Flanders The Duke of Clarence followed the King to London where they set King Henry again at liberty after 9. years imprisonment and newly elected and crowned him King But soon after King Edward returned again to England with some Souldiers and then the Duke of Clarence his brother turned to him and so greatly increased the Kings strength that he came to London and took King Henry prisoner and then followed the Earl of Warwick whom he also overcame and slew with his brother the Marquess of Mountacute When Warwick was down the King pursued Queen Margaret wife to King Henry and getting the Victory in a battel at Tewksbury he took the Queen prisoner with Prince Edward her son And soon after King Henry was murdered in the Tower And after him the Duke of Clarence was murdered in the Tower a sad but just reward of a turn-coat To all other the bloud and Tyranny mention'd of this Usurper sad is the story recorded of Mr. Burdet of Arrow The King hunting in his Park with others kill'd one white Deer of which he set some esteem and for Mr. Burdets saying I would the Horns of the Buck was in the belly of him that shewed him the King the said Mr. Burdet was accused and condemned and executed for a Traytor and so lost both life and estate Indeed his words being a curse were sinful But yet a small offence to the King to have so sharp a censure But not long after the Lord shot the Dart of death at him summoning of him to appear before Divine Justice the 9. of April An. 1484. when he had reigned 22. years 1 month and odd days Edward the 5. about the age of 13. years was to succeed his father Edward the 4. But about 3. months after his fathers death his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester caused him to be secretly murdered conveyed away that it was not known where he was buried and so set up himself An. 1484. Richard the 3. brother to Edward the 4. to get the Crown murdered Prince Edward and Richard Duke of York his brothers sons in the Tower with George Duke of Clarence his own brother also Henry Duke of Buckingham Hastings Rivers Vaâ—ghan Grey and very many others and his own wife Anne that so he might make way to marry his Couzen Elizabeth Yet this wicked Tyrant raged but a short time For Henry Earl of Richmond the heir apparent came out of France with the Earl of Pembrook his Uncle the Earl of Oxford many others to whom some of the Nobility joyned in England who gave battel to Richard the 22. of August neer Bosworth where Richard was slain when he had born his usurped Crown 2. years and 2. months Ann. 1486. Henry the 7. who was heir to the house of Lancaster when he came to the Crown married Elizabeth the daughter of Edward the 4. whom Richard intended to have taken and so united the houses of Lancaster and York Henry had also a strain of the British Race and of the French bloud In this Kings time were great Tumults Taxes and Taxes brought Tumults and the shedding of much bloud And when Taxes were not willingly paid the King craved or begged benevolence or something of their own good will Divers rebellions there were some from without and some within the Nation and it 's noted that Lambert was a chief rebel in these times The Scots also made inroads into the North parts But to quiet them the King gave his eldest daughter in Marriage to the King of Scots When Henry had reigned 23. years and 8. months he died An. 1510. Henry the 8. succeeded his father Henry the 7. He enjoyed the Crown in much quiet by union of the Families for which there had been fought 17. pitcht battels in which were slain 8. Kings 40. Dukes Marquesses and Earls besides Barons Knights and Gentlemen and about 200000. common people This King married his brother Arthur's widow which Arthur died before his father And so Henry began he was for Religion a Roman Catholike and in his zeal writ against Luther for which great act his father the Pope gave him the Title of Defender of the Faith which the Kings and Queens held to the last Yet when Henry the 8. grew great he cast off the Popes Supremacy over England and judged himself fit enough to be head in Church and State The King going to War in France James King of Scots came with a great Army into England but in a bloudy battel was repulsed About this time Mary the Kings sister was contracted to Lewis the 12. King of France but was before promised to the King of Castile Yet after Charles Duke of Suffolk wedded the Lady Anno 1516. About Ann. 1533. King Henry put off Katherine and married Anne Bullin and she was proclaimed Queen Upon this divorce many were discontented but the King sent out an Oath to be taken by all people especially to the Priests to swear fidelity to the King Queen Anne and their heirs But the Lord Chancellour some Bishops and many others for refusing this ungodly oath were committed to the Tower and other prisons But to the rest of this Kings sins when he had cast off the Popes Supremacy he became Pope of England and was made head of the Church of England having full authority over the same And withal took the first fruits and tenths An. 1535. In the next year the 2. of May Queen Anne was committed to the Tower and there beheaded Also the Queens brother with 18. of the Kings Privy Chamber were put to death the 17. of May and the 20. of May the King married Lady Jane Seymor The 12 of October 1537. Queen Jane brought forth Prince Edward and lost her life the 14. day The 3. of January 1539. the King married Anne of Cleve Thomas Cromwel Secretary to the King was a rising Favourite and promoted to places of trust and honour above any in his time beginning about An. 1536. and An. 1540. he was beheaded at Tower-hill and the new Queen Anne of Cleve divorced The King had another wife in good readiness if not already married for the 8. of August following the Lady Katherine Howard appeared openly as Queen But he made as speedy dispatch with her for the 13. of February following she was beheaded in the Tower yet after the King had cut off that Katherine the 12. of july following the King married the Lady Katherine Parr late wife to the Lord Latimer 1543. and the 35. year of the Kings reign All this Kings time were mutinies heading hanging and abundance of bloud-shed continually of all sorts Nobles Bishops Priests and people He cut down all that stood in his way who answered not his desires Thus this King spent 37. years 9. months and odd days An. 1548. Edward the 6. succeeded his father
ought not nay may not put out a Lordly Soveraign power over the Church or Brethren is plain to all that will read it 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Secondly That ordinary Church-Officers have not any power or charge given them over diverse Churches is plain from Scripture and Reason When Paul called the Bishops together and spake to them all present yet he presses every one to take care of his own particular Flock Acts 20. 28. If any through prejudice should seek other glosses to put upon this text to hold their own opinions they let goe natural reason and deal worse with Christian souls than they are willing to doe by their flocks of Sheep Certainly a Shepherd that takes charge of divers flocks in several places is very like to Rot them all But my business is to gather an Epitomy of the Papacy that the rise and growth of this proud scarlet Whore who rides the Roman Empire may bee yet more perfectly discovered and that the Antichrist of Rome may appear to bee the very Whore of Babylon shadowed out in Types and Figures unto John in his Revelations The Gospel was no sooner preached by the Apostles but Satan had some ministers ready to pervert the truth of it and turn away Disciples The Apostle Paul not only describes but discovered the working of Antichrist in his time Paul said then the Mystery of iniquity doth already work 2 Thes. 2. 7. that is in that very age pride end usurpation of false teachers corruption of Doctrine and Discipline grew fast on and many were drawn off from the simplicity of the Gospel to Idolatrous and Superstitious practices through ignorance and blind devotion It cannot be denied but that the first Bishops of the Church of Christ in Rome were many of them sound in the faith and sealed the truth of the Gospel with their bloud in Martyrdome yet in those times Heresies and Sects in Religion grew fast and after more and more I shall pass in silence all the first Bishops and begin with Elutherius the twelfth Bishop of Rome Elutherius was chosen Bishop of the Church at Rome in the fifteenth year of Antonius Verus the Emperour Anno 178. and governed that Church thirteen years untill this time the same Doctrin and Order in the Church which was left by the Apostles was observed in the Church of Rome In his time England received the Christian Faith and when Lucius the British King sent to Rome as a famous Christian Church and desired Elutherius to send them the Roman Lawes the good Bishop not dreaming then of a Supremacy modestly refused it and referring of the Christians to the Books of the Old and New Testament to gather out Lawes from thence urged this reason The Roman Lawes and the Emperours Lawes we may ever reprove but the Law of God wee may not out of them take yee a Law and by that Law rule your Realm of Britain At this time there was a Sect followed Marcus who denied the real suffering of Christ and that there was no resurrection of the Flesh and therefore lived in Adultery Victor succeeded Elutherius In his time there fell a great difference between the Eastern and Western Churches about the time of Easter or the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some observed it upon the fourteenth day of the Moon after the Jewish Passeover some upon the Sunday following Upon this contention many Synods of Bishops were called in all parts and so Victor called a Synod at Rome where he himself sate President In this Synod at Rome Victor took upon him to Excommunicate the Churches in Asia because they conformed not to the practice of the Western Churches But this insolent attempt of Victor was stoutly opposed and Victor overcome Soon after this Victor dyed when hee had governed twelve years anno 203. At this time sprung the Heresie of Artemon the Disciple of Theodotus a Tanner who denied the Divinity of Christ. Zephyrinus was the next Bishop of Rome and governed eighteen years Anno 221. In his time was Neotus who denied the Trinity of the Deity He called himself Moses There were also the Sect Melchisedechiani who held Melchisedech to bee greater than Christ. Some taught also that the Soul dyed with the Body yet rose again at the general resurrection Calistus now took the Chair and continued five years and dyed Anno 226. Urbanus followed Calistus and governed eight years Anno 234. Pontanus succeeded Urban and continued six years Anno 240. Anterus came next to the place It is Historied that when the Church was met upon the death of Pontanus for a new Election a Dove setled upon the head of Anterus and so the multitude cried out Anterus is worthy of the Bishoprick I repeat this as a Popish relation yet possibly this might be one of Antichrists Miracles to deceive which after were more frequent But however Anterus entred he held his honour but one Month and gave way to Fabian Fabian was Bishop of Rome and dyed a Martyr in the seventh Persecution raised by the Emperour Decius Anno 254. Cornelius followed Fabian and ruled three years Anno 257. Lucius followed Cornelius and kept the Sea not full eight months About this time was Novatus who called the Sect following him Puritans Hee refused to receive into their Fellowship again those that fell though they shewed their repentance He also denied second Marriages Stephen was chosen next Bishop of Rome and ruled two years Anno 260. In his time it was much controverted whether Hereticks converted or persons baptized by Hereticks should bee again baptized Also in Stephens Government some Bishops deposed in Spain and Africk fled to Rome and sought to bee restored by the authority of Stephen It seems Stephen was willing to close with such an opportunity or else in a brotherly way the Bishop of Rome writ to the Bishops of Spain and Africk to receive again those Bishops deposed the Bishops of Rome made other use of it in after times But whether Stephen writ to command or desire yet the Bishops to whom Stephen did write returned answer That the offenders running to Rome could not have those just Censures past upon them reversed c. Xystus came next in place and governed eleven years Anno 271. About this time the Heresie of Novatus was revived and some Bishops corrupted with it Dionysius governed nine years and died Anno 280. In this time were the Sect Origeniani These denied Marriage yet lived worse than Beasts using vile ways to keep Women from conceiving with childe Faelix had the next turn and ruled five years Anno 285. Eutychianus followed Faelix yet governed but ten Months Caius then had the rule of the Roman Church and continued fifteen years Anno 300. At this time the Heresie of the Origeniani was broached afresh by Adamantius a Priest in Alexandria and much increased These held there was
smart of Tyranny Valerian going to War against the Persians was taken prisoner where he was made the Kings foot-stool when he got upon his horse and after flea'd alive and salted and so ended this miserable life Galienus left in Government still continued Emperour but he gave himself up to his pleasure and neglected the Publike Weale by which many Provinces took their opportunity to provide for their own safety and set up Emperours of their own In his reign also the Gothes made invasions upon the Romans all which together Gallienus grew into hatred and was soon slain Yet it is said Gallienus stayed the persecution against the Christians about An. 262. and with his father kept the Imperial Throne 15. years An. 272. Claudius next had the Empire But Historians agree not in the time of his reign or who succeeded therefore I follow Mr. Heylin who gives to Claudius one year An. 272. Quintilius had the Throne for one year and left it An. 273. Aurelianus then took his turn At first he favoured the Christians but after raised the ninth persecution against them It is said When this Emperour was about to sign his Edict against the Christians the Lord stroke that arm that he could not write his name upon which he was so terrified that he stay'd that persecution and after this sign from heaven the Church had peace through divers Emperours reigns Aurelius was a valiant Warriour and subdued divers Provinces to the Roman State Yet was after murdered by pretending friends when he had reigned 6. years An. 278. After Aurelius the Empire was vacant and no Emperour chosen for some time which never happened from Romulus to that instant Yet at length Tacitus was chosen Emperour and reigned 6. moneths Florianus then took the Scepter and held it 80. daies Probus was chosen to the Empire as some say By the nomination of Tacitus and confirmed both by the Army and Senate He by his wisdom so setled the Nations in such peace that on a time he said We shall not shortly need Armies or Garisons But this speech of the Emperour so greatly offended the Souldiers that they consulted new troubles and not long after Probus died when he had held the Crown 6. years An. 286. Carus succeeded Probus He took into Government with him his two sons Carinus and Numerianus Carus soon died and Numerianus following the Wars was slain by his father in law Upon this Dioclesian was chosen Emperour and raised an Army against Carianus but in battel Carianus lost his life when all three Emperours had reigned but 3. years Anno 289. Dioclesian now succeeded in the Empire and finding troubles and tumults arising in many places he took Maximinian into Government with him and divided the Empire into East and West That the Publike Weale might be yet more stable and better ordered Dioclesian adopted Galerius to succeed him and Maximinian chose Constantius Clorus to follow him Yet Galerius was sent to command in the East and Constantius kept the West These Emperours by this Policy kept peace at home and got Victories abroad by which they were exceedingly lift up in pride In such height was Dioclesian that he would be worshipped as God And to the rest of his sin he raised the tenth persecution against the Christians which rose very high In the 19. year of his reign neer the Feast of Easter the Emperour sent out his Edict by which he commanded all Churches to be laid even with the ground the holy Scriptures to be burnt the Pastours of Churches first to be imprisoned and then forced to offer sacrifice to idols or suffer death c. It cannot be said how much Christian bloud was shed in a little time Yet the righteous God suffered not these bloudy persecutors to go in peace to their graves In the 20. year of these Emperours Government they grew weary of their honours and resigned their Emperial trust to their Companions But Maximinus grew mad and hanged himself And Dioclesian fell into a horrible Disease his intrails and flesh rotting with innumerable lice swarming upon him and so wasted away An. 309. Though now the Empire be divided into East and West or West and East I shall only follow the Western Empire and speak only of the Eastern Emperours occasionally as this History requires Constantius now Emperour of the West had his abode in England and married Helena daughter of King Coel. Constantius was greatly affected with Religion and the worship of God which he much promoted but in the 7. year of his Government after the Resignation of the former Emperours he departed this life at York An. 316. Constantius being now dead Galerius Emperour of the East adopted Severus and Maximinus to succeed next in Government In the interim the Nobles and Souldiers at Rome elected Maxentius to be Emperour Upon this great troubles did arise and to quier both the parties up in arms the Nobility called Constantine son of Constantius out of France to deliver Rome from the Tyranny of Maxentius Constantine forthwith drew into Italy with his Army where he got the first Battel and after totally routed Maxentius neer to Rome Constantine was Proclaimed Emperour after the death of his father in England But now he had overcome his enemies he was established in the Imperial Throne Constantine bearing great affection to Licinius took him into Government and married his sister Constantia to him out of this respect that Licinius favoured the Christians But after some time his hypocrisie was discovered and it appeared that he intended secretly to murder Constantine and to raise persecution against the Christians Yet the All-wise God prevented the one and stay'd the other begun For this malicious bloudy cruelty being brought to light Constantine went against Licinius overcame him and after ruled alone Constantine now setled the afflicted Church in much peace and the Romans gave him the title of Constantine the Great It is Historied by Socrates That when Constantine was drawing up of his Army to relieve Rome from the Tyranny of Maxentius that he was yet unsetled in Religion But in the day-time there appeared a lightsome Pillar in the heavens like a Cross with this inscription In this overcome But this appearance was of these Greek characters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are the name of Christ As Euseb. This at first amazed the Emperour Yet he being assured by the restimony of others as well as himself of the reality of the vision Constantine did fully believe in Christ and in that strength prospered I will not spot paper with reciting the Popish fables reported of Constantine But without question he was a pious and peacable man and did much for the Church of God He was converted to the faith about the 41. year of his age Yet was not Baptized of long purposely