was crowned by some of the Cardinals because Pope Clement the V. hauing left the Citie was remoued into France and kept his Court at Auinion When the Cardinals required the oath of him which they said was to bee giuen to the Pope hee refused it and would not haue any such kind of oath to be thereby bound to the Pope vpon notice hereof the Pope to inlarge his owne power expounded that generall forme of the oath at large and annexed it to the rest of his decrees now extant For he himselfe also preferred many lawes which retaine their name from him and are called the Clementines The knights of the Temple supprest about 1308. Now also those Knights called the Templars being very puissant were by the same violence put to death and made away in diuers places Philip the Faire King of France by the Popes permission seized vpon a great part of their Reuenues Soone after the name and memorie of them was condemned and by the French nationall Synod at Vienna their lands were giuen to those called the Knights of the Rhodes At this time also the Vniuersitie of Orleans was founded by King Philip and Pope Clements authoritie After the Emperour Henries t He was poisoned by a Monk with a cup of Wine in the Communion decease and buriall at Pisa being poisoned as it was strongly suspected there followed most bitter contentions about the election for Fredericke Archduke of Austria the Emperour Alberts sonne Lewis 1314 an 32. m. 11. d. 24. Fredericke of Austria opposeth him and is elected Emperour also and Lewis Duke of Bauaria were competitors for the Empire The Archbishop of Mentz crowned Lewis at Aix and the Archbishop of Cullen Fredericke at Bena and Pope Iohn the XXIII proclaimed them both Emperours but of the two was more inclined to Fredericke which proclamation increased the flame of discord Forces being mustered vpon both sides a sharpe battell was fought at Esling a towne in Sueuia but in a manner with equall fortune and soone after another in Bauaria with stronger forces Fredericke the other Emperour taken prisoner 1323. in which the Archduke Fredericke was taken prisoner losing a good part of his Armie afterwards he was see at libertie and returning home died within a few yeeres after Lewis the Emperour hauing thus compast the Empire marches downe into Italie in despight of the Pope constitutes Gouernors ouer al the Cities free-burroughes and is crowned at Millaine by the Archbishop there from whence hauing sent his Ambassadours to the Pope at Auinion againe and againe about his solemne inauguration and there failing he goes to Rome after he had setled the affaires of Millaine At Rome hee was entertained with exceeding great ioy and crowned by one or two of the Cardinals but the Pope ingeminating his excommunication he by the aduise of his Nobles creates another Pope and after this fashion continued these most deadly flames of hatred betwixt them not without most scandalous criminations cast forth on both sides The French Annall-writers report that Charles the Faire King Philips sonne was the first that granted Pope Iohn Tenths of Ecclesiasticall goods in France and shared the prey betwixt themselues but the Popes chiefe aime in procuring this was to furnish himselfe with money against the Emperour After the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope dies and his successor Benedict the XII both excommunicated and depriued him of his dignitie Whereupon the Emperour conuening the Princes at Franckeford in a solemne speech complaines of the Popes iniuries explaines the reasons of his allegiance produces and declares the ancient lawes of the Empire withall shewing that the Bishop of Rome had nothing to doe with the Common-wealth of the Empire For he who is elected by the Princes consent is truely Emperour without any assent consent or consecration from the Pope all that being but a ceremonie which by little and little crept vp and now is growne too high to the great dishonour and indammagement of the Empire After this Pope Benedict dying Clement the VI. succeeded one farre more violent then any before him who in vehement manner propounded certaine ignominious conditions vpon refusall whereof hee grew a great deale more furious sharpely admonishing the Princes to choose another Emperour within a certaine time by him limited which if they would not dae hee would take care that the Church should not want a Patrone and Aduocate any longer Whilest the Common-wealth was thus tossed the Emperour Lewis departed this life and Charles King Iohn his sonne Henry the VII his Nephew was elected King of Bohemia A little before this began the occasion of that cruell war betwixt the French and English When Charles the Faire King of France dying without issue male which was in the yeere 1327. Edward king of England of that name the III. being sonne to Isabel King Charles his sister challenged the Kingdome as due to him but the Estates of France which are called the Peeres set the crowne vpon Philip of Valeis cozen germane to the deceased King Charles excluding not onely King Edward the sisters sonne but also King Charles his posthume daughter alledging that the inheritance of that kingdom did in no wise appertaine to daughters hereupon insued that bloody warre scarce yet quenched The beginning of the Emperour Charles the IIII. Charles the IIII. 1346. an 32. m. 7. d. 14. his raigne was troublesome and the Imperiall dignitie was offred to Edward the third King of England but hee as it was reported refused it being hindered by the French wars After the quenching of sundry combustions in Germany the Emperour Charles goes downe into Italie and by consent of Pope Innocent the VI. then being in France is crowned at Rome by some Cardinals vpon condition not to stay any longer either at Rome or in Italie Hee returnes to Millaine and granted the office of perpetuall Vice-Emperour for Lombardie to the house of the Viscounts who then bore great sway in Millaine in respect of which honour they gaue him an huge masse of money and not they onely but others also vpon whom hee had bestowed any thing which act much extenuated the Emperours authority in that Country After his returne out of Italie he summoned a Diet of the Princes and there preferred that decree of the Empire called the t Containing the lawes and rites to be obserued in the election of the Emp as also the dignitie and office of each Elector and other Princes and Nobles Golden bull lastly he assignes his sonne Wenceslaus his successor in the Empire which as it is wriâ—ten he procured with great difficultie though with large rewards and not long after died In his raigne Iohn King of France Philip of Valois his sonne together with his yongest sonne Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundie sirnamed the Stout or the Bold was in pitcht field neere Poictiers taken prisoner by the English who were then in possession of a good part of Aquitaine and the
Citie of Burdeaux Many of the prime Nobilitie were slaine in that battell The Annall-Writers record that the English were not aboue 7000. when the French made against them with many forces about 60000 strong This was in the yeere 1356. the XII of the Kalends of October The King was carried prisoner into England and died the feuenth yeere after Wencestaus being as historie speakes of him both by nature and course of life Wenceslaus 1379 an 2. m. 5. d. 28. very vicious quite neglected the Common-wealth Hee for a summe of money created Iohn Galeas of the house of the Viscounts a man both couetous and cruell Duke of Millaine and Lombardie In his raigne Iagello Duke of Lithuania or Luten was after King Lewis his death created King of Polonia by consent of the Nobles This King was great Grandfather to Sigismund the moderne King there and was the first that receiued Baptisme changing his name to Vladislaus Sigismund King of Hungarie was ouerthrowne in battell at Nieopolis by Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes the third of the kalends of October Charls the VI. K. of France sent a goodly troope of horse for aid into Hungarie vnder conduct of Iohn sonne of Philip the bold Duke of Burgundie which Iohn was taken in that battell and carried prisoner to the Turke where he stood at the next doore to death but yet escaped which as the French Writers relate happened thus There was a certaine Physiognomer one of that packe that professe to know the dispositions and natures of men by their body eyes countenance and face familiar with Baiazet who viewing the prisoner willed and perswaded the Emperour to dismisse him in safetie For hee should bee the man that after his returne home should kindle a most violent combustion which should set a good part either of Europe or of the Christian world on fire Vpon this perswasion the Turke dismisses him and the rest of the Nobilitie that were prisoners after they had paid 20000. crownes for their ransome After his returne into France hee began to quarrell with Lewis Duke of Orleans the Kings brother For he by reason of the Kings sicknesse which was in a manner desperate desired to gouerne the Common-wealth being nearest of kindred to the king But the Duke of Burgundie for that he was cousin-germane to the King and elder then the other challenged the gouernment his Father Philip being dead rather to belong to him This sore euery day more and more festering at length the Duke of Orleans was murthered in Paris in the night time as hee was going home from supper The murtherers were sent priuily by the Duke of Burgundie who was so farre from denying the fact that he maintained it This was in the yeere 1407. the ninth of the kalends of December The XII yeare following the Duke of Burgundy comming to a place appointed about a pacification in this cause was entrapped by treachery and murthered by certaine of the Duke of Orleans his friends that had sworne his death Charles the Dolphin the Kings sonne who was iudge in that controuersie being present at the fact This is the head-spring of the warre betwixt those two houses which hath so often broke forth euer since that time till within our memory Wenceslaus by reason of his negligence growne into contempt Robert 14â—0 an 9 m 8. d. 22. the Princes depriue him of the gouernment and elect Robert Duke of Bauaria Count Palatine He presently applied himselfe about reformation of Wenceslaus his misgouernment and would not ratifie the grant made by him to Iohn Galeas but contriued a new how to reduce Lombardy into the Imperiall dominions for which and other such like causes marching downe into Italy the said Galeas hindered and repelled him The State of Italy was in those times very troublesome cheifly by the Emperour Charles and Wenceslaus their default being too indulgent ouer that Nation For ouer and besides Galeas lately made Duke of Millaine The Venetians Florentines Genowaies made war vpon their neighbours and all right was swayed by the sword and violence Furthermore by reason of the Popes continuall absence nothing but factions and those dangerous ones swarmed at Rome Then also Galeas D. of Millaine made warre vpon the Florentines who to worke their owne reuenge solicite the Emperor by large proffers to march downe againe into Italy but when the Emperor was come to Padua Hee at request of the Venetians who likewise hated Galâ—â—a and withall perceiuing that their prouision was not answerable to their great promises retires into Germanie casting off all care of Italy whose estate afterwards grew more weake by its owne ciuill broyles To the Emperour Robert Sigismund 14â—â— an 26. m. 8. Sigismund the Emperour Wencestâ—us his brother King of Hungary succeeds At this time there were three Popes Iohn the XXXIII Gregory the XII and Benedict the XIII insomuch as by their factions almost all the Prouinces of Europe were at oddes For there was not one publike Councel at any time since Innocent the III. as their bookes testifie being 200. yeares and the state of the Clergie was most corrupt a kinde of bottomlesse sincke of vices and maladies hauing made an inundation which in a manner scorned to be stopped For Boniface the VIII was Pope in the interim who tooke vpon him both the Papall and Imperiall authority Then the next after him Clement the V. of Burdeaux at Philip the Faire the French Kings request forsaking Rome remoued his Court into France and after his death the Cardinalls falling into sharpe dissentions amongst themselues made a vacancie for some yeares but at length Iohn the XXII of Aquitaine was created Pope at Lyons The fifth Pope after him which was Gregory the XI when the Popes had kept their Court in France then for 71. yeares together returnes to Rome but after his death Vrbane the VI. a Neapolitan and Clement the VI. a Sauoysin contended for the Papacy The first whereof vpheld himselfe by the Italian partie and liued at Rome the other by the French and liued at Auinion After those two were dead the other there before mentioned were by seuerall factions chosen in their places the Papall Monster hauing then three heads At what time many worthy men both Italians and French deplored the State of the Church inueighing bitterly enough against the corruptions and vices of those times as farre as they could see in those dayes of darknesse Amongst the rest Petrarch was one who when the Popes and Cardinals lay at Auinion called that City the whore of Babylon Whereupon to determine that Controuersie a Councell was assembled at Constance in Germanie by order whereof those Three were deposed and Martin the V. elected At this Councell Iohn Hâ—â— and Hierome of Prague were burnt for heresie though they came thither vnder safe conduct from the Emperour Sigismund the Emperour is much commended for that He to benefit the Common-wealth went almost to all the Kings in Christendome to exhort them to
And I doubt not of your owne voluntary propension that way as much as your age can beare and your Tutors their diligent vigilancie Wherefore Illustrious Prince proceed auspiciously and as you are borne to the gouernement of a Common-wealth so furnish your selfe with such ammunition as is both perpetuall and will affoord infallible aid and not onely extenuate the labour which you must sometimes vndergoe in gouerning an ancient Prouince but also make it easie and pleasant From Strasburg Anno Dom. 1556. IOHN SLEIDAN of the foure chiefe Mōnarchies OR The key of History The first Booke BEfore I treat of the foure chiefe and principall Monarchies of the world Babylon Persia Greece and Rome I must speake a word or two of the great difference about computation of yeeres from the beginning of the world for the Hebrewes Eusebius S. Austin Alphonsus and Mirandula doe exceedingly vary amongst themselues But because almost all the learned men of our times doe in this point follow the account of the Hebrewes I also seeing the case so stands will tread in their steppes And first of all that I may come to my purpose I meane the first Monarchie passing by those occurrents which happened in the a Gen. 1 2 3 4 5 6 chap. first age of all as also the narration of the Flood sit hence all those are contained in holy Scriptures and cannot be better exprest I le take start at that time when the race of mankinde being reduced to a very small number begunne after that the * Moles massie multirude of waters was againe dispersed and the earth made drie to increase anew The time of the Flood is referred to the yeere of the world 1656. and b Gen 5. Mathusalah the seuenth from Adam died at that very time being 969. yeeres of age c Gen 7. Noah Mathusalah his * Nepos Grandchild by his sonne Lamech being then 600. yeeres of age and by Gods especiall fauour preserued together with his familie now when the number of men begunne to multiplie by little and little was the first that caused his children and posteritie by remoouing into seuerall Countries to inhabite the earth and build themselues cities and afterwards about the hundreth yeere after the Flood allotted to each of them his proper Prouince At which time Nimrod Noahs Grand-childes sonne together with his retinue inhabited the land of the Chaldees but at length the multitude of men still multiplying many were necessarily inforced to remoue and seeke out new seats and Colonies They before their departure desirous to leaue their perpetuall memoriall behinde them did thereupon d Gen. 11. It is credible that hereupon the Poets took occasion to make that fiction of the Giants who beaping moantaine vpon mountain went about to ouerthrow the gods Michael Glycas writes that there were forty yeers spent about building of this Tower Nimrod being their Chief-taine beginne to build a Citie and within that a Tower of transcendent height And forgetting Gods wrath which had so lately swallowed vp the whole Globe of the earth whereof Noah without all doubt had very much very often and diligently preached to them intended to extend the fame of their owne names by vaineglorious and ambitious workes But God herewith offended made frustrate these their enterprises sending amongst them a confusion of tongues whereas before that time there was but one and the same kinde of language all the world ouer Thus being constrained to surcease their begunne worke they departed into seuerall parts of the world From this confusion of tongues the citie called Babell took the name frō the time I mean frō the 131. yeer after the Flood or therabouts the kingdome of the Chaldees Babylonians took the beginnings The first King thereof was Nimrod before spoken of who as it is written ruled 56. yeeres The Scripture stiles him the e Gen. 10. 1 Chron. 5. Mich 5. The land of Babylon is called the land of Nimrod mightie Hunter and attributes to him strength and puissance Others call him Saturne and report that in the 45. yeere of his raign he sent away certaine Princes of Colonies hither and thither as Assur Madas Magog and Mosech Those erected kingdomes after their owne names as Assyria Media f Suidas writes that the Persians were so called but Melanctho◠think them to be the now Turks Magog and Mosco the two first whereof doe wholly belong to Asia and the third and last to Asia and Europe The Scripture makes mention of this g Assur Gen. 10. Belus Assur and that Niniue was by him builded Iupiter Belus succeeded his Father Nimrod who as historie speakes possessed all the Country from the sunne-serting to Sarmatia in Europe and afterwards made warre against Sabbatius King of Saga whom not he by reason hee was preuented by death Ninus the first Monarch about 1905. of the world but his sonne Ninus subdued who extending his dominions farre and wide was the first that euer tooke vpon him a Monarchie Noah died 350. yeeres after the Flood and about the 18 yeere after his death b Gen. 11. Abraham the tenth from Noah so commanded by God left his Country being then 75 yeers of age and in i Gen. 17. 24 yeere after that God made a couenant with him by ordaining the circumcision In the k Gen. 21. 100 yeere of his age his sonne Isaac was borne vnto him hee liued after that 75. yeeres for the tearme of mans life was now much shortened The manner of his Grand-childe l Gen. 37. Iacobs life and vpon what occasion he went downe into Egypt and there dyed how afterwards his posteritie remained in Egypt for some ages oppressed with most grieuous bondage and by Gods fauour brought out and set at libertie by his seruant Moses the holy m From the 30 ch of Gen. to the 14. of Exod. Scriptures declare This departing of the children of Israel out of Egypt is referred to the yeere of the world 2454. that is 430 yeeres after the promise made to Abraham as n Gal. 3. S. Paul hath it After Moses the children of Israel were gouerned by Iudges till the daies of Saul whom Dauid another King of the same people succeeded Now let vs returne to the Empire of Babylon Ninus being dead his wife Semiramis succeeded him in his Empire Semiramis who in riches victories and triumphs was inferiour to no mortall Prince She inlarged the towne of Babylon and made it a citie of sufficient greatnesse adorning it with diuers faire buildings and inuironing it with a wall Shee subdued Aethiopia and made warre also in India Her sonne Zameis the fifth King Zameis performed nothing worthy of memorie Arius but Arius who next succeeded him conioyned the Bactrians and Caspians to his Empire It is written that Aralius his successor was renowned for his wit and prowesse Aralius but what he atchieued is not committed to writing The next
to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
Ammonites and Moabites passed into Aegypt with an army where hauing got possession of all that Countrey afterwards begun his Monarchy In the second yeare of his Monarchy as the learned of our times collect he saw in his dreame a great Image whose head was of gold the brest and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse the legges of iron the feet part of iron part of clay When hee awakt and could not call to mind what he had dreamt but yet remain'd mightily astonisht calling together his Magicians and soothsayers charged them vnder paine of death to interpret his dreame Daniel a yong man Captiue with the rest of his Nation brought thither from Ierusalem signified that he could satisfie the kings desire being brought forth first hee shewed what the dreame was and afterwards interpreted the meaning therof The Image said hee signifies the foure chiefe Monarchies of the world which are to succeed in order and turning his speech to the King himselfe Thou said hee whom God hath inuested with supreame power and glory to whom he hath giuen rule ouer all men beasts of the field fowles of the ayre Thou I say art the Golden Head of that Image After thee another kingdome of siluer shall arise worse then this of thine afterwards the third kingdome of brasse which shall beare rule farre and wide but the fourth kingdome shall be of iron for as yron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all things so also shall the fourth and last breake in peeces all the rest and bring them in subiection to it This therefore is the first and formerly neuer heard of prophesie of the four Monarchies which God reuealed to vs by his Prophet Daniel A thing truly worthy to bee committed to memory because in a few words it comprises the historie of all ages vntill the end of the world as afterwards I am to speake of Now it sufficeth how at this time first of all God hath discouered to vs the order and successiue course of the Monarchies Dan. 4. That place in Daniel also manifests more clearly of what great puissance this Nabuchodonozor was where the Scripture compares him to a Tree whose height reached to heauen which as it were oueâ—shaddowed the whole earth whose leaues were very faire and most abundantly loaden with fruit whereby all creatures were fed and fatned in whose braÌ„ches boughes all manner of fowle dwelt and made their nests This therfore is the first Monarchy which as it was exceedingly amplified in this Kings raigne hoisted vp to the very highest steppe So also it fell away and in his Nephewes time was quite extinguished euen as God had denounced by Daniel and other of his Prophets This Nabuchodonozor raigned three forty yeares It would quite the cost if all mortall men especially Kings and Princes would read diligently consider with how dreadfull a spectacle and example God as Daniel sets it downe reuenged his pride Dan. 4. and 5. that so they might the more reuerence Gods diuine Maiestie Euilmerodach 2 King 25. Ierem. 51. and performe that office to the people which is committed to them His son Euilmerodach succeded him he raigned 30 yeares Assur Labassardach and his successor Assur three yeares Labassardach who raigned y Metasthener and others say but 6. euen yeares succeeded him After him Balthasar bore rule â—â—ue yeares Many reckon them after this manner but the learned of our time omitting two of them Balthazar put Balthasar next after his father Euilmerodach write that he raign'd 14. y. which is very necessary to make the perfect number of 70. yeares during which space the Iewes were in captiuity to the Babylonians sithence their captiuity begun in the nineteenth yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne Those who obserue this order and leaue out the two Kings before spoken of follow the Tract of Scripture and especially the Prophet Ieremieâ—s testimony Ierem. 25. who prophesied that the Iewes should serue the King of Babell his son and his sons son but in this point let euery man haue his iudgement free to himselfe Howbeit Balthazar as the Scripture mentions was the last King of the Babylonians Dan. 5. and in this all Writers agree As for the manner of the taking of Babylon many Authors describe it Dan. 5. Daniel also mentions how God denounced to this King his imminent and euen present calamitie and relates how the gouernement of the Monarchie after that King was slaine was translated to Darius the Mede Darius then 62. yeeres of age Many Writers call this Darius Cyarxes who was the son of Astiages eight King of the Medes whom Daniel cals Assuerus Dan. 9. who hauing no issue male bestowed his daughter in mariage vpon Cyrus the King of Persia's sister sonne and being prouokt to enter into a warre with the King of the Assyrians sent for aid to Cyrus who leading his forces thither and being made Generall of the whole armie returned conquerour hauing taken that most powerfull z Babylon Dan. 9. Citie It is recorded that Darius liued not aboue a yeere after this victorie And then when Darius was yet liuing after the taking of Babylon and the children of Israel Ier. 25. and 29. Dan. 9. had by this time remained captiue in Babylon almost 70. yeeres God reuealed in more ample manner to Daniel according to his praiers in that behalf who made knowne the same to the Prophet Ieremie foreshewer of the captiuitie Cyrùs founder of the second Monarchy of the Persians when the first of the Assyrians had stood about 1538. yeeres this was about 3434. and did not onely confirme the nearnes of their freedome but also shewed what time the Messias should come who should satisfie for the sinnes of men After Darius his death the sway of gouernment was committed to his sonne in law Cyrus and this is the beginning of the second Monarchie for now Cyrus alone held in his owne hands Assyria Media and Persia euen to the Ionian sea as Thucidides hath it hauing before his winning of Babylon taken Craesus that most puissant King of Lydia So this Cyrus is first King of the Persians and founder of the second Monarchie This most renowned Prince hauing vanquisht the Babylonians made warre with the Scythians whether going with his armie and at length intrapped and inuironed by his enemies was there slaine In the beginning of his raigne after the taking of Babylon hee permitted the Iewes to returne home againe out of captiuitie 2 Chro. 16. that they might reedifie the Temple and the Citie of Ierusalem and to that purpose bestowed very liberally out of his own Treasurie Isai 44. and 45. God by his Prophet Isai had foretold him by name some ages before he was born Xenophon brings him in discoursing with his sons before his death about the immortalitie of the soule as Cicero hath it who interprets that place as all others very elegantly Cyrus reached the 70. yeere of
his age and raigned 30 yeers being 40. yeeres old at the beginning of his raigne His sonnes name was Cambyses Cambyses whom when hee went from home to the Scythian warre he set ouer his Kingdome He his Father being absent and in imploiments tooke Egypt In warre indeed hee was renowned but otherwise vitious and did not represent his Fathers vertues Among the rest of his filthie and sauage deeds he commanded his own brother to be slain trecherously Plato in his bookes which he writ of the Lawes reports how Cyrus was very much to blame for that he brought vp his sons effiminately amongst women who when they grew into riper yeeres being corrupted by flatterers for the most part abusing their cares did after their Fathers decease Darius the sonne of Histaspis indanger one anothers life Darius the sonne of Hystaspis succeeded Cambyces second King of the Persians who suruiued his Father but a short space And by reason that many of his subiects together with the rest the Babylonians did after Cyrus his death and so great an ouerthrow of his armie reuolt from the kingdome of Persia Hee tooke armes at the first steppe of his raigne and reunited them to his Empire hauing after a long siege taken Babylon also by helpe of a He mangled himselfe cutting off his cares nose and lippes faigning that Darius had so puâ—â—isht him for speaking in the Babylonians behalfe whe eupon they receiued him and by that policie hee got the Citie for Darias Zopyrus Within a while after he made warre against the Athenians who vpon a sodaine mustering vp their forces not expecting any aid from the Lacedemonians did at Marathon with about 10000. men Miltiades being their Leader ouercome his huge b It consisted of 600000. men armie Darius was aminded to renew the warre but death preuented him in his very first attempt whose sonne and successor Xerxes Xerxes in the tenth yeer after the battell at Marathon as Thucidides relates came with an c Some confine it to 1000000 but Justine extends it to 2000000 and Herodotus to more innumerable armie with intent to subdue all Greece Hereupon the chiefe managing of these warres was by common consent committed to the Lacedemonians because they bore greatest sway all ouer Greece but the Athenians followed Themistocles his counsaile quitting their Citie leauing their wiues and children in one place or other betooke themselues to their shippes and ioyning battell with the enemie at Salamina ouercame him That victorie was very commodious to all Greece in generall for Xerxes being also expelled their Country did by an infortunate and a dishonourable flight In a little Fishers boate returne home and the Grecians likewise after his departure But the Athenians hauing a Nauie of 400. saile or thereabouts coasting on further and pursuing their enemies tooke the towne of Sestos vpon Hellespont which the Persians held and there wintring afterwards returned home gathered together their dispersed wiues and children and repaired the walls of their Citie which the enemie burnt when hee tooke it and fortified the Port. This warre of the Persians or as Thucidides calls it of the Medes happened as Cicero writes almost at the very same time with the Volscian warre where the exild Romane Coriolanus was Generall Xerxes his warre An. Mund. 3488 and that was in the 266. yeere after the building of Rome Herodotus before Thucidides writ of this Persian warre Cicero calls him the Father of historie but reports that his writings are stuft with an infinite companie of fables The Lacedemonians were sore offended at this fortification of the Athenians but sith they could not tell how to amend themselues buried all in murmuring silence and both they as also the rest of the Grecians together with the Athenians ioyning forces tooke the I le of Cyprus and the Citie d Now called Constantinople Byzantium which the Persians held Among the rest of the Lacedemonian Captaines in this warre Pausanias was one who being condemned of treason after he was returned home and lay besieged in a certaine Sanctuarie was famished to death with hunger Themistocles also being in like manner accused fled Soone after this Greece was tossed vp and downe with sundry wars and dissentions partly forraigne and partly domesticall which Thucidides pithily relates But at length in the fiftieth yeere after Xerxes departure out of Greece as Cicero reports it after Thucidides that cruell warre sprung out when the whole Country of e Now called Morea Peloponnesus conspired against the Athenians Pericles Anaxagoras his scholler being their Leader in that warre who as Aristophanes reports lightned thundred and set all Greece on fire with his tongue For these in times past were the master-pieces of prowesse and eloquence On the other part Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians had supreame command Thucidides who writ of this warre was both equall to and emulous of Pericles Sophocles the tragicall Poet was as Cicero writes Pericles his collegue in the Generalship Now let vs returne to Xerxes He by reason of such his bad successe being growne into contempt was slain by his own subiects Artaxerxes Long-hand His sonne Artaxerxes Long-hand succeeded him To him fled the exiled Themistocles whom we spake of a little before and there f Poysoned himselfe because he would not goe with Artaxerxes to sight agaiâ—st his owne Country Darius Nothus ended his life was buried at Magnesia After Long-hand Darius Nothus raigned who married his owne sister In the beginning of this Kings raigne happened the aforesaid Peloponnesian warre And the Athenians though they had remora's enough besides yet in the fourth yeere of this warre as Thucidides recites in his third booke they sent a Nauie into Sicilie vnder pretence to aid the Leontinians against the Syracusans but their intent was to bring that Iland vnder their subiection that so they might more conueniently subdue Greece and afterwards when they were returned and fostered their owne factions Hermocrates of Syracusa was the first that moued the Sicilians to liue in peace laying aside all grudges for the Athenians had laid snares of bondage to intrappe the libertie of their whole country his perswasion tooke effect This was in the seuenth yeere of this warre Three yeeres after this the Athenians and Peloponnesians concluded a truce for fifty yeeres but it held not full seauen for euen then many outrages were broached and though the peace were not quite abolished and gappes of offences committed were euer anon stopt vp againe by truces yet in the 17 yeere they burst forth againe into open warre with full forces this second warre continued tenne yeeres Then the Athenians send ouer againe their Nauie most exquisitely furnished into Sicilie The chiefe Commanders whereof among the rest were Alcibiades and Nicias Nicias very earnestly declaiming certaine Orations to that purpose disswaded them from this voiage but Alcibiades perswaded the contrarie The Peloponnesians gaue aid to the Sicilians at
before that time After Alexanders death his spacious Empire was diuided amongst his Nobles Ptolomeus Laomedō Antigonus Cassander Leonatus Eumenes Python Lysimachus Antipater Meleager Seleucus but the chiefe of those was Seleucus afterwards made King of Syria as also Ptolomeus of Egypt Antigonus of the lesser Asia and Cassander of the Macedons Greece hauing quite cut off all Alexanders alliance This Lysimachus is he whom Alexander being on a time angry with caused to be shut vp w th a Lyon but whē he heard how hee had killed the beast highly esteemed of him Now most grieuous warres as it is common arose betwixt those forenamed successors and their sonnes and Nephewes for the mind once corrupted w th ambition can admit no rest but plots how to augment its own power by committing iniury vpon other men And all these Countries being most miserably afflicted with those wars by reason they were continuall by little and little grew into subiection to the Romanes who extending their dominions farre and wide made vp the fourth and last Monarchy whereof I am now to speake But amongst Alexanders successours in this Kingdome of Aegypt Ptolomeus Philodelphus was one a most laudable Prince For he as much as in his lay kept peace with all stirred vp the liberall sciences appointing stipends for schollers erected a most copious Library and commanded the books of Moses and the Prophets to be translated into the Greeke tongue The beginning of the city of Rome therefore was at that time when Salmanassar before mentioned raigned in Assyria that is in the first yeare of the seuenth Olympiad according to Plutarch and of the world 3212. when as almost 400. yeares before Rome built 3212. Aeneas had begun his raigne in n A part of Italy Latium after the Troian warres which Homer left to the memory of posterity of whose o Herodotus Dion Halicarnass Solinus and Gellius as Meibomius notes writeth of his time time as likewise of his p Gellius also writes of his Countrey country there is no certainty extant onely Cicero writes that many years before the building of Rome and Romulus there was such a man Howsoeuer there is no prophane writing of more antiquitie then his Poem for as Horace saith Many braue worthies flourisht ere those daies When Agamemnon shin'd whose bootlesse praise Hath not the force t' attract one liquid eie For lasting night with blacke obscuritie In ignorance inuelopt hath their names Wanting no Herald to proclaime their fames Cicero also signifies as much who writes that there was not the tract of an Orator to bee seene before Homers time As for the originall of Rome it was but meane and in a manner contemptible but because God hath so ordained as afterwards it shall be declared it grew vp to the height of potency In their first beginning seuen Kings raigned ouer them 244. yeares And in Seruius Tullus the sixt Kings raigne Solon and Pisistratus flourisht in Athens and Pythagoras in Italy as Cicero writes At what time Tarquinius the proud was expell'd He writes also that in this Seruius Tullus his raigne Athens had then stood about 700. yeares Hauing expell'd their Kings the gouernment of their State was translated to two Consuls whose office was annuall The first was Lucius Iunius Brutus one no lesse vehement and diligent about expulsion of the Kings and setting vp the liberty of his Countrey then vigilant and valiant in preseruation thereof For when his owne two sonnes Titus and Tiberius amongst other Noblemens sonnes of Rome had commun'd together in priuate consultations about calling in againe of the Tarquins after the matter was openly disclosed he put them to open death Hee also abrogated his Collegue Tarquinius Collatinus his authority who was his associate in expelling of the Kings as also coadiutor in his Councells Cicero defends this fact as iust and saith it was no lesse profitable then honourable to his Country that thereby both the name of the Tarquins and the remembrance of the Kingdome might bee extinguished But in this variable fortune of the Romans when all q Tuscanie Hetruria had conspired against them three hundred of the a 306. as Liuie Florus Ouid c. Fabies marched out of the Citie against the enemie and were all slaine sauing a childe which was left at home and so left aliue who afterwards raised the house againe this happened in the thirty three yeere after the expulsion of the Kings By reason of the troublesome state of the Common-wealth Ambassadours were sent into Greece in the three hundred yeere after the building of the Citie to fetch from thence the lawes which the Citie of Rome should vse After their returne the forme of gouernement of the Common-wealth was changed and the r Tenne Noblemen appointed to gouerne in stead of Consuls Decemvirs were put in authoritie with the gouernement therof but this order held not full three yeeres for Appius Claudius one of the Decemvirs by his lewdnesse in violently carrying away a Virgin daughter to Lucius Virginius a Citizen of Rome to serue his lust gaue occasion to the people wholly to subuert this order So the gouernement returned to the Consuls but those two held it but a few yeeres and then two ſ Much like our Knight Marshals at this day Tribunes of the Soldiers were constituted with Consular authoritie but they before their yeere was out left off their office and made roome againe for the Consuls and at this time which was in the three hundred fifteenth yeer of Rome built Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus the Dictator caused Caius Seruilius Hala master of the Cauallery to kill Spurius Melius also pluckt downe his house because hee indeauoured by his lauish liberalitie of corne in the Citie to procure the Kingdome Two yeeres after this the gouernement was reduced to the Tribunes of the Soldiers who afterwards were not bipartite but more were created at one and the same time as the people pleased and the state of the Common-wealth required This kinde of gouernment continued almost 70. yeeres and among the rest in this office flourisht Marcus Furius Camillus inferiour to none for valour who though hee had done worthy seruice for the Common-weale yet his ingratefull country thrust him out into banishment after hee had beene Tribune of the Soldiers the fourth time but after hee had recouered the Citio out of the hands of the t Inhabiting in and about Sons in Gallia Gallisenons who had taken it and vanquisht the enemie was restored to his former dignity and within two yeeres after made u He had power regall and was neuer chosen but when the Common-wealth was in great danger and could not hold his place aboue half a yeere Dictator A few yeeres after this Marcus Manlius he that defended the Capitoll against the Gaules being suspected of affecting soueraigntie was pitcht headlong from the top of the hill Tarpeium and a law made that no man descending from the stocke
of any Senatour of the house of the Manlies should bee called Marcus After this Camillus was the seuenth time created Tribune of the Soldiers and being very old ended his life in the 389. yeere after the building of Rome the gouernment being a yeere before his death againe reduced to the Consuls The first whereof was a * One of the Commeueltie Plebeian In those times flourisht the most renowned Captaines of warre in that Citie such as were Marcus Valerius Corvinus Titus Manlius Torquatus Caius Martius Rutilius Publius Decius Mus Papirius Cursor Publius Philo Lucius Volumninus and others One of which namely Titus Manlius Torquatus one of the Consuls beheaded his owne sonne for that he contrary to his command and out of his ranke had encountred his enemie in a single combat although hee got the vpperhand Publius Decius Alus the other Consull in the battell against the Latines deuow'd and bequeathed himselfe to death for the Romano Armie when violently rushing into the thickest troopes of his enemies by his death re-established the tottering state of Rome His sonne of his owne name foure times Consull performed the like against the Galli-Senones forty foure yeers after that At the same before-mentioned time in the x Most Authors agree of 10. or 12. yeers before viz. Anno Mundi 3620. or 22. 420. yeere of Rome built Alexander the great founder of the third Monarchie as we haue aboue declared flourished and made his warres Titus Liuius compares Lucius Papyrius Cursor with him and extending his discourse as well for his owne as his Readers recreation shews that he was able to haue resisted Alexander if happily hee had led his forces into Europe after his conquest of Asia and made warre vpon the Romanes This before-recited Papyrius Cursor was indued with the very quintessence of valour for omitting other his valiant acts when Titus Veturius Caluinus and Spurius Posthumius Albinus the two Consuls together with the whole armie at the y Made of speares or iauelings stucke in the ground vnder which the conquered were to passe in dishonour Forks of Caudium were compelled by the Lamnits to goe ignobly vnder the yoke and had made a dishonourable peace with the enemie Hee being created Consull vanquisht the late conquering enemie and put him to flight as also when hee was Dictator made his owne Master of the Cauallery an example to teach what strict obseruance ought to bee had in militarie discipline In this age also and a little vpwards Greece brought forth men of transcendent learning for then flourished Socrates and from him as from a certaine fountaine Aristippus Plato Antisthenes Speusippus Aristotle Diâ—aearchus Xenocrates Heraclides Theophrastus Polemo and Strabo all of them Physiologers and as Cicero cals them Speculators and hunters of Nature Then also flourished most famous Oratours as Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus Hippias Isoerates Lysias Demostenes Hyperides Aeschines Phalerius Demetrius And Historiographers chiefly Xenophon whom Cicero cals a Socratist and Calisthenes Alexander the great his companion In this age liued Dionysius the Spracusan Tirant to whom when Plato came and spoke freely concerning the dutie of a Prince he put him in great danger of his life as Cicero relates This was hee who committed not the guard of his body to his allies but to certaine strangers and sauage and barbarous people hee who taught his daughters how to cut their haire that they should not aduenture their neckes vnder the Barbers hands who suffered them not to vse any manner of edge-toole after they were come to yeeres but made them cindge his head and beard with red-hot Walnut-shels who resorted to his wiues often times by night but first made sure to suruey and prie into all places who not daring to shew himselfe in the common Pulpits was wont to speake to the people out of a Tower who shewed Damocles one of his Parrasites what manner of felicitie that of his was which he had boasted of for as hee sate in the middest of his choisest delicates with abundance and superfluitie of all manner of pleasures he caused a glittering sword hanging by a bristle of a horses vpper lip to be let downe that it might hang ouer his necke About forty two yeeres after Alexanders death Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes came into Italie and made warre with the Romanes In his second yeeres warre he solicited the Senate about concluding of a peace and a league But Appius Claudius both old and blinde who as Cicero writes had beene twice Consull before that came into the Court and disswaded the Senate inclining to peace from making any league with him for euen in that case wherein he then was he had so much courage as not to shrinke from any either priuate or publike seruice The Oration which hee then pronounced concerning Pyrrhus when hee broke off the peace was extant in Ciceroes daies as hee himselfe witnesseth At this time Cains Fabritius Luscinus performed a worthy piece of seruice for the Common-wealth who being solicited by Pyrrhus to reuolt contemned his most ample gifts and large proffers nor onely so but also sent him backe againe a certaine captiued runne-away who had certified that hee could take away the Kings life by poison Cicero compares him with Aristides the Athenian Mannius Curius Dentatus gaue Pyrrhus an vtter ouerthrow at his second inuasion of Italie and triumphed ouer him This Pyrrhus was the first that euer brought Elephants into Lucania And till this time being almost fiue hundred yeeres continuance the Romans were in warres with the inhabitants of Italie onely amongst whom the Latines Veientes Aequies Faliscians Samnites Hetrucians resisted very stoutly sometimes conquered sometimes conquering who being at length subdued and a peace setled that most bloody warre against the Carthaginians sprung vp the z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. originall of which Citie is by euident testimonie prooued to be farre more z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. ancient then Rome This warre begunne in the foure hundred eighty fift yeere of Rome built In which that noble act which hath report of performance by Marcus Attilius Regulus deserues singular commemoration who being taken prisoner by the Carthaginians and sent by them to Rome to treate of a peace and exchange of prisoners with condition except hee preuailed to returne to his bondage Hee when hee came thither perswaded the Senate the quite contrary way shewed that it was repugnant to the custom of the Common-wealth but yet holding it a point of honour to hold promise with his enemie returned to Carthage where hee was put to death with the most cruell kinde of punishment his eye-lids being cut away and so bound fast in an engine consumed to death by waking This warre proceeding the Romans had their first and
words which hee then vs'd Horace sets them downe in that Ode Horace l. 4. Ode 4. wherein he celebrates the fame of Drusus and his house which being most learned elegant worthily amongst other matters deserues commemoration by all of the yonger sort Thus the Romanes being at peace with the Carthaginians besides those warres wherein they were employed in Italy Istria and Lusitania The Roman warre with Philip King of Macedonia 3770. made sharpe warre against Philip King of Macedonia who infested the Countrey of Greece In this warre Titus Quintus Flaminius was Generall who at length getting the vpper hand of the Enemy did by decree of the Senate restore Greece to its former liberty and amongst other iniunctions prohibited King Philip from making war in any place out of his owne Territories without decree of the Senate The Roman wars with Antiochus King of Syria 3777. To this warre another succeeded against Antiochus King of Syria who passing ouer into Europe was ouerthrowne and expelled Greece by Mannius Glabrio Philip King of Macedon aiding the Romanes in that warre Those before recited Kings of Asia Syria and Macedonia descended from their posterity who as wee haue aboue related diuided the prouinces amongst them after Alexander the Great his death For Carthage being pacified and all Italy brought vnder subiection the Romanes hauing subdued their neighbouring Countries of Europe both by sea and land were now grown to that height that Kings and people farre remote implored their patronage After this manner the Egyptians whose King Ptolomy Epiphanes was a very young Prince and not of ability by reason of his non-age to gouerne them being brought into imminent danger by Antiochus the Great sent ouer their Ambassadors to Rome petitioning the Senate to vndertake the tuition of their young King Hereupon the Senate enioyned Antiochus to forbeare Egypt Hee hereat incensed but more especially when Hannibal who was fled to him and remained his guest very earnestly perswaded him to the warre strucke ouer with a Nauie into Greece and there as wee reported before was put to flight Whereupon the Romans setting forth with an Armado pursue him and striking ouer into Asia ouerthrew in a maine battell and beat him backe beyond the Mountaine Taurus Cicero relates how after this ouerthrow he was wont to say that the Romans had done him a very good turne for now being freed from too exceeding great gouernment hee would conteine himselfe within the moderate bounds of a Kingdome Lucius Cornelius Scipio Publius Scipio Africanus his brother was Captaine Generall in this warre thereupon surnamed Asiaticus After this Marcus Fuluius Nobilior vanquished the l A certaine people of Greece Aetolians and triumphed ouer them And Publius Scipio Africanus after his returne home out of Asia whither he was sent in Ambassage to his brother in time of this warre being crost by the m Officers appointed for protection of the Commons against the Nobles Tribunes of the Commons withdrew himselfe into his village of Liternum and there this man of transcendent worth ended his life being as many write 52. yeares old of the same age with Marcus Portius Cato In that Dialogue Sleidan as Meibomius notes mistakes Africanus for Quintus Fabius Cunctator whom Cicero speaks of which Cicero writ of old age hee brings in Cato speaking very affectionately and honorably both of his age and studies but most especially extolling his magnanimity howbeit Liuie writes that Cato was his enemy and was wont much to disquiet himselfe with the odious enuie that he bore against him for his fortitude Cicero commends him for his dexterous celeritie in dispatch of businesse At this time flourisht those Poets Ennius Plautus and Neuius After Antiochur his ouerthrow Hannibal fled to Prusias King of Bythinia and when the Romanes desired to haue him deliuered into their hand by a draught of poison finished his life Hannibal poisoneth himselfe An. 3786. To Antiochus his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded who likewise practised by treachery to haue seized vpon the Kingdome of Egypt for that he was vncle to Ptolomie Philometer King of Egypt who succeeded after his fathers death hereupon professing himselfe to be the yong Kings Tutor purposed to dispatch him and so transferre the sway of gouernement into his own hands but his plot being discouered the Romans whom the Egyptians had againe solicited for aide sent ouer to him in Ambassage Caius Popilius Laenas who comming to conference with Antiochus commanded him in the name of the Romans to depart from Alexandria which hee then besieged who desiring time to deliberate vpon it Laenas with a little rod drew a circle round about him in the place where hee stood and in flat termes charged him to giue his answer what he would doe before hee stirred out of that Ring Hee hereat dismaid and not being ignorant of the puisance of the Romans promised peace Those passages are onely for this purpose mentioned that it may appeare how the Romans from these small beginnings gathered ground step by step and climbed vp to the highest branch of gouernment For now their puissance hauing outstript the bounds of Italy made an impression into seuerall Quarters of the world but a great part of their labour yet remained towards the keeping in together the ponderous burthen of this their Empire whose circuit contained the chiefest part of the whole world as hereafter though briefly I le declare in order Philip King of Macedon he whom I formerly spoke of taking it very hainously that the Romanes had put him to such a straight was aminded to renew the warre but being preuented by death his sonne and successor Perseus hauing beene long before that incensed against the Romanes vndertooke this warre as it were a part of his inheritage but Lucius Aemilius Paulus the second time Consull Perseus K. of Macedonia with his wife mother Children led in triumph at Rome by Aemilius Paulus 3802. at length ouerthrew him in battell tooke him together with his wife mother and Children and led them in triumph for this cause surnamed Macedonicus and from that time Macedonia became one of the Prouinces of the Romanes The yeare next before this dyed Ennius aged 70. yeares as Cicero hath it Within a few yeares following Publius Cornelius Nasica subdued Dalmatia and not long after the third Punicke or Carthaginian warre begunne The third Punick or Carthiginian warre 3819. For the Carthaginians being impatient of peace and ease offer violence and hostility to the rest of their neighbours but more especially to Massinissa King of Numidia a confederate and friend of the Romanes The Romans being requested for their aid decreed to make warre in the 604. yeere of Rome built but herein they differed in their opinions whether it were better to raze the Citie or preserue it safe some were of opinion that it should not bee destroyed for that said they Carthage being taken away they should fall into ciuill warres and dissentions
amongst themselues but Marcus Portius Cato vrging the contrarie shewed what danger might hang ouer the Common-wealth of Rome by reason of that Citie vnlesse it were quite destroyed and this his opinion carried it he himselfe departing his life in the time of this deliberation hauing attained to the eighty fift yeere of his age Cicero rankes him amongst the ancient Orators and places him next after Marcus Cornelius Cethegus whom Ennius as he reports extolled Hee also further relates that there were a hundred and fifty of Catoes Orations extant stuft with excellent words and matter and reprehends those of his time for their too much nicenesse in not diligently perusing them He compares him with Lysias the Athenian Writer In this third Punicke warre Publius Scipio Aemilianus Publius Macedonicus his sonne and Publius Scipio Aphricanus his nephew by adoption was at length made Captaine Generall He in the fourth yeere of his warre begunne by others after a sharpe siege continuing for certaine daies tooke the Citie of Carthage sackt it burnt it and laid it leuell with the ground Carthage destroyed 3822. thereupon gaining his sirname likewise stiled Aphricanus as hee was that ouerthrew Hannibal as aforesaid And this was the period of this most puissant Citie which by originall was more ancient then Rome and for worthinesse of Captaines scarce inferiour to it hauing borne rule farre and wide Cicero writes that Publius Scipio after hee had taken Carthage restored to the Sicilians those Ensignes ornaments which the Carthaginians had taken from them some yeers before as also to the Agrigentines that famous brazen Bull which is reported to bee Phalaris the Tyrants wherein hee was wont for punishment to inclose men aliue and then to set it on fire This Phalaris lost not his life by trechery as many other Tyrants did but the whole multitude of the Agrigentines fell vpon him Cicero calls Affrica the tower of all Prouinces Much about this time the Romans made warre with the Achaians a certaine people of Greece for offring iniurie to their Ambassadours Lucius Mummius Consul was Captaine Generall in this warre who getting the vpperhand in battell forced all Achaia to be yeelded vp to him and by decree of the Senate set fire on Corinth the chiefe Citie and vtterly subuerted it lest at any time hereafter being repaired it might arise and lift vp head againe Mummius hereupon was sirnamed Achaicus About this time also one Viriathus who from a Shepheard grew to be a Hunter from a Hunter to a Highway-thiefe and afterward leader of a strong Armie kept the Country of n Now Portugal in Spaine Lusitania in possession who for some certaine yeeres holding play with the Romans and very oft putting them to the foile was at length trecherously slaine and soone after Decius Iunius Brutus subdued all Lusitania euen to the Ocean In the mean time the Romans receiued a great ouerthrow from the Numantines a people of Spaine for refusing to accept of the peace made by Mummius the Consull in regard it was dishonourable of a new create Publius Scipio Aemilianus Aphricanus Consull contrarie to the ordinarie course and to him commit the charge of the warre who marching forth with an armie hauing recalled the soldiers growne more effiminate and impatient of labour to obseruance of strict militarie discipline after hee had besieged the citie of Numantia some certaine daies Numantia destroied 3832. tooke and subuerted it in the fourteenth yeere after the subuersion of Carthage and of Rome built sixe hundred and twenty Cicero cals Carthage and Numantia the two terrours of the Roman Empire At this time there arose an vproare of the bond-slaues in Sicilie who hauing gathered together great forces were at length with much adoe repressed by Caius Fuluius the Consull After this the Romans had warre with Aristomius in Asia for Attalus King of Pergamos had by his testament made the Romanes his heires but Aristomius being allied to him seized vpon that part of Asia and defrauded the Romans of the benefit of his Testament Him Marcus Peperua Consull vanquished and at length tooke prisoner The yeere following which was the 625. yeere of Rome built Scipio Aphricanus murthered 3837. Scipio Aphricanus lying at his owne house was in the night-time murthered by his owne kinsfolkes as it was supposed Cicero makes relation of his most fluent eloquence his fidelitie and integritie and writes that albeit the whole Citie was plunged in depth of sorrow for his death yet no man opened his mouth about the cause therof He reports also that in this yeere the sunne was twice doubled Thus this most renowned Commander ended his daies aged 56. yeers which as Cicero in a most sweet fictitious inuention faignes Aphricanus the elder had forewarned him of In this age liued Lucilius Terence Pacuuius Accius Licinius Caecilius Afranius Caius Laelius one most intimate with Aphricanus calls this Pacuuius his friend but Terence his familiar consort After this Fabius Maximus Consul in a maine battell ouerthrew the n Of Sauoy Allobroges o About the Riuer Lâ—ire Aruerni and p About Rhodes Ruteni people of Gallia At the same time Caius Gracebus Tribune of the soldiers an eloquent man and defender of the Agrarian law was slaine at Rome his brother Tiberius Gracchus hauing twelue yeers before lost his life for the like cause Cicero giues both of them commendations for their eloquence and writes that Tiberius his Orations were not very beautifully set forth in words but were acute and full of wisedome and Caius his brothers were fittest to be perused by those of the yonger sort as seruing not onely to whet on but also to nourish the wit and hee stiles him the most wittie and most eloquent of all the Romans Gracchus dream't that he heard his brother Tiberius telling him that hee should die of the same death wherof he did and as Cicero reports he told it to many before hee was created Tribune of the Commons Their lawes are extant about prouision of corne replantation of Colonies The warre with Jugurth King of Numidia begunneâ—â— Anno Mundi 3857. soldiers rewards for their seruice gouernement of the Prouince the peopls suffrages about election of Magistrates and of letting to farme King Attalus his lands and the country of Asia After these Tribunician dissentions followed that war which the Romans had with Iugurtha King of Numidia It was begunne by Lucius Calphurnius Bestia Consull continued by Quintus Coecilius Metellus Ended 3859. and ended by Caius Marius the Consull who serued in the warres with Publius Scipio For Bacchus King of Mauritania Iugurtha's confederate not willing any longer to vndergoe the hazard of warre deliuered vp Iugurtha bound into Sylla's hands who was sent ouer to him for that purpose by Marius And at this very time which was in the sixe hundred forty seuenth yeere of Rome built was Marcus Tullius Cicero borne Cicero borne 38. being eight yeeres after the birth of
being sleighted off by the Senate he marches to e Marsiles in France Massilia where the gates were shut against him hereupon rigging his Nauie he besieges it both by sea and land and there leauing his Deputies sets forward into Spaine where at length hee compels Petreius and Africanius two of Pompeyes Captaines together with the whole Armie to yeeld Then he returns to Massilia which City despairing of all ayde presently yeelds to his power and after he was made Dictator in his absence by Marcus Lepidus the Praetor repaires to Rome calls an assemblie and is created Consull together with Publius Seruilius Isauricus soone after hauing setled the affaires of the City hee strikes ouer into Greece and at length ouerthrew Pompey in Thessaly in a maine battell Pompey ouerthrowne 3921. and disbanded him though his Army farre exceeded Caesars Pompey thus put to flight arriues in Egypt Ptolomy Dionysius Ptolomy Auletes son being then King thereof which Auletes when he was expelled his Kingdome Pompey had restored by Aulus Gabinius as aforesaid In regard of which benefit hee expected aid and protection from that Countrey but the King being a child his Nobles either despising Pompeyes fortune or else fearing some troubles treacherously kill him And slaine Caesar pursuing Pompey arriues at Alexandria with 3200 men and there first of all had notice of Pompeyes death Cicero passing his censure vpon both of theÌ„ If in the last war saith he Pompey had abated somewhat from his austere grauity and and Caesar much from his ambition wee should haue had both a firme peace and some Common wealth left vs. The King of Aegypt was then in warres with his sister Cleopatra Hereupon Caesar being at Alexandria would haue their controuersies rather decided by course of law before himselfe then by ciuill warres amongst themselues because hee was Consull of Rome and some yeares before there was a coÌ„federacy agreed vpon with Ptolomy the Kings father by decree and consent of the Senate But the States tooke this most hainously complaining that their Kings Royall Maiesty was ecclipsed in calling him to sit in iudgement vpon their controuersies Thus incensed in minde they prepare to make warre against Caesar but he after much danger getting the vpper hand did not reduce it into the forme of a Prouince but tollerated Cleopatra and her yonger brother the King being slaine to hold the Kingdome From thence marching into Syria and afterwards into Pontus hee put to flight King Pharnaces Mithridates his sonne and setled peace in Cappadocia Armenia Gallo-Greece Pontus and Bythinia Forthwith returning into I talie and so to Rome about the middle of Winter at the Winter * Solstitium Sun-sted he strikes ouer from f A towne and promontory in Sicilie Lilybeum into Africa though warned by a chiefe Soothsayer not to take his voyage before the end of Winter Scipio and Cato Marcus Portius Catoes Nephewes sonnes were fled thither from the battell at g Where Pompey was ouerâ—hrowne Pharsalia and hauing gathered together a great Army drew King h King of â—â—aâ—â—itâ—nia Iuba into confederacy with them Cesar marching thither ouerthrew and destroied them all but Cato lest hee should fall into his hands killed himselfe at i Now called Biserta in Barbarie Vtica which fact Cicero defends and saith that it was better for him whom nature had indued with incredible grauitie so to doe then to behold the face of a Tyrant This Cato was of the sect of the Stoickes and would oftentimes maintaine strange opinions in the Senate as though he were versed in Platoes politickes as Cicero saith and not in the refuse off-spring of Romulus Afterward Cesar repaires to Rome and hauing triumphed ouer Gallia Egypt Pontus and Affrica set forward to Spaine where he warred against and subdued Sextus Pompeius Thus hauing vanquished all his aduersaries and setled a peace in many Nations farre and wide in the fift yeere after the beginning of his ciuill warres The fourth Monarchie begun by Caius Cesar An. 3925. being 300. yeeres and odde after Alexander the Great he returns to Rome where after hee had triumphed ouer Hispaine hee assumed the offred title and authoritie of perpetuall Dictator and swaied the Senate according to his owne will hee in a manner hauing the sole bestowing of all honours and publike offices conferring them vpon whom he pleased thereby incurring many mens ill-will And now the state of the Common-wealth being altered and the supreame gouernment thereof reduced to one mans principalitie those conspiracies then in brewing against him were at length broached For in the fift moneth after his returne to Rome Caius Cesar slaine hee was slaine in Pompeys * Curia Court-house on the Ides of March and by those very men whom by his late shewed kindnesse hee had obliged to him as also pardoned them for seruing against him in the Pompeian warre Those were Marcus and Decius Brutus Caius Cassius Cneius Domitius Caius Trebonius Quintus Tullius Cimber two of the Sernilioes Casea Hala and many more Marcus Antonius the Consull Cesars Collegue indicted Cicero also before the Senate as guilty of the murther for that Marcus Brutus presently after Cesar was slain holding vp his dagger on high shouted aloud and nominated him congratulating him for recouerie of their libertie Many report that Caius Cesar spake to Marcus Brutus in Greeke as hee rushed vpon him and called him sonne how they take it I know not but it is euident out of Cicero that Brutus was fifteene yeers yonger then he Caius Cesar made diuers lawes some whereof when he was Consull and other some when he was Dictator which after his name were called the Iulian lawes as about distribution of lands concerning violence Maiestie extortion Priest-ships vsurie Others lawes there were which goe vnder his name but were made by Octauius All commend him for his clemency and Cicero giues him praise for his wit quicknesse reason memorie learning prouidence diligence but hee stormed grieuously at his authoritie yet secretly and in an Epistle to Atticus Thou shalt perceiue saith he that this kingdome can scarce hold halfe a yeere together But in al those proceedings Cicero carried himselfe very wauering and inconstantly for during the warre he followed Pompeyes partie and his camp although hee reprehended his discouragement of minde and cowardise and in his Epistles to his friends hee cals Cesar a war-waging Tyrant and monster But after Pompey was put to flight and slaine and Cesar had pardoned many of his aduersaries he changes his stile and in three set Orations extolled him with praises to the very heauens Further when Cesar heard that there was treason plotted against him and would often say that hee had liued long enough he beseeches and requests him to reiect that opinion for although hee was full fraught with glory and in that regard for himselfe had liued long enough yet hee had not liued long enough for the Common-wealth which could not be
without his aid and protection as concerning any danger he need not trouble himselfe For all of vs saith he doe not onely promise to watch about and guard Thee but also to interpose our owne sides and bodies But for all this after Cesars death hee reioyced wonderfully and boasted that they who had slaine him had obtained that glory which could scarce bee contained within the heauens This therefore is the fourth and last Monarchy in which place we must note how this citie which was built by Shepheards from most slender beginnings by little and little increased to the height of potencie and grew to bee Empresse of the whole world Now hereafter I will briefly as farre as I may declare after what manner it fell off by degrees from this most high estate vnto ruine The end of the first Booke IOHN SLEID AN of the foure chiefe Monarchies OR The key of History The second Booke CEsar being slain Octauius Cesar begun his raigue Anno mundi 3925. and raigned An. 57. his sisters sonne Caius Octauius hauing drawn about the militarie bands to his partie persecuted the murtherers most bitterly And at first seemed to take armes in defence of the Commō-wealth against Marcus Antonius but afterward diuding the Empire with him and Marcus Ledipus ordained a i Gouernment by three Cicero put to death An. 3926. Triumuirat in which Marcus Cicero was by Marcus Antonius whom he had very vehemently opposed put to death being sixty three yeers of age which was eight yeeres after Quintus Hortensius his death who was so many yeers elder then hee as abouesaid Cicero directly ouershot himselfe in his owne policies for when Marcus Antonius molested the Common-wealth after Caius Cesars death he with exceeding great praises commended to the Senate Caius Octauius Cesars kinsman a yong Gentleman of twenty yeeres of age and begunne to vrge to haue him created Consull without any regard had to his age producing examples of ancient times how it might be done and refuting such obiections as might seeme dangerous professing to be bound to the Senate vpon his honour that he should alwaies couernue such a Common-wealths man as he then was and such an one as they ought chiefly to wish and desire him to be but afterwards forsaken by him hee fell into Marcus Antonius his hands Marcus Brutus reprehends him sharpely for such his flatterie Then as it is common certaine grudges arising in emulation of the Empire when as Marens Lepidus for conspiracie against Octauius was formerly remoued out of the Triumuirat and banished Octauius made warre against Antonius his other Collegue and after his victorie at k A town in Epirus Actium ouerthrew both him and Cleopatra beforementioned at Alexandria forcing them both to kill themselues and made Egypt a Romane Prouince Authors report that in Ptolomie Auletes raigne the yeerely reuenues of Egypt came to 12500. talents which summe the learned of our times reckon to 7500000. crownes but when it came in subiection to the Romans they iudged it to be farre more rich in regard of the traffique with India and Aethiopia Antonius thus ouerthrowne and cut off Octauius alone gouerned the Common-wealth forty foure yeeres and in 29. yeere of his Empire and of the world 3954. Christ born An. mundi 3954. as most account was our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST borne Herod sirnamed the Great hauing seuen yeeres before most sumptuously re-edified the demolished Temple of Ierusalem Marcus Antonius was married to Caius Octauius his sister but afterward being intangled with Cleopatra's loue forsooke his wife and married her which partly was cause of the warre Both of them were exceeding riotous and Authors relate almost incredible stories of their banquets delights and pleasures but such as I before set downe was the vp-shot and end of their liues This Marcus Antonius was that most famous Oratour before-mentioned Marcus Antonius his Nephew In Caius Octauius his raign the Romans had their first war in Germanie within their own territories Caius Iulius Cesar indeed ouerthrew the Germanes twice but it was in Gallia to wit Ariouistus in the Country of the Celts and afterwards at the meeting together of the Riuer Maze and the Rhyne After this victorie he built a bridge and past ouer the Rhyne but resting there a few daies brought backe his Armie into Gallia and broke downe the bridge Two yeers after he passed again ouer the Rhyne on his second bridge a little aboue that place where hee formerly had led ouer his Armie and then fully intended to haue gone against the l Now of Pomerania in Germanie Sueuians but being certified by his Scouts of all affaires and fearing much difficultie and scarcitie of prouision returnes into Gallia breakes downe some part of the bridge and in the other part built a Tower and a Castle and fortified it with Cittadels that hee might not altogether free his enemies from the feare of his returne And this was all that Cesar did against the Germans as he himself writes But Octauius by the two brothers Tiberius and Drusus made warre against the m Germanes bordering on the Alpes Rhaetians and n Vandals Vindelicians and with o People about Colen Vbian forces who were confederates with the Romanes Quintilius Varus being their Captaine Generall inuaded that part of Germanie now called Westphalia howbeit Arminius Chiefe-taine of the p Germanes neere the riuer Elbe Cheruscans almost vtterly ouerthrew him betwixt the Riuer q Ems. Amasia and r Necchar Horat. lib. 1 Ode 24. Lupia Horaee in a most elegant Ode comforts Virgil lamenting his death Drusus died in Germanie leauing behinde him two sonnes Germanicus a most worthy soldier and Claudius Horace in another most elegant Ode as wee said before Horat. lib. 4 Ode 4. extols him and deriues his pedegree from Caius Claudius Nero who when hee was the second time Consull together with Marcus Liuius Saelinator slew Asdrubal Annibals brother at the Riuer of Metanrum as he was bringing ouer a supply of forces ſ Octauius so stiled in honour as much as Soueraign at this day Augustus also subdued the t Of Biscay in Spaine Cantabrians u Of Aquitane in Gallia Aquitanians * Hungars Pannonians x Inhabiting Wendenland in some parts Dalmatians y Of Sclauonia also or Wendenlond Illyrians z Inhabiting neere Lombardie Salassians and inhabitants of the Alpes It is reported that he often intended to lay off the weightie charge of the Empire but againe considering with himselfe that it would be rashly committed to many mens authority changes his minde In the thirty third yeere of his raigne deceased Herod the Great whom hee and Marcus Antonius in the third yeere of their Triumuirate had made King of Iudaea and in the eight yeere after his death his sonne and successor Archelaus was banished to Vienna a Towne in Gallia It is written that Octauius maintained forty foure legions of soldiers in protection of the Prouinces
Innocent the first of that name excommunicated Arcadius the Emperor for that hee gaue consent to haue Saint Iohn Chrysostome expelled out of his Church as it is related in the Papall Law At this time flourisht Saint Augustine also Bishop of Hippo who was present at the third and fourth Counsell of Carthage where amongst others those decrees passed That the Bishop should haue a little mansion house neere to his Church That his housholdstuffe should be meane his table and prouision poore and by his vprightnesse and integrity of life should get himselfe authority That he should vse the vtensils of the Church as things committed to his charge and not as his owne This Innocent the first writ also to Saint Austine and to Aurelius Bishop of Carthage where exhorting them to mutuall prayers he cals them brothers and fellow-priests After Innocent followed Zozimus who commending the decrees of the Fathers and of antiquity saith that it is not lawfull no not for the See of Rome as they call it to make any alteration therein or any contradictory decree Hee also reprehends corrects the custome of his time that many men of no learning aspired to the order of Priesthood Boniface the first succeeded Zozimus in whose time the sixt Councell of Carthage was assembled whereto there was great concourse wherein Saint Austine also was present Boniface sending his Legates thither declared that the Councell of Nice had granted such priuiledge to the See of Rome that all Prouinces euery where should appeale thither and therfore requested the Fathers there assembled to establish and confirme the same Their answer was that as far as they knew there was not any such decree at Nice but that the certaine truth might be sifted out and knowne they were agreed to send for a true copy of the Councell from the Churches of Alexandria and Constantinople which being at length produced the decree was found quite contrary to wit each Prouince should haue the cognizance of their owne causes and that an appeale should lye from the Bishops to the Councells of the Prouince or else to the Oecumenicall Councell as they call it St. Cyril was then Bishop of Alexandria Boniface died before the copy came and his successor Celestinus vrging the same had his answer according to the tenor of that decree Arcadius dying his sonne Theodosius the II. succeeded Theodos II. 408. an 42. m. 2. d. 28. in whose raigne and by whose command a Councel was held at Ephesus in which Nestorius was condemned who denyed that Christ was borne God of the Virgin Mary and at this time dyed St. Augustine On the other side Stilico Honorius his Protector dealt no lesse perfidiously then Ruffinus For hee not onely gaue the Gothes leaue to inhabite and seat themselues in Gallia but also instigated them to march into Italy with their Leader Alaricus and took the City of Rome which happened in the yeare of Rome built 1162 and of our Lord 412. The Gothes keeping their Rendezuous at Rome for a while and harrazing the Countrey till they came to n A seacoast towne in Italy now called Reggio opposite to Sicilie Rhegium from thence sayld ouer into Sicily where they suffered shipwracke and lost their King But Stilico still continuing his villainous and treacherous practices with intent to translate the sway of gouernment into his owne sonne Eucherius his hands was vpon discouery of his plot taken and by Honorius his command put to death King Alaricus thus dispatcht the Gothes elected his kinsman Adolphus their King and vnder his leading marcht backe againe to Rome where what remained they spoile He being slaine Gensericus raigned after whose death followed Wallis with whem Constantine Honorius his sisters husband and Leiutenant for the Gallia's as afterwards Collegue in the Empire entered into amitie and league granting them Aquitania a part of Gallia to inhabite At the same time the Scots and Picts infested Brittaine but were put to flight by the auxiliary forces sent from Honorius the Emperour likewise the Vandals and Alans with their chiefetaine Gense ricus pillaged vp and downe Hispaine After Honorius his decease at Rome his sisters sonne Valentinianus succeeded him in the West and at Rome Theodosius Arcadius his sonne as aboue recited in the meane space gouerned the other part of the world at Constantinople About this time the Vandalls and Alans prouoked by the dissentions and factions of the Roman Captaines in Africa breake forth out of the Hispaines into Africa and wasted the country w th fire sword After with destruction a certaine part of Africa was giuen them to inhabite The Gothes who by Honorius his permission and consent as a little abouementioned inhabited Aquitane in Gallia not satisfied with their owne bounds offred violence and injury to their neighbours and wearied Narbon with their siege But Litorius being dispatcht thither with forces raised the siege set the Town at liberty brought in prouision and giuing them battell at the first sped well but afterwards was taken with the losse almost of his whole Army so great was this ouerthrow that the Romans were forced to sue for peace In like manner Gensericus King of the Vandalls breaking the league made with the Romans in Africa as before mentioned on a sudden surprizes Carthage where he exercised much cruelty which City had then continued in subiection to the Romans for 585. yeares Thus hauing got possession of Carthage hee strikes ouer into Sicilia which hee made flow with blood Hereupon Theodosius the Emperour rigging a Nauie prepares for warre against the Vandals but by reason the Hunnes forraged Thrace and Illyricum the Armie was recalled out of Sicilie to defend those parts The Scots Picts then againe make an irruption into Britaine and the inhabitants despairing of aid from the Romans desire helpe from the English The Saxons inuade Britaine about 448. a people of Saxonie who being allured with the beautifulnesse of the country by little and little conueying ouer more forces oppressing the Britaines brought the greatest part of the Iland into their subiection Not long after this Theodosius the second died at Constentinople in whose raigne as it is written the Sunne was doubled and a comet appeared almost from the Ides of Iuly till the moneth of September Martianus succeeded Theodosius in the East Martianus 450. an 6. m. 6. Wee haue aboue mentioned Gensericus with whom Valentinianus concluded a peace diuiding Affrica betwixt them About this time Athila King of the Huns hauing got Ducia and Pannonia most cruelly harrazed the neighbouring Countries Macedonia Mysia Thracia intending to conquer the Easterne part of the Romane Empire But perceiuing that the warre would be extreame difficult in regard the Gothes who then were in league with the Romans and inhabited part of Gallia as abouesaid aided the Romans therefore by his Ambassadours hee requires their amitie and confederacie but Aetius Valentinianus the Emperours Lieutenant preuented that who corroborating the league with Theodoricus
of Germanie vpon the Danish sea Theodoricus thereby to strengthen himselfe obliged the Kings of the Vandals Visigothes and Burgundians to him by affinitie Whilest the squares went thus in Italie great troubles were on foot throughout Thrace Affrica and Britaine where at length the Saxons got the vpperhand Zeno dying at Constantinople Anastatius 491. an 27. m. 3. d. 3. Anastatius succeeds him Hee fauoured many of those who allowed of Eutyches his opinion wherupon a dissention grew betwixt him and Gelasius Bishop of Rome who by tedious letters dehorts him as their bookes haue it from vndertaking the protection of them for there were two things saith he whereby principally this world should bee gouerned the sacred authoritie of Bishops and regall power and so much the more charge lies vpon the Priests for that they euen for other men must render an account to the Lord but he was to gouerne for ciuill policie yet so as to bee subiect to the Ministers of God and to depend vpon their iudgement and seeing that Priests doe obey the lawes politicall it is likewise iust that hee himselfe should not refuse those constitutions which the Steers-men in matters diuine establish therefore sithence this honour ought to be giuen to all Ministers of the Church the cause it selfe requires that to him most especially it should bee attributed whom God by his owne word as also the consent of the Church would haue to rule ouer the whole order of Priests Let him leaue off therfore and rather heare him an excuser in this life then finde him an accuser in the other After this his decree concerning the holy Bible is annexed in which he grants superiority to the Sea of Rome as they call it then to Alexandria the third place to Antiochia In Anastatius his raigne Sicilie was tossed with troubles and hostile insurrections which were quenched by the Authors death Then also the Hunnes wasted Armenia and Cappadocia the Getes Macedonia Thessalie and Epirus from both which the Emperour was enforced to buy his peace by gifts and no small losses Much about this time which was in the yeere of Grace 500. Clodoueus King the French first of all imbraced the Christian Religion hauing beene very oft and earnestly solicited thereunto as also to forsake his Idols and superstition by his wife who was of the house of Burgundie The Councell of Orleans in his raigne established which consisted of thirty three French Bishops is extant wherein amongst the rest it is decreed that if the rauisher of a Virgin shall flie to a Church though hee haue offered violence to the Virgin yet hee shall not come within danger of death but shall either bee as a bondslaue or else redeeme himselfe from her Anastatius slaine by lightening or as the papall law speakes dying vpon an x Sleidan as Meibomius notes here mistakes the Emperour for Pope Anastatius Iustine 518 an 9. d. 24. â— eruption of his bowels Iustinus succeeded a man of obscure parentage and from a swine-heard made a souldier as it is written He was at dissention with Theodoricus King of the Gothes Lord of Italie about diuersitie of Religion but yet they held off from blowes Theodoricus dying Alaricus his Grand-child by his sonne succeeded to the great ioy and contentment of the Gothes Iohn the first of that name was then Bishop of Rome He with other more was sent in Ambassage by the aforementioned King Theodoricus to Constantinople where as their bookes relate hee was most honourably entertained not onely by the people but also by the Emperour himselfe For they say they were exceeding ioyous that it was their fortune now at length to see and entertaine the blessed S. Peters Vicar as they tearme him in Greece which had neuer befallen them before since Constantines time the Great and Syluesters But it is strange that they should praâ—e thus of Syluester who came not into Greece as it is manifest For then when it was most beâ—oofefull as also needfull I meane at the Councell of Nice he stirred not but sent thither his Legates Victor and Vincent and afterwards as they relate he himselfe assembled another Councell at Rome wherein he confirmed the decrees of the Councell of Nice There is extant also a consolatorie Epistle of this Iohn the first to the Bishops of Italie wherein hee exhorts them that albeit King Theodoricus polluted with Arian heresie threatned destruction to them and to all Italie yet they should not desist from their purpose but resolutely proceed After Iustine Iustinianus 527. an 38. m. 3. d. 13. his sisters son Iustinianus was made Emperour Hee wholly bent himselfe to the restoring of the Common-wealth and at his first entrance set ouer the whole charge of gouernment to Belisarius who by many great battels ouercame the Persians transgressing their bounds and offring violence to the Romane dominions set free Illyricum wasted by the Gepidaes and Bulgarians reduced the Parthians being vp in armes to amitie ouerthrew the Vandals most powerfull forces in Affrica recouered Carthage and from thence striking ouer into Sicilie where hauing notice of the rebellion in Affrica he returnes thither and speedes well Then at length marching into Italie takes Naples sackes it ouerthrowes the Gothes whose King Theodatus then was After this he repaires to Rome where he was kindly and honourably entertained by all remouing from thence takes in the townes and forts euery where and amongst the rest Perousa after this he besieges Rauenna where Vitigis King of the Gothes giuing him battell loseth his Armie is taken prisoner and carried away by Belisarius to Constantinople The Gothes renewing their forces in the country beyond Po elect Hildebrand their king To him two succeeded and after them Totilas He in Belisarius his absence ouer-running all Italie takes Rome after a siege sackes and sets fire on it Belisarius hereupon recalled hauing finished the warre against the Parthians who againe forraged Syria returnes into Italie and recouers the Citie in a manner left desolate and then incountring with the enemy had a happy battell but sailing into Sicilie for prouision is called backe by Iustinianus which affoorded occasion to Totilas to renew his forces returne to Rome The Emperour forthwith ordaines Narses the Eunuch Generall in the Italian warre hee expelled the Gothes quite out of Italie which was so much the easilier effected they hauing lost their King Totilas who died of a wound That warre with the Gothes lasted eighteene yeeres And Iustinianus thus recouering Italie and Affricke after he had assumed his Grandchild by his daughter for his Collegue in the Empire departed this life Some write that hee was a Prince of a dull nature and ouerswaied by his wife Theodora Tribonianus the Lawyer was in high esteeme with him he who abrogating the writings and disputations of the Ancients gathered out of them an hotchpotch of the lawes and left vs the fragments onely which now goe vnder the name of the Pandects But he had
marching on beyond the Riuer Tigris and ransaking Persia farre and wide entring at length into amity with Sirochus the a Cosroes King of Persia's son who hauing slaine his father set vpon the Kingdome recouered Africa and Aegypt and whatsoeuer else the Persians had taken and it was couenanted that the Riuer Tigris should deuide the Persian and Roman dominions At this time also the Saracens seruing in the warres vnder Heraclius being defrauded of their pay reuolt in huge troopes and pillaging vp and downe Syria Mahomet being their Chieftaine took Damascus forraged Aegypt subdued Arabia and gaue the Persians some ouerthrowes This Mahomet was by parentage obscure but subtle and aduenturous as also afterwards enriched by mariage and by reason of his prompt wit carying great sway he propounds a new kind of doctrine to reason indeed very delectable but for the most part ridiculous and foolish whereby hee might more and more oblige the mindes of men and more firmly possesse himselfe with soueraigntie And though this flame might at first haue easily beene quenched yet being neglected in short space grew to a maine height and so from that time the Maiestie and Empire of the Romans in the East decayed more and more Nations reuolting one after another In Heraclius his raigne the fourth Councell of Toledo was celebrated where because most part of the Priests throughout Spaine did not euery day but onely vpon that day which wee call Sunday vse that prayer which Christ himselfe taught vs amongst other matters a reformation therein was decreed as also that the Apocalyps of S. Iohn as they say should bee read in the Church from Easter to Whitsontide The Gothes then raigned in Hispain when as the Spaniards growne weary as it is common of forraign gouernment attempting an innovation this Councell vnder a seuere penalty prohibited the practizing of any conspiracy against their King or the Gothish Nation and that after the Kings decease the States and Clergie of the whole Nation Constantine the III. raigned 2. moneths and Heraclian two yeares should by common consent appoint the successor The same decree was also renued in some other of their assemblies The singing of the Hebrew Allelujah in the Church in time of Lent was likewise forbidden Constans the II. 642. an 27. m. 8. d. 10. for that it was a time of sorrow and not of reioycing To Heraclius Constans succeeded who was his grandchild by his sonne Constantine He had an infortunate sea-fight with the Saracens who getting the victory tooke Rhodes and without doubt had proceeded further had not the factions kindled amongst them procured a two yeares truce with the Romanes The Emperour hauing this time to pause marches with an Army into Italy thereby as he boasted to rescue it out of the Enemies hands and arriuing at Tarento besieged Luceria and other places of Apulia belonging to the Lombards but in his iourney towards Naples his rereguard was cut off by the Lombards Entring Rome peaceably at length hee disrobes the City of all its ornaments and there staying a few dayes strucke ouer into Sicily where afterwards he was murthered in a Bath and some dissension arising after his death about succession the Sarazens laying hold on this opportunity with a great Nauy inuaded Sicilie commit a horrible massacre of the Islanders take Syracuse and carry away with them all Constans his spoiles taken from Rome Constantine the IIII or Bearded 669. an 16. d. 7. To Constans Constantine the IIII. succeeded commonly called the Bearded He for certain yeeres encountring with the Sarazens at length vanquisht them insomuch as they sued for peace and for a thirty yeares Truce as also condescended to pay a yearely Tribute and the Romanes Enemies in the East herewith shaken implore a peace But the Bulgars transpassing their bounds wast Thrace with them a peace was at length concluded and both the b Now Bursia in Asia Mysia's yeelded vp to them but afterwards when they perceiued the Romanes negligence breaking the league flye out againe and extenuate the forces of the Empire This Emperour as it is recorded was the first that ordained that whom the Clergy and people of Rome together with the souldiers had created Bishop of that City hee should obtaine full power for till this time the dignity of Bishop of Rome depended vpon the confirmation either of the Emperour or of his Deputy for Italy There is a long Epistle extant of Pope Leo the II to Constantine wherein hee condemnes all manner of heretiques and highly extolls him for his loue to and protection of Religion as also for his liberality and munificence adding that the Church hauing gotten such a Defender most ioyfully triumphed The sixth Councel at Constantinople 680. The sixth Counsell at Constantinople was held in his raign which consisted of 150. Bishops Wherein about the end thereof mention is made but in obscure words of those Canons stiled the Apostles But Gratianus reckons vp the contrary opinions for he auerres that there be those that can affirme that they were compiled by heretiques reiected by the Primitiue Church and accounted among the Apocrypha's Yet it is written that Zepherinus B. of Rome in order the sixteenth approued them as also after him this Councell before mentioned which as they report was ended in Iustine the II. his time Constantine the IIII. his sonne In briefe all flotes vpon incertaine grounds neither doe they agree in the number of the Canons for some hold 50. others 60. others 84. in which number indeed they are extant Whereby it may easily be coniectured that more were added by degrees and afterwards though proceeding from many comprehended vnder one title It is written that then also the Archbishop of Rauenna subiected himselfe to the Bishop of Rome who before that but most especially after the translation thither of the Exarchy would yeeld nothing at all to him To Constantine Iustinian II 686. an 10. Iustinianus his son succeeded he by reason of his nonage and inexperience misgouerned the Common-wealth and breaking the league which his father had made with the Sarazens and Bulgars was brought to that pinch as he himselfe was constrained to sue for peace to both of them At length being thrust out for his crueltie anâ— banisht with his nose cut off Leontius succeeded Leontius 696 an 3. hauing beene prisoner two yeares vpon suspition of affecting the Empire In the time of those broiles the Sarazens inuade Africa but were within two yeares after chased out thence by force of armes The Roman souldiers forsaking the garrison in Africa sith the Emperour sleighted ouer all affaires with negligence and carelessenesse and fearing lest they should againe bee expelled by the Sarazens Tiberius Apsimarus 699. an 7. who were then exceeding strong create one Tiberius Emperour He marches with his forces to Constantinople where winning the City takes Leontius cuts off his nose cast him into prison and constitutes a new Exarch in Italy And whilst
all matters were caried after this boisterous manner the Sarazens laying hold on this fit opportunity march out of Egypt with an huge Army and againe surprise Africa and Lybia and welnigh all Hispaine Iustinianus hee whom I aboue spoke of Iustinian the II. againe 706. An. 6. expeld and bannisht by Leontius by helpe of Tribellius King of Bulgaria at length takes Constantinople and therein Leontius and Tiberius whom hee put to death c First causing them to be caried vp and downe the city bound in cords then trampling vpon their necks and lastly beheading them Philippius Bardanes 712. an 2. m. 9. d. 7. after which hee raigned sixe yeares cruelly prouing also ingratefull to King Tribellius and at length ioyning battle with Philippicus Bardanes to whom the souldiers had reuolted both he and his sonne Tiberius were there slaine Pope Constantine pronounced this Philippicus for difference in Religion a Schismatick whose eyes being afterwards pluckt out by his owne seruants Anastatius the II. was his successor Anastatius the II. 715. an 1. m. 3. Hee sent a strong Nauie to the Rhodes to make warre with the Sarazens constituting an ecclesiasticall person Generall thereof whom the souldiers refusing to obey a mutinie arose and one Theodosius of obscure parentage was created Emperour Theodosius Adramittenus 716. m. 7. d. 16. who changing the voyage marches to Constantinople takes the City and confines Anastasius whoÌ„ he ouerthrew in battaile to a Monastery but not long after being expulst by Leo Lieutenant of his forces Leo Conon 717. an 24. m. 2. d. 25. hee also betakes himselfe to a Monasticall life About this time which was in the yeare of Grace 717. the Moores with their whole powers breake into Spaine and subdue it Rodericke being then King of the Hispaines whom the Gothes had elected The Sarazens in Leo's raigne hauing ouerrunne Thrace besiege Constantinople both by sea and land for three yeares space but at length being well nigh destroyed by the plague were constrained to retire home This Leo was a mortall aduersary to Gregory the II. Bishop of Rome and charged his Vicar or Exarch in Italy by all meanes to cut him off but the Lombards defended the Pope not for any loue they bare him but to the end that by these dissensions they might enlarge their owne Territories For vpon this occasion they surprised many townes belonging to the Exarchie-Certaine of this Gregories Epistles to the Clergy and Laity of Thuringia d A part of Saxony where the City Erford stands are extant whereby he admonishes them more and more to encrease in the knowledge of God as also to the Saxons sharply deterring them from worshipping of Idolls in which employment hee vsed one e An Englishman borne in Deuonshire Boniface his helpe whom he had sent into Germany The Emperour Leo throwes all statues Images of Saints out of Churches and enioynes the Pope also to doe the like but hee not onely disobeyes but also denounces sharpe punishment against him perseuering in his purpose Constantine the V. 741. an 35. m. 1. d. 27. To Leo his son Constantine of that name the V. succeeded surnamed Copronymos of the same Religion with his father He setting forth with a great Nauie against the Sarazens for recouery of Alexandria in Egypt vnderstanding by a messenger of the insurrections hatched at home and of Artabastus the new elected Emperour retires to Constantinople takes the City by force and puts out Artabastus his eies He also as his father Leo liued in vehement discord with Gregory the III. Bishop of Rome who forthwith sending his Nuntio's excommunicates him and they being cast in prison hee made a decree in the Councell thereupon assembled That whosoeuer should hereafter demolish the Images of Saints or contumeliously abuse them should be vtterly excluded from the Communion of the Church after this with all diligence and endeauour he erected Images in diuers Churches and as farre as he could sumptuously adorned them After Gregory the III. Zacharias succeeded An Epistle of his is extant to one Boniface a Bishop in Germany the same man as it appeares whose helpe Gregory the II. vsed as a little aboue mentioned Zacharias satisfied his requests and permitted Bishopricks at Merburgh Bamberg and Erphord and also gaue him leaue to goe to Charlemaine Charles Martel his sonne who was desirous to haue a Councell held in some City of the French Kingdome and that he might diligently reforme the abuses of the Church but most especially remoue adulterers and those that had many wiues from the order of Priesthood for sithence after the vndertaking of the holy Ministery they ought not to haue or touch so much as one wife much lesse at one and the same time they should haue more for Pauls words that a Bishop should bee the husband of one wife is to bee vnderstood not of the time present but past to wit that hee who desires to be admitted into the ministeriall function should haue no more wiues then one To this Epistle Charlemaines Edict who stiles himselfe Duke of the French is annexed wherein hee ordaines that a Councell should be held euery yeare in his presence and commands that adulterous Priests and whoremongers should be remoued out of their places and likewise prohibits them from hunting and hawking and charges them not to maintaine any whore at home but concerning wiues not a word From this time Aistulphus King of the Lombards required a tribute from the Romans sharply menacing them in case of non-payment Stephen the II. of that name then Bishop of Rome seeing hee could not stop his mouth neither with flatteries nor rewards sues to Constantine the Emperour for ayde but no helpe comming from him hee sollicites Pipin lately as we below shall mention made king of the French to lend him his hand He marching with an Army into Italy besieges Pauie and compells Aistulphus to come to composition but the Enemy after Pipins returne home growne more kene againe takes armes whereupon Pipin againe solicited marches into Italy then at length Aistulphus surrenders the Exarchie to Pipin in which Country those Cities are of chiefe account Rauenna Fauentia Caesena Forli Forlimpopoli Bologna Reggio Parma and Placentia It is written that Pipin deliuered all this Countrey into the Popes hands though the Emperor first required him to restore them to him as belonging to the Empire not to the Church of Rome To Constantine â—â—o the IIII 775. an 4. m. 11. d. 26. his son Leo the IIII. succeeded He vndertooke one only expedition into f Against the Sarazeni Syria where discomfited he retires home and not long after dyed of the same religion with his father leauing behind him his son Constantine the VI. who by reason of his nonage not of ability to raigne his mother Irene gouerned the Common-wealth but he waxen warmer in g 20 yeares of age yeares deposing his mother tooke the Empire vpon himselfe with no lesse insolency
Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
and seat as appeares out of that which we haue before mentioned was by the Emperour Charles redintigrated and as it were a new bodie re-assumed beautie and feature after so many and so great Prouinces were reduced into one mans principalitie Nicephorus the other Emperour in the East was much displeased hereat but Charles by his humanitie and kindenesse appeased him and interchanging presents both of them liued in amitie and the certaine bounds of each Empire were set out Besides other assemblies he had a Councell at Rhemes wherin amongst many others one decree was that Bishops should diligently peruse the holy Scriptures and Preach the Word of God There was a Councell also held at Mentz the yeere before his death and others some yeeres before at Tours Chaalons and Arles about reformation of the Church as they deliuer it that liued in those times Then constituting his sonne Lewis heire of his kingdome and of the Empire died at Aix a towne in Gallia Belgica aged seuenty yeeres in the yeere after Christs birth eight hundred and fourteene after hee had beene Emperour almost fourteene yeeres the first of any Germane aduanced to that dignitie In his time there were onely one and twenty Metropolitane Cities as they call them throughout Italie Germanie and France as Rome Rauenna Millaine Friuly Grado Cullen Mentz Saltzburgh Triers Roane Sens Besanson Lyons Rhemes Orleans Vienna Monstier Iuerdun Burdeaux Tours and Burges in Berry Pipin his Father committed the Exarchat taken from the Lombards into the Bishops of Romes hands as aboue said which indeed is so deliuered to memorie and it is reported that hee directly gaue it to them but that very many call into question Eginardus one very familiar with y Charles him and his sworne Scribe writes that hee more dearely esteemed of that Church which they call S. Peters in Rome then any other and that a great masse of gold siluer and iewels was transported thither and very many gifts sent from him to the Popes for herein he vsed extraordinary diligence that by his meanes and procurement the Citie of Rome might inioy her ancient authoritie and S. Peters Church might not onely remaine safe and secured vnder his patronage but also flourish in wealth aboue other Churches Thus much onely he writes but of the donation of so many and such potent Cities within the bounds of the Empire not a word nay it is written that after his fourth comming into Italie when hee was created Emperour he ordered not onely the publike affaires but also both ecclesiasticall and priuate concerning the Pope the Citie of Rome and all Italie For when he was not yet Emperour but onely King of France hauing vanquished Desiderius King of the Lombards as aboue faid he came to Rome and had a Councell in which as their bookes relate Adrian the first together with the whole Councell granted him the right and power of electing the Pope as also disposing of the sea Apostolique as they tearme it and confirming Bishops Eginardus attributes to this Charles many vertues worthie of a Prince as temperance modestie frugalitie loue to religion learning eloquence and knowledge not onely of the Latine but also of the Greeke tongue withall his exceeding care and diligence in educating and nurturing vp his children to the same course He also as it is written founded the Academie of Paris as well of his owne accord as also by the instigation of z Commonly called Alcoinus an English man so Bede and others Albinus his Tutor for learning of the arts as Eginardus reports He also gaue Germane names to the twelue moneths and to the windes which they now vse whereas before that time as the same writer relates the French vsed partly Latine partly barbarous names And thus farre in Preface-wise touching the Germanes and the Emperour Charles henceforward I le briefly run ouer and shew after what manner this part of the Romane Empire in the West hard and sharpe restored and recollected by Charles againe decaied which being diuided fell into many mens dominions who held the same as their proper right not acknowledging the fountaine from whence they flowed Insomuch as that Maiesticall and so much renowned sublimitie of the Romane Empire is nothing else at this day then a certaine slender shadow of a great bodie after it was shrunk from such an huge masse to Germanie one onely particle of Europe Last of all I le briefly explaine how Daniel foretold this interchangeable course of Monarchies and fall of the Romane Empire Now Lewis Charles his son Lewis l. 814 an 26. m. 14. d. 24. another Germane Emperour renewed amitie with Leo Armenius Emperour of Greece and Pope Leo dying in the third yeere of his raigne his successor Stephen the IIII. comming into France consecrated a Emperour him at Rhemes To this Pope Paschalis succeeded who by reason the Emperour interposed not his authoritie diligently and earnestly excusing the fact alledged that the Papacie was obtruded vpon him altogether against his will The Papall bookes haue it that this Lewis the Emperour confirmed to this Paschalis and to the rest after him both the possession of goods and also permitted a free election that whomsoeuer all the Romans should iudge fit for that dignitie he should be accounted Pope But I see not what credence can be giuen to such kinde of writings as these for they so iarre amongst themselues and are so patcht together without all method that it cannot bee vnderstood what should follow Lewis had three sonnes Lotharius whom hee elected Collegue in the Empire and his Kingdome Charles who succeded his deceased brother b In France Pipin he set ouer Aquitania and Lewis ouer Bauaria Vpon a rebellion raised The Emperour Lewis deposed by his owne sonnes an 833. hee being taken by his sonnes and deposed from his Kingdome was confined to a Monasticall life at Compeigne a towne of the Sâ—issons The French Annall writers report that the ecclesiasticall Prelates whose hautinesse and riot hee desired to restraine conuocating some assemblies at Aix stirred vp those broyles against him and prouokt his sonnes to put in practice this so impious a fact Restored the sixt moneth following But being set at liberty the sixt moneth following to the great contentment of the people hee recouered his Kingdome and all more Because the place serues let vs by the way take a view of the many Nationall Synods held in France for next after that beforementioned at Aix there was another at Troy in Champaigne after that at Rhemes Tours Digion Paris Lyons Vienna Auinion Vierron Orleans and many more in the same places for when the affaires of the Common-wealth so required the Kings themselues conuocated aswell the States Ecclesiasticall as others for reforming of publike enormities In like manner Lewis the twelth at bitter enmity wiâ—h Iulius the second assembled a Councell of his owne people at Tours and Lyons in the yeare of Grace 1510. and 1511. Now to the
towards them After Henries decease when the Electorall Princes could not agree there was an interreigne or vacancy a h For two yeares Conradus to 24. an 14. m. 10. d. 12. while At length Conradus Duke of Franconia succeeded He enforced Stephen King of Hungary to conditions of peace And hauing setled the affaires of Germany makes speed into Italy which was almost all ready to rebell And at first he laies siege to Millaine then going to Rome where consecrated by Iohn the XVIII hee 's proclaimed Augustus with the peoples acclamation Then impoâ—ing a mulct vpon those that attempted the innouation he composed Italy and returned into Germany But new troubles againe kindling in Italy hee marches thither and punishes the Authors of that Conspiracy the Archbishop of Millaine being one amongst the rest neither desisted hee till hee had brought it all vnder his subiection Hauing dispatcht there hee returnes home and dyed at Vtrecht a Towne vpon the frontiers of i Holland Batauia His son Henry of that name the III. succeeded him by consent of the Electorall Princes Hee supprest the Bohemians then rebelling and made them tributary re-inthronized Peter King of Hungary once or twice deposed by his owne subiects and quieted the whole Countrey though not without great losse of his own men At this time hapned an exceeding great vprâ— aâ—e at Rome for Three contended for the Papacy and what they attempted was all by sinister practices those were Benedict the IX Siluester the III. and Gregory the VI. The Emperour hereupon marching thither hauing after a siege taken the City he calls a Synod and constitutes Suitgerus Bishop of Bamberg Pope who changing his name was called Clement the II. from whom soone after the Pope receiued consecration Then againe the Citizens tooke oath not any wayes to meddle with the Popes Creation without the Emperours assent Italy thus set at peace againe soone after the Emperours returne into Germany Pope Clement dyed and was buryed at Bambergh The Emperor vpon notice hereof creates Boppo Bishop of Frisingen Pope This was Damasus the II. who holding the place but 23 dayes Leo the IX Bishop of Tull supplied the deceaseds place A certaine parcell of an Epistle of his is extant wherin he saies it is not lawfull for a Bishop Priest or Deacon to forsake his wife for Religion sake but it is fit they should find her with such necessaries as belong to naturall sustentation notwithstanding in case she vse carnall copulation it is not lawfull sithence Paul saies He had power aswell as the other Apostles to lead about a wife 1 Cor. 9. which place he thus interprets That the Apostles had their wiues alwayes with them for this intent that they should be maintained together with them by those whom their husbands instructed in the Christian Religion and faith and not that they should exercise the office of wedlocke or lye together therefore Saint Paul thought fit to vse the word lead about and not lye with In the yeare 1050 Leo going from Rome assembled a Councell of 42. Bishops at Mentz wherein the Emperor sare President He dying within three yeares after Gebehardus Bishop of Aisten by the Emperours assent succeeded him this was Victor the II. The Emperour marching into Italy after hee had setled the affaires there returnes into Germanie comes to treaty with Henry the first of that name King of France dyes in Saxonie and was buried at Spire the Pope and many other Nobles being present at his death He had a sonne called Henry very k Seuen yeares old Henry IIII 1056. An. 49. m. 10. d. 3. yong but was constituted Emperour a little before notwithstanding his Mother and the Bishop of Auspurge gouerned the Empire Within a while after Pope Victor the II. dyes after hee had held the Papacy little aboue two yeares To him Fredericke of the house of Lorraine called Stephen the IX succeeded Hee also within few moneths after dying at Florence One Benedict of that name the X. by helpe of his friends and without the Emperours assent sets vpon the Papacie The Romans liked not well of this prancke who to acquit themselues dispatching their Ambassadour to the Emperour proffer the same fidelitie to him which they had performed to his Father and intreat him to constitute a lawfull Pope Benedict hereupon depriued the Emperour gaue them Gerhardus Bishop of Florence this was Nicholas the II. The Princes of Germanie grudged much that the Common-wealth should be gouerned by a woman the Emperouâ—s mother as aboue said vpon which occasion a meane was inuented to draw away her sonne from her whereupon the Archbishop of Mentz and Cullen had the prime managing of all affaires to them the Archbishop of Bremen one in exceeding great fauour with the young Prince was now and then conioyned who alone ouer-ruling him disposes of Ecclesiasticall promotions to himselfe and his friends especially Abbeies and to keepe the flame of enuy lower perswades the Emperour to conferre them likewise vpon other Princes In the meane space Nicholas the II. dies in whose place the Emperour constitutes the Bishop of Parma but hauing not at all acquainted the Senate of Rome herewith and in that regard some troubles likely to insue Alexander the II. Bishop of Luca was elected Betwixt those two a sharpe controuersie followed but Alexander hauing the longer sword carried it The Archbishop of Bremen onely bearing all sway with the Emperour incensed his fellow Bishops against him by whom at length he was depriued and though shortly after restored to his place yet hee long suruiued it not And the Emperour necessity constraining him sith all in a manner complained of the state of the Common-wealth requested Anno Archbishop of Cullen to vndertake the Gouernement But he seeing insolencie and iniquitie bore great sway excusing his age and sicklinesse afterwards resignes vp his office to him This young Emperour now grown to two and twenty being by nature prone to vice beganne to increase his lasciuiousnesse and despising his wife Bertha kept many Concubines Then raising Castles all ouer Saxony intended to bring them into seruitude and restrained not his officers who vsed much excesse and insolencie Hereupon the Saxons as well the Nobilitie as Clergie knitting a league betooke themselues to Armes in vindication of their libertie which after much adoe and long intercession they lay downe againe he first satisfying their demands and making a narrow escape by flight in the night time Alexander the II. dying the Romane Nobilitie without the Emperours assent set vp Hildebrand called Gregory of that name the VII The Emperour vpon notice hereof expostulates with them by his Ambassadours and withall admonishes the Pope to giue him satisfaction herein Hee makes answer that hee was drawne to it against his will and when hee neuer dreamt of it and that he would not haue beene inaugurated before Hee and the rest of the Princes of Germany had approued of his election Thus hee appeased the Emperour and
of their owne modestie in other mens impudency That decree which goes vnder Gratians name in diuers places amongst other passages hath these The Rule of the Church of Rome which is the blessed Apostle S. Peters seat must bee followed It is not lawfull to hold a Councell without permission of the Bishop of Rome The Lawes of the Church Rome are to bee obserued as pronounced by Peters owne mouth What yoke the Church of Rome imposes though it be not tolerable it must be endured The Ministers of the Church ought to vow chastity that is they should not mary It is lawfull for him that hath not a wife to haue a Concubine If the Pope bee negligent and remisse in his office hee may hurt indeed aswell himselfe as others notwithstanding he cannot bee iudged by any man because he himselfe is to iudge all men The Emperour ought to be ruled by and not rule ouer the Pope All mortall men besides may be iudged by men but the Pope Peters successour by God alone It is lawfull for the Pope to release subiects from their loyalty and oath whereby they are bound to their Prince In Gregories Decretall Epistles and in Boniface his sixt booke of Decretalls the Clementines and Extrauagants as they call them it is set down there amongst other things That the Popes authority is not subiect to the Decrees of Councells It belongs to the Pope to approue of the elected Emperor or to reiect him if hee bee not fit There are two great lights which gouerne the world the Sunne and the Moone The Pope is in stead of the Sunne and the Emperour of the Moone Bishops may deale more mildly with those that haue offended by adulterie and other such crimes as being of lower nature The Pope onely hath cognizance concerning the priuiledges of the Church of Rome The bones of excommunicate persons already buried ought to bee digged vp and throwne away The Pope may depose the Emperour from his place and Magistracy The Emperour is bound to performe allegiance and fealty to the Pope by oath It is iust that Ecclesiasticall persons should be exempt and free from all cost molestation and charge A man may bee declared an Heretique after his death and his goods be confiscated The sonnes of heretiques ought not to bee admitted to any place of gouernment either ciuill or ecclesiasticall It is necessary to saluation that all men bee subiect to the Pope of Rome Those few places onely are drawne out of an immense heape and what kind of stuffe they are there 's no man that is well in his wits but may perceiue The Law is that men of deepest learning should define the same Soueraigne reason is grafted in Nature which commands those things that are to bee done and forbids those that are contrary And all lawes ought to haue reference to the common good And the Law-maker ought to haue the like affection towards the people and Common-wealth that the father hath towards his owne Children but what likelihood hereof is there in any the beforementioned places but for them not onely to excuse those fopperies but also to garnish adorne and illustrate them with new Commentaries and rather to babble out any thing then suffer their dignity to bee impeached I pray you what grosse impudencie is this but â—â—eâ—sting no deeper If pride auarice ambition of bearing rule and ignorance of learning drew them on to make such decrees if they themselues vary in opinions nor will one bee tyed to anothers lawes because endued with equality of power pray thee why doest thou macerate thy selfe in straightning those crooked and contrarizing decrees I omit that Ocean or rather sincke I meane that part of the Papall law containing the sale of benefices as they cal them and consecrated goods for who is able to reckon vp their deceipts and collusions no not they themselues that haue beene factors many yeares together in this kind of trafficke do sufficiently vnderstand and know all the trickes when new ones are daily inuented But this argument requires both another time and a booke of purpose now therefore let vs returne to our purpose As Frederick the Emperour so also Lewis the IX King of France inuaded Syria and Aegypt with an Army who afterwards o Of the plague dyed at the siege of p In Africa where formerly as some say Carthage stood Tunis City in the yeare of Grace 1270. In his raigne William Bishop of Paris raised a question about Ecclesiasticall Benefices which cause being publikely discust his opinion tooke place that it was not lawfull for any man to hold more then one but it is sufficient to haue spoken onely and writ down such decrees as those To Gregory Innocent the IIII succeeded vpon whom as it were by hereditary succession the Emperours displeasure fell Wherupon calling a Councel at Lyons he summons the Emperour excommunicates him for not appearing depriues him of his dignity exhorting the Princes of Germany to choose another and this his decree which amongst others is in priuate as also certaine of the Emperours Epistles to seuerall Kings are extant wherein he demonstrates at large the Popes iniquitie and his owne innocencie The Emperour was minded to goe to Lyons and trie his fortunes but a new rebellion breaking forth throughout Italie turnes all his forces that way where good successe failing him he returning into Puel began to languish and at length died Some say hee was poisoned others strangled by his bastard sonne Manfred who afterwards inuaded Italie At that time liued the famous Lawier Azo after whom the whole streame of Writers followed who violating that sharpe and seuere edict of the Emperour q Commanding his Code onely into which as abouesaid the whole law was contracied to be bserued Iustinian filled the world with an innumerable companie of Books from whence we must now seeke those points which those Ancients handled most copiously and learnedly For one man compiles anothers workes so that there is no end or measure of writing and all ouerflowes in contrary opinions in so much as the old mans saying may properly take place here who hauing asked three Lawyers their aduise you haue done brauely saith he I am a great deale further to seeke then before I omit the quiddities which are daily deuised in abundance for the Comedians saying falls right here that craft starts one mischiefe in the necke of another Cicero complaines that many worthy ordinances were setled by lawes but those for the most part were corrupted and depraued by Lawyers inuentions What if hee were now liuing and saw those Pyramides of bookes and our moderne practice and that sacred repositorie of the lawes thus filthily polluted miserably contaminated Howbeit as God indeed hath within our memorie brought all other Arts to light againe so hath he raised vp many men who being furnished with the help of good learning thinke those paines taken in this behalfe not to be repented of being to restore this
subiect most beautifull and altogether necessary for the societie of mankinde yea this gift euen heauenly drawne out and conuaied from the mid-fountaines of Philosophie to it 's former splendor and equitie which their indeauours merit not onely publike commendation but also remuneration After his death there was a vacancie for almost 22. yeeres A vacancie in the Empire for the space of 22. yeers after Fredericke the II. his decease first one then another being elected who notwithstanding held not the sway of gouernement in those troublesome times In the meane time the Kingdome of Naples fell from the Emperour Frederickes house into the hands of the French and afterwards Sicilie also For the Popes relied vpon the French power though soone after most cruell warres insued about those Kingdomes betwixt the house of Arragon and the house of Angiers in France but that appertaines not to this place When the Common-wealth had floated in this state as aforesaid for so many yeers together Rudolphus Habspurgh 1273. an 17. m. 9. d. 16. Rudolphus Habspurgh is created Emperour He in the beginning of his raign appeased those commotions spread throughout Germanie And after some Diets ended marches out against Ottacar King of Bohemia then in rebellion whom he inforced to conditions of peace which he notwithstanding by his wiues instigation not long after breakes and marching the second time into Austria is slaine in battell Ladislaus Cunus King of Hungary aided the Emperour Rudolphus At length a peace being concluded with the Bohemians by r Iutta the Emperous daughter was married to Wencislaus King of Bohemia Ottacars sonne marriage the Emperour gaue Austria which the King of Bohemia had held many yeeres together to Albertus his sonne and being hindred by diuers businesses in Germany went not downe into Italie neither was he inclined much that way howsoeuer for it is reported of him that hee would sometimes merrily tell a tale of the Foxe that would not visit the Lyon lying counterfeitly sicke in a certaine denne because hee was affrighted with the footsteps of other beasts of which none had returned notwithstanding he deputed a Gouernour in Italie in manner of Vice-Emperour and as it is written confirmed the often mentioned Countrey of Flaminiae and the Exarchie to the Church of Rome when hee saw very small commoditie returne to him from those parts For the Emperours wearied with perpetuall dissention and variance with the Popes became more remisse neither would the Popes euer bee at quiet till they had remoued them forth of the Coasts of Italie and therefore in a manner shelrring themselues vnder the wings of the French Kings and fostering their factions by the Bishops of Germany at length effected their owne wished desires But here by the way let vs call to minde the interchangeable course of estates when as they who were secure had their being and held their place and dignitie by fauour of the Emperours were inriched by their goods and liberalities both arrogated dominion ouer them and also defrauded them of their patrimony For they keepe to themselues not onely a good part of Italie but haue also strictly obliged the Kings of Sicilie and Naples to their partie which two kings both pay thē yeerely tribute and also are forbidden to vndertake the imperiall dignitie without their permission and when they receiue possession from them amongst other clauses that is one part of their oath That memorable massacre of the French through out Sicilie happened in Rudolphus the Emperours time For they being in possession of that Country where after soldiers fashion playing many insolent and outragious prankes were by secret conspiracie after a signe giuen all put to the sword when the Bell rung to euening prayers This Massacre is cōmonly called the Sicilian Vespers The Sicilian Vespers 1281. which was committed vpon Easter day in the yeere 1281. Rudolphus vpon a summe of money paid infranchised and set charge-free many Cities in Italie belonging to the Empire as the Bononians Florentines Genowaies Lucans and others After this assembling the Princes at Franckeford he desired but in vaine to haue his sonne Albert assigned his successor Rudolphus dying Adolphus of Nassaw 1292. an 6. m 5. d. 7. Adolphus of the house of Nassaw succeeded who not long after beganne to picke quarrels with Albertus Arch-duke of Austria and moreouer offending the Princes of Germanie by his demeanour as also the Archbishop of Mentz by whose helpe hee was made Emperour is deposed and Albertus Arch-duke of Austria Rudolphus his sonne is elected who vniting his forces hauing the Princes aid makes forward toward Adolphus when giuing him battell in the Bishopricke of Spire Adolphus being grieuously wounded by Albertus was soone after slaine by the rest of the souldiers After this victorie Albertus 1298 an 9. m 9. d. 5. Albertus to confirme his owne title lest any might report that his former election was vniust desired to bee solemnly created Emperour which done Pope Boniface the VIII reclaimed denying to ratifie what the rest of the Princes had done but within a while after when Philip the Faire King of France and hee fell into bitter dissention hee approoued of Albertus and spoke much in praise of his progenitours At length Albertus was slaine by his owne kinsmen as hee was marching into Bohemia hauing all in readinesse to intrude his sonne Fredericke into that kingdome This Pope Boniface added a sixth Booke to Gregory the IX his decretall Epistles which are contained in fiue Bookes Amongst the rest he made a decree that it might be lawfull for the Pope to dispossesse himselfe of the Papacie for is written that he himselfe by sinister meanes perswaded Caelestine the V. thereunto whom hee succeded After Albertus Henry Henry the VII 1308. an 4. m. 9. of that name the VII of the house of Luxemburgh is created Emperour He hauing by marriage made his sonne King of Bohemia goe downe into Italie the estate whereof was at that time most miserable For euer since Fredericke the II. his decease about 57. yeers the Emperour neglected Italie which caused the sundry dilacerations therof from them by the greater Nobles especially by the ſ Two Noble families in Sueuia which afterwards remoued into Italie Guelphs and Gibelines which two factions haue many retainers in those parts He therefore first of all constitutes Gouernours ouer the Cities and free burroughs throughout Lombardie and swore the inhabitants to his subiection then resting a while at Millaine indeauouring but all in vaine to reconcile the before-mentioned factions where when Turianus Gouernour of the Citie had complotted to assaile him vnawares after discouerie of the conspiracie and suppression of his aduersaries hee commits the gouernement of the Citie to a Vicount All the Cities in that Country yeelded into his power and protection onely Brescia rebelled the walles whereof hauing after a long siege taken it hee demolisht Then marching through Genua and so striking ouer to Pisa arriued at Rome and
haue a care of the common good After the affaires were setled in Germany hee goes downe into Italy at what time the Venetians and Florentines were vp in Armes both by sea land against Philip Maria Iohn Galeas his son Duke of Millaine and so forward to Rome being there consecrated by Eugenius the IIII. and returned by Basil where then there was another Councell held Albertus Archduke of Austria Albertus II. 1437. an 1. m. 9. d. 27. King of Hungary and Bohemia was his successour whom the ciuill warres at home and forraigne abroad held backe from Italy About this time those wits were rouzed vp againe which beganne to polish the liberall sciences language and good letters the Italians indeed gaue the onset who were furthered by helpe of the Graecians and then after followed the Germanes French and other Nations and further when the inuention of u Printing wâ—s inuented in Germany in the yeare 1440 So Pollydor Virgill and others affirme Printing came to light so immense was the profit thereof that it is incredible what a happy and ioyfull progresse ensued For now this course of studie hauing beene constantly continued euer since that time It is aduanced so high that this our age may enter into comparison with the most learned ages in time past and in this regard is blessed aboue all the rest in that it hath pleased God to illuminate this knowledge of the best Arts and languages with the true knowledge of Him Whereas those Ancients furnished onely with the helpe of learning though men most eloquent yet they were plunged in depth of darknes and searcht in vaine after that quintessence of goodnesse whereof they writ so much To Albertus Frederick III. 1440. an 53. m. 7. d. 19. Fredericke the III. Archduke of Austria succeeded hee passed quietly to Rome and receiued consecration from Pope Nicholas the V. so returning home without drawing a sword in Italy In the fourth yeare of his raigne Vladislaus Vladislaus his sonne King of Polonia and Hungary hauing by Pope Eugenius the III. his instigation broke the Truce was ouerthrowne in battell and slaine at Varna or Dionysiopolis the XI of Nouember by Amurath the II. Emperour of the Turkes The IX yeare after this Mahomet Amuraths sonne Constantinople taken by Amurath the II. 1453. The Turkish Army at the siege thereof consisted of 400000. men tooke the City of Constantinople by force of Armes which his successors haue now held this * From 1453. when it was taken till 1556. when Sleidan writ this booke Maximilian 1493. an 25 m. 4. d. 25. The Moors chased cut of Granado in Spaine 1487. Charles the V. 1519. an 38. m. 6. d. 27. 103. yeares keeping their Imperiall Court there Casimiâ— Vladislaus his brother succeeded him in the Kingdome of Polonia and Ladislaus the Emperor Albert the II. his posthume sonne in Hungary To Fredericke the Emperor his son Maximilian succeeded A little before the death of this Emperour Fredericke Ferdinando King of Spaine chasing out the Moores annexed Betica commonly called the Kingdome of Granado to his owne Crowne Maximilian as he did many more made warre also vpon the Venetians Him the most puissant Emperor Charles being his grandchild by his son * Archd. of Austria Philip succeeded who now swayes the Scepter Thus out of that which we haue mentioned it clearly appeares after what manner the Romane Empire then which none euer was or will be more potent is now in a manner crusht in peeces For throughout Asia we haue not so much as a foot or a nailes breadth as the prouerbe is The Turkes Scythians and other Enemies of our Religon hold all there Wee haue lost all Africa but what hath beene recouered of late yeares by Charles the V. when hee wonne Tunis from Aenobarbe the Turkish Lieutenant archieuing a glorious victory and made the King there tributary to him as also the fifteenth yeare following besieged and tooke the Town of Aphricke Portugal Spaine France Britaine Denmarke Sarmatia Pannonia Illyricum all Greece with the adiacent Countries are torne away as also the Ilands of Sicilie Sardinia Corsica Maiorique and Minorique and Sauoy which Prouinces haue their peculiar Lords who hold full power in all matters and are not at a penny charge about any affaires of the Empire Now let vs looke vpon Italy the old ancient and first patrimony of the Romane Empire but wherein doth it participate with vs The Kings of Spaine by ancient succession hold Calabria Apulia Campania and Naples The Popes keepe in their hands the City of Rome formerly the Emperours Palace and Court Imperiâ—ll together with Marca de Ancona Romandiola and part of Tuscane who are so farre from acknowledging subiection to the Emperour that they hold the Emperours and their Deputies to bee bound to them Those Cities there of any strength either haue their proper Lords or else are swayed by factions and hauing nothing at all to doe with vs. Now for the Venetians what a company hold they not onely of goodly Cities and freeburrowes but also Prouinces they themselues in the interim being an absolute free-state and quite separated from the Romane Empire As for Insubria commonly called Lombardy that indeed belongs somewhat nearer to vs but it totters too neither receiue wee any certaine profit from thence For after that our Emperours had as abouesaid first constituted Viscounts there as they call them and afterwards Dukes how miserably was it rent to peeces and euer since that time how little did it benefit vs For our Emperours neglecting it in time of the warres there the house of the Sfortia's dispossessing the Vicounts seized vpon it whom afterwards Lewis the XII and Francis the I. Kings of France excluded the latter whereof held it for sixe yeeres till the Emperour Charles the V. recouered it Thus you see no reuenues come from any part of Italie for they neither repaire to our Diets nor contribute any thing at all to any publike vse or necessitie but what they doe voluntarily or in fauour to the Emperour onely Germanie remaines which alwaies repugned the Romane Empire scarce euer free from rebellion as before appears till at length it was gathered together by the Emperour Charles the Great and reduced into one body after which time when the power of electing the Emperours was committed to the seuen Electors as we haue formerly shewed it became the Emperours Court and Mansion place And here too wee must consider with what difficultie this little diminitiue body of the Empire congealed in Germanie could incorporate it self for when were we euer free from iarres and ciuill broiles So now whatsoeuer goes vnder the name of the Empire is incuded within the bounds of Germany for all forraigne places and those without the compasse thereof are fallen away Howbeit we see there are many euen within those small compast limits that flie backe and as much as they can withdraw themselues and their countries forth of the iurisdiction of the
Empire I passe ouer in silence those neighbouring Kings and other Princes that day by day catch snatch away as much as they can from this feeble and saplesse little body which scarce cleaues to the bones striuing to bring that into their owne dominions which belonged to the Common-wealth But to come to an end in some time let vs lend our attention to Daniels prophecie concerning all that is spoken We haue treated of the Image that Nabuchodonozar saw in his dreame whereto wee will returne againe but in the interim take a view of some other places In his VII Chap. he describes the foure beasts which in a dream he saw cōming out of the Sea A Lyon a Beare a Leopard and the fourth and last he saies was terrible and dreadfull to behold The Lyon signifies the kingdome of Assyria the two wings which he had are as it were the two members of that Empire Babylon and Assyria By the Beare is vnderstood the kingdome of Persia by which Babylon was conquered the three ribs which hee saies were in his mouth betwixt his teeth are the three chiefe Kings of that Monarchie Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes who were more famous then the rest and eate much flesh as he speakes that is brought many nations into their subiection The Leopard is Alexander the Great or the Greeke Empire his foure wings heads are the foure kingdomes which rise out of that Monarchy after Alexanders death The fourth and last Beast is the Romane Empire the tenne hornes are his members or Prouinces such as were Syria Aegypt Asia Greece Affricke Spaine Gallia Italie Germanie Brittaine for all those they held Now a certaine little horne grew vp and shot forth amongst the tenne hornes which pluckt away three hornes from those ten This notifies the kingdome of Mahomet or the Turke which from a small beginning budding forth of the Romane Monarchy seized vpon three of the chiefest parts thereof Egypt Asia and Greece Further this little horne hath eyes and was reproachfull against God For Mahomet vented a new kinde of doctrine which was well liked of by his followers as carrying some shew of wisedome in it Those are the eyes but indeed hee blasphemes God For hee abolishes the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles and acknowledges no benefit by Christ but reproachfully railes against all doctrine concerning Christ Further that little horne saith he shall make warre with the Saints and sore afflict them till the Ancient of daies shall come to iudgement who hath neither beginning nor end whereby it clearely appeares that within the time of this Empire the tearme of this world shall haue an end and shall neuer be againe but after the dissolution of all earthly Principalities then shall follow that perpetual kingdome whereof Christ shall be Prince and Head In his eight chapter the Prophet Daniel describes the Ramme and the Goat which the Angell afterwards plainely interprets saying the Ram with two hornes betokens the Kings of the Medes and Persians and the Goat the Greeke Empire and the great horne in his forehead the first king of that Empire and that foure hornes succeeded after that horne was broken it signifies saith he that foure kingdomes shall rise out of that Empire but not to bee compared to that first King for strength and puissance Here we may see how properly and infallibly the Prophet Daniel portraies Alexander the Great two hundred yeeres and more before his raigne For it shall so fall out saith hee that the Goat shall not touch the earth that is he should runne ouer his warres with exceeding celeritie and no man should be able to deliuer the Ramme out of his hand for Alexander raigned onely twelue yeeres in which little inch of time hee almost subdued all Asia as wee haue aboue shewed And though the Medes and Persians were of incredible strength yet in three set battels Darius was ouerthrowne and lost his life and his Empire both at once Many write that when Alexander came to Ierusalem the High-Priest read that place of Daniel to him which exceedingly reioyced him Againe that another horne should rise from amongst those foure hornes at first but small but afterwards very powerfull which should grieuously oppresse the Sanctuary herely saith hee hee foretells those most bitter persecutions which the Iewes should suffer vnder Alexander the Great his successors the Kings of Egypt and Syria betwixt whom the Country of Iudea lies For the Iewes haue felt that horne which rose out of the foure hornes in Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria that most cruell destroier Hither also we must apply the eleuenth chapter wherein he speakes againe of Alexander the Great and so copiously and properly that it may rather seeme an Historie then a Prophecie But now again let vs return to Nabuchodonozors Image whereof vpon occasion wee spoke in our first booke as for the interpretation thereof concerning the three first Monarchies I will not repeat it because it is both perspicuous as also made good by the times themselues onely we will speake something of the fourth because it both properly appertaines vnto vs who liue in it and is more exactly described by Daniel It shall be of iron saith he which shall breake in pieces and bring all the rest of the Monarchies in subiection to it there needs not many words in explanation hereof for the matter it selfe speakes and it manifestly appeares out of the historie of those Monarchs which wee haue reckoned vp But the Images feet and the toes of the feet are part of iron part of potters clay As the foot of a mans body is diuided into toes so the Romane Empire after it hath for a while continued strong being supported by iron legges and incircled the whole world in its circumference shall fall into toes and that massie body shall be dissolued This also is plainely effected and needs no explication for at this day what is more diuided then the body of that most spacious Empire And though the case thus stand yet because the sole of the foot is of iron the foundation shall remaine and shall neuer bee extinguished but the reliques title and dignitie thereof shall endere till Christ at his comming shall set a period to all humane things but it is cleare as noone day and beyond all doubt that it is now at the lowest ebbe That goodly tree is fallen but the root stickes fast and remaines yet not hauing any sappe and therefore vnable to grow vp and increase againe but quite dead and withered yet no force of man shall bee able vtterly to extirpate this roote and foot-soale of iron nature but it shall sticke fast grounded in the earth till the whole world shall be destroied Hereof also wee haue had experience for many haue often attempted the subuersion of this small and slender parcel of the Empire as the Popes of Rome and lastly the Turkes who though they haue done great matters and it may bee promise greater to themselues yet
Emperour after this trayning vp his subiects in feats of Armes vanquishes the Dalmenincians takes the City of Prague together with Wenceslaus Duke of Bohemia making that countrey tributary to him In maine battell he ouerthrew the Hungars then againe after the truce ended breaking into Saxony and distributed the tribute which the Saxons paid them amongst the poore He intended to haue gone to Rome Otho the Great 936. an 36. m. 10 d. 6. but hindered by sicknesse constitutes his elder son Otho heire of the Empire He commenced wars many yeares together against the Bohemians then in rebellion as also vanguisht and put to flight the Hungars who then also striking ouer the Rhyne in the Vangions Countrey Of Worâ—â—bs had made an inroad into Franconia with intent to march on from theÌ„ce and pillage in Saxony Hee brought Burgundy vnder his subiection and afterward marching with a great Army into Italy and vanquishing the Berengarians there maried his second wife Aditheida Luitholdus his sonne hereat displeased practises treacherie against him hauing Coadiutors euery where in readinesse to serue his plots and amongst the rest Conradus Duke of Sueuia his sisters husband But his father besieging him at Ratisbon he first brought into distresse humbly craues and obtaines pardon After this the Hungars hauing forraged France breake into Germany in greater multitudes then at any time before and encampe themselues neere Auspurgh on that place which takes name from the Riuer Lych. The Emperor marching thither with the Saxons Franks Sueuians Bauarians and Bohemians after a doubtfull and long battle put almost all the enemies forces to the sword and caused some of their Chieftaines to bee hanged Then returning into Saxony after he had setled the affaires there makes a new expedition into Italy but before his iourney constituted his sonne Otho Collegue in the Empire At length arriuing at Rome he assembles a Councel where hee sate President and deposed Pope Iohn the XII for his offences in whose place he appointed Leo of that name the VIII A decree of his is extant incerted in the Papall Law where he sayes that hee conferres to Otho the Emperor and to his successors for euer the authority of choosing Popes disposing of the See Apostolike and confirming of Bishops as also pronounces a most seuere punishment against those who not expecting the Emperors approbation consecrate Bishops See here another Decree contrary to some other before After this there is the forme of an oath added by which as they report the Emperor Otho bound himselfe to Pope Iohn but it s not added who this Pope Iohn was nor of what numbâ—r â—n name either this Iohn or Otho were And surely it is wonderfull that matters of such importance and moment should be so negligently put into writing Now if Otho the I. tooke this oath then this obiection may hold against him That whereas in this forme before-mentioned amongst other things he sweares not to procure any danger to the Popes life nor to abrogate his honor and dignity but how can this appeare when as he as we said before remoued Iohn out of his place and ordained another Let him that can reconcile this Otho by reason of the new broiles marches againe into Italy where hauing setled the affaires and returning home dyed about the beginning of May and was buried at Maidenburg in the yeare of Grace 974. In regard of his noble exploits and surpassing prowesse Hee 's stil'd the Great Henry D. of Bauaria rebelled against Otho the II. Otho II 973. an 10. m 7. d. 2. but the sword reduc'd him to his duty Lotharius was then King of France whose brother Charles was by the Emperour created Duke of Lorraine vnder condition that hee should bee a * Beaesiciarius Leige-man of the Empire Henry the Emperour as the Annals report got this Prouince from Charles the Simple King of France and entailed it to his successours in order But Lotharius displeased hereat on a sudden leauying an Army speedily meets him at Aix and had almost discomfited the Emperour before hee was aware The Emperour to reuenge this affront musters vp forces marching on as far as Paris at length not without great blood-shed on both sides concludes a peace Returning home and from theÌ„ce making an expedition to Rome hee commenced warre against the Greekes who held Calabria and Apulia where after his Army was defeated he was intercepted by Pyrats as he fled by sea but not being knowne who he was they dismist him vpon a summe of money paid in hand and so returning to Rome besieges Beneuento with the remainder of his forces takes and sets fire on it And not long after wounded with a dart in a battle against the Greekes and Sarazens departed his life and was buried at Rome To him his sonne Otho succeeded by consent of the Nobility Otho Iâ—I 983. an 17. m. 1. d. 21. and was consecrated at Aix He created one Bruno a Germane Pope afterwards called Gregory the fift But Crescentius a Consull of Rome set vp Iohn Bishop of Placentia in opposition to him The Emperour therefore comming to Rome inflicts a heauy and ignominious punishment vpon Crescentius and his Complices and caused Iohn of that name the XVII his eyes to be put out The Emperour in regard of the perpetuall dissensions about succession in the Empire ordained with the Popes help That certaine of the prime Nobility in Germanie should bee authorised with right and power of electing the Emperours lest that any man hereafter should set vpon that dignity as hereditary The Electorall Princes of Germany constituted 〈◊〉 the yoâ—â— of Christ 1000. This Decree was made about a thousand yeares after Christs birth Robert then raigned in France a Prince that loued peace and learning The Annalls exâ—oll him for building many Churches and amply endowing them as also going in pilgrimage to Rome This Emperor Otho granted to Bâ—leslaus Duke of Polonia regall dignity and immunity The beginning of the kingdome of Polonia 9 â— as their Annalls haue it This therefore is the beginning of that Kingdome Otho after this returning out of Italy g He was poisoned by a paire of gloues giuen him by Cresentius aforesaid his widow Henry II. or the Lome 1001 an 23. m. 5. d. 16. dyed The next Emperour after him was Henry of that name the II. Duke of Bauaria kinsman to Otho the great D. of Saxony and Emperour He hauing setled a peace in Germany and drawne on some of his aduersaries into amity by his extraordinary kindnesse and subdued other some marched into Italy there restoring Apulia to the Empire which the Sarazens had taken Then after his consecration by Benedict the VII sending away his Army into Germany He himselfe taking his iourney through the Sequans Countrey came to an enterueiw with Robert the French King where a confirmation of amity was established on both sides This Emperour was greatly loued of the Clergie for hee was very liberall