the Pope From this time being in the yeare 801. the honour of the Romayne Empire was first translated froÌ„ the Grekes to the French men by the Pope and after at his good pleasure from theÌ„ to the Germaines This Pope also pronounced Pipin of Fraunce sonne to the saâ—e Charles king of the same parte of Italy whiche neither he nor any of his predecessours could euer sudduâ— whiche he did for this pollicie that the kinges of Fraunce hauing the title Emperial should neuer suffer him to lose his maiestie For this cause saith Hieronymus Marius the Pope wrought perpetual dissentions betwene the Emperours of the West and of the East to the great spoyle of Christian bloud Thus vpon condiâ—ion that Charles and his should sweare perpetuall homage and fealtie to the churche of Rome he made him Emperour He first appointed to hallowe the altar with frankinsense He made the Popes decrees to be of greater auctoritie then al the writinges of the doctours Also he caused that a certain counterfeit bloud made by a conueiaunce to ronne from a wodden roode should be taken to be the very true bloud of Christe And caryed it to Mantua where to this daye it is preserued reuerenced and worshipped He by his auctoritie allowed it to be so appointing for it yearely a solemne holydaye Such was the dotage of the time wherof Mantuan bewitched with this enchauntement writeth to the Emperour Charles of the Popes iourney VVhyle Leo hearing of the brute of counterfaited blood VVhiche founde was lately streaming from a crucifixe of wood He hieth him to Mantua where he perceiuing well The wonderous woorkes wherein this bloud so straungely did excell He thought wee should it as the bloud of Iesus Christeesteme That earst was shed vpon the crosse our soules for to redeme An abhominable elusion and blasphemy to say teache that the glorified bloud of Christe should shead it selfe in a rotten idoll whiche as the Apostle saith was ones shed for all that out of his precious body But the Popes auctoritie in this matter caused this to be beleued almoste of all men But so Paule prophecied the coÌ„ming of Antechrist to bee in false signes to deceiue the vnbeleuing Leo died Anno. 816. Vspergensis saith that in this time of Leo the Sunne was darkened and lost his light for eightene days so that the shippes ofte on the sea wandred to and fro Also that in an other yeare it was twyse in the Eclipse firste in Iune secondly in December Likewise the same yere the Moone was twyse in the Eclipse in Iuly and in Ianuary 33. Steuen the fourth STeuen the fourth the thirde moneth after he had taken the Popeship vpon him made a voiage into Fraunce to Lewis the Emperour to purge him selfe of election wherby he was made Pope because he was chosen and confirmed by the Clergie and the people contrary to the decree made by Hadrian and Leo. And thus their owne decrees whiche the former predecessour made the next successour broke But to flatter and dally with the Emperoure for a while he brought with him a fayre crowne of Remis and put it on the Emperours head put another on the Empresse head naming her Augusta When he had receiued his rewarde of the Emperour should returne the churche of Reata wanted a bishop and yet Steuen very subtelly would electe none onlesse he might firste knowe whether the Emperour would allowe his doing but note the sequele As sone as he was returned safe to Rome he began to consider that the prerogatiue which was geuen to Charles and his successours might be a bridelling to the sea of Rome being embouldened the more because Lewis was a gentle persone and a tractable man he disanulled al that â–ª auctoritie and right and affirmed that it ought to belonge to the Clergie the people the senate to electe the Pope But to auoyde the Emperours displeasure he vsed this interpretation that it was lawefull for them to chuse him without the Emperours auctoritie but not to consecrate him but in the presence of him or his embassadours And thus the Emperours were a litle shouldered out from the election of these prelates And beside this because he raigned but eight monethes he coulde not any further enhance the pompe of his seate dying Anno. 817. 34. Paschal the first PAschal the first a Romishe monke was chosen withoute the consent of the Emperour according to the glose deuised by Steuen but when the Emperour complayned that he found himselfe agreeued with the election Paschall verye craftelye wrote vnto him purging himselfe therof In processe of time when he perceyued y the Emperour vpoÌ„ blinde zeale to religion was a greate maintayner of the Church of Rome he thinking that it were daungerous if he shoulde delaye the enlarging of his auctoritye did so craftelye charme and enuegle the Emperour that he yelded whollye to the Romaynes all his auctoritye touching the election of the Pope which was giuen to Charles and he confirmed by wrytinge hys auncetours presentacions which they had wrongfully purloyned This did the Emperour confirme with hande and seale not knowing theyr crafte But after that when this Emperour Lewes minding to haue his sonne Lotharius ioyned w t him in the Empyre and for the more coÌ„uenieÌ„t doing therof sent him to Rome to be crowned there by the Pope king of Italy which after that the Pope had done whiile Lothariê° because of a certaine tumulte and sedition there arysing fled to his father for ayde to suppresse it leauing behind him one Theodorus and Leo chiefe officers aboute him who stoode stoutlye in theyr maisters quarrel the Pope secretly and trayterouslye caused certaine seditious persons to pul out theyr eyes and afterward to strike of their heades And when he was accused to the Emperour both of the sedition and of this murther he picking out for his purpose a counsell of Prelates purged himselfe by his othe notwithstaÌ„ding he absolued and pardoned those that were giltye and knowen offenders he accused them that were slaine to be giltye of treason against the Emperour and finallye auouched that they were lawfully put to death This Paschall they say if they ouer reach not in the nomber did take vp ii thousand saincts karkases that were buryed in Churchyards and bestowed more honourable tombes vppon them in other places He commaunded to worship and reuerence the reliques of Saincts He was beneficiall to stone walles as Churches and altars diuersly Last of all he gaue coÌ„maundement to the clergye that they should not take any benefice or Ecclesiasticall lyuinge at the handes of a layeman He dyed Anno. 824. 35. Eugenius the second EVgenius gat the Popedome with much brablinge and strife among the fathers of the election for first one Zizimus had it graunted him but the discorde beinge ended Eugenius gat it both for his curtesye eloquence as they say who as Premonstratensis sayth that while he was Cardinal of S. Sabines bestowed on the Church a siluer
crosses shoulde passe ouer to assist the Emperour but he draue them oute of Apulia Lombardye shewinge himselfe a wicked and mischieuous man by many other meanes in slaying those Germaynes that returned from the Emperour moste cruellye Thus while the good Emperour defended the flocke of Christe with the sworde abroade the Pope deuoured and spoyled them at home After the Emperour had wonne from the Soldā Hierusalem Nazereth Ioppa hee toke a truce with him for tenne yeares whereof he certifyed the Pope by his letters looking that the Pope woulde haue shewed himselfe ioyfull therof and all Christians likewyse But the Pope despysing and reiecting the letters commaunded the messengers that broughte them to be put to death leaste they should make report of the Emperours noble successe Also he spreade this rumour that the Emperour was dead to this ende to make such Cityes in Apulia to shrincke for feare as had with stode to submit themselues to him And both to stop the Emperours returne and to obtaine Apulia at his pleasure he wrote to the Soldan desyring him not to yeld the Holy lande to the Emperour as he was about to do But the Emperour finishing his matters with the Soldan returned into Italye whereupon the slaughter of his men done by the Pope as they returned stayed and within a while he draue the Popes power oute of Apulia and by the helpe of God recouered all his owne from him Hereupon the Pope did excōmunicate him and curse him a newe and conspired with the Lombards and Thuscans to rebell against him because he had made a league with the Soldan But in the ende many Princes seekinge to set them at vnitye the Emperour had absolution of the Pope paying to him for it ere as Platina saith he could obtaine it an hundred thousande ounces of gould For sayth Vspergensis notwithstanding all these iniuries yet so often as the Pope did excommunicate him he craued and sued for the benefite of absolution humblye with all obedience deuocion yelding of iustice Soone after the Emperour prepared to go into Germanye to redresse certaine disorders doone by his eldest sonne Henry the Pope hearinge thereof wrote to the estates of Germanye commaundinge that they should make none of the Emperours family king of the Romaynes because the kinge of the Romaines is heyre apparent to the Empyre Frederick vnderstanding this treachery and that the Pope had conspired a freshe w t manye Princes of Italy against him did forthwith inuade Italy suppressed the rebellious Lombards wanne diuers townes in Vmbria and Hetruria subdued to the Empyre Lomberdie Viterbie Peruse Fauentia Cremona Vicentia Patauy all which had conspired with the Pope The Pope seinge this cursed him againe The Emperour hearinge of it because the Popes couetousnesse ambition tyrannye and pride grewe so great that it was no longer to be suffered thought good to reueale the same to all Christians to reclayme them from their errour and false Religion and therfore he lying in Patauy commaunded a certaine learned mā wel studyed in the Scriptures to preach before him concerninge the Popes curse of the Church of Rome After the preacher had disclosed all the abuses of the Pope and his Church the Emperour moued thereby wrote these 2. Uerses to the Pope Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput Rome that hath rulde long and hath in errour farre beene ledde Shal come to nought and cease to be on earth the supreame hedde ¶ The Popes aunsvveare to the Emperour Niteris incassum nauem submergere Petri Fluctuat at nunquam mergitur illa ratis To drowne S. Peters shippe ye spende your labour all in vaine It tottreth oft but sinks not so but it may floate againe ¶ The Emperours replye Fata volunt stellaeque docent auiumque volatus Quod Fredericus ego maleus orbis ero ▪ T is destinye the starres of heauen and flight of foules do showe I Frederick shal be the club to strike the deadlye blowe ¶ The Popes aunsvveare Fata volunt Scriptura docet peccata loquuntur Quod tibi vita breuis paena perennis erit T is destenye the Scripture shewes and thy offences tell Thy life is short thy paine shall last for euermore in hell Thus was the Emperour nowe the thirde time excommunicated by the Pope and pronounced not Emperour but at this time there were manye Cardinals that disalowed the Popes doing so that the Emperour had many frends in Italy because he still sued and sought for the Popes fauour and could not haue it and now therefore he set all at defiance in maner afore shewed Of this Gregorie Mattheus Parisius sayth further callinge him bloud sucker couetous Pope that he held a councell at Rome to depose the Emperour who had maryed Isabel doughter to king Iohn of England and ere the councell began he caused the Apostles heades to be borne aboute the Citye in a solemne procession that the sighte thereof mighte astonishe mens mindes and drawe their hartes from the Emperour Also he gaue free pardon to euery one that would fight against him The Emperour vnderstanding it stopped all passages both by Sea and lande and taking many Cardinals other prelates as they were sayling awaye he put them in prison hee drowned ii Cardinals in the Sea of the rest some bishops abbots and chaplins and amonge them the Popes brother for their notorious and haynous treasons were hanged The first excommunication that was sent out against this Emperour arose of this groūd because themperour would not at the Popes commaundement daunger himselfe and many Christians with him to go out to fight for the holy land For the Pope as it appeared by his actes coueted to encroch the kingdome of both Sicils Apulia other landes so that he sought meanes how to destroy the Emperour being inheritour thereof which he mighte see come to passe by the chaunce of the warre or els while the Emperour should there haue beene busye against the infidels he in the meane time as chiefe prelate hauing Christendome committed to his credite mighte the more easely disposses the Emperour Furthermore this Gregorie was the cause of sedicion in Rome for banishing one Hannibal oute of the Senate because he sued to recouer the aunciente Romaine libertyes Also he prouoked the Poloniās to destroy the Prutenians being his foes He made that cursed deuision in Italy which to the great confusion of Christiā bloud lasteth to this daye betweene the Guelphes and Gibelines for these being two of the most noble and famous houses in Italye whereof the one name whollye that is the Gibelines toke part with the Emperour the Guelphe w t the Pope and this quarrel hath doth last to this day betwene all of the one name against all of the other w t continuall reuenge as oportunitye serueth from time to time Amonge diuers other his superstitious deedes these were some he canonized S. Dominick S Fraūcis
fault vvherof he vvas mistrusted De Clemente quod est coÌ„scriptum carmine crimen Id verum aut fallum protinus esse scio Si verum est verenam possum dicere mundi Vrna breuis vitium claudit omne scelus Si falsum est vere iam possum scribere mundi Dux pax lux paruo contegitur tumulo Et falsum esse reor Quis enim coÌ„mittere summum Pontificem Rome talia monstra putet Iohn Tillius sayth in his Chronicle that this Pope beinge taken prysoner by the Emperours armye as shal be at large declared was redeemed for fourtye Thousande FloreÌ„ces Also of this Clement it is reported in a certaine Commentarye vpon the articles of the maisters of Paris that he was one that practised poysoninges a murderer a baude an vncleane liuer and that in such sort as for offending of chast eares is not to be named Also he is charged there with simonye adulterye rauishing of women periurye coniuring and to be a Church robber fraught with al kinde of villâ—uye and therfore a certaine Poet wrote thus of him Clementi nomen dedit inclementia fati Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum Lerna malorum Valerius Anselmus wryting of this ClemeÌ„t sayth thus ClemeÌ„t being of a dissembling wit in the last yeare of his Papacye repayred to the French king at Massilia where they two agreed so together that the king toke Katherine nice vnto this Pope Clement at his motion with a great dowrye of Ecclesiasticall dignityes and maryed her vnto his second sonne Henry duke of Orleans This the Pope wrought to arme him selfe the stroÌ„ger against the Lutheranes whose bloud he hunted after But in SepteÌ„ber he and other of his Cardinals and familiaritye were preuented by the straunge poyson of a charmed Taper c. Clement in making this mariage would first haue had the saide Katherine bestowed on the Frenche kinges eldest sonne if it could haue bin But it came to the same effecte in the ende for soone after the eldest sonne dyed and then her husbande Henry duke of Orleans was nexte heire and kinge of Fraunce and by this meanes the Popes nyce according to the desire of her vncle became Queene of FrauÌ„ce being the same woman that yet lyueth in Fraunce in these bloudye dayes being mother to Charles that now is king For this her aduauncement she hath shewed herselfe verye thanckfull vnto Italye and vnto the Court of Rome both in plantinge Italians in diuers greate offices in the Realme of Fraunce and also fortifyinge the Popes auctoritye to the vttermost of her power with greater beneuolence to her owne countrye Italye then is thoughte profitable to the countrye of Fraunce Iohannes Baptista Folengius in his CoÌ„mentarye vpon the 105. Psalme hath these woords For it is reported that in our dayes Pope Clement the seuenth dyed of that most lothsome and filthye disease called morbus pedicularis that is to be eaten wyth lyce some say that he was poysoned He was a mortall creature and therefore subiect to infinite miseryes and diseases as other men are c. Clement being dead this Epitaphe was made on him whereby it appeareth how the world iudged of his life Clementem eripuit nobis clementia fati Humanum toto gaudeat orbe genus Hic est qui fuerat iam dedecus vrbis orbis Et fuit aetatis magna ruina suae Hic est si nescis qui iam tibi Roma parauit Excidium pestem funera bella famem Hic est per quem tot prostrant in vrbe puellae Per quem pulsus honos virgineumque decus Hic est qui molles euexit ad astra cinaedos Formosum à tergo munere iuuet Hylam Hic est qui fuerat viuens infamia mundi Imperij labes spurcitiesque sui Contemptor diuûm scelerum vir publicus hostis Perfidus ingratus raptor iniquus atrox Exosus vitam morbo tenuatus amaro Stabat Paeonia non reuocandus ope Mortem implorabat nec mortem fata sinebant Gaudebant longa sed cruciare mora Hic vidit mortis centum tormenta futurae Poena tamen mortis non fuit aequa suae Ex ista tandem migrauit luce tyrannus Quo nullus toto peior in orbe fuit ¶ Pasquil to Rome Roma vale vide satis est vidisse reuertar Quum leno aut meretrix scurra cinaedus ero Under this Clement Nicolas Machiauel Secretarye of Florence and a famous Historiographer did flourishe who in the first booke of his historye of Florence sayth that for the most part the mischiefes that happeÌ„ amonge the Christians proceede of the ambition of the Popes And that before the time of Theodoricus kinge of Lombardes that is till about the yeare of our Lorde 500 they were euer subiecte to kinges in ciuill matters But sayth he they encroached by little and little the ciuil iurisdiction and finallye do vsurpe Lordship euen aboue the verye Emperours They haue growen to this height as he sheweth by three meanes by excommunicating by geuing pardoÌ„s by the sword Furthermore in his discourses vpon the fift decade of Liue Cap. xii he sheweth the contempte of Religion is cause of the ouerthrow of al common wealthes namelye that the occasion both of discorde and euill successe in Christendome is because that Religion is contemned whereof there can be no greater coniecture saith he then that those people which are nearest to the Church of Rome the heade of our Religion haue least Religion And he that by experience would know the truth of this matter if he were of sufficient power and auctoritye to transport the Court of Rome into Zwitzerland where onelye at this daye the people do liue both according to Religion warlicke sort of antiquitye he should perceiue that the detestable demeanour of the Popes Courte would cause more disorder in the countrey then any chaunce els that mighte happen at anye time c. 166. Paule the thirde PAule the third borne in Rome was first called Alexander Farnesius He bâ—inge a Cardinall and bisshop of Hostia and a man almost spent in yeeres was chosen to succede Clement and yet he raigned fiftene yeeres Valerius writing of him saith This holy man did his endeuour accordinge to the custome of his auncestours to aduaunce his children and to suppresse Luther and his adherentes He was very conning in astrologie southsaying and coniuring by meanes wherof being a young man he did manye strange feates He caused his owne sister to yelde her selfe concubine vnto Pope Alexander the sixte that hee might therby obtaine the red hatte But in his Papacie beinge an aged man he deuised a newe profession of religious men He purposing to reforme the estate of the church of Rome sommoned a generall councell at Mantua but to no purpose and likewise in the later Tridentine councell he could not preuaile Valerius Anselmus Paulus Vergerius Iohn Sleidan and other late writers do report these thinges that follow of him It were to long to
fier And therfore these Nicodemites that will visit Christ onelye in the darcke and by night and not openly before men the Lord will not acknowledge him before his Heauenly father Such is the ende of fleshly pollicy So that Right honourable onely such ar to be held as wyse in deede which thincke that it lyeth vpoÌ„ them especially beloÌ„geth vnto them to make a constant and opeÌ„ profession of true Religion If then to be wyse be to professe Religion it is worthy to be farther considered how a man may attaine to perfection herein The heathen that euer measured wysedomeÌ„ by ciuill pollicy haue accompted best of those by whose good endeuour their commoÌ„ wealth hath bin most vpheld and strengthned from forain inuasions and that haue employed themselues to breake the force of such as would assault it And so my very good Lord they that haue bin the most worthye members of the Church of God haue euer excelled in this point to shew themselues forward in promoting Religion and suppressing to their power the enemyes therof and especially I say in suppressing the enemyes For the houlding downe of them is the houlding vp of the other So the godly Dauid did both fetch home the arke of God and scourged his ennemyes the Philistines and Iebusites So the zealous king Iosias both restored the Law of the Lord and put downe the wicked Chemerinus that sacrificed vnto Baal So the noble Cyrus deliuered Israell and held BabiloÌ„ captiue Finally so the worthy CoÌ„stantine the sonne to Helen borne in this Island brought peace to the Church set Christian ReligioÌ„ at libertye and also ouerthrew the cruell ennemy and tyraunt MaxeÌ„tius If these godly examples were euer to be followed in any place If this zeale in Religion were euer to be shewed in any age where more then in this our natiue countrye If this perfit wysedome were euer to be wished in any gouernours of whom rather then of the nobility of England when rather then in this our time against the tyrannye of the bishop of Rome For what enemye bath made such greedy spoyle and wrought such broyle in any countrey as he and his hath done continuallye in this little Isle as but for being tedious might be shewed almost in euery kings time since the coÌ„quest as VVilliam Rufus and HeÌ„ry the first both were sore combred w t Pope Vrban the second and Paschal the second through Anselmus bishop of CaÌ„terbury Henry the second much more with Thomas Becket and Pope Alexander the 3. Richard the first complayned greuously of the Popes shamefull polling his Realme and yet could not redresse it K. Iohn suffered a thousand stormes and the Realme was myserablye spoyled and made tributarye to the Pope for euer by the treachery of StepheÌ„ LangtoÌ„ bishop of Canterbury In the time of HeÌ„ry the 3. the Pope ransackt all the Churches in Englande and so hath he continued with the rest vexing by exactioÌ„s excommunications or some such meanes euerye one But because his staffe hath here bin brokeÌ„ he throweÌ„ out of the dores in this our time what meanes doth he dailye leaue vnproued to worke our confusion as sturring rebellioÌ„s mouing treasons seditions and conspiracies within the land cursing and excoÌ„municating both Prince and people nobilitye and commons and yelding vs a praye vnto him whoÌ„ he hath assigned by his bulls to enioye their lyuings and dignities abroad who hourelye wait wheÌ„ eyther by nature it selfe or their violent hand the thred shoulde faile whereon dependeth the staye of our estate Such is the purpose of Antichrist against vs and yet practised with colour of holines So that if euer the bloud of Christ his Church ought euer to be precious in the eyes of men the time is now Now lyeth it vpon euery one to shew himselfe a freind to his countrey by withstanding to his power the common enemye therof and especially those that stande in the hyest place both for their owne sakes because their fall shal be the greater and for charge of Gods people coÌ„mitted vnto them whose bloud he wil require at their hands if they leaue them to the wolfe For the which cause Right honourable I as a member of that bodye which is so assaulted by this Dragon both for the safetye of my selfe and other employed my self a litle to discouer the secret traynes of this deceitful ennemye and because this my enterprise of it selfe lyeth open to the perill of the malicious mouthes of many his partakers so that it shold not be able to beare out it selfe agaiÌ„st their force Therfore necessitye driueth me to seeke for the succour of such a Patrone in whom I might assure my selfe of that perfite wysedome which Lactancius alloweth and find that rescue which this cause requireth that is one who by power should be able by wysedome skilfull and in zeale and affection willing and forward to encounter this aduersarye with anye of his faction whereof because it is not vnknowen to mee by many priuate occasions that your honour hath made proofe that this perfite wysedome is planted in you as it was in Dauid Iosias Cyrus and Constantine bearing on your lefte arme a target of defence for Religion and hauing your right hand armed with a sword to wound the ennemye Antichrist And againe seing it hath not bin so priuate but that this zeale hath shewed it selfe openlye in biddinge battell to the members of Antichrist marchinge against them in fielde and pursuing them out of the countrye I thought your Lorship most meete and I assured my selfe that your honour would be most willing to suffer this my little volume to fight vnder your baÌ„ner in that quarrell against the Pope wherein your honour hath heretofore personallye proceeded If therefore the worthines of the matter herein contayned written by maister Bale maye so excuse the vnworthines of my simple stile in translating it that your honour vouchsafe to accepte the one with the other and beare with the one for the other your curtesye shall the rather confirme all the professours of the Gospel in that vndoubted opinion which they haue iustlye conceyued of you and giue them cause still to glorifye God for such nobility wishing the good encrease and longe prosperitye of such and I hauing my trauaile most happely bestowed shall acknowledge my dutye alwayes bounde vnto your honour for it And thus crauinge pardon of this tedious volume wherewith I haue troubled your Honour ouer longe I leaue you to the Almightye Your honours most humble Iohn Studley The translatour to the Reader IT maye be gentle Reader that when thou shalt in this booke reade many monstrous horrible histories rather to be suppressed theÌ„ put in print thou wilt not thincke well of my trauayle I grauÌ„t that here are manye thinges vttered odious to be heard but yet if any thing offend thy chasâ—e eares blame not me gentle Reader but the importunitye of the Papistes who hath forced me thus to
doughter choaked the mother and engendred the mōster ambition who also like the cursed impe of the bastard her morher did in the ende deuoure her grandmother Religion THE PRELATES or Archebishops of Rome 1. Marcus MArcus a Romaine bestowed a pall vpon the bishop of Hostia who had consecrate the bishop of Rome before other He also cōmaunded that the people and the clergie should on Sondayes after the Gospell were redde singe the Nicean Crede He builded churches and gaue many giftes vnto them died a confessour in the yere 335. 2. Iulius the first IVlius the first a Romaine appointed that a priest shoulde as they forge of him not aunswer his cause any where but before an ecclesiasticall iudge and he reprehended the bishops of the east onlesse they slaunder him because they had helde counsels without his authoritie but they scorned him for his pride he caused churcheyardes to be made and at the lenghth died a confessour in peace Anno. 351. Platina sayth that this Pope appointed certaine notaries to wryte the actes of other men the whiche office sayth he is yet about the Pope remaining But these notaries of our time saith he are such doultes for the moste parte that for wante of learning they can not wryte their owne name in Latin of their maners I will not speake because these offices are bestowed on bawdes and flatterers vnmete to wryte the actes of other men 3. Liberius LIberius a Romaine for ambition as Hierome witnesseth falling into the Arrian heresie forsooke the trew faith and subscribed to Arrius articles And yet this man died a confessour also Anno. 366. though in dede taynted with damnable heresie 4. Foelix the seconde Foelix the seconde a Romaine was preferred by the Arrians who thrust out Liberius and aduaunced him because they hoped he agreed with them in opinion But in the seconde yeare after he was driuen from his seate and Liberius restored And in the yeare of our Lorde 359. He with other spirituall persones was slayne in a tumulte This man sayth Isidorus made lawes for the defense of the Clergie Also Sozomenus lib. 4. ca. 10. Eccle. histor saith that he being bishop did both admitte Arrian heretikes to the ministery and also vsed their communiō though els he yelded to the counsell of Nice 5. Damasus DAmasus a Spanyarde being made Pope in a certaine faction and vehemently accused of adultery did condemne Liberius his dedes he builded temples and beawtified them with iewels he gaue landes and bathes to the Clergie he encreased strange seruice in the churche he added Confiteor to the seruice he appointed the singing of the Psalmes and allowed Hieroms translation of the Bible For then the myndes of the Prelates began to bee more puft vp with ambition Afterward ▪ Damasus as they saye being a diligent gatherer of thinges doone in times past wrote the lyues and decrees of his predecessours the byshops of Rome enterlacing them with many open and manifest vntruthes And in the yere 384. died a confessour Socrates in the eight booke of his ecclesiasticall history and the 24. chapter sayth that when this Damasus was chosen bishop one Vrsinus a Deacon of the same churche did stande in suite against Damasus but whē he sawe that Damasus was preferred for anger he began by all endeuour to gather congregations to him selfe seuered from the churche Also he perswaded certaine obscure and abiect byshops to chose him bishop secretly in a corner And so he was created not in the churche but in a close place of the pallaice called Sicona Whiche being done the people began to wrangle And hereof arose a bitter contention and deadly sedicion not touching religion ▪ but whether of these two Prelates should be bishop Of this grewe so many assemblies and so often brawlinges that in the end the tumulte was so great that many were slayne about it And therfore Maximinus then liuetenant of the citie did punishe sharpely a great numbre both the Clergie and layetie so suppressed Vrsinus and his faction Thus it appeareth that bloudy ambition is not a newe thing in Rome 6. Siricius SIricius a Romaine medling and making decrees in many matters remoued those from saying seruice that had bene twyse maried was the firste that admitted monkes into orders for pretence of single life who before were neuer reckened to be as clarkes He mingled y Antiphones with the Psalmes and appointed that orders should be geuen some at one time some at an other he died a confessour Anno 399. 7. Anastasius ANastasius a Romaine appointed that whyle the Gospel was reading they should stand not sitte He exempted from the ministery those that were lame impotēt or diseased persons and slept with his forefathers in peace being a confessour Anno. 404. 8. Innocentius INnocentius borne in Albania aduaūced the sea of Rome aboue all other and would haue it to be iudged by none He commaunded the faithfull to faste on the Saturday to bewayle with Mary Magdalene our sauiour Christe that was buried ▪ euen as on that daye He deuised that at masse time the Pax should be geuen about in the church and cōmaunded that the church a wayghty matter being ones consecrate should neuer be consecrate any more He made certayne decrees concerning Iewes Pagans Monkes and made the anoyling of the sick to be a sacrament And is counted among the dead confessours Anno. 416. The yeare before being the yeare 415. Alaricus king of Gothes ouerranne Italy wan Rome wasted spoyled and burnt it miserably And sone after him his cosen Athoulfus came thether againe and spoyled all that he had left 9. Sozymus SOzymus a Greke appointed that tapers should be blessed on the holydaye and that the Deacons in saying seruice should haue their lefthandes couered He forbad that clarkes should vse tipling in opē place or haunte tauernes and that no bondmen should be admitted to be of the Clergie And died a confessour Anno. 420. Also this Sozymus suppressed the Nouacian heretikes whiche in time past had borne great swaye in Rome But nowe they were kept vnder for sayth Isocrates the byshop of Rome as well as the byshop of Alexandria had stretched his power beyond the limittes of priesthood stepping into temporall authoritie Socrat. histor eccle lib. 7. cap. 11. 10. Bonifacius BOnifacius a Romaine the sonne of one Iucundus a priest was chosen Pope at suche time as there was great sedition among the Clergie He made decrees that were very necessary God graunte they proue so as that a woman yet though she were a hoodded noonne should not openly touche the altar cloth nor the holy vessels nor smell to the incense And that none should be made priest till he were thirty yeres olde After he had decreed that sainctes eueninges should be kept he died a confessour Anno. 426. 11. Coelestinus Caelestinus borne in Campania patched the Popishe masse vp with these thinges Introitum Graduale Responsorium Tractum Offertorium as his owne deuices And gaue
Idolatry in worshipping them then that the saluage people should harme the dead bodies Hee died ere he had raigned Pope two yeares Anno. 638. Platina reporteth that in this mans tyme a certaine priest robbed the tombe of Rothaeris in S. Iohn Baptistes churche for sayth he they were wonte to burie certayne precious thinges with kinges bodies The like thing happened of late tyme to Cardinall Allouisius Patriarke of Aquilia for his graue being burste vp he was robbed by those whome he from very base estate had aduaunced to the dignitie of priestes and better calling 8. Theodorus THeodorus the firste was a Grecian borne the sonne of Theodorus byshop of Hierusalem hee builded manye churches in Rome and golden shrines for sainctes He â—et vp the reliques of Sainctes in golde siluer in the church He forbad that mariage made after a single vowe shoulde be broken He depryued Pyrrus byshop of Constantinople for heresy He appointed that tapers should be halowed on Easter eue for Easter time He died Anno. 646. 9. Martin the first MArtin the first a Tuderdinian borne made lawes for keping holy dayes and decking of churches suche as the Idolatours before were woÌ„t to kepe He gaue straight charge that priestes should shaue their polles and that bishops should make euery yeare as they call it an holye Chrisme and sende it to euery churche in their Diocese He burthened the Clergie with vowe of single life and appointed that a couple being married ere they lay together the bridegrome bryde should haue the priestes blessing He commaunded also that priestes houses should be buylt next to the churche That Monkes shoud not go out of the abbies without the Abbots leaue in a Synode at Rome that bishops should not transpose the churche goodes to their owne priuate vse He died Anno. 656. VVicelius sayth he was very vehement against certaine sectes excoÌ„municating them whome he ought by the scripture to haue admonished He deposed Paule Patriarke of Constantinople not admonishing him first once or twise according to S. Paule rule for the whiche he was bounde in chaynes and so brought to Constantinople by the Emperour ConstaÌ„tinus wher in banishmeÌ„t he died in great miserie An. 653. 10. Eugenius the first EVgenius the firste was a Romaine commended for his manners But VVicelius saith this Pope did neuer any notable dede but decreed that bishops should haue prisons to punishe priestes Thus by little and little they encroched the power of temporall swearde certaine letters were sent vnto him from Constantinople contayning heresie whiche were so detested that saith Platina the Clergie it selfe toke vppon them to forbidde the Pope to saye masse in S. Maries churche vnlesse he would firste burne the letters then might the Clergie controll the Popes slackenes or errour in religion 11. Vitellianus VItellianus borne in Campania being an excellent musician wrote the ecclesiasticall Canon he broughte singing and organs into the churche He accused one Iohn minister in a certaine churche in Crete vnto the bishop of that place for hauing a wife He made the Latin howers songes masses idolatry and ceremonies adding and turning all into Latine about the yeare of Christes incarnation 666. which was the number of the name of the beast spoken of in the 13. of the Apocal. Here therefore is to be noted that the nuÌ„ber of the beast agreeth vnto this time secondly the number of the yeares conteined in the name of the beaste is founde out in this woorde λατεινοσ as who would saye that Antechriste shal be a Latin or in the Latin churche who shall come to his perfection in the yeare 666. Also the letters of his name shall amounte to this number and last of all is to be noted how that beside this Lateinos expressed the Latin bishop and the time of Antechriste it agreeth with the straunge doinges of this tyme that all thinges were turned into Latin in the churche And because that this mistery of sixe hundred sixty sixe spoken of in the Reuelation may appeare euen to the moste simple to agree vnto the churche of Rome as in this place is saide it is first to be considered that the auncient father Irenaeus being immediatly after the Apostles reading this place and considering of the woordes of S. Iohn saying Let him that hath wisedome counte the nuÌ„ber of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred sixty sixe Irenaeus I saye considering of these wordes did at the length finde out that this number agreed to this Greeke name λατεινοσ and therefore he sayde that surely Antechriste should be a Latin and in the Latin churche for the Grekes in whose tongue the Reuelation was written do expresse their numbers by their letters as we do by figures And in their numbringe this letter λ the firste letter of that name standeth for thirty the next letter α standeth for one the thirde letter Ï„ for three hundred the iiii letter ε for fiue the fift letter ι for tenne the sixte letter ν for fiftie the seuenth letter ο for threscore and tenne and the eight and last letter σ standeth for twoo hondred So that if these eight numbers that is thirty one three hundred fiue ten fifty seuenty and two hundred be added together they make sixe hundred sixty sixe â—umpe Againe nuÌ„ber so the letters in this worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ecclesia Italica that is the Italian churche and ye shall finde it also make iump six hundred sixty sixe For in the former worde of these two there are right letters whereof the firste is ε standing for fiue the second κ in value twenty and so the thirde is κ that is twenty the fourth λ that is thirty the fift η that is eight the sixt Ï‚ that is twoo hundred the seuenth is ι that is tenne the eight is α and that standeth for one All whiche numbers added together make 294. Nowe to coine to the latter woorde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Italica in it are seuen letters the firste is ι and is euer set in the Grecian numbers for ten the seconde Ï„ for three hundred the third α for one the fourth λ for thirty the fift ι for tenne the sixt κ for twenty the seuenth and last is α for one all whiche seuen numbers amounte to three hundred seuenty and two then vnto this adde the nuÌ„ber of the former word whiche was two huÌ„dred ninty foure and the whole somme is lumpe sixe hundred sixty sixe Furthermore in the same thirtene chapter and the firste verse thereof S. Iohn speaking of this beaste saith that the beaste had seuen heades And in the seuententh of the Reuelation the Angell doth expounde this mistery vnto Iohn saying the seuen heades were vii mountaines vpon which the woman meaninge the forenamed whore of Babilon doth sit and afterwarde againe he saith that the same woman whom Iohn saw sitting on the beast with seuen heades is that great Cittye which hath rule ouer the kinges of the earth At
Pope did both excoÌ„municate him put hym from his kingdome threatned him eternall dampnation And thus the Emperours of the East lost their title in Italye Gregory dyed Anno 731. 25 Gregory the third GRegory the third was a stout champion for the Church of Rome and their ambitioÌ„ He did excommunicate his soueraigne the Emperour Leo because he destroyed images He ioyned to him Carolus Metellus the bastard lieuetenaunt of the Frenchmen to maintaine the estate of the bishop of Rome against the Lombardes By helpe of the Lombardes he draue the Grecians out of Italy And afterwarde oppressed the Lombardes them selues by the helpe of Fraunce and absolued all Italy from the oath of their dewe alleageance sworne to the Empire He busied him selfe in taking care and bestowing costes on churches abbyes celles altars Images In a Synode at Rome he maintained that the Images of dead sainctes should be worshipped decreeing excommunication against those that would do the contrary He layde vp in Peters Pallayce the reliques of sainctes and commaunded that on euery daye masse should be said there to them In the Cannons wherof hee addinge certaine clauses clowted it with this pece Quorum solemnitates hodie c. Hee forbad to eate horse fleshe He traÌ„slated the tuicioÌ„ of the churche from the Grekes to the Frenchemen He set the Apostles Images in churches seuerally by them selues He wrote to Boniface an Englisheman that their priestes ought to haue shauen crownes that should pray for the dead at masse and that they ought to praie and to offer sacrifice for the dead After these and like dedes he died Anno 742. 26. Zacharias a Grecian ZAcharias emplied his witte and wealth in pompeous and gorgeous buylding AmoÌ„g other vaine sumptuousnes he was the first that gaue golden coapes decked with pearles and stones to the churche for holy vses He gaue a stipende to the churche towarde the charge of the lampe oyle He deuised the manner and fashion of priestes apparell He deuided the East churche from the West churche He translated out of Latin into Greke Gregories foure bookes of Dialogues to the entent to plante the opinion of Purgatorie among the Grecians which they neuer receiued yet He made it vnlawefull to mary the vnkles wife the vnkle being dead although Gregorie the third allowed it He coÌ„maunded gosseps as we call them in no wyse to marye together He commaunded the Venetians a Godly dede that vpon payne of curse they should not for lucre sel their children of Christians to the Saracenes Taking vpon him the power of God after a sort he presumed very churlishly and cruelly to depose kings from their estate and to make kynges He was the firste that attempted to release subiectes of their alleageance For Pipinus sonne of the bastarde Charles Martell traytour to his Prince by his messengers obtained of Pope Zacharye that he woulde depose king Childericus from the crowne of Fraunce and geue it to him and his heyres The Pope remembring the late dede of Pipinus his father in the Popes behalfe against the Lombardes thinking by this meanes that he should be the better able to encouÌ„ter the Emperoure of the East grauÌ„ted this trayterous request And sent straight charge and highe commission to the estates of Fraunce that they shoulde depose their present king Childericus shaue his head put him into an Abbey and so make him a Monke And after this they should acknowledge Pipin beinge coÌ„firmed and annoynted by the Archebishop Boniface to be their soueraigne and kyng Furthermore he chaunged Lachis king of Lombardy Charolomannus and other from their royall estate and made them Monkes After tenne yeares raigne he died Anno 752. One Steuen a DeacoÌ„ was chosen to succede him who being wakened out of slepe to go about his affaires being taken with the falling sickenesse died presently and therefore is not accompted Pope 27. Steuen the second STeuen the seconde immediatly stept in after this other Steuen who for his superstitious and ambitious dealing in their religion is compted of the Papistes a Godly byshop But note the misterie of his iuggling he hauing thus by craft and guyle obtayned the Popedome he immediatly subdued to the sea of Rome all the dominion of Rauenna which had wrought the Pope so much displeasure and beside many other countreys in Italy thereby to obtaine the kingdome of Italy He craued of Pipin importunatly to reuenge his quarell against Aâ—stulphus kyng of Lombardy for demaunding subsidie of him and his Prelates Pipin to gratifie the Pope in consideration of the kingdome of Fraunce gotten by his meanes after he had longe besieged often assaulted the dominion of Rauenna at the length deliuering it from the garison of Lombardy yelded it as a present to the Pope with al the townes thereof eueÌ„ to the goulph of Uenice And thus they robbed the Emperour of that dominion and withal pulled down the thirde part of the strengthe of the Romaine Empire empairing thereby the East Empire And as for the weste Empire which then was arising it lost his strengthe likewyse But Pope Steuen hereupon annoynting bastarde Pipin and his two sonnes agaynâ— and geuing him a pardon for falsefying his oath of alegeaunce did more ratifie him and his in the kingdom for euer cursing all those that at any time should speake against him Also he shaued Childericus againe and made him newely Monke and so put him afreshe into an Abbey to make all sure Pipin for this fel downe flat on the ground kissed the Popes feete held his stirropes and toke the bridle in his hande and played the osteler anâ— vowed perpetuall fealtie to the Pope The Pope to thanke God for this benefite of so great honour whiche nowe began caused procession to be song through all Rome and the Apostles tombes and other sainctes reliques to be borne about and shewed openly and him selfe to be caried triumphantly through the middes of the people on his porters shoulders in his Pontificalibus Which vse of being borne on mens shoulders his successours haue estemed as a moste holy thing He confirmed by his auctoritie that all Popes tradicions should be taken for good He forgaue all treasons against Princes for the hatred he bare the Grecians he studied to chaunge the Empire froÌ„ them into Fraunce He furnished the churches in Fraunce with pricke song and descant And whatsoeuer henceforth could be wrested from the Empire he coÌ„mauÌ„ded it should be S. Peters see and so dedicated to the churche of Rome he died Anno 757. 28 Paule the first PAule the first was brother to the said Steuen hee after wrangling and iarring betwene him and one Theophilact succeded and followinge the daunce that his auncetours had ledde him threatningly and fearcely he restored the images which CoÌ„stantine Emperour of CoÌ„stantinople had abrogated but Constantine staÌ„ding stoutly in his opinion and defyinge his vaine curses and threates wythstoode images wyth all his power euen to his death This Paule
Romaynes that he coulde do nothinge worthy remembraunce for hee was so shamefullye wounded and foulye mangled and defaced amid the broyles that for shame of his foule disfigurings he durst neuer shewe his face abroade So litle reuerence had the Popes at that time for their litle holinesse Steuen dyed Anno 944. 66. Martin the third MArtin the thirde being Pope gaue himselfe onelye to repayre the Church not in Religion but in building not in reforminge ceremonyes but encreasinge the dignitye and pompe of the Church He was very beneficial to the poore bestowed plentifully on their bellyes He was diligent in reformation of outward manners In the first yeare of this Pope a great blasing starre was seene in Italye after which saith Vspergensis followed an extreame famine and againe saith Masseus the Sunne appeared verye terrible threatninge the sequeale of Gods vengeance Martin dyed Anno 947. 67. Agapetus the second AGapetus the seconde being Pope ruled Popelike in the time of one Berengarius a Marques of Italy who was the last of that name that had that dignitye after Hughe This Berengarius is reported to haue dryuen many Monkes oute of their cloysters whiche liued idellye and gaue them selues to the pleasures of the worlde The Pope perceiuing howe he could not rule Berengarius in these and such other spiritual matters that he would not restraine his soueraignitie according to the wil of him and his Hee sent for Otho the first king of the Germaines to come into Italy promising him the kingdome of the Romaines to fight with Berengarius and so saith Sabellicus troubled the estate of that countrey And except it were the settinge of these princes together by the eares he did nothing worthy memory till his death being Anno. 954. In his time was a counsell holden at Ingelhaim but suche was the negligence of the time that no man can tell what was done there or wherefore it was 68 Iohn the thirtene IOhn the thirtene being the sonne of the foresayde Albericus sonne to Marozia obtained to be Pope partly by the bribery partly by the threatning of his father Albericus being Prince He being Pope liued not like a bishop but altogether like a ranke ruffianly roister geuing him selfe wholly to all kinde of pleasure as to whoredome adultery incest masking momming hunting maygames playes robberies fyring of houses periury dyce cardes blaâ—ing robbing of churches and other villanies euen froÌ„ his youth he misused his cardinalles in cropping their noses thrusting out their eyes chopping of their fingers and handes cutting out their tongues gelding them and vsing diuers diuersly For before the Emperour Otho in an opeÌ„ Sinode it was layde to his charge as Luthprandus wryteth in his sixt booke that he neuer sayde Mattins that in celebrating the masse he him selfe had not communicated that he made Deacons in his stable among his horses that he had committed incest with two harlots being his owne sisters That hee played at dice prayed to the diuell to sende him good lucke that for money he admitted boyes to be bishops He had rauished virgines and straunge womeÌ„ He had made the holy pallaice of Lateran a stewes brothell house That he had defloured Stephana his fathers concubine and one Rainera a wydowe besyde one Anna an other wydowe and her niece that he had put out the eyes of Benedict his ghostly father vsed common hunts that he woare armour and set houses on fyre brast open dores and wyndowes by night that he tooke a cup of wyne dranke to the diuell and neuer blessed him selfe with the signe of the crosse these and many more odious articles were layde to his charge Whereupon the Emperour by the consent of the Prelates deposed him And Leo the eight was set vp in his steade But as sone as the Emperour was gone those harlottes that had bene his companioÌ„s inueigled the nobles of Rome promising theÌ„ the treasures of the church to depose Leo and place Iohn againe whiche they did out of hande and so Leo whom the Emperour appointed was deposed and Iohn established againe Who in his Popeship decreed that the Emperour should euer be crowned at Rome by the Pope But as he was solacing him self with out Rome on a certaine night with the wyfe of one that was a valiaunt man he was taken by him euen in his adultery and so sore and depely wouÌ„ded with a dagger that he died thereof within eight dayes in the tenth yeare of his Popedome as Mantuan witnesseth Of this Pope Iohn S. Dunstane a Nicromancier and a coniuring MoÌ„ke archbishop of Caunterbury in Englande receiued at Rome coÌ„firmation and pall to be metropolitan Anno. 960. This Dunstane did shamefully snaffle king Edgar For the king had deflowred a certaine Noonne for the which cause DuÌ„stane did so taunte and rate him that the king fell downe flatte before him offering to submitte him selfe to any satisfaction and obayed this that was commaunded him by Dunstane first because he was yet vncrowned he charged him that he should not take the crowne vpon him for seuen yeares and that during this time he should fast twyse in the weke distribute his treasure to the nedy builde a Noonnery at Shaftesbury and last of al that he should driue out all maried ministers calling them adulterous priestes Cronicon SaxonicuÌ„ ecclesiae VVigorniensis But as other stories testifie they were shortly after restored againe the moÌ„ks who had encroched their places were depriued Also he purchased of him for a great somme of money a coÌ„mission to disanulle and coÌ„demne the mariage of the Clergie and to constrayne them to single life or els to depriue them of ecclesiasticall benefites So writeth Iohn Capgraue and Polidor Virgil. in his sixt booke of the history of Englande Hereupon he being emboldened by the auctoritie of king Edgar ioyning to him selfe in the same commission Oswalde bishop of Yorke Ethelwalde bishop of Winchester and Monkes of the like disposition did violently thrust out of the cathedrall churches the Curates and Ministers whiche would not forsake their wiues and planted in them Monkes with their counterfaited chastitie whiche they kept vntill the time of the moste renowmed Prince kyng Henry the eight But many there were that stoutly stoode in defiance of this wicked doing especially a certayne Scot did bitterly speake against it Of this Pope Iohn came this prouerbe As mery as Pope Iohn 69 Benedict the fift BEnedict the fift after the departure of Otho the Emperour with his armye and depriuing of Leo being but a Deacon and Cardinall was made Pope by Iohns frends in a tumultuous time But Otho would not suffer Leo whome he had appointed to take this iniurye and therefore returning to Rome with his armie hee plonged the Romaines diuers wayes to make them yelde this Benedict into his handes and to restore Leo. Therefore after they had kept the gates lockt twoo monethes they yelded Benedict vnto the Emperour and receiued Leo and established him solemly in the
sayth Benno the Emperour made Theophilact to flye he put Gregorie in prison and afterward he banished him wyth Hildebrād into Germanye and cōpelled the bishop of Saba to returne to his bishopricke So Gregorie dyed in Germanye of whose falsehod and money together sayth Benno Hildebrand was made heyre who after his death returned to Rome 90. Clement the second CLement the seconde was made Pope in a Synode at Rome by the Emperours commaundement while the other three Popes were yet liuinge Hee caused the Romaynes to giue ouer to the Emperour theyr title in electing the Pope for the auoydinge of those broyles which arose there vppon But some saye that it was the Emperour who made the Romaynes sweare that they shoulde neuer name anye to be Pope But the Emperour beinge gone into Germanye they forgettinge theyr oath did poyson this Pope Clement because he was chosen wythoute theyr consente the ninth monthe after his creation which poyson was tampered by Steuen who succeded him called Damasus the second or as some thincke that Brazutus being commonlye practised in these thinges and companion to Theophilact and Hildebrand was auctor therof At this time were great and straunge contencions about the Sacramente of the alter and by the deuils doinge manye wonders and myracles were wroughte but the Pope forbad manye to vtter their conscience hereof least it shoulde be preiudiciall to the masse And therefore manye of the doctours as appeareth by theyr wrytings wrote doubtfully 91. Damasus the seconde DAmasus the second otherwise called Steuen Bagniarie gate the Popeship by force at the Emperours cōmaundement with consent of the clergye and laitye for sayth Platina it was now a common thinge for euery ambitious parson to prease into Peters seate violentlye but he kepte it not long for the thirtenth day after he was poysoned by the sayde Brazutus Anno 1049. This Damasus beinge chaūcelar to Clemēt his predecessour did poyson his maister and therefore dranke worthely of the same cuppe After this sayth Benno Theophilact who before was fled returned to Rome and there wyth his olde acquaintaunce Laurence wroughte much mischiefe and by the letters of his scholer Hildebrande beinge then in the Emperours Court and a traytour about him he knewe all the Emperours secretes While he thus did greatlye vexe the Romaynes they by the counsell of Cardinals sent Embassadours to the Emperour desiringe him to assigne one to be Pope And therefore one Bruno afterwarde called Leo the ninthe was made Pope and perforce againste his wyll brought to Rome In whose company through ouermuch gentlenes of the Emperour Hildebrand was suffered to returne to Rome who afterward wrought such mischiefe in the worlde as neuer was harde of both againste Emperour Church clergye and common wealth vnder colour of religion meaninge not to keepe his oath longe sworne to the Emperour So sayth Benno of him 92. Leo the ninth LEo the ninth a Germaine borne of the countrey of Dasburg being also himselfe countye Etistheim and bishop of Tulledo he became Pope in this maner Because the Romaynes not for the loue of the Emperour but beinge wearyed wyth those ambitious and seditious prelates that straue for the Popeship desyred him to appointe one to be Pope he sent them this Bruno bishop of Tulledo a man of a simple witte for none of the other Germaine bishoppes durste aduenture to come amonge the poysoned cuppes of Rome He goinge on forwarde in his pontificall roabes had wyth him in companye the abbot of Clunace Hildebrand the monke the clergye of Rome meetinge him seing him come on this manner altered his Popes vesture did most dispitefullye charge him wyth apostasye because he had receyued his auctoritye from the Emperour therefore they perswaded him to put of his pōtificals and to returne to Rome in his wonted apparell Saying the election of the Pope was not graūted to the Emperours but to the clergye and people of Rome Bruno obeyed theyr commaundement and came to Rome in his owne priuate apparel And through the counsaile of Hildebrand did cōfesse openly before the auncients that he had offended and therefore because he ascribed the auctoritye to them they chose him Pope more willinglye and for this deede called him Leo or Liō whose courage argued him rather to be a sheepe Afterward he made Hildebrand a Cardinall and partner of his Popeship with him committing to him the charge of S. Peters Churche whereof Benno wryteth thus As sone as he came to Rome meaning Hildebrād he obtayned of Leo to be made one of the keepers of the alter of S. Peters Church and within a while he filled his cofers and to the end he might put out his money to some man for dailye enterest he became familiarlye acquainted with the sonne of a certaine Iewe who though he were latelye become a Christian yet he left not his Iewishe trade of vsurye And before this hee had well acquainted himselfe wyth the famous worker of mischiefe Brazutus frende to Theophilact who is reported to haue poysoned by his cūning these Popes wythin xiii yeares Clement the second Damasus the second Leo the ix Victor the second and Nicholas the seconde Pope Leo held a counsell at Vercella wherin he condemned the doctrine of Berengarius who helde opinion against transubstantiacion and the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament Likewise he held a nother counsell at Maguntia wherein was concluded that priests should not keepe hounds nor haukes neither medle with any such profane things Also the mariage of the clergye was vtterlye condemned by the procurement of Hildebrād And it was decreed to be simonye for a priest to be preferred to an ecclesiastical lyuing by a layman By the enticement of Hildebrand and Theophilact this Leo not knowinge their disposition moued warre against the Normans whose power was thē great in Apulia But Theophilact meaning to worke the Pope mischiefe secretelye because he durst not openly do it bewrayed first al his secrete coūsell and finallye with Hildebrands aduise betrayed the Pope himselfe to the Normans from whom his men beinge slaine he himselfe escaped narrowly who yet returninge to Rome was poysoned by Brazutus the fift yeare of his Popedome 93. Victor the second VIctor the second a Germaine borne in Bauaria was made Pope not by free election but because the Romaynes did so much stande in awe of Henry the Emperour that they durste do nothinge against the oath made to the sayde Henry in the time of Clement the seconde And therefore to gratify the Emperour they sent Hildebrād as Embassadour to him to know his pleasure in the election and by this meanes this Victor beinge a Germaine came to be Pope In this Embassage Hildebrande toke vppon him by vertue thereof to make Henry the Emperours sonne heyre to the Empire This Victor helde a great Synode at Florence wherin he condemned all those priestes of Symonie who had bene presented to their spiritual liuinges by any temporall parsons Immediatly after the establishmente of
lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that cānot pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begīning of the Romaine tyrānye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I cānot hold my peace If at VVitēberg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defēded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are Presidēts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardō mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the coūtrey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would aboūd as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al mē at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaīst thē thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers cōtrouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia Tigurū Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas
thincarnation 60. Paule as is sayde was prisoner at Rome who for the tyme of his abode there so planted the Gospell that at his departing from thence he left great fruite therof and suche in deede as if Peter had succeded Paule within two thre or foure yeres and there supplied the roume of a byshop Cornelius Tacitus speaking of the estate of the Christians in Rome about the yeare 67. being but seuen yeares after Paules departure should not haue had cause so soone to saye as he doth y by that tyme the Christian Religion was repressed For Vspergensis saith that in the 67. yere Nero did set Rome on fier of the whiche Cornelius Tacitus writing lib. 15. Augustae historiae sayth Ergo abolēdo rumori Nero subdidit reos c. Therfore Nero to stop the rumour of his setting the citie on fier suborned giltie persons and executed with strange punishment those whome the vulgar people detesting for their wickednes doth call Christiās That mischeuous superstition being repressed till nowe brake out againe c. Therfore first they were taken that confessed it afterward by their accusatiō an houge multitude not so much for that they were gilty of fyreing the citie as for hatred are condemned and were put to death with great despite some encased in the skinnes of wylde beastes that they might bee torne in peces with dogges some crucified some were burned to giue light in the night time c. These are the woordes of Tacitus notwithstanding as it appeareth he was a blasphemer of the name of Christe By these woordes of his it appeareth that nowe Christianitie began to reuiue and that nowe it was quenched which argueth plaine that from the former time of Paules departure til this time Peter had not supplied in Rome the place of a preaching pastour and diligēt bishop And seing this broyle against the Christians began now to be so hotte not in al places but especially in Rome howe could Peter sit quietly in this citie as bishop thereof and not be fyred out with his flocke but they saye all that he lyued after this tyme about three yeares for this was done in the eleuenth yeare of Nero who raigned almoste xiiii yeares and Peter was martyred in the last yeare of Nero as they saye all If this reuiuing of the Gospel was by Peters meanes why would Nero spare him being the head if Peter escaped by flying then he shewed him selfe to be an hierling and no true shepeherde that forsaketh his flocke when he seeth the wolfe come ¶ From the yeare 67. to the 70. of thincarnation Nowe are we come to the latter tyme of Nero in which yeres if Peter were not bishop of Rome then is it certaine that he was not bishop there at all But to come to the purpose Naucler Volu 2. generat 2. and the moste writers as Eusebius lib. 2 cap. 25 Nicephorus li. 2. cap. 34. Sabellicus Ennead 7. li. 2. agree that Paule died in the yeare of our Lorde 70. the 37. yeare after the death of Christe But it may sone appeare that Peter was not then byshop at Paules last comming to Rome for after Paule was come thether he sent for Timothie to come vnto hym shewing that he had nede of him to come to hym because he was nowe desolate and had none with hym Demas had forsaken hym nowe and embraced the worlde c. so that if this Epistle were not written at the firste imprisonment of Paule but at this latter time then was not Peter yet estalled in his Diocese for if he had bene in Rome in his pontificall dignitie I thinke Paule should not haue bene dryuen to sende to Ephesus 1000. miles frō Rome for Timothie to bryng Marke to come to minister to him In the ende of this secōd Epistle to Timothie Paule sendeth commendations from diuers but none from Peter There are xiiii Epistles whereof Paule and Seneca beare the name the one wryting to the other at this later imprysonnement and yet among them all nothing is saide of Peter and yet by occasion he might easely haue bene mencioned in them if he had bene then in Rome But if by this time Peter were not yet Pope of Rome there is no tyme left for him to come to enioye it during the raigne of Nero till whose death this present persecutiō of the church endured with all crueltie ¶ The death of Peter TOuching the death of Peter all wryters do not agree as it is sufficiently declared in the Actes and monumentes fol. 56. in these wordes They that folow the common opinion and the Popes decrees saye that bothe Peter and Paule suffred both in one daye and one yeare whiche opinion semeth to be taken out of Dionisius byshop of Corinthe Hierome in his booke De viris illustr affirmeth that they suffered both in one daye but hee expresseth not the yeare so doth Isiodorus and Eusebius Prudentius in his Peristephano noteth that they both were put to death vpon the same daye but not in the same yeare saythe that Paule folowed Peter a yeare after Abdias recordeth that Paule suffered twoo yeares after Peter Moreouer if it be true whiche Abdias sayth that after the crucifying of Peter Paule remayned in his free custody at Rome mencioned in the 28. of the Actes of the Apostles whiche was as S. Hierome witnesseth in the thirde or fourth yeare of Nero then must it be tenne yeares betwixt the martyrdome of Peter and of Paule for as muche as it is by all wryters confessed that Paule suffered in the xiiii yeare which was the last yeare of Nero. Vspergensis saithe that they were both executed in one yeare but he noteth not that they died in one daye Sabellicus sayth both in one yeare one daye Some say as Ambrose that they died together both in one place But Dionysius saythe otherwyse that the one bad thother farewel when they were parted asonder goyng to death Againe the moste writers saye that Nero was the cause therof But Linus saith Agrippa cōmaunded that Peter should be slayne because that by his persuasiō foure of the concubines of Agrippa refused to liue any longer in suche vnchast life with the king therefore for anger he cōmaunded that Peter should be crucified Finally S. Hierome and Lyra wryting vpon the 34. verse of the 22. chap. of Mathewe say that Peter was put to death at Hierusalē by the Iewes and that Christe prophecied thereof saying Lo I sende you prophetes c. and some of them ye shall kyll Many thinges might be added to disproue this dotage of Peters being bishop at Rome but because I thinke this to be sufficient I let passe diuers necessary thinges least I should be ouer tedious But if any be desirous to se this matter more suffitiently handled let him reade Vlrichus Velenus wryting purposely of this in a litle booke called Demonstrationes contra Romani Papae primatus figmētum Beside there hath bene of late set forth in Englishe a discours
preached and taught the hipocriticall life of moÌ„kes Also in his time Anno. 542. there was a terrible earthquake ouer all the world as Vspergensis sayth 28. Pelagius PElagius a Romaine aspired to the pontificall dignitie in that time when the tyrant Totila called Gods scourge to the great comfort of the Goathes being their king inuaded Italy as Procopius wryteth This Pelagius to please Totila and his companie made a publique decree that it was nedeful to haue the authoritie of the prince and consent of the people in creation of byshops He in the middest of troubles of that time hauing more regarde to aduaunce the Popedome then Christianitie decreed that the Clergie should momble euery daye seuentimes the canonicall howers Abbots should be chosen by order one magistrate should be sufficient to punishe an hereticke that in Lent priestes might say masse at nine of the clocke and that euery Prouince should contayne twelue or tenne cities at the least This man first auouched that the premacie of the churche of Rome was fette from Christe himselfe and not from men nor geneâ—all councels He buried together the bones of the firste Martyr Stephen and S. Laurences carkasse He allowed solemnities in remeÌ„braunce of the dead and for loue of gaynes he mingled them with the masse And because he sometime him selfe was accused in a libell that he had geuen occasion why Vigilius his predecessour was troubled and depriued therfore he prouided that such libelles should not be harde But it is reported that he purged him selfe from the infamy of that libell by takinge an oathe and kissing the crosse He liued in the extreame tyme when Rome was besieged died a confessour Anno. 566. About the yeare of our Lorde 557. Totila king of Gothes besieged Rome whiche being miserably oppressed with extreame famine was compelled to yelde it self to the slauery of the saluage people vnder whiche it continued tenne yeares In the time of this Pope a Pestilence raigned ouer all Italy beginning in Liguria so contagiously that the contreye was almoste destroyed of the inhabitours thereby Vrspergensis 29. Iohn the third IOhn the thirde a Romaine was an especiall friende to Narsetes the Eunuche gouernour of Italy when the Gothes were ouercome for he recouered his fauour towarde Rome when it was in displeasure and obtayned that hee was made consull for then the bishop had almoste all the swaâ—e in Rome This man decreed contrary to his predecessour that none ought to be called chiefe prieste or vniuersall bishop Distinctione 99. Nullus Furthermore taking away from the bishops chauncelours the laying on of handes graunted it only to bishops as Isidorus writeth Afterwarde turning his minde and taking delight in building he finished Philip and Iacobs churche whiche Vigilius had begonne and restored the Sainctes tombes in the citie Finally being a very olde maÌ„ taking great thought vpon occasion of straunge tempestes he died at Rome Anno 577. In his time the Armenians became Christians 30. Benedict the first BEnedict the first a Romain was bishop when the Lombarde spoyled Italy And wâ—s a good bishop because he did nothing worthy memorie as Barnus and Functius write of him But yet whiche is to be noted for the worthinesse of the dede he forbad that meÌ„ should treade on crosses made of marble stone or woode And when there was great dearth in Rome he or at the least wise Tiberius Augustuâ— in his steade brought corne out of Egypt to succour them withall He died for sorowe to se so many miseries in the citie Anno. 582. 31. Pelagius the second PElagius the seconde while the citie was besieged without the Princes coÌ„maundement coÌ„trary to the custome was made bishop Therefore to pacifie the Emperoure he sent one Gregory a monke to Constantinople afterwarde he made the cloyster of Hermes a martyr and builded vp S. Laurence pallaice from the foundacion He renewed the Canon for saying the howers and commaunded Subdeacons either to forsake their wiues or els their ecclesiasticall functions and appointed nyne prefaces to be song in the masse before the Canon Pestis inguinaria arising of great tempestes and the contagiousnes of the aire tooke awaye this bishop among many other This pestilence was cause of many supersticions for then they firste began to thinke that Gods wrath was to be pleased and the Letany of seuen partes was made by Gregorie The occasion hereof saith Vspergensis was that a great part of Italy was drowned with great flouddes 32. Gregorie the great GRegorie the great a Romaine was made byshop being before but a Monke and a Deacon He was the best maÌ„ of all these Romaine Patriarkes for learning and good life He succeded Pelagius vnwillingly refusing it and in the ende coÌ„pelled thereunto he though otherwyse he was learned and Godly yet because he was a Monke burthened the churche and religion of God aboue all other with more ceremonies then had the Iewes He turned his parentes houses into Monasteries and dedicated the firste of them to S Andrewe the Apostle He made Scholes of quiresters and made certaine songes for the church according to Ambrose maner which we call Anthemes He appointed one to be chaunter for the daye another for the night He gathered together the lawes of the holy fathers He did deuise the order of masses linked the Cannons therof together he caused the masses to be begonne with peces of Psalmes He commaunded to saye Kyriaeleison nine tymes and to chaunt Alleluia after the Graduall hee ioyned the same Alleluia for Easter tyme to the Offertories Hee added three peticions to the Cannons of the masse That is Dies nostros in tua pace c. He coÌ„maunded that the Lordes prayer should be either song or sayde with a loude voyce ouer the communion bread He commauned that masse shoulde be saide ouer the dead carkases of sainctes And added to the Canonicall howers Deus in adiutorium with Gloria patri He deuised Letanies and processions deuided theÌ„ into these seuen orders Clarkes Monkes Nonnes Boyes Laymen Widowes and maried wyues He suffered the Image of the blessed virgin Mary to be caried about withall But not to be worshipped Furthermore this Gregorie as they shamefully imagine compelled an Angeli to put vp his terrible swerde into his sheathe By his indulgences he established certaine stacioâ—s and pilgrimages vnto Images in the citie according to the peoples deuocion He solemnized the feast of the Purification of our Lady with wex candels whereof it is called Candelmas daye and appointed the solemnitie of Palme Sondaye to be kept with processions He added iiii dayes to Lent faste and hallowed the beginning thereof with Ashwednisdaye He forbad those that should faste to eate fleshe milke butter chese or egges because they seme to beare a taste of fleshe and suffered them only to eate fishe excepting also the greater sorte of fishes whereof Mantuan sayth Fastor 2. Yet was it not against the lawe to fede on fishes small For Gregorie forbad the great but time
the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph the churches of Asia But to thrust vpon them the Romain religion patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe syncere doctrine and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement They had Christian churches whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus In the contrey of the Britaines Christianitie florished hetherto which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among theÌ„ that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine as was Dionotus Anonius and his fellowes who in conteÌ„pt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace but with the banner of his Aposticship with his syluer crosse his Letanie his procession images painted puppettes reliques canticles and bookes of ceremonies But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him Anno. 602. They going to the synode did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man that liued solitarely whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement and forsake those tradiâ—ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers to whome hee aunswered If he be a maÌ„ of God followe him They further asked howe they should proue that Ye knowe quoth he that the Lord commaunded saying Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one it is credible that he also beareth Christes burtheÌ„ and offereth it to you to beare but if he be proude and cruell it is euideÌ„t tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke And howe shall we knowe that quoth they Let Augustine quoth he and his company goe firste to the Synode And if when ye come he ryse vp to salute you knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt and obey ye him But if he disdayne you or make smale accompt of you and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce seing ye are the greater number doe ye likewyse contemne him Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship they by and by conceiuing displeasure noting him to be a proude persone did forthwith ouerthwart euery thing that he put forth For he charged them that they did many thinges coÌ„trary to the custome of the catholicke churche especially in keping their Easter in ministring of baptisme and in their preaching and that they regarded not mans tradicioÌ„s and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome But they aunswered that they would do none of these neither take him for their Archebishop Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death whiche immediatly ensued Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande the seconde booke and the second chapter and likewyse the sayde Godfrey But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine For Gregorie before had so discussed it and wrote vnto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to haue the same order of ceremonies but that euery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites whereof Mantuan saythe The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise And make them fondly force the Britains bend vnto the guise Of Romish church against al right with foolish hardines They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease â–ª As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre To kepemans lawe so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe And to speake in fewe wordes the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde from whome the heauen departed Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse vnto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth and to murther to and fro whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God and constant faith were starres abiding in Christe his right hande so in this second sort vnder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes by the neglecting of the same woorde and their earthly affections they were starres falling to the earth Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke whiche shall followe vnder the name of Popes and Antichristes for their absolute reuolting from Christe and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe Apoc. 9. THE THIRDE Booke ¶ Nowe ensueth the thirde sorte of Romaine bishops coming from euill to worse For as the former company in the seconde booke shewed declining from pure Christianitie and enclining to Antichriste so now appeareth in these that the seede sowed by the forainer is groweÌ„ vp Antichrist as it were appearing aboue the grounde who grewe still forwarde froÌ„ grenenesse to ripenesse as shall appeare by these that followe and so from ripenesse to rottennesse which is to be hoped for in that already he is wexed so mellowe that if he be not plucked from the tree if it please God to sende a smale blaste of winde he will fall of him selfe Note therfore diligently gentil Reader what fruite ensueth and springeth of the former grayne Reade conferre and then iudge whether these men shewe them selues to be the vicars of Christe or deceitful and mischeuous Antechristes for bye their fruites ye shall knowe them whether they are suche as they would be accompted Abadon or the Latin Antichriste IN the yeare of our Lorde sixe hundreth and foure Phocas the tyrant murthered his soueraigne lord Mauricius the Emperoure with his wife his brother his children and many nobles From this yere adding to it two yeres to the beginning of the Popedome established by Phocas are sixe hundred sixty sixe yeares from the coÌ„sulship of M. T. Cicero and Antonius as Bibliander Funccius and other do euidently recken it at whiche time the Iewes while their bishops iarred for supremacie lost their libertie For Christe as Bibliander gathers in his reuelation whiche by his dearely beloued Apostle Iohn he deliuered to the church foare tolde that a certaine tyrannicall Empier should afflicte the true church as Nero and Domician with others did And calleth the beaste hauing two hornes like a lambe
of the Empyre was there shoulde be the heade Church againe the Emperours had their beginninge in Rome againe though some of them kept at Constantinople yet euer they bare the name of Rome as Romaine Emperours finallye Peter deliuered to Rome the keyes of heauen and hell A feeble reason thoughe it had bene true Thus at this time as an adulterer by treason and murther vsurped the Empyre so of the same man this ambitious Boniface obtained by briberye to be vniuersall bishop and consequentlye by the sayinge of his owne predicessour to be the forerunner of Antichrist He decreed in a Synode that vnder the paine of excommunication one Pope beinge deade another should not be chosen before the third day after Also the same penaltye for such as sought to be bishops by fauour or briberye he decreed that a bishoppe should be chosen by the voyces of the clergye and the people together and the election to be good if it were ratifyed and allowed first by the Prince or chiefe parson of the place and last of all confirmed by the Popes auctoritye and wyth these woordes of his Wee will and commaunde From this time forwarde the puritye of the Gospell decreased and superstition increased Likewise y Empâ—re was at this time mightely weakened for FrauÌ„ce Germanye Lombardye and Spaine reuolted and forsoke the Empyre beside Cosdroa kinge of Persia inuaded and wanne away many countreys and Cittyes in the East and among them Hierusalem Boniface hauinge enioyed his auctoritye scante a yeare dyed From this time sayth Vspergensis the Romain Empyre was neuer without great trouble miserye and missehap 2. Boniface the fourth BOniface the fourth borne in Marcia obtained of Phocas the Emperour that a Church in Rome called Pantheon which the heathen had dedicated to all their gods and idols should be translated from the worshipping of Idols to the seruice of Christ and be dedicate to al Saincts and so called all hallowes Churche An vngodly and blasphemous alteratioÌ„ and contrary to S. Paules doctrine that Christians should turne that to Gods seruice which was dedicate to idols He appointed the feast of alhallowes day and that the Pope on that doye should say a long masse he also appointed the corps cloth to be had at masse he gaue moncks leaue to baptize and absolue In this Popes time God punished the wickednes of Phocas who was reft both of Empyre lyfe by his successour Heraclius for hauinge his handes and feete cut of he was throwne into the sea 3. Theodatus THeodatus the first was a Romaine the sonne of one Steuen a subdeacon he deuised a newe founde aliance betwene the Godfather and the goddaughter and betwene the godmother and her godsonne calling it spirituall coÌ„sanguinitye and therefore he commaunded that neyther the godfather nor his godsonne should marrye the goddaughter and so of the godmother likewyse which is one token giuen to know Antichrist by forbiddinge and makinge vnlawful as Tacianus Montanus and other heretikes do honest mariage which God hath made lawfull At this time raigned such a straunge lothsome kinde of leprosye disfiguring men in such sort that one coulde not discerne another by the face Theodatus died Anno 618. in the thirde yeare of his Popedome Here note by the waye that none of the Popes from this time liued longe which wroughte not some notorious acte for the maintenance of the tiranny of the Sea of Rome 4. Boniface the fifte BOniface the fifte was borne in Campania he decreed the holye places shoulde be rescewes and maintenauncâ— for theeues murtherers and leude parsons making the churches churchyards chappels such others to be sanctuaryes for them and that no man should draw them away by violence that fled thether He commaunded that none but deacons shoulde handle the reliques of Saincts furthermore that a will and testament being made by commauÌ„dement of the Prince should stande in force which prerogatiues his successors did afterwarde vsurpe to themselues that no testamente should be good vnlesse it were allowed by them He dyed Anno. 623. 5. Honorius the first HOnorius borne in CaÌ„pania was a good Pope as Vvicelius saith for diligeÌ„ce in building Churches deckiÌ„g them with golde siluer but a negâ—igent pastor for ought that is read of him in feeding Christ his flocke Amonge other temples and monasteries that he founded he honge S. Peters Church w t cloth of Tissew which with the Emperours consente were taken out of Ianus Capitol or Romulus temple hee deuised holye roode daye and added to the Letanye the prayinge vnto dead saintes Sancta maria sancta Gregori c. and commauÌ„ded to go about the streates in procession euery Sabboth day This Honorius died Anno 634. in whose time Mahumet arose the auctor of the Turkishe religion 6. Seuerinus the second SEuerinus or Zepherinus the second was coÌ„firmed Pope in the name of Herachuâ— the Emperour by Isacius his liuetenaunt in Italye This Pope also was very carefull to build vp Churches of dead saints but carelesse of buildinge vp the Gospell wherevppon Isacius brake into the Church treasurye and perforce toke away the great heapes of riches the priestes to their power defending the same for then euen by Gods iust punishment the Sarracens wan from the Romaines Damascus Arabia Phoenicia Egipt and other kingdomes of the world Mahumets power encreased still against them and as for the Emperours souldiers they were driuen to great pouertye and wante of all thinges and the houge heapes of the Churches hourded treasury encreased to no bodies profit For sayth Platina in this dauÌ„ger of Mahumet the priests loked that the laitye should beare the charge of this to withstand the ennemyes of Christendome againe the laitye looked that the clergye for defence of Religion shoulde promise and giue their money for the maintenaunce of the warre and should not waste their wealth prodigallye to worse purposes as for the most part they doe spendinge plentifullye their riches gotten by almose deedes and with the bloud of martyrs vppon statelye and massye plate of siluer and goldeâ— hauinge little care of the world to come defying God and maÌ„ whom they serue only for luker sake Plat. in Boniface the 5. This made Isacius with his souldiours to burst into the Churches treasurye Seuerinus dyed Anno 636. 7. Iohn the fourth IOhn the fourth learning by his predecessours harmes howe to vse ryches better did redeme out of captiuitie with that money whiche Isacius lefte in Lateran his contreimen the Assirians and Dalmacians whome the Lombardes had taken prisoners in battell And yet least the like deede shoulde be attempted against the churche anye more euen sone after in the beginning of his Popedome he decreed that the churche goodes being so purloyned should be recompenced fower times double He wrote to Englande concerning the keping of Easter and against the Pelagian heresy Hee transported from Dalmacia to Rome the dead bodies of two martyrs Vincentius and Anastasius rather to hurt liue Christians with committing
Pope Gregorie aliue whom the Emperour himselfe had first created And when the Popes Legates demaunded of the Emperour to giue ouer his auctoritye in Ecclesiasticall causes and bestowing spirituall liuinges he desired respit to deliberate thereon with the Princes of Germanye who councelled him to seeke for the fauour of the Pope to such puissancye was the Pope then start vp ouer the mightie Monarches Finallye Embassadours meetinge at VVormes in Germanye for eyther parte to debate the matter after greate controuersyes and sharpe reasoninges on eyther syde the Pope bare awaye the victorye for the Emperours Proctours were the bishop of Spire and the abbot of Fulda by theyr callinge bounde to fauour the Popes part who perswaded the Emperour to yelde ouer his righte for feare of the excomunication which would cause his subiects to reuolt from him And so he obeyed This beinge done the Popes Legates did absolue him and gaue him licence to repayre to seruice in the Church which Gelasius had denyed him These compositions were drawne in wrighting for both sydes and therfore the Popes part euen to triūph of their victorye and shewe how the Emperour was vanquished caused theirs to be read with open Proclamation and hanged them vp at Lateran to be seene openlye Calixtus after he had thus maistred the Emperour persecuted Pope Gregorie his aduersarye that stoode against him for the Popedome by the Emperours meanes Gregorie hearing of this fled from Rome to Sturium where Calixtus caught him and to make him a laughing game euen to the Emperours reproche he caused Gregorie to be set vppon a Camel with his face toward the Camels tayle so to be brought to Rome afterward he caused his heade to be shauen so sente him into a Monasterye Amonge manye Canons that Calixtus made one was that it should be adulterye if a man in his life time shoulde forsake his bishopricke or Church wresting this place of Paule vnto it The wyfe is bound to the lawe of her husbande while he liueth c.. He appointed to fast foure times in the yeare whereas before it was but thrise and said it was not lawfull to fast anye otherwise then accordinge as the Church of Rome did addinge this reason For sayth hee as the sonne came to do the will of his father so muste Christians do the will of their mother the Church of Rome He dyed of a feuer which he toke by the trauell of a greate iorneye Anno 1125. One Simeon an Englishman borne in Duresme in the 2. booke of his historye of the Kinges of Englande wryteth that this Calixtus held a generall councell in Fraunce wherin he forbad priestes deacons or subdeacons to haue wyues and first to leese their benefices secondlye the Communion if they woulde not yeilde herein Wherevppon one in Englande wrote a sharpe Epigram against him thus in effect O bone Calixte nunc omnis clerus odit te Quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti Hoc destruxisti postquam tu Papa fuisti Ergo tuùm meritò nomen habent odiò O good Calixtus now the clergye doth the hate In former tyme the Churchmen might enioy their spousal mate But thou bast takē this away to Popeship since thou came Therefore as thou deserued hast they do detest thy name 104. Honorius the seconde HOnorius the second before called Lambert being but of base byrth was first made bishop of Hostia for his learninge and so came to be Pope But sayth Platina his entraunce into Peters place is not to be commēded because he came in rather by the ambition of a few then the cōsent of good men for he was made Pope with great debate by the pollicy of one Leo Frangepain the chiefest Citizen who perswaded that they should not chose the Pope before they knewe all the Canons concerning the electiō While they stayed about this Leo practised to serue this Popes turne by such fetches as he could deuise but the Cardinals perceyuinge his policye did create one Theobaldus a Cardinall Pope callinge him Celestine but the people stoode earnestlye vrginge for another Cardinall that was a Saxō which Leo seemed to like of onelye to defeate the election of the Cardinals and when by this meanes he had the people somwhat indifferent to be ruled by him he brought to passe by them to make Lambert Pope and called him Honorius This Honorius sayth Mattheus Parisiensis sent out a Legat one Iohn Cremensis a riotous Cardinal to fil the Popes bagges He cōming into England Anno 1125. wyth the kinges fauour passed from one Religious house to another still fillinge his pouches with moneye and hys panche with delicate cheare And when he had euen loaden himselfe meetely wel he held a Synode in London where he cōdemned all the clergye of adultery which had wyues and euen the selfe same daye at night my Lord Legat himselfe euen his owne parson was taken in adultery And yet Pope Honorius wrote in his behalfe to the clergye of Englande thus Wee desire you charge you and commaunde you that ye receyue this Iohn as the Uicar of S. Peter w t reuerence heare him with humilitye and at his commaūdement be assistant at his Synodes c. The like for him wrote Honorius to Dauid kinge of Scottes There is a certaine statute made by the same Iohn in the said Synode helde at London to this effecte Wee by our Apostolicall auctoritye commaunde that priestes deacons subdeacons and canonists shall not come in companye wyth theyr wyues concubines yea or any other women except theyr mother sister or aunte or such womē as may altogether giue no suspition and who so shall breake this shall forfaite his orders Wee commaunde that no mariage shal be made betweene kindred or affinitye to the seuenth degree Honorius dyed Anno 1130. Platina sayth that in the time of this Honorius one Arnulphus an Englishmā and a noble preacher of the Christen Religion was murthered at Rome by the treacherye of the clergye because he did sharpelye reproue theyr royat and wantonnesse and rebuked theyr pompe and greedinesse in gatheringe riches Manye of the nobles of Rome did followe this man as a true disciple Prophete of Christe and onelye preacher of the truth 105. Innocentius the second INnocentius the second after he was made Pope coulde deuise no more charitable deede then to suppresse Roger Duke of Sicilia for sayinge that he was kinge of Italye The Pope broughte oute his armye and marched forward stoutlye and manfullye ouerthrew his ennemye but the dukes sonne comminge vppon his backe with an army toke the Pope and his Cardinals and so Roger obtayned all besyde the title of Sicilia In the meane time the Romaynes created one Peter Leo his sonne Pope and called him Anacletus which being heard Innocentius desired to be set at libertye and obtayned it and purposed to returne to Rome but because he saw al was in an vprore at Rome he turned frō thence trauayling till he came into Fraūce In the meane
throughe Italye to Naples with an army to challenge it as his enheritaunce this Pope Alexander fearing the puissaÌ„ce of that noble king did for feare of him make a league with Alphonsus king of Naples against the French kinge planted a garison of souldiours in Rome least the king should inuade it For it is ingrafted in the Italians that they enuieng the prosperitye of the FrenchmeÌ„ do alwayes detest euen the very name of FrauÌ„ceâ— so that they swearing and vowing freindship with them are not nothing abasshed in despite of God and iustice to breake their leagues And yet notwithstandinge this the Popes power yet kinge Charles preuayled in his purpose maugre their hartes and came to Rome where for feare least he should by violence breake awaye from himselfe to their greater damage the Pope coÌ„maunded that he should be curteouslye let in and that none of the Romaine souldiours vpon paine of death should make any sturre and so did Charles likewyse commaunde his armye And yet the cowardlye Pope wyth a bande of men fled dastardlye into Angel castell but after he perceyued that quietnesse was kept in the Citye he maketh a league with Charles seÌ„ding home to Alphonsus his souldiours againe But after this when Charles had beene in Apulia and coÌ„quered it he prepared to returne home into FrauÌ„ce but the Pope forgetting or neglecting his league oath thoughte to cut him short of his purpose and to take the aduauntage of Charles while he trustinge to the league shoulde not mistrust anye such falsehoode And therefore the Pope making another league with the Vetenians Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand king of Aragon and Lewis Sfortia prouidinge an armye laye in wait for Charles his comming at Fornonium not farre from Parma euen in the waye where he should passe But notwtstanding this ambush were fourtye Thousande men and Charles had with him but vii Thousand trayned souldiers wearyed with traueling and want of necessaryes yet the bickering continued sharpe doubtful a long time with great slaughter of the Popes armye and in the ende Charles with little losse of his part gat the victorye Thus reporteth Platina or rather the author that continueth the historye of Platina where he ended it who wrote but to the time of Paule the seconde thoughe yet he heareth the name of the whole worke for those that follow are added by other In the time of this Pope an Angell that was placed aloft in Angel castell was throwne downe by the violente force of thonder and lightninges which as some thincke mighte well prognosticate the fall of the Popes estate Iohn Tisseranus a Minorite founded at Paris an order of harlots as if Christian religioÌ„ were to be edifyed by such orders ¶ Uerses made vpon Pope Alexanders death Fortasse nescis cuius hic tumulus sict Adsta viator ni piget c. Perhaps whose tombe this is my freinde ye do not know Then pause a while if that ye haue no haste to go Though Alexanders name vpon the stone be grauen T is not that great but he that late was prelate shorne and shauen Who thirsting after bloud deuourde so many a noble towne Who tost turnde the ruthfull states of kingdomes vpsidedowne Who to enrich his sonnes so manye nobles slew And wast the world with fire and sword spoyling to him drew Defying lawes of earth and heauen and God himselfe ere while So that the sinful father did the daughters bed defile And could not from the bandes of wicked wedlock once refraine And yet this pestilent prelate did in Rome tenne yeares remaine Now freind remember Nero or els Caligula his vice Or Heliogabals enoughe the rest ye may surmise For shame I dare not vtter all away my freind wyth this ¶ Another Epitaph vpon Pope Alexander The Spaniard lyeth heare that did all honestye defye To speake it briefely in this tombe all villany doth lye ¶ Another Least Alexanders noble name my freind should the beguile Away for heare both treachery doth lurke and mischiefe vile ¶ Another Though Alexander after death did vomit matter blacke Yet maruel not he drancke the same and could not cause it packe Diuers other like ill fauoured verses accordiÌ„g to his il fauoured maners were made of him which for modesty sake are partlye to be suppressed because it is not to be doubted but that chast eares would be ashamed to heare those thinges which Pope Alexander was not ashamed to do But amonge other Iohn Functius reporteth of him out of Volateraâ— that the Cardinals which chose him did first finde him vnthaÌ„ckfull for he plagued them all with diuers myseryes thrusting some into prison and punishing some with imprysonmente He warred vpon the Vrsins and conqueringe them layed them in irons and fetters His greatest care was as Innocentius did to bestow great honours on his bastards He made one of his yongest sonnes Prince of Sicilia and another called Caesareus a Cardinall and his eldest sonne a duke in Spaine who wtin a while after was murthered in the night tumbled into Tiber. His other sonne the Cardinall after the death of his brother renounced priestcraft ranne into Fraunce with a mightye masse of gould where he maryed a kinsewoman of kinge Lewis hauing with her the towne of Valentia then by the ayde of the kinge beinge at perpetuall league with him he purloyned to himselfe great dominion in Italye being therein much furthered by the Pope his father The daughter of this Pope Alexander called Lucretia with whom the monstrous father had vsed carnall companye was maryed to 3. Princes one after another First to Iohn Sfortia duke of Pisauria then she being deuorced was matched w t Alosius of Aragon bastard of king Alphonsus he beinge slaine she was wedded to AlphoÌ„suâ— duke of Ferraria What her honestye religion and modestye was in the Court of Rome during her fathers estate it maye be gathered sufficientlye by these two Uerses made vppon her death by Iohn Iouianus Pontanus Hic iacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri filia sponsa nurus Here lyes Lucretia chast by name but Thais lewd by lyfe Who was to Alexander Pope both doughter and his wyfe ¶ The Uerses of Actius Sannazarius vpon the yeare of Iubelie kept by Pope Alexander Pollicitus coelum Romanus astra sacerdos Per seelera sedes ad Styga pandit iter The Romaine priest that promised both heauen starres to sell By treacherye and murtheringes hath made a gap to hell ¶ The Uerses of the same auctour againe Lucretia the daughter of Pope Alexander the 6. reprouing her horrible incest vvith her father Ergo te semper cupiet Lucretia Sâ—xtusâ— O fatum diri numinis hic pater est Ierom Marius in his booke Eusebius Captiuus speaking of this Pope Alexander hath these wordes What should I disclose the detestable treachery of Alexander the 6. wherof the like hath not bin heard He making a league w t the deuils of hell bequeathed
and doting dreames and listeneth not to lyes c. This Syluester died a confessour Anno domini 334. Mantuan in his thirde booke of the life of S. Blase bringeth in an Angell talking with the sayde Blase among other martyrs of the Empyre of the foresayde Constantine and of the estate of the churche for the time folowyng of the wickednes that should raigne both among the Clergie and the people and finally of the vengeance that should ensue His wordes are these ¶ The woordes of the Angell to Blase concerning Constantine THe tyraÌ„tes being daunted now a gracious prince shal raigne In Romain empier vnder whoÌ„ the world shal peace obtaine And worship Idols olde no more the mighty Constantine Shall kepe his court in Thracia and to the Lorde diuine Christe Iesus Italy he leaues and Rome with mountaines seueÌ„ Then shal the crosse despised earst aduaunced be to heauen And far excel the Romain mace the â—cepter the crown c. ¶ Of the euels to come vpon the churche But euen vpon this gentle calme there shal alas ensewe Destruction such as wel thou mayst with woful wepings rewe And poyson ranke shall surely from the hony swete pâ—ocede The sound of ease the name of peace are plesant words in dede But out alas more wretchednes more villany and vice More greuous wouÌ„ds more shame wo shal to the church arise Euen of this peace then did of all the bloudy broiles and warre For auncient vertue shal decline and pleasure vaine shal marre â–ª And spoile the bodies chast of meÌ„ through waÌ„tonesse welth The lazy mide shal quayle droupe neglecting heaueÌ„ly helth O leude delightes O wicked guise O cursed time I se The people of their Lord and Christ forgetful quite to be I se their vnbeleuing hartes doth treade down and defie The faith hedlong into sinne by thousandes thick they flie I se how men are beastes become and Rome is now transport Into a stable c. ¶ Of the plagues that folowe Then shal we heaueÌ„ly gostes at length most wrathfully be bent And God shal frowne against those laÌ„des wheÌ„ vp to him is sent The shew of this their wicked age heaueÌ„ shal shut vp his grace And al reliefe froÌ„ earth whom hell with horrour doth deface At wrath of God the noysome starres shal altogether conspire And fling down fearcely froÌ„ aboue most fearful flakes of fire And heaueÌ„ shal make his wrath away to daunt driue to dust This saluage kinde of faithlesse folke and people most vniust And meÌ„ with grim grisely lookes with stern gastly mind To rise vp from the Northren poale shal be by God assind The Hunnes the Gothes the Vandals Turkes rude creatures lacking lawe Of God and maÌ„ to guide and kepe their saluage hartes in awe The ChristiaÌ„s eke amoÌ„g theÌ„selues shal wrangle braule iarre And as mad dogges one eate anothers hart through ciuil warre The Romaynes shal destroy the Greekes the Almaynes waste the Frenche VVith more then deadly hate that one the others power may quenche They shall forbeare the Saracens and Turkes And thus muche concerning this matter Nowe let the reader consider that whiche foloweth whether it agree not to this that Mantuan hath written If it be true as Mantuan saithe that Blase had this reuelacioÌ„ then the estate of Rome folowing this time was condemned as detestable by the Angell But if it be but fayned by Mantuan and other then we se howe they noting howe farre this latter churche of Rome in her pompe and royaltie swarued from the former in persecution iudged of it and yet was Mantuan an Italian Carmelite or whyte Fryar Thus hath it pleased God that some of the braunches shoulde both discerne and bewray the loathsomnesse of this wicked tree But it shall not be amisse here to adde the saying of Sleidan talking of this time of Syluester in his seconde booke of the iiii Monarches Then sayth he the byshops of Rome began first to be in safetie for hetherto they were almoste all put to death From Peter whom they will haue to be the first to this time they accompt xxxiii Their decrees are set downe among the generall counsels but the moste of them are suche trifles suche toyes and so diuers from the scripture that it is credible that they were deuised by other that came long after But if it were true that they came from these former prelates saint Paules wordes may be well applied hereunto being veryfied saying in prophecy That lost childe and maÌ„ of sinne did euen then beginne to worke the mystery of iniquitie Coloss. 2. Anacletus as some saye the fourth froÌ„ Peter hath this decree extant in his name That the Churche of Rome should by the commaundemeÌ„t and institution of Christ be the head of other Churches Also to Alexander is attributed that he commaunded that water should be hallowed with salte to purge the people of sinne and to dryue awaye the snares of the deuill But howe muche do these banities differ from the maiestie of the Apostles doctrine from the wryting of Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist who liued almost till the time of these bishops These two decrees may suffise for wyse men to iudge of the reste being euen of the self same mould for the moste part bearing with them an open shewe of ambition But to returne to the purpose this CoÌ„stantine for the loue and zeeale whiche he bare vnto the Churche did endewe the pastors thereof with many large benefites ryches and possessions that they might with better oportunitie addicte them selues to preache the Gospel But where as he gaue them an inche some haue since stollen an elle fathering vpon him the forged donacion for their supremacy But of his liberalitie toward the church Eusebius wryteth at large He sommoned the first generall counsell at Nicea wherein the detestable heresie of Arrius was condemned though it could not be with all so vtterly quenched but that it did yet afterward enflame again so that some of the sparcles therof did alight euen in the pontificall seate of Rome sone after as shall appeare by some of these that follow Finis libri primi THE SECONDE SORTE OF ROMAINE BIshops from Syluester to Boniface the thirde ¶ These bishops persecution being ceased began to take estate more vpon them then the former for Constantine and other Christian princes began of deuocioÌ„ and zeale to aduaunce the prelates to wealth and therupon they liuing in wealth and ease began also to aduaunce theÌ„selues in dignitie aboue the former estate putting riche mytâ—rs on their heades taking vpon them the name of Archebishops Also they began by litle and litle to adde their own deuices to Gods seruice to alter chop and chauÌ„ge and make Canons as liked euery ones fantasie and so pecemeale began to plante and sowe in Rome the seade of Antichriste which afterwarde grewe vp to so great pride and abhomination Thus at the firste in the churche deuotion bredde wealth but the