd of these troubles and enemies sends privately to Arnulfe and invites him to his assistance  892 Guido or Wido Duke of Spoleto in Rome is crown'd Emperour by Pope Formosus for which he confirmed those Donations pretended to have been formerly given to Rome Arnulphus having rais'd a potent Army marcheth into Italy and at last gets before Rome it self which he summoned to yeild but they refuse upon this layeth siege to it and several times attempted to take it but to no purpose being still beaten off At last he became Master of it by an unexpected accident which was thus  893 Lambert Son to Guido his Father yet living was also declared Emperour by the same Pope a An. 904. But Baronius though he doth confess this yet will not let him begin his Empire till after the death of Lewes the Fourth Son to Boson viz. An. 904. But upon what account he doth this I know not But b Vid. Jo. Gualt Chron. Chronicorum tom 2. pag. 163. Onuphrius makes him the sole Emperour after the death of his Father Guido viz. 894. But in another c De Regn. Ital. An. 896. place he will not let him be Emperour till 896 and then Crown'd by Pope Stephanus A d Lepusculus Car. Sigon de Regno Italiae an 896. Leveret or young Hare being one time got neer the Army and affrighted with the noise of Souldiers ran towards the City  894 Guido or Wido dyeth in Italy a party of the Souldiers in a frolick ran after her the Roman Watch seeing them run so siercely towards the City and not knowing the cause thought they came to assault the City and ran away The Germans seeing this opportunity made up to the Walls which some of them presently sâ—al'd whilst other with a Ram batter'd down the Gate And thus they enter'd the a Uâ—bs Lâ—onina so call'd by Leo the Fourth who compassed it about with a Wall that it might not lye open to all Invasions An. 848. 〈◊〉 vit Lâ—onis the Fourth Vatican and so took the City Sergius fled but all his partakers who opposed Arnulfus were slain without mercy    Arnulphus being conquerour had himself Crown'd Emperour with a great deal of pomp in St. Peters Church by Pope Formosus and the Romans take this Oath of Allegiance to him 896 899 b De Regno Italiae Carolus Sigonius saith that in this year Lambert was anoynted Emperour by Pope Stephanus the Sixth having declared the Coronation of Arnulph to be voyd and null c Testor Deum omnâ—sque Devos per Divina Mysteria juro me quoad vivam fore in potestate Imperatoris Arnulfis neque Lamberti aut Matris ejus rebus fauturum neque ut dignitatem alâ—qâ—am adâ—pâ—scantur aâ—t hanc â—bem servitute premant operam daturam Sigonius de Regno gâ—orâ—â— An. 896. I profess before God and all the Saints and swear by the holy Sacraments to be a true Subject to the Emperor Arnulf so long as I live and never to favour the party of Lambert or his d Agestruda Ageâ—trudâ—s or â—ngultrude Mother or to assist them to the obtaining of any dignity or to their bringing this little City into Bondage    This done Arnulf quits Rome and Pope Formosus dyeth after whom Bonifacius the Sixth sits a few days and then Stephanus the Sixth who was an Enemy to Formosus and all his actions wherefore they say he presently calls Lambert to Rome whom he creates Emperour and declares the Coronation of Arnulf by Formosus to be voyd    Sigonius loco cit  898 And for the better confirmation of Lambert in the Empire as about this time we are told how Pope a Coquaeus Antimorn tom 1. pag. 477 478. John the Tenth or the Ninth call'd a Synod of LXXIV Bishops Lambert himself being also there at Ravenna In which amongst other things Arnulph is declar'd no Emperour and Lambert held for the onely Caesar and if so then it must be either in 898 or the next year as is probable from the sitting of this Pope John according to Onuphrius About this time Arnulphus quitted this world    Lewes the Fourth Son to the Emperour Arnulph his Father being dead was solemnly elected by the Germans at Forchaim in the Bishoprick of Bamberg in Frankenlandt he was but very young and so had Governours or Tutors appointed for him and he was Crown'd at Aix by Hatto the Tenth Archbishop of Mentz 900 900 Lewes the Fourth Son to Boson Earl or King of Province was call'd into Italy to oppose Berengarius of whom formerly and by Pope Benedict the Fourth was declared Emperour   An. 904. Berengarius and he had some fighting but at last Berengarius cunningly as some say seis'd upon him at Verona pluck'd out his Eyes of which he dyed   presently after viz. 904. Historians do now and then mightily mistake these two Leweses one for another and sometimes by their grand errours about these other divided Emperours the History of these times are very obscure   a Anno 904. § 2. Baronius tells us that this Berengarius enter'd Rome with a great Army and commanded Pope John to Crown him Emperour which accordingly was done but no sooner was he gone from Rome but the Pope desireth Lambert to come thither whom he publickly Crown'd for Emperour and having call'd a Synod at Rome and the business proposed the Coronation of Berengarius was declared void but that of Lambert was pronounced legal and so they held him for Emperour By the by take one story of Equivocation Adelbert or Albert Earl of b By some old Authors Babenberg Bamberg in Franconia rebell'd against the Emperour and in this broyl slew Earle Conrade Lewes besiegeth him in Bamberg but after many attempts found no probability of taking it or him Upon this the aforesaid Hatto Archbishop of Mentz perswades to policie and undertakes the plot Hatto goeth to Albert in his strong Castle of Bamberg promiseth Serar Hist Mogunt p. 671. Rosse p. 140. his pardon however to restore him safe again to his Castle Albert goeth out with him towards Lewes but being gone no farther than the next Village Theurstat Hatto pretends the conveniency of dining Upon this they return to Bamberg dine and then go to ask pardon of Lewes whither being come as a Traytor he is condemn'd to death Albert challengeth Hatto of his promise who replyeth That he had kept it because he had once return'd him safe and sound to his Castle And so Albert was beheaded but how Hatto dyed Authors will not agree  904 Lambert Son to Guido though he had formerly been declared Emperour yet Baronius will not let him begin to Rule as Emperour till this year being just after the death of Lewes the Fourth Son to Boson Lewes the Fourth of
sent to Robert Gâ—iscard Chief of the Normans and Lord of Pulia and Calabria to beg his help at a dead-lift who though then in Wars against the Grecian Emperour Alexius sends him sufficient relief who deliver him from Castle St. Angelo thence they convey him to Salerno in the Kingdom of Naples where he a An. 1085. Baron anno 1098. § 13. dyed Sigebert and lately Father b Remonstrantia Hibernorum part 5. p. 2. Caron tells us that being neer his death he confess'd that he had stirr'd up all these troubles by the suggestion of the Devil c. But the Popes Champions would not have us to believe this but on the contray that he is a Saint for more confirmation of which they have placed his name in their c 25 May. Calendar and if we look for Miracles to prove it we might begin at his Infancie where we finde him being the Son of a Carpenter which d An. 1073. § 16. Baronius thinks a good hint strangely to foretell by his Fathers Chips his own Dominion over the World from Sea to Sea And if we take him towards his latter end lest his actions which so many question should be held as illegal or any what amiss we are told Baron an 1084. § 10 11 12. pretty stories how they were all approved of and declared authentick from Heaven by the holy Ghost And thus much for Gregory the Seventh or Hildebrand after whom his partakers in Italy chose Victor the Third who followed the steps of his Predecessor Gregory by which divisions Italy and Germany were pittifully harass'd especially Rome having daily wars and fightings in her very streets between the Souldiers of the two Popes Clement and Victor but the latter lived not long dying the second year of his Popedom After whom the Anti-Imperialists chose Vrban the Second by An. 1088. some jeeringly call'd Turbanus who also shew'd himself a fierce Enemy against the Emperour which broyls were no small detriment to Christendom Clement and Vrban cursing one another and their adherents to the purpose insomuch that between them there were few Christians in Germany and Italy left uncurst or damn'd and blest and saveâ— again at the same time But that which greatly strengthned Vrban was the revolt of Conrade Eldest Son to Henry whom the Emperour leaving in Italy in his absence he rebell'd An. 1093. against his Father and took part with Vrban who acknowledged him to be King of Italy and accordingly was Crown'd so at Millan and to make him more sure they had him marryed to the Daughter of Roger Duke of Sicily besides this they had taught this their young King so much obedience to the See of Rome as to hold the Popes e Baron an 1095. § 8. Stirrop And this revolt or unnatural rebellion lost Henry all his interest in Italy many of his old Friends adoring the rising Sun not thinking but Conrade would be Emperour But death spoils many a design for Conrade dyed before his Father year 1100 and so did Vrban and Clement Upon which several pretended to the Chair of St. Peter but Paschal the Second got the surest footing between whom and the Emperour was no more agreement than with those gone before This Paschal confirming all the thundring Excommunications and Deprivations against Henry who was now fallen into a great trouble For his now Eldest Son Henry Conrade being dead was perswaded by wicked counsel that it was best to look about him and take the Government upon him his Father having no right to Rule by reason of the Roman Decree against him And many fine words did they tell him of St. Peter of Christs Vicar of the power of the Church c. And thus under the pretence of piety was he perswaded to rebel against his Father This being known Germany was divided some standing for the Father others for the Son and both parties behaved themselves so carefully that both their Armies were powerful and between them much bloud was shed but at last the Marquess of Austriae and the Duke of Bohemia An. 1105. turn'd tail and fled over to the Son basely leaving the old Emperour in the lurch which so lesned his Force that he was constrain'd to take advice and shift for himself with a few trusty Friends Being thus down the winde there were small hopes of recruting every one now running over to the Conqueror To be short a meeting is appointed at Mentz where meet many Bishops and Nobles and trusty cards for young Henry and to carry more Authority Paschal had sent thither his two Legats and to make all sure young Henry himself was there who made pretty canting Speeches to the people telling them that he intended no harme to his Father neither desired his deposition onely took care for the Glory of God and the honour of St. Peter and Christ's Vicar c. which hony-words pleas'd the seditious people exceedingly so that here they conclude the old Emperour not fit to Rule and that his Son ought to be the man and Governour Having gone thus far it was not now for them to look back and so they very fairly go and have him deposed The story it self being somewhat lamentable take as followeth out of their own approved Authors The Bishops of Mentz Colen and Worms were order'd to go to Car. Sigonius de Regno Ital. anno 1106. Helmoldus Hist Sclavorum c. 32. Aâ—b Krantzius Hist Saxon. lib. 5. c. 20 21 22 23 24. him and to bring from him the Imperial Ensigns viz. the Cross Lance Scepter Globe or Golden-ball and Crown with the Sword They went and demanded of him these Badges of which things he demanded the reason they replyed Because he had committed Simony in nominating to Bishopricks and Abbies To whom the amazed Emperour thus answered You my Lords of Mentz and Colen tell me by the Name of God what I have received from you They confess'd that he had received nothing Then said the Emperour Glory be to God that in this We are found faithful for your great Dignities might have brought great gain to me had I gone that way My Lord of Worms likewise knows that he received his Bishoprick freely My good Fathers break not your Oaths I am now old and you need stay but a little But if there be no remedy I shall deliver the Crown to my Son with mine own hands But they making offer to lay hands upon him he retired himself put on his Imperial Ensigns and returned to them saying The goodness of God and the election of the Princes gave these to me and God is able to preserve them unto me and to with-hold your hands from this action although We want Our Forces though I doubt not of any such violence c. Hereupon the Bishops stay'd a while as if they knew not what to do yet at last incouraging one another they bolted up the Emperour took the Crown from his head and then taking him out
of his seat took from him all his Royal Robes The grieved old Emperour fetching a deep sigh spake to this purpose The God of vengeance behold and revenge this iniquity you commit against me I suffer ignominy the like whereof was never heard of But it is God that justly punisheth me for the sins of my youth Yet for all this are not you free from this offence having broken your Oaths and so shall not avoid the revenge of a just Judge Let God never prosper you upon earth but let your portion be with him who betray'd Christ I know some hint so slightly on this story as if they were willing to pass it by in silence And others to mitigate the crime would gladly perswade us that the Emperour did willingly on his own head depose himself But 't is a poor excuse to conquer a man by force beat him soundly with an intent to make him deliver and then to say that he gave his purse freely when he was not able to keep it and you were resolved to have it And that the Father had really no minde to part with his Authority and Dominion his former battles against his Son for keeping them may testifie and his after-actions may sufficiently confirm it for getting liberty as conveniently as he could he withdrew himself to Colen thence to Liege and by his Letters declares to all Christian Princes and People how basely he had been used for a taste of which hard usage you may peruse his complaining Letter to Philip King of France it being somewhat long I shall refer you to the reading of it in a An. 1106. Sigebert And that he indeavour'd to restore himself by Arms by the assistance of the Duke of Lorraine History will tell at large And are all these signs of a willing and free resignation But at last young Henry gets his old Father again into his clutches where we cannot but suppose that the ancient Emperour was brought into excessive misery for proof of which take this one story testified by their own Historians This Henry amongst other buildings of Devotion had built at Spire a Monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary and seeing thus all means of a free livelyhood taken from him applyed himself to Gebhard Bishop of Spire one to whom he had been a special Friend having not onely indowed the Church well but also advanced him to his honours Of this Bishop he desires one favour and that but a poor one too viz. that he would grant him the courtesie to live as an assistant in that Church which he himself had built and indowed telling of him withal that he was somewhat qualified for such an imployment because he had been brought up at his book and had some skill to assist in the Chair To which small request the ungrateful Bishop tartly replies with an b Per Matrem Domini non faceam tibi quod petis Helmold Hist Sclav cap. 33. Oath that he should not there be entertain'd though according to their c 16. q. 7. Quincunque fidelium Et Lancelot Inst Can. f. 1. Tib. 28. § defertur autem Canon-law he should not have been denyed being the Founder Which uncharitable denyal so afflicted the ancient Emperour that he could not refrain from tears and sighing onely saying to the people then about him in the phrase of the patient man d Job 19 21. Have pity upon me have pity upon me at least you my friends for the hand of God hath touched me And thus overwhelmed with grief and poverty he presently after dyed at Liege having sway'd the Scepter above fifty years Now may we suppose that the living friends of the old Emperour went all to wrack when the dead could not escape the tyranny of their Popish Enemies Clement the Third his body after it had laid in the Grave five years at Ravenna was dig'd up again as unworthy of that holy Earth and so were the Bishops of his Consecrating served Nor did the Corps of the deceased Emperour fare any better for though at first it was buryed at Liege by the Bishop of that City but these men being under Church-Censures for their affection to old Henry they were not permitted to be received into Absolution and Church-Communion again till they had dug up the Imperial Corps and without any Ceremony laid it on unconsecrated ground and to this their Archbishops and Bishops gave their consents This being done with the approbation of young Henry it was convey'd to Spire and there laid by the a Ant. Dauroult Flor. Exempl cap 7. Tit. 16. § 8. Baron an 1110. § 4. Popes command without the Church and Church-yard in a Sepulcher without any form of buryal where it remain'd five years At the end of which time it pleas'd his Holiness Paschal to consent that it might have Christian buryal yet to this Christianity he was forced being then a b Baron an 1111. § 20. Prisoner to Henry the Son As for Henry he is much commended in History for his Nobleness and Valour having fought bravely in sixty two battles more than Caesar himself had done And his good benefaction to Churches makes him no enemy to Devotion yet would the Popelings from him raise up a new name of Heresie with which they severely brand him and this they call'd in those times Henrician and some Guibertine or Clementine from Clement the Third Heresie which they would make to be the same with Simony and what great Monster this Henrician Heresie is one of their great Rabbies and enemy to all good Government viz. c Ex ejus nomine quod ipse jus Investiturae mordicus sibi vendicaâ—et simonia dicta est Henriciana heresiâ— Cron. p. 898. Genebrard shall inform you onely this to chalenge to himself the power of giving Investitures to Bishops which now all Christian Kings do And yet about this did the Pope then keep such a clutter as if Religion it self were singing her Requiem But this puny supposed Heresie d Lib. 8. Prâ—teolus passeth by without any notice though he affords us an Henrician Heresie but from another man and upon different Principles which are nothing to my purpose here A man might think that young Henry the Fifth having thus got the Empire should be great friend to the Pope and they two be hand and glove But storie tells us the quite contrarie insomuch that now he thinks he is obliged to vindicate the rights of the Empire though against the Pope himself which he formerly looked upon really or was perswaded by the flattering Romanists to fancie so to be no less than abominable Heresie He being Emperour Pope Paschal declares his intent to meet him at Ausburg in Germany but upon some jealousie he turns into France and at Troyes holds a Synod where they fell to taking away the Emperours power of Investitures but against this Henry by his Ambassadors protested alledging that the Bishops of another Country were not to be judges of his
indued with many rare vertues yet some do so dote upon a blind Pontificall Obedience that they will impudently take upon them the part of an Omnipotent Diety and tell you that he is e Vâ—d Spondam an 1250. § 19. damn'd and all this I suppose because he would not let his Empire be childishly and foolishly taken and pluck'd from him by his Holiness who hath as much authority to depose Kings as Cromwell or Ravillac to murther them Sect. 4. The Guelfs and Gibbillins with other troubles of the Empire AT these times those who took part with the Popes were called Guelphs and those who sided with the Emperours Gibbilins the occasion of which denomination some Authors tell as followeth though the beginning of the story every man may believe as he pleaseth Irmentrudis Wife to Isenbard Earle of Altorff not only abusing Pezel part 3 p. 109. a poor woman for having several children at a birth but also causing her to suffer as an Adulteress as if by a judgement was the next year after her self brought to bed of twelve Sons and fearing to suffer by her own former judgement ordered a woman to drown eleven of them she reserving onely one The woman hired to obedience goeth towards the River meets the Earl who asked her what she was carrying she replyed Whelps he desired to see them she denyeth but by force he obtains makes the Woman confess the truth at which we may suppose him not a little troubled he hath them conveyed to a Miller there privately nurs'd up and the woman to keep Counsel but to return and tell her Lady that she had drowned them Six years after the Earle makes a great Feast hath these eleven Boys clad as the twelfth was and brought in and inquired of his guests what punishment was fitting for those who would have killed such pretty children at which the Lady suspecting swounded but coming to her self again upon her knees confest all pleaded simplicity and desired pardon which was granted her but for memory of the story the Earl ordered that their sirnames should be Whelps or Guelfs i. e. little young dogs or whelps Thus much for the original name of these after Dukes of Saxony and Bavaria But f Hist de Guelfis principibus vid. Hen. Canâ—s Antiq Lection Tom 1. pag. 179. Altorfensis or Weingartensis tells other stories of this name as probable as the former and it may be all alike As for Gibelin the common opinion is that the Emperour Conrade III. or his Son Henry was either born or nursed at a Town so called in Schwaben and that this Emperour being very powerful in arms the Italians fear'd him and so the better to keep him imployed at home Roger King of Sicily stir'd up the Bavarians Naucler p. 750. and others against him The two Armies joyning the Bavarians cryed out Hie Guelff their General being called Guelpho and the Imperialists shouted out as loud Hie g Weâ—bâ—ingen a Castle not far from Stutgartâ— in the Dukedom of Wâ—rinâ—burg in Seâ—â—â—â—â—n Gibelin in relation to their General young h Or Conrade himself Christ Besâ—ld Synopsiâ— hist p. 406 Henry so called from the Town of his birth or nursery And the Pope in this was concerned too Innocent II. being supposed to have an hand in this Revolt and war against the Emperour But these Names some say were almost forgot till they were again revived in the days of Frederick the II. Others will not go to Germany for this story but lay its original in Italy that when there were deadly feuds between the Pet. Mexia selva rinovata part 2. c. 39. Cancellieri and Panciatici in the City Pistoia in Tuscany at what time also there chanced to be two Potent Brothers called Guelfo and Gibellino the one siding with one party and the other with the other and that with such eagerness that from them each faction after took denomination as a Tho. Lans consult orat contra Italiam p. 816. Italy hath been several times rent by such private feuds and afterwards Frederick adhering to one and Gregory joyning to the other the Imperialists were called Gibbelins and the Popelins Guelfs under which two names Italy for several years suffered infinite miseries not only Cities and Towns but Families and nearest Relations being divided in this quarrel whereby they prosecuted one another with all fury imaginable Father against Son Brother against Brother nay the Wife and Husband oftentimes indeavouring one anothers destruction Of which unnatural Hatred and Tyranny the old Mendicant Fryer b Figurae Bibliae foâ— 65 66. Anthonius a Rampengolis according to his old way will tell you many Scripture-Allusions But to conclude some say they took beginning first at Pisa there the Faction first arising After the death of Frederick II. some of the Italianized Historians are willing to have the Empire voyd for some years some more or less but be it as it will I shall hastily run over some passages between the Popes and those by others held for Emperours of the West William we see the Pope cannot well deny having been so great an instrument to his promotion and c Bzov. an 1251. § 2. Spond § 1. perswading of him again to it and yet we find him very earnest with d Mat. Paris an 1251. p. 808. Haco King of Norway to take the Empire upon him Now Innocent seeing Frederick dead resolves for Italy and it is pretty to observe with what a complement he took his farewell of Lyons where he had been entertain'd all this while For the more glory of the business by a Cryer all the Citizens are Mat. Paris p. 819. warned to attend his Holiness and being all met Cardinal Hugo in the Name of the Pope made a Farewell-Sermon to them concluding thus Loving friends we have performed much good and done great Alms since our being in this City for when we first came hither we found but e Tria vel quatuor Prostibula inven mus sed nunc recedentes unum solum relinquinâ—s verum ipsum durat continuatum ab orientali pâ—rta â—lvita tis usque ad occidentalem Mat. Paris p. 856 Mat. Paris p. 892. three or four common Stews or Brothel-houses but now at our departure we leave you but one but such an one that extends it self all along from the East-gate even to the West-gate of the City Innocent being in Italy bends himself against Conrade Son to Frederick by the Germans call'd Emperour by others King of Naples and Sicily whom he perswaded William to root out of the Empire assisted with his Excommunications and Deprivations and sollicites Richard Brother to our English Henry III. to take upon him the Protection of Conrades other Territories in Italy For this Richard desired some assistance from the Pope and some Frontier Towns whither upon occasion he might retire but the Pope denying all conditions as if all people were obliged to fight for him and he
might tell the several mischiefs that this Alexander brought upon the World for the preferring of his wicked Bastard Caesar Borgia but it will be too tedious for this place And he year 1400 that would see any more of the former Schism the Story of which would fill a large Volume may peruse f Theodoric à d De Schismate Nemus umonis Niem who was Secretary to several Popes in that Rupture Sect. 2. The troubles of Naples and the wicked designe against the Medici and Florentines with the murther of Juliano de Medici ANd now a glance at some State-troubles and murders will not be amiss Yet here passing by the murder of Galiazzo Duke of Milan the troubles and dethroning in Bohemia and the leap-frog-government of the Kingdom of Naples though we might tell what a coyl the Popes made to have one King to thrust out another to which Charles VIII of France was assisting This Charles was so well bred up that he could not a Tâ—m male 〈◊〉 ut nâ—â—egere qu dem nâ—sâ—â—â— aâ—t 〈…〉 Bâ—â—â—res Tom. 3. p. 8. read a word for which want of Learning he might thank his Father Lewes XI so great an Enemy to good Literature that he would have his Son know no more Latine but these b Io. p. 82. 〈◊〉 Tom. 2 pag. 1â—82 1085. five words Qui nescit dissimulare nescit Regnare This Charles de Valois VIII of France pretending a right to the Kingdom of Naples upon the Anjouan account marcheth into Italy carries all before him Pope Alexander VI is out of his little wits but fortifies himself in Castel St. Angelo Charles enters 〈…〉 dâ— Ch. VIII c. 16 17 18 19 20 24 25. Rome a Conqueror several Cardinals apply themselves to depose the Pope but they are both made friends Alexander invests Charles with the Kingdom of Naples and intitles him Emperour of Constantinople On the other side Charles humbly in the Vatican c â—â—â—cciard 〈◊〉 kisseth his Holiness Foot and another day c held the Bason of Water whilst Alexander wafh'd his hands which humble Ceremonies lest they might be forgot by Posterity the Pope appointed to be painted in a Gallery in the Castel St. Angelo Thence Charles marcheth to Naples whence the young King Fernando and his Father Alphonso though the Pope had invested that Kingdom in the House of Aragon were forced to flee and Charles was there Crown'd and stay'd there some time and so return'd for France In the mean time the French behaved themselves so oddly that there 't is said Europe first knew the Venerian disease and by their behaviour the French lost the love of the People and so the Neapolitan Kingdom for no sooner was Charles departed but Fernando returns and retakes the Kingdom The Pope at this time for all his former dissembling Agreement with Charles at Rome having a greater kindness to the Aragonians than the French Alexander himself being a Neighbour of Valentia in Spain yet Dr. d De â—eâ—fis Fran. lib. 11. fol. 16â— la Câ—onique Martiniene fol. 30â— Robert Gaguin a good Orator and Historian but it seems his e Lord Verâ—â—â—m's Hist â—en VII pag. â—4 Poetry was too uncivil to our English Henry VII when he was Ambassador from the said Charles hither affirms that the French King took this expedition into Italy at the intreaty of Pope Alexander VI. Though it appears that his Holiness presently turn'd his note and not onely secretly wish'd him farther off but at last became his open Enemy But leaving these hurly-burlies as being too common in History let us take a short glance of the Popes wicked design upon Florence where Murder and Sacriledge we shall finde raging in their height The City and Common-wealth of Florence now flourish'd under Oâ—uphrius in Xysto IV. Macciaveliâ— Hist Flor. l. 8. Coeffet pag. 1206. Spondan an 1578. § 4 5 6 7. the Medici at which prosperity not onely some rich Male-contented Citizens but Pope Sixtus IV also looked with an envious eye And his Holiness took every occasion to thwart the interest of that City and lessen its Credit and Reputation At this time the two Brothers Lorenzo and Giuliano de Medici sons to Pietro son to Cosmo bare the greatest sway and love over the Florentines At this the House of Pazzi a rich and powerful Family there took exceptions and in this distaste the Pope joyns wiâ—â— him And their result was that nothing would bring their designs about but the destruction of these two Brethren Many Consultations they had how to bring this damnable deed to pass and many great men had they drawn to this Conspiracy insomuch that Fernando King of Naples consented to the designe against the Medici though I cannot say that he knew of the intended Murther Though Francesco Salviati Archbishop of Pisa was a great stickler in this inhumane action After long Consultation the Conspirators go to Florence the year 1478 chief of which were the Pazzi the Salviati Giovan Baptista da Montesecco a noted Commander under the Pope Giacopo di Poggio son to the famous Orator and many others The better to cover the villany they perswaded Cardinal Riario to come towards Florence which he doth and is nobly feasted by Giacopo de Pazzi at his Town Fiesole about four Miles from Florence whither the Medici were invited with a design there to murther them but Julian not coming that plot fail'd Upon this they had the Cardinal to Florence where they doubted not but by this means to obtain their ends Being there they vizarded their numbers and meetings under their wâ—iâ—ing upon and civilities to the Cardinal and against the next Sunday prepare a great Feast but being informed that Giuliano could not be there they resolved to put their black design off no longer fearing to be discover'd by their lingring The place appointed by them for this Murther was the Cathedral Church of St. Reparata where they knew both the Brethren would not fail to be And they thought no time fitter for them than when Mass was fingng as for the manner how they order'd Antonio de Volterra and Stephanus a Priest to kill Lorenzo and Francesco de Pazzi with Barnardino Bandini to do the same to Juliano and that upon this uproar Salviati the Archbishop of Pisa with Giacopo de Pazzi and their followers should seize upon the Palace and Senate This day Sunday the 26 of April and time being come they go to Church where they see the Cardinal and Lorenzo de Medici and the Church full of people and Service begun but Giulianâ— not come wherefore Francesco de Pazzi and Barnardo Bandini who had the charge of killing him went to his House and perswaded him to Church talking merrily to him all the way and in a gayety and friendship de Pazzi took Juliano in his arms whereby to feel if he had any privy Armor on Being come to Church Bandini with a Dagger stab'd Giuliano to the heart and de
Segovia Salamanca and Avila and Francisco Maldenado who now commanded the Salamanca forces who had all their heads cut off and stuck upon several Nails over the place of Execution The Army of the Commonalty being thus routed the Junta which was in Valladolid sneak'd away The City it self submitting which was graciously pardon'd though they had been the chief maintainers of the Rebellion And now Medina del Campo Palencia Duennas Mota and other Cities acknowledged their faults But Toledo would be brought to no reason the chief Incendiary of that City being Donna Maria Pacheco Mendoza Daughter to the Earl of Tendilla and wife to Don Juande Padilla lately beheaded a Lady of a daring and resolute spirit wherefore she was generally call'd The valiant woman La Muger valerosa and to excite the Citizens to compassion she made her Son be carryed up and down the streets on a Mule with a mourning hood and Cloak on and a Streamer with the Picture of her husband Padilla beheaded The Imperialists did not question if they could either get her out of the City or to joyn with them to reduce the place to his Majesty to effect which they sent a Captain who freely offer'd himself with a few men disguised thither Being arrived at Toledo he went directly to the Fort where she was desiring to speak with her But the people having some notice of the designe made an Alarm and ran in great multitudes to the Castle where finding the Captain in discourse with her they presently laid hands on him and flung him out of the high window by which fall he was broke all to pieces This done they cut the throats of all those who came along with him And now they resolve to fortifie themselves against all attempts fill'd their stores full took all the gold and silver plate out of the Cathedral Church which they coyned and they were not a little animated by the coming of the French who taking opportunity of these troubles enter'd Navar thinking to regain that Kingdom but all to no purpose and so at last the Toledians were brought to better terms and received into mercy Donna Maria Pacheco being forced for her own safety in a Country-womans disguise riding upon an Ass with some Geese in her hands to escape out of the City living the rest of her days in Exile and as some think dying in Portugal And now for Example was the house of Juan de Padilla pull'd down to the ground the foundation of it plow'd up and sowed with salt that the soyl where the Chieftain of so great troubles and mischiefs had his birth and habitation should not produce so much as grass or weeds and a Pillar was erected there with an Inscription declaring the manner of his life and death And now all is reduced to obedience the Emperour returns to Spain having received the Imperial Crown and on a Scaffold cover'd with Cloth of Gold and Silk erected in the chief Market-place in Valladolid the Emperour himself with his a They are so call'd whom the King gives leave to stand covered before him All Dukes in Spain are Grandes Grandees and Council about him being there Peace is b Octob. 28. 1522. proclaim'd and a general pardon granted onely some few excepted for example sake But before we leave this story let us see the end of one or two Chieftains the first shall be the Earl of Salvatierra who made such Tumults in Alava At last being taken Prisoner he was carryed to Burgos where he was let bloud to c 1504. death then carryed to his grave his feet hanging over the Bier with irons on them exposed to the publick view This unfortunate Earl whilst in prison was brought to such poverty being forsaken of all his Friends that he had nothing â—â— eat but a poor mess of Pottage which one Leon Picardo a Doâ—â—estick Servant and Painter to the Lord high Constable sometimes brought him His Son Don Athanasio de Ayala then Page to the Emperourâ— out of a filial compassion sold his Horse to buy his Father the Earl Victuals for which the Master of the Pages would have the young Gentleman punished and complain'd of him to the Emperour Carlos calls Don Athanasio to him and asking him for his Horse he presently answered That he sold him to buy Victuals for his Father at which the Emperour was so far from being displeas'd that he forthwith commanded forty thousand d A little Spanâ—sh coyn of lets vâ—lue thâ—n â—ur English â—â—â—â—ing which the Spaniâ—â—â— commonly account with Maravediz which is about thirty pound English money to be given him And now let us see the exit of Don Antonio de Acunna the furious and zealous Bishop of Zamora who seeing all his Confederates quell'd and so no safety for him to stay in Spain resolved to make France his refuge For this purpose having in a disguise got as far as the Borders of Navar at the same time that the French enter'd he was discovered and seised on by one Perote at a village call'd Villamediana not far from Legronno thâ—nce was carryed to Navaretta not far from Najara in Rioscia a little Province in Old Castile after which he was sent prisoner by the Emperours Order to Simancas in Leon. The old Bishop having been here kept some time at last consulted an escape To perform which he one time cunningly convey'd a Brick into his Bag wherein he used to carry his Breviary wherewith he knockt out the Governours brains that had the charge of him as they were in discourse together by the fire-side And so upon this opportunity might have made an escape but that the Governours Son discovering him brought him back again and carefully lockt him in his Chamber without doing any thing else to him although he had thus basely murthered his Father which was held and commended for a great piece of wisedom and patience in the young Gentleman The Emperour informed of these his wicked Prancks sent Judge Ronquillo of whom formerly to sit on him who condemn'd him and caused him to be a 1526. strangled within the said Fort and some report that he had him hung upon one of the Pinacles of the Tower to the end that he might be a spectacle and memento to all that passed that way but the Emperour was not pleas'd with such Examples And thus much for these three years troubles in Spain passing by some other Tumults and uproars there both before and after these as not of so general and dangerous concern CHAP. III. The Plots in Scotland against King James VI. HEre passing by the Excommunication of Ferdinand King of Hungary and Bohemia by Julius III. for the death of Fryar George Martinusius Bishop of Waradein and after Archbishop of Gran and by the said Julius created Cardinal a man powerful in Arms and noted for his great actions in Hungary Which Fryar George for so is he commonly call'd is by 1551. Giâ—l Bâ—ai vita dâ—â— oâ—iâ—â—olâ—
â—â—giunte aâ—le 〈…〉 p. 〈…〉 â—7â— 15â—8 some hâ—ld an honest man whilst others accuse him of no less thâ—n or underâ—â—and-dealings with the Turks into whose power they sâ—y â—e designed to deliver up the Kingdom And passing by also the troubles the said Ferdinand I received at hâ—s Election into the Empire by the Resignation of his Brother Charles V Pope Paul IV rejecting him and his Title alledging none to have power to resigne but into his hands and â—o be and not the Electors is to nominate nor would he at any time acknowledge him for Emperour though upon his death his Succâ—ssor Pius IV willingly admitted him for a lawful Emperor and what need Ferdinand or any other care whether the Roman Bishâ—p â—â—nsented or no it being no way necessary and the outside but a Complement But leaving these and suchlike beyond-Sea â—â—â—â—res let us come a little neerer home And first if we look upon Scotland we shall finde it a Kingdom miserably rent between two Factions the Puritan and Popish Of the insoleâ—eies of the first I have elsewhere treated nor can the latter excuse themselves from the same crimes if not worse by endeavouring to betray their King and Country to a forraign power and usurpation as may appear by these following Observations Here we finde Reigning King James VI a Prince made wise and wary by the several troubles he had run through The Spanâ—aâ—â—â— preparing his great Armado to invade England several 158â— Pâ—â—â—â—tâ— and Jesuites went into Scotland to get those people to assiâ— the designe And amongst the rest the Lord Maxwell was 〈◊〉 aâ—â—ive coming out of Spain and landing at Kirkudbright year 1588 in Galloâ—ay gather'd together some men but they were presently â—â—ppâ—â—st and himself taken and imprisoned The Lord Bothwell who troubled himself not much with this or that Religion having no ends but interest the Admiral of that Kingdom had also secretly listed many Souldiers giving out they were for the safety of the Nation Amongst others also Colonel a He afterwards lived a Pensiâ—â—â—r in Spain where he began the Foundation of a Scotch Semenarie intending to make his bastard Hugh Sempill whom he train'd up with the Jeâ—uites the Rectâ—â— oâ— it He was living there about the beginning of King Charles I his Reign and was very mallepert in the designes of his Spanish match James Wadsworth his English-Spanish Pilgrime cap. 7. pag. 61. Edit 2. Sempil who for some time had resided with the Duke of Parma having betray'd the Town of Lire to the Spaniards landed at Lieth with an intent to farther the plots but he by the mistrust of some papers was seiz'd on by Sir John Carmichael Captain of the Kings Guard but being rescued by the Earl of Huntley escaped the law But the hopes of the Romanists were quite blown away by the overthrow of the Spanish Fleet yet the Duke of Parma chears them up again by telling them of another Army and Fleet to be set out next Spring This good news he sends by Robert Bruce to the Earl of Huntly to be communicated to the rest of that Faction the chief of which was the Earl of Arrol the Lord Maxwell who call'd himself Morton the Earl of Crawford the Lord Claude Hamilton and suchlike And a little after Parma sent over ten thousand Crowns by John Chesholme Thus incouraged and also thrust on by Father Hay Father year 1589 Creighton and other Jesuites they resolved to undertake some noble act the better to credit themselves with Spain and Parma And nothing is thought better then to seize on the Kings person In this plot there was Montross Bothwell Crawford Arrol Huntley the Lairds of Kinfawns of Fintrie and others The design was laid to meet all at the Quarry-holes between Lieth and Edenbrough thence to go to a T is sometimes also call'd the Abbey 'T is the Kings Court at the East-end of Cannygate at Edinborough Halyrood house to seize on the King to kill the Chancellor and Treasurer and then they need not fear to carry all as they pleas'd But Huntley coming before the rest and suspected is imprison'd upon which the rest retire Montross and Crawford submit and ask pardon whilst Bothwell and Arrol are declared Traytors for refusing to come in upon summons Huntley is by the Kings favour set at liberty upon promise to be quiet for the future but in his going home in the North he meets with Crawford who joyn together again and fall upon the Treasurer then having joyn'd themselves with the Earl of Arrol they raise what forces they can and enter Aberdeen The King upon notice marcheth against them upon which the Lords are discouraged retreated and divided one from another at the b This day and action is call'd The Raid of the Brig of Dee Bridge of Dee The King thus victorious the Confederate Lords seeing no other safety submit themselves to the Kings Mercy and Tryal They are accused For practising with Jesuites and Seminary Priests and the receiving of Spanish Gold to hire Souldiers to disturb the Kingdom For entring into Bond and Covenant with the Earls of Arrol and Montross and others and treasonably to have surprised b Perth â— Now better known by the name of St. Johnstons with intent to keep it against the King For conspiring to take the King prisoner at Halyrud-house and to kill his Servants and Counsellors For besieging the house of Kirkhill firing it and forcing the Treasurer the Master of Glammis to yeild himself For summoning the Subjects by Proclamation falsly in the Kings name falsely giving out that he was a prisoner and desired them to set him at liberty For marching to the Bridge of Dee to fight and invade the King For taking the Kings Herald at Arms in Aberdeen spoiling him of his Coat and Letters when he was to proclaim them And that Bothwell for his part had hired Souldiers as well strangers as others with an intent to seise on Lieth in the Kings absence Upon tryal they are found guilty but the sentence by the Kings favour and warrant was suspended in the mean time they were imprisoned Bothwell in Tantallon Crawford in Blackness and Huntley in Edinborough Castle Now for the better and clearer discovery of their plots and designes for the King of Spain against their own King and Country take these following Letters Mr. Robert Brâ—ce the chief Agent his Letter to the Duke of Parma Governour in the Netherlands for the King of Spain My LORD MR. Châ—sholme arrived in this Country five days after his departure from you and with requisite diligence came to the Earl of Huntley in his own house at Dunfermeâ—â—ng where having presented to him your Highness Letters of the 13 of October he declared amply unto him the credit given him in Charge conformable to the tenour of the Letters from your Highness wherein they perceived your Highness great humanity and affection to the advancement of the glory of God in this Country
King hath not behaved himself according to his duty for he hath accommodated himself in his behaviour more of the affection of our a a Sâ—r Jâ—hn Maitland Chancellor who is of the faction of England and abuseth the credit he hath with the King then according to the instructions given him He hath not presented nor made mention to the King of Colonel Simpills letter whereof I have caused the Copy to be presented to his Majesty by the Earl Bothwell as if it had been sent to him with another of the said Colonels to himself which he received from Thomas Tyrie at his arrival who hath reported to the said Chancellor as that Seigneur Don b b Dâ—n Bernardino de Mendâ—za the Spanish Ambassador in France to carry on the Spanish interest and League against the French King Bernardino spake to him in Paris to the disadvantage of the Chancellor Also he hath reported to the King that my Lord c c He means Mr William Chesholme Uncle to Sir Jameâ— and Mr. John Bishop of Dumblane being returned thither spake to your Highness and to others many things to the great prejudice of his d d The King Highness And it is believed also that he is the cause of the suspition which was conceived of the coming of the said John Chesholme newly to the said Bishop However it be the other reports aforesaid which he hath made have not served to conciliate but to alienate the affection of the King of the Chancellor and many other Hereticks from the said Seigneur Don Bernardino the said Bishop and Catholicks here that have to do with them As for my self although I speak not willingly to the disadvantage of any whatsoever chiefly of them whom I have recommended as I did the said Thomas Tyrie to the said Don Bernardino yet I will prefer the love of the truth to men and would not by concealing thereof bring prejudice to the common good nor to the fidelity that the one oweth to the other and especialy to that we owe all to the King of Spain and your Highness to whom I am presently servant particularly addicted by the obligation of five hundred Crowns of e e The Scotch calls it 500 Crowns of â—eâ—il fee and forty for monthly entertainment which it hath pleas'd your Highness to give me freely in the name of the King of Spain not being required for my part nor other thing for my particular to this present By reason whereof I am the more bound to give your Highness most humble thanks and to endeavour my self to deserve by my most humble and faithfal service as well the said entertainment as the recompence it hath pleas'd your Highness to promise me of your grace and favour The said gift of your liberality came well for my purpose seeing by reason of the danger of my person it behooved me to augment my ordinary train for my greater surety which I was not able longer to have born out without help For from all the Lords of Scotland I have not retain'd but a part onely of the money which I spent travelling for the advancement of this Cause in Spain with his Catholick Majesty and with your Highness in the Low-Countries As for the four hundred Crowns imploy'd for the deliverance of Colonel Simpill out of prison I have put it in Count with the residue which I disbursed of the first sum according as it hath pleas'd your Highness to command me The Earl of Morton to whom I have given consolation by writing in prison hath instantly prayâ—d me also by writing to remember his most affectionate care to your Highness finding himself greatly honour'd by the care it pleas'd you to have of him By the grace of God he is no more in danger of his life by way of Justice it being impossible for his enemies to prove against him any thing which they had supposed in his accusation as also the Kings affection not so far alienate from him as it hath been heretofore And in case he were in danger or that it were requisite for the good of our Cause presently to deliver him we can at any time get him out of prison However in the mean time we wait the Kings pleasure towards his liberty oâ—â—ly to avoid all pursuit that they would make if we deliver him by extraordinary means When in the Kings Name they offer'd him his liberty if he would subscribe the Confession of the Hereticks faith he answered He would not do it for the Kings Crown nor for an hundred thousand lives if he had them to loose and hath offer'd to confound the Ministers by publick disputation I shall sollicite the Lords his friends to procure of the King his liberty very soon for he imports more to the good of our Cause then any of the rest by reason of his Forces which are near England and the principal Town of Scotland and the ordinary Residence of our King as also he is a Lord the most resolute constant and of greatest execution of any of the Catholicks It is no small marvel considering the means the Hereticks have to hurt us and their worldly wits so far passing ours and their evil will and intention against us that me subsist Truely we cannot but attribute the effect thereof to God who when the certain news of the returning of the a a The Spaenish Armado being beat a gâ—eat part of them fled Noâ—h wards round about Scotland and so â—eturn'd home by Ireland Army of Spain by the back of Ireland was dispersed through the Country and the Hereticks of the Faction of England triumphed and the constancie in the outward profession of the Earl of Huntley and others was alter'd caused the Earl of b b Archibald Deuglas Earl of Angâ—s dyed at Smeâ—â— near Dalkeith Jaly 1588 supposed by witchcraft or other evil means Angus to dye who was the chief of the English Faction And the same time grew some dissentions amongst the Hereticks by reason of some Offices which some pretended to usurp above others at Court And by the instant prayers and holyperswasions of two Fathers Jesuites converting to our holy faith two Heretick Earls of the chiefest of Authority amongst them the one whereof is called the Earl of Arrol Constable of Scotland converted by Father Edmund Hay the other called the Earl of Crawford converted by the foresaid Father William Creichton They are both able and wise young Lords and most desirous to advance the Catholick Faith and your enterprises in this Island which they are determin'd to testifie to his Catholick Majesty and your Highness by their own Letters which by the Grace of God I will send by the first opportunity In the mean time they have required me to make you offer of their most humble and most affectionate service promising to follow whatsoever the same Jesuites and I shall think good to be done for the conservation of the Catholicks and to dispose and faciliate the
execution of your enterprises here which they may do more easily then they that are known to be Catholicks whose actions are ever suspitious to the Hereticks for their Religion whereof these two Earls have not yet made outward profession but in that as in the rest they submit themselves to our will and to what we think most expedient The said Fathers of that company do profit very much in Scotland and so soon as any Lord or other person of Quality is converted by them they forthwith dispose and incline their affections to the service of the King of Spain and your Highness as a thing inseparably conjoyn'd with the advancement of the true Religion in this Country If I had commandment from your Highness I would give them some little Alms in your name to help them and eight others whereof four are also Jesuites and the other four are Seminary Priests of Pont a Mousson in Lorrain which are all the Ecclesiasticks that produceth so great spiritual fruit in Scotland and acquires to you here such augmentations of your friends and servants After the parting of Colonel Sempill from hence the Lords sent Letters with the foresaid Father Creichton and other Gentlemâ—n after the Army of Spain to cause it land in this Country but it had taken the way to Spain few days before their arrival at the a a The 〈…〉 where â—â—â—iâ—hten thought to meet the Fleet Islands where it had refreshed it self so that it was not possible for them to attend on it They of this Countrie who are of the Faction of England were in a marvellous fear during the uncertainty of the landing of the said Armie and confess'd plainlte that if it had landed here they had been utterly overcome The Earl Bothwell who is Admiral of Scotland and as gallant a Lord as any is in the Countrie although he make profession of the new Religion yet is he extremelie desirous to assist you against England having waged and entertain'd all this Summer under pretence to order the Isles some Troops of men of War which together with his ordinarie Forces should have joyned with yours if they had come hither He suffers himself to be peaceablie guided by me notwithstanding the diversitie of our Religion and hath often times said that if the Catholicks would give him suretie to possess after the restitution of the Catholick Religion two b b Viz. the Abbeys of Coldingham aâ—d of â—else Abbies which he hath that he would even presentlie be altogether one of yours He intends to send Colonel Halkerstoun to accompanie certain Captains and Gentlemen to Spain and almost four hundred Souldiers all safe from the shipwrack in our Isles And because they are in great necessitie he is purposed to furnish them with Ships Fictuals and other things necessarie to testifie thereby to the King of Spain the affection he hath to do him most humble and affectionate service And if we think it good hath offer'd himself to go to your Highness in the Low-Countries and by your advice afterward do the like to his Catholick Majestie of Spain But hereupon we will advise what is most expedient If we may always be assured of him he will be as profitable for the good of our Cause as any Lord in Scotland for he hath great dependance about this Town which is the principal of Scotland as also upon the Frontiers of England He hath offered to maintain and defend me against all that would attempt any thing against me We have chosen for every Catholick Lord a Gentleman of the wisest and faithfullest Catholicks and best beloved of their friends to serve them in Council and to meet at all occasions to resolve upon the most expedient courses that may concern the good of our Cause according to the will and intention of their Lords who have obliged themselves to approve and execute their resolutions and in no wise to contradict the same and by that means we hope to proceed with greater securitie and effect then we have done heretofore They shall never know any thing of our Intelligences there nor our final intentions but according to the exigence of the affairs which shall be in hand and that superficiously and without discovering our selves too much Your Highness shall understand by the particular Letters of the Lords what remaineth to be said to you by these presents by reason whereof I will make an end most humblie kissing your Highness hands and praying God to give you all the good hope and felicity you desire Your Highness most humble and most affectionate Servant Robert Bruce From Edinbrough this XXIV of January M D LXXX X. At the same time with this some of the Nobility in name of all the rest as this Letter also testifieth writ to Philip II King of Spain which take as followeth SIR WE cannot sufficiently express by speech the great grief we have conceived being frustrate of the hope we have so long had to see the last year the desired effects which we hoped of your Majesties preparations And our displeasures have been so much the greater that your Naval Armies should have passed by so near us without calling upon us who expected the same with sufficient Forces for the peaceable receipt and assistance thereof against all enemies in such sort that it should have had no resistance in this Countrie and with our support should have given England work enough At least if it had come in to refresh it it had preserved a number of Vessels and Men which we know have perished near our Isles and upon the Coasts of Ireland and had discovered an incredible numâ—er of friends in full readiness to have run the same fortune with it in such sort as we dare well affirm it should not have found half so many in England for all that is spoken by the English Catholicks a a Refugit thair saith the Scotch Copy fled into Spain who by emulation or rather by an unchristian envie too much lessen our power of aiding you thereby to magnifie their own onely and make themselves to be able to do all so to advance themselves in credit with your Majestie and such as are about you but the experience of this their passage hath sufficiently testified that they have not shewn themselves in such numâ—â—r to assist your forces as we have done And therefore your Majestie as most wise as you are should if it please you make such account of the one as not to neglect the other and so serve your self with both to the designe you aim at without hazarding your Forces for the particular of the one or the other We refer even to the judgement of some of your own subjects who have been here the Commodities and Landing in these parts where the expence bestowed upon the Equipage of one Galiasse shall bring more fruit to your service then you may have of ten upon the Sea And we may assure your Majestie that having once six thousand here of
Guiccard lib. 1. Ibero Hoc tulit invisum jure Navarra jugum Barbarus insulsum sed Rex f Lop. Gomar cap. 113. Atabaliba Papam Risit Insanit Papa superbus ait Regna datignotis qui sic aliena Dynastis Excidit Imperio sed tamen ille suo Heu quantas peperit Papa Donatio strages Millia g Joseph Acosta lib. 4. cap. 3. Bar. de Casao Epise This last viz Barthomaeus Casaus a Godly Spaniard and a Dominican and Confessor to the Emperor Charles V went into the West-Indies to preach the Christian Religion amongst those people And did write anno 1542 a particular Treatise to shew the barbarous cruelty and abominable Inhumanity of his Countrymen against those poor naked and simple Americans The which bloudy Butcheriâ—s are scarce to be parallel'd in all Histories nudorum quot cecidere virum Exuit humanum crudeli ex pectore mentem Qui legit salsis temporat à lachrimis Qualiter innocuos affixit Celtiber Indos Sed penes Historicos sint ea Lecta suos Thus we see that by the foresaid Articles neither our Kings nor the Church never intended any Spiritual Power and yet I know no reason but that a King or Queen may enjoy as much as some Female Romanists viz. their Lady Abbesses but onely a Civil jurisdiction and a coercive Power for the better Regulating their Dominions against home-bred Traytors and Forraign Enemies as you have seen it here interpretated and not onely our a His Notes upon the 37 Article Thomas Rogers and b Certamen Religiosum p. 159. Chr. Cartwright will inform you farther of it but also some Romanists themselves as one lately in his c Cap 6. pag. 25 26 27 28 c. Reflections upon the Oaths of Supremcie and Allegiance Another more ancient designedly written in Latine against the Book call'd God and the King the Romanist book is also call'd d Edit Colon. 1619. pag. 48 49. Deus Rex And Father Caron a true son to the Papal Chair is unwilling to boggle at this e Nâ—s enim Regem solum nostrum Ecclesiae Britanniae Hâ—berniae caput esse Civile Supremumque Gubernatorem agnoscimus nec aliud Rex ipse praetendlâ— aut Protestantes reipsa volunt Redmund Caron Remonstrantia Hibernorum part V. pag. 64. § 4. Supreme â—itle as people have formerly done And it is not the Sex that spoils the business f 1 Mar. 2 Parl. Queens being capable of and do enjoy all jurisdictions and Qâ—alifications that Kings do But enough concerning this Oath of Supremacie which was one of the main things that vext the Pope supposing by this his own Authority and gain struck at and indeed the g Post Divortiom nisi quod Pontificiam Poâ—estatem execratos se Caput Ecclesiae constituit nihil in Religione mutavit Jac. Aug Thuan Hist lib 3. In which Religion i. e. the Roman the King dyed Tho. Baily ' s life of John Fisher Bishâ—p of Roâ—hester cap. 21. pag. 164. Haereses paeuè omnes praeter illam quae Romani Pontificis Primaâ—um Monâ—sticas Religiones oppugnabat cohibuit repressit Nic. Sander de Schism Angl. lib. 2. pag 228. Parsons conversions of Engl. part 1. p. 170 235 238 241 242 244 246. part 2. p. 541 part 3. vol. 2. p. 408. Romanists confess that Henry VIII retain'd all the Articles of the Roman Church but this one and dyed in their Religion But let the King think as well as he pleaseth of his own Authority the Pope will have as good opinion of his own and to let King Henry see how far his jurisdiction reacheth Paul III h 30 Aug. 1535. draws up a thundering Bull against his Majesty in which he deprives him of his Dominions this for some time he keeps by him but at last sent it roaring i It was publish'd Decemb. 17. 1538. abroad and what a notable thing it was Father Paul one of the most judicious Fryars that ever set Pen to Paper shall tell you k Hist Coâ—cil of Trent lib. 1. pag. 86. A terrible thundering Bull such as never was used by his Predecessors nor imitated by his Successors The thing it self being very long and as tedious as idle I shall refer you for it to their Bullaria but the substance of it take as followeth IT begins with a Canting or Quaking Preface as most other Bulls do odly misapplying of the Holy Scripture to fob up the Papal power Rants dapperly against the King and his Subjects that obey him Interdicts all Cities Churches Places which favour or adhere to him Declares Him his Friends and their Children deprived of all benefiâ—s and priviledges and uncapable to obtain any Absolves all his Subjects from their Oaths of Obedience or Allegiance to him their King Pronounceth that he and his adherents shall be held as infamous their Wills Testimonies Credits and Authorities not to be of any validity Prohibits under Papal punishment to Deal Trade or have any medling with such wicked people Injoynes all Ecclesiasticks forthwith to avoid the Kings Dominions nor to return thither but by a Papal License upon sure Certificate of the said Kings repentance and submission Commands the Nobility Gentry and others to make it their care and business to expel and depose the said Henry from his Dominions Declares all Leagues Treaties or Agreements made by the said King with other Christian Princes to be null which if the said Kings and Potentates do not forthwith submit to as void and of none effect that then their respective Territories to lye under Interdiction and so to remain till the said Princes shall renounce all Amity and Alliance with the said Henry Exhorts and commands all the said Princes and others by vertue of their obedience to invade spoil take Arms and fight against the said King and all those who are subject to him And as for the Goods Ships and whatsoever else they take from the said English He by his Infallible and Papal Authority giveth to the said takers all right and propriety Willeth all Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiasticks under pain of the severest Censures publickly to declare by Bell Book and Candle the said Henry and all his Adherents Excommunicated Requireth that none under the guilt of the same Censures any way hinder the publication of this Bull against the King And if any do withstand contradict or gainsay by any means signes or tokens whatever this Bull that then he or they so opposing shall incur the wrath of Almighty God and the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul Dated at Rome at St. Marks anno 1535. III d Kal. Septemb. In the first year of our Popedom And that neither King Henry nor any else should plead ignorance of these things it was therein provided and commanded that the said Bull should be affixed to the doors of the Neighbouring to England or the Kings Dominions and should be publickly read in the said Churches especicially
England then that our persecution hath been so great For name one Nation I know none can under Heaven where the Subject especially if they were Catholicks ever sought the death of their Soveraign though of a different Religion from them The conquest of their Native Land the subversion of the State the depopulation of the Weal publick the alteration and change of all Laws Customs and Orders and in few the utter Devastation Desolation and Destruction of all the Ancient Inhabitants of their Land in so unnatural unchristian uncatholick a manner as the Spanish Faction have sought it in our own flesh and bloud against this Realm c. e Id. pag. 278. which seeing her Princely heart hath forborn as no Soveraign on Earth would ever have suffer'd the like to have past unpunished as she hath I must conclude and end as we began THAT HER LAWS AND PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN BOTH MILDE AND MERCIFUL And at a Id. pag. 303 3â—4 last doth confess that she was even bound to do as she did such was their Treasonable Practices and Opinions for deposing of Princes To him we might add Clark the Priest who also suffer'd death with Wâ—tson for Treason against King James he b Reply to a Lybel fol. 43. â— confessing and declaring that the Queens Laws and Government were not to be defamed traduced and cryed out against so much for tyranny seeing their Treasonable Actions were the occasion of them And to them we might add Father c Concert Ecciel Angl. paâ—â— 2. fol. 39. b. Parsons himself when he writes his minde freely to his friend But leaving these single Testimonies take these following confirm'd and subscrib'd by above a Jury of true Sons of the Papal Religion d The Protestation it self you may see at large in Roger Widdâ—ingtons Theological Dispute concerning the Oath of Allegiance part 2. Sect. 1. pag 346 347 348 349. Having first thank'd the Queen for her Clemencie and testified that she desired nothing of them but a true Profession of their Allegiance We whose names are under-written in most humble wise prostrate at her Majesties feet do acknowledge our selves infinitely bound unto her Majesty therefore Whereas for these many years past divers conspiracies against her Majesties Person and Estate and sundry forcible attempts for invading and conquering her Dominions have been made under we know not what pretences and intentments of restoring Catholick Religion with the Sword a course most strange in this world and undertaken peculiarly and solely against her Majestie and her Kingdoms among other Princes departed from the Religion and Obedience of the See Apostolick no less then she by reason of which violent Enterprises her Majesty otherwise of singular Clemencie toward her Suctjects hath been greatly moved to ordain and execute severer Laws against Catholicks which by reason of their Vnion with the See Apostolick in Faith and Religion were easily supposed to favour these Conspiracies and Invasions then perhaps had ever been Enacted or thought upon if such Hostility and Wars had never been undertaken William Bishop All Secâ—lar-Priests John Colleton a a Concern'd in the Quarrels at Wiâ—bich wrote in behalf of the Priests John Mush Robert Charnock John Bossevile Antony Hebborne b b Such an one preach'd and dyed by the fall of the Chamber at Blackfrieâ—s 1623. Robert Drury c c Wrote against Mr. Mason Antony Champney d d I finde two Brothers of that name at the latter end of King James his Raign John Jackson Francis Barneby Oswald Needham e e Translated Theodorets History into English Roger Cadwallader Robert Button November 5. 1602. In short we have it from good a Cambden Eliz. anno 1581. Authority that the Queen used to complain with grief that she was driven by necessity to prosecute such Laws for the preservation of her self and Subjects And an honest b Roger Widdrington's Confutation es the intemperate Reply of Tho. Fitz-Herbert Preface pag. 66. § 81. Benedictan Monk doth assure us that the Queen designed a mitigation upon security of their Allegiance but that this toleration was both talk'd and written against at Rome as very disadvantagious to the Papal Cause If they thus oppose her Favours 't is not her fault If they be angry with her for banishing the Priests she did no more then France and Venice once did with the Jesuits If she did amiss in taking their lives away yet was she not so cruel as the Spanish Inquisition or the French Massacre nor so fiery as her Sister Mary If she be blameable why should the others be commended Her Prudence may be shown by her prosperous Reign Her Courage by overcoming all difficulties and assaults Her Clemencie by her often pardoning her Enemies Her good Government by the Love and Honour her Subjects bare her and the esteem which England yet hath for her And as she was beloved at home so was she indear'd and fear'd abroad and as she was bless'd and happy in all her undertakings here so let her not be vilified and bespattered now she is gone to another world honour'd with many years and triumphs CHAP. III. The Pope undertook to depose Queen Elizabeth which occasioned some troubles in England to the ruine of the undertakers QUeen Mary being dead her Sister Elizabeth succeeded in the Throne though White Bishop of Winchester and Watson Bishop of Lincoln were very forward and eager to have her Excommunicated which they would have undertaken to perform but that others more wary advised them against such rashness For some years of Queen Elizabeth's Reign we hear of no great troubles the Papists themselves privately within their own Houses exercising their own Religion quietly enough without any disturbance and others of them without any scruple but deeply herein charged by a De Schism lib. 3 pag 342 343. Sanders for their dissimulation going to the Reformed Churches there to hear and enjoy Divine-Service Nor could they perceive any thing in the English-Liturgy that might any way offend a wisemans conscience it being judiciously composed of Godly Prayers waving all Disputes and the nicer Points of Controversie And in this peaceable condition they might have long continued if Father Parsons and some such Zealots had not baul'd against such a security and got a beyond-Sea Order against their joyning with the Reformed in any of their Pious Devotions No sooner is Elizabeth acknowledged Queen but we are b Peter Heyliâ—'â— Ecclesia Restaâ—â—ata pag. 102 103. told that she sent to the English Agent at Rome viz. Sir Edward Karn sent thither by Queen Mary to acquaint the Pope Paul IV of her Sisters death of her own Succession desiring that all good Offices might be reciprocally exchanged between them But the Pope Answer'd that the Kingdom of England was held in Fee of the Apostolick See that she being Illegitimate could not succeed and therefore it was great boldness to assume the Name and Government of it without
all and that he had a designe to kill the Queen but at last falls into a rage denyeth it layeth his bloud upon the Queen and the Judges and summons the Queen to answer for his bloud before God However he is condemn'd and afterwards b executed in the Palace yard a 2 March 1584 5. And here it will not be amiss to tell what this flaunting and boasting Parry was seeing his impudence pretended great kindred worth and no small favour abroad His Father was call'd Harry ap David who kept an Ale-house in a little Village Northop not far from the River Dee in Flintshire in North-Wales his Mother was a Bastard begot by one Conway the Priest of Haulkin a poor Parish close by Upon the death of his Father his Elder Brother kept the Ale-house and did so after our Parry was executed The Traytor now in hand was one of the younger Sons and was call'd William ap Harry according to the custom of Wales When young he learned a little to write and read went and served one John Fisher of Chester who pretended to the Law with him he continued some years serving as his Clerk in which time he learned the English Tongue and at some spare hours went to the Grammar-School where he got some skill in Latin About the year 1560 he ran away from his Master got up to London where for some time he lived after a shirking fashion all his study being to fill his belly and cover his back at last he found a good Master and by degrees with him and other Masters he got some money in his purse He scorns his old name ap Harry but call'd himself Parry pretending a kin to all of that name and from his Mother Daughter to one Conway a Priest he pretends a kindred to the Family of Sir John Conway and so allyed to the foresaid Edmund Nevil Thus having voted himself a Gentleman he marryeth a rich Widow in South-Wales she dyeth he lives bravely wastes all and runs into debt His chiefest care is for some time to avoid the Serjeants at last he falls in with a rich Widow Mrs. Heywood old enough to be his Mother and her at last he marryeth but lyeth with her Daughter ruines the Estate and runs far in debt to Mr. Hugh Hare of the Temple aforesaid whom in his Chamber he endeavour'd to assassinate and is himself executed for Treason Of this ap Harry or Parry several Couplets were made in those times some of which for diversion take as followeth where you may see his life and Qualities also Epitomized William Parry Was ap Harrie By his name From the Ale-house To the Gallows Grew his fame Gotten Westward On a Bastard As is thought Wherefore one way Kin to Conway Hath he sought Like a Beast With Incest He begun Mother marryed Daughter carryed him a Son Wales did bear him France did swear him To the Pope Venice wrought him London brought him To the Rope Wherewith strangled And then mangled Being dead Poles supporters Of his quarters And his head And thus much for Parry and his Treasons which stuck so close upon the Papal Reputation that their Index Expurgatorius commands the whole story to be dasht out of Thuanus CHAP. V. 1. Babington c.'s Treasons against the Queen 2. The Romanists endeavour to inveâ—gle the more ignorant People to them by their false and cheating Exorcisms Sect. 1. Babington c.'s Treasons against the Queen THe former Treason was scarce ended when another begun which was briefly thus In the English Seminary at Rheimes in France there were some who pin'd their faith so much upon the Popes sleeve that they thought his Authority could do any thing and that the Deposing Bull of Pius V against Queen Elizabeth was dictated by the Holy Ghost thus wickedly perswaded they Cambd. Annals an 1586. thought it meritorious to take away her life and to dye in the attempt would be a glorious Martyrdom Amongst the rest Dr. William Gifford Rector of the Students there and the finisher of the Book call'd Calvino-Turcismus William Reinolds of whom formerly was its first Author He and one Gilbert Gifford and one Hodgson Priests so inculcated this treasonable Doctrine into one John Savage said to be a Bastard that he willingly and solemnly vowed to kill the Queen To make the day more sure John Ballard an English Priest of Rheimes plyeth it about England and Scotland to carry on the Cause and to prepare his Disciples then goeth into France to treat with Don Bernardin de Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador there and some others about the invading of England Having done his errand he returns to England to forward the designe gets to London where in a Souldiers habit under the false name of Captain Foscue he agitates his plots At London he opens the business to one Mr. Anthony Babington of Dethick in Derbyshire a young Gentleman rich well bred and somewhat learned he had a little before gone to France without License and faln in acquaintance with the Archbishop of Glascow Ambassador for the Queen of Scots and Thomas Morgan an English Fugitive but a great stickler for her Babington is against an Invasion as fearing it would not take effect as long as the Queen lived Ballard tells him that that need not trouble him because Savage had sworn to kill her Babington likes the murther but moves that five other resolute Gentlemen might be joyned to Savage This agreed on they carry on the designe for the Invasion In the mean time Babington giveth notice to the Queen of Scots of the designed Murther and desires her that The Heroical Actors in this business might be rewarded or else their Posterities if they perisht in the attempt for so he worded it And in this conspiracie several Gentlemen of Quality were assistants Sir Francis Walsingham that saithful and cunning Secretary by his Spies discovers all and informs the Queen and in this Gilbert Gifford Priâ—st who lurk'd in England under the name of Luson to minde Savage of his Oath was somewhat assistant to Walsingham who had such a liberal hand to intelligence that though he left himself poor yet so trusty he was to his Soveraign that there was scarce a plot against her but some of his Spies were intimate and Actors with the chiefest of them This Plot having run on for some time the Queen thought it dangerous to go too far so Ballard is apprehended Babington jealous of a discovery he with some of the Confederates hide themselves in St. Johns Wood near the City Notice being given of their withdrawing they are proclaimed Traytors at last are found and seized on and the rest of their Fellow-rebels Fourteen of whom were a September 1586. executed in St. Giles's Fields where they used to meet and consult about the Murther and Invasion Sect 2. The Romanists indeavour to inveagle the more ignorant people to them by their false and cheating Exorcisms THe English Romanists about this time had
I. Pere Fils Sainct Esperit nostre seul vray Dieu au quel soit Glorie Honneur L'Association des Princes Seigneurs Gentils-hommes Catholiques * * Andr. â—avyn reads onely â—st faicte doit estre serra fait pour restablir la Ley de Dieu en son entier remettre retenir le sainct Service d'icelui selon la forme maniere de la Sainct Eglise Catholique Apostolique Romaine abjurans renonçans touts erreurs au contraire Secondement pour conserver le II. Roy Henry III. de ce nom * * D' Aâ—bigne and the Hist des derniers troubles de France â—ave it thus Henry III. de ce nom par la grace de Dien ses Predecesseurs Roys tres Chrestient which may be as right as the other and so their pretended Loyalty to the Valoises spoiled by a juâ—gle ses successeurs Roys tres-Chrestiens en l'estat splendeur autorité devoir service obeissance qui lui sont deubs par ses subjects ainsi qu'il est contenu par les Articles qui lui seront presentez aux Estats les quels il jure promet garder son Sacré Couronnement avec Protestation de ne rien faire au prejudice de ce qui y serra ordonné par lesdits Estats Tiercement pour restituer aux Provinces de ce Royaume Estats d'icelluy les Droicts Preéminences Franchises Libertes anciennez telles qu' elles estoient du temps du Roy Clouis premier Roy Chrestien encores meilleurs plus profitables si elles se peuvent inventer sous la Protection susdicte Au cas qu'il y ayt Empeschement Opposition ou Rebellion à ce que dessus part qui de quelle part qu' ils puissent estre serront lesdicts Associez tenus obligez d'employer tous leurs biens moyens mesmes leurs propres Personnes jusques à la mort pour punir chastier courir sus à ceux qui l'auront voulu contredire empescher tenir la main que toutes les choses susdictes soyent mises en execution reéllement de faict Au cas que quelques-uns desdicts Associez leurs Subjects Amis Confederez fussent molestes oppressez recherches pour le cas dessusdicts par qui que ce soit serâ—nt tenus les dicts Associez employer leurs Corps Biens Moyens pour avoir vengiance de ceux qui auront faict lesdicts oppresses molestes soit par la voye de justice ou des armes sans nulle acception de personnes S' il advient qu' acun des Associez apres avoir faict serment en la dicte Association se vouloit retirer ou departir d'icelle sous quelque pretexte que ce soit que Dieu ne vueille tels refractaris de leur consentement seront offencez en leur corps biens en toutes sortes qu' on se pourra adviser comme Enemis de Dieu Rebelles Perturbateurs du repos public sans que lesdicts Associez en puissent estre inquietez ny recherches soit en publec ny en particulier Jureront lesdicts Associez toute prompte obeissance service au Chef que serra deputé suivre donner conseil comfort ayde tant a l'entretenement conservation de ladicte Association que ruine aux contredisants à icelle sans acception ny exception de personnes Et seront les defaillants dilayants punis par l'Authorité du Chef selon son Ordenance à laquelle lesdicts Associez se soubmettront Tous Catholiques des Corps des villes villages seront advertis sommez secretement par les Governeurs particuliers d'entrer en ladicte Association fournir deuement d'armes d'hommes pour l'execution d'icelle selon la puissance faculté de chacun Est defendu ausdicts Associez IX d'entrer en debats ny quarrels l'un contre lautre sans la permission du Chef à l'arbitrage du quel les contrevenants seront punis tant pour la reparation d'honneur que touts autres sortes Que ceaux qui ne voudront entrer X. This Article is not in â—avilâ—'â— Hist l. 6. en ladicte Association seront reputez pour enemis d'icelle poursuivables par toutes sortes d'offences molestes Si pour fortification ou plus XI grande sureté des Associez se faict quelque Convention avec les Provinces de ce Royaume elle se fera en la forme susdicte aux mesmes conditions soitque ladicte Association soit poursuivie envers les dictes villes on par elles demandees si autrement n'en est advisé par le Chef THE LEAGUE In the Name of the Holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost our onely true God to whom be Glory and Honour The Confederacy and Covenant of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of the Catholick Religion ought to be and is made for the complete establishment of the Law of God and to restore and settle his holy Worship according to the form and manner of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church abjuring and renouncing all errors contrary unto it Secondly for the Preservation of King Henry III. of that name and his Successors the most Christian Kings in the State Honour Authority Duty Service and Obedience due unto them by their subjects according as it is contain'd in those Articles which * * A conditional obedience and here they make the King truâ—kle to the Parlement shall be presented to him in the Assembly of Estats the which he swears and promises to observe at his Consecration and Coronation with protestation not to do any thing against that which shall be there ordain'd by the said Estats Thirdly to restore unto the Provinces III. of this Kingdom and the States of it those ancient Rights Preeminences Privileges and Liberties which were in the time of * * A pretty trâ—ck to run above 1000 years back for a Government and so they might pretend any thing Clouis the first most Christian King or yet better and more profitable if any such can be found under the said protection In case there be any Impediment IV. Opposition or Rebellion against the aforesaid let it be by * * Here they will not except the King himself whom or whence it will the Covenanters here shall be oblig'd to venture not onely their fortunes and goods but their very lives too to punish chastise and prosecute those who shall offer to disturb or hinder this League and shall never cease till the aforesaid things be really done and perfected In case any of the Covenanters V. their Vassals Friends or Confederates be molested oppressed or questioned for this cause be it by * * Nor will they here except the King from their fury if he oppose them that is side not with them to his own ruâ—ne whom it will they shall be bound to imploy
is saith S. John a sin unto death I say not that any should pray for it Which may be understood either of the sin it self as if he should say for that sin or for the forgiveness thereof I will that none should pray because it is not pardonable or else in the same sense for that man who committeth such a sin unto death I say not that any should pray for Of which our Saviour himself hath spoken in S. Matthew saying that He that sinneth against the Holy Ghost shall not be pardoned neither in this world nor in the world to come Where he setteth down three sorts of sins viz. against the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and that the two first are less heinous and pardonable but the third unpardonable All which difference proceedeth from the distinction of the attributes as the Divines teach which severally are appropriated unto every several person of the Holy Trinity And although as the essence of all the three persons is but one so also is their power wisdom and goodness as we have learned by Athanasius his Creed where he saith The Father is Almighty the Son Almighty and the Holy Ghost Almighty yet by attribution power is ascribed unto the Father wisdom unto the Son and love unto the Holy Ghost whereof every several as they are termed Attributes so are they proper unto every several person that they cannot be referred to another By the contraries of which attributes we can discern the distinction and greatness of sin As the contrary to power which is onely attributed unto the Father is weakness and therefore that which we do amiss through infirmity of nature is said to be committed against the Father The opposite to wisdom is ignorance through which if any man sinneth he is said to sin against the Son therefore that which we commit through natural infirmity or ignorance is more easily forgiven us The third attribute which is the Holy Ghosts is love and hath for its contrary ingratitude a fault most odious for hence it happens that men do not acknowledge the love and benefits of God but do forget despise and hate them whence it followeth that they become altogether obstinate and impenitent And this way sin is committed against God with greater danger and peril then if it were done through ignorance or weakness of the flesh and therefore it is termed a sin against the Holy Ghost And because such sins are seldom or difficultly pardoned and that not without a great abundance of grace and so in some fort are said to be unpardonable whereas indeed they become simply unpardonable only through unrepentance For whatsoever is done amiss in this life although it be against the Holy Ghost yet by repentance may be forgiven before death but they that persevere therein till death are excluded from all grace and mercy And therefore for such sins and sinners it is that the Apostle hath forbidden to pray after their decease Now therefore because we understand not without our great grief that the aforesaid King is departed out of this world without repentance and impenitent to wit in company of Hereticks his a Suppose it did would any wâ—se man lâ—â—â—â— is Kingdom rather then borrow another mans sword who agrees not with him in every circumstance in Religion army consisting of such men and that by his last will he had commended the Kingdom and Crown to the succession of b And good reason being the lawful next Heir Navarre a declar'd Heretick and excommunicated as also when dying and ready to yield up his Ghost he desir'd of him and such like standing by him that they would c That this is false read Davila l. 10. p. 818. Spondan anno 1589. § 15. revenge his death upon those whom he judged to be the cause thereof For these and such like most manifest tokens of unrepentance we have decreed that his death be not solemnized with Funerals Not that by these we would seem to determine any thing concerning the secret judgments of God against him or of his mercies who could according unto his good pleasure at the point of his expiring convert and turn his heart and deal mercifully with him but this we have spoken moved by these external signs and tokens God grant therefore that the rest being admonished by this fearful example of Heavenly judgment may repent and amend and that it may further please him to continue and accomplish that which be hath so mercifully begun as we put our trust he will to the end we may give everlasting thanks to him for delivering his Church from such great and imminent dangers Thus with his blessing he brake up the Consistory and by this may appear with what * Davila p. 868. great demonstrations of joy he received the news of the Kings murder But here it may be we may meet with a blunt and bold Objector who possibly may affirm that there was never any such Speech made by the Pope To answer this we shall take Bellarmine for our Adversary First then the * Vnder the name of Mat. Tortus Respon ad Apâ—l Angl. p. 70. Cardinal doth not possitively deny there was any such Speech and if he had known there had been no such thing he would at this time being pleaded against him by King James have boldly denied it and he could not be ignorant being then famous and Praelector of Controversies at Rome intimate with the Pope and Cardinals and so not willing to be catch'd in a lie he endeavours to shuffle it off as well as he can One time he saith it was onely published by the enemies to the Roman Church But to this we answer that it was first published by the Romanists themselves presently after it was spoke and * Antifixtus in answer to this Speech was printed at London 1590. printed at Paris 1589. by Nicolas Nivelle and Rollin Tierry by Authority of the Holy Union and the approbation of these three Sorbonne Doctors Boucher Decreil and Anceline Then again the Cardinal argueth that the Pope himself did neither publish the Speech nor command it to be published This we may grant and yet never the worse this being no argument to prove he never spoke it Bellarmine proceeds intimating no such Speech could be divulged seeing none took notes of it as it was spoke To this may be answer'd that it is true that the Cardinal whose office it was to have noted the Popes Oration not dreaming of such a design neglected the providing of Pen or Ink but yet how it was taken this following story will tell The Oration and Consistory being ended and the Pope departed towards his Chamber certain Cardinals with a greedy desire flocked about Cardinal Allan an Englishman created 1587 there in the Chamber intreating him that he would call to remembrance and write down what he had heard there spoken Allan won by their importunity they being his friends promised to do his best
Question For no mortal sin is to be committed although thereby Life or Goods might be saved but these things which further and help to execute an unjust Warr are manifestly deadly sins It is permitted likewise to the Catholiques to perform such kind of Obedience to this Haeretical Queen as doth not oppugn the Catholique Religion Neither ever was it or could it be the meaning of the Pope to allow them to use that Obedience towards the Queen which doth manifestly contradict and oppose the end and scope which he had to promote the Catholick Faith and Religion in Ireland But that this was his meaning and scope his own Letters or Breves do manifestly declare From all which it remaineth sufficiently apparent that the most famous Prince Hugh O-Neil and other Catholiques in Ireland making warr against an Heretical Queen who opposeth her self against the True Faith are by no means Rebels neither do they deny due obedience or unjustly usurp any of the Queens Dominions But on the contrary they do rather vindicate themselves and their Countrey from an impious and wicked Tyranny by a most just Warr and do defend and maintain the holy and Orthodox Faith with all their power as becometh all Christians and Catholicks so to do All and every of which we whose Names are under-written do judg and approve as most certain and true Salananca VII of March 1602. I Juan de Ziguenza Professor of Divinity of the Colledg of the Society of Jesus of this famous City of Salamanca do so judg I Manuel de Rojas Professor of Divinity of the said Colledg do agree in the same I Gaspar de Mena Professor of Divinity and Holy Scripture in the said Colledg do assent to the said Opinions of these Fathers as altogether true I Piedro Osorio Expounder of the Sacred Canons in the same Colledg of the Society of Jesus am altogether of the same Opinions with the foresaid Fathers The same Censure or Declaration I find the very next year after thus dated and subscribed Datum Salmanticae secundo Februarii Anno Domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo Tertio Doctores Salmanticenses Fra. Franciscus Zumel Decanus Salmant Mag. Alphonsus de Curiel Sacrae Theologiae Primatius Professor Fr. Petrus de Herrera Mag. Doctor Franciscus Sancius Fr. Dionysius Juberus Mag. Andreas de Leon. Fr. Petrus de Ledesma Fr. Martinus de Paraza Doctores Theologi Vallisoselani D. Franciscus Sobrino Decanus D. Alfonsus Vacc◠de Santiago D. Johannes Garcia de Coronel Mag. Fr. Johannes Nigron D. Torre Fr. Josephus de Luxan Vallisoleti Octavo Martii Anno Millesimo sexcentesimo tertio Philip Osullevan thinks this Declaration enough to convert all good Hist Cathol Ibern. Compend Tom. 3. lib. 8. cap. 7. fol. 204. Romanists to Rebellion and is not a little proud of its Authority and thus cockered up in his usual vanity he accuseth all of folly and ignorance who sided with the Queen and her Loyallists and to think otherwise he saith is a mad and poysonous Doctrine Tir-Oen as aforesaid having submitted himself the Lord Deputy carried him the next day to Dublin intending to convey him into England and thither he carried him King James being proclaimed and received as the undoubted King who also pardoned Tir-Oen received him honourably at Court and by Proclamation forbidding any to shew him the least disrespect But the Romanists in Ireland shew themselves of another temper for hearing of Queen Elizabeth's death a great comfort to * Three Convers of Eng. part 1. an Addition to the Epist Dedicat Parsons and that James was King of England they rejoyce at the one and despise the other The Citizens of Lymrick with their Priests seized upon all the Churches in the City erecting their Altars resolving to re-settle their Religion again At Wexford they gave out that King James was Fynes Morysont Itinerary p. 285 286 c. a Romanist the better to embolden their Associates Those of Waterford secured the Cathedral Church to themselves defaced the Session-House at Black-Fryers by breaking the Doors pulling down the Benches and Seats of Justice ordering Masses to be celebrated publikely But those of Cork went farther refusing to proclaim the King ran to their Arms forbad the Commissioners to proclaim him upon which the Loyallists and the said Commissioners were forced to proclaim him upon an Hill near the Town They entertained one amongst them who call'd himself a Legat from the Pope went with them in Solemn Procession new hallowed their Churches kept strong Guards took the Sacrament to spend their Lives and Goods in the defence of the Roman Religion fell upon the Kings Forces encouraged a Priest to hearten the people on by preaching to them That James could not be a lawful King because he was not appointed by the Pope and sworn to maintain the Roman Religion They write also to all Towns and Cities to assist them in defence of the Catholick Faith and the better to carry on their Designs seized upon the King's Munition And as for Tir-Oen having staid a little time in England with leave and Reward he return'd for Ireland where after so many Promises and Obligations it was expected he would have lived civilly and obedient But here according to his old wont he falleth a plotting and contriving mischief again but with a great deal of secresie In the mean time Montgomery Lord Bishop of Derry and afterwards of Meath enters Bp. Carlton's Thankful Remembrance cap. 14. p. 168. into suit against Tir Oen for wrongfully keeping some of his Episcopal Lands a great sin but too much in fashion to cheat the Church upon this Tir Oen is summon'd to appear at an appointed time to expect the issue of the Tryal The Earl conscious of his late designs against the State and fearing that his Plots had been discovered prompted by his guilty Conscience he and his Family slipt privately into * 1607. Normandy thence to Flanders where he was entertain'd by Father * Jo. Gee's Foot out of the Snare p. 103. Musket with a Panegyrick Oration upon which King James puts forth a Proclamation against him not a little to the disgust of zealous * An. 1608. § de Sponde From Flanders he goeth to Rome where he lived upon the Pope's Allowance became blind for some years and so * 1616. dyed And his Son ended his days miserably in Bruxels being found strangled in his own Chamber but whether by himself or others as it is not certainly known so is it nothing to my purpose And thus much concerning these Troubles in Ireland whose effects were so lamentable that besides the Miseries and Depopulations by Warr the extremity of Famine grew so great that the very * Arch-bishop Vshers Speech at Dublin April 30. 1627. Vid. his life by Dr. Bernard p. 67. Women in some places by the way-side would surprise the men riding by to feed themselves with the flesh of their Horses And sooner might these Troubles have had an
of their Order I think Alegambe commendeth all his Bead-Roll but Interest hath made it a duty for such Catalogue-Makers to flatter and applaud the most wicked but be as bad as they will they tell us that it is impossible for a * Jungantur in unum dies cum nocte tenebrae cum Luce calidum cum frigido sanitas cum morbo vita cum morte erit tum spes aliqua posse in caput Jesuitae Haeresin cadere Vid. Epist Is Casaubon viz. Epist 624. ad Front Duc. Jesuit to be an Heretick Amongst the rest of the Learned Pen-men who undertook to testifie to the world the Treasons of Garnet and his Accomplices was the famed French-man Isaac Casaubon more especially in an * Epist 624. Epistle or rather Book to Fronton Le Duc a Jesuit and his old Friend for the better accomplishing his Design he had delivered to him all the * Epist 620. Original Writing Tryals and Letters of Garnet This action of Casaubon so netled that Order that they drew their whole force of Invention and Malice against him endeavouring by their lyes and slanders not only to render him odious to the whole world but his Father and whole Family we may except his Son John because he turn'd a Capuchin nay so zealously indiscreet were some against him that they * Epist 64â— 679. declared him to be no Scholar a Fellow of no Judgment that he could not write Latin or scarce understand it which was enough to testifie the truth of all the rest yet with such Indignities Isaac would sometimes be forced to a passion Those who have undertaken the justification of this Garnet have thought to arm themselves and secure him with the power and virtue of these following Arguments 1. His Denials 2. The Honesty of Aequivocation 3. The Bond of Auricular Confession 4. His Sanctity or Saintship which is confirm'd by 5. His Miracle of the Straw As for his Denials they are so far from quitting him from the crime that they rather render him the greater Malefactor if profest Lyes and Perjury can advance a man's guilt 'T is true he was bold to a wonder in protesting and calling Heaven and Earth to witness his Innocency but at last when he saw such exact Proof and Testimony against him he confest his Dissimulation pleading That he thought they could not have produced such clear proofs against him The Jesuits being not a little offended that he should any way confess himself guilty which with some might be a blot both to himself and their Order Garnet to vindicate himself to them and to shew the folly of denying any longer thus writes to them What should I do First all the rest of the Confederates have accused me Secondly Catesby always made use of my Authority amongst them whereby most of them were perswaded to have a good opinion of the Interprise so that all knew I was in it Thirdly Two set on purpose heard me discourse the whole business with Oldcorn and to tell him how I thought to answer to all Objections Fourthly My Letters writ with the Juyce of Oranges to * Anne Vaux Mrs. Ann are I know not how faln into their hands whereby I plainly enough discovered my knowledg of it For all his strong denials at first this is enough to prove him guilty Tort. Torti pag. 286. And besides if he were not so Why did he himself confess That he had often vowed both by words and writing to the Lay-Conspirators That he would never discover or betray any of them To this might be added how he did acknowledg his offence wishing it were in his power to undo that which was done and that if the whole world were his he would willingly give it to quit himself from the guilt of Treason which now troubled his Conscience He also writ to his Favourite Mrs. Vaux his sorrow that he could not dye for Religion but for Treason And many more Instances might be collected out of his Tryal but this is enough to satisfie an honest man Yet he was very willing and earnest to vindicate and clear himself from this Treason in which he made a great deal of work with the Trick of Equivocation of which he was a cunning and exquisite Master and as confident as ever man was for this one instance or two may serve Being asked Whether he had any discourse with the Jesuit Oldcorn since his Imprisonment Garnet swearing upon his Salvation with Epist Is Casaub ad Front Duc. many other horrid Imprecations denied again and again that he had any discourse Which being presently proved against him he confest it begg'd pardon affirming that his former Denial was by virtue of Equivocation Another time being asked Whether he did well to swear upon the Holy Evangelist That he had neither writ or sent to the Jesuit Tesmond which he knew to be false He replied That he sware so lawfully enough because then he did not think that his Letters were intercepted and so they could not have disproved him A little before the Queen's death when they were busie in their Plots to keep out King James in vindication of this Jugling Faculty there was composed a little Book entituled A TREATISE of EQVIVOCATION But this Title it seems not pleasing Father Garnet he with his own MS. in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. hand had dash'd it out and bestowed upon it this Name writ also with his own hand A Treatise against Lying and Fraudulent Dissimulation Yet for all this goodly and specious shew of honesty it alloweth all manner of Dissimulation and to swear positive untruths by their Law of Directing the Intention As for example In time of Plague a man cometh to Coventry at the Gates by the Officers is examined upon his Cap. 8. pag. 43 44. â— Oath Whether he came from London or no The Traveller though he did directly come from London yet may swear positively That he did not come from London His reason is Because he knoweth himself not infected to endanger Coventry by his entrance which he supposed answer'd to the final intent of the Demand although their immediate Intention were to know from him upon his Oath only whether he came from London or no. And this man saith the Book the very Light of Nature would clear from Perjury And he tells us of one Pag. 39. Mr. Southwell who taught a young Gentlewoman that if she were examin'd If the said Southwell were at her Father's House She might swear No with this intention to her self That he was not there so that she was bound to tell them At the end of this Book I find Blackwell their Arch-Priest of England thus commend and allow it under his own hand Tractatus iste valde Doctus vere Pius Catholicus est Certe Sa Scripturarum Patrum Doctorum Scholasticorum Canonistarum Optimarum Rationum praesidiis plenissime firmat aequitatem Equivocationis Ideoque dignissimus est qui typis
pag. 181 182 183. disagreements in the Copies themselves and yet all held authentick may add to its suspition But as this is not exactly the intent of my design no more is the History and Assertion of Pope Joane who is said to have flourish'd about this time But to be free as for those who are resolved to deny the story and being of such a Woman-Pope they may strengthen their Faith by the reading of f Annotat. in Platin. Onuphrius g De Rom. Pont. lib. 3. cap. 24. Bellarmine h An. 853. Baronius i Fabula Joannae Papassae Floromundus de Raemond and of late k Familier Esâ—laircisment de la Question David Blondell a French Protestant As for those who are willing to believe it I shall refer them for more confirmation to l Myst of Iniq. p. 167. du Plessis m Hist Eccles tom 1. cap. 9. p. 616 617. Hottingerus our learned Country-man n Pope Joane a Dialogue Mr. Alexander Cooke with the two French-men o Joannae Papissa restituta Samuel Marisius and Le Sieur p Traitè conâ—â—e D. Blonâ—ell Congnard As for my own judgement I shall wrap it up without partiality or passion in this that I am so far from being satisfied with the reasons brought against the being of such a woman Pope that I may fancie those who assert a Pope Joane afford better Authority Testimony and Arguments than those who deny it And as Cooke in English hath sufficiently answered Floromondus and the rest so doth Marisius in Latine and Congnard in French abundantly confute David Blondel though a man of great reading But be it this way or that way it shall never trouble me and so let every man think as he pleaseth for so they must and will Nor do I positively determine any thing here my self And so much for our Pope or No-Pope Joane a story that hath drawn forth to open Battalia and siding the greatest Pens in Europe some to vindicate others to annihilate the sitting of such a Lady in the Porphyrie Chair as Infallible Head of the Romish Church nor to this day will either party give ground or yeild but still fight it out and which is more both singing Victoria and triumphing as Conquerours and thus it hath the happiness or misfortune to fare as some other Articles of the greatest consequence in Religion never to want Friends and Enemies Thus have we seen the pious and victorious Emperour Lewes le Debonnaire miserably banded to and fro by his own unnatural Children and rebellious Subjects and by the consent of the chief of his Clergy and those too as Historians observe whom himself or his Great Father had rais'd and prefer'd from the meanest condition to these chiefest places of Honour and Riches used with all manner of reproach villany and ignominy yet they farther observe that severe judgements fell upon the chief of them who within Jo. de Bussieres Tom. 1. p. 368. a year were taken away by a Plague or Pestilence from Heaven And as for the sons themselves except Pepin who dyed whilst his Father lived after the decease of the Emperour Lewes we may finde them all together by the ears prosecuting one another with all manner of violence and fury But we shall conclude this Tragical story of good Lewes with his Epitaph as it is in the Monastery of St. Arnulf at Metz in Lorraine which is according to the riming fashion of those times by which we may judge the height of their Wit and Poetry for 't is to be suppos'd that such a great Emperour had none of the worst Poets of those days to celebrate his fame and memory thus upon his Tomb and yet we have had many worse made since upon other Emperours and Kings Imperii fulmen Francorum nobile culmen Erutus à seclo conditur hoc tumulo Rex Lodowicus pietatis tantus amicus Quod Pius à Populo dicitur Tumulo Heldegard sobiles Karoli Magni pia proles In Pacis metas colligit hunc pietas Rumelicum villam quicquidve refertur ad illam Arnulfo sancto contulit huicque loco Stirps à quo Procerum Regumque vel Imperatorum Quorum muneribus sistitur ille locus After this Lewes succeeded in the Empire his Son Lothaire who at last willingly resigned making himself a Monk to his Son Lewes the Second of whom I shall say nothing but that in his time the Popes began by degrees to neglect to have their Elections confirm'd by the Emperours whom by little and little they began to trample upon the greatest Monarchs being now I know not how fob'd into a servile reverence of those whose Predecessors had formerly been their Inferiours of which this Lewes the Second may serve for an Example Nicholas the First being chosen and Consecrated this Emperour being then at Rome one time the Pope in great State attended Anastas vit Nichol. I. Platina with all the chief of the City went to give Lewes the Second a visit who hearing of it resolv'd to meet his Holiness and being met the Emperour alights from his Horse and on foot with great humility like a Foot-boy led the Popes Horse by the Bridle and at his departure did the same though certainly it might have been commendable in Nicholas not to have permitted so ignoble an action if not manners to have descended too and gone a foot with the Emperour but with the Proverb When Humility vamps on foot Pride may ride on cock-horse Sect. 3. The Murther of Michael Emperour of Constantinople with Pope Adrian the Second his opinion of the Murtherer BUt as this Chapter begins with bloud so let it end And first we have about this time Michael one whose life and rule I shall not commend Emperour of Constantinople murder'd in his Chamber by Basilius one whom Michael had rais'd from the basest condition to the highest preferment from a common Horse-courser to the greatest Authority and had declared him the next Emperour as now he made himself by the Murther of his Master and Soveraign But Photius Patriarch of Constantinople made so by Michael Ignatius being turn'd out deny'd to give him the Sacrament as guilty of such an abominable crime and yet they declare this Basilius to be a Basilius vero pius Orthodoxus Coquaeus Antimorn tom 1. pag. 455. Pious and Orthodox which we may English a good Roman Catholick And the truth is no sooner was the murther done but Pope Adrian the Second congratulates him by his b Apud Bâ—n Concil General Letters calling of Michael a Tyrant but as for Basilius thus he salutes him Thou art in our time as another peaceful Salomon who hast hearkned to the words of God thy father and hast not forsaken the Law of thy Mother that is as they say the Church Which words put me in minde of Richard Baxter that motly of Presbytery who call'd his friend and name-sake Dick Cromwell the wise
Salomon and son of a valiant David Basilius and his friend Adrian the Second agree to have a Council at Constantinople in which Photius is turn'd out and curs'd and Ignatius restored and here things were so carryed that the Pope by the Power of Basilius had what he could desire c Can. 3. aequo honore cum libro sanctorum Evangeliorum Images which the former Emperours of the East always withstood are now declared to be held in equal honour with the Gospel or Word of God d Can. 21. That the Church of Rome is above other Patriarchships that none might speak or write against the Pope under pain of Anathema That e Can. 14. Bishops should not go forth to meet Princes and if chance to meet not to alight from their Mules or Horses or kneel before them upon the score of reverence That Bishops may be equal to Kings or Emperours That these f Can. 22. secular Monarchs should not interest themselves in the promotion or election of Bishops Nor is it fitting that they should be present in their g Can. 17. Synods unless they be General Councils And thus Basilius and Pope Adrian gratifie one another And this they call the h An. 869. Eighth General Council though the Greeks since that will scarce acknowledge it so but rather that held some hundred years since this at i An. 1435. Florence Other Histories might here be inlarged upon which hapned about these times as that of Donald the Fifth King of Scotland one vicious enough who was close imprisoned by his own Subjects which so troubled him that as most Writers confess he became his own Executioner and a An. 859. kill'd himself And here I might speak also of Ethus King of the same Nation who was also put in prison by his Subjects and within three days b An. 875. dyed of grief This Ethus is sirnamed the Swift or Light-foot for that they say he could run as fast as a Buck or Hare Sect. 4. Several Insolencies and Murders committed by the Venetians against some of their Dukes about this time ANd from these might I turn to a people held in those times more Petr. Marcel de vit Princip Venet. Tho. de Fougasses Ja. Howel Hist of Venice Will. Thomas Hist of Italy civilized and whose Government and Prudence hath been held not onely the wonder of the World but by some the Bulwark of Christendom viz. the Venetians of whom I might at large relate they being weary of their popular Government declared themselves a Bastard Monarchy by their c An. 697. Ducal And here I might tell how they slew their third Duke d An. 737. Orso Hypato and so changed their Government again to an annual Master or Consulship the first being Dominico Leone 2. Felix Cornicula or Cornacchino 3. Deodato Son to the former Orso 4. Juliano Ypato or Copario And the fifth and last Zianus Fabritius or Giovanni Fabritiaco whose eyes the people put out and so turned him out of his Office and agreed to be govern'd by Dukes again e An. 742. electing to that purpose the fore-named Deodato Son to their former Duke Orso and having ruled thirteen years they put out his f An. 755. eyes too Then was Galla the Fifth Duke whose eyes they also g An. 756. put out After him they appointed to be Duke Dominico Monegario or Menicaccio whose eyes they also h An. 764. put out After succeeded Mauritio then his Son Giovanni whom they i An. 804. banish'd To him succeeded Obelerio whom the people k An. 809. cut in pieces drew his guts about the streets and slew his Wife of the Bloud-royal of France The next Duke was Angelo Partitiato then Justinian then his Brother Giovanni Partitiatio who going to prayers to St. Peters Church was seis'd upon disrobed and his beard and head being shaven was l An. 836. thrust into a Monastery in Grada And after him was elected Duke Pietro Tradenico or Gradenico who was m An. 864. murther'd as he came from St. Zacharies Church And so for this time I take my leave of the City Venice Chap. VI. 1. The deposing of the Emperour Charles the Third sirnamed the Gross 2. The jumbling of Emperours by the obstinacie of the Pope all which are made more plain by an exact Chronology 3. The hurly-burly amongst the Popes themselves whereby their personal Succession is shaken Sect. 1. The deposing of the Emperour Charles the Third sirnamed the Gross NOw began the Popes Authority to increase to a wonder and every man thought himself cock-sure if he had but that Bishop of his party who now in all Countries and over the greatest Monarchs held himself an Infallible Judge and if not submitted to had the strength of his Coercive Power and the terrible vertue of his Censures and Paper-thunder-bolts vapor'd and prattl'd up by his Hirelings to affright an ignorant and poor deluded people And to make this his Prerogative more formidable and so to gain an easier passage and firmer settlement into peoples belief their Priests daily made use of pretty stories of Gods Miracles and Judgements imitated by our late Puritans and Phanaticks sometimes in Purgatory and sometimes God knows where and this staple-cheat of reverence and aw was had up on every occasion Are Images to be worship'd then what strange a Goâ—onus sec 7 8. Dauroult c. 3. Tit. 67. stories have they against those who reject them Is the Roman Church to be Supreme then they have pretty b Dauroult c. 4. Tit. 17. Tales to confirm it Must not Kings and Emperours meddle with Church-affairs they will tell you strange c Id. ib. Tit. 18 wonders to prove it And if any man question the Popes going to Heaven they will assure you how Pope d Id. cap. 8. Tit. 22. § 3. Pius the Second flew up thither not onely cloath'd in white but with his triple Crown on his head too and with suchlike fopperies as used the ancient Monks and Fryars to stuff their Preachments to the terrifying of old women and seducement of the wiser And well might those ignorant times give credit to such fancies when of late days the chief of their Writers such as Baronius Nieremburgius Gononus Dauroultius Waddingus Surius c. fill up their voluminous Pages with such lying trifles And that which made the way more easie for the Popes now to rise to their greatness and over-top all secular jurisdiction was the gross ignorance of the times of which we now speak insomuch that the Ninth Age is ignominiously branded by all parties for the unhappy and ignorant Century in which we can scarce finde any thoughts of good Literature learning being in a manner quite forgot Thus stagger'd the Temporal Jurisdiction the greatest Monarchs themselves either by easiness or bad counsellors neglecting their own Authority and sometimes led by a zealous fear other times by policie or