the saying in the 17. of thapocalips concerninge the x. kinges These haue one counsell and power and shal giue their power vnto the beast THE FOVRTH BOOKE coÌ„tayning the third order of Popes in whoÌ„ Antichrist appeareth to be come toward fulnesse of hys wickednes specifyed in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation speakinge of Antechrist in the kingdome of the greate whore of Babilon vvhich sitteth vppon the beaste vvith seuen heades and that Prophecye seemeth to maister Baale to containe these 41. Popes following to Siluester the second HYtherto from Phocas the Emperours time for the space of 247. yeares Antichrist like the beast raigned in the Church of Christians without iudgemente or consideration of heauenly spirite Hytherto the Popes euen to the forteth Pope cast theyr eyes on earthly things forgetting Gods euerlasting testament as if they onely regarded but the fleshe and not the soule All theyr delight was in newe traditions ceremonyes buildings pleasures pompe warres treasons and translations of kingdomes as appeareth so that they seemed to liue in the glorye of this worlde and in contempte with Christ so that the Church vnder their gouernment is at length become the strompet of Babilon according to the whole discours of the Apocalips The truth whereof the Lord hath most euidently reueiled in this next Pope that followeth who was a woman and an harlot whereby al men may vnderstand the misterye reuealed by Christ. THE POPES OR ROMAINE ANTICHRISTES 40 Ioan the eight IOan the eight being a woman was made Pope and because of her bringing vp vnder a certeine Englishe maÌ„ a Monke of Fulda whome she loued tenderly her name was altered and she was called Iohn Englishe She sat as Pope in the pontificall seate at Rome two yeares and syxe monethes She was a Germain of kindred and borne in Mens called at the firste Gilberta who the more to enioye her louers company and the better to auoyde suspicioÌ„ dissembled her kinde and put her selfe into mans apparell so trauailed with the Monke her peramour to Athens where after she had profited in all the sciences her louer being dead she came to Rome disguising still her selfe and counterfaiting to be a man For through the promptnesse of her wit and ready tongue shee talked eloquently in publique lectours and disputations And many had her in admiratioÌ„ for her learning She grew into so great credit was so wel liked of al that Leo the Pope being dead they chose her Pope In whiche office as other Popes did shee gaue orders made priests and deacons promoted bishops made abbots sayde masses hallowed altars and churches ministred the Sacramentes and gaue men her feete to kisse and did all other thinges belonging to Popes her doinges stode in force But in the time of her Popeship â–ª Lotharius the Emperour being an olde man became a Monke And Lewis the seconde came to Rome and receiued of â—er the scepter and crowne of the Empier with Peters blessing whereby the whore of Babilon shewed her self so mighty that she made kinges stoupe vnto her Apo. 17. Also as Houedenus saith in her time Ethelwolphus king of Englande gaue the tenth part of his kingdome to the Priestes and Monkes to praye for his soule And his sonne Ethelwaldus maried Iudith a wydow and lately his owne fathers wyfe and his stepmother But as touching Pope Ioan she was gotten with childe by one of her familiar chaplaynes a Cardinall to whome her fleshly appetite caused her to discâ—ose her selfe As she was going on procession solemly to Lateran churche in the middest of the way and in the open streate betwene Colossus Clement church she was deliuered of childe in presence of all the people and died of her trauell in the same place And for this wickednesse she was stripped and spoyled of all pontificall honour and buried without any pompe or solemnitie Whereof Mantuan wryteth describing hell in the thirde booke of Alphonsus thus Here honge the dame that erst disguised would seme a maÌ„ to be VVhose head the Roman miter ware with crest of crownettes three VVho playde a shamelesse strumpettes parte in place of Popes degree Lo this is that seate that can not erre being endued with the holy Ghost by succession or rather an euident argument of the seate of Babilon But the Popes since that time in their procession do shonne that place where she was deliuered as odious for the hap thereof Funcius sayth boldely that this was suffered by Gods especiall prouidence that this woman should be made Pope being also an harlot euen then when she should bring kinges as she did Ethelwolphus and Alphredus in subiection vnto her whereby Antichrist might be knowen for then it was the Lordes pleasure to bewraye the whore of Babilon in a Pope being an whore Whereof the holy Ghost foretold Apoc. 17. that the elect might beware of her But to auoide the like incoÌ„uenience of a woman for the time folowing they deuised that who so euer should be chosen Pope should be serched very narrowely to be tryed a man shamefull to be reported but vsed without shame among suche shamelesse shauelinges But nowe commonly they nede not when they chuse them Popes mistrust them to be women for whyle they are Cardinals they playe suche Carnall partes that they are able to bring forth bastardes of their owne begetting to proue them selues men whereof one Iohn Pannonius wrote a mery Epigram in foure Latin verses testifying the truthe of this their doing of the whiche I omitte the two first verses for ciuilitie sake it may be gathered by these latter two what is ment Cur igitur nostro mos hic iam tempore cessat Ante probat sese quilibet esse marem How hapneth that this groaping them is vsed nowe no more Because eache one doth try him selfe to be a man before 41. Benedict the third BEnedict the thirde being first tried vpon the porphyry stoole to be a man was made Pope Massaeus saith he howled out and cried miserably that he should be promoted to so great dignitie whereof he was vnworthy a rare thing among them But some thinke he did it but of hypocrysie because As Platina saith he offred his feete to be kyssed and suffred him selfe to bee worshipped lyke an earthly Idoll Then came Embassadours from Lewis the Emperour to confirme the election of him done by the Clergie and people Among many supersticious and vaine ceremonies he appointed that Dirige should be sayde for the dead that the Clergy should go soberly honestly He died Anno 859. In this time as Sigebertus and Vincentius testifie in Mens as a certaine Priest was casting holy water a certayne Diuell lurking vnder his Cappe as if he had bene a familiar to him did accuse him that he laye with a Proctours doughter that nighte 42. Nicolas the first NIcolas the firste was made Pope in the presence of Lewis the seconde Emperour after his father Lotharius But as sone as Lewis was departed out of
cloth of tissue and cloth of gold and other iewels according to the Iewishe ceremonies and this Pope was the firste that toke vpon him to be called Christes vicar on earth Out of Vesunius hyll in Campania suche aboundaunce of fier spouted that it burnt vp all the countries men and cattell rounde about after whiche it is euident that there ensued Anno 686. bloudshed burning spoyling and the death of Princes and especially of this Benedict a Pope of tenne monethes 17. Iohn the fift IOhn the fifte was borne in Siria he first of all toke consecration of three bishops of the bishop of Hostia Portua Veliterne whiche custome he appointed to be kepte of his successours And his posteritie do kepe this vse euen vnto this daye in our Sauiours church at Lateran In his Popedome he fell sicke in the whiche time he wrote a vayne and vnlearned booke touching the dignitie of the pall of an Archebyshop 18. Conon COnon a Thracian was made Pope after much wrangling betwene the Romaines who would haue elected one Peter an Archebishop and the host preferring one Iohn a priest This Conon being established fell sicke and died Anno 689. He made one Kilianus being before a Scottishe Monke a bishop and sent him with other into Germanie to winne the East part of Fraunce to the church of Rome But this Kilian his company were at the first â—layne of their Auditours and buried at Herbipolis One Paschal an ArchedeacoÌ„ and Treasurer to the said Conon in this Popes life bribed Iohn Platina one of the sixe princes of Italy to make him Pope after the death of Conon Platina tooke the mony but he perfourmed not the couenaunt neyther restored the money 19. Sergius the first AT this time was great hurlie burly about the election of the Pope Some chose Theodorus a prieste some Paschal an Archedeacon And whyle euery one did ambitiouslye maintaine his owne faction either partie with the men of his owne side kept possessioÌ„ in some part of Lateâ—an pallaice But when the chiefe of the clergye the Romaines the army sawe that this sedition would wexe bloudye they agreed to appease this tumult reiecting both the other they chose Sergius an Assyrian borne brought him to Lateran Church and brasting vp the doores they driue oute the seditious electors and compelled Theodor Paschal to salute Sergius as Pope He bestowed great cost in trimming the temples with guilding images golden caÌ„delsticks and curious masons worke riche clothes such stuffe He they say founde a peece of Christ his Crosse in a brasen cofer He repayred the images of the Apostles being worne out with continuance He set a new patche vpoÌ„ the masse commaunding that Agnus Dei should be songe thrise wheÌ„ the priest is breaking the bread And on the day of the annuntiation of the virgin to sing procession He reclaymed the Church of Aquilia which began to decline from Papistrye He also by his monks allured the Saxons Frisians to the same superstition While Aldhelmus an Englishman waited at Rome to be admitted to a bishopricke he hard the Pope accused of adulterye the childe being new borne which was fathered vppon him Aldhelmê° therefore did secretlye admonishe the Pope of this wickednes Sergius dyed Anno. 701. 20. Iohn the sixt IOhn the sixt a Grecian borne beinge much delighted in vanityes as his predecessors were was very curious in decking the temples In the time of famine and warre he nourished a great nomber of poore men with the treasures of the Church being in deede the worthiest of al Popes for such almes deedes also he redeemed diuers prisoners oute of bondage And with threatninge caused Gisulphus captaine of Beneuent who then wasted Campania to returne home This man as it appeareth was because of Sergius adultery elected only Pope and not confirmed Sergius being restorde againe and therfore he is not reckened amoÌ„g the Popes Peter Premonstratensis sayth that Iohn was thrust out againe because of his vnlawful entrance therfore he is not enrolled among the Popes 21. Iohn the seuenth IOhn the seuenth a Grecian was delighted in nothinge but superstitious garnishinge Churches and images of Saincts for which he is muche commended but not one worde spoken of him touching preaching the Gospell Hee dyed Anno. 707. 22. Sisinius the second SIsinius or Sozymus after great conteÌ„tion with Dioscorus about the Popedome at lengthe obtayned it Hee was so sore sicke of the goute that hee liued Pope but xx dayes being neither able to sturre nor to eatâ— any thinge Nauclerus wryteth that he was poisoned by the said Dioscorus in the same yeare that Iohn the seuenth dyed 23 Constantine the first COnstantine the first being sent for by Iustitian the Emperour to come to Constantinople was the first that euer offered his soueraigne to kisse his feete At his returne home he condemned Philip Burdan of impiety because he could not abide the abhominations of Idols and toke the Images out of the Churche Furthermore he commaunded that the picture of the Emperour counting the godly Prince a wicked heretike should not be receiued thoughe it were engrauen in golde or siluer he cursed all the Emperours coyne And holdinge a counsell at Rome he decreed that Images should be had in the Church shoulde be worshipped with great reuerence contrary to al Scripture After this hee moued one Anastasius a mainteyner of images against the said Philippicus who appreheÌ„ding him reft him of his kingdome and put out his eyes when the bishop of Ticinum rebelled against his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Mediolan the Pope would not recoÌ„cile him but falselye made him tributary by stelth to the Sea of Rome whereby that bishopricke hath brought it selfe to perpetual bondage Kinredus and Offa two kings of the Englishe Saxons for their pleasures made a voyage to Rome and when they were there the Pope made theym forsake their kingdomes turned them into monkes hee dyed Anno 715. He was the first that gaue his feete to be kissed of Emperours 24. Gregory the seconde GRegory the second bestowed his time in repayring and building spiritual houses Churches with great coste Hee forbad a nonne a nouesse an abbesse a deaconesse or a spirituall Godmother to marrye He ordained that masse should be said euery friday in Lent and caused prayers often to be said because of strauÌ„g sights in the ayre He would haue masse said no where but in an hallowed place He persecuted euen to death those that woulde not worship images By his authority he compelled Luith Prandus king of Italye at the first withstanding it to ratifye Arithpertus donations beinge vniuste onely to maintaine the roâ—at of the clergye He moued the subiectes of the Emperour Leo to breake into opeÌ„ rebellioÌ„ because their images were taken away He caused Spaine Aemilia Luguria Italye and other countreys to reuolt and defye their obeysance to the Emperour The Emperour would haue no worshipping of images in the Church and therefore the
Pope did both excoÌ„municate him put hym from his kingdome threatned him eternall dampnation And thus the Emperours of the East lost their title in Italye Gregory dyed Anno 731. 25 Gregory the third GRegory the third was a stout champion for the Church of Rome and their ambitioÌ„ He did excommunicate his soueraigne the Emperour Leo because he destroyed images He ioyned to him Carolus Metellus the bastard lieuetenaunt of the Frenchmen to maintaine the estate of the bishop of Rome against the Lombardes By helpe of the Lombardes he draue the Grecians out of Italy And afterwarde oppressed the Lombardes them selues by the helpe of Fraunce and absolued all Italy from the oath of their dewe alleageance sworne to the Empire He busied him selfe in taking care and bestowing costes on churches abbyes celles altars Images In a Synode at Rome he maintained that the Images of dead sainctes should be worshipped decreeing excommunication against those that would do the contrary He layde vp in Peters Pallayce the reliques of sainctes and commaunded that on euery daye masse should be said there to them In the Cannons wherof hee addinge certaine clauses clowted it with this pece Quorum solemnitates hodie c. Hee forbad to eate horse fleshe He traÌ„slated the tuicioÌ„ of the churche from the Grekes to the Frenchemen He set the Apostles Images in churches seuerally by them selues He wrote to Boniface an Englisheman that their priestes ought to haue shauen crownes that should pray for the dead at masse and that they ought to praie and to offer sacrifice for the dead After these and like dedes he died Anno 742. 26. Zacharias a Grecian ZAcharias emplied his witte and wealth in pompeous and gorgeous buylding AmoÌ„g other vaine sumptuousnes he was the first that gaue golden coapes decked with pearles and stones to the churche for holy vses He gaue a stipende to the churche towarde the charge of the lampe oyle He deuised the manner and fashion of priestes apparell He deuided the East churche from the West churche He translated out of Latin into Greke Gregories foure bookes of Dialogues to the entent to plante the opinion of Purgatorie among the Grecians which they neuer receiued yet He made it vnlawefull to mary the vnkles wife the vnkle being dead although Gregorie the third allowed it He coÌ„maunded gosseps as we call them in no wyse to marye together He commaunded the Venetians a Godly dede that vpon payne of curse they should not for lucre sel their children of Christians to the Saracenes Taking vpon him the power of God after a sort he presumed very churlishly and cruelly to depose kings from their estate and to make kynges He was the firste that attempted to release subiectes of their alleageance For Pipinus sonne of the bastarde Charles Martell traytour to his Prince by his messengers obtained of Pope Zacharye that he woulde depose king Childericus from the crowne of Fraunce and geue it to him and his heyres The Pope remembring the late dede of Pipinus his father in the Popes behalfe against the Lombardes thinking by this meanes that he should be the better able to encouÌ„ter the Emperoure of the East grauÌ„ted this trayterous request And sent straight charge and highe commission to the estates of Fraunce that they shoulde depose their present king Childericus shaue his head put him into an Abbey and so make him a Monke And after this they should acknowledge Pipin beinge coÌ„firmed and annoynted by the Archebishop Boniface to be their soueraigne and kyng Furthermore he chaunged Lachis king of Lombardy Charolomannus and other from their royall estate and made them Monkes After tenne yeares raigne he died Anno 752. One Steuen a DeacoÌ„ was chosen to succede him who being wakened out of slepe to go about his affaires being taken with the falling sickenesse died presently and therefore is not accompted Pope 27. Steuen the second STeuen the seconde immediatly stept in after this other Steuen who for his superstitious and ambitious dealing in their religion is compted of the Papistes a Godly byshop But note the misterie of his iuggling he hauing thus by craft and guyle obtayned the Popedome he immediatly subdued to the sea of Rome all the dominion of Rauenna which had wrought the Pope so much displeasure and beside many other countreys in Italy thereby to obtaine the kingdome of Italy He craued of Pipin importunatly to reuenge his quarell against Aâ—stulphus kyng of Lombardy for demaunding subsidie of him and his Prelates Pipin to gratifie the Pope in consideration of the kingdome of Fraunce gotten by his meanes after he had longe besieged often assaulted the dominion of Rauenna at the length deliuering it from the garison of Lombardy yelded it as a present to the Pope with al the townes thereof eueÌ„ to the goulph of Uenice And thus they robbed the Emperour of that dominion and withal pulled down the thirde part of the strengthe of the Romaine Empire empairing thereby the East Empire And as for the weste Empire which then was arising it lost his strengthe likewyse But Pope Steuen hereupon annoynting bastarde Pipin and his two sonnes agaynâ— and geuing him a pardon for falsefying his oath of alegeaunce did more ratifie him and his in the kingdom for euer cursing all those that at any time should speake against him Also he shaued Childericus againe and made him newely Monke and so put him afreshe into an Abbey to make all sure Pipin for this fel downe flat on the ground kissed the Popes feete held his stirropes and toke the bridle in his hande and played the osteler anâ— vowed perpetuall fealtie to the Pope The Pope to thanke God for this benefite of so great honour whiche nowe began caused procession to be song through all Rome and the Apostles tombes and other sainctes reliques to be borne about and shewed openly and him selfe to be caried triumphantly through the middes of the people on his porters shoulders in his Pontificalibus Which vse of being borne on mens shoulders his successours haue estemed as a moste holy thing He confirmed by his auctoritie that all Popes tradicions should be taken for good He forgaue all treasons against Princes for the hatred he bare the Grecians he studied to chaunge the Empire froÌ„ them into Fraunce He furnished the churches in Fraunce with pricke song and descant And whatsoeuer henceforth could be wrested from the Empire he coÌ„mauÌ„ded it should be S. Peters see and so dedicated to the churche of Rome he died Anno 757. 28 Paule the first PAule the first was brother to the said Steuen hee after wrangling and iarring betwene him and one Theophilact succeded and followinge the daunce that his auncetours had ledde him threatningly and fearcely he restored the images which CoÌ„stantine Emperour of CoÌ„stantinople had abrogated but Constantine staÌ„ding stoutly in his opinion and defyinge his vaine curses and threates wythstoode images wyth all his power euen to his death This Paule
honoured much the body of one Petronilla the daughter of S. Peter and toke her karkasse out of the grounde remouinge it to another place and enlarged and repayred diuers Churches adding manye ceremonies to them At length he dyed through the extremity of the heate of sommer Anno 767. In his time as Peter Premonstratensis sayth starres fell from heauen to the earth accordinge to the 6. of the Apocalips And immediatly after this Charles the great begaÌ„ to raigne who builded 24. monasteries 29. Constantine the second COnstantine the seconde being but a layman by strong hand was made Pope though manye other stoode for it through the doinges of his brother Desiderius kinge of Lomberdye and through Totho duke of Nepesia but this hastines at leÌ„gth is brought to none effect because CoÌ„stantine had not taken Ecclesiastical orders Herevppon arose great discord amoÌ„g the clergye in which tumult one Philip was chosen but because he wanted artilary power to mayntaine his parte hee was forced to depose himselfe againe Constantine obtayned the Popedome a yeare and that pontificallye but in the ende a councell beinge gathered of Italian and Frenche bishops in their great rage furye they put him out and with great reproch clapte him in an abbey as in a perpetuall prisoÌ„ hauing both the Popedome taken from him and his eyes put out Anno. 708. Some do not count him among the Popes because he was a laye man and disalowe all his doing sauinge Baptisme and Chrisme But the next yeare after his brother Desiderius comminge to Rome vnder pretence of prayinge got those that put his brothers eyes and rewarded them with the like punishment 30. Steuen the thirde STeuen the thirde is commended to be a stout maintayner of Romishe traditions and auctoritye for in a Synode in Lateran hee did disanull all that his predecessour Constantine had done The bishops by him created were disgraded if they had no absolution hee commaunded that vppon paine of excommunication no laye man should presume to be Pope wythoute ecclesiasticall orders Hee condemned the seuenth councell of Constantinople as hereticall And did againe establishe setting vppe of Images which by that counsell was condemned He taughte that images shoulde be worshipped and encreased the worshipping of them and commaunded that they should be hallowed wyth Frankinsence Hee broughte to his subiection Mediolan Church which euer before had beene free Hee sued to Charles the Emperour obtayned to depose Desiderius of his kingdome Hee appointed those that brake theyr Canons to sing Gloria in excelsis on SoÌ„dayes and that in the solemnitye of the masses it should be song on S. Peters altar by seuen bishops being Cardinals He went one time to counterfaict Christ in his doings barefooted in procession He dyed Anno 772. 31. Hadrian the first HAdrian the first was a meete champion to maintaine the dignitye which his predecessours had encroched Hee bestowed cost on altars dead mâ—ns tombes dead mens bones and Churches Hee attributed more worship to images then euer any did and wrote a booke of the honour and profite of them and pointed them in steede of Scriptures to be layemens bookes He condemned in a couÌ„saile those that detested images as one Foelix other By the ayde of Charles the Emperour he delyuered the Sea of Rome from the perill of all other Princes He was the first that with his leaden Bull did honour theyr decrees dispensations and priuiledges Hee forbad that anye infamous parson should be promoted to priesthoode that the clergye should not be sued oute of theyr owne court Charlemaine kinge of Fraunce and brother to Charles the Emperour being deade his wyfe Bertha came wyth her two sonnes vnto this Hadrian suinge to him that he would annoint and establish these her sonnes in theyr fathers kingdome But this holye sier least he should offende theyr vncle themperour cast of the orphanes despised theyr sute refused to do it finally committed to perpetual slauerye both the children and theyr mother w t Desiderius king of Lombardye his wyfe his children and his kingdom whoÌ„ Charles caryed into Fraunce wyth hym where they liued long in care and miserye vntil they dyed And thus Gods vicar vseth orphanes wydowes and poore Princes To cloake all this hee fedde in the porche of Lateran pallaice a hundreth poore folke euerye daye But Charles in recompence hereof after he had kissed the Popes feete coÌ„firmeth to the Pope his fathers gift that is the townes pertayniÌ„g to the DominioÌ„ of Rauenna and like an vniust pyrate he added to the Popes possessions Venice Histria the dukedome of Fotriiulenia the dukedome of Spolet BeneueÌ„t and other lands Also he made Hadrian PriÌ„ce of Rome of Italy ratifyed the Popes Empyre by spoyling the kingdom of Lombardy and ioyning so in league w t the Pope that who so delt wyth the one shoulde be ennemye to both Agayne Adrian caused Charles and his successors the kings of FrauÌ„ce to haue the title of most Christian king and like a subtill fox hee gaue him power to chuse the Pope and to make bishoppes through all his dominions but that lasted not long and so vsed him that in deede he had but the bare name of the Romaine Emperour This Hadrian cloathed the bodye of S. Peter all in siluer and couered the Altar of S. Paule with a pall of gould He dyed Anno 796. 32. Leo the thirde LEo the thirde as sone as he cought the Popedome by by sent S. Peters keyes and the banner of Rome with other giftes to Charles the Emperour desyringe him to binde the Romaines by an oath to become subiecte to the bishop of Rome Charles to pleasure him sent one Agilbert an Abbot who compelled the Romaines by his commaundement to sweare allegeaunce vnto the Pope Hereupon the Pope purchased such deadly hate among the people that as he was ones going on procession certaine furious parsones fell vpoÌ„ him and beate him from his horse and stripping him starke naked out of his poÌ„tificall roabes whipped him very sore But at length when Charles came they knowyng his good will towarde the Pope turned their former hatred into loue and fauour and durst not auouche the faultes layde against him Therefore when he asked of his conuersation they aunswered with one voyce that the sea Apostolicall ought to be iudged by no layman After the whiche aunswere the Pope affirming and swearing him selfe to be giltlesse the Emperoure being pacified doth absolue him and pronounced him innocent For with curtesie the Pope desirous to be thankefull with a great voyce proclaimed Charles Emperoure ioyned him with himself set the Diademe on his head that Romaines in the meane time cried God grauÌ„t life successe to Charles our mighty Emperoure Thus was the name of the Romaine Emperoure restored so as the Popes aucthoritie should not be empaired Hereof the custome continued that he who should receaue the scepter of the Empire shoulde be ioyned in auctoritie in Rome by
Romaynes that he coulde do nothinge worthy remembraunce for hee was so shamefullye wounded and foulye mangled and defaced amid the broyles that for shame of his foule disfigurings he durst neuer shewe his face abroade So litle reuerence had the Popes at that time for their litle holinesse Steuen dyed Anno 944. 66. Martin the third MArtin the thirde being Pope gaue himselfe onelye to repayre the Church not in Religion but in building not in reforminge ceremonyes but encreasinge the dignitye and pompe of the Church He was very beneficial to the poore bestowed plentifully on their bellyes He was diligent in reformation of outward manners In the first yeare of this Pope a great blasing starre was seene in Italye after which saith Vspergensis followed an extreame famine and againe saith Masseus the Sunne appeared verye terrible threatninge the sequeale of Gods vengeance Martin dyed Anno 947. 67. Agapetus the second AGapetus the seconde being Pope ruled Popelike in the time of one Berengarius a Marques of Italy who was the last of that name that had that dignitye after Hughe This Berengarius is reported to haue dryuen many Monkes oute of their cloysters whiche liued idellye and gaue them selues to the pleasures of the worlde The Pope perceiuing howe he could not rule Berengarius in these and such other spiritual matters that he would not restraine his soueraignitie according to the wil of him and his Hee sent for Otho the first king of the Germaines to come into Italy promising him the kingdome of the Romaines to fight with Berengarius and so saith Sabellicus troubled the estate of that countrey And except it were the settinge of these princes together by the eares he did nothing worthy memory till his death being Anno. 954. In his time was a counsell holden at Ingelhaim but suche was the negligence of the time that no man can tell what was done there or wherefore it was 68 Iohn the thirtene IOhn the thirtene being the sonne of the foresayde Albericus sonne to Marozia obtained to be Pope partly by the bribery partly by the threatning of his father Albericus being Prince He being Pope liued not like a bishop but altogether like a ranke ruffianly roister geuing him selfe wholly to all kinde of pleasure as to whoredome adultery incest masking momming hunting maygames playes robberies fyring of houses periury dyce cardes blaâ—ing robbing of churches and other villanies euen froÌ„ his youth he misused his cardinalles in cropping their noses thrusting out their eyes chopping of their fingers and handes cutting out their tongues gelding them and vsing diuers diuersly For before the Emperour Otho in an opeÌ„ Sinode it was layde to his charge as Luthprandus wryteth in his sixt booke that he neuer sayde Mattins that in celebrating the masse he him selfe had not communicated that he made Deacons in his stable among his horses that he had committed incest with two harlots being his owne sisters That hee played at dice prayed to the diuell to sende him good lucke that for money he admitted boyes to be bishops He had rauished virgines and straunge womeÌ„ He had made the holy pallaice of Lateran a stewes brothell house That he had defloured Stephana his fathers concubine and one Rainera a wydowe besyde one Anna an other wydowe and her niece that he had put out the eyes of Benedict his ghostly father vsed common hunts that he woare armour and set houses on fyre brast open dores and wyndowes by night that he tooke a cup of wyne dranke to the diuell and neuer blessed him selfe with the signe of the crosse these and many more odious articles were layde to his charge Whereupon the Emperour by the consent of the Prelates deposed him And Leo the eight was set vp in his steade But as sone as the Emperour was gone those harlottes that had bene his companioÌ„s inueigled the nobles of Rome promising theÌ„ the treasures of the church to depose Leo and place Iohn againe whiche they did out of hande and so Leo whom the Emperour appointed was deposed and Iohn established againe Who in his Popeship decreed that the Emperour should euer be crowned at Rome by the Pope But as he was solacing him self with out Rome on a certaine night with the wyfe of one that was a valiaunt man he was taken by him euen in his adultery and so sore and depely wouÌ„ded with a dagger that he died thereof within eight dayes in the tenth yeare of his Popedome as Mantuan witnesseth Of this Pope Iohn S. Dunstane a Nicromancier and a coniuring MoÌ„ke archbishop of Caunterbury in Englande receiued at Rome coÌ„firmation and pall to be metropolitan Anno. 960. This Dunstane did shamefully snaffle king Edgar For the king had deflowred a certaine Noonne for the which cause DuÌ„stane did so taunte and rate him that the king fell downe flatte before him offering to submitte him selfe to any satisfaction and obayed this that was commaunded him by Dunstane first because he was yet vncrowned he charged him that he should not take the crowne vpon him for seuen yeares and that during this time he should fast twyse in the weke distribute his treasure to the nedy builde a Noonnery at Shaftesbury and last of al that he should driue out all maried ministers calling them adulterous priestes Cronicon SaxonicuÌ„ ecclesiae VVigorniensis But as other stories testifie they were shortly after restored againe the moÌ„ks who had encroched their places were depriued Also he purchased of him for a great somme of money a coÌ„mission to disanulle and coÌ„demne the mariage of the Clergie and to constrayne them to single life or els to depriue them of ecclesiasticall benefites So writeth Iohn Capgraue and Polidor Virgil. in his sixt booke of the history of Englande Hereupon he being emboldened by the auctoritie of king Edgar ioyning to him selfe in the same commission Oswalde bishop of Yorke Ethelwalde bishop of Winchester and Monkes of the like disposition did violently thrust out of the cathedrall churches the Curates and Ministers whiche would not forsake their wiues and planted in them Monkes with their counterfaited chastitie whiche they kept vntill the time of the moste renowmed Prince kyng Henry the eight But many there were that stoutly stoode in defiance of this wicked doing especially a certayne Scot did bitterly speake against it Of this Pope Iohn came this prouerbe As mery as Pope Iohn 69 Benedict the fift BEnedict the fift after the departure of Otho the Emperour with his armye and depriuing of Leo being but a Deacon and Cardinall was made Pope by Iohns frends in a tumultuous time But Otho would not suffer Leo whome he had appointed to take this iniurye and therefore returning to Rome with his armie hee plonged the Romaines diuers wayes to make them yelde this Benedict into his handes and to restore Leo. Therefore after they had kept the gates lockt twoo monethes they yelded Benedict vnto the Emperour and receiued Leo and established him solemly in the
an anchoresse in S. Albons abbey had this terrible visiion she heard an old man of graue countenaunce crye thre times VVo wo to all that dwel on the earth and then faded away againe Anno 1258. Richard Earle of Cornewall sonne to king Iohn of Englād was chosē king of Almany for his great treasure and the Pope procured that he was chosen Emperour but he did that closely because he had likewyse for the same matter taken a bribe of Alphonsus kinge of Spaine Whereupon a certaine Poet made this Verse Nummus ait pro me nubet Comubia Rome Thus money sayth for loue of me Cornewal with Rome shal lincked be Beside these shiftes made for money this Pope Alexāder vsed another notorious knacke he abusing deluding the simplicitye of the king of England made him beleeue that he would make his sonne Edmond king of Apulia if hee woulde sustaine the charges thereof to maintaine the warres appertayning to it wherupon the king caused his sonne forthwith to be proclaymed king of Apulia and sent to the Pope all the treasure and riches that he could make in his Realme And thus was the king and his sonne deluded and the Realme wonderfullye impouerished by the Popes craft It were to long to discouer all the superstitious wicked deuises of this Pope who at length going to Viterbium Anno 1262. to make peace betweene the Genewaies Venetians according to his owne fansye and because he coulde not haue his will therein he dyed there for anger 125. Vrban the fourth VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles the Earle of Anteganor w t an oast into Italye and made him king of both Sicils After many conflictes the said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent and receyued of the Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill w t the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia whereuppon arose many great slaughters While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse the Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers callinge them Branderesies who had power of life and death in their handes they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour whō banished late before they restored But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye namelye Corpus Christi daye the fifte day after Trinitye sonday vpon this occasion as some and most likely do write namelye Arnold Bostro Petrus Praemonstratensis Anno 1264. as they saye a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar to whom the Pope according to her desire returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe VVe know O daughter that thy soule hath longed with greate desire that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vnto thee that we haue thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament there should be more special and solemne recorde appointing a certaine daye for it namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines and holye with much ioye as is more set out in our apostolicall letters sente for this cause through the world And know ye that we haue caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals bishops and archbishops and other prelats then being at Rome to giue example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour for thine eyes haue seene his saluation which we haue prepared before the face of al people Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes c. This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes Gibelines and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde to the confusion of manye through Italye He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe he dyed for griefe Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope and ceased the same night that he dyed 126 Clemens the fourth CLemens the fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man and had 3. children by his wyfe a sonne two doughters He as his predecessour began continued in sheddinge of bloud he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes This bargaine beinge made betweene them great slaughter bloudshed was committed in diuers places for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill and inheritour of the kingdomes to the former Charles so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes wher his abode was at that time the Pope by report sayd that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples at the first conflict had sufficient victorye yet then the treason reuealing it selfe Conradinus Frederick duke of Austria were taken being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen and the dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by the wickednes of the Pope In the time of
barbarous Pyrates then this churlishe Boniface He hated the Gibelines with such rancour that in persecuting them he heard saye that some of them were fled to the Genewaies therupon he poasted thether to destroy them vtterly to roote out the very name of them vpon earth And when vpon Ash wednesdaye he should according to the superstitious vse crosse al commeâ—s on the forheade with ashes and saye vnto them thus Remember man that thou art ashes and to ashes thou shalte returne Upon the same day for the same cause the archbishop of Porchet who was a Gibeline came vnto him kneelinge downe vnto the Pope put of his cappe to haue the ashes put on his head whoÌ„ when Boniface had espyed beinge neither ashamed for the time nor the place nor the people present vttered his rancour towarde the bishoppe most shamefullye For takinge vp an handfull of ashes he threwe them spitefullye in the eyes of the bishop sayinge reprochfullye wyth malicious chaunge of woordes Remember man thou arte a Gibeline and to the Gibelines thou shalt returne And beside this depriued him of his archbishopricke though in the ende he restored it In his time were great and cruell warres betwene the Sicilians and Robert duke of Calabria which wroughte much mischiefe to all Italye and yet the Pope being ofteÌ„times requested thereunto would neuer with his auctoritye steppe in betwene them to pacifye the matter But by the prouidence of God they that before fled out of Italye with the rouers arriued in Italye againe and gathering together a fewe who fled and lurked here there for feare of the rage of Boniface came to Anagnia ere the Pope mistrusted any such matter they brast open the gates vpoÌ„ him apprehended him and brought him to Rome where frettinge and raginge in a great agonye most desperatlye for the space of xxx dayes throughe the extremitye of his malady he dyed myserablye Anno 1304. This Pope sent a commaundement to the king of England charging him not to molest Scotland as he did then anye longer because the Scottes were a priuiledged people belonging to his Chappell but the kinge stoode stoutlye in the defence of his righte and quarrell and claymed it as his right not the Popes After this the Pope moued kinge Edwarde to warre vppon the Frenche kinge because he had offended the Pope but the kinge would not be so abused by him After this when the kinge had bestowed the bishopricke of Canterbury vpon Robert Burnel bishop of Bathe the Pope in spite of his teeth did not onlye place another called Iohn Peccam but also sent downe his Bull to the spirituall men of England for their discharge not to paye one penye tribute to the kinge in any case to his no small trouble for vpon this the most of them were at defiaunce with the kinge and his Parliamente especiallye the bishop of Canterburye This is that Pope of whom it was coÌ„monlye said He entred like a foxe he raigned like a Lion he died like a dogge He thinking that kingdomes and Empires were all in his owne hande did vsurpe the aucthority of both swordes woulde be counted the Lord of all the world He gaue sentence the vnlesse kinges woulde receiue their kingdomes at his hand they should be accursed and oughte to be deposed He excommunicated Philip kinge of Fraunce because he would not suffer the treasure of his Realme to be transported oute to Rome he cursed both him and his to the fourth generation Also he would not confirme Albertus to be Emperour whom before he had three or foure times reiected vntill he woulde inuade Fraunce and depose king Philip. He maintayned the discorde that was in Italye and purposed to nourishe them continuallye He forbad that the clergye should paye anye tribute to their Princes without his commaundement He boasted that he bare the keyes of heaueÌ„ and published this Canon that he oughte to be iudged of none althoughe hee shoulde drawe thousandes of soules to hell with him He was the first that deuised the Iubelye according to the Iewishe tradition He gaue full remission of sinnes and pardons to all that shoulde come on pilgrimage to Rome At the first daye of Iubelei hee prancked himselfe gorgeouslye in his pontificalibus The seconde daye he being arrayed most royallye with Emperiall insignes commaunded a naked sword to be caryed before him and said with a loude voice Ecce potestatem vtriusque gladij Lo here is the power of both swordes Finallye he being as is said apprehended and offeringe rather his head to be cut of then he would yelde vp his Papacye those conditions beinge put to him his house was first spoyled of so much treasure that as it is reported all the kinges of the earth together were not able to make so much oute of theyr treasurye as was caryed oute of his Pallaice and from three Cardinals and a Marquesse that were with him Then afterward he was set vpon an vnbroken coult with his face to the horse tayle and so caused to ride a gallop iaunted til he were breathlesse and then was he imprisoned and there almost pined by kinge Philips souldiours of Fraunce till the people of the towne of Aragon where he was did releue him and yet neuerthelesse for thought of this misery and losse he dyed He bestowed on S. Peters Pallaice a chayme of belles making a sweete and pleasaunt noyse and encreased the reuennues therof he yet encreased very much that priuiledges of the begginge fryers He doubled the idolatrous honour of the Apostles the 4 Euangelistes and the foure doctours of the Church He gaue auctoritye to the Ecclesiastical parsons generally in England to excommunicate the people twise in the yeare He caused one Hermanus of Ferraria to be taken oute of his graue and burned xxx yeares after he had beene buryed He said that to be subiect to the Church of Rome is of the necessitye to saluatioÌ„ He deposed diuers Cardinals he deuested diuers kinges of their estate he fostered harlots â—e begat diuers bastardes beside sondrye other lâ—ude pranckes He sommoned kinge Edwarde the first to Rome vpon the coÌ„plaint of Robarte VVinchelsey bishop of Canterbury after the death of Iohn Peccam both which Archbishops troubled the kinge as almost all their auncetours from the time of Hildebrand had done to the Princes in their time for so VVilliam Rufus and Henry the first were troubled wyth Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury Henry the second also with Thomas Becket King Richard and all England with VVilliam bishop of Elye the Popes Legate King Iohn with Steuen LangtoÌ„ bishop of Canterburye Henry the thirde with Edmonde Archbishop and now this kinge Edwarde wyth these two The kinge beinge cited to Rome was there suspended till he had purchased full dearely his absolution but of the said Peccam this one thing is to be noted that he caused to be ordayned that no spirituall mynister should haue any more benefices theÌ„ one which was also
and maintayned by some other And therefore I thoughte it good in no wyse to turne it out rashlye naked vnarmed and vnprouided of rescue neither into the handes of freinde nor foe For such a meete Patrone was to be sought for who by his wit doctrine and learning should be able to maintaine a desperate cause and receiue into his tuition as it were an Orphane counted giltye and condemned by the preiudicate opinion of all men least it being desolate and berefte of all good mens ayde hauing no tutour left vnto it should together with his father haue his dying daye After I had longe debated this with with my selfe and had vewed all men rounde about with an especial and diligent care you iiii most excellent prelates of the Church came first to my remeÌ„brance in whose ayde I might safely repose my selfe that haue ofteÌ„times traueiled in this matter by longe experience haue found out and beaten downe the assaultes and strokes of oure aduersaryes So that the former booke ioyned with our historye sufficieÌ„tly fortifyed by the might of the most valiaunt Prince this booke beinge perused with my latter diligence trustinge vppon the learning and iudgemente of such men maye freelye wyth cheerefull countenaunce not be afrayde to shewe it selfe amonge the middest of his ennemyes Uerelye I am not ignoraunt that anye one of you is man good enoughe to encounter any in this deuine combate And I freelye confesse that this my litle worke is vnworthy to be dedicated euen vnto anye one of you yet notwithstanding I do not consider what you are able to do but what I ought to do Nether do I esteeme the price of the gift but I regard the most feruent zeale towards you all And though I imbrace you one after another yet I desire to pleasure you all w t this onelye gift because I haue no other and to declare the good will that I beare vnto you by this onely worke Last of all whom one Religion one Fayth one Lord one Baptisme do ioyne what hindreth vs that one Epistle maye not couple vs together wherefore I trust that you wil accept as you oughte and as you were accustomed my boldnes and presumption if there be anye which is sprong through an opinion of your curtesye not rysen of any euill will But that you maye vnderstande the matter which I request desire to be defended and cherished if you seperate your minds for a certaine season froÌ„ your graue studyes sacred busines and giue diligeÌ„t eare to heare that which I haue here purposed to declare the gift which I bestow vpon you is Papall and Pontificall And I haue declared the historye from the beginning to the endinge shewed their beginnings the race and the whole Tragedye of their gouernment deuiding the state of ther liues into three bookes The first contayneth the auncient and holy fathers not decked w t a crogier or a tripled Miter but such as were dilligent workers in adorninge the Lords Uyneyarde euen vnto Siluester from the holye Apostles which w t the great daunger of their life did faithfully labour in planting and setting forth the worde of God These maye worthelye be called the starres remayning on the right hand of Christe Apocal. 1. The second contayneth the Mitred Archbishops Patriarckes from Siluester the first vnto Boniface the third who althoughe they were not the wickedst and corruptest yet with their traditions and humaine constitutions haue made a plaine waye to Antichriste These be the starres that fell to the earth Apocal. 6. The third mentioneth the whole rablement of the Popes from Boniface the third to Paule the fourth the which being the Uicar of SathaÌ„ is said to haue auctoritye as yet at Rome These were Antichristes not departinge from the steps of their fathers in all kinde of pryde tyrannye lying and filthines these are the starres trulye as it is described in the 9. Chapter of the Apocalips which fell to the earth This thirde part is deuided into fiue neither haue we applyed them vnaptlye to the Reuelation of S. Iohn Boniface before mentioned shal possesse the first place as he deserued to Ioane the eight an harlot in the which part there are coÌ„tayned 40. Popes called them the kingdome of the great beast sometime named Sodoma sometime Aegiptus Apo. 11. From Ioane vnto Siluester the deuilish Magician that vowed gaue himselfe vnto Sathan that hee might obtaine the Popedome the kingdome of the greate harlot which sitteth on the beast doth comprehend 40. Popes Apocal. 17. From Siluester which is in the 3. place vnto Innocentius the fourth the most wicked ennemye of our Sauiour Christe who did establishe fasten the foure orders of the begging monkes which were newlye made to the intent that they might stoutlye and manfullye fight for the maintayning of the kingdome of Antichrist signifyeth the kingdome of the Dragon which is the diuill and SathaÌ„ Apocal. 20. And in this part were 40. Popes placed From this Innocentius the second that dreadfull warriour and the moste cruell destroyer of Christian men are nombred 40 Popes And this is the kingdome of the Locustes whâ—ch were vnder the gouernmente of Abadon the whâ—ch signifyeth a destroyer Apocal. 9. Then Iulius in the ende of his raigne throwinge the keyes of S. Peter into the riuer of Tiber being girded with a rusty sworde of Paule did fight against the French kinge and other Christians And the fift parte contayneth from this Iulius vnto the ende of the raigne of Paule the fourth 8. Popes and al the times of their successours vnto the iudgement of Christe And the fall of the kingdome of the Pope shal be withoute power or handes with the onely word of God and breath of the deuine spâ—rite 2. Thessal 2. To conclude I haue disposed the whole historye in such sort that I haue compared all the Romaine bishops to the 4. horses in the Reuelation of S. Iohn The godlye and auncient fathers to the white horse The archbishops and the Patriarckes to the red The Popes the Antichristes vnto Siluester the seconde to the blacke and from him to Iulius the seconde and all his companye of monkes fryers and massemongers that which with al their power strength did defend the Popes kingdome I haue coÌ„pared to the pale horse I haue propouÌ„ded this marke and methode in my booke in the which I haue chalenged nothing to my selfe but my labour in gathering describing destributiÌ„g For I knowe that a great part of this worke hath bin set forth by others as by Damasus Carsulanus Platina Stella Vuicelius and others but ofteÌ„times dissemblingly and obscurelye somtimes falsly to please mens eares To conclude verye manye most dilligent faithfull wryters of our time whom when I had perused with continuall reading I gathered togither the dispersed and disagreeing members to one body that those thinges which were scattered abroade in many places and were therefore the harder to be founde out of
the ennemy of Christe whiche neuerthelesse should speake like a Dragon like an euill spirite and should rage as vnmercifully as the firste beast did whiche destroyed Peter and Paule and great companies of fainctes whiche with her charmes should so bewitche the worlde and with monstrous workes should growe into suche admiration that none might by or sell but such as had the seale or the name of the beaste in his forehead But as touching the name of the beaste he shewes it mistically by these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch X St reciteth it to be discussed This saith Iohn is wysedome let him that hath vnderstanding accompt the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his nuÌ„ber is this 666. Apocal. 13. What meane thefe markes but that wee should searche the time wherein this beaste should arise from the earth and the bottomlesse pitte and should destroye the Christian common wealth But howe shall a man apply it if he haue not the certaine time when Pompeie toke the scepter from the Iewes according to the notable prophecie of Iacob entring the temple prophaned the Sanctum sanctorum But that was done as Iosephus wryteth in the time of Tullius consulship the 60. yeare before Christe was borne To these three score yeares adde six hundred vntill after the death of the sayd Gregorie the great who prophecied that he should be Antechriste whiche would be compted vniuersall bishop or head of all churches Therefore marke well what kinde of times happened in the 666. yeare after Hierusalem was taken by the Romaines Pompeie being their general and you shall se straunge matters fal out at the time that this Phocas was Emperour of whome VVilliam Stantphurdius wryteth as foloweth The Empier Phocas chokes and doth the Popedome first aduaunce By wicked writts about his Empier sent for to enhaunce And to confirme moste sure foray vnto the after age The premacy of Rome and of the dragon that doth rage Against Gods power Furthermore applie this misticall number of 666. containing highe wisedom in iâ— froÌ„ the time of Christes birth or from the tyme of his passion or from the xv yere of Domician at whiche time the reuelation was written and stil ye shal finde some moÌ„sterous thing wrought in the church But to returne to the matter of Englande In the yeare of Christe 593. Colman Harding and Fabian saye that the raigne of the seuen kinges at one time began whereby 173â— yeares after Brutus their first king the royall estate of the Brytishe king ceased For as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his fourth booke the Britaines founde tâ—at the Saxons were in steade of succourers suppressours and cruell ennemies vntrusty warring rigorously vpon them who had entertained them for ayde Anno 596. the foresaid Augustine sent from Gregorie came into Englande who at his comming did not reproue but maintaine and vpholde the wicked treasons the horrible robberies the slaughters more cruell then were Neroes whiche the Saxons coÌ„mitted Anno â–ª 600. Gregorie gaue to Augustine his byshops pall Thereby as was sayde London was spoyled of her right without all order to the destruction bothe of the commonwealth and of religion and finally the vndoing of the Brytishe kingdome and thereupon are sumptuous teÌ„ples builded Before that time the Britains had their churches dedicated to eternall God the father and to our sauiour his sonne Iesus Christe But afterwarde the SaxoÌ„s did coÌ„secrate their temples to Images and dead sainctes â–ª Anno. 604. the ChristiaÌ„ Emperour Maurice being slaine Phocas an adulterer and a murtherer obtayned the seate imperiall and in him the maiestie of the Caesars and the moste noble Empire of the Grekes decayed together As for the Romaine Empire that was weakened and empaired yea and at length brought to nothing by meanes of the Popedome whiche he had graunted and established Anno 606. in Nouember and December as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his 18. booke euen at the rising and beginning of the Popedome there appeared a wonderfull great blasing starre There were straunge sightes and monsters of the Sea shewed them selues to the terrour of many Thus in the time of this Phocas murderer of the Emperour whiche is to be noted as a misterie concerning the Popes Papistrie and Mahumets religion began bothe together at one time which corrupted darkened and weakened the doctrine of the sonne of God in many regions For in another yeare of the same Phocas as Bibliander writeth Mahumet recited the Alcoran so that saieth hee the Egles three heades awaked all at ones according to the heauenly vision in the fourth booke of Esdras that is to saye Phocas him selfe Pope Boniface Mahumet the Arabian now followeth the thirde troupe of Romishe Popes whiche is deuided into fiue partes The firste parte of this thirde troupes of the Popes or Romaine Antechristes prophecied of by the names of Sodome or Egypt Apocal. 11. vntill the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1. Boniface the thirde ABout this time the bishoppers of Constantinople endeuoured to obstaine the title of vniuersall bishop and to haue their Church called the head of all Churches vsing these fonde reasons that because the Emperour beinge chiefe of all Princes kepte at Constantinople therefore that shoulde be the chiefest Church and there the chiefe bishop This ambitioÌ„ enflamed many to speake and wryte against it but especiallye the late Gregorye who in this wyse reproued Iohn bishop of Constantinople for the same Sayinge None of my predecessors although the Emperours began first in Rome and were wont to byde there onelye and yet do keepe the title thereof durste take vppon them this title of vniuersall bishop And againe Gregorye sayd plainlye that such a one was the forerunner of Antichrist Yet notwithstanding that the Church of Constantinople with great infamye preuailed not herein because that Antichrist or the whore of Babilon according to the 13. of the Reuelation should be in the Citty builded on seuen hilles that is Rome it selfe For so diuers auctors testifye that onelye Rome is knowen to be builded on vii hils and certaine it is that when this Reuelation was written Rome was then the greatest Cittye being built on seuen hils as Mantuan testifyeth in the life of Syluester speaking of S. Blaze at the ende of the first booke And the fulnesse of that time prophecied of now drawing nighe this Boniface the thirde Anno 607. by the meanes of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer traytour and murtherer of his Lorde and soueraine Maurice the Emperour with his wife and children was aduaunced to be bishop of Rome with much hurley burley and greate tumulte and in despite of manye bishops and Churches standinge against it he is extolled confirmed and worshipped as Lorde and Prince of all bishoppes By great sute but greater bribery he obtayned of the sayde bloudye Emperour that Rome should be called the head of all Churches partlye by the same reasons that Constantinople vsed as Platina sayth that where the heade
Popes chayre But when as Otho should returne into Germany he sent Benedict to Hambrough to his Chauncelour Adaldag the Archebyshop thereof where he liued in exile and for very thought and anguishe of minde died and was buried in the Cathedrall churche Anno. 964. 70 Leo the eight LEo the eight citizen of Rome and chiefe secretary of Lateran churche was made Pope by Otho the Emperour in steade of Iohn deposed for his vilany Who being established in his Popedome Benedict deposed because he perceiued the leudnes of the Romaynes how that with threatninges with bribes and euill meanes they were still aduauncing their owne He crowned Otho and made hym vniuersall Emperour Afterward by decree of a Synode he bestowed on Otho the whole and absolute aucthoritie to electe the Pope taking it from the people and Clergie of Rome whiche saith Gratian Charles the great had geuen vnto them This he did to auoyde those seditioÌ„s which vsed to arise in the elections Otho desirous to be thankefull for this curtesie restored to the sea of Rome all whiche they forge that Constantine gaue them or that Charles or Pipin toke from the Lombardes And had bestowed on them He restored sayth Barnes those thinges whiche hee neither possessed nor was able to defende But Leo after he had raigned a yeare and three monethes died Anno. 966. 71 Iohn the. xiiij IOhn the xiiii sonne of one Iohn a bishop or as some saye of Pope Iohn the xii obtained the Popedome as it wer by his fathers righte This Pope was quietlye chosen whiche was a rare thinge and yet Peter the Liuetenaunt of Rome with the twoo consuls and twelue senatours coÌ„spired against him because he fauoured the Emperoure they apprehended him in Lateran churche and kepte him prysoner in Angel castell the space of eleuen monethes This being knowen the Emperoure hasted to Rome with his armie and dealt sharpely with the offendours some he banished some he made to forfaite their goods â–ª some he haÌ„ged on the gallowes But the Pope hauing Peter the president yelded to his will deliuered him to the hangeman who according to the Popes coÌ„maundement stripped him out of his apparell shaued his bearde and hong him vp by the hayre of the head for the space of an whole daye Afterwarde he commaunded that he should be set vppon an asse with his face to the tayle and his handes tied vnder the Asse tayle and to make him a laughing stock to all men to leade him thus about the citie and withall to scourge him with roddes this being done to dryue him out to be banished into Germany This Pope Iohn allured the kingdome of Poleland to Popery and sent thether Giles Cardinall of Thusculan to confirme the people therein to deuide dioceses to annoynte bishops and consecrate them and to accompte the Pope as supreme head of all churches After this he died Anno. 973. At this time they began to Christen belles and to geue them proper names For this Pope called the great bell of Lateran after his name 72 Benedict the sixt BEnedict the sixte succeded Iohn as well in misery as in place for he was cast into Angell castel as prisoner for certaine offences by Cynthius a Romaine a man of great power And within a while after he was strangled to death with a roape in the same pryson or as some saye pyned to death I cannot but maruell saith Platina that his death was not reuenged neither by the Romaines nor by Otho the Emperour who so tendered the estate of the church of Rome but I feare saith hee that Benedict deserued as Cynthius rewarded him seing no maÌ„ reuenged his death 73 Donus the second DOnus the seconde succeding Benedict learned by him to be more wyse and therefore did nothing at al worthy to be written Only this is mencioned that when the Polonians desyred they might be made a kingdome and haue a crowne graunted to them he denied their sute Crantzius sayth he gouerned indifferently deseruing neither great prayse nor disprayse for a yeare and sixe monethes he died Anno. 975. 74 Boniface the seuenth BOniface the seuenth was of so base birth that neither the name of his stocke nor of his countrey was knowen he getting to be Pope by leud meanes loste it leudly again For hauing obtained the seate the magistrates conspired against him whereby he was compelled to hide him selfe But perceiuing he could not tary at Rome safely hee filched and robbed Saint Peters Pallaice of the moste precious and richest treasure and iewels and so by stelth fled to Constantinople where after a whyle selling them all he made a great somme of money and returned to Rome knowyng that mony could obtaine anything But in his absence the Romaines made one Iohn the fifteth Pope in his steade But he returning enriched the citezins with money and allured to him euery rascall whereby he toke Iohn and thrust out his eyes put him in pryson pined him to death and so gat his place againe wherein shortly after he died wretchedly of y falling sickenes Whereuppon his body hauing a roape tied about his beles was haled through the streates and despitefully stabde in with daggers pikestaues iauelinges and suche like thinges and at length commaunded by the Clergie to be buried in a common place 75 Iohn the fiftene IOhn the fiftene a Lombarde was made Pope by the citezins and the Clergie while the former Boniface robbing the treasurie fled to Constantinople secretly This Iohn was a Deacon Cardinall and of great auctoritie fauoured not Boniface but as Platina saith he with certaine other honest citizens stoode against Boniface his doinges whereupon as is aboue mencioned he was made Pope the other being fled and so coÌ„tinued eight monâ—ths till the other returning did put out his eies imprysoned him and murthered him there with the â—aÌ„ke stinke of the pryson and famin and griefe of mynde together Yet some thinke that Ferrucius the father of Boniface slewe him because he withstode his sonne to be Pope so saith Anselmus 76 Benedict the seuenth BEnedict the seuenth after these was made Pope by the Layetie and Clergie He by the Emperours ayde dyd apprehende a great company of conspiratours in the citie and for their haynous offence he put them in pryson and punished them cruelly â–ª He helde a couÌ„sell at Remes against Lothariê° king of FrauÌ„ce wherin he restored Archebyshop Arnulphus who was violently deposed and he deposed condemned of heresie one Gilbert a Monke being a coniurer whome the king for his money and sorcerie had aduaunced to be Archbishop This Gilbert notwithstanding did yet afterwarde obtaine of the Emperoure Otho the thirde whome he had taughte to coniure that he might be Archebishop of Rauenna and afterwarde he was promised by the Diuell that he should at length be Pope of Rome Whereupon saith Polidor Virgill in his sixt booke of his storie of Englande Monkes and priestes at this tyme declining from the trade of their elders in all places begaÌ„
and vniust dealinge which the Popes haue vsed seing that seate of Rome hath sustaind within so fevve yeares so manye leude persons tyrantes theues filchers robbers rebels adulterers and open purloyners of Church goodes And who in Gods name vvill reuerence that as holye which receiueth so many plagues but as yet the nomber of the wicked ones is not fulfilled as shal follow immediatlye c. The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTE BOOKE contayninge the thirde diuision of the thirde order of Popes or Romaine Antichristes in the kingdome of the greate Dragon which is the deuill and sathan Apocalips 20. vnto the time of Innocentius the fourth FRoÌ„ Ioan the eighte who was an harlot for the space of 146. yeares to this yeare being the thousand yere from Christe his incarnation Antichrist raigned like an harlot in the Churche of Rome pretending chastity in the meanetime Yet we see howe here the prophecye in Daniel 11. concerninge Antichriste was fulfilled contayned in these words And Antichrist shal be in the coÌ„cupiscence of women We see in these former historyes howe these Popes haue liued in wantonesse royat whoredome and worse theÌ„ whoredome incest pride ambition robbinge and riflinge Churches coniuringe treason rebellion discention murders poysoninges such other detestable enormities So that according to the saying of Esaie they deserue rather to be called the Princes of Sodom theÌ„ the elders of the Church Consequentlye after the thousande yeare after Christes byrth it was prophesyed that the deuil should be let loose and this shal be called the kingdome of the great Dragon wherin the actes of the Popes do wonderfully aunsweare vnto it both in Syluester the second who wyth his Necromancye raysed the deuill from hell and hauinge coniured him vp did compounde wyth him for the Popedome And againe in Benedict the ix who made sacrifyce vnto the deuill in woodes and vppon mountayne toppes In Hildebrand or Gregorie the seuenth who toke counsaile of euill spirites and vsed other diuelish charmes beside other 81. Syluester the second SYluester the seconde was a Frenchman in profession a monke and called Gilbert before he was Pope He was of S. Benedicts order in an abbey at Florence where he being a yonge man and addicted whollye to deuilishe artes betoke himselfe to the deuill both bodye and soule Afterward forsaking that abbey he went into Spaine delightiÌ„g much in prophane sciences came to Hispalis vnto a certaine Philosopher being a Sarracen and expert in Magick of whom he learned much both sorcerye and ambitioÌ„ and began to deuise howe he might attaine to greate honour riches and thought in deede that coniuringe and Necromancye were the meetest wayes to come by hys purpose He had espyed before in the house of his host a certaine coÌ„iuring booke and did his endeuour to steale it awaye but the Magician kept it so deuoutlye that Gilbert coulde not come by it therfore he inueigled the MagiciaÌ„s doughter wyth whom beinge in the house he had good acquaintance â—o steale her fathers booke and let him haue a sight thereof the mayde fulfilled his request so he obtayned his purpose He hauing the booke went about to depart by stealth but fearing least this might endaunger his life for stealing the booke he gaue himselfe to the deuill vppon this condition that he should warrant him to passe safelye into FrauÌ„ce and to obtayne great dignityes He came into Fraunce taught the liberal Sciences so as many had him in admiration wherby he had a nomber of scholers and auditors some of great calling that learned the former artes of him as CoÌ„stantine abbot of Maximin Lotharius Archbishop of Seuen Otho the Emperours sonne Roberte kinge of Fraunce wyth sondrye other bishops prelats priestes of Rome By the procurement of these parsons he was made first bishop of Remen afterward by his leude artes he obtayned to be Archbishop of Rauenna Last of all he obtayned to be Pope of Rome by the helpe of the deuill whom he w t coniuration raysed out of hell according to the xx of the Apocalips For Peter Praemonstratensis other wryters saye that he was made Pope in the Thousande yeare of our Lords Incarnation In the which yere sayth Masfeus was a great and terrible earthquake and a blasinge starre horrible to loke vppon the xiiii day of December In his Popedome he concealed his coniuring and dissembled that familiarity which he had with the deuill but yet he kepte in a certaine secrete place a brasen heade of which when he demaunded anye thinge hee receyued aunsweare of an euil spirit At the length in his pontificality he would needes demauÌ„de of the deuil how longe he should be Pope the deuill aunswered doubtfullye and misticallye sayinge he should not dye vntill he sayd Masse in Hierusalem He therfore conceyuing good hope of longe life began to ware carelesse thinking to take heede enoughe of comminge in Hierusalem But the vse was that on a certaine day of stations in the Lent time the Popes should say masse at Rome in the Pallayce of the holy Crosse which was called Hierusalem wherevppon Syluester not fearinge his life nor heedefull enoughe to forecast the deuils despite accordinge to custome said masse in the same Chappel And by by a terrible shyueringe and quakinge came vppon him wyth a great feuer and by the rumbling noyse of deuils as Peter PraemoÌ„stratensis Platina say he perceyued his death was at hand and that he must paye the deuill his fee. And thus bewayling lamenting openly the abuse of his charmes he confessed his fault til he perished miserablye And sayth Benno he commaunded his tongue and his handes to be cut of wherewith he had blasphemed God in sacrifisinge vnto deuils thus he dyed Anno 1003. The reporte is that the tombe of this Syluester doth euer since prognosticate the death of the Pope by the ratlinge of the bones and the gushing out of water that ryseth out of the grouÌ„d about it as also sayth Platina is testifyed by the Epitaphe written on his graue 82. Iohn the 19. IOhn the 19. an Italian did likewise succeede Syluester and gat to be Pope by the deuils ayde for sayth Benno the scholers of the sayde Syluester being coniurers euerye one gaped for the Popedome This Iohn did take from the people the election of the Pope sayinge in behalfe of his doing that the clergye must teache the people but not followe them And againe the lawe which is ruled by Gods spirite is more worthye then that which is mans lawe He allowed commaunded to establishe in all Churches the feast of al soules at the motioÌ„ of one Odiloe abbot of Clunie whoe dreamed that soules were deliuered oute of Purgatorye by vertue of the masse and sayd that he harde the deuils houle and roare while the soules were takeÌ„ froÌ„ them through dirges trentalles After he had raigned 5. monthes he was poysoned by his owne frendes In his time the name of Cardinals began to grow
had raigned 50 yeare in his life he lacked lyuinge and after death he wanted a graue throughe malice of the Pope Pope Paschal held a councell of Princes and bishoppes about matter of gaynes as homages and fealtyes due vnto him also he spoiled the bishop of Rauenna of his lands and toke them into his owne handes But afterwarde because he refused to confirme certaine bishops appointed by the Emperour Henry the fift the Emperour though laâ—e before he had kissed the Popes feete appreheÌ„ded him and cast him into prison where he continued vntill he had coÌ„firmed them all and should by his Seale restore the priuiledge of ratifying a bishop which was graunted to Charles the great and confirme him to be Emperour While sayth Masseus the Pope sate in his chayre after Masse beholde the souldiours cryed vnto him and his clergye Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and forthwith apprehended both him and all his clergye and caryed them out and stripped them out of their apparell so naked that they lefte them not theyr breeches on and ledde them thus haÌ„dled to Soractis mount wher they put them in prison c. This broyle being ceased and Henry being crowned Emperour Paschal renued vnto him the auctoritye of appointing bishops and pronounced openlye in the Church that they were all held accursed who soeuer would disanul the preuiledge which he had graunted Then thy sange Gloria in excelsis because of this peace betwene the Emperour and the Pope But as sone as the Emperour this being done was departed into Germanye the Pope brake al his oathes and went from his word in euerye thinge saying that hee did it not freelye and of his owne accorde but that for feare hee yelded to the Emperours desire Then was the priuiledge condemned and the Emperour excommunicated and terrible tragedyes sturred which were all blazed throughe diuers countryes Also hee by a councell diuorsed the clergye of Fraunce from their wyues as Gregorie had done in Germanye and draue diuers bishops froÌ„ their Seas because they would not leaue theyr wyues Againe to encrease the regiment of Rome he reuiued the strife for the bestowiÌ„g of bishoprickes which wrought great slaughter and bloudshed in all countreyes of Europe Anselmê° archbishop of Canterbury wyth sophistrye and cauillinge vphelde this Popes doing as he did Pope Vâ—banus being both their couÌ„celour at Rome their Uicar here in Englande This Anselmus did depriue kinge Henry the first of all auctoritye in Ecclesiastical causes and denyed to do homage to the kinge thinking and auouching it to be vnlawfall because it was due in the clergye vnto the successours of S. Peter Also he condemned in England the mariage of ministers Pope Paschal dyed Anno 1118. Matthaeus Paâ—siensis wryteth in his Chronicle that when Anselmus accused his soueraigne kinge Henry the first of England before the Pope at Rome for medling with the appointing of bishops and ministers VVilliam VVarelwarst the kinges Proctour did aunsweare stoutlye in hys Princes behalfe and amonge other thinges sayd that the kinge would not for the losse of his kingdome lese his auctoritye in appointing of prelates â–ª Whereto the Pope said If as thou sayest thy kinge to hazarde his crowne wil not forgoe his giuing of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges knowe thou preciselye I speake it before God that I will not suffer him without punishmeÌ„t no not for the price of his head Which beinge heard Anselmus besought the Pope to laye hands in despite of the kinge on those whom he had disgraded so sayth Mattheus the holye seate readye to yelde fauour to all restored them to their former dignities by the intercession of White and red But kinge Henry did depriue Anselmus of all his goodes and confiscated his Archbishopricke and defyed the Popes auctoritye Anno 1110. the Moone was darkened as if she had lost her lighte the yeare following it rayned bloud at Rauenna in Italy at Parma in the month of Iulye Anno 1114. in December the Heauen appeared sodenlye of a very fierye and ruddye colour as if it had burned and the Moone suffered an Eclipse The same yeare the riuer of Thames was drye for two dayes Anno 1 â–ª 17. there were thonders hayle great windes horrible dreadful and houge earthquakes that ouerthrewe Churches Towers walles buildinges and destroyed men 102. Gelasius the second GElasius the second called before Iohn Caietanus of a noble house was sometime a monke he succeded Paschal but not without great discention For because he was chosen withoute the consente of the Emperour one Cincius a maÌ„ of great power in Rome would not suffer this iniurye but went with a troupe of souldiours to PalladiaÌ„ minster where the Cardinals were gathered together and breakinge the gates open he rushed in vppon them and stroke at euerye one that he mette And as for the Pope with his necke wrongde awrye he threwe him on the ground stamped on him wyth his feete and cast him into prison and as the Cardinals were ruÌ„ning away he hoysed them of their Mules and horses to the grounde and vsed all the despite he could toward them But the Romaynes would not suffer this and therfore by the ayde of the Normans they deliuered the Pope made his ennemyes to submit themselues and to aske pardon wyth kissinge his feete The Emperour hearing this sent a great arâ—â—ye out of Germanye to Rome which Gelasius fearing fled by shippe wyth his companye to Caieta and there was made a priest for he was made Pope before beinge but a deacon Henry the Emperour comming to Rome in the absence of Gelasius created Maurice Burdinus archbishop of Bracharie Pope and called him Gregorie the eight and theÌ„ he returned froÌ„ Rome Gelasius hearinge thereof returneth priuilye to Rome and takinge harte to him he commeth into Praxis Church to saye masse where he was so hindred by the contrarye syde that he scant saued himselfe by running away From thence he fled into Fraunce where at the length he was entertayned by an abbot in whose house hee dyed of a pleuresye in the seconde yeare of his raigne In his life by a Legat that he sent he held a councell in Collen where he excommunicated the Emperour and decreed that the Popes of Rome should be iudged by none 103. Calixtus the seconde CAlixtus the second being before called Guido of Burgundy came of the kinges of Fraunce and Englande he succeded Gelasius And after he was coÌ„firmed at Rome he sent a messenger to the said Conon in Germanye to coÌ„tinue the excommunication of his predecessour against the Emperour Hereupon the Emperour was coÌ„pelled to summon a councell of Princes and bishops at Tybur to make peace betweene him the Pope and least the Popes part shoulde haue spoyled his dominions he toke peace vppon vnequall conditions He confirmed to his great dishonour the electioÌ„ of this Calixtus who was chosen Pope at Cluny in Fraunce by a fewe Cardinals whom Gelasius had brought wyth him and yet was the other
time Anacletus sought wyth spendinge and brybinge to winne and confirme all mens good wills towarde him that anye way seemed to fauour him He made Roger kinge of both Sicils to be his freinde Innocentius was busye on the other syde to recouer the Popedome therefore held a councell in Fraunce and condemned Anacletus for an ennemye of the Church Afterward he went to Philip kinge of Fraunce and crowned his sonne Lewes then he wente to Carnotus where he met with Henry the first kinge of Englande perswading with him to send an armye against the Sarracens that kept the holye lande but his purpose was to haue vsed that army for the recouering of his Popedome From him he went to Lotharius kinge of Germanye desyringe him to see him restored Lotharius gyuinge his oath to the Pope prepared an armye to conducte Innocent safe to Rome So Lotharius entred into Italye wyth a puissante armye to restore Innocent to hys place and comminge to Rome deuided his hoast and entred into the Citye ouerthrewe Anacletus with duke Roger and set Innocētius safe in Lateran Innocentius therefore to shew himselfe thanckfull crowned Lotharius Emperour and gaue to Reginold his chiefest Captayne the Dukedome of Apulia that was none of his owne to bestow and all that Roger possessed in Italy ▪ But Reginold dyed soone after and then Roger claymed his right againe and because the Pope withstoode him he toke him againe his Cardinals sodenly ere that they wist would neuer let them depart vntill they had graunted him his whole desire yea to make him kinge of both Sicils and so since that time the kingdome of Sicill is called S. Peters patrimonye But sayth Nauclerus much mischiefe arose vp hereof because the Pope woulde thus take vppon him the bestowinge of Princelye titles robbinge the Emperours of that righte which they had gotten by the sworde Innocentius made a lawe that whosoeuer should strike an annointed priest or shauen clarke shoulde be excommunicated to be absolued onelye by the Pope after this hee dyed Anno 1143. In this Popes time Steuen Kinge of Englande Anno 1136. kept to himselfe and vsed in his owne power the inuesture of prelates And Lotharius the Emperour would haue reclaymed that to himselfe which the Pope toke from Henry the Emperour but that S. Bernard being then of great credite disswaded him About this time was VVilliam bishop of Yorke called S. VVilliam of Yorke who was poysoned in his challice by his Chapleynes 106. Celestine the second CElestine the second a Thuscan succeded Innocent by the commaundement of Conradus his life was so shorte that he could not play the Pope like other At this tyme was a great contagious plague through out al Italy Celestine dyed in the sixt month of his Popeship In his time the bishop of VVinchester in Englande helde a councell where was concluded that if any man abused eyther Church or Churchyard or layde hand on an Ecclesiasticall person he shoulde be excommunicate to be absolued onelye by the Pope 107. Lucius the second LVcius the second borne in Bononia succeded Celestine He was the cause auctor of much discension in Rome for deposing and disanullinge a kinde of office called Patricianship which the Romaynes being weary of the Popes yoke had made in the time of Innocentius because the Popes toke vppon them all swaye within the Citye abroade likewise But this Pope Lucius because he was not able to depose the Patrician alone craued ayde of the Emperour Conradus whoe beinge otherwise busied coulde not assiste him Lucius therefore soughte to attaine his purpose another waye for when the Patrician the Senatours were all gathered together close in the Capitol Lucius toke his oportunitye and came thither with a bande of souldiours in armour meaninge either to destroye the Capitoll or to driue them out The Cityzēs hearing hereof armed them selues forthwith and ranne to succour theyr officer whervppon roose a very bloudye fraye Pope Lucius beinge in the middest of the broyle was so pelted with stones and other lumpes that sone after he dyed therof Anno 1145 ere he had raigned a yeare 108. Eugenius the third EVgenius the thirde sometime an abbot was made Pope by this meanes w t the consente of the Cardinals This Eugenius was scholer to S. Barnard who for his learning was then in great reuerence and cōsidering the time how the Romaynes wrangled to haue auctoritye in the electiō of the Pope they thoughte it safest and surest for the maintenaunce of the Popes auctoritye to chose none of the Colledge of Cardinals but this Eugenius that it mighte be a cause why his scholemaister Barnarde shoulde aduaunce the Sea of Rome in his wrytinges and so it fell out as it appeareth in his 2. booke of Considerations Eugenius at his first creation perceyued the Romaynes woulde be importunate to haue the election of theyr Senatours ratifyed and therefore hee fled wyth his Cardinals from Rome by night to Viterbium where he excommunicated all the Romaynes which caused the Citizens to obeye Iordan chosen Patrician then he ioyned his armye with the hoast of the Tiburtines olde ennemyes to Rome so compelled the Romaynes to sue for peace which he graunted at length vppon condition that they should fullye abolish the principalitye of the Patrician and shoulde restore his deputye to his former place and for hereafter shoulde be contente to take suche Senatours as hee by his Papall auctoritye would assigne them Peace beinge thus concluded he returned into Rome but perceyuing afterwarde that falsehoode was mente towarde him he slipt againe to Tiburie the Romaynes pursued him forthwith with bowes and bils and draue him from Tiburie into Fraunce And at length he returned to Rome and there dyed Anno 1152. 109. Anastasius the fourth ANastasius of a Cardinall became Pope wherein hee did nothinge worthye memorye but that hee bestowed vppon Lateran a riche and massye Chalice and bestowed cost in repayringe S. Maries Churche and so dyed the seconde yeare of his Popeship Anno 1154. This Anastasius after the death of one Henry Mordachus a proud mōke whom Pope Eugenius intruded restored S. Williā archbishop of Yorke which William was afterward poysoned in the Challice comminge to receiue the Communion as Mattheus Parisius sayth In this Popes time y Thames at London was so frozen the cartes and waynes passed ouer the I se and a litle before were two Eclipses one of the Sunne and the other of the Moone after which followed terrible tempestes stormes thonder lightninges raine and winde 110. Hadrian the fourth HAdrian the fourth was an Englishmā borne called Nicolas Breakespeare the sonne of one Dan Robert a mōke of S. Albanes he was first a reguler priest afterwarde a bishop then a Cardinall and finallye Pope of Rome He being chosen by the clergye at Rome would not ascende take the place vntill they had consented vnto him that one Arnold bishop of Brixia whom he counted an hereticke should be banished
to the Popes letter FRederick by the grace of God Emperour of the Romaynes Augustus euermore to Hadrian Pope of Rome and to al those that are vvilling to cleaue to that vvhich Christ began to do and teach sendeth greetinge The lavve of Iustice restoreth to euerye man his ovvne For vve do not dishonour our auncestours to vvhom vvithin this our kingdome vve yelde due reuerence by vvhom vve haue enherited our Crovvne and regall dignitye Is it knovvne that Syluester bishoppe of Rome in the time of Constantine the Emperour had anye kinglye poart But by his godlye graunte the Church obtayned libertye peace vvas restored and vvhat soeuer your princelye pontificality is knovvne to haue it came by the bountifulnes of Princes VVhereby vvhen soeuer vve vvrite to the Pope by good righte vve set our ovvne name former and accordinge to the rule of Iustice vve allovve it to him vvritinge to vs. Loke ouer the Recordes and if ye marked not in readinge vvhich vve auouche there ye shall finde it But vvhy shoulde vve not require homage and royal oathes tovvarde our parson of them that are Gods by adoption and possesse the royaltye belonging to vs Seing that he vvho taught both vs and you takinge nothing of a Prince but geuinge al goodnes to all men yet payde tribute to Caesar for himselfe and Peter and gaue you an example that ye shoulde do the like And so he teacheth you saying Learne of mee for I am humble and gentle of harte Therefore let them eyther graunte vnto vs that belongeth to our royaltye or els if they vvill challenge this for their more commoditye then let them paye vnto God that is due vnto GOD and vnto Caesar that is due vnto Caesar. The Churches are shut to your Cardinals and the Cityes are not open vnto them and reason good because vvee see that they are not feeders but steâ—â—ers of their flockes not kepers of peace but catchers of pence not those that amend the vvorld but that deuoure it But vvhen vvee shall see them such as the Church requireth bearinge peace giuinge light to their countreye assistinge the cause of the lovvlye in equity vve vvil forthvvith succour them vvith necessarye stipends and sustinaunce But ye do much discredit your humilitye and curtesye beinge the sauegâ—rde of all vertues vvhen ye moue to secular parsons such questions as do not much further religion Let therefore your fatherlye vvisedome prouide least vvhile ye sturre aboute such vnmeete matters yee giue offence vnto those vvhich applye themselues to giue eare to the vvords of your mouth as it vvere to a shovver of raine after Harueste For vve cannot but aunsvveare to those thinges vvhich vve heare vvhen vve see the detestable beast of pride to haue crept euen to Peters seate so long as vve purpose God vvillinge continuallye to prouide for peace and the Church Fare ye vvell Here may you discerne somwhat the dealing and spirite of the Romain bishops which I leaue to euery one 's owne indifferent consideration To returne to the matter hereuppon this Pope Hadrian did excommunicate the Emperour and by his Legates sent from Rome prouoked rebellions against him in Italye and other places and brought it secretly to passe that the conspiracye of the rebels should be made the stronger by these lawes confirmed among them by oath that none of them should take peace with him wtoute the whole consent of all the rest And againe that if this Pope Hadrian should dye they should choose none to be Pope but one of those Cardinals that were of the conspiracye against the Emperour But shortlye after God punished this Hadrian very straungelye for sayth Abbas Vspergensis in Frederico primo it came to passe that this Pope Hadrian the fourth going to Agnania to denounce the excommunication against the Emperour after he had taryed there a fewe dayes walked forth with some of his companye to coole him selfe And when he came to a certaine springe of water he drancke thereof and forthwith a flye did enter into his mouth and did cleaue to his throte in such sort that no art of the PhisitioÌ„s could get it away and so he was choaked therew t and died therof Anno 1159. in the fift yeare of his Popeship But the Italians being thus set on by the Pope deuised continuallye treasons against the Emperour amonge other practised to haue murthered him by a certaine counterfeit foole beinge in deede an excellente Musician who had surelye slaine him but that the Emperour driuen to his shift leaped out at the fifte window downe into a riuer which ranne vnder the place where he was The foole beinge taken was also throwne downe out of the same windowe and so he brake his necke After this they hyred an enchanter of Arabia who poysoned his bridle his spurres his ringes and his stirope and such other thinges that with the onlye touching thereof he should haue beene slaine But he was bewrayed and hanged vp This Pope Hadrian made king Henry the second of Englande Lorde of Irelande Carion in his Chronicle wrytinge of Conradus the thirde Emperour of Germanye sayth that it is found written that this Pope Hadrian the fourth euen a little before his death should say that there is no kind of life vpon earth more wretched theÌ„ to be Pope and to get the Popedome by bloud is not to succeede Peter but Romulus whoe for the kingdome slue his owne brother III. Alexander the thirde ALexander the third was borne in Hetruria called first Rolland Chancelour After Hadrian the fourth had his breath stopped and was choaked with a flye this man succeded him beinge farre worse then the other But because that all partyes coulde not agree to elect him nine of the Cardinals that held on the Emperours part did choose another Pope called Octauianus a citizen of Rome being a priest and Cardinall of S. Clements whom they called Victor the fourth And after the death of this Victor the sciesme and discention beinge continued three Popes succeeded in order Paschalis Calixtus and Innocentius all which withstoode this Pope Alexander and made greate turmoyles in the Church of Rome and al perished he yet lyuinge But when the Emperour sommoned a councell at Papia wherby the strife might be ended and the matter debated that he might be confirmed Pope that had the better right this Alexander defyinge the Emperours Embassadours aunswered proudlye that the Pope as he toke himselfe to be is to be iudged by no man and thus sent awaye the Embassadours with great contempte and sendinge his letters throughe all Christendome he plagued both the Emperour and this Victor with excommunications And because he might assure Rome to himselfe hee sente letters forthwith to Iohn Cardinall of sainct Peters Church who supplyed his roume there who by briberye and flatterye so curried fauor with the people that he allured the most parte of the Citye to fauour Alexander and to make those Consuls that did most leane to his part In the meane
of none effecte It is sayd before that this Pope Celestine did crowne the Emperour Henry the sixte which because it was done after so straunge a sort as hath not beene hearde it shall not be amisse briefely to declare the maner of it as it is reported by Rogerus Houedenus Ranulphus Rogerus Cestrensis and other of whom the first liued at that time reportinge it as followeth The Pope was going froÌ„ Lateran to S. Peters Church where the Emperour and his wyfe Constantia mette him in the way but the Romaynes did shut the gates against the Emperour Empresse comming with a great troupe of armed souldiours And Celestine standinge vppon the stayres of S. Peters Church toke an oath of the Emperour his armye being shut out that he should defend and restore the libertyes and patrimonye of the Church to the vttermost yeldinge to Rome the Citye Tuscalanum After this he did annoynte him Emperour and her Empresse in the Church while he sitting in his pontificall chayre and holding the Emperiall crowne betweene his feete caused the Emperour to stoupe and bowe downe his heade to his feete so put the crowne on And it being thus put on he caused the Emperour stil to hould downe his head while he with his foote did spurne the Crowne of his head againe sayinge I haue power to make and vnmake Emperours at my pleasure Then the Cardinals toke it vp and sette it vppon the Emperours head And in like maner the Empresse was both crowned and vncrowned with the Popes foote Celestine dyed Anno. 1198. In his time one Cyrill an Hermite had a strange vision reuealed vnto him as hee was at masse as MantuaÌ„ writeth Fastorum lib. 5. if a man will beleeue euery vaine fantasye As Cyrill in his holye weede was earlye saying masse Beholde a child with glorious shape before him present was And houering in the ayre on hye with siluer plate in hand Which he vppon the alter layde where Cyrill still did stand And sayd vnto him holye sâ—er God doth to the disclose These secretes and do thou reueale vnto the Romaynes those The written verses out of Greeke he turnes to latine tongue Which straite were set in scholes and yet are cited vs amonge But touching the truth of this fantasticall dreame it shall folow in Gregorie the ix for that age toke into credit three straunge monstrous myracles so that then the worlde did greatlye esteeme of the secte of begginge fryers while Sathan wrought in Antichrist the full mistery of his iniquitye The myracles are these first the vpholding of Lateran Church reuealed in a vision to a Dominicke Fryer at Rome the fiue Seraphical woundes of S. Fraunces in a certaine hill of Lauernia and the Oracle of this Cyrill 117. Innocentius the thirde AFter Celestine was InnoceÌ„tius the third who so boyled in anger agaiÌ„st Philip the Emperour because he was made Emperour by the Germaynes contrary to his will that he brast out into these wordes Eyther shall the Pope spoile Philip of his Crowne and Empyre or els shal Philip take froÌ„ the Pope his Apostolical dignitye After this hee sturred vp against the Emperour one Otho a duke both boulde and rashe so that by this holye fathers helpe there grewe cruell bloudshed and foule slaughter infinite vntill that this Philip the Emperour was traytecouslye and vilanously slaine by another Otho and this Otho whom the Pope had set on against Philip poasted to Rome and of him was made Emperour But this bloudy league did not last long betwene them for as sone as Otho began to reclaime recouer such thinges as of right beloÌ„ged to the Empyre which the Popes by subtil practises had purloyned many yeres he was excoÌ„municated by the Pope himselfe and spoyled of all his royall estate furthermore he discharged al his Princes of theyr alledgeaunce which by oath they ought to Otho and commauÌ„ded vppon payne of his cruell curse that no man should take Otho to be Emperour nor call him so and caused the Princes to make Fredericke king of Sicill Emperour Also this Innocent Anno 1212. sought to compasse three harde matters that is the deposing of Otho a voyage to Hierusalem and a general councel Also the same yeare sayth Vlricus Mutius certaine noble men of Alsatia did condemne this Pope of impietye because he would not suffer the clergye to keepe their wyues the bishops burned an hundred in one daye because they taught that Christians might lawfullye eate fleshe and marrye at any time This mischeuous Innocent did mischeuouslye contriue many cruell tragedyes against king Iohn of Englande he euen in despite and defiance of the kinge did thrust an enemye to the Realme called Steuen Langton a Cardinall into the bishopricke of Canterbury and encouraged threescore and foure monkes to worke seueral treasons against him Because the king would not suffer these treacheryes he condemned him to be an ennemy of the Church excommunicated him from the company of all Christians interdited his kingdome vi yeres and three monethes deposed him from gouernment toke from him the Crowne and the Scepter discharged his subiectes of their allegeaunce gaue his Realme to Lewes the French kinges sonne commaunded to spoile him both of goodes and life with diuers other tyrannous dealinges Kinge Iohn beinge dismayed with these stormes being otherwise a noble and valiant Prince yet because he was forsaken of his nobilitye his bishops and commonaltye submitted himselfe full sore against his hart to the Popes obeysaunce compelled to acknowledge the Pope to be supreame heade ouer all Christendome and God vppon earth and bound himselfe with a solempne oath to stande to the Popes arbitrement and that his posteritye should do the like to acknowledge themselues perpetuall tributaryes to the Popes of Rome Also he kneeling vppon his knees to Pandulphus yelded vp his Crowne in the presence of all his nobilitye sayinge Here I resigne vp the Crowne of Englande to Pope Innocent the thirde c. Which Pandulphus kept for fiue dayes during which time the king was as a priuate person then being bound to paye the Pope for his Crowne a thousande markes a yeare with other shamefull conditions he receiued his Crowne at the handes of Pandulphus pardoning and restoring to full estate all those that had rebelled conspired and wroughte treason against him And yet by the procuremente of Steuen Langton Archbishop of Yorke other of the clergye and priestes of Englande he was myserablye vexed with treasons and rebellions continuallye for certaine of the nobilitye and priestes had chosen Lodowicke to be their kinge sonne to Lewes kinge of Fraunce who entred the Realme and toke the estate vppon him by theyr maintenaunce against kinge Iohn to the great hart breaking of the noble Prince the spoyling of the Realme and oppression of themselues while this forren Prince bestowed all thinges vppon his owne countreymen accomptinge the Englishe nobles that assisted him to be but traytours In the ende after much miserye and
sorrowe a certaine monke as Caxton sayth named Simō of Swinested abbey in Lincolnshire did there temper a cuppe of wyne with the poyson of a toade drinking thereof to the kinge both hee and the king were poysoned and dyed For which doinge the sayde monke had a certaine masse songe for his soule confirmed by the abbots procurement for euer This Innocentius vnder the colour of recouering Hierusalem held a councell at Lateran Anno 1215 against the Emperour to excommunicate him depose him because he had inuaded certaine Cityes of the Popes In this coūcell the Pope first wrested oute Auricular confession and robbed the laitye of the Cōmunion cuppe He condemned one Almericus a learned man for an hereticke commaūded his bones to be burned w t the rest of his sect at Paris this he did sayth Dominicus Soto in a certaine Sermon because he preached that Images should be put out of the Church Amonge manye other dotinge decrees he disanulled the mariage of the clergye for euer he required priuye tithes to be payde and to maintayne warre in Asia he commaunded the fourtye part of all reuenues to be paide He toke from many Partriarkes archbishops bishops their ordinarye auctoritye in many thinges He commaunded that the quarels of Princes should be broughte before the Pope to be determined by him and if the electiō of the Emperour could not be agreed vpon then it should belōg onelye to the Pope He deuised that the Communion cake should be kept in a boxe in the Church and that when the priest shoulde visit the sicke he shoulde go with a burninge Taper and a bell before him He made the Canon of the masse to be equal in auctority with the Scripture and that the Pope should haue power to correct and controll Princes that none should be Emperour vnlesse he were crowned by the Pope finally he dyed Anno 1216. In his time Liuonia first recouered papistrye Peter kinge of the Arrogons was inueigled to yeild his kingdome all his dominions tributarye to Rome to purchase his saluation A certaine noble man in England hearing that this Pope had againe condemned priestes mariage in Lateran councel did make a certaine rime thereof the yeare following which one Iohn Pullan founde in an olde booke at Oxeforde as followeth PRisciani regula penitus cassatur Sacerdos per hic haec olim declinatur Sed per hic solum modo nunc articulatur Cum per nostrum praesulem haec amoueatur Olde Priscians rule doth whollye go to wracke Because sacerdos earst declinde with hic and haec Must be declined nowe but euen with hic alone Our prelat hath compelled nowe haec for to be gone Ita quidam presbyter cepit allegare Peccat capitaliter qui vult seperare Quod Deus coniunxerat foeminam amare Tales dignum duximus fures appellare A certaine priest began in this wyse for to reason Against the lawe of God he sinneth in hye treason Who parteth that which God hath toynde as wyfe from man To call these robbing theeues full well auouch we can O quà m dolor anxius quà m tormentum graue Nobis est dimittere quoniam suaue O Romane pontifex statuisti prauè Ne in tanto crimine moriaris caue Alas what paine it is what torment and what griefe For vs to leaue our wyues our comfort and reliefe Thou Popishe prelat dost this wicked lawe beginne Take heede thou do not dye continuing in this sinne Non est Innocentius immò nocens verè Qui quod facto docuit verbo vult delere Et quod olimiuuenis voluit habere Modò vetus pontifex studet prohibere He is not Innocent but nocent may be termed That doth condemne by word that he by deede confirmed And thoughe that he himselfe in youthfull yeares did loue it Now he a doting Pope doth labour to impriue it Gignere nos praecipit vetus testamentum Nouum quod non retinet nusquam est inuentum Praesul qui contrarium donat documentum Nullum necessarium his dat argumentum Thould Testament sayth multiplye and increase Which in the newe Testament is not found to cease The prelate that bidding the contrary seemeth to abhorre it ▪ Of this his doing brings no lawfull reason for it Dedit enim dominus maledictionem Viro qui non fecerit generationem Ergo tibi consulo per hanc rationem Gignere vt habeas benedictionem For by the mouth of God the man is cursed and band Which hath not raysed seede and children to the land Therefore I do aduise you prouide you may haue isseu Whereby it may be so the Lord our God may blesse you Non ne de militibus milites procedunt Et reges à regibus qui sibi succedunt Per locum à simili omnes iura laedunt Clericos qui gignere crimen esse credunt Do not men of warre of men of warre procede And kinges of kinges that do vppon their throne succede So the similitude houldes they do offend in dotage That thinke it is a fault the clergye should haue mariage Zacharias habuit prolem vxorem Per virum quem genuit adeptus honorem Baptizauit etenim mundi Saluatorem Pereat qui teneat nouum hunc errorem Zachary had both a wyfe and a sonne By him whom he begat great dignitye he wonne Baptizing him on whom our soules health doth depend Then cursed be hee that doth this error new defend Paulus rapitur ad coelos superiores Vbi multas didicit res secretiores Ad nos tandem rediens instruensque mores Suas inquit habeat quilibet vxores Up vnto the third heauen S. Paule was translated Whereas he hard many misteryes debated And after comming downe and teaching vs trade of lyfe Let euery man quoth he enioye his proper wyfe Propter haec alia dogmata doctorum Reor esse melius magis decorum Quisque suam habeat non proximorum Ne incurrat odium vel iram eorum For these thinges and diuers doctours decrees With right and comlinesse I thincke it more agrees Ech should his owne wyfe haue and not his neighbours borrow Lest thereby he procure wrath malice mischiefe and sorrow Proximorum foeminas filias neptes Violare nefas est quare nil deceptes Verè tuam habeas in qua delectes Diem vt sic vltimum tutius expectes It is a deadly sinne therefore be not beguiled Thy neighbours wyfe neice or doughter to be of the defiled Therefore take thee a wyfe in whom thou maist delight thee And at the latter daye more safely to acquite thee Ecce iam pro clericis multum allegaui Nec non pro prestyteris plura comprobaui Pater noster nunc pro me quoniam peccaui Dicat quisque presbyter cum sua suaui Thus for the clergye much I haue alleaged And also for our priestes largelye haue I pleaded Now all priestes with your wyues to God for me render A Pater noster for that I am an offendour
crosses shoulde passe ouer to assist the Emperour but he draue them oute of Apulia Lombardye shewinge himselfe a wicked and mischieuous man by many other meanes in slaying those Germaynes that returned from the Emperour moste cruellye Thus while the good Emperour defended the flocke of Christe with the sworde abroade the Pope deuoured and spoyled them at home After the Emperour had wonne from the Soldā Hierusalem Nazereth Ioppa hee toke a truce with him for tenne yeares whereof he certifyed the Pope by his letters looking that the Pope woulde haue shewed himselfe ioyfull therof and all Christians likewyse But the Pope despysing and reiecting the letters commaunded the messengers that broughte them to be put to death leaste they should make report of the Emperours noble successe Also he spreade this rumour that the Emperour was dead to this ende to make such Cityes in Apulia to shrincke for feare as had with stode to submit themselues to him And both to stop the Emperours returne and to obtaine Apulia at his pleasure he wrote to the Soldan desyring him not to yeld the Holy lande to the Emperour as he was about to do But the Emperour finishing his matters with the Soldan returned into Italye whereupon the slaughter of his men done by the Pope as they returned stayed and within a while he draue the Popes power oute of Apulia and by the helpe of God recouered all his owne from him Hereupon the Pope did excōmunicate him and curse him a newe and conspired with the Lombards and Thuscans to rebell against him because he had made a league with the Soldan But in the ende many Princes seekinge to set them at vnitye the Emperour had absolution of the Pope paying to him for it ere as Platina saith he could obtaine it an hundred thousande ounces of gould For sayth Vspergensis notwithstanding all these iniuries yet so often as the Pope did excommunicate him he craued and sued for the benefite of absolution humblye with all obedience deuocion yelding of iustice Soone after the Emperour prepared to go into Germanye to redresse certaine disorders doone by his eldest sonne Henry the Pope hearinge thereof wrote to the estates of Germanye commaundinge that they should make none of the Emperours family king of the Romaynes because the kinge of the Romaines is heyre apparent to the Empyre Frederick vnderstanding this treachery and that the Pope had conspired a freshe w t manye Princes of Italy against him did forthwith inuade Italy suppressed the rebellious Lombards wanne diuers townes in Vmbria and Hetruria subdued to the Empyre Lomberdie Viterbie Peruse Fauentia Cremona Vicentia Patauy all which had conspired with the Pope The Pope seinge this cursed him againe The Emperour hearinge of it because the Popes couetousnesse ambition tyrannye and pride grewe so great that it was no longer to be suffered thought good to reueale the same to all Christians to reclayme them from their errour and false Religion and therfore he lying in Patauy commaunded a certaine learned mā wel studyed in the Scriptures to preach before him concerninge the Popes curse of the Church of Rome After the preacher had disclosed all the abuses of the Pope and his Church the Emperour moued thereby wrote these 2. Uerses to the Pope Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput Rome that hath rulde long and hath in errour farre beene ledde Shal come to nought and cease to be on earth the supreame hedde ¶ The Popes aunsvveare to the Emperour Niteris incassum nauem submergere Petri Fluctuat at nunquam mergitur illa ratis To drowne S. Peters shippe ye spende your labour all in vaine It tottreth oft but sinks not so but it may floate againe ¶ The Emperours replye Fata volunt stellaeque docent auiumque volatus Quod Fredericus ego maleus orbis ero ▪ T is destinye the starres of heauen and flight of foules do showe I Frederick shal be the club to strike the deadlye blowe ¶ The Popes aunsvveare Fata volunt Scriptura docet peccata loquuntur Quod tibi vita breuis paena perennis erit T is destenye the Scripture shewes and thy offences tell Thy life is short thy paine shall last for euermore in hell Thus was the Emperour nowe the thirde time excommunicated by the Pope and pronounced not Emperour but at this time there were manye Cardinals that disalowed the Popes doing so that the Emperour had many frends in Italy because he still sued and sought for the Popes fauour and could not haue it and now therefore he set all at defiance in maner afore shewed Of this Gregorie Mattheus Parisius sayth further callinge him bloud sucker couetous Pope that he held a councell at Rome to depose the Emperour who had maryed Isabel doughter to king Iohn of England and ere the councell began he caused the Apostles heades to be borne aboute the Citye in a solemne procession that the sighte thereof mighte astonishe mens mindes and drawe their hartes from the Emperour Also he gaue free pardon to euery one that would fight against him The Emperour vnderstanding it stopped all passages both by Sea and lande and taking many Cardinals other prelates as they were sayling awaye he put them in prison hee drowned ii Cardinals in the Sea of the rest some bishops abbots and chaplins and amonge them the Popes brother for their notorious and haynous treasons were hanged The first excommunication that was sent out against this Emperour arose of this groūd because themperour would not at the Popes commaundement daunger himselfe and many Christians with him to go out to fight for the holy land For the Pope as it appeared by his actes coueted to encroch the kingdome of both Sicils Apulia other landes so that he sought meanes how to destroy the Emperour being inheritour thereof which he mighte see come to passe by the chaunce of the warre or els while the Emperour should there haue beene busye against the infidels he in the meane time as chiefe prelate hauing Christendome committed to his credite mighte the more easely disposses the Emperour Furthermore this Gregorie was the cause of sedicion in Rome for banishing one Hannibal oute of the Senate because he sued to recouer the aunciente Romaine libertyes Also he prouoked the Poloniās to destroy the Prutenians being his foes He made that cursed deuision in Italy which to the great confusion of Christiā bloud lasteth to this daye betweene the Guelphes and Gibelines for these being two of the most noble and famous houses in Italye whereof the one name whollye that is the Gibelines toke part with the Emperour the Guelphe w t the Pope and this quarrel hath doth last to this day betwene all of the one name against all of the other w t continuall reuenge as oportunitye serueth from time to time Amonge diuers other his superstitious deedes these were some he canonized S. Dominick S Fraūcis
addition to Vspergensis sayth After the Pope had depriued and excommunicated both Frederick his sonne Cōradus Frederick did so shake and worrye the Pope and the Church of Rome that some marked w t crosses set themselues in battaile againste him when hee came to batter downe the gates and walles of Rome where he encountred with a mightye armye of these crossed fellowes But ouer comminge them and takinge them prisoners some of them he hewed a fonder w t foure square woundes in forme of a Crosse of some he cleft their sculs a crosse in 4. parts some he marked on the forhed with a crosse cut and as for the clergye hee caused their shaued crownes to be pared a crosse When the said Henry Landsgraue of Thuringe was chosen kinge of the Romaynes and Frederick deposed by this fourth excommunication then the bishoppe of Strosborough like a peaceable prelate of that time to gratifye the Pope tooke part with the Landsgraue and assisted him with such power strength as he coulde both against the father and Conradus the sonne for he assaulted wan diuers townes some he sacked and razed to the grounde some he burnt with fier which townes and Cityes themperour had recouered to the Empyre in Alsatia On the other syde Conradus the sonne of Frederick gathered an armye against Henry but was easely ouerthrowne and manye of his armye being slaine diuers of his nobilitye were taken prisoners But soone after this Henry beinge thus foysted into the Empire by the clergy grew into cōtempt with them that liked not his election whereupon he was in mockadge termed King of clarkes Prince of priestes but the Pope did straitly charge by his Legates al the Almaine Princes to obeye Henry as their soueraigne and to defye Frederick his sonne In the meane time this Hēry dyed and yet the Pope ceased not but sent a Legate into Germanye one Peter Caputius a Cardinall who summoninge the Princes at Collen caused them to electe one VVilliam Earle of Holland a readye man to maintaine any quarell by the sworde In the ende the Emperour beinge in Apulia one hired by the Pope gaue him poyson by meanes whereof he was daungerouslye sicke but seemed to recouer it but was smothered to death with a pillowe by Manfredus his bastard sonne who as some thinke was allured by bryberye and fayre promises of the Pope to do it The truth hereof is written in sixe bookes of Epistles written by Peter of the Uine Anno 1250. Frederick dyed and as some write in his last will and testamente he gaue a summe of moneye for satisfaction to the Church of Rome and bequeathed his estate and the order of all thinges to his sonne Conradus This Will was brought to the Pope to be approued but the Pope did whollye disanull and frustrate the Will sayinge that the Prince whom he had deposed could make no Wil and so it was voide Within a while after a yonge Prince to whom the Emperour by his sonne Kinge Henry was graūdfather was murthered but by whō no mā could tell About this time before the death of Frederick there were certaine preachers in Sweueland who stoutlye and openly preached against the Pope and his Cardinals iustifyed the doinge of Frederick and his sonne Conradus sayinge bouldly that the Pope his bishops and Cardinals had no auctoritye because they were al stayned with that one blot of simony and that their power depended not vppon Christ that a priest committing deadly sinne coulde neither binde nor loose nor consecrate that no man in the world might forbid a Christian to execute diuine functions that they should be hearde celebrated without any difference And in the ende of their Sermons this pardon quoth they which we do pronounce vnto you wee do not declare it to you as forged by the Pope and his prelates but procedinge from Almightye God These preachers were maintayned by Conradus and therfore he incurred almost danger of his life In the former councell helde at Lions it was decreed that the Cardinals should ryde on their trapped Gennets throughe the streates and weare red hattes and crimsen roabes to signifye sayth Parisius that they are readye to spend their bloud for the Catholicke fayth and the safetye of the people but as Platina sayth for the honour of their estate Also in that councell Innocentius decreed amonge manye matters that the Pope mighte depose the Emperour He did greatly fauoure the order of begging fryers and bestowed on them manye priuiledges and benefittes He preferred the Dominicans to dignityes Ecclesiastical and aduaūced the Franciscās to be the Popes confessours He adopted the White fryers and Augustine friers to be his sonnes wher as they liued before in deserts he brought them into Cityes teachinge them to begge their breade w t idlenes By the helpe of the Dominicans he reformed the rule of the Whitefryers mitigated it and finallye with his blessinge confirmed it that as the sayd rule sheweth they should hope to be saued not onlye by Christ He graūted these the begging fryers lycence to preach to dispute and to shriue people Also he exempted them from all power iurisdiction of kinges and bishops whereupon they crammed the worlde ful and chaoked it with their gloses vpon Sentences decretals cannons wich their commentaries vpon Aristotle their Sophisms Repertories Sūmaries Tables Trinies Quatrinies Conclusions Questions Distinctions Quidities Quodlibets Myracles of the dead Legendaryes Saincts liues Martyrdoms Uisions Dreames Reuelatiōs Exorsisms Concordances Discordāces Marials perspectiues Aphorismes wyth a thousande vaine and combrous pamphlets full of grosse deceitful heresyes and then nothing was counted deuinitye nor lawe but their fansyes and canons And in these dayes the world was fallen into such grosse blindnesse ignorance and barbarousnesse that not onelye knowledge in diuinity but also other learning was almost decayed the knowledge of the tongues as Greeke and Hebrew buried in ignoraunce though some rubbishe of the latine tongue were left yet it was rustye corrupte and broken stuffe as appeareth yet by theyr wrytings that the like barbarousnesse is not in any tongue But to returne to Pope Innocent he canonized diuers makinge them saincts that for his aduauncemente had played the traytours and rebels against theyr owne Princes as one Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other of sondrye places Till the time of this Innocentius the 4. sayth Bibliander it was not an article of fayth nor a law of the Church that men should worship the breade and the wyne in the Sacrament therefore sayth he the Pope as a creator brought forth a newe God Mauzis by transubstantiation This Pope offred to sell to king Henry the third of England the kingdome of both Sicils to the vse of his sonne Prince Edmond and yet Conradus kinge thereof was lyuinge He vexed and polled the Churches of England with myserable exactions for money he maintayned and licensed anye wickednes amonge the clergye suffering worser matters in his bastards
poorest At this time the Venetians spoyled the AnconitaÌ„s because they vsinge trafique into Dalmatia woulde paye them no tribute yet the Pope would not defende them as he ought to do beinge tributaryes to the Church and though in words he were hasty yet in his doinges a slouggarde and dastard The Anconitans therefore being destitute of the Popes ayde gathering themselues together brast out of the Citye vppon the Venetians besieging it draue them awaye with great damage But the Pope vsinge the aduise of Iohn Caietan who theÌ„ ruled all because by his ayde he came to be Pope he sent his Embassadours both to Michael Paleologus the kinges of the West to moue them in his name to make peace amoÌ„ge themselues and to prouide to send their powers against the Sarracens which if Paleologus would not do keepe the vnitye promised he woulde giue his Empyre from him to Charles kinge of Sicill He prophesyed by the course of the starres that he him selfe should liue longe and tould this to euery man in his vanitye as one whose wante of discretion was euident to euery man But behould while he thus vaunted his cunninge in prophecyinge and constellations openlye in a certaine chamber which for his pleasure hee had builded in his Pallaice at Viterbium the fourth day after fell downe sodainlye Anno 1277. After this ruine wherein he perished myserablye he was founde the seuenth day after hauinge raigned viii monthes Valerius called the place which fell downe Gamesters hall and Stella calleth it the precious Chamber for the Pope had builded it so gorgeouslye for his pleasure After his death the seate was voide through great contention vi monthes 129. Nicolas the thirde NIcolas the third a Romaine called first Iohn Caietan after vi monthes with great discention and brauling of the Cardinals obtayned the seate Charles king of Sicil was as Senatour president in their consistorye who was very vrgent to choose some Frenchman Pope and therefore this Nicolas hauing gotten the place purposinge to abate the power of Charles toke from him the Vicarship of Hetruria filled Italye full of broyles And for his owne lucre hee perswaded Peter kinge of Aragon to clayme the kingdome of Sicill sayinge that it belonged to him by the inheritaunce of his wyfe Constance which liked Peter but note the sequeale Peter with a great nauye went to Sardinia and there wayted wheÌ„ some motions should arise in Sicill for the Sicillians making a conspiracy against Charles and the Frenchmen appointed a daye that as soone as at eueninge a bell should be tould the Frenchmen shoulde be forthwith murthered both man woman child wherein they were so cruell that they slue euen women with child But this horrible deede was not doone vnder Pope Nicolas but in the time of his successour Martin the fourth Also this Nicolas toke to himselfe the Senatourship which Clement the fourth had bestowed on Charles and forbad for euer that any Prince or kinge should be so hardy to desire or take vppon him that dignitye By his falsehoode it came to passe that Flaunders Bononia the royaltye of Rauenna which longe time were vnder the Emperour became subiect to the Pope Amonge other buildinges that he made aboute Rome he enclosed a warrante of hares w t hye walles wherein euen in his Popeship he vsed often to hunt He bestowed syluer cases for the Apostles heades he was reproued of many for making his nephewe Berthold Earle of Romundiala for another of his nephewes beinge a Dominican Cardinall because he sente him Embassadour into Hetruria For Platina and Stella and other complaine that he loued his kindred to well so that he bestowed withoute lawe on them that which he had filched froÌ„ other for he toke perforce from some nobles of Rome certaine Castels and bestowed them on his freindes He made the Gibelines being seditious meÌ„ magistrats at his owne lust in Florence and els where to defende and maintaine his tyrannye Also he purposed to make two kinges of the stocke of Vrsines the one in Lombardye the other in Hetrury but while he purposed this he dyed sodenly of an Apoplexye without speakinge any worde Anno 1281. in the fourth yeare of his Popeship and yet it was thoughte by his goed complexion he should haue liued much longer Some saye that one foretolde the death of this Pope by the rysinge of the riuer Tiber which then happened The report is that of a concubine he begat a sonne that had hayre and clawes like a beare it is written in Iohn Noueomagus in illustrationibus Bedae 130. Martin the fourth MArtin the fourth a Frenchman called before Simon was nexte made Pope by the Cardinals of Fraunce who then were the greater nomber He woulde not be Crowned at Viterbium because he thoughte that Citye was excommunicated because they had made a tumult against the Cardinals for the Viterbians entring into the consistorye apprehended the Cardinals and put them in prison dryuinge out and contemninge the house of Vrsins therefore Martin going to an olde towne called Oruietus did there kepte all his solemnitye made viii Cardinals the same daye to strengthen his power Also hee did not onelye entertaine curteouslye kinge Charles comminge to him but also restored to him the dignitye of Senatorship which Pope Nicolas had taken froÌ„ him which thinge displeased many because it should make seditioÌ„ in the Citye the Vrsine being now returned and their ennemyes driueÌ„ out for Charles for the hatred conceyued against Nicolas was sore bente against the Vrsines But Pope Martin meaninge to worke warelye did much set by Matthew de Aquisporta a FranciscaÌ„ of the house of the Vrsines a Cardinal bishop of Portua He excoÌ„municated Peter king of Aragon who went about to inuade the kingdome of Sicil w t his nauy against Charles also he gaue his kingdome for a â—ooty to one that did desire to enioy it He released his subiectes from their allegeaunce callinge him an vsurper of Church goodes But Peter defyinge all this did by the helpe of Paleologus obtaine the kingdome of Sicill the Sicilians also beinge able no longer to sustayne the pride Iust of the FrenchmeÌ„ at the perswasion of Iohn Prochita conspired against Charles and ringinge the belles did at once without anye regarde murther all the Frenchmen Pope Martin amonge other thinges graunted to the Romaynes libertye to chose two Senatours of the nobilitye and excommunicated Paleologus He made warre against the Forolinians He bestowed great pryuiledges vpon the begging fryers and as he was taking his accustomed recreation with his chapleins as Carsulan testifyeth a certaine secrete disease came vppon him which after hee had sayd it panged him extreamlye he dyed Anno 128â— and yet the Phisicions coulde finde no token of death in him Some write that this Pope in the first yeare of his Popeship receyued into his familiarity the concubine of his predecessour Nicolas but to auoyde the like chaunce that
his childe if he shoulde haue anye by her might not be like a beare he commaunded all beares which were painted in his Pallaice by a Pope that was of Vrsine house to be taken awaye or blotted oute to auoyde in his concubine the sight thereof which he thoughte wrought great effecte in conception 131. Honorius the fourth HOnorius the fourth a Romaine of a noble familye was afore called Iacob was next made Pope He had a brother called Pandulphus a worthye man who at that time was Senatour in Rome who did sharpely execute lawes against fensers theeues and murtherers Honorius excommunicated Peter king of Aragon because he helde at that time the kingdome of Sicill against Charles confirmed the curses and edict of Pope Martin because for the Popes lucre he woulde not leaue the kingdome Also he raysed terrible warre against Gui Feltro who helde the towne Flaminia and ouercomminge him against all law and righte by tyrannye subdued the towne to Rome Also he confirmed the sect of Augustine fryers which was refused at Paris but withstoode by manye Also he appointed to the Carmelites that puttinge of their riche roabes they shoulde weare white weedes and commaunded they should be called our Ladyes brethren After which he died quicklye Anno 1288. in the second yeare of his Popeship The seat after this was voyde x. monthes for pestilences and earthquakes This Pope was much troubled wyth the goute both in his handes and his feete so that he was fayne to make certaine instruments fit for the purpose to saye masse The Grecians in his time forsakinge papistrye returned to their old fayth 132. Nicolas the fourth NIcolas the fourth a Franciscane fryer borne in Picene after tenne monthes was chosen Pope at which time the Cardinals did not yet agree vppon one This Pope sayth Platina loued all men a like and thoughte that he ought no more dutye to his kindred then to other He did nothinge of any great waight but busyed himselfe in erectinge superstitious buildinges and making newe ceremonyes aboute fryers and monkes which are not worth the mencioning finallye he seing Rome sore tormoyled in his time with ciuill discentions burninges slaughters spoylinges dyed for very griefe and sorrow thereof Anno 1291. He beinge deade the Cardinals wente to Peruse that they might vse the more libertye in choosing a newe Pope and yet they iarred so bitterly among them selues two yeares and 3. monthes that they could neuer agree in that election 133. Celestine the fift CElestine the fifte borne at Esernia beside Sulmo by profession an Anchore called before Peter Moronens after the Cardinals had scoulded two yeares he by the procurement of Charles the seconde kinge of Naples and the latine Cardinals was chosen Pope who as sone as he was created went to Apulia callinge all the Cardinals thether he created xii newe Cardinals wherof two were Eremites Ptolomeus Lucensis wryteth that at his Coronation were two hundred Thousande men because sayth Massaeus at the first time he sate in Consistory he went about exactly to reforme the Church of Rome y the clergy mighte be an example to other he purchased such hatred that he doated was a foole Thereupon one of the clergye called Benedict hyred one to set throughe an hoole in the wall of the Popes chamber a greate hollow troncke and throughe the same shoulde make an hydeous noyse manye nightes together as if it had beene the voyce of an Angell froÌ„ heauen saying in the night time Celestine Celestine giue ouer thy charge for it is aboue thy habilitye Beside this diuers perswaded him to giue ouer for his owne safetye Kinge Charles vnderstanding of this spake with the Pope desiringe him as earnestlye as he could not to forsake that dignity which came to him by the grace of God But he gaue this answeare I will do as it pleaseth Godâ— And returning from Naples from the kinge perceyuing he coulde not be quiet hee gaue ouer the Popeship on S. Lukes eue and made haste to go liue an Eremites life in the desert sayth Massaeus but first of all he made a decree with the consent of al that the Pope might yeld vp his dignity But Boniface who had thus beguiled the simple man and now gat to be his successour fearing least the people woulde followe the same Celestine as Pope defye him he therefore put Celestine in close prison till he dyed Anno 1292. the x. daye of Maye after he had raigned one yeare and fiue monthes Of this Celestine sprange a secte of monkes called Celestinians 134. Boniface the eight BOniface the eight borne in Campania called before Benedict Caietan beinge chiefe councellour to Celestine was set vp in his steade by a straunge kinde of treason at Naples This Boniface while he was Cardinall of S. Martines in the mounte did so honger after the Popeship that he spared no falsehood nor ambicious meanes that might further his desire He was so proude that he did almost disdaine all men And boyling thus wyth heate of ambition he suborned as is sayd before certaine who should come in the night time and wyth a still and straunge voyce in the Chamber of Celestine as it were from heauen perswade him beinge a very simple man of himselfe to yelde vp the Popeship if hee woulde be saued which in the ende was brought to passe But Boniface vsurping by craft against all right the Popeship apprehending the sillye man Celestine who was departing from Rome to some wildernes there to ende his life put him in perpetuall prison and yet as Marius witnesseth he professed he did it not for hatred against Celestine but leaâ—t the auctours of sedition shold make him their head to trouble disquiet the peace of the Church And thus this vnthanckeful Boniface was not contented onelye to delude poore Celestine and to beguile him of his dignity but furthermore to cause the simple soule as if he had bene a malefactor to dye for thought in prison After this Boniface began to exercise such crueltye he seemed to be another Nero he sente for certaine Cardinals to come vnto him but they beinge terrifyed w t his falsehod and rigour durst not come to him and therevppon they were proclaymed scismatickes by him and depryued not onelye of their benefices and such dignityes as they had receyued of Popes but also were berefte of all their landes townes and goodes which they had by inheritaunce Furthermore he gathered an armye and pursued them with the Columnians and as many of the Gibelines as he met withall in any place He destroyed spoiled all mens places whether soeuer they fled whereupon many of them seing they might be safe in no place fled into woodes â—nd forestes and taryed there other some of the most noble houses of Italye after they had euen in maner of wild beastes ranged longe aboute the Sea shore did at length depart from Italye wyth saluage Pyrates and rouers for they trusted more the
was by the kinges commaundement w t other mo impeached of treason finally arested in the ParliameÌ„t house to aunswere to his endightmeÌ„ts Whereunto after long pauze he aunswered clayming the priuiledge of the Church saying thus I am humble mynister of the holye Church c. and cannot neither ought to aunswere to such matters without the auctoritye of the bishop of Canterbury my directe iudge nexte vnder the Pope c. whereupon the other bishops stept vp and sued to the kinge for this their fellowe But when the king would not yeld the said bishops together w t the archbishops and the clergye comming with theyr crosses toke him away perforce chalenginge him to the Church wtout any other aunswere charging moreouer vnder the censure of terrible excommunication none to presume to laye any further handes vpon him And yet the kinge encouraged herewith commaunded lawe to passe vpon him and he being found gilty his goodes to be confiscate but yet the partye remayned safe vnder protection of the Archbishop of Canterbury This Pope lefte more abundance of treasure then euer any other did namely fiue and twenty thousand thousande Crownes in gould and yet but latelye before he ioyned in warre with Robert kinge of Apulia to defende Genua in which warre sayth Antonius Florentinus eyther syde spente as much treasure as woulde haue boughte a good kingdome 138. Benedict the xij BEnedict the xii borne in Tholos in profession a white fryer sath Paleonidorus called Iacob or Iames of Furne the sixtenth daye after the death of Iohn he was enstalled Pope This man sayth Marius was as vncurteous to the Emperour as euer was Pope Iohn he renued the curses against him he reft him of all regall dignitye by his sentence depriued him of the dukedome of Bauary The noble Emperour wente into Germany and called together behoulde his vertue and wysedome all the Princes electours Dukes Counties bishops and the best learned either in diuinitye or humanitye And in presence of them all with open and solemne proclamatioÌ„ he added and established his late confirmatioÌ„ with ould lawes and very wiselye proued that onelye the Princes electours no man els ought to medle w t the election of the king of the Romaynes so that he that had most voyces amonge them was to be accepted berely be it eyther king or Emperour which in effect are al one though in name they differ Because that he that is Emperour may take vpon him the gouernment beloÌ„ging to his estate without the confirmatioÌ„ of the Sea of Rome and he being lawfullye chosen ought after aduisemente giuen by the Princes to be annointed by the Pope Which if the Pope refused to do he might be proclaymed Emperour by any Catholick prelate as the vse hath long beene for these ceremonyes enioyed by the Pope are but imagined toyes and solemnityes deuised by the prelats of Rome who onely haue but the geuinge of the name not the thinge for a signe of vnitye and mutuall helpe and succoure betwene the Empire and the Church For the Emperour vowed to the Pope not an oath of alleageance and fealtye but of defendinge the Christian fayth for as much as the taking of this oath maketh not greater dignitye in temporall thinges Furthermore the Emperour shewed how that the estate being voide the righte thereof shoulde not belonge vnto the Pope and that to haue it so was against the libertye righte honour and maiestye of the Empire but by longe and allowable custome notwithstandinge the Clementine Canon and by decree vnmoueable hytherto kept bie his aâ—ncetours in the time the Empire is voyd the right of gouerning the Empire the bestowing of fealtyes and ordering of other affayres belongeth to the Palsgraue of Rhene Afterward for his owne defence he made proofe of his vpright and trusty dealing before them all plainlye confessed that he as a ChristiaÌ„ man ought to do did beleeue the Articles of Christian fayth euen as the Church taught and purged himselfe of all those accusatioÌ„s which Pope Iohn the xxiii and Benedict the xii had layed to his charge Thus did the godly Emperour of his owne good motion when as if he had not pitied the shedding ChristiaÌ„ bloude he might haue tryed the matter with the Pope by the dint of the sworde At the length Pope Benedict began to consider of the goodnes of this Emperour for wheÌ„ a certaine grudge happened betweene this Lewis Philip kinge of Fraunce by and by peace was made betwene the Emperour and the Pope And the Pope loued the Emperour so entirelye that he defended him against the Embassadours of the French king which euer spake sharpely against the Emperour stoutlye defended the Emperours innocencye So that it came to passe that the Pope was by them called defeÌ„der of an heretick whose words although Benedict for a while did much feare for they threatned to set vpon him with all their powers if he absolued the Emperour yet in the end he absolued him And commaunded to proclaime throughe Germanye that all the processes of Iohn what soeuer they were should voyde and of no effecte and that it did not become Pope Iohn thus to deale with the Emperour seinge their two functions as diuers testifyed openly that Lewis had in all thinges behaued himselfe as mighte best beseeme so noble Christian an Emperour Yet it is to be noted that the Pope did not this of hartye good will to the Emperour but vpon pollicye for wheÌ„ he perceyued the king of Fraunce within whose precinct he was then abyding dealt vnfreindlye with him he feared that if he should also haue the Emperour his enemye he should haue no succour left if the French kinge should go about to do him displeasure And for this cause Benedict thoughte it stode with his commoditye to haue the fauour of the Emperour hoping it would so fall out that he durst attempt nothing against the Pope Such from time to time hath bene the pollicy of these prelats to maintaine their estate But to returne to the purpose and leaue these words of Marius Pope Benedict auouched the iudgmeÌ„t of his predecessour against Lewis He appointed deputies in those townes of Italye that belong to the Empire and toke to himselfe from the Emperour the Senatourship of Rome He deuised that euery thing did belonge to the Court of Apostolicall peniteÌ„ciary He appointing subsidyes gathered houge sommes of money out of euery nation He first toke vpon him to vsurpe the presentments of all bishopricks prelatships and benefices He abridged vnlearned men of priesthoode He reformed manye sectes of monckes He commaunded that all his chapleins shoulde lye in one dormitorye together and should haue none other reuenues then for their diet and apparell He with a great somme of money bought for his carnall desire the sister of Frauncis Petrarcha a beutifull woman of her brother Gerard he denyed that the Pope had any kindred he published certaine actes as Leander testifyeth against the
place He bestowed great cost vpon buildinges both of the towne walles Churches Pallaces Castels Concerning his building Platina saith he began to fortifye with stronge walles the gates and towers of the Citye the Capitoll and Angell Castell He builded sumptuouslye magnificentlye both in the towne and at Vatican as in the towne the Popes house also hee repayred the house of S. Steuen in Celius hill He raysed euen from the ground S. Theodors Church He couered w t lead an olde Church in Rome called Panthion He transported the Popes house in Vatican brought it to a statelye fourme He began to laye the walles of Vatican wyth greater foundation He restored Right bridge and builded a greate and large house beside Viâ—erby bathes He ayded diuers with money that builded in the Cittye And at his commaundement almost all the streates in the Citye were strowed There are yet remayninge certaine Uessels of gould and of siluer crosses beset with Pearles precious stones certaine priestes roabes gorgeouslye decked w t golden owches and pearles also certaine coueringes hanginges wouen of gould and siluer beside a certaine pontificall Miter which remaine as monumentes of his plentiful pompe and magnificencye c. Finallye he being troubled with an agewe and the goute dyed Anno 1455. 155. Calixtus the third CAlixtus the third a Spaniarde borne in Valentia called first Alphonsus Borgia his father was called Iohn and his mother Frauncis Pope Nicolas being dead this Alphonsus being an old impotent man was chosen in his steede This Pope as wryters do testifye of him was very â—unning in the Popes canon lawe but whollye ignoraunt in the Scripture as it appeareth by his deedes He was first Secretarye to Alphonsus king of Aragon and made bishop of Valentia by Pope Martin the fift and Cardinal by Eugenius the fourth As sone as he was Pope he forthwith prouided and addicted himselfe not to preache to nations but to followe warres against the Turke proclayming it oute of hande as he had vowed before And to further this purpose he sent out a rable of fryers with bulles and pardons to encourage the Christian nations against the Turke Among these Iohannes Capistranus and Robartus Licius were of moste renowne being both minorite fryers and notorious hypocrites who to drawe the more fishe to their net and to the greater filling of their purses vsed many shameful shiftes deluding men with dissembled and counterfaite holines Letanies penaunce fasting false merites shryuings reliques images crosses songes canticles notes ringing of belles singing cakes The Pope also for his part was busye to sturre vp all Princes by his letters to take the quarell in hand as a matter very nedefull and godlye Also he commaunded the priestes euerye daye at noone to ringe the sacringe bell and at night with an Aue Maria that saith Stella they might by this holye prayer helpe them that foughte against the Turke Certaine sillye countrymen seing this folly in the Pope laughed thereat whereupon the Pope caused them to be hanged for it He decreed that no man should appeale from the Pope to a generall councell He suffered his nephewes and bastards to liue licenciouslye He poured out sayth Valerius his letters of pardon in pure fashion wheâ—by selling them then for fiue ducates which now are sould for cryfles he left to his successour in treasure an hundred millâ—ns fiftene thousande ducates At the length he dyed for age Anno 1458. and was buryed in Peters Pallaice or the rounde Church 156. Pius the second PIus the second borne in Hetruria called first AEneas Picothomineus hauing his breast boyling long with ambition did at length obtaine the Papacye He of a poore boye became so worthy a man as all wryters do testifye of him that amonge the learned Popes he was the best learned and most diligente writer In the councell of Basil he was the Popesscribe and did with his Epistles and orations stande against the auctoritye of Eugenius Afterward he was made Poet Lawreat of the Emperour Frederick the third and being called to attende in his Court his first promotion was that he was made councellour and Secretarye Afterward he being sente Embassadour to diuers Princes was first made bishop of Tergest by Pope Nicolas then of Scene and finally Cardinall by Pope Calixtus In the end he attayning to the Papacye did as his elders he begaÌ„ to proclaime the warres agaiÌ„st the Turke but he dyed ere he could proceede in his purpose He sought still to enlarge the dominion of the Church for the which sayth Stella it appeared that he feared neither kinge nor prince nor duke If anye man offended him he would sore molest him with warre and taxes till he made him satisfaction And therefore he was an heauye ennemye to king Lewis the xi of Fraunce because he went about to abridge the licentious libertye of the clergye in his Realme He warred vppon Borsius duke of Mutina because he did fauour Sigismond Malaâ—esta and the estate of FrauÌ„ce against Frederick for he set Ferdinandus bastarde of king Alphonsus in the kingdome of Naples violentlye with auctoritye and men of armes against Iohn of Angewe sonne of kinge Renatus He cursed Sigismond duke of Austria euen to the pitte of hell because he bridled the polling of Cardinal Cusan furthermore he did euen as an angry Uiper sayth VVolphamus VVissemburgius spit out the poyson of his curse vpoÌ„ his Embassadour George Haimburg a worthye lawyer and did so persecute him with his thondringe letters that he was faine to flye into Bohemia and liue there He chased Deitherus Archebishop of Maguntia like a madde man out of his diocesse and planted another in his steede wherevpon great discorde arose betweene Frederick the Palatine and duke of VVittenburg with other in Germanye by meanes wherof ensued great slaughter and bloudshed and the City of Mentz being before a free Citye lost his freedome then The cause of the Popes displeasure against Deitherus was first because that Deitherus woulde not consente that the Pope shoulde charge his countrye with certaine great taxes tallenges secondly because that he would not be bounde vnto the Pope that he beinge Prince Electour should not as the Pope required withoute his lycence call the other Electours together Thirdly because he would not suffer the Popes Legate to call together the clergye within the diocesse of Mentz as the Legate listed but as he being bishop thoughte best For these causes the Pope disquieted both him and Germany Also he remoued the Archbishop of Beneuent for making newe orders against his will He commaunded George kinge of Bohemia to aunsweare vpon an appointed day touching his fayth vpoÌ„ perill of leâ—sing his kingdome because he fauoured the opinioÌ„s of Husse He deposed many bishops for his owne lucre He subdued many townes of Campania and encreased maruelouslye the reuenues of the Church He was verye beneficiall to his frendes kindred He caused an head to be translated from Peloponesus
the conditioÌ„s though the Pope sente thether his stoute champion Peter Vincent to challenge them and his Secretarye with him Also he deposed George Boebracius kinge of Bohemia from his kingdome for fauouring Iohn Husse bestowed it vpon Mathias but because the Emperour Frederick woulde not plant this Mathias therein great warre ensued thereof to the subuersion almost of the said Emperour After this Innocentius being wearyed with warres gaue him selfe to pretensed peace and applyed him selfe whollye to ease and idlenesse which breedeth al wickednesse He following the example of Sixtus did erect a Colledge of sâ—cretaryes for his greater gaine encreasing the nomber of them He beutifyed the Papacye with a newe Pallaice He did openlye lauishe out reâ—hes and treasures vpon his bastards giuing them honours without all shame for he bestowed vpon one FrauÌ„cis his bastard certaine townes adioyning to the Citye gaue a great dowrye w t his bastard daughter Theodorina maryed to an exceeding wealthye Genewaie He made his base begotten children his chamberlaynes his companions Cardinals He sould pardons for the quick and the dead He bestowed great treasures superstitiously on diuers Churches in Italy and on religious houses He grauÌ„ted leue by his bul to those of Norway to say masse wtoute wyne He diuising a new trade to fishe for money because that neither the aduauÌ„tages of his pardoÌ„s nor of his Iubelie nor the taxe against the Turke coulde suffice him he found out the title that was set vp ouer the Crosse of Christe by Pilate written in three tongues Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum which was hidden within a wall also he found out the iron head of the speare where withal the side of our Sauiour was wounded and ere a man mighte see or kisse these Iewels he must paye well for it But after long sicknesse this Pope dyed Anno 1492. Of whom this Epitaph was made Quid quaeris testes sit mas aut foemina Cibo Respice natorum pignora certa gregem Octo recens pueros genuit totidemque puellas Hunc meritò poterit dicere Roma patrem Spurcities gula auaritia atque ignauia deses Hoc Octaue iacent quo tegeris tumulo About the yeare of our Lord 1464. Baptist Mantuan being then xviii yeres old wrote his ix Eglog calling it Post religionis ingressum entreating of the corrupt maners of the court of Rome his tenth Eglog of the controuersye of the fryers Obseruants and not Obseruants Also he wrote a Diolog in prayse of the blessed life In his ix Eglog he painteth out the treacheryes of Rome saying that all kinde of naughtye parsons are had in honour and are promoted at Rome and that none are there aduaunced but such villaines as deserue rather to be imprisoned and driuen out His sayinges are partlye thus Quo magis approprias tanto magis omnia sordent ¶ And after he addeth Fama est Aegyptum coluisse animalia quaedam Et pro numinibus multas habuisse ferarum Ista superstitio minor est quám nostra ferarum Hic aras habet omne genus contraria certè Naturae res atque Deo qui dicitur olim Preposuisse hominem cunctis animaÌ„tibus vnum c. 160. Alexander the sixt ALexander the sixt was a Spaniard borne in Valentia called first Rodericus Borgia succeeded Innocentius his deedes were so opprobrious and wicked as hath beene sildome heard He was a very royotous tyrauÌ„t in league with the deuil to obtaine the Papacye He being long vice-chauncelour in his Cardinalship did search and boult out all the estate and trade of the Court of Rome and all the councelles and secretes of all the Princes and encorporations of Italye And therefore being Pope by the helpe of of his bastarde Valentinus whom of a Cardinall he made captaine calling him Caesarius he did almost destroy them all and rooted out and banished the most mightye and honourable houses of Rome so that afterward he stoode not in awe of anye of them Iuâ—the which bickeringe sayth Valerius the garrison of Frenchmen and Heluetians being murthered both man and woman this proud Captaine Caesarius beinge by meanes of his wyfe duke of Valentia purposing to get a bootye of money gaue to certaine Cardinals a pocioÌ„ of Aconita wherof his father also drancke so that he fell a sleepe with the rest and then the sonne with the stroke of a weapon quenched the vndeserued honour of both This AlexaÌ„der held the Iubelie at Rome Anno 1500. whither infinite multitudes of people resorted but for those that either would not or could not come the Pope by his bull imparted to them the blessing and benefite of the Iubelie if they woulde giue moneye for it He spared no shamefull shifte to make money withall and therefore he did found yet another newe colledge for clarkes of briefes for so were they called that write the abridgements of all matters these were in nomber foure score of the which euery one payd for his place vii huÌ„dred crownes He cited al Princes by auctoritye of his bull to come to the Iubelie and appointed standings in euery countrye in the streates whither the people should resorte to send their money thether By his Legate Iohn Borgia he crowned Alphonsus king of Naples and sayth Platina made him sweare to be true to Rome in paying his yearely tribute faithfullye He bestowed infinite riches in repayringe and garnishing Churches Castels towers hyewayes and houses in Rome Volateranus sayth that he murthered manye vertues by his notorious vices which are not to be named onlye sayth he I will touche those that were knowen in the eyes of the people If he were at anye time at leasure he had no regarde what kinde of recreation he vsed withoute respecte of his estate He flitted often to Adrian castell because he might the better come out openlye to behold such shewes and delightes as maskers mommers daunters harlots and strompets and other worse kinde of people vsing these braueryes vpon hollydayes and other times he delighted much to see the lasciuious coÌ„medyes of Plautus and other like enterludes played At the mariage of one of his doughters he procured extraordinarily to haue it solemnized with running at the tilt and hunting Fensers roisters were neuer so suffered in Rome neither the Citizens so bridled as in his time Beside the Citye was much encombred with vagaboundes so that men coulde neither walke safe in the Citye by night nor without the Citye by daye Now was Rome become a slaughterhouse which hath somtime beene a refuge and defence for men All these sayth Volateran he suffered for his bastards sake to whoÌ„ he graunted all thinges at pleasure c. But as ye haue heard before he dyed in the ende of the same poyson which he caused his sonne to prouide for other farther of his doiÌ„ges and of his sonnes warres by him procured maintayned Volateran wryteth at large Platina sayth howe that when Charles the eight king of Fraunce should passe
him selfe bodye soule vnto them if by their helpe he mighte attainâ— to the Papacye which when the deuils had perfourmed Pope Alexander began so to refourme his life that he neuer went about anye busines but that he did first take councell of the deuill Other pranckes of this Pope Alexander were partlye written in these Uerses compendiouslye Vendit Alexander cruces altaria Christum Emerat ille prius vendere iure potest De vitio in vitium de flamma transit in ignem Roma sub Hispano deperit imperio Sextus Tarquinius Sextus Nero Sextus iste Semper sub Sextis perdita Roma fuit Pope Alexander selleth Christe with aares crosses store And reason good that he should sell the thinges he bought before c. In the time of this Pope the pall of the bishop of Mentz was enhaunsed to be payde for it for euer heareafter vnto the Popes Chamber xxxv Thousand Florences Among other enormities wherewith this Alexander swarmed he poysoned Gemen brother to Baiazetes the great Turke prisoner at Rome receyuing for the same deede wherwith he was hyred by Baiazetes two hundred Thousand Crownes Furthermore to maintaine his tyrannye he ioyned league with the Turke against the French kinge and craued his assistaunce vsing both the kingdome of Naples Rome it selfe for his owne royat sake as the fortresses to the Empyre of Ottomannus Beside he coÌ„maunded the tongue of Antonius Mancinellus and both his hands to be cut of because he in a learned and eloquente oration reproued his licentious and loathsome demeanour But as he liued wickedlye so he dyed myserablye for he preparinge a feast for diuers Senatours and Cardinals purposing to poysoÌ„ them with the same bane that he poysoned Cemen but by the prouidence of God one of the wayters ignorantly gaue the Pope the same bottell wherein the poyson was wherof he drinking dyed with the reste Finallye in one thinge this Alexander matched the wickednes of his predicessours in graunting leaue to a Spaniard Petrus Mendoza Cardinall of Valentia to vse his bastard sonne Marquesse Zanatensis otherwyse then becommeth vowed chastitye but hereof enough And beside this Mendoza was well knowen greatly to dishonour the spowsall bed of his soueraigne king Ferdinand Anno 1499. one Ierom Sauonarola a dominicaÌ„ monke with other his fellowes were burned at Florence for defending the communion vnder both kindes condemninge the Popes pardons and for reprouing the loose life negligence of the clergye generallye They denyed also the Popes supremacye saying that the keyes were giuen to the whole Church and not to Peter Againe that the Pope followed Christe neither in life nor doctrine because he attributed more to his owne pardons traditioÌ„s then to the merits of Christ that his cursinges excoÌ„municaioÌ„s are not to be feared He prophecied also of certaine things to come as of the destruction of Florence and of Rome and the restoring of the true Church at length for the which Picus Mirandula calleth him an holye Prophete and defendeth him in his wryting against the Pope Also one Marsilius his neighbour and Cominoeus in his French historye do attribute to him the spirite of prophesyinge and diuers other learned men do defend that he dyed an innocent 161. Pius the thirde PIus the thirde borne in Hetruria and nephewe to Pius the seconde called first Franciscus Picolhomeneus after great debate amonge the Cardinals succeded Alexander Valentine Borgia after the death of his father purloyning his treasure did beset that Vatican with xii Thousand souldiours it beinge the place where the Pope was elected thinking by this drift to make the Cardinals stoupe to his purpose but they to auoyde this daunger did forthwith conueye themselues into the Temple of Minerua where they were forthwith enclosed by him Hereuppon a rumour ran through the Citye that the elders were apprehended that all the Citye was molested with â—laughter and spoyling so that all men were amazed This being hearde doares were shut vp men toke them to their weapoÌ„s the streat passages were stopt with timberlogs iroÌ„ chaynes and thus was all in an hurlye burlye and a great vprore as if the hoast of Hanniball had bin battringe the gates of Rome But Valentine because he sawe that he had attempted an harde matter being requested by the Cardinals to giue ouer his wilfull purpose did promise to cease by by and to obey them Then when this Pius was chosen Valentine abating his courage did thanke the Cardinals because they had chosen him Pope whom he most desired He being Pope did forthwith rayse an armye to driue out those Frenchmen that dwelt in Italye taking it in dispite that their king had subdued Apulia and a great part of Italye but the Pope hoped for a daye to gall the Frenchmen to enclose them in a trap and in the end to hunt them vtterlye out But while he purposed these thinges he dyed of an vlcer in his legge the xxvii daye after his creation Anno 1503. the same yeare also that Alexander also dyed the xv of the Calendes of Nouember And here endeth the sixt booke of these prelates contayning in it 41. Popes from Innocentius the 4. to this Pius the 3. whose corrupt liues as is partly shewed thoughe not so larglye as mighte be do argue of what spirite they were and howe farre from Christian conuersation But if their fantasticall and superstitious decrees were ioyned hereunto where withall they loaded the Church and choaked the Gospell their doctrine would appeare to men of any iudgement as vnsauorye as their trade of life but it would be ouer tedious and pertayneth not so much to our purpose THE SEVENTH Booke contayninge the fift parte of the third sort of Romaine Popes in whom appeareth the wayninge of Antichrist and imparing of his vsurped estate wexing still weaker and weaker till the ende of the worlde accordinge to the Prophecye of S. Paule in the seconde Chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians that Antichriste must be reueled before that Christe come IT appeareth by these former Popes how the Prophecies in the ReuelatioÌ„ of Iohn of Antichrist that he should be an Abadon which being an Hebrewe word signifyeth a Destroyer or Conquerour haue bin abouÌ„dantlye and in perfit measure fulfilled verifyed in them In the rest that followeth may appeare the diminishing of that seat for so much as many people in their times haue do from daye to daye renounce the Popes auctoritye Many parsons first began in Germanye openlye to detect him as Luther Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melancthon with diuers other till in the ende the whole countryes forsooke him so that God be thancked at this daye a great parte of the worlde doth acknowledge him to be Antichriste and defyeth his doctrine as Englande Scotland Denmarke Sweden the dukes of Saxonie the duke of Brunswick the Palsgraue of Rhene the duke of VVittingberges the Lantgraue of Hessia the Marquesse of Brandenburg the Prince of Russia and all other
speake all that might be saide of this miserable man touching his hainous faces as manslaughter theft poysonings treasons tyrannies incest fornication and such other But yet it shall not be amisse to disclose a few of his practises This Paule was an Astrologian a Magician a wyzard He made one Dionysius Seruita a practiser of Geomancy that is a kinde of coniuringe with earth clay and sande or suche matter also he alwaies vsed as his familiar companions â—anricus a Portugall Cecius and Marcellus being coniurers and raysers of euyl sprites in the bodies of dead men He acquainted him selfe with these because he wold haue them to cast the natiuities and destenies of him and his children by constellations By playing the bawde he first got to be made cardinal He deliuered his sister Iulia Farnesia vnto Rodoricus Borgia a Spaniard otherwise Pope Alexander the sixt wherby he might obtaine of him to be made cardinall and byshop of Hostia and so gat money to pay his debtes By such meanes haue many fished for the fattest benefyces in the court of Rome by seruing the Popes fleshely appetite and saith Cornelius Agrippa there is no way redyer to get preferment there then this is Furthermore this vnnaturall and wicked Pope Paule coulde not with holde his mischeuous hande from his owne kinred no not from the wombe that first gaue him breath and life for he poysoned both his nephew and his owne natural mother that he might therby enioye the whole inheritaunce of the Fernesians Beside this he liued carnally wyth another sister that he had and because he perceyued that she loued other better then him which in the ende the harlot shewed openlye his iealouslye was such that to reuenge the despite as he counted it he so watched his oportunitye that in the ende he poysoned her for it He beinge Legate vnder Pope Iulius the seconde in the prouince of Ancona did villanouslye beguile a noble yong gentlewoman of the same Citye For he shifted his apparell counterfayted himselfe to be a noble man of the Legates companye resorting to her as a woer and craftelye vnder colour of mariage laye with her But in the ende when the poore gentlewoman had vnderstandinge of him what he was in deede and saw how she was deluded being made not a lawfull wyfe but a priestes coÌ„cubine according to the Popes lawe she was so greuouslye wounded with griefe hereof that she was almost mad and rauished of her wittes But she conceyued by him and was deliuered of a sonne called Peter Aloysius who afterward shewed himselfe to be the liuelye image of such an adulterous father At another time this Paule hauing a nyce called Laura Fernesia committed incest with her also but her husband Nicolaus Quercaeus toke him in the deede doing in a greate rage so wounded him that the skar thereof remayned till his death Againe he had a daughter called Constantia with whom he was so entaÌ„gled and bewitched that O most sinnefull man to enioye her the more freelye as his concubine he poysoned her husband Bosius Sfortia Such is the double corruptioÌ„ of their single life such villanye ensueth of their vowed chastitye Thus doth God giue them ouer to their owne lustes that presume vpon themselues thus doth he detect the man of sinne suffering him to come to the fulnes of iniquitye who neuerthelesse is so blinded in his owne fantasyes that wallowing in this wickednes he thinketh yet himselfe to be perfite holye and the generall Uicar of Christe vpon earth Yea for so much as he is able to forgiue vnto other as he thincks greater sinnes if greater maye be then these are why maye he not dispense wyth himselfe in the like Or rather why shoulde it be counted sinne in him For so sayth one Ennodius to speake but of one among many such sayinges The Pope together with the power of teaching hath receiued free libertye to do ill without controlment And such is their affiaunce in the holines of their chaire that the presumption thereof hath caused them thus to decree Distict 40. Non vos in Glossa Papa de homicidio vel adulterio accusari non potest vnde sacrilegij instar esset disputare de facto fuo Nam facta Papae excusantur vt homicidia Samsonis furta Hebraeorum adulteria Iacob The Pope cannot be accused of adulterye or manslaughter Therefore it was as muche as Churchrobbing to dispute of his doing For the Popes deedes are excused as the murthers of Samson the theft of the Hebrewes the adulterye of Iacob And againe it followeth in the same place In Papasi desint bona acquisita ê‘ meritum sufficient quae a loci praedicessore praestantur If the Pope lacke good deedes gotten by his owne merites the good deedes which his predicessour S. Peter did do serue his turne This being coÌ„sidered it is lesse to be marueyled at that the Pope should thus embrewe his hanâ—es with the bloud both of his freindes kindred and parentes and defyle his body most shamefullye with his owne sister nyce and daughter But to returne to the historye After that this Paule gatte the Popedome he created two Cardinals whereof the one was Alexander sonne to his bastard sonne Peter Aloysius and the other was Ascanius sonne to his bastard daughter Constantia By his tyrannye he oppressed the Perusians and in a madnesse he draue Ascanius Columna out of his kingdome He cloyned into his owne handes by vyle treacherye a towne called Camery dryuinge out and dispossessing the Queene thereof being a godlye wyse and vertuous Ladye By his crafte he so inuegled the Colledge of Cardinals that he brought to passe by their consente to chaunge Camery for Parma Placentia two noble Cityes and to make his sonne Peter Aloysius Lorde and Prince thereof But the iust vengeance of God did afterward plague this their pollitick packing for this aduauÌ„cement of Aloysius fell oute to his destruction in the ende Oftentime this Paule consulted wyth his Cardinals how he might hinder the nationall councel holden in Germanye and hee commaunded his Legates to enflame the mindes of other Princes against the king of England and he purposed to giue his kingdome awaye from him and to make it a praye and bootye to those that woulde make hauocke of it Anno 1542. he summoned a generall councell to be holden at Trent against the Gospel the preachers fautors thereof But because he coulde not there haue all things according to his owne minde he remoued it to Bononia pretending that it was done onely for choyse of better ayre which was but a shifte when as his purpose was by this meanes to defeate many of geuing theyr voyces in the sinode He oppressed wyth all force the professours of the Gospell some wyth sword some wyth fyer some wyth poyson were destroyed He spared not so much as his Cardinals if they did once but sauour of that sect wherof Cardinall Fulgosius Cantarenus felt the proofe And but that it
his death Dic vnde Alecto pax ista refulsit vnde Tam subito reticent praelia Sixtus obit Say hag Alecto whence haue we this peace and how are fled The bloudye broyles so sodenlye Pope Sixtus nowe i◠dead ▪ Againe another wrote this Mortuus est Sixtus gaudet nunc Roma trahatur Vt dignum est vnco mortuus in Tiberim Pope Sixt is dead and Rome is glad therefore as it is meete To Tiber draw his carkasse with an hooke fast to his feete Another Sixtus obit gaudent omnes nefunere sicco Transeat amissa plangite glande sues Pope Sixt is dead all men are glad but least that noone bewayle While he is buryed weepe ye hogs and howle your acorns fayle Another Extulit auratas sed postquam maxima glandes Ecclesia innumeris patefacta est ianua porcis When mighty mother Church gan once her goulden acorns yeld It was set oape to howgy heards of swyne that haue it fild ¶ Another Sixte iaces tandem fidei contemptor aequi Pacis vt hostis eras pace peremptus obis O Sixt thou were a foe to peace and peace hath thee now slaine That diddest long in life both fayth and equitye disdaine Sixte iaces tandem laetatur Roma tuo quae Passa sub imperio est funer bella famem Now dead is Sixt and Rome is glad who while as he did raigne Oft burials and wasting warre with famme did sustaine Sixte iaces tandem nostri discordia secli Saeuisti in superos nunc Acheronta moue Nowe Sixt is dead that noyde this age with discord and with euill Thou raged hast against the heauens now wrangle with the deuill Sixte iaces tandem fraudisque dolique minister Et sola tantum proditione potens Now Sixt is dead that did contriue such falsehoode craft guile And onlye bare so great a sway by treason all this while Sixte iaces tandem pressa est quo sospite virtus Leges sacra pium relligioque fides Now Sixt is dead who while as he did liue did keepe in awe Religion fayth zeale godlines all honestye and lawe Sixte iaces tandem deflent tua busta cinedi Scortaque lenones alea vina Venus Now Sixt is dead vpon whose graue there doth lament howle Bauds strōpets bankruts ribaulds stewes eke the drōken nowle Sixte iaces tandem summorum imfamia fexque Pontificum tandem perfide Sixte iaces Now Sixt is dead the shame of those that hye in honour be The scoom of Popes most faithlesse wretch now dead at lēgth is he Sixte iaces tandem vos hunc lacerate Quirites Dentur impastis membra scelesta feris Now Sixt is dead his carkasse then ye Romaynes rent teare And giue the gubs to carrayne crowes to the saluage beare Quid pia profuerint functo solemnia Sixto Tradita sunt celeri vota precesque noto What doth it boote to pray for soule of Sixtus being dead Your prayers are but blastes of winde that in the ayre are fled Riserat vt viuens coelestia numina Sixtus Sic moriens nullos credidit esse Deos. As Sixtus in his life did scorne the God celestiall So at his day of death he thought there was no God at all Sixte iaces tandem superis inuisus imis Inclusus grauido ventre necandus eras Thou Sixt at length art dead whom heauen doth loath also hell If murdred thou in mothers wombe had bene it had bin well Stupra famem strages vsuras furta rapinas Et quodcunque nefas te duce Roma tulit Thou being Captaine wretched Rome no mischiefe could escape As robbing murther vsury theft famin whordome rape Magna licet tardae soluenda est gratia morti Omne scelus tecum Sixte cruente iacet Much are we bound to death though long it were ere shee thee sped For now with the O cruell Sixt all villany is dead By these Uerses which were made vpon Pope Sixtu after his death it maye appeare what opinion men had of his holinesse in his life But to proceede Leander Tritemius say that about the yeare of our Lorde 1470. Alanus de rupe a dominican after he had seene certaine diuelishe visions and illusions contriued his worke called Rosariū out of our Ladyes Psalter and preached it in steede of the Gospell which Iames Sprenger did aduaunce with counterfaited myracles and at the length Pope Sixtus did cōfirme it to be holye and autenticall with his bulles and indulgences Whereupon a certaine booke was published in the beginning wherof it is written that vpon a time the blessed Uirgin came into the Cell of the said Alan it being shut and made him a ring of her owne haire and betrouthed her selfe to the monke that she kissed him giuing him leaue to handle and milke her breastes and finally to be as pleasaunt and familiar with him as a woman would be w t her husband And these grosse monkishe myracles are yet defended by the Popishe priesthoode Of this Alan came the order of religious loyterers called after his name 159. Innocentius the eight INnocentius the eight was a Genewaie borne his fathers name was Aron and his name before was Iohn Baptist Cibo he beinge Cardinall of S. Cicilia was chosen Pope after the death of Sixtus He was sometime a poore boye but of excellent beautye and brought vp among those that waighted vpon Alphonsus king of Sicill wher he learned perfitly courtly fashions Afterward he cōming to Rome continued a long season in the companye of Philip Cardinall of Bononia In time he was made prelate of Sauon then of Melphit afterwarde Secretarye by Sixtus and so came to be Cardinall and last of all Pope He was tall of stature fayre of complexion and of a comly parsonage but of a grosse and dull wit voyde of learninge and so heauye headed that sometime euen when he sate busye about publick affayres he would take a nap and fall a sleepe He was welbeloued of Sixtus for his comlye behauiour and curtesye wherein he excelled all other But verelye he fawned vppon all men with flatteringe face but was freind to no man in deede and being of nature addicted to couetousnes yet he would shift it and colour it with myrth and pleasant ieaftes Euen at his entrye almost to his Papacye he conspired with the Princes of Sicill against their king Ferdinand sending for Robart Seuerinates to be Captaine of the enterprise So well doth the Pope requite his bringinge vp in the king of Sicils house He said that a man oughte to make warre for the dignitye of the Church for the defence of subiectes and for procuremente of peace to ensue contrarye to the Apostle sayinge Do not euill that good may come thereof But at length he seing himselfe disapointed toke peace perforce and yet with these conditions that a tribute shoulde be payed due vnto him and that the rebels should haue no harme But yet the wyse Prince king Ferdinand kept neither of