Others that they would not pay it and so was there a schisme in the Churches of Almaigne Naucler Petrarke dyed about this time So did Boccace of the age of 62. yeares Abb. Trit Simon de Cassia was in this time and S. Bonauenture whom Gregorie 2. made Cardinall and Bishop of Albe Abb. Trit Amurathes was slaine with the blowe of a Dagger by the seruant of a Christian called Seruianus For that the said Amurathes had slaine his maister Peter de Premonstre hath left by writing that in this Popes time there was a kinde or new Sect of diuellish people as well men as women which without any shame daunced hardely And he said that in the yeare of the Lord 1375. they came frō Aix in Almain into Henaut and from thence into France Some said this signified the returne of Pope Gregorie his Cardinals to Rome These thought they daunced in a flood of blood although such as were present with them saw no such thing The common people iudged that these people were ill baptized by Priests which keep whores and harlots and therefore they determined to haue risen vp against the Cleargy to slay them and pill their goods but that God remedied it by the meanes of certaine coniurations that which followeth in the said author The yeare of Christ 1375. the English men and Brytons with other people to the number of fortie thousand and more fell vpon the Countries of Alsarce and Sangania and tooke Cities and Castles and raced them to the ground violated virgins and wiues burned Churches and Monasteries and after many other tyrannies they attempted also vpon the Bernois but a great multitude of them and their Duke were slaine and discomfited by the said Bernois at Frowenbrun the rest were assailed by other Swisses and were ouerthrowne and so they all perished miserably Fascic temp The Emperour Charles sought to stretch out the limits of his kingdome of Boheme partly by siluer and partly by warres and other meanes which was cause that he gaue to Iohn Henry his brother the Countrey of Morauia to the end he might renounce the right he had in the kingdome of Boheme Long time after he also caused the Princes Electors to elect Wencelaus his sonne King of the Romanes Finally after many requests hee obtained that he demaunded the yeare of grace 1376. and gained the Princes which elected Wencelaus King of Romanes being but 15. yeares of age After his coronation he espoused Ihehanne or Iane daughter of Albert Counte of Holland and Duke of Bauiere But the yeare following Charles dyed which was the yeare of grace 1378. and of his Empire 33. Hee was an Emperour worthie of praise sauing that he regarded more his kingdome of Boheme then the publike weale of his Empire For knowing his Sonne should succeede him in the Empire hee corrupted the Electors by great and faire promises the which being not able to accomplish hee gaged vnto them the publike taxes and tributes and brought the Romane Empire into that calamitie wherein it is at this day For the Electors retaine that vnto themselues which should be the Emperours A great number of the poore of Lyon were burnt at Paris in the place de Greue The Sea of Histories The Colledge of Benuais was founded at Paris the yeare 1372. otherwise called the Colledge des Dormans because it was founded by three brethren called Dormans the one was Bishop of Beauuais the other Archbishop of Angiers and the other Chauncellour of France Wencelaus sonne of Charles fourth of that name was chosen king of the Romans beeing but 15. yeares of age at the pursuite of his Father and crowned at Aix la Chappelle with his wife the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauiere and Counte of Holland But this Wencelaus was euil made of bodie and spirit his bodie crooked and of an effeminate courage He was borne at Nuremberge and his mother dyed at his byrth Assoone as hee was made king of Boheme and of the Romanes incontinently he gaue himselfe to all Idlenes and dissolution following his pleasures caring for nothing but to make good cheare And because he vsed great tyrannie in the end the Barons of the kingdom tooke him kept him in prison the space of 4. moneths til he was brought forth by his brother the Marquesse called Iohn but he became no better His subiects then seeing that all the Country was infected with his orders tyrannies whoredomes dissolutions they complained to his brother Sigismond king of Hungarie and he was againe taken and imprisoned in Austriche but escaping out of prison he returned into his kingdome and returned to his first manners The Electors of the Empire often admonished him but hee cared not therefore he was depriued of his Empire at Bopard Baiazet fourth King or Emperour of the Turks the sonne of Amurathes after the death of his Father slewe his brother Soliman traiterously and so alone enioyed the Empire of the Turkes the yeare of the world 5335. after Christes Natiuitie 1373. To reuenge the death of his father he made war against Marke Lord of Bulgaria ouercame and slewe him and so subiected a great part of his Country A little after he ouerranne Hungarie Albania and Walachie and did great hurt tooke many Christians and led them into Thracia prisoners In his enterprises and affaires he was so hotte and so suddaine that he was called Baiazet Hildrin that is to say thunder from heauen He brought vnder as it were all Greece being aided with the goods and graces of nature both in body and spirit He besieged Constantinople by the space of eight yeares Wherevpon the Emperour sailed into France requiring succours which was graunted him yet got Baiazet victorie of the French Hungarians Almaines Syrians and Misians in one assembly against him after hee returned to Constantinople and there was no other meane to conserue the Empire of Constantinople but that Tamberlan who was Lord of a certaine Countrie of East Scythia towards Parthia hauing as it were an infinit number of people put to the sworde in one onely battaile on the Mount Stella where Pompey fought with Mithridates 2. hundreth thousand Turkes and ouercame Baiazet and bound him with chaines of Gold and put him into a Cage of Iron and so ledde him through all the Countreys of Asia and Syria In the which miserable estate the said Baiazet died He raigned twentie and sixe yeares Edward King of England who had so many victories in France died of the age of 74. yeares the yeare 52. of his raigne Charles the 4. and Wencelaus his sonne came into France to accord the French and the English but they returned without doing any thing because of the death of the Queene and her daughter Isabel The Pope Gregorie after he had done all that belonged to a good Pope as Platina saith being tormented with an intollerable paine of the blather deceased the yeare of the Lord 1378. Some say that
haue bin to conserue and keepe the puritie of the Euangelicall doctrine but suffering to take roote I know not how that which tasted of carnall wisedome in so much that in the place of the true end marke which the Gospell proposeth vnto vs men began to establish vnto vs all the perfection of Christianitie in sufferings and afflictions for the Gospell and in arresting abiding a litle too subtilly vpon the stay of certaine fantastike persons springing from the schoole of Philosophers so fell by litle and litle to that vnhappinesse as to transforme the holy scripture into allegorike interpretations a maruellous baite for the curiositie of humane vnderstanding and a fountaine of infinite mischiefes in the Church True it is that the first inuentors of such things thought nothing lesse then that which came after So much then did the Lord humble his people But about the end of this periode euil was seene to aduance and ceremonies encrease in such sort that men enclined vnto Indaisme and Paganisme the loue of solitude and Munkery the abstinence from marriage and from certaine viands and meates on particular dayes many Feasts and other seeds of superstition after succeeding tooke a maruellous roote So the commencement of praiers for the dead and of the sacrifice of the Masse did then discouer themselues not that the intent of such as made mention of the dead to encourage the liuing constantly to serue God and which brought of their goods into the company of the faithfull for the comfort of the poore after the celebration of the Supper was to bring in the execrable Idolatrie which long time after sprung vp There were also introducted and brought into Baptisme certaine ceremonies yet not such as the ridiculous superstitions which since haue bin forged Finally the good intent began to shewe it selfe and from thenceforth to lift vp the head vntill at the last vpon the ende of the second time of the Church it rose vp aboue the word of God As for the third periode of the first time heerein it was happie in that God during that time raised vp diuers learned persons Greekes and Latines to oppose themselues with liuely voyce at Sinodes as also by their bookes whereof wee haue some number at this day against the impietie of infinite heretikes Amongst other S. Augustine was an excellent Doctor of the Church who notwithstanding is not alwaies so cleare as is to be desired Amongst the Latines this time also brought forth other great persons yet men also which yet is more seene in the Greeke Doctors lesse pure then the Latines especially in the right knowledge of the merite of Iesus Christ and all was the want of a pure and natiue intelligence of the Lords language in the Prophetike and Apostolike bookes Their allegorike interpretations had as it were gotten the vpper hand ceremonies maruellously encreased Monkeries began to take footing the true meanes to diuide the Church and to forge a new seruice of God afterward the veneration of the Martyrs Sepulchres paintings and after Images glistered in Churches The pure doctrine of the Lords Supper began to bee falsified for want of right vnderstanding the manner of Sacramentall speeches and the vertue of the alone sacrifice of Iesus Christ Bishops especially that of Rome thrust into the world and the misterie of iniquitie formed it selfe as it afterward should come into the light For Arrianisme hauing serued for a seed to Mahumatisme and the dispising of the celestall veritie with corruption of manners maintaining the audacitie and boldnesse of the Bishops of Rome this periode finishing gaue entry vnto straunge euils wherewith the Church was ouerthrowne a litle space after Let vs now say something of the second time of the Church which we diuide into two periodes The first from Phocas about the yeare 600. vntill Charlamaine by the space of 300. yeares The second from Charlamaine vnto Charles the fift of that name Emperour about 700. yeares In the first periode of this second time of the Church as the Antichrist of the East thrust himselfe well forward that of the West established his Throne and then was the doore open to all errours which notwithstanding entred not at once but came by litle and litle into the Church Aboue all the opinion of purgatorie fire and of the sacrifice for the dead were the foundation of the Papaltie and of all that vermine of their Cleargie and infinite Sects of Monkes which like Grashoppers from the deepe pit came to spread themselues through Europe But it was in the second periode of the second time that Idolatrie and superstitions obtained the vpper hand Insomuch that the poore Church as it were buried had no more any spring neither appeared there any token wherevpon to cast her eye but onely the inuocation of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost in Baptisme And although from time to time the Lord made shine some flames and torches in the bowells of that darkenesse to redargue and weaken such as rotted in so heauie and palpable ignorance yet was their blindness so lamentable and their sleepe so deepe that for one which lifted vp the head and to whom Antichrist gaue no release nor leaue to approach witnesse all such as during this periode opposed themselues neuer so litle against his tyrannie an infinite remained liuelesse and altogether dead The Lord making himselfe admirable in the mercie which he shewed vpon some and renowned in horrible and iust punishment of their ingratitude which loued better lyes then truth Who can heere recyte the superstitions Idolatries of Antichrist his crafts and subtilties to establish his kingdome and tirannie vpon bodies and soule He had his seruants and instruments of all sorts to leane fasten encrease and multiply his Throne in the Temple of GOD carrying in his browe the name of miserie sitting in the Temple of God calling himselfe God yet vnknown of such as called themselues Christians which he put off vntill the end of the world and to I know not what fancie and dreame of an Antichrist which should be borne but a litle before the second comming of the sonne of God Briefly the great spiritual Babilon the murdresse of soules had her kingdome during this period tyrannizing the Israell of God hid and dispearced in a litle number and by her impostures blasphemies and impieties mocked the true God Father of Iesus Christ whose name auowed with the mouth shee trode vnder her feet by her abhominable errour But the Lord willing to make his worke admirable which was to ruinate Babilon to destroy the man of sin by the breath of his mouth and by the brightnesse of his comming presented himselfe in the third time and by the ministerie of people feeble and of small appearance yet driuen and drawne on with the zeale of his glory first brought in y e knowledge of tongues then the celestial truth maugre all the strengthes of the world and in
THE Estate of the Church With the discourse of times from the Apostles vntill this present Also of the liues of all the Emperours Popes of Rome and Turkes As also of the Kings of Fraunce England Scotland Spaine Portugall Denmarke c. With all the memorable accidents of their times Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike Gentleman LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1602. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Syr VVilliam VVray of Glentworth in the Countie of Lincolne Knight THis worke Right Worshipfull called the Estate of the Church from the beginning of the raigne of the Emperour Augustus to the first yeare of Rodolph the second now liuing First written in French by I. Crispinus and lately translated into our mother tongue by a Gentleman of desert at the request of my very friends I haue bene intreated to propagate to this present time For him although some hold that translation is not capable of that elegance as is the original because the one hath full libertie of inuentiō the other is by necessitie tyed to obseruation yet in my opinion the Author hereof for his faithfull significant indeuour therin hath deserued to be ranked with the choisest inuentions For my selfe in the continuation as I haue alwaies in matters of small consequence shewed the mightie perturbation of my mind feare so in this labour of extraordinary moment especially in presuming of protection vnder your worships patronage I am confounded since the shewe of my deuotion is begun with so meane a sacrifice for to this heape I haue onely added an handfull In the whole discourse is set downe at large the originall of Papacie that slaughter-house of consciences the aduancing increasing therof the beginnings of all heresies the persecutions of the faithfull the chaunge of religions the decrees and Councells of Bishops the Canonie and lawes of the Church The iudiciall knowledge wherof is a light illuminating the blindnesse of soules and deliuering them from the more then Cimerian darkenesse of ignorance This rectifieth the iudgement of man and teacheth him rightly to distinguish between true Religion and superstition who both haue one ground which is his soule This prospectiue shewing the spots and errors of the Church of Rome with the darke sullen colours of hypocrisie heresie which two venemous wormes like snakes do poyson and infect the florishing estate of a setled Church will manifest the right Diaphonia and concord thereof But iealous of this ouer-boldnesse I take my leaue humbly dedicating my poore labours to your Worships true-iudicial consideratiō desiring withal your gentle hand of approbation to this essentiall testimony of my most dutious loue Your Worships humbly at commaund IOHN CRISPIN to the Church of Iesus Christ SVch as apply their spirites to collect Histories ought to look vnto this principall marke to propose as in a glasse the power wisedome iustice and admirable bountie of the liuing and eternall God to the ende hee may lesse nothing among men of that which appertaineth vnto him As indeed he proposeth and setteth out nothing in the world be it in the person of kings or of such as be of base condition wherein he meanes not to shew that it is hee which setteth his hands to all things that men may learne to depend vpon him to hope for all good things at his hands and to honour and tremble vnder his iudgements When we see an Historie that some kingdome hath bin established and brought into good estate which before was dissipated diuided or else that some man hath bene deliuered from some great calamity and hath recouered some prosperitie behold heere is a glasse to let them know which reade such things what good and happie issue they may attend at Gods hands after long and troublesome calamities if they trust in him Againe if we encounter such an example that a Common-wealth which otherwise was of no great force to resist many enterprises attempted against it yet it standeth fast only making it selfe strong vpon the succours it looked for at Gods hands behold here a Painter to represent vnto vs liuely with what wisedome God worketh breaking the counsels of the proud which abuse their power to confound and oppresse such in the middest of which he hath established his seate to be honoured Moreouer when such witnesses appeare as the greatnes force magnificence the long spreading stretching of great Monarchies cannot often hinder but all this hath bin ouerthrowne or at the least comen to some decay this is an other portrait which should make vs thinke vpon the admirable iudgements of God raigning who therein shewe euidently has strong and outstretched arme from aboue and would giue men to know that if he can reduce and bring to nothing powers established in so apparant assurance farre more easily can he ouerthrow euery arrogant and proud head to the end there may be no humaine creature of what condition or estate soeuer it be which trembleth not in the consideration of such wonderfull iudgements Moreouer so many chaunges and straunge mutations which the discourse of time bringeth vs do demonstrate vnto vs what may be the assurance and felicitie of all the frame of the world and what may be the common condition of men As indeed there is nothing so well gouerned vnder the Sunne be it neuer so well ordeined and established which is not subiect to diuers chaunges We see the Crownes of kings fall downe to the earth the scepters of Emperours bruised yea broken in pieces the glory of Common-weales fade and decaie but ambitiō proud ingratitude insatiable auarice of such as were ordeined to rule and acknowledged not God are the cause of such ouerthrowes and mutations But since all men seeke to finde some firme estate wherein they may subsist stand the reading of such examples should bring them to behold their God who is the firmitie assurance of all things and without whom nothing can remaine firme one minute of time And as he hath shewed this assurance in the middest of his Church against all tempests and stormes and against all the assaults machinations of Antichrists as is clearly shewed in this present collection so should this bee the refuge of euery one to finde out that hee would seeke for The Church may well be shaken but it can neuer be ouerthrowne for it leaneth vpon the foundation of the truth of God It may be tossed by tempests waues stormes but her ancre ascendeth euen to heauen and is sure held by the hand of him which cannot be remoued out of his place But contrary men perceiue not the stormes and tempests which are to settle and sinke the great kingdomes of the world yet it is so that without being shaken they fall vanish away as of thē selues But the spirituall kingdome of the sonne of God which is his Church ought not to be esteemed after the daungers of this present life for it is
Historie lib. 9. chap. 43. and others make mention that S. Iohn Baptist reuealed his head to two Monkes which were hid nigh an house and after that the said head was transported into Edissa a Citie in Phinitia where he was honoured Monkes beare witnesse in their owne cause But how came this head from thence vnto Amiens in Picardie where hee is adored See Iohn Caluin in his booke of Relikes Leo made many Epistles euen 66. in number Saint Germaine Bishop of Anxerre Seuerus Bishop of Treners Lupus Bishop of Troy were againe sent into England against the Pelagian heresie Many Councels were held at this time after that of Chalcedone The first at Auranges a Towne in the Prouince of Narbone The second at Valens The third Councell of Carpentras The fourth at Arles The fift at Venice The sixt at Tours In the Councell of Tours the censure Ecclesiastical against Priests marriages was moderated which was to be excommunicated and depriued of the Communion which was permitted them only vpon condition they should not come to higher degree or dignitie and that they should abstaine from celebrating and administring to the people Archephali heretikes in this time which cast off the Councell of Chalcedone Eucherius Bishop of Lions in this time sent a booke conteining the praise of Hermits liues to S. Hilarie Bishop of Arles who went into an Hermitage as is said Item an other booke De contemptu mundi In this time the wisest gaue themselues to write the praises of virginitie and of a contemplatiue and monastike life The bookes of the Manicheans were burnt in Rome Theodosius dyed of the pestilence at Constantinople Earthquakes Comets and other tokens were seene in heauen Anian Bishop of Orleans Lupus Bishop of Troy Nicasius Bishop of Rhemes were martyred Valentinian the Emperour slaine at Rome of his people by the fraud of Argobastus Martian chosen Emperour raigned 7. yeares he made alliance with the Vandales It was he which was wont to say that a Prince ought not to take armes as long as it is lawfull to liue in peace Rome was taken againe by Gensericke towardes whom also went Leo and entreated of him that the Towne might not be put to fire and sword Some say hee intreated nothing at this time Orleans was besieged by Attila about this time after he had wasted Almaine and a great part of France but before Orleans his people were discomfited by Merouee King of France and there was slaine 180000. men That which is said of Geneuiesue virgin at Paris is reported of this time This is now the great Diana of the Parisians Martian the Emperour was slaine at Constanstinople by the conspiracie of his owne men Childeric the fourth King of France a Panim raigned 26. yeares a man subiect to leachery which to maintaine hee laide great taxes vpon the people wherevppon hee was reiected from the kingdome A Gouernor of Soisson and Meion of called Giles a Romane succeeded in his place and raigned eight yeares but after Childeric was restored After Childeric was called againe hee gouernerned wisely vertuoufly and valiantly hee put to flight his enemy Giles and sacked the Townes of Treuers and Coloigne and hee retyred to Treuers After also he conquered Orleans and all the Countrey along the Riuer of Loire vntill Angiers and then brought all the Countrey of Angiou vnder his subiection He tooke also the Cittie of Trect and all the Countrey along the Riuer of Rhene and greatly encreased the Kingdome of France He vsed great ingratitude towardes Basin King of Lorraine called Thoringe who had kindly entertained and maintained him all the time hee was depriued of his kingdome For hee receiued the wife of the saide Basin and tooke her for his owne wife Leo Emperour first of that name a Grecian left for his successor Leo who was of Ariadne his daughter and of Zenon He sent Basalike a warriour against Gensericke King of the Vandales Constantinople and a great part of Italie was as it were in perpetuall trouble vnder this Emperour who raigned about 17. yeares Hilarie borne at Sardes Bishop of Rome ruled 7. yeares His time was full of troubles These ordinances are attributed vnto him That no Romane Bishop should chuse him a successour And this constitution stretched to all Ecclesiasticall dignitie Naucler and Suppl Chronic. That a Clarke should receiue no Inuesture of a Laie person That none should be admitted vnto orders if he were not learned and hauing all his members In a Sinode at Rome of fiftie Bishoppes it was ordained that the Decrees of the Apostolike seate should be receiued and published vniuersally There also it was ordained that the Bishop might correct that which his predecessor had euil ordeined This Pope confirmed the domination and principalitie of the Apostolike seate He made three Epistles He depriued a Bishop of his dignitie called Ireneus because by ambition he had left his Church to goe into an other which was by Canons forbidden Remy Bishop of Rhemes and Patricius his brother was Bishop of Soissons Simplicius Tiburtin succeeded Hilarie and gouerned the Romane Church 15. yeares and more after some He declared as his predecessor that the Romane Church was the chiefe and principall He builded many Temples and dedicated them Hee instituted that in the Church of Peter and Paul there should be seuen Priestes to heare the penitents and to Baptise them In the first volume of Councells Leo the younger was left a childe successor of the Empire by his Grand-father on the mothers side and hauing gouerned a yeare he was content that his Father Zeno should raigne for him In so much that with his owne hands he placed the Diademe vpon his Fathers head That which is said of king Arthur is of this time Zenon Isaurike Emperour raigned 16. or 17. yeares He was an Arrian a cruell man He was buried aliue being drunke by his wife Arriadne The English men came farre into France The Arrians exercised great cruelties Honorius an Arrian king of Vandals persecuted greatly the Christians in Affrike more then 4976. were exiled in diuers places without sparing sexe or age afterward at diuers times and with diuers punishments were put to death Some had their hands cut off some their tongues Certain times after vnder the shadow of a Councell hee made assemble all Bishops Doctors and other Catholikes to the number of 324. after Paulus Diaconus but after others 444. he sent into exile caused the Tēples to be shut vp against Catholikes gaue them to the Arrians One Bishop called Laetus was burnt to the end to feare others The Bishop of Carthage Eugenius with more thē 500. of the Cleargy were banished But 2. yeres after Honorius died miserably of vermine And Gonthamundus succeeded him He reuoked Eugenius from exile At the request also of whom all the others were called home and the Churches opened An horrible famine in Affrike Naucler It is a
Cardinall Deacon he wrote Saint Gregories life in foure volumes Lewis the Emperour being in Italie dyed hauing raigned 19. yeares and was buried at Milaine His successour was Charles the second of that name surnamed le Chauue the sonne of Lewis le Debenaire of his second wife Iudith vncle of the dead Lewis the second After he was King 36. yeares he heard say that the Emperour his Nephew was dead and incontinent went to Rome to receiue the Crowne of the Empire hauing ordeined Boso his wiues brother King of Prouince Pope Iohn in a small time crowned three Emperours and after gaue occasion of great contention and warre First hee crowned Charles le Chauue who two yeares after he came into Italie to driue the Sarrasins out of the kingdome of Naples was taken with a Feuer at Mantone where hee dyed being poysoned by his Physitian a Iewe called Zedechias the yeare 878. hauing bene King 36. yeares and Emperour two yeares and was buried at Verseile and after as some say was transported to S. Denis The Pope vnderstanding of his death would that his sonne Lewis le Begne should be chosen Emperour But the Romanes contradicted it and would that Charles the third surnamed le Gros sonne of Lewis king of Germanie it should be chosen The Pope remaining still in his opinion was sent to prison but he escaped by the helpe of his friends and fled into France where he remained a yeare first in Arles and after at Lions Finally some say at Troy in Champaigne where he assembled the Councell of the French Church and there created and crowned Lewis le Begne Emperour and saluted him Augustus In the meane while Charles the third was at Rome kept it He sent for the Pope who returned to Rome and pronounced that the saide Charles might dwell at Rome and crowned him Emperour And so they raigned together two yeares Finally Lewis was poysoned and Charles raigned alone 12. yeares Plat. Florent and Robert Barns This Pope at the same Councell gaue to the Flemings a Bishop in Tornay Lewis le Begne two yeares after he was crowned in France 1. of that name died at Champaigne and left his wife great with childe who after brought foorth Charles le simple Nauclerus Charles called le Gros the sonne of Lewis King of Germaine being at Rome occupied the Empire and raigned alone And by him the Empire or the French men returned to the Almaines Naucler and R. Barns and came not at the wish of the French nor according to the imaginations and subtill deuices of the Pope This Pope Iohn ordeined that such as offended in Sacriledge should be excommunicated amerced at thirtie pound of siluer 22. quest 4. Chap. Quisquis Iohn le Maire saith that this Pope was a cruell man and disgraded Formosus Bishop of Portensis which was an occasion of many mischiefes Fasci temp Some Historiographers say it was for that he was the cause that the said Iohn Pope was imprisoned at Rome Finally he was poisoned or as some say slaine with the blow of a Mallet vpon a conspiracie made against him Chron. Abb. Vrsp R. Barns Pascasius about this time was Abbot in Saxonie he writ a Booke of the Euchariste and most men followed his opinion which pleased the Schoole-men more then the opinion of Iohannes Scotus or of Bertramus which were reiected as shal be told in his place Martin second of that name a French man by euil arts entered into the Popedome Supple Chron. and gouerned a yeare and fiue moneths before he was called Marin Betwixt Martin Pope second of that name and Adrian the third Sigebert and Visperge place Agapetus but other Historiographers make no mention of them Adrian Pope the third of that name ruled at Rome a yeare and three moneths Hee ordeined that from thenceforth the Emperours should not meddle with the election of the Pope And that his aurhoritie therein should be no more any thing requisite but that the election of the Cleargie should be free Dist 62. chap. Nullus chap. Adrianus Hee made this Lawe whilst the Emperour was occupied in the warre against the Normains which then endured not long For Leo the eight Pope did ordaine cleane contrary as shall bee saide afterward Platina saith heere that William Pyon Duke of Aquitane and Counte Auerne founded the first Monasterie of the order of Clugny vnder the rule of Saint Benet and made Berno Abbot there after whome Odo succeeded who hauing bene a Musitian at Tours came to be a Monke at Clugny Chron. Sigeb The Emperour Charles became iealous of his wife for the great familiaritie shee had with Luitwaldus Bishop of Verseil who in a full assembly protested that hee neuer had her company Shee notwithstanding accepted the diuorce and withdrew her selfe vnto the couent d'Aulaui where shee made an end of her dayes Sigeb and P. Phrig 9. At this time the Normains Northerne people did great hurt in France after they had spoyled Artois Cambray Liege Brabant Gelders and Treuers c. Charles being not able to resist them finally agreed with them in giuing in marriage the daughter of Lotharie his cousin germain called Gille to Geffrey or Rotfrid their King and assigned for her dowrie the Countrey of Frise vpon condition he should be baptised Notwithstanding those Normains afterward afflicted France and besieged the Citie of Paris as shall be said The subiects of Charles le Gros greeued at his cowardlinesse because he let France be so outraged by the violence and crueltie of the Normains and that also hee had forsaken his wife a good woman they deposed him as vnworthy and vnprofitable for the gouernment of the Empire and gaue him a Curator named Arnulfe or Arnould who was his brothers sonne Some say that Charles le Gros finished his dayes in great pouertie in the Abbey of the rich Angell called in Alemand Richenna nigh vnto Constans by the Lake without any great honour of Sepulchre Others say he was strangled by his owne people This is a glasse for great Princes of the world and an excellent patterne of the humaine condition Arnulphus thē his Nephew by his brother Carloman Duke of France Orientall which then was called the Teutonique Kingdome comprehending Bauier Sorabe Saxe Turinge Frise and Lorraine was made Emperour Hee was a valiant man and repressed the Moranians and Slauonians after hee made strong warre vpon the Normains nigh the Riuer of Mense Stephen Pope fift of that name ruled 6. yeares ten moneths in the Romane seate It was in his time that the tale of S. Michael in the Mount Bargamus in Pouile is said to bee true There was one of his Decretals to Hubert Arch-bishop of Manyeance 2. G. v. c. Consuluisti ordeined the song of Crosse de consecrat 6. dist v.c. Nunquid Odo 31. King of France raigned nine yeares He was Tutor vnto Charles le Simple and crowned King to resist the Normains which then
moued Bruno to seeke remedie and comfort to his fancie without the word of the Lord was of the diuel and proceeded of his illusions This liberalitie drew many poore and needfull people vnto him that they came by troupes and he alwaies expounded some place of holy scripture in the vulgar tongue for hee was a man learned as the writings of that time witnesse and the Catalogue of the witnesses of the truth the Bishop of the place and the Prelates which carried the keyes as they say and would neither enter nor let others enter beganne to murmure that a Laie man or secular man as they call them should handle or declare in the vulgar tongue the scripture and make assemblies in his house admonishing to cease to do so vnder the paine of excommunication But for all this the zeale that Waldo had to aduance the glory of God and the desire the little ones had to learne was nothing diminished but contrary the resistance and tyrannie of the Prelates gaue occasion to discouer the errours and superstitions of the Romane seate which then were as it were hid in darknesse The like happened in our time for whē the Pope his Priests could not endure that Martin Luther should reprehend their Indulgences they were the cause that a further search was made into their errours and so discouered their abhominable blasphemies Waldo now gathered in the vulgar tongue many places out of the auncient Fathers to cōfirme and strengthen such as were of his side not only by the authoritie of holy scriptures but also by witnesse of Doctors against the aduersaries It is likely to be true by Historiographers yea euen by the writings of the aduersaries that this assembly endured certaine time it may be foure or fiue yeares that Waldo taught in the Towne of Lyons before he was driuen to exile banishment For because he was mightie and had friends he was not so soone exposed to daungers which afterward were laide for him And thus came the appellation of the Pope of Lions Some called them Waldois some Lyonists and some Insabbatati that is such as obserued neither Sabboth nor Feast and many other like names to make them odious and detestable as shall be shewed in the discourse of this Historie Alexander vnderstanding the Emperor marched to come to Rome perceiuing himselfe culpable of the treason he had done him the 7. yeare of his Popedome fled from Rome in the habit of his Coole came vnto Venice remained in a Monasterie where finally being knowne he was led by the Duke the Senate with great solemnitie into S. Markes Church The Emperor vnderstanding y t Alexander was at Venice sent Embassadors to demaund Alexander The Venetians maintained the Pope which the Emperor seeing sent thither his son Otho with an Army yet commanding him not to fight against the Venetians before his comming But Otho led with youth gaue battell lost the victory was prisoner Which the Pope seeing wold not agree with the Emperor vnlesse fist he came to Venice receiued the meanes that he wold offer Frederic to help his son came to Venice the Pope would not absolue him of y e bond of excommunicatiō vntill he presented himselfe at the doore of S. Mark his Church Whē he was come thither the Pope cōmanded him in the presence of all the people to cast himself vpon the ground and to demand pardon of him The Emperor prostrating himselfe vpon the earth at the Popes feete hee set his foote vpon the Emperors neck pressing it downe said It is written Super aspidem basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis Leonem draconem that is to say Thou shalt goe vpon the Aspe Basilike and tread vnder thy feet the Lyon the Dragō The Emperor taking in ill part the contumely answered This was not said vnto thee but vnto Peter But the Pope stepping againe vpon his neck answered Both to me to Peter The Emperour fearing the peril or an hid danger held his peace so was absolued and an accord was made betwixt them vpō condition that the Emperour should hold Alexander for the true legitimate Pope that he should restore to the Romane church all that he had vsurped takē during the war These things ended the Emperor his son departed frō Venice so ceased y e schisme This Pope gaue many priuiledges to the order of Chartreux and Canonized S. Barnard The bodies of three Kings as they call them were transported from Millaine to Colongne by the Bishop of the said place Sabell Eun. 9. lib. 5. The order of the Carmalites began in this time and the order of Willelmins Hermirs Fasc Temp. About this time Henry the second King of England seeing the power of Bishops Cleargie too great in England and that they by oathes made to the Pope did alienate themselues and the Forces of the Realme by such means weakned renewed the auncient rights called the Dignities of the Kingdome And aboue all that which saith That Bishops and Prelates shal sweare to be loyall and faithful vnto the king and the publike vtilitie of the kingdome Thomas Becket Archbishop of Cāterburie gaue that oath to the King but after repented himselfe thereof as of an vnlawfull oath and demanded therfore the Popes absolution The King grieued at such periurie banished him and about fiue yeares he was in France The questiō was long debated at Rome cost much mony vpō Embassadors going betweene the one partie the other Gratian cōpiler of the Decrees was sent on the Popes side Petrus Lombardus on Becket his side The king fearing apparent daungers on the side of France was glad to be quiet but Becket being restored and stil remaining contrary to the king and vnwilling to absolue such as before he had excommunicated he was slain by certaine Nobles of the Realme The 48. yeare after his death there was a disputation in Paris amongst the Doctors whether he were damned or saued There was one Roger a Normane who maintained that he deserued death being a Rebell against the King who is the Minister of God Others contrary maintained that by good right he ought to be held in the number of Martirs because he died for the Clergie and so the Pope Alexander canonized him This Historie sheweth vs what difference there is betwixt the Popes Martyrs and them of Iesus Christ The punishment makes not the Martyr but the cause Many haue written against this Archbishop Becket and condemning him haue maintained the Kings cause Baleus rehearseth it So doth Iohn Eliot and Iohn Bishop of Poitiers Our Ladies Church of Paris is now builded by the Bishop there called Maurice who also founded besides three Monasteries that is Negranx Hermeries and Yeres The Sea of Histories About this time were there seene in the West Countries three Sunnes in September the yeare after three Moones Chro. Euseb Baudwin fourth of that name the seuenth King of
Ierusalem raigned sixe yeares Chron. Euseb Berthold Duke Zeringen sonne of Conrade the Emperour founded two Freburgs that is to say free Bourgages or Francborgs the one in Brisgoy and the other in little Bourgogne commonly called Vchland against Sauoye And 12. yeares after he founded the Towne of Berne which he surnamed because of a Beare which he encountred in the place where the said Towne was builded For that word in their tongue signifieth Beare Naucl. The scituation thereof is almost an Iland which the Riuer of Arre maketh Phillip dieu done 2. of that name 41. king of France sonne of Lewis le ienne constituted the Escheuins of Paris and enuironed with walles a great part of the towne and walled the wood of Vincennes nigh Paris Naucler At this time was a great multitude of Iewes in France of which there went a report that euerie yeare they stole a Christian childe and ledde him vnto a place vnder the earth and after they had tormented him crucified him and that day they call great or good Friday King Phillip hearing this caused the Iewes to be taken and tormented in diuers sorts Hee burned 80. in one fire and after the yeare 1186. he draue them all out of his kingdome except such as were conuerted to the Faith After the King being scarce of mony through warres demanded of the Iewes a great summe thereof and hauing it graunted he was content they should again come into his kingdome As also his successour Lewis opened them all the kingdome of France Lucius Pope third of that name of Luke ruled at Rome foure yeares two moneths and 18. dayes He was before called Hinebaldus or Vbaldus Cardinall of Ostia This Pope would needs banish the Consuls Patricij at Rome wherefore he was cast out of Rome and withdrew himselfe to Verona Such as tooke his part some had their eyes put out others were set vpon Asses their faces towards the hinder part and were ignominiously handled After some In this time was the fourth expedition made beyond the Sea and there were crossed vnto it the King of France Philip Augustus and Henry King of England And there was a tenth laide vpon all Benefices and reuenews of Church goods to help the charges of the warre And this Subsidie was called Saladins tenth Iohn le Maire Vrbane Pope third of that name borne at Millane of the people of Cribelles ruled a yeare and sixe moneths or as it were eleuen Suppl Chron. Before he was called Imbert Suppl Chron. Sigeb Baudwin King of Ierusalem left the kingdome Guyon of Lusignan his sisters husband and the saide Guyon was the last King of Ierusalem Saladin by auarice ambition and discord of Christians occupied Ierusalem which the Christians had held from Godfrey de Bouillion 88. yeares He tooke also Aca Beritus Biblon and all the rest euen to Ascalon inclusiuely Naucler Gregorie Pope 8. of that name borne in Beneuent ruled at Rome 57. dayes Hee sent messages vnto the Christian Princes and their people to goe against the enemies of the Faith promising Indulgences and pardons vnto all but he dyed vpon that enterprise as he went vnto Pise to sollicite that they of that Towne with the Geneuois together might send into Asia for the defence of Religion Cor. Abb. Lynonia or Lyfland a Northerne Land was conuerted to the Faith Clement Pope third of that name the sonne of a Romane Citizen ruled at Rome 3. yeares and 6. moneths and made a Decretall against such Priests as celebrated Masse in wodden vessels and with common bread The Emperour Frederic Philip King of France Richard King of England and the Pope Clement agreed together to send mony vnto the Christians they sent also many ships and after went themselues in person with many Princes and Prelates of Ierusalem but they could not accord therefore soone after they returned Supp Chron. The yeare of Christ 1190. Frederic being at Nice a Citie of Bithinia it being also very hotte he descended into a floud to wash but the force of the water carried him away so that he was drowned in the presence of his people the 37. yeare of his Empire leauing fiue children which hee had of his wife Beatrix daughter of Regnand Count of Besanson The King of England was taken by a Duke of Austriche called Leopold as he returned passing through Almaigne and was deliuered vnto the Emperour Henry the sixt For his raunsome were solde the treasures of the Church the Chalices of Gold and Siluer c. and so returned into England During this time the King of France but a litle before also returned into France and occupied certaine Townes appertaining vnto the King of England The treasures of England solde for the Kings raunsome came 200000 markes of siluer Celestine 3. of that name a Romane before called Iacinthus very aged his Father was called Bubonis was chosen Pope by the Cardinalls vpon Easter day The next morning he Crowned Henry Emperour 6. of that name sonne of Fredericke and at the exhortation of this Pope he made an expedition to goe vnto Ierusalem William king of Sicile dying without heires it was thought that therefore the kingdome should devolue vnto the Romane seate but the greatest of the kingdome elected Tancredus the bastard sonne of the said William The Pope stirred heereat drew Constance the daughter of Roger and sister of William king of Sicilie out of an Abbey of Nunnes in the Towne of Palerme and dispensed with her marriage Wherefore Henry sonne of the Emperour Fredericke espoused her and so came vnto the kingdome of Sicilie and occupied it And Tancredus was slaine in battaile so Henry abode in place The said Constance of the age of 55. yeares conceaued and brought forth a sonne called Fredericke the second who after was Emperour Supp Chron. The order of the Friars of the Hospitall of the Almaines beganne at this time Also the order of the Trinitie The yeare 1191. the Towne of Aca was taken by the Christians Naucler saith here that Saladine seeing the force of the Christians determined to haue yeelded them the towne of Ierusalem but the discord happening betwixt the King of Fraunce and the King of England was cause of verie great troubles In matter of diuorce Celestine permitted the Catholike partie to remarry if the other partie fell into heresie But contrary the Pope Innocent forbad it Poll. Ver de diuor cap. 5. Arthois was erected into an Earledome the yeare 1195. and the first Count or Earle therof was Lewis sonne of king Philip. The kingdome of Cyprus came into the hands of the Christians and remained there 275. yeares The Archbishop of Magunce with a multitude of Almains the King of Hungarie the Queene went into Palestine against the Sarasins Sigeb They tooke Berinthus and Ioppe Naucl. Innocent Pope third of that name borne in Campania his father was Trasimondus of Anagnia a man of base estate Suppl Chron. ruled at
placed in the number of Virgins Katherine de Sienes a Iacobin Because he was a very curious builder as the Papists giue him that praise he repaired the Courts of Vatican and had sooner atchieued a Castle in the Towne of Tiuoli then was thought he had begunne At Sienes where hee was borne hee builded a goodly Porch of wrought stone At a place called Corfinium he founded a Citie and named it Pientia of his owne name and builded there a vaulted Temple very sumptuous and a pleasant house and besides this a Sepulchre of Marble for his father and mothers bones See what Platina sayth thereof The Kingdome of Bosne The kingdome of Bosne stretched euen vnto Macedonia It was made tributary vnto the kingdome of Hungarie the yeare 1415. After it reuoulted from the kings obedience and made alliance with the Turke Sigismond King of Hungarie sought to chase away such as occupied it but the Turke was the stronger and reteined the Countrey of Bosne After the Hungarians got together a great Armie came into Bosne and slew the king Itrarch who was a Turke and subiected to their power all that Region and constituted a king there namely the first Christian which had yet bene There was a Prince in Ruscia called George Despot who had giuen his daughter in marriage to the Turke Hee had three sonnes Stephen George and Lazarus Lazarus succeeded his father and had but one daughter who espowsed Stephen king of Bosne who soone after his enioying the principalitie of Ruscia gouerned with a Turkish spirit full of great impietie and wicked religion But it hapned that about the yeare of saluation 1463. as hee had a great land in the higher Misia Mahomet the Turke by flatteries drew him out of the Castle where hee was and calling him to him to talke vnder the shadow of amitie laid hold on him and caused him to be scorched aliue so lost he both his life and kingdome which he had by his father By this mans temeritie and wickednesse together Ruscia and Bosne with the greatest part of Seruia fell into the Turkes obedience As the Pope Pius was at Ancone vpon his departing to goe to warre he was surprised with a slowe feauer the yeare of the Lord 1464. whereof hee died From thence he was carried to Rome and buried in the Church of S Peter One vice of Ambition saith Volaterane contaminated and defiled all the vertues of this person as he that alwaies greatly desired great estates and honours And for that cause endured hee great trauells and alwaies maintained himselfe in the fauour of Princes The warre called The publike Weale was begunne the yeare 1464. by the conspiration of the Princes of France meaning to reforme the kings affaires who tooke offices and dignities from such as had long time faithfully exercised them He greatly also vexed the Nobles and puissant of the Kingdome by demaunds The Duke of Britaine and the Count de Chaelois the Duke of Bourgongnes sonne perswaded Charles Duke of Berry to bee the chiefe Captaine and Prince of that warre and conspiration which Phillip de Commines handleth at large and truly therefore see his historie The aforesaid Pope Pius as Platina and Sabellicus recyte amongst other sentences which he vsed commonly left this in writing With great reason was marriage taken from Priests but yet there is a farre greater reason wherefore it ought to haue bene yeelded them againe He inserted also this sentence in his second booke of Councells It may be saith hee that it were not the worse if a many Priests were married For many being married Priests should be saued which in their barren singlenesse are damned He himselfe would needs abolish certaine Monasteries of S. Brigide and S. Claire commaunding them out that they might burne no more and vnder the habit of religion they should not hide whoredome saith Caelius Secundus About this time there was no small debate in Italie betwixt the Friars Minors and such as they called Bullists which of those should guard and gouerne the Nunnes there As for the discords which were betwixt the Obseruantins and the Non Obseruantins Baptista Mantuanus accordeth them in his Bucoliques in the tenth Eglogue Paul the second of that name borne at Venice the sonne of Nicholas and of Polixene called before Peter Barbe or Balbe and Nephewe of Eugenius the fourth on his sisters side beeing Cardinall of the title of S. Marke was chosen in the place of Pius and occupied the seate of Antichrist Before he was made Bope he meant to traffique as a Marchant but hearing that his Vncle Gabriel was chosen Pope he gaue his minde vnto Letters and comming to Rome he was first created Archdeacon of Bolongne after that Bishop of Ceruio consequently Cardinall and as hath bene said finally Pope and Romane Antichrist It was he who first vaunted that hee held enclosed in his breast all Lawes both diuine and humane He was a goodly man and of faire representation but of a proud spirit and very couetous to gather riches and yet more to distribute Ecclesiasticall Benefices for his owne gaine and profit As for his Popish apparell saith Platina you neede not doubt but he surpassed all his predecessors and especially in his Mitre which he maruellously inriched buying from all Countries Diamonds Saphyrs Emeraudes Chrysolites Iaspers Pearles and other precious stones of great price Thus adorned and shining he would come publikely abroad with an exceeding magnificall apparence Then would he be seene and adored of each one for that cause would he often stay Pilgrims in the towne deferring the accustomed day to shew the Snaire that at once he might be seene of more people And that hee alone might not differ from others in habits and garments he commanded by publike Edict vpon greeuous paines that none should weare redde Bonnets but Cardinalls vnto which also the first yeare of his Popedome he gaue them a cloath of the same colour for footcloathes for their Horses and Mules when they rode Platina He fought to encrease his maiestie as well by authoritie as by force of Armes All the time of his raigne he stirred great warres in Italie by his deuices and practises Hee assailed the Towne of Ariminum and others and miserably destroyed and wasted not onely the suburbes but euen the Townes themselues with Gun-shot He greatly hated the decrees and acts of Pius his predecessor and depriued also of their goods and authorities such as for their knowledge and doctrine hee should haue sought through the world and haue drawne them vnto him by gifts and promises He declared such to be heretikes as from thenceforth should but onely name an Academie or Vniuersitie eyther in sport or earnest He was of an heauie and grosse spirit and therefore loued neither Letters nor vertues As one that was giuen altogether vnto ambition dissolution and voluptuousnesse He employed all the day either in gourmandizing or waighing peeces of Gold or
in regarding and contemplating the auncient money precious stones or Images and Portraitures In the Romane consistorie Gregorie King of Boheme was condemned an heretike depriued of his kingdome and after the Pope by his Legate sollicited the Princes of Almaine and the king of Pannonia to inuade the kingdome of Boheme which they did and the said George was cast out of one part thereof Chron. Euseb In the moneth of September a Legate arriued in France to breake the pragmatike Sanction vnto whom Iohn de S. Romain the Kings Proctor generall would not consent for any menaces of the said Legate but said hee would rather loose both his office and goods before hee would yeeld to doo any thing so greatly to the preiudice of the Realme and Common-wealth The Towne of Liege was put to fire and sword by the Duke of Bourgongne because they had put their Bishop in prison who was his Nephewe by his sister as is reported by the Chronicle of Eusebius Others say he was his brother by his wife the Duke of Bourbon his daughter Frederic the third vpon deuotion went to Rome in winter Chron. Euseb Pope Paul hauing made alliance with the Turkes ioyned in league also with the Venetians Chron. Euseb The Pope Paul held Platina the Historiographer in prison wrongfully but his successor deliuered him He destroyed the Abbreuiataires in hatred of his predecessor who had reduced the said estate into order At that time it was a Colledge of learned and studious people in Diuine and Ciuill Lawes Poets Orators Historiographers c. See Naucler He set the Iubile from 25. yeares to 25. yeares not for the saluation of soules but rather to drawe new money vnto him saith Fasci Temp. There is found in the booke of Stanislaus Ruthen a thing worthy to bee noted That is that this Paul hauing read certaine Poesies that were made against him and his daughter began to weepe and amongst his friends began to accuse the rigour of the lawe of his former predecessours which forbadde Priestes to marrie for as much as hee which ought not onely to bee the head of the Church but also of continencie sawe that each one had talke of his daughter to his great dishonour and had theyr eyes continually vpon her And although shee were most excellent in beautie yet did it grieue him that men should thinke that hee had engendred her in whoredome Seeing hee knew well that there was a lawe ordained of God whereby shee might haue bene borne in wedlocke had it not bene for that singlenesse that is the defence for Priests to marrie which hindred it Therefore he had determined to haue set vp againe the marriage of Priests but he could not execute it because death preuented him For as he perswaded himselfe that hee should liue long he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexie and died suddenly hauing well supped the night before After this time the Popedome fell and decayed more and more The Kingdom of Cyprus The Venetians got the kingdome of Cyprus First the yeare 1470. they had established in the kingdome one Iames bastard of Cyprus against Lewis sonne of the Duke of Sauoy and the Queene Charlotte his wife daughter of Iohn king of Cyprus the true heire of that kingdome But for the better vnderstanding of the matter you must know that the said Venetians gaue to the said bastard in marriage Katherine the daughter of Marke Corrario a Gentleman of Venice who vpon their commaundement had ayded the said bastard in all his affaires against the said Lewis of Sauoy and the Queene Charlotte his wife euen to cast them out of Cyprus This Katherine was solemnly adopted a daughter by the Signiorie of Venice but it was not but for to adopt also the kingdome therewith But the said king bastard with his Venetian wife espowsed the cause of their death for as soone as she was espied to bee with childe the Venetians poysoned the said king caused a fame to runne that he died of a Fluxe of the belley and that hee had left his wife and the childe she was with his heire recommending them vnto the Seignorie of Venice When then shee was brought to rest they did with the chide as they had done with the father And they tooke the said Katherine which they called Queene and brought her to Venice and from that time they ceased and tooke possession of the said Kingdome which they haue held since the yeare 1470. vntill this day saith Iohn le Maire Of this Iames bastard and of the oath he made vnto the Souldan see Naucler Sixtus or Sistus fourth of that name a Geneuois by Nation borne in the Towne of Sauonne called before Francis de Ruere generall of the order of Friars and Cardinall of S. Sixtus after the death of Paul succeeded in the execrable Chaire As the solemnitie of his Coronation was done whilest they carried him in his Litter to the Church of Laterane hee was in great daunger of his life in a mutenie which arose suddenly in such sort that he was assailed euen with stones and forsaken almost of all that accompanied his Litter This Pope was very liberall towards his and bore them such an affection that in fauour of them he did and agreed vnto many things against all right and reason He promoted vnto the dignitie of a Cardinall before all others one called Peter de Ruere one of the same order and Nation and had bene nourished from his Infancie with a brother of his called Hierome although it seemed this man was borne foolishly to spend money For in two yeares that he liued after he consumed in all dissolution and violence the summe of 200000. Skutes besides many debts he left Iohn Textor in his Officine makes mention of this Cardinall and saith that in two yeares he spent in dissolutions vanities and incredible luxurie 300000. skutes The yeare 1475. a Citizen of Trent lost in the weeke before Easter commonly called the passion weeke a childe of two yeares olde And hauing sought him through all streetes in the Towne and not finding him he suspected he was carried away by the Iewes which inhabited there Wherefore he got him towards the Magistrate making great sorrow and deliuering his suspitions The Sunday following the Iewes told the Bishop that they had found a childe betwixt the floud called Rusch and the house of Samuel a Iew which the force of the water had cast vp there Certaine men were appointed to visit the childe which was found in the house of the said Samuel with his garments all wette his body was marked with diuers prickes Being asked how this childe came there they answered they knew not but that the fiercenesse of the water had driuen him thither But as soone as they were put to the Racke they confessed and rehearsed the case in order that is to say how they had consulted and chosen amongst them one Tobias to steale a Christian childe and to crucifie him at Easter
Popish kingdome before the time of Iulius Iohn the 24. was maruellously troubled and molested by an Owle as is afore said And as he was in the way to Constance he fell from his Charriot He was there ignominiously deposed and there was it concluded that the generall Councell had power ouer the Pope And therefore from his time and also from Paul the second the affaires of the Papacie haue gone ill and haue alwaies past from worse to worse Vnder the gouernment of Alexander the sixt the Angell which was placed in the dungeon of the Castle S. Angelo was stricken downe by a fearfull thunder and fell into Tiber. There is hardly any person which knoweth not the mischiefes which haue hapned since Iulius the second vntill this present But according to the sentence of S. Paul Iesus Christ shal shortly destroy that wicked Antichrist by the brightnesse of his comming He shall be put aliue saith the Angell speaking to S. Iohn into a poole of burning fire brimstone where he shall be tormented for euer So be it So be it Iulius the second of that name borne at Genes Nephew of Sixtus the fourth who had bene named before Iulian Reuerins of the title of S. Peter ad Vincula was chosen Pope Hee was a man of a quicke spirit and very subtill and as it were chiefly borne for warre Phillip willing againe to passe into Spaine by Sea-tempest was cast vpon England and well receiued of king Henry the seuenth yet he payed for his welcome and redeemed his departure by deliuering to the said King the Duke of Southfolke who was of the house of the white Rose and thought the nighest heiremale of the Crowne of England who by the said Phillip had bene taken in Guelders whither he was fled for feare of king Henry This Iulius plucked away by force and by excommunications many things from certaine Christian Princes And in the space of seuen yeares he was cause of the death of infinite persons yea this tyrant because of the victories which he had obtained wherein hee reioyced that hee had shead so much humane bloud gaue vnto the Swisses the title of defenders of the Ecclesiasticall libertie and with a certaine number of Ensignes of warre and priuiledges cōfirmed by his Bulls a golden sword and an hatte He very straightly besieged Rauenna which the Venetians had occupied and in the end hauing taken it he reduced it into his obedience With a litle brauerie he plucked into his hands from certaine Princes Setina Imola Faience Boulongne and other Townes which was not done without great effusion of bloud Philibert the eight Duke of Sauoy succeeded his father Phillip in the yeare 1495. He was a magnanimous and vertuous Prince and full of great beautie in so much that he was called Philibert the faire He was amiable also and courteous to euery one He espowsed Margarite the Emperor Maximilians daughter But after hee had done many things worthy of memorie he died without leauing any heire issuing of him wherfore Charles his brother succeeded him in the said Duchie Margarite for a witnesse of the loue she bare him would neuer manie againe but alwaies remained a widow Phillip returned into Spaine and died in the yeare 1506. of his age the 28. The king Lewis had sent Phillip de Rauestone as Gouernor of Genes The Towne reuolted the yeare 1507. but incontinently it was taken againe by the French The yeare 1509. there was a great contention betwixt two orders of begging Friars that is to say the Friars and the Iacobins And this was because of the conception of the Virgin Mary The Cordeliers or Friars said that she was preuented of the grace of the holy spirit so that she was nothing spotted with originall sinne and the Iacobins affirmed the contrary that she was conceiued after the manner of the other children of Adam and that priuiledge to be conceiued without sinne was onely reserued to Iesus Christ yet they saide that the holy Virgin which was the mother of the sonne of God was sanctified in his mothers wombe purged from all originall spot as S. Iohn Baptist Ieremie and certaine others were which by especiall priuiledge were sanctified before they came out of their mothers wombes The said Iacobins made themselues strong to prooue that opinion by reasons of the holy scripture as also they had enterprised to make publike disputations at Heidelberge touching the conception of the Virgin Mary but nothing was executed Afterward the said Iacobins began to prooue that opinion euen before the people by certaine false myracles and visions which they themselues had inuented But these bad people were deceiued and their lies turned on their owne heads For there was a Lay Friar simple and an Ideot which they had enterprised to seduce and deceiue by their Inchauntments who in the ende reuealed all their knauery There were foure bretheren of that order taken at Berne vnto whō the torture was deliuered which after they had confessed the matter were disgraded and finally burnt for their fraudulent and diabolicall machinations which they had forged to maintaine their opinion For they had Inchaunted with superstitious charmes a poore Nouice It was at the great instance of the Bernois that Haimo Bishop of Lansanna in which Diocesse Berne is tooke knowledge of their cause and after inquisition made therof brought it to this point that they were disgraded and deliuered vnto the secular arme and burnt the last day of May in the Meade nigh the Riuer side of Ar. There were other culpable of this deed but they escaped from the hands of the Bernois The King Frederic of Naples and the Cardinall de Ambose died In this time happened a great malladie and sicknesse in France which they called the Coqueluehe The Pope Iulius excommunicated the king of France and Iohn d' Alebret king of Nauarre and gaue their kingdomes to whomsoeuer could first occupie them Masseus in the 20. Chapter of his Chronicles reciteth that the king of France perceiuing that the Pope Iulius with the Venetians went about something against him assembled a Councell in the Towne of Tours in the moneth of September where he proposed the questions following namely Whether it were lawfull for the Pope to make warre against any Prince without cause or reason And if such a Prince defending himselfe may not assaile the said Pope and withdraw from his obedience It was answered that it was not lawfull for the Pope so to do but that it was lawfull for the Prince to do that whereof he had enquired Moreouer it was agreed that the pragmatike sanctiō should be kept through the Realme of France and if hee thundred his excommunicatiōs that they should make no account of them because they should be vniust After these things the King sent to Iulius the answere of his Councell requiring him either to agree to peace or in some place to appoint a generall Councell to dispute the said questions more
at that seruice but he refused to kisse the dish or pax offered by the Cardinall of Ausbourge who sung the Masse whereat the Cardinall was so despited that he said vnto him If thou wilt haue no blessing receiue a curse euerlasting Other deputies of the Townes and Princes of the confession of Ausbourge entered not into the Church Certaine time after Othon Henry Elector Palatin left his dignitie and estates to Frederick who reformed his Countrey after the pure doctrine whereof he shewed himselfe a constant and faithfull protector with an admirable wisedome and moderation The Diethmarsois yeelded themselues vnto Frederick the 2. of that name king of Denmarke about the end of the moneth of Iune after they had couragiously maintained the war and receiued diuers battailes before they gouerned themselues without yeelding any subiection vnto any person But now they yeelded to gouernment about 35. yeares after the death of Henry de Supphon minister of the word of God whom they had cruelly put to death in the Towne of Meldorf where the truth of the Gospell encreased greatly by the preachings of that man The first day of Ianuary that Christian king of Denmarke of the age of 56. yeares died and about three weekes after died also Christierne his Cosin and predecessor who for his vniust wicked dealings was driuen away of his subiects straying out of his own kingdome the space of 10. yeares thinking to come thither again was taken vpon these and after locked in prison where he reamined 17. years vntil his death being vs the age of 78. Laurence Priarli Duke of Venice Heroides Duke of Ferrare died the same year y e one inâ—â—â— the other in Octo. Paul 4. hauing bin Pope 4. yeares 2. moneths 27. daies died the 18 day of August 1559. of the age of 85. yeares Scant had he yeelded vp his spirit but the Romane people which wished death vnto him because of his warres exactions and 〈◊〉 brake the prisons of the Inquisition deliuered the prisoners fired the whole building threw downe the Popes Image cutting off the head and right hand 〈…〉 which were drawne three dayes 〈◊〉 〈…〉 cast 〈…〉 And it was 〈◊〉 that the Armes of the family of â—â—râ—ffes should be plucked downe from all places of the towne and burst in peeces which was 〈◊〉 the same day His body was in daunger to haue bene handled as his Images and so had bene but that they kept certaine dayes 〈◊〉 aâ—â—â—d and strong hand from the people He was also very violent in his Popedome not only toward his enemies many of which were yet in prison but also towards his seruants and friends The 26. day of the said moneth of August Phillip d' Austrich king of Spaine hauing set in order his affaires in Flaunders and the lowe Countries made saile from the Hauen of Flushing into Spaine pretending to set vpoÌ„ the Turke seeing he was agreed with the king of France Elizabeth the eldest daughter of the dead king Henry being accorded vnto him for wife and committed vnto the king of Nauarre other to conuoy her euen vnto the frontiers of Spaine But being embarked with a great number of ships and all the riches which his father had heaped vp out of Almain Italy with a great quantitie of the rich Tapistry of Flaunders as he approached the port of S. Iames in Galicie so great a tempest arose that of all that magnificall furniture and riches gotten together with so long time and so great trauell nothing arriued in safetie but the sea was made heire of those riches euen in the sight of the Spaniards As for him that tempest spared him so litle that scant could he set foote in any 〈◊〉 but the vessel wherein he was was ready to sinke into the bottome of the sea This losse chafed him so much the more against them of the Religon especially of the lowe countries which were there persecuted with fire and sword before after his departâ—â—â— In England the Churche got vp vnder the peâ—câ—â—ble gouernment of Elizabeth As for Scotland many came vnto the Gospell and they so multiplied that soone after they remained maisters The Papall seate being vacant the space of foure moneths by the aduise of the Cardinalls Iohn Angelus de Medicis Cardinall was chosen Pope about the end of December and was crowned the sixt day of Ianuary 1560. naming himselfe Pius the fourth he liued in the throne of error fiue yeares eleuen moneths and fifteene dayes He confirmed the election of the Emperour Ferdinand which his predecessour would not approue hee also iustified and set at libertie out of prison certiane Cardinalls and Bishops At the beginning of this said moneth Elizabeth of France was brought to the limits of Spaine deliuered into the hands of the Cardinall de Burges of the Duke d'el Infantasque King Phillip his deputies vnto whom they brought her and there was great triumphs in the celebration of the marriage which they called the firme bond to holde vnited the kingdomes of France and Spaine Charles Prince of Spaine receiued the homages of many Townes insomuch that for a time there was nothing but reioycings Iusts Feasts and Bankets through all King Phillips Countries but this mirth endured no long time as shall be seene hereafter For the estate of France the Churches had many troubles this yeare For the violent and illegitimate domination of the house of Guise which ruled the king and the kingdome at their pleasure the recoyling of Princes and great Lords the despising of the states and other coÌ„fusions brought in by these new gouernours stirred a great part of the Nobilitie to ioyne themselues together to get the King out of the hands of such people and to procure by good order that things might return into their auncient estate And because this could not be executed but by armes they assembled certaine troupes vnder the conduct of Godfroy de Barry seur de la Renaudie and other valiant Captains to come vnto Amboise to seaze the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine to make an account of their administration But hauing bene discouered and betrayed long time before they came into the field this enterprise did but â—â—uenome make more cruell the Lords of Guise Insomuch that they put to death a great number of Lordes Captaines Gentlemen and souldiers at Amboise And because the most part of them professed the true religion then in France called Lutherisme the Cardinall charged the Churches that they had made this enterprise yea they dealt with y e princes of the blood royall namely with Anthonie de Burbon king of Nauarre and his brother Lewis de Burbon prince of Conde after with the houses of Montmorencie of Chastillon determining to roote vp churches houses all at once to effect which the Lordes of Guise made infinit preparatiues all this yeare both within without the realme they also found meanes to draw the king of Nauarre
deeds remained not long vnpunished and it is profitable we should knowe the issue worthie of such a Tyrant Iosephus in the 8. booke of Antiq. Chap. 17. describeth it thus The kings maladie encreased and God shewed openly that he would punish his impietie For he was burned with a slowe heat yet without none could perceiue it only he felt it within because it grated wasted his entralles He was so hungry that he tooke no leisure to chawe his meate but deuoured all that entred into his mouth and so still some must cast meat into his mouth His entralls were wounded and vlcerated and he was tormented with collicke passions His feete were swelled with flegmaticke humours through which you might see the day His shamefaste parts were rotted and full of wormes his breath was stinking that none durst approach vnto him And in the 21. Chap. of the first booke of the Iewes warres the same Historiographer writeth thus All his bodie was taken with a disease and hee was tormented with diuers dolours He had a burning and intollerable heate in him The Chollick tormented him incessantly his feete were swelled betwixt the skinne and the flesh he sought to aduance his owne death and calling for a knife lifted vp his right hand but Archilaus his cosen-germane perceiuing it ranne to him and held his hand hee died 5. dayes after he made his sonne Antipater die hauing enioyed the kingdome the space of 34. yeares after he had caused Antigonus to die and 37. yeares after hee was declared King by the Romanes In all other things he was happie yea if euer King were for a man of so base condition to acquire that Kingdome and keepe it so long a time and at last leaue it to his children But concerning his domesticke affaires none could be more vnluckie c. Hitherto Iosephus This Historie is worthie of memorie that all that read such a vengeance of God may learne to feare his iudgements After the death of this Herod the Iewes not being able to support the ruling of a straunger sought to raise vp seditions but they were repressed by Archilaus But whilest Archilaus and Herod Antipas pleaded one against an other in Rome againe other troubles arose in Iewrie In so much as Augustus diuided Herods kingdome He constituted Archilaus the Tetrarch of Idumea Iudea and Samaria and the reuenew of those Regions amounted yearely to sixe hundreth Talents He diuided the other part into two Tetrarches He gaue also to Herod Antipas Galilie and Perea out of which Regions he had yearely 200. Talents And to Philippes he gaue Bathania Traconite Aucanite Calcide of which places the reuenew came by yeare to an hundreth Talents This Archilaus was chased from Iudea and finally banished to Vienne which is in Gaul nigh to Lions where he dyed At this time the administration of the Kingdome was againe chaunged in Iudea The Romanes placed Gouernours there one after an other as Coponius Marcus Anius Rufus Valerius Gracchus Poncius Pilate Tiberius succeeded Augustus his father in lawe and raigned 33. yeares He gaue himselfe to Idlenesse and drunkennesse so that in mockerie he was called Claudius Biberius Nero in place of Claudius Tiberius Nero. See Suetonius and Cor. Tacitus Historiograph Iohn Baptist began to preach the presence of the Redeemer shewing with his finger the Lord Iesus he reprehended the false seruices inuented by men so that persecutions began to arise The most enraged persecutors were the Pharisies I meane such as were great in the Church of Ierusalem These crimes they laid against him namely that he vsurped the Ministerie to teach without the will of such as had charge in the Church That he brought a new doctrine diuerse from the vse of the Sinagogues That he shewed a Messias who had no appearance of a King but abiect and poore That hee vsed hard and sharpe words and affirmed that the gouernment of Moses was come to an ende and that they must haue a new Religion That he foretold the reiection and ruine of the Iewes and the vocation of the Gentiles Mat. 3. Luk. 3. Iohn 3. But because the people came euery day in great multitudes to him and was held for an excellent Prophet his enemies were brideled But he endured an other persecution of Herodes Antipas the first king Herods sonne the Tetrark of Galilie who tooke Herodias his brother Philip Herods wife and made him die to please the appetite of that Herodias and her daughter Salome after she had daunced at a banquet As it is Mark. 6. There were amongst the Iewes at this time three Sects namely Pharisies Saduces and Esses as appeareth All the Nation of the Iewes had but that onely Temple which was in Ierusalem called the Temple of God Mat. 21. It was 46. yeares in edifying Ioh. 2. Nabuchodonoser pilled and burned the stately Temple of Salomon and rased it by Nabuzardam Generall of his Armie when the rest of the people were carried into Babilon Cyrus the first of that name King of the Persians at the perswasion of Daniel gaue leaue to reedifie it And the second yeare of Cyrus raigne the Iewes began to build it but they had great hinderances The death of Cyrus followed Cambises followed him a man full of impietie and crueltie hee caused the building to cease Darius Hislaspes succeeded after him who made an end of the Temple And this was the cause it was so long in building This Temple was situated in an imminent and high place therein was great magnificence and great gifts were giuen for ornaments thereof as may be gathered in the 24. of S. Math. Mark 14. Luk. 21. See Ioseph in his last chap. of the 15. booke of Antiquit. The Ecclesiasticall gouernment of the Iewes was this They which held the preheminence in the Church of the Iewes were called principall high Priests It was ordained of God that there should be one high Priest who might remaine in that office vntill the end of his life after his death an other was substituted Exod 29. Nomb. 20. When Christ came all was confused all was solde for money or by deceit and stealth As Iohn 11. It is said that Cayphas was chiefe Priest that yeare After the high Priest there was a great troupe of other Priests which were distinct amongst themselues For Dauid distributed the successors of Aaron into 24. orders Therefore it is said Luk. 1. that Zacharie was a Priest of the Family of Abia which had the eight Lot 1. Chro. 24. There were after Leuites whereof is spoken Iohn 1. and 10. Chap. There were also Scribes which were Doctors of the Lawe Luk. 5. There was the Maister of the Sinagogue who was the principall Doctor Mark 5. Luk. 13. There were they which were called Rabbi or Maister which was an estate or office of teaching Iohn 3. Art thou a Maister in Israel and knowest not these things The Elders of the people were they
which they chose from among the people hauing charge of things which belonged to the Temple to Iustice and the gouernment of the Church When Iesus had chased from the Temple the buyers and sellers the next morning the high Priests and Elders of the people came to him asking by what authoritie he did those things Math. 21. About the 20. yeare of Christ and the fift of Tiberius as Eusebius saith in his Chronicle thirteene Townes of Asia were ouerthrowne by an Earthquake namely Ephesus Sardis Mesthenes Megechiere Cesarea Magnesia Philadelphia Hincel Tenus Cume Mirthina Apollonia Diahyrcania Such iudgements of God ought to serue for aduertisements and instructions vnto vs. Our Lord Iesus Christ exercised his Ministerie and office the space of three yeares three moneths and tenne dayes and the beginning is taken from his thirtieth yeare because in S. Luke it is said that Iesus began to be about thirtie yeares of age He suffered death and passion the yeare 34. according to the supputation of many authors Caius Caligula was an horrible Monster who by his wicked life despited heauen and earth vttering his furie through all the iurisdictions of the Romane Empire and by his Edicts would needs make himselfe a God But finally he was taken with a straunge death Iosephus maketh a singular recitall thereof in the 1. Chapter of the 20. booke of Antiquities Chareas Sabinus Aquila and others which of long time had conspired his death slew him cruelly after he had raigned three yeares tenne monethes and eight dayes His body as Suetonius rehearseth was secretly carried to the Gardens of Lamius and being halfe burnt was couered with a litle earth He was of the age of 24. yeares Such a Tirant who had prouoked both God and men against him could no otherwise end his daies Caligula banished Herod the Tetrarch who went to Rome at the perswasion of Herodias the yeare 40. into the Towne of Lions in Gaul where he died in pouertie with the said Herodias his harlot The same yeare the Iewes endured great afflictions One was at Alexandria vpon this occasion Caligula had ordained that through all the Iurisdiction of the Romanes there should be builded vnto him Temples and Aultars where they should worship him as God The Iewes alone resisted his impietie Then were there many Grecians in Alexandria who wished death vnto the Iewes therefore then they tooke occasion to make them odious vnto the Emperour except they obeyed his ordinance When it came to proofe the Iewes resisted it strongly and the sedition about it was such that many were slaine on both sides The cause was finally debated at Rome and Caligula a peruerse man made chase away Philo the Iewe who pleaded the Iewes cause Who then said It behooueth vs whom the Emperour hateth to take courage For it is necessarie that God should helpe when humane succours faileth Caligula vsed to say Would to God the Romane people had but one Head The Iewes also were greatly afflicted in Babilon of the Chaldeans and in Seleucia of Siria There were two brethren Iewes of base condition the one named Asniens and the other Anileus the which being Robbers and Theeues they gathered together a great number of Rake-hells and disordered persons Artanabus seeing this euill encrease thought good to remedie it But it was too late And finally mooued with the prowesse of these two yoong men receiued them into amitie and gaue them the gouernment of the Kingdome of Babilon See Ioseph in the 18. Booke and last Chapter Iesus Christ ascended visibly into Heauen to confirme his Resurrection the better and the glorie of his Kingdome 40. dayes after his Resurrection His Disciples yet dreamed of an earthly kingdome of Messias asked of him if he would not begin it But Iesus Christ after he had spoken of the eternall Kingdome and had blessed them was lifted vp aloft and a bright Cloude receiued him into Heauen where he sitteth at the right hand and power of God Now then we must consider what aduancements and encrease the Primitiue Church made by the Apostles and their Disciples that all the faithfull may know that Iesus Christ the King of glory remaineth not Idle in Heauen but by an admirable manner maintained gouerneth and aydeth his that his Gospell may be sowne through the world But as God shewed that honour to the Land of Canaan as to giue it the promises touching the Redeemer so there also by his death he obtained saluation vnto mankinde Aboue all Countries Asia the lesse had at that time the most flourishing Churches After the Ascention of Christ there was an excellent Church in Ierusalem In the first of the Acts it is recited that there were about sixe score persons at the beginning The holy scripture calleth Churches the publicke assemblies of many faithfull Tenne dayes after the Ascension was the Feast of Pentecost The Lord Iesus then raigning in Heauen at the right hand of his Father powred visibly and sensibly the holy Ghost vpon the Apostles which then were assembled at Ierusalem The word of the Lord tooke his course and the number of the faithfull by litle and litle encreased in Ierusalem by the preaching and miracles of the Apostles Behold the booke of the Acts for the first preachings and the persecutions which came after the death of our Lord. The 34. yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ and the 19. of the Kingdome of Tiberius after the death of S. Steuen the high Priests of Ierusalem stirred more and more grieuous persecutions against the Church Saul which is also Paul was chosen to persecute the faithfull for before his conuersion he burnt with false zeale espying into each house and drawing into prison all he could catch S. Ierome reciteth that S. Paul his parents dwelt in Sischal a Towne of Iuda but when the Romanes tooke the Countrie they went into Tharsis which is in Cilicia where Paul was borne His father was a Iewe of the Tribe of Beniamin and a Burgesse of Rome Act. Chap. 22. Many then were Martired others were constrained to retire themselues into Countries adiacent which occasioned the Gospell to be further spread abroad About the yeare fortie and fiue after the Natiuitie of our Lord Iesus Christ and twelue yeares after his Resurrection the third yeare of Caligula a great persecution was stirred by Herode Agrippa against the Christians wherein Iames the brother of Iohn was beheaded Peter put in prison but the Angell of the Lorde drewe them out most miraculously Soone after the Lord reuenged the death of his For it happened that this Herode went to Cesarea The cause was for that hee hadde enterprised a warre against the Tyrrians and Sidonians which they preuented by gaining the Chamberlaine Blastus and demaunding of a peace One day Herode sumptuously adorned sate downe in Throne and spake to them and the people made an acclamation as if GOD himselfe hadde spoken vnto them But Herode was incontinently strooken by the Angell
And as the light of the Gospell got aboue his mysts and cloudes he came to Rome in the time of Claudius the Emperour leading with him an whore called Selene or Helena which he had drawne out of the common Stewes of Tyre in Phinicia he called her the first conception of his vnderstanding and the mother of all by whom from the beginning hee had conceiued to make Angels and Arch-angels He attributed also vnto her almost all things which the holy Scripture yeeldeth vnto the eternall word of God in the creation Hee said also of himselfe that he was the soueraigne God which descended and was transfigured to correct things which had bene euill administred by the Angels And although he appeared in an humane forme yet was he not man and although men thought he suffered in Iudea yet he suffered not So promised he saluation to all them which would trust in him and in his Selene and full libertie to do whatsoeuer their appetite desired For men should be saued by his grace and not by their owne good workes For such workes were not after his nature but from his Angels which by his permission had made the world and had imposed such workes vpon men to drawe them into bondage Behold heere the doctrine of this Maister who afterward brought out the like fruite as pailliardizes adulteries thefts drunkennesse blasphemies against the true God and other the like fruites Briefly Ireneus calleth him the fountaine and father of all Heretickes in the Preface of his third booke of Heresies Of his manner of death Epiphanius accordeth not with Theodoretus Menander the Disciple of this Simon was also a Magician The yeare fortie foure as many thinke Saint Peter came to Rome and gouerned that Church twentie and fiue yeares but hardly can they shewe that he was at any time there nor at what time nor vnder what Emperour For first if Saint Peter were at Rome he came not to Rome at the time they say namely in the yeare fortie foure after the Natiuitie of our Lord Iesus and that which they say that hee ruled the Church twentie and fiue yeares hath no likelihood For it may easily be gathered from the Epistle to the Galath that hee was in Ierusalem the yeare 51. where the Apostles great Councell was held Let the yeares be numbred The yeare thirtie and fiue S. Paul was cōuerted to which adde seuenteen euen vntill that Councell and it comes to fiftie and two How could he then before seuen yeares bee at Rome If hee were there he returned soone But S. Luke then would not haue concealed it if it had beene so neither is it found in any Historie of credit that after Saint Peter was entred Rome hee left that place to returne into the Towne of Ierusalem Moreouer it is certaine he was not at Rome the yeare fiftie eight and three score And that it is so when Saint Paul was ledde thither prisoner he remained there in an hyred house two yeares Heereof Saint Luke makes no mention of Saint Peter And by the second Epistle to Timothie it may be plainely knowne that Saint Peter was not at Rome at the time that S. Pauls death was so nie For then S. Paul hauing occasion to make mention of all that was with him would not haue forgotten Saint Peter if hee hadde beene there Many wise and good men haue handled this matter at large vnto which I referre you The same yeare Herod the brother of Agrippa was made King of Calcide The yeare 45. S. Marke the Disciple of Saint Peter preached Iesus Christ in Egypt and Euodius was first ordeined Bishop of Antioche And there was Iames the brother of Iohn beheaded and Peter deliuered from prison by the Angell The yeare 46. which was about the ninth and tenth of the Kingdome of Claudius the Emperour there was a great Famine through all Greece at Rome and in other parts of the earth and this Famine was foretolde in Antioche by the Prophet Agabus Who being mooued with that hee heard say of the Churches prosperitie of Antioche departed from Ierusalem to come thither with other faithfull Dion and Eusebius make mention of this Famine At this time Helena Queene of the Adiabenians and the King Isares were accounted to serue God faithfully Iosephus speaketh amply thereof in his Antiquities Lib. 15. Chapter 2.3 and 5. The same yeare Agrippa who was called Herodes died after a straunge maner In an assembly at playes he suffered the people to call him God and therefore the Angell strooke him for that he gaue not glory vnto God and he was consumed with Lice Iosephus reciteth it at large and herevnto agreeth the holy scripture But it is worthy to be noted that when he felt the horrible pangs of death beholding his friends he said Looke vpon your God I am now constrained to chaunge my life And the necessitie imposed vpon me redargueth your lye You called me Immortall but now behold how I am drawne to death Iosephus reciteth these things more at length in his Antiquities His Kingdome was chaunged into a Prouince and Cuspins Fadus was made Gouernour of the Iewes The yeare fortie and seuen Abbarus raigned ouer the Arabians and Cassius Longinus was made Gouernour of Siria The yeare 48. Marie our Lords mother died after the common opinion of the age of fortie nine yeares Nancle See also Epiphanius Lib. 3. of heresies If we will beleeue some dreames shee was in body carried vp to Heauen but that tale is so friuolous as he that cannot see it is more then blinde Vpon such foundations Papists began by litle and litle to build the Articles of their faith namely vpon tales and dreames The Councell of Ierusalem recited in the 15. of the Acts was about this yeare and the 6. of the Kingdome of Claudius and the 14. yeare after the conuersion of S. Paul as appeareth by that which is rehearsed in the Galath 2. The same yeare during the said famine Tiberius Alexander was made Gouernour of the Iewes The yeare 49. which was the seuenth of the Emperour Claudius there was so great a sedition in Ierusalem vpon Easter day that twentie thousand men were stifled betwixt the gates as Iosephus saith but as others thirtie thousand The same yeare Cumanus was Gouernour of Iudea and Quadratus of Siria In the 50. yeare a numbring was made of the people of Rome and there were found three skore and foure hundreth thousand an hundreth three and fortie The same yeare Herod the brother of Agrippa dyed and his Kingdome was giuen to Agrippa the younger This was he that gaue audience to S. Paul Act. 25. The same yeare were seene three Sunnes which by litle and litle ioyned themselues together There was also an horrible Famine in Greece and the Iewes were chased from Rome by Claudius The yeare 52. S. Paul did that which is conteined in the 21.17 and 18. Chap. of the Acts. This yeare he came first to Corinthe where
he remained a yeare and sixe monethes At this time the Emperour appeased the seditions which were betwixt the Iewes and the Samaritanes The yeare 53. the Emperour Claudius tooke the Kingdome of Chalcide from Agrippa which hee had held foure yeares and gaue him the Tetrarchie of Philip with Traconite Bathane and Abele and constituted Felix Gouernour of the Iewes Iudea was maruellously afflicted about this time by intestine conspiracies and robberies which was committed by the greatest men of Ierusalem Ionathan the high Priest had admonished the Gouernour Felix to acknowledge the true God But Felix was so grieued hereat that he ordeined an other high Priest namely Ioseph who was a familiar friend of the said Ionathan Ioseph assembled together a band of theeues and slew Ionathan These theeues which remained vnpunished for this in an assembly of people fell vpon all they thought good neither carrying reuerence to any persons nor places how holy soeuer And the true cause of all this mischiefe was that some false Prophets and seducers ioyned themselues with these theeues But so soone as they were come vnto them Felix made them die as seditious persons Amongst them was a renowned Egiptian of whom Iosephus makes mentiō in his Antiquities This deceiuer perswaded the common people to ascend with him into the Mount Oliuet saying that from thence he would shewe himselfe to them and that by his commaundement the walles of Ierusalem should fall and promised them that thereby they might enter Felix hereof aduertised made arme certaine people and with a great number of horsemen rushed vpon that disguised band which was of thirtie thousand and slewe about 400. of them and tooke 500. aliue In the meane while this abuser escaped and was neuer after seene Those theeues againe perswaded the people to make warre against the Romanes and no more to yeeld them obedience They burnt and pilled such Villages as resisted them The yeare 56. S. Paul went to Ierusalem where he was taken and ledde to the Gouernour Felix Domitius Nero succeeded in the Empire and raigned fourteene yeares two monethes and certaine dayes Hee was as very cruell man and insatiable in whooredome and Homicide euen in sleying his owne mother his sister his brother his wife Octauia and an other wife called Pompeia whom he slewe with a blowe of his foote Hee killed also his Schoolemaister Seneca and a Romane Consull named Atticus the better to enioy his wife called Statilia The yeare 57. after the death of of Aziarius King of the Emesicians his brother succeeded him See Iosephus And Nero gaue the principallitie of the lesse Armenia to Aristobulus the Sonne of Herode King of Calcyde and the Kingdome of Agrippa the younger was thereby greatly encreased The yeare 58. after Felix was departed from Iudea there was a great sedition in Cesaria which is in Palestine where a great number of Iewes were slaine The same yeare S. Paul was sent prisoner to Rome There was a sedition also in the other Cesaria And Festus succeeded Felix in the gouernment of Iudea The yeare 59. in the Towne of Thoulouze which is in Gaul there was a verie renowned Rethorician called Statius Surculus The same yeare the Towne of Magunce was repaired by the Romaines The yeare 60. In Rome was a great earthquake and an Eclipse of the sunne at the time when Nero exercised his Parracides and whooredomes The yeare 61. a boy of eight yeares of age in Italie in the time of Fonteius and Vispanus Consuls did runne fortie thousand paces from noone till the euening The same yeare there was an Eclipse of the Sunne the last day of Aprill The yeare 62. Albinus was made Gouernour of Iudea The yeare 63. Iames the brother of the Lorde Iesus which was called Iust accounted Bishop of Ierusalem was slaine by the Iewes The high Priest Ananias thinking to recouer libertie caused him to be called into iudgement and accused him as a corrupter of Moyses Lawe Some say hee was cast downe from the toppe of the Temple and as hee prayed for them which put him to death hee was strooken with a Fullers Bowe on the heade whereof hee dyed Then did Albinus gouerne Iudea succeeding Festus The yeare 64. a Thunderbolte fell before Nero his Table The same yeare Saint Marke the Euangelist died which was the eight yeare of the raigne of Nero hee was burnt for the Gospell in Alexandria which is in Aegypt where hee preached At this time Agrippa augmented the Towne of Cesaria Phillippe and called it Neronia The yeare 65. after S. Marke his death Annianus was ordeined the first bishoppe of Alexandria and gouerned the Church 22. yeares The yeare 66. beganne the first persecution which was the tenth yeare of Nero and endured till his death By the commaundement of this tyrant fire was lightned in the Towne of Rome and that none should say it was his act hee laide the fault vppon the Christians and made them die of many kindes of deathes They that called themselues Christians which name was as odious vnto all men as if they had beene enemies of mankinde and they also which were accused by the prisoners besides all other euills done vnto them endured also this opprobry that beeing couered with Beasts skinnes they were with dogges torne in peeces Some were fastened to Crosses and Gallowes Others burnt with fire in so much that of them they made fires to cleare and lighten the night Cor. Tacitus rehearseth this After Festus vnder Nero succeeded in the gouernment of Iudea Albinus and after Florus vnder whom the Iewes beganne to fall into such rebellions and dissentions that neither menaces nor torments exactions nor occasions could represse them In Asia three Townes perished by an Earth-quake namely Laodicea Hierapolis and Colossa All Townes which had receiued the Gospell whilst S. Paul liued who had instructed them partly by writings partly by his Disciples as by Epaphras A mirrour of Gods iudgement who cannot endure the despising of his word The yeare 60. the Church of the Lord Iesus in Ierusalem as it was assembled was diuinely admonished and transferred into the Towne of Pella which is beyond Iordaine This same yeare Vespasian was ordeined by Nero to set an order in the Countrey of Iudea who did many things worthy of memorie The yeare 68. began the warres of the Iewes vnder Florus because of his great crueltie whereof Iosephus makes mention Lib. 2. Chap. 13. Egesippus Lib. 3. Chap. 4. The yeare 70. if we will beleeue the catalogue of the Romaines Linus succeeded S. Peter S. Hierome Nicephorus Euthalius Deacon and others say that S. Peter was crucified the 14. yeare of Nero which was the last of his raigne and the 27. yeare after the conuersion of S. Paul How then could this be that Linus should succeed him in the Apostolicke Sea as they say seeing Linus was Martired a yeare before S. Peter For so is it rehearsed by
name borne of the Countrey of Marses in the Citie of Talleric a Phisitians sonne gouerned the Romane Church the space of seuen yeares At the request of this Pope the Emperour Phocas commaunded that the old Temple of Pantheon wherin were all the Goddes and Goddesses of the Painims should be consecrated and dedicated to the honor of the virgin Mary and of al Saints And then was insttiuted the Feast of All-Saints in the Moneth of May which after was brought to the first of Nouember See how those Fathers rather chaunged then chased away superstitions Leontius Bishop of Naples in the I le of Cyprus made a booke of the life of S. Iohn the Almes giuer Bishop of Alexandria Abb. Tris. After the death of Boniface the fourth the seate was vacant 7. moneths and 25. dayes for the great discentions which were at Rome The yeare of Christ 612. Phocas was miserably slaine by the souldiers of his guard Abb. Vrsperg Others say that Heraclius and Priscus slew him cutting off his hands feete Others adde that his priuie member was cut off Finally after his head was cut off his body was burnt See the ende of this wicked Tyrant who caused so many good people to die All his brethren and parents had like ende and his race was vtterly extinct The Romane seate is worthie to haue had such a monster to authorise his primatie aboue all Churches Heraclius the sonne of Heraclien succeeded Phocas When his Father a Captaine in Affrica marched from Affricke into Egipt and Asia with a great Army the Persians being out of feare of him assailed Affricke and brought it into their subiection Corfrees King of the Persians would neuer receiue any conditions of peace vnlesse they renounced Christian Religion The Bishop Didier of Vienna was stoned at the commaund of Theodorus King of Soissons Deus of dedit or Dorothea a Romane Pope ruled three or foure yeares His Father was a Subdeacon after some He ordeined that no Christian should take in mariage his Gossip Item that the sonne of a Gossip or Suertie should not take in marriage the daughter that his Father had held at the Font And ordeined this so straitly that if the Father or Mother carried their childe to Baptisme that they should be seperated notwithstanding that the wise might receiue her dowry and that after a yeare she might marry again in any other place There happened a great Earthquake at this time in the moneth of August and after a great mortalitie The Councell of Auxerre in this time wherein it was decreed that it was a thing vnlawfull that the Estrenes should be giuen the first day of the yeare calling them diuellish ceremonies because of the obseruation of the day In the 12. Chapter there was forbidden to giue vnto dead bodies the Eucharist or the Paxe to kisse In the 21. Chapter it is not lawfull for a Priest to lye with his wife nor for Subdeacon nor Deacon In the 24. and 25. Chapter it is not lawfull for Abbots nor Monkes to goe to marriages nor to haue commothers nor to present children to Baptisme In the 31. Chap. it was forbidden to take his cousin Germaine or the issue of cousin Germaine in marriage In this time were Loup Arch-bishop of Sens Amand and Bauon in Flaunders And Priscian after Abb. Trit and Eloy Bishop of Noyon after the Sea of Histories Cosroes King of the Persians was vanquished by Heraclius And Anastatius a Persian Monke was martyred for the faith with 70. others He was hanged three houres by one hand and after be headed Abb. Vrsp Boniface Pope 5. of that name borne at Naples gouerned the Church fiue yeares This was hee who first ordeined that offenders which saued themselues in Churches should haue Immunities and priuiledges and that from thence they should not be deliuered by force but that such as committed Sacriledge in all places should be excommunicated The waine and decaie of the Romane Empire The Romane Empire began to fall For whilest Christians were at warres one with an other the Sarrasins occupied Egipt and Affrike and do yet holde them And in the space of an 120. yeares all Asia was lost from the Christians Also the best part of Europe was occupied because of the couetousnesse discention and carelesnesse of the Emperours and Popes which mused and studied vpon lesse matters namely to forge naughtie inuentions and ordinances vpon ordinances Cyrus Bishop of Alexandria seeing the Sarrasins came into Egipt and that there was no succours on the part of the Emperour Heraclius a carelesse man yeelded himselfe tributarie to the said Sarrasins at a certaine annuall summe vpon which condition they returned back He was after accused before the Emperour as he who transported the riches of Egipt to straungers Wherefore he was deposed and Manuell of Armenia ordeined in his place who would not pay the said tribute whervpon the Sarrasins came againe into Egipt and occupied it Which the Emperour vnderstanding repented himselfe and sent Cyrus in Embassage towards the Sarrasins to cause them to goe out of Egipt and they should haue their said annuall tribute But one of them answered in these words Canst thou Cyrus saide he plucke downe this piller He answered no. As impossible said he it is that we should leaue Egipt By like pride many Countries haue bene lost Many common-wealths by tributes haue bene maintained in peace Faith promised euen to enemies must be kept The encrease of the kingdome of France From the yeare of saluation 514. hitherto the kingdome of France was diuided into certaine kingdomes because the kings of France had many heires One kingdome was called Austrasia comprehended Lorraine and Brabant and that which is betweene Rhene and Mense from Culloine to the Countrie of Alsasia The other called Neutria which comprehends the Regions which are betwixt Mense and Loire and Paris was the chiefe Towne thereof The third was called the kingdome of the Soisons In this diuision of Gaul the kingdome of Arles tooke also his beginning which had vnder it Sauoy the Countrey of the Switzes Zepingen Haspurge and Dauphine but at this time those particular kingdomes returned into a Monarchie Car. Dagobert the 11. King of France possessed first Austrasia after he ioyned vnto it the kingdome of Burgoine and finally was made Lord almost of all France and the name of France was then vniuersall for all those kingdomes When Dagobert dwelt in Austrasia his Pallace was in Alsatze And he builded a Castle at Rufach called Eisenburge he also builded many Monasteries of S. Benet wherevnto he gaue great reuenewes and chiefly to that of Wittenburge within 8. leagues of Strasbourge on the side of Rhene An other at Surbourge two leagues from Wittenburge Item an other at Haselach hard by Strasburge in the West mountain He also brought the church of Strasburge to a Bishoppricke and enriched it with great reuenewes Heereby note that France was then
of Pope Zacharie and his wife was put into a Monasterie and in his place the said Pippin sonne of Charles Martel and Father of Charlemaigne was made King and consecrated at Soisons by Boniface Arch-bishop of Magunce by the election of all the Barons of France and by the consent and Councell of Pope Zacharie being therevnto required Who not only commanded and confirmed the said election but also absolued Pippin of the oath which he had made to the King and to the Crowne of France Abb. Vrsp This Pope did as much with the King of Lombards called Lachis For he found meanes that he left his kingdome made himselfe a Monke and his children and wife and his brother Astulfe succeeded him In the 2. volume of Councels Carloman Pippins brother was also shauen and made a Monke at Rome by the perswasion of Zacharie and remained in the Abbey of the mount Sâ—rap in Lombardie and after in the mount Cassin Constantine the fift of that name Emperour 74. sonne of Leon raigned 35. yeares This as he was baptized made water in the Font and therfore was he called in Greeke Copronymos What necessitie was there to hold a naked Childe ouer the Font This gaue a forewarning that hee should be an euill Christian Naucler And indeed many crimes were imposed vpon him because hee constantly maintained his Fathers opinion against the Pope touching Images and from thence came also that they say he dyed desperate when he said I am deliuered from the fire eternall Fasc temp Chron. Sigeb and others They which consent not to the Popes Decrees are Iudged damned Vnder Pippin a Sinode was held in Fraunce by Boniface Arch-bishop of Magunce Bucardus Guntarius and other Bishops which had not beene in 80. yeares before In so much that men said that Religion in France was dissipated and laide vnder feete Naucler It was then ordained that eache yeare there should be a Sinode in France That no Church-man should beare Armes That none of them should vse hunting nor keepe Dogges nor Birds of pray That euery Priest and Bishop should hold himselfe in his Parish and do their diligence to roote out auncient heresies that is to say Paganisme and errors of the sacrifices of the dead diuinations enchauntments and other Immolations which are yet done after the manner of Painims nigh Churches vnder the name of Martyrs and Confessors Naucler Paganisme of the Gods was persecuted in France but true Religion was not therefore established In this time the Hunnes called Hungarians occupiped Pannonia They were diuided into seuen bands euery band builded a Castle which yet at this day are called Septem Castra in Latin which is a strong place against the Turkes Edward King of England who otherwise was reputed an vpright man left his wife and entertained Nunnes who was admonished by Letters from Boniface to leaue off that vice Naucler These be the fruites and enticements of that cursed single life Pippin le Court dyed at Paris after hee had raigned 17. or 18. yeares after some leauing his two sonnes Charlemaigne in Soisonnois and Carloman at Noyon Stephen Pope second of that name a Romaine ruled at Rome sixe yeares Hee was carried vpon mens shoulders vnto the Church of S. Lateran and thereof it comes that at this day Popes cause themselues to be carried The Emperour Constantine the 14. yeare of his Empire assembled a Councell at Constantinople of 330. Bishops where it was commaunded that all Images of Saints should be taken and burnt Also he caused all his subiects to sweare no more to honour any Image of God nor of Saintes but condemned to die all such as called to the Virgin Mary for helpe and that had in their houses any Relikes of Saints They commaunded Monkes to Marry and Nunnes to follow the estate of marriage Sigeb After this the Emperor sent the defruition of this Councel to the Pope commaunding him to cast Images out of Churches Sabin King of Bulgaria throughout his Kingdome caused all Images to be taken away after the example of Constantine whereby he came in grace with the Emperour Naucler Stephen went into Fraunce towardes King Pippin demaunding aide and succours against Astulphus King of the Lombardes This King Pippin went and met the Pope and discended from his horse tooke the bridle of the Popes horse in his hand and so ledde him to the Pallace Suppl Chron. Stephen consecrated him and his two sonnes Charlemaigne and Carloman in the Church of S. Denis in France and confirmed them in such manner as hee and his posteritie should holde the kingdome of France in heritage for euer and excommunicated all such which should set themselues against it Fasci temp Also hee transported the Empire of Constantinople into France which afterward Pope Leo approued ratified and put in execution And therefore the Empire was parted into East and West Supp Chron. Fasci temp Naucler From whence came this authoritie to bestowe kingdomes of the world but from the diuel who is called the prince therof Pippin went into Italie to the Popes succours and obteined victory against the Lombards Astulphe was constrained to agree to the Popes will Sigeb The Exarchate which was occupied by the Lombards and appertained to the Emperour is giuen to the Pope by Pippin without any right For the estate of such as held that dignitie and office were assigned the Townes that follow Rauenna Imola Boulonge Mutina Rhegin Parma Placentia c. At this time happened an horrible thing in the Abbey of S. Martin at Tours For all the Monkes which were giuen to pleasures and wickednes dyed suffocated and choaked except one Fasci temp The Parliament Instituted in France Constantine the Emperour sent gifts to Pippin praying him to render vnto him the Exarchate Pippin answered that hee came not the second time into Italie for any temporall profit but in dutie to guard the Church against the Lombards and to take from them Rauenna and the Exarchate and other goods of Italie to giue them vnto the Pope Naucler Abb. Vrsp Thassido Duke of Bauier did homage to the King of France Paul brother of the former Pope 94. gouerned 10. or a 11. yeares In whose election there was great debate For some had chosen one called Theophilactus Buggandus Bishop of Metes at this time was very affectionate towards holie bodies and heaped vp Relikes He transported from Rome into France the bodies of S. Gorgon and Saint Nazare and of many others Rome which before was the butchery of Martyrs now selles bodies and bones Constantine seeing the foolish superstition of Christians at the Sepulchres of Saintes kissing and worshipping their Relikes caused their bones to be taken out of their graues and to be cast into the Sea At this time it was that Sigebert reciteth that in Berithe a Citie of Siria was found an Image of Iesus Christ wherevnto the Iewes did many outrages pearcing his feete hands and
for Monkes that for necessitie they might not be withdrawne from holy things There was also graunted Franches and libertie to Monkes Clarkes and Priests that they should not be subiect vnto temporall Lords c. The body of S. Marke was transported from Alexandria to Venice Naucl. After this Councell there were ambushes laid for the Emperor Lewis euen his owne children angry at the second marriage of their father with one called Iudith an audatious woman He sent them farre from him namely Lotharie into Italie Pippin into Aquitane and Lewis into Bauiere Notwithstanding he was imprisoned in the Monasterie of S. Modard at Soissons Iohn le Maire declareth this Historie as followeth In the time of Gregorie the fourth saith he was held a Councell at Campaigne which was detestable and pernitious by the disordinate Prelates of France who grieued that at the former Councell the Emperour had corrected their pompes and disordered superfluities hauing caused them to leaue their Rings they conspired against him and caused the children to take Armes against their father and to take him and hold him in straight guard at Soissons the Pope Gregorie aiding in this exploit Moreouer at the said Councell or rather conuenticle and monopole the said Bishops and Prelates coniured condemned their soueraigne Prince and Lord to lay away Armes and his militarie Girlde and to dispoile himselfe of his Imperiall dignitie and in the place therof to take the Monkes Coole or Frocke O false wicked and Pharasaicall Priestly hypocrisie saith he This is not the first time that thou hast conspired in great disdaine against such as reprehend and correct thee For thou begannest at the head that is at our Lord Iesus Christ But afterward this said Emperour was againe established into his Kingdome by an other better Councell of Bishops and Prelates of France and by the conduct of certaine good Barrons and loyall Captaines of his kingdome being nigh touched with his troubles and griefes His sonnes which had imprisoned him demanded pardon for their fault and villainous enterprise and obtained it See Iohn le Maire Ebdo Archbishop of Rhemes and many other Prelates which had conspired against the king were deposed from their dignities condemned and banished out of France Chron. Sigeb Gregorie the fourth instituted the Feast of All-saints vpon the first day of Nouember Rabanus first Monke of S. Benet and Abbot of Fulden after Bishop of Magunce flourished at this time He expounded all the Bible as well the olde as the new Testament and made many other bookes Strabus a Monke of Fulden a Disciple of Rabanus was the first which made the ordinarie Close which after was augmented Tritem Bertramus Priest a learned man and well instructed in true pietie made a booke of Predestination and an other of the body and bloud of the Lord wherein he speaketh very properly of the Lords Supper He serued for a light to illuminate others in this darke time Turpin Archbishop of Rhemes wrote two bookes of the actes of Charlemaigne Abb. Trit Lewis Debonaire died of the age of 64. yeares hauing raigned 26. and was buried at Mets in the Sepulchre of his mother Hildegarde After his death rose vp a cruell time for whilst his children Lotharie Charles and Lewis were in debates and warres the Sarrasins on the other side lifted vp themselues as also the Saxons with others At a battle giuen at Fountenay a Towne of Auxerrois Lotharie fled to Aixle Chapelle and and from thence to Vienne Lotharie or Lother obtained the Empire 15. yeares The felicitie of that Kingdome acquired by Charlemaigne soone finished in this man whose Empire was diuided He had such debates with his bretheren that one day at an Easter Feast almost all the Nobilitie of France perished at a combat wherein Charles had the victorie Finally there was meanes found of agreement namely that Charles surnamed Le Chaune should be King of France Lewis King of Germanie and Lotharie who was then the eldest should haue Gaul Belgique Prouince and that portion of the Countrey which of his owne name was called Lotharinge that is to say Lorraine He already possessed Italie Lothaire left three sonnes Lewis Lotharie and Charles vnto which he made a partition to Lewis the Empire with Italie to Lothaire Austrasia and Lorraine and to Charles the youngest the Kingdome of Prouince This partition was during his life in the presence of the greatest of his Kingdome After he tooke him to a Monasterie Sergius Pope the second of that name a Romane ruled three yeares His election was confirmed by Lewis the Emperour Lothaires sonne who sent to Rome for that purpose and the said Lewis was crowned King of Italie by Sergius Nauclerus This Sergius was before called Swines Snowte and therefore chaunged his name and so gaue first occasion to his successors to chaunge their names in their election He then and they which followed esteemed more of the name which they receiue at their cursed vnction then that they receiue at their baptisme wherein there is an apparant marke of Antichrist Some there are which by reason of certaine misteries and secrets which were then reuealed count the number of the Beast from this change of the name vntill the 7. yeare of Iulius the second of that name who casting S. Peters keyes into Tiber tooke Saint Pauls Sword whereof wee shall speake in his place This Pope had a brother called Benet who outragiously vsursped to himselfe the Church goods and there was so great couetousnesse at Rome by the carelesnesse of Sergius that Bishopprickes were publikely solde to him that would giue most and no man in authoritie sought any remedie for such an enormitie which they said came because of the Sarrasins comming into Italie Yet hee was very diligent to adorne and repaire Churches and to place many holy bodies in them Supp Chron. He builded a Monasterie nigh the Church of S. Siluester Supp Chron. He added to the priuate Masse the breaking of bread into three peeces Leo Pope 4. of that name a Romane ruled 8. or 9. yeares Hee was presently chosen euen before his predecessor was buried Hee repaired many Temples which the Sarrasins had destroyed He ordained that no Lay-man should presume to enter into the Quier of the Church nor to come nigh the Priest when he sung Masse vnlesse it were to the offering For that place is ordained for them which doo diuine seruice Chron. Euseb Hee also made many Collects and Orisons as Deus cuius dextra beatuÌ„ PetruÌ„ ambulantem in fluctibus c. Item Deus quibeato Petro collatis c. Item Deus quiab ipso huis mundi principio c. Item Presta quaesumus omnipotens misericors Deus c. against the assaultes of the Sarrasins and Earthquakes He builded the Castle of S. Angelo at Rome repaired the walles and gates and builded fifteene Bulâ—arkes for the defence of the Towne And he himsefle went to warre against the
Sarrasins It was hee which enriched the Crosse with precious stones the which the Deacons vsed to carrie before the Popes The yeare of Christ 849. Leo Emperour of Constantinople was slaine in his Pallace hee beeing in his Chappell by a conspiracie of his Nobles and especially of Count Michael who after obtained the Empire nine yeares Naucler Chron Sigeb A Sinode at Rome of 64. or after some 47. Bishops was assembled by Leo wherein a great Cardinall was condemned and deposed because he had left his Parish fiue yeares and for other crimes Notwithstanding after this the same Pope ordained that a Bishop ought not to be condemned vnlesse hee were euicted by 72. witnesses A great mutation hapned in France by the Normanes Frisons Brittaines and others which wasted it Adulphus after the Chronicle of Eusebius or Ethelwolphus or Alidulphus or Adolphus after some the first Christian King of England went to Rome on Pilgrimage with his sonne Alfredus Nauclerus And graunted to the Pope Leo of each house in his Countrey a certaine peece of Siluer for tribute payable to the Popes of Rome euerie yeare in the honour of Saint Peter which custome was long time after kept This Tribute was called S. Peters pence or guilt and so was all England made subiect to the Popes seate Functius The body of S. Helena mother of Constantine the great from Rome was transpoted into France Chron. Sig. and Fasc Temp. In Almaine vpon the coast of Rhene a great famine came and after that a great earth quake whereby S. Albons Church at Magunce fell An Aduertisement As for the Popes on the Romane seate from Phocas the Emperour hitherto they haue still multiplyed newe traditions ceremonies buildings pleasures pompes and warres they haue deuised and practised murthers alterations and chaunges of Kingdomes in such sort as finally the Church vnder their gouernmenment became altogether the whore whereof is spoken in the Apocalips and the better to discouer the thing the Lord hath manifested the truth thereof to all the world in this Pope that followeth Iohn the 8. who being a woman and an whore hath shewed in her body the true portraict of the great spiritual whoredome of the Romane Popes which after still more and more is manifested Iohn 8. of that name tooke the name of an English man because of a certaine English Moonke of the Abbey of Fulden which he loued singularly as for his office hee was a Pope but for his Sexe hee was a woman This woman beeing an Almaine by Nation borne at Magunce and first called Gilberte feigned her selfe to be a man hauing taken on her mans apparell went to Athens with her amorous Louer the Monke In which place she profited excellenty in all kinde of Sciences and after the Monkes death came to Rome still dissembling shee was a woman But because she was of a very sharpe spirit and had a notable grace well and promptly to speake in disputations and publike Lectures so that many maruelled at her knowledge euerie one was so affectioned towards her and so well shee gained the hearts of all that after the death of Leo she was chosen Pope Into which office being brought shee bestowed holy orders as they call them after the maner of other Popes shee made Priests and Deacons she ordained Bishops and Abbots she sung Masses shee consecrated Temples and Aultars shee administred the Sacraments shee presented her feete to kisse and did all other things which the Popes of Rome vsed to do and yet her Actes were then of verie litle or no valew Whilest this woman was thus in the Papall office the Emperour Lotharie now olde tooke the habit of a Monke and Lewis the second of that name beeing come to Rome tooke the Scepter and Imperiall Crowne at her hands with S. Peters blessing In dooing whereof this whore of Babilon shewed her selfe to haue that power that she made Kings subiect vnto her In her time Ethelwolphus king of England gaue cowardly the tenth part of his Kingdome to the Cleargie and Monkes as Horeden saith and his sonne Ethelbaldus espoused Iudith his mother in lawe his fathers widow now dead But whilest this Pope was in his estate she was got with child by a Chaplaine of hers a Cardinal who knew well of what Sexe she was And as she went on Procession solemnly to the Church of Lateran she brought forth this child gotten in whoredome betwixt the Collosse and the Church of S. Clement in the middest of Rome in the publike streete in the presence of all the people of Rome and died in the same place as she deliuered her childe the yeare of our Lord 857. Because of such a fault as to bring forth a childe in a common streete shee was depriued of all honor accustomably done to Popes and buried without any Papall Pompe Heere thou mayest see Reader how the Romane Church cannot erre after they haue caused a Masse of the holy Ghost to bee sung This Act alone certainly doth so euidently shewe that it is the seate of the great whore and the mother of all whoredomes that there is no Apelles whatsoeuer that can better paint her in her colours But to the end that Popes and annointed Fathers may seeme to detest such a sinne they turne from that streete as from a place which they much suspect because of the euil luck Functius makes no doubt so say that this was permitted of God that this woman should be created Pope and withall that she should be an harlot publikely prooued because in these times she made kings subiects vnto her as Ethelwolphus and Alfredus were in England that they might acknowledge Antichrist for their king For God in this Papesse harlot would manifest to the world this whore of Babilon whereof the holy Ghost hath foretold to the ende the faithfull I might take heed of her But to the end those good Fathers should no more fall into such an inconueniency they haue ordained that a Deacon should handle their priuie parts in an holied Chaire to the ende hee may be knowne whether he be a man or no. But now whilest they be Cardinals and before they be chosen Popes they engender so many bastards that none can doubt if they be males neither is there any more need of so holy a ceremonie Lotharie now old hauing diuided his kingdome to his children and made himselfe a Monke as is said died the yeare 855. Lewis second of that name the sonne of Lotharie vnto whom his father had assigned whilest hee liued the Kingdome of Italie and the Empire was a kinde man and one that feared God Hee raigned nineteene yeares and died the yeare 874. Benet Pope third of that name a Romane ruled at Rome about three yeares This man when he was chosen Pope receiued the office weeping taking God to witnesse that he was not meet for such a charge Hee was three dayes in fasting and prayer desiring the Lord to giue him
At this time in Italie Calabria and Pouille the Sarrasins did infinit mischiefes Leo 5. of that name gouerned 40. daies Supp Chron. A Cardinall Priest his familiar called Christopher imprisoned him and by violence obtained the Papacie Leo died of griefe seeing himselfe thus handled of him vnto whom hee had done so much good In what authoritie is this Papall seate which is so easily vsurped by a priuate person by force and faction in a moment saith Naucler Christopher Pope ruled at Rome 7. moneths as hee acquired the Papacie so lost he it For he was deposed and imprisoned Some say he was constrained to make himself a Monke which was the onely refuge of the miserable For at this time Church-men being insolent and giuen to wickednesse were not sent to the Iles but for their disorders were deteined and enclosed in strong Monasteries Naucler and Chron. Abb. Sergius then third of that name was Pope and ruled seuen yeares and three moneths after some eight yeares and 15. or 16. dayes This was he who in the election of Formosus was cast off and who returning into France secretly returned into Rome and vsurped the Popedome yet fearing that Christopher should worke some treason he caused him to be drawne out of the Monasterie and put him in a common prison and yet putting him in a straighter prison poorely and miserably he finished his dayes Suppl Chron. The Westerne Empire diuided The Occidentall Empire was at this time diuided For there was one Emperor in Almaine and an other in Lombardie The first in Italie was Beringer who made a great Armie against the Emperour Lewis the third and gaue him battaile in the Plaine of Verone and discomfited him whose eyes afterward he caused to be put out so the Lombards for a time had the Empire by force A Monster was presented to Lewis the third which had a dogges head and all the other members as a man A figure of that time For men were then without an head and as dogges barked one against an other yea both the Popedome and Empire were diuided Fasci temp The Hungarians pilled and destroyed the Countries of Saxe and Turinge Chro. Abb. Vrsp And from thence entred into Italie vsing the like crueltie Thē was there the Duke of Fornil called Berēger who vsurped the title of the Empire in Italie and raigned 4. yeares against whom came the Emperour Lewis the third But he was betrayed by his people who in the night time tooke Berenger into the Towne of Verone In so much that he was taken and had his eyes put out so he dyed soone after Thus the Empire which had endured an hundreth and tenne yeares in France since Charlemaigne was transported vnto the Lombards Chron. Sigeb and Naucler Conrade first of that name Duke of Franconia was made Emperour after Lewis the third who deceased without a sonne so that this Conrade is esteemed the last of the race of Charlemaigne which had the gouernment of the Empire more then an hundreth yeares All the Great men of Germanie did elect without consent Otho Duke of Saxe but Otho feeling himselfe olde excused himself and appointed them this Conrade a magnanimous man sonne of Conrade Earle of Franconia and Hesset And Arnold the wicked sonne of the Emperour Arnulphe was Duke in Bauiers In the succession of Arnulphe aforesaid there are amongst the Historiographers some vncertain things touching their genealogie But we haue here set in order all such as discended of Charlemaigne to shewe the maruellous change in the greatest things of this world Who can read them without being rauished in admiration when we consider the greatest Kingdomes and dominations to flourish for a time and in the end being mingled with turbulent deuotions are in such sort debilitated and weakned as they come to nothing Wherein we must acknowledge the admirable prouidence of God Charlemaigne the sonne of Pippin left his sonne Lewis de Bonaire Emperour who had Lotharie Emperour who had Lewis of Bauiers King of Germanie who brought vnder the Bohemians had Charles le Chauue Emperour Lewis Emper. 1. of that name Lewis the young king of Germanie Franconia and Turinge Lewis Emperour 3. of that name surnamed le Begue which raigned but two yeares had Lothairie King of Austrasia called Lorraine Charles le Grosse Emperour who tooke the Empire frō Lewis le Begne Charles le Simple 30. King of France Charles king of Prouence Carloman Duke of Bauiere and of the kingdome thē called Teutonique had Arnulphe Emperour who was father of Lewis Emperor 3. of that name and of Conrade last Emperour of the race of Charlemaigne The Empire then of Germanie was transported frō the ligne of Charlemaigne to Conrade Duke of Franconia but the kingdome of France remained certaine yeares in the house of Charlemaigne seeing there was yet some remaining of the race of Charles le Simple Anastasius Pope 3. of that name gouerned at Rome two yeares and two moneths Supp Chron. He bare himselfe honestly without committing any act worthy of reprehension Laudo Pope a Romane ruled at Rome fiue or sixe monethes About this time the Venetians obtained a licence and priuiledge of the Emperour to beate money Hubert in Lorraine flourished now was made a Saint The Sarrasins destroyed Calabria Ponuille Beneuent and other Regions of the Romanes The Sea of Hist. Beringer second of that name raigned in Italie 7. or 8. yeares Some say he was chased away the third yeare of his raigne by Rodolphe king of Burgongne and that the same Rodolphe hauing raigned three yeares was after also driuen away by Hugues king of Arles Iohn Pope 11. of that name before Archbishop of Rauenna hauing bene deposed by a popularie tumult ruled after at Rome 13. yeares and two moneths Naucler He was Pope Sergius his sonne and prooued no better then his father sauing hee was a good souldier For he chased the Sarrasins out of Calabria with the helpe of one called Alberic Marquis of Tuscane Finally as the saide Iohn gloried in his victorie attributing all by great insolencie to his owne prowesse hee stirred against himselfe the furie of his owne souldiers who stiffled him to death Iohn le Maire Hee had cast out of Rome the said Marquis Albert who to auenge himselfe of the Pope brought the Hungarians into Italie which pilled and wasted all Finally he was put to death by the Romanes Henry first of that name Duke to Saxe surnamed the Faulconer sonne of Otho Duke of Saxe who had refused the Empire was chosen Emperour by Conrade his predecessor who being sicke in his bedde sent his brother Eberard towards the saide Henry with the Mantle royall the sword the Lance the Diademe and other Imperiall ornaments who found him at his pastime with his Haukes which was cause that hee was called the Faulconer For there he was saluted Emperour Nauclerus He made warre against the Hungarians Slauonians and Bohemians The combat of Tournois
was inuented by him Hugues raigned in Italie tenne yeares whom Lotharie his sonne succeeded King Charles the Simple was by treason taken of Hubert Earle of Vermandois and poysoned in the Castle of Peronne where he died and was buried in the Church of S. Foursi See the Sea of Histories Rodolphe Bourgongne 31. King of France raigned two yeares Before this time there were not so many degrees amongst Gentlemen and Noblemen nor so great diuersitie as there are at this Dukes Marquesses Counts or Clarkes simple Counts and Knights were rather names of offices then hereditarie Seigniories For Dukes Marquesses Earles or Counts were Gouernours of Countries and Lands wherevpon they were committed by Emperours and Kings Duke was a soueraigne chiefe or head of souldiers as may be seene by auncient Letters Count or Earle was a Iudge and Goueruernour ordained in a certaine Towne or Region and so Germanie was full of Countes amongst which some were called Lantgraues that is to say Countes of Regions or Countries Some Maruegraues or Marquis that is Countes of certaine Marshes or Countries Some Countes de Palatin which were Gouernors of some Kingdome subiugated or conquered This may bee seene in the second booke of the Lawes of the Lombards Some were gouernors of Bourgages and so were named Bourgraues The most auncientest name of dignitie after Kings and Princes is the name of Baron which signifieth Lord whose sonnes were called young Lords And this say some was the estate of the Nobilitie before the Othons raigned After their time all things chaunged For then Counts were made hereditarie and were lifted vp aboue Barons Marquesses Lantgraues and Palatins and that more is Bishops haue bene made Princes yea many Counts Abbots Abbesses haue obtained the title of Prince Lewis 4. of that name surnamed Vltramarin 32. King of France the sonne of Charles le Simple after his fathers imprisonment got with his mother Ogine towards his Vncle King of England but as soone as he retutned he was in strife for the Kingdome with Rodulphe of Burgongne who died about eight yeares after at Auxerre Anno. 937. and so Lewis raigned alone Leo Pope sixt of that name ruled at Rome 7. moneths and 15. dayes The Danes at this time were conuerted to the faith Stephen Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 2. yeares and 12. dayes Supp Chron. The Duke of Bohemia Spireneus receiued the Christian faith at the perswasion of the Emperour Henry Suppl Chron. Iohn Pope 12. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 4. yeares 10. moneths and 15. dayes Supp Chron. He did nothing worthy of memorie a coward and is not numbred in the Catalogue of Popes after some Historiographers Lotharie the sonne of Hugues raigned in Italie two yeares The Sarrasins in Italie tooke the towne of Geans and spoiled it Naucler Berenger third the Nephewe of Berenger the first raigned in Italie 11. yeares with his sonne Adelbert In this place Histories are very confused The Emperour Henry the first dyed of the Palsey the yeare of his age 60. and of his Empire seuenteene hauing ordained Otho the great his sonne successor of the Empire by the consent of all the great and Noble men who after was consecrated by the Arch-bishop of Magunce Hildebert Hee had three Competitors which would needs hinder him to bee Emperour that is to say Henry his elder brother Giselbert Duke of Lorraine his brother in lawe and Eberhard Earle of Franconia but he droue them all away and reduced all vnder his obedience Wencelaus Prince of Bohemia was slaine by his brother Boislans vppon ambition to raigne But Otho reuenged the death of the said Wencelaus making warre vpon Boislans which endured fourteene yeares and finally hauing vanquished him he brought the Countrey into his obedience Chron. Sigeb and Supp Chron. Leo Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares 6. monethes and 10. dayes Supp Chron. The heresie of Anthropomorphites which say that God hath a corporall forme was at this time renued Rotherius Bishop of Verone writ against them Stephen Pope eight of that name an Almaine or a Romane after some ruled at Rome three yeares foure moneths and 12. dayes R. Barns Some say he was murthered by certaine Romanes in a sedition In so much as he was neuer publikely seene Chron. Abb. France was afflicted by an horrible pestilence and by inward contentions The faction and puissance of Hugues of Paris troubled King Lewis exceedingly Martin Pope 3. of that name a Romane ruled 3. yeares 6. moneths and 14. dayes He was peaceable and gaue himself to repaire Temples and nourish the poore saith Supp Chron. Agapetus Pope second of that name a Romane a magnanimous man ruled at Rome 9. yeares 7. moneths and 10. daies Supp Chron. He called againe the Emperour Otho to Rome against Berenger Berenger 4. the 7. Emperour of the Lombards raigned 13. yeares The Sea of Histories The Hungarians againe in Italie Chron. Abb. Vrsp Iohn Pope 13. of that name a Romane ruled 9. yeares and three monethes His father called Alberic seeing himselfe one of the greatest power at Rome caused all the noblest and principallest rulers of the Citie of Rome to promise and sweare that after the death of Pope Agapetus they should elect his sonne Octauian Which promise was kept and he was called Iohn This Pope was so excessiuely giuen to lecherie that he maintained a publike stewes for the shame wherof some Cardinals writ to the Emperour Otho that he would remedie the publike scandall and infamie which the Church then suffered and that it was needfull he should in haste come to Rome As soone as the Pope heard of this newes he caused the nose of a Cardinall a Deacon called Iohn to be cut off beeing the principall councellor herein hee commaunded also that the hand of an other Cardinall a Subdeacon called also Iohn to be cut off because hee writ the Letters When the Emperour vnderstood that for no admonition the Pope would amend he caused him to be deposed with note of infamie Otho was crowned by him after he hauing sworne that hee would exalt the Romane Church and the Pope and that in nothing hee would hurt him as more at large is contained Dist 63.100 Tibi domino Otho remained a certain time at Rome after his coronation and admonished this Pope to change and amend his wicked life whereof hee was blamed Otho departing came against Berenger his enemie Albert the sonne of Berenger who with his father retired at Otho his comming seeing Otho departed came to Rome and with the Pope complotted against the Emperour Two Cardinalls aduertised Otho of this conspiracie and of the Popes wickednesse Otho then returned to Rome and the Pope fled after he had reuenged himselfe of the two Cardinalls Otho beeing at Rome caused the Pope to be thrice called commanding him to returne and feare
a Magitian Philosopher who had a booke none like it in the Art Magicke Gerbert sought often to steale it from him but by reason his maister kept it very carefully hee could not come by it Yet hee perswaded the Philosophers daughter with whom hee had great familiaritie to get the booke and lende it him to reade which shee did Hauing then the saide booke hee retired and fearing to be surprized with it hee vowed himselfe to the Diuell vppon condition hee would bring him to Fraunce Being returned he kept a Schoole and taught the liberall Arts with great admiration of his Auditors After he was Maister vnto Otho the the fourth of Robert sonne of Hugo Capet King of Fraunce and of Lotharie who afterward was Arch-bishop of Sens by whose helpe hee was aduaunced First to be Arch-bishop of of Rheimes as is saide and after of Rauenna and finally Pope During which time hee alwayes dissembled his Art Magicke and the communication hee had with the Diuell Of whom once desiring to knowe how long hee should liue in the Popedome the Diuell answered him that he should liue til he said Masse in Ierusalem Siluester then giuing himselfe altogether vnto his delights hoping to liue long and thinking of nothing lesse then of going to Ierusalem It came to passe that one day in Lent as he celebrated in the Church of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem he was suddenly taken with a great Feuer then did he remember y t the said place was called of y e crosse of Ierusalem so had bin seduced by the ambiguity of the answer Straight heard he great tumults of diuels in his presence being surprised with feare began to lament And although he was a very wicked man yet fel he not into dispair but seeing he must needs die called his Cardinals told vnto them all his life and the art Magicke which he had vsed to come vnto that dignitie exhorting them to liue holily and before all men cōfessed himself miserable ordeined that his body should be hewen cut in peeces but especially such of his members wherby he had worshipped the diuel and then that they all should be put in a cart and in what place soeuer the horses which drew y e cart should stay there he should be buried And it came to passe that the horses without any cōduction of man carried his body into the Church of Laterane where he was laid in a Sepulchre And at this day his Sepulchre is a pronosticke token of a Popes death R. Barnes Suppl Chron. and Nauler An Aduertisement From the time of Iohn the 8. which was the whore vntil the yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Antichrist raigned at Rome a brazen faced harlot which had despised and troden vnder her feet holy mariage All the Popes which were within this time which conteineth about an 150. yeares were plunged in all voluptuousnes impudency and carnal villanies in arrogancy kissing of feete Sacriledges horrible dissentions homicides vnbrideled impudencies as may easily be perceiued by the discourse of those proceedings In this time now following after the thousand yeare the diuel is wholy vnchained And rightly may this time be called The kingdome of the great Dragons Siluester the second by his Necromancies began to vnloose Sathan hauing couenanted with him to haue the Popedome Benet the 9. did homage to the diuel in woods mountaines In Hildebrand or Gregory the 7. and other Popes thou shalt see what Arts they vsed Otho the 3. the 18. yeare of his Empire was poysoned by a Romane woman which had bin the wife of Crescentius at the houre of his departing from Rome by the gift of a paire of persumed gloues being poysoned And this was in reuenge of her husbands death as saith Crantius Henry second of that name Duke of Banier and Counte of Bamberge surnamed the Lame obteined the Empire by election and raigned 22. yeares Iohn Pope 19. of that name surnamed le Sec as Iohn Blundus by Nation an Italian succeeded Siluester the Magician euen in the same art and studies which he practised Berno saith that there were great cōtentions amongst the Necromancians such as were fauourers of Siluester this Iohn but in the end he carried all away Some say he was poysoned after he had gouerned 5. months This Pope gaue himself altogether to idlenes pleasure as witnesseth Crantius Hydromany was his studie He commanded the Feast of the Commemoration of the dead newly inuented and instituted in the Abbey of Clugny by Odillo as is said which was in the moneth of March to be remitted vntill the second day of Nouember and then obserued also through all Churches R. Barns and Supp Chron. The name of a Cardinall appointed as a dignitie The Historiographers say that at this time the name and appellation of a Cardinall beganne to be in great account as we see at this day Baconthorpius Ro. Barns and Carion Iohn Pope 20. borne at Rome called Fasanus was suspected to haue made away his predecessor These Popes from Siluester vntill Hildebrand gaue themselues to nothing but diabolicall arts This man after he had gouerned foure yeares fiue moneths dyed Naucl. not without some suspition of poyson In this time there was an horrible pestilence yea almost through the whole world Sigeb Fulbert Bishop of Chartres wrote these Respondes to the praise of the Virgin Marie Stirps Iesse c. Et Chorus nouae Hierusalem c. and other prayers Herman a Monke of S. Gall wrote that Salue Regina Alma redemptoris mater Trit Abb. Sergius Pope the fourth of that name a Romane gouerned the Sea two yeares and sixe moneths Suppl Chron. Burchardus first a Monke of Lob the Disciple of Albert aboue mentioned was Bishop of Wormes He compiled the auncient Canons which afterward were abridged by Gratian yea rather corrupted which is easie to iudge in comparing them together Rhenanus in his Annota vpon Tertullian Ierusalem was taken and the Lords Sepulchre destroyed by the Sarrasins and Mahumetists Nancl. and Suppl Chron. Benet Pope 8. of that name a Tusculan gouerned the Romane Church 12. yeares or thereabouts He crowned the Emperour Henry at his comming to Rome and saluted him Augustus Henry the second builded at Bamberge the Church of Saint George and prayed Benet it might be a Cathedrall Church which the Pope agreed vnto vppon condition that the saide Church should paye to the Pope euery yeare an hundreth markes of siluer and a white horse with all his furniture Platina and R. Barnes Conrade 2. of that name obteined the Empire and raigned 15. yeares Naucler He was the sonne of Herman Duke of Franconians and was called Salicus because he came of the Sicambians from whom came the Salicke lawe And the French themselues were called Salickes which vsed that lawe whereof we haue made mention in Pharamond After the death of Henry the 2. Benet was deiected frō his dignitie
as he should be at his prayers The Cardinall Benno rehearseth thus the Historie The Emperour saith he had a custome often to goe make his prayers in the Church of S. Marke in the Mount Auentine As then Hildebrand enquired diligently by certaine spies of all that he did hee gaue charge to marke the place wherein the Emperour prayed oftnest either standing or on his knees and suborned one promising him a great summe of money to lay great stones on the beames or vpper lofts of the Church see the holy councell of this Pope and that he should lay thē so wel that when the Emperour should make his prayers he might let them fall on his head to dash out his braines But as he which had enterprised such a villanie was at hand to accomplish it and went about to handle and remoue a stone the heauie for him the stone by the waight deceiued him and the scaffold which was on the beames being broken the stone and the poore miserable man by a iust iudgement of God fell vpon the pauement of the Temple was all burst with the same stone After the Romanes vnderstood how all things was past they bound the feet of that wicked villaine and by the space of 3. daies trailed him through the streets of the towne But vsing their accustomed humanitie commaunded he should be buried The sonne of Benno saith here yet further that Iohn Bishop of Port who was Hildebrands Secretarie and great familiar comming into the Pulpit which was in S. Peters Church said amongst many other things in the hearing of the people and Cleargie Hildebrand hath done such a thing and we also as deseruers should all bee burned aliue meaning to giue to vnderstand that which hee had done of the Sacrament of the body of our Lord. Whereof Hildebrand demaunding Councell of a certaine thing as of old the Painims did of their Idols cast it into the fire because it gaue him do answere although the Cardinalls which were then present spake against his deed This is a beginning of the fruite of that cursed decree of Transubstantiation applied vnto Charmes and Inchauntments He excommunicated also the said Emperour Henry without lawfull accusation without Canonicall appellation without forme of iustice yea euen for that he was but too obedient vnto him Hee diuided also from him the Princes of the Empire and sought by secret treasons to destroy him but God preserued him O straunge treason proceeding from the sanctuarie or rather frō him who seemed to be the high Priest to gouerne the Church to haue superintendancie ouer Iudges and Elders By menaces also he constrained Bishops to sweare that they should not defend his cause neither should they fauour or helpe him in any thing drawing violently the scripture to make them serue his false dealing Notwithstanding saith Benno so soone as hee arose vp from his seate to excommunicate the Emperour the seate which had lately bene made of new and strong wood by the will of God of it selfe brake in many peeces in a terrible maner In such sort as it gaue to know that he that did sit vpō it would sowe terrible schismes against the Church by so arrogant and presumptuous a maner of excommunication This saith Benno But when he sawe that all his Ambushes could serue him for nothing he beganne to vse open force and emnities and after he had excommunicated Henry declaring all his subiects acquited of their oath of fidelitie which they had deliuered him he sent the Crowne of the Empire vnto Rodolphe Sauoic with this Latine verse such as it is Petra dedit Petro Petrus dià dema Rodolpho That is to say the Rocke hath giuen the Diademe vnto Peter and Peter giueth it vnto Rodolphe Henry then being for this cause sore troubled laid downe his royall apparell and came towards him into the Towne of Canuse with his wife and litle sonne in the time of a strong and sharpe winter through a very daungerous way Being before the gate of the Citie sayth Benno from morning till night without hauing eyther meate or drinke in apparell of cloath and barefooted beeing made a spectacle for Angels and men hee required pardon in all humilitie He endured three whole dayes in a very lamentable affliction In so much that Hildebrand who tooke his pleasure the meane while with his whores and Monkes mocked him He desired sore that he might haue entry into the Citie but it was refused him And as with great instance he demaunded it by the space of three dayes he was answered that the Pope had no leisure to speake with him Henry taking not in euill part that they would not suffer him to come into the Citie remained in the suburbes not without great grieuance For the winter was sharper then of custome Yet to the end he would offend no person he kept 3. whole dayes there without departing Finally the fourth day at the request of the Countesse Matilde who as Histories say loued a litle too much the Pope and of the Abbot of Clugny and of the Earle of Sauoy called Adelrans he was permitted to enter of the Pope But when he demaunded pardon of the Pope setting his Crowne betwixt his hands and in his power he would neither pardon nor absolue him of excommunication vnlesse first he promised to purge himselfe in a ful Sinode of his fault with other vnlawful and vnreasonable conditions All which things he promised and confirmed them by estate yet would they not remit him into his Kingdome Can any body haue haue a more liuely portraite of the Image of Antichrist The Princes of Italy after they knew this were exceedingly offended that the Emperour had so made his agreement with Hildebrand and that so dishonestly and vilely he had submitted himselfe to him who had inuaded the Papacie by wicked practises and who had polluted and defiled all with murders and adulteries c. After this the Pope with his Cardinalls glorying that he had brought the Emperour into seruitude durst now aduenture to enterprise greater things But the Emperour afterward tooke courage and straightway dispatched all that by taking Armes And after many sharp and hard warres he vanquished Rodolphe in battaile Who hauing his right hand cut off made call all the Bishops and Priests on his side Which being come after one had brought him his hand he spake in this sort I confesse that this is worthily come vnto me and wel bestowed vpon me Behold the hand wherewith I haue deliuered the oath of fidelitie to my Lord Henry but at the sollicitation of you I haue so many times vnluckily fought against him and also falsified my faith vnto him and therefore I haue receiued a reward such as my periurie meriteth See if you haue guided mee in a right way So then and now keepe to your Prince the fidelitie which you haue promised vnto him As for me I goe to my Fathers and incontinently after Rodolphe
yeelded vp the spirit After this man was dead they elected an other by the commandement of the Pope namely Herman of Saxonie Count or Earle of Lucenbourg who not without the Lords will was slaine by a woman who let fall a great stone vpon his head as he assailed a Castle in Almaine And the malice of this cruel tirant could not be repressed but it stirred vp a third Competitor to this good Prince namely one Egbert Earle of Misue his parent but being surprised by the Emperors people he was miserably put to death What man would not bee mooued by such iudgements of God to obey his Magistrate and abhorre all rebellion and sedition yet this Romane seate was neuer stirred therewith but finally wrought the Emperours sonne Henry to rebell against his father The writings of Henry the 4. sent to the King of France by which he complaineth of his sonnes iniuries and of such as drew him on to do them do at large declare this tragedie and at this day are to be seene Matilde Countesse kept ordinarie company with the Pope and neuer departed from him as his harlot despising Aron her husband Marquesse of Est. In so much that shee was commonly called S. Peter his daughter Shee was diuorced by the Romane seate for some affinitie that was pretended to be betwixt them From thence came it as Lambert Hirsueldensis hath left in writing that all people accused them that there was a villainous and dishonest loue betwixt them and euerie one said she lay with the Pope and had vnlawfull company of him which had taken frō Priests holy honest marriage The Abbot of Vrsperge called Conrade de Lihtenaw addeth this in his Chronicle Certaine it is that Hildebrand was not chosen of God but brought in of himselfe by fraud and force of siluer who ouerthrew the Ecclesiasticall order troubled the Kingdome of the Christian Empire procured the death of a peaceable King maintained periuries entertained noyses and dissentions sowed disorders stirred scandalles made diuorces and shooke and ouerthrewe all which seemed well ordained amongst them which liued holily c. First he was a great hypocrite who with force of excommunications depriued Ministers of the Church of their wiues and filled the world with an infinit number of buggeries In such sort that that great Citie which is spiritually called Sodome and Egipt that is to say the Romane Church was made after this time a true Sodome and Egipt his buggeries and Idolatries In the meane time he mooued maruellous tragedies in Italie France Almaine and England which would be too long to rehearse in this place and such dealing displeased many persons and wise men which were in that time For to speake neither of England nor Italie as well in Almaine as in France there was 24. Bishops and more which together with their Cleargie were married and defended and constantly maintained their marriage He commaunded Clarkes to vow singlenes that is to say not to marry briefly the most tiranically that could be he forbad Priests marriages commanding them to leaue theyr wiues or otherwise to be depriued of their offices prebēds He willed that from henceforth none be admitted to Ecclesiasticall orders vnlesse he first promise and vowe chastitie Also he ordained that none should heare Masse of a Priest that had a concubine He forbad Monkes to eate flesh at any time De consec dist 5. c. Carinum He commanded that no Christian should eat flesh on the Saterday De consec dist 5. Carinum 36. Why doo not Monkes obserue that commaundement as well as they pretend to obserue their vow of chastitie For they are for like power He ordained the offering of the Masse He Canonized one named Liberius an Arrian and commaunded his Feast should be celebrated as Benno witnesseth He commanded tenthes should be paid to Priests And tooke from the King of Poloigne his Crowne interdicting his Kingdome Hee condemned the opinion of Berengarius touching the Sacrament was the first they say that preached Transubstantiation He condemned as sacriledge a Lay-man possessing Tithes Him that gaue Inuestures of Benefices as an heretike and he that receiued them of a Lay-man as an Idolater So by this meanes made he the Popes leaden dagger so strong as her power was able to driue backe the Iron force of the Empire The Emperour Henry opposed himselfe against the force and enterprises of the said Hildebrand and the yeare of our Lord 1083. in a Sinode that he caused to assemble at Bresse after all crimes were laid against him before the assēbly by good right he was deposed from his Papall seate and so appointed in his place an other Pope which they named Clement the third He sent straight his Army to Rome driue out Gregorie and to bring in Clement The towne was by him brought vnto such pouertie that the Inhabitants were constrained to purchase peace But Hildebrand not thinking to be in presence of the Emperor being abandoned reiected of the Romanes fled vnto Salerne the yeare of the Lord 1086. where hee finished his life in exile which had caused so many to die by the sworde by famine by poysons and other sorts of deaths Yet the Papists made a brute runne that after his death he wrought many miracles yea euen after a Priest of Saxony as Sigebert witnesseth as he died had seene him tormented in hell Antonine and Vincent rehearse that this Hildebrand being at the article and point of death readie to yeeld vp his soule called to him a Cardinall his familiar vnto whom hee confessed both to God and S. Peter and to all the Church that he had greeuously sinned and had not done his office and dutie in the Apostolicke state and that by the perswasion of the diuel he stirred hatreds enmities and warres amongst many through the world Hee commaunded the said Cardinall to transport him towards the Emperour Henry the fourth and to crie him mercy for the faults he had committed against him and that he should deliuer him from the excommunication and likewise all his as well aliue as dead Anto. and R. Barnes Multiplication of the orders of Munkerie In this time the order of the Templers beganne and the order of Regular Chanons in a difference from secular Chanons Volateran The order of the Monkes of Grandmont of the rule of S. Benet tooke his beginning of one named Stephen of Fraunce which carried haire vpon his flesh Volaterane The order of Charterux began Bruno borne at Coloigne a Schoolemaister and after a Chanon of Rheimes hauing heard the voyce of a Doctor renowmed in his life when he made his obsequies saying I am cōdemned by a iust iudgement of God was afraid and for suertie entered into an Hermitage with certaine Disciples and founded the Charter house in the Country of Dalphine in the Diocesse of Grenople by the meanes help of Hugues Bishop of Grenople who also receiued the habite of Chartreux And so beganne
any priuiledge it comes of especiall grace and by the liberalitie of Kings and Princes Also that Iesus Christ hath taught vs to yeeld to euery one that which belongs vnto him to Caesar that which belongeth vnto him Wherefore he iustly redemaundeth the inuestures and homage of Bishops Touching Cardinals and Legates that iustly he reiected thē out of his Country For said he they come not to preach but to pill and spoile not to cōfirme peace but to heape vp siluer Wherefore he prayed the Pope and his not to mooue so many schismes scandalls but that that they would studie for peace and humilitie Naucler R. Barns The yeare 1158. Frederic tooke the Towne of Millaine and made it subiect to the Empire Sigeb After this the Pope ceased not to sollicite the Italians to withdraw their alleageance from the Emperor and therfore he sent his Legates to Millaine to perswade them to reuolt But the Millanois sought no other thing but a quarell for that purpose and that was that the Emperour was excōmunicate The Pope then wrought a cōspiracie against the Emperor with the aide of William king of Sicilie of them of Millaine and other Nobles of Italie which gaue a great sum of siluer to the Pope to excommunicate the Emperour The coniuration was confirmed by oath vpon condition that none of thē should euer returne into grace with the Emperour vnlesse all were consenting therevnto And if by fortune the Pope died that they should then elect a Cardinall of their owne faction and band After the former defence of the Emperor that none should appeale to Rome the Bishop of Laude going to Rome by appellation was encountred by certaine of the Emperours people and after they had beate him they put him in prison The Pope Adrian sent towards the Emperour two Legates with very sharpe Letters In which amongst other words there were these Although thou hast not answered vs as thou oughtest yet do we not repent if thou hadst receiued greater benefites at our hands then thou hast receiued Which words so angred the Emperor and all the Princes that with much adoo did they abstaine from violating the League Of which one of them answering for the Pope said foolishly If the Emperour saith he hold not his Empire of the Pope of whom holdeth he it By which words Otho Pallatin Wittilispach before the Emperour drew his sword and ran against the said Legate and hardly was retained from sleying him Naucler For store of siluer then the Pope Adrian being at Anagnia thundred forth the sentence of excōmunicatiō against Frederic But God Iohn de Cremona saith who by the mouth of the Prophet speaketh They shal curse you and I will blesse you ouerthrew their enterprise For it fell out that the Pope after hee had denounced the excommunication came out of Anagnia to take ayre nigh a Fountaine of which he dranke but soone after a Flie entred into his mouth and kept so in his throate that he left his breath and so died Naucler Vrsperg The yeare 1160. Frederic laid siege before the Towne of Millaine which was reuolted Pauie Plaisance and as it were all Lombardie yeelded themselues subiect vnto him Chron. Sigeb Crema is pilled and spoiled Behold what they gaine to beleeue the Pope and rebell against their naturall Lord. The poore men of Lyons otherwise called Vandrois were in this time After the death of Pope Adrian yet ceased not the former conspiration against Frederic for the coniurators sent a strong man of body who was a good Musitian but counterfeited a Ieaster to the end to take occasion to sley the Emperour but he was surprised and put to death Againe they sent him an Arrabian Ehchaunter who carried Mearcery ware and drugs impoisoned But the Emperour finding out his treason caused the Enchaunter to be strangled The Duchie of Bohemia was erected to a Kingdome vnder Frederic Naucler The Prince of Austriche was made a Duke The body of S. Bartholomew and the body of Paulin Bishop of Nole were found in an old Church saith Sigeb The bodies of the three kings as they call thē were found nigh Millaine and carried into the said Citie Fasci temp Helinandus rehearseth that the Pope Adrian was wont to say That there is nothing in the world more miserable nor condition or estate more vnluckie then the Popedome And that hee found such tribulation in the Apostolike seate that he wished he had neuer departed from England And that he was neuer so much at ease as when he was but a simple Cloyster-Monke Adolphe Count of Nole d' Albigeois was slaine by the Slauons Apostates of the faith his death was reuenged by the Duke of Saxonie Henry Leon. This Henry founded three Abbeyes at Lubec Racebourg and Souerum He visited the sepulchre and builded the church of S. Bloise at Brunswic Amongst many reliques he gaue to the said Church of the bloud of Iesus Christ which he brought from the holy Land saith The Sea of Histories Alexander Pope third of that name of Sienne in Tuscane ruled 22. yeares or thereabouts The Sea of Histories He was before called Rowland and was an enemie of the Empire and therefore was he chosen by 22. Cardinalls Some elected one called Octauian a Romane Citizen Priest Cardinall of S. Clement called after Victor the third who came towards Frederic So was there a great schisme which continued 17. yeares Alexāder sent his Legates towards Frederic who thē besieged Cremona to the end by his authoritie to take away the schisme The Emperor commanded that the two elected Popes should come vnto him vnto Pauie and there hee would assemble a Councel to take order for that schisme Alexander sent him the olde answere that the Pope might not be iudged of any liuing man c. and would not assist or appeare but retired himselfe vnto Anagnia Victor appeared and was approoued Pope and the Emperour sent him into Almaine and commanded that euery one should obey him whereat Alexander being greatly mooued sent sentence of excommunication against both the Emperour and the said Victor at Cleremont in France We haue seene that after Charlemaigne many pettie Kings rose vp in Italie whereof some were called Berengarij which brought into subiection the kingdome of the Lombards Otho the great got Lombardie out of their hands But after Millaine as it encreased in riches so the Citizens withdrew themselues from the obedience of the Romane Empire Frederic hauing raised a great Armie constrained them with others to yeelde to the yoake But the common people bearing euill will vnto the Emperour minding againe to reuoult discouered their wicked intent with a maruellous insolencie The Empresse Frederic his wife hauing a desire to see the Towne entered into it with effeminate assurance without feare to suffer iniurie of such as obeyed the Empire But the common people forgetting all honour being exceedingly inraged set the said Princesse vpon a she Asse causing her to turne her face towards
But as once he was taking his ordinarie refection with his Captaines as Casulanus reciteth it the yeare of our Lord 1285. he was taken with a secret malladie of which hee died after hauing said hee endured much griefe although the Phisitians founde not in him any signe of death and was buried at Peruse Some Authors which Thomas Cooper one very learned followeth in his abridgement of Chronicles haue left in writing that the first yeare of his Popedome hee tooke as the Prouerbe is to bread and to potte the concubine of his Predecessor Nicholas But for feare such an accident should happen vnto him as did vnto the other namely that if he had a childe it should be like vnto a Beare he commanded that all the Beares which had bene painted in the Pallace by a Pope of the house of Vrsins should be defaced and cleane taken away because he knew well that the figure of things vpon which women think when they conceiue their children oftentimes is certaine imprinted in them It appeares well that this Pope was herein very expert but he tooke no heed that such a monster shewed to the world what sanctetie there is in Popes singlenesse Giles of Rome Bishop of Bourges disciple of S. Thomas d'Aquin liued in this time Phillip le Bell 45. King of France and of Nauarre raigned after his father Phillip the third the yeare 1225. The Pallace was sumptuously builded in the Ile which Sene maketh Euguerrant de Marigni the Kings Councellor and President des Finances had the charge thereof In this Pallace the Court of Parliament had his seate distributed into chambers The king dwelt there The Colledge of Nauarre was builded by the Queene Ioane at the entry of the raigne of this king Honorius 4. of that name borne at Rome of the house of Sabellius which is a noble race called before Iames and beeing Cardinall Deacon after he had bene chosen by the Cardinals tooke possession of the Popedome and ruled 2. yeares Naucl. He had a brother called Pandulphe which was then Senator of Rome who greatly punished theeues homicides and other such like This Pope dwelt in Mount Auentine where he builded a new house and incited many others to do the like He excommunicated Peter King of Arragon who then occupied the Kingdome of Sicilie against Charles and confirmed the Interdict published against him by his predecessor Martin because hee would not permit that the Popes seate should enioy that Region The Florentines and they of Luke obtained by siluer of Rodolphe the Emperour libertie for their Common-wealthes The Florentines gaue 6000. skutes and the Luquets 12000. skutes The Venetians also obtained licence to forge Ducats of Gold at Venice The Geneuois got themselues franchis and libertie Chro. of the Emp. Tom. 2. This Emperor was noted of couetousnesse A childe called Rodolphe was martired at Berne by the Iewes whereby they of Berne put the Iewes to death And therefore the Emperour Rodolphe assembled thirtie thousand souldiers and besieged Berne but profited nothing as is aboue said The Colledge of Collets at Paris was founded by Iohn Collet Priest Cardinall of S. Cecilie Legate in France borne in Beauoisin saith the Sea of Histories He mooued a maruellous warre against Guy Feltron who occupied the Townes of Flaminia and ouercomming him hee annexed vnto the seignorie of Rome all that Countrey This Pope confirmed the Sect of the Augustines which was not yet receiued at Paris but was by many impugned because it was not well allowed by the Councell of Lateran and graunted them many priuiledges And besides hee would that the Carmes leauing their coloured apparell with barres should take the white habit and ordained they should be named the bretheren of the Virgin Marie After which goodly deeds he liued not long but being dead the yeare 1288. hee was carried from the Church of S. Sabine in the Mount Auentine into the Church of S. Peter where hee was buried with great pompe After the death of Honorius the seate was vacant tenne moneths For the Cardinalls beeing in the Conclaue died vpon sudden malladies euen when great earthquakes terrified them and so the election was deferred vntill an other time Nicholas Pope 4. of that name Minister generall of the Friars called Ierome borne at Marke d'Ancone ruled at Rome foure yeares and one moneth Naucler or 6. yeares 8. moneths and 16. dayes after some He succeeded the foresaid Honorius 10. moneths after his death yet the Cardinalls were not all of one opinion This Pope superstitiously deuout dwelt nigh vnto the Church called S. Marie the greater or ad praesepe because they forged that lie that the Crib where the Virgin Marie laid Iesus Christ after hee was borne into the world is there and adorned it with edifices and rich paintings Hee created Cardinalls of all sorts of Monkes for the profit of the Kingdome of Abaddon to the end they might be light-horses prepared to the battaile and might haue teeth like Lyons tailes like Scorpions wherewith they might hurt men For as Platina sayeth he loued all alike and thought not himselfe any thing more bound to his parents and kinsfolke then vnto others Hee caused the Croisado to be preached and sent at his owne charges many souldiers into Asia to keepe the Towne of Ptolemais Supp Chron. There hapned in his time many ciuill warres murders dissentions and brawles at Rome vppon his occasion giuing more countenance to the one part then to the other And this contention endured the space of two yeares and an halfe Fasci temp Many Hauens of the sea were lost the Christians were rooted out of Ierusalem and Siria by a long and great dissention of the Venetians Geneuois Pisans which then were for Communalties the mightiest by Sea It is said their contention was for an Abbey which each of them said to be theirs and this quarrell endured thirtie yeares In so much that the Popes Alexander the fourth Vrbain the fourth Clement the fourth and the Kings of Fraunce and Sicilie were greatly busied to agree them and yet did no good In the meane while the Empire of Constantinople was vsurped by others and the French and Italians cast out of Greece The Ports of Tyre and Ptolemais were also taken from the aforesaid Contendants The last yeare of the Empire of Rodolphe Charles Prince of Salerne and sonne of Charles King of Sililie was deliuered from the prisons of the King of Arragon and after came to Rome and on the day of Pentecost was crowned King of Sicilie by the Pope Nicholas and absolued from the oathe hee had made to the King of Arragon See the Historie of France The yeare of Christ 1291. three thousande Christians were slaine by the Sarrazens in the Countrey of Syria the rest for feare retired Chron. Euseb Acha according to Naucl. was taken by the Souldan with fifteene other Townes twelue Castles and a great number of Christians slaine and this
ambitiously and wickedly he came to be Pope He demaunded of the Ecclesiasticall Lords vpon whom they had the foundations and reuenewes of their Churches and Benefices After he turned him towards the Princes Barons and Knights and said vnto them And you Nobles and Vassalls what hold you for your King All they which were there answered with one voyce that they held their lands and their goods vnder the kings hand Then the king replied and said Yet you see what force and tirannie Boniface practiseth as if you and all the Realme of France were subiect vnto the Romane Church as now he vsurpeth the title of the Emperour of Almaine and hauing three times the said Duke Albert of Austrich saith himselfe is Emperour and Lord of all the world and in token thereof hee hath newly giuen the Empire to the Duke Albert yea euen the title of the Crowne of France These things thus proposed and brought to deliberation the king interiected an appellation from the Pope to the generall Councell and ordained by publike Edict vpon great pains that none should bee so hardie to drawe or transport any gold or siluer out of his kingdome for the affaires of the Romane Court and caused to guard all the Bridges Portes and passages On the other side Boniface the eight sought by Ecclesiasticall censors enmitie betwixt the Emperour and the King Yet notwithstanding they accorded meeting together in the plaines of Vuancoulers But the end was this that to tame the arrogancie and malice of this Pope the king secretly dispatched two hundreth men of Armes vnder the conduction of one named Sarra Colonnois a Romane and of an other Captain called Nogaret which secretly passed from Marceille and by night tooke the Pope in his house which was in Anagnia in the kingdome of Naples and carried him prisoner with the aide of the Gibelins to Rome where he died 24. dayes after or 35. dayes after Chron. Abb. of griefe and age and all his goods and treasures went to pillage Iohn le Maire Iohn the Monke Cardinall the founder of the Colledge of Picars at Paris came into France at the Popes commandement The Sea of Histories The memorable battaile of Courtray in Flaunders which the French lost and wherin a great part of the Nobilitie of France perished The Sea of Histories Benet 11. of that name a Lombard by Nation borne at Treuis called before Nicholas of the order of Iacobius borne of parents of base condition his father was a sheepheard after he was made Cardinall of Ostia he was chosen Pope a man of a cautellous and subtill spirit and therefore pleased Boniface exceedingly Incontinently after he was come vnto the Papaltie hee sought to pacifie Italie and therefore went to Peruse but hee fell sicke there and deceased and was buried in the Iacobins A certaine Abbesse presented vnto him poysoned figges whereof he died This was after prooued And Leander affirmeth that he died of poyson The seate was emptie about a yeare The yeare of Christ 1304. Phillip le bel King of France founded in the honour of S. Lewis the Abbey of Poisy where hee placed Nunnes of the order of the Friars preachers and after his death his heart was carried thither and buried The Sea of Histories The first Emperor of the Turkes The wickednesse of men being come to the fulnesse of all impietie Ottomanus a Turk began to raigne about this time and raigned 28. yeares He began by litle and litle to vsurpe vpon Europe The occasion was for that the Emperours of Greece demanded helpe of the said Turkes against the Bulgarians But they seeing the Countrey fit for them vsurped vpon the Emperour first in Thrace and after in Misia superiour and inferiour Macedonia Achaia Peloponesus Epirus Dalmacia and a great part of Illyria and Pannonia and finally into Hungaria The yeare of Christ 1306. the first League of Swissers was made of three Cantons namely Suits Vry and Vnderuald Naucler Peter Casiodore an Italian a Noble man and well instructed in pietie was in this time Hee writ vnto the Enghsh men not to carrie the importable yoake of the Romane Antechrist shewing the extortions and extreame seruitude of England which the Popes of that time had multiplied The Epistle beginneth Cui comparabo te c. which I haue here inserted transcribed and translated out of an old booke found in the church of S. Albans in England To the noble Church of England which serueth in bondage Peter the sonne of Cassiodore a Catholique souldier and deuout Champion of Iesus Christ desireth saluation and deliuerance from the yoake of captiuitie and to receiue the price and reward of libertie The Scribes and Pharisies placed themselues in Moyses Chaire c. It followeth after To whom shal I compare thee or to whom shal I say thou art like thou daughter of Ierusalem to whom shall I equall thee thou virgin daughter of Sion For thy ruine is great as the Sea thou art become sollitarie and without any sollace being all the day ouerwhelmed wilh heauinesse Thou art deliuered into the hands of him from whence thou canst not relieue thy selfe without the aide of some one which will lift theee vp For the Scribes and Pharisies beeing set vpon Moyses Chaire that is to say the Romane Princes being thy enemies are vpon thy head and enlarging their Philacteries and desiring to inrich themselues with the marrowe of thy bones impose heauie and insupportable burthens vpon the shoulders of thee and thy Ministers and bring thee vnmeasurably vnder the charge of paying tribure thou which euer hast bene free Let all occasion and matter of maruelling cease For thy mother which had rule ouer the people hauing espowsed her subiect hath appointed thee for a Father and before all others hath eleuated thee Bishop of Rome who in no paternall act sheweth himselfe to be such an one Very true is is that hee spreadeth out his skirtes and sheweth by experience that he is thy mothers husband For often he bringeth to memorie in his heart this sentence of the Prophet Take thee a great volume and write therein as with a touchstone after the maner of men Hastâ— thee to the spoile dispatch thee of pilling and spoiling When the Apostle said Euery high Priest beeing taken of men is constituted for men in things which are concerning God Doth not this shewe that men must not occupie themselues with spoiles and rapines to impose censors and annuall rents nor to destroy men but to the end he might offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes and that he might haue compassion of the ignorant and sinners And also we read of Peter who was a Fisher whose successor he saith he is that after the resurrection of Iesus Christ he returned to his fishing againe with the other Apostles who when he could take nothing on the left side of the ship by the commaundement of Iesus Christ he turned himselfe towards the right hand and drew the Nets to ground
full of fish Profitable then it is to exercise the Ministerie of the Church in the right part by which misterie the diuell is vanquished and a great number of soules is brought to Iesus Christ but surely it is not so of the labour which is taken on the left hand of the ship for therein faith staggereth and heuinesse ruleth when men finde not that which they seeke For who will beleeue that one man can serue God and Mammon both together and please his will sticke to reuelations of the flesh and of bloud and offer to Christ gifts and presents such as appertaine vnto him And without doubt the sheepheard which watcheth not for the edifying of the Flocke prepareth an other way a roaring Lyon which seeketh euery way whom he may deuour Behold say I the straunge and before vnheard deedes of him which is called thy father who taketh from the sheepfoldes the good sheepheards and in their places setteth his Nephewes and parents and others ignorant of Letters dumbe and deafe which vnderstand not the bleating of the sheepe neither care for the byting of the wolues which like hirelings carrie away the fleeces reape others haruests the hands of whom also serue to the pottes and their backes turne away from burthens Hereby it plainely appeareth the Priests office was left the seruice due vnto God was subtracted and the custome to giue Almes abolished by which things the holy deuotion of Kings Princes Christans are abolished This then is a thing which ought to be found very strange in the iudgement of euery one that whereas Iesus Christ commaunded to pay tribute vnto Kings for himselfe for Peter this man against his will whose Vicar he saith he is who hath cast backe from himsselfe the kingdomes and iudgements of the world seekes to subiect vnder his domination Kings and Princes vnder the title of his stile because all that he hath set downe in writing to be his he attributeth vnto himselfe Nay what doth he more with thee ô daughter Behold he draweth from thee whatsoeuer he thinketh good and yet hee holdeth not himselfe contented to take of thee the tenth part of thy grounds but euen the first fruites of the Benefices of thy Ministers to the end that as well for himselfe as for such as are of his bloud he might constitute a new patrimonie of good and holy wills of the founders Moreouer he alreadie imposeth other execrable things for the wages of his Curriers which he sendeth into England which carrie away not onely the victualls of thee and thine but also rent of their skinnes and their flesh like dogges Meriteth he not to be compared to Nabuchodonozor who destroyed the Temple and spoiled it of the vessells of Gold For that which he did this doth he also He spoiled the Ministers of the house of God and depriued them of that which was necessarie for his seruice And this here doth as much And surely the condition of them which are slaine by the sword is better then the condition of such as be any thing bitten with hunger For the first are straight dead but the other is consumed by the stirrilitie of the earth Let all such as passe by thy way ô daughter haue compassion on thee for no sorrowe is like to thine For alreadie because of thy great dolour and teares which thou hast shead thy face is blacker then coales in so much as thou art no more knowne in the streetes Thy father hath set thee in clowdie and darke places he hath made thee drunke with wormewood and gall Lord see the affliction of thy people harken vnto their sobbings and come downe For the heart of this man is harder then the heart of Phaua◠who would not suffer that thy people should goe a◠libertie but onely in the force of thy hand But this afflicted and plagueth not onely vpon earth but also after death For after death he deuoureth the goods of all Christians vnder colour that they died without making testaments The Church of England doth sufficienly know that the French men casting the eyes of their concupiscence vpon that kingdome sought in time past to haue reduced it vnder theyr power but it is to be feared that that which they could not hitherto bring to passe is now supplied by the coniuration of that man as of a new enemie For if the treasures of the Kingdome faile and that the Priesthood be ouerthrowne verily it shall he made lesse puissant against the enemies To the end that thou ô daughter and thy Priest should not fall into a miserie of any longer endurance it is expedient for the saluation and safetie of thee and thine that thou ô Christian King and the great Lords of thy kingdome which haue adorned thee with great and excellent Benefices and which in such a case ought to maintaine and defend both thee and those Benefices should resist the coniurations and conspirations of that man who not hauing regard to God but for the aforesaid things and to enrich his parents and for his owne nest lifting himselfe vp as an Eagle by the aforesaid things and other Impostes by him imposed he hath collected all the siluer of England by a new domination Let not then thy dissembling simplicitie in this case cause the ruine of thy kingdome and thy selfe and take heed thy remedie come not too late The Lord God take the vaile frō off the heart of this man and giue him a contrite and humble hart and make him knowe the traces of the true God whereby hee may be drawne frō darknesse and constrained to forsake those wicked labours wherof we haue spoken that the vine which the right hand of God hath planted may be filled with good grapes For take heed vnto the Lords words to the Prophesie of Ieremie to put back such enterprises who saith thus Thou sheepheard which hast dispersed my people put thē out of their habitations behold I will visit vpon thee the malice of thy into prises and no man of thy seed shall sit vpon the seat of Dauid nor haue more power in Iuda Let thy neast be made barran and ruinated as So-Some and Gomorrhe But if it so fall out that being nothing feared by these words he cease not his enterprises nor make restitution of that which he hath taken then let thē sing for him that shall be so wickedly hardned the 108. Psalme As for vs we will each day openly sing praises through Iesus Christ to him vnto whom all things serue Thus the light by litle and litle came forward and ouercame the mightie darknesse Clement 5. ruled in Auignon 8. yeares and 10. monethes This Pope was a Gascoin sonne of Bernand a warrior and a Gentleman borne in Burdeaux before called Bextrand Goth Bishop of Coseran and Archbishop of Burdeaux he being absent in France was chosen at Peruse by the Cardinalls there resident Iohn le Maire saith it
was at the instance of Phillip le Bell. After he was aduertised of his election he departed from Burdeaux and came to Lyons and sent word that all the Cardinalls then in Italie should appeare there wherevnto they all obeyed without delay or contradiction and the coronation of the said Pope was made publike and solemne in the Church of S. Iust But this ioy and pompe was troubled For as an innumerable people were mounted vpon an old wall of S. Iust to see this great pompe and noblenes the said wall fell and flew duke Iohn of Britaine the King was there wounded and the Pope throwne ouer his horse and rudely troden vnder feete in so much that he lost a rich Carbuncle out of his triple crowne esteemed at 6000. Florents of Gold and more then 12. other notable persons were there wounded and died After the Pope Clement was crowned the king tooke leaue of him and went to marrie his sonne Lays Hutin to the daughter of the Duke of Burgongne called Margarite The Pope on the other side left Lion and made his residencie in Auignon This was the first of the Popes that kept there his Romane Court where it abode the space of 73. yeares before it returned to Rome Iohn le Maire After the end of this solemne pompe and that all things were appeased he created many French Cardinalls But hee made not one Italian onely he restored that dignitie of a Cardinall to Iohn and Iames of the house of Colomnois Moreouer he sent to Rome three Cardinalls with the power of Senators by whose direction the Towne and all Italie was gouerned He gaue to Frederic king of Sicilie the Ile of Sardeigne which was occupied by the Sarrasins vpon this condition that in chasing them away he might incontinently recouer it The yeare 1306. the Iewes were pilled and reiected Fraunce Albert the Emperour riding in the fieldes about noone was slaine by his Nephewe and other Princes of Austrich his companions Munster This iudgement might bee because in warre he had persecuted the Emperour Adolphe who although he was his inferiour vnto him in power yet was he ordained of God and ought him obedience But such murthers remaine not vnpunished Hiero. Marius adding to the words of Platina sayth thus Clement the fift because he desired not to serue others as Iesus Christ commaunded his disciples but rather to be serued euen of Emperors ordained that Emperours chosen in Almaine although they tooke the name of King of the Romanes yet they should receiue of the Pope the rights and name of the Emperour Moreouer that when the Emperour should bee dead whilest the Empire was vacant the gouernment of the townes of Italie subiect to the Emperor should be in the Popes power The Romane Court transported into France where it remained 74. yeares This Clemens who was a publike whoremonger and a great maintainer of harlots Chron. Herm. and Paralip Vrsp. placed the papall seate in Auignon to the end the better to enioy his delights and pleasures He celebrated the generall Councell of Vienne the yeare of our Lord. 1311. wherein he cruelly abolished the order of the Templers to the end to confiscate their goods with their spoiles raised vp the Hospitaliers into dignities called the knights of S. Iohn of Ierusalem which had conquered the I le of Rhodes vpon the Sarrasins The Knights of the Rhodes succeeded in the goods of the Templers The Pope excommunicated the Venetians because they had vsurped Ferrare which was of the Churches patrimonie and caused the Croisado to be published against them in Italie till they were constrained to yeeld the said seignorie of Ferrare which they had vsurped of a Lord called Frisius Estensis who had slaine his father to gouerne at Ferrare being notwithstanding aided by the Venetians to doo that wicked act Item he excommunicated the Florentines and them of Luques Henry the 7. would needes make himselfe to be crowned at Rome but it was not without great contradiction and effusion of bloud Robert King of Sicilie sonne of Charles the second King of Pouille was condemned of the said Henry to bee beheaded Clement graunted to all such as coiced themselues against the Turke that at their pleasures and will foure soules should be deliuered from purgatorie But the Theologians of Paris detested this and reprooued it saith Agrip. de vanit This Pope persecuted such as they named Fratricelli and one called Dulcinus of Navarre and published against thē the Croisado for that purpose seruing themselues with the Iacobins The Dulcins were named of that Dulcinus who was executed with his wife Margarite Naucler He had bene taught of one called Gerard. They which detested them and haue written their maner of doings say that they wore white Mantles long haires sometimes walking barefooted sometimes shod Item that they named themselues the order of the Apostles and they preached saying Repent for the kingdome of heauē is at hand Moreouer they said that the authoritie which Christ gaue vnto his Church was expired for the malice of the Prelates And that the Romane Church was reprooued because it was an whore Also that they were the Church followed the rule of the Apostles That all the Popes since Siluester were Preuaricators and vsurpers because they liued not in true humilitie and that therefore men ought not to giue them Tythes Many of Dulcius adherents were taken to the number of 114. persons dwelling in the Mountains of Verseil in Piemont Rhodes in this time wes reconquered of the knights of the Rhodes which before were driuen away Henry 7. of that name sonne of Henry Count of Luxembourg and of Beatrix his wife was chosen Emperour He was not rich of goods that his father had left him but he was the excellentest Prince of his time as well in prudence as in the glory of praise-worthy deeds From the death of Frederic the 2. vntill the yeare 1308. wherein this man was elected the Kings of the Romanes had not entred into Italie namely Rodolphe Adolphe and Albert and therefore almost all the townes of Italie subiect to the Empire were reuolted After Henry was crowned at Aix he determined to enter Italie to be sacred of the Pope but it was not without great danger for great Ambushes which were laid for a him at Millaine by Guido Turrian See the Chronicles of the Emperours Many Templers of the kingdome of France by the commaundement of the Pope and King for certaine accusations were condemned and burnt without Paris Twelue or nine Articles contrary to the faith were imposed vpon them which notwithstanding Iohn Bocace a Florentine excuseth in his 21. Chapter of his 2. booke of the cases of vnfortunate Nobles Their order endured 184. yeares all their goods were confiscated and giuen to the knights of the Rhodes Others say that the best part of their goods was giuen to the king by the Popes consent Chron. of the French Kings Hermanus saith that
the Pope Clement in fauour of the king noted them of heresie and infamie wrongfully and vpon enuie Paral. Vrsper Some thinke that the kings of France of England and of Spaine conspired against them for the possessions and Castles which they had in their kingdomes The yeare 1309. the Sarabits Monkes which came out of Egipt began in England Their garments were of Oxe and Swines skinnes and they were tyed with cordes Iohn Clyn Hybernus The order of Paulins entred into England and placed thēselues at Glocester the yeare 1310. Chron. Caletense This Pope Clement in a well leaded Bull which is yet at this day kept by Copie at Vienna at Limoge and at Poiters in the Coffers of priuiledges commanded the Angels of Heauen to carrie into the Ioyes of Paradice and draw out of Purgatorie the soule of him whosoeuer should die in the way going in Pilgrimage to Rome Moreouer saith he we will that the paines of hell shal no way be inflicted vpon them Agrip. de vanit sciēt Iean wife of Lewis king of Fraunce after the death of her husband went to Rome and resigned the kingdome of Naples deliuering it into Pope Clements hand who after made a gift of it to Lewis duke of Angiou brother of Charles the fift king of France sauing the profits to the vse of the said Iean for her life But he enioyed it not for he died with fiue thousand men in conquering it against Charles Nephew of the said Lewis King of Hungaria who occupied the kingdome and held it foure yeares and left a sonne called Ladislaus who raigned 29. yeares at Naples by the helpe of Pope Vrbain the 6. This Pope condemned the Beghards or Begnins which would not worship the Bread of the Eucharist He commaunded that the great Maister of the Templers should be burned at Paris with one of his cōpanions in the presence of Cardinals made certain ordinances against the insolencies of the Iewes after hauing confiscated their goods He ordained that oathes deliuered by Princes were not oathes of subiection but of fidelitie and commanded that the goods of the Church should not be alienated Hee ordained that Clarkes which occupied temporall traffiques and wore precious garments should be punished and forbad Monkes all kinde of huntings as well of beastes as birdes He confirmed the Feast instituted in the honour of the bread of the Eucharist which the Papists commonly called La feste dieu God his Feast He gathered in his volume the Constitutions called Clementius and pronounced that the reliques of Saints ought to be greatly honoured He gouerned the affaires of Italie by Neapolion and Pelagura Cardinalls his Legates and added Celestine the fift to the number of Popish Confessors He set in order the constitutions of Monkes and againe declared the rule of Friars Finally this Clement being tormented one while with a flux of the belley and an other with a paine of the stomack sides deceased in a Castle called Rocquemaure vpon Rosue the yeare of the Lord 1314. his body was carried into Gascoin and the Papall seate was emptie euen till the third yeare This yeare it selfe that he died as Henry of Lucembourg Emperor determined to draw to him by force of Armes the kingdome of Sicilie vnto which he was called hee was traiterously brought to death by a wicked Monke called Bernard du Mont Polician of Domcastre who was of the conspiration of the Guelphes and yet made a countenance that he was the Emperours friend He gaue a poysoned host to this good Prince who as soone as he felt the mischiefe aduertised this traitor Monke to flie away saying vnto him Away away for if the Almanes perceiue any thing and such as doo affect mee you shall die So this wicked Iudas withdrawing himselfe to Sienes receiued the siluer that had bene promised him for the reward of his treason but hereby hee deliuered not his bretheren Iacobins For many of them perished by fire and sword with their houses as wel in Tuscane as in Lombardie and many other places The Vniuersitie of Orleance was instituted in this time Chron. of the Kings of France The yeare at Crist 1313. the King of Fraunce Phillip le bel became a Leper and therefore he caused all the Leapers of France and Flaunders as well men as women to bee burnt For he vnderstood that they had infected the waters And the Chroniclers of Almaine say that the said king became a Leper because he made the Templers die Arnold de Villa Noua an excellent Phisitian and Mathematician some say of Chalon others of Narbone was iudged an heretike because he said that Sathan had made all Christian people stray from the truth Item that the faith of Christians of his time was no other then such as diuels haue Item that such as are in Cloisters are out of Charitie and condemne themselues in falsifying the doctrine of Iesus Christ leading Christians into hell Item that the Theologians haue maliciously mingled the Dreames of Philosophers with the holy scripture Item that in the sacrifice of the Aultar the Priest offereth nothing to God and that Masses profiteth neither quick nor dead He prooued by Daniel and by Sibilla Erithra that Antichrist in a full tirannie should persecute the faithfull after the yeare 1300. Besides his Phisicke bookes he writ against the Iacobins that it was lawfull to eate flesh The cutting sword against the Thomistes The admonition of Iesus Christ to Christians Of the subtilties of false Prophets Of the misterie of the Churches Cymballs Of the consummation of the world and other bookes He was iudged an heretike by the Iacobins at Tarraeon Finally being sent to the Pope by Frederic king of Sicilie he died in the way and was buried at Genés a true champion of the Lord. Margarite Queene of Nauarre daughter of the Duke of Burbon Iean daughter of the Count of Bourgongne and wife of the Count of Poiters Blanche second daughter of the said Count of Bourgongne wife of the Count de la Marshe were taken by the kings commaundement and condemned to continuall prison for their fornications and adulteries against them manifestly prooued Yet afterward Iean Countesse of Poiters returned with her husband For it was knowne that she was not culpable of all that which was imposed on her The Adulterers that is Phillip d'Annoy which kept the Queene and his brother Gualter de Annoy which kept the said Blanch knights were scorched there genitories cut off and they drawne and hanged Schisme in the Empire There was a diuision amongst the Electors some did chuse Lois the fourth of that name Duke of Bauiere others Frederic Duke of Austrich and the one had warre against the other eight yeares In the end Lewis obtained alone the Empire and raigned 24 yeares after the Chron. of Euseb which make 32. yeares The Sea of Hist Loys Hutin sonne of Phillip le bel succeeded in the Kingdome and is
Spaine for feare he should be compelled to renounce the Popedome and held a Councell at Parpignan and after went to remaine in the Castle of Panisole to be there more assured In this time was a Councell held at Pise to revnite the Vniuersall Church wherevnto Gregorie and Benet were cited but they had no care to appeare but derided it And so thinking to do well they made a double schisme and diuision Before there was two Popes and now three For at the said Councell Gregorie and Benet were deposed and one called Alexander was instituted During the said Councell of Pise Gregorie the 12. fled also into Austrich but fearing not to be there in suretie he returned into Italie and dwelt in the Citie of Arinunum vnder the protection of a Baron called Malateste To the said deposition of the two Popes as it were all Christian Nations consented except a part of Spaine and the Count Arnimake and the kingdome of Scotland which fauoured the said Benet the 11. What shall we say of this schisme of three Popes but that it is a token that that seate of Babilon shall bee diuided in three parts as it is said in the Apocalips and that from thence shall come the ruine of Antichrist and his end The yeare of Christ 1409. Chrisebeles or Calephin the first the fift Emperour of the Turkes obtained victorie against Sigismond This Calephin raigned sixe yeares left two sonnes Orchanes and Mahomet but Orchanes was slaine by his Vncle Moyses who was after slaine by Mahomet the first of that name Alexander Pope fift of that name was elected at the Councell of Pise borne in the I le of Candie of the order of Friars called before Peter Philarge or of Candie First Bishop of Nauarre after Archbishop of Millaine and consequently Cardinall Priest of the title of the Church of the 12. Apostles and succeeded Gregorie in the Popedome After that the two old Popes Gregorie and Benet were deposed at the Councell of Pise as is said this was chosen by the consent of all the Cardinalls vnto which degree and dignitie he being come as Platina saith it was with good right that they called him Alexander Seeing he that before was but a poore begging Friar might be compared to any Prince whatsoeuer in matter of prodigall and superfluous expences and in greatnesse of courage Herehence it comes that that Graspopper in times past of small and base condition did obtaine in the Kingdome of Abaddon a face like a mans and teeth like to them of a Lyon This Pope also vsed commonly to say as hee played that hee had bene a rich Bishop a poore Cardinall and a begging Pope This Alexander was of so great boldnesse that in the Councell of Pise with the consent of the Priests that were there present he tirannously depriued of the right of his father the kingdome Ladislaus then king of Naples and of Pouille who occupied certaine seignories which the Church had ill gotten And vniustly adiudged it to Lewis Duke d' Aniou After that this Councell of Pise was finished this Pope went to Bolongne of which Towne a wicked Sodomite called Balthasar Cosse Cardinall of S. Eustache had the gouernment whom Alexander confirmed in his election because through his subtill deuises that Councell had bene assembled And also for that hee was a man meete encounter at any time with such as would seise vpon any goods of the Church There was in this man as Platina saith more fiercenesse boldnesse and secularitie if I may say so then his estate required His life was esteemed like a man of warres giuen altogether vnto crueltie In such sort that in this holy singlenesse of life he thought that many things were lawfull vnto him which ought not so much as to be named See what Platina saith Amongst other acts worthy of a Pope this Alexander published certain Bulles touching the Stigmates or markes and wounds of S. Francis his Idoll that they might be placed in the ranke of the Articles of the Christian faith and ordained them a solemne Feast that they might be honoured of the faithfull As this good Pope began to be sicke of a poysoned drinke which was giuen him by Marcillus of Parma a Phisitian whom Balthasar had hired to do it for a great summe of money as Panetius reciteth it in his 56. Sermon And knowing that his death was nigh he exhorted the Cardinalls as they came towards him to mutuall concord and to maintaine the libertie of the Church That is to say to make peace amongst the wicked and to maintain the Papall pompe and seate that Iesus Christ may be troden vnder foote Iohn Bauiers Bishop of Liege the Duke of Bauiers his brother Lord of Holland and Count of Hainaut being chased from the Towne demanded helpe against the Liegeior of the Duke of Burgongne that married his sister who fighting against them of Liege hee slew more then fortie thousand of them burnt their Citie Churches and Monasteries The Priests slew and put to death their women and children Fascic Temp. The Vniuersitie of Lipse or Lypizen was set vp by the Maisters of the Vniuersitie of Prage by the aide of Frederic Marquis of Misne and after Duke of Saxonie Sigismond sonne of Charles the fourth King of Hungarie and of Boheme brother of Wencelaus after the death of Albert was chosen Emperour of Rome by the consent of all He performing the dutie of a true Emperour was very renowned in wisedome knowledge and bountie Hee loued vertuous people and such as were learned and raised them vp vnto honour and dignitie yet he was vanquished by Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes and lost a great battaile and his Tents Pauilions He went by the space of three yeares through Europe to set order and to roote out the great schisme so damageable to all Christendome Therfore hauing reiected three Popes schismatikes and vnlegitimate and which held the seate at Barione Oddo Columnius was made Pope by the consent of all Iohn Pope 24. of that name succeeded Alexander and ruled at Bolongne fiue yeares or thereabouts hee was before called Balthasar Cosse or Ihea de Coza after the Sea of Histories Cardinall of Eustache Some there are euen of such as approoue the Popish tyrannie which affirme that he came vnto the Popedome rather by force and violence then by free and Canonicke election For as Stella saith being at Bolongne rather as a Lord and Maister then as a Legate when the Fathers were there assembled to chuse a new Pope he exceedingly threatned them if they elected not such an one as pleased him Therefore many were presented whereof hee would not approoue one Then said the Cardinalls vnto him Name him of whom you can like And he answered Giue me S. Peters Mantle and Pontificall habit and I will giue them vnto him whom I would to bee Pope When hee had the habit hee put it vpon himselfe and saide it is
Iohn they proceeded also against Pope Gregorie the 12. who was cyted to appeare in person but he would not come there yet either by faire meanes or force hee sent Malateste Lord of Armenia with an ample procuration and power to resigne the said right hee had in the the Papall dignitie into the hands of the said Councell The which was done and the said Gregorie 12. was created Legate in the Marquesdome of Ancone where he died soone after with mourning in the Towne of Racany which is a Port of the Adriatike Sea Iohn le Maeire There remaineth yet the third Antipope Peter de la Lune Of him it was that Gerson often said We must needs take away this man of the Moone called Benet the 13. who would not obey the Councell but died obstinately in the Kingdome of Arragon and commaunded his Cardinalls on his death-bed that as soone ar he was dead they should elect an other which they did and elected Clement the 8. borne at Barselone wherein they profited litle For the Pope Martin as shall bee saide had the Popedome whole and had the obedience of all the Princes in Christendome yet the saide Clement the eight was after made Bishop of Maiorque See Iohn le Maire That Pope Benet troubled much the Emperour Sigismond For seeing hee would not consent to any agreement the said Emperour was constrained in person first to goe into France vnto the King then to the King of England to make an attonement betwixt those two Kings Item towards the King of Arragon in Spaine with certaine Embassadors deputies of the saide Councell to exhort them to hold the hand to the vnion of the Church and to perswade the said Pope to doo as others did which hee would neuer be brought vnto Then the Princes of Spaine the Arragonians the Cathelains Armignaes and the Kings of Fraunce and England seeing his obstinacie followed the opinion of the Councell and withdrew themselues from the obedience of Pope Benet the thirteenth which Sigismond signified to the said Councell Naucler Sigismond returned after to Constance about Candlemas and the Councell with burning Candles excommunicated and depriued the said Benet of his Popedome after declared him an heretike a schismatike the 18. day of March 1417. Naucl. This Pope Iohn whilest he was placed in the Romane seate amongst other Ieasts of a Pope he did that which followeth in diuers Authors He had stirred maruellous warres against the king Ladislaus and assembled a Councell at Rome to find means to driue him from his kingdome He also commanded to make a procession with the head of S. Iohn Baptist for that subtilly and cautelously he had determined to sell it to the Florentins He approoued the Sect of such as named themselues De la Chemise or Frisonniers which lifted themselues vp in the territorie of Luques and admitted the congregation of that new reformation in the Monasterie of S. Iustine commenced at Padoue by Lewis Barbe As Pope Martin the fift was at Florence this Pope beeing deliuered from prison contrarie to the opinion of all so that all that were present maruelled thereat came thither towards him and after he had kissed his feete acknowledged him as his Pope the successor of S. Peter saluted him as if he had bin some earthly God Martin mooued with affection certain daies after receiued him into the number of Cardinals and hee made him Bishop of Tusculū but after certain moneths he finished his life sad and grieuous the yeare of the Lord 1419. in the same Towne of Florence where he was honourably buried with great pompe in the Temple of S. Iohn Baptist by Cosme de Medicis who euer bore him great loue In the said Councell the Counts of Cleues and Sauoy were erected to Duchez by the Emperour Sigismond Things being effected as is said the Emperours will was that there should now be an handling to correct the maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and to reforme the Church but it was said that this could not well bee done during the vacation of the Apostolike seate wherefore it was concluded to proceed to a new election of a Pope Naucler Martin Pope fift of that name called Otho a Romane Cardinal Deacon of the house of Colonnois of one same accord and will by the consent of all was chosen of 33. Cardinalls at the Councell of Constance and was called Martin because hee was consecrated on S. Martins day hee gouerned fourteene yeares The Emperour Sigismond very ioyfull that the Cardinalls had chosen such a Pope and so necessarie to the Christian common-wealth entred into the Conclaue where without regarding his dignitie falling on his knees before the Pope in great reuerence hee kissed his feete On the other part the Emperour receiued him beningly and heartily thanked him for the diligence and paines which he had taken to establish the vnion of the Church Naucler After that the Emperour had long time trauelled to assemble this Councell of Constance desiring to see the particular reformation of the Church excused it that Rome had bene long without an head and the time would not permit to begin a reformation for the Councell had long endured Wherefore an other Councell should bee assigned at Basil where that should be done and so the Emperour was frustrate of his purpose and hope for seeing a reformation in the Church-people In the said Councell was dispatched Letters and Bulls to Lewis Duke d' Aniou to goe take possession of the kingdome of Pouille for him and his Naucler Martin Pope returning from Constance to Rome remained two yeares at Florence and for recompence of his entertainement he ordained that the Bishop of that place should bee a Metropolitane and subiected there vnto the Church of Volaterre Pistorie and Fesides The Hussites came vp at this time which reiected all humane traditions more purely preaching the doctrine of Iesus Christ which engendred many contentions betwixt Lay-men and Clarkes A pestilence was at Florence where died more then 16. thousand men Chron. Euseb Mahomet Emperour of the Turkes died after he had raigned 14. yeares Wencelaus died taken with feare because of a tumult raised at Prage hee fell into an Apoplexie and from that euill into a palsie which within 18. daies tooke away his life the yeare of his raigne 20. Charles 7. of that name king of France the onely sonne of Charles the 6. succeeded his father Hee was assailed by the English and Bourgonions and hauing lost as it were all the Countrey of the Frontiers tooke his recourse into Bourges and there remained a certaine time and therefore the enemies in mockerie called him king of Bourges Henry sonne of Charles his sister called himself in his titles king of England of France and at Paris was crowned king of France A pucell or maide plaide the part of a man at Armes and gaue succours to Orleance which was besieged constrained the enemies to leaue the siege conducted the king
where he desired he subiugated almost them all by the meanes of his bastard called Valentin which of a Cardinall he made a Duke and surnamed him Besides this hee exterminated all the mightiest houses that were in the Towne so that after he feared them no more In which combat as Valerius reciteth being munited and strengthened with the succours of the French and Swisses he shead much humane bloud The Emperour Frederic the third died at Vienna the 26. of August vpon the eating as is said a great quantitie of Pompions as hee meant to refresh himselfe and was buried in the Church of S. Stephen The malladie of Naples called the French disease or the poxe began about this time Maximilian the Emperour Fredericks sonne third of that name held the Empire alone after his father and was a fautor and louer of learned people The Almaines made a great discomfiture against the French men nigh Salnis in Bourgongne The Religion and Couent of the obseruation of Lyons vpon Rosne was founded in the suburbes of the said Towne in the place of two Louers The founder was king Charles the eight and Anne of Britaine Queene of France and the said Couent was named Nostre dame des Anges That is our Lady of Angells If they had said of Asses they had said better The last day of December the King of France Charles the eight arriued at Rome and made a magnificke entry thereinto The kingdome of Granado was recouered by Ferdinand King of Spaine which had about 80. yeares before beene taken from the Christians Batazetes came into Hungarie where were slaine 7000. of them that met him Alphonsus King of Portugall fell from his horse and died and in his place succeeded Emanuel his brother The order and Religion des filles Repenties began at Paris by Friar Iohn Trisseran Religions of the obseruation of Lyons borne at Bourge in Bresse Maximilian by an Embassage affianced the Duchesse of Britaine which thing greatly displeased Charles the 8. king of France Wherefore he made warre against the Britaines and had a great victorie vpon them and incontinently after hauing repudiated Margarite of Flanders whom he had affianced as is said during his fathers life tooke Anne the eldest daughter of Francis Duke of Britaine so was the peace made with the Britaines She had by him many children all which died before their father Maximilian afterward that is the 16. of March espowsed in the Towne of Insprulz Blache Marie an honourable virgin daughter of Galeatius Duke of Millaine Alexander celebrated a Iubile Anno 1500. whereat he deliuered this grace and fauour by his Bulles to such as had made no account to come thither or such as could not come that they might gaine and obtaine the Iubile by sending thither He sought by all meanes to heape vp siluer as much as he could to satisfie his lusts Wherefore hee set vs a new Colledge of Abbreuiators to the number of 80. of which each place was folde at 750. Ducates He inuited all Princes vnto his Iubile by his Bulls and ordained that in euery Towne men might haue Stations He created in his time 36. Cardinalls amongst which were 18. Spaniards and of his kinsmen three that is to say Iohn Borgia Valentin Borgia and Francis Borgia Hee receiued the oath of fidelitie of Alphonsus king of Naples which he tooke betwixt the hands of the said Iohn Borgia touching the keeping of loyaltie to the seate of Rome and to pay him his annuall tribute He fortified at his great charge the Castle S. Angels repaired and beautified the Temple of S. Mary Maior That which followeth is extracted by Iohn Functius out of the workes of Volateranus The Cardinalls which elected him he speaketh of Pope Alexander were the first that felt his ingratitude For he oppressed them all by diuers calamities banishing some and imprisoning others He made warre vpon the Vrsins which he vanquished and tooke prisoners by the meanes of his sonnes After this hee desired nothing so much as to life vp vnto honours his bastards as Innocent had done yea this farre more For now this began to be held a thing much honourable and worthy of great praise amongst the venerable Fathers He made the youngest of his sonnes a Prince in Sicilie The second called Caesar Valentin he made Cardinall And the eldest he made a Duke in Spaine who not long after was slaine at Rome cast into Tiber. As for the Cardinall Caesar reiecting the order of Priesthood after his brothers death came into the kingdome of France with a great summe of siluer where he espowsed one of king Lewis his kinswomen of the house of Albert and there was giuen him the Duchie of Valentinois in Daulphine After this by the kings helpe and the alliance which was made with him he acquired many Seignories in Italie vnto whom also his father gaue the hand who desired nothing so much in the world as to see his sonne so great a Lord. His daughter Lucrece whose carnall company himselfe had which was an horrible and detestable thing was married vnto three Princes successiuely First vnto Iohn Sforza Duke of Pisance After being repudiated by him to Lewis the bastard sonne of Alphonsus king of Arragon Finally after hee was slaine shee espowsed Alphonsus d'Est Duke of Ferrara Men may easily knowe by her Epitaphe made by Iohn Iouian Poutanus in very elegant Latin Verses what was the chastitie sanctitie and religion as well of the father as of the daughter and sonne For shee was renowmed to haue companie of them both This also which followeth is drawne out of the booke of Hierome Marius in his booke called Eusebius Captiue What need we to recite the infamous and dishonest deeds of Alexander the sixt seeing hee made alliance with diuells gaue himselfe altogether vnto them and subiected himselfe vnto them Hermolaus Barbarus a very learned man died of griefe in exile at Rome depriued of his Church and Patriarkship of Aquilea by the ingratitude of the Venetians whom he had serued as an Orator and Embassador vnto diuers Princes of Christendome The cause wherefore he was thus handled of the Venetians was because hee had receiued the Patriarkship of the Pope without theyr priuitie Therefore not content they banished also his parents and confiscated their goods See Iohn le Maire Iohn Picus Prince de Randole a mirrour of true Nobilitie in the flower of his youth died at Florence Wee finde many things written of this Pope by notable Authors of his time as certaine excellent Latin Verses well worthy to be noted which recite the praises of this holy Father Whereof this is the sence following Alexander sells Crosses and Aultars yea Iesus Christ himself He first bought them and may well sell them Rome passeth from vice to vice and from flame to fire vnder the gouernment of this Spaniard Tarquinus was the sixt king of Rome Nero the sixt Emperour and this Pope
the sixt of his name alwaies Rome hath bin destroyed by the sixths This was he who for the summe of 200000. Ducats which he receiued of the Turke called Baiazet poysoned Gemen his brother who fled to Rome This is he say I who being willing to maintaine his tirannie called to his helpe Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes against the king of France Charles the eight and sought to make the Kingdome of Naples yea the very Citie of Rome the Frontiers of the Turkes Empire Lewis the 12. as the nighest succeeded to the Crowne of France after Charles the 8. He sent his Armie into Lombardie vnder the conduct of Iohn Iaques Trivulse and of Sieur Aubigny which tooke Alexandria and Pauie so that then Lewis Sforza abandoned Millaine for feare and retired into Almaine The King vpon these newes passed into Italie and made his triumphant entrie into Millaine from whence hee departed hauing diminished the charges of the people and left the said Trivulse as Gouernour Lewis Sforza returned within a yeare after and againe tooke Millaine and from thence being againe chased by a new Armie from France hee tooke his flight towards Nauarre after his comming from whence being pursued by the French hee was taken and led a prisoner into France This king ordained in France that O salutaris hostia should be sung in the eleuation of the Host Friar Hierome Sauanarola of Ferrara of the order of Dominicains preached at Florence He was burnt at the instance and by the commaundement of that monster Alexander Pope the sixt because hee preached against him and his more then notorious wickednesse He composed certaine meditations vpon the 50. Psalme and certaine others See the Booke of Martyrs The Pope caused to bee cut out the tongue and both the hands of Anthonius Mancinellus a learned man because he had written a very elegant Oration against the wicked maners and villainous and dishonest life of him The warre of Maximilian against the Swissers is renowned in this time Batazetes the Turke tooke by force a Towne in Macedonia called Dyrrachium and the yeare after in Morea hee tooke Methone which belonged vnto the Venetians as also certain time before he had vsurped Naupactus in Epire. He also beheaded the Bishop of the said Towne of Methone Italie was greatly afflicted by the Turkes as soone as warre against the Venetians was on a flame Charles after Emperour sonne of Phillip Arch-Duke of Austrich and of Iane daughter of the king of Castile was borne at Gaunt on the Bissext day the 25 of Februarie on S. Matthias day The Marrhans these were Iewes which made themselues Christians fearing to leese theyr goods such are commonly in Spaine and secretly obserue the Iewish ceremonies are reconciled with the Pope hauing with great summes of money acquired his good grace Naucler The Towne of Basill the ninth day of Iune made alliance with the Cantons of Swisse in the Towne of Lucerne And the tenth of August they of Schaffusen made also a perpetuall alliance with the Cantons of the Swisses in the said Towne of Lucerne They of Noremberge were discomfited by Cassimere Marquesse of Brandebourge with great effusion of bloud nigh their Towne King Lewis the 11. tooke the kingdome of Naples vnder the conduction of Sieur d'Augbini Frederic his wife and his sonnes prisoners were carried into France He recouered Bolongue vsurped by Bentiuoli and yeelded it vnto the Pope After in proper person going against the Venetians which vsurped many Lands of the Duchie of Millaine valiantly vanquished them nigh Agnadel tooke Bartholomew Balnian the conducter of that Armie and carried him prisoner into France Hee tooke againe the said vsurped Townes and many others yeelding vnto the Pope such Townes as the Venetians had taken from him The issue of the Pope Alexander was fearefull and with manifest token of the iust iudgement of God and therefore would diligently be noted As on a certaine day he had made readie an exceeding great banket for certaine rich Senators and Cardinalls and had recommended to his sonne Valentin that he should giue wine to drinke vnto one of the said Cardinalls wherein there was poyson put It came to passe that hee that had the charge to deliuer the wine vnwittingly gaue to the Pope of that flaggon wherin the poison was who being of great age was taken with a languishment and grieuouâ— paine He had by the space of eleuen yeares and certaine monethes excessiuely oppressed Italie and troubled the world Being then deteined in his bed as Iohn Baleus saith hee commaunded one of his men called Madena which amongst all them of his Court and house was his most faithfull and familiar to goe into his gardrobe or wardrope and to bring him a certaine litle booke enriched with gold and precious stones which was in an Armorie which he specified But this litle booke conteined all maners and kindes of Illusions and Enchauntments of Negromancie whereby the old man thought to enforme himselfe to be certified of the closure and ende of his life The seruant obeing the commaundement of the Pope his maister and going vnto the place specified as after hee had opened the doore he was readie to haue entred into the chamber he sawe a certaine person sit in the Popes Chaire there who was altogether like vnto his maister At the sight whereof beeing surprised with an horrible feare astonishment and and as it were halfe dead without taking the booke ranne backe againe towards Alexander vnto whom he rehearsed what hee had seene namely that in his Wardrope hee found such a Pope as himselfe set in a Chaire Alexander after he had vnderstood the thing and seeing his seruant to be exceedingly affraide suffered him to rest a while After hee did so much perswade him that he returned into the said Wardrope to see if againe hee could finde the said Pope The seruant then being entred found in the said chamber him whom before he had seene and that more is being asked by him that sate there what cause brought him into that place and what businesse hee had there Hee being taken with a sore trembling and as it were out of breath aunswered hee came to take a certaine garment for the Pope At which words the diuell beeing then in the Chaire making an horrible noise siad what Pope I am the Pope But after that those things were reported vnto Alexander his euill began to encrease and death approached A short day after a man apparelled like a Carrier or Lackey came and fiercely knocked at the chamber doore wherein the Pope was deteined sicke saying hee must needes speake with him The doore being opened and hee admitted parley with the Pope all others drew aside and the Pope and hee spake together as two vse to doo in secret causes yet men might see a great and maruellous strife and debate betwixt them two and that the Pope was not content For hee said vnto him How goes
at large The Councell of Laterance was begunne by Iulius this yeare 1512. Leo his successor continued the said Councell the ende whereof was the 16. of March 1517. This horrible monster died the yeare following after he had begun the said Councell that is the yeare 1513. hauing committed an infinit number of murders and wickednesses vnheard of before he died the yeare 1513. the 21 of Februarie before the Councell which he had assembled at Rome was ended See Functius in his Commentaries There was an Almaine called Conrade Garbelius who made of him Tetrastike in Latine verses whereof the sence was this Hee that hath for his father a Genoua for his mother a Grecian and that is borne in the Sea it is impossible he should be good The Genouaes are deceiuers the Grecians are lyars and there is no securitie nor faithfulnesse in the Sea Thou Iulius hast in thee all these things We read a certaine Commētarie of the Doctors of Paris against the Lutherans being drawne on by a diuellish rage had by force the carnall company of two young children of a noble house which the Queene Anne of France had sent to Roberte Cardinall of Nantes to teach Melancton amongst others hath written certaine Latine Verses how that Iulius meaning to go to warre cast S. Peters keyes into Tiber and tooke the sword of S. Paul saying Seeing the keyes of S. Peter serue vs to no purpose it may be S. Pauls sword will do something Gaston de Fouex the Kings Nephewe was sent into Italie and tooke Bolongne and Bresse by force The Swisses alreadie practised by the Pope passed into Italie On Easter day the yeare 1512. the French got a battaile at Rauenna and tooke the Towne against the Pope the Spaniards and the Venetians Gaston died there aduauncing himselfe with too small a company vpon his enemies Iulius practised with the Emperour and the King of England to assaile the King of Fraunce in diuers places of his Kingdome Ferdinand king of Spaine tooke and occupied against all right vnder colour of excommunication the Arrathame of Iulius the kingdome of Nauarre The King of England beeing assured of succours from Flaunders discended to Calais but the king of Scotland Iames the fourth and the king of France his Allie entered into his Countrey but lost a great battaile and was himselfe slaine They did litle in Guien or Normandie whether they sent two Armies Afterward the French and they fought vpon the Sea Two faire Ships well furnished that is the Regent of England and the Cordelier of France grapled one with the other And the most part of such as were within were either burnt or drowned A peace was published betwixt the King and the Venetians The English men besieged Terwine At the Iourney of Sporrs the French fared ill The Townes of Terwine and Tornay were taken by the English Anne de Britaine the wife of king Lewis the 12. and before the widowe of Charles the eight dyed at this time leauing two daughters Claudia which afterward espowsed Francis de Valois and Renee at this present widowe of the Duke of Ferrara Leo the tenth of that name borne at Florence of the house of Medices before called Iohn de Medices being Cardinall of the title of S. Mary in Dominica beyond all mens expectation was elected Pope and succeeded Iulius Hee had beene very diligently instructed in good Letters in his first youth and had had learned schoolemaisters Amongst others Angelus Politian a man very learned as well in the Greeke as Latin tongue this was the cause he loued so much men of learning and knowledge Being of the age of thirteene yeares hee was chosen Cardinall by Innocent the 8. and in the 30. of his age he was chosen Pope of Rome This Leo of his owne nature was debonaire gentle and peaceable but he was too much gouerned by such as were enemies of rest and cruell after whose wills many things were done very disloyally The King Lewis died the first day Ianuarie 1514. hauing raigned 17. yeares He was called the Father of the people a title which fewe kings had after him The greatest pleasure that Pope Leo had was delicately to nourish himselfe in all things pleasant to the flesh and such delights as would soonest drawe men into all wicked concupiscences He tooke great pleasures in Singers and Musitians to recreate his spirit at Table as hee dranke and made good cheare Hee bare an irreconciliable hatred vnto the Gospell of the kingdome of God which he persecured in the person of Luther and many others For as one day the Cardinall Bembo vttered before him a certaine thing drawne from the Gospell he answered him mocking It hath euer sufficiently bene knowne what profit that Fable of Iesus hath brought vs and our company This marchant gaue hereby sufficiently to be knowne that he was that Antichrist which S. Paul called the man of sinne and the sonne of perdition He spread abroad through the world certaine pardons and Indulgences full of all impietie yea and ridiculous to the end to heape vp siluer to maintaine his pleasures to nourish his whores and enrich his bastards And heerein he serued himselfe with Mendicant beggers which in infinit number traced and ranne ouer all Christian kingdomes One called Sampson of Millaine a Friar heaped vp by that meane so great a summe of siluer in diuers Countries that the world was astonished thereat as a thing contrarie to nature For he one day offered the summe of an hundreth and twentie thousand Ducats for the Papacie This Pope Leo created in one day one and thirtie Cardinalls and by that meanes pursed vp a great sum of siluer And that same day were seene very horrible signes and wonders the yeare 1521. at which time Soliman Emperor of the Turkes tooke Rhodes On the day of Christs Natiuitie as Leo went out of his chamber to goe sing Masse at the breake of the day after their maner a marble couer well couched and laid fell suddenly downe so that many of his company were there slaine and amongst others the Captaine of the Swisses gard By such a presage God shewed that the Popedome should shortly perish because of the enormeous and detestable wickednesse committed therein He greatly inriched at other expences his bastards and erected and lifted them vp to principalities and dignities as well Secular as Ecclesiastice Hee created Duke of Mutine Iulian whom some said was his Nephewe his sisters sonne and Laurence Duke of Vrbin and married the one that is to say Iulian with the Duke of Sauoyes sister and the other with the the daughter of the Countesse of Bolongne But hee had depriued the true Duke of Vrbin of the possession of the Duchy to the ende hee might establish one of them in his place hee sought also to doo the like to the Duke of Ferrara but it was in vaine As for his Nephewe Iulius hee made him a Cardinall The yeare 1421. and
died when he had raigned 10. yeares Him followed in this way of all flesh Mahomet the seruant of God King of Persia who all his raigne held warre with the Turke with equall fortunes And in Saxonie Fredericke Duke of Saxonie The 20. of October Iames the King of Scots was besieged by his subiects and taken in the Castle of Saint Damian Those Dukedomes and Seignories which many yeares before Iohn Basilides Prince of Moschouites had taken from the Polanders the aforesaid Stephen recouered again and annexed them to the crowne he shewed himselfe of a dauntlesse spirit against the Turke for when according to the auncient custome he demaunded certain Forces to maintaine his warres against the Sophy of Persia hee denied him saying that the white Eagle of Poland which before was vnfeathered and of no force was now become young againe full fledged and had whet and sharpened her bill and talents Anch. Cicar This yeare Maister Thomas Cauendish began his voyage about the world vpon the twentie one of Iuly entering in at the straight of Magellan and returning by the Cape bona Speranza Which voyage hee finished to the space of two yeares and lesse then two moneths arriuing at Plimmouth the ninth of September 1588. Maister Richard Haklnit In the beginning of this yeare Syr William Standley traitorously yeelded vp those Townes of the which he was made Gouernour by the Earle of Leicester After the death of Stephen King of Poland the Polanders were carefull for the election of a new Some thought it best to offer it to the Emperour who had succeeded without any other election his Father Maximilian the chosen King of Poland If hee had come to the possession thereof Some proposed the Duke of Parma because hee was a wise and valiant souldier and for that he was the Nephew of Cardinal Farnese who when he was Protector of this Realme was verie kinde and liberall to the people Many had liking to the Prince of Transiluania and to Cardinall Bathoraeus and the Duke of Ferrrara Nobles likewise were desirous of it amongst whom Samoscius the high Chauncellour whom Stephen had preferred to such height of honor that nothing was thought wanting in him for the perfection thereof but the title of a King was thought most fit But all these were excluded and there were yet two other competitors Sigismond Prince of Suecia and Maximilian Archduke of Austria and brother to the Emperour Maximilian is chosen of the one part Others proclaimed med Sigismond a young Prince of twentie yeares of age or there-about These two were both called to the possession of a kingdome who hearing thereof made speedie haste thereto Maximilian first came with his Armie consisting of sixteen thousand horse and foote and pitched his Tents in a field neare the Citie of Craconia and sent to the Citizens that he might be crowned The Cracouians would by no meanes admit him but sent Letters to the Prince of Suetia that hee would come who with great ioy was receiued and crowned Now the Polanders thought themselues strong enough for the Muschouites whose Duke they called the Dragon of the North and against whom they beare an innated hatred Chytraeus And. Cicarell Gen. The Duke of Guise perceiuing the Army of Rutters to be a body dispearced hauing nothing but the legs and Armes executed vpon them that which he had determined from the first day of their entrie which was vpon the Generalls lodging and so by striking the shepheard diuided the flocke as Caesar did at the battaile of Pharsalia The Pope the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy made fiers of ioy and pronounced the praises of the Duke of Guise The Pope sent him a sword engrauen with burning flames The Duke of Parma had sent him his Armes saying that among all the Princes of Europe it belonged only to Henry of Lorraine to beare Armes and to be a commaunder in the warres After many broiles betweene these two elected Kings of Poland Max was constrained to leaue Poland but hee was pursued by Samoscius the Chauncelor and at Pitscha he besieged him and tooke him prisoner In this yeare 1588. Maria de la Visitatione Prioresse of the Monasterie de Annūciada in Lisbone was held for wonderful holy whose hypocrisie and false myracles were discouered and publikely condemned Her the fond people called the holy Nunne Another Franciscan I should haue said a Dominican a feawe yeares since rose vp in Lisbone who they said had the fiue wounds of Christ as had S. Francess and many other things they say of her One Stephen de Lusignan a Dominican Friar who collecting all he could get to extoll her compiled a booke in French and dedicated the same to the Queene of Fraunce Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Bessant 1586. In the beginning of the booke shee is pictured like a Dominican Nunne with a blacke mantle and a white rolle a coate and white loose habit vpon the Mantle and on her head a crowne of thornes the Crucifix on high set ouer her and falling towards her with rayes from the wounds which reach to the feet and hands of the Nunne that out of the same commeth a heart which she holdeth betwixt the fingers of her right hand a Dragon she hath vnder her feete a Dominican Friar before her kneeling and a secular man and woman and at her left side a paire of Beads hanging The title of the booke is this The great miracles and the most holy wounds which this present yeare haue happened to the right reuerend mother now Prioresse of the Monasterie de la Anunciada in the Citie of Lisbon in the Kingdome of Portugall of the order of preaching Friars approoued by the reuerend Father Friar Lewis de Granada and by other persons of credit M. Cyp. Val. So famous was the holinesse of this Nunne that Cardinall Albertus of Austria sent information to Pope Sixtus the fift To whom the Pope wrote this Letter With great ioy haue wee read that thou hast procured to bee written the vertues of the Prioresse of the Monasterie Anunciada of the most holy Virgin And of the great benefites which God hath shewed her we pray thy diuine goodnesse from day to day to make her more worthy of his grace and to inrich her with his heauenly gifts for the glory of his name and ioy of his faithfull Giuen in S. Maries at Rome with the litle Ring of the fish Fredericke the second king of Denmarke the 30. yeare of his raigne and 54. of his age departed this life at Arderfoa in Zeland whom Christian the fourth of eleuen yeares of age succeeded In the moneth of Aprill 1588. Phillip the second of that name King of Spaine pretending to send his inuincible Fleete for the conquest of England made choyce by the aduice of the Prioresse of the Monasterie of the Anunciada whose name was Mary of the visitation as most worthy for her holinesse to blesse his Standard royall the
to 600000. crownes Paetrus Mathaeus The Princes likewise of Italy sent their aide to Caesar euery one as they were able the great D. of Hetruria 70000. Genoua 40000. the Duke of Ferrara 50000. Luca 20000. Parma 25000. crownes the Dukes of Mantua and Vrbin offered their owne persons and forces against the mightie enemie of Christendome the Emperour of Constantinople Ionsonius At what time many vncertaine rumours were spread abroad throughout y e Turkish kingdomes of the happie successe the Christians were like to haue in these warres Beglerbegus of Greece whether to know the euent or that hee desired to traine the Turkish youth in martiall affaires he gathered together 600 of them some of eleuen some twelue and vpwards of age these hee armed with little staues and brought them into an open fielde where hee diuided them into two Battailes of the which hee commaunded one to be called the Christians the other the Turkes The one in their fight to crie Iesus the other Hala Hala. Hee willed them both to fight couragiously and promised rewardes to the hardiest The signall giuen both Armies ranne together and fought so eagerly that many on both sides were so beaten that they were carried away halfe dead But they that called on the name of Iesus got the victorie and put their enemies to flight driuing them into the Citie before them Beglerbegus tooke this as a very euill signe and as many as were with him and greatly feared that the Christians after this would bee victors Henry King of France hauing newly recouered Camerake a Towne in Picardie hee entered into it with great pompe whom Balignius the Gouernour of the same entertained with the Senators Citizens all armed on their knees and to him they deliuered the keyes of the Citie First the Cleargie men did sweare then the Senators Nobles and Citizens that they would euer become faithfull and obedient to God the King and the Christian Catholicke Church Ernestus Archduke of Austria offered a peace to the Estates of Holland and the vnited Prouinces by his Letters and Embassadors protesting therein his loue to Belgia and his desire for the common tranquillitie thereof But when a litle before a certaine priuie murderer an Elder of Nemours that was suborned by Count Barlymount by commandement from the Court as he said to kill the Count Maurice of Nassau was prisoner with the Count of Hage the States of Holland and other confedarates thinking they were not well dealt withall set downe in writing at large certaine conferences and dealings of the Spaniards with them concerning peace of late yeares but all tending to a fraudulent and deceitfull ende besides they complained that the Spaniards did no way seeke the quietnes of the subiects in Belgia and other Christians but that they might be Lordes and tyrannize ouer all as they list D. Chytraeus Doctor Lopes a Spaniard a Phisitian practised in England towards the Queene by the instigation of the Earle of Fuentes his country-man and the promise of 50000. Crownes to haue poysoned her maiestie but God be thanked in the attempting thereof he was apprehended with his companions and associates in the treason who were Emanuel Lois and Stephen de Ferera for which they were hanged drawne and quartered The aforesaid Earle dealt with one Emanuel Andrad to kill the King of Fraunce with the odious smell of a poysoned Rose This is worthie to be noted The Estates of Holland and the vnited prouinces this sommer set forth 4. shippes well appointed for munition and victuall with skilfull Generalls and Captaines towards the North and the East that leauing vpon the right hand Norwege Moschouia and Tartaria that so they might passe to Sinae or the kingdome of China the Indians and the Iles of Moloccus They hauing past beyonde Condora and Obdora Regions of the continent to the new Iland Sembla and Wigatz and passing through the straites of a narrow sea which was 5000. miles lōg but one in breadth they came to Oby which is a Frontier of Tartaria That narrow sea they called the sea of Nassau to one of the Ilands they gaue the name Holland to an other of Euchusa and to the rest other names And being commaunded to returne this sommer they did so but the next yeare determined to goe the same voyage better appointed for they hoped to turne the traffique of Spices and other Easterne marchandise by the which the Spaniard is so enriched an other way by the Northerne sea into the lowe Countries and other Prouinces of Europe D. Chytraeus This sommer the Turkes had a notable ouerthrow by the Christians The Spaniards being desirous to continue the fire of dissention in France instantly sollicited the Duke de Mercaeur one of the chiefe of the League and an vsurper of a part of the Duchy of Britaine alwayes to continue warre His sister Loyse d' Vandemont King Henry the thirds widow did all she might to make his peace Certaine troubles happening in the meane time brake all that was done The Spaniards who were maisters of Blauet a Fortresse almost inuincible had builded during the sommer of the yeare 1594. a strong Fort neare vnto Croysil to stop the entrance to the Port of Brest which would haue bin better for them if they had made an other right against it and on the other side of the Hauen To hinder them came the Marshall of Aument and Syr Iohn Norris Generall of the English men to whom was sent a supply by sea vnder the conduct of Captaine Furbusher they soone became maisters of Quinpercouincin and of the Towne and Castle of Morley Soone after they assailed the Spaniards new Fort and slew foure hundred souldiers that kept it not without losse of their owne men among other Captaine Frobisher The King on the other side deliberating to make warre out of his owne Realme against the Spaniards agreed with the states of Holland and their confederates to begin in the Duchie of Luxenbourge where the Marshall of Bouillon who married one of the daughters of the deceased Prince of Orange and E. Philip of Nassau assaied to enter in the moneth of October where they found all the passages shut vp and Earle Charles of Mansfeeld making head against them especially on the troupes of Holland The King on the other side sought to ouerrunne the Frontiers of Picardie and gaue the Estates of Artois and Hainaut to vnderstand that if they fauoured him so little to suffer the Spanish Forces to molest Cambray and Countries adioyning that hee should make warre vpon them incontinent P. Math. The 27. day of December as the King was returning from Picardie to Paris readie booted and spurd within a chamber at Louure hauing about him his cousins the Prince of Conde the Earle of Soissans the Earle of S. Paul and 30 or 40. other Lord and Gentlemen of his Court. There came also in the Lords of Ragne Mountigni who had not as yet takē their leaue of his
Empire Lorraine made lesse Otho 2. Donus 2. Boniface 7. Benet 7. After some 77. Otho 2. Otho the 2. taken by Pyrates The Dukes of Sauoy discended from Saxonie Otho 3. Otho 3. Iohn 16. Iohn 17. Naucler Supp Chron. Platina Gregorie 5. Schisme Iohn 18. A true reward of ambition The beginning of Electors Iohn 18. Inuention for the dead Siluester 2. Apoc. 20.2 Henry 2. After Abb. Vrsp Iohn 19. Henry 2. Iohn 20. Salue Regina Sergius 4. Benet 8. Conrade 2. Schisme 14. This was to get siluer and to maintain Purgatory Iohn 21. The Gamma inuented Benet 9. Henry 3. Henry 3. Siluester 3. Gregorie 6. Clement 2. Sacraments of the Aultar Damasus 2. Leo. 9. For the Pope is ignorant of nothing Victor 2. He calleth married Priest Fornicatiors Henry 4. Stephen 9. Henry 4. Benet 10. Schisme Nicholas 2. The pusillanimitie of Berengarius The words of Berengarius touching the Sacrament Philip. Alexander 2. Homicide committed for the Popedome A Councell At Mantua The determinations of the Councell Gregorie 7. Archpriests Cardinalls The 1000. yeare after the destructiō of Ierusalem Apoc. 20. c. 8. Croisaides against the Turkes The Historie of Hildebrand his Negromancie A Councell at Rome What treason is there that Popes will not excogitate The Host cast into the fire by Gregorie the seuenth The Emperor excommunicated Arrogance diabolicall Sledan reciteth it in his 3. booke of the 4 Monarchies Warres betweene the Emperor and Rodolphe Rodolphe his repentance Egbert of Misue slaine Matilde the Popes harlot named the daughter of S. Peter Troubles on all sides stirred by the Pope Clement 3. Templers Rugular Chanons Grandmont Chartreux The Abbey of Andim Victor 3. The calamities of the ciuil warre of the Almaines Vrbane 2. Councell at Cleremont The euill which comes of Croisadoes against the Turkes Paschall 2. New blasphemies of the 7. kayes Nicholaits after the Pope See 10.6 q. 1. ca. Decimus The disloyaltie of the Emperors sonne Henry 5. Henry 5. 1. Pet. 2. cha Rom. 13.3 Henry 4. Henry 5. Lewis le Gros. Henry 5. The Inuesture of benefices yeelded vnto the Emperour A Councell at Troyes in Campaigne The King of England depriued of his right by an Archbishop Luk. 22.25 Marriage of Priests condemned in England Foure new orders of the crossed The proud answere of a Pope Matilde giueth her goods to the Pope Gelasius 2. Schisme 18. Calixt 2. Resignation of Inuestures Anno. 1122. This decree is attributed vnto Calixtus the first Honorius 2. Arnulphe slaine at Rome Lothaire Innocent 2. Lothaire A new Pelagian Conrade 3. Beginning of euils Celestine 2. Lucius 2. Patrician Conrad 3. Eugenius 3. Touching the doctrine of S. Barnard Frederic 1. Anastasius 4. Adrian 4. Excommunicatiō for temporall goods Arnold Bishop The Pope and his disciples Frederic 1. Iohn de Salisburie a true Doctor A word of cōdemnation commeth frō the Popes owne mouth See the Tenor of the Popes Letters in the Popes liues by R. Barns Naucler The poore men of Lyons Alexander 3 A schisme of 17. yeares A mockerie offered vnto the Emperor Ecco la Fico The 6. king of Ierusalem Sudden death giueth occasion to Waldo Note here the diuersitie of examples Waldo strengtheneth himselfe with places of the Doctors Carmalits Willelmin Monasteries founded Berne The Iewes chased from France Lucius 3. Saladins tenth Vrbane 3. Gregorie 8. Clement 3. Frederic 1. Celestine 3. Henry 6. A Nunne dispensed with to marry Henry 6. For the diuersitie touching this historie see Naucler Innocent 3. Transubstantiatiō is made the 13. article of the Faith A Croisado Innocent 3 Confession instituted Canonizing of Saints reserued to the Pope Diuision of the Empire by the Pope Otho 4. Frederic 2. The death of the Emperour Phillip Frederic 2. Friars Iacobins Carmalits Augustins The wicked disloyaltie of the Pope Almaricus of Chartres Eating of flesh in Lent S. Dominike persecuteth them Honorius 3. A dreame the foundation of Iacobins The Host shut vp Lewis 8. Stigmates of S. Frances Gregorie 9. Decretals gathered together Petrus de Vinea William the Goldsmith Guelphes Gibellines Celestine 4. Innocent 4. Multiplication of Feasts Frederic 1. The fruites of the faction of Guelphes Gibellins Frederic 2. The death of Frederic the second Sarbone instituted Alexand. 4. Augustine Hermits The Empire vacant Ordinances of King Lewis Luk. 14.16 The Popes new souldiers Vrbain 4. The Feast of Transubstantiation The Euensong of Sicilie Chaplet inuented Clement 4. A Legate This was the last Duke of Sanabe Almaine Gregorie 10. Certaine Monkeries defaced Rodolphe Emperor Rodolphe Pride mocked Caliphe of Babilon Insatiable cupiditie punished Innocent 5. Disorders that were in Italie Law for the buriall of Clement the fourth The ordinance touching the shutting vp of Cardinalls Iohn 22. He was called Petrus Hispanus The Venetians molest thē of the Marquesdome of Ancone Nicholas 3. The charge of the Conclaue The kingdom of Sicilie redemanded by the Pope The treason of the Siciliās The Exarchat of Rauenna brought vnder the Pope The Popes pleasures The Pope inriched his Nephew Papal subtilty The Popes death the cause of great good A monstrous Popes bastard Martin 4. Charles S. Lewis his brother who was made Ki. of Sicilie by Clement 4. Peter de Arragon excōmunicated The French slaine all in an houre in Sicilie Martin succeeded in the concubine of his predecossor Egidius de Roma The Pallace of Paris Honorius 4. Pandulphe Senator of Rome Peter of Arragon excōmunicated Venice Ducats The Carmes called the bretheren of the Virgin Marie Nicholas 4. Apoc. 8.9.10 The occasion of the discord betwixt the Venetians Geneuois and Pisans Adolphe Emperor Adolphe Celestine 5. Rome can abide no reformation He was too simple for a Pope Adolphus An ordinance to giue ouer the Popedome The order of Celestines Boniface 8. Intrauit vt vulpes regnauit vt Leo mortuus est vt Canis Albert. Albert. The sixt of Decretalls Phillip king of France excommunicated Alphonsus of Arragon The Friars Vado in pace The first Iubile Fratricelli He raigned as a Lyon Note a deuellish arrogancy He died as a dogge Benet 11. Mat. 23. a. 2. The Chaire of Moyses Iohn 21.2 The right side and left of his kingdome Good sheepheards taken form the sheepfold Psal 81.7 The office of Priests ouerthrowne The Pope opposed against Iesus Christ The wages of the Popes Curriers A comparison of the Pope to Nabuchodonozer Ier. Chap. 1. of the same 12. A true description of the Pope Exhortation to the Kingdome of England The simplicitie of the world Ier. 22.30 Clement 5. The Popes corronation hanselled with dead men An example of Gods punishment Auignon the Papall seate Generall Councell of Vienne Ferrare Henry 7. Henry 7. Templers burnt The Pope cōmandeth the Angels Beghards or Begnins Oathes of Princes Clementius The kindnesse of the Emperour Vniuersitie of Orleance Arnold de Villa Noua a true faithfull man The bookes of Doctor Arnold The Sea of Histories Adulterie punished Schisme in the Empire Iohn 23. Poysoning of
I say not Father Take to thy selfe now the treasures the Tapistries and the Prouince of Mustapha and gouerne it at thy pleasure Is it possible I should fall into thy spirit infamous man without all humanitie against all right to put to death so valiant a person as neuer was nor shal be the like in the house of Ottomās Ha ha I will take good order that thou shalt not impudenly vaunt glory that thou hast done the like to me And straight drew his dagger and strooke it so farre into his owne bodie that he fell downe dead vpon the earth Which so soone as his Father knew he made a maruellous mourning and yet left not to seize vpon all his goods which caused a tumult in the Campe of Mustapha but it was nothing in regard of that they did after they knew of his death In such sort that Solyman to the great danger of his life was constrained to chase away Rostan and to dispoile him of all his honours and dignities This death came wel for the Christians whose great enemy Mustapha was who tooke great delight in sheading their blood It brought also such great displeasure vnto the Turkes that therevpon followed amongst them this prouerbe Gietti Soltan Mustaphat That is all we thought on is ended in Musthapha For they thought that he would haue enlarged their Empire which they looked for at no other hand The French tooke Verceil in the Countrey of Turin but seeing they could not keepe it they spoyled pilled it and retyred Edward King of England being in his mortall bed in the moneth of May Northumberland caused one of his sonnes to espowse Iane Suffolke the Kings cousin This King of the age of 16. yeares dyed the 6. of Iuly to the great damage of Christian Religion So soone as Mary was peacibly Queene of Englande at her arriuall at London she caused to be tooke out of prison the Duke of Norfolke and the Bishop of Winchester a pernicious man and made him Chauncellor The Emperours Hoast after it had raced Terouane marched into Artois and there in the moneth of Iuly forced Hesden which the king of France had a litle before taken There was slaine Horace Fernese the husband of the kings bastard daughter and a great number of Gentlemen prisoners A battaile in Saxonie vppon the Riuer of Visurge betwixt the Duke Maurice and the Marquesse Albert wherein Albert was vanquished and Maurice victorious strooken with a bullet whereof he dyed two dayes after A deare victorie bought with death Michael Seruet de Ville-neuisue a Spaniard a pernicious hereticke hauing of long time written execrable things against the Trinitie proudly maintained them at Geneua after long detention the participation of the Councell of the Churches and faithfull Common-wealths of Suecia finally in the ende of October was condemned by the Lordes of the said Towne to be burned aliue The hardnesse of his heart was such that being vpon the wood hee would neuer confesse Iesus Christ the eternall sonne of God but only the sonne of Dauid and the sonne of the eternall God In England by the decree of all the Bishops of the kingdome then assembled the Edicts and statutes of the deceased King Edward concerning Religion were defaced and made voide and the Popish doctrine approued and allowed Albert agreed with Augustus the brother of Maurice by meanes of the King of Denmarke and of the Elector of Brandebourge Iane Suffolke Queene of England as is said by King Edwards testament and the three sonnes of the Duke of Northumberland were declared culpaple and condemned of Treason Iohn Alasco a Polonian Gentleman with a great number of the French and Flemish Churches flying from England did wander and stray a certaine space of time into Denmarke and Saxonie seeking a place to dwel in But they were euery where refused not only of a place of habitation but also they were commaunded to get them out yea in winter time not suffering them to remaine in their hauens The cause of this inhumanitie and inhospitalitie was their difference for the doctrine of the Supper of the Lorde whereof we haue before touched Finally a place was allowed them in East Friseland in the Towne Emden where a Church was open for them and granted by the Countesse of the said Emden a true Christian Princes Ferdinand being at Vienna reiected the supplication of the Estates of his Countrey which demaunded to permit the administration of the Supper of Iesus Christ whole vnder both kindes Iohn Fredericke Duke of Saxonie after his deliuerance from captiuitie agreed with the Duke Augustus and he acquited to him and his heire Males the Electorship the Country of Misne and the Townes where the Mines be yet he held vnto himselfe the name and Armes of the Elector The 20. of February Sibille of Cleues wife of the said Iohn Frederic dyed at Vinaine Eleuen dayes after the said Frederic also deceased happily in his Country amongst his children and other friends and the same day that he dyed was borne vnto the Elector Augustus a sonne named Alexander Thomas Wiat an Englishman conspired and rose vp against the Queene of England because of the straunge marriage she enterprised with Phillip the Emperours sonne On an other part of the kingdome Henry of Suffolke gathered people against her The one and the other were declared enemies of the Commonwealth taken and at diuers times beheaded The 12. of February Iane Suffolke King Edwards cousin germaine instituted heire of the kingdome by his testament was with her husband beheaded After them was made a great butchery of heads at London and Westminster where the Queene then was Elizabeth also her sister was imprisoned vpon her suspition Sienna was besieged by the Pope and the Duke of Florence Peter Stosze which defended it made a sallie vpon them and ouercame a great number of their people Charles Duke of Sauoy spoyled of the greatest best part of his Countrey dyed leauing Emanuell Philebert his sonne heire King Henry about the end of Iune tooke Bouuines Dinan Marienbourge Bius and wasted all the Country besieged Renty vpon the Marches of Artois but the Emperour comming and skirmishing together the king departed in the moneth of August remouing his siege from thence The Kings Armie in Tuscane which Strosze conducted was surprised by the Imperialists and for the most part ouerthrowne Phillip the Emperours sonne arruied the 19. of Iuly in England the 24. following the marriage was made betweene him and the Queene at Winchester The Marquis Albert chased from his Country withdrew into Lorraine and after to the king of France The Emperour caused a Fort to be builded nigh the place where Hesden was Cardinall Poole in a full assembly of all the Estates of the kingdome of England commenced the 12. of Nouember was restored into his dignities goods and honours of which he was depriued by King Henry the eight
The Historie of the reuoult of England To the ende the Lord may be knowne in his iudgements which daily happen and that he which is to day aloft may take heed hee fall not let vs harken vnto that infamous revoult of England and see how they returne to their first vomite The Wednesday the 28. of Nouember of this yeare the Parliament of England was assembled and in the presence of King Phillip and Queene Marie the Cardinall Poole expounpounded his Legation and exhorted them to the holy seate of the Pope shewing them how greatly bound they were to God who now enlarged vpon them his diuine grace prouiding for them such Princes as they had After he declared vnto them how the holy Father the Pope vsed towards them his benignitie and clemency by him his Legate greatly thanking them that they had receiued him and placed him in his Country and Nobilitie whereof he had bene long depriued and that therefore he held himselfe more bound to procure they might be restored into the Ecclesiasticall Court as his desire was This vile Apostate of the truth calleth that stinking Court of Rome the celestiall Court After he had thus spoken be withdrew himselfe to the end to giue respet vnto the Lords of the Parliamēt to resolue thervpon what to doo The Chauncellour of England straight tooke the Cardinalls wordes and shewed how they had cause to thanke God who had raised them vp such a Prophet out of their owne seed to procure their saluation as the reuerend Legate did Insomuch that all with a common accord concluded to cōsent vnto the vnion obedience of the Romane church The Thursday following they ordained to agree vnto that which the Cardinall had saide so that vpon a common accord they presented a supplication wherein they prayed the King and Queenes maiesties as heads of the kingdome that they would pray the Popes Legate that they might haue absolute remission of their sinnes and errours promising to make voide all such lawes as they had before established against the authoritie of the Romane seate whervnto they would sweare neuer to contradict The King sent the said supplication to the Legate and the day after assembled the Parlament in the place where the king and the Queene with the Cardinall Legate were set And the Chancelor rose vp with great reuerence an high voice vttered the resolutiō made by the Lords of the Parliament praying in the name of all that they wold accept the supplicatō written in Latin tongue shut sealed by the said Chancellor The supplication being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancellor to publish hee red it with an high voice and that done demaunded of all them of the Parlament if their wills were according to the tenor thereof and they all answered yea Vpon this the King Queene rose vp and presented the said supplicatiō to the Legate who red it then presented he the Bulles of his Legation which were red also to make appeare vnto them the authoritie hee had from the holie Father to absolute them That is to say to plunge them into the deepe pit of hell That done the Reuerend made them an Oration in their own language shewing penance which pleased God and that the Angell of Paradice reioyce more at a sinner repenting his sinnes then of ninetie nine iust persons and vpon that brought for his examples cōtrarily drawne to furnish out his impudencie falsly abusing the word of God After he had ended he rose vp and the King and Queene fell vpon their knees before him calling vpon God and the holy Saints that hee would pardon the penitent people of England the authoritie of whose person he representeth Then the Legate pronounced a generall absolution which done they all departed with the King the Queene and the Legate towards their Chappell where was sung Te Deum and after the saide Legate had made his triumphant entries hee yeelded all power and authoritie to the Bishops the first Sunday of Aduent as they call it on which day the Bishoppe of Winchester an other Apostate of the truth made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his Theame Nunc tēpus adest de somne surgere that is It is now time to awake As if before in the time of the Gospell vnder the raigne of king Edward of England they had still slept But that awaking shall be deare sold vnto all such Organes and Instruments of Sathan which haue caused so many murders and bloudshead of Gods children since that time in the Realme of England See the booke of Martyrs A more horrible vengeance of God cannot come to a Countrey then when God withdrawes his light therefrom Ferdinand sent out of their Countrey 200. Ministers of the faithfull in the kingdome of Boheme Touching the true Martyrs of the Lord executed this yeare in England vnder the tyranous raigne of Queene Mary and the disputations held betwixt the Popish Doctors and them of the true Religion See the fourth part of the bookes of Martyrs A Iourney of the Empire was held at Ausbourge and although fewe Princes came thither Ferdinand made a long Oration the fift of Februarie of two principall poynts The first of Religion by reason whereof he said all the disorder and destruction of Almaine happened and that it might be remedied by disputations and communications of Theologians as once had beene begun The second was to helpe and succour the afflicted estate of the warre past and punish such as made the troubles Melancton and other learned people by their Letters comforted the Ministers of the Churches of Boheme which were dispersed ouer Misnia Casal a Towne nigh vnto Po was taken by the French vnder the conduct of Brisac the 3. of March Marcel second of that name a Tuscan by Nation called before Marcel Ceruin succeeded and was borne in a place called the Monte Pelicien in the territories of Florence Of a Cardinall of the title of the holy Crosse in Ierusalem was created Pope by the common consent of all the Cardinalls which were in the Conclaue the 9. day of Aprill 1555. The day following he receiued the Pontificall ornaments in the Church of Laterane but he would not change the name that he receiued at his baptisme Being come vnto the Papacie he was an enemie vnto the Gospell as before he was Pope you may see he was euer In his youth he had some litle profited in humane Letters and so kept the schooles Afterward as Paul the third had created Cardinall Alexander Farnesius the sonne of Peter Lewis his bastard sonne hee gaue his this Marcel for a Schoolemaister Certaine time after the Cardinall Alexander leauing there the studie of Letters applyed himself altogether to handle the affaires wherein as well he as also Paul his grandfather serued themselues with Marcel who was their Secretary The Bishoppricke of Nichastre being vacant hee was made Bishop of that Church yet he alwaies liued