fier And therfore these Nicodemites that will visit Christ onelye in the darcke and by night and not openly before men the Lord will not acknowledge him before his Heauenly father Such is the ende of fleshly pollicy So that Right honourable onely such ar to be held as wyse in deede which thincke that it lyeth vpoÌ„ them especially beloÌ„geth vnto them to make a constant and opeÌ„ profession of true Religion If then to be wyse be to professe Religion it is worthy to be farther considered how a man may attaine to perfection herein The heathen that euer measured wysedomeÌ„ by ciuill pollicy haue accompted best of those by whose good endeuour their commoÌ„ wealth hath bin most vpheld and strengthned from forain inuasions and that haue employed themselues to breake the force of such as would assault it And so my very good Lord they that haue bin the most worthye members of the Church of God haue euer excelled in this point to shew themselues forward in promoting Religion and suppressing to their power the enemyes therof and especially I say in suppressing the enemyes For the houlding downe of them is the houlding vp of the other So the godly Dauid did both fetch home the arke of God and scourged his ennemyes the Philistines and Iebusites So the zealous king Iosias both restored the Law of the Lord and put downe the wicked Chemerinus that sacrificed vnto Baal So the noble Cyrus deliuered Israell and held BabiloÌ„ captiue Finally so the worthy CoÌ„stantine the sonne to Helen borne in this Island brought peace to the Church set Christian ReligioÌ„ at libertye and also ouerthrew the cruell ennemy and tyraunt MaxeÌ„tius If these godly examples were euer to be followed in any place If this zeale in Religion were euer to be shewed in any age where more then in this our natiue countrye If this perfit wysedome were euer to be wished in any gouernours of whom rather then of the nobility of England when rather then in this our time against the tyrannye of the bishop of Rome For what enemye bath made such greedy spoyle and wrought such broyle in any countrey as he and his hath done continuallye in this little Isle as but for being tedious might be shewed almost in euery kings time since the coÌ„quest as VVilliam Rufus and HeÌ„ry the first both were sore combred w t Pope Vrban the second and Paschal the second through Anselmus bishop of CaÌ„terbury Henry the second much more with Thomas Becket and Pope Alexander the 3. Richard the first complayned greuously of the Popes shamefull polling his Realme and yet could not redresse it K. Iohn suffered a thousand stormes and the Realme was myserablye spoyled and made tributarye to the Pope for euer by the treachery of StepheÌ„ LangtoÌ„ bishop of Canterbury In the time of HeÌ„ry the 3. the Pope ransackt all the Churches in Englande and so hath he continued with the rest vexing by exactioÌ„s excommunications or some such meanes euerye one But because his staffe hath here bin brokeÌ„ he throweÌ„ out of the dores in this our time what meanes doth he dailye leaue vnproued to worke our confusion as sturring rebellioÌ„s mouing treasons seditions and conspiracies within the land cursing and excoÌ„municating both Prince and people nobilitye and commons and yelding vs a praye vnto him whoÌ„ he hath assigned by his bulls to enioye their lyuings and dignities abroad who hourelye wait wheÌ„ eyther by nature it selfe or their violent hand the thred shoulde faile whereon dependeth the staye of our estate Such is the purpose of Antichrist against vs and yet practised with colour of holines So that if euer the bloud of Christ his Church ought euer to be precious in the eyes of men the time is now Now lyeth it vpon euery one to shew himselfe a freind to his countrey by withstanding to his power the common enemye therof and especially those that stande in the hyest place both for their owne sakes because their fall shal be the greater and for charge of Gods people coÌ„mitted vnto them whose bloud he wil require at their hands if they leaue them to the wolfe For the which cause Right honourable I as a member of that bodye which is so assaulted by this Dragon both for the safetye of my selfe and other employed my self a litle to discouer the secret traynes of this deceitful ennemye and because this my enterprise of it selfe lyeth open to the perill of the malicious mouthes of many his partakers so that it shold not be able to beare out it selfe agaiÌ„st their force Therfore necessitye driueth me to seeke for the succour of such a Patrone in whom I might assure my selfe of that perfite wysedome which Lactancius alloweth and find that rescue which this cause requireth that is one who by power should be able by wysedome skilfull and in zeale and affection willing and forward to encounter this aduersarye with anye of his faction whereof because it is not vnknowen to mee by many priuate occasions that your honour hath made proofe that this perfite wysedome is planted in you as it was in Dauid Iosias Cyrus and Constantine bearing on your lefte arme a target of defence for Religion and hauing your right hand armed with a sword to wound the ennemye Antichrist And againe seing it hath not bin so priuate but that this zeale hath shewed it selfe openlye in biddinge battell to the members of Antichrist marchinge against them in fielde and pursuing them out of the countrye I thought your Lorship most meete and I assured my selfe that your honour would be most willing to suffer this my little volume to fight vnder your baÌ„ner in that quarrell against the Pope wherein your honour hath heretofore personallye proceeded If therefore the worthines of the matter herein contayned written by maister Bale maye so excuse the vnworthines of my simple stile in translating it that your honour vouchsafe to accepte the one with the other and beare with the one for the other your curtesye shall the rather confirme all the professours of the Gospel in that vndoubted opinion which they haue iustlye conceyued of you and giue them cause still to glorifye God for such nobility wishing the good encrease and longe prosperitye of such and I hauing my trauaile most happely bestowed shall acknowledge my dutye alwayes bounde vnto your honour for it And thus crauinge pardon of this tedious volume wherewith I haue troubled your Honour ouer longe I leaue you to the Almightye Your honours most humble Iohn Studley The translatour to the Reader IT maye be gentle Reader that when thou shalt in this booke reade many monstrous horrible histories rather to be suppressed theÌ„ put in print thou wilt not thincke well of my trauayle I grauÌ„t that here are manye thinges vttered odious to be heard but yet if any thing offend thy chasâ—e eares blame not me gentle Reader but the importunitye of the Papistes who hath forced me thus to
being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of the Gētiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the groūd and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching ▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the Christiās gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstād The ioyful dayes of
to estimation and many straunge monsters were seene and diuers terrible earthquakes 83. Iohn the 20. IOhn the 20. called Fasanus after that Iohn the 19. was poysoned by magicke coniuringe gat to be Pope For from the foresaid Syluester till Gregorie the seuenth a notorious parson all the Popes were famous enchaunters by theyr charming they sturred vp walking spirits bugs goblins fierye sightes diuers terrible goasts shapes of thinges with howlinges and gro aninges aboute deade mens graues perswadinge the simple people that they were deade mens soules And those spirites beinge coniured vp by priestes deluded men dessemblinge that they were the soules of the dead complayning theyr vntollerable paynes in Purgatorye fyre and craued to be released by the meritorious deedes of theyr frendes kindred bestowinge dirges masses and trentalles on them But to returne to this Pope Iohn hee sayth Platina beinge giuen to idlenesse did nothinge worthye remembraunce He dyed after he had beene Pope .iiii. yeares Anno 1009. 84 Sergius the 4. AFter this Iohn came Sergius to be Pope by the like meanes who also in his Popedome exercised the same sorcerye still by which he obtayned the seate Yet some of the flatterers of Rome do highlye commende him as one that in all his Popedome did no one thinge to be misliked An vnmeete prayse for the prelates of that corrupte time wherein the light of the Gospell was extinct without the which nothinge can be pure and perfite Amonge other praises this is one that he had he was a very pleasāt meerye and familiar companion In his tyme was great pestilence and famine in Italye and in Loraine a fountaine turned into bloud He dyed Anno 1012. 85 Benedict the eight BEnedict the eight was borne in Thusca the sonne of George bishop of Portua brother to Albericus and Iohn was a layman He had a nephew called Theophilactus which was the scholer of Syluester and by the magical charmes of this Theophilact Benedict gatte to be Pope and obtayned the place so longe as Henry Bauarius liued whose ayde defended him because he had bestowed on Henrie the crowne Emperiall But after his death the Cardinals enuyinge him deposed him and set vp another and herevppon arose a cruel debate Yet afterward he compounded for money with his aduersaries and so the vsurping Pope being put out again Benedict is restored w t great pompe He graunted to the foresaid Henrie as Barus testifyeth to make at Bamberg builded by Henry a cathedral Church but with this condition that the same Church should paye to the Pope yearely vnder the name of tribute an hundred markes in siluer with a white horse furnished with trappings He dyed Anno 1023. Peter Damianus cardinall of Hostia sheweth as it is also written by Platina Carion and others that this Benedict or an euill spirit in his likenes appeared rydinge on a blackehorse and came vnto a bishop of his familiar acquaintaunce who amazed at this sight asked him Art not thou Pope Benedict whom wee know to be dead He aunsweared I am the same vnhappy Benedict And howe do you sayd the bishoppe I am cruellye tormented but I may be eased quoth Benedict And therefore go to my brother Iohn who nowe is Pope and bidde him repayre to such a place naming it and take the treasure that is there hiddē and distribute it to the poore And likewise he appeared to Pope Iohn saying I hope to be deliuered and I would to God that Odilo would pray for mee Thus the deuil deluded this age bearing them in hande that the distribution of moneye and not the death of Christe might bringe saluation to soules to the great aduauncement of Purgatorye and masses 86 Iohn the xxi IOhn the xxi brother of the former Benedict and sonne of Gregorie bishop of Portua beinge as yet but a laye man yet likewyse by the enchauntmente of his nephewe Theophilact gat the Popedome as Benno a Cardinall wryteth For the coniuring and charmes of these mē Theophilact Iohn Gratian Laurence Malsitan Brazutus and other like wrought and ruled all thinges at Rome according to the deuils appointmente the aucthor of theyr artes For sayth Benuo Theophilact vsing to do sacrifice to deuils in woods on mountaynes caused women to runne after him whom he with his enchauntments bewitched to loue him And this appeareth to be true by certaine bookes of his which after his death were founde in his chamber This Pope Iohn crowned Conradus Emperour and was by him defended from the violence of the Romaynes who had longe troubled him the Emperour threatned to destroy the Romaynes vtterly if they should practise ought agaīst the Pope and by this meanes he continued Pope xi yere The latine Church doth highly commend him but shewe no good workes that deserued it He commaunded Princes to keepe a solemne kinde of geuinge almes he appoynted priestes to say masse and the people to fast In his time began the superstitious fastes of S. Iohn Baptist S. Laurence Of the counsell of Triburia Anno 1030. began in Fraunce a sect of fasters who said that it was reuealed to them from heauen that to fast Saturday with breade and water was sufficiente for remission of all sinnes if so that they had made a vowe to keepe it But the bishop of Camera did ouerthrowe this blasphemye as derogatorye to the passion of Christe Pope Iohn dyed Anno. 1034. 87. Benedict the ix BEnedict the ninth who before was called Theophilact the sonne of Albericus and nephewe as is said to the former Pope Benedict Pope Iohn as he by coniuring and diuelishe artes did first aduaunce his vnkles so nowe by his magicke he brought to passe that he succeded them He beīg Pope did greatly aduaūce euē next to himselfe as his chiefe and secret counsellers Laurence Iohn Gratiā for that they were notorious coniurers broughte vp with him vnder Pope Syluester He with these companiōs had vsed before he was Pope accordīg to the cursed ceremonyes of their sorcery to call vppon theyr euill spirites in woods and forrests and to bewitch by his cunning any woman that liked him to couet his carnall companye But sayth Benno as on a time he wyth these his mates was comming from the woods to the Church a nomber of birds beinge together a sparowe made a merye and pleasaunt kinde of chirping This Laurence being both captaine coniurer also a southsayer curious in the obseruation of byrds was demaunded what it was that the birde prated The byrde quoth hee calleth other birds to the great gate where a countreymans carte is broken and his meale spilte which was caried in it and therefore she wyth her much chattering biddeth them to come thither to eate and fil themselues Which being harde diuers of them that stoode by ranne in all poast hast to the gate to try the matter and whē they came there they found it so in deede as Laurence had sayd Theyr cunninge in south saying and coniuringe was such
as is before mentioned who came to Rome and besieged it wyth a great armye and after one or two battailes was wyth his companye put to flight The Emperour willinge to ende this sciesme sent to Rome Otho archbishop of Collen with his auctoritye to debate the matter who comming to Rome began with a sharpe oration to reproue the intrusion of Alexander to amplifye the Emperours auctoritye in the election of the Pope But the mischeuous Hildebrand puft vp with his late victory did interrupt Otho and stoutly defended the Popes doing auouching that the election belonged onely to the clergye whereunto Otho the bishop in this case more fauouring the Pope then his maister did easelye giue place and desired to haue a councell at Mantua to appease the matter Wherin was decreed that a man oughte not to heare masse of a priest that laye with a concubine that maryed priests shoulde leese their liuings And yet their children wyth the Popes dispensation might take orders That the Pope should be chosen onely by Cardinals But this Alexander perceyuinge at the length sayth Benno that it was but for a pollicye of Hildebrand that he was made Pope by the Emperours ennemyes to spite him withall began to mislyke of it with himselfe and on a time as he was preaching to the people he tolde them that he would not any longer enioye the Apostolicall seate without the Emperours good will and professed opeÌ„ly that he would send letters to the Emperour for the same purpose Hildebrand hearinge this was forthwith so enraged that presentlye he began to mumble curse and fret and could scant keepe his hand from the Pope till masse were done Masse beinge done he toke the Pope and wyth a troupe of armed souldiours he led him into his chamber where with his fistes he buffeted and bepomelled him shamefullye rating and taunting him wyth rayling and reuiling wordes because he would go aboute to seeke the Emperours fauour And from that time forwarde Hildebrand because he saw him so simple allowed him but fiue shillinges a daye to spende and the rest of the reuenues he retayned to himselfe and casting Alexander into prison he purloyned a great masse of money Alexander beinge thus in the miserable bondage of Hildebrand in an eueninge dyed God knoweth whereof and the same houre Hildebrand was enstalled Pope by his garrison of souldiours without consente of the people or clergye because he feared that if he had delayed it another shoulde haue bene chosen None of the Cardinals subscribed to his election vnto the which when the abbot of Cassia came Brother quoth Hildebrand ye haue lingred ouer longe you quoth the abbot haue hied you ouer fast who ere your maister the Pope be yet buryed haue vsurped his place contrarye to the Canons Hildebrand being thus chosen how he liued howe he draue the Cardinals from him howe he tormented them miserablye how he poysoned the world w t heresyes how often he committed periurye howe great many conspiracyes he raysed it is harde for manye men to vtter But most of all the bloud of many ChristiaÌ„s which by him and his meanes haue beene miserablye shedde do crye oute vengeaunce on him Thus and much more doth Benno the Cardinall write of him 98. Gregorie the seuenth GRegorie the seuenth was first called Hildebrand borne in Hetruria a notable coÌ„iurer and great Magician he gat to be Pope by his saluage sorcerye bloudy meanes He forsaking the abbey wher he was monke gat to one Laurence an archpriest of whom he learned his notorious enchauntments which the sayd Laurence had learned of Pope Syluester the seconde There was greate familiaritye betweene this Laurence Theophylact Iohn Gratian Hildebrand being archpriests or Cardinals of Rome wherby this Hildebrand by his subtiltye bare all the swaye w t Theophylact while he was bishop vnder the name of Benedict the ninth and so he coÌ„tinued in his factious dealing in al other Popes times till he came to the place himselfe Benno Cardinall wryteth of him that when hee listed hee would caste of his sleeues and skip and daunce in forme of sparkles or flames of fyer and with these myracles he deluded the eyes of the simple people bearing them in hande it was a signe of his greate holinesse And sayth Benno because the deuill could not openlye persecute Christians by Pagans he practised craftelye to ouerthrowe the name of Christe by this counterfaite monke vnder the colour of religion Diuers auctors do write that this Hildebrand or hellybrand rather by the helpe of his companioÌ„ Gerardê° Brazutus poysoned vi or vii Popes so to open himselfe a gap to come to be Pope and yet hee in these broyles behaued himselfe so subtellye that no man could charge him therewithall that it was rather thought he sought to shonne the Popeship And yet when in name he was not Pope yet was he the onely instrument and contriuer of all their doings and deuises and began to worke by litle and litle vnder other which he brought to perfectioÌ„ in his owne time Under coulour of religion and godlines he practized all treachery and mischiefe He accused Pope Alexander his maister because he had craued the Emperours assistauÌ„ce against his aduersaries His accusatioÌ„ was this that he was vnmeete to be Pope according to the Canons who coÌ„trary to the Canons had craued ayde of a prophane Prince cast him into prison where he wrought his death forthwith ere he was buryed vsurped his place He imparted his treasure sayth Benno to Brazutus and to a certaine Iewe that were his companions and by theyr meanes he purchased the voyces of diuers who ere that Alexander was buryed cryed out amayne Peter the Apostle hath chosen Hildebrand to be Pope so they set him in the Popes throne callinge him Gregorie the seuenth And this was done in the thousand yeare after the destruction of Hierusalem in the which yeare the Popes began to challenge take vppon them the name office and power of Christe for it was proclaymed at the enstalling of this Gregorie that he was created the true vicar of Christ Gregorie applyed vnto himselfe those thinges that are spoken in the 7. Psalme of Christe Hee altered the lawes of God for where the Scripture liceÌ„ceth al estates to marrye he barred the clergye therof forcing theÌ„ to vow single life aboue their abilitye Now was the Scripture in him fulfilled prophesyinge of the warre of Gog and Magog which this Gregorie broched so perillouslye to all Christendome as the like neuer happened which his companion Vrban the second did execute Gregorie at the first entrye to his Popeship began to vrge such canons as he had in his auncestours time procured against priestes mariage and the bestowinge of benefices by temporall men which hee did not of purpose to take away the abuse of byinge and sellinge of ecclesiastical lyuings but with a fayre showe to abridge Princes and other estates of their preeminence in that matter whereby
he might binde all the bishops and clergye to be more subiecte to Rome who now depended more on their Princes because of the bestowīg of the lyuings wherby the Popes strength encreased the tēporal Princes were weakened and neglected of their clergye And the better to atchieue his purpose because Henry the Emperour was chiefe of temporall Princes he attempted it first againste him for this matter he sommoned a councell at Rome wherto the Emperour could haue no regarde because of his warlike affayres then presente And yet this matter so delighted the Pope that for compassing it he spared neyther treason nor murther but in manye places he procured ciuill warre sedition with al kinde of mischiefe that might be For first seekinge the Emperours death he attēpted it diuers wayes as thus amonge other euen in the Church The Emperour saith Benno vsed to go to prayers to S. Maryes Church in Auentine hill Hildebrand therefore hauinge his false espyes caused the place to be wel noted where the Emperour vsed to kneele or sit in the Church all seruice time hyred one to go and laye certaine great stones secretelye in the roofe of the Church righte ouer the same place in such sort as he might throwe them downe vppon the Emperours head and so slaye him which as this fellowe went aboute and was busye wyth a great stone the waighte thereof ouerwhelmed him so as he fell downe to the pauement and the stone vppon him which brused him so as he dyed of that which hee had prouided to slaye the Emperour withall This thinge being knowen the Romaynes bound his heeles to a roape and drewe the dead carkasse through Rome streats three dayes together for an example Againe saith Benno Iohn bishoppe of Portua who was of Hildebrands priuye councell said in his preachinge before the people clergye in S. Peters Church what meaned Hildebrand and we to do this thīg wherby we should be burned aliue meaninge that violence which they had vsed towarde the Sacrament of Christes bodye Because Hildebrand demaunding of it as the heathen vsed to do of their idols what successe he shoulde haue against the Emperour because the Sacrament spake not and gaue him no aunsweare he threw it into the fyre maugre all the Cardinals that were about him and said to the Sacrament most blasphemouslye Could the idoll Gods of the heathens giue them aunswere of theyr successe and can not thou tell mee He excommunicated the Emperour being a cōformable Prince withoute lawfull accusation without canonicall citacion or iudicial order and caused his peeres to reuolt frō him and soughte by secrete traytors to murther him Also hee caused the bishops to sweare them selues vtter ennemies against him wresting wringinge places of the Scripture to make a shew to maintaine his purpose But sayth Benno as sone as he roose vp from his chayre being newly framed of wood by Gods workinge it claue in peeces was rente terriblye into diuers partes When he sawe that his secrete treasons toke not effect he brast out into open outrage and enmitye he excommunicated the Emperour and discharged all his subiectes of theyr allegeaūce gaue his crowne vnto Rodolpho duke of Sueuia which he sent to him with this poesye Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodolpho This moued the Emperour very sore in so much that hee stripped himselfe out of his royall roabes and puttinge on wollen apparell came with his wyfe and his sonne a litle child in the depth of winter a cruel and perillous iourneye to Canusius and stoode barefooted at the gates of the Citie fasting from morning to night suing humblye for pardō at Hildebrands hand and for three dayes suffered with lamētable miserye to be laughed at and flowted by Hildebrand amonge his paragons and monkes He desired often to be let in to come to the Pope but hee was still aunswered for three dayes together that the Pope was not yet at leasure to speake with him The good and gentle Emperour toke it paciently to be thus delayed and because he could not be let into the Citye he abode in the suburbes w t his great inconuenience for the frost was verye extreame more then ordinarye and yet he endured it continuallye 3. dayes least by taking his ease he should haue offended my Lorde bishops grace and still he sued to be pardoned At the length the fourth daye by the intercession of the Countesse Mathilda who for loue not for honesty was in fauour with the Pope the abbot of Cluny and Adelaus Earle of Sauoy he was admitted to come in And thoughe hee craued pardon on his knees offered vp his Crowne yet would the Pope neither pardon him nor absolue him vnlesse hee woulde promise that accordinge to the Popes appointment he would purge him of his fault in the councel with other vnlawfull conditions All which he promised and confirmed with hand seale and yet was not restored to his estate This being knowen the Princes Lordes of Italye were highlye offended that the Emperour Henry in such maner with so great dishonour and so shamefullye had submitted himselfe to recouer the fauoure of this Hildebrand who by treachery purloyned the Popedome and defiled all thinges with slaughter and harlotrye But the Pope and his Cardinals beinge puffed vp with this that they had brought the Emperour to this seruile yoake began to attempt further matters but Henry reuēged this dishonour sone after by the sworde and after sharpe battelles he ouercame Rodolpho who hauinge his hand cutte of commaunded to bring vnto him the bishops and auctors of his rebellion before whom he sayde thus hauing his hand layde before them I am quoth he iustye plagued lo this is the hand wherewith I pleighted my allegeaunce to my soueraigne Lord Henry and by your enticements I haue often time fought against him to my losse and falsifyed my fayth and therefore haue receyued the rewarde due to my periurye Consider therefore whether ye haue guided me righte or no Go ye therefore and stand to your first fayth vowed to your king for I must go to my father this being said he dyed After his death at the Popes commaundement they set vp another to be Emperour one Harman a Saxō County of Lucelburg who while he was assaulting a certaine Castell in Germanye was slaine by a certaine great stone which a woman hurled downe vpon him And yet the Popes malyce ceased not but he raysed vp a thirde traytour againste the Emperour euē his kinsmā Egbertus a Marquesse who also being taken in a Mill by the Emperours frends was miserably slaine In the meane time the Pope did solace himselfe with the companye of Mathilda who forsaking her husbande Azon Marquesse of Esta kept continually by the Popes deare side whereby she was called S. Peters doughter and so of one ieast another sprāg for as Lambert Hirswaldēsis saith the talke was how S. Peters doughter liued in secret incest w t S Peters heyre
Pope that bare such rough sway ouer the Romaynes sayth Crantzius He had no learning but coueted to encrease the pompe of his estate and therfore deuised a lawe whereby he purloyned the soueraintye of the world that is that it should not be lawfull for anye of the clergye to enter on a benefice which he shoulde obtaine vnlesse he payed the first fruites to the Apostolicall excheaker or the Popes Chamber He put downe the Banderesians a noble estate amonge the Romaynes also he compelled the Romaynes by a cruell lawe to fetch home their forreine Senatour Malatesta of Pisauria He strengthened the Citye for his owne purpose with fortresses and bulwarkes but making warres with the Uicountes he loste Bononie He caused Ladislaus a yong gentleman sonne to Charles king of Naples to be Crowned kinge in his fathers Realme by the Cardinall of Florence whereupon Sigismunde kinge of Hungary thinkinge himselfe greatlye iniuried greate warres ensued to the myserable slaughter of Thousands burning and spoyling of Cittyes townes monasteryes castels in Hungarye So great a thing it is to dispossesse a kinge Boniface also canonized S. Brigit borne in Sweueland He gaue to his cosens and kinred the aduauntage and commoditye of the Iubelye He offended and sinned much in parcialitye and because he subscribed graūted certaine abhominable indulgences and pardōs he ran into great infamye He kept the Iubelye at Rome Anno 1400. where manye straungers were robbed and greate Ladyes rauished by the pezantes of the Popes court Finallye Anno 1404. he dyed of the collicke and stone The Summer before that Boniface dyed there happened horrible tempestes boisterous winds hayle thonder lightninges And in the night a certaine house new builded by Boniface of square stone very costlye wherein for the time he vsed to blesse the people had the roofe of it blowen downe by the violence of the storme and the timber hurled to the earth Also the strong pinacles of Angell castle were throwne to the grounde with much other mischiefe and ruine Also another night appeared such terrible and vehements lightning and thonder all night long that all men beinge in a desperate feare thought surely the Citye woulde haue beene ouerwhelmed withal Another time also there was in Rome an earthquake which though it did no hurt yet it amazed al men Theodoricus lib. 2. cap. 33. This Pope rooted out a superstitious sect called Albes and burnt a priest of them who came with a great traine of that sect both men and women downe from the Alpes into Italy for Boniface seing him come thus with his companye all in white for that which cause they were called Albes was afraid as some write least his Popeship should be taken from him by the said priest But some sayth Platina say that the man did purpose no harme but that the Pope did imagine this to put away the rumour that went how the priest was for spite and mallice taken and put to death 146. Benedict the xiij BEnedict the xiii was a Catalan borne and called Peter of the Moone this mā euen in the time of the sciesme duringe was chosen Pope to succede Clement by those Cardinals which continued at Auenio This fellow while he was but Peter of the Moone not Benedict Pope of Rome did dispute against the auctoritye of the Pope and of his clergye and said that it was not to be feared and for this his true saying notwithstāding he became Pope yet afterward he was and is still condemned by his successours for an hereticke While he was but Cardinall being sente by Pope Clement Embassadour to Paris and other places he vsed often to boast that if he might be chosen to succede Clement he would spare no meanes to procure that this longe sciesme mighte cease And therefore the Cardinals abused with his great protestations did chose him in deede to succeede the other but before the election they sware all and he among them that whosoeuer shoulde be chosen Pope should be cōtent at any time to resigne giue it vp againe if the Cardinals thinkinge it meete would require it But afterward whē it came to tryal he defying his oath would not yeld one iote no though the Cardinals diuers Princes did exhorte him to it and chargde him with his oath and councels conclude against him that he was no Pope But certaine estates of Fraunce moued with his troublesome obstinacy did set vpon him by force of armes toke him priner and kepte him so three yeares and yet could not make him giue ouer but that he would first dye ere he would deminishe his dignitye so that they being wearye of him deliuered him againe at the end of the three yeares By his lawes it appeareth that being Pope he woulde that euen the wronge sentence of condemnation vttered by him and his sonnes shoulde be feared Hee abode in his place sayth Crantzius till the time of the councell of Constance and he swarued much in the auctorizinge of it finally he began to be hardned being cast of in that coūcell He continued in his obstinacye with his Cardinals who also after his death endeuoured to continue and maintaine this strife by putting vp another to be Pope but they were forbidden Amonge other thinges this Pope gaue to the kinge of Fraunce Charles the vi the tenthes of the Church partly to hyre the kinge to maintaine him in his quarel partly that he might take part of this great lucre and sayth Theodoricus he sawe it stoode him vpon He at length followed Boniface his practise in bestowing benefices geuing dispensatiōs tolleratiōs exemptiōs totquots pardōs and such like enormityes according to the saying If thou sawest a theefe run thou did dest run vvith him This he did to allure men from the obedience of Boniface to himselfe the better to maintaine his quarrel against him Whē this Pope Benedict abode plāted himselfe stronglye in his countrye and auouched that he himselfe was the true vicar of Christe he was shamefullye reproued by the auctoritye of the said general councell And yet he sommoned and helde a Synode in Perpinian and created manye Cardinals At the length he dyinge at Paeniscula Anno 1424. commaunded these his Cardinals to choose another in his steede forthwith and they forthwith choose Giles Munyos canon of Barchynony calling him Clement the eight who out of hand at the motion of kinge Olphonsus did both create newe Cardinals and toke vppon him to do those thinges that appertayned to the Pope But when Pope Martin the fift came in fauoure with kinge Olphōsus this Giles at his commaundement yelded vppe all the righte and estate of the Popedome being appointed bishop of Maiory and in like maner they whom hee had made Cardinals did likewyse giue ouer their Cardinalship 147. Innocent the seuenth INnocent the seuenth was borne at Sulmo called Cosmarus of Peruse he being Cardinal of the holy Crosse while all Italye was in an vprore he was made Pope to
shall I trust proceede from vs such vnmeasurable aboundance of corrupt fruite as hath done from those that are the best the most pure and perfits on theyr side euen in those who they saye cannot erre that are the most holye vicars of Christe vpon earth namelye the holye fathers Popes bishops of Rome Whose notorious villanyes from time to time swelled to the full and perfite measure of iniquitye and so farre runne beyond our haynous sinnes that supposing they dyed as they liued I may bouldly warrant them this preferment that if an hundreth of the rankest helhounds that euer raigned vpon the earth might be mustred out of hell fourescore and nineteene of them should be Popes perhaps for the last hundred place eyther VVolsey or some other Cardinall would scuffle in among them Whereof that thou mayest the better iudge gentle Reader I do here giue thee in this booke a little taste of theyr vnsauorye liues I haue set them all forth here in one Pageante in such order as they played theyr Papall partes both Tragicall and Comicall for these Thousand yeares vpon this worldly stage wherein I haue chosen rather to translate them as they were gathered in Latin by maister Bale most faithfullye then to follow the parcial and flattering storye of Platina In some places also I haue added diuers thinges out of sondrye authors not as thoughe I desired to make perfite in all pointes that which maister Bale omitted but because in conferringe his alleaging of storyes I found manye thinges that without anye combraunce might be added and were worth the mentioning especiallye in the sixt booke of this historye out of one Theodoricus of Nyem Secretarye to Pope Vrban the sixt and wrote that which he sawe of that myserable and longe sciesme that set all the world together by the cares the space of xxxix yeares betweene Vrban the sixte Clement the seuenth Boniface the ix Benedict the xiii otherwyse called Iohn Moone and other which booke I am sure maister Bale neuer saw for he would neuer haue omitted such notable and straunge matters as are contayned in it and are here partlye touched by mee Also for so much as these prelates do falsely colour al their praÌ„cks vnder the authoritye of S. Peters name therfore I haue somwhat at large in the beginning shewed how that thoughe they would haue him to play the first part in this Pageant yet he is none of their coÌ„pany But because of the sodaine finishing of this worke in the printers hande I am forced in this Preface to leaue out many matters which I thought to haue vttered which I could neuer finde conueniente leasure to be setled in one certaine place in suche wyse as I might apply my selfe to write that which I purposed since this was finished and came to the hande of the Printer At this time therefore this onelye I haue to request of thee gentle Reader till God shal giue me better oportunitye to finishe that order which I purposed in publishing this booke to marke as thou readest how the manner of these Prelates do agree to the description of Antichrist in the Reuelation as I once purposed to haue noted vnto thee Marke whether we that at this daye do professe the Gospel and are so much noted of their freinds to transgresse haynouslye in our conuersation are to be compared with these holye Popes in anye kinde of enormitye For what villanye is it whereof thou shalt not finde such monstrous examples among them as the earth neuer els bread the like It were tedious for mee here to drawe into tables the examples of their vnsaciable couetousnes their bribery polling pilfringe robbing and ryfling vntollerable pride equal with the ambition of Lucifer their vaine and vnspeakable pompe theyr whoredome and rauishinge of diuers their incest with their owne sisters doughters their Sodomityes treasoÌ„s practised against all Princes on the earth the rebellions seditions bloudshed warres conspiracyes murtherings factions sciesmes braules contentions amonge them selues poysoninge Princes themselues one another euen in mynistring the Sacramentes theyr sorcerye charmes coniurings familiaritye with deuils and honouring of euill spirites their abusing of Princes most slauishlye theyr geuing transporting selling setting vp and deposinge of all estates Empyres and kingdomes theyr licensing of all villanye as murthering incest Sodomitrye periurye blasphemye and an hundred such like moste detestable enormityes whereof thou shalt haue plenty eueÌ„ to the loathing of thy stomacke Which when thou seest then iudge betweene oure fruites and theirs then learne to discerne who is that whore of Babilon the woman arayed in Purple and rose colour and decked wyth gould precious stones and pearles hauing the cup of gould in her hand full of abhomination and filthines Note what Citye is like to be that BabiloÌ„ built on seuen hilles bearing rule ouer the Nations of the earth What Citye is like to be that Babilon that is become the habitacion of deuils the hole of all foule spirites and a cage of all vncleane and hatefull byrdes Note wyth whom the kinges of the earth haue coÌ„mitted fornication and with the aboundance of whose pleasures the marchauntes of the earth are become riche Note who it is that hath bin dronken wyth the bloude of saintes if by these thou finde that these tokens of Antichrist be in these bishops of Rome then surelye saye thoughe wee wretched sinners be as euill as they make vs in deede which they speake so much of yet their holy fathers are farre worse which the Papist wyll not confesse Then saye that surelye Rome is Babilon and the Pope Antichriste and blame not mee for detectinge anye his loathsome villanyes but obeye the voyce of the Lord against thâ—s Babilon saying Come avvaye from her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues c. but revvard her as she hath revvarded you And giue her double according to her vvorkes Finallye let vs all saye Alleluya Saluation Glorye Honour and povver be ascribed vnto the Lorde oure GOD for true and righteous are his Iudgements for he hath iudged the great vvhore vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith her fornication c. Alleluya Farewell TO THE MOST VVORthie and learned men maister Simond Sulcer Henry Bullenger Iohn Caluin Philip Melancthon â–ª most faithful ministers of Christe Iohn Bale wisheth grace and euerlastinge peace in Christe IESVS ALthoughe I sawe that my former edition of the liues of the Romaine bishops ioyned to my booke called the Regester of Englishe writers were safely planted vnder the protection of the most noble Electour Lorde Henry Otho Countie Palatine Yet notwithstandinge I perceiued that this Edition being taken and seperated froÌ„ the greater being drawne into an abridgemente and enriched wyth such additions as are not to be misliked seing it is not able sufficientlye to beare oute it selfe neither by his owne force nor the credite of the wryter it should neede be succoured
and maintayned by some other And therefore I thoughte it good in no wyse to turne it out rashlye naked vnarmed and vnprouided of rescue neither into the handes of freinde nor foe For such a meete Patrone was to be sought for who by his wit doctrine and learning should be able to maintaine a desperate cause and receiue into his tuition as it were an Orphane counted giltye and condemned by the preiudicate opinion of all men least it being desolate and berefte of all good mens ayde hauing no tutour left vnto it should together with his father haue his dying daye After I had longe debated this with with my selfe and had vewed all men rounde about with an especial and diligent care you iiii most excellent prelates of the Church came first to my remeÌ„brance in whose ayde I might safely repose my selfe that haue ofteÌ„times traueiled in this matter by longe experience haue found out and beaten downe the assaultes and strokes of oure aduersaryes So that the former booke ioyned with our historye sufficieÌ„tly fortifyed by the might of the most valiaunt Prince this booke beinge perused with my latter diligence trustinge vppon the learning and iudgemente of such men maye freelye wyth cheerefull countenaunce not be afrayde to shewe it selfe amonge the middest of his ennemyes Uerelye I am not ignoraunt that anye one of you is man good enoughe to encounter any in this deuine combate And I freelye confesse that this my litle worke is vnworthy to be dedicated euen vnto anye one of you yet notwithstanding I do not consider what you are able to do but what I ought to do Nether do I esteeme the price of the gift but I regard the most feruent zeale towards you all And though I imbrace you one after another yet I desire to pleasure you all w t this onelye gift because I haue no other and to declare the good will that I beare vnto you by this onely worke Last of all whom one Religion one Fayth one Lord one Baptisme do ioyne what hindreth vs that one Epistle maye not couple vs together wherefore I trust that you wil accept as you oughte and as you were accustomed my boldnes and presumption if there be anye which is sprong through an opinion of your curtesye not rysen of any euill will But that you maye vnderstande the matter which I request desire to be defended and cherished if you seperate your minds for a certaine season froÌ„ your graue studyes sacred busines and giue diligeÌ„t eare to heare that which I haue here purposed to declare the gift which I bestow vpon you is Papall and Pontificall And I haue declared the historye from the beginning to the endinge shewed their beginnings the race and the whole Tragedye of their gouernment deuiding the state of ther liues into three bookes The first contayneth the auncient and holy fathers not decked w t a crogier or a tripled Miter but such as were dilligent workers in adorninge the Lords Uyneyarde euen vnto Siluester from the holye Apostles which w t the great daunger of their life did faithfully labour in planting and setting forth the worde of God These maye worthelye be called the starres remayning on the right hand of Christe Apocal. 1. The second contayneth the Mitred Archbishops Patriarckes from Siluester the first vnto Boniface the third who althoughe they were not the wickedst and corruptest yet with their traditions and humaine constitutions haue made a plaine waye to Antichriste These be the starres that fell to the earth Apocal. 6. The third mentioneth the whole rablement of the Popes from Boniface the third to Paule the fourth the which being the Uicar of SathaÌ„ is said to haue auctoritye as yet at Rome These were Antichristes not departinge from the steps of their fathers in all kinde of pryde tyrannye lying and filthines these are the starres trulye as it is described in the 9. Chapter of the Apocalips which fell to the earth This thirde part is deuided into fiue neither haue we applyed them vnaptlye to the Reuelation of S. Iohn Boniface before mentioned shal possesse the first place as he deserued to Ioane the eight an harlot in the which part there are coÌ„tayned 40. Popes called them the kingdome of the great beast sometime named Sodoma sometime Aegiptus Apo. 11. From Ioane vnto Siluester the deuilish Magician that vowed gaue himselfe vnto Sathan that hee might obtaine the Popedome the kingdome of the greate harlot which sitteth on the beast doth comprehend 40. Popes Apocal. 17. From Siluester which is in the 3. place vnto Innocentius the fourth the most wicked ennemye of our Sauiour Christe who did establishe fasten the foure orders of the begging monkes which were newlye made to the intent that they might stoutlye and manfullye fight for the maintayning of the kingdome of Antichrist signifyeth the kingdome of the Dragon which is the diuill and SathaÌ„ Apocal. 20. And in this part were 40. Popes placed From this Innocentius the second that dreadfull warriour and the moste cruell destroyer of Christian men are nombred 40 Popes And this is the kingdome of the Locustes whâ—ch were vnder the gouernmente of Abadon the whâ—ch signifyeth a destroyer Apocal. 9. Then Iulius in the ende of his raigne throwinge the keyes of S. Peter into the riuer of Tiber being girded with a rusty sworde of Paule did fight against the French kinge and other Christians And the fift parte contayneth from this Iulius vnto the ende of the raigne of Paule the fourth 8. Popes and al the times of their successours vnto the iudgement of Christe And the fall of the kingdome of the Pope shal be withoute power or handes with the onely word of God and breath of the deuine spâ—rite 2. Thessal 2. To conclude I haue disposed the whole historye in such sort that I haue compared all the Romaine bishops to the 4. horses in the Reuelation of S. Iohn The godlye and auncient fathers to the white horse The archbishops and the Patriarckes to the red The Popes the Antichristes vnto Siluester the seconde to the blacke and from him to Iulius the seconde and all his companye of monkes fryers and massemongers that which with al their power strength did defend the Popes kingdome I haue coÌ„pared to the pale horse I haue propouÌ„ded this marke and methode in my booke in the which I haue chalenged nothing to my selfe but my labour in gathering describing destributiÌ„g For I knowe that a great part of this worke hath bin set forth by others as by Damasus Carsulanus Platina Stella Vuicelius and others but ofteÌ„times dissemblingly and obscurelye somtimes falsly to please mens eares To conclude verye manye most dilligent faithfull wryters of our time whom when I had perused with continuall reading I gathered togither the dispersed and disagreeing members to one body that those thinges which were scattered abroade in many places and were therefore the harder to be founde out of