sent him into fraunce When they had sent out the kyng he coÌ„quered more then was theyr will and more then they supposed possible for hym in so shorte space and brought fraunce cleane vnder fete so that oure prelates had much secrete busynes to set it vp agayn but what is impossyble vnto so great Gods In kynge Henryes dayes the .vi. oure holy father of Rome made the bysshop of Wynchester a cardynall HeÌ„ry the .vi which went shortly after into fraunce to treate of a truce betwene Ingland fraunce And him mette a legate of Rome a cardinall also after which meating Inglyshmen had euer the worse in fraunce and theyr chefest fryende the duke of Burgayne forsoke them For wheÌ„ cardinalles bysshops mete together they haue their secrete counsell by them selues wherin they conclude neyther what is good for Inglande nor yet for fraunce but what is best for our holy fathers proffytt to kepe him in hys state When kynge Henry was of age there was a maryage made betwene hym and the earle of Arminackes doughter in GiaÌ„ with the which shuld haue bene geuen manye castels and townes in Gian and a greate soÌ„me of money therto But the maryage was broken not without the secret workyng of oure prelates and dyspensation of our holye father thou mayest be sure And a mariage was made betwene hym and the kinges doughter of Cecyle for which Ingland gaue vp the whole dukedom of Gyan and Earledom of Mayme wherby we lost all Normandye wherof they were the kaye And besyde yâ— the coÌ„munes gaue a xv an half to â—ette her in wyth pompe And then was the good duke of Glocetter traytourously murthered partely because he could iudge false myracles partely because of the delyuerauÌ„ce of these two contreys For he being a lyue they durst not do it And when kyng Edward had put doune kyng Henryâ— a mariage was made and coÌ„cluded betwene hym the kynge of spaiue this quenes mother yâ— nowe is But yer the Ambassadours were come home oure Prelates had be witched kynge Edwarde by theyr apostle Fryer bongay and maried him vnto a wyddowe that was a knyghts wyfe lest yf spayne and Ingland had bene wyned together kynge Edward shuld haue recouured fraunce agayn But what followed after the breakiÌ„g of that mariage betwene kynge Edward the earle of warwick aÌ„d what came of his chyldren ye aÌ„d what came on king HeÌ„ry of windsores children also But what care our prelates what vâ—geaunce or mischefe faâ—â—e on princes or on theyr royalmes so theyr kyngdome prospere In Kynge Henryes dayes the .vij. the cardinall Murton bysshop â—ox of winchester delyuered vnto the kinges grace the confessions of as many lordes as hys grace lusted Who soeuer was mistrusted it he shroue hym self at the chartâ—rhouses syâ—n Grenewich at sainct Ihoâ—s CoÌ„fession or where soeuer it waâ— the confessour was comaunded by the aucthorite of the pope to delyuer his confession wryteÌ„ sworne that it was al. And cardinal Murton had a lycâ—nce of the pope for fourtyne to study nycromancyâ— of whych he him selfe was one and other I haue heard named whiche at thys tyme I passe ouer with scilence And how the holy fryers obseruauntes caryed feyned letters to trye who was true I passe ouer with silence also How beit such temptacions and fained profers were ynough to moâ—e them that neuer wold haue thought amysse yea and in confession men wyll shryue them sâ—lues of thoughtes which they neuer went about in the outwarde dead WheÌ„ any great maÌ„ is put to death how his coÌ„fessour entreateth him what penaunce is enioyned him concerninge what he shall say when he comeÌ„th vnto the place of executioÌ„ I coud gesse at a practise that might make mens eares glowe And did not the subtil counsell of the sayde two prelates fayne the sege of Bolen to make a pretence to gather in a fiftene wheÌ„ there was no more warre betwene the king of Fraunce and of Englond then is betwene a mans head that hath lust to slepe his pilow Which sege yet cost many a maÌ„ their lyues yea some great men therto which knew not of that faining The kinges grace went ouer with a ten thousaÌ„d men to coÌ„quere all Fraunce and spent haply an huÌ„dred thousand pound of which he saued the fourth part in the daÌ„dyprattes and gathered at home .v. or .vi. huÌ„dred or more And two other such fayned viages could I happly reherse which I passe ouer for diuerse causes where many an Englishe man lost his lyfe But what care they for mens lyues And did not our cardinall with like polycy thiÌ„cke ye to gather yâ— which he thoght wolde not well be payed excepte the commens sawe somâ— cause briÌ„g a great multitude of scottes vnto the english pale ethâ—â— by some bysshopes of Scotlande or by some great man whom he corrupted with some yerelye pencion agaynst which the poâ—re northen meÌ„ must goo on their owne cosâ— to kepe them out And generall processyon was commauÌ„ded at London thryse in the weke and thorow out all the lande while â— Kynges receauers gathered the taxe of the comen people Which plage and such like after the thretning of god Leui. xxvi Deute xxviij aÌ„d .xxix. I am sure wyll faule on all christendome without cease vntyll they ether defye the name of chryst with the turckes or if they wylbe called christen they turne and loke on his doctrine Yea and what fayned the cardinall at the great loue to begyle his owne pryestes to make theÌ„ swere what they were wroth and the better wyllyng to paye for the comen priestes be not so obedient vnto theyr ordinaryes that they wyl pay money excepte they know why Now it is not expedyeÌ„t that euery rascall shulde know the secretes of the very true cause for many coÌ„syderacyons And therfore aÌ„ other pretence must be made aÌ„d an other cause alleaged And therfore the priestes were charged by theyr ordynaryes to appeare before the gentelmâ—â— of the court and tâ—mporal officers sweaâ—e what euery maÌ„ was worth Now the pryestes had â—euer be slayne and dye marters after the eÌ„sample of sainct Thomas of CauÌ„terburâ— then to sweare before a laye iudge for they thinke it greater synne then to slea their owne fathers and that then the lyberties of the church were clean lost and they no better then the vyle lay peple And wheÌ„ they were in that perplexitie that they muste eyther sweare or runne into the kyngs dauÌ„ger lose theyr goddes I wold say theyr goodes then my lorde cardenall sent downe hys graciouse powr yâ— they shuld swearâ— vnto theyr ordinaryes onely And then the pryests for ioye that they were ryd out of yâ— laye mennes handes were so glad and ioyous that they wyste not what thankes to geue my lorde cardinall and so were obedyent to sweare and to lende or els for all the curses that my lord Cardinall hath and the Pope to they wold neither haue
holye church as any Thomas euer was seyng he was as able the newe Thomas Then the newe Thomas as glorious as the old toke the mater in haÌ„de and persuaded the kinges grace And â—hen the kinges grace toke a dyspensatyon for hys othe made vppon the apoyntment of peace betwene him and the French king and promysed to helpe the holy seate where in Pope Peter neuer sate But the Emperour Maximilian myght in no wyse stand still lest the frenchmen shuld money hym get ayde of hym seynge the Almaynes refuse not money wheÌ„ce soeuer it be profered then quod Thomas wolfse Maximliâ— Oh and lyke youre grace what an honoure shulde it be vnto youre grace if the emperour were youre sodyare So greate honoure neuer chaunced any kyng christened It shulde be spoken of while the world stode The glory honour shall hyde and darken the coste that it shall neuer be sene though it shulde coste halfe youre realme Dixit factum est it was euen so And theÌ„ a parliament and then paye and then vpon the Frenche dogges â–ª with cleane remission of all his sinnes that slew one of them Remision of synnes â–ª or if he be slayn for the pardons â–ª haue no streÌ„gh to saue in thys life but in the lyfe to come only theÌ„ to heauen strayght wythout felynge of yâ— paynes of purgatorye Then cam oure kyne with all hys might by se and by lande and the Emperour wyth a strong army and the Spanyardes and the pope the Uenecyans all at once against king Lewes of fraunce As sone as the pope had that he desyred in Italy then peace immediatlye And frenchmen were chrysten men and pytie yea and great synne also were it to sheade their bloud and the frenchkinge was the most chrysten kyng agayne And thus was peace concluded and oure Inglyshmen or rather shepe came home against winter and lefte theyr fleces behynde them Wherfore no smal number of them whyle they sought them better raymente at home were hanged for theyr laboure ¶ Why the kinges syster was turned vnto fraunce WHen this peace was made oure holye Cardynalles and Bysshoppes as their olde Gyse is to calke and caste .xl â–ª L. yea an hundred yeare before what is lyke to chaunce vnto theyr kingdome considered how the Emperour yâ— now is was moost like to be chosen Emperour after hys graundfather Maximilian for Maximilian had already obteyned of dyuerie of the ELECTOURS that is shulde so be They coÌ„sidered olso howe mightye he shuld be first Kyng of Spayn with all that perteyneth therto which was wont to be v. vi or .vij. kyngdoÌ„s then Duke of Burgoyne Earle of FlauÌ„ders of Hollande Zelande and Braband wyth all that parteine therto then Emperour aÌ„d hys brother Duke of Austrych and hys sister quene of Hungrye Wherfor thought our prelates if we take not hede betymes oure kyngdome is lyke to be troubled we to be brought vnder the fete For thys maÌ„ shal be so myghty that he shall with power take out of the french kynges handes out of the haÌ„des of the Uenetians and froÌ„ the Pope also what soeuer parteyneth vnto the empyre aÌ„d what soeuer belongeth vnto hys other kyngdoÌ„s and dommions therto And then he wyll come to Rome and be crouned there and so shall he ouerlooke our holye father and see what he doth And then shall the olde heretykes ryse vp agayne say that the Pope is Antichryste and styrre vp agayne and bryng to lyght that we haue hyd broghâ— a slepe with muche cost payne and bloudeshedyng more then thys hundred yere longe Considred also that hys aunte is quene of England and hys wyfe the king of EnglaÌ„ds sister consydred the old amitie betwene the house of burgom the old kinges of eÌ„gloÌ„d so that they coulde neuer do ought iÌ„ frauÌ„ce with out theyr helpe last of all coÌ„sidered that course of marchauÌ„dise yâ— iÌ„glaÌ„d hath iÌ„ those parties also the naturall hart that eÌ„glishmeÌ„ bear to freÌ„chmeÌ„ Wherfore if we shall vse oure old practyse and set the french king agaynst hym Then he shall lyghtelye obtayne the fauour of the king of Ingland by the meanes of hys Aunte and hys wyfe and ayde wyth men and money Wherfore we must take hede betimes and breake thys amytie Whych thinge we maye by thys oure olde craft â—easely bringe to passe Let vs take a dispensation breake thys maryage and turne the kinges sister vnto the French king Yf the frenche Kynge Practyse gette a male of her then we shall lyghtly make our kyngepro tectoure of fraunce and so shall Inglande and Fraunce be coupled together and as for the quene of Inglande we shall trymme her well ynough and occupye the kynge with straunge loue and kepe her that she shall beare no rule And as the goddâ—s had spoken so it came to passe Our fayre yong doughter was sent vnto the old pocky king of fraunce the yeare before our mortall eÌ„nemye and a myscreaunt worse then a Turke and disobedient vnto oure holy Father and no more obedient yet then he was coÌ„pelled to be against his wyll The cause of the iourney to Calyce IN shorte space thereafter Thomas wolfse now Cardinall and Legate a latere and greatlye desyrous to be Pope also thought it exceading expedient for his many secrete purposes to bring our Kyng and the Kyng of Fraunce that now is together both to make a perpetual peace and amitie betwene them and that whyle the two kynges and their lordes dalyed together the greate cardinalles and Bisshoppes of both parties mighte becraye them both and the Emperour and all Chrysten kinges therto Then he made a iourney of gentelmen arayed all together in sylk so much as thâ—ir very showes and lynynge of theyr boutes much more lyke their mothers then meÌ„ of warre yea I am sure yâ— many of theyr mothers wolde haue bene ashamed of so nyâ—â— and wanton aray how beit they went not to make war but peace for euer and a daye longer But to speake of the Pompouse apparell of my lorde hym selfe and of hys chaplaynes it passeth the .xij. apostles I dare swere that if Peter and Paule had sene them sodenly aÌ„d at a blush they wold haue bene harder in beleue that they or any such shuld be theyr successours then Thomas â—â—dimus was to beleue that Chryst was rysen agayne from death When all was concluded betwene the kyng of Fraunce and ours that Thomas wolfâ—e had deuised and when the prelates of both parties had cast theyr peny worthes agaynst all chaunces and deuysed remedyes for all mischeues· Then the ryght reuerend father in God Thomas cardinall aÌ„d Legaâ—â— wolde go se the young Emperoure newlye chosen vnto the roume and haue a certayne secrete communicacion wyth some of his prelates also And gatte him to bridges in Flaunders Prelates where he was receaued with great solempnitie as belongeth vnto so mighty a pyllar of Christes church and was saluted at the
english to mynystre the almesse of the people vnto the pore and neadye For in the congregation of christ loue maketh euery maÌ„s gifte and goodes comune vnto the necessyte of hys neyghboure Wherfore the loue of god beyng yet hore in the hartes of men the rych that had the substance of thys worldes goodes brought of theyr aboundaunce grete plentye vnto the sustentation of the poore and delyuered it vnto the Handes of the Deacons And vnto the helpe of the Deacons were wydowes of .lx. yeare olde holy vertuous and destitute of frendes chosen to tende and wayte vppon the sycke and to washe the sayntes fete that came from one Congregacion vnto an other whether for any busynes or for feare of Persecucyon And these commune goodes of the churche offered for the succour of the poore grewe in all churches so Exceadyngly that in some coÌ„gregâ—cion it was so much that it was sufficyente to Mayntayne an hoste of men In so muche that tyrants dyd oft tymes ê‘secute the christen for those commune goodes as thou seist in the lyfe of S. Laurence the deacon of Rome And moreouer the couetuousnes of the prelates was the decaye of chrystendome aÌ„d the encresyng of the kyngdome of Mahomette For by the first springing of the empyre of Mahomete the Emperoures Kinges and greate lordes of christendome had geuen their treasure so myghtely vnto the church what after great victoryes what at theyr deathes that their successours were not able to mainteyne battell against the Saracenes and Turkes for the woorlde was not yet in such captiuitie that they coulde make theyr subiects swere on bokes what they were worth rayse vp taxes at theyr pleasur so that a certein wrytter of stories sayth The prelates gaped when the laye men wolde take the warre vpon theÌ„ agaiÌ„st the Turkes and that lay men loked when the prelates wolde laye out their money to make the warre with all and not to spend it in worse vse as the most part of theÌ„ were woÌ„t to do spendynge the moneye that was goten with almesse and bloude of marters vppon goodly place and greate vessels of golde and syluer without care of things to come despising God whome they worshypped for their belyes sake onely and also maÌ„ Moreouer it was the custome euen then sayth the auctor to axe what the bishopryke was worth ye and to leaue a worse for a better or to kepe both with a vnioÌ„ And at the same time Isacius the debitie of the Emperour came to Rome to confirme the Pope in his se with the Emperours aucthoritie for the electioÌ„ of the pope was theÌ„ nothynge worth except it had bene coÌ„firmed by the emperour and he founde so great treasure in the church of saynt Ihon Lateran yâ— for dysdayne which he had that they shulde haue such treasure in sâ—ore not to helpe the emperour in his warres agaiÌ„st the Turckes seing his souldyers lacked wages he toke it away with violence agaiÌ„st the wyll of the prelates of which he exyâ—ed some and payde his owne men of warre with one part toke an other part vnto him self sent the thyrde parte vnto the Emperoure whiche must nedes haue bene a great treasure in one church ¶ By what meanes the prelates fell from Chryst THe office of a Bysshop was a roume at the begynnynge that no man coueted and that no man durste take vppoÌ„ him saue he only which loued christ better then hys owne lyfe For as Christ sayeth that no man myght be hys disciple excepte that he were ready to forsake lyfe and all eueÌ„ so myght that officer be sure that it wolde coste hym hys lyfe at one tyme or an other forbeariÌ„g record vnto the truth But after that the multitude of the chrysten were encreased and many great men had receauâ—d the fayth than both landes and rentes aswell as the other goodes were geuen vnto the maintenaunce as well of the clergye as of the poore because they gaue then no tythes to the priestes nor yet nowe do saue in certeyne couÌ„treys For it is to much to geue almesse offeringes landes and tythes also And then the bysshops made theÌ„ whych they call pryest and kepe the name bisshop vnto them selues But out of the deacons sprange all the myschefe For thorow their handes wente all thynge they ministred vnto the clergye they ministred vnto the poore they were in fauoure with great small And when the bisshops office begaÌ„ to haue rest to be honorable then the deacons through fauoure and gyftes clam vp thervnto as lyghtlye he that hath the old Abbots treasure succedeth with vs. And by the meanes of their practise accointauÌ„ce in the world they were more subtile and woorldly wyse then the olde bysshops and lesse learned in Goddes worde as oure prelates are when they come froÌ„ studentshyppe in Gentlemens houses and from surueing of greate mens landes lordes secrets Kynges counsels ambasadourshyp from warre and ministring all worldly matters yea worldlye mischefe and yet nowe they come not thence but receaue all and byde there styll The prelates must bâ—de styll in the courte yea they haue enacted by playne parlyament that they must byde in the courte styll or els they may not haue pluralytie of benefyces And then by lytle and lytle they inhaunsed them selues and turned all to them selues minysshynge the poore peoples parte and encreasing theyrs and ioyniÌ„ng accoyntaunce with greate meÌ„ and with their power clam vp and entitled theÌ„ wich the chosing and confyrming of the Pope and all bisshoppes to flatter and purchase fauoure and defenders trustynge more vnto their worldly wysdom then vnto the doctryne of Chryst whych is the wysdom of God and vnto the defence of maÌ„ then of God Then whyle they that had the plowe by the tayle loked â—acke the plow went a wrye â–ª Faythe waxed feble and faint loue waxed cold the scriptur waxed darke Chryst was no more sene he was in the mounte wyth Moses therfore the bysshops wolde haue a god vpon the earth whom they might se and thervpon they beganâ—e to dyspute who shulde be greatest ¶ How the Bysshop of Rome became greater then other and called him selfe Pope TheÌ„ quod worldly wisdoÌ„ HierusaleÌ„ must be yâ— greatest for that was christs sete et factum â—st so it caÌ„ to passe for a seasoÌ„ And in coÌ„clusioÌ„ where a greate cytie was and much riches ther was yâ— bisâ—hop ever greater then his fellowes Alexander in Egypte and Antioch in Grece were greater then theyr neyghbours TheÌ„ those decaying ConstaÌ„tinople and Rome waxed greate and stroue who shuld be greater And Constantinople sayd where the Emperour is there ought to be the greatest seat and chefest bisshop For the Emperour layâ— most at Constantynople because it was I suppose nygh the middes of the empyre therfore I must be the greatest sayde the bisshope of CoÌ„staÌ„tinople Nay quod the bisshoppe of Rome though the Emperour lye neuer so muche at constantinople yet he is called Emperour
of Rome rome is the head of the eÌ„pyre wherfor of right I muste be the Father of all waten And thus whether they chalenged theyr title by the aucthorite of God or man or by peter or poulinge it was all one so they myghte be greatest And great intercession was made vnto the Emperours of both parties but in vayne a greate season for the emperours stopped their eares at such ambicious requests longe time tyll at the last there cam an Emperour called Phocas whyche laye long in Italy was a very soft man a praye for prelates Phocas Pope bonâ—face the 〈◊〉 In whose time Boniface the third was bysshop of Rome a man ambicious gready vpon honour of a very subtil wit nothing inferiour vnto Thomas wolf ser cardinall of yorcke This Boniface was greate with the emperour Phocas with his wylyâ— persuasions greate intercessioÌ„ together obtayned of Phocas to be called the chefest of all bysshops that his churche shulde be the chefe church Which auctorite as sone as he had purchased he sent immediatly his coÌ„maÌ„dmeÌ„t with the emperours power wherunto all the bisshopps of Almanye â–ª â—â—mauÌ„diâ—g the euery bysshop shuld call all the priestes of his diocese the chastitâ— of priestes how it came vp charge theÌ„ that euery man shuld put awaye his wyfe vnder payne of excoÌ„municatioÌ„ Which tyranny thogh great resistauÌ„ce was made agaiÌ„st it he yet brought to passe with the emperours swerde and his owne subtiltie to gether for the Bysshops were rych and durst not displease the pope for feare of the Emperour As sone as Nemroth yâ— myghtie him 〈◊〉 had caught this praye that he had compelled all bysshops to be vnder hym and to swere obedyence vnto hym then he began to be greate in the earth and called him self papa Papa wyth thys interprecaâ—yon father of fathers And when the Pope had exalted his throne aboue hys fellowes then the vnitie that ought to be amonge bretheren in Chrystes Church brake and diuisyon begaÌ„ betwene vs and the grekes which grekes I suppose were at that time the one half of chrystendome DiuisioÌ„ in the church And when any pope â—ens exhorted them to vnitie they aÌ„swered that he which wyl reygne ouer hys brethereÌ„ with violeÌ„ce breaketh vnitie not they that they wyl not be vnder hys tyrannye whervnto he calleth them vnd a colour of vnite And from hense forth with the helpe of his bisshops which were sworne tâ— be true lygâ— men vnto him when before tyme they were admitted to their bisshoprikes of the emperours and kinges he began to ley abayte to catch the hole Empyre into his handes also ¶ By what meanes the pope inuaded the Empire AT that same ceason Mahomete the auctour of the sâ—cte of the turckes and saracens beganne mahomete the pâ—pe began at â—â—ne time And as sone as he had got muche People vnto him with wiles and fayned miracles he inuaded the empyre of Rome in those quarters And loke how busy Mahomet was in those partyes so â—esy was the pope in these quarters to inuade the empyre with the helpe of his sworne bysshops which preached all of non other God then the Pope whyle the emperour was occupied a farre of in resisting of Mahomete Gregory the pope came vp by the frenchmen by the he cotinnueth his estate styll And within few yeares after when the kinges of Italy nowe and then vexed our holye fathers for the covetouse ambicion then Gregory the third ioyned amite wyth the Frenchmen and called them to helpe by whose power they gatte all they haue also mayntaine it vnto this daye For if any man sens that time hether dyspleased the pope neuer so lytle he iÌ„mediatly cursed hiÌ„ and excommuniâ—ated hym aÌ„d proclaymed him no ryght enheritoure and that it was not laufull to holde of him and obsoluâ—â— hys lordes and subiectes of theyr alleages aunce and seÌ„t his blessing vnto the french king and remissyon of sinnes to go and coÌ„quere hys lande the pope and french kynge alwaye diuiding the spoyle betwene them the bisshops and all that serued god for yâ— belly preaching the popes myght â–ª how that he had power so to do and all thinges to bâ—de and lose at hys wyll wrestinge the scriptures to serue for their purpose corrupting all the lawes both of God and man to proue hys godhead with all pope zacharias the .i. Hilderichê° THeÌ„ cam pope Zacharias the first in whose time hulderichus was kynge of fraunce a maÌ„ yâ— gouerned his royalme as it ofte chauÌ„ceth by a debitie as parsones preache one Pipine a lord of his oâ—ne his sworn subiect pipinus This pipine seÌ„t an holy bisshop to pope Zacharias that he shuld helpe to make hym kynge of Fraunce and he wold be hiâ— defender in Italy as the maner of â—â—aulâ— horses is the one to clawe the other Zacharias answered that he was more worthy to be kyng that ruled the Realme and â—oke the laboures than an ydle shadowe that went vp and downe and did nought And so vpon that the lordes of Fraunce by the persuasions of the prelates consented vnto Pipine aÌ„d thrust downe their right kinge vnto whom they were sworne ynd made a monke of him And both the lordes also Pipine toke dispensacions for theyr othes of our holy father and were forsworne Thus was oure holy father the Pope crepte vp in to the consciences of men with hys false interpretation of byndyng aÌ„d loâ—synge good .viij. hundred yeres agone Then came Pope Stephanus the secoÌ„d out of whose haÌ„des Estulphus kyng of Lombardie wold faine haue scratched som what pope steueÌ„ the second estulphus for he thought that the holye fathers gathered to faâ—â—â— and had all readye raked to muche vnto them But the new kynge Pipine of fraunce warned of hys duetie and seruice promysed aÌ„d mindefull of old frendshippe and hopynge for parte of the praye came to succoure the pope and when he had subdued the Kyng oâ— Lombardye he gaue vnto our holy father or rather to saynt Peter that hungry begger greate prouinces contreys in Lombardye and in Italye with the yle corsica and many greate cyties of which some perteyned vnto the Emperoure being then at Constantinople yet the Emperour had sent before vnto king Pipine that he shuld not geue of his townes vnto the pope But Pipine answerâ—â— that he cam for the same intent to inhaunce our holy father And our holy father receaued them And thus the Empyre was deuided in two partâ—s the Pope and the frenchking partyng the one halfe betwene them And as the Emperour decayed the Pope grewe And as the pope grewe so the secte of Mahomete grew for the Emperour halfe his empyre lost was not able to defend him selfe agaiÌ„st the infidels And the pope wold suffer no help hence to come for two causes One lest the Emperour shuld recouer his Empyre agayne and an other
neuer be out of syght But where oure Charles was there must that lord also be and what charles dyd that must he be preuye vnto vntill that thâ—s lord perceauing that it came because of this enchaunted rynge for very paine and tedyousnesseâ— toâ—â— and cast it into a well at acâ—n in douchland And after yâ— the rynge was in the wel â–ª the Emperour coulde neuer departe from the towne but in the sayde place where the ring was cast though it were a foule maâ—resse yet he bylt a goodly monasterye in the worship of our ladye and thether brought relikes from whence he coulde gett theÌ„â—aÌ„d pardons to sanctifye the place and to make it more hauÌ„ted And there he lyeth and is 〈◊〉 sainte as ryght is For he dyd for chrystes vicar asmuch as the greate Turke for mahomete but to saue hys Holynesse that he myght be canonysed for a saint they fayne in his lyfe that hys abydyng there so continuallye was for the hote bathes sakes with be there AFter Charlemain lewes the milâ— was emperour which was a verye pacieÌ„t maÌ„ an other phoâ—â—â— an other pray for the pope so meke and softe that scaâ—elye he coulde be angrye â—f any thynge at all Whan oure holy fathers had sene his water and spyed what complexion he was they chose Steuen the iiij of the name Pope with out his knowlege and bad him nother good morowe nor good eueÌ„ nor once god spede about the matter pope steueÌ„ 〈◊〉 .iij. against theyr own graunt vnto hys father for his good seruice And hys softnes was yet somwhat dyspleased there with in as muche as the electyon of the Pope partayned vnto his right But the Pope sent Ambassadoures and wrote al the excuses that he coud and cam after him self to frauÌ„ce to him pleased him aÌ„d crouned him yeâ—e emperour and passed the tyme a ceason with him and they became verye famylier to gether After that they chose Paschalis pope of the same maner pope paschale which phascalis sent immediatly legates vnto the emperour softe lewes excusing him selfe and sayeng that it was not his faute but that the clergy and the comen people had drawen hym therto with violence agaiÌ„st his wyll Then the emperour was conteâ—tâ—or that ones and bad they shuld no more do so but that the old ordinaunce ought to be kept The softenesse of this Lewes did him much care For he was after presoned of his owne sone 〈◊〉 helpe of pope Gregory the fourth After this mans dayes the popes neuer regarded the Emperours nor did the clergy of Rome sue any more to the emperour ether for the electioÌ„ or coÌ„firmacioÌ„ of the pope Moreouer after this Lewes there was nev emperour in christeÌ„doÌ„ of any power or able of his owne might to correcte any pope nether was there anye kyng that coud correct the outrages vices of the spyritualty of his owne realme after this tyme For this Lewes lefte .iij. sonnes amonge which he deuided the realme of Fraunce and all douchloÌ„d Which same for pride disdaynâ— that one shuld haue more then aÌ„other fell to gether as we say by the eares eche destroyeng others power so that fraunce was afterward of no might to do any great thiÌ„g And theÌ„ the pope reygned in Italy alone without care of any Emperour Alone pope Niclaus the .i. in so much that Nicholaus the firstâ— decreed that no seculare prince or emperoure shuld haue ought to do or be at the counsels of the clergy pope adriaÌ„ the ij ¶ And after that AdriaÌ„ the secoÌ„de was choseÌ„ pope the eÌ„perours debite beyng in Rome and not ones spoken to of the matter And when the emperours ambassadoures disdained they answered who can resiste the rage of the peple prayed theÌ„ to be coÌ„tent to salute him as pope And Adrian the third decreed that they shuld not abyde aÌ„d tarye for the Emperours confirmation or aucthoritie in chosing the pope and hatâ— the pope onely shuld call a generall councel and not the emperour or if the Emperour wold presume that to do the councell shulde be of none effecte though all the prelatâ— of chrystendom were there though what soeuer they did were but GODS worde So mighty was the beast now waxed when he ones began to raygne alone And from this tyme hâ—therwarde perysshed the powr of the Emperours and the vertue of the pores saith platina in the lyfe of popes For sins that tyme as there was none emperour of myght so was there no pope of any vertue Alter thys lewes the empyre of Fraunce and of all doutchlande was diuided betwene his thre sonnes which as I sayde fought one with an other and destroyed the strength of the empyre of fraunce And froÌ„ that time to this which is aboue .vij. hundreth yeares thou shalt reade of fewe popes that haue not led their lyues in bloudsheading in so much that if thou consydre the storyes well thou shalt easely perceaue that there hath bene slayn about theyr cause farre aboue .xl. C. thousand meÌ„ besides that there hath bene but fewe princes in christendom that hath not bene busyed and coÌ„bred a greate parte of his lyfe about their mater Eyther in warres begonne at their setting on ether in ceasing scismes or diuision that hath bene amonge the clergye who shuld be pope or striuing of bysshops who shulde be greatest as betwene the bisshop of Yorke and Caunterbury in Ingland betwene the bisshops of InglaÌ„de Wales wherof al the chronycles be ful or in reforming friers or monks or in sleing them that vttered their false hypocrisy with goddes woorde When the Emperour was downe no man in christendom of any powr to be feared then euery nacion fel vppon others and all landes were at variaunce betwene them selues And then as the Danes cam into Ingland and vexed the Inglishmen and dwelt there in spyte of their hartes euen so came straunge nacions whose names were scace hearde of before in these quarters as the Uandales Hunnes and Gothes and ran thorowout all christeÌ„doÌ„ by C. thousands together Uandales â–ª Hunnes· Gothes and subdued the landes and dwelt therin maugre the inhabitours as thou mayest se in Douchlond how diuerse nacions are inclosed in the middes of the land of a straunge tongue which no douchman vnderstandeth and that rule continued wel .viij. or ix score or .ij. huÌ„dred yeres And in all this ceason who soeuer wan the maystrye him the spiritualtye receaued and him they crouned king aÌ„d to him they cleaue And what so euer any tyrauÌ„t had robbed al his lyfe that or most parte therof must he deale amoÌ„g them at his death for feare of purgatory The spirytualty all that ceasoÌ„ preached the pope myghtely bylt abbayes for recreatyon and quietnesse shryninge them alwaye for sayntes which purchased theÌ„ priuileges or fought for their liberties or disputed for the popes powr how so euer they lyued but after L. yere wheÌ„ their liues were forgotten aÌ„d if any resisted
popes cleane contrary And the poÌ„pe of hys consecratyon was after his old worldly fation How be it yet he is made a saynte for his worshyppyng of the holy seate of sainct peter not that seate of peter which is Christs gospell but an other lyed to be peters is in dede cathedra pestilencie a chayr of false doctrine And because he could no skyll of oure lordes gospell he sayde of matens with oure lady saye they If any maÌ„ vnderstaÌ„d the laten let hym reade his lyfe compare it vnto the scriptur theÌ„ he shal se such holynes as were here to long to be rehersed And euery abbay euery cathedral church did shrine theÌ„ one God or other mingled the lyues of the very saintes wyth starke lyes to moue men to offre which thyng they call deuocion And though in all their doinges they oppresse the teÌ„poralty their comeÌ„ wealth be greuous vnto the rych and paynfull to yâ— poore yet they be so many so exercised in wyles so subtyl so knit sworne together that they coÌ„passe the teÌ„poralty make theÌ„ beare theÌ„ whether they wil or wyll not as the euye doth the oke partly with iugglinge besyde that with wordly polycy For euery abbot wyl make him that may do most in the shyre or wyth the kynge the stuarde of hys landes geue hym a fee yerely and wyl leÌ„d vnto some feast other that by such meanes they do what they wyll And lytle master parsoÌ„ after the same maner if he come into an house the wife be snoutefaire he wil rote him self there by one craft or other ether by vsiÌ„g such pastime as the good man doth or in beinge benefycyall by one waye or other or he wyll lend hym and so bryng hym into hys daunger that he can not thruste hym oute when he wolde but must be coÌ„pelled to beare him aÌ„d to let hym be homely whether he wyll or not ¶ An ensample of practyse out oâ— oure owne chronycles Take an ensaÌ„ple of their practise out of our owne stories Kyng Herolde Kyng Herold exiled or banished Robert Archbisshope of Canterburye For what cause the Inglysh polychronicon specifieth not Robert of caÌ„terbury But if the cause weare not sum what suspect I thynke they wolde not haue Passed it ouer with scylence Thys Robert gat hiÌ„ immediately vnto kynge Wylliam the conqueroure then duke of Normandye And the pope Alexander sente duke Wylliam a baner to go and conquere Ingland and cleane remission vnto whosoeuer wold folow the baner and goo wyth kynge Wyllyam here marke how streight the pope folowed-Christs steppes aÌ„d his apostles Remission of siÌ„nes to conquere englande they preached forgeuenes of synnes to all that repented throw Christes bloude shedyng the Pope preacheth forgeuenesse of synnes to all that will slea their bretheren bought with Chrystes bloud to subdue them vnto hys tyraÌ„nie What so euer othâ—r cause duke wyliaÌ„ had against kynge Herold thou maiest be sure that the pope wolde not haue medled yf Herold had not troubled hys kingdom â—â—e neyther shuld duke willyam haue bene able to conquer the land at that tyme except the spyritualtie had wroughte on hys syde What bloud did that conquest cost England thorowe whych almoost all the lordes of the Inglysh bloude were slayne â— the Normandes became rulers and all the laâ—es were chaunged into Frenche But what careth the holy father for sheading of laye mens bloude It were bâ—tter that .x. hundred thousand laye knaues loste theyr liues then that holy church shuld louse one ynch of her honour or sainct Peters seate one iote of her ryght Ancelmus And Ancelmus that was bysshoppe in shorte time after neuer left striuinge with that myghtie prince kynge Wyllyam the second vntyll he had compelled hym maugre hys teth to delyuer vp the inuestiture or election of bysshops vnto sainct Peters vycare whych inuestiture was of old tyme the kynges duetâ—e And 〈…〉 when the sayde kyng Wyllyam 〈…〉 the tribut that pryestes gaue 〈…〉 to their bysshops for theyr whores 〈…〉 dyd not Raffe bisshop of Chich◠〈…〉 goddes seruice as they call it 〈…〉 the church dores with thornes thorow out al hys diâ—cese vntyll the kynge had yelded hym vppâ— hys trybute agayne For when the holy father had forbidden pryestes theyr wyues the bysshop permitted theÌ„ whores of their owne for a yearely tribute do yet in all laÌ„des saue in Ingland where they maye not haue any other saue mennes wyues onely And agayne for the election of Steuen langton archbysshop of Canterbury what miserye and wretchednesse was in the royalme a longe ceason TheÌ„ was the land interdited many yeares And when that holpe not then Irelande rebelled agaynst kinge Iohn immedyatly Note and not wythout the secrete workinge of oure Prelates I dare well saye But fynally when neyther the interditing nether that secrete subtiltie holpe â–ª wheÌ„ Ihon wold in no meanes consent the saint peters vicar shuld raygne alone ouer the spiritualtye ouer all that perteyned vnto theÌ„ and that they shulde synne do all mischefe vnpunisshed the pope sent remissyoÌ„ of synnes to the kynge of FrauÌ„ce for to go and conquere hys land 〈◊〉 â–ª of synnes to coÌ„quere Wherof king IhoÌ„ was so sore afrayd that he yelded vp his croune vnto the pope sware to hold the laÌ„d of hiÌ„ aÌ„d that his successours shuld do so lykewise And agayn in Kyng Richardes dayes the second Thomas Arundell archbysshop of CaÌ„terbury chauÌ„celare was exyled with the Earle of Darbye Thomas AruÌ„dell The outwarde preteÌ„ce of the varyaunce betwene the Kynge aÌ„d his lordes was for the delyueraunce of the towne of Braste in Brytayne But our prelates had an other secret mystery a bruing They coulde not at they re owne luste slea the poore wretches which at that tyme were conuerted vnto repentaunce and to the true faith to put their trust in christs death bloudsheadyng for the remission of their sinnes by the preachinge of Iohan Wyclefe As sone as the archbysshop was out of the royaume Practyse the Irishmen began to rebell againste kynge Rychard as before against Kynge Ihon But not hardelye withoute the inuisyble inspyration of them that rule bothe in the courte and also in the consciences of al men They be one kingdom sworne together one to helpe an other scatered abroade in all royalmes And howe be it that they stryue amonge them selues who shal be greatest yet agaiÌ„st the temporall powr they be always at one though they disseÌ„ble it and fayne as thogh one helde againste the other to know theyr enemies secretes to betray them with all They caÌ„ inspyre priuelye into the brestes of the people what myschefe they lyst no maÌ„ shal know wheÌ„ce it coÌ„meth Their letters go secretly froÌ„ one to an other thorow out all kyngdoÌ„s SaiÌ„ct peters vicar shall haue worde in .xv. or .xvi. dayes froÌ„ the vttermost part of christendom The
sworne or payde a penny ¶ The practise of oure tyme. WHen the Kynges grace came fyrste to the ryghte of the croune and vnto the Gouernaunce of the Royalme yoÌ„g vnexpert Thoms wofâ—e Thomas wolfâ—e a man of lust courage and bodelie strength to do aÌ„d to suffer great thinges and to endure in al maner of voluptuousnes expert aâ—d exercysed in yâ— course of the worlde as he which had hard red sene much policie had done many thynges him selfe and had bene of the secrete councell of weyghtye maters as soâ—â—e as symon that betraaed troye vtterly apoynted to semble and dissemble to haue one thynge in the harte and an other in the mouth beynge therto as eloqueÌ„t as sotle able to persuade what he lusted to theÌ„ that were vnexpert so desyrous and gredye of honoure that he cared not but for the nexte and most compendious waye therto whether godlie or vngodlie this wylye wolf I saye aÌ„d ragynge sea and shypwracke of all England though he shewed him selfe pleasauÌ„t and calme at the fyrst as hores do vnto theyr louers came vnto the kinges grace and wayted vppoÌ„ him and was no man so obsequious and seruiceable and in all games and sportes the fyrst and next at hand and as a captayne to courage other aÌ„d a gâ—ye fynder out of newe pastimes to obtayne fauour with all And therto as the secrete communicacion weÌ„t which by many tokens thou mayst well coniecture and gather to be true Bisshopes calke kings natiuities he calked the kinges natiuitiâ— aÌ„d birth whiche is a comen practise amonge prelates in all landes wherby he sawe wherunto the kynges grace shuld be enclined all his lyfe aÌ„d what shuld be lyke to chaunce him at all times And as I hard it spoken of diuerse he made by crafte of nicromancye grauen Imagery to beare vppon hym wherwith he bewitched the kinges mynde aÌ„d made the kinge to dote vpon him more then euer he dyd on any lady or gentil woman so that nowe the kinges grace followed him as he before folowed the king And then what he sayde that was wysdome what he praysed that was honourable only Moreouer in the meantime he spied out yâ— naturs and disposicyons of the kinges playe felowes and of all that were greate aÌ„d whoÌ„ he spyed mere for his purposse him he flattered hym he made faythfull wyth great promyses to hym he sware of hym he toke an oth agayne that the one shulde helpe the other for wythout a secret oth he admytted no man vnto any parte of hys pryuities And euer as he grewe in promocioÌ„s dignitie so gathered he vnto him of the most subtle wytted of theÌ„ that were dronke in the desyre of honour most lyke vnto hiÌ„self And after they were sworne he promoted theÌ„ and wyth great ê“myses made them in falshed faithfull of them euer presented vnto the kyngs grace put theÌ„ into his seruyce saying thys is a man mete for youre grace And by these spyes if oughte weare done or spokeÌ„ in the court The kinge is betrayed agaiÌ„st yâ— cardinall of yâ— he had woorde within an houre or two And theÌ„ came the cardinall to court with all hys magike to persuade the contrary If any in the court had spokeÌ„ against the Cardinall aÌ„d the same not great in the kinges fauour the Cardinall bad hym walke a villayne and thrust hym out of the courte headlong If he were in conceyte wych the kynges grace theÌ„ he flattered persuaded and corrupt soÌ„me with gyftes and sente som Ambassadours and some he made Captaines at Calais HaÌ„mes Gynes Iernsey Gersey or sent them to Irlande into the north and so occupyed them tyll the kynge 〈◊〉 forgotteÌ„ them and other were in theyr rowmes or tyll he had spyed what they eâ—â—tended And in lyke maner played he with the ladyes and gentyll women the quene 〈◊〉 betraied Whosoeuer of them was great with her was he familiar and to her gaue he giftes â–ª Yea and where saynt Thomas of cauÌ„terburie was wont to com after Thomas Cardinall weÌ„â— oft before preuentynge hys prince and peruerted the order of the holte man Yf any were subtyll witted and mete for his porpose hiâ— made he sworn to betray the quene likewiseâ—â—nd to tell hym what she sayde or dyd I know one that departed the court for none other Cause then that she wolde no longâ—â— betraye her mastresse And after the same example he furnisheâ— the court with chapelains of his owne sworne disciples childreÌ„ of hys owne bryngiÌ„g vp to be alwaie present aÌ„d to dyspute of vanityes and to water what soeuer the Cardinall had planted Yf among those cormoraâ—Ì„tâ—s any yet begaÌ„ to be to much iÌ„ fauour wyth the Kynge and to be somwhat busye in the Court and to drawe any other waye then as my lord Cardinall had appoynted that the Plowe shulde goo a nonne he was sent to Italye or to SPAINE or some quarel was picked against him and so was â—â—â—ust out of the court as stokesly was He promoted the bysshop of Lyncolne that now is the bisshop of Lincoln his most faythful frende old companyon and made hym confâ—ssour to whom of what soeuer the kinges grace shroâ—e him self think ye not that he spake so loude that the Cardinall herde it and not vnryght for as Gods creatures ought to obeye God and serue his honoure so oughâ— the popes creatures to obeye the pope seâ—ue hys magestie Finally Thomas wolfse became what he wolde euen porter of heauen so that no man coulde entre into promocion but thorow him ¶ The cause of all that we haue suffred thys twentye yeares ABoute the beginning of the Kynges grace that now is frauÌ„ce was mightie so yâ— I suppose it was not myghtier thys fyue hundred yeares Kynge Lewes of Fraunce had wonne Naples and had taken Bonony from sainct Peters sâ— king lewes Wherfore Pope Iuly was wroth aÌ„d cast Pope Iuly how to bring the frenchmen doune yet soberly lest whyle he brought hym lower he shulde geue an occasyon to lyft vp the Emperour hyer Our first viage into Spayne was to briÌ„g the frenchmen lower For our meyney were set in the forefronte and borders of spayne towarde Gaskayne partly to kepe those parties and partly to feare yâ— Gascaynes to kepe them at home whyle in the meane tyme the Spanyardes wan Nauerne When Nauerne was wonne our men came to howse as manye as dyed not there aÌ„d brought all there money with them home agayn saue that they spend there How beit for all the losse of Nauerne the frenchmen were yet able ynough to match Spayne the Uenecians aÌ„d the Pope with all the Zwytzers that he coulde make so that there was yet no remedye but we must set on the freÌ„chmeÌ„ also if they shuld be brought out of Italy Then pope Iuly wrote vnto hys deare sonne Thomas wolfse that he wold be as good as louynge and as helpynge to