thee peoples desyre of newfanglinesse in chaunging that commune welth which he him selfe had instituted For God will not suffre the chaunge of the kyngdomes whiche are ordeined by hym Also are we admonished by thys example that we eschue any mutacion at all In this historie are there many other notable commaundementes the whiche for shortnesse I must ouerpasse This one thyng wyll I only reherse that the ciuill gouernaunce the aucthorite of princes and kynges is here coÌ„firmed of God when he speaketh of the ryght and duetie of a kyng Saul reigned fourty yere and was destroied for his vngodlynesse all his kynred was destroted Dauid reigned forty yeare and God punished hym for aduoutry committed and by sedition was he dryuen out of hys kyngdom by his owne sonne Absalon But God restored him into the kyngdom and punyshed the sedition greuously Absalon died a straunge death Salomon was forty yeres kynge but after his decease was the kyngdom deuided in sundery partes for the aduoutry of Dauid Of the Kynges of Iuda of Salomons linage and kynred ROboam kynge raygned seuenten yeres And when hee woulde not obey thee Counsayll of the elders in minyshynge the charges and exactions of the kyngdome he caused wyth hys rygorousnesse that a chaunge of the kyngdome is casued For he â—â—â—owed the counsaill of younge men nother wolde release ought according to right Wherfore deciuered from him the moost part of the kyngdom and dyd begynne a new kyngdome in Samaria the whiche was the occasion of many greate battayls on both partes As for the posteritie of Dauid retained the kyngdome in Iuda and the tribe of Beniamin folowed that kyng Abia reigned thre yeare and in battayll vanquished the kyng of the ten tribes in Israel Asa reigned fourtene yeare The same obtained great praise because he rooted out the wicked worshyp of God which was institute against the worde of God in so muche that he fauoured not his owne mother in this behalfe for she also folowed a sundery worship of God For this cause gaue him God good fortune agaynst the Arabians the whiche he vanquished in battayll At the last was he punished also of God for a certayn conspiration that he had made leauyng the trust in God The mydde or half part of the worldes age ABout the twelft yere of this kyng Asaes raigne are accomplyshed there thousand yeares of the worlde that is the mydde or half part of all the worldes age accordyng to Elias saynge the whiche we haue noted in the beginnyng of the boke Henceforeward may be marked that in coÌ„tinently after happened moost greatest and sodayn chaunges in all kyngdomes that there dyd aryse battayles and man slaughter for the last tyme of the worlde dyd drawe on Thys is also to be noted that the publike well the Iewes are elder than of the Grekes and Romanes wherby it maye easely be gathered that all other nacions haue their spring of the Iewes auncetry and that the eldest doctrine yea euen Gods word hath ben by the Iewes fathers or auncetres Iosaphat raygned fyue and twenty yeares he is alowed for hys endeuour of religion and that he hath exercised all kinglye duetyes wyth great diligence And for that cause dyd god â–ª geue hym excellent victories Elias the prophet was in his tyme which was taken vp quieke into heauen so rayseth God a prophet euen in the myddes of the worldes age no lesse of famous doctrine then miracles that the word and promise of Christ might be sometyme renewed The rest than of the thre M. yeares of the worlde began vnder thys Elias After Elias succeded Eliseus the prophet As for these two prophetes how they haue reproued the wycked seruice of God and what miracles they haue done is sufficiently treated in the Bible Ioram reigned eight yeares he commaunded to kyll his brethren euen the eldest was a beginner of a new Idolatry wherfore he was also worthely punished of God he dyed vanquished of the Philistenes the which caryed away his wiues and chylderen saue Ochosias which was the yongest Ochosias raigned only one yeare and accordynge as his father dyd he permitted the false seruice of God to be set vp wherfore he was slayne But whan his mother Athalia saw that her sonne was dead she caused to be slayn all them that were a lyue of the kynges bloud of this wyse was the kyngdome translated from Salomons posterite that hereby we maye learne how rygorously God doth punish synne Before all thinges must princes consider and marke this that God doeth rout out the kynred of great princes because of wickednes Athalia the mother of Ochosias kept the kyngdome with violence and vsed seueÌ„ yeares great tyranny At the last she was worthely punished when through the commaundement of the high priest she was slayn Of Nathan and his posteritie IN the rehersall of y â— fathers of the which Christ is borne hath Luke the euangelist est out Salomon For Salomons poste rite was destroied neuertheles Dauids posteritie succeded in the kyngdome accordyng to the promise of God Dauid had also a sonne NathaÌ„ of whom Luke maketh meÌ„cion Of his kynred wer these kynges of Iuda folowyng namely Ioas reigned fourty yeres the same was of notable godlinesse so long as Ioiada y â— high priest liued whom he obeyed afterward fell he to vngodlinesse and Idolatry and caused zachary the prophete the sonne of Ioiada to bee slayne before the temple of whom Christ doth also make mencion in the .xxiij. chapiter of Mathew Wherfore God willed to punysh hym by the Syrians and finally was he slayn by his owne seruauntes Amasias was kyng nyne and twenty yeares this also was conuersant in Godlynesse at the fyrste and herkened to the prophetes whereby he dyd luckely vanquyshe thorough God the Idâ—means But heyng after become haut and presumptuous he made war of pure wilfulnesse and with out constraynt in the whiche he was taken and fynally dyed Ozias raygned twoo and fyfty yeares the same was also called Azarias The same was at the fyrst also Godly and ouercame the Philisthines Afterwarde whan he woulde hymselfe offre in the temple agaynst the ordinaunce of God he was stryken with leprosy In his tyme lyued Oseas Amos and Micheas whiche prophecied agaynste either kynges of Samaria and Iuda Ionas was â—lso at this tyme whiche was sent to preache to the kynge of the Assirians Ioatham reygned lykewyse syxten yeares thesame was Godly fought luckely against Ammon Achas reygned lykewyse syxten yeares hee set vp false worshipping of god of ouer great superstition and peruerse opinion of godlinesse he buylded euery where throughout al the lande chappels and altars wherfore God suffered hym and all his royalme to be greuously punyshed and spoyled Ezechias reigned nyne and twenty yeares Hewas a Godly kynge he restored Gods worshyp auoidyng Idolatry he
wytnesse of Virgil. For he sayeth that the kyngdome of Alban dured thre hundreth yeares Of thys wyse sayeth he of that kingdome of Alban Thre hundreth yeares wholy shall be the raygne vndoutedly Before the ende of thys raygne beganne Rome to be buylded the which we shall declare afterward And if ye reken backward the nomber of the yeres ye shal find that from the tyme of the buylding of Rome vntyl the begynnynge of Salo mons kyngdome are thre C. and thre yeares And it is euident that the battaill of Troie was not long before Some history wryters do differ here whiche saye that thys battayl was of more antique but I coulde proue the contrary by many argumentes the whiche I doo now passe ouer because of brefenesse Forsoth thys one thyng is worthy to be marked that the occasyon of the Troian battayll is spronge of adultery For Paris the sonne of the Troian kyng led away Helena the wyfe of Menelaus prince of Grece the hefe of the Grekes and the cytezens takyng this 〈…〉 displeasure making a conspiracy went to Troie 〈…〉 nd besyegyng it ten whole yeares at the last they 〈…〉 anne the castel Ilium and the cytye Troye and 〈…〉 ayeng kyng Priamus the kyngdome of Troye 〈…〉 as wholy quenceed From Troye sayled Eneas 〈…〉 to Italy in y e which he possessed that part which 〈…〉 as called Latium He beganne here a new kingdome and buylded for hys sonne Ascanius whych was also called Iulus the citye Alba in the which 〈…〉 he posteryte of Eneas raigned vntyll the tyme 〈…〉 hat Rome was buylded In the battayll of Troie 〈…〉 ere many doughty and renoumed princes whose 〈…〉 ames maye be sought other wayes Out of Thesâ—alia was there Achilles of whom Hector the most 〈…〉 aliaunt capitaine of the Troianes was slayne 〈…〉 nd Achilles him selfe at the last was slayne also by 〈…〉 yle For the Troianes had maryed to hym a doughter of Priamus and as he satt knelinge in hys prayer before the altare in the temple he was strycken through wyth a dart of Parys by a decepte Of the battayl of Thebe NOt long before the battayll of Troie ther was another of Thebe much more cruel For seynge the kyngdome of Thebe was fallen of right by inheritaunce to the two brethren Ethrocles and Polinices they agreed together vpon this condition that they shuld raigne euery one a yere one after y â— other Howbeit whan Ethrocles had receaued the kingdome he woulde raigne continually contrary to the appointement Wherfore hys brother Polynices beyng constrayned fled to Adrastus king of the Argies the which as he had geuen him in mariage his doughter he woulde set him into the kingdome againe by force but Adrastus was slayne before Thebe with other princes Ethrocles and Polinices brethren meting together by chaunce in battayll were slayne wyth woundinge eche other The discorde of the bretheren was the cause of thys great and dolefull slaughter of the brethren Nother was the warre yet fynyshed for other princes beseged the cytye agayne afterward with a mighty power and gettinge it dyd at the last ouerthrowe it Of Hercules ALytle before thys tyme that is shortey before Saul was made kynge by the Iewes lyued Hercules in Grece which before other princes is chiefely praysed for hys noble vertues His elders were Amphytryo and Alcmena boren of the cytye Tyrinthus whych lyeth not farre from Argis But Amphytrio fled to Thebe because that in a discorde betwene hys brother and hym he slewe hym and for thys cause fortuned Hercules to be borne at Thebe and here he shewed the fyrst profe of his power For whan they of Minya a toune in Thessalia which at that tyme were of renoumed puyssance and raygned in the cytye Orchomenus assaulted the towne of Thebe Hercules defended it driuing the enemies of from it and toke the citye Orchomenus the dominion whereof began than to fayle This citye was most ryche whose greate prayses are in Homers worckes for her plentyfulnesse This victory gat Hercules first a great name in so much that afterwarde other prynces of Grece came frely to him therfore was he euery where a maker of peace he ayded princes and cities he reuenged and chastysed vnryghteous dedes and against them that he had holpen vsed he great mekenesse nother layed anye charge vpon them that they were not able to beare These are the thynges for the whiche he deserued so greate prayse as none other prynce the lyke Afterwarde toke he hys yourneye into Asia where he ouercame kyng Laomedon and slewe hym but in thys vyctory vsed he a very kyngly moderacion of mynde For he saued the kyngdome nother woulde destroye it but gaue the possession thereof to Priamus as to the true heyre And because he restored the kingdome to Priamus it is easye to gesse what tyme Hercules lyued Besyde thys he made the sea in Italy and Spaine safe from robbers and for this cause caused he to be raysed two rockes in the vtter coastes of Spayne and Aphrica which shuld alwaye beare wytnesse of this dede For at thys time yet are they called Hercules pyllers Charles the fyfte the most victorious or most valiant Emperour hath these at this tyme as a peculiar badge namely that he may be knowen to be sent to vs of God to the intent that in thys troublous state of the worlde he maye be in whole Europa as an Hercules to restore agayne wyth hys prowesse and stronge victorious hande peace and instyce Hether to haue we spoken of the notable thynges that are happened in Grece in the tyme of the fyrst monarchye But I shall neuerthelesse adde a few thynges besyde these For in reading of hystoryes must speciallye be consydered what state the kyngdomes were of what religions what maner of lawes Fynally what sciences they had wherein they floryshed Whan the sonnes of Noe dyed the true vnderstanding of Gods worde peryshed also in Grece though in the meane whyle they retayned of thepr fathers the maner of ceremonies and sentences of godlynesse yet neuerthelesse was the vngodlynesse encreased and otherwyles was one or other Idolatry set vp For enery one ymagyned for him selfe an order to worshyp God accordynge as hys constraint and necessite compelled hym For it is spoken of a Poet The fyrst feare that came to men mortall Caused gods that be immortall That is most euidente and true in fayninge of the wicked seruice of God For noman is so cruel of nature whyche beynge in necessyte that doeth not seke God and for so muche as he knoweth not that God must be sought by faith only in Christ he falleth to some outwarde worke and faineth some new maner of worshippyng God Of this commeth the fountayne and sprynge of all the vngodlynesses nere hande that are in the worlde Nether nedeth any man suppose that men erred so greatly that they thought Images and contrefaitures to
what warres he made doth Titus liuius wryte I wyll only shewe brefely the ordre of the tymes and what notable chaunges of realmes are happened in the meane whyle that euery man maye knowe what is chefely to be marked in readynge of all hystoryes nother shall we also passcouer these wonders that are happened by some heauenly prouideÌ„ce that we may se that vnryghteousnes is punyshed of God and for what causes coÌ„mune wealthes and Kyngdomes are chaunged Pomponius Atticus and some other whych reken the nomber of yeares mooste dyligently doeth affirme that the citye of Rome was begonne to be buyldeth in the begynnynge of the thyrde yeare of the syxte Olympias that is the tenth yeare of Ioathan Kynge of Iuda but after the creation of the worlde the thre thousand two hundreth and one Rome was before Christes byrth seuen hundreth and nyne tweÌ„tyyeare I wyl also adde that Varro wryteth the twelue great rauens to sygnifye the tyme and lastyng of the citye namely a thousande and two hundreth yeare For euery great raâ—en shulde sygnifye a Seculum that is a hundret yeare and this is no euyll interpretacion For from the begynnynge of the cityes buyldynge vntyll the tyme of Honorius and Archadius whan it was destroyed of the Gotes was a thousand and thre hundreth yeares The kynges raygned at Rome two hundreth and foure and forty yeares as wytnesseth Liuius Eusebius addeth also two yeares Romulus xxxviij Numa xliij Tullius hostilius xxxij Alha the citye and punyshed theyr gouernoure which was a true breaker wyth dew punyshment He gaue anotable example to men therin how traytours ought to be punyshed For he caused hym to be bounde and stretched out betwene two wagons and with horsses dryuen sundery wayes to be pulled insunder and toren to peces The kyngdome of Alba ceasyd here and this happened alytle before that tyme whan Manasses raygned in Iewry Whan Alba was ouerthrowen the posteritye of the Troyans chefely of Iulius the sonne of Eneas write to Rome leauynge Alba the whych after warde became myghty by the Romanes toke all the monarchy alone in the tyme of Iulius Cesar Therfore was it well prophecyed of Homerus concernynge Eneas that hys posteritye should haue dominion euerlastingly and that is no doubte to be vnderstande of the Romane dominion for theyr monarchy is the last But we shall speake more larger of these thynges hereafter after Tullus Hostylius succeded in the kyngdome and raygned Ancus Martius xxiiij Tarquinius Priscus xxxviij Seruius Tullius xliiij In his tyme began the monarchy of the Persians and for because I myght be brefe therfore wylled I also to comprehende here the kynges of Rome because they for the moste parte all reygned before the monarchy of the Perses durynge the whiche few thynges worthy of remembraunce are befallen by the Romanes vndoutedly whose puyssaunce was not great before that tyme. Tarquinius Superbus raygned xxv yeares was dryuen out of the kyngdom for the abhominacion of his sonne Sextus Tarquinius the which did by violence misvse the moste honeste wyfe Lucrece whiche moued with shamfastnes of such wickednes pearced herself with a swearde eueÌ„ through the hart Her kynsfolke moued with the wickednes of the dede droue out the kynge This example doth also witnesse for what causes God doth suffre kyngdomes to be changed and tyranny to be punished This is ynough spoken of the beginnyng of the foundacion of the citie and whence happened the first chaunge of the common wealth ¶ Of the second Monarchye WHen the Iewes had bene thre score and ten yeares in exile by the Babylonians as we haue sayde before the kyng of Babylon Balthasar was punyshed of God â–ª because he blasphemed the God of Israel and vsed the vessels that were ordeined for the tempels vse in his bankettes For the Medes and Perses were fallen into his kyngdome and toke the citie of Babylon with the kyngdomes of Chaldee and Assyrya Worthely therfore is this to bee called the seconde monarchye For the greatest kyngdomes of the worlde began now to growe together too the whiche all Asianearehande was ioyned afterward by the Persians Here ought y â— godly mynd before all thynges to consyder these noble benefytes and workes of God whiche brought agayne all thee worlde in one certayn body and a lawfull empyre that iustice and honestie myght be mainteined For it were necessary that all ciuilitie and good lawes should peryshe amonge men without God chose and ordeined somtyme myghty monarchyes and puyssaunt princes the whiche might defende them and if they were decayed to restore them agayne This monarchy of the Persians was knowento the Grekes and for the moste parte are happened in this monarchies tyme whatsoeuer notable and greate fetes are done in Grece And thereby commeth that the Grekes begyn their histories at the Persians the whiche it semeth to haue litle knowledge what hath bene done in other kyngdomes before the Persians tymes As for the order of the yeres in histories I must here aduertyse the reader that I haue hetherto borowed the rekenyng of the yeares out of holy scriptures the whiche shewe by order the counte of the yeares euen from the creation of the worlde untyll these seuenty yeares in the which the Iewes were kept in the Babylonicall bannyshment Moreouer in the holy Bibels are conteyned certayne Cronicles of the yeares vntyl the tyme of the Perses but after that is thee order of the yeres not so wel kept saue that Daniel saith that there are four hundreth and seuenty yeares from that tyme that it was graunted to the Iewes to repare the citye Ierusalem vntyll Christ was borne And of so easy a thynge some men maketh a great question of countinge these yeares a ryght in the which we shall shewe to be no difficultye For Daniel hath very well expressed and marked the tyme of Christes coÌ„minge The begynnynge of the Monarchye of the Persians BUt that the nombers do agre wyth the seuenty yeares aforesayde we shal reken in the Monarchy of the persyans a hundreth nynety and one yeare Although the Grekes do reken the nomber of these yeares greater in the Monarchy of the perses Howbeyt thys is come thereby that the Grekes haue not begonne fyrst to reken whan these seuenty yeares were expyred but that about a twenty yeares before And of this wyse must the rekenynge of Philo and other Grecians be made equal For the Iewes begynne in the yere of Cyrus after that he had wonne the cytie Babylon But the Grekes reken those yeares wythal also the which he had reygned before but they are not to be referred to the yeares ensuynge Moreouer that the matter maye the better be vnderstande accordynge to the order of Philo we shall fyrst rehearce the high priestes after that shall we also adioyne the Persian kynges as the Grekes do reken them But he that vnderstandeth Cyrus kyngdome to beginne after the conquerynge of Babylon
of theyr religion the whych taught hym also the prophesy of Daniel that the kyng of the Grekes shuld rule in Asia and amonge the Perses Whereof was Alexander not a lytle coraged and geuinge the Iewes great lybertye he enryched the temple also wyth great and noble gyftes He returned to Babylon according to the prophecy of Ieremy Of thys wyse saued God hys weake churche at that tyme whan for so notable mutation of dominions was warre nearehande in all countryes The diuision of the realmes after Alexander ALexander had maryed Roxane the doughter of a prince in Persia whiche was great wyth chylde whan the kyng dyed Whan the kynge was deade and there was none other true heyre of the kyngdome than the kynges chylde the princes toke counsel among them how to gouerne the kyngdome a ryghte First they thought it good to appoint certayne gouernours vntyll the quene were delyuered yf a man chylde were borne the same should be kyng by inheritaunce and succession Contrarywyse dyd some among whom was Perdicas one choyse in the kynges steade Arideus brother to Alexander a man fearfull and syckely and to this agreed the moste parte Neuerthelesse were the princes constrayned to choyse men by whome the kyngdome should be gouerned but amonge the gouernoures was Perdicas the chefe and that in the name of Alexanders brother vnder which pretense he procured in the meane season that he myght by lytle lytle optaine the whole kyngdome and than began he to assaye fyrst wyth honcste engyns afterwarde with open force also For he woâ—d Cleopatra the syster of Alexander and trusted by that meanes easelye to optayne the kyngdome But Antipater that was gouernour in Macedonia feling this gyle of Perdicas dyd hynder thys weddinge wherfore dyd Perdicas on the other part his diligence that Antipater might be taken and cast into preson This is to be brefe nearehande the cause of the warre whych was rysen amonge Alexanders princes For Perdicas had hys rebellions againste him on the other syde conspyred Antypater Antigonus Ptolomeus And Perdicas inuaded Ptolome first in Egypte where he was forth wyth slayne of hys owne souldiours This was a worthy punishment the which he deserued that was fyrst begynner of the sedicion amonge Alexanders princes But ther could be no ende made of this tragedy nother was there any hope of peace without the adherentes of Perdicas were fyrst oppressed also yee there coulde no stedfast peace be hoped for in the worlde seyng whan Alexander was deade the world was as headlesse Nother appeared any thyng els in so great a perturbation of all thinges than that al honestye and gouernaunce beynge wholy ouerthrowen there shoulde be a continuall willfulnesse oâ— murthuringe amonge men So lytle can lawfulâ— gouernaunces last in this worlde without they be institute and preserued of God But it semed to God that oute of Alexanders kyngedome shouldâ— sprynge foure mighty princes For so was it prophesyed of Daniel to come to passe namelye thaâ— whan the bucks whiche signified Alexander onâ— horne shoulde peryshe foure other hornes shouldâ— growe the whiche the angell expoundeth of thâ— foure kyngdomes institute after Alexander Buâ— it is chefely to be maruayled at that God woulde the realmes to come to those princes which by degre of bloude were neare to Philippe and Alexander Perdicas which was not of the kinges bloud was in the meane season depryued of this honor For so doth it most commonely come to passe that he which coueteth the common gouernaunce without a lawfull callynge putteth himselfe in greate administrations of hys owne swynge is reiected of God as we se what happened to Absalon some other Moreouer these kyngdomes are diuided amonge those princes which before were made debities in the kyngdome by Alexander Seleucus was made kynge of Syria Ptolemeus was made kyng of Egypte To Antigonus befell the kyngdome of Asia Cassander ruled in Macedonia and Grece These kynges had cruel warres for the monarchye the which euery one coueted But in Macedonia was the greatest slaughter Cassander caused to put to death the moost honest quene mother to Alexander the whiche in dyenge shewed a very wounderful token of chastitye and constancy For meting the hangeman frely wyth a coragious contenaunce aboue the costume of women she toke hym her heade to cutt of and whan she fell doune she couered her so wyth her rayment that her body should no where be disclosed dishonestly As for Roxane Alexanders wyfe caused Cassander to be taken kept But this vnfaythfulnesse hath God punyshed ryght well whaÌ„ after Cassanders death hys two sonnes Antipater Alexander disquieted eche other wyth warres for the kyngdome of Macedonye Antipater one of them drewe to hym Lysimachus which raygned by Hellespontus whose doughter he had wedded also But the other brother Alexander requyred ayde of Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus But ether of them was slayn of hys companyon of whom they trusted to haue ayde Antipater of hys father in law Lysimachus and Alexander of Demetrius Fynallye besell the kyngdome of Macedonye to Demetrius sonne to Antigonus for he was an honeste and lucky prince in gouernaunce Of this Demetrius haue all the other kynges of Macedony theyr ofspringe vntyll these tymes whan the laste of hys kynred was taken of the Romanes in whom also ended the kingdome of Macedony I set forth here the history brefely and as it were eueÌ„ in passing away out of the which thesage reder may easely coÌ„sider that in Grece whan they destroied themselues vsed now the assistaunce of foren princes peryshed all honesty of good maners wyth the dominion and commone welth For this Demetrius of whom we haue now made mencion whan he was oft conuersaunt wyth the Athenians they slattered him so shamefullye that they called hym God and wyth prayenge dyd hym godly worship yea and in theyr sacrifice vsed they a seuerall songe of him sayenge that the other goddes were a slepe only Demetrius was a true God whych dyd watche for theyr health These vngodly and dredfull voyces testifye that at Athenes was vtterlye quenched and lost all honesty and godlynesse Now resteth it that passinge ouer the kynges of Macedony I rehearse the names of suche kynges as haue raygned in Syria and Egypte For these kyngdomes were the mightiest among those foure and to knowe the order of these kynges doeth greatly auayle also in holy scrypture wherein often tymes is made mencion of them For the Iewes had great conuersacion and occupyenge wyth these two kyngdomes Of the kynges of Syria SEleucus was a prince borne in Macedonie on whose thingh appeared a naturall token in maner of an anker the which had also all his posterity He toke the citye Babylon by stronge hande Afterwarde were Antigonus and Demetrius hys sonnes kynges of Asia ouercome of him Antigonus was pearsed through Demetrius dyed in preson After this discomfyted Seleuchs Lysimachus
derth not onely at Rome but also in al Italy But as the Gotthies fled and strayed here and there without order by reason of the great derth Bellisarius folowed vpon them and ouerthrue theÌ„ and enclosyng in Wittichus by an intrap toke him But in y â— meane seasoÌ„ could not the Gotthies be vtterly weded out but Iustinianus making peace w t them graunted them to dwell in the contreis from the Alpes vntyll the ryuer Padus nether shoulde passe these bondes He called Bellisarius back agayne for he feared lest he being made Emperour he should take to hym the empyre of Italy though Bellisarius trustyd in his affayres went not about suche thynges Wherfore beyng returned to Constantinople he brought Wittichus and other of the greatest nobilitie prysoners with hym in a greate triumphe Totilas was made king of the Gotthies after the depar THus was Rome foure tymes taken of the Gotthies and Vandalies within an hundreth and nyne and thyrty yeres First by Alaricus vnder the Emperour Honorius The yere of Christ CCCC xij After that by Genserichus the Vandal in the tyme of Martianus The yeare of Christe CCCC lvi THyrdly by Totilas kyng of the Gotthies and this oppression of the citie was the moste heuiest of all For she was both taken and burnt the .xxi. yeare of Iustinianus the yeare after the buyldyng of her a thousand and thre hundreth The yeare of Christ CCCCC xlviij Fourthly the third yeare after this destruction The yeare of Christe CCCCC li. After this spoylyng beganne Totilas to restore agayne the citie of Rome and suffered the cytesens to returne agayne into her But what fauoure he shewed and how gently he behaued hymselfe wytnesse the wordes that are written concernyng hys frendlynesse that he bare suche an affection toward his subiects and specially the Romanes as becommeth a father to haue toward his chyldren and it is sayde that Totilas learned by saynt Benets doctrine and admonition to beare rule of that sorte Afterwarde sent Iustinianus a prince of syngulare wysdom called Narses into Italy against Totilas The same called the Lombardes to ayde him The same were Saxons whiche with appoynted armies had brought themselues to the coastes of Austria the same brought Narses into Italy and by their ayde ouercame he Totilas and after ward Teia whiche was the last kyng of the Gotthies in Italy And this is the ende of the Gotthies kyngdome by the Italians whiche had last sence Dietrichus of Berna vntyll Teia thre score yeares That Dietrichus Totila and Teia were both very wyse and doughty princes testifye their dedes and noble actes insomuche that if ye wyl esteme them by their vertues they ought not to be called Barbarians When the Gotthies were ouercome the power and rychesse of the Lombardes beganne to growe and gatte one of the kyngdomes of Italy howbeit they possessed not whole Italy but onely that part of Italy that yet is called Lombardy The kyngdome of Lombardy lasted vntyll the tyme of Carolus magnus Though the Gotthies were dryuen out of Italy yet were they myghty in Spayne and ruled there vntyll this oure tyme. And of this wyse was at the last Spayne and part of Fraunce translated from the empyre of Rome vnder Homorius As for Italy was restored to his tranquilitie while Honorius lyued yet For the Gotthies drue partly into Lombardy partly into Spayne besyde this were the Frankes myghty in Fraunce After Innocentius was Sosimus made the xliiij byshop of Rome Bonifacius the first of that name and xlv byshop of Rome succeded Sosimus After Bonifacius death was Celestinus the first of the name made byshop of Rome The yere of Christe CCCC xxvij THeodosius the yonger the sonne of Arcadius the .xlv. Emperoure reigned at Constantinople seuen and twenty yeares after the death of Honorius He made Valentinian the sonne of Constantius and Placidia whiche was the daughter of Theodosius fellow in the Easte empyre Of the Vandalies IN the tyme of this Theodosius the yere of Christ CCCC xxxiij came the VaÌ„dali into Aphrica by this occasion Thos two capitaines of the Romanes hated eche other and fought other whiles with playn fielddes Wherfore the one called bonifatiâ—s entyced busely the Vandalies that were in Spayne at that tyme to come into Aphrica which thyng they did gladly For the Gotthi beyng myghty in Spayne coulde not suffre the VaÌ„dalies For as we shewed before the Vandalies moued by Stillico against the Gotthies toke in the contreis that be about Hungary namely Walachia Illyricus where the Gotthies dwelt afore Besyde that were they also in Germany from whence as they went into FrauÌ„ce they did much hurte howbeit they were driuen out of FrauÌ„ce by the Frankes and Gotthies Afterward beyng come into Spayne they vere constrayned to fyght agayne with the Gotthies but in Aphrica beganne the power of the Vandalies to growe and encrease S. Augustine also died about that time when Genserichus kyng of the Vandalies besieged the towne Hippo wherein S. Augustine was byshop When Valentintanus was dead one Maximus made hymselfe Emperoure at Rome of his owne mynde But the quene Eâ—doxia because she would haue the heires that were left to succede in the empyre sought ayde by Genserichus againste Maximus by whose helpe the citie of Rome was taken spoyled But the Vandall vsed a Vandalians faithfulnesse and stedfastnesse with the quene for he lede her with her two daughters away with hym into Aphrica prysoner For so doth it somtyme befall when we call foren ayde to defende oure goodes Howbeit afterwarde vnder Iustinianus though the Vandalies were not vtterly roted out in Aphrica yet were they brought to suche strayghtnesse that they could neuer floryshe any more For Gelimerus the kyng was taken by Bellisarius Aphrica beyng subdued obeyed the Empyre agayne But not loÌ„g after began the Saracens to haue dominioÌ„ in Aphrica Let this suffise to speke of the VaÌ„dalies Of the Boemes IT is also to be noted that about this time came fyrst of all in Germany the Vandali wherein they haue yet a great part nowe a dayes namely the kyngdom of Boeme whiche was in tymes past part of Germany which the word Boeme which is a Germane worde doth testifie sufficiently whiche was before the Vandali came into these countreis The worde hath his sygnificacion of the Bauaries or Beyers to whoÌ„ it was wont to be subiect wherfore it is properly called Boienheim Nether wyll the Vandali of Boeme be called Boemes but zeski after their capitayne by whose guyde they were fyrst brought into Boeme But these auncient Boemes the Germanes were in greate admiracion and confederacion with the Romanes and by Cornelius Tacitus the history writer they are highly praised By this occasioÌ„ also is Germany translated from the Roman empyres monarchy For in low Germany were the Frankes puyssaunt in hygh Germany Alemanni and in Boeme the Vandali But what is
sayenge of Helias house THe worlde shall stande syxe thousand yeres and after shall it falle Two thousande yeares wythout the Lawe Two thousande yeares in the lawe Two thousande yeares the tyme of Christ And yf these yeares be not accomplyshed oure synnes shall be the cause whyche are greate and many That is to saye the worlde shall stande two M. yeres without any prescript admynistration certayn lawe of the word of God but whan these be gone there shalbe geuen the circumcysyon and lawe besydes thys shall a certayne polytique lawe and seruice of God be institute out of Gods worde and thys state shall laste two thousande yeares After thys shall Christ folowe and the tyme of the gospell shall lykewyse stande aboute two thousande yeares but here shall some yeares want For God shall wyth the hayste of hys commynge preuent it that the yeres of this age shal not be accomplished the whiche Christe hymselfe in the xxiiii chapiter of S. Matthewe sayeth Wythoute those dayes had ben shortened all fleshe shulde not be saued We shall in wrytynge of the hystorye vse thys order and diuide the boke in thre partes whereof the fyrst shal comprehende those thinges which are chaunced betwene the tymes of Adam and Abraham For those are the fyrste thousande yeares Of these is not much written but suche thynges as are moost worthy of memory and of these times there is no certainte but of that which is found wrytten in the Byble The nexte age of two thousand yeares shalbe counted from Abraham vntill Christis commyng all though concerninge to the full numbre of the yeares the tyme is not accomplyshed For as we haue sayde before God maketh hayst to the latter day As for thys age is the propre and bery age of the worlde in the which the moost myghtye kyngdomes and monarchies haue succeded ech other by a certayn order nether hath the worlde euer so declared hys force and myght as in this age Wherfore we shall deuide thys tyme in foure monarchyes For it semeth that God wolde the worlde to be maintened by a certaine gouernaunce in hys place that a certen means of shame and honesty might be conseruid and the wicked mighte be punished and for that cause hath he institute Monarchies Such Monarchies are kingdomes where the chefe and vpper power of al thinges pertaineth to one alone for the conseruation of commune peace and ryght Such a monarchy was of so great puissaunce that the exterior of foren kinges could not withstande or oppresse it And by a certain ordinary succession were only four such monarchies The fyrst was of the Assirians y â— second of the Persians after them the Grekes at the last y â— Romanes And to the honor of such an empire or superiorite hath God exalted y â— Germanes before other nations in these latter times For though the Roman empire be some deal minished now a daies for as it was prophecyed before it was y â— pleasure of god that y â— monarchies shuld finally decay neuerthelesse the maiesty remaineth by the Romane empire nether is ther any king but he hath a respect towardes y t kingdome Moreouer though we haue not alway alyke mighty Emperoures neuerthelesse God prouidinge so there happeneth somtime an Emperour of such power y t the maiesty of the empire may be conserued and that to hold vp the religion and concorde of al natyons The Germane princes and chefely the electors ought to estime grearly this their honour that they haue such high autoritye coÌ„mitted them of God to preserue religyon iustice and commune peace For verely it is of great force that thys monarchy be preserued thoug it be not so very great Therfore ought y â— princes to beware lest ther ryse any sedes of sedition discord among them which might geue occasion to cause this empire to decay For whan this empire wyich is the head of al good gouernaunce or administratioÌ„ in the worlde now a daies shuld be diuided pulled asunder or waisted it could not be but that ther shuld folowe a perturbation of al degrees in euery part of Christendom the which is gretly to be doubted without God do preuent such misery with his last coÌ„ming For holy scripture doth coÌ„forte vs teach openly that after y t this Germaine empire shal decay faile y t latter day shal straight waye folowe This is sufficient to be spoken of monarchies lest any man be ignoraunt that al histories and al thinges done in the world must be referred to these monarchies And besides that y â— obseruing of the order doth ayde y â— memory it doth also not a litle helpe thervnto y t one may se how for what causes kingdomes are chaunged wherby is to be learned how al those things are to be eschued which coÌ„munely bring chauÌ„ges of kingdomes The last age froÌ„ y â— natiuite of Christ vntyll the worldes ende doth like wise contayne two M. yeres although we haue said before that the yeres of this age shulde not be whole that the two thousand yeres may be complete This seÌ„tence of Elias truely conteineth many notable doctrines is chefely to be considered therfore because that from the natiuite of Christe it speaketh also of that tyme in the whiche the ende of al thinges is to be loked for and therefore haue â–ª I sett it in the begynnynge of the boke that it myghte be commytted to euery mans hearing But howe that the Rhomane monarchye dyd begynne after the incarnaâ—yon of Christ and how the succession came to the Germanes also how the Mahometysh or Turkysh empire beganne and howe the Popyshnesse hath gotten encrease offoren power all these thynges shall we shewe in thys thyrde parte But thys also is chefely to be noted with diligence in readyng of histories that God hath institute two maner of kyngdomes the one a worldly kingdome the other a kyngdome of Christ and therefore it is necessary to marke here â–ª howe that the churche hath begonne euen from the begynnynge of the worlde and by whatt maner God hath alwayes kept her Therfore that godly myndes maye haue a confyrmation of theyr fayth we shall note by the state the tyme of eche of the kingdomes where and by whome the kyngdome of Christ was and what state it was in than the knowledge of whiche thinge bringeth no small profite to godlye readers Adam is sett in a Paradyse of pleasure to whome is forbyden the tree of lyfe Genesis ij Adam and Heua are deceyued by the suttelty of the serpent Thence comthe transgressyon of the commaundement and Synne The firste boke of the Cronicles whych conteyneth the fyrste two thousande yeares From Adam vntyll Abrahams tyme. HOly scrypture doeth teache vs that God created heauen and earth after that man Adam and Heua and sat them in paradyse that is that they beynge set oute of daunger of death and synne mighte lyue in the earth happely but when they forgat
hys sonne Cham yet neuerthelesse dyd God in the meane whyle by a wonderfull destiny differ the vengeaunce and promise Howbeit the kyngdome remayned not by the posteryte of Nembroth For there rose a newe kyngdome by the Assirians thorough Assur by whome also the citye Niniue was buylded Oute of Niniue went the Assyryans and subdued the cytye of Babylon the whyche Diodorus Siculus doeth wryte and by thys occasyon is the Monarchye translated from the Chaldeis to the Assyrians Strabo and other dyd make mention of the citye Niniue that it lyeth in Assyria whereby it may easely be gathered that Niniue and Babilon haue ben two seuerall cityes not one of dyuerse names Many kynges are there rehcarsed in thys Monarchye Howbeit seyng ther is nothing notably written of their dedes it maketh no greate matter to rehearse their names onely onely this behoueth it the reader to remembre that this Monarchye beganne neare hande before the ende of the fyrste two thousande yeares whiche were accomplished before that tyme whan Abraham was fyftye yeare olde Hetherto haue wee treated of the fyrste age of the worlde in the which may be sene of the creation of the worlde of the churche and ciuyll administration ordeined of God besyde that of other wonderfull dedes shewed in the world by god But the churche came from Noe the patriarche vntyll Abraham whiche was eyght and fyftye yeare olde whan Noe dyed In the meane whyle whan this Monarchye beganne vngodlynesse and idolatry beganne to ryse here and there in Babylon and the true worde of God was in the meane tyme quenched seconde boke of the Cronicles of the foure Monarchies the whiche lykewyse comprehendeth two thousand yeares FOrasmuche it is before all thynges necessary and profytable in histories to consider the times and order of thinges that are happened I willed to parte this Cronicle in most greate and certaine nombers whiche maye easely be perceaued and kepte in memorye in the whiche neuerthelesse mighte be comprehended the most and principall chaunges of the worlde After than that we haue finished the first age we shall vndertake to speake of the two thousande yeares folowynge in the whiche also appeared the greatest power of the worlde and the most greatest monarchies haue folowed in order Of the fyrst Monarchye of the Assyrians Ninus kyng of the Assyryans WE haue admonished afore that the Chaldeis haue raigned first by the Babylonians but they remayned not longe in the empyre but that the Assirians the neighboures of the Chalde is obtained the kingedome and they beginne the history of kyng Ninus which beynge become moste puyssaunt in the Easte at the last also had warre wyth Zoroastres kynge of the Bactrians It is sayde that thys Soroastres fand fyrst wytchcraft and to haue taughte the course of heauen and the starres wyth great diligence As the warre was fynyshed that Ninus had wyth Soroastres he dyed leauynge hys heyre a yonge sonne Of quene Semiramis SEmiramis the mother of the chylde ruled her selfe after the kynges decease For the feared in so newe a kyngdome and where they were not all yet of their fre wyll subdued that for the chyldes youth the people mighte haue speded to rebellion and lest she shoulde be despysed by reason of woman kynde wherfore she vsed mans garment and fayned her to be the kynges chyld She was doughtye and excellent in princely affayres and augmented the borders of the dominion wyth vanquishynge countries and makynge fortresses She raygned happely and with great prayse xlij yeres She fortifyed Babilon with costly buyldynges dyches and walles enuyroned about it Whan the mother was deade Ninias the sonne raygned wyth good quietnesse and of this wyse was the superiorite of the worlde and Monarchye by the Assyrians a great season But forasmuche as there is not much written of the kynges folowyng I will passe ouer the rehearsall of their names because the good reader can not well kepe them in mynde Whoso wyll knowe them may seke them by manye other wryters Neuerthelesse it is no doute but that manys and sundry chaunges are befallen in this Monarchye the which maye easely be gathered out of the Bible which wytnesseth that the Assyrians possessed Babylon longe before the tyme of Cyrus howbeit they were two kyngdomes the one of the Niniuites the other of the Babylonians But for what causes or whan these mutations were that is vtterly vnknowen Herodotus wryteth that the Assyrians kept this Monarchy fyue hundreth yeares and that after that longe tyme there was no certayne or fyrme kyngdome but that the Medes vsed a proper kyngdome and likewyse the Chaldees by the Babylonians and the Assyrians had their kyngdome at Niniue and amonge the kynges had nowe the one ouerhande nowe the other Finally the Medes beynge become myghty drewe the vpper Monarchy to them takynge also the citye Babilon These thinges seme moost lykest to the whiche agre those that are written of Sardanapalus not only by Metasthenes but also Bion of whom Agathias maketh mention Of Sardanapalus WE must speake a lytle of Sardanapalus how he was depryued of his kingdome that afterward the kingdomes were diuided Whan God wyll punyshe the worlde he geueth it lecherous prynces By the histories it is manifest that Sardanapalus nothinge regardyng the gouernaunce of the kyngdom gaâ— hym selfe only to pleasures in so much also that â—â— vsed to paynte and coloure him selfe to make hâ—â— beawty and to clothe him with womens garment It is said that he sat in the middes of dishonest women and vsed all maner of vnclennesse How shuld not such an empyre haue had a pyteful ende Whan nowe the Medes Babilonians were fallen from hym and rebell and that he had loste the battayll against hys enemies neither coulde no where merchandes be more salfe he set y e castell at Babylon in fyre and burnt him selfe in it Howbeit as wryteth Duris he sent afore his thre sonnes to Niniue and hereby it commeth that after the decease of Sardanapalus the kyngdomes are diuided Bolochus reigned at Babilon whiche fell from Sardanapalus with Arbace Arbaces kepte the kingdome of the Medes The posteryte of the Assirians dured a certaine space of yeares by them of Niniue Many yeares haue these thre kyngdomes foughte and stryuen for the Monarchye Of Egypte WE haue suffycyentlye spoken of thys fyrst Monarchye but howe many yeares there be vntyll the tyme of the second monarchye shall we note hereafter At thys tyme must wee shewe brefely a few thynges of other kyngdomes whych are come vp besyde this monarchy For the very large empyre of Egypt was in his floure that whiche was gouerned by the posteryte of Cham which was gouerned by the posterite of Cham but as concernyng his power it was lesse then the monarchye as now a dayes the kyngdome of Fraunce is myghty in dede but yet it is lesse then the Empyre concernynge ther power or the dignite of his maiestie Of Abraham and the
spyrituall kyngdom LEst we be ignorant in what state the word of God and the church was we must also speake of the spirituall kyngdome Abraham was in the time of kyng Ninus For when he was old about fifty yeares the first twoo thousande yeares had an ende and the kyngdome of the Assyrians was already begonne And that more is whan now the true worshyp of God and his worde began to come out of vse in the kyngdome of Babylon There weÌ„t out of Chaldea into Mesopotamia with his two sonnes Abraham and Loth lest he also myght bee stayned with the wickednes of the superstition that the Chaldees vsed This idolatry doth the scripture cal Vt Chaldeorum that is the Chalde fyre For when in the sacrifice of the true Godly the fyre fallyng downe from heauen kyndled the oblacions the wicked folowyng their examples kyndled a fyre and so set vp a newe Gods seruice that with suche a worke they might serue God without the expressed worde of God without the knowledge of the promyse of Christ to come Hereafter also in the histories is the same fyre called Orimasda that is holyfyre the whiche kynges caused also to be caried before them vpon a horse The first occasioÌ„ of ydolatry among men began by this fyre before Images were vsed But lest y â— worde of god should vtterly be quenched God renewed afreshe the promyse of Christe and added a new ceremony too the worde the which as a token should kepe the remeÌ„braunce of the worde in mens myndes For true doctrine is lightely put out of mens mindes without it bee beaten into the peoples myndes by outward tokens and ceremonies To that was Abraham chosen of God the whiche when he was olde thre score and fyften yeares he was commaunded of God to go into Chalde leauyng Mesopotamia where a new promise was made hym that the sede of Abraham should possesse the lande of Canaan should beare rule in it and also that the sede of Abraham namely Christ should come by the whiche God woulde blesse all nacions that is that GOD would be appeased by that sede and takyng awaye the power of synne and death geue lyfe euerlasting To this promyse hath God added circumcision the whiche should be a sygne of promission and a prouocation to beleue And therfore remayned alway afterward in the churche or congregacion the worde and spirituall kyngdome of Christ among a certain people that is in Abrahams posterite amonge the whiche it was necessary to haue bene alway some whiche were true beleuers and Godly As for the whole history of Abraham is fully written in the holy Bible In this place suffiseth it to shewe in what tyme Abraham hath bene and what chaunges 〈…〉 gion are happened in the meane season But the promyse was other whyles repeted to Abraham As for the circumcision was geuen hym when he was foure score yeare olde and nyne thee yeare from the creation of the world two thousand and seuen and fourty some count it to our Iubile two thousande and fifty Abraham had of Agar his handmayden a some called Ismael the same began to growe in strength and puisaunce by the Arabians and the Agareny in Arabia beare the name of this Agar of whome we shall speake afterwarde Of the destruction of Sodome THE foure score and nyntenth yeare of Abrahams age hath GOD for thee abhominable euyll dedes horrible and vncomly lecheryes destroied fyue cities Sodome and Gomorre and the other cities lyeng therby burnyng them with fyre from heauen The place where the cityes were is become a great marasse whose length and bredth conteyneth the space of certain miles euen yet at this time as though it were ful of pitche doth burne with coÌ„tinual smoke and vapor for a token of Gods indignacion vengeaunce for so greate synnes This happened the thre hundreth and fourscore eleuenth yere after the floude after that Noe was deade the fourtieth and one Of thys wyse hath God other whyles wytnessed to the worlde that he wyll bee auenged and iudge synners Of Isaac AFter this was a sonne borne to Abraham of his wyfe Saâ—a called Isaac of whose sede is Christ For he dyd beare hys fygure whan God commaunded that he should be offered of hys father wherby is signifyed that Christ should bee a sacrifice with the whiche should synne and death be disamilled And by this example it is signifyed agayne that God wyl forgeue synnes rayse the dead and geue euerlastyng lyfe to the beleuyng Isaac had two sonnes Iacob and Esau Of Esau haue the Edomites in Arabia their begynnyng for Esau was called Edom that is reddish because he solde his brother y â— ryght of y â— fyrst borne the which God hath blessed for a messe of potage y â— was somwhat reed despysynge the blessyng of God and his benefyte for loue of hys belly But Iacob was surnamed Israel that is prince of God of whom the people Israel haue their of sprynge But for al theese thynges must the Bible be loked Of Ioseph Iacobs sonne BEcause Ioseph is rehersed amoÌ„g the chiefe and moost wysest gouernours we do worthely here make mencion of hym For he taught the Egyptians both the religion and ciuyll maners and aboue all is it worthy to bee marked that the man whiche was endued with holynesse the holy ghost had set vp a very hard and rigorous maner of rulyng and that where the whole kyngdome of Egypte was large and wyde he ioyned them together as members of one body so that we may learne thereby that rygour is most nedeful to entertayn the people in there office or duety alowed of God For the common people is commonly destroied by lybertie But for because he came into Egypte by the conspiration of his brethren that he was solde of them and also what chaunce he had in Egypte of all this is there fully wrytten in the Bible For by thys wonderfull occasion God wylled hym to come into Egypt that in the same kyngdom also myght be taught the true worshyp of God and that the promyse of Christes commyng myght bee made manifest For God would euer haue his word preached euen in the greatest kyngdomes also that by this occasion God might fede Iacob and his posterite in the tyme of derth Of Moses and of the punyshment of the tyraunt Pharao ALthough God had promysed to the posterite of Abraham the possession of the lande of Canaan yet hath he differred the promyse a long season that through the word they myght haue in the meane while wherewith to exercyse their faith ye he suffred them before to be sore punished in Egypte For as saith the booke of Genesis Iacob and his chyldren fled into Egypte in the tyme of derth where they dwelled a longe season the which we shal note hereafter But when Pharao ouercharged the people without measure and remission and vsed tyranny insom uche that
gaue the priestes their tenthes agayne And because these are true feates of good princes therfore hath God geuen hym noble victories For when the kynge of the Assyrians besyeged HierusaleÌ„ he called vpon God for aide the citie was deliuered of the syege by the angel slaing the enemies Esaye the prophete was in the time of this kynge in great worshyp by whome the kynge was instructed in suche thinges as pertayne to the feare of God But in the syxte yeare of Ezechias gat the king of the Assyrians the citye of Samaria and led awaye the ten tribes of Israel in bondage The moost parte of thys were the people of God that were fallen from Iuda and had set vp a propre kyngdome But whan the kynges of Samaria were afrayed lest the people shoulde fall agayne to the kyngdome of Iuda the which was ordeined of God yf they shuld somtyme resorte to Hierusalem feastly to do theyr sacrifyce and to heare the word of God accordinge to the ordinaunce of the lawe they set vp a certayne peculiar or propre Gods seruice a propre doctrine and a sacrifice agaynst Gods worde and so haue they abused all thinges against the worde of God vnder pretence of Gods name to entertayne the priuate power of their kyngdome Agaynste this worship of God are sometyme sent prophetes to the sauegarde and conseruation of many in the meane season haue the mighty with al stubbernes kept their false gods seruice Wherfore God hath greuously punished these kinges wyth warres and vproures neither lasted the raigne of this empyre longe by any kyndred in so much also that at the last God suffred the kynges and people to be led away Duely oughte this example make vs afrayde that we learne to feare God For if god spared not the posterite of Abraham vnto the which happened so manifest promises and so great but hath sodenlye ouerthrowen theyr kingedome and cast them out who is so sure minded which can beleue that we shall escape fre But in myne opinioÌ„ that part of Samaria â–ª semeth to beare the figure of the churche of the East and of the Grekes for lyke as Israel caried away by the Assyrians into Samaria came neuer agayne euen so also the churche or congregacion of the East is vtterly destroied by the Saracens and Turkes And as it happened to the tribe of Iuda afterwarde I feare me lest it chaunce lykewyse also to the West parte It is to be feared truely that God shal handle vs more rygorously because of the greatnesse of our mysdedes Houbeit God woulde in the meane season blesse the sede of Abraham before all natioÌ„s Wherfore ought the godly reader consider this example by hymselfe and pray God that he wyll chasten vs with mercy and not to cast vs vtterly away This kyngdom dured only two hundreth and foure and fourty yeares That tyme verely was very shorte specially seyng thys people had soo excellent promises euen of outwarde goodes also and in the meane season had they warre also and vproures So litle doth God suffre the wicked seruice of God vnpunished The wastyng of the kyngdom of Samaria was done the thre thousande two hundreth and fourtieth yere after the creation of the world Manasse the sonne of Ezechias succeded his father in the kyngdom of Iuda and reigned fyue and fifty yeres The same restored the false Gods seruice for false zele of godlinesse he burned in sacrifice his own childreÌ„ He persecuted the prophetes Esay y â— most holy prophet hath he caused to be cut asunder with a sawe and slayne at the last was he taken oâ— his enemies and caryed awaye Howbeit whan he knowledged his trespasse and called hartyly vpon the Lorde he was taken frely to mercye and God hath set him for an example to synners that they doute not but that God shall haue mercy and asswage hys wrath vengeaunce if they turne from their wyckednesse Amon raigned two yeare he was a wycked kynge wherefore he dyed with the swearde of hys seruauntes Iosias raigned thyrty one yere he toke away the wicked worship of God He ouerthrew the chappels and Idols he coÌ„maunded to burne the bones of false prophetes In his tyme were the bokes of Moses found again which had many yeres be lost That truely is a notable example that wickednesse mens traditions doth grow so excedingly preuayle that holy scripture is so greatly despysed y â— euen the very bokes be lost But God so prouiding for seynge she is neuerthelesse at the last restored and brought to lyght This history no doute doth shewe the figure of the last times in the church to y â— which the true and sincere knowledge of the word shalbe opened euen before the ende of the worlde But though Iosias was a verye godly kynge yet wanted not he finally his errour For whan he had now liued in good peace a great whyle had done many noble actes beyng waxen hardy he thought he might haue no misfortune by reason of his godlynesse Wherfore he warred vpon the kyng of the Egiptians the whiche neuerthelesse demaunded condicions of peace But because he toke that warr by trust of mans power he dyed of a greâ—â— wounde that he had gotten in y â— battayll Ioachas raigned thre monethes and was caried awaye into Egipt Ioakim raigned two yeares In his time inuaded Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babylon all Iewry whose tributary he became many men were led away among the which was also Dauiel yet yonge Afterward whan Ioakim kepte not the bonde or treaty Nabuchodonosor came againe and takyng Ioakim caused him to be slayne at Hierusalem his body to be cast amongs y â— other dead carcases without the citie according to y â— prophesye of Ieremy which prophesyed that he shuld be buried as an asse Ioachim or Ieconias was kyng thre monethes Nabuchodonosor about this tyme beynge come agayn beseged the city Ieconias yelded him selfe frely through the counsel of Ieremy the prophet vnto whom God had reueled that HierusaleÌ„ shuld be destroyed the people caried away howbeit he shuld not wholy be destroied but y â— he shulde once come agayn Hierusalem shuld be buylded agayn Ieconias was kept in BabiloÌ„ by god because he had obeied y â— voice of the prophet the which we shall note hereafter The best of the people were led in captiuite at Babilon with â–ª Ieconias and also all the moost costlye vessels and ornamentes that were in the temple at Hierusalem Sedechias raygned eleuen yeres he fell from the kyng of Babilon whome he wolde not geue tribute for which cause Nabuchodonosor came again besieged the citie And though Ieremy counseled hym that he shuld yelde him self for it were so foreseen of god y â— the people â–ª shuld be led away and Iuda punyshed yeâ— would not he obey â—oldened and trustynge too Gods promyse that the people of Iuda should not perishe
This did Sedechias boaste and the hygh priests did interpretate the promyse of God peruerfly For God could neuerthelesse saue his people though he dyd suffre them to bee caried awaye and to be punished a certain space And thus was Ieremias prophecy despysed specially because it was so long differed nother did it so come to passe Beside this had the king of Babylon bene now thre times in Iewry yet had not profited in besieging the citie of HierusaleÌ„ Moreouer it was now y â— eleuenth yeare in the which many were fled out of the cytie the toune yet saued These thinges were the cause that after maÌ„s iudgement they stifly trusted that nothyng lesse shoulde be then that general destruction which Ieremy had prophecied Also was the citie euery where fortified with fortresses against the power of the enemies But Nabuchodonosor destroyed them wyth hunger for whan he besyeged the citie a yeare and an halfe it is saied that there was suche hunger that many did eate their owne children So stony hartâ—ed is mans nature in her purpose that where she was coÌ„strained with so great necessitie yet refuseth she to come and take succoure and consolacion of God For if they had yelded themselues after the prophetes counsayll though the banyshement had bene harde to them yet myght they haue had peace at the least waye with the aliens Finally when Sedechias toke the flyght he was taken after that sawe he his chyldren slayne in his presence but his iyes were put out the citie of Ierusalem was destroied the temple that God caused to be buylded was burnt the best of the people of the Iewes was caried awaye to Babylon into bondage this example ought earnestly admonyshe vs that God wyl not spare other kyngdomes and princes but that he wyll greueously punyshe synne seynge he hath vsed so greate rigour agaynst this kyngdome the whiche he hym selfe dyd set vp for the scripture witnesseth that God hath punyshed Iuda with innumerable kyndes of punishmentes for his synnes and added thoose synnes whiche were the chefest synnes namely despysyng of Gods worde the wicked worshyp of God tyranny agaynst the true preachers of Gods worde and prophetes The destruction of the citye happened the thre thousand thre hundreth and thre score and therten yeare sence the creation of the worlde The yeares From Dauid vntyll this spoylynge of the citie Ierusalem are fiue hundreth and sixten Hytherto remayned the kyngly name by the posteritie of Dauid amongest the whiche were many notable and renowmed kynges as the lyke in none other kyngdome For that kyngdome of Iuda had God specially created and gouerned it but because they were not without synne therfore were they punyshed of God and the kyngdome was chaunged For the kyngdome of Iuda was kept in captiuite in Babylon thre score and ten yeares howbeit in the meane season dyd God declare hymselfe so that it myght bee perceaued that hee cared for hys people and churche and that he neuer would forsake her For he sent notable prophetes as Daniel amongest the Babilonians whiche conuerted also Nabuchodonosor ye kyng For whan he was punyshed by Gods iudgement for his vngodlynesse and was become madde woodde so that he differred nothinge from a beast Daniel prayed God for him and he was restored afterward comminge to hys ryght mynde agayn from hys wyckednesse he renounced hys Idolatry and as he was taughte of Daniell he toke vpon him Gods true seruice After Nabuchodonosor raygned his sonne Euilmerodach The same commaunded to entreate Iechonias the kyng honestlye and accordinge to hys kyngly dignitye the which by the coÌ„maundemente of Ieremy the prophete yeldynge him selfe frely went also in exyle And after this wise dyd god fortunate this kyng which beleued the wordes of the prophete though he was in daunger for a season Of this wyse verelye was Dauids kynred saued from destruction by God through gods prouidence the which we shall declare at large hereafter After Euilmer odach succeded Balthasar in the kingdome The same was a despiser of godlinesse Gods word he restored of a new the old abrogate Idolatry of the Chaldeis he vsed the vessels that were caried from the temple of IerusaleÌ„ at his bankettes he mocked the God of the Iewes and for a reproche he caused to be songe that the God of the Chaldeis was a true God greater than the God of the Iewes But what happened These blasphemous voices brought the destruccion of the whole kyngdome For ther was clerely sene a hande that wrote vpon the wall that Balthasar should perysh with all his kingdome The same happened the very same night for the Medes and Persians fell sodenly vpon the Babylonians and gat the kyngedome and killed the kynge Balthasar This example witnesseth also that the blasphemies agaynste God remayne not vnreuenged Now hath the tyme of the first monarchy an ende vntyllthe Perses and kynge Cirus Betwene the byrth of Abraham and kyng Cirus are a thousand foure hundreth and four scor and fyften yeares in the which was y â— monarchy first by the Chaldeis after that by the Assyrians But whan it beganne to be alienated now preuailed the Assyrians than the Babilonians vntill the Medes and Perses dyd growe and finally gat Cyrus Babylon recouering the Monarchy and makyng all one It is chefely to be consydered that the whole kingdome of the Iewes is coÌ„prehended vnder the tyme of this fyrst monarchy where by it is euident that the Iewes are most auncient people and that only their histories are certayn and true of the first kyngdomes of the worlde Of the Grekes WE shall now note brefely the state of the Grekes in the tymes of the fyrst Monarchye where by it shalbe easely gathered that the histories of the Iewes are much more auncient than the Grekes for all their histories are written after the fyrst Monarchy Nether can the Grekes rehearse any thyng certayue or of longer space than that theyr Olympiades do shewe But the Olympiades began the eyght thertyth yere of kynge Osias And if that be diligently rekened it shall appeare to be about two hundreth yeare before the monarchye of the Peries But because of vnlearned readers I shall leaue the Olympiades and shewe brefely what hath happened by the Grekes in the tyme of the fyrste monarchye The country of Grece had no certayne kyng as other nacions but there were in it partly many prynces partly also mighty cityes sundry greate chaunges happened with the princes For the cityes encreasyng in puyssaunce coulde not well suffre Princes as we haue sene in Italy in oure dayes and as I shall afterward set some examples which are profytable to know and haue true wytnesse of hystoryes For there are fewe historyes withe the Grekes before the battayl of Troye Of the battayl of Troye THE battayll of Troie happened before the tyme of Dauid the whiche maye be proued by the
moost myghty prince shoulde be borne of her Therefore whan Cyrus the chylde was now borne Astyages feared lest his kyngdome should be remoued from the Medes to the Persians For the which cause he commaundeth his vsher Harpagus to put forth the chyld to be slayne But whan Harpagus busied to slayne it he was saued by a wonderfull destiny So vayne are mens enterpryses and studyes to hynder Gods counsels The chyide was taken to the shepeherde to beare it vpon a hyll that thete it myght dye for honger the shepeherde was also coÌ„maunded not to leaue the chyld vntil it were dead and to shewe this same to Harpagus that he might certifye the kynge the truth of the thinges and to se the chylde buryed accordynge to the dignitie But what dyd happen At the same tyme by chaunce whan the shepeherde bryngeth this chylde into his house his wyfe was delyuered of a deade chylde the which whan she herde of her husbande that thys chyld shoulde be layed abrode to perishe whome besyde the comlynesse of bewty she perceaued to declare some kyngly strength and courage and also because it was borne of the kynges bloude she counseleth and prayeth her husbande to laye hyr deade chylde in his steade and to take it her for to brynge vp for hers She admony sheth hym also to committe no murther with the kynges chylde chefely seinge no daunger can befall or happen to the realine by this chylde for asmuche as it shalbe brought vp and taken for the shepeherdes chylde The shepeherde foloweth his wyues counsell he sende worde to Harpagus that the chylde is dead Who sendeth some to see wheter it were so and causeth the chylde to be buryed and all this is sheweth the kyng for a trueth In the meane whyle is Cyrus brought vp by the shepeherde and as he grew vp by processe forth wyth appeareth in him kynggly towardnesse and sharpnesse of wyt Moreouer amonge the chyldren as the chyldreÌ„ costume is he ordeyned a kyngdome and hym that offended dyd punysh greueously But it happened by this chaunce that whan he had beaten a gentlemans chylde very rygorously for a transgression he was accused to the chyldes elders the which made complaynt to the kynge The kynge callynge and demaundynge of the chylde he maruayleth at his great graue constancye and the wysdome in answerynge than to the chyldes age Beynge streght waye astonyed in hys mynde he aduysed hym of the tyme wherein hys doughter was delyueted and as he had searched out all the circumstances of hys age the tyme and the bryngynge vp he knewe that it was his cosyn his daughters sonne the which in tyme past he had commaunded to be destroyed Knowynge hym he kept hym in hys court a certayn space and whan Astyages dyd now dout no more of hym by reason of hys syngular towardnesse honesty the whych dyd shyne in the chylde he sent hym into Persia to hys elders Howbeit the kynge was in the meane whyle greatly wroth wyth Harpagus for the deceate because he dyd not accomplyshe the kynges commaundement in slayeng at that tyme the chylde He commaundeth Harpagus yongest sonne to be brought to the court the which whaÌ„ Harpagus had done the kynge commaunded to slaye him and seethe him and to set it before Harpagus for to eate wythout hys knowledge but whan he had now eaten ynough Astyages commaunded to brynge the heade fete and handes of the chylde that were hewen of and shewe them to Harpagus that he myghte se that he had eaten the fleshe of hys owne chylde As harpagus sawe the heade he knew the kynges dede also whence the occasion came but all grefe suppressed he worshpped the kynge accordynge to hys wonted reuerence and drede thynkyng in the meane season to be once greatly reuenged of thys tyranny of the Kynge But Harpagus euer after ceased not to stere vp the chefe of Media the most puyssant nobles to fal to the Perses and to make Cyrus Kynge he sheweth it to Cyrus also and exhorteth him to inuade the kyngdome nother suffre the tyranny that the Kynge hath vsed agaynst other of them to be vnreuenged And that the enterpryse be secrete he hydeth a lettre in the belly of a holow hare and taketh him to a trustye messenger to bringe it into Persia to Cyrus and sendeth no worde els by the messenger but that kynge Cyrus him selfe doo flee the hare Cyrus fyndynge the letter and knowynge Harpagus counsell maketh continently ready an hoost and goeth agaynst the Medes Astyages on the other syde commaundeth hys army to withstande the enemy of the which he maketh Harpagus chefe captayne but whan the felde shulde be fouten he yelded both hym self and hys army wyllyngly to Cyrus Wherfore Astyages hauyng lost the kyngdome of Media was vanquyshed Howbeit Cyrus saued and kept hym and caused hym to be intreated accordynge to hys royall dignitie Thys alteration happened in the kyngdome of the Medes by reason of the kynges tyranny for the which also the whole empyre was translated to the Perses After thys warred the most ryche Cresus vpon Cyrus in the fore parte of Asia whome Cyrus metyng wyth an hoost ouercame and toke in the whole kyngdome and wynnynge the moost strongest citye Sardis toke Cresus prysoner But whan by the kynges commaundement Cresus shulde be burned and was nowe vpon the pyle of wood he cryed wyth verye pytefull waylynge O Solon Solon Cyrus woundred at this noyse and caused to demaunde for what cause he dyd so crye nowe and than wyth so greate doulfulnes Than he syghynge from the depâ—st of hys harte sayde Solon was in tymes past a moost wyse man among y â— Athenians whom I dyd somtyme greatly worshyp whan he was with me and I shewed him all my power and treasures and finally asked him whether any misfortune myght euer happen to me that were so well fortified with ryches and power against all chaunces of fortune and against the power of my enemies But SoloÌ„ answered to that with a rebuke That noman is so happyin this lyfe which before his death can be called happye of euery syde nether is anye man so mighty or puyssaunt whom an vnhappy chaunce can not make feble and ouerthrowe But that as than he beynge safe by reason of prosperitye he sayde he despysed those wordes nother coulde he drede this notable fall the which he had now proued and because that now first he vnderstode Solons sayenge therfore dyd he now name him before his death and that he wyshed al men to remembre in prosperity aduersytyes which may befall lest they become proude for the presente felicitie to enterprise or vndertake oughte that by chaunce myghte bringe mischief to them Whan Cyrus heard this he was moued with pitye toward Cresus sayenge That hereafter he woulde not entreate Cresus so cruellye which had intymes past be a moost myghty kynge for he knew that he was a man also and to hym also it myght befall to haue
his horsse hys â—wearde fell out of hys sheeth and wounded hym so sore in the one syde that he dyed This example sheweth that God suffreth tyrauntes not very longe For he lyued not much more than one yeare after Cyrus nother left he anye heyre after hym and of thys wyse is he cleane deade It is truely a pyteous thynge and greatly to be bewayled that in so lytle a space the kingdome of the Perses is taken from the posteritie of Cyrus The rule of the empyre remayned neuerthelesse wyth Cyrus bloude For Darius had wedded Cyrus doughter the whyche neuerthelesse was also of Cyrus bloud Of the punishment of a wicked iudge NO prince is of so desperate hope which doth not at any tyme some laudable or honest thynge For God doeth garnishe the offyce of a gouernour or high officer and maketh that other whyles notable and necessary thynges are done necessarely for the conseruation of publyke administration Cambyses is alowed in all historyes for thys one â—ede for the which he is worthy to be praysed He had a gouernour in the fore part of Asia called Siâ—amnes he heard saye that this iudge iudged vniuâ—â—ly beynge corrupt wyth gyftes of mony Wherefore he caused him to be slayne and the skynne â—lain oâ— from his body commaunded he to be fastened vpon the iudges seate and ordeined in steade of the deade iudge his soâ—â—e called Otaâ—es and sat hym in the seate â—â—diciall vpon this maner and condition that by the beholdyng of his fathers skynne he shuld beware lest he should be punished lykewyse This example warneth those that are in authorytye to remembre that God will not suffre wyckednesse to be vnreuenged Of Darius Kyng of the Persians WHan Cambyses was gone into Egypte the Magi rebelled agaynst him at Susa and one of the Magies toke the name of a kyng vpon him by gyle Magi are called y â— wyse men priestes of those contryes But whan Cambyses made him now ready to returne into the kyngdome that he might punish worthely those seditious Magies euen in his yourney by a mischaunce as we haue sayd before he dyed Aâ—ter the death of Cambises the Magies beyng slaâ—â—e y â— Peers of the realme toke the kingdome to them selues after that poyntyng a day of assembly they came to treate of restoringe one into the kingedome Persy for a certayn order The peers or Princes were seuen in nomber as in the Germâ—ne empyre are seuen Electors those doutlesse were chosen and poynted by greate wysedome and counsell as the hyghest counsellers of the whâ—le empyre of Persia Whan now these seuen prynces were come together to deuise for the commune health of the realme there rose controuersy in deuisynge and of thre thynges specially One Othanâ—s counselled to chose no more kynges but that the princes bounde by an aliaunce shuld rule a lyke libertye beynge retayned of ethersyde for it were euident ynough before and proued by example that one man lord of so many and great thynges becommeth lyghtely haut and presumpteous and to fall to tyranny as it was euident that Cambyses had done The seconde Megabysus refusynge that counsell sayde that such lybertye shoulde be worsse than tyranny for the princes and cityes yf they want a Lorde can not but misvse that libertye to priuate wylfulnesse But lest anye suche do happen it were good not to choyse one onely kynge but to ordeâ—â—e some princes by whome shoulde alwaye remayne the full power of a kynge The thyrd called Darius refelling the sentence of ether of them counselled one kyng to be chosen for though in thys poynt as in all other thynges of men myght befall great and many inconueniences yet is no royalme or dominion more surer than the Monarchy that is yf one raygne in whose power and handes the chefe poynt of the raygne do consist For though these thre counsels be a lyke honest and verye good yet if they be conferred together it is most euident there can no fayrer or more profytabler thynge be founde thaâ— a Monarchye namelye whych goeth nexte to a godly kingdome Moreouer it can not be that concorde can be kepte longe amonge fre princes or yf some princes be chosen to gouerne some myghtye realme in steade of a kyng and that for the diuersytye of moost weighty causes whych myght some tyme befall in so large a dominion in the whiche the princes coulde not allwaye agree together Besydes thys that there shoulde not want amongest the princes the endeuour of souerayntye and gouernaunce aboue the other ouer the which he shoulde procure to rule as ouer subiectes or inferiors These were the causes which Darius alleged vnto whom agreed the other foure princes and ordeyned to choyse a kyng after the costumâ—ble maner But lest any debate myght aryse amonge the princes of the royalme they determyned to committe the lot of the kynges eleccion to God They agreed that the princes shoulde come together very early on horses into a certayn place and whose horsse shuld neye fyrst the same should be kyng Darius beynge come home shewed thys couâ—sell to the controller of hys court whych sayde he would easely brynge it to passe For before the euenyng of the appointed daye he dyd lead Darius horsse and a mare into the place appoynted and there letteth he go the horsse to the mare â–ª that in the mornynge the horsse comminge to the place myghte neye for the mare beyng absent And as the princes came together in the appointed a place at y â— set houre Darius horsse neyen fyrst lest they might dout whether it were Gods will that Darius should be their kinge sodenly at y â— same very tyme whan the horsse neyed was ther a lightening in an open and cleare ayer with thonderinge Forthwith the other princes lyghtynge from their horses dyd to Darius dew reuerence And by this occasion was Darius set vp in the hygh dignitie of the Persian empyre the which he gouerned after that with great praise He restored with great power the countries that were rebelled whan Cyrus dyed in Scythia to the empyre Babilon the citie also refusynge now the dominion of the Perses he recouered after longesiege and that by this meanes One zopyrus the sonne of Megabysus one of the seuen lordes or princes caused willinglye hys nose eares and lyppes to be cutt of maketh the kinge priuy of his counsell and falleth to the Babilonians as one that were fled he complayneth of the kinges cruelnesse whiche caused him to be of this wyse dismayde and toren because he gaue him counsell to forsake the cytie nother fayned he hymselfe otherwyse than to be the kynges enemy and that he were fled to the Babilonians for cause of counsel taking The Babilonians did frely receaue him and as he was made capitaine of them he slew some of Darius souldiours for so was he agreed with Darius that therby he might at the first augment the confidence of the Babilonians in
him Afterward y e Babilonians trusted him with the whole army the which he betrayed to Darius and made also that he recouered the whole citye the whiche he had nowe besieged syxe monethes and a whole yeare As for Darius gaue hygh thankes to thys zopyrus for hys faithfulnesse for he set hym afterwarde before all the princes of his kyngdome And as a pomgranate was geuen hym he sayde He woulde wysh him no better thinge in this lyfe than that if he might get so many zopyries as there are graines in this apple For therby would he signifie that a kynge can haue no worthier treasure nor no stronger fortresses than faythful frendes and counsellers Of Darius Warres in Grece THE Persians assayed to drawe by claime to them the kingdomes of Macedony and Grece because they bordered vpon Persia But because God hath prefixed euerye royalme as it were certayne boundes the whyche it can not passe therfore coulde the Persian kinges subdue nor make subiectes to theyr empyre nother the Macedonians nor the Grekes Wherfore happened about that tyme in Grece many and greate chaunces the which as they are many euen so to rehearse them all ordely were to longe but I shall rehearse them all ordely were to longe but I shall rehearse some of them howbeit none saue the very best and that brefely The Persians sendinge Ambassadours to Amyntas kynge of Macedouy desyred that he woulde yelde hymselfe to them Amintas being afrayd because of the Persians power graunted willingly to do their request in a maner prostrate treated messengers very courteously And whan a royall banket was ordeined for y â— Ambassadours after their wil they desired to haue brought to them noble women and ladyes for to garnyshe the banket Amyntas which durst denye them nothynge commaunded to brynge them Whan the Persians were now droncken they dalyed wyth the gentle women vncourteously insomuch that theyr vnmanerelynesse yrked and displesed kyng Amyntas and his sonne Alexander the yonge king and by reason of the shamefulnesse and reuerence of age desyred Alexander his father the kynge Amintas that departing out of the company he would go to bed he wold remayne with the gestes As the father went now away Alexander faynyng myrth he suffred the Persians to daly and playe more frelier wyth the women at the last he prayed them all to ryse and suffre the ladyes to go a lytle apart for they should strayght way returne better trymmed The nobles of the Persians suffred that wyllingly In the meane season caused Alexander the fayrest yongmen apparelled wyth womens garmentes to returne into the banket and hyde sweardes vnder theyr garmentes wherewyth in daylienge they should slaye the Perses the which was done For the Persyans were kylled of euery one of these yonge men and thus was theyr vnshamefulnesse greueouslye punished This Alexander is rehearsed amonge the greate grauntfathers of Alexander After this rebelled the Grekes also which were vnder Darius in the forepart of Asia and taking the citye Sardis burned it and to this dyd the Athenians ayde them For one Histieus a noble prince sente a seruaunt to their captayne and lest the matter should be disclosed polyng his seruauntes heade he prynted vpon hys heade letters conteynynge this sentence that they should disceuer and rebell to the kynge afterward as the heare was growen agayne he sent no letters but this seruaunt to the capitaine wyth this message only that he should klyppe of his heare and loke vpon his heade the whiche whan the capitaine had done straight waye fell he from Darius But thys traytour was kylled and Histieus was hanged and the commotion beynge swaged wyth these remedies went no farther This and other lyke gaue Darius occasion to gather a great hoost namely a hundreth thousand footemen and ten thousand horsemen and to sende them into Grece to be reuenged of the Athenians for the sedition and vproure They pytched their tentes two myle from Athenes Whan nowe some counseled not to wythstande the enemies but yf they besieged the citye to defende it manly onely Miltiades counsellinge the contrary shewed that the syege should be heauy and verye intolerable for the communalty but with a sodayn inuasyon myght the enemyes be lyghtely vanquyshed They folowed Miltiades counsell whom also they made captayne of the warre the Athenians made an army agaynst the enemies of ten thousande nother had they any succourse out of the other cyties saue of one thousand men that the city Platea had made out And wyth thys small army was that greate and chosen company of the Persyans discomfyted and layed doun and thys battayll deserued a very great prayse for it deliuered all Grece from a great and incredible feare where wyth she was no lesse taken at that tyme than yf at oure tyme the turke shulde inuade Germany We must not ouerpasse here what recompense the Athenians haue made finallye to Miltiades and how they haue requyted hym for thys good dede For besyde this victory had he done other great actes for the commune welth Wyth chyualry had he added other cities and yles wherewyth he augmented the empire and dominion of the Athenians But because greate vertues can not want the enuy and detractions of euell men it was procured by the people and broughte to passe that Mâ—ltiades was cast into the commun preson vntyll he payed to the communalty thre hundreth thousande crownes But whan he was not able to paye that summe and beganne nowe to be sycke of the longe presonment and stenche his sonne Cymon went into preson to delyuer the father at the last whan the father was deade a very ryche citysin maryed Myltiades doughter and disbursynge out the summe of money he delyuered Cymon out of preson Can not good men be duely rewarded of the communaltye on thys wyse Of Kyng Xerxes DArius had two sonnes the elder was begotten ear he had the kingdome offred but the yonger called Xerxes was in yâ— tyme of the kyngdome of hys mother Atossa that was Cyrus doughter The same by reason he was of both parentes of the kynges bloude â–ª he succeded his father beyng dead in the royalm that the kingdome myght remayne by the yssue of Cyrus The elder brother suffred this wyth a great modesty of mynde stryuynge in no manere wyth his brother Xerxes As now the hoost of y â— Persians was ouer throwen in Grece Darius assembled a new army but in thys appoyntynge dyed he Wherfore Xerxes straight before hys raygne accomplished the preparation that hys father had begonne and entred into Grece with a moost puyssaunt army insomuch that some haue writteÌ„ that neuer was so great an army assembled before at one tyme as was kynge Xerxes armie Iustine sayeth that of his own kingdomes were seuen hundreth thousand men in armoure and of the other that were confederat with hym thre hundreth thousand men Though it semeth not wel to
But in the seuenth moneth after thys victory was Seleucus slayne by Ptolome Ceraunus brother to Ptolomeus Philadelphus These are dredefull examples of the settynge vp and fall of so great kynges which worthely oughte to styrre vs to feare God lest we thynke to do great thynges by mans counsell and oure wysedome Antiochus Soter the sonne of Seleucus raigned in Syria after the death of his father Antiochus Theos his sonne had fyrst to wife Laodice wherof he had two sonnes Seleucus Callinicus Antiochus which was surnamed Hierax Ptolomeus Philadelphus gaue to the same Berenice his doughter afterward to wyfe But whan Antiochus was deade Laodice constrayned Seleucus her sonne to take the kyngedome and to take his stepmother Berenice Seleucus folowed his mothers counsell besieged hys stepmother finally brought her to yelde willyngly wyth great promises But kepynge no promyse he caused that the quene was put to death very cruelly For Daniel had prophesyed openlye that the quene of Egypt should suffre such a thynge and that the kyng of Egypt should reuenge the same For whan thys cruel dede was done Ptolemeus Euergetes brother to Berenice went into Syria droue Seleucus out of the kyngdome and takynge in many cytyes returned into Egypte Afterward whan Seleucus had recouered some harte he woulde recouer the kyngdome agayne and requyred ayde of hys brother Antiochus Hierax he was very yong and trusted by this occasyon to optayne the whole kyngdome For whan peace was made betwene Ptolomeus Seleucus Hierax inuaded his brother Seleucus kyngdome to the which thynge he vsed the ayde of straunge souldyours For the Galathians which Brennus brought out of Germany into Grece went farther into Asia beynge hyred wyth those kynges wages which had diuerse warres agaynst eche other These Galathians had thaÌ„ geuen them those landes in Asia that they dwelled in Of whom they be called Galathians vnto whom S. Paule the apostle preached the Gospell Nether is it anye doubte but that they were Germanes For the Grekes dyd calle wyth one worde the Germanes and Gallies Celte by chaungyng of the worde was the name Galate set for Celte Finally ouercame Antiochus his brother Seleucus with the ayd of the Galathians but Antiochus was lykewyse vanquyshed of the kyng of Asia lesyng a great deale of the kyngdome of Syria than was he constrayned to flye to king Ptolomeus Euergetes whan he was so receaued of hym that he should go no wher he wold haue fled but whan thys counsell was perceaued he was put to death This ende finally gat Antiochus Hierax Aboute y â— tyme nearehand fell Seleucus his brother from a horsse dyed This miserable fortune end had these two bretheren which had done many wicked dedes Antiochus the great inuaded the kynge of Egypt Ptolome Philopater wyth warre but he was dryuen back Afterwarde whan Philopater was deade he returned into Egypt with an army but the Romanes had taken the child Ptolomeus Epiphanes into their wardshyp to whom he was committed as a warde This was an occasion of a great warre which was betwene the Romanes Antiochus Hanniball toke part with Antiochus which was captaine in this warre a certayn space and many more contries of Grece dyd stycke to Antiochus But beynge weakened by reason of some mishappe he was dryuen to demaunde conditions of peace Than left the Romanes hym only y â— parte of the royalme whiche lieth beyond the hyll Taurus besyde this was he constrayned to sende his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes to Rome in hostage But at the last whan Antiochus spoyled the ryche temple of Belus in Siria he was oppressed of the communalty inhabityng there whych slew hym hys company euery one This was the ende of Antiochus the great Hierusalem had metely good rest sence the tyme of Alexander vntyll Antiochus the great But whan the warre betwen these two kynges was raysed by reason the Iewes laye betwene them both they were a lytle oppressed vexed of both parties And though Ierusalem dyd hetherto stycke more to Egypte yet was it nether subiecte to Syria nor Egypte Howbeit Ptolomeus Epiphanes sent a capitayne one Scopa against Antiochus which toke in certayne townes of Syria and part of Iewry Howbeit whan Antiochus had vanquished the same by y e Iordane he went farther tyll he came at IerusaleÌ„ Than did the Iewes kneling yelded theÌ„selues frely to him makyng also a commune league betwene them and the kyng for thys cause dyd the kyng Antiochus suffer them to lyue in peace asysted them in repayryng y e citye Ierusalem And of this wyse though they semed to be in daunger in the tyme of this warre by reason of the neighburhead â–ª yet lyued they quietly vnder this Antiochus Antiochus the great left after him thre sonnes Seleucus surnamed Philopator Antiochus Epiphanes Demetrius After y e fathers death raygned Seleucus a few yeres the other two brethren were kept in hostage at Rome Whan Antiochus Epiphanes knew of his fathers death he â—led priuely froÌ„ Rome as he was come againe into Syria he was made king For Seleucus was vnmete to rule nether liued he long after his fathers death This Antiochus Epiphanes truely was a man of much subtelty hardinesse had well learned by the example of the Romanes to apply himselse to the tyme and maners of euery man For he could easely forbeare and suffre euery man that he was with he was a wyse man wyth y e wyse â–ª agaynwyth vnbrydeled youth he folowed such exercise as he knew them to delyte in He procured the fauour of the comon people with familiaritye beneuolence and whan he made any costly banket he caused great summes of mony to be cast among y e people For his vnbrydeled maners was he called Epimanes for Epiphanes For Epimanes signifieth madde but Epiphanes signifieth noble His raigne began the hundreth seuen and thyrtyeth yeare after Alexanders death And whan he possessed now hys kingdomes that came to hym by heretage he went into Egypte For about y e tyme dyed Ptolomeus Epiphanes the same had to wyfe Cleopatra the syster of Antiochus Epiphanes the which vnder that pretence began to vsurpe y e kingdome of Egipt as if he were tutor of the yong king called Ptolomeus Philometor Nether shewed he himself otherwyse but with all gentlenesse beneuolence toward his cosin willed that Memphis other great cities shuld yeld them to the kyng y â— vnder suche a pretense he mighte by lytle and lytle draw to him the whole realme Whan he had now finished all thinges he left the kingdome and went to Ierusalem that at the request of Iâ—â—oâ— which coueted the dignitye of the hygh presthode by the meane of Antiochus For so stode the case thaÌ„with the Iewes that they myghte optayne the hyghe priesthode by decepte by conspiracion offoren kynges oppressinge slayenge in the meane season
those that were the true successors For which cause was this people greueously punished agayne of God This was the fyrst yourney of Antiochus to Ierusalem in the whiche he ordeined a hygh priest and spoyled the temple â–ª slew many This happened the syxte yeare of Antiochus the which was the hundreth and thre and fortyeth yeare after Alexanders death Two yeare after which was the hundreth and fyue and fortieth yeare after the death of Alexander made Antiochus ready hys seconde yourney into Egypt For the cities had yelded themselues agayne to the yonge kynge the which also had sought for ayde of the Romanes Nowe whan Antiochus inuaded Egypte the Romanes sente an ambassador Popilius which shuld shew Antiochus in the name of the Romanes to auoyde out of the coastes of Egypte nether to warre vpon the yonge kynge Philometor For the Romanes were mynded to retayne him in the kyngdome wyth theyr ayde Wherevpon answered Antiochus he would deuise wyth him selfe what he would do But Popilius wold graunt hym no space to deuise but makyng a rynge wyth hys speare aboute Antiochus commaunded hym to saye strayght waye before he went out of the cyrcle whether he wold auoyd out of Egipt or no. Antiochus being abashed with this seuerite constance of Popilius for he knew was afeared of the Romane power he promised frelye to go out of Egipt â–ª Wherfore he was constrayned to leaue Egypt the second tyme with great shame But inflamed with â—re for the impacience of the grefe he went agayne to Ierusalem and this was hys seconde yourney to Ierusalem for he was there twise and than vsed â—e his tyranny much more cruelly than before For he commaunded the Iewes to worshyp the Idols of the Heythen he commaunded to burn the bokes of the Bible and left a great deale of noughtypackes to possesse the citye Ierusalem in steade of a garnyson the which tormented then very cruelly that wolde not fall from theyr fayth and to thys thinge dyd they assist them that were deceuered from the Iewysh religion The temple also was turned to a prophane vse fore an image was sett therein of the Gentils superstition But what nedeth many wordes They busyed to roote out the worde of God and the whole lawe and in steade thereof to bringe in the maners of the Gentyls Nether dyd Antiochus vse that counsel rashly but with a great wytt policye For he perceaued that the Iewes wythstode the Heythen kynges because of theyr religion and therfore wolde he auoyde the diuersitye of religion Of thys wyse do mens thoughtes dalye in matters concernyng God and wyll set vp religion after theyr wyll iudgement Moreouer vnder y e example and figure of thys Antiochus doth Daniel also describe Antichriste that such a kyngdom shuld be where in Christen men shuld be put to distresse and Gods word shuld be quenched and lykewyse shuld be set vp a religion for a shewe which might be contrary to gods word by y â— which may be had an occasyon to optayne power great ryches Euen as it is euident that Mahomet hath set vp a false religion and vnder pretence thereof haue ordeyned a newe kyngdome And this religion semeth to be folysh religion for it doeth greatly flatter mens reason For passing ouer nearehande all the hygher sentences and articles of the fayeth it hath kept onely that doctryne whyche teacheth morall vertues Wonder it is verely howe muche that same doth flatter mans reason wherefore also it doth vse to crepe more easely into mens mindes than the doctryne of fayth As for the tyranny of Antiochus thereof is written in the bokes of the Machabees Danyel wytnesseth that the people of the Iewes had deserued thys punyshment because of theyr synnes And allthoughe God dyd punyshe hys people yet for all that he dyd not destroye them vtterly For God raysed Iudas Machabeus whych gatheryng a small army inuaded Antiochus captaynes and by Gods assistaunce ouerthrowynge the enemyes he recouered the temple the thyrd yeare after that Antiochus had sett an Idoll therein Daniel hath comprehended all this tyme of the Iewysh affliccion in two thousande and thre hundreth dayes whych make syxe yeares and syxe monethes and some dayes ouerplus For the persecution lasted from the thyrde yeare of Antiochus vntyll the eyght yere some monethes Daniel dyd vse thys diuision of the tyme also that the Idoll should stande in the temple a thousande two hundreth and nynety dayes whyche make thre yeare and syxe monethes And y â— temple was recouered an hundreth eyght and forty yeares after Alexanders death Thys was the thre hundreth and eight and fortieth yere after that the Iewes were delyuered oute of the Babylonicall bondage and the hundreth and two and fyftyeth yeare before Christes byrth But Antiochus deserued wyth hys vngodlinesse and blasphemy agaynst God not only the vtter extinguishment of hys kynred but also the ouerthrowynge of the whole kyngdome of Syria For after Antiochus death there was euer warre betwene one or other and after manye tymes for the succession in the kyngdome That it maye be playnely sene by thys example ho we begynneth matters to sprynge for the whyche kyngdomes be ouerthrowen as we se nowe a dayes to befall in Hungary Antiochus Epiphanes dyed in that yourney whyche made readye agayne to come agaynst the Iewes to reuenge the dammage done After hys death hys brother Demetrius fled from Rome toke in the kingdome kylling the yong Antiochus surnamed Eupator sonne to Antiochus Epiphanes Alexander the capitayne raysyng a sedition agaynst Demetrius slewe hym Demetrius left two sonnes after him Demetrius and Antiochus Sedetes Of this Demetrius verely was Alexander slayne lykewyse Afterward was a sedition raysed by one Tryphon agaynst Demetrius the whych droue him out of the kyngdome but Demetrius came agayne into the kyngdome and dyed stryken thorough wyth a sworde Antiochus Sedetes was slayne of the Parthes As for this Demetrius had a sonne Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Sedetes left after him a sonne Antiochus Cyzicenus These stroue for the kyngdome of Syria and were both slayne Afterward dyd their children warre one agaynst the other for y â— kindome wyth no lesse stryfe than their elders and had at the last so febled eche other that Syria was constrayned to yeld it selfe to foren kinges For it ioyned it selfe to Tigranes kyng of Armenia And of this wyse is the kyngdome of Syria transferred from Seleucus posterity to foren princes But finally whan Tigranes was slayne by Pompeius Syria was broughte vnder the Romane power Hetherto is ynough spoken of the kyngdome of Syria Of the kynges of Egypt after Alexander PTolomeus the sonne of Lagus wherof Pausanias wryteth whych calleth hym the bastarde of Philippe father to Alexander ij Ptolomeus Philadelphus Greate prayses are of thys kynge by reason of his endeuour of peace and also because he delyted in all kynde of
by Iulius but longe after was he commaunded to be put to death at Antiochia by Antonius euen the third yeare when Herode was made kyng And yf the whole tyme that Hircanus was high priest bee wel rekened it shalbe euen foure and thirty yeares finally was he put to death by Herode It is a dredful thyng verely to senerehande in al histories that not only the moste renow medest kynreds and families amonge men decay but that also the successours of holy men cleane doth degenerate from the honestie of there elders and fall to all fylthynesse of mische ue and synne What tyme the Phariseys and the other sectes began with the Iewes WHen now the soueraintie and priesthode by the Iewes began to be toren and pulled asunder by the tyraÌ„ny the warres of Antiochus I passe ouer that the Machabees ioyned them with Heythen kynges the which ordeined or deposed princes high priestes at their pleasure the whiche cared for nothing lesse then the endeuour of the religioÌ„ it could not be â—â—â—t that sectes and sundry dissensions must yse in the Iewysh religion For uedes must it happen so wheÌ„ether we want a certain head in the religion or wheÌ„the heades of the churche or congregatioÌ„ do not regarde the studies of Godlinesse and seke onely outward puyssaunce as prophane nacions do The sectes that were sprong vp were of thre sores the first wer called Phariseis that is Seuered of the word Phares These vsed for they were better learned then the other certain constitutions of men aboue the lawe of Moses whereby they were seuered from the other people Howbeit their doctrine was a litle better righter theÌ„ the other For they taught immortalitie after this life that God will punysh synnes they beleued also that Messias should come a saueour for the faithfull and a iudge for the synnes To the men of this secte also was coÌ„mitted the coÌ„mon welth before other and they wee of more aucthoritie The second secte was of the Sadduceis These hidde their wickednesse with a very noble not able callyng theÌ„selues For zaddik signifieth righteous Sadducei they that be righteous or holy So is it moste commonly receaued in vsage in this worlde that those that be moste wycked of all do cloke their couetousnesses wyth moste honeste names They taught that after death was no lyfe That God had onely geuen the lawe to the intent we shoulde liue honestly quietly receiuing of God in y â— meane season in this lyfe the rewarde of righteousnesse They did expounde y â— scriptures wholy according to mans iudgemeÌ„t nether would they heare ought els as concernyng for the maners that appertaâ—ned vnto man very Epicures that is to saye suâ— as did put the principall goodnesse in voluptuoâ—â—tie as Epicurus the Philosopher dyd And thaâ— more is when they at the length had gotteÌ„ power â–ª they troubled not a litle the Phariseis It is a fearfull thyng verely to heare that among the peculiar and chosen people of God are crept in euen heythenysh doctrines insomuche that coÌ„stantly they were not ashamed euen openly to teache and saye that after this lyfe was none other lyfe The thirde were Essey the whiche when they perceiued that both the Phariseyes and Sadduceyes folowed their appetites vnder the coloure of honest titles nether did ought in a maner that were worthy their profession therfore semed it them good to declare the straitnesse and seueritie of lyfe with the dede and would be called Essey that is workers or doers For Assa whence the name Essey commeth sygnifieth to worke as in these times the Anabaptistes do reproue bothe the Lutherians and papistes and endeuour to seme more holier then ether of them For the Essey lyued in a maner in all thinges as the Anabaptistes lyue they maryed not and woulde haue all thynges common among them This was an vtter foolysh and dotish supersticion of monkerye and whiche could not last long Of this wyse nerehand is the church deuided in thre partes also now a dates for because y â— second commyng of Christe also is harde by The Anabaptistes resemble the Esseyes and on the other parte some be Phariseyes some are Sadduceyes For the thniges that happened amoÌ„g the Iewes â—â—e a figuce of the ChristeÌ„ religion These sectes rose first among the Iewes vnder Ioannes Hircamus the sonne of Simon before the byrth of Christ an hundreth and fyue and twenty yeares Of Herodes kynred WHen Iulius Cesar had warre in Egypt that was euery where full of daunger Antipater prince of Idumea ayded him very faithfully and for a remembraunce of this benefite made hym Iulius gouernoure of Iewry the whiche was now constrayned to obey foren and straunge princes in her owne royalme The Iewes set themselues agaynst it with great force at the first sufferyng very disdainfully the rule of the Idumean prince insomuche that he was poysoned at the last by a Iewe called Malchus and dyed Herodes reuenged the death of his father Antipater and demaunded the succession of the Iewysh kyngdome of Augustus and Antonius in the hundreth foure score and seconde Olympias and this was after Alexander two huÌ„dreth foure score and twelue yeares This was the occasion wherby Iewry receuied foren kynges out of Idumea and afterlong siege compelled Herode them of Ierusalem to yelde theÌ„selues nether was there litle bloud shedde before the Iewes yelded themselues frely to Herodes dominion As for Christ was borne in the thirtieth yeare of Herode These are nerehand the greatest and chefest mutations of the kyngdom brefly comprehended the whiche happened in Iewry in the tyme of this monarchie vntill the last monarchie and the tyme of Christes birth And though it is euident ynough that the Iewysh kynges after Christes birth were of Herodes kynred yet wyll I set them euery one orderly that the reader may more easely knowe how the one is borne of the other and haue ruled the kyngdome lawfully by a certayn succession vntyll the destruction of the citie Ierusalem though as concernyng the iust order of the historie I am not come so farre For I haue yet to reherse these thynges of the Romanes which happened in the tyme of the Grecian monarchie Herode the first whiche was also called Ascalon had many children among the whiche he hymselfe caused thre to be slame Aristobulus Alexander and Antipater by reason of a conspiracy that they had made against their father But after him remained aliue Archelaus Herodes whiche was surnamed Antipas and Philippus These parted the kyngdome amonges them Archelaus was chosen by a testament to succede his father Herode in the kyngdome but Augustus the emperour would not confirme or ratifye thys wyl of the father but made hym prince howbeit vnder this hope that he should be made kyng yf he ruled honestly And so ruled he nyne yeares and vsed great tyranny he set vp and deposed high priestes and rauyshed his
owne brothers Alexanders wyfe Finally he was accused before Augustus for his wicked dedes who depriued hym of the dominion and in steade of a punishmeÌ„t was he bannished into Gaâ—â—le that he should leade the rest of his lyfe there in exile But that parte of Iewry was afterward gouerned by Romane gouernours first by Cyrenius afterward by Pilate Herodes surnamed Antipas y â— brother of Archelaus was made prince of Galile by his father Herode The same toke hys brother Philips lawful wife from hym he being yet aliue the which happened by this occasion Herode went to Rome by the way he lodged by chaunce with his brother Philip who dwelled in y â— fore part of Iewry As Herodes and Herodias had now made acquaintaunce which Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus and sister to Herodes Agrippa they were agreed that he coÌ„ming froÌ„ Rome should leade her with him the which was done afterward Ihon Baptist rebuketh this wicked dede who was therfore beheaded Howbeit Herodes went not vnpunyshed at the last for it For by Caius Caligula was he sent in exile at Leonia in Galile with Herodias the whiche constrained hym to go to Rome require a kyngdome but commyng home without doyng ought he lost that part also of the kyngdom whiche he possessed before He reigned foure and twenty yeare in Galile Herodes Agrippa was the sonne of Aristobulus of whom we haue mencioned before for he was the sonne of the first Herode was slayn by his father But Herode Agrippa was prisoner at Rome in the tyme of Tiberius afterward was he in high fauour by Caius Caligula the emperour For he optayned by request of hym fyrst the parte of Philippe his brother and the name of a kyng afterwardâ— that lande also whiche Herodes Antipas had He optayned of Claudius Samaria and Iewry and by this occasion was whole Iewry subiecte agaynâ— to one mans dominion The Apostle Iames thâ— greater was put to death by this Herode the whiche is meÌ„cioned in the twelfe chapter of the Actes He reigned seuen yeares Agrippa the sonne of Herodes Agrippa was yet very yonge whan the father dyed for the whiche cause the Romanes Pretores or debites gouerned Iewry now agayne But Claudius gaue Agrippa afterward that part of Syria whiche is called the kyngdome of Chalcis he gaue hym that part also which Philip had possessed by Iewry Nero the emperour gaue hym also some cities of Iewry In the tyme of this Agrippa was IerusaleÌ„ destroyed and of him is mencion made in the xxi chapter of the Actes He reigned seuen and twenty yeares Philo the history Ographer sayeth that this Agrippa had a sonne whiche reigned with Ben Cosban who vsurped a kynges dominion vpon the Iewes and raysed great vproure in Syria and Iewry in Hadrian the emperours tyme. This is all Herodes kynred vntil the ouer throwyng of Ierusalem the whiche we haue brefely gathered therfore that it maye clerely bee knowen in what order they haue succeded in the kyngdoÌ„ And to know this is very necessary in the Bible Sence the tyme of the first Herode vntyll the destruction of Ierusalem are an hundreth and thre yeares Of Rome IN the thyrd Monarchie haue we made mencion brefely of the decaye of the Perses the prosperitie fall also of the Grekes and also the sundry mutatioÌ„s disturâ—nces of the Iewes Now remaineth that with yke brefenesse we reherse the tymes of the moste reatest battails that the Romanes haue had sence the great Alexander For it I woulde reherse thee whole histories it would be to great a worke We haue noted aboue that hygh monarchies are sometyme ordeined to that intent that great and moste mighty princes may be tamed that ryght should be set against great tyranny For this may be sene in all monarchies whiche are encreased by none other meanes in a maner then that they haue subdued moste mighty kynges Euen so the Romanes as sone as they began to be very mighty in Italy they inuaded first the Spanyardes and Carthaginians and had moste cruell and durable warres althoug they themselues in the meane tyme were somtyme greuously vanquished Of the Carthaginian Warre SIcily was cause of the CarthaginiaÌ„ war For kyng Hieron required helpe and aide of the Romanes against them of Carthag the whiche for as muche as they occupied now a great part of Sicily a long season they raysed many commotions Wherfore the foure hundreth and foure score yeare sence the foundacion of Rome did the Romanes appointe the first setting forth against the Carthaginians and this warre lasted twenty yeares continually As for the fyrste disconfiture whiche was very myserable suffered the Romanes when Regulus was taken This Regulus truely was sent to Rome by them of Carthago to entreate with the senate for the deliuery of the prysoners for if he could obtayne it he should be set fre at libertie If not according to his promise he should returne agayn to Carthago As sone as Regulus came to Rome it was sayed that he hymselfe counsailed in the senate that they would not suffre the exchaunge of the prysoners to be done for his sake but that they woulde rather consyder hee were an old man and feble of body whiche could lyve not muche longer What nedeth many wordes The senate at the last folowed his mynde and hee went to Carthago agayne where he was tormented with sundry and new maners of tormeÌ„tes And among the rest of his tormentes is this rehersed also that his eye lyddes beyng cut of he was trauayled with continuall wakyng First is the principall loue of this man toward the commoÌ„ welth alowed namely whose profite he regarded more than the health of hym or his His trust and faithfulnesse is praysed also because he went agayn to Carthago specially seyng he knew that moste cruel punishmeÌ„tes were appointed for hym But at the last were the Carthaginians constrained to demaunde conditions of peace of the Romanes By the Ile Egusa was a very sore felde foughten and the Romanes slew thirtene thousand Cartaginians and two and thyrty thousand taken prysoners But whan the Carthaginians required peace the prysoners were frely were dismyssed without mony These thynges happened after Alexander whan Ptolomeus Euergetes ruled in Egipt Of Haniball THe fyue hundreth and .xxxvi. yeare sence the foundation of the citie of Rome began the second warre of Carthago against the Romanes The occasioÌ„ of this warre was begonne by reason of Spayne the which whan the Cartaginians had once lost Hannibal had now subdued it agayn Nether truly had y e Romanes euer any greater discomfiture then in this warre For fortune was so contrary to them that Hannibal beyng come into Italy dyd thre tymes ouerthrowe them though the most part of the Romanes was slayn in the two first battails yet was it not to be coÌ„pared to the third battail wherin were slayn about fourty thousand Romanes
worthynesse yt is my mynde to praise some princes aboue the other For I iudge it to be pertaynynge to the duety of euery history wryter that he do nowe and than turne asyde into the rehearsall of the most best vertues and shewe them to the reader for a shewe as an example to folow Now in mens assaires can nothinge â—e more honeste nor more pleasaunt than the consyderacion and knowledge of princely vertues in great men Wherfore I woulde oure Germane Emperours were so set before the eyes of our Germanes that they myght know theyr vertues and wonder at them wonder it is how greatly the same wolde helpe and further to the amendement and also rayse a flame in the hartes of good men to folowe In my iudgement are these princes doutelesse suche whyche be worthy farre to be preferred before the auncient Romanes whether ye wyll regarde wysedome or strength or finally the endeuour of honesty and modestye The rehearsall of the Germane Emperours Carolus magnus Ludouicus pius the sonne of Carolus magnus â–ª After the syxe Saxons Henricus the fyrste Otho the greate Otho the second Otho the thyrd Henricus y â— .ij. which is buried at Bamberch Lotharius the Saxon. Item these Frankes Cunradus Henricus the sonne of Cunradus Item these Schwaben Fridericus Barbarossa Fridericus the second Afterward Rodolphus Sigismundus Maximilianus Of Germany and occasyon of the kyngdome of the Frankes ALl Germany was not subiecte to the empyre but had onely those contryes that are betwene the Rene and the Danow And much worke had the Emperoures before oure nacion could be subdued and kept For in the tyme of Augustus had Drusus warres and Germanicus afterwarde Caius and after him Vitellius Domitianus Traianus had subdued the lower Germany vntyll Moganus Maximinus was come vntyll Schwartzwald Valerianus was wyth an hoost in hygh Germany After hym vnder Galienus the Frankes beynge sett in a commotion began to ryse but by the Emperoures folowynge were theyr violences sometyme assuaged For Aurelianus vanquyshed them by Mayntz Probus had many and noble victoryes in lowe Germany Constantinus buylded the citye Spyre Iulianus Valentinianus and Theodosius dyd lykewyse subdue the Alemans Frankes and the contries that lye by the Rhene and toke in Schwaben land also But after that the power of the Frankes and Alemans begonne to encrease the Emperours returned not into Germany Some fable diuersly of the fyrst begynnynge of the Frankes but it is certayne that they were hyghe Germanes in Augustus tyme. For we haue no certaynty of the Germanes estate out of histories before Augustus But that the Frankes were in suche estimacion by the hygh Germanes that it can easely be proued out of Strabo who wrote an history in the tyme of Auguste and warrefared wyth the Romanes As for Strabo sayeth that the Frankes were ioynyng to the Vindelici that is Bayerlanders vpon the which they border partly at thys tyme also The commotion of the Frankes beganne by thys occasyon In the tyme of Galianus the Emperoure was Posthumus captayne in Germany the same was made Emperoure by the people for hys syngular honestye and vertues in gouernynge the empyre Galienus in the meane season lyued in ydelnesse and pleasure at Rome But whan Galienus hearde that Posthumus was made Emperoure he sent against hym an apointed army Posthumus likewyse commaunded his men to be in a readinesse among the whiche were euen the Frankes the principall And though Posthumus was afterwarde slayne priuely by an intrap yet the Frankes once prouoked to weapons remayned alway in the settyng forth to warre and came downe from Moganus to the Rene and ouer the Rene toke they first the citie Trier from the Romanes and afterwards went into fraunce But after that they had foughteÌ„ against Attila with the Romanes they were alway in great fauour wyth the Emperours in so muche â–ª that Iustinianus the Emperoure through a conuenaunt made with the Frankes suffred them to haue and inhabite that parte of Gallia whiche at this tyme is yet called Francia or Fraunce Wherefore the Frankes toke in both the contreis of the Ryne and parte of Fraunce and both the contreis were maynteined by one common kyngly gouernaunce The histories make euery where mencion of great prayses of the Frankes partely for their goodly polycy and prosperitie in gouernyng their kyngdome but specially because they embraced the Christen religioÌ„ in the begynnyg of the kyngdome and wylled it to be publyshed and spred abrode In the meane tyme dyd the Alemans decyuer from the Romyshe empyre also The Alemans were the hygh Germanes whiche now are called Schwaben Schweitzer Baier Therefore when the Romane Monarchy was sundered then was Germany first deuyded in Alemanes and Frankes But in the time of Pipine father to Charles the greate became the Frankes lordes of the Almaines and therfore as the empyre was thus deuided they called hygh Germany the Easte kyngdome and lowe Germany wyth Fraunce the West kyngdome And by thys partynge of the kyngdomes remayne the names yett in Germany The elders of Charles the greate were princes of Germany and Lordes of the courte and that more is the chefe gouernours by the kynges of the Frankes and by the commission of their office were called Grande maysters It is also sayed that thesame was theyr duchy dominion by enheritaunce where now is the countyshyp of Palatine about the Rene syde For certayne it is that the fyrst sprynge of the stocke of the Palatine commeth of Charles the greates yssue But at the last when the kyngly progeny decreassed and fayled by processe of tyme more and more and that these princes became more myghtyer it came topasse by the consent of the byshop of Rome that the gouernaunce of the kyngdome was brought ouer to the princes and Pipinus beyng made kyng of thys wyse gouerned both Germany and Fraunce When Pipinus was deade Charles surnamed the greate was kynge of the Frankes two and thyrty yeares before he was Emperoure and after that he was made Emperoure he reygned fourtene yeares Of this wyse reygned he both in the kingdome and empyre together .xlvi. yeares when they be counted together He was boren in Ingelheim in the county of Palatine not farre from the cytie Mentz In the begynnynge of his reigne warred he agaynst the Saracens in Gascon afterward warred he about thirty yeares with the Saxons the whiche he subdued at the last and made them to obeye the empyre embrace the ChristeÌ„ faith besyde other many and great battails whiche he had in the meane season also Desiderius kyng of the Lombardes coueted the dominion of whole Italy goyng to Rome caused some of the chefe cytesens to be put to death Wherfore Adrianus the byshop of Rome sendyng ambassadours to Charles desyred he woulde come and rydde Italy and Rome out of daunger For Pipinus the father of Charles had also before delyuered Rome from the tyranny
course was through the celestiall or heauenly sygnes Cancer Leo Virgo and Libra where it was sene nomore nether appeared any more after that Not long after in October rose a warre in Switzer lande For to they of Tzurich stopped the passages that to their neghburs of zugia Vria Suicia Siluia and Lucerne noman coulde bryng corne salte and other victuals Wherfore they armed theÌ„ against those of Tzurich They met eche other w t displaied banners they of Tzurich beyng vanquished with thre fieldes had the worst In the fyrst battayll was slayne the preacher of Tzurich Huldrich zwinglius In the meane tyme endeuoured they of Stralborow and Constance their neighbours to make an accorde among the coÌ„federated And thus after .viij. monethes and .vi. wekes was the vproure alayed Of theÌ„ of Tzurich died about fyue thousande of the other syde a fewe The yeare M D. xxxii came Charles the Emperoure againe out of Brabant into Germany and came in Marche with his brother kyng Ferdinand to Regenspurg to kepe a parliament Thithercame the deputies sent froÌ„ the Imperial cities There came also many princes or at the leaste their Ambassadours Not very long before that Constantinople was taken by the Turkes I reade there was a solitary man not farre from the citie Constantinople and he shuld haue prophecied that the Turkes in dede should winne Constantinople and should roote out the kyngdom of the Grekes but anone after foure score yeres should they lose Constantinople agayn and that the Turkes should be rooted out of Europa But that tyme sence CoÌ„stantinople was wonne is expired the last yeare A most connyng Astronomer also at Naples called LaureÌ„tius Miniatensis scholemaister to Pontanus wrote these verses in his boke .lx. yeres ago concernyng the coniunction of Iupiter and Saturnus in the sygne Cancer the whiche he sayeth shall be and was in the yeare thousande fyue hundreth and foure last past That age succedyng oures vpon the heles Shalbe better and more prayse worthy Lytle of oure lawe shall it disanull scarcely But the greueous and harde to suffer thynges In holy matters shall it auoyde doubtlesse All kynd of wickednesse and also holy pryde A kyng also shall it geue vs harmelesse Who shall the worlde ende and peoples represse Rebellyng nacioÌ„s shall he subdue to the empyre And the whole worldes dominioÌ„ shall he possesse These verses are moste worthy to be marked and I woulde not passe them ouer because of the renowme of the moste famous Emperour For what hygher prayse can be in the Emperour then that he calleth hym a Harmelesse kyng euen as Iohn Lichteberg sayde of hym The shamefast of visage shall raygne euery where At Magdeburg is founde C. yere ago a Latine cronicle wherin are these wordes Of the bloude of Charles the Emperour and the kynges of FrauÌ„ce shalbe borne an Emperoure called Charles thesame shal haue dominion in all Europa by whom also the decayed estate of the church shalbe repared and the auncient glory of the empyre shalbe restored For there shall come a people that shalbe called people without heade and than we to the priestes Peters lytle shyppe shall suffre greate force but the waues shall crasse at the last and it shall haue victory Greate and dredefull mutacions of al kyngdomes are at hande and the settyng store by monkes shall peryshe The Beaste of the West and the Lion of the Easte shall haue dominion of the whole worlde and the Christians shallwander through Asia in sauegarde fyftene yeares but after that shal dredeful thynges be herde of Antichriste Abbas Ioachim saieth in the ende of Ieremye A great Egle shall come whiche shall ouercome euery man saue one who at the last beynge despysed shalbe for saken of the people I fynde also another prophecie whiche is renowmed The Emperoure shalbe awaked as a man fallen into a swete slepe The same shalbe counted of men as deade and shall go vp vpon the greate sea and inuade the Turkes and shall ouercome them he shall leade their wyues and Chyldren captiues Greate feare and drede shall ouerwhelme the Turkes their wyues and chyldren shall wepe and lamente all the Turkes landes shalbe geuen ouer in to the Emperours handes of Rome I haue herde a Portingale saye that an Astronomer should haue sayde to Ferdinandus oure Emperoures greate graundefather that the Turkysh empyre shoulde be subdued and ouerthrowen by a kyng of Spayne and that the same should haue interpretated the kyng to be Ferdinande But Ferdinande should haue answered That he shoulde not do it but hys heyres that should succede hym Other emdences more that are yet restyng wyl I at this tyme passe ouer God the father of mercy geue and graunte Christendom victory and grace for the glories sake of his godly name Amen Moreouer the thinges that shal yet happen shal doutlesse marke greate and wyse men whiche are now in this settyng forth of warre As for me I haue onely rehersed suche thynges of this preparacion of the settynge forth to warre as I was sure of and therefore do I now make an ende of wrytynge In the moneth of September this yeare was a Comete sene agayne certayn wekes two houres before Sunne rysyng and toward the Easte WheÌ„ I sawe it it was in Virgo to my iudgemen stretched his brandyshynge tayll betwene the South West But by reason of the gloumynge and cloudy ayer in these contreis coulde it not be sene here Howbeit who wil not iudge it to be a fearfullthing that two Cometes haue bene sene in the space nerehande of twelue monethes and seyng the Comete of the last yere namely of the yere M D. xxxi dyd not appeare without the hurte of Easte and North for it semed to threaten those partes For the tyrannyshe Turke fell into Hungary and Eastenryche kyng Christiernus goyng into Dennemarck with a greate nauy to demaunde againe his kyngdome yelded hymselfe into Frederick hys fathers brothers the kyng of Denmarck handes Christiernus also his sonne that was brought vp in the Emperours court dyed Veryly it is to be feared also that the Comete of this yeare of M D. xxxij do signifye greate euell to the partes of Italy and the Rene. The ende of the Cronicle The coÌ„clusion of this Cronicle of Iohn Carion A boke of Chronicles ought to coÌ„prehende moste greatest thynges in a feate order so that the rekenyng of the yeares and the chefe alteracions that befall into the religion and other greate thynges may be ryght obserued and knowen For it can not be that all thynges that are done in one realme can be written in one boke though it were great by reason of the sundry circumstaunces and occasions of y â— businesses the whiche must chefely be consydered Of this wyse truely wrote Herodotus Theucydi des Xenophon Titê° Liuius histories The other are onely to be called Cronicle writers whiche also ought not to take vpon them the name of History wryters For they do brefely shewe thynges done
haue referred to that tyme when the kyngdome of Babilon and Niniue the citie were not yet diuided euen when the Assyrians reygned only at Babylon Agathias wryteth in the seconde booke of the Gothian warre that Ctesias set the nomber of the yeares and the order of the Monarchies of thys wyse As for Ctesias was a Grecian who when Artaxerxes Mnemon and Cyrus the yonger warred with eche other he was also in the army and was a Phisician Beynge taken in warre he was at the last caried to Babylon where he was honestly entreated and then readynge the hystoryes of Babylon he set the nomber of that kyngdome in an order of this wyse From Ninus vntyll the begynnyng of the Medes kyngdome wiche did deciuer from the Assyryans the fyrste are M. CCC lx yeares and this order do all those obserue that wrote afterwarde Diodorus Siculus and Iustinus Diodorus Siculus wrote of this wyse in his thyrde booke Lyke wyse also the resydue of the kynges thyrty in nomber helde the kyngdome vntyll Sardanapulus by whose tyme the kyngdome of the Assyrians which had lasted M. CCC lx yeares as wryteth Ctesias in the seconde booke fell to the Medes Iustinus sayeth of this wyse The assyrians who afterwarde were called Syria had the gouernaunce M. CCC yeres Herodotus doth passe ouer somthynge in the meane tyme that the decayeng kyng dome of the Assyrians came to the Medes I thynke this also that these yeares of Ctesias concernyng the begynnyng of Babylon to be vnderstand from the tyme of Nembroth not Ninus The Medes reigned after the fallyng from the Assyrians vntil Cyrus about thre hundreth yeres as Agathias gathereth out of Ctesias The kyngdome of the Perses vntill Alexander dyd last CCxxviij yeres as witnesseth Agathias and some Grecian wryters Alexander and his posteritie kept Babylon vntyll the tyme that the power of the Parthians beganne to grow and Agathias setteth CCC yeres seuen lesse and that is from Alexander vntyll Augustus tyme. Afterward raigned the Parthians in the Easte hundreth yeares vntil the tyme of Alexander Seuerus the Emperoures and then dyd Artaxerxes the Persian stick through and slaye Artabanus the last kyng of the Parthians And of this wyse came the East kyngdom agayne to the Perses which were myghty vntyll Mahomets tyme. For the successors of Mahomet inuaded the Perses and teke in the empire of whole Arabia But the Turkes toke from them afterwarde Syria and Asia the lesse And thus were the kyngdomes of the Easte tossed finally with diuerse mutaciōs the one people was oftymes remoued to the other It is greatly necessary to ouerlaye all these thynges and often to consyder them that the order of all tymes and histories may be knowen aryght An addition vnto the Cronicle of Iohn Carion contaygnyng the actes and histories come to passe in dyuers and sundry partes of the worlde from the yere of our lorde MDxxxij vnto the yeare of our lorde MD. L. excerpted and gathered out of the best historiographers by Iohn Funke of Nourenborough And caused to be translated by Gwalter Lynne AT the entraunce or beginning of the conuocation holden at Ratisbone or Raynesborough in the yere of our lorde MD. xxxij in lent ther lay at Nurrenborough certayn princes electours with many other nobles of the empire among whom were as principall Albert Archebyshop of Mogunce or Mence Lodowike Palatine of the Rhyne Iohn Frederike duke of Saxon and electour imperiall whiche princes nobles did there treate and consulte vpon matters of religion and about the establishing of kyng Ferdinandus to whose election as to be king of the Romains the said Iohn duke of Saxō electour imperiall would not accorde nor consent and after much intreataunce they obtayned of themperours maiestie a graunt and promes of a sure and stedfast peace vntil the next general coūsail that was to come yea and is to come yet euen at this day Other notable actes cōcerning matters of religiō was there none concluded in that conuocation For Soliman Emperoure of the Turkes was vp with all his power and inuaded the lande of Hungary wherefore the Christian princes were constrained with all spede and strenght possible to prepare themselues to resist the said aduersary Insomuche that there was prepared suche an armie and hoost of men of diuers nacions as neuer was sene before in all Germany y ◠beginnyng wherof was about the feast of S. Iohn the baptist the warriours of the towne of Nurenburgh beinge the firste that arryued at Weene in Austriche for there was all the whole hoost appointed to assemble and come together the same assembling continued vntil the feast of saint Bartholome we next ensuyng The nombere of Duche pietons or footemen was about foure score thousande stoute and valiaunt fyghting men And of the horse men there was about .xxiiij. thousand The Bohemes were in the nomber aboue twenty thousande All these lay about Wyene by the ryuer called the Danube a lycle myle frō the towne Their chefe capitaine was the right noble and mighty prince lord Frederick Palatine of the Rene c. nowe being electour imperiall About the said towne laye also vpon a fifty thousand Spanyardes whiche in these affayres vsed but small kyndnesse towardes the germaynes For in their passage from the Countie of Tyroll ouer the Eye and the Danube into Austrich they burned certayn strong holdes and townes well inhabited and some they pylled and with women and maydens they wrought suche vylanye and enormitie whiche is horrible to be spoken that many of them dyed thorough their said outtragiousnes The goodly and plesaūt Citie of Krembes was vtterly by thē subuerted and brent vp except fourtenne houses wyth certayne walles After this when they lacked vitualles in their campe for the space of one daye they russhed with violence before the Cytie of Wyene wherein the Emperoure and the kyng had theyr beyng wyth a great nombre of other greate men of armes and warriours whiche were come thether wyth them and would haue assaulted and ouerrunne the same towne if the Germaynes had not the sooner resysted them and letted their enterpryse In the meane season the Turke layde syege to a certayne lytle Towne called Guns whiche lyeth about twelue or thirtene myles from Wyene in the coastes of Hungary and assaulted the same most fiercely by the space of twelue dayes during the which tyme he sought all meanes possyble to subuerte and ouerthrowe the same But the right noble and worshypfull Syr Nicolas Iuristhi knight and Ruler of the sayed towne dyd so manfully and valiauntly behaue hymselfe in those affayres wyth hys cytesens or bourgeouses beyng in nombre about eight hundreth men and one hundred souldiours whiche were layde there in garnison for the sauegarde of the same towne that the Turke maruayled not a lyttell of it Wherefore he promised vnto the sayed Ruler fre passage and saulf conduct and hauing personally himself talked w t him did highly prayse him for his
of our handes that w◠beinge holpen by the same may the more commody ously in treat of the affaires that for the moost part in the commune welth So noble a treasure verely are histories by y e which that they that haue gouernaunce of the commune welche are aduertysed of sundry publyke matters Besydes these also are ther founde in historyes such examples which do profet euery priuate person seuerally such as these be The magistrate must be obeyed They which rebelled against the higher powers were neuer vnpunished as Absalon Catilma Brutus Cassius and such like that were therfore punished Of faithfulnesse of frendes as Ionathas which saued the life of Dauid Of the punishment for aduoutry and suche like wicked dedes as it appeareth by y e example of Dauid What nedeth many wordes euen as in al sciences are set forth examples to be folowed so are in histories set forth painted examples of al kind of vertues Yee and in examples and thinges cōmitted is more euidently sene the worthinesse of vertues yea also of what vnclennesse and dishonesty vices are than in preceptes or doctrinees Because that examples being set before vs as images do not only teache openly but do also admonish sturre and inflame the myndes y t are honestly brought vp that they maye be kindled toward vertues and honesty with a certain plesur and loue For who could be so cruel of minde which shulde not be moued yf he did reade some excellent and laudable dede or an example of vengeaunces I haue brefely shewed how the examples of politike vertues and ciuill causes must be obserued in readynge of histories Nowe doth it pertayne to a Christenman to whome godlynesse appertayneth that he maye knowe that out of historyes are to be gathered instructyons of fayth and feare of God For these are the chefeste vertues of Godlye men that are allowed before God And thoughe the hystoryes of the Gentyls do not teache vs that God careth for vs or that God worketh wyth vs a godlye harte neuerthelesse shall marke thys namelye how commune welthes are kept and preserued in the worlde from heauen and that it is the workinge and dede of God to reuenge violence and wronge and that God doth oftentimes distribute hys excellente vertues amonge the Heythen For princes can not kepe their kingdomes against Satan without the singular benefite of god the aide or assistaūce of great vertues And of this wise shal the mind of a godly man think by himself that such notable actes punishmentes are the worck of god and shal by them learne to fear God that is to saye that tiraunces are greueously punished according to that sentence he that taketh the sword that is he that taketh vpon hym the authoryte of vengeaunce without a commaūdement the same shal perish with y ◠sword Contrary wise maie be sene also that good princes are kept and preserued of God the same haue the heithen perceued also y e princes do rest vpon the aid of the goddes For Homer the poet sayeth that God holdeth for the hys shyide in battail to defend princes He faineth also that euerye prince is in sauegard by the defence of his god as it appeareth that the goddesse Pallas was wyth Achilles in battayll c. Althese thinges are moost clerely expressed in y ◠histories of the holy scripture as in Abraham Dauid Ezechias and other kinges whome God hath defended And their examples are prepounded to euery prince y t they may be assured that god doth of likewise defēde the good For the histories of holy men and Heithen men do differ in that that in y ◠histories of holy men are set forth and declared the witnesses of Gods workes the which also do not only treat of politike matters but do chefely shadowe and declare vnto vs Gods kingdome that God geueth his worde that frely and of mercye he will saue the which thing the histories of the Gentiles can not speake of Therfore ought euery Christen man chefely to know the holy scripture that out of them they may learne the doctrine and confirmation of faith First how al thinges are created of God how sinne dyd beginne that Christe hath set vp his kingdomes against sinne that he hath geuē his word that Christe was promised and that he is come to abandon sinne and to saue vs. Item how God whan he had geuen his word hath alway preserued and maintened Christes kingdome and that Christes kingdome that is the true beleuing haue alway ben cōuersaunt vnder the crosse sence the beginninge of y ◠worlde and yet neuerthelesse are saued that Satan with the greatest power of the world hath assaulted the word of God Item that God hath wōderfully alway kept his promise aboue the vnderstandynge and thought of mens wit or wisedome Item that God hath set before vs bothe the examples of his dredefull vengeaunce and also of grace or fauour Of this wise haue king Dauid and other gotten remission and forgeuenesse of sinnes that by theyr examples we may be comforted and beleue that God wil forgeue Nether is y ◠to be omitted that God hath geuen vs al maner of prophecyes of exterior kingdomes to stablish our mindes that of the accomplishment of their chaunce we myghte haue wytnesse that our word is come of God and that none other faith saueours is true Item that we shuld be warned whan Christe muste come and whan the ende of the worlde is to be loked for Itē for so muche as we knowe that all thynges spoken of in the prophetes are come to passe that we may beleue that those shall happen also the which holye scripture sayeth shall befal Moreouer to vnderstande prophecyes arighte it is greatlye necessary to knowe the order of kingdomes the nombre of the yeares and many other thynges whyche in readynge of Heathen hystoryes do offer them selues the knowledge whereof is chefelye necessarye for Chrysten men that they may the better vnderstande the propheties and haue the better iudgment of them Of all thys truely maye euery man iudge how muche profyte is taken oute of the readynge of hystoryes and the greate profyte or frute that commyth of them ought dylygently to steare and driue euery man to knowe them After what order hystoryes must be comprehended and red HE that wyll reade hystoryes to profyt the same must comprehende all the tymes sence the foundacyon of the worlde into a certayne order For there were some that diuyded the worlde therfore in seuen ages and haue rekened them diuersly but those where they endeuour to sett an order they do nothynge but sett all thynges wythout order As for me I wyll folow the renowmed sayenge of Ely the prophet whych hath excellently dyuyded the worlde into thre ages wyth the whyche he sheweth the greatest chaunges of the worlde also what tyme it behoued Christ to come and how longe thys state of the world ought to last and thus it is The
vs of the promyse made and of thys wyse hath he set before vs tokens of beneuolence and mercy to exercyse the fayth He hath also than permitted the lybertye to cate flesh the which the holy fathers before the floude dyd neuer vse Besyde thys gaue God a new commaundement of outwarde administration and commaunded more playnly that mansleyers shoulde lykewyse be putt to death by those that be lawfullye permittted that is by the officers Of thys wyse than is a new state of the worlde ordeyned agayn All these thynges haue I brefely recyted specially that euery man may call to minde and waye by hymselfe how great Gods wrath is for synne For God would cause the worlde to be more ware by this example because he wyliudge and auenge it is also shewed that God shall once iudge the whole worlde for he will not that synne be vnreuenged or vnpunished Some haue written that seynge the worlde hath fyrst be drowned with waters it maye be gathered by naturall reasons that it shall after thys be consumed wyth fyre Yea and this is worthy to be marked that they whiche belong to god are kept of him though they be few abiect and despised This is also to be noted in thys place that the ciuyll power is ordeined and punishment for manslaughter For that is nerehande the heade of all ciuill exercise of iustice after the which all other cases and trespaces ought to be iudged Of the Tower of Babel AFter the floude whan mankynd was now encreased the Tower of Babel and the citie of Babilon was begon to be buylded by the Chaldees that they might begyn a kyngdome ther and subdue to them other nations or people But thys enterpryse hath God ouerthrowen For whan they all vsed before one language it befell that after the commune speche was chaunged they spake one one maner of language another another so that they vnderstode not eche other Wherfore there was a diuision of speches and the worke it selfe was left vnperfect The posterite of Noe than was strowed here and ther in the world the which the fygure folowynge shall declare Sem the eldest sonne of Noe of whose kynred is Christe hath wyth hys childeren possessed that parte of Siria whiche is towarde the Easte For of Aram hys sonne came the Syrians of Assur came the Assyrians of Arphaxat came the Chaldeis of Elam are the Persyans spronge Cham the seconde sonne of Noe hath optayned that countrye whyche goeth towarde the South Of Canaan are come the Chananeis of Mizraim came the Egyptyans of Chus came the Ethiopians of Saba came the Arabians Iaphet the longest sonne of Noe went to the North and West and this is the father of vs all and therefore his name founde by the Poetes whych haue called him Iapetus Of his sonne Iauan or Iaon are the Grekes whiche are called Iones for they be the first Grekes And the voice Ianan or Iaon is no doute the same whom the Latines do call Ianus They vsed to paynte him with a double vysage before and behinde because that of hym be sprouge both the nations the Grekes and the Latines and as oft they would begynne any thinge they worshipped him wyth a spngulare honour by the whyche they wytnessed that they counted Iaon their father Iaons sonne was Cethim of whome are called the Macedones and thys confyrmeth the fyrste boke of the Machabees and the worde Machetim sygnifyeth in Hebrue of Cethim of the whiche is spronge the worde Macedo For Stephanus the expounder of Greke wordes wryteth that the auncient dyd saye Macetis Iaon had manye chyldren Elisa and Dodanim of the whiche haue their beginninge the Aeoles or Hellas and the Dodoneies all these are the first of the Grekes Of Tarsis Iaons sonne is Tharsus in Cilicia called Iaphet had other chylderen also Gomer Magog Tyras and Mesech Of Gomer are the Cunerij or Cimbry as witnesseth Eusebius Of Ascanes Gomers sonne came the Tuiscones that is the Germanes Of Magog are spronge the Scythe and of them are begonne the Turkes Of Thyras come the Thraces I haue brefelye shewed what part of the worlde eche of Noes chylderen hath possessed the which doeth greately auayle better to vnderstande many hystoryes Of the fyrst Monarchye THat it maye be vnderstande how the worke of God muste be knowen and honored in those thynges that the magistrate or superiorite doeth we haue aduertysed before in the preface that God willed to entertayne the world by foure Monarchies to the intent that policye iustice and correction mighte be entertayned amonge men for this cause are many thynges spoken here and there of these Monarchies in holy scripture God hath proposed them to Daniel two maner of waye First vnder the figure of a greate man whose heade was golden the brest of syluer the belly of copper the legges of yron the fete partely of earth partly also of yron And lest we should not know that then finally shal y â— end of the world be there is added how that the stone Christ doeth breake his fete that the man hymself do fall and so do the world cease Daniel hym self hath expounded this vision of the foure monarchies For he saieth that the head doth signifie the first kyngdome that is the Monarchie of the Assyrians The brest of siluer sygnifieth the kyngdome of the Persians The belly of copper signifyeth the kyngdome of the Grekes The legges of yron signifyeth the kyngdome of the Romanes The fete of yron and earth signifyeth the state of the Empire of Rome at this tyme namely that now a dayes is much lesse and weaker than it was wont to be The foure beastes shewed vnto Daniel do also pretende these foure kyngdomes The Lyonesse sygnifyeth the force of the Assyrians The Beere sygnifieth the Persian empyre The Leoparde signifieth Alexander By the fourth beast are the Romanes signifyed And there is added that besyde the Romaine empyre there shall ryse an other empyre full of cruelnesse and suche one that shall make a new lawe agaynst Gods worde And that is the Mahometish and Turkysh empyre now a dayes God wyll haue vs so truely warned that as we knowe the histories of al the worlde we should consyder that the tyme of finishyng be not farre of and that of this wise we should haue wherewith to confirme our faith In the Bible it is manifest that the fyrst kingdome beganne by Nemrod amonge the Babylonians and the scripture calleth him a valyaunt hunter before God that is a mighty prynce which wyth force subdued men to obeye And he is called a hunter before the Lorde as Gods hunter whereby it is signifyed that the ciuill power is ordeyned of God as a vengeaunce and that she be a minister of God Wherfore the fyrst Monarchye beganne by the Chaldeis as wytnesseth also Xenophon and the successors of Cham raygned fyrst of the whyche dyd Nemroth yssue For though Noe had cursed
he comaunded also to sley in contynently all the mankynde that were borne God sent Moses to leade the people of Israel out of Egypte the whiche after many wonders brought the people to the redd see Pharao folowed them wyth great force trustynge to optayne hys mynde that he myght sâ—aye them for ther was no place to escape seynge of the one syde they were closed in wyth hylles of the other syde wyth the see and Pharao the tyrauÌ„te laye vpon them behynde But here declared God that whan extreme necessite lieth vpon them that be hys he is nere by them and heareth them For the water went back and gaue the people waye a great space that they myght passe wythout any daunger but the tyraunt folowed into the sea vnhappely which was drowned wyth the water that returned into hys fyrst course and wyth hym the choyse of the people of Egipt Here theÌ„ hath God sett forth again a new example to the worlde that he wil iudge and be reuenged of wycked tyrauntes and all that despyse godlynesse What time the ten commaundementes were geuen THe fyftyeth daye after that the chylderen of Israel were gone out of Egypt whan they iournyed through thee desert by mount Suiai were the ten commaundementes geuen wyth incredible magnificence and maiestye namely wyth a voice out of heauen full of feare and drede Thys worke of God is such as none higher dyd euer happen to men at any tyme in the worlde For the doctrine of the ten coÌ„maundementes conteygneth the suÌ„me of the godly wysedome and in a brefenesse doth comprehende all maner of lawes and constitutions that can be any wher Therfore is it nedefull to know the tyme in the whiche suche a wayghtye lawe was geuen of God namely the yeare from the creation of the worlde two thousande foure hundreth and foure and fyfty Seuen hundreth foure score and eyghtene after the floude S. Paull sayeth that the lawe was geuen after that the promyse was made foure hundreth and thyrtye yeares For the same is the nombre of the yeres sence the tyme whan Abraham beynge olde thre score and fyftene yeare receaued the promyse vntyll that tyme whan Israel was brought out of Egypte by Moses And thesam that is redde in the xii chapiter of Exodus that Israel dwelt in Egypt foure hundreth and thyrty yeares the same maye not be rekened from the tyme that Iacob weÌ„t into Egypt seynge Ioseph was than in his floure And that thys was not the nombre after Iacob only maye easely be gathered here by that Caath went wyth Iacob And he begat a sonne Aâ—ram whose sonne was Moses Now can it not be that betwene Caath and Moses haue ben foure hundreth yeares Wherfore the foure hundreth and thyrty yeares whereof ther is redde in Exodus are to be couÌ„ted from that tyme wheÌ„ Abraham came fyrst from Mesopotamia into Canaan and was afterwarde conuersant hymselfe in Egypte And that the mynde of S. Paul may the better be vnderstaÌ„d I shall gather the noÌ„ber of y â— yeares soÌ„what more dilgeÌ„tly There are fyue and twenty yeares vntyl the byrth of Isaac from the tyme that Abraham came fyrst in to the lande of Canaan what tyme he hymself was thre score and fyftene yeare olde Isaac begat Iacob when he was thre score yeare olde The foure score and tenth yeare of Iacob was Ioseph borne Ioseph lyued an hundreth and ten yeares After Ioseph vntyll Moses was borne are thre score and fyue yeares And this nombre of the yeares doth Philo note also Moses was foure score yeare old when he ledde the people out of Egypt If these yeres be numbred together they mount to the nombre of foure hundreth and thyrty So muche tyme was there sence that the promyse was firste made to Abraham vntyll that tyme that Israell came out of Egypte and after that was the lawe geuen Now hath God geuen this Israelitysh people a certayn policy and a seuerall kyngdome in the whiche can nothyng bee requyred that pertayneth to Gods seruice to the presthode also to the ciuyll iustice that finally there myght be a certayn people whiche should haue the worde of God and of the whiche Christ shoulde fynally be borne By this people than hath alwaye bene the churche Gods kyngdome and hystrue word vntil that christ had suffered the which must be marked so that no man bee ignoraunt that she churche hath alway bene and that God hath sence the begynnyng of the worlde reueled his worde and to haue kept it alway with vs. Of the princes or rulers of Israell FRom the departyng out of Egypte vntyll the begynnyng of Sauls kyngdome were thre hundreth thre score and nyne yeres the which the texte of the syxt chapiter of y â— third boke of kynges doth declare Now had this people after Moses deceaseÌ„ princes whiche partely were created by the aucthorite of wyse men partely were by a singular callynge raysed vp of God by the whiche are notable thynges done and of this wyse declared God that he is faithfully with them that be his and to defend them though they seme somtyme to be tossed with the waues of peryls These princes by an Hebrue costume were called Iudges Howbeit for somuche as their histories be written in the Bible we shall only rehearse their names that the order of thee Cronicles and course of the yeares maye the better be obserued Moses raygned .xl. yeares Iosue xxvij Othoniel xl Ehud lxxx Barach with Debora the prophetisse xl Gedeon xl Abimelech iii. The same committed murther vpon his owne brother and gotte thee kyngdome too hymselfe by sedition and therfore was he not long after vnpunyshed hymselfe also Chola xxiij Iair xxiâ— Iephthe vi Abessan vij Abdon viij Sampson xx After these gouerned y â— people these hygh priestes Ely xl yeares Samuel xl yeares The Kynges of Israel THe iudges of the people of Israel wer not succedyng by enheritaunce therefore was not the gouernaunce among that people firme or certayne saue only with the hygh priestes but God ordeined somtyme wyse princes amonge theÌ„ in steade of a garnison those raysed God now here now there But the people euell coÌ„tented with this incertaintie of gouernaunce required of Samuel the hygh priest too haue a certayne kyng the whiche might gouerne the kyngdom Samuel willyng to do nothyng rashly asked counsayl of God god shewed that he was very wroth with that wilfulnesse of the people demaundyng a newe kyng commaunding y e people to bee greuously punyshed therfore Neuerthelesse God dyd in the meane season graunt to the makyng of the kyng and institutyng and continuance of a kyngdome The power of the kyngdom and administration of it is confirmed here with wordes of no small importaunce the whiche must chefely be consydered Moreouer it is to bee marked that God is not dyspleased because he doth mysprayse the gouernaunce of a kyng for he doth manifestly coÌ„firme it but hee is displeased with
bee God for they knewe ryght well that they were wood and stone but they were of this opinion that this worke and this seruice pleased God and that he would be worshipped of this maner where as yet God wil not be worshypped by vnfaythfulnesse without onely Christe by what maner of worke or fashion soeuer it be And so could thei neuer be sure whether God were fauourable to them for no man can surely persuade hymselfe the same without the manifest promyse of God and without Christ The heade then of all Idolatry is to truste in a peculiar and in a forged worshyp of God excogitated of hys awne hed and in the meane season neuerthelesse to doubte in tribulations whether God will be fauourable This doute I saye is the principall parte of Idolatry And the vngodly whiche neuerthelesse estemeth hym self good and wise doth in this point much differ from the tren christian godly Such an vngodly man hath goodly vertues very shynyng workes but his hart doubteth whether God be fauourable to him As for a godly man and true Christian may wel be lesse then he coÌ„cerning other vertues but in his hart he is surely persuaded that he is in the fauour of God according to y e promises for sitting in a chere vpoÌ„ the denne prophecied of thinges to come out of the whiche denne in the meane whyle came smoke blast of windes Of this wise is it sayd to haue bene happened at Delphis After that these prophecies were supposed to be written of the priestes as vndouted south saynges and because they were doutfully written they might bee taken diuersly These were deceates of the deuel wherewith he begiled the worlde Of Homerus and Hesiodus BY the Grekes only were first the best learned poetes whiche were partly musicians partly priestes some of them also were w 〈…〉 sene in phisyck and astronomy These comprysed their wysdome and learnyng with verses short sentences But among them whose workes are yet manyfest were Homerus and Hesiodus the chiefe Cassius writteth that Homerus liued after the battaill of Troie thre hundreth and thre scor 〈…〉 yeres and before the fondacion of Rome euen there about whyche maye bee gathered to haue bene about that tyme when Iosaphat reigned in Iewry His dwellyng was at Smyrna whiche lieth in the forth part of Asia where the moost auncient of the Grekes dwelled whiche were called Iones and Acolidas And all though Homerus was not myghtye in gouernaunce of the common wealth it semeth yet that he vsed the coÌ„pany of the greatest princes of all Greke For he described of the best m 〈…〉 ner the kynred and ofspringe nearehande of a 〈…〉 princes and his bokes are euen a myrour of all ciuyl occupation and princely vertues For he hath paynted and set forth all thynges that can befall in gouerning a commune welth Besydes this also what is the duety of princes and great men in there counsels gathered together and in other afferes whatsoeuer they be he hath set them forth so conningly that he semeth to be most exercysed in parliamentes and diuising of most weyghty matters apperteining to kingdomes Moreouer the sage wryters dyd neuer prayse so highly no poetes writing as the poetry of Homer the whiche Alexander the great would neuer suffre to be out of his handes because he might haue wherout he might be admonished and taught of the duety and vertues of an excellent kynge Hesiodus as wytnesseth Porphirius lyueth an hundreth yeare after Homer He was a neighbure or priest of the mount Helicon where was a greate and a famous temple His writinges are for the most parte sermones of good maners For they are short sentences comprisinge the pyth of all kynd of vertues but they treate nothinge of Christe For thys heauenly doctryne was hydden to the Gentyls Thys poetes writinges conteyne also as it were a iust and perpetuall Kalendar ordeyned after the course of the Sonne and the obseruation of those starres whiche shewe the difference of the yeare Thys boke is worthy to be learned by rote of yonge chyldren and it semeth that wyse men of Grece haue in tymes past apprehend theyr chyldreÌ„ here to knowe these noble sciences But the poet Hesiodus a man of notable learnynge and temperaunce at the ende dyed wretchedly by some of hys frendes whych dyd euyl recompence hym for hys good dedes Of the buildinge of the citye Rome PRoca Kynge of Alba had two sonnes Numitor and Amulius Nowe had the father determined to geue the kyngdom to hys sonne Numitor because he was the elder but Amulius that was the yonger droue hym out and vsurped to hym the kyngdome And lest he myght feare any dauÌ„ger by the yssue of Numitor he stew hys sonne Agistus by fraude hys brothers doughter â–ª Rhea Syluia bounde he wyth a vowe of perpetual chastitye in the company of the virgins Uestales But she beynge made greatwith chylde brought forth two twynnes whych afterwarde were called Romulus and Remus But whan Amulius knew of thys dede he caused the mother to be kept in pryson and the chyldren to be trowen into the floude of Tyber to drowne them Whan the chyldren were now set at the brinke of y e water by chaunce came a wolfesse out of the nexte mountaynes which gaue theÌ„ soucke vntil they were founde of the Kynges shepherde who bringinge them home toke them hys wyfe to nouryshe Wherfore whan they were waxen greate and herde of the pretended murther in theyre youth of Amulius and that the Kyngdome was taken from theyr vncle Numitor by force they determyned to auenge the tyranny and by occasion slew kynge Amulius restorynge theyr vncle Numitor into his Kyngdome Of thys wyse doth God not suffre vnrighteousnesse to be vnpunished Romulus and Remus brethren buylded afterwarde a citye in hat place where they were founde and layde Whan stryfe was rysen amonge the brethren for so much as they were equal in age strength whiche of them shulde raygne they agreed that the Gods should iudge it so that whose shulde haue the greater flyght or voyces of byrdes the same shulde beare rule To Remus therefore dyd fyrst flye syxe great rauens afterwarde flew twelue for Romulus Now whan Remus demaunded the Kyngdome by reason of the fyrst flyght ther rose agayne debate betwene the brethren It is a wonder how fearcely mens myndes betossed wyth couetousenes to beare rule nother can it lightelysuffer and be quiet But what nedeth many wordes At the last rayse a commotion Remus was slayne and Romolus raygned alone of whome also hath Rome the name By this appeareth that y e citye of Rome was buylded by the posteritye of Eneas For Syluia the mother of Romulus had hyr sprynge of Eneas But for as muche as Romulus Father was vnknowen they fayneth that the god Mars was he because of a more honester cloke or pretence of the â—aute But how Romolus dyd ordeyne hys kyngdom
thesame maye easely laye together the nomber of the Grekes with these CxCi. yeares Iesus the high prest xxxvi Ioakin his sonne in his fathers absence viii Iesus beynge returned xx Ioakin agayne xlviii Eliasib xxi Ioiada xxiiii Ioathan xxiiii Iaddus x. Summa of the yeares is CxCi. Iosephus wytnesseth that Iaddus lyued whan Alexander wente into Asia The Persian kynges as the Grekes do reken them Cyrus xxix Cambises vij and. v. moneths Darius Hystaspis sonne xxxvi Xerxes xx Artaxerxes with the longe hande xl Darius the bastarde xix Artaxerxes Mnemon xl Ochus xxvi Arsames iij. Darius vi The order of the tymes doth for the mooste parte allowe this nombre For as the historye wryters haue lyued at sundery tymes euen so hath euery one made mencion of hys kynge that raygned at hys tyme euen as Herodotus maketh mencion of xerxes Theucydides of Artaxerxes with the longe hande after these made Xenophon mencion of Darius the bastarde and his yonger sonne Cyrus he wrote also of Artaxerxes Mnemon Xenophon went a warrefare also in those warres that were vsed at these tymes Therfore the late wryters do greatly erre of the Iewes they be very dull asses which set but four Persian kinges lesing more thē an hundreth yeares in this euident counting of the worldes yeares of the whiche do spryng more greueous errours In Daniel and Esdras is mencion made of the Persian kynges but they varye in some names from the Grekes As for me that all thynges may be knowen more manyfestly I wyll brefely shewe what my mynde is Metasthenes is of some reiected because he nameth some Persian kynges other wyse then the Grekes But for so muche as Esdras and Philo do not disceuer from hym I do not reiect those kynges whiche Metasthenes reherseth For it is no doubt but that Esdras was perfecte of the kyngdome and state of the Persians for so muche as it is euident that hee was one of the chefe of the realme and of the kynges counsayll Metasthenes doth set in this order the Persian kynges and these be the fyrste wherein they vary but Philo and Esdras kepe the same order Darius and Cyrus to gether twoo yeres and after that Cyrus alone xxij Artaxerxes Assuerus xx Darius Artaxerxes with the long hand xxxvij Darius the bastarde xix Artaxerxes Mnemon lv Ochus xxvi Arsames iiij Darius vi This variaunce after my mynde may easely bee iudged Of the fyrst Darius whiche reigned with Cytus haue the Grekes no certainte for so much as saieth Daniel he neuer reigned and therefore was his name all together vnknowen to men of straunge nacions And Daniel hath separated this Darius from Cyrus For he sayeth that Darius of Media was Cyrus of Persia Now do the Grekes reken only the Persian kynges nother do they myngle with them the Medians affeirs whose kyngdome was already translated too the Persians therfore do the Greke wryters dissent nothyng from the holy scriptvres though they leaue out Darius seynge they counte onely the Persian kynges Iosephus wryteth that this Darius were Cyaxares the sonne of Astyages of whome Xenophen wryteth the whyche I wyll not stryue wythall The seconde Artaxerxes Assuerus is Darius Hystaspis sonne and Cambyses is passed ouer because hee reigned hys father yet lyuynge or not long after his fathers death For the Persians had this custome that whan y e kyng went forth on war they ordeined another before which shuld supplie y e kings rowme being absēt And by this occasiō was Cambyses ordeined kyng gouernour of y ◠realme of Cyrus hys father whan he made warre agaynst the Scythyans wyth the which he hadde warre syxe yeares and for this season dyd Cambises raigne whome the Grekes saye to haue raygned seuenyeare the which must be vnderstande of that time wherein the father was yetlyuing And the historyes of Assuerus do wytnesse that he was Darius because Philo wryteth that these kyngdomes be recouered of hym agayne by warre whiche were fallen back and rebelled whan Cyrus had foughten wyth the Scythes hauing no goodlucke The thyrde was called Darius Artaxerxes wyth the longe hande the same do the Grekes simply call Artaxerxes wyth the longe hande and he had the name thereof that hys ryght hande was longer than the left whome Metasthenes calleth Darius Esdras doth call hym Darius and Artaxerxes indifferently for they vsed these names none otherwyse than oure Emperours vse the names of Cesar and Augustus But that Artaxerxes doth strayght waye folow Darius in order that is happened for thys cause that Xerxes forthwyth in the begynnynge of hys raygne wente in to Grece and that in the meane space Artaxerxes ruled the kyngdom in the East And because Xerxes remayned not at hande in the East therfore do not the Iewes make mention of hym but holde Artaxerxes for the kynge seynge he beynge made gouernour of the kyngdome ruleth so longe as Xerxes was from home After thys is ther no varyaunce more and of thys wyse maye the hystoryes of the Byble and Grekes be made very well to agre The disagreynge of the yeres ryseth therof y ◠some Kynges gouerned the other yet lyuinge and ther by is it come that some other haue gathered the yeares otherwyse Of Cyrus CYrus the fyrst Prince of the Monarch of the parsiansis rekened one amonge the moost doughtyest Kynges lordes of the worlde For besyde the manyfold excellent and very princely vertues had God geuē and endued hym wyth sundery luck and fortune in rulynge and very excellent vyctoryes of hys enemies yea he fortuned to be taught and instruct also by Daniel the prophet in godlynes and in the trew worshyp of God as holy scriptures do wytnesse Such kynde of Princes beinge so garnyshed wyth the vertues of God ought we to honoure as noble gyftes of God by the whych God wyll helpe the worlde retayne men in theyr vocacion haue modestye kept and peace finally to haue lawes ordeyned And seynge it is so it is a very vngodlynesse ether to despise or to set nought by suche Princes as the commune sort of people do But this Cyrus is worthtely to be counted among such ministers of God and very excellent Princes of the worlde Nother can the noblenesse of kynred be requyred in hym For it so pleasyd God that the worthynesse of gouernaunce be kept and maynteyned and by men auanced wyth moost hyghe vertues and renowme of theyr auncerters And for so much as God hath preferred with so high honors therfore ought they lykewyse to be honored of vs as a most excellēt gyfte of God The father of Cyrus was a prince or a gouernour of Persia borne of the ofsprynge of Sem his mother was borne of the kynges blude of Medes And Herodotus wryteth that Astyages kynge of the Medes sawe in a dreame out of hys doughters wombe to grow a vyne whose sprynge should ouer shadowe whole Asia Of this was the coniecture taken that a
nede of an other mans helpe and mercye After thys commaunded he Cresus to be brought to him and had him in greate reuerence as a great prince and vsed hys counsel in gouernaunce Cyrus demaunded of hym also by what cause he had taken this warre whether he were moued by the answer of Apollo whome he had asked counsell before To this answered Cresus sayenge That Apollo counselled him right well with these wordes Knowe thy selfe and all thyng shall prospete He dyd not refuse thys counsell of Apollo For whan his hoost had gotten the worsthande in aydinge the Assyrians he had purposed thenceforth to lyue in rest and peace chefely for so muche as he sawe Cresus to haue such prosperitie and power in bringinge all thinges to passe But whan he was praysed of the cityes that laye rounde aboute and of his great princes for his power and conning of warrfaringe he was agayne deceaued by pryde and vaine glory of him selfe and was so by the other princes made capitaine of the warre agaynst Cyrus And that by these praises he was brought to take the answer of Apollo otherwyse and that he thought he was suche a one in dede as he was praised namely that he was no lesse in power than king Cyrus and by these meanes had he taken the warres in hande But hetherto is ynough spoken of Cresus Hereof maye notable examples be taken that princes be oft brought to warre by no constraynt of necessytie and to theyr greate hynderaunce by the counsell and flattery of them which can falsely persuade and extolle with vaine prayses theyr power and vertues In king Cirus is chefely to be considered that in so great prosperities of all thynges he vsed great moderation of minde and that in so great violence of victories he swaged tyranny wyth mekenesse Cyrus than toke in all the kyngdomes from Persia vntyll the fyrste borders of Ionia from thence beynge returned he besieged the cytye Babylon which semed moost strongest against all force of mans power But Cyrus wanne her and that by this meanes The floude Euphrates runneth through the citye by some ryuers dyggynge thorough hys caucyes he ledde the course of the water another waye and as the floud was dryed men myght safely go into the toune on foote Besyde that had he hys espyals whych shewed what tyme the Babylonians were at reste and so broughte he hys army into the cytye in the styll of the nyghte whan they douted nothyng lesse But what nedeth here to prayse and auaunce much the prosperytie of Cyrus seynge it maye easely be thought and consydered that it is Goddes worke and not of mans wysedome or power that so many and so stronge tounes and kynges be subiect to hys kyngdome vnto whome it semeth no mans power nearehande myght wythstande For those hygh monarchies are ordeined conserued by an heauenly power for to preserue the state of a coÌ„mune wealth agaynst the will of Satan Moreouer after that Babylon was wonne than began that kyngdom of the Perses fyrst to be called a monarchy For the heade citye or see of the monarchy was Babylon and the kyngdomes of Chalde Assyria Medes and Persians be now brought vnder one empyre The moost parte of Asia was ioyned thereto also and other great countries which border vpon these kyngdomes Cyrus gouerned these kyngdomes with great prayse insomuch that no princes prayses wherof historyes do make mencyon can be compared wyth his commendacions and â—uauncementes I suppose that thys monarchy began after that Babylon was wonne in the thre score and tenth yeare after that the Iewes were ledde into captyuyte in Babilon But sence the creation of y â— world the yere of thre thousand foure hundreth and thre and forty and before Christus byrth the fyue hundreth and one yeare Whereby it maye easely be gathered that those histories of the Grekes that begynne at Cyrus be not very olde Of the Iewes delyuered out of the Babylonycall captiuite HEtherto haue we spoken of the state of the commune wealth and empyre of those tymes nowe resteth it that we speake also of the spyritual kingdome of God and of the churche After that Cyrus had subdued the Babylonians he set the Iewes free and at libertye out of all his kyngdomes and restored them into the kyngdome of Iewry This example wytnesseth howe muche God doeth care for the church or congregacion of the godly and howe lytle he doth forget them For that the church myght be released from the seruice bondage it was necessary that Babilon the citye shuld be taken and peryshe For a prince must not be a cowarde to represse the force of his enemies Herodotus wryteth also that some do suppose otherwise of Cyrus death and Xenophon writeth that he dyed in his bedde and that before his death he exhorteth his childeren to the feare of God to vnitie and loue to eche other and that with a greate relation and manye wordes he admonished them to remembre that mens soules dye not with the bodies but that they remayne immortall and that the godlye after thys lyfe enioye an euerlastinge reste wyth God and that contrary wyse the wicked shalbe greueously punished And to this is it saied that he shoulde haue added a substanciall euidence of mans reason concerning euyll doers the which in this lyfe haue a great inwarde drede in their minde for the conscience of theyr wicked dedes and that therby may be gathered that the soule hath a certayne beynge and that seynge this feare is beaten in by God it is euidente that God will be reuenged of all thynge that is vniustly committed Hetherto is ther ynough saide of thys moost holy kinge Cyrus In what tyme the Philosophers were fyrst in Grece BEfore haue we shewed that by the Grekes were the Poetes fyrst in high reputation by reason of ther learning afterwardes in Cyrus tyme began another kynd of learned men whiche were called Philosophers of them were two sectes at one time for some were philosophers of Ionia some were called philosophers of Italy The philosophers Ionici were in Ionia they vsed greate diligence in naturall thinges and searchinge out the course of starres The beginner of them was Thales which diuided first for the Grekes the yere in thre hundreth and thre score daies For though they had before twelue monethes yet were they constrayned to brynge the mouynge of the sonne to the course of the mone Thales did also shew first of the Eclypse in Grece and found the poynte whan the daye and nyghte are equall the which was no small conning He had learned these thinges of the Egiptians with whom God had kept this science These Thales taught also that the soules are ymmortall and he is the fyrste and true begynner of the philosophers of Grece The other parte of the philosophers whyche are called the Italians began by Pythagoras for the same lyued also aboute the tyme of Cyrus in that
of the floudes Of thys wyse dyd God turne the fortune of the dice and punyshed the pryde Great princes haue here an example sett before them whereby they must learne not to truste in their puyssaunce but that in the feare of God and trust to God must great thynges be taken in hande That he had thys shamefull ende for because this expedicion made euery man amased and also for because Xerxes dyd brynge on to Grece such a great multitude and power none otherwise than in oure tyme the Turke was constrayned to forsake the city of Vienne with great shame which came into Germany with an hoost of two hundreth thousande men Howbeit Xerxes departynge out of Grece left Mardonius the capytayne there wyth thre thousande souldyours and that for thys cause because the kynge persuaded by Mardonius counsell wente into Grece agaynste the mynde and wyll of the other Lordes And because it happened not as Mardonius promysed therefore dredinge lest beynge returned home he might lose hys heade because of the mischaunce of the warre he desyred that he might be left in Grece wyth that army to assaye all fortunes of warre yf by chaunce he coulde make feble the affayres of the Grekes Xerxes than suffred that and betoke hym to hys fortune Fyrst beganne Mardonius frendely to entreate the Grekes that hauing layde before them tolerable condicions of peace they woulde willingly yeld themselues But the Grekes beynge become more couragious by reason of the victory refused vtterly all dominion of the Perses and denyenge the leage asked that he shoulde defende hym selfe with force and fyghtynge hande Than toke Mardonius and burnt the citye of Athenes and wente thorough vntyll Thebe for they of Thebe were fallen to the Perses The Athenians and Lacedemonians makyng than agayn a fresh army by land of an hundreth thousand men met at sundry times with Mardonius in battayll at the laste Mardonius constrayned for faut of vytayls made an ende Alexander kyng of Macedony was wyth the Perses of whom we made mencion before the same shewed the Grekes before the euenynge that they should make them ready in armes on the next day for Mardonius was determined to pyche hys last felde and that was so done but the Perses beyng ouercome lost the felde Mardonius beyng slayne also whiche thynge the other counsellers of kyng Xerxes tolde him before the warre began But this was the ende of so great a settyng forth to warre and whan this warre was ended the cities of Grece began too encreace in power and enlargynge of their dominion subduyng many yles of the Perses whiche they adioyned to their dominion Moreouer the Grekes beyng become puyssauÌ„t waxed also haut and presumtuous and for desyre of dominion they procured also inwarde sedicion warre with in themselues and beyng ouercome with mutuall damages that eche had done to the other they were constrayned fynally to yeld themselues to straunge princes quenchynge and destroyeng all the estate of their common wealth and the vertues whereby they floryshed before But of this shall we treate a lytle hereafter It is necessarye to knowe Themistocles example before any thyng the whiche for so muche as he was the man by whose prouisse and counsail whole Grece was saued for the whiche thynge also hys prayses are auaunced more then of any valeaunt captaine whiche Grece had yet was he euel rewarded of his citesens for they droue him out of y â— citie This thanke geueth the commoÌ„ people for the most worthye vertues yea the deuell hymselfe blyndeth men that they do not acknowledge so hygh gyftes of God Wherfore it behoueth the best and excelleâ—t men to haue pacience before all thynges for it can not bee but they must haue grefes and all vnthankfulnesse in that state of lyfe After that fled Themistocles to Artaxerxes by whome he was had in greate honor in all thynges equall to the princes and peeres of his royalme It is wrytten also that Artaxerxes should haue sayde he coulde wyshe his enemies no more euyll but that they blinded with such madnesse dyd put awaye wyse men from them Of Artaxerxes with the longe hande AS Xerxes was deade raigned his sonne Artaxerxes whose right hande was longer than the left whereof he gat the surrname wyth the long hand Thys kynge is chefely praysed for his syngular wysedome and gentlenesse of maners and endeuour of peace Therefore do I rehearse his historye here nomore at length that wee maye finallye returne to the Iewysh hystories lest we be ignoraunce what state was in the church and spyrytuall kyngdome Of Zorobabel the Iewysh capitayne WE haue shewed before that in the Bible is one of the Persian kynges called Assuerus but the same was Darius Histaspis and as I suppose thys Darius is Assuerus which had quene Hester Herodotus doth also make mencion of Artistona the whiche Darius had besyde quene Atossa and sayeth that the same Artistona was very well beloued of Darius and it appeareth that thys same was Hester Philo writeth also that the history of Iudith happened in the tyme of this Darius and that Arphaxad whereof the history of Iudith maketh mention was captayn of y â— Assyrians after that they were now fallen from Cyrus whâ— was ouercome of the Scythyes I do not disalow thys meanynge of Philo but verely as I do suppose the history of Iudith was now already fulfilled before that Iuda was led into bondage and also before the Persians monarchy For Arbaces kynge of the Medes was before the monarchy of the Perses and Ninius was destroyed in the tyme of the Persians kyngdome and whan the Perses had the monarchy nether Ninius nor the Medes had theyr kynge Howbeit I graunt here euery man to defende hys meanynge After Darius Histaspis setteth Philo Artaxerxes wyth the longe hande passynge ouer king Xerxes but doutlesse for none other cause saue as is shewed before namely than whaÌ„ Xerxes was gone into Grece Darius wyth the long hand gouerned the royalme in the East in the meane season And this is that Darius with the longe hande whiche gaue the Iewes leaue the seconde tyme to buylde agayne the temple For though Cyrus had permitted the Iewes to returne to Ierusalem for to tyll theyr lande and to restore the kingdome the worship of God neuerthelesse in the meane season after Cyrus death â–ª were they letted by the borderers y â— the building could not goo forewarde vntill the seconde yere of Artaxerxes with the long hand whoÌ„ Philo calleth Darius with the longe hande Thesame commaunded in the second yeare of his king 〈…〉 by a commune proclamation commaundement that Ieruâ—alâ— the temple shuld be repared This was the occasion by the whiche the Iewysh natioÌ„s was restored to his libertie instituted again the gouernaunce of the royalme with the Gods seruice and builded agayne the temple and cities And though Iuda had not hetherto his kynges yet had they princes
of Dauids posterite vntil that tyme that the Machabees began to reigne Firste reigned zorobabel whose posteritie what fortune they had and how finally the whole kyngdome is translated from Dauids posteritie shall we shewe hereafter For so was it prophecied afore by the prophetes that Christe should be borne about that tyme of Dauids bloude that foren princes shoulde vsurpe to them the kyngdome of the Iewes that was now already alienated The rekenynge of the seuenty wekes out of Daniel IT was shewed Daniel by heauenly reuelacion of Christus commynge and howe long the Iewysh people should last Ther is a notable wytnesse in this prophecy to confirme the certaynte of our faith against the Iewes whiche striue and contende that Christ is not yet come and wayte yet for another Messias Verely the rekenyng of the tyme appointed by Daniel is easy and specially it is pleasaunt to know thereby that Christe was surely come about that tyme the whiche Daniel hath prescribed For though other do count diuersly yet if ye go not froÌ„ the order of the histories there shall bee found no great dissention wherfore ye could doubt For the diligent rekening of the tyme is requisite to repete out of Ptolome these Eclipses that are happened and to gather out of them ordely euery yeare but that were not one mans laboure And diligently ought Byshops to occupie them in these thynges with doyng costes that the vnderstandynge of so notable prophecies myght bee clerely had in the churche I truely wyll gather here out of the best histories the nombre of the yeares and endeuoure to make the rekenyng there of very playne Daniel sayeth Seuenty wekes are concluded vpon this people and specially accordynge to the commaundement of buyldyng agayne Ierusalem shalbe syxty and nyne wekes vntill Christes kyngdome and than shall Christ be put to death Fyrst must it be knowen what that the wekes do yearly signifye so that euery weke make seuen yeares the whiche maye easely be proued Wherefore the seuenty wekes make foure hundreth and nynety yeares Secondly sayeth Daniel Christe shalbe put to death after thre score and nyne wekes but so that he teache the half weke and afterward bee put to death The tyme and office of Christ is notable expressed of this maner Thyrdly must the nyne and seuenty wekes bee rekened from the seconde yeare of Darius Longimanus that is wyth the long hande For then dyd God sende Zachary and Aggeus the prophetes that they shoulde comforte and certaynely assure the people of repairyng Ierusalem hereafter without any hynderaunce And of this worde that is of this reuelacion are the aungels wordes to be vnderstande Because then was made the sure promyse to the people of the furtheraunce of the temples repayryng Besyde that commaunded Longimanus that self same yeare by an open commaundement that â—he Iewes shoulde not be hyndered of their purpoâ—â—d worke of buyldynge the citie and temple as it was done before But all this is to be red in the bodies of Eldras And surely to this same delaye of tyme in repairyng of the temple had saint Ihon respect in the seconde chapter of his gospell where the Iewes said that in buyldyng of the temple were spent syx and fourty yeares for that is the nombre of the yeares from the seconde yeare of Cyrus vntyll the syxte yeare of Longimanus wherein the worke of the temple was accomplyshed But now is it gathered out of the booke of the Machabees and out of Iosephus that from the begynnyng of Alexander after the death of the last Darius vntyll Christe was borne to be thre hundreth and ten yeares From Christes byrth vntyll hys baptyme thyrty yeares Summa from the begynnynge of Alexander vntyll the baptyme of Christe thre hundreth and fourty yeares To these put the tyme from the seconde yeare of Longimanus vntyll Alexander after the death of the laste Darius and as Metasthenes counteth there shall be a hundreth and fyue and fourty yeares Summa from the second yere of Longimanus vntill the baptisme of Christe are foure hundreth foure score and fyue yeare And therfore thre score and nyne yearly wekes make euen foure hundreth and foure score and two wekes Whereby it is manifest that when Christe was baptysed were fulfylled three score and nyne yearly wekes and in the weke folowynge taught Christ in the same half weke was he put to death For Christe was put to death the fourth yeare after that he was baptised Wherfore when this weke that foloweth is added to the thre score and nine there shalbe seuenty wekes and this is the maner to count the tyme appoynted by Daniel For after Christes death are the Iewes nomore Gods people and their temple was afterward an abominacion the whiche Daniel witnessed playnly Besyde this are other notable doctrines and consolacions of troubled coÌ„sciences in this prophecy of Christes office and kyngdome that he came to preache forgeuenesse of synnes but to expounde all this maketh to no purpose here nother is it here taken in hande I haue truely sought out with so great diligeÌ„te as I could the maner of countyng the seuenty wekes of Daniel nother do I fynde that it can greatly varye if ye wyll folowe the fourme of histories For though ye wyll not folowe Metasthenes yet doth the rekenyng of the Grekes agre very well here with For after the countyng of the Grekes are betwene the death of Alexander and the beginnyng of Augustus twoo hundreth and foure score yeares the whiche I can proue with very stronge reasons If ye do now take the yeares of the Persians after thee seconde yeare of Longimanus by the Grekes ye shall fynde the same also After Alexander vntyll Christes byrth are thre hundreth and two and twenty yeares After Christes birth vntyl hys baptysme thyrty yeares Put therto the nomber of the Persians from the second yeare of Longimanus an hundreth and two and thyrty yeares after the Grekes Summa of this is foure hundreth foure score and foure yeares So perfectly do the hystories of the Grekes agre with the tyme that is founde in Iosephus and Philo that ye maye openly perceaue the tyme of Christes commynge to be moste fyttly appoynted by Daniel And truely I doubte not but wyse and learned men will alowe and testifye that both these rekenynges that we haue set here maye bee very well proued by wytnesses of hystoryes And without it were to longe I coulde brynge yet other more rekenynges whyche shoulde agre with these also So that it is no doubte but that Daniel hath moste ryghtely hytt thee tyme of Christes commynge It hath also no small pyth of consolacion or comfort though the maner of the tyme do not agre so iustly with euery minute that we may be certyfyed that the tyme prophecyed of Daniel be longe sence past Wherfore are the Iewes in manifest erroure whiche can by no reasons proue that the same tyme is not yet past though they wyll vnderstande the wekes of dayes
or yeares But her of is ynough The table of the yeares of the worlde whiche sheweth the tyme poynted by Daniel M De. lvi vntyll the floude C C xciii vntyll Abraham was borne C C C C xxiij vntyll Moses was borne L xxx vntyll the goyng out of Egipt C C C C lxxx vntyll Salomons temple was buylded C C xxxviii vntyll kyng Ioas. C C xci vntil Ieconias was caried into Babylō Xi vntyll the wastyng of Ierusalem by Nabuchodonosor L xx dured the captiuite of Babylon C xci dured the monarchy of the Perses after the captiuitie of Babylon Vii was Alexander after Darius C xlvi dured the rule of the Grekes vntyll Iuhas Machabeus C xxvij dured the kyngdom of the Machabees as wryteth Iosephus XXX Herodes In the thyrtyeth yeare of Herode was Christe borne M. D. xxxii sence Christe our lorde and Sauiour was borne Our of this table is easely gathered the reason and maner of the yeares in Daniels wrytynge But I fynde by the Grekes the tyme after Alexanders death of this wyse In the .cxiiii. Olympias dyed Alexander Clxxxiiii Olympias began the rule of Augustus after the death of Iulius The xlii yeares of Augustus was Christ borne These yeares together sence the death of Alexāder make about cccxx yeares This nomber doth not so greatly disagre wyth the other aboue rehersed and can easely be made to gre of learned men Of Esdras A Certayne space after the cōmaundement publyshed dyd kynge Artaxerxes let Esdras the scribe returne to Ierusalem And duely not without a cause ought mētion to be made of this man in the histories for the bookes of the holy scripture that were now scattered and strowed dyd he gather agayne and set in order For this worke was worthy to be the duety of a true byshop Because that without holy scripture cannot be maynteined the true religion and worshyp of God In the tyme of this Artarerxes Longimanus began the great warre of Peloponnesus whiche the Grekes had amonge themselues in the whiche the citie of Athens at the last was vtterly destroyed This warre lasted neare hande vntyl the ende of the Persian monarchy and therfore I wyl first brefely reherse in their order the Persian kyng s. suche as are yet behynde Of Darius the bastarde DArius the bastarde reigned after Longimanus and of truth he was not the sonne of Lōgimanus but had his sister to wife and was his brother in lawe He had two sonnes At taxerxes whom they cal Mnemon and Cyrus the yonger Artaxerxes succeded his father in the empire Cyrus was made most puissaunt in Ionia Of Artaxerxes Mnemon AS Darius was deade Cyrus began to take falsly to hym the kyngdome for besyde that he ruled in a most puissaunt duchy he was apte also for all manner of thing and delited chefely in warre and therfore armed he hymself with great power against his brother Beside this had his mother more affection to hym than to his brother whiche had a modest and gentle mother wit But God did not prosper this wicked enterprise of Cyrus for in a battaill where he tought against his brother was he slaine Artaxerxes declared hymselfe not without courage in this battaill for he was greueously wonded of Cyrus and lept vpon another horse that he shoulde knowe that the victory came to hym afterwarde by God only Of Ochus OChus the sonne of Artaxerxes was moste gredy of mans bloud for beside the great tyranny that he vsed he slew also his own brothern He buylded the citie Sidon and brought Egypt againe to the Persian monarchy but they kept the loyalte of their yeldyng not very longe At the last was he slayn of one of his gouernours Of Arsames ARsames was the sōne of Ochus the same was made kyng being yet yonge by the capitain of the host which flew his father Ochus But when Arsames began now to wax great the capitain of the hoost fearyng by reason of the wycked dede that he had done he slew by a disceat this Arsames also Afterward makyng a league with Codomanus prince of Armenia he toke to hym the kyngdome also and called hym Darius Thus was the kynred of the noble prince Cyrus quenshed and the kyngdome of the Persians beyng translated from Cyrus posterite came to a foren prince Nether is that onely to be lamented that suche power and honour and so hygh gyftes of God were deleyed and put out of remembraunce within so few yeares but muche rather that Cyrus folowers beyng strayght waye vnlyke hym dyd declare their father to haue no maner of vertue the whiche appeareth in Ochus whose feates of tyranny gaue occasion that the whole kynred of Cyrus was abolyshed Of the last Darius The same was straunge from Cyrus but he was made prince of Armenia by kyng Ochus for his noble actes of chyuairy for the whiche actes also he was chosen kyng by them that had slayne Arsames left he should be reuenged of Ochus that had done hym good But being blynded by this occasion and with the hope of the kyngdome that was offered hym he forgat all the benefites that he had receaued of Ochus and hauyng the kyngdome he called hymselfe Darius that nothyng should be wanting to the royall dignitie But he was greuously punished for his vnkynonesse and disloyaltie For when he was vanquyshed of Alexander losynge all his landes and kyngdome he lost also his lyfe the whole monarchie of Persia But we shall treate more largely hereof in the begynning of the third monarchie and when we shall speake of Alexander The Warres of the cities of Grece WE haue touched before how the Grekes waxed welthy and presumptuous when the Perses were driuen out of their landes for pride and presumption do commonly folow after great prosperitie Wherfore duryng this monarchie they had great and durable warres among themselues by the whiche whole Grece went finally to naught insomuche that after ward it was open for euery man to breake in And also for the most honest gouernaūce lawes which they vsed in their cōmon welth succeded filthinesse and most corrup maner of behaueour And whome would it not greatly pitie to reade that so many great commodities or yuels and so durable and wicked warres are raysed of so lyght causes They be examples herely not onely to be wondered at but also most worthyest to be marked for they may admonyshe men that they take no warre in hand lightely and for euery lyght cause but only constrayned by great necessitie seing the warre raised amonge the Grekes for a small occasion could be in no maner nor meanes be swaged and layed downe tyll finally straunge people fallyng into Grece oppressed both partes It is not my mynde here to describe this whole warre for Theucidides Xenophon and afterward other haue written therof whole bokes But I wil reherse one thyng among all other namely what fall the citie of Athens hath had in this warre and what
sciences and dyd institute a very good forme of the common welth To hym drew wyse men out of all contryes the which he maynteyned gently and liberally He had a library as there was none better furnished in the whole worlde and for thys cause toke he acquaintaunce of the Iewes For whan he diligently searched for the begynnynge of all nacions religions and sciences he founde that the people of the Iewes to be the eldest and that they onely had the surest historyes of the worldes begynninge or creation Wherefore he required to be sent to hym from Ierusalem thre score and twelue men by whose diligence the wholy Bible myght be translated oute of the Hebrue into his language by this occasion were the Bibles syrste translated into straunge speches And no doubt it is but that Ptolome was conuerted to the true fayth by this same meane iii. Ptolomeus Euergetes inuaded Syria dyd reuenge the death of his syster Berenice iiij Ptolomeus Philopater ouercame Antiochus the great afterwarde beyng become more sensuall and dissolute he beganne to be enamoured vpon a wenche insomuch that he caused also hys quene to be put to death for the loue shewed to that wench v. Ptolomeus Epiphanes whom Antiochus the great dyd inuade the same Antiochus gaue to him hys doughter vi Ptolomeus Philometor the same dyd hys vncle Antiochus Epiphanes inuade But the Romanes defendyng Ptolome commaunded Antiochus to auoyde out of Egypt the which we haue shewed before vii Ptolomeus Euergetes restored Demetrius that was dryuen oute of hys realme into the same agayne viii Ptolomeus Physco the same resembled more a beast than a man by reason of hys vylaynous crueltye He wedded hys syster and begatt chylderen of her Afterwarde slayenge hys sonne set him before hys mother to eate fynallye was he dryuen out of the realme The residue ensuynge were notable of lyke shameful behaueour as of beastly medlynge and of farre more cruell tyranny ix Ptolomeus Alexander x Ptolomeus Latyrus xi Ptolomeus Auletes whome Gabinius the Romane captayne restored agayne into hys kyngdome xii Ptolomeus Dionysius which commaunded to slaye Pompeius and afterwarde was also vnfaythfull to Iulius wherefore Iulius droue hym out of the kyngdome and gaue it to his syster Cleopatra the whiche finally slew herselfe whan Antonius whom she entertayned was ouercome of Augustus After that came Egypte to the Romanes and so was the moost noble kynred of Ptolomeus quenched Of the Iewes WE haue sayde before that the superiorytie of gouernaunce remayned by the posteritie of Dauid after the returne of the Iewes oute of Babylon only that they wanted the dignitie of the kynges name and were only called Prynces And the same rayned tyll the tyme of Antiochus S. Luke doeth also make mencion of them in the genealogye of Christe i. Zorobabel lviij yeares ii Resa Miseolam lxvi iii. Iohanna Ben Resa liij iiii Iudas the fyrst Hircanus xiiij in the tyme of Alexander After Alexander v. Ioseph the fyrst vij vi Abner Semei xi vii Eli Matathia xii viii Aser Maath ix ix Nagid Artaxat x. x. Hagai Eli viij xi Maslot Naum vii xii Amos Syrah xiiij xiij Matathia Siloa xviij xiiij Ioseph the yonger l. The same had greate familiarite wyth Ptolomeus Euergetes and by Eusebius is he called Arses xv Iaanna the seconde Hircanus xvi He had greate warres agaynst the Arabians and had oft victory But whan he was besieged in a castell by Antiochus Epiphanes nether coulde he defend hymself any lenger wyth his garnyson yet woulde he not yelde him selfe but wythstode his enemies valiauntly fightynge in battayl tyll he was slayne This was the laste prince amonge the Iewes of kyng Dauids bloude After hym ruled the Machabees whyche were of the priestly kynred But after these was the kyngdome of the Iewes translated to Herods kynred whyche was a Gentyle but he was circumcised Thys thynge truely had God prophecyed before that the ceptre and royall maiestye shoulde be taken from Iuda and Dauids successors before the comminge of the promysed Christe Nether was the kyngdome altered from Dauids posteritye aboue an hundreth thre score yeare before Christe was borne so that it exceded not mens memory what kinred had raigned Of this wyse doeth Lucas rehearse the princes of the Iewes vntyll the last Ianna Hircanus and after the same doth he counte the residue also which ruled not vntyll Christe Wherefore I wyll brefely adde of the Machabees and Herodes kynred Of the Machabees kynred MAtathias exhorted hys chylderen to resist Antiochus and these raygned in order by successiō as princes Iudas Machabeus the first vanquyshed the capytaynes of Antiochus Epiphanes and recouered the temple wythin thre yeare and had notable victories But assone as he had conspyred wyth the Romanes makyng a league wyth them he was slayn and dyed For God wyll not haue vs to leane to mans helpe but that we shoulde sett oure truste in hym He raygned v. yeares Ionathas raygned nyneten yeare he toke part wyth Alexander which vsurped the kyngdome in Syria Afterwarde was he slayne of Triphon very vnfaythfully He had an vnhappye ende for because he trusted too the ayde of naughty and seditious men Simon reigned eight yeare he ouercame Antiochus Gryphus He was at the last slayn by treason of his owne brother in lawe Ioannes Hircanus was Simons sonne the same reigned syx and twenty yeare In his tyme besieged Antiochus Gryphus Ierusalem but by geuyng of mony was he apeased and breakyng vp the syege left the citie Afterward gat Hircanus Samaria The Machabeis kynges Aristobulus the sonne of Hircanus reigned one yeare and woulde be crowned with a kyngely crowne He was the first kyng in Ierusalem after that the Iewes were returned out of Babylon He slew his brother Antigonus because he feared lest he woulde couet the kyngdome Alexander the yonger sonne of Hircanusreigned seuen and twenty yeare his wyfe Alexandra reigned after hym nyne yeare Alexander left two sonnes after hym Hircanus and Aristobulus Though Hircanus were the elder yet was he dryuen out of the kyngdom by hys brother Aristobulus whiche by violence caught from his brother the dignitie of the kynges name But Antipater prince of Idumea and the father of Herodes and Areta kyng of Arabia ayded Hircanus against Aristobulus Nether was there a lesse barbarous state at that tyme in Iewry after the Heythen maner then in the kyngdomes of other nations Afterward when Pompeius toke in Ierusalem he made Hircanus high priest and taking Aristobulus prisoner with his two sonnes Alexander and Antigonus brought thē to Rome But by the way as they went to Rome escaped Alexāder and commyng againe into Iewry he became mighty againe But then was he vanquished by Gabinius y ◠Romane capitaine in Syria and afterward by the commaundement of Scipio was he beheaded at Antiochia Antigonus was released at Rome
to be remembred in choysynge of counsuls for it must be pertayned to him that it shoulde be so broughte to passe For if he had returned to Rome wythout there should be a consull hys enemyes were minded to oppresse him and to brynge to passe that he shoulde be exiled from Rome But Cesar brought to passe wyth the ayde of the Tribunes that the dignity of Consulshyp was promysed him the which was done wyth the consent of Pompeius the consul also But whan the tyme came to appoynte the consuls some haue stered the Senate to set themselues agaynst him nother suffre Cesar to be made consul the same alured Pompeius to be of their syde and droue out the Tribunes whyche fled to Iulius Cesar But whan Iulius perceaued that they woulde oppresse and betraye hym he laye sore vpon the promyse that was made hym and demaunded the consulshyppe besyde thys would he haue the Tribunes restored into theyr place Duryng this controuersye there were diuerse consultations Marcus Cicero brought the moost vehementes reason whiche were to be borne of ether parte For he wylled that Cesar and Pompeius should forsake theyr hoostes and that Pompeius should goo into Spayne as he was also determined and Cesar so sone as he had forsaken the hoost shoulde be consul Iulius Cesar agreed to thys but Pompeius refused it Wherfore dyd Cesar come to Rome wyth an army appoynted Pompeius takyng the flyght doth lykewise appoynt an hoost wyth all hys power But Cesar taketh in Italy Spayne and persued Pompeius vntyll Grece And though Iulius refusyd not hetherto the condicions of an appointment of peace but dyd also offre them frelye yet Pompeius ceased not to make aunswer that he would graunt nor admitte no condicions of peace before he sawe the heade of Iulius cut of and brought to hym But whan Cesar heard that he was greatly moued Though Pompeius had a more righteous cause yet oughte he to haue vsed more gentlenesse agaynste so noble a prince that offred condicions of peace and sought onelye that he might haue ben fre and withoute daunger of feare Therfore whan Cesar sawe that he muste vse counsel by constraynt he inuaded Pompeius and ouercame hym Pompeius fled into Egypte where he was slaine by an entray of the yong king whose father he hym selfe had set into the kyngedome Afterward toke Cesar Asia and Aphrica together insomuche that he alone had in all the empyre of Rome wyth great puyssaunce Thys so great alteration and misery in the commune welth of Rome began of a moste lyghte thynge for this warre was dolefull both to hygh and lowe estates of men For histories report that ther were slayne aboue thre hundreth thousand men in thys ciuill warre ⸪ The fourth and laste Monarchy namely of the Romane empyre Iulius Cesar THre thousand yeares eight hundreth and foure score and seuentene were sence the creation of the worlde Seuen hundreth and syxe yeares sence the buyldyng of Rome Seuen and forty yeares before Christ was borne began fyrst the Romane monarchy whan Iulius was made Consul and the warr agaynst Pompeius whereof we haue euen nowe spoken dyd begynne That the warre lasted fyue yeares For whan Pompeius was deade Iulius had yet much busynesse to do in Egypte Asia and Aphrica where Cato had slayne hym selfe and in Spayne where he had also slayne one of Pompeius sonnes But whan all contryes were sett in peace returned Iulius to Rome and that was in the moneth October and after that in the begynnynge of Marche was he stycked through in the Senate of Cassius and Brutus wyth their companyons Wherfore raigned Iulius in peace nomore but fiue monethes and in that season caused he the yeare to be ordered throughout all the Romane empyre according to the course of the sonne He brought also with him out of Egypt a notable and most conning man in sciences which taught by demonstracyons called a Mathematicus ▪ and was the fyrst autor◠cause that those sciences were taughte in Italy And this ordering of the yeare which is handsome and that we vse yet now at this tyme was begon◠fyrst by Iulius But how dishonestly and very cruelly those that kylled Iulius that is playn ynoug◠by theyr dedes For Cassius Brutus wyth they companions fauoured Pompeius But by the mercyfulnes of Cesar were they take in agayne into the citye and restored into their former dignitye possession of goodes For what shall I be prolixe The worlde had neuer a prince so mighty that euer vsed more gentlynesse towarde hys enemies that frely yelded thēselues He neuer shewed anye notable wrath agaynst anye man wythoute it had ben in a battaill where necessitie to fighte dyd requyre where neuerthelesse before him Marius Sylla neuer ceassed of murtheringe euen in tyme of peace But Iulius did no such thinges ye he frely toke to mercy euen the best of the cōmune welth that were Pompeius adherentes nether toke ought from them He brought agayn also the true maner of gouerning the commune welth whiche was decayed by sedition and restored it wyth no lesse wysedome than he kept it vp with authoritie But how great a thinge this is maye be gathered therby that in ciuill commotions wee se iudgementes lawes and all modestie of maners go to wrack and to nought Iulius truely was one of the most doughtyest princes whiche beynge garnished of God with most greatest vertues aboue other men that haue gouerned very great dominions Besyde this was it not possyble to retayne commune peace long after that Iulius was deade for there was noman after Iulius that had ether such authoritie or power that with very force could enterteyn the quyetnesse of the empyre for to retaine the same in great kingdomes is requisite a greate and syngular puyssaunce Moreouer it is reported that he should haue sayde That he feared not for for his lyfe but that his death should be mischeueous and deadly to the commone welth empyre But all this refrained not them from the cursed enterpryse of whom by a cōiuracion he was slaine The first beginner of this wicked dede was Cassius and that only by enuy because for Cesars sake he could not obtayne those prouinces which he coueted Brutus was a man of great wytt and therfore suffred he him lightely to be made a companyon of this wicked dede cloking it with this colour that it were not honest for the Senate of Rome to suffre a lord greater in the empyre then he Item that Cesar also was a tyraunt and that it was lawfully permitted to slaye tyrauntes With such lyke inconuenient argumentes whiche are oft wont to begyle yong and vnlearned men in lyke cases was Brutus inflamed for without his helpe had Cassius brought nothynge to passe This is the summe of this history But God suffred so great a mischeuousnesse not longe vnpunished For as manye as had conspyred to the death of Iulius were also slayne themselues not
longe after Cesar was olde syxe and fyftye yeare whan he was slayne and ruled fyue yeares and the beginninge of rulynge was in the consulshyppe in the which he beganne the warre agaynst Pompeius This is the begynnynge of the Romane monarchye the whych God hath paynted very horribly in the prophet Daniell and wytnesseth that the world shalbe much more heauely oppressed by thesame than euer it was before Item that Christ shall come in the same monarchye and therfore shal it be the last For all these thynges are prophesyed before by God to stablyshe the fayth of the godly concerninge the certayntie of Christes comming Besydes thys also that it mighte be knowen that the world shall not endure foreuer but shall once peryshe and that the vngodlye shalbe punyshed but the Godly shall loke at Gods hand for a lyfe euerlastynge I suppose verely that the prophecy of the Heythen prophetes and sayenges of the Sybilles of the durablenesse of the Romane empyre are pertaynynge to thys as is the sayenge of Virgil I haue geuen an endlesse empyre the whych seme to be taken of this whiche the scrypture sayeth that the empyre of Rome shalbe the laste monarchye on earth Though the scripture doth in the meane season teache also that thys monarchy shall decaye yet shall parte of the same last euer wherein shall re remayne the name and hygnesse of an Emperour vntyll the worldes ende These thynges are to be knowen that wee maye be assured that thys empyre can not be ouerthrowen whyche the examples of histories wytnesse also For after that the hyghnesse of an Emperoure was translated to the Germanes hath thys kyngdome suffred many assaultes and hath oft bene weakened but yet coulde it not be abolyshed by nomans power but remayned allwaye stable and restored it selfe otherwyles For it had nowe Emperours of small power than very puyssaunt Emperours To consydre these thynges in historyes maketh greate matter chefely to knowe the wyll of God aryghte in suche chaunces Augustus WHan Iulius was deade rose greate commotions at Rome Marcus Cicero counselled to make a peace on thys wyse that thence foreward noman should laye handes on the fauourers of Iulius that all they lykewyse whych had slayne Iulius should be wythout daunger or feare but all discorde layde doune on both sydes they shoulde prouide for common and perpetuall peace none otherwyse than of late dyd Thrasybulus make a concorde at Athenes the whych they called Amnistia that is that ▪ ether parte shoulde forget the iniury done and that nether of them shoulde inuade the other afterwarde Thys was very gentely and handsomly counceled and consydered of Cicero but thys contynuall peace coulde not endure longe For whan afterwarde euerye man woulde rule it was necessarye that factions shoulde ryse The Senate drue Octauius Augustus to it agaynst Anthonius For Anthonius coueted y ◠raygne But the souldiours conspyryng against the Senate slew manye of the chefe men of the citye among the which was Cicero beheaded also But the empyre remayned by Octauius Augustus only which was kynsman to Iulius for Iulia syster of Iulius had spoused Accius Balbus but theyr doughter was Accia whose husband was Octauius of them was borne Octanius Augustus whom Iulius had appointed and chosen hys heyre whereby he was surnamed Cesar and that name remayned euer afterwarde by the successors euen as though by ryght of succession they dyd entre into Cesars kynred as it was wont to be whan successors were first adopted and chosen Nether was Iulius called Cesar fyrste by reason of the empyre but many of his kynred were so surnamed before For the old approued Grammarians do wryte that the name of Cesar cōmeth of the worde or name Cesaries whiche signifieth goodly heare or a bush of fayre heare and of that gat the Iulies fyrst that name because that one or other happelye had a fayre heare in that kynred As for the name Augustus dyd the Senate adde to Octauius for hys luckynesse and prosperitye in hys affayres Augustus commeth of Auguruim that is a diumation or soythsayenge by the crye or slighte of byrdes and betokeneth fortunate and he whom God doeth prospere by lucky sygnes or tokens This addition is a right geuen to a supreme gouernour of y ◠world for god is with y ◠ciuil power the gouernaunce of an empyre is the gyfte and ordinaunce of God Augustus raygned syxe and fyfty yeares but he gouerned not the empyre alone the twelue fyrst yeares For beyng yong not passyng nyneten yeares of age was he set in the gouernaunce he was made counsul because he stack by the Senate of of the which he was made consul in despyte of Antonius But the souldiours agreyng wythin them selues set them agaynst the Senate and his adherentes But for so much as thys concord could not be durable Augustus was fayne afterwarde to be at variaunce and stryue also wyth hys felowes and so optayned he the whole empyre alone But whan the gouernaunce was stablyshed with peace he vsed moost hygh moderation in all thinges and confirmed the whole empyre wyth honeste lawes and statutes in so much that it is reported he shuld haue sayd The kyngdome shall last for euer yf these ordinaunces be not auoyded and disanulled But what shall I saye much Augustus is scasely counted the fyrste and chefest among the sage and moderate princes ¶ The thyrde boke of the Cronicles whych conteyneth the tyme sence Christes byrth BEfore in the begynnynge of thys worke haue we diuided thys whole Cronicle and tymes of the worlde in thre partes and that accordinge to the sayenge of Elias that both the moost alterations of thynges in the world and order of the tymes myght be knowen more surely Besydes thys that we shoulde also knowe that the worldes end is nowe not farre of Howbeit we haue nowe dispatched allmoost foure thousand yeares and about that time nearehande was Christ borne the whyche Elias had prophecyed Now in this thyrd boke shall we lyke wyse treate of the thyrde parte of Elias meanynge and begynne thys boke wyth the same And how lytle Elias had fayled in the order of the yeares truely it maye be perceaued verye easely for CHRISTE our LORD very God and man was borne into thys lyfe of the virgin Mary euen the two and fortyeth yeare of Augustus raygne and thys was thre thousande nyne hundreth and foure and fortyeth yeare sence the creation of the worlde But to counte the yeares exactely and narowly there is somewhat requisite in the nombre of the yeares For the foure thousande yeares are not fulfilled But the prophete sayde moreouer that God wold preuent and come spedely before the tyme of hys comminge because the ende of all thinges myght be more neare Howbeit the thynges that are concernyng the knowledge of Christes natiuyte Passion and Resurrection for euerye Godly man the same maye all be searched in the Euangelistes But as concerning the tyme whan
Charles the balde in to Italy where the two cosins the sonnes of Lewis folowed hym As he herde this he was taken with a disease of a soden feare and died Yet in the meane season persysted byshop Iohannes in transferryng of the empyre and willed the sonne of Charles the balde to succede in his fathers place Wherfore he was taken at Rome of the Germane legates and such as were of their partes but escapyng their handes he fled to the Frenche kyng where he made Lewis the stammerer the sonne of Charles the balde Emperoure This Lewis lyued nomore but twoo yeares after hys fathers deceasse And of this wyse was this earnest couetyng come to an euell ende at the last for the Frenchemen and also was the byshop frustrate of his false engines Charles the grosse the fyft Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christe .viij. C. lxxxi came the empyre agayne to the Germanes For the Saracens commyng agayne into Italy and spoylyng all thynges dyd the Romanes call their byshop agayne out of Fraunce for the Italians had nede of succourse agaynste the Saracens And when the kyng of Fraunce was deade seyng the kynges heyre was not yet of ful age there were raysed euery where great dissencions and debates in Fraunce for the gouernaunce of the realme vntyll the kynges sonne were come to age Wherefore the byshop of Rome constrayned by this necessitie required ayde of the Germanes to rescue Italy out the brunt of daungers Then came Charles the grosse sonne to Lewis the Germane into Italy driuing out the Saracens toke the emperial crown the yeare of Christe .viii. C. lxxxij Charles reigned after that he was crowned ix yeares About this tyme the Normandes fallyng into Fraunce dyd so much harme euery where that the Frenchmen wer compelled to require ayde of the Germanes and by consent of euery man was Charles made kyng of Fraunce and by thys occasion gott Charles the Grosse the realme both of Germany and Gallia or Fraunce agayne But these kyngdomes were separated againe not long after Charles beynge wery of the warre in Morauia or Meerhen by reason of the greate combraunce and trauail forsakyng the empire he made Arnolfus his brothers sonne Emperour who pointed Charles out of the empire so muche reuenues so long as he lyued as was sufficient for a kynges state Arnolfus the .vi. Germane Emperoure ARnolfus the sonne of Carolomanus duke of Baierlande Schwaben and of the FraÌ„kes y â— cosin of Charles the third was substitute by hym in the empyre the yearâ— of Christe .viij. C. xci he reigned .xij. yeares Fyrst ouercame he the Morauians or Meerhlanders after that the Normandes whiche beyng now returned out of Fraunce came vntyll the Rene and commyng to Worms put the byshop of Mentz to execution As the Normandes were vanquyshed by the Emperours at the last became they Christen Afterwarde when Vâ—ido duke of Spoleta by a rumor was made Emperoure Arnolfus goyng into Italy toke in Rome by greate force and was crowned of Formosus the byshop of Rome Wherfore wheÌ„ he had taken in Italy agayne Vâ—ido was bannyshed He restored againe also the duchy of Bourgondie to the Germane dominion Marinus the C. xi bysh of Ro. succeded IoaÌ„nes Adrianus the .iij. was byshop after Marinus Stephanus the fift C. xiij bysh succeded Adrianê° Formosus succeded Stephanus At that tyme was again a great debate at Rome for the election For Sergius was also created byshop but the fauoures of Formosus driuynge out Sergius Formosus sent for the Emperoure into Italy that he myght kepe styll the byshopryke by that meanes For Sergius was fled into Fraunce and went about to obteine the byshopryke by the aide of Frenchemen Howbeit after certaine yeares when Formosus was deade he was made byshop vsed more tyranny and presumpcion then he ought to haue done accordyng to byshoply mekenesse He caused to digge vp the deade carcas of Formosus to degrate it and beheadyng it cast it into the floude Tyber with moste shame It is written that this Sergius was very vnlearned vnmanered which thinge his cruell dedes declare plaine ynough Bonifacius the .vi. the C. xv byshop succeded Formosus Stephanê° the .vi. folowed Bonifacius Thissame disanulled condempned al Formosus ordinauÌ„ces Romanus the C. xvi byshop of Rome succeded Stephanus Theodorus the .ij. succeded Romanus IoaÌ„nes y â— .x. the C.xix bysh of Ro. succeded Theâ— dorus thissame alowed agayne the ordinaunces of Formosus whiche Stephanus the syxte had disanulled Benedictus the .iiij. was the C. xx byshop after Iohannes Leo the .v. was after Benedictus the C. xxi byshop of Rome The same was taken prysoner by Christophorus Christophorus was byshop after Leo. Thissame was taken by Sergius After Christophorus was Sergius the .iij. made the C. xxiij byshop of Rome The same caused the deade coarse of Formosus be dygged vp agayne and beheaded It is a thynge full of drede ether to reade or to reherse byshops of Rome to haue vsed so great tyranny among themselues And it could not be that any regarde could be had of Christen godlynesse let no man then marueill in the meane season yf any abuses and wycked opinions be broken into the churche in the meane whyle Lewis the .iii. the .vii. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christe .ix. C. iij. Lewis the sonne of Arnolphus being substitute in the empyre of hys father reygned ten yeares It is no where redde that he was crowned For when Arnolphus was deade the Hungarians inuaded Germany wyth greate violence Agaynst them dyd the good prince Lewis the Emperoure set hymselfe and dyd greuously disconfite them by the ryuer Lyeus but he was afterwarde ouercome of them lykewyse Then the Hungarians beynge vanquishers dyd euery where muche myschefe and harme to the Schwoben Frankes Baierlanders and them of Ostenryche Slayeng euery one wythoute regarde or mercy burnynge temples cityes tounes villages yee euery thynge Afterwarde entrynge into Italy vsed lyke crueltye At that tyme was Berengarius prince of Foroiulium which gatherynge a great army aganyst the Hungaryans although somtyme he fought vn luckelye yet gat he hym such a good name by thys settynge forth that afterwarde he wylled to be called Emperoure Cunradus the .i. the viij Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. xii was Conradus made Emperoure he raigned seuen yeares But he was not crowned of the Romysh byshop He was Lewis the .iii. brothers sonne he was duke of the Frankes and the laste of the mooste noble posteritye of Charles the great whiche ye maye gesse by the order of the genealogye wrytten hereafter the whych I haue added therfore y t it maye be knowen to how great chaunces and how many alteracions the kingdom of the Germanes hath ben putt the which thynge can not be red wythoute greate wonderynge at For that maye be sene euerye where that greate kyngdomes floryshe a certayne space in the world but at the laste they be
weakened and tossed wyth troublous commocions howbeit in the meane season be they so kept by Godes prouidence that they do not wholy perysh Lewis the thyrd left no soâ—â— after hym and therefore stroue the Frankes and Sacons together to make Otho duke of Saxony Emperour but the good prince withstode the same not wylling that to the moost noble stocke of Charles shulde happen suche a reproch Therefore counselled he to make Conradus duke of the Frankes Emperoure Of thys wyse succeded Conradus in the empyre but Otho was in more greater authority whyle Conradus lyued he dispatched more busynesses also yet in the meane time shewed he great loyalty and honestye toward Conradus the Emperoure But in the meane tyme vsurped Berengarius duke of Foroiulium the name of the Emperoure in Italy and enticed the Hungarians that they shuld spoyle Germany agayn but Conradus ouer came those by the ayde of Otho But whan Otho was deade Conradus the Emperour fearyng happely lest the son of Otho Henry the Fouler shoulde growe ouermuche in power therefore wythdrue he parte of those thynges whyche before he had graunted hys father Otho And whan Henry toke it greueouslye the Empetoure endeuoured to slaye him by an intrap and to bryng thys to passe was y e byshop of Mentz made out But the intrap was disclosed Than was Henry very greuously moued â–ª went home and toke from the byshop of Mentz all that was hys dominion in the land of Turyngen and Hesse But hereof rose a greate warre betwene the Frankes and Saxons But whan Conradus was a dyenge callyng to him his brother Eberardus he commaunded hym to brynge the Emperyall croune to Henry duke of Saxony for him he iudged best worthy to gouern the Empyre He admonyshed prince Eberarde also with al diligence to make an ende of the warr that he had taken in hande wyth Henry duke of Saxonye lest the Frankes that were yet alyue shuld vtterly he roated out and perysh For he marked wel that God prospered Henryes affayres To thys counsell dyd duke Eberardus agre willyngly and bringyng the crowne to Henry and makyng peace on both sydes he was afterward loyall to Henry And by thys occasyon came it to passe that the empyre was remoued from the successors of Charles the greate to the Saxons The genealogye of Charles the greate Charles the great Emperoure Lewis te Gentle whose sonnes were these thre Lewis the German he had Almany subdued y â— Bohemes his sonnes wer Lewis charles y â— grosse which toke y â— empyre froÌ„ Charles the bald and Carolomanus the sonne of Carolomanê° was Arnolphus who raygned after Charles the Grosse Lotharius y â— Emperoure He had Loraine Italy his sonn was Lewis the seconde the .iiij. Germane Emperoure He droue y â— Saracens out of Italy After him woulde the bishop of Rome transferre the empyre to the Frenchmen vpon Charles y â— balde but the sonnes of Lewis y â— Germane restored the empyre agayn to y e Germanes â–ª Charles the balde kynge of Gallia or Fraunce his sonne was Lewis the stammerer kynge of Fraunce The sonnes of Arnolfus were Lewis the .iij. Emperoure Conradus and hys sonnes were Eberardus whose successors are the princes of y e Frankes Conradus the last emperoure of this linage Not longe after was the kyngdome of Fraunce also translated from the posteritye of Charles the greate So lytle doeth anye thynge remayne euer sted fast in his estate among men so that the generacions of great prynces do now florish in the height now agayne layde in the duste to be weakened and discouraged Anastasius the .iij. the .cxxiiij. byshop of Rome succeded Sergius Lando was made the .xxv. byshop after Anastasius Ioannes the .xi. succeded Lando Henry the .i. surnamed the Fouler the ix Emperoure of Germany THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. xx was Henry the fyrste surnamed the Fouler duke of Saxon made Emperoure he raygned seuenten yeares He was not crouned of the bishop of Rome nether went into Italy though twayne toke vpon them the name of the Emperoure and by vproure raysynge battayll fought now and than a great felde For Henry had busynesse more than ynough in Germany which the good prince apeaced wyth greate diligence accordinge to hys syngular policye and endeuored to make it more excellent Surely the kyngdome of Germany dyd neuer in a maner want vprourish commotions ther was almost neuer an Emperour chosen wythout the sedition of some princes which went aboute to take vpon them the name of the Emperoure Yet was God alway wyth those Emperours that were duâ—lly called detended the authoritye of the lawfull empyre and the sedicious were punished Arnolde duke of Bayerlande set him selfe wyth hurtfull enterpryse agaynst Henry who recountred y e Baiers wyth appointed armyes but behauynge himselfe not as an enemy he requyred to speake wyth duke Arnolde familiarly He reasoned wyth hym earnestly admonyshed hym that the maiesty of the empyre is geuen of God yf it were so that he wer chosen Emperoure by the consente of other prynces than wolde he frely geue place and be ready y â— fyrst that shuld submitte themselues Duke Arnold shewed these thynges to his counsel which answered That it were euident that Salomons sayenge of wysedome were most true which is By me do kynges rule And for asmuch as it appeareth euidently ynough that Henry is endued with wisedome and gentlenesse it is no dout but God doth assiste him he shuld therfore thenceforth leaue of from his enterpryse nether to go about any thing against Henry Wherefore duke Arnolde ceased obeied frely without y e slaughter of any of his men Who I pray you wold not saye y â— these Germane princes were no Barbaryans and that they excelled in pryncely wisedome high gentlenesse This is also wrytteÌ„ that S. Vdalryck had a visty on of the duke of Baierland which he obserued For it was shewed him by God that the duke had a swearde wythout hyltes or handel wherby was signified that the duke shulde not vse the sweard that is that he shuld not retayn the empyre Wherefore he admonyshed the duke to do nothyng vnaduisedly After that dyd Henry take Brandenburge and the Vandales beyng subdued they receaued the Christen fayth vntyl the see He besieged the city Praga and brought the Bohemes to the Empyre After that vanquyshed he fourty thousand Hungaryans by Mersburge whereby he gatte hym a great renowme and drede by the straunge nacions and gat tranquillitye to al Germanye He restored the contry of Lothring or Lorayn to the kingdom of Germany and gatt the speare that Christe was pearsed through of Rudolphe kyng of Burgundy the same was Constantinus wont to haue Henry the Fowler beynge now neare to his death made his sonn Othe succeder in y e empyre after him lest any stryfe shuld happen in the empyre after hys death concernyng the possession of it Leo the .vi. succeded
hym to be caryed about the city Rome to wonder at and at the last to be hanged Of the begynnynge and institution of the Electors in Germany WHan Otho was nowe eyghte and twentye yeares olde he was endued wyth so ready wytt that for hys syngular wysedome he was called the Worldes wonders Besyde that knewe the Saxons readye wytted and valyaunt men the deceatfull traynes of the Frenchmen Wherfore whan they perceaued that great and dangerous commotions were raysed by the. Ro. byshoppes bothe agaynste Emperoures and also in the commune welth Otho chose Bruno a Saxon his cosin to be byshop of Rome who was called Gregorius the fyft after that he had the byshopryke Of hym was Otho the thirde crowned Besyde this when the wyse prince consydered that the Frenchemen and Italians raged euer to transfer the emperiall maiestie from the Germanes and that among the aunceters of him was now and thā strife also for the election and that in the meane tyme is so greatly requisite a myghty monarche to the Christiantie for to defende the bishop of Rome and libertie of Italy yea to maynteyne concorde of religion in whole Europa But that the same monarchy could not last long and be stable euermore without the ayde and succourse of some peculiar moste mighty nacion Therfore with the assistence and ayde of Gregorius the byshop of Rome who because he was a Germane did lyghtely consent to so necessary a thyng dyd make the ordinaunce of the princes Electors for to choyse an Emperoure And that concorde might be had in the election because of religion among the prelates spirituall and princes temporall the aucthoritie to chose an Emperoure is committed to seuen Germane princes the Archebyshops of Mentz Colen and Trier To these are ioyned the prince of Boheme for at that tyme had Bohemy yet no kynge the County Palatine of the Rene the duke of Saxony the Marques of Brandenborowe I maruayll verely why so hygh a dignitie is not bequyethed to other princes which at that tyme were farre more puyssaunt as namely to the dukes of Baier of Schwaben of the Frankes and specially the duke of Baier who was nearer of kynred to Otho than the other and more greater of domynyon For he had subiect to hym Bayerland and Eastenryche vntyll Aglar or Aquitanya the whyche Henry brother to Otho the fyrste had wonne The duke also of Schwaben was neare kynsman to Otho the Emperoure For whan Herman duke of Schwaben vnder Otho the fyrste had no heyre male He gaue his doughter in maryage to Ludolfe sonne to Otho the fyrste agaynste whome hys father Otho dyd warre for hys rebellyon Of this Ludolfe come the dukes of Schwaben Therefore maye it be maruayll what was the occasion to orden that institutyon of prynces Electors The Germane history wryters seme to be so voyde of all iudgment that it may of good ryght lothe any man to reade them Ihon Stabius the astronomer of Maximylyan shewed me oft that Maximilian was went to complayn vpon the rudenesse of the Germane hystorye wryters that they dyd not only wryte the dedes of so noble and wyse princes that God had sent wythoute order but dyd also corrupte them wyth euell wrytynge And he had commaunded to compile in a short Cronycle orderly the mooste notableste thynges out of all hystorye wryters whych thynge doutlesse had ben done yf the mooste wyse Emperour had ether lyued longer or had not left it by reason of the care of more weyghty matters As for me though I might seme to be rash yf I allege or shewe what me thynketh yet wyll I declare what gessynge I haue wherewyth I maye shewe some certayntye of so great a thynge Bohemy no doute is come in the election for his cōmodyous sytuatyon because yt is fensed round about To the Saxons hath Otho that was a prince of the Saxons bloud worthely geuen that honour for at that time was the same duchy most puissaunt The princes of Saxony kept Brandenburg at that time also the Emperours kinsmen and it may easely be gathered that Otho dyd fauer those contryes more than other duchyes I suppose that to y ◠countyshyp of Palatyn was geuen thys prerogatiue more than other princes dominions for none other cause than that to Charles the greatest posterity myght rebound thys honor so that it shuld be not only by the Saxons but part thereof shuld also be sent ouer to the Frankes for the countyes of Palatine were at that tyme of the kynred of Charles the greate What prayses thys ordinaunce of the princes Electors is worthye that can I not now sufficiently declare according to the worthynesse of it the dede proueth yt selfe what profite it hath broughte For by thys ordinaunce hath the Empyre remained in Germany aboue fyue hundreth yeares Besydes that is nothyng so good nor wholsome in mens estates than those counsels and ordinaunces whereby is auoided the occasion to alter of tymes the gouernaunce of Empyres whyche thynge by the goodnesse of God is done by thys instytutyon of the Electors By thys meanes is yt come to passe that the Empyre is prouyded that the traynefull and secrete conspiracyons of the byshoppe of Rome and Frenche kynge dyd not prospere whiche endeuoured oft to transferre the hyghnesse of the Empyre from the Germanes to the Frenchemen The Emperoure also hath more sauegarde or defence of the princes when he is chosen by their cōsent and lesse stryfe can ryse for the election when the desyres of the chefe princes consent to one Besydes this also forsomuche as the maiestie of the empyre is remitted to many princes together it is to be trusted that the state of the empire shalbe both stronger and more durable then if it dyd stycke by the succession of one bloude All these thynges make for that purpose that no great stryfe come by reson of the election or choysyng and also that the heade of the West empyre be in some certayn place and that because the concorde and tranquillitie of the religion in all this West kyngdome be maynteined vnder one certayne heade The Athenians in tymes past auaunced their ordinaunce of the Areopagites with great prayses lykewyse dyd the Lacedemonians their statutes of the Ephories and that worthely for by them remained their common welthes stedfaste a great while But forsoth this in stituciō of Otho made of the Electors as it is farre more profitable so it is worthy muche more prayse and auauncement as by the whiche stablenesse of the empyre and constant religion are mainteyned many yeares not onely in one or other citie or contrey but in the whole Weste And the princes Electors ought worthely make muche of this their prerogatiue First because of the whole Christiantie that by them is this hyghnesse set aparte For they are as a stedfast heade wherewith foreuer all this Weste kyngdome is kept and bounde together for they maye be called
byshoprycke to one that was the thirde called Gregorius the .vi. And so did Benedictus geue place to hym but Syluester woulde contrarywyse defende hys ryght against Gregorius This controuersye dyd compell the Emperoure Henry the black to come to Rome who dyd worthely depose those thre monsters from the byshoprycke and ordeined in steade of them one Syndeger byshop of Bamberg who was called Clemens the .ii. the .clii byshop of whom Henry the blacke was crowned About this time began the name of Cardinals to be vsed whereby it may be supposed that this same dignitie in the church was not elder But for somuche as oftymes happened moste heuy contencions and stryfes of the diuersitie of wylles in makynge of the byshop of Rome Henry the Blacke made an ordinaunce that thenceforth no byshop of Rome should be chosen without the consent of the Emperour also his confirmacion This ordinaunce was afterwarde sore foughten against of the byshops of Rome insomuche also that most haynous warres are rysen thereof in the tymes of Hēry the fourth and fyfth Emperours Henry the thyrd surnamed the Black the .xv. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christe M.xl. beganne to raygne Henry the third called the Black and raygned seuentene yeres Fyrst inuaded he the Bohemes with warr but they beyng ayded of the Hungarians ouercame hym The yere after were the Bohemes so weried with warres of Henry that their prince constrayned by necessitie came to Regenspurg and made hymselfe tributary frely to the Emperour After that going into Hungaty warred thre yeares and takynge in certayne cities he compelled the Hungarians to demaunde peace He subdued also the duke of Lorain that he obeied the empire At Rome put he down thre byshops at once striuing for the see and made a Germane byshop to be byshop there whō they called Clement the .ii. Thēceforth ouercame he the Saracēs by Capua Afterward came he again into Germany kept a cōgregatiō at Mentz wherein was Leo the bysh of Ro. Cuno duke of Bayer whiche was after S. Hēry trustyng to the ayde and conspiracion of the Hūgarians set hym agaist the Emperoure for by that meanes entended he to drawe the possession of the kyngdome to hym But the Hungarians were ouercome the duke Cuno was driuen out and liued all his lyfe a bannyshed man in Hungary The land of Bayer was in the meane tyme wythout a duke and gouernoure Before Henry the Black dyed he caused hys sonne Henry fyue yeare of age to be chosen Emperour and was crowned at Aken to the intēt there shoulde be a certayne heade of the empyre nether should any rumour be for the election Wherefore the sonne raygned a certayn space vnder the mothers protection The mother of Honry the .iiij. was called Agnes borne in the county of Pisto in Fraunce After Clemens was Damasus the .ij. made the cliij byshop of Rome whiche optayned the byshopricke by force Leo the .ix. succeded Damasus The same was in the counsaill kept at Mentz and was conuersaunt wyth Henry the black a whyle afterwarde In his tyme Berengarius a deacon of Angewe in Fraunce taught that the true body and bloud of Christ were not in the breade and wyne according to Christes institucion Leo the byshop of Rome condempned this in the counsaill of Vercelli but the sedes of this doctrine that were left hath caused great persecucion to them that came after Victor the .ij. the .clv. byshop of Rome succeded Leo. The same was before byshop of Eichstet Stephanus the .ix. succeded Victor Benedictus the .ix. the .clvij. byshop of Rome succeded Stephanus Nicolaus the .ij. folowed after Benedictus The same deposed Benedictus and is sayde to haue ordeined fyrst that Cardinals shall haue aucthoritie to chose the byshop of Rome Berengarius was also condempned againe by hym and was compelled to reuoke that he had taught of the sacrament Alexander the .ij. the .clix. byshop of Rome succeded Nicolaus then also was greate strife for the delection Gregorius the .vij. before called Hiltebrande was the .clx. byshop of Rome after Alexander The same dyd excommunicate and persued Henry the iiij raisyng also fearce warres that he myght get obteyne that a byshop of Rome myght be chosen and confirmed wythout the Emperoures consent and confirmacion lest the Emperours shoulde clame any aucthoritie vpon the byshops of Rome to rule them whereof we shall speake more in Henry the fourth Henry the .iiij. the .xvi. Germane Emperour THe yeare of Christ M. lvij began Henry the .iiij. to reigne after that his father was deade beynge yet a chylde and raygned fyfty yeares In this man dyd not onely the vertue of suche kynde of Emperours fayle but the empyre of whole Germany began so to decaye that afterwarde it neuer coulde nether be brought to his olde state nor recouer his former strength Hiltebrand byshop of Rome was causer of this lamentable game who turned neare hād al Germany vp down with warres among the princes therof In Henry the Emperours chyldhode dyd Agnes his mother gouerne the empyre not without prayse she set Germany and Italy at peace and trāquilitie But the byshop of Colen dyd priuely leade away the chylde beyng now twelue yeares of age and ready to be gyn to beare rule and in the meane season he hymselfe ruled afterwarde the empyre It is saide also that he caused the Imperiall childe to be brought vp vnsemely It were longe to reherse here all the causes and circumstaunces I wyll onely reherse here brefely the most worthy of remēbraunce Henry the Black father to this Henry had made a constitucion of making a byshop of Rome by a most wyse aduise that y ◠same should not be done without the knowledge and consent of the Emperoure But now that Hiltebrand was come into the see he made a decre cōtrary wyse that the confirmacion of a byshop shoulde not be demaunded of the Emperoure But the Emperoure woulde that this his fathers constitucion should beare effect Besydes that also had the Emperoure aucthoritie to geue the byshoprycks of the empyre but Hiltebrand would not suffre that also For it happened oft that when one byshop was dead another was made in his stead of the Emperoure and agayne another of the byshop of Rome whiche dyd then excommunicate the other Finally came the game to this ende that the Emperoure was not onely excommunicated but it was also cōmaunded that other greate Lordes of Germany should make another Emperoure And the maister of this game was the byshop of Halberstat in Saxony to do the byshop of Rome a pleasure Wherfore fell from the Emperoure Henry the fourth Otho duke of Saxony Rudolfus duke of Schwaben to whom was maried the Emperoures syster germane and certayne byshops specially Saxons On the Emperours syde were the Bohemies and the lordes Catuly whom the Emperoure gaue Baierlande driuyng out Otho the duke of Saxony and some byshops also whiche disalowed the byshop of Romes tyranny
The same admonyshed the Electors in the begynnynge of hys byshopryck to choyse agayne an Emperoure wyth egall consent leste the state of the empyre dyd wholy decaye Rudolfe the .xxvij. Germane Emperoure THe yere of Christ M. CC. lxxiij was Rudolfe chosen Emperour the erle of Habisburge and counte prouincial of Alsace He raygned .xix. yeares He was confirmed of the Byshopp of Ro. For the Emperoure and byshop of Rome came together at Lausana euen accordyng to the saieng of these two verses of auncient men Twelue hundreth thre score and thertene yere dyd stande Lausana tyll the pope and the kyng came thether into that lande Howbeit Rudolfe went not into Italy nether receaued he the Imperiall crowne He was wont to reherse Esops fable of the Foxe which said to the Lion sicke in his denne she were afrayd to come in therefore because she sawe the footsteppes of beastes that were gone in but not of beastes that were come out That lykewyse he dyd consyder how his aunceters went oft into Italy with greate hoostes but mooste commonly returned home euell intreated Yet in the meane season sent he a Lieutenaunt into Italy who was receiued of the bestpart of the Italian cities The Bohemies and Baier withstode Rudolfe at the fyrst but he subdued Baierlande forth with Othacarus kyng of the Bohemies wold not obey and besydes that helde Eastenriche that was now without heire belongyng to the empyre against ryght and reason Wherfore Rudolphe sent the Burggraue of Norenberg into Bohemy to shewe the kyng on the Emperours behalfe to obeye and to voyde out of Eastenryche but Othacarus refused both Wherfore after muche reasonynge vpon the matter brought Rudolphe armed hostes into Eastenryche and toke it in He besieged the citie Vienne fought a great battaill by Nidersbrug â–ª in the yeare M. cclxxviij In that battayll was Othacarus slayne Of this wyse was Eastenriche at the last brought vnder Rudolphes dominion and after that made he Albert his sonne duke there so that henceforth Eastenriche by this meanes is holden of the empyre by fealtie or benefite Moreouer the princes of Eastenriche haue their offpringe of this Alberte vntyll the moste prayse worthy Charles the Emperoure that now is his brother kyng Ferdinande Rudolphe the Emperoure shewed high fauour and gentlenesse towarde Wenceslaus Othacarus sonne for he left hym the kyngdome of Bohemy and gaue hym his daughter in mariage This Wenceslaus is canonisated for a saynt and is worshypped Rudolphe subdued the Bourgundians also In Alsace dyd he take by violence those cities that rebelled and conspyred agaynst hym and punyshed them worthely amonge those were Hagenoâ— Colmar Tzurig and Berne The yeare M. cclxxxvi dyd he inuade the Erle of Wirtenberg and besyeged the citie Studtgard at the laste was an accorde made by the byshop of Mentz The yeare M. ccxc had Rudolphe a great parliament at Erfurde â–ª and by the aide of the citie Erfurde did he spoyle cast downe about .iij. score holdes in Thuringe Oâ— this wyse fynally dyd Rudolfe bryng the troubled full of sedicion estate of Germany whyle it had no certayn Emperours to a peaceablenesse and dyd in a maner set vp the decayed empyre He dyed the yere of Christ M. ccxcii Innocencius the .v. succeded Gregorius the .x. Adrianus the .v. succeded Innocencius Iohannes the .xxi. a phisicion succeded Adrianê° When Iohannes was deade Nicolaus the .iij. was made byshop of Rome He went about to geue his two cosins the two kyngdomes of Italy that the one should be kyng of Hetruria the other kyng of Lombardy For the Romysh byshop sawe that Rudolphe had more then ynough to do in Germany and thought he coulde not therefore come into Italy But the imperiall cities wythstode the byshop of Romes enterpryses that they could not prosper and Rudolphe sent a Lieutenaunt into Italy also Honorius the .iiij. was byshop after Nicolaus Nicolaus the .iiij. was byshop after Honorius Adolfe the .xxviii. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christ M. ccxcij was Adolfe counte of Nassau chosen Emperour The same was before in greate estimacion by Rudolphe Besydes that was his brother byshop of Mentz and by his voyce in the election was he holpen to be made Emperoure He raygned syxe yeares and was deposed from the empyre by the Electours For hys substaunce was not sufficient to sustayne the costes of the Emperyall hyghnesse Besydes that was he very in fortunable in dispatchynge greate thynges The warre worthy of remembraunce that he hath had was that he brought an army into Thuryngen For Albert Landtgraue of Thuringen had a stryfe wyth his sonne Dieterus and Frederick surnamed Gnawed cheke And the same solde to Adolfe the Emperoure the prouinciall Erldome of Thuringen He also endeuoured to make his kynreds nobilitie more renowmed and went into Thurinvan and dyd much harme to it He besyeged Crutzberg Frankenstein and Friburg But Frederick droue him back agayn Howbeit to apeace sundry many perturbacions that were at that tyme in the empyre it was requisite to haue a more puyssaunter heade in Germane And therefore the princes Electors makyng an assembly at Mentz they chose Albert duke of Eastenrich sonne to the Emperour Rudolphe But for asmuche as Adolfe would kepe the empyre by force duke Albert went against hym with an army and they fought fearcely together by Worms In that battayll was Adolfe slayne the yeare M. ccxcviij as these verses folowynge do witnesse The yeare thousand thre hundreth two lesse Was through the swearde kynge Adolfes deceasse After Nicolans the .iiij. was Celestinus the .v. made byshop of Rome The same leauynge the byshoprycke became an heremite After Celestinus became Bonifacius the .viij. Byshop of Rome It is sayde that Celestinus was begyled by thys man with a voyce spoken to hym through a rede or pype as though it wer come out of heauen that he should forsake the byshopricke ordeyne Bonifacius He raysed greate warres in Italy He dyd excommunicate the Frenche kyng and gaue the tytle of the Frenche kyngdome to Alberte the Emperoure that by this meanes at the last the Garmanes and frenchemen might come to strokes At the last was Bonifacius taken and dyed in the pryson And hereby commeth that it is sayde of hym He entred as a Foxe he reygned as a Wolfe or Lion he died as a Dogge Albert the .i. xxix Germane Emperoure _the M .cc. xcviij yere of Christ began Alberte duke of Eastenriche sonne to Rudolphe the Emperoure to raygne He ruled the empire ten yeres he ouercame in battaill Adolfe the Emperoure At the first would not bonifacius confirme Albertus empyre afterwarde did he frely coÌ„firme it to do the Frenche kyng a spite and geuyng Albert the title of the kyngdome of Fraunce he set hym agaynst the Frenche kynge But the kyng of Fraunce geuyng hys daughter to Alberts sonne he appeased hym that he should enterpryse no enimitie agaynst hym He made a settynge forth agaynst
was gently receaued of the cities At Ro. the senate all the best metyng Charles did receaue hym with all reuerence He likewyse to declare to the Romanes his gentlenesse lyghted from his horse receaued on fote the yelding of the citie Afterward was he crowned of the cardinal of Hostia The cities of the bysh of Rome in Italy that were rebels subdued he to do the Romysh byshop a pleasure so that they repyned nomore I fynde none other thynges that he dyd in this iourney They yeare M. ccclx. he ouercame and spâ—yled Ebrardus erle of Wirtenberg with a great army But at the last was the debate layde downe by the byshop of Ausburg Strasburg and Spire The yeare M. ccclxvi went Charles agayne in to Italy in the whiche iourney he assuaged and subdued some cities desyrous of vproure Charles besyeged also y â— citie Vlme but I reade no where for what cause For oure Germanes not knowyng the propertie of histories haue not taken hede to the circumstaunces and causes of thynges Charles hath deserued greate thankes for the golden bulle that he made wherein he hath handsomly comprised many thynges that make to entertayne common peace He did chefely endeuoure procure the affayres of Bohemy He ordeined the vniuersitie of Praga Some there are that disalowe that he gaue the French kyng ryghtes in the kyngdome of Orleaunce The yeare M. ccclxx caused Charles his sonne Wenceslaus to be made Emperoure To his other sonne Sigismundus gaue he the Erldome of the marques of BraÌ„denburg the which he had bought of Lewis the Romane The yere M. ccclxxvii fought Vdalricus Erle of Wirtenberg mishappely before the citie Rutlingen In that battaill dyed many and noble men Switzer league ABout this tyme began the Switzer league and first the citie Lucerna then Berna at the last Tzurich dyd ioyne themselues to the Switzers and the noble prince Lupoldus duke of Eastenriche was ouercome and slayne by the Switzers the yere M. ccclxxxv But for as muche as there are in mans handes euery where histories of the Switzers dedes I reken it neoelesse to make longe rehersall of their actes in this lytle boke Vrbanus the v. succeded Innocentius the vâ— Gregorius the xâ— was byshop of Rome after Vrbanus The same remoued y â— see out of Fraunce to Rome agayne the yeare MCCCLXXVI A diuision AFter Gregorius the xi rose a greate diuisioÌ„ in the spiritualtye The Italians made an Italian Byshoyp of Rome called Vrbanus the vi and the same remayned at Rome The Frenchmen also chose a Byshop of Rom. in Italy whome they called Clemens the vii The same gat hym to Auinion Thus was Rome diuided and ther were two byshoppes of Rome the one dyd accurse the other Truely Italy Germany and Hungary dyd hange to Vrbanus the byshops of the Romanes Thys diuision lasted vntyll the councel of Constance .xxxix. yeares Wenceslaus the .xxxiii. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christe M. ccc lxxviij after Charles deceasse began Wenceslaus his sonne to raygne and raygned after hys fathers death .xxii. yeares At thys tyme began Ihon Husse opeÌ„ly to teache at Praga agaynst the byshop of Romes pardones and by thys occasion rose hurteful insurrections in Bohemy agaynst prestes and religious men Wenceslaus was at the laste taken by hys brother Sigismundus and kept at Vienne in preson Other thinges do I not fynde of this Wenceslaus that I iudge worthy to be put in writynges Rupertus the xxxiiij Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christ M. CCCC was Rupertus the counte Palatine made Emperour He raigned tenne yeares But seynge the Emperours had now ben long from Italy the power of the kynred of Galeacyus was waxen greate at Milan and the Florentins were become ryche also and warred agaynst them of Milane The Florentins asked ayde of Rupertus the Emperoure to represse the power of the Galacians Wherefore Rupertus went vppe into Italy to helpe the Florentius and toke Galeacins Howbeit Rupertus beyng destitute of the assistaunce of the duke of Eastenriche and bishop of Colen was to weake than that he coulde haue brought so greate thynges to passe and though he had assayed many thinges yet was he constrayned to returne agayne into Germanye hys bussinesse beyng not disâ—pâ—rched Bonifacius the .ix. was made bishop at Rome after Vrbanus And against him was made bish after Clemens y e .vii. Petrus de Luna called Benedictus the .xii. After Bonifacius was Innocentius y â— vii made byshop at Rome After InnoceÌ„tius was Gregorius the xii made byshop at Rome The same promysed y â— he woulde renounce the byshoprycke yf Benedictus lykewise dyd not refuse to renounce also But whaÌ„ Benedictus fled into Spayne leauyng Auinion Gregorius reuoked hys promise concernyng to resigne the byshoprycke Wherefore was a councell gathered at Pysis whereyn bothe Gregorius and Benedictus were deposed of the byshoprycke and in theyr steade was the thyrde Romysh byshop chosen Alexander the .v. Gregorius fled to Ariminum where he remayned vntill the counsel of Constance was Alexander the .v. dwelt at Bonony for the Hungarians hauing than taken in Rome vsed incredible tiraÌ„ny warred with the Frenchmen for Naples After Alexander the .v. was Ioannes the .xxiii. made byshop of Rome at Bonony And of this wise were a lyue vntil the general councel of Constance thys Ioannes the .xxiii. at Bonony Gregorius at Ariminum and Benedictus in Spayne But they were all thre set besyde y â— Romyshe byshopryck in that councel Of Tamerlanes the tyraunt of Tartaria IN the time of Rupertus the Emperour lyued the passynge cruell tyraunte Tamerlanes the Tartarian who by greate spoylynge wente aboute nearehande al y â— East and Asia with an armye of tenne hundreth thousande men He spoyled the Perseans Armenians and Syrians He inuaded also the lesse Asia and toke Paiasetus the Turkysh Emperoure and caryed hym in a cage as a byrde aboute wyth hym for a wonder and mockage Sigismundus the .xxxv. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christe M. CCCC after Rupertus the Emperours deceasse was Sigysmundus made Emperoure He was the sonne of Charles the fourthe marques of Brandenburg kynge of Hungary and Bohemye He was Emperour seuen and twentye yeares He was a moost famous prince in wisedome learnyng and honestye suche one of stature as was semynge a lyke prince His countrefaytoure very connyngly made is to be sene yet this daye by the erle Hoier of Mansfelde He had greate warres in Hungary agaynst the Hungaryans of the whyche he was taken He fought oft agaynst the Turkes But whan he was made Emperoure he made a greate settyng forth agaynst the Turkes with the ayde of all nacions whereof we shall speake hereafter Of the councell of Constance IN the beginnynge of Sigismundus raygne he went vp into Italye and toke counsell with Ioannes the bysh of Ro. of callinge a generall councel for to auoyde the diuision He went also to the Frenche kynge and compelled hym to agre to
it was ordeyned in y ◠councel of Constance that of a newe coūcel shulde be gathered after twelue yeares But after that Sigismundus was deade the bysh of Ro. holdinge a councell fyrste at Ferraria and from thence at Florence letted y ◠furtheraūce of the councel of Basill and that had he so muche the more easy a do because ther was no monarche or noble prince that defended the decree of y ◠councel of Basill After that Martinus was deade Eugenius the iiii was made bysh of Ro. The same crowned Sigismundus Emperour at Rome Albert the .ii. of that name the .xxxvi. Germane Emperour THe yeare of Christe M. cccc xxxviii after the death of Sigismundus was Alberte a prince of the bloude of Eastenryche kyng of Hungarye Bohemye made Emperoure He dyed in the seconde yeare of hys raygne Parte of Bohemy dyd cleue to the kyng of Polen endeuoured to drawe y ◠kyngdome of Bohemy to Polony The Poles brought a great army into Bohemy drew into their faction the vprourysh kynde of men called Thaborites Agaynst thē sent Albert y ◠Emperour Albert marques of Bran denburg The same brought to passe wyth manye battayls that the matter was agreed betwene the Emperoure and the Poles Albert the Emperoure came wyth a greate army into Hungary agaynst Amurates the Turke who at that tyme was fallen into Hungary Whan Albert the Emperoure came he fled backe and besye gynge the cytye Sinderouien he returned into Grece and wann the city Thessalonica In this settynge forth fell Albert into a sycknesse and beynge broughte agayne to Uyenna dyed wythyn few dayes Friderick the .iii. the .xxxviij. Germane Emperoure THe yere of Christ M. CCCC xl after Albertus deathe was Fridericke the thyrd duke of Estenrich made Emperoure He raygned .liii. yeares The doughter of Sigismundus wyfe to Albert the Emperoure was now bygge wyth chylde but some of the Hungaryans despayrynge of an heyre of the realme chose Vladislaus the yonger kynge of Polen for a kyng The kings gouernour in Hungary was Ioānes Huniades father to Mathias The same had weakened the power of the Turkes wyth a great battail and compelled Amurates to demande peace But so soone as Vladislaus was come into the realme the Hungariās trusted that yf they the Poles powers were ioyned together they shuld easely gett great prayse yf they inuaded the Turke And happely had the yonge kyng Vladislaus pleasure in thys prayse Wherfore Iulianus the Cardinall brake the treuce made wyth the Turke vnder thys pretence and coloure that it were not lawfull to make peace wyth the Turkes wythout the Bish of Romes consente seyng y ◠case is belonging to whole Christendome Thus Vladislaus gathering an hoost went against Amurates vntill Varnam which is not farr from Cōstantinople though Ioannes Humades in y ◠mean season dissuaded to take warre because that he knew well the weakenesse of his men the power of the Turkes also had he made peace with the Turke not without necessitie It is also sayd that Vladislaus desyred ayde of Dracoles y ◠Malache but he also dyd counsell to leaue y ◠setting forth to warre Yet dyd he send his sonn with him to aide king Vladislaus with two thousand horsemen to whom he shuld haue said He gaue hym a couragious and swyft horse suche one as he wold geue to his sonn also for his mynd gaue that they shuld lose the feld and therefore shuld they haue these horses at hand that as nede shulde requyre the myghte troughe theyr swyftnesse escape the daunger As for the Turkes dyd forse themselues wyth nolesse carfulnesse than wysedome and were euery where appoynted in a readynesse before the Hungaryans were set in an order Wherefore thoughe the Hungariās fought fearcely for y e glory of Christes name and ouerthrwe verye great hoostes of the enemyes yet dyd the Turkes at the last ouercome wyth the multitude stayeng Vladislaus the yong kinge and afterward was Iulianus the Cardinal slayen also in the flyght Humades as he was a ware soul dioure toke hede to hymselfe by tymes and escaped This felde was the yeare M. CCCC xliiii the tenth daye of Nouember Amurates became a Mahometyshe monke after thys vyctorye supposynge to haue accomplyshed hys duetye in the empyre after so greate prosperitye in vanquyshynge hys enemyes leste he rashely trustynge smylynge fortune farther dyd stayne hys glorye wyth some euell But Hunyades dyd inuade and fell vpon the Turkes agayn and dyd hurt them so sore that they called Amurates agayn to the realme to resist Hunyades their enemy and shuld driue him out of Hūgary Afterward whā Cōstantinople was lost Huniades ouercame Mahomet y e Turkishe Emperour bringing into Hūgari an hurtful army with a great discōfitur deliuered whole Europa from y e fear of daūger For yf that setting forth had lucked Mahomet y e Turkish Emperour he had now takē in not only Italy but other contryes also Whan Vladislaus was deade the Hungarians receaued the chylde Ladislaus the heyre of the realme borne of Sigismundus doughter for theyr kyng Thys Ladislaus whan he was ful growen dyed at Praga the haed citye of Bohemy The yeare M. CCCC xliiij broughte the Dolphin with the Armeniakes an army into Elsace vntyll Basil not wythout a greate and horible manslaughter of the Germanes Some thynke that Eugenius the bysh of Ro. sent hym into Germany to trouble the councel of Basil The Dolphyn had aboute fyue and twenty thousand men The Switzers sent foure thousand men against them to rescue the citye Basel out of theyr handes They sett vpon the enemyes wyth so greate strengthe and corage that none of them gaue backe and thoughe they coulde not ouercome them by reason of the multitude of thē yet left they theyr enemies a bloudy dolefull victorye For the Dolphin lost in that battayl about ten thousand men and was fayne to flye out of Germany with the residue y ◠remayned The yeare M. CCCC xlix dyd Albert marques af Brandenburg warre agaynst imperial cityes Norinberg and some other Thys was called the warre of the cityes Many princes dyd ioyne themselues to ether syde and thys warre lasted ii yeares Albert the marques ouerthrue them of Norinberg wyth .viii. battayls The yeare M. cccc lii went Friderick into Italy and was receaued of euery man wyth seastly honoure In the citye Sena dyd he acomplyshe hys weddynge wyth Leonora hys spouse doughter to the kynge of Portingale Commynge to Rome he was crowned of Nicolaus the fyfte wyth hys quene the .xviij. daye of Marche Returnyng from Rome at Ferraria made he Borsius of Esta duke From thence shipped he ouer to Venice and abode there ten dayes I haue herde of a man of greate renowme that it was tolde him of the prince of Venice who beynge Senator serued the Emperour Fridericke and the prince of Venice at the table that Frederick shulde haue sayd at
the meale that he truely wold be a frende to the Venecians continually but they shulde haue muche trouble and dāmage of hys successours Of Constantinople Wonne by the Turkes THe yeare of Christe M. CCCC liiii y e xxix daye of Maye after longe syeggat Mahometes the Turkysh Emperoure the citye Constātinople at y e laste with a very strong assaulte and vsed thereyn so muche cruelnesse that it can not be expressed wyth no wordes Constantinus the Emperoure was slayne by the gate of the cytye in the flyghte whose heade caused the Turke to be smytten of stycked vpon a pole to be caryed thorow out the citye He commaunded also to set vp an image of the crucyfyed Christe in the citye and towrytte vpon it The same is the God of the Christians But he commaunded to moke it and caste fylthe vpon it and all to defyle it The Emperours wyfe and doughters wyth other honest matrones were drawen to a banket and there were they fyrst misused after that hewed to peces These examples and other mooste cruel dedes of y e Turkes ought duely to rayse and styrre our mindes that we shulde earnestly fight agaynst those enemyes whyche one nede not to call tyrauntes but rather cruel beastes The yeare M. CCCC lxi dyd the bysh of Ro. depose Dietericke of Isenburge from hys byshoprycke and in hys steade was made Adolphe of Nassau This chaunce gaue an occasion of greate warres in the Empyre Friderick the counte Palatyne toke vpon hym to defende retayn byshop Dieterych Agaynste the same dyd the Emperour sturre the erles of Wyrtenberg and Baden and the bysh of Mentz Whan these spoyled y e contry of y e count Palatine they were taken by Frideryck count Palatine about the yeare M. CCCC lxii The same yeare dyd contrarye wyse Adolfe the byshop take in the citye Mentz The yeare M. CCCC lxiij was Friderick the Emperoure strongly besieged in the castel at Vienna by hys cityesins and the doer of thys was Albert the Emperours brother but George kyng of the Bohemes delyuered the Emperoure driuing awaye the cityesins The yere M. CCCC lxxiiii dyd Charles prince of the Burgundyons besyege the towne Nuce a whole yeare and that because the chapiter chanōs of Colen had dryeuen out Rupert byshoppe of Colen whome Charles wold haue restored agayne But whan he went about to turne the byshopryck of Colen from the empyre haue gotten it to him the Emperour appoynteth an army agaynst hym The captayne of the hoost was Albert marques of Brandenburg and the empyres standardebearer Albert duke of Saxony At the last whan diuersly was treated of alayenge the debate Charles gaue place and it is sayde that at y ◠tyme was fyrst treated of geuyng Maximilian the doughter of Charles of Burgundy The yeare M. CCCC lxxvii was the duke of Burgundy vanquished by Nansen by them of Lotayn and the Switzers and slayne For Charles had taken from them of Lorain Nansen in Switzerland had he taken in Gransen and other small townes besides that also caused he in the towne of Gransen to be hanged .v. C. and .xii. Germanes Whan Charles was deade the Frenchemen enterprised to ioyne Flaunders and Brabant to theyr kingdom this desyre of the Frenchmen brought the cause of great warres But whan the Burgundions wold not that theyr duchies shuld be straunged or alienated from Charles doughter they delivered to wedde Charles doughter to Maximilian son to Friderick the Emperour Wherfore Maximiliane went wel appointed into Brabāt the yeare M. cccc lxxvii and wedded Mary Charles doughter whereby it came to passe that he augmēted not a litle the glory of the Eastenrychs name and that Maximiliā did many renowmed prowesses to defende those countryes agaynste the assaulte of the Frenchemen The yeare M. cccclxxxvi was Maximilian made Emperoure at Aken he was crowned the tenth daie of Apryll When he was chosen Emperoure at Franckforde Albert marques of Brandenburg dyed there whome the Italian history writers also do geue the prayse of a sage and wyse prince and also a doughty man of armes The yeare M. cccclxxxvii was Maximiliane taken of his subiectes at Brudgis in Flaūders by a preuy trayne of the Frenchemen But when Frede rick came downe into lowe Germany furnyshed wyth the ayde of the whole empyre Maximilian was letten fre of them of Brudgis The yeare M. ccccxc he asked agayne and toke possession of his hereditary landes of the duchy of Eastenriche the whiche Mathy kyng of Hungary had taken in The yere M. ccccxciii dyed Frederick the third Emperonre in the towne Lyntz and was buried at Vienne The same yeare dyd the Turkes fall in to Croacia but they were dryuen backe agayne by Maximiliane that then was in Eastenriche surnyshed wyth an army of fyftenth ou saude men When Eugenius the .iiij. was deade Nicolaus the .v. was made by shop of Rome Friderick the Emperoure was crowned of hym and he entertayned with moste hygh liberalitie not onely learned men of Italy but also suche as were fled from Con stantinople to Rome namely Gaza Trapezontius Argyropylos by whose procurement al good sciences are renewed and amended Calistus the .iij. was bysh of Ro. after Nicolaus Pius the .ij. before called Eneas Syluius succeded Calistus He was Frederick the Emperoures Chaunceller He had gathered a greate army of all nacions against the Turkes but while the army is demissed without doynge any thyng Paulus the .ij. was after Pius Xystus the .iiii. was by shop of Rome after Paulus In his tyme the yeare M. cccclxxx dyd Mahometes the Turkysh Emperour besyege Hydruntum in Italy and wanne it vsyng therein incredible tyranny Italy was so asrayed that Xystus the Romysh byshop made hrm reade to flye into Fraunce But Mahometes died the same time when Hydruntum was a takynge and that by some destiny lest he should straie farther into Italy Moreouer whyle this was dayng Alfonsus kyng of Naples warred with them of Sena but when he harde the tydyngs of Hydruntum he haisted to returne into his kyngdome and getteth the besyeged citye Hydruntū out of the Turkes handes For whyle Mahometes was deade and that the Turkes haysted now to returne home lest any variaunce myght ryse in their kyngdome Alfonsus obteined the citie easely driuyng the Turkes out of Italy After Xystus was Innocētius the .viii. by of Ro. Alexander the the .vi. was made byshop of Ro. after Innocentius The same had a sonne duke of Valencia whom he made prince of Vrbinas Hys sayeng it was O Cesar o nullo that is Ether Emperoure or nothyng At the last was he nothyng For he was slayne for his sundry craftes that were mengled with gite and deceate The beginning of the science of printyng is sayd to haue bene vnder Frederick the thyrd and thys science of boke printing they saye to haue ben found fyrst at Mentz the yeare M. cccc xl The craft of the gonnes
oriental corner stretchyng her blasyng tayle towardes the southwest The second day of Nouember was there a great inundacion of water brokē in into Freeseland Holland Seeland and Flaunders which was very damageable to the said countreis and to thinhabiters therof Also Christerne kyng of Norway being retourned into his said kyngdome the yeare before from the parties of lowe Ducheland where he had kept hym selfe by the space of ten yeres was required by the counsayll of Denmarke to come to Copmanhauen otherwyse called Coppenhagen against kyng Fredericke whiche was put in there by the helpe of the towne of Lubeke when the said Christerne fled out of the Realme that he myght there receyue and take in possession the kyngdome of Denmarke but when he suspected no guyle relented and put away hys souldiours and came into Denmarke the Counsayll of the Lande toke hym prisoner not regardinge the promises and saulf conduit by them made vnto hym And so they kept hym in the castel of Sunderborough oute of the whiche he came neuer as yet So that after this kinge Frederick did peaceably enioye his kingdome vntyll he dyed At Lindowe by the sea coaste was in thys yeare borne a dubble calfe wyth two heades foure eares and eighte feete hanginge alltogether In the yere of our Lord M. ccccc xxxiij when y e Emperour namely Charles the fift had stablyshed vnity and concord among the Princes and Cities of Italy and Lumbardy he departed wyth a competent and wel appointed Armada or Nauye from Genua and hauynge a prosperous passage arryued within fewe dayes after in Spayne where he was receyued of hys subiectes wyth great ioye After this by the counsayll and instigation of themperours Maiestye the Shypmaiesters and maryners of Spayne founde oute certayne Indes or Ilandes in the sea beynge vnknowen before whyche do so excedynglye abounde in ryches of golde and syluer that it is vnspeakeable These toke they in by force of armes and subdued them vnder the subiection of the emperours Maiestye In thys yeare the Pope and Frauncys the Frenche kynge helde a solempne communycatyon together at Massylya whyche lyeth in the Prouynce of Fraunce where after manye and dyuers consultacyons it was concluded that Henry Duke of Orleans sonne to the sayde Frenche kynge shuolde marye Pope Clementes cosyne the doughter of Laurence Medyce Duke of Vrbyne wyth whome the Pope hadde promysed a ryche dowrye Thus hath thys Pope Clemente alwayes endeuoured hym selfe to allure and drawe vnto hym the hyghe Potentates and Rulers of the worlde by the helpe of whome he myghte extyrpate and roote oute the pore Chrystyans whome they call Lutheryans and Heretykes But God woulde not suffer it longe as it is wrytten There is no deuice nor counsayll agaynste the Lorde but it shall come to naughte In the same yeare the myghtye bond and confederatyon of the Germayne Natyon which was called the Euangelycall confederacyon or the bonde of the Gospell beynge kepte secrete of manye was at the prouocatyon of the Frenche kynge opened and disclosed There apeared also another Comete or blasynge starre from the ende of the moneth of Iune vnto the begynnynge of Auguste in the Northe and in the sygnes of Gemyny Taurus and Aryes thoroughe the whyche sygnes she made her course in her goynge backewarde hauyng her tayle extended towardes the South And thys was the thyrde Comete or blasynge starre that hadde appered wethyn those two yeres What they portended or sygnyfyed or what alteracyon of Estates and other thynges they broughte wyth them maye a dyscreete reader gather and perceyue by the Storyes herafter folowing For suche wonderfull workes of God althoughe they come by the course of nature yet are they not wythoute theyr specyall workynge It is sayde also that in this yeare of M. CCCCC xxxiii the Deuyl burned a lyttell Toune in Germanye called Shyltagh downe to the grounde by the meanes of a certayne wythche on maundy thursdaie The fyfte daye of October in the nyghte burned at Andwarpe the Churche called our ladye Churche beynge sodaynly sette on fyre At Nurrenboroughe and in manye other places of thempyre lyenge there aboute reygned thys yeare a greate Pestylence in so muche that at Nurrenboroughe onelye from S. Margretes daye vntyll S. Martins day folowinge dyed ten thousande persons The sixtene day of Nouember was a great earthquake and an horryble tempeste of wynde whyche plaged and troubled the Townes in hygh Germany verye sore namely Cu◠Feldechurche S. Gall wyth other townes and vyllages lyenge nyghe vnto them by the Ryuer called the Rhene Thys yeare Henrye the eighte kynge of Englande c. for certayne consyderacyons hym therevnto mouynge was dyuorced from hys wyfe whiche had bene fyrste maryed to hys brother prynce Arthur and maryed another on wytsonday In the yeare of our Lorde M. CCCCC xxxiii in the moneth of Ianuary The Anabaptistes whyche had gathered them selues together out of Hollande and Freselande by preuy subteltyes and conspyracyes whych they had made with certayne burgeouses of the Cytye of Mynster in Westphale inuaded the same Cytye toke possessyon of it and expelled from thence al the Burgeoules and inhabytauntes therof that woulde not take parte wyth them and folowe theyr facultye They chose them also a kynge that was a Taylloure named Ihon of Leyden whyche ordeyned for hym selfe two specyall Counsayllours the one called Knypperdullynge and the other kreghtynge and in conclusyon they made suche a dysorder and confusyon whytin the sayde Cytye that not wythoute a cause all the people of Westephale dyd ryse agaynste them But when the ryghte noble Prynce Philyppe Landgraue of Hessen toke in hande to accorde the matter betwene the sayde Anabaptystes and the Byshoppe whome they had expelled he coulde nothynge preuayle so sore hadde the Deuyll blynded that Anabaptystycall generatyon Wherefore the sayde Byshoppe compassed the sayde Cytye wyth a greate power on euerye syede to thyntent he myghte ouercome and subdue them ether wyth the sworde or elles by famyne And althoughe there was greate scarcyte and lacke of vyctualles wythyn the saide Cyrye in so muche that at the laste they were sayne to eate lether and couerynges of bookes yet dyd they sustayne bearcoute prolonge and holde oute the sayde syege vntyll the next yeare folowynge wherof we shall speake more in place conuement In the meane season dyd Philip Landgraue of Hessen prepare hymselfe after the best maner to restore hys Vncle Duke Hulderyke of Wyrtenbergh agayne to hys Dukedome from whence he was expelled fyftene yeares before durynge the whyche tyme kynge Ferdynando had the gouernaunce and vse therof But fyrste because the sayde prince of Hessen woulde do nothynge presumptuously nor temeraryouslye he sente worde to themperoures Mayestye in Spayne and to the kynge in Austryche desyrynge them to restore hys said Vncle Duke Hulderyke to hys Landes agayn for so muche as he had nowe suffered sufficient punyshemente for hys
offence and presumptyon by hym commytted agaynste the Empyre for he hadde taken a certayne towne pertaynynge to thempyre called Rutlynge whyche was the cause of hys expulsyon in that he hadde lacked and forborne the vse and profytes of his Landes all that space and season Whyche thynge yf they were not willynge to do he was in a readynes hym selfe to set hym in agayne parforce Althoughe he woulde be loth to vse anye carneste and rigourous fashions But whyle he was not answered accordynge to hys expectatyon and requeste he wente furthe wyth hys power into the lande of Wyrtenbergh that where bothe Prynces met together sloutelye but Philippe the Palatyne wyth hys men was put to flyghte and he him selfe wounded in hys hele wyth a shot wherfore the said Landgraue was verye sorye After thys battel the townes yelded them selues one after another so that wythin fewe dayes the sayd Duke Hulderyk brought all his Landes agayn vnder hys power and subiection But whyle the sayde Landgraue by reason of thys acte hadde nede to feare themperoures and the kynges Maiestye leaste they myghte worke oughte agaynste hym he went wyth hys armye towardes Vlmes besydes the Ryuer of Danube where he taryed eyther for an agremente and a peaceable retourne or elles for another answere In so muche that a sure peace on the Emperoures and kynges Mayestyes behalfe wyth sure appendycles and circumstances was there promysed hym by Albert Archebyshoppe of Mence Ihon Frederyke Duke of Saxon bothe Electours imperiall and George Duke of Saxon After the obtaynyng wherof he dispersed hys armye wythoute delaye and retourned home agayne into hys owne lande Here myghte I take occasyon to extoll and hyghly to prayse not onelye the bolde and reasonable deade or acte of the Landgraue in that he dyd so truelye and faythefullye helpe hys Vncle into hys owne domynyon agayne wythoute any respect hadde to the power of them that hadde the same landes of hys Vncle in possessyon more by sufferaunce then by any ryghte tytell But also the pacience and mekenes both of the Emperoures and the kynges Maiestye in that they dyd so gentlye and wyllyngly renounce the sayd Dukedome Whych they myght very easely accordynge to theyr power amonge men haue subdued and brought agayne vnder their subiection and dominatiion But forasmuch as I am not minded here to describe hole stories with al their circūstances but onely to touch brefely the principal actes and doinges I wil commet the same to another or peraduēture intreate of it my selfe herafter to my power The same yere of 1534. died Frederick kinge of Denmarke about whose corse happened a wonderful and straung thing which doubteles did signifie the sheding of bloud that folowed afterwarde in the same kingdome For when the dead corps of y e said kyng accordyng to the custome and maner was enbawmed or anoynted wyth bawme other spyces and wrapped in clene seryng clothes was inclosed in a shrine piched prepared accordinglye the same dead corps contrarye to nature beganne to blede in suche sorte that the bloude was receyued and taken vppe in vessels and immedyatelye after the people of the land were vysyted wyth warres and battayles For Chrystophore Counte of Oldenboroughe accompanyed wyth them of Lubeke whose Capytaynes were George weuer and Markes Mayer whyche afterwarde accordynge to their deseruynges were condemned and put to death inuaded the lande of Christyans Duke of holstone and toke certayne townes and Castels whyche not longeafter the sayde Duke recouered agayne puttynge them of Lubeke to great losse bothe by water and by lande vntyll suche tyme as the other Sea Townes wyth Henrye Duke of Mekelboroughe toke the matter in hande and concluded a peace and vnyty betwene the Towne of Lubeke and the Dukedome of holstone whyche peace was registred and proclamed the eyghtene daye of Nouember After thys were the Capytaynes of Lubeke moued towardes Denmarcke and consulted wyth the sayde Counte of Oldenborough howe they myghte conuenyently inuade and entre the sayde kyngdome of Denmarke and Norwaye wherof dyd ensue a newe warre as shalbe declared in the next yeare Thys yeare was also sene a wonderfull apparition in Denmarke besides the towne of Sleswyghe lyenge not farre from Lubeke whych as a certayne Secretarye of the saide place by an othe affyrmeth in hys wrytynges to the Quene dyaected apeared in the ayer the thyrd daye of Iune at after noone and was sene of a thousande persons or more as hereafter foloweth Fyrste there apeared a greate multytude of Lyons fyghtynge one wyth another Secondlye there apeared a man armed on horsebacke wyth a iustynge speare vnder his arme as thoughe he woulde haue iusted with an other hauynge a longe bearde and many busshes of fethers Thyrdelye there appeared a man with a crowne imperyall as lyke vnto themperours Mayestie that the sayd Secretary and manye of hys seruauntes thoughte none other but that it hadde ben themperoures owne lyuyng personne wherefore some of them toke of their cappes and were readye to do reuerence vnto hym Fourthelye there apeared the symylytude or Lykenes of a greate Regyon or Countree replenyshed wyth Cytyes Castels and Vyllages well distinct and set in order which were all consumed thoroughe a swyft fyre which went vp in the same Fyftly there apeared an other Regyon not vnlyke to the fyrste garnyshed wyth Cytyes Castels and vyllages and specially wyth one greate and myghtye Cytye wych Cytye was myghtelye assaulted by a greate multytude of warryours wyth gonnes and all manner of artyllerye bothe by lande and by water wyth migh tye shyppes vnder sayle There appeared also amonge the sayde warryours certayne Capytaynes whyche in swyftnes or agylyty and in length of body exceded the other Syxtelye there apeared halfe a blacke Egle whyche lepte out of the sayde horse out of whose clawes or talentes fell small Snakes among the which was one great Dragon Seuentlye there apeared afterward in the place where the greate Cyty hadde ben a Camell whyche dranke oute of a tempestuous water as thoughe it hadde ben the ragynge sea by the waues wherof the sayd beast was couered Eyghtlye there appeared after thys a certayne horse wheron noman dyd ryde but a lion whyche laye vpon hys backe hauing a crowne hangynge on hys heade and vpon the sayde lyon sate a Cocke whych by continuall pickynge and bytynge consumed the hole head of the Lyon but the skull remayned a greate while hanging vpon the horse Nyntly there appeared also a great Crosse of a bloudy colour which immediately diuyded it selse into many small and black Crosses Tentlye and last of all there apeared a fyery man wyth a crowne imperiall all armed whych helde on eyther syde of him a horse and vnder this was the for sayd Crosse But vnder al these were manye sortes of Dragons vnknowen beastes As Lyons beares and of other kyndes whych were neuer sene before for some of them hadde heades of wylde swyne wyth greate
tethe and yet resembled not the swynes in any other parte But the moost part of them were Lyons The Crosse the Camell and the Lyon whose head the Cocke dyd eate were sene last of all Henrye the eyghte oft hat name kynge of Englande whan he was by the Pope excōmunycated for makyng dyuorse wyth hys wyfe which was hys brothers wyfe before called the nobylytye and beste learned of hys Realme together and consulted wyth them In the whych consultatyon or parlyamente it was concluded that the Pope hadde none authorytye nor power ouer hym nor yet ouer the Churche of hys Realme but that the kynge hym selfe was both kynge of his Royalme and also supre me heade and defender of the same Churche Werefore he dyd vttterlye forsake the Pope and fell from hym He dyd also set furthe a booke of the authority and power of Christen Princes ouer their Churches agaynste the vsurped authorytye of the Pope and hys detestable abhomynatyon and procured afterward to be ioyned in confederatyon wyth the Euangelycall Prynces and townes agaynste the Pope and specyally wyth the towne of Lubeke Whithin a littel whyle after this his deputye in Irelande fell from hym and caused the whole Ilande to rebell agaynst theyr Prince In thesayed yeare the fyue and twentiest daye of September dyed Pope Clement the seuenth of that name beyng old syxe and fyftye yeares and foure monethes After hym was elected and chosen the twelft daye of October Paule the thyrde a verye olde man whyche before was called Alexander Farnesius a Romayne borne and had ben byshop of Ostia What Romysh touches the same hath wrought and vsed shalbe mentioned hereafter in place conuenient Whyle thys was a doynge in the Weste the bloudthurstye Mars was busy in the Easte For the moost myghty Sophy kynge of the Persyans inuaded the Lande of Armenia agaynst the Turke wyth a myghty army Wherefore the Turke sent hys chyefe Capytayne called Imbrai Bassa wyth a stronge hoost to defend Armenia from and agaynst the Persyans But whan they met by the Ryuer of Eufrates Imbrai Bassa wyth the moost parte of his hoost was slayne Then Soliman the Turky she Emperoure intendyng to reuenge the sayde losse receyued at the handes of the Persyans went out of the cytye of Epiphania whyche lyeth in the ende of the lande of Cilicia and abutteth vpon Syria wyth a great nombre of men well appointed and had a prosperons iorney and a lucky paspassage vntill he approched nygh vnto the costes of Armenia But as soone as he hadde attayned vnto it he was vnwarres enuyronned compassed and besyeged rounde aboute of the Persyans in the mountaynes on euerye syde in suche wyfe that thesayd Soliman had muche to do to saue hys lyfe and to escape wyth a fewe of hys men into Syria Whylest Solyman was thus pestered and busyed wyth the Persyans a certayne Pyrate or Sea roauer whome the Lombardes and the people of Mauritania do call Barbarossa rose vp in Grece and gate vnto hym a Turkyshe Armad a well appoynted intendynge to inuade and ouertunne the kyngedome of Tunise lyenge in Affrica where sometyme Carthago was buylded and at hys arryuynge he pilfered and spoyled syrste the Cytye of Ostia lyenge not farre from Roome After that he kept the sea aboute Genua a good whyle and whan they of Affrica suspected least of all they were of hym inuaded In so muche that he subdued vnto hym selfe all the lesser Affrica and expelled kynge Altzachenus from Tunise Thus hath thys Tyraunt ouercome Affrica wherein he reygned and tryumpheth yet at thys daye wyth greate pryde and arrogancy The fyfte daye of Iulye in the sayd yeare of M. CCCCC xxxiiii were burned at Breda in the lande of Brabant nyne hundreth and thre score houses by a sodayne fyre In the begynnyng of the Winter arose manye horryble and tempestuous Westerly and also Southerly wyndes wherby certayne quarters in lowe Duchelande and thinhabitauntes of Sealande dwellynge nygh the sea syde sustayned notable losses and dammages In the lande of Pole were all waters and ryuers so excedingly increassed that they brooke downe at Crakowe and at Casymyre myghtye stonebridges and walles wyth many other strong buyldynges notwythstandynge that in a maner thoroughoute all Europa besydes all waters were verye small and partely dryed vp thorough the greate heate of the same Sommer Thys yeare the Duke of Millan maryed the doughter of Cristerne captyue kyng of Denmarke whych was borne vnto hym of Izabell syster to the Emperour Charles IN the yeare of our Lorde 1535. the Emperoure Charles prepared hym selfe wyth greate power and made out a myghty Armada or nauy furnyshed wyth all maner of necessaries and thoroughlye manned wyth Duche French and Spanyshe warriours wherewyth he sayled fyrste oute of Spayne into the Ile of Sardinia From thence into Sicilia and from thence he sayled into Affrica in the moneth of Iune and recouered the cytye and kyngedome of Thunise agayne whyche Barbarossa had taken before whome the Emperoure expelled agayne from those quarters and restored the olde kynge Altzachenus agayne to hys kingedome on thys condytyon that he shoulde yearelye paye a certayne trybute to the Emperoure But the Castell of Golleta dyd themperoures Mayeste reserue to hys owne vse whyche he furnyshed also wyth men retaynynge the same onelye from the kyngdome of Tunyse All the residue of the sayde kyngdome dyd he delyuerer to the sayde king Thys battayll and affayres beynge ended themperoures Maiestye returned agayne wyth hys Nauy into Sicylya and arryued wyth a prosperous course at Palerrno whyche sometyme was called Panormus Whyle the Emperoure was busy to sett all thynges in ordre in the kyngdome of Tunise Barbarossa inuaded the Ile called Mynorca whyche is the leaste amonge the Iles of balearis destroyenge the same by spoylynge and burning very piteously Also the Affrycanes in the kyngdome of Thunyse dyd not behaue themselues verye faithefullye towardes themperoures Mayesty For when they woulde saue them selues from hys power and some of them wente aboute to make an insurrectyon The Emperoures Maiestye sente hys chiefe Capytayne Andrewe de Aurea vpon the sea towardes Affryca to punyshe and correcte the rebelles for the better establyshemente of all thynges in the kyngdome of Tunyse In the lowest partes of Ducheland dyd the Secte of the Anabaptistes myghtelye increase Wherefore the townes by the sea syde feared a great destruction on there behalfe Among the whych Secte some were so deuelysh and shameles that they dyd not onelye wythoute anye conscyence and shame take manye wyues but also went altogether naked euen as they were borne in thys worlde Suche is the ordre where the Deuell is Capytayne that neyther nurtour honestye nor yet the feare of God is regarded But they that were wythin the Towne of Mynster and had ben nowe more then a yeare therein besyeged were not very well at
ease allthough by the reason of theyr foolyshe Phantasyes and hardened hartes they coulde not nor yet woulde not perceyue it vntyll they were vtterlye destroyed For notwythstandyng that the sayed syege pressed them and an horrible and importunate famine as was mencioned before in the last yeare reygned among them Yet were they by the comfortable persuasyons of theyr false Prophetes so hardened that they mynded nothynge lesse then to yelde by the Towne and saue theyr lyues notwythstandynge that thereunto they were often tymes requyred wyth lyberall and gracyous promyses But contrary wyse they defended themselues the longer the fearcer and shot out of the Towne with ordinaunce as though the deuell had bene among them to the great auoyaunce of their aduersaries in so muche that not a fewe valiaunt warriours in the Campe were slayne with their ordinaunce And to declare the madnes of the said Anabaptistes I haue thought it mete not to omitte a folysh acte done by a certayne woman among them Forasmuche therfore as they within the towne had this opinion of the saied towne of Mynster that it was that new Ierusalem mencioned in the Apocalipse thorough the whiche all the heathen should be destroied so that the christians should reigne in peace a thousand yeres whiche sayeng although they must be vnderstande spiritually were they expounded by them carnally the said folysh woman would counterfette the acte of Iudith which slewe holofernes and deliuered her Citie Wherefore she made her boaste that if she myght be costely arayed and decked she woulde go furth if she were permitted into the hooste of her aduersaries and easely ouercome the byshop Whyle nowe the kyng the other in the town were so foolysh and made not only to beleue her but also to further her in the said affayres trustyng that their deliueraunce was at hand she went out and behaued her selfe in all pointes as though she had bene escaped and fled out of the citie But her dissimulacion beyng espied perceyued she was taken and brought before the Byshop and after her confession rewarded wit death accordyng to her deseruyng For asmuche nowe as the saied craft and practise bad no good successe the Anabaptistes within the citie ought to haue consydered that there was no fortune in their doyng seyng they were yet oppressed to the vttermost But they dyd herein resemble the Iewes in their last destructiōat Ierusalem for the more God plaged them with famine and dissention among them selues the more hard harted and stifnecked they were vntill at the last one escaped priuely out of the saied citie and brought in certaine of the byshops souldiours at the gate called the holy crosse gate which souldiours after they had slain the watchemen opened the gate and so made away into the citie for the other Thus was the citie of Mynster taken in again and deliuered from the powere of the Anabaptistes at the feast of S. Iohn the baptiste in the night And the next day folowing whatsoeuer would make any resistaūce being slayn with the sworde the kyng with his chief counsayllours craftyng and knipperdulling were taken prisoners These three were aftewarders for the space of certayne monethes caryed about in the countrey from place to place for a spectacle and example to all men And at the last on S. Vincentes day in the yere of our lorde MDxxxvi they were put to death with fyry tonges and their dead bodies hanged vp in yron baskettes or grates out of the steple of S. Lamberts Churche within the saied citie of Mynster the kyng in the middes somewhat hyer then his said two coūsailers for a perpetual memoriall and warning to all commocioner raysers of tumulte rebelles against y e lauful magistrates ordeined of God Thus toke this kyngdom of the Anaba pristes a shameful ende according to their desertes In Denmarke raged the duke of Oldenborough with the capitaines of Lubeke as he had begonne the yere before but the moste part of the germayne counsayll chose Christiane Duke of Holston to be kyng in Denmarke desyring hym to assiste them against the saied duke of Oldenborough and them of Lubeke While nowe the said request was easy to be graunted and the said duke of Holston had taken Iudland in possession all ready whiche is no small porcion of the kyngdome of Denmarke abutting vpon the lande of Holstone he passed with his army into the Ile of Funa ▪ otherwyse called Fion and ouercame the citie of Asnites But when the duke of Oldēborough with them of Lubeke assaulted him with an hoost of men well appointed both on horsebacke and on foote the said Christian obtayned the victory so that the duke of Oldēborough lost much people where among other was slayne Iohn count of Hoya and an Erle of Teckelburgh in Westphale and euen the same daye whiche was the .xi. daye of Iune they of Holstone toke from them of Lubeke an Armada of shippes and put the men of Lubeke whiche they founde in the same in captiuitie In somuche that the said Christiane had the ouerhande on euery syde whiche was vnto him a witnes from God that he should be kyng in Denmarke In Hungary and Austrich were diuers louedayes kept betwene Ferdinando and Iohn Weyda kinges of Hungary and the Turkes imbassadour to wete if Hūgary might be brought to apeaceable estate neuer theles there was nothing concluded that was notable and profitable Also in this yere 1535. there was a mariage cōcluded betwen y e king of Poles the king of Boheme For Sigismonde kyng of Poles maried Sigismūde his sonne to Elisabeth the daughter of Ferdinando kyng of Bohemy whiche in the yere of oure Lorde MDxliij folowyng was celebrated with great solempnitie as shalbe mentioned hereafter in place conuenient In the moneth of Nouember the second day the duke of Mylan departed out of this world And immediatly after Frauncis the Frenche kyng prepared hym selfe with all his power to recouer the dukedome of Mylan and entred into the land of Sauoy whereof ensued great warres the yere next folowyng in those quarters Frederike Duke of Baier Palatine by the Rene now electour imperiall toke to wyfe the right excellent princesses Dorothee daughter to Christierne late kyng of Denmarke whiche he had begotten of Izabel syster to Charles themperour the solempnitie whereof was kept at Bruxelles in Brabant In England in the moneth of Iune the byshop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More which had bene lorde chauncellour of Englande and in great aucthoritie vnder the kyng was beheaded for denieng the kyng to be supreme heade of the churche of Englande And in this yeare were there thre monkes of the Charter house executed in Englande for the same offence In the partes of Shlesy about and within the the towne of Olse arose the same yeare on Sainct Gyles day an horrible tempest in suche sorte that the bookes whiche were newely prynted were taken out of the Iewes houses
thinhabitances of thesayd contry of Coppenhagen denyed them their requsst kyng Christiane beseged the sayd citye wyth such power and troubled them so sore on euery syde that no victualles might come at them by no maner of meanes In so muche that wythin short space victualles waxed so scant and famme so increaâ—led wythin the cyty that they were glad to vse dogges fleshe for theyr meate and also cattes And when thys prouisyon dyd also fayle them and no deliueraunce eppeared of no part for they hoped that Frederike the Palatine who had taken to wyfe the doughter of kyng Christierne as before is mentioned should haue moued battayll agaynst the Duke of Holstone whyche came not to passe they yelded vp the cyty to the chosen kynge Christian aboue mencyoned Durynge thesayed siege the kynges souldiours ouercame Warborough and toke that false Capytayne of the Lubekes called Markes Mayer prysoner who wyth hys brother Gerard Mayer and a Danysh pryeste was quartered shortly after After that thesayd Christian had ouercome and subdued the hole kyngdome of Denmarke accordyng to the duety of all godlye kynges and prynces he directed all hys doynges and procedynges to thys ende that the worde of God myghte be purely and syncerely preached and taughte to hys pore subiectes in all partes of hys dominions But when he perceyued the preuy practises which the Bishoppes of that lande for they were in a maner the mightyest of both the kyngdomes of Denmarke and Norway imagined and purposed to worke against hym to hyndre his godly enterprise and to mayntayne their Idolary he toke them all seuen for so many were they in nombre and deposed them from their power and dignitie so that they were not able any more to make diuision sedicion or commotion within his kyngdome as they were wonte to do When this was done he sent messengers to Wit tenbourgh and called for the right honorable and well learned doctor Iohn Bugenhaghe borne in the dominion of Pomerlande who is yet at thys daye preacher of Goddes worde and minister or curate at the parysh Churche at Wittenbourgh as he was then This godly man came at the kynges request and by the helpe of God establyshed in bothe the kyngdomes the preaching of the Gospell and the true ministracion of the Sacramentes very frutefully so that within the space of thre yeres for so long was he by about the kyng all the paryshes of the lande which were aboue .xxiiii. thonsande in nombre were prouided and furnyshed with preachers and ministers hauing Super attendenres ordeyned and appointed ouer them to haue the ouersyght of them and to haue an earnest respecte and a watchefull eye to their doctrine and conuersation of lyuing He crowned also kyng Christian at Coppenhaghe in the presence of all his nobles with the kyngly crowne of the land of both the kyngdomes And after this at the kinges request he prouided and furnyshed the high Scole or vniuersitie of Coppenhaghe with Lecures and Reders of holy scripture and of all other laudable sciences For the better increase and furnyshyng whereof he called for certayne learned men froÌ„ Wittenbourgh although the lande was not all voyde of suche men before To the mayntenaunce of whiche Godly order and institucion of doctrine as wel in the Churche as in the vniuersytie the kyng gaue large gyftes and appoynted great liuynges And he set such an order in both the kyngdomes that his subiectes may be glad and geue God hygh thankes that of his goodnes he woulde sende them suche a kyng God sende hym longe to reigne among them and styrre vp the like in many other regions to the praise and sanctifycacion of hys moste holy name Amen Henry the eyght kyng of Englande had his imbassadours certayne monethes at Wittenbourgh whiche accordynge to the kynges request caryed wyth them in Englande certayne wel learned doctours to preache the Gospell of Christ within hys Realme and dominions whereof the hole congregacion of Christ thoroughout all Germany conceiued a speciall reioysynge and comforte But alas their ioye was not longe permanent for the saied kyng within two yeares after repelled them and caused some of them to be put to death as here tikes And Englyshe men haue had a certayne prophecy of great antiquitie that when saynt Georges daye should fall on good frydaye whiche is in the yeare of oure lorde MD. xlvi the worde of God shoulde myghtely increasse and taken place among them which I praye God graunt vnto theÌ„ to his prayse and glory This yere in England also the lorde Darcy syr Fraunces Bygot Syr Robert Constable other began a newe conspyracy whiche were attaynted and put to death in Iune This yere in October in England also on saynt Edowardes euen was Prince Edowarde borne at Hampton Court whiche was proclaimed anoynted kyng of Englande the .ix. yere of his age as shal be declared hereafter in due place This yere the .xiiij. daye of October also dyed Quene Iane mother to the saied Prince Edward and was buried at Winsor This yere did Iames the kyng of Scotlande puyssaunt kyng Iohn of Portingale Sonne to the excellent kyng Emanuell had a great conflicte and victory agaynst the infideles in the Realme of Cambaia or Guzuratum lyeng in the Indes For after that he had by his capitaines specially by Nonne a Cugria who was ruler and gouernour of the kinges army in the Indes destroyed the coastes lieng towardes the Indysh sea subiecte to the kyng of Cambaia and when the same kyng was not able to resyste hym although he was of power to brynge foure hundred thousand men in Campe he made a gentle agrement with the Portyngalles and delyuered them two mighty cities with all their abilyties priuiledges liberties and dominions whereof the one is called Bazaim and the other Dium this the stronger and the other the rycher Whiche haue both vnder them about a syx hundreth Villages with certayn smal townes and srutesul landes contayning in length about a .lxxx. myles or leaques wherof the king hath yerely an C. thousand crewnes at the least in bare tribute besydes the woode whence for the mooste part all the prouision is takeÌ„ that is occupied for the shyppes in the Indes with other aduauntages In those partes caused the kyng of Portingall the Christian fayth to be planted and at the last kyng Badur of Cambaia for so was he called when he was inuaded by kyng Dey who was kynge of the Scythians and of the Tartares fled with all his treasure mother wyfe and chyldren into the Cytie of Dyum whiche he had geuen vp before desyrynge succour and defence against his enemy So that by this meanes the king of Portyngall had obtayned the moste parte of all the lande of the Indes vnder his tuition and defence without any notable shedyng of bloude These actes are described at large by the sayed kyng in a
xlv nexte folowynge When George Marquys of Brandenburghe perceyned theyr sayde enterpryse and intent he thought that they dyd hym great iniury for he asscribed vnto hymselfe certayne ground â–ª and laude wythout the towne of Nurremborough which is neuer theles pertayning to the Empyre and claymed it as hys owne heritage wherfore he marched somtime by â–ª day as farre as the Landmark and by night vnto the towne euen hard by the forsayd buylding But when they of the towne feared some great malice and mischief they fenced theyr building with much ordenaunce and artillery kept great watch vpon the walles and in theyr turrettes When thys hyndered the people of the Marquys of theyr purpose some of them went toke certayne inhabytauntes of Nurremborough as they went a fowlynge or byrdyng in the woode and stopped certayne of theyr wagens or cartes commyng from Lipswyke and other places laden with goodes and marchaundyses and broughte them to the Castell of Bayerthorp Wherfore they of Nurremburgh being occasyoned and moued to displeasure â–ª and indignatyon by the reason of the sayde cruelues assembled a certaine nombre of â—oul dyours and layde them in the countree rounde about the town and furnished the smal townes and vyllages about them after the best mauer purposyng in case the sayd Marquys or hys men would persiste in theyrfrowardenes as they had begon to be in a readynes to defend themselues from such iniuris But yet thorough intreataunce of certaine Potentates and Princes of the Empyre the matter was qualified put in arbitrement so y e in conclusion the sayde Marquys suffered them of Nurrenburgh wythout contradiction and molestation accordynge to the tenoureof theyr lybertyes and priuyledges to buylde on the grounde of the Empyree This yeare dyed Charles Duke of Geldres in his place succeded William Duke of Cleue although he did not long enioye it as shalbe declared in place conuenient Thys yeare dyd Godde so punyshe the auaryce of marchauntes whyche occupye by the scasyede whyle they do so enhaunce the goode creatures of God in pryces that the poore are not able to bye them that thoroughe oute all the coastes of Denmarcke in harueste whyche is the best time of the yeare no hering could be taken In the kingdom of Naples y e .xxviii. day of Septemb. The Sea decreassed and fell away about the space of eight Italyan myles so that al the grounde was drye which afterwarde dyd cast certayn holes out of the which for the space of many dayes continually ascended fyre wyth ashes which dyd great hurt in many places there about at the falling do wne therof For the sayde ashes fell downe lyke snowe rounde about Naples for the space of thenne Itali an myles vntyll they lay on the grounde the thickenes of thre fingers Which is a fearful argument of Goddes wrath towardes vs wherby we ought al to be warned and specyally Italy to forsake our sinfull liuynge yf any warning would helpe But it is not regarded vntill Gods wrath lighteth vpon vs by heapes and then men would fayne repente but it is to late Wherfore let vs repente in time and lyue according to our professyon In Inglande thys yeare in December was the Lorde Marques of exceter the Lorde Montacute and Syr Edwarde Neuell beheaded for high treason duely proued IN y e yeare of our lord 1539. ThecoÌ„fede rat of y e Romane league prepared theÌ„sel ues wyth all theyr power to warre agaynst the Turcke by water but they profyted not muche For ther was greate lacke of vyctual a great dearth in Italy and at Venice â–ª For Barbarossa came wyth a great army and robbed vpon the sca and toke all that he might laye hand on so that ther myght no coarne be shypped vnto Venyce nether out of Cypers nor out of Can dye And there was also nomore prouisyon in Italy That done he shipped with a great power vnto the strong newe Castell which oure Christen men had wonne in the yeare before fortified it after the best facyon there vnto he layed seage in thre places and shot daye and night ther at wythoute ceassynge and yet wanne nothyng tyl certen of the dal macyans fell to fliyng awaye and ranne oute vnto the Turkes and tolde them where they myghte best and â—onest hurt our Christen men Then the enemye dyd accordyng to theyr councell and shotte both for tresses and walles doune so that the could assaulte them on euen grounde And although the spanyardes and the Italyans that were in the Castell defended themselues manfullye and couragy ously and slewe at the least syxtene thousand of the enemyes yet at the last because they werewery the enemyes gat euer fresch men they forsoke the Castell and loste bothe the Castell and the assault and althoughe they were ouer manned yet they fought and defended them selues so longe tyll they were all mooste all slayene Thys was done in August In the meane whyle Isabel the Emperoures Mayestyes wyfe the kynge of Portugalles doughter dyed of chylde the fyrste daye of maye the chylde was a sonne whyche lyued not longe She leaft behynde her lyuynge a sonne called Philyppe and two doughters whyche she hadde by the Emperour A none after ther was an insurreccyon ray sed at Gent amonge the commens of the Cytye so that it apeared that the cytye shulde haue bene destroyed By occasion wherof the Emperoures Mayestye was compelled to come oute of Spayn into Flaunders to appease that dissencion And as he was mynded to take his iorney toward Italy the Frenche kyng Fraunches sent an embassage to hym desyrynge hym amyably to come thoroughe Fraunce promysing that all that was in his kyngdome shulde be at his pleasure But the cause was for that they had concluded a peace to gethers as is aboue remembred the one shulde haue suspected the other if they hadde not kept frendshippe to gether And for as moche as the Frenche kyng had often broken the leaghe hys myssedoyng myghte thesoner be for gotten if the Emperoures mayesty woulde seke frendshyp at hys hande Thys thinge could by nomeanes be better or easelier done than that his maiesty for this once shuld iorney through hys lande By thys mocyon was the Emperours maiestye wyllyng to iorney thoroue Fraunce and sent hys chefe Counseller Granduel in Nouembre oute of Spayne into Fraunce to signyfye hys commyng and folowed shortlye after And when he came to S. Sebastians ther the Duke of Orliens the kynges youngest Sonne reaceaued hym And not farre from the city of S. Iohn was also the dolphyn wyth the chefe of y â— nobles of Fraunce whyche receaued the Emperoures maiesty wyth al due reuerence and dyd leadde him thorowe the lande till he came to Lochias the tenneth day of December There was the kynge in hys awne personne and Helenour hys wyfe tarynge for the Emperoure and receaued hym as it appeared for it was not all golde that
glyttered cleare as here after wyll appeare wyth all ioye and reuerence and were to gether tyll the ende of the xxxix yeare The inhabytoures of the nether parte of Austeryche of the erldome of Goertz hadde sente forth theyr ambassadours the laste daye of December from Vyenne wyth a pityfull and humble requeste and petycyon to the states and degrees of the kingdome of Behame which were at that time assembled at Preslowe that they woulde vouchesafe to helpe them agaynste the turcke whych had two yere before taken in the marqueship of Woendon and that present yeare manned it and caried from thence foureskore thousande chrysten men in to his lande and laie at that tyme hard vpon their neckes the chefe ambassadours of thys ambassage were M. Vlryche of boskawyts and. M Tscher nafor whyche were of the kynge of the Romaynes councell But what they obtayned wyth theyr peticion I can not tell at thys tyme but I suppose that they obtayned an honeste promesse and helpe For so pytyfullye as they made theyr petycyon it woulde haue made a stonye herte to meltte specially if men consider that yf they be suffred to be destroyed wythoute helpe that then theyr aduersity will be at the next time our awne In the somer in Iuly ther was a blasing ster in the eauening in y ◠Northwest in the signe of the virgin It was elles a metely good yere as touching wether other thinges y ◠happened therin but in the winter euery full mone ther was muche raine speciallye about the elue and other waters that ronne therinto Here I must sett to new tidynges that are counted true of many whych I take to be a speeyall myracle if it be so It is sayde and it is openly putt oute in prynte That the Emperour of Turckye in Iune caused all hys chefe and best learned priestes to come before hym and commaunded them vpon a great payne to tell hym whyche is the ryght true and best belefe vpon earth And when they had for feare excused themselues they had a tyme appoynted to remembre them and after were called before hymagayne Now when they were agayne monished to saye the trueth of theyr conscyence and heard the commaundement of the Tyrant they answered one after another wyth one assent that the Christen beliefe is the best and that it is a ryght and a true belefe albeit it is very much misused of the Christen For it teacheth the beste poyntes that can be as to wytte loue toward God and man whych is not so well taught in any other belefe And forther that they haue wytnesse in their lawe and alkorane that Mahomet must go to Christ for grace c. And that Christe is therefore better than Mahomet Whē they now had thus answered wythout feare the Tyrant waxed angrye and caused them all which were aboue fyfiye to beheaded And in the same place was there a syght sene as though all the headed priestes had bene together and lighted clearer than manye candellyghtes in the nyght through which miracle manye of the other priestes of Mahomet folowed theyr confessyon belefe also many of y ◠Lay people which acknowledged openly and wythout feare that those priestes were vniustly kylled for the truethes sake All thynges are possible to God so that it may well be For God cā raise vp a Daniel or an Ezechiel amōg the Babilonians Howbeit no man shall be compelled to beleue this but at his pleasure IN the yeare of our lord M. D. XL. in the beginning of the yeare dyd the Emperoures Maiestye ryde to Paris and as he rode in was excedyng royally conducted and receaued and afterwarde great and pryncely Banckettes made wyth great momeryes and daunces And the second daye after there were great Iustynges and fyghtynges made `to do hym pleasure and honour wyth all There his Maiesty abode tyll the second day after the twelueth daye Then he departeth into Flaunders wyth al his company and was conducted vnto Camerick of bothe the kynges sonnes and there with great royalty receaued of the Bishop of Camerick From thens they iorneyed to Valencyne there taryed the ladye Marye Quene of hungarye for them There also toke the kynges sonnes theyr leaue of the Emperoures mayestye and tourned home agayn But as the Emperoures Mayestye was in all places royallye receaued so was ther wayte layde falslye pryuelye and craftelye to kyll hym For as the Emperoure shulde sayell from corbe to Paryse and hadde wyth hym a Cardynall the Duke of Albuge and the kynges Marschalle to beare hym companye the water men rowed the shyppe vpon a pyele so that the shyp turned round aboute and he that hylde the rother fell oute of the boot what that meant it is easy to gesse wherof the Emperour complayneth in a letter written to Paule the thyrde byshoppe of Rome whereyn he sheweth the cause why he could not come to the councell appointed to be holden at Trente that he had perfect knowledge that the kynge of Fraunce was mynded at that tyme to take hym presoner and kepe hym in holde as it also afterwarde sufficyently appeared by the affaires of the sayde king But after the Emperours mayestye was comen in to hys awne lande he wente streyghtwayes vnto Gent and after he was suffred to come in to the cytye he fyrste earnestlye punyshed the insurrecty on raysers and caused a great parte of the citye to be broken downe and a stronge Castell to be buylded in the same place A none after cam Ferdinādus in to Flaūders to y ◠Emperours maiesty to consult with him after whatt maner they myghte wythstande the turcke and howe hys greate tyrannye agaynste vs poor Chrystyans myghte be resysted and auoyded Euen whyle these thynges were done in Flaunders ther was a communycacyon holden at Wormes at the Emperours commaundement concernynge Relygyon and the speakers of both sydes were master Philip Melanthon myne enterelye beloued master of the Gospellers syde and Doctor Iohn Ecke of Ingolstadt whyche wolde haue defended the Byshoppe of Romes parte Thys communycacion beganne the fourtenne day of Ianuarye there the Artycle of orygynall synne was specyallye intreated of whether the same syn abyde and remayne in Chrysten and holy men after baptyme And was concluded that ther yet abyede remnauntes of synne in the saynctes althoughe they raygne nott or haue the ouerhande As. S. Paule sayth let not synne raygne in your mortall bodyes But suche synnes are not imputed to the saynctes for Christes merytes sake as the Apostle forther saythe ther is nowe no condemnacyon to them that are in Chryste Iesu c. After thys treatye was that communycacyon so ended and dyffered tyl the Emperoures and the kynges mayestyes of the Romaynes were personallye presente But what sutteltye and craft Eccyus vsed in dysputacyon to adourne and garnysh hys cause maye euerye wyttye manse by the treaty it selfe whych is
whollye wrytten and put out in prynte Nowe when that communicacion was ended ther was another appoynted by the Emperoures and the kinges maiesty at Spiers But in as much as ther was at that tyme a great pestylence there that day was appointed to be holdē at Haganouw to entreate of matters of relligyon whether those myghte be ended and vtterlye finyshedde and concluded or nott ▪ And thoughe manye greate lordes oute of all the coostes of dutchelande were come in wyth the kynge Ferdynandus partely in theyr awne personnes partelye throughe their embassadours yet ther was no specyall thynge concluded but that ther shulde a nother assembly beholden the next yeare at Regensburg at which the Emperoures maiestye hym selfe shulde be where all matters concernynge Rellygyon and also concernynge warre agaynst the Turcke shulde be agreed of Afterward vpon the .xx. daye of Septembre the Emperoure caused a commaundemence to be putt oute wher in besyde other statutes concernynge hys inheretable landes in the netherlande he forbodde all his subiectes vpon payn of great punyshemente that they shulde not reade theyr bokes that haue nowe in these laste dayes brought vnto lyghte the truethe of the Gospell But what he wanne wyth hys commaundemente dayely experience teacheth as to wytte that ther be many goode Christen men found that rather lese their lyues than to forsake the woord of God that the persecutoures of Chryste pryestes and monckes myght still betray and shedde Christen bloude whyche thyng God wyll fynde a time horrybly to puysh But in asmoche as Gods woorde was so ouerpressed in netherland God raised it vp so moch the moar in another place For Ioachim the Marquesse of Brandenburge elector after hys father was ded which cared not much for any relligion and he knewe that it was neadefull to leade hys subiectes the ryghte waye to saluacyon and also to kepe them thereyne receaued the doctryne of the Gospell had ordeyned in all Cytyes and parishes good preachers to preache the woord of God with diligence vnto the sympel people He also redressed the vniuersity of Franckford vpon the Odder and sent for learned Men in all Sciences which when they came he augmented and amended theyr wages He also ordeyned Newe stipendes for poare Scolers of the lyuings of the vnprofytable Massynge priestes to thintent that suche lyuinges might from hence forth be bestowed to y ◠true seruyce of God But in what an horrible blindnesse that Lande was before and how euel it was prouided for with the word and doctryn of God wytnesseth an history which I although it appeare but simple wyll therfore tell that it may be so knowen what maner of teachers the popedome coulde suffre and what they yet haue As I at that tyme came by chaunce with the visiters to Stēdel in y ◠old marquiship to enquere after a seruice for me it chaunsed that the admission into al the offices of the Church was differred the space of syxe wekes In the meane whyle were the parsons and the paryshenars enquired after what facyon they hadde taughte and had bene taught Then came ther forthe a Parson wyth his Congregation whyche beynge demaunded of my goode Frynde Thomas Mathyas the Mayeres sonne of Brandenburge to whome that office was committed by the Vysytours what he had preached to his Parishners He answered y ◠belefe And being asked again what y ◠belefe is begā to rehearce Thys I could not chose but tel to the counfort of the Christen that they shulde learne that God defendeth preserueth his thorough his holy aungels and that although the deuell and his soart be neuer so woode that they yet be able to do nothing if we but abyde in the confessyon and acknowledging of Christ and in the obedience of his woorde These burning mortherers that were taken in the Electours dukedome of Saxon and in other places suffred an horrible death For ther was a thing made muche lyke a crosse therupon was the gyltye fastned aboute the necke wyth an yron coller or rynge and aboute the body with yron Chaynes and then a fyer made wyth strawe and other glowing matter a farre of and so the Gylty roasted tyll he dyed In thys fourtyest yeare also vpon the vii daye of Aprill ther was an horryble Eclipse of the sonne in the mornynge at the sonne rysynge whyche endured two goode houres longe After thys Eclypse and the blasynge sterre that appeared in the yeare before folowed ther an excydyng drye and a hoate somer wherin corne was yet meately well taken but hey and fother for beastes was cleane burnt vp Wyne was so well taken y ◠yeare and so good in all places y ◠many dronck them selues to deeth therwith and was therto verye good cheape Thys yeare in Iune the Turcke sygnyfyed vnto the kynge of Hungarye that he shuld pay him tribute for y ◠kingdō or elles loke for warr The Emperouer therfor sent Cornelius sceperus consailed thē to pay no tribut promesing that he would shortely bring an armye against the Turke wherewith he would defende the Hungars and the other princes their neighbours But the kyng of Hungary being vnpaciēt could not tary so long but required a tribute of his subiectes by the meanes whereof many of the chief of the nobilitie fell from hym whome he persequited with warre At the last when he had geuen the tribute to a tertayne Moncke to beare it to the Turke he sodenly dyed But the Moncke retourned quickly agayne as whiche beyng a loyterer was not farre proceaded in his iourney sending the Chaunselour and a certain byshop on the forwarde Embassage a foresayde to the Turke where they dyed The Monck dissemblyng the deeth of the kyng made a leaghe with those princes that had rysen agaynst the kyng and when they had al sworne to be true to the Quene and her Sonne went and toke Offen and laye there When Ferdinandus the kyng of the Romaines hearde that he set all other thynges asyde and got hym into Ostenrike to take in the kyngdome of Hūgary He toke in Weissenburg Pest and other cities of Hungary and afterwarde beseaged Offen At the last when helpe came out of dutcheland agaynst the Turck to helpe the kyng of Hungaries sonne he was compelled to returne home agayne into Ostenrick not without the great losse and dammage of his subiectes IN the yeare MDxli came the Emperoures maiestie first to Norenberg and was receiued with great honoure and leadde into the citie and into the Castell rydyng vnder a hyghe cannape of Veluet whiche foure of the Alder men bare In all the streates where through he roade were hys cognisaunces and badges sett vp and other goodly triumphant thynges and on both sydes of the streates the Cytesens standyng one by another all Iolyly arayed in their harnesse from the Spitell Gate vnto the Castell betwene them rode the Emperoure And aboue by the Castell there was a
both them selues and the Castell vnto the Prynces Afterward was the Castel and the wholle lande sett in an order and the Gospell whyche before was kepte from it throughe that tyranne the Duke of Brunswycke ordeyned to be preached therinne And when they hadde ordeyned all thynges after the beste facyon and the Duke of Brunswycke appeared no where wyth any sowdyars and the Empyre requyred But the Emperoure coulde smell what the Pope meante Wherefore he vtterlye refused that councell and exhorted hym by wrytyng that he woulde rather see thatt the Frentch kyng kepte peace to thynthent that the Turcke myghte be wythstanded than to call a councel at suche an Vnmeete time which might be an hynderaunce to the other purpoose to make peace Afterwarde the Emperoures Mayestye prepared hymselfe after the beste facyon to wyth stand the Frentche kynge and hys partetakers Aboute thys tyme dyd the a boue mencyoned Prynces Duke Otho Henrycke and Phylyppe hys brother bothe countye palatynes on the rhyne and the cytyes Regensburgh and Swyneforthe receaue the Gospell for whyche thynge they were compelled to take muche harme and specyallye they of Regensburge to whome Duke Wyllyam of Bayer did al the hurte that the could and forbadde all hys subyâ—ctes that none of them shulde carye anye thynge to Regensburge or by or sell wyth them or yf anye man dyd he muste nott come agayne in to hys lande and must leese all hys goodes Thys was a greate hyndraunce to the cytye of Regensburge For it lyeth in the myddes of the lande of Bayer Yeth hath God gracyously preserued it In the begynnynge of the herueste ther came oute of Lyâ—towe thorou the land of pole and through schlesye and vnto the land of myssen great multytudes of Grassehoppers flyinge and layed them downe in the aboue mencyoned landes by greate multytudes an hundreth dutch myle long and aâ—e vppe all that was grene in the felde and lo we medowes They were as greate as a mannes fynger and some of them greater they hadde scales as it hadde bene harnesse vpon them and as it were an hatte vpon theyr heades lyke an olde rowstye year on sallet and were harde lyke an horne so that a man coulde skante treade them in sonder They had four winges as it wer which wereread speckelde some of them were yellowe and gray and of other speckelde coloures And where so euer they layed them downe in the felde there they laye well a foate thycke from the grounde And specyallye in the lande of Pole they saye that they laye an halfe elne thick from the grounde When the sunne beganne to schyne then they flewe vppe by greate heapes in battell order so thycke to gether that they shadowed the sonne lyke a clowde They flewe also as swystlye as other birdes a wholl dutche myl befor they reasted In the lande of myssen they came as farre as to the water Mylda for ther they came nott Euerye man thoughte that then shoulde a greate deathe haue folowed in the same landes where as yet hyther to ther hath none bene hearde of Haplye it was a warnynge as certen learned men wryte that we should take hiede that we myght be able to withstande if the Turck came in wyth suche a multitude of people from whyche thynge God gracyously defende vs. In Italye vpon the .xiii. daye of Iune ther was a fearfull and an horryble Earthquake by Florence whyche threwe downe manye Chymneyes in Florence and almooste a wholle lytell towne lyinge not farre from it called Scharbarya and destroyed many men They wryte also that in Turckye a lytell towne lyinge not farre from Solonychyo from whence the Saffren cometh was destroyed wyth men and women and all that was ther in wyth an Earthquake They saye also that ther stode ouer Constantynople an horryble blasynge sterre .xl. dayes longe and that in the same dayes in Iune and Iulye there was there an horryble weether and an Earthquake They saye also that a Dragon burnt the Turckes Castell and treasure and that ther came a greate multitude of wolues rennynge into the cyty whyche dyd men muche harme And many suche wounders done at that tyme were wrytten oute of Constantynople wherof as me semeth some be but lyes Howe beit I lett euerye man thynck ther in as shal please hym and beleue what he wyll Let thys be ynoughe of thys yeare The Brabanters beyng prouoked of Marten van Rosheyme rusch et in to the lande of Gulyck â–ª and burne certen Castels lytel townes or robbe and make hauocke of them They manne Duren Gulycke â—yttard Sustern and Hynsberg which were yelded vp vnto them On the other syde the Duke of Cleue after he hath gathered an armye round aboute oure all places wythstandeth the power of the Brabanders Whyche after they had made Hensburg stronge entended also to Fence Duren entred into fyght wyth hys Enemyes Wherein when there were many kylled on both partyes the fyght was ended Syttard and Gulyck because the walles were ouerthrowen of the Brabanders the Duke of Cleue causeth to be strongly walled agayne and beseaged Duren and compelleth them to yelde vp the towne in the ende of December Thys yeare Iames the fyft kynge of Scottland beyng .xxxiij. yeare of age dyed in December leauyng but one onely doughter alyue of two yeare of age borne of hys second wyfe ouer whom he ordeyned tutors and gouerners of the Realme the Cardynall of S. Andrewes and the lorde Hamelton IN the yeare of our Lord 1543. euen in the begynnynge of the yeare was a conuocation or Counsell kept at Nuremburgh at the whyche conuocation was present kyng Ferdinandus wyth hys two eldest sonnes and besydes them the moost parte of the Ambassadours and deputies of the other princes of the Empyre And when all theyr actes and doynges were prolonged vntyll after Easter ther was another day appoynted to be kept at Spyer where the Emperours Mayestye shoulde personally appeare hym selfe In the moneth of Ianuary the Emperours maiesty sent out of spain a mighty army bothe on horsback on foot wherof the erle of Aultete was capitaine into y e land of the Mores called Mauritania â—â—enge in the coastes and borders of Afryca ouer agaynste Spayne to inuade the kynge of the cytye of tremetz wherof also the kyngdome hath hys name because that by the helpe of the Moores he hadde proflygated and expelled hys brother vnto whome the gouernaunce of the kingdome by right dyd appertayne whyche soughte redresse and succour at the handes of themperours maiesty This armye arryued the .xxvii. daye of Ianuary at the cytye of Tybyda lyenge by the sea syde where they founde a greate multytude of Mores which soone auoyded and lefte y e cyty vnto the Spanyardes After thys they marched from Tybyda towardes tremetz and endamaged the Mores by the waye whyche were departed from Tybyda vntyll at the laste they tourned them selues again and made a conflycte
gaue a newe onset and without any notable fyght discomfited the Scottes and obtayned the victory At this tyme were slayne of the Scottes betwene thirtene and fourtene thousand and not passyng an hundred Englyshemen After Michâ—lmas a Parliament was holden in England wherein chaunteries were geuen into the kynges handes to be altered and disposed at hys pleasure It was also ordeined that the sacrament or communion should be receiued of all men vnder bothe kyndes of breade and wyne This yere also anone after the kynges coronatioÌ„ Maister Hughe Latimer a famous preacher who had bene long detayned in miserable captiuite for y e Gospels sake by the procurement of the Popishe by shoppes was deliuered and set at lybertie In this yere the last day of Marche FrauÌ„cis the Frenche kyng ended his lyfe in the .xxxiii. yeare of his reigne after that he had admonyshed his onely sonne Henry of the thynges pertaining to his kingdome and commended hym to true officers and seruauntes After whome succeded the same Henry being the seconde of that name His body was caried after .x. dayes to the brydge of S. Clodoalde and from thence to the suburbes of Paris into the Churche called the virgine of the fieldes where by the commaundement of the kyng were brough the bodyes of Frauncis the Dolphyne Duke of Britaigne who dyed in the yere of 1536. before in the moneth of August And of Charles his brother Duke of Orleans whiche dyed in the yere of our lorde 15 45. in the moneth of September that they myght accompany the body of their father to his buriall And so were the sayde thre bodyes brought with great pompe and solempnitie into the Churche of the blessed virgin at Parys and from thence to S. Denis where they were buried the body of the father being layde betwene his sonnes This Frauncis the Frenche kyng was hyghly commended for diuers singular giftes bothe of the mynde and of the body wherewith he was endued but chiefly for his humanite and clemencie whiche he vsed towardes all men He was beneficiall to meÌ„ endued with vertue and liberall to men of lernyng For by his benefite were the Latine Greke and He brue tonges restored agayn to their puritie in FrauÌ„ce whereof he entertained norished publike professours ordeining for them most ample stipendes â–ª his other actes are here omitted to auoide prolixâ—â—e In the moneth of December at Paris was S. Michaels bridge broken by the great power violence of the waters so that the East part thereof fel downe quite the houses which were built theron were ouer throwen with a great parte of them that were annexed vnto them IN the yere of our Lorde 1548. in the moneth of Iuly themperour sent an army of Spanyardes priuely to inuade the citie of Conitaunce â–ª while the legates of Constaunce that were sent to August vnto themperour to intreate for peace were not yet retourned homewarde For he intended quite to extinguish the citie because they professed y â— Gospell Wherfore the sixt day of August early in y â— mornyng the said army inuaded y â— citie ouercame the basse towne which ioyneth to y â— great bredge coÌ„monly called Peter housen When this was obtayned and ouercome at their first assaulte some fell to spoiling and rouing some to deflouring of virginâ—s and honest matrones some gat theÌ„ to the bridge and there made a bartaill with the citesens whiche were constrained to reâ—ule back into the citie being ouerpressed with the multitude of their enemies vnto whoÌ„ they barred y â— gates of the bredge The bridge was ful of Spanish warriours against whoÌ„ the citesens could nothing preuayle vntil many peces of artillery whiche kept the bridge being losed by chaunce but yet not without the will of God per sed the gate ouerthrewe the enemies put theÌ„ in such feare y t they fled euerychone setting the bridge on fyre also Peterhousen least the citesens should haue folowed pursued after them So that Constaunce sawe in one daye y â— iuste punishmeÌ„t of pride the singular benefite of God towardes his electe would to God they had not vnthankefully forgotten this great benefite Themperour after that he had in Germany set all thinges in ordre propounded a certain fourme in religion after the prescripte whereof they should liue while a counsaille were decreed hauing committed the Landgraue of Hessen in safe custody re retourned into Flaunders bringing with hym the Duke of Saxon captiue Thither came Leonora Themperours sister late Quene to the Frenche king departed This yere Maximiliane the first sonne of Ferdinandus king of the Romaines toke to wife themperours daughter This yere also y â— king of Spayne leauing his brother Maximiliane as gouernour in his absence departed out of Spayn into Italy went froÌ„ thence to Trident into Germany so at y â— last came into FlauÌ„ders to his father theÌ„perour The same yere towardes the spring time the first begotteÌ„ sonne of y â— Turke which was gone ouer to y â— king of y â— PersiaÌ„s because he thought his brother should be by his father promoted before hym to the Empyre assembled an army of Persianes and made insurrection against his father and inuaded the borders of Turkie nere vnto the lande of Persia and had ouercome many places vntyll his father beyng armed with fyue hundred thousande souldiours came thither and caused the Persianes being striken with feare to recule But they hauyng set on fyre all the townes and villages by the whiche they fled the space of fyue dayes brought their enemy whiche folowed and pursued after them too greate pennury in so muche that an hundred thousande of his men being dead thorough pouertie famine and pestilence he was constrained of necessitie to returne thither agayne from whence he came â–ª A certayne king in Aphrica toke Argieres and the other places there about with certayne castels and strong holdes whiche themperoure vsed for the defence of Spayne and also certaine strong holdes in the coastes of Portingall towardes the sea occeane In Englande at Easter was there a great coniunction of rustikes in Cornuall by pâ—pysh priestes There was also great disputation in the ParliameÌ„t that yere for putting downe of the masse And Images were put downe in al churches thorough out Englande to auoyde Idolatry This yere the last daye of Iuly Stephen Gardiner byshop of Winchester in Englande was committed to the Towre of London for papisme and this sedicious opinion that the kynges maiestie in his minoritie or none age coulde not make or ordeine any lawes in his Realme as did Iosias other godly vertues princes and gouernours in their dominions This yere the mariage of priestes was graunted lawfull in England by the Lawes of God to the vtter abolyshement of all Papisticall sodomitry This yere in august was a great insurrection of rustikes at Norwiche one kite a rustike beyng their
cxi Athalia fo xv Athanasius beynge banyshed out of Egypt flyeth to Tryer fo cv Athens burned xlvij the vnshamfast flattery of them lxv the obstynacy and malipartnesse of them in tyme of warre confirmed also wyth a decre liiij The yeldynge of them fo lv Atossa fo xlviij Attila cxij. the death of hym cxvij his battel at Toulhouse ibidem he called hym selfe the scourge of God ibidem hys deedes fo cxvi Auenion a cytye papall clxxiiij August an parliament lxxxvi S. Augustine of hippo cxv his wrytynge agaynst Pelagius fo cix Augustulus lxxxvi â–ª fo cxviij Augustus ibid. Whence commeth the callyng of Augustus fo lxxxvi Aurelianus c. studious in the discipline of warre ibidem Ausborough parlyameÌ„t clxxxix Azo a lawer fo clvij B Babylon the head cytye of the Monarchy fo xxxiiij Bayre who are the Dukes clix the warre of Baperland fo clxxxvi Balthazar kyng of Babylon fo xix Bartholdus Gracianus clvij. Duke of Reâ—yâ—geâ— fo clxi Barbarossa inâ—adeth the kyngdome of Tâ—nesse ccvi ccxxiij shypwrake ccxxiiij he beseged castell noâ—a ccxxvi He wynneth it fo ccxxvi D. Barnes burned fo ccxv Battell by râ—ttlyng fo clxiv Beggyng orders fo clxiij Bellisariâ—s very euyll rewarded of Iustâ—â—us fo cxviij cxix Benedictus the xi fo clxxiiij S. Barnard made the peace betwene the Emperour Loâ—radus and Lotharius fo clvi Beringarâ—â—s prince of Foroiâ—iâ—lium cxxxvn he yeldeth himselfe to Otho fo cxlij Beringarâ—â—s of the sacrament fo cl Bedam England fo cxxv Ben Loâ—â—an fo lxxvi Besâ—us distoyaltye is an example of vengeaunce fo lxij Besus temple in Syria fo lxvij Bible burnt lxix is translated lxxi sent into all countries fo ciij Bishop hys cracke clxi the payde and crueltye of the byshop of Rome clxiij an example of the Rom. byshops disloyaltye and tyranny clviij Example of most notable cruelnesse of a Rom. bysh cxxxvi the cyuyll warre raysed in Germany by the B. of Rom. cliij Thre byshops of Rome strynyng for the Byshoprpcke were put donne cxlij cxlix the disloyaltye of the byshop of Rome in transferrynge the empyre to FrenchmeÌ„ cxxxiiij the tyranny of the byshop of Rom cxxxvi Stâ—yâ—e for the election of the bish of Rome cxix the fyrste perturbatyon for the chosynge of the byshop of Rome cxix Whether an vnyuersal byshop ought to be cxx all the byshops of Denmarke deposed ccxv the diuision of the Rom. byshops fo clxxvij Bizantium fo ciij Blasphemyes neuer vnpunyshed fo xix Bohemes the prynce is made a kyng clx they were vanqâ—yshed wyth there kyng Lecho cxxxi they are Germanies cxvi the rysynge agaynst the priestes and monckes clxvi Why it hath the anâ—thoritye of the election fo cxlvi Bolen wonne fo cliij BoleÌ„ geueÌ„ vp to the Englyshmen cliij delyuered cclxxvij Bonesacius cxxi What tyme he preached in Germanye cxxvi the feat sayeng of Bone facius the eyght fo clxx Bouer bysh of London deposed fo cclxxâ— Brabanders fo cxliiij Brandenborow cxxxix Lxliij Breda towne burnt ccxv Brethren thre in nombre raygned together fo cxv Bridge burnynge by Mentz what it signifyeth fo cxxxij Bruno a Saxon was made B. of Rome fo cxlv Brutus fo lxxxv Burgundyons were Saxons fo cviij C CAin fo ij Caius caligula fo xc Calfe monstreous borne by the sea coast about Lindow fo cc. Callinicus fo lxvi Christen fayth planted in the kyngdom of Cambia ccxvi Cambises xxx xxxviiâ— hys cruell deede hys cruelâ—es towarde hys syster the quene xxxix an example in hym of vengeaunce fo xxxix Camillus fo lix Captayne Gambolde slayne fo cclxxvi Cardinals beganne cxlix why they had aucthoritye geuen vnto them to choyse the Popes fo clij Carinus fo cij Catholykes fo ccxxxiiij Charles the greate cxxvij. hys elders were graunde maysters cxxix is borne in Ingelheim ibidem hys deedes ibidem He optayneth Lombardy cxxx Hys modestye ibidem he was made Emperoure ouer the Weste cxxxi hys diligence in the tyme of peace ibidem he founded thre vniuersytyes ibidem he was learned in Greke and Latin cxxxij hys genealogy he readeth Saynt Augustyn ibidem the grosse cxxxv the balde cxxxiiij the death cxxxv the fourth clv. made the golden boulâ—e clxxv wyth the bunched backe clxxxij what Electors choose Charles the fyft that now is Emperoure clxxxvij he is crowned Emperoure fo clxxxix Carthago the seconde ware of Carthago lxxviij the occasion of it in Spayne ibidem the thyrde warre of it lxxix Disputatyon whether it shuld be wholy spoyled and ouerthrowen â–ª ibidem â–ª it is destroyed lxxx the consultatyon of destroyeng it lxxxi Cato lxxix he slewe hym selfe fo lxxxiiij Cassius fo lxxxv Cassanders tyranny fo lxv Castell Angell fo cxxxiiij Catti fo xciij Caldees vr fo ix Cesar beynge full of Clemency and gentelnesse lxxxiiiâ— Cham fo iiij Chaunteres geuen to the kyng â—o CCixxij Cherusa fo lxxxviij Châ—â—â—â—â—â—s the heretycke was kylled wyth the fallyng of an house fo xâ—iiij Câ—risten men were persecuted vnder â—râ—â—anus xâ—v vnder â—iberius xc vnder Doâ—iâ—iaâ— xciij xciiij vnder Adriaâ— xcv vnder Decian xcâ—x vnder Aâ—reliaâ— C. vnder Dioclâ—tiâ—n fo Cij Christâ—s kyngedome allwaye troubled * v. Meruelouslye presâ—rued * â–ª ibidâ—m hys commynge xlix whan he was borne lxâ—v lxxxvij baptyzed lxxxix crucysyâ—d ibidem Châ—rche begynnâ—th â–ª i. from â—oe tyll Abraham vi the â—â—ate of it in thys tyme. â—xxiâ—â—j how much God careth for his churche and congregation xxv where it is â–ª lxxxix â—â—â—o was beâ—â—â—ycyall to it fo Cxliij Christâ—râ—e kyng of Denmarke after hys returne taken prysoner of hys owne councell CCxâ—ix CCix Cicero fo lxxxiij Cyâ—â—oâ— sonne to Milâ—â—adâ—s fo â–ª xâ—iij Câ—â—bri the Germaines of Goâ—â—er v. the batâ—â—ll oâ—â—â—â—â—ri wyth the Romayns lxxxi Cirâ—umcision is the token of promyse ix when the circumcision was geuen â—o â–ª x Clause Rodaâ—i was buylded of Iulius Cesar fo Câ—x Clandâ—â—s fo xc Clemens the seuenth is taken Câ—xxxix the notable cruâ—ltye of Clewence wyâ—h of Rome agaynst â—ouradus Clxviij â—â—â—â—â—â—t dyâ—th CCv Clemency after victory Cxiij Cleopatra lxiiij â–ª syâ—â—er to Iulius fo lxxi Cleâ—e CCxlvi CCâ—ij Câ—â—â—s fo â—xij Collection for the poore CCxxi lvâ— Coâ—â—etes seâ—e Cv â–ª Cxci clxxxix in the tyme of Nero. xâ—i â–ª before pestylence and faâ—yn 〈…〉 Iohn Frederikes tyâ—e duke of Saxony Cxcâ—â— Comodâ—s fo xcvi Coâ—â—â—otious of vplaâ—dyâ—â—e â—â—en fo Clxxxvij Commotion in Cornewall fo CCâ—xxviij Councell of Nice Câ—â— Basell Cixxx Raiuesborough Cxcvi Maâ—â—â—â—a CC. Witteborough CCxiiij Rome CCxxi lviij Coâ—cyra the Turke â—â—â—adeth fo CCxc fo Cxâ—iiij Constâ—ns pryâ—ely inuadeth CClxxiij Con 〈…〉 s. Ciâ— Cv. he becommeth an Aâ—â—â—an fo Ciiiâ— Coâ—â—â—â—â—tâ—â—â—s â— Ciij hys diligâ—nce to hepe the Gospell Ciij the aunceters of hym Ciiiâ— â–ª the soâ—â—e of Heraâ—lius Cxxiiij Pogonatus â—â—â— y â— â—oâ—â—â— of Leo was â—urnamed Coproâ—ius Cxxv. Leo the fourth soâ—â—e ibidem Emperoure of Constantinople fo Clxxxij Constantinople Ciij a notable crueltye of the Turke whan he had wonne it Clxxxij Prophesyes of recoueryng of it fo Cxc. Conrad the fyrst Cxxxvij duke
of Frankes Câ—l the seconde vproure was wyth hys brother ibidem the thyrde was hys owne sonne ibidem the second cxlviij a Swabeâ— clâ—ij he went to Ierusalem against the Saraceâ—s ibidem The fourth fo Clxvij Copâ—nhagen besyeged by the kyng ccxiiij the vniuersyte furnyshed fo ccxiij Corona taken Cxcix Cosdroa kyng of the Persyans fo Cxxi Crescentiâ—s a Romayne punyshed for couetyng the empyre fo Cxliiij Cresus kyng of Asia xxxiij his sayeng ibidem a â—ery sayeng fo xxxâ—iij Cruelltye xxxij xxxiij xxxvi Câ—â—o duke of Bayre fo Cl Cyprianus the marter xcix Cyrillus made answere to Iuliaâ—us Apostata cvij Cyrus xxxi lij hys kinred extinguished liij hys father xxxi what is to be consydered in hym xxxiiij howe he gatt Babylon ibidem he was taught of Daâ—iell xxxv hys sayeng ibid. the battel of the Sâ—â—thiaâ—s agaynst him xxxvi Cyrsylus â–ª xlv he and hys â—yfe are stoned fo xlv D Dalmacyans flye to the Turkes CCxxvi Damasâ—us the kyngdome of Mahomet fo Cxxij Danyell a youngman xviij xc a councelar of kynge Cyrus xxxvi of y â— Peâ—seis xxxvi his place of the vij weekes xliâ— a place of Mahomet is expounded fo cxiij Darius raygneth wyth Cyrus xxx how great a settyng forth he made into Grece xliiâ— the last liiâ— is ouercome of Alexander lxij is made kynge of Persia xli hys graue sayenge fo xlij Dauid fo xiiij Decius Cesar fo xcviij Deâ—etrius kyng of Macedonia lxv lxvi lxx Desiderius kyng of â—ombardy Cxxx. Diethricus of Berâ—a some call him Theodorus cxiij Cxiij Didius Iulius fo xcvi Digestes fo cxix Diocletianus fo Cij Diuision after Gregorius the eleuenth fo clxxvi Doctrine before the worldes â—â—de fo xvij Dogges cattes eaten ccxiiij Dogges beyng fâ—â—thfull xxxix Dolphyn and Armeniackes go into Germany fo clxxxij Domitiâ—n fo xciij Dominick and Francis clxiij â—â—â—colâ—â— the walâ—che clxxx he gaue Dladistaus an horsse ibidem Dronkennes â—ringeth in most wyâ—ked maâ—ers fo xxxix Drâ—sâ—â—s fo lxxxviij E Earthquake fo ccxliiij Ebrâ—rous duke cxxxviij the Palatâ—â—e fo cxl Eâ—kiâ—s ccxxxiiij hys death fo ccxlix Eclips of the soâ—â—e xcviij Eclips fo cclij Edoâ— fo cxxiij Edoâ—â—tes fo x Edward duâ—e of Someâ—sâ—t and lorde protector committâ—d to the Tower cclâ—xv delyuered out agayne cclxâ—vi Edward the thyrd kyng of England and Frederyke eaâ—le of Misâ—n refuseth the dignitye Emperiall fo clxxiiij Egypte was garnyshed wyth Mathematycall scyences xâ—v from whence they come and there kyngdome viij Egusa the battel there lxxvij Elyas was in the myddell part of the world fo xv Elye hath diuided the world iâ— thre ages * xij he was taken vp in to heauen in the myddel age of the worlde fo xv Elizens ibidem S. Elizabeth fo clxiiij Emanuel Emperoure of Constantynople fo clvij Emperoure he muste be saued kept by al meanes * xv Emperoure haue there boundes xâ—ij the empyre is translated to the Saxons cxxxviij the endeuour and faythfulnes in kepynge of the empyre cxliiij a rehearsall of the Emperoures oâ— Rome that was excommunicated clxiiij the Emperoure turneth into Italy cxcix cc. ccxâ— ccxxij by what occasion the Allâ—ainâ—s deceyuer from the empyre cxxiâ— he commeth into Flaunders thorough Fraunce ccxxvi to Paris ccxxviij â–ª he forbyddeth good bokes to be redde ccxxx ccxxxij ccxxxviij ccxlviij ccxlv ccl ccliij cclxiiij cclxxiiij Eâ—â—as xxi Silâ—â—â—s clxxviij Enoch is an example of euerlastyng lyfe ij hys cyte ij Eloes fo v. Erasmus death fo ccxvi Erforde fo clxiâ— Ernestus duke of Swaben fo cxlviij Esay xvi hys death xvij Esau â— wherfore he was called Edome fo x Esdras was learned in the parsian toung xxiâ— he gathered together the bokes of the byble fo lâ—j Esseis fo lxxiiij Easten ryche the fyrste mencion cxlix when there dukedome began fo clix Eâ—ilâ—erodach fo xix Euphrates xxxiiij Euangelycall bound is opened by the French kynge fo cc ccxiij Example for all kynges ccxiiij Examples of â—engeauÌ„ce iij. xi xv xxvi xxvij lix lxv lxvij lxxvi xcvij. xcix cvi cviij cxiij cxxi cxxiiij cxl cliiij clxx Example of grace and goodâ—esse fo x. clxiij Example of the feare of God fo xvi lxvi Example of pytie xxxiij Example of greate crueltye fo xxxvi Example of notable intemperaunce fo xl Example of vnkyndnes liij Example â—o maynteyne vnitye fo â—vi Example of mans wysedome fo lxix Example of the vehemeÌ„t wrath of god fo lxxxi xcij ExaÌ„ple of disloyaltye cxij. cxvi Example of maintenance of vertue fo xcvij. Example of great presumption fo xcix Example that noman can hurte hym whome God wylleth good fo cxlv Ezechias xvi a godly king iâ—i F Fabian and Cyprian martyres fo xcix xcviij Felix byshop of Rome a dissembler fo cvi Ferdynand kyng of Hungary fo clcxxix ccxxxij Figures of crosses sene vpon garmentes fo clxxxvi Flauius Claudius fo c Fleshe eaten and fyrst permitted fo iij Focas dyd graunte the fyrste prymacy to the byshop of Ro. fo cxxi Forgettfulnes of iniuâ—yes is ordeyned fo lvi Frankes are ouercome in battayll c. they sett them selues agaynst the Romaines ibid. there of sprynge cxxviij there deedes and by what occasion they deceyuered from the empyre ibidem the dukes of Frankes come of â—ewes the gentell cxxxiij the occasion of battel betwene the Frankes and Saxons fo â—xxâ—â—ij Francia or Fraunce is part of Gallia cxxix by what occasion Gallia or Fraunce was dyuyded from Germanye cxxxiij French threatenynges fo cxxxiiij Fraunces the french kynge taken â–ª fo clxxxvij holy and prophane * x What they doo teache* x. the Germaines hystorye wryters wer vnlearned cxlv the histories of the Iewes are elder then the Greekes fo xx the historyes of the grekes begyune at the Persians fo xxviij Himelsuita fo cxij. Hipocrates fo lvij Histius subteltye in makyng an vproure fo xliij Hollande and Sealande there was a greate inundatyon of water cxcix Homerus when he lyued xxiiij his bokes are a mirror xxv Honorius fo cix Hungaryans are called cxvi they are assalted wyth warre by Charles the greate cxxxi they spoyle Germany and Italy cxxxvi they be vanquished cxli. they becoome contrybutaryes to the Turke CCxxxi CCxxxij Hungarye a greate example xviij Hugo prynce of Frauce cxlij Hulderych Zuinglius â–ª fo Clxxxviij CCxiiij Huldryke duke of Wyrtenberg restored to hys dâ—myâ—yon ccij Hunyades hurteth the Turkes greueously clxxxi Husse in Bohem ryseth agaynst the pope Clxxvi Clxxviij I Iacob x. he was called Israel x Iaddus the hyghe prieste â–ª lxiij Wherfore Ianus hath two visages fo iiij Ianna the secoÌ„d Hyrcanus lxxij Iames the moor lxxvi Iames the kyng of Scottes ma ryeth the Freinch kynges daughter ccxvi Iaphet iiij Iason monynge Antiochus to take Hierusalem lxviij Idolatry the fyrst occasyon ix the hedde thereof .xxiij. the kyndes of it by the Grekes xxiij the punishment of idolaters xvi howe muche it differeth from Christianyte xxiij and Idoll in the temple of God fo lxix xc Ieconias hauynge a truste to gods promyses is kept xviij The Iewes are eldar xv the
rayse an vproure thorough one Messias xcv are mooste auncient xx Ierusalem the state of it vnder Antiochus lxvij the destruction xix xcij. straunge thinges seen before the destruction of her xciij Iesus the hygh priest fo xxxv Ioachas xviij Ioachim or Ieconias ibid. Ioakim ibidem Ioachim the yong marques of Branden borough CCxxix Ioiada xv Ioachim xv Ioas. xv Ioathain xvi Ihon Hercanus lxxiij Iohn Baptist lxxvi Iohn the Apostle returneth out of Pathmos fo xciiij Ihon Stabius an Astronomer fo cxlv Ihon the eyght byshop of Ro. a woman fo cxxxiiij Ihon Chrispus fo ccxx Ihon the twelfth byshop of Ro me bostede fo clxxiij Ihon kynge of HierusaleÌ„ clxv Ihon Husse teacheth openly agayust pardons fo clxxvi clxxviij Ihon Cassels burned cclxx Ihon Humyades fo clxxxi Ihon OecolaÌ„padius clxxxviij The death of Iohn duke of Saxon. fo cxcix Ihon Wida kyng of Hungary fo ccxxxij Ihon Diasy fo cclxiij Ihon Ecke fo ccxxviij Iohaune bocher fo cclxxvij Ihon Frederike duke of Saxon taken captyue fo cclxxiiij Images and beades put doune in England fo cclxxij Iusurrectiou at Gent ccxxvi Ionas fo xvi Iona has fo lxxij Ioram a setter vp of new idolatry fo xv Iosaphat studiose in religion fo xv Ioseph a man sage and holy x. Iosias fo xvij Iones are the fyrst Grekes iiij Iouiâ—ianus a godly Emperour fo cvij Irene daughter to the Emperour of Constahtynople clxij Iren cxxv Irnerius the restorar of the lawes clvi Isake a figur of Christ fo x Ismael fo x Iuda a kyngdom fo xix Iudges at Athens dyd sweare fo lxiij Iudas Machabeus power lxix lxxij Iudyth xlviij Iulianus Apostata cvi â–ª he is made Emperour ibidem â–ª at Strasborough cvi he forbad Christen men the authorytye of warrfare cvij. hys death is an exaÌ„ple of veugeauuce cvij Iulyau the Cardynal fo clxxxi Iulius a man aduysed and a louer of peace lxxxiij he is called Cesar lxxxvi The orderyng of the yeare was begoen lxxxiiij Iulius byshop of Rome was discomfyted in a battayl by the cyte Raueunas vpon Easter day fo clxxxvi Iupiter called vpou agayust tempests xxiij Iustmus cxviij the second cxx Iustinianus cxviij cxxiiij he restored the lawes fo cxix K The kyngdome of the worlde and Christes kyngdome * xvi Queâ— Katheryn dowager dyeth fo ccx The institution of kyngdomes and of kynges is of God xiij The chaunsyng and reâ—â—ynge of kyngedomes displeaseth God riiij What the mutations of them do signifie cxcij Kyng of Anabaptilles Knypperdullynge Crafting fo CCviij L Lacedemonians valiauntnes xlv they fyght with the Thebaus and are discoâ—syted lvi Landersey Landtgraue fo CClvij Latiâ—er at libertye fo cclxxiij Latium fo Cxxi The institution of cyupâ— power and of all lawes i. clvi Lawes cyuyll restored by Iustinianus fo Cxix Law was geuen fo xi Lawes of Solou concernyng vagabounds fo xxxviij Lawes of the Romaynes lviij the occasion of them lviij Lawes of Draco xxxviij Lawfull callyng must be ensued fo lxv Leâ—t fo xcv Leo the thyrde named Leouomachus fo Cxxv Leo the fourth Cxxv. Leoâ—tâ—â—s ibidem Lewes the gentyll cxxxij he is taken by hys sonne Cxxxiij Lewes the seconde buryed at Mylan Cxxxiiij Lewes the thyrd Cxxxvi. he is restored to y e realme of frauÌ„ce Cxlij Lewes the berdyd Cxliâ— Lewes the Landtgraue Clxv Lewes the Bayer fo Clxxi Lewes is excoÌ„municated clxxij Lewes the Romayn Clxxiij Lewes king of FrauÌ„ce clxxxvi Liberius bysh â–ª of Rom. cvi Linus bysh â–ª of Rom. xci Lombardy fo Cxv Longimanus wyth the long haud fo xlviij Lothoâ—ius Cxxxij the Saxon Cxv. the brethren of hym were these Lewes Germanicus Charles the bolde Cxxxiij Lothring ibidem Laurentius Miniatensis an astronomer fo Cxc Lubâ—cke fo Clix Lucius Warrus fo xcv Lucrece xxvij Lupoldus â–ª Clxxij duke of Eastenryche Clxxv. was slayne by the Swytzers ibid â–ª Luxsborough parliamente foâ— fo CCxlij Lysander fo liiij M The Macedonians iiij the occasyon of the warre of Macedonia lxxviij Machabees lxxiij the power of them lxix ther kyngs lxxiij Macrinus fo xcvij Magi fo iiij Magog fo Cxxiij Magnentius an example of vn kyndnes Cvi he slayeth hym selfe fo cvi Mahomete xcvi wounders seen in Italy before hys commyng Cxx. the occasions of hys kyngdome Cxxi why his religion is accepted lxix the form of his relygioÌ„ Cxxij an ArabiaÌ„ prophet Cxxi he subdued Arabia Cxxij Why he wold be called a Saraâ—en for an Agaren ibidem they besieged Hadriantum Clxxxiiij the place of Danyel of Mahomet Cxxij what he sygnifyeth fo Cxxiij Manfyld battayll Câ—â—iij Manasse a wycked kyng xvij an example of repentaunce fo xvâ—â— Manes begynner of the Manacheâ—s sect borne in Persia Ci. hys doctryne ibidem Manichei ibidem Mantua fo cxcix Marcus Cicero fo lxxxvi Marcus Antonius fo xcv Mardonius a capitayne xlvij Mariages of priestes CClxxv Maran fo CCxxxix Mary lady Regent fo Cxivi Marques of Brandenborough receaueth the gospell CCxxx Marius was made captayn agaynst the Cimbry lxxxi he was causser of an vproure lxxxi hys tyranny lxxxij Martyn Luther Clxxxvij dyeth fo CCix Marten of Rosheim CCxliij Mary Lady Regent enuadeth Picardy fo CCxix Mathathâ—â—s fo â—xxâ—j Mathematica ars dryuen oute of Rome fo xciij Maurice duke fo CCxl cclvi cclxviij Mauritius Emperour Cxx. Maximianus fo Cii Maxentius ibid. he was drowued in the Tybur fo Ciij Maximilian Clxxxiij is taken at Brudges Clxxxiiij he war râ—eth agaynst the Venetians fo Clxxxvi Maximinus subdued Germany fo xcvij Maximinus and Arbogastes are examples of disâ—oyalte Cviij he warreth agaynst the Venetians fo cviij Meghlyne burned fo cclxv Moâ—taâ—â—te behedded ccxxv Melanthon Eckius ccxxxiij the reason concernyng religion ccxxviij Men tenne in nomber were sent to Grece lviij they were deposed fo lix Metasthenes fo xxix Mesius suffesius death xxvij Micheas fo xvi Melciades counsell xliij He was yll entreated of the Athenians xliij hys renowmed victory ibidem Mylane Clix ccxi the duke maryeth y â— kyng of Denmarkes daughter CCvi ccxi Minia fo xxij Myns of syluer in Misia who found them fyrst cxliij Mithridates fo lxxxi Monarchies what they are and of what puissance* xiiij there be onely foure Monarchyes xiiij they are propoued to Dauyell v. the ende of the fyrste Monarchy xx a monarchye is the best forme of an empyre or realme xl the begynnynge of the thyrde Monarchy lix Wherefore Monarchyes are chefly ordeyned of God cxxâ—i Wherfore Monarchyes and princes are sent of God lxxvij Monasteryes were scholes in tyme past fo cxxxi Syr Thomas Moore Chauncelor of England and the byshop of Rochester behedded fo ccix The bâ—â—es of Moses are found fo xvij Moonkes are brought to wryte clvij Maurus duke fo ccxl cclvi cclxviij N Nabuchodonesor xviij He was conuerted by Danyell fo xix Narses fo cxiiij cxviij Nathan Dauid sonne â–ª fo xv Nauâ—â—u fo clxxxiij The Counte of Nasowe ccxiii Naxus ccxx 〈…〉 oth gods hooâ—ter vi Nero fo xc 〈◊〉 fo xciij Nyce Counsell fo ciij The Emperour enterteyned at Nyce fo ccxxij Nicolaus the
Maximilian d 〈…〉 th Maximilian warreth against the Venecians Lewis kyng of Fraunce Iulius the by shop of Rom. was discomfited in a battaill by the citie Rauennas vpon Easter daye What Electors chose Charles that now is Emperoure Martine Luther â–ª Charles y â— Frances the French king taken The commotion of vplanâ—yâ—h mâ—n Schapler Twelue articles of the sedicious rustikes Thomas Mynter Iohn Ocalâ—padius Huldrich Zwinglius renew the doctrine of Berengarius â—ndreas â—arolestadius Rome taken by Burbon With what an â—â—ost Sol 〈…〉 yd be 〈…〉 ge â—ieÌ„nâ— Charles is crowned Emperour at Bonony by the bysh of Ro. The parliament of â—usborow An ouerflowyng at Ro. Clemens the vij is taken Ferdinande kyng of Hungary A Comete sene The Switzer warre within themselues The parliament holden at RegeÌ„spurg Prophecies of recouering Constantinople and of roting the Turkes out of Europa Laurentius Miniatensis an Astronomer A Comete sene Writers of Histories Cronicles What the mutacions of kyngdomes de signifye Agathias Ctesias The conuocation or counsaill holden at Ramsburgh The duke of Saxon agreeth not to the election of y e kyng of the Romaines The seconde breakyng in of Soliman into Germany Guns assaulted of the Turke by the space of .xij. daies The wall of 〈◊〉 falleth 〈…〉 e by it â—elfe Anthony de Leua Andrewe de Aurea The citie of Corona takeÌ„ The Emperourre turned into Italy to the Pope The Pope meteth themperour at Bononia Battell moued in England against the Scottes The death of Iohn duke of Saxon. Iohn Frederick duke of Saxon. A Comete or blasing starre â—â—â—â— A great inâ—â—â—cion of watâ—â— in HollaÌ„d Seeland c. Christerne kâ—nâ— of Dâ—◠〈…〉 ke after hâ—â— returâ—â—ta 〈…〉 oure 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 l. A moÌ„struous Calfe borne by y e sea coste aboute Lindowe The Emperour Charles retourneth from Genua into Spaine Newe Indes or Ilandes plentyfull of golde and siluer founde out by the SpaÌ„yardes A soleÌ„pne coÌ„munycacyon holdeÌ„ at Massilia betwene y e Pope the French kinge The duke of Orleans marieth the Popes cosyn The Euangelycal boÌ„d is opened by y e french kyng Another Comete or blasing starre apeared Shiltagh burned downe to y e ground A great Pestilence in Germany A great earthquake tempest of wind Kynge henry the .viii was dâ—uorsed froÌ„ hys fyrste wyfe maried to an other 1534. The Anabaptystes tâ—ke the Cytye of Mynster in Westphale The Anabaptystes make them a kyng Knypperdullynge c. kregh tynge Philip Landgraue of Hessen The Citie of Minster besieged by y â— biâ—hop Scarcitye of victualles in Mynster The Anabaptistes eate lether couerynges of bookes Philip landgraue of Hessen goeth about to set his vncle into his owne land agayn Philip y â— palatine put to flyght and wounded Hulderike duke of wiâ—teÌ„berg restored to his oâ—â—â— d 〈…〉 oÌ„ A peace grauÌ„ted vnto y â— â—anâ—gâ—a â—e on them perours behalf The laÌ„dgraue retourneth into his owne lande A coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ of liberalyty boldenes in y e landgraue a coÌ„meÌ„datioÌ„ of pacience mekenes in theÌ„perour y e kyng of Hungary The death of Frederike kyng of DeÌ„marke A straunge thing or tokeÌ„ happened about y â— dead corps of the kynge The erle of OldeÌ„boroughe â— y â— Lubekes inuade y â— dukedom of hâ—lsaâ—es The death of George weuer markes mayer A peace concluded betwene the towne of Lubeke and the dukedom of ho sure The captaynes of Lubeke desyrous to inuade deÌ„marcke A newe war â—â— A woÌ„derfull apparitioÌ„ in DeÌ„marke Henry king of Ingland excoÌ„municated by the pope The Pope hath â—â— authority ouer Ingland king HeÌ„nry forsaketh y t Pope A bokt sett furth vp kinge henry againste the primacpe of y e Pope King Henry ioined in coÌ„federatinÌ„ with y t Princes mayntainers of â— gospel Ireland rebeâ—â—eth against their prince Pope Clement dyeth Paule y â— â–ª iii. chosen to be Pope Sophi pâ—inâ—â— of y â— Persians â—â—â—â—â—beth y â— Turk Imbrai bassa Imbray bassa with hys host slayne The Turke cometh againste y â— sayde Sophy The turke coÌ„passed aboute of the Periyans The Turke escapeth â—a roâ—eâ—â— with a lewe Barbarossa inuabeth the kyngdome of Tunyse Barbarossa suodueth Affryca the lesse Kynge Altzachenus expelled from Tunyse The 〈◊〉 of Breda burned Great tempestes of wind Waters ryuers excedingly increassed â—â— y â— â—ande of Pole The duke of MillaÌ„ marieth y â— doughâ—â—r 〈…〉 y â— kyng Denmarke Themperour prepareth an armada towardes Affrica The kingdoÌ„ of Tunise recâ—â—â—red bâ— the peâ—our Barbarossa exâ—â—lled froÌ„ Tunise Kyng Altzachenus restored to hys kyngdome of Tunise The castell of Golleta reserued for themperour Themperour returneth froÌ„ Affrica Barbarossa inuadeth the Ile of Minorca The Affricanes attempte rebellion Andrewe â—e Aurea apointed to kepe y e Affricanes in awe The sect of the Anabaptistes in creasâ—eth The Anabaptistes â—â—kemâ—â—â—w 〈…〉 â— go naked The Anabaptistes within 〈…〉 e â—ppâ—â—lled The madnes of the Anabaptistes The Anabaptistes beleued that Minster was new Ierusalem A woman would conterfet Iudith The kynge 〈…〉 ing and knipperdulling taken The kyng of the â—â—baptistes with his coÌ„sellers put to death Christian duke of Holston chosen to be kyng in Denmarke The count of Hoya and the Erle of Teckelborough slayne Louedayes kept in Hungary The kyng of Poles maried the daughter of â—erdâ—â—anto kyng of Bohemy The death of the Duke of Mylan The duke of â—aâ—er marieth the daughter of Denmarke â—ir Thomas more Chauncelour of England and y â— byshop of Rochester beheaded The monkes of the charter house A wonderful tempest Neuer suche a teÌ„pest sene Quene Katherine dowâ—ger dieth Quene Anne Bullyn be headed Que. Iane Semour maried to the kyng of Enland The citie of Geneue besieged Preachers of the Gospel ordeyned â—â— Saâ—â—â— Iulius Lesar builded Clausa Rodani The French kyng claymeth the succession of Milaâ—e It is the condicion of an apâ— to countrâ—faite all y â— is done in his â—â—ght Apraiâ—â— of the author The Emporoures complaynt to the Pope agaiÌ„st the Frenche kyng The Empeperoures request The Popes aunswere The Emperoures retourne from Rome A trapâ—one put to death at â—poâ—s The Count of Nassowe Perone besyeged The Euangelical bond The Synode or conuocatioÌ„ of Wittenborough Swinglius coÌ„senteth not with Luter in the opinion of the SacrameÌ„t A new peace concluded betwene the sea townes of Eastlande Denmarke The citie of Copenhage beseged by y â— kyng Dâ—gâ—es and 〈…〉 Coppenhagh yelded vp toâ— kyng Warborough taken Markes mayer taken and quartered Agâ—â—ly eâ—â—ple for all kynges and conquerours The practise of papistes All the byshoys of DeÌ„marck deposed Iohn Bugen hagh Thepreachig of the gospell instituted in Denmarke xxiiij thousaÌ„d parishes in Denmarch Norway furnyshed with preachers The coronation of Lhristiane siyng of Denmarck The vntuersitie of Luppenhaghe furnyshed with meÌ„learned in y â— scripturs Liuinges appointed for preachers â—â—dâ—â—s in DeÌ„ 〈…〉 Thimbassadours of England at Wittenbourgh Doctour â—â—nâ—â— An olde prophecy of Enland The Lorde Darcy with other Edwarde the syâ—t borne The death
of Quene Iane The kyng of Scottes marieth the daughter of Fraunce The coÌ„quest of the kyng of Portingals Indes The ChristeÌ„ faith planted in the kyngdome of CaÌ„baia The heath of Erasmus A preuy conspiracy in Germany against the Gospell Henry the younger duke of Brunswyke The death of George duke of Saxon Popâ—râ— abolyssed in the â—â—nde of 〈◊〉 The â—â—oole 〈…〉 gh restâ—â—â—d Heding beseged taken The lady regeÌ„t inuadeth Picardy S. Paule beseged and destroyed Turwyne beseged 〈…〉 Iohn Crisp◠〈…〉 Aâ— hoâ—â—â—ble 〈…〉 Misfortunes happened harmes done by the meanes of the teÌ„pest A collection for the pore Frere Forest A cousiâ—ltaâ—â—on holden at Rome against the Turke The Emperours â—â—â—raunâ—â—â—â—to â—icâ— The entraunce of the Pope into Nice described the religious rablâ— The Emperoure kisseth the Popes 〈…〉 e. A peace concluded betwene the Emperour FrauÌ„ce â–ª Leonora 〈…〉 N◠〈…〉 ded Barbarossa Bisana taâ—en The shipwrach of Barbarossa The Castell N 〈…〉 urg â—â—ylord Thâ— Marquea of BraÌ„denburg The death of y e duke of Gelders Auarice punyshed The lorde marquish of exâ—ter â— the â—â—rd moÌ„tacute beheaded Barbarossa robbeth y e â—e â—eâ—â—aÌ„s Italians goodes vpoÌ„ y e see Barbarossa b 〈…〉 th Câ— â–ª stelâ—ouâ— The dalmacians flye to y e Turckes betrai their felowe soudiars y e Castel Barbarossa wynneth Castel nouo The spaniat des Italyans feight maÌ„fully TheeÌ„peroures wiâ—dieth An insurreccioÌ„at Gent â–ª Embassadoures out of Fraunce into Spayne The â—perour coÌ„meth into FlauÌ„derstho â—ou Fraunce An aÌ„bassage out of osteÌ„ricke into beam Latine Wrâ—tislauya The Turcke carieth away lxxx thousaÌ„d christeÌ„ meÌ„ into turckye A blasynge sterre The laerned in Turcky acknowledg our Christen relligioÌ„ to be y â— best The â—urch headeth â–ª priestes A miracle The Emperour at paris The freÌ„ch kyng craftily seketh y e eâ—perour dâ—â—t * or be rowed * or boote * stpâ—â—an * or shippe The â—p râ—rs coÌ„plaint to y â— â—iâ—h of Ro. The Emperoure coÌ„meth to Gent. â— castel builded in Gent. FerdinaÌ„dus cometh to y â— Emperoure in to flauÌ„ders 〈…〉 A coÌ„municacion at Wor Phil. MelaÌ„ Ioh. Ecke Wheter ther remain sines in y t saintes ChristiaÌ„s after baptisme Rom. viii A day at haganouwe The Emperour◠〈…〉 ly forbedeth good bokes to be readde But what is woÌ„ne â—â— persecutyon The marque s 〈…〉 â—â—aÌ„daÌ„ 〈…〉 recea 〈…〉 y â— word â—â— God God befenheth his flock The 〈…〉 of y â— burning mortherers 〈…〉 clipse 〈…〉 Wyne both 〈…〉 good cheape Vnderstand The true king of Hungary kynge Iohn The kyng of Hungary dyed * Latine Bâ—da Ferdinandê° would take in the kyngdome of HuÌ„gary The Emperour comith to Norenberg The parliament holden at Regensburg 〈…〉 Dâ—â—â—s iâ—â—ter 〈…〉 The Pope 〈…〉 hall One of his croked piâ—pes hyndereth all that thegodly had goâ—e about â— greate while before and those meâ— of greate nobilitie besydes the excelent learned The princeâ— that receaue the worde of God after y e parliament holden at Regensburg Doctor Eckius vse â–ª hâ—he â—cuel his masters conning that is lying â–ª The beuâ—ls 〈…〉 â—â—â—al 〈…〉 â—owes 〈…〉 es 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â— is proâ—â—dâ—â—â—r â–ª Money is geuen to seÌ„d an armye against the Turke Iohn Weyda kynge of Hungary dyâ—â—â— The Turkeâ— Bassa â—esegeth Pest * â—â—â— Albâ— â–ª greca â–ª A notable 〈…〉 ordi 〈…〉 lost 〈…〉 Hungary Willyam of Rogendorpe 〈…〉 â–ª The Turke â–ª â—eweth lxxx Christians in peeces for a pastyme The Turke breaketh hys promesse and excercyseth tyranny 〈…〉 an 〈…〉 l yeare The turcke â—â—â—eth â–ª â—xx thousand meÌ„ 〈…〉 The Turke geueth â—aleÌ„ tyne Teâ—eck his reward The Turke taketh certayn Castels in â–ª The Turke assaulteth the citie of fyuechurches The Turck hathaâ—armâ— in Pelopoâ—e so The Emperour and the Pope to gether at Luke The Emperoures passage to Algier Duke Henry of Saxon dieth 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 〈◊〉 in Histrâ—â— is taken in An armye against the Turck Pest is beseaged of our men Duke Maurice in Ieoperdy of takynge â—â—e of Duke Maurice Ie 〈…〉 en 〈…〉 eth maÌ„fully to delyuer his master A sicknesse in the Camp The grenousâ—ieâ— of y e sicknes in Duga â—â— Warre betwene y e Duke of Saxon Brunswick The duke of Brunswyke flyeth Woluenbutel is beseged Woluenbutel is vntapled for .iii. peares The mening was y â— they shuld at the length repeÌ„t them of their ioznep and go hom and winue no thing They fly out of the Castel ouer the walles ditches The Gospel is preached in the land of Brunswick 〈…〉 prâ—nces and 〈…〉 〈…〉 the Gospell Duke William â—â— Baier 〈…〉 th to v 〈…〉 Grassehoppers A earthâ—â—aâ—e in 〈◊〉 An earthquaâ—e in 〈…〉 ye â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 ple The Bra 〈…〉 〈…〉 ll â—â—to the land of Gulick The kyng of Scotland dyeth A Councell kept at Nureâ—burg Another counsel appoynted at Spyer An army sent by them p 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 land 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 The city of Tremetz taken The French king and the Duke of 〈…〉 leâ—e pro 〈…〉 their marshial affaires The Ladye Mary sendeth an army againste the Duke of Cleue The Cleueuers approche towardes â–ª the Brabanders 〈…〉 nflict 〈…〉 e the Câ—eueâ—ers 〈…〉 ders The victory of the Cleueners The slepe of themperour The s 〈…〉 〈…〉 f the 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 he 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 nd 〈…〉 th 〈…〉 〈…〉 d◠〈…〉 de Hungary inuaded by the Turke The death of doctor 〈…〉 A woÌ„derfull birth besides Basell â–ª Wonderfull visions senâ— The interpretacion oâ— the vision The councel of â—pâ—re 〈…〉 〈…〉 With their ordinaunce The kyndnes of Switchers A counseâ—lour oâ— Nurrenburgh taken 〈…〉 Scotland â—â—uaded by â—â—gâ—â—thmen Bullyn beseged 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Palatine a fauorer of Goddes worde Popery paâ—â— downe the Gospel preached in the palatines iurisdiction 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 Poles 〈◊〉 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 o 〈◊〉 〈…〉 pro 〈…〉 〈…〉 d and 〈…〉 e. Henry duke of Brunswike goeth about to recouer his land The â—ountâ— of Deckelenbourgh inuâ—ded for the Golpell 〈◊〉 â—â—ll beseged Philip Landgraue of Hessen Capitaine of the Euangelicall confederation Duke Maurice of SaxoÌ„ Duke Maurice seketh â— â–ª meanes to make a peace 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 i 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Landgraue 〈…〉 quiâ—eth an othe of duke Hen 〈…〉 coÌ„pany The lande of Brunswike taken in againe and sworne of newe to y e confederatioÌ„ The Erle of ShaueÌ„burgh deposed Rithbergh geuen vp 〈…〉 th of 〈…〉 che 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 The Ruler of 〈…〉 har◠〈…〉 ed by y e Marquis of Brandenburgh The fury o the Turke The death of the Duke of Orleans Wonderfull apparitions and visions A conuocatioÌ„ at Franke forth The death of Maâ—ten Luter The buriall of doctor Martine Luter Alphonse dia si a trayterousmurther The good doctor Iohn Diasy murthered The Emp 〈…〉 com 〈…〉 Rai 〈…〉 sburgh The 〈…〉 ion beg 〈…〉 at Rainsburgh The begynnyng of the emperours warres agaynst the Germanes Duke Maurice prepareth 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 A cruel murther Duke Maurice â—â—gmâ—â—â—â— to 〈…〉 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 A peace betwene Englande and Fraunce The stewes put downe in London ☠☠Anne Askewe Iohn Lassels burned Shaxton recanted Thomas duke of Northfolke Henry his sodne attainted A plague of locustes and grashoppers A godly commaundement A prodigious grape A wonderful miracle A wonderful â—ision The Erle of Surrey beheaded The death of kyng Henry the eight of England â–ª c. Edward the syxt byng of England Images and beades put downe abolysshed in England A recantacioÌ„ of Doctor Smith Processions lâ—â—t in Englande An hoost of men sent out of Englande into ScotlaÌ„d Chaunteries geuen to the â—â—ng of England The CoÌ„mumoÌ„ ordeined to be receiued in both kindes Latimer set at libertie The death of the â—renche King 〈…〉 â–ª The Emperour retourneth out of Germany into FlauÌ„ders The Duke of Saxon captiue Leonora retourned to themperoure The sonne of Ferdinando marieth them perours daughter The eldest sonne of the Turke 〈…〉 keth insurrâ—â—tion agâ—ynst his father Argiers takeÌ„ 〈…〉 A â—â—mâ—â—ocioÌ„â—â— corâ—â—â—all The masse Images put downe in Englande The byshop of Winchester committed to thei our of â—o 〈…〉 The mariage of priestes graunted lawfull An insurrection at Norwiche The rebelles in Cornwal 〈◊〉 Deuonshere subdued The byshop of London deposed and coÌ„mitted to prison The duke of Somerset coÌ„mitted to the tour of LoÌ„doÌ„ The death of the Pope A wonderful vision sene besydes Brunswyke Capitayne Gambold slayne 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 The duke of Somerset delyuered out of 〈…〉 A generall p 〈…〉 â—etmene Englande â— Frannce Bullayne delyuered 30 one Boocher A wonderful miracle oftor ue fallyng downe from the element A moste â—â—â—nnicall persecution A moste Tâ—annicall persecution
be beleued that ther haue ben such a multitude yet beare histories wytnesse ynough and also sunderye battails that were had at that tyme that Xerxes hoost was very great And now at this present time do we proue sufficiently wyth howe great an hoost howbeit lyght armoure the Turkes and other nations of the Easte do make theyr warre Daniel also wytnesseth that a kynge shall come oute of Persia againste the Grekes wyth a very great hoost of souldiours It is red also that whan thys great multitude was now gathered in one felde Xerxes weping sayd with an hâ—â—y harte The cause of mans life is very miserable for of so many thousand men can not one lyue ouer a hundreth yeare It is also sayde that whan Xerxes nowe ouerlayed the strayghtes of the see wyth brydges as there rose a tempeste he commaunded to beate the see To thys belongeth it also that it is not vnworthely sayd that in goynge forth hys hooste dryed vp floudes wyth drynkynge Wonders were also sene the which admonished the kyng to desyst of his enterpryse because of the myshappe to come For a â—aâ—â— brought forth an hare in the hoost where by was signifyed flyght Ther appeared also a comet called Ceratias the which is bowed lyke a horne Ther was also an Eclipse of the sonne And as hystoryes make mencion suche signes are not sene wythoute some vnhappynesse or hurt namely by the which God threateneth hys wrath and therfore oughte they not to be despysed but rather a pryck or sâ—ynge for vs that we do feare God for here maye be sene what alteracions of commune welthes and all estates of the worlde are ensued Xerxes wolde fyrste set vpon the Grekes wyth battayll by lande As for Grece is closed rounde about and ther is no entry into it saue by see or by some strayghtes of the mountaynes wher certayn thousands of the Grekes were set to kepe the enemyes from entrynge in of the whyche the greatest parte fled contynently as the Perses would entre only foure hundreth Lacedemonians abode which vsed greate force to resist the enemies and though they were farre lesse in nombre and weaker than that they could dryue back so great force of the enemies yet declared they such strength in fyghtynge that they slew about twenty thousande of the Perses For beynge ayded wyth the oportunite of the strayghtnesse of the mountaynes they were safe of the inuasion and oppression of the multitude of the enemies nother coulde they be enuyrouned by waytes layenge In the skyrmisse dyed Xerxes two bretheren but on the other syde died the foure hundreth Lacedemonyans wyth theyr kynge Leonides The acte is greatly praysed by reason of the courage and strength to defende the country because that they beynge so fewe in nombre were not afrayed to set them selues agaynste so great a multitude and though they had not the victory yet was the power of the enemies greately abated with thys â—yght and theyr hardenesse mynyshed Whan the Perses had the victory in thys battayll wounder it is how greatly all Grece was afrayed and in that parte of Grece did some cities yelde them selues frely to Xerxes At Athenes also one Cyrsylus or as sayeth Herodotus Lycidas counselled that the Athenians also shoulde geue themselues vnder Xerxes power for in no maner are they able to wythstande so myghty an enemy Themistocles contrary wyse counseled to defende the lyberty of the contrary For if the Perses fortune to haue dominion in Grece all honesty of maners shall be in daunger all lawe all good vertues shall peryshe The Perses shall vse all wyllfulnesse agaynst their wyues and chylderen as it were euidente they haue done agaynst them whiche were now subiect to them therfore were it more honeste to dye in the libertye than willinglye to admitte such lordes Thys counsell of Themistocles was accepted of euerye man wyth a commune consent that they shoulde defende themselues manlye agaynst the enemies The Athenians beynge wroth wyth Cyrsylus for hys wycked counsell commaunded to stone hym and the women lykewyse stoned hys wyfe because her husband had put forth such counsell the whyche if they had folowed they shoulde haue broughte all theyr chylderen to dishonesty Thys dede is praysed for the vertue and is worthy of remembraunce that they woulde rather dye for the lybertye of the contry than they shoulde yelde themselues to a straunge nacyon to ouerthrowe the state of theyr citye and all policye and honesty As the Athenians asked counsell at the aunswere of Apollo at Delphas it was aunswered them that they should haue victory with walles of wood the whiche Themistocles expounded of the defence of shyppes and he exhorted that leauynge the citye they should lead their wiues and children into the shyppes for their citie should at length not be able to wythstande the power and so great multitude of the Persians besyde that also be not the Perses very well appointed by see Thys counsell was alowed and the residue of the cities haue folowed it Sparta and Corinthus the whiche with a furnyshed nauye helde by force the straightes of the sea by the yle Salamina lest they mighte be compassed by the multitude of the shyppes that Xerxes had Whan Xerxes hearde that the Grekes had made a nauy and vnderstode that greate daunger shoulde come to hym yf the Grekes vsed the sea frely and as they had oportunitie should falle into the kyngdome it was counselled Xerxes that contrarywise he shoulde combre the Grekes wyth warre vpon the sea The same was done But as the Grekes had the victory the mooste part of the Perses was discomfyted and many shyppes were drouned This victory restored a courage to all Grece and made Xerxes feble The kynge him selfe was not in the battaill but remaininge with a fewe shyppes vpon the coast he dyd onelye beholde it All the Grecians rendred the renoume of the battaill to Themistocles onelye because that the victory beynge gotten by his counsell all Grece was saued Amonge the reste of the traynes whyche Themistocles vsed in thys warre I thoughte to rehearse thys one suttyll deuyse Whan Xerxes was abashed after the battayll he thought the kynge mighte easelye be broughte thereto that leauinge Grece he shoulde returne for alltogether into Persia wyth the reste of hys armye Therfore faynynge hym selfe humbly prostrate â–ª as wyllinge to procure fauoure by the kynge he caused to shew hym by the messenger that the Grekes deuised to breake the bridge the whyche he had caused to be layde before vpon the sea Wherefore to haue hym strayght waye oute of Grece before the occasyon of flyenge were taken him wythout he woulde cast him selfe in great daunger As he hearde thys tydynge he made him strayghte waye readye to flye But whan in flyenge he fande the bridge broken by the tempeste he passed ouer wyth a lytle boate euen wyth vtter daunger of his lyfe because the sea was troubled wyth the vehemency