well the builders as they that were possessed in the same haue both runne the wrong way and béene deceiued for so much as they did these things seeking thereby merits with God remedy for â—heir soules and remission of sinnes as doth appeare testified in their owne Records besides the 7. or 8. Kings that forsooke their Kingdomes to be Monkes there were many Quéenes and Kings daughters entred into Nunneries at that time as thou maist sée them in the booke at large named THE THIRD BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares from the raigne of King EGBERTVS vnto WILLIAM the Conquerour EGbertus King of the West Saxons hauing put downe all the other Kings he gouerned â—oly King Brithricus doubting Egbert because he was of the kings bloude was chased out of the land into France where hearing of the death of Brithricus hée came home and â—btained the Crowne King Bernulphus and other kings had him in deriâ—â—â—on and made diuerse scorning Rimes of him after he assembled his Knights and fought with Bernulphus in a place called Elmeden and there was ods six or eight against one yet Egbert through the helpe of God gat the victorie at length he subdued all the Kings and ioyned their Dominions to his Kingdome he wâ—nne also the towne of Chester from the Brittaines or Welchmen which they possessed vntill this time then he called a Counsell at Winchester where he was Crowned King ouer this land and where before it was called Brittaine he sent into all costs and charged them straitly that henceforth the Saxons should be called Angles and the land Anglia About the third yeare of his raigne the Danes which a little before had made horrible destruction in Northumberland as before entred the second time with a great Host and spoyled the Isle of Shâ—pâ— in Kent Egbert met with them at Carrum but he was compelled to forsake the Field but in the next Battell with a small company he ouerthrâ—w a great multitude oâ— them The next yeare they turned againe into the Land Westward and ioyning with the Britaines did much harme in many places of Egberts Dominions after that they aâ—â—aded in the Land so that many of them were maried to English women and many that now be English men descended of them Ethelwolfus the sonne of Egbert succéeded him in his raigne he was Bishop of Winchester and by the dispensation of the Pope was made King he being nuzled therein was alwaies deuout to holy Church he gaue thâ—m the Tythes of all his goods and Lands and fréedome from all serâ—age and ciuill charges Hee made his Donation to God the Uirgin Mary and all the Saints for remission of our Soules and sins and in that we haue in some part eased the seruitud of the Church they may the more diligently powre forth their praiers without â—easing to God for vs. It is no swall derogation to the merits of Christ thus to set remission of their sins and remedie of their Soules in this Donation and such like déeds Theâ— King Ethelwolfe went to Rome with his yongest Sonne Alfred and committed him to the bringing vp of Pope Leo the 4. and re-edified the English Schoole in Rome which was founded by King Offa or king Iue which in Egberts time was consumed with fire and as king Iue had done in his dominions he gaue a penny yearely to be paid for euery fire-house throughout the Realme to the Pope Also he granted 300. Markes yearely to Rome to maintaine lights in Saint Perters Church 100 Markes and to maintaine lights in Saint Pauls Church 100. Markes and to the Pope one other 100 Markes this done he maried Iudith the daughter of Carolus Caluus the French King whom he made Queene contrary to the Lawes of the West Saxons that no Kings wife should haue the name or place of a Queene because Ethelburge poisoned king Brithericus her husband The king was most ruled by the Counsell of two Bishops one of them was Swithinus Bishop of Winchester who had béene Scoole-master to the king the king shewed his kinde Nature in that he not oâ—â—y followed the aduertisments of his old Schoole-master but in that he ceased not vntill he had made him Bishop of Winchester but as concerning the Miracles which are read in the Church of Winchester of this Swithinus them I leaue to be read together with the Iliads of Homer or tales of Robin Hood Pope Leo the 3 succéeded Adrian Stephen the 4. succéeded him and Gregory the 4. succéeded him in whose time by the commandement of Lodouicus the Emperour a generall Synode was commanded at Aquisgrane where it was decreed that euery Church should haue sufficient of his owne Reuenewes to maintaine the Priests thereof and that none of the Clergie should weare any Uestures of any precious or scarlet colour nor Kings on their fingers except at Masse time or in giuing Consecraâ—ions and that they should not kéepe great ports or Families or vse great Horses or vse Dice or Harlots or vse any gold or siluer in their shooes slippers or girdles by this it may bee coniectured what pompe or pride in these daies was crept into the Clergie After him succeeded Pope Sergius the 2. he first brought vp the altering of Popes names because his name was Os Porci that is Swines snoute he ordained the Agnus twise to be sung in the Masse and the Host to be diuided into thrée parts Pope Leo the 4. succéeded him it was enacted in a Counsell of his that no Bishoppe should be condemned vnder 72. witnesses as you sée in the witnesses of Stephen Gardiner orderly practized he ordained the Crosse all set with precious stones and gold to be caried before him like a Pope Next to him succéeded the Whore of Babilon who appeared vnto the world not only after the spirituall sence but after the very letter and right forme of a whore indeed In stead of a man Pope they chose a Whore called by name Ione the 8 her proper name was Giâ—berta a Dutch woman of Magunce who went with an English Monke out of the Abbey of Fulâ—a in mans apparell vnto Athens after through her dexteritie of wit and learning she was promoted vnto the Popedome where she sate two yeares and sixe Moneths after in open Procession fell in trauell of childe and so died Pope Benedictus the 3. succeeded her in the whorish sea he ordained the Dirge to be said for the dead yet before him Gregorius the 3. had done his part therein Aâ—ter him succeeded Pope Nicholas the 1. who inlarged the Popes Decrees with many constitutions equalling the authoritie of them with the writings of the Apostles He ordained that no seculer Prince nor the Emperour should be present at their Counsels to the end they might murder such as they Iudged to be Hereticks and that no Lay man shold Iudge Clergy men or reason vpon the Popes power That no Magistrate should haue power ouer a Prelat alledging that a Prelat is called God
cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour displaced these three monsters placing for them Clement the second and Enâ—cted that no Pope shouâ—d be chosen without the consent of the Emperour and the Romanes made an Oth to the Emperour to that effect But the Emperâ—ur being gone they forgot their Oath and poysoned the Pope which 〈◊〉 some impute to Damasus the 2. his successor and some to Erazutus which poysoned six Pâ—pâ—s Damasus within 23. daies after he was Pope was poysoned â—hen the Romaines and Cardinals sent to the Emperour for a Pope who gâ—ue them Leo the 9. He kept two Councels one at Uercellis where the Doctrine of Beriâ—garius against the Real presence was condemned the other was kâ—pt at Moguntia where amongst many decrees Priâ—sts were vtterly excluded from mariage and that no â—ay man â—ight giue â—eniâ—â—ce Bishopricke and Spirituall promoâ—ion Leo being at Wormes with the Emperour on Christmas day hee excommunicaâ—ed the Subâ—eacon for not reading the Episte in Latine the Archbishop being at Masse staid and would goâ— no further vnlesse his Subdeacon were restâ—red whereupon the Pope released him Leo was poysoned by Brazutus the first yeare of his Popedome Victor the â— succeeded him hee kept a Councell at Florence hee deposed diuerse Bishops and Priests for Simony and Fornication of Simony because they were tooke their liâ—ing of Secular mâ—n for moneyâ— for fornication because they were maried In his â—econd yeare he was poysoned also by the said Brazutus by the procurement of Hildebrand his master Stephanus the 9. succéeded him hee was chosen without the Emperour hee accused the Emperour of Heresie for deminishing the authoritie of the Romaine Sea Hée likewise called it Symony for secular men to present to a Spirituall Liuing He sent Cardinall Hildebrand with Commission to reforme the matter in the meane time he tasting Brazutus cup dyed After him the Romaines set vp Benedictus the tenth Pope but Hildebrand perswaded the Clergie to choose Nicolaus the second who by force caused the other Pope to vnpope himselfe Nicolas called the Councell of Lateran in which hée vnderminded the Emperours â—urisdiction and gaue the full authoritie or choosing the Pope vnto a fewe Cardinals and certaine Catholike persons and against such as be Popes without the full consent of the Cardinals he thundreth terrible blasts of excommunication accursing them and their children with denils giuing power to Cardinals with the Clergie and 〈◊〉 to depose such person and call a generall Councell where they will against them In this Councell Beringarius was forced to recant his Doctrine against the Reall presence in the Sacrament and the terme of transubstantiation was there first deuised Hée displaced the right Heire of the Dukedome of Apâ—â—lia and placed Robertus Quistardus to bée Duke and generall Captainâ— of Saint Peters land but it standeth not with the Gospell a Bishop with outward armes to conquer christian men and countries After hee had raigned three yeares and a halfe he met with Brazutus cup and turned vp his héeles Then the Emperour set vp Coralus Pope but Hildebrand set vp Alexander the second who ouercame Coralus Then there was a Councell kept at Mâ—ntus where Alexander was declared Pope and it was concluded that Priests should haue no wiues and those that had wiues should say no Masse no Benefices to bee bought for money Alleâ—uia to bee suspended in Lent that no â—pirituall man should enter into any Church by a Secular man that the Pope should be elected onely by the Cardinals this Alexander being at Masse as hee was preaching vnto the people told them he would not sit in the place except he had the licence of the Empeâ—our which strucke Heldebrand into such a furis that as soone as Masse was done he forced him into a Chamber and beat him with his 〈◊〉 rating him that he would séeke fauour of the Emperour and kept him in Custodie allâ—wing him but twenty pence a day and Heldebrand incroched all the reuenewes of the Church vnto himselfe At lâ—st Alexander vnder this miserable indurance died hauing béene Pope 11. yeares and a halfe THE FOVRTH BOOKE Containing other 300. yeares from WILLIAM the Conquerour to the time of IOHN WICKLIFFE WILLIAM the Conquerour was the base 〈◊〉 of Robert Duke of Normandy Nephew to Kiâ—g Edward after the 〈◊〉 said Uictory against Harald he was receiuer King ouer England and was Crowned vpon Christmas day The yeare before his comming was a great blasing Starre the space of seauen daies he made the Englishmen pay for euery twentie Acres of land 6. â— yearely wherefore many rebelled but he conquered them many of his Lords departed into Scotland wherefore hee kept them that â—aried the straiter Hee gaue the Nomaines the chiefest possessions of the Land hee changed all the temporall Lawes of the Realme and set straite Lawes vpon the Spiritualtie Hee builded foure strong Castles two at Yorke one at Nottingham and another at Lincolne In the 3. yeare of his raigne Harald and Canutus sonnes of Swanus King of Denmarke came into the North Contry but after much spoyle King William chased them to their Ships and he was so displeased with the Inhabitants for fauouring them that he destroyed the Land from Yorke to Duâ—ham so that nine yeares after the Prouince lay waste and vnmanâ—red In the 4. yeare of his raigne Malcoline King of the Scots entred into Northumberland and destroyed the Contry and slew men women and children but within two yeares King William made such warre with the Scots that hee forced Malcome their King to doe him Homage In the same 4. yeare of this King there was holden a Councell of the Clergie at Winchester at which was present two Cardinals from the Pope and the King was there present diuerse Bishops Abbots and Priors by the meanes of the King were depriued without any euident cause that the Normaines might bee proferred vnto the rule of the Church as his Knights were to the rule of the Temporalty Oâ—â— Thomas a Normaine was preferred vnto the Archbishoprick of Yorke and one Lanfranckus an Italian was made Archbishop of Canterbury betwixt them grew a contention about giuing and taking the Othe of obedience but the King appeased it and the Bishop of Yorke builded the Minster of Yorke and gaue possessions thereto But when these two Archbishops came to Rome for their Pale the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the Primacie the Pope not disposed to decide the matter sent them home to haue their matter determined so the matâ—er came before the King and Clergie at Windsor the Archbishop of Canterbury said Since the time that Austin conuerted this Land to Christianitie and was made Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England by Popâ— Gregory the Primacie hath succéeded there euer since and being Yorke tooks the Christian Faith from thence it was reason it should bee subiect thereto The Bishop of Yorke answered that the Britaines the fiâ—st possessors of this Kingdome which indured from Brutus to
Cadwalader 2076. yearâ—s vnder an hundred and two Kings and they receiued the Christian Faith in the yeare of Christ 162. In the time of Lucius their King Elutherius being Pope who sent thither Fagamus and Damianus Preachers who ordained in the realme 28. Bishops with two Archbishopes Theonus Archbishop of London and Theodosius Archbishop of Yorke so it continued 300. yeares vntill the Saxons being Infidels subdued the Realme and diuided it into seauen Kingdome and so it continued vntill Gregory sent hither Austin to conuert the Realme who was after made Archbishop of Canterbury and it was Gregories purpose to reduce the new Church of the Saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the Britaines vnder the two Metropolitaines of London and Yorke yet hée gaue Austen this prerogatiue during his life time to haue the Iurisdiction aboue all the Bishops and Priests in England but after his decâ—ase London and Yorke to ouersée the charge and he willed no distinction of Honour to be betwixt London and Yorke but that he that had béene longest Bishop of the place should be preferred Upon this it was decréed that Yorke should be subiect to Canterbury and that wheresoeuer Canterbury would hold a Councell Yorke with his Bishops should come thither and be obedient to his Decrées and when Canterbury should decease Yorke should come to Duer to consecrate the new Archbishop but if Yorke decease his successor should resort to Canterbury and where the Bishop of Canterbury should appoint to receiue his consecration swearing obedience In the 9 yeare of King Williams reigne another Counsell was holden at London wâ—ere was decreed that the Bishop of Yorke should sit on the right hand of Canterbury and London on the left and in his absence Winchester and that Bishops should translate the Seas from vâ—â—lages to cities that Monks should haue nothing propper and if any so had he dying vnconfâ—ssed should not be buried in the Churchyard that no Clarke or Monke should be retained in another Diâ—cesse without Letters testimoniall that none should speake in the Councell without leaue but Bishops and Abbots that none should buy or sell any â—ffice in the Church that neither Bishop Abbot nor any of the Clergie should be at the Iudgement of any mans death or dismembring At this time diuerse good Bishops displaced Monkes and restored maried Priests againe the Bishop of Winchester placed aboue 40. Canons in stead of Monkes for his part but this godly enterprise was stopped by Lanfranke the Archbishop of Canterbury he plucked downe the old Church of Canterbury and builded vp the new After the death of the Pope Hildebrand succéeded who was surnamed Gregory the 7. he was a Sorcerer and the principal cause of all the perâ—urbation that hath beene since in the Church for before he wrought his feats setting vp and displacing what Bishops he listed setting them against Emperours and destroying Matrimony vnder colour of chastiâ—ie the Chuch was in some order and Popes quietly ruled vnder Christian Emperours and were defended by them He first contemning the authoritie of the Emperor thrust in himselfe to be Pope vanting himselfe to haue both the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall sword committed to him of Christ and full power to binde and loose what he lifted he challenged all the Dominion both of the East and West Church he set at light Kings and Emperours who raigned but at his godamercie Bishops and Prelates as his vnderlings he kept in awe suspending cursing and chopping off their heads He â—â—irred vp warres releasing Othes Fidelitie and due allegiance of Subiects to their Princes To this scope tended chiefly all his practises to abolish the mariage of Priests and to translate the authoritie Emperiall vnto the Clergy as appeared before in the Councell of Laterâ—n for though he was not then Pope in name yet was he Pope indéed and ruled the Pope as he listed In a Councell which he held at Rome he enacted that no Priest hereafter should mary that those that were maried should be Diuorced and that none hereafter should be admitted Priest but should sweare perpetuall Chastitie The Clergie of France resisted this Decree and said it was repugnant to the word of God that the Pope should take from Priests that which God and Nature had giuen them and against the Doctrine of Saint Paul I haue no commaundement of God touching Virginitie and he that cannot liue continent let him mary And that it was against the Canons of the Apostles and the Nicen Councell and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to vncleanesse and fornication and concludâ—d they had rather giue vp their benefices then forsake their lawful wiues against the word of Christ. Likewise the Priests of Germany were as stout against the Pope but at last this gréedinesse of Liuings in weake Priests made them to yéeld vp their godly libertie to wicked tyranny He preached in a great assembly that the Emperour should die before Saint Peters day next and should be so deiected that he should not be able to gather together aboue sixe knights and that if this prophesie were not fulfilled they should plucke him from the Altar and he would be no more Pope And when he had gone about diuerse waies to murder the Emperour and yet God preserued him beyond the appointed time them subtily he turned his tale and said he ment of the soule of the King About the time Hildebrand was made Pope there was great warres betwixt Otho Duke of Saxony and the Emperour which was a fit occasion for the Pope to worke his seats First he excommunicated all that receiued Spirituall liuings of Lay-men and all the giuers thereof which he called symony whereupon he sent Legats to the emperour to appeare before him at the Councell of Lateran The Emperour appeared not whereupon hee threatned him excommunication and to depriue him of his Crowne If he would not renounce the heresie of Symony which was giuing of Spituall Liuings Wherefore Centius a Romaine Captaine caught the Pope and shut him vp into a Tower the next day the citizens plucked downe the Tower and deliuered the Pope and cut off the noses of the men of Centius but he escaped to the Emperour The emperour being moued with this arrogancie called a Councell at Wormes where all the Bishops of Germany deposed Hildebrand The Pope in his Councell of Lateran excommunicated and depriued as many as tooke the Emperours part and excommunicated the emperour depriued him of his empire and all his subiects of their Oath of alleagiance As soone as he rose out of his papal seat to excommunicate the Emperour the seat being but new and of strong tymber suddenly shiuered and rent vs pieces The princes of Almany all concluded to forsake Henry and choose another emperour except he would submit himselfe and obtaine the Popes pardon The Emperour with his wife and young sonne all hauing forsaken him laying apart his regall ornaments in sharpe winter came bare fooâ—â—d to the
the fight of Beckets Church he lighted went barefoote to his toombe whose steps were found bloudy by the roughnâ—sse of the stones and receiued a whip with a rod of euery Monke of the Cloister whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnder the Popes Clergy the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire and the said Minster church cleane burnt The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops Abbots and other of the Clergie at Westminster there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln Chichester Worcester and Hereford were of the sea of York Wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the Pope How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King whereby much trauell and great wastfull expences had bin saued and there cause morâ— indifferently and more spéedily decided Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury because being summoned they refused to appeare a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester and absolue the Clarks thereof the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts ordained thrée Iustices of assise on euery part to the first Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge shire Huntingdon-shire Buckingham-shire Essex Hereford-shire to the second Lincoln-shire Nottingham-shire Derby-shire Stamford-shire Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Thirdly Kent Surry South-hampton-shire Sussex Berk-shire Oxford-shire Fourthly Heriford-shire Glocester-shire Worcester-shire Salop-shire Fiftly Wilt-shire Dorcester-shire Sommerset-shire Deâ—â—n-shire Cornwall Euerwick-shire Richmond-shire Lancaster Copland Westmâ—r-land Northumberland Cumberland In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons where there was but one and the K. granted the pope that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of S. Austen he being Elect whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated The â—bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope and went thither with a fat purse procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience if the â—rchb refuse to doe it then he should doe it the Archb. vnderstanding it loth to yéeld vsed policy he watched a time when the Abbot was froÌ„ home came to the Monastery with all things appointed for the busines called for the Abbat to be consecrated the Abbot not being at home he fained himself not a little gréeâ—ed wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed faine to fill his purse a new make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England as few yéeres there was not one sent to get mâ—ny he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York Canterbury who kept a Councel at Westminster to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall Canterbury seeing the first place taken refused to take the second Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans that he that should be first in election should haue the preheminence in dignity and goe before the other From words they went to blowes Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue his Robes were all rent from his back this Noble Romane Cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong and appealed and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine of his men to the Pope The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time extended so farre as hath not béen seene The King of Scots with all the Lords spirituall and temporal did him homage for them and their successors Ireland England Normandie Aquitane Gaunt c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea protector of France and offered to bée King of Ierusalem by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there which he refused alledging his great charge at home and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence The fame of his wisedome manhood riches was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome and from the Emperour of Constantinople and from many great Kings Dukes and other great men to determine questions of strife and aske councell of him he raigned thirty fiue yéeres and hauing great warres yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects nor first fruits nor appropriations of benefits vpon the Clergy yet his treasure beeing weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death weighed 900000. pounds besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope that if any Priest dyed without Testament he should haue all his goods His Sonne Henry whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward and set the first dish at the Table renouncing the name of King the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King he told him he might greatly reioyce being no King had such an Officer as he had the young King disdaining his words said My Father is not dishonored for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne and so is not he He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father and persecuted him but after hee had raigned a few yeares died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God After his death his Sonne Richard called Cor-de-Lyon rebelled against his Father and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde that for thought he fell into an Ague and within fouâ—e daies dyed Richard méeting his Corps beginning to wéepe the bloud burst out of the
made the Emperor Hen. 4. his wife and his child to wait three daies and three nights bare-foot in winter at his gates to sue to him for his fauor and gaue away his Empire in the meane time This prophecie of Antichrists exaltation aboue Princes is verified in none but the Pope Touching the breadth of his kingdom it is not said he shall exalt himselfe aboue one or two but aboue all that are called God w ch are all Christian rulers spiritual temporal to whom God vouchsafeth this name because hee ruleth and instructeth by them and dwelleth in them if they be good this declareth the large limits of his kingdome And as he is said heere to exalt himselfe aboue all Kings so Reu. 17. 3. he is said to haue ten horns and in ver 12. they are interpreted to be ten Kings which shal giue their power and authority vnto the beast that is to say the beastly Pope and fight with the Lambe that is they shal be the Popes Butchers to destroy Gods children and as the prophecies foretell such an Antichrist as shall raigne ouer all Christian Princes so this storie shall shew thee the true fulfilling of this prophesie in the Pope Touching the length of his Kingdome it is prophecied Antichrist shall raigne three yeares and a halfe and in Reuel 12. three times and a halfe these times and these yeares are all one so is the fortie two moneths Reuel 13. 5. for there be so many moneths in three years and a halfe the same likewise is the 1260. dayes in Reuel 12. 6. for there be iust so many daies in three yeares a halfe at 360. daies to the yeare which was the number of the dayes of the Iewes yeare And it is common with the prophets to set downe a day for a year so by these prophecies Antichrist must raign 1260. yeares which is iust so many yeares as Christ preached daies and Gregory the first sheweth that Antichrist began when one Bishop exalted himselfe aboue all others And though there were manie Popes before him which did exalt themselues aboue all other Bishops yet he would not but haue himself called Seruus seruoruÌ„ Dei Wherefore Sabinianus which succeeded him in the popedom was a malitious detractor of his works as thou maist see in this book Antichrist was not at his height vntill Hildebrand had gotten aboue the Emperor for then he was aboue all that was called God yet Antichrist began when the Bishop of Rome being the least of all the foure Patriarchs exalted himselfe aboue all other Bishops which was about the yeare of Christ 400. for then began pride and superstition to creep into the Church and Anno 666. according to the number of the name of the beast in Reu. 13. 18. Latin seruice was set vp in England and all other places and massâ—s ceremonies letanies and other Romish ware which was long before Hildebrands time And if we account the aforesaid 1260. yeares of Antichrists raigne from thence there remaineth but about 46. yeares to come vntil God shal call together the kings of the earth to destroy Rome Touching the fall of his kingdom Mat. 24. 22. If God should not shorten his kingdom none of Gods children could be saued from his cruelty but for the elects sake Reu. 11. 13. God first destroyed the tenth part of his Kingdom thou mayest note in this book when this prophecie was fulfilled and Reu. 8. at the blowing of the foure first Trumpets the third part of all his kingdom is destroyed which prophecie we see fulfilled at this day for the third part of his kingdom are wholly become Protestants yet Reuel 11. 22. the Church of Antichrist is not heerewith moued to repent of her murders sorceries fornications and thefts but Reu. 18. 7. glorieth her selfe that she is a Queene and shall be no widdow that is shee shall neuer lose her Spouse the Pope therfore shall her plagues come at one day death sorrow and famine and shee shall be burned with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemne her The meanes of her destruction is set forth Reu. 17. 16 the ten kingdomes that first tooke her part against Gods children shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and eate her flesh and burne her with fire for God doth put into their hearts to fulfill his will The manner of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome is declared Reu. 19. 17. as fowles gather together to a dead carkasse so God shall gather all Nations together to warre against Rome and shall take her and the Pope the false Prophet that worketh miracles wherby he deceiued all that receiued his marke and worshipped his Image and they shall not only be destroyed in this world but they shall bee cast aliue into a lake burning with fire and brimstone to wit into eternall damnation and Reu. 18. 20. the Angells and all Gods children are exhorted to reioyce at her destruction and vers 21. Rome shall be destroyed with such violence as a Mill-stone falleth into the Sea and there shall neuer any more Mill grinde any light corne or anie be married in Rome but it shall euer after be a desolate wildernesse as Babylon was They that cannot behold Antichrist in this Glasse 2. Cor. 4. 3. it is a signe the Diuell the God of this world hath blinded their eyes but as Salomon when hee dedicated the Temple prayed God to heare euery one that prayed therein so I beseech God with his holy spirit to illuminate all that shall reade this book that they may plainly see the pope to be Antichrist and to flie from him lest they be partakers of his punishment in this world and in the world to come AN ABSTRACT OF ALL THE HISTORIES OF THE CHVRCH from CHRIST to this day 1614. THE FIRST BOOKE IN describing the whole State of the Primâ—tiue and latter times of the Church First shall be declared the suffering time of the Church 300. yeares after Christ secondly the flourishing time of the Church 300. yeares more then the declining of true Religion 300. yeares more sourthly of the raigne of Antichrist since Sathan was loosed Lastly of the reforming of the Church in this last thrée hundred yeares In the tractation of all which things the Christian Reader may by experience obserue two special points First the Nature of the World Secondly the condition of the Kingdome of Christ By the World is meant all that by ignorance know not Christ and that will not beléeue him or that persecute him The Kingdome of Christ are the beléeuers in Christ and take his part against the World and though they be much fewer then the other and alwaies lightly hatâ—d and molested of the world yet they are they whom the Lord doth blesse and euer will and Christs Subiects which we call the Uiâ—â—bâ—e Church theâ—e are of two sorts first of such as onely outwardly professe Christ secondly of such as by eâ—ection inwardly are ioyned to Christ
the first honour Christ onely in their lippes and partake the outward Sacrament but not the inward blessing the second in word and heart truely serue Christ and partake with the outward Sacrament the Grace of Christ. And as betwéen the World Christs Kingdome there is a continuall resistance so betwéene these two parts of the Uisible Church oft groweth mortall persecution so that the true Church hath no greater enemies then her owne Professors which happened in the time of Christ and other times but especially in the persecution of Antichrist Who should rather haue receiued Christ then the Scribes and Pharises and who persecuted and reiected him more they refused Christ to be their King and chose Caesar who after destroyed them whereby we may learue the daungâ—r of refusing the Gospell The like example is to be noted in the Romains for when Pontius Pilate had cerâ—ified Tyberius Caesar of the doings of Christ of his Myracles Resurrection and Ascention and how he was receiued of many as God he did beléeue and willed the Senate that Christ might bee adored as God but they refused because he was consecrated before the Senate of Roâ—â—e had so decréed and approoued him so obeying the Law of Man more then of God they refused him and contented themselues with the Emperour and as they preferred the Emperour and reiected Christ God iustly stirred their Emperours against them that the Senators were almost all deuoured by them and the Citty it selfe horribly afflicted thrée hundred yeares for at last the same Tyberius was a sharpe Tyrant to them who spared not his owne Mother and Nephewes and of his Princes and Councellors he left but two or thrée aliue Many were condemned with their Wiues and Children Maides also first defloured then put to death Pilate vnder when Christ was crucifâ—ed was depriued by him and banished to Lyons and there slew himselfe and Agrippa by him was cast into Prison In the seuentéenth of his raigne Christ suffered After whose death this Tyberius Nero liued sixe yeares during which time no persecution was in Rome against the Christians through the commaundement of the Emperour â—fter him succéeded C. Caesar Caligula Claudius Nero and Domitius Nero which thrée were likewise scourges to the Senate and people of Rome The first tooke other mens wiues from them and defloured thrée of his owne Sisters and banished them he commaunded himselfe to be worshipped as a God and Temples to bee erected in his name vsing to fit in the Temples amongst the Gods and made his Image to be set vp in all Temples and in the Temple of Ierusalem he wished all the people of Rome had but one necke that at his pleasure he might destroy them By him Herod that killed Iohn Baptist and condemned Christ was banished where he died miserably Caiphas which sat vpon Christ was at the the same time remoued from the high Priests roome The Tribunes slew this Caligula in the fourth yeare of his raigne there was found in his Closset two Libels one called the Sword the other the Daggar in which were contained the Names of the Senators and Nobles of Rome which he had purposed to put to death and there was found in a Coffer diuers â—inds of poisons for the purpose to destroy a number of people and being throwne into the Sea they destroyed a great number of Fishes Claudius Nero which succéeded Caligula raigned thirtéene yeares with no little cruelty but Domitius Nero which succéeded Claudius raigned fouretéene yeares with such cruelty that he slew the most part of the Senators and all the Order of Knighthood He abstained not from his owne Mother his Sister or any degrée of his Kindred in monstrous vncleannesse and Incest and caâ—sed them with his Brother his owne Wife great with childe and his Maister Seneca to be put to death together with Lucan and diuers of his Kindred He made Rome to bee set on fire in twelue places which continued sixe daies and seauen nights to sée the example how Troy burned and the while sang verses of Homer He laid the sauit vpon the Christians and caused them to be persecuted at last the Senate proclaimed him a publike Enemy and condemned him to be whipped through the Cittie to death and for feare he fled and slew himselfe complaining he had neither friend nor enemâ— would doe it for him In the latter end of his raigne Anno 69. Peter and Paule were put to death for the faith of Christ. Thus you sée the iust iudgement of God from time to time on those that contemne Christ and will not receiue him by this destruction of the Romaines by their Emperors and by their ciuill warres and 5000. Romains slaine at one time by the fall of a Theater But most especiall by the destruction of the Iewes which in the yeare 73. and thrée yeares after the suffering of Peter and Paul was destroyed by Tytus and Vespasian to the number of eleauen hundred thousands besides them that were slaine in Galily and 17000. were sold for slaues and 2000. were brought with Tytus in triumph and part deuoured with wilde beasts and the rest most cruelly slaine Whereby all Nations may take example to reiect the verity and much more to persecute them which be sent of God for their saluation likewise the Emperors themselues for persecuting Christ in his members escaped not without their iust reward as in this Story hath and hereafter will appeare Steuen was the first Martir the same day that hee suffered Nicanor one of the Deacons with two thousand suffred for the faith after Herod slue Iames the brother of Iohn whose accuser repented and confessed himselfe to bee a Christian also and was beheaded with him Simon one of the Deacons was after Bishop of Bosrum in Arabia where hee was burned and Parmenas another of the Deacons suffred for the faith Thomas preached to the Parthians Medes Persians Germaines Hereaconies Bactries and Magies and was slayne with a Darte in Calamia a City of Iudea Simon Zelotes preached in Mauritania Aphricke and Brittayne who was Crucified Iudas Thaddeus brother of Iames preached in Mesopotamia and in Edisseus and the King there slew him in Berito a Citty thereof Simon the brother of Iude and Iames the younger the sonne of Mary Cleopha and Alpheus as Dorotheus writeth was after Iames Bishop of Ierusalem and crucified in Egipt Trayanus beeing Emperour but Abdias writte hee was slaine with his brother Iude by the people of Suauir in Persidis Marke was Bishop of Alexandria hee preached in Egypt and there was drawne with ropes to the fire and burned in the raigne of Trayanus Bartholomeus preached long time to the Indians and translated St Matthewes Gospell into their languadge did many Miracles there and after many persecutions in Albania of Armenia hee was beaten downe with staues crucified excoriated and beheaded Andrew Peters brother was crucified at Patris in Achaya by Egeas
embracinge the crosse and reioycing therein Matthew conuerted Ethiopia and Egypt Hercan the King sent one to run him through with a speare Matthias preached to the Iewes and they stoned and beheaded him Phillip preached to the barbarous Nations who crucified and stoned him at Hirapolis of Phrygia where hee and his Daughters with him were burned The Iewes required Iames to stand vppon the Battlement of the Temple and disswade the people from Christ but hee preached him there and was throwne downe headlong and stoned where hee was buried at which time the Iewes put many other to death for the testimony of Christ. The first Persecution by Nero Domitius NEro Domitius caused the first persecution hee regarded neither sect condition of life or age the streets were spread with dead bodies of Christians hee indeuored vtterly to abolish the name of Christians in this persecution Peter was crucified who required his head to be hanged downward as vnworthy to dye like Christ the cause was thought to bee because Symon Magus pretending to flye from the Mount Capitolinus to Heauen by Peters prayers was brought downe headlong and his ioynts beeing broken hee dyed at that time Peters wife suffred and the same day twelue-month Paule suffred The Second Persecution by Domitian THe Church had some rest vnder Vespatian but Domitian mooued the second persecution he killed all the Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brothers and slew all hee could find of the stocke of Dauid as Vespatian did before him least any of that stocke should inioy the kingdome in his time Symon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified and Iustus succéeded in his Bishopricke Hee banished Iohn to Pathmos and vnder Pertinax hee was released and came to Ephesus and continued there vnto the time of Trayanus Gouerned the Church of Asia and wrote his gospell there Flauia Daughter to Flauius Clemens a Consull of Rome suffred for Christs name and with many other was banished out of Rome to Pontia Some of the stocke of Dauid were brought to Domitian to bee slaine who séeing they were poore and vnderstanding by them that Christs Kingdome should bee heauenly and not worldly he let them go and stayed persecutions they after gouerned Churches and liued in peace vnto the time of Traianus in the time of which persecution no kind of torment was omitted that might empaire the credit of the Christians they would not suffer their bodies to bee buried and yet the Church dayly increased Euaristas Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the third yéere of Traianus and suffred nine yéeres after Alexander succéeded him and conuerted many of the Senators of Rome to the faith he raysed the son of Hermes from death to life and made his mayd being blind to sée which Adrianus the Emperour hearing of him sent word to the Gouernor of Rome to apprehend him and his two Deacons Euentus aâ—d Theodorus and the said Hermes and Quirinus a Tribune whose daughter Albina hee cured which Cure moued him to bee baptized and suffer for the faith of Christ and Aurelianus tooke Alexander with Hermes his wife Children and whole houshold 1250. put them in prison and burned them all in a furnace and martired the said Theodorus for rebuking him thereof and Quirinus had his tongue cut out then his hands and â—eete cut off after was beheaded and east to the Dogges The third Persecution THere was but one yeare betweene the second and the third persecution by the Emperour Traianus which was so grieuous that Plinius Secundus an Infidell wrote to the Emperour that so many thousands were put to death without cause sauing that they gathered themselues together before day to sing Hymmes to a God which they called Christ he reasoned why that sin should be punished more then all other sins and that he had put two Christian maides vpon the racke to proue if they could haue extorted confession of further crime but could not wherevpon the persecutions were greatly alayed Symeon sonne of Cleophas Bishop of Ierusalem was accused by the Iewes to be a Christian and of the stocke of Dauid wherefore Attalus commanded him to be scourged many dayes together beeing an hundred and twenty yeares old his constancy was greatly admired he was crucified Because Phocas Bishop of Pontus refused to sacrifice to Neptune Traianus cast him into a hotâ—e furnace and after into a scalding â—ath Sulpitius and Seruilia with there wiues whom Salma conuerted to the faith were also then martired Salma was beheaded and Lepidus in the Mount Auentine with whom suffred Seraphia a Uirgen of Antioch in this time Nereus and Achilleus suffred at Rome and one Sagaris who was martired in Asia In this time Ignatius suffred hee was sent from Siria to Rome comming to Asia hee confirmed the Churches and comming to Smirna where Policarpus was he wrote diuers Epistles to Ephesus to Magnesia and to Trallâ—â— hee was aiudged to be deuoured of Beasts and hearing the Lions roare I am the wheate of Christ said he and shall be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that I may be pure bread at this time many thousands died for the faith amongst them one Publius Bishop of Athens Hadrian the Emperour succéeded Traianus who slew Zenon a Noble man of Rome and 10023 for Christ. Borgomensis Lib 8. makes mention of ten thousand in Hadrians dayes to bee crucified in Mount Ararat crowned with thornes their sides pearced with Darts after the example of the Lords passion Eustachius a Captaine who was sent against the Barbarians and subdued them Hadrian met him honourably and doing sacrifice to Apollo for the victory willed Eustachius to doe so also which hee refusing hee was brought to Rome and with his wife and children suffred marterdome Faustinâ— us and Iobita Cittizens of Brixia suffred marterdome with grieuous torments Caelocerius seeing their great paâ—ience cryed out vere magnus deus Christianorum wherevpon he was apprehended and suffred with them Anthia a godly woman committed Eleutherius her sonne vnto Anicetus Bishop of Rome who after was Bishop of Apulia she with her sonn was beheaded and Iustus and Pastor two brethren suffred vnder Adrian at Complutum in Spaine About the same time Simpronissa the wife of Gerulus the Marter suffred with her seauen children beeing first often scourged then hanged by the haire of the head then a stone fastned about her necke she was cast into the Riuer after her children were martired wâ—th diuers punishments they were tied to seauen staâ—es so racked with a pully thrusting thorough one in the necke another in the brest another in the heart another about the nauell another cut in euery ioynt another runne thorough with a speare the last cut a sunder in the middle then were they cast into a déepe pit which the Idolatrous Priests intituled Ad septem Biathanatos Getulius also a preacher at Tiber with Cerdelis Amantius and Prinitiuus were condemned to the fire at Hadrians commandment Sophia with her
Rome to receiue the Faith the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers which conuerted the King of the Brittaines and baptized them there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes and thrée Arch-Flamins to thrée Arch-bishops to wit London Yorke and Glamargan by Wales Thus all the Realme setled in good order Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue you haue with you both partes of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the councell of your Realme take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines continued and flourished 216 yeares vntill the comming of the Saxons who then were Pagans whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith the Emperors of Rome were Infidels wherefore much trouble wos sought against them as it was against all parts of Christendome Lucius after he had raigned about 77. yeares died without issue whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme for sometime the idolatrous Romaines and sometimes the Brittaines raigned as violence and victory would serue one King murdering another vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both Some write but falsely that King Lucius after he was baptized forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land and became a Preacher in France and Germany and other places and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac where hee was martyred but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches and giuen great liberalities to the same deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land and was buried at Glocester Betwéene the time of King Lucius and the entring of the Saxons there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine after him Bassianus a Romaine after him Cerausius a Brittaine after him Alectus a Romaine after him Asclepiodotus a Brittaine after him Coilus a Brittaine after him Constantius a Romain after him Constantinus a Brittain by Helena his Mother the Daughter of King Coilus and Wife of Constantius Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester when the Romaines ruled it it was ruled by Infidels and when the Brittains ruled by Christians yet no persecution was raised in it vntill the tenth persecution which was so cruell that all our English Chronicles report that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed Churches subuerted and the Scriptures burned as before is shewed It is worthy to be noted that Constantine that worthy Emperor was not onely a Brittaine borne but his Mother Helena Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army which Constantine tooke with him with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme of chosen Souldiers After Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men to subdue France and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine which were drowned and spoyled by the way by Infidels because they would not pollute themselues with them Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga had not Guethlâ—â—us Arch-bishop of London and Constantinus Brother to Aldranus defended the Realme and State of Religion Then came Vortigerne who murdred Constance his Prince and inuaâ—ed the Crowne and fearing Constance his two brothers he sent for ayde of the Saxons and married with the Daughter of Hengist but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist and the Saxons beeing all Infidels and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury being subtilly slain by the Saxons or at a place cald Stonehenge by the Monument of which Stones there hanging it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin Some Stories record they were slaine being bid to a banket Thus came the Angles and Saxons fiâ—st into this Realme being yet Infidels about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter but they returned againe and at length possessed all and droue the Brittains into Wales Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him 53. yeares and were slaine by Vter Pendragon The Saxons deuided the Realme into sâ—auen Kingdomes to the first Kent to the second Sussex and Surrey the third West-sex the fourth Eastâ—sex the fifth Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke the sixt the Countries of Lincolne Leicester Huntingdon Northampton Oxford Darby Warwicke the seauenth was King of Northumberland they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons This â—ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror which was 554. yeares Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex when Ethelbert turned vnto the Faith Malmsburie writeth that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour then Byshoppe of London did first begin this famous building of Paules and after Richard his Successour bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vpon the same and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes and re-edified by these Byshops These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall Vortiger Vortimer Vortiger againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiperius Malgo Carecius The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them as out of an old Authour and partly out of Gildas doth appeare These bee the words of the Authour There following Constantinus and others aboue named out of the Realme all the Nobility when the rascall sort had gotten their places and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of and vnto all manner of wickednesse that mans Nature is inclined vnto hating the truth louing lyes regarding euill in stead of goodnesse receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light choose such for their Kings as were most cruell and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine and not onely the seculer men did thus but also the Byshoppes and Teachers therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons so there were some
hee was worthy to receiue such a present from England and made Proclamation for the performance When Iue King of the West Saxons had ruled them 37. yeares he was perswaded by his wife Etheburge to goe to Rome to be made a Munke when the king anâ— she had rested in a faire Palace richly adorned she commanded all the roomes in the Palace to be strewed with Dung of vile beasts and hogs and beasts to be laid therein and a Sowe and pigs in her chamber then she brought the King to visit the Palace and said My Lord where are now the rich clothes of gold and siluer that we leâ—t héere where are the pleasant Seruitors delicacies and costly dishes that we lately were serued with We shall vanish away as sodainly as these worldly things be passed our bodies that are now delicatly kept shall turne vnto the filth of the earth therfore busie you to purchase the Palace that euer shall indure by meanes of these and other words the King resigned his Kingdome vnto Etheraldus his Nephew and for the loue of Christ in the habit of a poore man accompanied with poore men went to Rome and his wife went into the Nunnery of Barkin seauen miles from London where after she had beene Abbesse a certaine time she died This â—ue was the first King of the Saxons that made Lawes for his Country In this time was Beda a man of worthy memory he was a Priest of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Wire at 7. yeares old he was committed to the education of Benedict as before at 19. yeares old â—e was made Deacon and at 30 Priest He wrote 37. Uolumes in his Treatise vpon Samuel he said If my exposition bring no vtilitie to the readers yet it conduceth not a little to my selfe that whilst my cogitation was vpon them I had little minde of the slippery intisements of the world hee continued in diligent study vntill the age of 62. yeares and in his latter end whilst he was sicke seauen weekes he translated the Gospell of Saint Iohn into English Celulphus king of Northumberland when hee had raigned 8. yeares was made a Mâ—â—ke in the Abey of Farne where by his meanes Licence was giuen to the Monks of that house to drinke wine or Ale which before by the institution of the aforesaid Aydanus drunke nothing but milke and water Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury collected a great Sinod where these decrées were enacted that Bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their Office then in admonishing the people and liue in peace one with another and once a yeare goe about all the Parishes of their Diocesse That they should admonish Abbots and Monks to liue Regulâ—rly and Prelats not to oppresse their infertours but loue them that none should be admitted to Orders before his life was examined that the reading of holy Scripâ—ures shouâ—d be more frequented in Monasteries that Priests should not dispose seculer businesses that they should take no money for baptizing that they should teach the Lords prayer and Créed in the English tongue that they should ioyne in their Ministery after one vniforme manner that they should sing in the Church with a modest voice that the Saboth be reuerently obserued that the 7. Canonicall Powers be obserued euery day that the Rogation daies should not be omitted that a Festiual day for all Saints should be celebrated and a Feast of S. Gregory anâ— S. Austin our Patron should be obserued that the fasts of the 4. times should be kept that Churchmen should not giue themselues to drunkennesse that the Communion should not be neglected of the Clergy nor 〈◊〉 that Laymen should be examined and well tried before they become Monkes that Monkes should not liue amongst Lay-men that publike prayer should bee made for Kings and Princes Boniface Archbishop of Mentz a Martyre an English man wrot a Letter to King Ethelbert and rebuked him for abstaining from Mariage that he might liue in luxuriousnesse with Nunnes and that he heard the chiefe of hiâ— Kingdom by his example forsooke their wiues and liued in adultery with Nunnes whereby appeareth the great disorder of life that alwaies hath beene in these Religious houses of Nunnes whose vowe of coacted chastitie hath neuer beene good to Church or Common-wealth and this Boniface and others were most to blame for that they gâ—uâ— occasion thereof by maintaining such superstitious orders of lasciuious Nunnes and other religious restraining them from lawfull Mariage For we finde of him in Stories that he being the Popes Legate builded Monasteries Canonized Saints commanded Reliques to be worshipped permitted religious Fathers to carry about Nunnes with them a preaching and he founded the great Monastery of Fâ—loa in Germany of English Monkes in which no woman might enter but only Leba and Secâ—a two English Nuns and by him Childericus king of France was deposed and Pipinus the betrayer of his master made king From this Boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine that in case the Pope liued most filthily and neglected himselfe and all Christianitie and led inumerable Soules with him to Hell yet ought no man to rebuke him because he hath power to iudge all men and ought to be iudged of no man Pope Gregory the 2. Pope Gregory the 3. Pope Zachary and Pope Constantine the 1. wrought great masteries against the Gréeke Emperours Philipicus and Leo and others for the maintaining of Images in Churches of whom Philipicus lost both his Empire and his eyes and Leo was excommunicated for the same cause This Gregory then brought into the Masse Canon the clause for Reliques and the Sacrifice for the dead And Zachary brought in the Prieste Uesture and Ornaments and Constantinus was the first that gaue his feet to be kissed of the Emperours The aforesaid Pipinus which was the betrayer of his said master Childericus king of France and by the Pope made king in his steed to gratifie the Sea of Rome for this benefit to him gaue vnto the said sea the Princedome of Rauenna and the Kingdome of Lombards and many other great possessions of Italy with all the cities thereunto adioyning vnto the borders of Uenice and this no doubt is the same which falsly hath beene thought to haâ—e beene the Donation of Constantine To this Pipinus was sent first into France the inuention of the Orgaines out of Grecia by Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople in the yeare 757. Pope Stephanus succeeded pope Constanâ—inus and Paul the 1. succeeded him hee thundred great Excommunications against Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople for plucking downe Images set vp in the Temples notwithstanding he neglecting his curâ—es destroyed Idolatry to the end of his life Then Constantinus the 2. came to be Pope a Layman brother to Desideâ—ius king of Lumbardy but he was shortly deposed thrust into a Monastery his eyes put out Stephanus the 3. succéeded Paul he coÌ„demned the seauenth Councel of Constantinople for Hereticall because the worshipping
so bound the word of God that it should not he preached in his dayes such was the death of Steuen Gardner These may be terrible spectacles for such as occupie their tongue and braines to stop the course of Gods word but his tyranny dyed not with him but succeeded with his Office in Henry Chichley and in more of the spitefull Spiritualty They confederated with the Lord Powis a great gouernour in Wales féeding him with large gifts and promises anâ— being 〈◊〉 with Iudas vnder pretence of amitie tooke the Lord Cobham and sent him to London where he was imprisoned in the Tower againe and after they condemned him againe of Heresie and Treason according to the aforesaid Act of Parliament Hee rendred thankes to God that he had appointed him to suffer for his name At his execution hé◠was laide vpon an Hurdle as a Traytor and drawne into Saint Giles Field whereâ—s they had set vp a new paire of Gallowes When he was taken from the Hurdle he fell deuoutly vpon his knees desiring God to forgiue his enemies then stood vp and exhorted the multitude in most godly manner to follow the Lawes of God written in the Scripture and to bâ—ware of such Preachers that are contrary to Christ in their conuersations with many other speciall Councels then was he hanged by the middle in chaines and so consumed aliue in the fire praising the name of God so long as his life lasted and â—o commended his Soule to God and departed mâ—st Christianlike in the sixt yeare of the raigne of Henry the fifth The people shewed great dolour but the Priest blasphemed and accursed him requiring the people not to pray for him but to iudge him damned in Hell because he departed not in the obedience of the Pope ¶ The Councell of Basell THE Councell of Basell began which was most troublesome and endured longer then any other Councell almost 17. yeares wherein was concluded as in the Councell of Constance that the generall Councell was aboue the Pope Unto this Councell came the Emperour Sygismund Pope Martin dyed after he had summoned This Councell and Eugenius the 4. succéeded Pope who would haue drawne the Councell vnto Bonony from Basell pretending the Gréekes would come to the Councell and be vnited to the west Church and that they would not passe the Alpâ—s And he cited the Fathers of the Councell vnto Bonony and they cited him againe to bee at the Councell or his Embâ—ssadours Whereupon sprung a doubtfull question amongst the Deuines some held the Pope an Hereticke because hee had contemned the commaundement of the Church others that hee was an Heretâ—cke and relaps and vpon long arguments contentions and fallings out and when by no meanes â—e would allow the Councell of Basell hee was dâ—priued by the Councell and Amedeus Duke of Sauâ—y chosen Pope ¶ The rest of the Story of the Bohemians THe Story of the Bohemians being in this Treatise before set forth vntill it was agreed that the Bohemians chose foure Ministers to dispute vpon the foure Articles and the Councell chose foure to dispute against them at the day appointed Rochezantus one of the foure Ministers chosen by the Bohemians propounded the first Article touching the Communion to be ministred in both kindes and desputed thereof three dayes in the forenoones Then Venceslaus disputed vpon the second Article touching the punishment of sinne two dayes after whom Vldaâ—icus propounded and disputed vpon the third Article two dayes touching the free preaching of the word of God Last of all Peter Paine an Englishman disputed three daies vpon the fourth Article touching ciuill Dominion of the Clergie and after gaue Copies of their diâ—putations vnto the Councell with heartie thankes that they were â—eard The three last somewhat inueyed against the Councell commending Iohn Hus and Iohn Wickliffe for their Doctrine One Ragusio answered the first point and 〈◊〉 puted eight dayes thereon Egidius Carlerius answered the second point by the space of foure dayes One Henricus answered the third Article three daies One Iohn Pollomarius answered the fourth Articles three daies the Bohemians stil stood to their Articles At length the Councel and the Bohemians were agreed and receiuing the Communion in both kinds was permitted vnto the Bohemians and Articles drawne vnder the hands and Seales of the Councel of one part and the Bohemians on the other concerning the other Articles After all this the Bohemians put vp these petitions following vnto the Councell First for the extirpation of diuerse discentions which will follow amongst our people vpon the 〈◊〉 of the Communion that you would grant an vniforme order of Communion vnto all men vnder both kinds vnto our Bishops hauing charge of Soules and to their Uicars and flocks for this done by your benefite the whole Kingdome shall bee comforted without measure and established in brotherly loue whereby an vniforme obedience shall bee perpetually attributed to holy Church 2 That to auoid the doubtfulnesse of many which suppose that the Councell doth suffer the said Communion vnder both kinds vnto vs but for a time as neither profitable nor wholsome we desire that you would confirme and continue it by thâ— buls of your Letters 3 Wee beseech you for the finall defence and obseâ—uation of all things compounded and for the good order in the Spiritualties you would prouide for vs a good and lawfull Pastor which shall seeme to vs most meete for our Kingdome 4 Wee desire you for the worthy 〈◊〉 of our Realme that you will direct Letters of the sacred Councell declaring to all Princes Seculer and Spirituall Cities and Communalties according to the compositions 5 Wee desire you that in the discussing of the matter of the Communion vnder both kinds that you will proceede no otherwise then according to the Lawe of God the Order of Christ and his Apostles the generall Councell and minds of holy Doctors truely grounded vpon the Lawe of God 6 Weâ— dâ—sire that for the great affection of our people you will giue vs the libertie to communicate to â—oung children the Sacrameâ—t of the Supper for if thiâ— vse of Communicating be taken away which our Kingdome being godly mooued by the wrâ—tings of most great and holy Doctors and brought in by examples hath receiued as Catholicke and exercised now a long time it would rise vp to an intollerable offence amongst the people and their mindes would bée grieuously vâ—xed and troubled 7 Wee require you that you would permit at least the Gospels Epistles and Crede to bee read in the Church in our vulger tongue to moue the people to deuotion for it hath beene so vsed of olde time in the Church and in our 〈◊〉 8 Wee desire that Prebends and collacions of certaine benefices oâ— Cathedral 〈◊〉 Churches may bee annexed and incorporated vnto the Uniuersitie of Prage that it may be increased and preâ—erred 9 Wee râ—quire that with allâ—are and studie you will watch and séeke for that long desired and most
forced thereto by the law but this ought not to be against them which cannot bear superstitions nor the ouerthrow of Christs institutions but detesteth such procéedings for the glorie of God and they that loue their Country in God will rather obey God then man they that obey mans lawes against Gods lawes in pretence of the loue of their countrey they make their countrey fight against God in whom consisteth the very stay of the countrey such are the most deadly eeemies and traytors of their countrey for they goe about to bring vpon theâ—r countrey a present ruâ—â—e Sathan had euer this dart in readines to hurle against Gods children so accuse them of sodition that he may bring them in danger of the higher powers so he hath vp his ministers alwayes charged the Prophets Acab said to Elias Thou art he that troubleth Israel and the false Prophets complained to their Princes of Ieremy that his wordes were seditious and not to be suffered the Scribes and Pharises accused Christ as a seditious person that spake against Caesar and at length â—ryed If thou let him goe thou art not Caesars friend Tertullian accused Paule before Felix that he was a pestilent fellow and a stirrer of sedition But these men were not so but of false men falsly accused onely because they openly reproued their guiles superstitions and deceits A man ought to obey his Prince but in the Lord and neuer against the law of the Lord for he that louingly obeyeth his Prince against God is a deceiuer of his Prince and helpeth him to worke his owne destruction wee must giue vnto the Prince that which is his and vnto God that which is his Valentinianus the Emperour chusing the Bishop of Millan said He set him in his seat for this cause that if we doe offend we may submit our selues vnto him Polycarpus the most constant Martyr when he â—â—ood before the chiefe Ruler was commaunded to blasphâ—me Christ and to sweare by the fortune of Caesar we are taught quoth he to giue honour vnto Princes but such honour as is not contrary to Gods Religion HVGH LATIMER THis constant Martyr was the sonne of one Hugh Latimer of Thirkesson in the Countie of Leicester a husbandman of wealthy and good estimation he studying Diuinitie in Cambridge at the first was zealous in the popish Religion and so scrupelous as hee himselfe confesseth that being a Priest and vsing to say Masse hee did so obserue the Romish Decrees that he thought he had neuer mingled enough his massing Wine with water and hee was of the opinion that he should neuer be damned if once he were a professed Frier with diuers such superstitious fantasies and in his blind zeale hee was a very enemy vnto the professors of the Truth and when he tooke the degree of proceeding Batcheler of Diuinitie he made his oration against Philpot Melancton his works Then Maister Bilney as before is said perswaded him to forsake his former studie of the Schoole Doctors and such fooleries and to become a true scholler in true Diuinitie so that where before hee was an enemy and almost a persecutor of the Gospell of Christ hee was now an earnest seeker after CHRIST IESUS and became both a publike preacher and a priuate instructer of his brethren in the Uniuersitie two yeares but Sathan neuer sleepeth when he seeth his Kingdome decay he raised his Children to trouble him Latimer in his Sermons before Christmas gaue the people certaine Cardes out of the fift sixt and seuenth of Mathew Wherevpon they might occupy the time for the chiefe Carde he limited the Heart as the principall thing they should serue GOD with and thereby hee ouerthrew all hypocriticall and externall Ceremonies to that end he wished the Scriptures to bee read altogether in the English tongue that the common people might thereby learne their dueties to GOD and their Neighbours hereby hee wrought in the hearers much fruit to the ouerthrow of Popish Superstition and setting vp of true Religion The Sonday before Christmas day in his Sermon he deliuered his Cards as aforesaid making the heart the chiefe Carde inuiting all men to serue the Lord with inward heart and true affection and not with outward ceremonies that in the seruicâ— of the heart consisteth true religion and not in the outward deeds of the letter or in the glistering shew of mens traditions of pardons pilgrimages ceremonies vowes deuotions voluntarie workes and works of supererogation foundations oblations the Popes supremacie you may sée two Sermons of his to this effect in the booke at large Doctor Bucknam about the same time of Christmas to deface Master Latimer brought forth his Christmas Dice casting to his audience Cinque and Quater wherby to proue that it were not expedient that the Scriptures should be in English lest the vulgar people by the occasion thereof should be brought to leaue their vocation or to runne into some inconuenience as the Plowman when he heares that No man laying his hand vnto the Plough and looking backe is meete for the Kingdome of heauen might perhaps cease from his Plough likewise the Baker when he heareth that a little leauen corrupteth a whole lump of dough may perchance leaue our bread vnleauened and so our bodies shall be vnseasoned and when the simple man heareth If thine eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee may make himselfe blinde and so fill the world full of beggers These with other moe he brought to the number of fiue yet Master Latimer notwithstanding all his aduersaries which were manâ— together with Master Bilney continued in Cambridge a certaine space they vsed much to conferre and to walke together in the fields the place of their conference was long time after called by the name of Hereticks hill These two did often visit the prisoners relieâ—e the needy and feed the hungry There was a woman laide in prison for suspition of murdering her childe she denying it they searching into the matter found that her husband loued her not and therefore sought to make her away The matter was thus her childe hauing bin sicke a whole yeare died in haruest then she went to haue her neighbours to helpe to burie it but all ware at haruest whereby she was inforced to prepare the child to buriall her selfe her husband comming home accused her of murthering the childe Master Latimer thinking in his conscience that she was not guiltie and being called to preach before King Henry the eighth after the Sermon the King sent for him and talked with him at which time Master Latiâ—er knéeled downe and opened the whole matter to the King and begged her pardon which the King graunted and gaue it him when he went home In the meane time the woman was brought a bedde in prison and Master Latimer was God-father but hee told her not of the pardon but laboured to haue her confesse the truth When the time came that she looked to suffer she greatly lamented
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens