be gathered in Sardica wherein the cause of Athanasius was tryed and he found innocent and was sent backe againe and restoâ—ed to his place For Constantius feared the menacing letters of his brother Constans who threatned to leade an army to the East and to possesse Athanasius in his place againe if his brother lingred in doing of it After the death of Constans Sabinianus was sent to kill Athanasius but hee escaped miraculously as hath beene declared Againe hee was compelled first to flie and afterward to lurke in the dayes of Iulian. Hee was restored againe by the good Emperour Iovinian and he continued in his ministration vntill the dayes of Valentinian and Valens and although Valens was a cruell persecuter yet hee abstained from persecuting of Athanasius for honour of his gray haires and for that hee was reverently regarded of all men Thus Athanasius full of dayes died in peace after he had governed the Church of Alexandria 46. yeeres To worthy Athanasius succeeded Peter whom the Emperour Valens caused to be imprisoned and Lucius an Arrian Bishop to be seated in his roome Lucius was made Bishop of Alexandria against all kinde of Ecclesiasticall order neither did the people craue him nor the clergie of Alexandria approue him nor any Orthodox Bishoppe giue him ordination Peter escaped out of prison and fledde to Damasus Bishoppe of Rome Lucius like vnto a ravening wolfe not onely banished the Homousians out of Alexandria and Egypt but also that which was more insolent and never attempted before hee persecuted the Monkes who dwelt in solitary places of the wildernesse and banished them who had already banished themselues from all the delicate pleasures of the world But marke To what place could men be banished who inhabited the desert places of barren wildernesses Hee caused them especially Macarius and Isidorus to bee transported to an Isle wherein no Christians were to be found but onely Pagans and worshippers of divels When these prisoners of Christ approached neere vnto the Isle the divell left his old habitation to wit the mouth of the Image from whence he was accustomed to speake and hee possessed the Priestes daughter who ran vnâ—â— the shoare and cryed words not vnlike to those which were spoken to Paul and Silas in Philippi by the maide who had the spirit of divination and after this the divell left her lying vpon the ground as though shee had beene dead But the men of God by their supplications to God restored the young woman to health and delivered her to her father The Inhabitants of the Isle who saw the wonderfull works of God received the faith and were baptized in the Name of Christ. Lucius was so dashed with the fame of this wonderfull work and with the crying out of people against him that hee permitted the foresayd Monkes to returne backe againe to their owne places After Peter succeeded Timotheus for one cause worthie to be blamed because hee favoured the vsurpation of Maximus Cynicus who presumed without a lawfull calling to be Bishop of Constantinople And after him Theophilus succeeded whose attempts against Chrysostom I remit to the next Centurie Bishops of Antiochia IN Antiochia after Tyrannus succeeded Vitalius about the time that the rage of the tenth Persecution began to bee asswaged therefore hee re-edified a Church in Antiochia which had beene demolished in the time of the persecution of Dioclesian and his successor Philogonius perfected the building To whom succeeded Eustatius who was present at the Councell of Nice and was Moderator and mouth to all the rest Eusebius sometime Bishoppe of Berytus afterward Bishop of Nicodemia and last of all Bishop of Constantinople did insinuate himselfe in favour with the Emperour Constantine and obtained from him liberty to goe to Ierusalem and to visite the Temples that Constantine had lately builded in Bethlehem Ierusalem and vpon Mount Olivet To him resorted a number of Arrian Bishops who had all secretly conspired against Eustatius and subborned a vile woman to accuse him of whoredome The Arrians vpon the simple deposition of a woman subborned by themselues contrary to all kinde of order deposed Eustatius and perswaded the Emperour to banish him as a man convict both of adultery and of tyranny But the Lord layde his correcting hand vpon the woman whom the Arrians had suborned so that she dyed sore tormented with a grieuous sicknesse and confessed that money was given vnto her to accuse Eustatius and that shee had sworne deceitfully because the childe procreated with her was begotten by Eustatius a Smith of that name but not by Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia The Arrians in the dayes of Constantine had no great vpper hand except onely in the matter of Athanasius his banishment to Triere and in the deposition and banishment of Eustatius to Illyricum But in the dayes of Constantius they tooke boldnesse and planted Arrian Bishops in all principall places so that in Antiochia after Eustatius Eulalius Euphronius Placitus Leontius Eudoxiâ—s all these were Arrian Bishoppes placed by them in Antiochia In the end Meletius was ordained Bishop of Antiochia a man of great gifts whom the Arrians transported out of Sebastia in Armenia and placed him in Antiochia supposing that by his excellent learning many should be allured to their opinion but it fell out farre otherwise for Meletius professed the true faith Onely the reproueable forme of his entrie by receiving ordination from Arrian Bishops was the ground of remedilesse schismes in the Church of Antiochia There had been already two factions in the towne to wit Arrians and Eustatians now the third faction is added of them who were called Meletians with whom Eustatians did not communicate but abhorred them as they did the Arrians This schisme indured after the death of Meletius for the space of fourscore and fiue yeeres Meletius was banished in the dayes of Constantius and Euzoius an Arrian Bishoppe placed in his roome Hee was restored againe by Iulian onely for desire he had to vndoe things done by Constantius and to bring his name to disgrace Likewise vnder the raigne of the Emperour Valens hee was banished the second time Hee governed the Church of Antiochia fiue and twenty yeeres and dyed in Constantinople immediatly after the second generall Councell and was carryed to Antiochia to be buried there The ordination of Paulinus to be Bishoppe of Antiochia Meletius being yet aliue was the foolish fact of Lucifer Bishop of Calaris in the Isle of Sardinia Hee was restored from banishment in the dayes of Iulian. and tooke purpose accompanied with Eusebius Bishop of Vercellis in Liguria who was likewise restored at that same time to visit the estate of their brethren Eusebius addresseth himselfe to Alexandria and conferred with Athanasius But Lucifer went to Antiochia where he found miserable distractions euen amongst those who professed one and the selfe same Faith When exhortation to vnity could prevaile
vice of heresie the Pope both may and ought to be accused After this the vehemencie of his disease more and more increasing and because the nights were somewhat longer the third night before his departure the Bishop feeling his infirmitie to grow vpon him willed certaine of his Clergie to be called vnto him thereby to be refreshed with some conference or communication vnto whom the Bishop lamenting in his minde for the losse of soules through the auarice of the Popes court said on this wise as by certaine Aphorismes Christ came vnto the world to saue and to winne soules Ergo he that feareth not to destroy soules may hee not worthily be counted Antichrist The Lord created the world in six daies but in the restoring of man he laboured more then thirtie yeeres wherefore hee that is a destroier of that about the which the Lord so long laboured is not hee worthy to be accounted the enemie of God and Antichrist These and many other enormities of the Roman Church when the Godly Bishop had reproued as all kindes of Auarice Vsurie Simonie Extortion and all kindes of filthinesse fleshly lust gluttonie and their sumptuous apparell then sayth hee this old verse may be truly verified of the Court of Rome Eius avaritiae totus non sufficit Orbis Eius Luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Afterward hee went about more to prosecute how the foresaid Court like a gulfe neuer satisfied euer gaping so wide that the flood of Iordan might run into his mouth aspired how to vsurpe the goods of them that die vntested and of Legacies beqâ—eâ—hed without forme of law whereby more licentiously to bring this to passe they vsed to ioyne the king to be fellow and partner with them in their spoiles extortions and robbings Neither sayth he shall the Church be deliuered from the seruâ—tude of Aegypâ— out by violence and force and with the bloodie sword And albeit sayth hee those be yet but light matters yet shortly more great and grieuous things then these shall be seene And in the end of this his prophecying which he scarcely could vtter with sighing and weeping his tongue and breath begun to faile And so the Organ of his voyce being stopped made an ende both of his speech and life This is that Bishop who not onely in his lifetime resisted the pride and insolencie of the Bishop of Rome but also after his death God made him a terrour to the Pope who dreamed that Robert Gostred came to him and with his staffe strake him on the side and said vnto him Surge miser veni adiudicium after the which dreame within a few dayes hee ended his life Others doe adde that a voyce was heard in the palace where the Pope lay at Naples saying Surge miser vem adiudicium as hath beene declared in the life of Innocentius Quartus Of Monkes BEcause the orders of Monkes most abounded in this age albeit they begun long before therefore haue wee casten in this treatise in this Centurie howbeit wee declare the Order of Monks that sprang vp before or at this time About the time of the raigne of Iustinus the elder as hath beene declared in the seuenth Centurie Pope Iohn the first being Bishop of Rome Benedict a father and fauourrer of Monkes gathered together all scattered religious persons and begun a peculiar order vpon the Mount Cassinus where he built a most renowned Cloister giuing them there a rule prescript and forme of liuing Afterward the same Bennet hauing much people resorting to him built 12. other Monasteries and filled them with religious men Of this order is reported to haue beene 24. Popes of Rome 182. Cardinalls 1464. Archbishopps and Bishops 15000. and 70. renowned Abbots as sayth Pope Iohn the 22. There hath beene of this Order 5655. Monkes canonised and made Saints This Bennet also invented an order for his sister Scolastica and made her Abbesse ouer many Nunnes Her cloathing was a blacke coate cloake coule and vaile and lest the scripture should deceiue her and Hers it was commanded that none should read it without the consent and permission of their superiour Here is to be seene how God is sought in all monasticall orders when as amongst them his holy word is expelled This order of Bennedictin monkes when it was nerely decaied in shaddow of Godlines was quickned againe by one Otlon or Otho and was called the order of Clumacensis Howbeit their cloathing and rule was according to the appointment of Bennet And this monkish order was richly endewed with great substance and yeerely rents by a certaine Duke of Aquitania called Guillidinus in the yeere of our Lord 913. In the yeere of our Lord 850. Pope Leo the fourth gouerning the Sea of Rome the monkish religion of Camaldinensis was devised by Romoaldus of Rauenna in the mount Apenninus Their coule and cloake and all their cloathing was white They kept perpetuall silence Euery wednesday and fry day they fast on bread and water they goe bearefooted and lie on the ground Pope Innocentius the 7. being B. of Rome the monkish order of Hieronimians began vnder the name of S. Ierome who leauing his natiue countrie went vnto Iury there not far from BetheleÌ„ builded him an house where he liued very devoutly in the later end of his life Those Apes and counterfeites of S. Ierom weare their cloathes of white and a cope platted about their coate girded with a lether girdle The order was endewed with diuers priuiledges and liberties by certaine Bishops of Rome as Gregorie the twelfth and Eugenius the fourth Pope Gregorie the first borne of a noble stocke and very rich forsaked all and became a Monke After the death of his father he builded six religious houses in Sicilie giuing them a forme and rule of liuing He built another within Rome in the name and honour of S. Andrew wherein he dwelt with manie monkish brethren which from time to time keeping his rule diligentlie are called Gregorians Their habit is a copper-colloured cloath according to their rule Pope Gregorie the sixt bearing rule Ioannes Gualbertus a Knight begun this order in a certaine mouÌ„taine called Vallis Vmbrosa that is to say a shaddowed valley vnder Bennets rule with adding thereto and changing of blacke cloathes into gray In the yeere 1038. Pope Alexander the second being B. of Rome the sect of the Grandimontensis Monkes was invented by Stephen of Auernia Their order is to lead a strict life as Monkes vse to doe to giue themselues to watching fasting and praying to weare a coate of Mailes vpon their bodyes and a blacke cloake therevpon Pope Vrban the second bearing rule Robert Abbot of Molisme in Cistert in a wildernesse or forrest in Burgundie did institute the order of Cistertians albeit some ascribe this to one Ordingus a Monke that perswaded the aforesaid Monke to the same They weare red shoes and white Rotchets on a blacke coate all shauen
except a litle circle In the yeere of the Lord 198. Of this Religion was that great Clarke S. Bernard Pope Innocentius the third confirmed and allowed the Order of Humiliats first of all deuised by certaine persons exiled by Fredericus Barbarossa who when they were restored to their countrie apparelled themselues all in white and promised to goe in lowlie and simple cloathing The men and women to be separated each from other and to labour euerie one in that wherein hee was most skilfill They had one commune purse amongst them They professed S. Bennets rule This Order in processe of time hath increased so both in goodes and persons that it was confirmed and endewed with many priuiledges of diuers Bishopps of Rome in the yeeres of our Lord 1166. Pope Celestinus the fift willinglie gaue ouer his Bishoprike and returned againe to his solitarie life wherein he quietly liued before his Papacie Certaine superstitious persons counterfeited this Bishop taking vpon them an order of S. Bennet in a wildernesse and called themselues Celestines after Celestine The garment which they weare cloakes coule and cape are blew in the yeere 1297. Pope Eugenius the fourth bearing rule S. Gilbert in England at Sirington and Semphring hame began an order of Monkes called after him Gilbertines in the yeere 1148. Pope Eugenius the fourth confirmed the religion of the Iustinians adorning the same with manie liberties and priuiledges It was first of all invented by Lewes Barbus a counsellors of Venice and practised in the parts of Treuisa in the Cloyster of S. Iustine by the citie of Padua They professe Monke Bennets rule but in habit and apparrell they differ Pope Gregorie the seuenth being Bishop of Rome Bruno of Colen that Philosopher and diuine whom Bernard calleth a faire pillar of the church did institute the Order of charterhouse Monkes in the Diocesse of Gratianopolis at a place named Curtusia Their life was outwardly full of painted holinesse in forbearing flesh in fasting with bread and water euery Friday in wearing hairie cloathes next to their body solitarie much silent neuer going out refusing all womens companie c. Pope Gelasius the second bearing rule the order of the Templars begun in Ierusalem and continued almost 200. yeeres whose beginning was thus Templars begun in Ierusalem continued almost 200. yeeres whose beginning was thus After that Godfrey Duke of Loraine had conquered Ierusalem certaine Knights perceiuing that such Pilgrimes as came to them of their devotion were robbed and murthered by the way made a band among themselues to serue God in chiualrie At the beginning they were but few and gaue themselues to wilfull pouertie and their chiefe master was the keeper of the Temple doore whence they were called Templary They dwelt together not farre from Christs Sepulchre lodging the Pilgrimes keeping them from mischiefe and shewing them much kindnesse bringing them from one holy citie to another The badge of their order was a white cloake with a red Crosse. S. Bernard made them a rule according to the appointment whereof they framed their liues Afterward they became verie rich through the gifts of noble men and Pilgrimes But Pope Clement the fift put them downe and destroied them all in one day partly because as they writ they renounced the faith of Christ and conspired with the Turke and partly for other notable crimes Notwithstanding some say that this rooting out of them was more because of envie of their prosperitie and royaltie then for their faults For when their grandmaster Iames Burgonion was burnt at Paris with many of his brethren he affirmed that hee was neuer guiltie of the accusation laied against him Thus perished this order of Templars all in one day their lands and possessions being distributed and giuen to others in the yeere of our Lord 1110. Pope Calixtus the second allowed and approued the monkish order of premonstratenses which was first of all deuised by a certaine man borne at Colen called Notorobertus a Priest they be vnder the rule of Bennet the Monke they be clothed all ouer in white to declare their vnstained virginitie Anno 1119. Pope Gregorie the 12. raigning the Monkes of Mount Oliuet sprung vp through the deuice of Bernardus Ptolomeus Their cloathing is all white their rule is Bennets with some additions vnto it In the yeere of our Lord 1406. Pope Gregorie the 12. raigning confirmed and established also the order of S. George of Alga by Venice which was begun by a spirituall man the Patriarch Laurence Iustinian a man of an incredible strictnesse of life These Monkes are vnder S. Peters rule and the first order with certaine ordinances ioyned thereto In the yeere 1407. Pope Vrban the second bearing rule the order of white Monkes begun first deuised by one Stephen Harding and afterward in the yeere of our Lord 1135. it was brought into England by a certaine man called Waiter Especk who built an Abbey of the same order called Meriuale Pope Honorius bearing rule Raymound a man of Nobilitie first of all invented the Order of S. Iohn Baptist at Ierusalem about the yeere 1130. Pope Clement the sixt being Bishop of Rome a certaine Pestilent sect of false religious persones sprang vp in high Almaine who called themselues Penitentes Cruciferi seu flagellatores that is patient crosse-bearers or scourgers of themselues Their maner was to goe from place to place hauing a banner vpon the Crucifixe borne before them and neuer to tarrie in one place but vpon the Sabboth euery day also they did pennance both morning and euening by scourging themselues before the people with a great whippe of three coards full of knotts vpon their bare bodies affirming that it was reveiled vnto them by an Angel from heauen that they thus scourging themselues should within thirtie dayes and twelue houres thorow the suffering of those paines be made so cleane and free from sinne as they were when they were Baptized Anno. 133. CENTVRIE XIIII Of Popes AFter Bonifacius the eight succeeded Benedictus the eleuenth and ruled eight months and seuenteene dayes To him succeeded Clemens the fift and ruled eight yeeres ten months and fifteene dayes who translated the Popes Court from Rometo Aviniogue in France where it remained 74 yeeres At the Coronation of this Clement Philip king of France Charles his sonne and Iohn Duke of Britaine were present who being in the middle of their Pompe and Procession a great wall brake and fell vpon them by which Duke Iohn and 12. others were slaine king Philip hurt the Pope striken from his horse hauing lost out of the miter on his head a carbuncle esteemed to the value of 6000. florence By him also the order of the Templars were put downe at the counsell of Vienne who for better collowring of so cruell an act was not ashamed to say these words in the councell Etiamsi non licet per viamiustitiae tamen licet
the fabrick of the Church and that the Bishop should compell noue of the Clergy to attend vpon him in servile workes That Bishops for ordination of the Clergy should receiue no rewards That neither a little balme nor yet the price thereof should be exacted from the people for their baptisme in any time to come lest they should seeme with Simon Magus to sell the gift of God for money That Bishops before the dedication of Churches shall see a charter containing a sufficient maintenance for them who shall serue in the Church and for a substantiall furniture of lights thereunto A Church builded for gaine and contribution of the people redounding to the vantage of the builder shall not be consecrated Parents who are poore and present their children to baptisme if they offer any thing voluntarily it shal be accepted but they shall not be compelled to pay any thing neither shall a pledge be required from them left poore people fearing this with-hold their children from baptisme If any of the Clergie bee accused of fornication let the accuser proue his accusation by two or three witnesses according to the precept of the Apostle else let the accuser be excommunicate That Metrapolitane Bishops shall signifie to others of the Clergie the time of the observation of Easter or Pasch day and the Clergie after the reading of the Gospell in like manner intimate the day vnto the people That whosoever tasteth meat or drink before he consecrate the oblation of the Altar shall be deposed from his office IN the yeere of our Lord 613. assembled in a towne of France called Altissidorum otherwise Antissidorum vulgarly Auxerre a number of Abbots and Presbyters with one Bishop and three Deacons In this Councell they damned Sorcerie and the seeking of consultation at Sorcerers in the first third fourth and fift Canons wherby it appeareth that Sorcery hath been in frequent vse in France Many superstitious constitutions were set down in this Synod concerning the number of Masses prohibition of tasting meate before Masse concerning buriall prohibition of Baptisme before the festivity of Easter-day except vpon necessity and feare of approaching death prohibition of Matrimoniall copulation with their owne wiues to Presbyters and Deacons after their blessing and consecration with prohibition of marriage also to the widowes of the defunct Presbyters Deacons or Sub-deacons this was a yoke of Antichristian subiection indeed Brothers and sisters children are forbidden to marrie It is not lawfull for a Presbyter to sit in iudgement when any man is condemned to death It is not lawfull for a Clergie-man to cite another of the Clergie before a secular Iudge It is not lawfull for a woman with a naked hand to touch the holy Eucharist It is not lawfull to take refreshment of meate with an excommunicate person If any of the Clergie receiue an excōmmunicate man without the knowledge of him who did excommunicate him he shall receiue the like sentence that is he shall likewise be excommunicated It is not lawfull for a Presbyter in banqueting time to sing or dance Many Canons to the number of 45. were concluded in this Councell but I haue determined not to over-lade a little booke with commemoration of an heape of vnprofitable vnnecessary and superstitious Canons IN the yeere of our Lord 364. and in the 24. yeere of the raigne of the Emp. Heraclius a Councel was gathered in Hispalis a towne of Spaine vulgarly called Civill la grand It was gathered by Isidorus Bishop of Hispalis at the command of King Sisebutus who was both present President in this Councell For two principall causes was this Synod convened namely for suppressing the heresie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was a branch of the heresie of Eutyches secondly for decision of questions which arose amongst Bishops concerning the marches bounds of their dioceses with some other Ecclesiasticall causes They had 13. Sessions or meetings as is declared 2. Tom. Council In the first action Theodulphus Bishop of Malaca complained that by iniury of warres an ancient parish Church was separated from his towne and possessed by others It was concluded that he should be repossessed againe into his ancient priviledges and that prescription of time should haue no place if it were knowne that hostility and war-fare had hurt a man in his rights In the 2. Session the controversie betwixt Fulgentius B. of Astigita and Honorius B. of Corduba concerning the marches of their dioceses was debated and men were chosen to visite the bounds and to decide the controuersie In the 3. Session compeared Cambra B. of Italica a towne of the province of Spain of old called Baetica he cōplained against one of his Clergie named Passandus that hee being brought vp frō his infancy in the Church of Italica yet had fled without any iust cause to Corduba It was ordained that whosoever fled from his owne Church vnto another should be sent back againe and be put into a Monastery should be devested of his honor for a time to the end that the sharpnesse of discipline might correct the licentious liberty of vagring and wandering In the 4. Session it was complained that some were consecrated to bee Levites in the Church of Astigita who had maried widowes This ordination was annulled and it was ordained that none of these Leuites should be promoted to the honor of a Deacon In the 5. Session a Deacon of the Church of Agabra complained of the ordination of three persons in that Church one was ordained to bee Presbyter and two to bee Levites The Bishop being blind laid his hands vpon them but one of the Presbyters pronounced the blessing Now the Presbyter who had pronounced the blessing was dead before the Councell of Hispalis therefore they remitted him to his owne Iudge but the three persons afore-said admitted to Church-offices they deposed them from their offices as persons vnlawfully admitted In the 6. Session it was found that Fragitanus a Presbyter of the Church of Corduba was most vniustly both deposed and banished by his Bishop For remedy that the like mis-mis-order should haue no place in time to come it was statuted ordained that a Bishop without advice of his Synode should not presume to depose a Presbyter In the 7. Session Chore-episcopi Presbyters are debarred frō the high priviledges of the Episcopal office namely from the consecration of Presbyters of holy Virgins Churches Altars from laying hand vpon men converted from heresie conferring vnto them the holy Spirit frō making of Chrisme signating with it the fore-heads of them who are baptized from absolving publickly in time of Masse any penitent person and sending testimonials to forraine parts called Formatae epistola and finally from baptizing consecrating the Sacrament blessing the people and teaching them receiving penitents when the Bishop was present The 8. Session intreated concerning Heliseus a servant whom
simple men and shauen their heads and by such meanes doe possesse their goods in respect of their covetous desire of filthy lucre let them be subiect to Canonicall or regular repentance But let those simple men who have layd downe their haire as men destitute of vnderstanding who cannot gouerne their owne affaires let them remaine in that estate which they haue once vndertaken but let the goods given by negligent Parents and received or rather reaved by avaritious Church-men be restored againe to their children heires 8. If Church men lay vp provision of come in Victuall-houses let it not be to keepe them to a dearth but to support the poore in time of need therewith 9. Hunting and hawking and the insolency of foolish and filthy iests are to bee forsaken of Church-men 10. Gluttony and drunkennesse is forbidden 11. The Bishop or Abbot must not resort to civill iudicators to plead their owne cause except it be to support the poore and oppressed Presbyters Deacons and Monkes having obtained licence from the Bishop may compeare in Civill iudgement-seats accompanied with their Advocate 12. Let not Presbyters Deacons or Monkes bee farmers or labourers of the ground 13. It is reported of some brethren that they compell the persons who are to be admitted in time of their ordination to sweare that they are worthy and that they shall do nothing repugnant to the Canons and that they shall be obedient to the Bishop who ordayneth them and to the Church in the which they are ordayned which oath in regard it is perilous we all inhibit and discharge it 14. Bishops in visiting of their Parishioners let them not be chargeable vnto them but rather comfortable by preaching the Word and by correcting things that are disordered 15. It is reported that some Arch-deacons vse domination over the Presbyters and take tribute from them which smelleth rather of tyranny then of due order For if the Bishoppe should not vse domination over the Clergie but by examplars to the flocke as the Apostle Peter writeth much lesse should these presume to doe any such like thing 16. Like as in dedication of Churches and for receiving of orders no money is received even so for buying of Balme to make Chrisme Presbyters keepers of Chrisme shall bestowe no money but Bishops of their owne rents shall furnish Baulme for the making of Chrisme and Lightes to the Church 17. It hath beene found in some places that Presbyters haue payed 12. or 14. pennies in yeerely tribute to the Bishop which custome wee haue ordained altogether to be abolished 18. The receiuing of paunds from incestuous persons and from men who pay not their Tythes and from negligent Presbyters is forbidden as a thing which openeth a doore to auarice but rather let Ecclesiasticall discipline strike vpon transgressours 19. Let people giue their Tythes to those Churches wherein their children are baptized whereunto they resort all the yeere long to heare Church-seruice 20. Let peace bee kept amongst all men but in speciall betwixt Bishops Countes whereby euery one of them may mutually support another 21. Ciuill Iudges ought to judge righteously without exception of persons and without receiuing of rewards and let their Officiars Vicars and Centenaries bee righteous men least by their auarice and greedinesse the people bee grieued and impouerished And let the witnesses be of vnsuspect credite for by false witnesses the Countrey is greatly damnified 22. The Abbots and Monkes in this part of the Countrie seeing they haue addicted themselues to the Order of Saint Benedict let them endeuour to conforme themselues vnto his institution and rules 23. The ordination of Presbyters Deacons and other inferiours is to bee made at a certaine prescribed time 24. Concerning Bishops Presbyters Deacons and Monkes who shall happen to be llaine let the Emperour giue determination to whom the satisfacton of blood shall belong 25. In many places the auncient custome of publicke repentance hath ceased neither is the auncient custome of excommunicatioÌ„ and reconciliation in vse Therefore the Emperour is to be entreated that the ancient discipline may be restored againe and they who sinne publikely may be brought to publike repentance and euery man according as hee deserueth may either bee excommunicated or reconciled 26. It is reported that in some Churches there is contention and strife for diuidng of Church rents It is ordained therefore That no Masse shall be said in those Churches vntill they who are at variance be reconciled againe 27. Neither the Sacrament of Baptisme nor the Sacrament of Confirmation should be reiterated 28. Concerning the decrees of affinitie and in what degree Marriage may be bound vp euery man is sent to the Canons of the Church to seeke resolution 29. Seing that the man and the woman are counted in Scripture as one flesh their Parentage is to be reckoned by like degrees in the matter of Marriage 30. The Marriage of seruants is not to bee dissolued which is bound vp with consent of both their masters euerie seruant remaining obedient to his owne master 31. It is rumoured that some women by negligence and others fraudulently doe present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation to the ende they may bee separated from the companie of their husbandes Therefore wee statute and ordaine that such women as either negligently or fraudulently present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation they shall bee compelled to doe penance all the dayes of their life neither shall they in any wise be separated from their husbandes 32. Let a sinner confesse vnto his Father-Confessor all his sinnes which hee hath committed either in thought word or deede because that hatred enuye and pride are such pestilentious botches of the soule and the more secretly that they are couched the more periculously they hurt 33. Sinnes should not onely bee confessed to God according to the example of Dauid who saith I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Psal. 32. vers 5. But also wee should confesse our sinnes to our Father-Confessor according to the precept of the Apostle Acknowledge your faultes one to another and pray one for another that yee may bee healed I at 5.16.34 In preâ—â—â—ibing of penance let fauour and hatred of any person be laide aside and let the injunctions be giuen according to the rule of holy Scripture and according to the Canons and custome of the Church following the example of the Physitions of the body who without exception of persons doe adhibit cuttings burnings and vehement remedies to perilous diseases 35. Many in doing of penance are not so desirous of remission of sinnes as of the accomplishment of the prescribed time of their humiliaon and beeing forbidden to eate flesh or drinke wine they haue the greater desire of other delicate meates and drinkes but spirituall abstinence which should bee in penitent persons excludeth all bodily delightes 36. Let no man sinne of
purpose to the ende hee may abolishe his sinnes by Almes-deedes for that is all one as if a man should hyre God to grant vnto him a libertie to sinne 37. Seeing all Canons of Councels are to be diligently read in speciall such as appertaine vnto faith and reformation of manners should bee most frequently perused 38. Bookes called Libelli Poenitentiales are to abolished because the erroures of these Bookes are certaine howbeit the authors of them be vncertaine and they prepare pillowes to lay vnder the heads of them who are sleeping in sinne 39. In the solemnities of the Masse Prayers are to bee made for the soules of them who are departed as well as for them who are aliue 40. Presbyters who are degraded liue like seculare men neglecting repentance whereby they might procure restitution to their office let them be excommunicated 41. A Presbyter who transporteth himselfe from his owne place shall not be receiued in any other Church except hee prooue both with witnesses and letters sealed with lead containing the name of the Bishop and of the Citie which he liued in that he hath liued innocently in his own Church and had a just cause of transportation 42. Let no Church bee committed to a Presbyter without consent of the Bishop 43. In some places are found Scots-men who call themselues Bishops they ordaine Presbyters Deacons whose ordination we altogether disallowe 44. Presbyters must not drinke in Tavernes wander in Markets nor goe to visite Cities without aduise of their Bishop 45. Many both of the Clergie Laickes goâ— to holy places such as Rome Turon imagining that by the sight of these places their sins are remitted and not attending to the sentence of Ierome It is a more commendable thing to liue well in Hierusalem than to haue seene Hierusalem 46. In receiuing the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ great discretion is to be vsed Neither let the taking of it be long differred because Christ saith Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud yee haue no life in you Neither let vs come without due preparation because the Apostle saith He who eateth and driâ—keth vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation 47. The Sacrament of the body blood of Christ which in one day is accustomed to be receiued of all Christians let no man neglect to receiue it except some grieuous crime doe hinder him from receiuing of it 48. According to the precept of the Apostle Iames Weake persons should be annointed with oyle by the Elders which oyle is blessed by the Bishop these words inclosed in a parenthesis are added to the Text for he saith Is any man sicke amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray for him and annoint him with oyle in the Name of the Lord And the prayer of faith shal saue the sicke and the Lord shall raise him vp And if he haue committed sin it shal be forgiuen him I am cap. 5. vers 14.15 Such a medicine as cureth both bodily spirituall maledies is not to be neglected 49. In the Councell of Laodicea it was forbidden that Masses should bee said and Oblations offered by Bishops or Presbyters in priuate houses This question also was disputed in this Councell 50. The authoritie of the Emperour is to be interponed for reuerent keeping of the Lords day 51. Because the Church is constituted of persons of diuerse conditions some are Noble others are ignoble some are seruants vassalles strangers c. It becommeth them who are in eminent rowmes to deale mercifully with their inferiours knowing that they are their brethren because God is one common Father to both and the Church is one common mother to both From the 52. Canon vnto the 66. are contained precepts of chaste and honest liuing prescribed to Prioresses and Nunnes which I ouer-passe as I haue done in the preceeding Councels 66. It is ordained that prayers and supplications shall be made for the Emperour and his children and for their well-fare both in soule and bodie 67. These things haue we touched shortly to be exhibited to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Hee who desireth a more ample declaration of all vertues to be followed and vices to be eschewed let him read the volume of the holy Scriptures of God IN the same yeere of our Lord wherein the preceding foure Councels were conueened by the mandate of the Emperour Charles the Great another Councell was conneened at Arles The Canons of this Councell were in number 25. 1. They set downe a Confession of their Faith 2. They ordaine That Prayers shall bee made for the Emperour and his children 3. They admonish Bishops and Pastors diligently to reade the bookes of holy Scripture To teach the Lords people in all truth and To administrate the Sacraments rightly 4. Laick people are admonished not to remooue their Presbyters from their Churches without consent of their Bishops 5. That Presbyters be not admitted for rewards 6. It is ordained That Bishops shall attend that euery person liue ordinately that is according to a prescribed rule The 7. and 8. Canons belong to the ordering of Monkes and Nunnes The 9. Canon pertaineth to the payment of Tythes and first fruits 10. It is ordained That Presbyters shall preach the word of God not only in Cities but also in euery Parochin 11. Incestuous copulations are to be vâ—terly abhorâ—ed 12. Peace is to bleeâ— kepâ— with all men according to the words of the Apostle Follow peace and sanctification without theâ— which no man shall see God Heb. cap. 12. vers 14 1â— Let Lords Iudges and the rest of the people be obedient to their Bishop let 〈…〉 judgâ—ment be vsed and no bribes receiued nor false testimonie be admitted 14. In time of Famine let euery man support the necessitie of his owne 15. Let all weightes and measures be equall and just 16. Let the Sabboth day be kept holy without Markets Iustice Courtes and seruile labour 17. Let euery Bishop visite his boundes once in the yeere if he finde the poore to be oppressed by the violence of the mightie then let the Bishop with wholesome admonitions exhort them to desist from such oppression and in case they will not desist from their violence then let the Bishop bring the cause to the eares of the Prince 18. Let Presbyters keepe the Chrisme and giue it to no man vnder pretence of Medicine 19. Parentes and Witnesses shall bring vp baptized children in the knowledge of God because God hath giuen them vnto Parents and Witnesses haue pawned their word for their faith 20. Ancient Churches shall not be depriued of Tythes nor of none other possession 21. That the constitution of ancient Fathers shal be kept concerning Buriall in Churches 22. Ciuill Iudgment-seates shall not bee in Churches 23. The goods belonging vnto the poore if they bee bought let it bee done openly in sight of the Nobles
are bold without consent of Bishops to place and to displace Pastours to distribute Ecclesiastical liuings according to their pleasure And to burthen Church-men with exactions and taxations whensoeuer they please This forme of doing is ordained to be punished with excommunication And he who receiueth a Church from a Laicke person without his owne Bishops authoritie is to be debarred from the communion and in case he perseuere obstinatly in his sin he is to be depriued of Ecclesiastical orders Also Laicke persons who transfer the right of tythes to other Laicke persons they who receiue thē and deliver them not to the Church shall want the honour of Christian buriall Church-men who haue accquired riches by Church-rents howsoever they die let their goods pertaine to the Church Moreover because some Bishops are found in some parts who permit them whom they call Decani for a summe of money to exercise Episcopall iurisdiction it is ordained that hee who so doth shall bee depriued from his office and that the Bishop shall haue no power to conferre any such office Let not the votes of a few persons in the Church hinder the ordination of them who are thought meet by the most part to be ordained to Eclesiasticall offices If a question arise concerning presentations of diverse persons to one Church or concerning the gift of patronage if the foresayd question bee not decided within the space of three moneths the Bishop shal place in the Church the man whom he thinketh to be most worthy Seeing that the Church as a provident mother should provide all things necessary for the soules and bodies of the people left the poore and indigent parents want the benefite of good education in learning It is appointed and ordayned that in every Cathedrall Church a worthy benefice shall be bestowed vpon a Schoole-master to the end the teacher receiving a competent reward for his travels a patent doore may be opened to the increase of learning Diuers Churches are so heauily over-loadned with tribute and taxations by Consuls Gouernours of townes and Rulers of Provinces that the estate of Bishops is worse then was the estate of the Idolatrous Priests of Egypt in the daies of Pharaoh for the Priests had an ordinarie of Pharaoh and they did eate their ordinary which Pharaoh gaue them wherefore they sold not their ground which Pharaoh gaue them But now all charge of civill affaires are layd vpon Gods Church Therefore it is ordayned vnder paine of cursing that Governours and Rulers of Provinces desist in time to come from such doing except the Prelates vpon consideration of the great necessitie of the countrey would voluntarily consent to support the necessitie of the Laiques Seeing that Pope Innocentius the second and Pope Eugenius the third our predecessors of good memorie condemned the spectacles on market-dayes and holy-dayes for ostentation of their valure and strength skirmishing one against another in sight of the people whereby it came to passe that some were slaine and their soules were in ieopardie These spectacles are also damned by vs and if any person be slaine in them let him want the honour of Christian buriall This containeth a commandement of superstitious observation of dayes Let no men presume to alter the ancient custome of exactions without the authority and consent of Princes Persons diseased with leprosie it is permitted to them to haue their owne Church and their owne Pastor They who furnish armour to the Saracens who fight against Christians or who take Christians prisoners who are busie in their lawfull callings or who spoyle them who haue made ship wracke let them be excommunicated Manifest vsurers shall be debarred from the communion and if they repent not they shall want the honor of Christian buriall and no man shall receiue their offering Iewes and Saracens shall not be permitted to haue Christian servants in their houses no not vnder pretence of education of their children Also the testimony of a Christian against a Iew shall be admitted and if any Iew through the mercy of God be converted to the Christian religion hee shall in no manner of way be secluded from his possessions In the last Canon after a smooth preface that Pope Leo said Ecclesiastical discipline is content with a Priestly iudgment but vseth not bloody revenges Alwayes Pope Alexander in this Councell thought it lawfull to borrow the power of secular Princes to persecute those whom he called Heretiques in Gasconie Tholuse and other parts These he calleth Cathari Patrini or Publicani but out of question they were Valdenses who being driven out of Lions Pope Alexander would grant them no corner in the world to rest in But meitated by his cruell edicts all Princes Nobles Lords Governours to pursue them with fire and sword and all kinde of hostility promising to them who so doth if they bee vnder Ecclesiasticall censure indulgence and relaxation of two yeeres of the compleat time of their penance and to those who doe zealously pursue them such security in their persons and goods as vseth to bee conferred to such persons as visite the holy graue and are taken vnder the protection of the Church Others of Aragon Navarre and other places whom also hee calleth Heretiques and who practised against Christians all kinde of mercilesse in humanity neither sparing sex nor age I cannot vnderstand of what kinde of Heretiques he meaneth for their heresie is not expressed CENTVRIE XIII ABout the yeere of our Lord 1215. Pope Innocentius the third gathered a generall Councell at Rome wherein the doctrine of Transubstantiation was ratified Also the Grecians were ordayned to turne to the obedience of the Church of Rome to the end there might be one shepheard and one sheepfold and that they should desist from detesting the Priests of the Latin Church whom the Grecians so abhorred that they would not say masse vpon the Altar which the Latin Priest had touched vntill it had beene cleansed and washed Also that they should not rebaptize such as were baptized by Latin Priestes and that all these things should be observed vnder paine of cursing And finally it was concluded that an army should bee sent vnto Syria for reliefe of the Christians there and the recouery of the holy Land and that processions supplications and fastings should be kept monethly for the more easie obtaining of it LIkewise in the yeere of our Lord 1273. Gregorius the tenth gathered a generall Councell at Lions where Michael Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople was present who by the slaughter of Theodorus Luscaris sonne committed to his custody had vsurped the Empire This Michael I say being present at the Councell acknowledged the superiority of the Church of Rome wherevnto the other Grecians were so farre from condiscending that they abhorred the said Emperour and would not suffer his body to be buried amongst other Christians In this Councell also was concluded that
consciences of their Church-men but prohibition of marriage which I haue prooued to be a doctrine of deuils cannot be referred to so ancient a beginning The Romane church desirous to be masked with a shewe of antiquitie they haue attributed Canons to the Apostles which are not found in their writings Yet it is a shame to the forgers of these canons to be found the principall impugners and transgressers of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say A Bishop elder or deacon who vnder pretence of religion putteth away his owne wife if he cast her off let him be excommunicated and if hee perseuere in so doing let him be deposed How can this constitution of Stephanus agree with the Canons of the Apostles Heere I appeale to the consciences of honest and vpright men if they finde not that the lie is not onely repugnant vnto the veritie but also vnto it selfe The supposititious Canons of the Apostles and the supposititious constitutions of Stephanus cannot both consist I know what they answere viz. that the Canons of the Apostles speake of those Bishops Elders and Deacons who had wiues when they were admitted to ecclesiasticall offices these should not put away their wiues vnder pretence of religion but concerning others who were vnmarried in the time of their admission the 25. Canon declareth otherwise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to vnmarried men who are promoted to the clergie we command that if they please they shall marrie but onely readers and singers to wit shall haue this priuiledge It is an vnsufferable thing to heare such leuitie and inconstancie imputed to the holy Apostles that they debarred no man from the office of a Bishop Elder or Deacon because he was a married man O but if any man enter vnmarried to be a Bishop Elder or Deacon then hee must not marrie If marriage had beene an vncleane thing it might haue debarred men from entering into holy offices but if it be a cleane thing it cannot exclude them after they haue entred The other decreet alledged out of Gratian dist 79. Oporrebat ut haec c. that by the constitution of Peter and his successors it was ordained that one of the Cardinall Elders or Deacons should be consecrated to be Bishop of Rome no other Such stiles of preheminence are vnknown to scripture and to the antiquitie of this time Xistus or Sixtus the 2. of that name and in number the 23. Bishop of Rome succeeded to Stephanus and gouerned 2. yeeres 10. months 23. dayes And Func Chron 11. yeeres such vncertaintie is in counting the yeeres of their administration The chaire of Rome through the vehemencie of persecution was vacant without a successour 1. yeere 11. months 15. dayes as Damasus granteth and Onuphrius the corrector of Platina cannot denie If the Bishop of Rome be the head of the Church then was the Church headlesse almost for the space of two yeeres To Xistus 2 succeeded Dionysius 24. Bishop of Rome and continued in his ministration 9. yeeres according to the computation of Eusebius Damasus assigneth vnto him 6. yeeres 2. months Marianus 6. yeeres and 5. months such certaintie is in the cheife and principall ground of the Romane faith concerning the succession of the Romane Bishops that scarse two writers doe agree in one minde concerning the time of their succession To Dionysius succeeded Felix 1. the 25. Bishop of Rome and gouerned 5. yeeres He liued in the dayes of Aurelian the 9. persecuter and obtained the honour of martyrdome In the three supposititious decretall epistles assigned to him the second epistle written to the Bishops of the Prouinces of France very sollicitously careth for Bishops that they be not accused by secular men but with so many caueats as in effect exempteth them from all accusation The language wherin the epistle is indited cannot agree with the ornat stile of the Latin tongue in this age he being a Romane borne as Platina writeth Post quam ipse ab â—s charitativè conventus fuerit Ad summos primates causa ejus canonicè defertur ConciliuÌ„ regulariter convocare debebunt c. The Galilean language manifested not more euidently that Peter was a man of Galile then the first of these 3. phrases manifesteth that the foresaid epistle was compiled in a time of great barbaritie Eutychianus the 26. Bishop of Rome followed after Felix 1. HeeÌ„ continued scarce ten months in his ministrie Caius the 27. Bishop of Rome succeeded to Eutychianus and continued 15. yeeres He liued in the dayes of the persecution of Dioclesian and lurked for a time in subterraneall places In the end he was found out by the persecuters and put to death and with his brother Gabinius and his brothers daughter Susanna suffered martyrdome Here it is to be marked that many martyrs died before the edict of horrible persecution was set forth in the 19. yeere of Dioclesians raigne For Marcellinus succeeded to Caius Anno 298. but the cruell edicts of persecution of Dioclesian were not set forth before the 308. yeere of our Lord. Whereby it appeareth euidently that many Christians were put to death before the edicts of horrible persecution were renued by the Emperour Dioclesian So hard was the outward estate of Christians that they were put to death vpon the warrant of the edicts of Valerian and Aurelian before the edicts of Dioclesian and Maximian came forth To Caius is attributed the constitution of ecclesiastical orders and degrees by which men must mount vp to the dignitie of a Bishop First he must be Ostiarius next Lector 3. Exorcista 4. Acoluthus 5. Subdiaconus 6. Diaconus 7. Presbyter and last of all Episcopus This order of ascending by degrees to the dignitie of a Bishop is confidently referred to the constitution of the Apostles but I say Beatus qui non credit that is happie is he who beleeueth it not Like as within scripture there is no lie so likewise without scripture there is no truth in matters of faith ordering of maners and appointing of ecclesiastical offices all that is necessarie is contained in the written Word of God But now to performe a part of that which I promised in the end of my treatise of Antiquitie and to let eueÌ„ry man see what vnlearned Asses they haue been who haue set foorth the fained decretall epistles of the fathers of this age In the epistle written by Caius to the Bishop Felix aboue-mentioned hee saith If any man of what dignitie so euer he be delate such persons viz. Bishops Elders Deacons for faultes that cannot bee proued let him vnderstand that by the authoritie of this constitution hee shall be counted infamous This constitution hath three parts First that no ecclesiasticall 1 person should be accused before a secular Iudge Secondly if any accusation be intended against Bishop Elder or Deacon it should be qualified by sufficient probation Thirdly if the accuser succumbe
nothing but the dissention dayly encreased hee ordayned Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia and the chiefe of those who were called Eustatiani to be Bishop of Antiochia This fact of Lucifer was like vnto fuell added vnto the fire and mightily augmented the schisme Theodoretus blameth him for so doing and Eusebius Vercellencis when hee came backe from Alexandria disliked also the fact of Lucifer Wherefore Lucifer would not communicate any longer with Eusebius These sorrowfull times of multiplyed schismes alienated the hearts of a great number of people from the true Church Meletius was restored from his second banishment in the dayes of the Emperour Gratianus Paulinus would on no condition communicate with him because hee had receiued ordination from the Arrians When Meletius had ended his life the people would not admit Paulinus to be their Bishop because they sayd it was not meete that he should be his successor who dispised his fellowship and counsell in his life time To Meletius succeeded Flavianus a worthy man Paulinus albeit hee appoynted Evagrius to bee his successor yet such formes manifestly repugnant to the approoved order of the Church could take no place The Bishoppes of Rome Damascus Siricius and Anastatius were great adversaries to him and mis-informed the good Emperour Theodosius against him but when he appeared before the Emperour hee spake before him both freely and wisely words that liked the Emperour well as they are reported by Theodoretus O Emperour if any man doe blame my Faith as perverse or my life as vnworthy I am content to bee iudged by my very adversaries but if the disputation onely bee concerning principality and eminent places I will not contend with any man but denude my selfe of all superiority and commit the chaire of Antiochia to whom yee like best The Emperour admired his courage and wisedome and sent him backe againe to governe his owne Flocke and was slow to heare frivolous accusations in time to come against Flavianus This was that worthy Bishop who associated Iohn Chrysostome to bee his fellow labourer in Antiochia and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceived against the City of Antiochia for misusing the Image of his wife Placilla Bishops of Constantinople COnstantinople was builded by Constantine Anno 336. in a place where Asia and Europe neerly confines being separated onely by a narrow river called of olde Bosphorus Thracius The cause wherefore this Imperiall Citie was builded in this place was not to resigne the towne of Rome and the government of the West to the Bishop of Rome but as Sozomenus writes that Constantinople or new Rome might bee as a soveraigne Ladie to all those who in the East West North or South were obedient to the Romane Empire Learned men in our dayes are ashamed to maintaine all the foolish fables of the Romane Church for they see cleerly the cause of the building of this great Citie was to keepe firmely both the East and the West vnder the Soveraignty of Constantine and his successors Alexander Bishop of Constantinople prooved a worthy man in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine The Arrians finding themselues to be vtterly reiected by Athanasius they addressed themselues to Constantinople vnder the conduct of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and threatned Alexander that in case hee would not receive Arrius into the fellowship of the Church then they would bring him in authorized with the Emperours command to the griefe of his heart Alexander cloathed himselfe with the armour of God and all the night long prayed in this sense Lord if Arrius be to be received to morrow into the communion of thy Church then let thy servant depart in peace and destroy not the iust with the wicked but Lord if thou wilt spare thy Church wherevnto I am assured thou wilt be favourable then Lord turne thine eyes toward the wâ—rdes of the Eusebians and give not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach and cut off Arrius lest while hee entreth into the Church his heresie also seeme to enter with him and so no difference seeme to bee betwixt Piety and Impiety The next day following the prayer of Alexander Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia with his retinue came with great confidence and pompe to performe all which they threatned they would doe But Arrius was compelled to goe to a secret place where his bowels gushed out and he concluded his wretched life with ignominy and shame To Alexander succeeded Paulus his lot was to gouerne this Church vnder the raigne of an Arrian Emperour Constantius who reiected him and seated Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in his place But this great Patron of the Arrian heresie scarcely was placed in Constantinople when he ended his life The Homousians received againe Paulus to bee their Bishoppe The Arrians chose Alaâ—edonius This was the cause of great strife in Constantinople and the people divided in factions hatefully invaded one another the Emperour hearing of the tumult sent Hermogenes the Generall Commander of his horsemen to remoue Paulus from Constantinople Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperours commandement but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor arose vp with popular tumult compassed the house of Hermogenes set it on fire sâ—ew him and fastned a cord to his legges and trailed him along the street For this cause the Emperour Constantius willing to punish the authours of this tumult hastened to come to Constantinople The people went forth to meet him and with teares confessed their fault and craved pardon The Emperour abstayned from punishing them vnto the death but he cut off the one-halfe of thâ— victuall which the liberality of his father had bestowed vpon Constantinople to bee payed yeerely out of the tributes of Egypt Hee banished Paulus the second tune and seated Macedonius in Constantinople not without effusion of blood Paulus was againe restored by the meanes of the Emperour Constans but after the death of Constans hee was banished to Cucusus a towne of Armenia where hee was strangled by the bloody Arrians The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianisme vnder the raignes of Constantius and Valens The raignes of Gratianus and Theodosius was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith At this time Nazianzen a constant defender of the Faith was chosen Bishop of Constantinople who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great Citie in regard the Bishops assembled in the second generall Councell gaue not a full and vniversall consent to his admission Yet gaue they all their consent to Nectarius a man of noble birth of the countrey of Cilicia at that time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who had received no Ecclesiasticall preferment before that time This man I say they made Bishop of Constantinople with full consent and allowance both of the Councell and people ouer-passing Nazianzenus so fraile are the cogitations of men euen in generall Councels that they are oft times more ruled
with affection then reason Nectarius continued in that office vntill the third yeere of the raigne of Arcadius that is vntill the yeere of our Lord 401. In his time the confession of sinnes done in secret to presbyter Poenitentiarius was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople vpon this occasion as Socrates writeth A certaine noble woman was confessing in secret her sinnes to presbyter Poeniteâ—tiarius and she confessed adultery committed with one of the Church Deacons Eudaemon this was the name of the Father confessor gaue counsell to Nectarius to abrogate this custome of auricular and secret confession because the Church was like to be slandered and euill spoken of by these meanes Socrates can scarse giue allowance to this fact of Nectarius in respect that by abrogation of this custome the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse were lesse coargued and reproued But Socrates considered not that Christ when he talked with the Samaritane woman at the Well sent away his Disciples to buy bread to the ende the poore Samaritane sinner might more freely poure out her secret sinnes in the bosome of Christ who knew all things that were done in secret It is not my purpose to contend with Socrates he is writing an history I am writing but a short Compend of an history he taketh libertie to declare his iudgement concerning this fact of Nectarius in abrogating confession of secret sinnes to presbyter Poenitentiarius No man can blame me to write my iudgement concerning auricular confession It is in our dayes not like vnto the mantle wherewith Sem and Iapheth couered the nakednesse of their Father Noe but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the Deuill couering the nakednesse of his children that is the horrible treasons that are plotted in secret by the children of the Deuill against Christian Magistrates Now is auricular confession for greater causes to be abrogated then of olde presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius Bishops of Ierusalem TO Thermon succeeded Macarius Anno 318. about the seauenth yeere of the raigne of Constantine In his time it is thought that Helena the mother of Constantine found the Crosse of Christ but Ambrose writes that shee worshipped it not for that saith he had been Gentiliâ— error vanitas impiorum that is an errour of Pagans and vanitie of vngodly people But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree whereupon our Lord suffered What necessitie had Helena to be so earnest to seeke out this tree and to commit it to the custodie of all posterities seeing that Ioseph of Arimathea who sought the bodie of IESVS at the hands of Pilate to the end he might burie it honourably yet sought he not the tree whereon Christ was crucified which with little adoe might haue beene obtained Secondly during the time that the Crosse was easie to be found and easie to haue beene discerned from other Crosses How could the blessed Virgine the mother of the Lord and holy Apostles haue committed such an overâ—sight in not keeping that precious treasure if so be in the keeping of it there be so great deuotion as the Romane Church now talkes of Thirdly what is the cause that the Romane Church brags so much of antiquitie when as the worshipping of the crosse one of the maine points of their Religion was vnknowne to the first three hundred yeeres of our Lord and now in the fourth Centurie the crosse is found but not worshipped yea and the adoration of it is detested and abhorred as an errour of the Pagans To Macarius succeeded Maximus who had beene his fellow-labourer as of olde Alexander was to Narcissus Macarius gouerned the Church of Ierusalem in the peaceable dayes of Constantine but Maximus gouerned that same Church himselfe alone in the dayes of Constantius He was present at the Councell of Tyrus but Paphnutius a Bishop and confessor in Thebaida pittied the simplicitie of Maximus whom the Arrians with deceitfull speeches had almost circumueened and he stepped to him and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of vngodly people whereupon followed a bond of indissoluble coniunction not onely with Paphnutius but also with Athanasius who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Councell of Tyrus This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come so that he was not present at the Arrian Councell of Antiochia gathered vnder pretence of dedication of the Temple which Constantine began to build but his sonne Constantius perfected the building of it To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus a man greatly hated by the Arrians in so much that Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Palestinae deposed him no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emperour Constantius with aduise of Arrian Bishops Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus receiued him and he taught in that Congregation with great liking and contentment of the people The strife of Acacius against him in the Councell of Seleucia I remit vnto its owne place In time of famine he had a great regard to poore indigent people and sold the precious vessels and garments of the Church for their support This was a ground of his accusation afterward because of a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the church of Ierusalem which Cyrillus sold to a Marchant in time of famine and againe the Marchant sold it vnto a lasciuious woman and such friuolous things were aggregated by the Arrians who hated the men of GOD. Of other Pastors and Doctors in Asia Africa and Europe BEsides the Patriarchs of principall places God raised vp in this Centurie a great number of learned Preachers who were like vnto the Ibides of Aegypt a remedy prepared by God against the multiplied number of venemous flying Serpents Euen so learned Fathers of whom I am to speak were instruments of God to vndoe the heresies which abounded in this age aboue all other ages Did not Nazianzenus vndoe the Heresie of Apollinaris Basilius the Heresie of Eunomius Hilarius like vnto a second Deucalion saw the ouer-flowing flood of Arrianisme abated in France Ambrosius Epiphanius and Ierom set their hearts against all Heresies either in their time or preceding their dayes It were an infinite labour to write of them all who in this age like vâ—â—â— glistering starres with the shining light of celestiall doctrine illuminated the darknesse of the blind world but the names of some principall Teachers God willing I shall remember Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine liued vnder the Emperour Constantine with whom he was familiarly acquainted He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia whose deposition the Arrians without all forme of order had procured most vnrighteously but he would not consent to accept that charge so that the chaire of Antiochia wanted a Bishop eight yeeres Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius others feeding themselues vpon vaine hopes that Eusebius
that then wee be readie to leaue all things for his sake as when hee requireth in vs after the like phrase the hatred of father and mother and of our owne liues hee biddeth vs not to dishonour our father or mother much lesse to hate them but that then when it is required we set all things behind the loue of Christ. Many other worthy workes hee compiled wherein albeit hee vttered nothing but what was truth yet notwithstanding hee was by the Antichrist and his rable condemned for an heretike exiled and his bookes burnt Of this number also was one Laurence an Englishman Master of Paris and Petrus Ioannis a Minorit who taught and maintained many things against the Pope prouing that hee was Antichrist and that the Synagogue of Rome was great Babylon whom because the Pope could not burne aliue after his death his bones were taken vp and burned Also Robertus Gallus is to be added to those before mentioned who being borne of a right noble parentage for devotions sake was made a Dominik Frier about the yeere of our Lord 1290. This man as appeareth by his writings had diuerse and sundrie visions al tending against the spirituallitie of Rome for hee called the Pope plainely an Idole who hauing eyes neither saw nor desired to see the abhominations of his people nor the excessiue enormitie of their voluptuousnesse but onely to heape vp treasures to himselfe And hauing a mouth did not speake himselfe but sayd I haue set good men ouer them which is sufficient to doe them good either by himselfe or others Hee notably describeth in one of his visions the curiositie and vanitie of the Scholastig Doctours who flourished in this age comparing them to a man who hauing good bread good wine hanging on both his sides was notwithstanding gnawing hungerly on a flint stone thereby signifiyng that they leauing the wholsome foode of their soules contained in the Scriptures busied themselues with subtile questions containing no edification in them nor comfort to the soule of man In this age also is reckoned Robert Gostred Bishoppe of Lincolne in England a man of great learning godlinesse and constancie who liued in the daies of Pope Innocentius the fourth and constantly resisted his vnlawfull request For this Pope had recommended vnto him a yong Italian boy to bee admitted to the first vacant prebendry of his diosie But Robert Gostred would not agree to the vngodlie desire of the Pope but did write backe an answere to him declaring that next after the sinne of Lucifer there is not nor can bee any kinde of sinne so repugnant and contrarie to the doctrine of the Apostles and holy Scripture and to our Soueraigue Christ himselfe more hatefull detestable and abhominable then to destroy and kill mens soules by defrauding them of the misterie of the Pastorall office which by the ministerie of the Pastorall cure ought to saue and quicken the same Which sinne by most euident places of Scripture such men are descerned and knowne to commit who being in the authoritie of that Pastoral dignity doe serue their owne carnall desires with the benefite of the milke and wool of the sheepe and flocke of Christ and doe not minister the same Pastorall office to the benefite and saluation of those their sheepe And whereas hee perceiued that the Bishop of Rome delt in all his requests imperiouslie rather commaunding nor requesting any thing to bee done hee answered in the end of this letter that the power which was giuen by God to any Bishop was to build the house of God and not to destroy it hereby blaming the Bishop of Rome as one who abused his authoritie to the destruction of the Church of God by placing young boyes in offices neither apt to teach nor wel acquainted with the maners and language of the people This ansâ—â—re being returned to the Pope hee was greatly moued with indignation and sware that except hee had beene restrained by his owne naturall clemencie hee would hurle him downe to such confusion as to make him afable a gazing stocke and a wonder to the world Not long after thus it pleased God to visit this reuerend father with sicknesse in the time whereof hee called to him a Frier of the preaching Order named Master Iohn Giles a man expert and cunning both in Physicke and Diuinitie partly to receiue from him some comfort to his body and partly to conferre with him in spirituall matters Thus vpon a certaine day the said Bishop conferring with the said Master Iohn and reciting to him the doings and proceedings of the Pope did grieuously rebuke his fellow brethren the Preaching Friers and the other Order also of the Minorites Because their Order being planted in wilfull pouertie of the Spirit to the intent they should more freely carpe and reproâ—e the vices of the mightie and not to flatter or to spare them but sharpely to rebuke and reprehend the same yet the said Friers contrarie to their profession did not boldly enough cry out and invey against the abuses of their superiours and men of power not did vncouer nor detect their faults and wickednesse And therefore the B. said I â—udge them to be no better than manifest heretickes And added moreouer demanding of Master Iohn what is heresie that hee would giue him the true definition of it Whereat when the Frier did stay and pause not remembering the solemne definition of that matter the Bishop therevpon inferreth giuing this definition in Latine by the true interpretation of the Greeke word Heresis gracè Latine electio est sententia humano sensu electa scripturae sacrae contraria palam docta pertinaciter desensa that is heresie is a sentence taken and chosen of mans owne braine contrarie to holy Scripture openly maintained and stâ—flie defended And this definition especiallie hee applied against the Romans who commit the charge of soules vnto their kinsfolkes being both in age vnworthie and in learning insufficient and so stiflie defend this their wicked opinion that if any dare presume to withstand the same hee is suspended and excommunicated and open warre proclaimed against him Therefore hee to whom the whole definition of an heretike doth agree hee is a verie heretike And euery Christian man ought to set himselfe against an heretike as farre as hee may yea and that person who can resist him and doth it not hee sinneth and seemeth to be a fauourer thereof according to the saying of Gregorie Hee lacketh not conscience of secret societie who ceaseth to resist open impietie and the Apostle writeth to the Romans saying not onely they who commit such things but also they that consent are worthie of death Therefore it may be concluded that aswell the Pope Vnlesse he cease from that vice as also the same Friers vnlesse they shew themselues more earnest and studious in repelling the same are both worthy of death that is perpetuall damnation Item sayth the Canon Decretall that vpon this
neuer at Rome Eightly That the Clergie of Rome is a den of Theeues Ninthly That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leades to eternall death In another treatise he disputes of free iustification by grace and that workes are no efficient cause of Saluation Sed causa sine qua non for the which doctrine hee was condemned by the Pope I passe by a great number who clearelie discouered the corruptions and Apostasie of the Church of Rome such as Ioannes de Gunduno Gregorius Ariminensis Andreas de Castro Dante 's an Italian Taulerus a Preacher of Argentine in Germanie Franciscus Petrarcha a man famouslie learned who in his workes in Italian verses speaking of Rome calles it the whoore of Babilon the schoole and mother of errour the Temple of heresie the nest of treacherie growing and increasing by the oppression of others Likewise Ioannes de rupe scissa who was cast in prison by Pope Innocentius the sixt also Conradus Hager a Germane of the citie of Herbipoli Gerardus Ridder Michael Cesenas Provinciall of the Gray friers Petrus de Corbaria with one Ioaxnes de Pâ—liato This foresaid Michael general of the gray friers writ against the tyrannie pride and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome to be the whoore of Babilon drunken with the blood of the Saints He affirmed there were two Churches one of the wicked florishing wherein raigned the Pope the other of the Godly afflicted also that the veritie was almost vtterlie extinct and for this cause hee was depriued of his dignitie and condemned by the Pope Notwithstanding he stood constant in his assertions and left behind him many fauourers and followers of his doctrine of whom a great part were slaine by the Pope Some were condemned as William Ockam who writ both in defence of the Emperour Lewes whom the Pope excommunicated and likewise in defence of Michael generall of the gray friers whom the Pope had cursed for an heretike and some were burned such as Ionnes de Castellione and Franciscus de Arcatara Likewise Armachanus a Bishop in Ireland and Matthias Parisiensis Ioannes Montziger rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica Iacobus Milnensis and one Milezius Henricus de Iota and Henricus de Hassia Likewise in this most desperate time when the estate of religion was vtterlie corrupted and the onely name of Christ remained amongst Christians his true and liuely doctrine being vtterly vnknowne and turned into an heape of shadowed Ceremonies which so increased that there was no end of heaping vp of ceremonies invented by man at this time I say the Lord raised vp Iohn Wickliffe a professor of Diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Oxford who seeing that error by long vse and custome had beene so deeplie rooted in the hearts of men that it could hardly be plucked out hee medled not with all at once bâ—â— firsâ— bâ—gâ—â—nne to touch the matter of the Sacraments and discoâ—er 〈◊〉 â—rrours that men were fallen into in this head of 〈◊〉 but this byle could not be touched without the great griefe and paine of the whole world For first of all the whole rabble of Monkes and begging Friers were set on rage and madnes against him and after them the Priests and then after them the Archbishop Simon Sudburie tooke the matter in hand who for the same cause depriued him of his benefice which then he had in Oxford Notwithstanding being supported by the friendly assistance of the Duke of Lancaster sonne to king Edward the third and some other friends whom God raised vp for his protection he bare out the malice of the Friers and Archbishop Likewise Pope Vrbane was so busied with suppressing of another Pope Clement the seuenth set vp against him that he could not spare any time to suppresse Iohn Wickliffe and so it came to passe thorow the prouidence of Almightie God that the enemies of the true light with fretting minds were compelled to see the sparkles thereof not being able to quench them The chiefe heads of doctrine which hee maintained against the Roman church were these That the substance of bread remained in the Sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration That it is not found in the Gospell that Christ instituted or confirmed a masse That it is a presumptuous Speaking to affirme that the infants of the faithfull who die vnbaptised are condemned That in the time of Paul there were onelie two orders of Clerks to wit Elders and Deacons neither was there in the time of the Apostles any distinction of Popes Patriarches Archbishops Bishops but these the Emperours pryde did finde out That the causes of diuorcement for spirituall consanguinitie or affinitie are not founded on the scriptures but onely by the ordinance of men That he who is most seruicable and humble in the church and most inamored with the loue of Christ the same is the neerest vicar of Christ in the militant Church If corporall vnction were a Sacrament then Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance of that vntouched Whatsoeuer the Pope and Cardinals doe command which they cannot deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures the same is to be accounted hereticall and not to be obeyed That it is but a follie to beleeue the Popes Pardons That it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the church of Rome to be supreme head of other Churches A Deacon or Priest may Preach the word of God without the authoritie of the Apostolike sea The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Sathan neither is the Pope immediatlie the vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles That the Emperour and Secular Lords are seduced who so inrich the Church with ample possessions If any man enter into any priuat religion whatsoeuer it be hee is thereby made more vnapt and vnable to obserue the commandements of God Of Monkes POpe Clement the sixt bearing rule Iohn king of France sonne of Philip invented the sect and order of those Monkes which in Latine are called Stellati whose maner is alwayes to weare a starre vpon their brest signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the cleere shining of good workes Yea that they themselues are the light of the world according to the saying of Christ vos eslis lux mundi yea are the light of the world Item That they shall rise againe at the later day all shining and glistering as the most cleere and pleasant starres according as it is written by the Prophet They that informe many into righteousnes shall be as the starres world without end In Anno 1336. Pope Boniface the ninth raigning a certaine man called Gerardus being of great learning and vertuous conversation ordained a certaine fraternitie or brotherhood of learned godlie men to teach schollers and to bring vp youth not onely in good letters but also in good maners that by those means there might be
learned men alwayes in store to beare rule in the Church of Christ and to gouerne the common-wealth according to the praescript and rule of Gods word This Gerardus being but a Deacon preached the word of God purelie and feruently and when hee was moued by his friends to be a Priest hee alwayes answered that he was vnworthie to haue such an high office affirming that hee would not haue the cure of soules not so much as by the space of one night for all the gold of Arabia In Anno 1379. Pope Vrbane the fift greatly allowed the order of Iesuits and gaue vnto them many great and singular priuileges coÌ„manding the Monkes of that order to weare a white kirtle and a russet coule and that they should be called of all men Clerici Apostolici that is the Apostles clerks This order of Iesuits was the invention of Ioannes Columbinus in SeÌ„a a citie of Hetruria They were not at the beginning Priests or consecrated persons but were men of the lay sort giuen and addicted willingly and freely to prayer and to labour getting their liuing with the trauell of their hands and sweate of their browes liuing as it were in common after the example of Christ and his disciples They are called Iesuits because the name of Iesus should be often in their mouths In Anno 1368. Pope Boniface bearing rule the order which is called Ordo Dealbatorum was invented by a certaine Priest in Italie who pretended such a modestie and grauitie both in words and countenance that euery man tooke him for a Saint The professors of this order were cloathed with long white linneÌ„ euen downe to the ground hauing coules vpon their heads like vnto Monkes The chiefe point of their profession was to lament the state of mankind to bewaile the sinnes of the people to pray for redresse of the same at the hands of God They neuer went abroad without a Crosse with the Image of the Crucifixe caried before them which Crosse the Lucenses keepe at this day with great reuerence as a most precious relike and daylie make vowes and offer gifts therevnto But Pope Boniface aforsaid conceiuing that they should doe no good to his honorable estate if they continued forasmuch as they all appeared before men righteous good and Godlie and the Pope with his complices most wicked euill and vngodlie caused the author of this order a seditious person to be beheaded at Viterbium Some say that hee was burnt as a superstitious Hypocrite and attainted of some heresie In Anno 1400. CENTVRIE XV. Of Popes of Rome AFter the death of Innocentius Sephinus the Cardinalls perceiuing the great schisme that was in the Church of Rome by reason of diuers Popes ruling at one time bound themselues together by horrible oathes that they would endevour by all their might to haue the Church of Rome restored againe to her wonted vnitie and for this cause they elected Gergorie the twelfth to be Pope after they had caused him to sweare that hee would by all possible meanes trauell to restore the peace and vnitie of the Church But Gregorie although hee writ to Benedict the thirteenth Pope in Avinion exhorting him to vnitie and peace and Benedict on the other part with pleasant words protested his earnest desire of peace and vnitie yet both the one and the other kept their dominions and Popedomes and continued the Schisme So that the Cardinalls thought it expedient to gather a Councell in the towne of Pisa wherein they deposed the two aforesayd Popes Gregorie and Benedict as persons who by conclusion amongst themselues sought rather their own gaine then the vnitie of the Church of God and they elected Petrus Cretensis Cardinall of Millan to be Pope whom they called Alexander the fift but he continued not aboue the space of eight months in his Popedome He was counted verie liberall and gaue so large and ample benefices to others that he left almost nothing to himselfe and was accustomed to speake of himselfe that he was a rich Bishop a poore Cardinal and a beggerly Pope After whose departure Ionnes 23. is chosen Pope howbeit the two other Popes who were deposed in the Councell of Pisa were yet aliue and had great sway and nothing reguarded the decrees of the Councell of Pisa because that Councell was convocated by a number of Cardinalls only who had no lawfull power to appoint a generall Councell Thus was the scisme augmented rather then empaired by the Councell of Pisa and in stead of two Popes then three afterward were ruling at one time In this Popes daies the Emperour Sigismund tooke great trauell to quiet the estate of the Church and to remoue the scisme but found none other way how this matter might be brought to passe but onely by gathering a generall Councell in the Towne of Constantia At this Councell Ioannes 23. was personally present and was required to giue ouer his Popedome farre contrarie to his expectation for he looked for ratification of his Papacie because he was more obedient to the Councel then the other two but finding that the Councel was fullie bent to depose all the three Popes to set vp one whom they should chose in place of them all he begun to be grieued at his owne proceedings that he had hazarded to come to the Councel to their iudgement to submit himselfe his honorable estate wherefore he thought best secretly to flie out of the towne but flying could not availe him any thing for hee was brought backe againe by the Emperour from Friburge to Constantia and cast into prison and deposed by the Councell after hee had ruled foure yeeres and ten months The other two Popes Gregorie the twelfth and Benedict the thirteene although they were absent yet sustained the like sentence of deposition Martinus 5. was chosen Pope after whose election the Emp. Sigismund was so filled with gladnesse that the scisme was now taken away and peace restored to the Church that forthwith he did remoue to the conclaue where the Cardinals Commissioners of countries were assembled for election of the Pope fell downe before him kissed his feet After his election earnest sute was made for reformation of the corrupt maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and that Bishoppes Abbots and other Prelates might bee compelled to attend vpon their owne callings that superfluous feastings and abuses of fasting and canonisation of Sainctes might be abrogated and that the orders of Monkes daily multiplying might â—ee reduced to a more tolerable number But no reformation at all was obtained Onely Pope Martine thought meet to dissolue the Councell of Constance And for satisfaction of the hearts of all men and to put them in hope that some reformation was intended the Pope consented in the Councell of Constance that immediatly after the issue of the Councel another should be kept in Papia within the space of fiue yeeres immediatly following the same and
Yet hee found that Flavianus B. of Antiochia and Helias B. of Ierusalem altogether disliked reprooued his proceedings neither could they admit the law of obliuion called in the Greeke language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Emperour would haue brought in to pacifie controuersies in the Church as ciuil controuersies at sometimes haue bin pacified for this cause the Emperour Anastatius set himselfe directly against the truth of God and gathered this Councell to vndoe the authoritie of the Councel of Chalcedon Flavianus and Helias would not bee present at this vngodly Councell wherein they damned the Councell of Chalcedon yet they abstained from damning Flaevianus and Helias for a time Neuerthelesse by continuall accusations of these two Bishops as if they had beene mockers of all the Emperours doings they procured their banishment as hath beene declared in the preceding historie IN the 22. yeere of the raigne of Anastatius and vnder the raigne of Clodoueus King of France conueened 32. Bishops in the towne of Aurelia of purpose to settle some order in Ecclesiasticall discipline which through iniurie of time and irruption of barbarous people into the countrie of France had beene brought to great dissolution and misorder The Canons of this Councel are coincideÌ„t for the most part with the Canons of all other Councels THe two former Councels assembled in Spaine namely Ilerdense and Valentinum were vnder the raigne of Theodoricus Now these two Gerundense and Caesaraugustanum are celebrated vnder the same King to wit Theodoricus of the nation of the Gothes raigning in Spaine In Gerunda seuen Bishops conueened made Ecclesiasticall constitutions chiefly about Baptisme that Catechumeni should bee baptized on Easter day and at Pentecost when most solemne conuentions of people were gathered They who were vnder infirmitie and sicknesse might bee baptized at any time and the infant which was likely to die might be baptized the same day wherein it was borne In Caesaraugusta eleuen Bishops seemed to haue beene conueened They forbid fasting vpon the Lords day for superstition or for respect of times or for perswasion It would appeare that this Councell had a desire to abolish the rites and customes of the Manichean heretikes who were accustomed to fast vpon the Lords day IN the dayes of Hâ—rmisda by the mandat of Theodoricus King of Gothes raigning in Italie a Councell was assembled at Rome vpon this occasion It was thought meet by the Emperour Anastatius Theodoricus King of Italie and many others that a Councel shuld be assembled at Heraclea for deciding coutrouersies in religion Many Bishops resorted to Heraclea about the number of 200. but Anastatius suffered no Councell to be holden thereby incurring the great blame of inconstancie and carelessenesse in seeking out the truth for this cause Theodoricus willed Hormisda Bishop of Rome to gather a Councell at Rome wherein the errour of Eutyches is damned of new againe Ambassadours are ordained to be sent to Anastatius the Emperour and to the Bishop of Constantinople to diuert theÌ„ if it were possible from the errour of Eutyches but how inhumanely the Ambassadours were intreated it hath beene declared in the description of the life of Hormisda VNder the raigne of the Emperour Iustinus a Synode was gathered in Constantinople by Ioannes Cappadox Many grieuons accusations were giuen in against Severus Bishop of Antiochia such as sacrilegious spoyling of Temples vnder pretence of eschewing causes of Idolatrie hee tooke away the golden doues that hung aboue the fontes and the altars and hee vttered many blasphemous speeches against the Councell of Chalcedon Ioannes Cappadox albeit hee was of a bad religion himselfe yet the authoritie of the Emperour and consent of the Councell procured that Severus should be damned of heresie whom the Emperour also banished and as some affirme punished him also by commanding that his blasphemous tongue should bee cut out In like manner the Monks of Apamea in a Councell conueened in Syriasecunda accused Severus of bloody cruelty and oppression in besieging of Monasteries slaying the Monks and spoyling their goods The like accusation was giuen in against Peter Bishop of Apamea which accusations beeing sufficiently proued by vnsuspect witnesses this Councell damned Severus and Petrus Bishop of Apamea IN the fifth yeere of King Abnaricus was the second Councell of Toledo conueened partly for renuing the ancient constitutions of the Church and partly for making new constitutions belonging to Ecclesiasticall discipline It was ordained that children whom their parents had dedicated to the Church they should not be admitted to the office of a Subdeacon vntill they were eighteene yeeres of age neither to the office of a Deacon before they were twentie fiue yeeres old and at the beginning of their admission to the office of a Subdeacon namely when they were full eighteene yeeres old and not before that time they should bee presented before the Clergie and people to make an open declaration whether they were of purpose to leade a continent life or to marrie and these who protested they had not the gift of continency are tolerated by the first Canon of the second Councell of Toledo to marrie IN the yeere of our Lord 551. and in the 94. yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian was a generall Councell assembled at Constantinople The principall causes of this meeting are expresly set downe by Euagrius lib. 4. cap. 38. First in respect of the controuersie betwixt Eustochius B. of Ierusalem and Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea Cappadocia Eustochius cast out the Monkes of Nova Laura who obstinately defended the errours of Origen Theodorus Ascidas assisted them and said that Eustochius Bishop of Ierusalem had dealt cruelly and inhumanely with his brethren to pacifie this controuersie was this Councell conueened Also great disputation was in the Church about the bookes of Origen of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuesta and some writings of Theodoritus Bishop of Cyrus and Ibas Bishop of Edessa this was the second cause of this great conuention to put an ende vnto these contentious disputations At this time Menas was Bishop of Constantinople but he ended his life in the very time of the generall Councel The first question mooued in the Councel was this Whether or no men who were dead and had ended their course might lawfully be cursed and excommunicated To this Eutychius a man before this time of no great account answered That like as Iosias not onely punished Idolatrous Priestes who were aliue but also opened the graues of them who were dead to dishonour them after their death who had dishonoured God in their life-time euen so the memorialls of men might be accursed after their death who had harmed Christes Church in their life-time This was thought by the Fathers of the Councell to be pertinently spoken and when his answer came to the eares of the Emperour Iustinian hee appointed that hee should be ordained Bishop of Constantinople for
widow who hath had concubines who is in a servile condition who is vnknowne Neophycus who is given to war-fare or an attender in Court who is vnlearned or hath not attained to the age of thirtie yeares who hath not proceeded to honour by ascending degrees who by ambition or bribes hath presumed to honour who hath been elected by his predecessor who hath not beene elected by the Clergie and people of his owne citie He who is approved shall be consecrated on the Lords day by all the comprovinciall Bishops at least by three of them Let Levites be of the age of 25. yeeres before their admission and Presbyters of 30. Let Bishops be vnreproveable according to the precept of the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. Let Bishops not onely haue the testimony of a Good conscience in the sight of God but also the testimony of an vnruproueable conversation amongst men Presbyters Levites whom infirmity of old age permits not to abide in their secret chambers yet let them haue witnesses of their honest conversation and remaining places Youth-hood is prone and bent to evill therefore let them that are young be all brought vp in one conclaue vnder the instruction and government of some well approved Senior But they who shall be found lascivious and incorrigible let them bee thrust into a Monastery to the end that stricter discipline may correct the proud minds of insolent youths Seeing that ignorance is the mother of all errours it becommeth Presbyters who haue vndertaken the office of teaching continually to meditate vpon holy Scripture according to the words of the Apostle Take heed to reading exhortation and doctrine 1 Tim. 4. for by meditation of holy Scripture and the Canons of the Church men are made able to instruct others in knowledge and in precepts of good manners Presbyters shal receiue from their owne Bishops an officiall booke to the end that through ignorance they doe nothing amisse neither in celebration of the Sacraments nor in their Letanies nor in their forme of comming to Councels When Presbyters and Deacons are admitted to their offices they must vow chastitie and binde themselues to their Bishops to lead a continent life and after such profession let them retaine the discipline of an holy life A Bishop Presbyter or Deacon who shall happen to be vniustly deposed if they bee found innocent by the tryall of the Synode let them be restored to their former dignities before the Altar by the hands of Bishops in this manner If hee bee a Bishop let him be restored to his Orarium with Staffe and Ring If hee be a Presbyter to his Orarium and Planeta If he be a Deacon to his orarium and Alba If he be a Sub-deacon to his Plate and Chalice and other orders let them receiue in their restitution that which was given vnto them in their ordination If any of the Clergy be found to haue cōsulted with diviners sorcerers let him be deposed from his dignity put into a Monastery to make cōtinual penance for his sacrilege Church-men who dwell in borders confining to a Nation that is vnder hostility with their owne countrey let them neither receiue from the enemies of the countrey nor direct any secret message vnto the enemies If any Church-man sit in iudgement or be iudge in a sentence of blood let him bee depriued of his dignity in the Church Let Bishoppes haue a care of such as are oppressed to reproove the mightie men who oppresse them and if the word of wholesome reproofe profite nothing let them complaine to the king to the ende that by regall authoritie impietie may be subdued Seeing auarice is the roote of all euill let Bishops so gouerne their dioceses that they spoyle thē not of their rightes but according to the determination of anteriour Councels let them haue the third part of Oblations Tithes Tributes Cornes the rest let it remaine vnto the Paroches free and vntouched That thing which one Bishop possesseth without interpellation for the space of thirtie yeeres let no man in that same Prouince be heard in an action of repetition But as concerning them who dwell in diuerse Prouinces the case standeth otherwise lest while Dioceses are defended the boundes of Prouinces be confounded A Church newly builded shall appertaine vnto that Bishop in whose diosie it is knowne that spiritual conuentions haue beene kept A Bishop shall visit yeerelie all the paroches of his diosie and in case he be hindered by infirmitie or by weightie businesse he shall appoint faithfull Presbyters and Deacons to take inspection of the fabricke of the Churches and of their rentes Whatsoeuer reward a Prelate promiseth to a man who vndertaketh any worke tending to the vtilitie of the Church let him faithfully performe his promise Seeing that a part of Church-rentes is bestowed vpon sustentation of strangers and of poore and indigent people if it shall happen at any time those persons or their children to be indigent who haue rendered any rent to the Church let them render a just deserued retribution to their bene-factors in sustaining them to whose beneuolence they are addoted The Deacons are decerned to be inferiour to Presbyters Let the Leuites be content to be cloathed with their Orarium onely vpon the left shoulder and not vpon their right shoulders and let it neither be beautified with colours nor with gold Platina in the life of Zosinus calleth it Linostima Let Clergie-men haue the vpper-most part of their heads bare and shauen and the lower-part rounded not following the example of the Readers of Gallicia who did shaue onelie a little of the vpper-most part of the haire of their head conforming themselues in so doing to the custome of some Heretikes which dishonour is to bee remoued from the Churches of Spaine No strange women shall cohabite with Church-men only their mother or sister or her daughter or fathers sister may dwell with them amongst which persons the bandes of nature permitteth not to suspect any sinne according to the constitutions of auncient Fathers Some of the Clergie who are not married are intangled with the forbidden lust of strange women let the Bishop separate them sell the women and redact the men infected with their lust for a space vnto penance If a man of the Clergy marrie a wife or a widow or a deuorced woman or an harlot without aduise of his Bishop let the Bishop separate them againe Clergie-men who haue cloathed themselues with armour voluntarilie and haue gone to warre fare let them be deposed from their office and bee thrust into a Monasterie there to remaine all the dayes of their life Church-men who are found spoyling the sepulchers of persons departed let them be deposed and be subject vnto three yeeres penance By the commandement of king Sisenandus Churchmen are exempted from all publike indictions and labours to the end
precept concerning prohibition of marriage than to all the ten Commandements of Gods law Let not a servant be accepted to serue in the Ministery of the Church before he be first set at liberty When servants are set at liberty let the supputation of time begin at the death of him who set them at liberty and not at the time when the charter was made Servants set at liberty shall neither marry a woman of the Romane nor of the Gothes blood and they shall be subiect to the Church that set them at liberty and if necessity compell them to sell lands let the land be first offered for a competent price to one Minister in that Church from which their liberty did arise Iewes who are baptized shall in time of solemne feastes attend vpon the Bishop of the parts where their dwelling is to the end that hee may beare testimony of the integrity of their faith If this cōmmandement be◠ansgresed the Bishop shall ordaine the Iew either to be scourged or to be subiect to such abstinence as he thinketh most fit In the end thanks being rendered to God for their meeting and for the vnitie of their iudgements and supplications being made to God for the weale of the King Recesuvindus in soule and body the Councell was dissolved IN the eight yeere of the raigne of Recesuvindus King of Gothes assembled in Toledo one and twenty Bishops They decerned concerning the Feasts of the nativity of our Lord and of the Lords mother at what times they should be kept Punishments are appointed for men of the Clergy and Monkes who are not found dutifull to the King and the Countrey That men vnmeet for spirituall offices should not bee intruded into the Church neither for propinquity of blood nor for hope of lucre and gaine That widowes professing a religious order shall receiue an habit convenient for that order And that women who depart againe from their professed order shall be punished That Parents shall not render their children to religious orders before they be eighteene yeeres of age Finally Protamius Bishop of Bracara being convict of adultery was removed from his office and Fructuosus was placed in his roome IN the seventh yeere of the raigne of Bamba King of the Gothes ninteene Bishops and seven Abbots were assembled in Toledo by the Kings Commandement Quiricus Bishop of Toledo being President In the beginning after a protestation of a decent order to be kept in their Assembly that no tumult nor contentious disputation nor indecent laughter should disturb the comely modesty of their Assembly they set downe a prolixe confession of Faith and Canons belonging to Ecclesiasticall discipline in the forme following 1. That Bishops should bee well acquainted with Scriptures and apt to teach 2. That Metropolitan Bishoppes should try how the Pastors of their Dioces increase in knowledge◠That the forme of singing vsed in the Metropolitane Church shal be likewise vsed in other inferiour Churches 4. That persons who haue discorded shall not stand at the Altar vntill the time they bee reconciled againe 5. That Church-men shall not judge in actions of blood 6. That Bishops should not giue sentence before a sufficient triall of the cause 7. Bishops who commit adulterie or murther shall be deposed and excommunicated beside the punishment to be inflicted by the secular Iudge 8. No reward shall be taken for ministration of the Sacramentes 9. Bishops before their ordination shall giue their oath that they haue not acquired that dignitie by rewards either giuen or to be giuen 10. He who is to be preferred to any Ecclesiasticall office let him first sweare that hee shall continue constantly in that true Catholicke faith and that hee shall be obedient to Ecclesiasticall Canons 11. Let no man refuse to receiue the Sacrament of the Supper when it is offered by him who hath a lawfull calling to ministrate it 12. Absolution should bee pronounced when perill of death impendeth albeit complet satisfaction be not made 13. The holy Sacrifice shall not be ministered by persons possessed with deuils or transported with the passions of madnesse 14. He who ministreth at the Altar shall haue other concurring with him to the end that if he be suddenly oppressed with any infirmitie the other assistant brother may supply his place 15. Councels are ordained yeerely to bee kept IF order of time be not precisely kept in commemoration of the Councels of Bracara and Toledo let no man maruell some regard must be had to the memorie of the Reader and it is not meet◠that the Councels of Toledo being many in number and so frequently conueened following vpon the necke of another except the eleuenth Councell conueened twelue yeeres after the 10 should be miserably disioyned if such things be not comported with by the fauorable Reader it will bee hard to abridge this head of Councels to the contentment of a learned Reader This Councell of Bracara by Caranza is called the first Councell of Bracara In it many old opinions of the Priscillianists and Manicheans concerning prohibition of marriage and meates are condemned together with the heresies of Samosatenus Photinus Cerdon and Marcion Canons set forth in this Councell are so coincident with the Canons of other Councels that there is no necessity to make rehearsall of them In the 30. Canon of this Councell it is ordained That no poesie shall be sung in the Church except the Psalter of the old Testament IN the 4 yeere of Bambas King of Gothes eight Bishops were assembled in Braga In the beginning of the Councell for confession of their Faith they made a new rehearsall of the summe of the Nicene Faith After this they set downe eight ordinances in manner following 1. That all superstitious opinions being reiected bread and wine mixed with water onely should be offered in the Sacrifice and not the liquor of milke nor pure vnmixed wine nor bread dipped in wine Here marke that the giving of vnmixed wine to the people in the Sacrament or Sacrifice is called superstition such bitter fruits do ensue vpon magnifying the traditions of men that Christs owne institution is called superstition 2. That vessels dedicated to God bee not abused and imployed to secular and humane vses 3. A Presbyter when he sayeth masse let him bee cloathed with his Orarium on both his shoulders and be signated on his brest with the signe of the Crosse. 4. Let no person of the Clergy cohabit with women no not with their owne sisters without witnesses of their conversation 5. Vpon Festivall dayes reliques enclosed in an Arke shal be borne vpon the shoulders of the Levites as the Arke of God in the old Testament was accustomed to bee borne 1 Chron. 15.15 and not about the necke of a Bishop and in case the Bishop will needs carry them himselfe then shall he walke on foot with the rest of the people and not be carryed in a coach by his Deacons Here marke
Fathers who had been present at this Councell and were pictured in the Temple of Sophia and that on the other part Pope Constantine the first not onely caused the same effigÃes to bee pictured in the porch of the Church of Saint Peter at Rome but also procured that the Emperours name should be razed out of charters and that his effigie should not bee ingraved in any kinde of coyned mettall Also it is cleere that Philippicus remooued Cyrus from his office and placed in his roome Iohn who fore-told him that he should be Emperour IN the yeere of our Lord 714. Pope Gregorie the second assembled a Councell in the which two Bishops of Brittaine to wit Sedulius and Fergustus were present It was ordained that masses should bee celebrated publiquely in Temples which custome was not in vse before In the second Tome of Councels this Synod is referred to Gregorie the third A great number of the Canons of this Councell doe concerne marriage That no man should take in marriage a woman who was a relict of a Presbvter or Deacon or a Nunne or his spirituall sister or his brothers wife or his neece or his mother in law or daughter in law or his neare cousens or a woman whom by these or ravishing hee hath led away And that no man should consult with Iuchanters and Sorcerers And that no man should violate the mandates of the Apostolicke Chaire no not in a matter of an haire GRegorie the third after he had received a mandate from the Emperour Leo concerning abolishing of Images hee assembled a great Councell at Rome of 903. Bishops in the which the Emperour Leo was excommunicated and deprived of his Imperiall dignity Here marke the tyranny and fiercenesse of Antichrist Who gaue such authority to a Roman Preacher to dismount the Monarches of the world from their royall thrones Yet Gregorie the third attempted such high matters because the Emperor Leo had disallowed the worshipping of Images Likewise by his instigation the whole countrey of Italy refused to pay tribute to the Emperour Now is the banner of Antichrist displayed against the Emperour and this is a fore-running token of the hatefull enmity which is to ensue betwixt the Popes and the Emperours which God willing shall bee declared in its owne time Likewise Anastatius Patriarch of Constantinople was condemned and excommunicated in this Councell To favour the Emperour and to dislike the worshipping of Images were two irremissable sinnes and meriting the great Anathems of the Bishop of Rome IN the yeere of our Lord 742. and in time of the raigne of Charles the Great and vnder the Popedome of Zacharias the first Bonifaoius Archbishop of Mentz assembled a Councell of the Bishops Presbyters and Clergy of France for reformation of abuses in that countrey or rather as the truth is to bring the countrey of France as hee had already brought many parts of Germany to a conformity with the superstitious rites of the Romane Church It is to bee marked that this nationall Councel was assembled by the mandate of King Charles howsoeuer Bonifacius ordered the affaires of the Councell It was ordained that Synodes should be kept yeerly and that Clergie men should not put on armour and goe to warre-fare except one or two Bishops with their Presbyters Chaplens to prescribe penance to them who should happen to confesse their sinnes And that hunting and hauking and such idle pastimes should not be vsed by the Clergie That every Presbyter shall be ready to giue account of his ministery to his owne Bishop in time of Lent especially concerning his ministration of Baptisme the summe of his Catholicke Faith the forme of his prayers and the order of his saying of masses That no vncouth Bishop or Presbyter be admitted without the tryall and allowance of a Synode That Presbyters and Deacons be not cloathed as secular men with short cloakes but with the habit of men who are in spirituall offices And that no woman cohabite in the house with them That every Bishop haue a care within his owne bounds to abolish all heathenish superstitions IN the yeere of our Lord 755. and in the thirteenth yeere of the Empire of Constantinus Copronymus a general CouÌ„cell of 338. Bishops was assembled at Constantinople by the commandement of the Emperour In this Councell the worshipping of Images was damned and the placing of them in Oratories and Temples where the divine Maiesty is worshipped was forbidden as a custome borrowed from Pagans who had no hope of the resurrection and therefore solaced theÌ„selues with pictured similitudes of their friends as if they had beene bodily present with them Yea for three principall causes they damned the worshipping of Images First because the worshipping of them is repugnant vnto holy Scripture Secondly because the divine and humane nature being vnseparably vnited in Christ and the divine nature cannot be presented by an Image therefore it is not meete to represent his humane nature by an Image left we should seeme to separate the two natures in Christ. And thirdly because the writings of ancient Fathers doe vtterlie condemne the worshipping of Images such as Epiphanius Eusebius Gregorius Theologus Athanasius Amphilochius Chrysostomus and Theodorus Bishop of Ancyra It were a prolixt thing to make a rehearsall of the sentences of all the forenamed Fathers therefore for breuities cause I will heere onely make choise of one place which is this Eusebius Pamphili writing to Constantia the Empresse who was desirous that the image of Christ should be sent her hee returneth vnto hir this answere Because yee haue written vnto mee to send vnto you the Image of Christ I would gladly vnderstand what image of Christ yee are inquiring for whether it bee that true and vnchangeable nature bearing the character and ingrauen similitude of the person of the Father or if it bee the image of the shape of a seruant which Christ tooke vpon him for our sakes As concerning His diuine nature I hope yee are not sollicitous to seeke the image thereof beeing sufficientlie instructed that no man knoweth the Father except the Sonne and on the other part no man knoweth the Sonne except the Father But if yee desire the similitude of mans nature wherewith He clad Himselfe for our sakes vnderstand that the splender and shining brightnesse of his glorie cannot be represented with dead coloures and shaddowed pictures For euen his Disciples in the mountaine were not able to abide the brightnesse of His shining face Mat. Chap. 17. vers 1. Mark Chap. 9. vers 2. Luk. Chap. 9. vers 28. how much lesse are we now able to abide the celestiall splender of his glorified bodie In this Councell Germanus Bishop of Constantinople Georgius Cyprius and Damascene a Monke who were principall defenders of the worshipping of images were excommunicated In the Canons of this Councel which were 19. in number inuocation of Saints hath allowance in the 15. 17. Canon
and Iudges of the Citie 24. Let fugitiue Presbyters and Church-men bee inquired and sent backe againe vnto their Bishop 25. He who hath a benefice bestowed vpon him for helping the fabricke of Churches let him support the building of them 26. They who sinne publickely let them make their publicke repentance according to the Canons These things haue wee shortly touched to bee presented vnto our Lord the Emperour and to be corrected by his Highnesse wisedome IN the yeere of our Lord â—â—â— and in the third yeere of the raigne of Basilius Emperour of the East and vnder the raigne of Lewis the second Emperour of the Westâ— the Ambassadours of Pope Adrian the second came to Constantinople Basilius the Emperour gathered a Councell against Photius the Patriarch of Constantinople In this Councell great policie was vsed to haue all things framed to the contentment of Adrian Bishop of Rome Foâ— no man was admitted to the Councell except only they who had subscribed the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome aboue all other Bishops They who refused to subscribe the fore-saide supremacie were contemptuously rejectâ—d and not admitted to the Councell So did the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome proceede to further grouth by flattering of Basilius who slew his associate Michael as it was founded in the flatterie of Bonifacius the third who flattered that vile murtherer Phocas who slew his master Mauritius In this Councell Photius was deposed and excommunicated his bookes which he wrote against the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome were commanded to be burnt Photius was accused for this that he had accepted the office of a Bishop before hee he receiued other Ecclesiasticall orders Photius alleadgâ—d that this was no sufficient cause of deposition in respect that Ambrose Bishop of Millan Nectarius bishop of Constantinople and of late dayes Tarasius with consent of the Bishop of Rome of Laickes were made Bishops The Ambassadours of Pope Adrian the second answered that Ambrose was endewed with extraordinarie giftes Nectarius was called at an extraordinarie time to wit when heresie was so ouerspred that it was an harde thing to finde out a man who was not spotted with heresie and concerning the aduancement of Tarasius to be Bishop of Constantinople to whose admission Adrian the first gaue consent they answered That it was done for a speciall cause in regard hee was a zealous maintainer of the adoration of Images This answer declareth that in case Photius also had beene a zealous maintainer of the adoration of Images the Roman Bishop and his Ambassadours could haue dispensed with the want of Ecclesiasticall orders preceeding his admission to his Bishopricke as they did in the person of Tarasius In this Councel also the Ambassadoures of Adrian magnifying the authoritie of the Pope affirmed that the Bishop of Rome might judge of the actions of all other Bishops but no man might judge of him And albeit the Orientall Bishops in the sixt Generall Councell cursed Pope Honorius after his death yet it is to be marked say they that hee was accused of heresie And in this case onely it is lawfull for inferiours to resist their superiours and to disclaime their peruerse opinions In this point also they said That none of the Patriarches and Bishops proceeded against the defunct Bishop of Rome without the consent of the Roman Chaire going before them Now obserue good Reader with what fidelitie Onuphrius defendeth the name of Honorius the first as free of all suspition of heresie when as the Ambassadours of Adrian the second for verie shame durst not presume to doe it More-ouer the worshipping of Images in this Councell got a new allowance againe and it was commanded That the image of Christ should be holden in no lesse reuerence than the bookes of the Gospell The Bulgarians also were made subject to the Romane Bishop And Ignatius Patriarch of Constantinople in regarde he was restored to his place againe by the meanes of the Bishop of Rome hee made no opposition to the contrarie Neuerthelesse this alteration continued but short time for the Bulgarians droue out of their bounds the Latine Priests and were serued with Greeke Priests againe Diuers Canons were constituted in this CouÌ„cell but so coincident with the Canons of other Councels that it is a superfluous thing to make a rehearsall of them In the subscription of the Actes of the Councel great controuersie fell out for the Grecians could not abide the name of Ludouicke Emp. of the Weâ— because they thought that the honourable name of an Emp. only belonged to their owne Soueraigne Lord who was Emp. of CoÌ„stantinople More ouer a number of them came to the Emp. Basilius and requested him that their subscriptions might be redeliuered vnto them againe wherein they had subscribed to the supremacie of the Romane Bishop or else the Church of Constantinople would be in perpetuall subiection to the chaire of Rome These subscriptions afore-sayd were restored againe but with great difficulty CAarolus Caluus convocated a Councell in France at Acciniacum consisting of ten Bishops The Bishops of Lions Vason and Trier were chiefe Presidents in the Councell Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes accused in this convention his owne nephew Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum as a man disobedient to his Metropolitan and a man who for private iniuries had excommunicated all the Presbyters of his Church debarring them from saying masse baptizing Infants absolving of Penitents and burying of the dead And Hincmarus Bishoppe of Rhemes proponed vnto the Councell 50. Canons which he desired to be read in the Synode and they allowed all the Canons written by the Bishop of Rhemes Also they condemned Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum of petulancy and compelled him to subscribe obedience to Charles his King and to his Metropolitan hee was also deprived of his office and his eyes were thrust out But Pope Iohn the ninth vnder the raigne of Carolus Crassus restored him to his office againe being the more affectioned vnto him because hee had appealed from his owne Bishop and from the decreet of a Synode in his owne countrey to be iudged by the chaire of Rome IN the yeere of our Lord 899. and in the eight yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Arnulphus in the Towne of Triburium twenty and two Bishops of Germany were assembled who made many constitutions a great number whereof Caranza is compelled to over-passe with silence lest he should make a superfluous repetition of Canons mentioned before First it was concluded in this Councell that excommunicate persons if they repent not are to be subdued by the Emperour Canon 10. That a Bishop shall not bee deposed before his cause bee iudged by twelue Bishops and a Presbyter by sixe Bishoppes and a Deacon by three Bishops 11. A Church-man who committeth slaughter shall bee deposed albeit hee hath beene enforced vnto it 12. Baptisme shall not bee ministred except at Easter and Whitsunday without necessity require 13. Tythes are to be paid for
multitude of simple and ignorant Priestes that they thought it to bee the Oracle of God but in their next meeting Falthodus whom others call Ethelredus a learned man of Scotland so evidently by testimonies of Scriptures and Fathers prooved that marriage was a thing lawfull to men in spirituall offices that the answer which came from the Crucifix was counted the answer of the Divell whom Dunstanus served because Christ would speake nothing repugnant to his owne Word VNder the raigne of Nicephorus Phocas Emperor of Constantinople and when Polyeuchus was Patriarch the Emperour assembled a Councell at Constantinople The question disputed in the Councell was this Nicephorus having obtained the dominion of the East tooke to wife Theophania the relict of Romanus his predecessor This matter so displeased the Patriarch Polyeuchus that hee debarred the Emperour Nicephorus from holy things pretending these two causes First because the Emperour had celebrated the second marriage Secondly because Nicephorus had beene witnesse in Baptisme to the children of Theophania This question being discussed in the Councell in presence both of Prelats and Counsellers the Emperours marriage was allowed and the acts alledged by Polyeuchus was counted impious made by Capronimus and that they had no force to hinder the marriage The proud Patriarch when he was overthrowne by reason armed himselfe with obstinacie and stiffe neckednesse vntill Bardas the Emperours father came to him and affirmed by an oath that Nicephorus the Emperour was not witnesse in Baptisme to the children of Theophania Thus were the Patriarches of the East serious in observing the traditions of men but remisse and negligent in observing the ordinances of God And this is a sure testimony that defection from the faith had now prevayled both in the west and East IN the yeere of our Lord 992. in the ninth yeere of the Emperour Otto and in the fourth yeere of Hugo Capeto King of France a Councel was gathered at Rhemes against Arnulphus Bishop of Rhemes His hand-writing was produced wherein hee did binde himselfe to bee obedient to Hugo Capeto King of France and never to come in the contrary vnder paine of infamy and perpetuall malediction Notwithstanding he had countenanced Duke Charles who claimed the right of the kingdome as nearest heire thereto being the brother of Lotharius To Duke Charles Arnulphus had opened the ports of the towne of Rhemes and made him Commander of the citie Great disputation was in the Councell concerning Arnulphus His friends would haue had this cause remitted to the iudgement of the Bishop of Rome But many of the Bishops of France mightily opponed to the contrary The discourse is very prolix but the paines of reading is well recompenced with the fruitfulnesse of the disputation This Councell toke this end Arnulphus confessed his fault denuded himselfe of his Episcopall honour and Gilbertus who had beene instructor of Robert the Kings sonne was placed in his roome Likewise Arnulphus was sent to Orlience to be imprisoned there together with Siguinus Archbishop of Senon because hee consented not freely to the deposition of Arnulphus but thought that this matter was overswayed by the tyranny of Courtiers and vsurpers of the kingdome vnlawfully VVHen the deposition of Arnulphus was reported at Rome Iohn the thirteenth was mooued with great wrath and incontinent excommunicated all those Bishops of France who had consented to the deposition of Arnulphus In so doing Pope Iohn kept the accustomed order of the Romane Church to wit to pronounce a sentence before a lawfull cognition and tryall of the cause Also hee sent an Abbot called Leo furnished with the authority of the Romane chaire to appoint a new Councell at Rhemes Hugo King of France was somewhat terrified with the cursing of the Bishop of Rome and feared to oppose himselfe to so many bishops agreeing in one minde and therefore he suffered the councell to hold forward The conclusion of this Councell was that Arnulphus was restored to his former dignitie And left that either the Emperour Otto or Hugo Capeto should be offended Gilbertus was promoted to be Bishop of Ravenna CENTVRIE XI IN the yeere of our Lord 1026. and vnder the raigne of the Emp. Henry the second a Councell was assembled at Aken by the authority of the Emperour who seeing the wrath of God kindled against the word manifold tokens of the anger of God manifested in the Calamities hanging vpon the head of all people and nations he gathered this Councel By the authoritie whereof Priests were commanded to pacifie the wrath of God by frequent saying of masse the people by fasting abstinence Princes by distributing of almes to reconcile themselues to God The Doctrine of repetance and amendement of life was forgotten in this time of horrible ignorance and all religion was turned into outward exercises of fasting of distributing of almes and of saying of Masses Also new fasting daies were inioyned to be kept in most solemne manner to the honour of Iohn the Baptist S. Laurence so that by a multitude of human traditions daily increased the ordinance of God as Christ witnesseth was made null and of no effect IN the yeere of our Lord 1023. and in the 21. yeere of the raigne of the Emp. Henry 2. a Councell was assembled at Halignustat wherein Harido Bishop of Mentz was moderator great pains were taken to make a conformitie vnitie in obseruation of superstitious rites in Germanie such as statut times of fasting and abstinence from marriage at certaine times of the yeere and not casting of the corporall into the fire to quench the fire kindled in a towne which was the custome of foolish Priests at that time that no sword shuld be brought into the Church except the Kings sword and no meetings or confabulations should be in the Church or the poarch thereof and that women should not bee addicted to particular and select Masses such as the Masse of the Trinitie and Saint Michael but let them heare common Masses for the safetie of the quicke and the dead Also Lawes were made in this Councell concerning the reckoning of the degrees of consanguinitie and that no man should iourney to Rome for obtaining pardon for great sinnes before hee had first confessed himselfe to his owne Priest and fulfilled the penance prescribed by him with many other constitutions full of new invented superstition IN the yeere of our Lord 1030. and vnder the raigne of the Emperour Conrad the second a Councell was assembled at Triburia The Emperour was present at the Councell After some constitutions about fasting one arose and said that certaine Epistles were come from heauen concerning peace to be renued on earth he was commanded to write a coppie of these Epistles to be communicat to other Bishops to the ende that nations and people might obserue these new lawes following 1. That no man should weare armoure 2. That no man should seeke restitution of things
who were assessors to the Archbishop of Mentz departed from him fearing the rage of commoued people This Councell began with pride and ended with fury and tumult The Bishop of Mentz in great wrath departed to Helegenstad because he could hardly digest the repulse which he gat in the Councell IN the yeere of our Lord 1075. in the moneth of October a Councell was assembled at Mentz wherein the Bishop of Chur as Ambassador from the Pope Gregorie the seventh was present and straitly commanded the Bishop of Mentz vnder paine of deposition from his prelacie to proceed against married Priestes according to the Popes commandement The Bishoppe terrified with the Popes threatning convened a Synode at Mentz The married Priests finding that the Bishoppe againe was willing to execute the Popes vngodly commandement they left supplications which they had vsed in the Councell of Erfurde and with their hands and a vehement commotion of their bodies so terrified the Bishop of Mentz and the Popes Ambassadour that they were glad by flying to escape the danger of their life Not daring to assemble any mo Councels to that effect AFter this Pope Hildebrand in the lofty conceits of his proud and Antichristian heart intended to gather a Councel at Rome in the time of Lent And he gaue warning to the Emperour to compeare before him and to answer to such things as had bin obiected against him The Emperor thought it no time to slumber nor sleepe when this seditious Pope threatned to cut him off from the body of the Church if hee did not compeare before his Iudgement-seat Therefore the Emperour assembled all the Bishops of his kingdome to the number of 24. in the towne of Wormes Many Abbots also were present The question intreated in this Councell was concerning the deposition of Pope Hildebrand As they were devising concerning this purpose in the Councell Hugo Blancus a Cardinall came from Rome with letters from the Popes enemies with many accusations against him These were read openly in the Councell Hildebrand was accused of periury and ambition of avarice and of pride and they desired that Hildebrand might bee displaced and another seated in his roome The determination of the Councell was this that Hildebrand who called himselfe Gregorie the seventh a forclopen Monke an vsurper of the Popedome without consent of the Emperour and against his oath a false interpreter and wrester of holy Scripture a renter of vnity a man who mixed all divine and humane things so together that he polluted them both a man who heard the false accusations of vngodly people who in one cause would be an accuser a witnesse a Iudge and an enemy who separated husbands from their wiues and preferred whoredome to lawfull marriage who stirred vp the people against their Bishops and teachers who counted no man consecrated lawfully except hee had bought his Prelacie from his dependers and begged it from himselfe a seeker of popular applause and a deceiver of the people vnder colour of religion â— a man who like to Decius and the rest of the persecuting Emperours and worshippers of false gods vsurped both Empire and the Priesthood For all these forementioned causes the holy Emperour the Bishops and Senators and Christian people assembled with them decerned that Hildebrand should bee remooued from the Popedome and that the sheepe of Christ should not be committed to a Wolfe This decreet was subscribed by all the Bishops who were present at the Councell IN the yeere of our Lord 1076. another Councell was assembled at Triburia The Princes of Saxonie and Sweue came to the Councell with obstinate mindes setting their whole indeavours against the Emperour Henry the fourth He approached neere to the towne but the river of Rhene was interiected betweene them The Emperour in all submissiue manner promised to amend all the faults whereof they complained But their hearts being possessed with a superstitious favour to the chaire of Rome and being inclinable to sedition alteration of the State they returned a very hard answer to the Emperour wherein they made a commemoration of all his youthly infirmities and how their expectation of his amendment had often-times deceiued them But seeing their consciences witnessed vnto them that infirmities in Princes is no sufficient cause to shake off the yoke of their obedience Therefore in the end they pretend that in case they adhered any longer to him they were in danger to incurre the condemnation of their own soules because hee was excommunicated by the Apostolick chaire This Councell is like vnto a looking glasse wherein two things may bee evidently seene to wit the inconstancy of people and pride of the Roman Antichrist bearing downe the authority of Princes for desire of his owne advancement THe Pope had appointed a day of compearance to the Emperour to be iudged in Lent as hath beene declared heretofore This Councell was full of cursings flattering the Romanes and prodigall largition of money to those who followed the Pope For in this Councell Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna was cursed The Emperour Henry the fourth was not onely cursed but also denuded of his Imperiall dignity as if the Bishop of Rome had power to conferre the kingdomes of the world to whom hee pleaseth The flattering words of the Pope to the Romane Nobles Senators and People are beyond all measure of moderation For hee called them the head of the world having power to conferre all spirituall and civill dignities to whom they pleased Like as 270. yeeres agoe they transferred the Empire from the Grecians to the Germanes And like as the Emperour may displace an vnworthy souldier even so a souldier may forsake an vnrighteous Captaine After this hee distributed to his followers 15000. talents of siluer and so by cursings flattery and prodigality hee bewitched the Romans and engaged them against the Emperour IN the yeere of our Lord 1080. the Emperour Henry the fourth assembled of Germany and Italy 30. Bishops in the towne of Brixia-Notice together with many Princes of his kingdome All these consented that Hildebrand should be deposed from his Popedome and Gilbertus Bishoppe of Ravenna should be placed in his roome because Hildebrand was a subuerter of Ecclesiasticall order a troubler of the Imperiall estate a perturber of peace stirring vp dissention among brethren contention among those who lived peacebly divorcement among married persons and had troubled every thing that was setled in godlinesse and peace The tenour of the Decree followeth We who are assembled together by the providence of God in Brixia decerne that Hildebrand that obstinate preacher of sacrilegious flames and burnings a defender of periuries and murthers a Sorcerer and Inchanter a man who calleth in question the true Faith concerning the body and blood of Christ. We say they decerne that such a man should bee deposed and expelled from the Popedome and except nee forsake it after intimation of this Decree that hee is to be condemned perpetually IN the yeere
of our Lord 1081. the Emperor irritate with the incessant attempts of the Pope against his life and estate thought meet once to put an end to this labour and to the distresses of the Empire Therefore hee besieged the towne of Rome and tooke it Hildebrand with the rest of the Wolfes who had troubled the sheepfold of God they fled The Emperour with the advice of the Roman Senate appointed a Councell to be assembled at Rome wherein fugitiue Hildebrand should appeare and render an account of his adminstration but hee would not appeare Therefore he was deposed as a profane and wicked man a louer of discord a bloody man and an invader of the Apostolick chaire by Sorcery And Gilbertus by some called Wigbertus was placed in his roome AFter the death of Gregory the 7. the Romans had no regard to Gilbertus whom the Emperor had made Pope but they chose another who was Abbot in Cassinates named Desiderius He was not chosen by the Cardinalls nor by the Pope of Rome but by Mathildis and the Normans Commanders of Apulia as Functius recordeth all these were enemies to the Emperour After his election to the Popedome he was called Victor the third He assembled a Councell at Beneventum which was his natiue soyle There hee cursed Gilbertus Bishop of Ravenna as an vsurper of the Chaire belonging to Gregory the seventh his predecessor Likewise he cursed Hugo Archbishop of Lions and Richard Abbot of Marseil because as it seemeth they had been his competitors This man walked closely in the footsteps of Hildebrand but his time was short for hee died before hee could execute the proud conceits of his minde after he had ruled one yeere and six months Platina attributeth vnto him onely the continuance of one yeere and foure moneths IN the yeere of our Lord 1095. Vrbanus the second gathered a great assembly at Clermont in Overnie of France The lessons of Hildebrand were forgot by his successours Therefore in this Councell and the Councell of Placentia and other Councels which I haue ouerpassed studying to shortnesse It was ordayned that no spirituall office nor rent annexed thereto should be received from the hand of a secular man in this Councell it was ordayned with advice of many Christian Princes that an army should bee raised vp and march toward Ierusalem for support of distressed Christians and recovery of the holy Land out of the hands of Infidels as hath beene declared in the History of the life of Vrbanus the second CENTVRIE XII THe multitude of Councels assembled in this Centurie if they should all be particularly rehearsed I doubt not but the Reader would bee wearied in reading them for they exceede the number of an hundred and fifteene Councels So that I am compelled to reduce them vnto certaine principall heads and to produce examples of every head so shall the intention and designe of them who assembled Councels in this time be cleerly knowne Some Councels were assembled for prohibition of Priests marriages others for excommunication of the Emperour some for the question of investment of Bishops being most willing to extort this priviledge out of the hands of the Emperour and to conferre it to the Bishops of Rome Some were gathered for deciding the question which arose by plurality of Popes contending hotly one against another for the Popedome Many Councels also were assembled for advancing of the warre called Bellum sacrum and setting forward Christians to fight against the Saracens for conquering the holy Land out of their hands Some few were assembled against men whom they supposed to bee Heretiques such as Abelardus and his disciple Gilbertus and Vualdenses When a few examples of every one of these heads shall be commemorated the luxriant superfluity of the Councels of this Centurie shall not be found inconvenienly abridged ALexius Emperour of Constantinople sent letters to Vrbanus the second wherein he declared the rage of the Turkes and implored support from the West Vrbanus assembled a Councell of all Nations at Paris and was present himselfe at the Councell incitating the hearts of all men to driue out the barbarous Turkes from the place wherein the redeemer of the world did suffer In this Councell were appointed an hundred thousand men out of Aquitania Normandie England Scotland Ireland Brittannia Galitia Wastemia France Flanders Lorane and other Nations toward the holy Land with Hademarus a Bishop who had power of binding and losing in the Popes name IN the yeere of our Lord 1110. the Bishop of Florence openly preached that Antichrist was already come which hee cleerely perceived by that horrible change of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ into an earthly Monarchie for the Bishops of Rome were rather Warriours then Preachers of the Word of God They opposed themselues to Emperours and most contemptuously abused them they depraued the articles of Faith prophaned the Sacraments instituted by Christ. Idolatry dayly increased hypocriticall discipline through propagation of Monastique orders and humane constitutions were out of measure extolled Moe were advanced to the Popedome by deceit weapons and slaughter then by free election Matrimoniall chastitie was banished from the order of Clergie-men who count themselues holy And finally the Bishop of Rome was like vnto a gulfe devouring and exhausting the substance of the world and administrating his turnes rather by force then reason These abuses and others like to these presented to the Bishop of Florence a notice that Antichrist was come alreadie and openly domineered in the Church Pascalis the second who was Pope at this time thought it was no time to slumber or sleepe in such a matter Therefore hee convened a Councell at Florence and called the Bishop of Florence to his accounts The arguments by which hee prooued that Antichrist was already come are buried in silence Onely hee was sharply rebuked and commanded that in time to come he should vtter no such doctrine IN the yeere of our Lord 1102. and in the third yeere of the raigne of Henry the first King of England Anselmus Archbishop of Canterburie a man much addicted to Pope Paschalis assembled a Councell at London for prohibition of the marriages of Priests This was an vncouth thing in England and some counted it an holy designe others a matter perilous as it was indeed lest men attempting things that were aboue their strength should fall into the snare of the Deuill and into horrible Lusts of vncleannesse which thing came to passe For horrible Sodomie had place among the Clergie and the yeere following Anselmus was compelled to conuene another Councell at S. Pauls in London and to make constitutions for punishment of those who were found to bee polluted with that vild lust of vncleannesse Neuerthelesse Anselmus was one of the number of the Antichristian Clergie who would be wiser than God and finde out better remedies than marriage to stay the intemperat lust of men who had not the gift of Continencie IN the yeere of our