generall or provinciall councell should be had within the space of a yeare and in the meane time the decree of Wormace Councell to cease In the next Councell kept at Spire where Ferdinand Ambassadour in the Emperours name was present certaine Citties were greatly blamed for altering Religion contrary to the Emperours commandement and the Ambassadour for the Citie of Argentine was not suffered to sit in the Councell because that Cittie had disanulled the Masse Shortly after by the assent of a few Princes these points were decreed That such Cities as had altered Religion should make no further change That other places should obey the decree of Wormes vntill a generall Councell That it should be lawfull to all men who would vse the masse euen in those Citties where it was abolished That the Anabaptists should be punished by death That the doctrine of the Lords supper shuld not be receiued That the Ministers should teach according to the interpretation of the Church That the Princes and Cities should not receiue foreiners comming for Religion into their dominions if any man did otherwise he should be proscript The Duke of Saxonie George Prince of Brandenburgh Erneste and Francisse Princes of Luneburg and the Landgraue of Hesse and a Prince called Anhaldius withstood this decree and answered to euery point thereof saying that the consent of a few could not vndoe that decree which before was made at Spire by the whole Empire and therefore that they all made protestation that they would not acknowledge it And of this protestation were those Princes and all that allied with them called Protestants which name is now giuen to all them that in their doctrine swerue from the Bishop of Rome To the Princes aboue-named these Cities following did agree Argentine Norinberg Vlmes Constance Ruteling Winsemium Mening Lindan Campodune Hailbrune Isna Wiseborough Norling Sangall All these Cities with the Princes refused the act of Spire appealed to the Emperour and to a generall or provinciall Councell After the breaking vp of this Councell the Protestants send Ambassadours to the Emperour to declare the causes of their appellation from the Councell of Spire The Emperour at this time was in Italie and on his iourney to Rome to be crowned with the Emperiall Diadem by Pope Clement the seuenth who hauing heard the Ambassadours of the Protestants entreated them roughly and sent them backe againe with menacing words threatning to punish with all rigour those that would not be obedient to the Decree of the foresaid Convention of Spire This was the first ground that moued the Protestants in the conventioÌ„ of Smalcaldy to bind vp a couenant amongst themselues of mutuall ayde if any of them were pursued for Religions sake as shall be declared afterward God willing In the meane time the Citie of Argentine entreated league with Tigure Berne and Basill who being not farre distant might be more helpfull each to other that if they were invaded for the quarrell of Religion they should mutually assist one another wherewith the Councell of the Empire were much grieued and found great fault with them After the Emperours returning from Italie where he was crowned with the Emperiall Diadem and had sworne to be a defender of the Roman Church a solemne conuention of the Estates of the Empire was kept in the Towne of Angusta or S. Ausbrugh to which were brought many learned diuines The Protestants brought with them Philip Melanchton Iustus Ionas Georgius Spalatinus Iohannes Agricola Islebius and diverse others The Romane Church had for their part Cardinall Campeius the Popes Ambassadour Eccius Iohannes Faber Cochleus and many others The Emperour commanded the Princes of the Protestants to come to Masse with him and to command their Preachers to silence but they answered they would neither come to Masse nor inioyne their Preachers to silence before the matter was concluded Onely the Duke of Saxonie after deliberation with his Divines was content at the Emperours commandement according to his dutie to carrie the Sword before him as he went to the Church Then the Emperour vnder great perill commanded both the parties to silence and he by prerogatiue appointed certaine to Preach that should touch no Controversie In this Convention the Protestants offered vnto the Emperour a copie of the Articles of their Faith which with great difficultie they obtained to be openly read before they delivered it into the Emperours handes This Confession commonly called Augustana Confessio was exhibited to Eccius and Faber Divines on the contrary part to be confuted and the copie of this confutation was also openly read But when the Protestants desired that they might answere to it the Emperour would not grant it saying he would heare no more disputation but willed them to returne to the Catholique Church Also the Citizens of Argentine Constance Mening and Lindan who differed from the other Protestants in the opinion of the Sacrament did in like manner exhibite a confession of their Doctrine a confutation of this Booke also was made by Eccius and Faber with very bitter and sharpe words but the other partie could not haue licence to reply nor any sight of the copie but as they heard it read After this three were chosen on each side to debate matters of Religion where although Melanchton granted more then his â—ellowes would haue him yet nothing was agreed because that Eccius and his two Lawyers who were chosen for the Romane Church stucke so fast by their Masse and Monasticall Vowes that in those things they would admit no reformation In the end the Emperour published a Decree wherein he declared that although the confession of the Protestants was sufficiently confuted yet he would giue them respite for a time to returne to the Church of Rome In which time they should keepe peace and alter nothing of Religion and suffer all that would to follow the Church of Rome But the Princes and Protestant Cities answered that they could not keepe that Decree with safe consciences Thus was the Emperours interim refused wherefore he set forth another Decree wherein he confirmed the Doctrine of the Church of Rome in all points and abrogated all manner of appellations made by the Protestants It appointed also an order how the Emperours Court called the Chamber should proceed in iudgement against the Protestants and forbidded that any Prince of that sect should beare any office in the Court and all that were of the faith of the Romane Church to be taken into the protection of the Emperour against their owne Princes This act caused great feare wherefore the Princes and Ambassadours of the Protestants shortly after met againe at Smalcalâ—ie and went through with the League which they had begunne the yeare before to ayde each other in the quarrell of Religion About this time the Emperour hauing sure information that the Turke with great preparation was setting forward his armie against Vienna in Austrich begun somewhat to relent of
mindes as evidently appeared so soone as the King of Navarre and Prince of Condie came to Orleance and had saluted the King the Captaine of the Kings guard layd hands on the Prince of Condie and the King was informed that the Prince of Condie had conspired against his honour and life Thus by the craft and deceitfull practises of the Guisians was the Prince of Condie brought into great danger and hazard of his life and had assuredly died if the mercy of God had not provided timely reliefe But the Lord pitying the estate of his owne poore Church in France shortned the life of Francis the second who dyed of a putrefaction of his eares And thus was the second high attempt of the Guisians against the Gospell marvailously disappoynted by the sudden and vnexpected death of Francis the second After whose death the innocency of the Prince of Condie was declared by a decree of the Parliament at Paris and the government of the young King Charles the ninth was devolued in the hands of the Queen mother and the King of Navarre Those Gouernours with advice of the States of the Realme thought meet that a free disputation should be appointed at Poyssie a towne in France neere to Saint Germane wherein the controversies of religion should bee freely reasoned in presence of the young King the Queene mother the King of Navarre and other Princes of the royall blood This disputation began the ninth of September anno 1561. For the Protestants part were appointed Theodorus Beza Minister at Geneva Peter Martyr professor of Divinity in Zuricke Nicholas Gelasius Augustinus Marloratus Iohannes Merlinus Franciscus Morellus Iohannes Malo and Espineus a man of great learning who had lately forsaken the Romane Church and embraced the true reformed religion On the other part the Cardinall of Loraine with many other Cardinalls Archbishops and Bishops to the number of fifty Prelates besides many other Divines and Doctors were ready to pleade the cause of the Romish Church In this disputation after that Theodorus Beza had at length declared the summe of the Protestants faith and the Cardinall of Loraine had answered In the end the Romane Prelats devised a pretty shift to cut off all further reasoning for the Cardinall of Loraine produced the opinion of the Germans about the matter of the Sacrament extracted out of the cōfession of Ausbrugh Jemanded of the Protestants whether they would subscribe to it or no to the end that if they consented to subscribe they might seem to haue convicted themselues of errour in the matter of the Sacrament and if they refused to subscribe then it might bee knowne to the Princes that were present that the Protestants agreed not amongst themselues To this it was answered by Theodorus Beza in the next meeting that if the confession of Ausbrough should be subscribed then it was good reason to require a subscription of the whole confession and not of one line thereof onely also if they vrged the Protestants to subscribe that confession of Ausbrough then let themselues first begin to subscribe the same and when they haue yeelded to the whole confession of Ausbrugh it will be more easie to finde out any way of agreement in matters of religion After this the forme of disputation was changed and a few in number to wit fiue onely on either side were chosen to conferre in quiet and peaceable manner who beginning at the matter of the Sacrament seemed all to agree in this forme that Iesus Christ by the operation of the holy Spirit offereth and exhibiteth vnto vs the very substance of his body blood and wee doe receiue and eate spiritually and by faith that same body which dyed for vs to the end we may be flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones and that we may be quickned by him and receiue all things that are needfull to our salvation And because faith leaning to the word of God maketh those things that are received to be present by this faith indeed we receiue truely and effectually the very naturall body and blood of Iesus Christ through the power of the holy Spirit In this respect wee acknowledge the presence of the body and blood in the Supper The article of the Sacrament being conceiued in this forme was presented to both the parties and many of the Romane Prelates condiscended to the article aboue specified but when they had conferred with the Doctors of Sorbon they all with one consent refused the same and finding that the communers that were chosen for their part did persevere in their opinion they cryed out against them and would giue no further power to them to reason in that cause Thus the disputation of Poyssie broke vp the 25. of November without any agreement of the controversies in religion but rather leaving in the harts of men a seed of greater contention and cruell wars which afterward ensued But before we speak of the warres in France for religion somewhat is to bee spoken of the cruell persecution that the faithfull suffered in Piemont in which countrey certaine townes had received the Gospell and abolished the masse namely the townes of Angrona Lucerne Perose Tallaret with divers others in the convalles of Piemont all which townes are subiect to the dominion of the Duke of Savoy who hearing of the reformation that was made in the foresayd bounds of his dominion sent out his Captaine Triniteus with an army of 500. men against them to sack and vtterly destroy them except they would receiue the masse againe and put away from them their ministers The towne of Angrona was first assaulted and the people fled to the mountaines but being strictly pursued they turned themselues and with slings stones defended their liues and put their enemies to the worse in so much that Triniteus the Dukes Captaine was to deale with them by subtilty and craft rather then by open force and therefore promised vnto the Convallenses that if they layd downe their armour and sent messengers to the Duke to cuane his pardon and would pay to him the summe of sixteene thousand crownes then vpon those conditions they should haue peace The poore people glad to accept conditions of peace performed all that was required but no peace could be obtained of the Duke except they would put away their Ministers and receiue the masse againe Therefore being spoiled both of money and armour by the craft of their enemies and a new army also sent against them they were compelled in time of winter to flie with their wiues and children to the mountaines all over-layd and covered with snow and from thence to behold the pitifull spectacles of the burning of their houses and spoyling of their goods But necessity compelling them to make some shift for their liues they tooke the strict passage of the mountains and resisted their enemies committing the successe to God who so prospered this poore vnarmed people that in few
England by his brothers wife Whereupon the Emperour forsaking the marriage did couple himselfe with Ladie Isabell daughter to King Emmanuel of Portugall which marriage was done in the yeere of our Lord 1526. The King vpon this occasion casting many things in his minde beganne to consider the matter more deeply and finding that neither his conscience could be cleered in keeping his brothers wife nor yet the estate of the Realme firme by the succession of a daughter begotten in such a marriage he proposed the question to the chiefe Vniversities of all Christendome whose censures all agreed in one that the marriage was vnlawful Yet would not the King proceed to the divorcement without the Popes consent Who sent Campeius his Ambassadour with concurrance of the Cardinall of Yorke to be iudges in that cause The Cardinall of Yorke called Wolsey at the first was verily bent to haue the divorcemēt set forward but afterward finding that the Kings affection was bent towardes Ladie Anne Bulloigne to take her in marriage he changed his purpose sent advertisment to Pope Clement that in case King Henry the eight were divorced from Ladie Katherine then should another infected with Luthers doctrine succeede in her place to the great hurt of the Church of Rome For this cause the Pope calleth backe his Ambassadour Campeius before the Kings cause was decided Neuerthelesse the King proceeded in his purpose and was divorced from Ladie Katherine by meanes of Dr Cranmer This was the ground of that great hatred that fell out betweene the Pope and King Henry for on the one part the Pope cursed King Henry and the Realme of England for the divorcement The King on the other part abolished in his Realme the Bishop of Romes vnlawfull tyrannie with commandement that he should be called no more Pope in his Country but onely Bishop of Rome and that the King should be taken and reputed as supreame head of the Church of England haue full authoritie to reforme and redresse errours heresies and abuses in the same Now to returne againe to Germanie The Emperour was so busied with Warres all this time that he had no leisure to tarry in Germanie and although many assemblies were gathered to suppresse the doctrine of Luther he was onely present at two to wit at the first kept at Wormes the last kept at Auspurg For this cause it seemed good to the Emperour to declare his brother Ferdinand to be King of the Romanes and apparent successor to the Empire to the end he might with greater authoritie gouerne the affaires of the Empire in his absence He sent also letters to the Protestants commanding them to acknowledge him King Wherefore the Ambassadours of the Protestant Cities being gathered at Franckford concluded with the Princes that for their part they would not for this resist the Emperour for denying a title and a name only to his brother to make him more eager against their Religion But the Duke of Saxonie other Princes not agreeing thereto writ to the Emperour that because it was done against the manner and liberty of the Empire they could not allow it This seemeth to be the first ground of the warres that after followed For Ferdinand King of the Romanes expelled Vlrich of Wirtenberge from his Lordship and when no redresse could be had at the Emperours hands the Landgraue of Hesse with his cousin Vlrich gathered an Armie at Lawferme by Wirtenberg ouercame their enemies and put them to flight recouered the townes of Asperge Wrath Tubinge and Niphe and tooke prisoner Philip Prince Palatine and chiefe Captaine of Ferdinands armie Shortly after agreement was made on these conditions that Vlrich should haue againe his Lordship of Wirtenberg but so that he should hold it by the benefit of Ferdinand and the house of Austrich that if issue male did saile in the house of Wirtenberge that Lordship should returne to the heire of the Emperours house of Austrich that the Landgraue and Vlrich should come to Ferdinand and submit themselues to him The Emperour foreseeing that this diversitie of Religion that was in Germanie would in the end burst forth into some bitter fruit and great inconuenience aduised with himselfe by what means reconciliation might be made and all controversie might cease and in the end appointed a Councell at Wormes and communication of Religion and for this cause sent Granuellanus thither But the matter was so long delayed by the fautors of the Sea of Rome vntill Letters came from the Emperour againe to deferre the whole matter to the Councell of Ratisbone To which came all the Princes of the Empire except the Duke of Saxonie who came not himselfe but sent thither a noble ambassage together with Melanchthon and other Preachers Vnto the same Councell also came from the Pope Caspar Conterane a Cardinall In this disputation Fredericke the Palsgraue and Granuellane were appointed moderators Melanchthon Bucer and Pistorius Disputers for the Protestants Pflugius Eccius Gropper for the Papists Vnto these six was offered a booke conteining the definition of most Articles in Controversie which they were willed to ouer-looke and either to allow or disallow those things that they could agree vpon This booke was deliuered againe after a time to the Emperour in many points they could not agree in some they did The Protestants deliuered together with the booke their opinion concerning those controversies and their arguments to proue the same The Emperour deliuered the same to the Princes to be examined but they being most part Popish referred the whole matter to the Popes Ambassadour who exhorting the Bishops to honestie of life and suppressing of Luthers doctrine thought good it should be deferred to a generall Councell This convention which began in Aprill Anno 1541. was dissolued in the end of Iulie after that the Emperour had decreed that the communication begun and whole controversie of Religion should be deferred to a generall or Provinciall Councell of Germanie That the Protestants should teach no other points of Religion then such as were agreed vpon That Bishops should see amendment of life in their Diocesse That there should be a Provinciall Councell within a yeare and an halfe if they could not obtaine a generall Councell of the Pope That the Churches of Monasteries should not be pulled downe but reformed that the Church-goods should not be inverted that the decree of Ausbrough and all Proscriptions of the Protestants should be suspended all those conventions of estates disputations promises of generall or provinciall Councels to be kept in Germanie could not reconcile diuerse Religions but at length lurking hatred behoued to breake out into open hostilitie The first occasion whereof was offered by Henry Prince of Brunswick who by often invasion of Cities confederated with the Protestants in Germany moued the Duke of Saxonie and the Landgraue to make warre against him in name quarrell of all the Protestants confederated by the league of Smalcaldy
would depart with their bands of Italians and Spainiards otherwise such order and remedie should be found as the time and matter required In this meane time many of the Princes of the Protestants townes with whom the Emperour was displeased because of the aide they had sent to the Duke of Saxonie and Lantgraue reconciled themselues to the Emperour and obtained their pardon after they had payed great summes of money Of this number was Palsgraue of the Rhene Elector and the Prince of Witemberg Also earnest request was made to the Emp. for the Lantgraues pardon by the Marques of Brādenburg But the conditions were so grieuous that the Lantgraue would rather venture the extremitie then submit himselfe The Emperour came forward to Misne by the riuer Albis not farre from the Duke of Saxonie Campe. Wherefore the Duke made speed to Witemberg and burnt the bridge that the Emperour should haue no readie passage to pursue him but the Emperour getting knowledge of a shallow ford in the riuer quicklie followed the Duke and by the wood of Lothans ouertooke him ioyning battell discomfited him and tooke him prisoner and although the Duke was condemned to die yet by the entreatie of the Marques of Brandenburg his life was granted him with most grieuous conditions amongst which this was one that hee should submit himselfe to the old religion but he chosed rather to die then so to doe Wherefore the Marques of Brandenburg obtained also that condition to be remitted but al his lands and goods were giuen to Maurice except a pension of 50000. crownes which the same Maurice paied him yeerely Immediately herevpon Witemberg yeelded to the Emp. as also diuers other Princes and Cities did the like The Lantgraue was content to yeeld al that he had to the Emp. pleasure so that hee might not be kept prisoner which condition the Marques of Brandenburg Maurice the new Duke of Saxonie that had married his daughter vndertooke to obtaine and for the performance of the same bound thēselues to him in great bonds But when he came to the Emp. hee was commaunded to remaine as prisoner then he began to complaine grieuously saying that the Emperour kept not promise And the next day the Marques of Brandenburg Maurice went to the Emp. and intreated for the Lantgraue but all would not serue for the Emperour answered that he brake no promise although he kept him 14. yeeres in prison For his meaning was onely to pardon him perpetuall emprisonment This matter afterward turned the Emp. to great trouble In the meane time hauing the principall chiefe Princes of the Protestants in Captiuitie the Emp. thought meete to gather a conuention of the estates at Ausbrough to finish that matter which hee had intended long before All the Electors with other Princes were gathered together in great number but about the citie and in diuers places of the countrie neere thereto was companies of Spaniards and Italians and other souldiers to the terrour of them that were present The Principall matter purposed was concerning the Councell of Trident. The Emperour required of the Princes priuatlie of the Palsgraue Maurice Duke of Saxonie whether they would submit themselues to the Councell of Trident or no. At the first they refused it but afterward fearing the Emp. displeasure they were cōtented to permit the matter to his will The free cities also being demaunded if they would adde any thing to the answere of the Princes answered it was not their part so to doe and offered a writing to the Emperour on what condition they would admit the Councell The Emperour as though they had fullie consented sent to the Cardinall of Trident and the Pope desiring that the Councell which was remoued from Trident to Bononia might bee againe revoked to Trident which was neerer to Germanie vpon hope that the Germanes would come and submit themselues to the Councell But forasmuch as the Pope and Bishops assembled at Bononie would not returne backe againe to Trident but vpon such conditions as liked themselues best the Emperour protested by his Ambassadours that all such things that they should decree there to be vnlawfull and of no force and that he himselfe would vndertake the care of the cōmon-wealth of Christendome which the Bishops neglected Thus the Emperour perceiuing that there was no hope of a generall councell in Germanie consulted with the Princes about the agreement of Religion and appointed Iulius Pflugins Bishop of Numburg Michael Sidon and Iohn Islebie to draw out a booke for reformation of Religion which they called Interim This was the ground of a new trouble for the Emperour strictly commaunded that the Princes would receiue and admit the manner of Religion set forth in the booke called Interim The Duke of Saxonie that was kept prisoner being earnestlie required to subscribe would not in any wise and for that cause after was vsed more strictly insomuch that his Preacher who was hitherto permitted fled for feare of danger The Lantgraue hoping to obtaine fauour and libertie receiued the Emperours booke and submitted himselfe to it but all would not helpe him The Marques of Brandenburge not onely receiued it himselfe but also sent for Martin Bucer whom partly with entreatie partly with thretnings he commaunded to subscribe the Emperours booke but he constantlie refused and with great danger of his life returned to Argentine Wolfangus Musculus Preacher at Ausbrough perceiuing the counsell of the towne not to stand constantly in defence of Religion went to Berne in Switzerland Brentius was compelled to flie from Hala a towne of Sueue and was receiued of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg Andreas Osiander Erasmus Sarcerius Erardus Schueffins and other Preachers of the Dukedome of Wirtemberg fled because they would not allow the Emperours booke Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius left Germanie and went to England Ambrose Blaurer left the towne of Constance Mauricius Duke of Saxonie returning home from Ausbrough Proclaimed the Emperours decree concerning Religion Vpon that occasion the diuines and Preachers of the vniuersities of Lipsia and Witenberg diuers times assembled themselues and at length concluded vpon these things that they called indifferent to receiue them as the Emperour had prescribed This thing was by other Preachers in Germanie sore impugned saying that by the interpretation of their indifferencie they had opened a way to the whole doctrine and superstition of the Church of Rome taking those things for indifferent in which was manifest errour The tyrannie of this booke indured not long for it was hated of all men the Pope himselfe added his corrections vnto it for albeit it established all the grounds of the roman Religion yet because it tolerated the marriage of Priests and the vse of the Sacrament vnder both kindes and tooke not so sharpe order for restoring of the Church goodes as hee could haue wished for those causes and others such like the Pope would not giue his allowance to this booke without some
the Protestants in crauing so great liberties put the enemies in suspicion and feare that the Nobles of Fraunce had secretlie banded themselues with the Protestants About the same time Count Mongomry had returned out of England had taken some townes in Normandy but soone after he was besieged in Donfront a town of Normandy by Matigonus the kings Lieutenant in those parts to whō he yeelded himself vpon certain conditions which were not kept vnto him but he was sent immediatly to Paris to the king The Duke of Aniow had departed from France to the kingdome of Polonia the king of France was fallen sicke also many noble men in the land were highlie offended at the ambition pride and crueltie of the Queene mother who had not onely cut off the noble men of the Protestants but also intended the like crueltie against many other noblemen in Fraunce whose names were insert in the bloody roll of the Massacre albeit they professed the Roman religiō The Queene mother knowing that she was vehementlie hated in the land and fearing left this matter should tend to her vtter disgrace and abandoning of all her authoritie thought meete to prevent all the deuices of the nobilitie of France against her and begun to lay hands on those of the Nobilitie whom she most suspected and cast them in prison such as D. Alauscone her owne son whom she knew to be discontent with her forme of gouernment and the king of Navarre also Monmerance and Cassens Marescallis The Prince of Condie also was to be taken but he conveyed himselfe away secretly vnto Germanie In the meane time the king died in the moneth of May Anno. 1574. with greateffusion of blood from many parts of his body And the Queene mother had all the gouernment in her owne hand vntill the returning of her son out of Polonia whom shee aduertised of the death of his Brother Charles and desired him without all delay to returne againe to Fraunce In the meane time the cruell heart of the Queene mother thirsting for blood procured that Count Mongomrie should be condemned to death This is that noble man who had slaine king Henry the father of Charles with a speare whom king Henry would not suffer to be harmed for that cause it being done in game and against Mongomries heart Neuerthelesse when he came in the hands of this mercilesse woman he must die Before king Henry returned out of Poland vnto France the Prince of Condie had sent from Germanie to France Messengers to declare to the Protestants the great care of his minde to advance the Religion and to procure the peace and libertie of his countrie who also was chosen to be generall commaunder of all the Protestants Many Catholikes were associate with him who being of a contrarie religion notwithstanding tooke armes with the Prince of Condie to restore the countrie to the owne libertie In the moneth of December Anno 1574. the king came to Lyons where the Queene mother accōpanied with Alauscon her son and the king of Navarre and Duke of Guise were awaiting for his cōming In this towne they aduised what was most expedient to be done whether they should prosecute the war or they should quiet the countrie with new edicts of pacification The Queene mothers aduise was that the king should assault the townes of Languedok Delphine that were kept by the Protestants because the presence and terrour of the king would so astonish the peoples hearts that incontinent they would yeeld and giue ouer the townes into the kings hands This aduise was followed and the king besieged the towne of Pusinum in Viuaret tooke it also the towne of Libero in Delphin was strōgly besieged but the king was cōpelled to leaue his siege to depart from the towne which according as the name of it foretokened remained free and vnconquered by the aduersaries during the time of this siege the Cardinal of Loraine died vpon this occasion The king being in Avinion some Paenitentiaries fortuned to scourge themselues in a cold winter season the Cardinall would ioyne himselfe to their fellowship and walked barefooted in the companie of those Paenitentiaries wherby he contracted a deadlie disease and soone repented this repētance The king himselfe was content to afflict his body after the same forme which was expoūded by many to be an euil presage that he should not conquer that little towne of Libero but should be scourged from the towne leaue the siege of it with shame which truly came to passe From thence the king went to Paris to his Coronation where many Ambassadours came to the king not only from the Prince of Condie who as yet remained in Basile but also from the D. of Sauoy and the Cantons of the Switzers and from the Queene of Englād to treat for peace but al their trauels were ineffectuall for the conditions of the peace could not be agreed vpon so the war continued waxed hote In Languedoke Anvillius although he was of the Romane religion yet had ioyned himselfe to the Protestants and tooke Agnes Mortes a towne of great importance in those parts with many other townes In Delphin Mombruniris was chiefe commaunder and had so good sucesse in all his attempts that he was a great terrour to the aduersaries In the end he was sore wounded and taken beside Dia a towne in Delphine and by the commaundement of the king and Queene mother was carried to Grenoble and there was executed in the sight of the people This war was much different from the former warres wherein those that were of one religion were also on one side but now the Catholikes were mingled with the Protestāts which thing albeit it seemed for a time to augment their number yet in the end it turned to euill as shall be declared hereafter God willing The Prince of Condie had required helpe of Cassimire the sonne of Count Palatine who also had condiscended to support the distressed Church of Fraunce and very strict obligations of mutual duties were passed between them as these namely that they should not dissolue their armes vntill that libertie were obtained to the Protestants fullie to enioy their owne Religion And likewise that Cassimire should haue the townes of Metis Tullion and Verdum in his hands besides other townes in all the Provinces of France which the Protestants were to require for there further assurance and as pledges of the Kings fidelitie faithfulnesse towards them While this armie of Cassimire was marching forward towards Loraine Alauscon the kings brother departed from Court and many of the nobilitie of France resorted to him all pretending that they could not suffer the countrie to be exhausted with ciuill warres and the people to be vexed with exorbitant and vnnecessarie taxations All those tumults were found in the end to be the subtile policies of the Q. mother by the meanes of Alauscon her son to
of the Iewes but the honourable name of a King he received from Augustus Caesar this was ratified for his further assurance by the Senate of Rome for which cause Herod to testifie his thankefull minde towards Antonius builded a Castle in Ierusalem very neere to the Temple called Arx Antonia And to the honour of Augustus he builded Caesarea Palestinae sometime called the tower of Straton Now a forreiner and stranger of his fathers side an Idumean of his mothers side an Arabian and an aliant both from the stock of David and also from the Common-wealth of Israell was raigning in Iudea and the Sceper was sliding from Iuda now I say was it time that Shiloch should come according to Iacobs prophecie to whom the people should be gathered Now was it time that the promised Mâ—ssias should come sit in the Throne of his father David and of his Kingdome there should be none end And indeed how can the Kingdome of Christ haue an end who acquireth a new title and right of gouernment by death which is the last period of other Kings governments and in death they leaue a vacant roome to a successour but Christ Iesus by dying and rising againe hath a right to rule both over dead and quicke Yea in the very death it selfe hee was practising his kingly office in most effectuall manner and and trampling Satan vnder feet and vndoing the power of death In Augustus time also Ioseph was admonished in a dreame to take the babe and his mother and to flee into Egypt Sozomen not content with the certainty of Scripture addeth a particular nomination of the towne Hermopolis in Thebaida whereinto Christ soiourned vntill the death of Herod the great This hee had by the vncertainty of tradition The miracle of the huge and high tree Prestis that bowed the toppe lowly to the ground and worshipped her Maker Christ and afterward had a medicinable vertue in fruit leafe and barke to cure diseases rather derogareth credit to that Egyptian tradition then assureth vs of the verity of that report Herod before his departure from this life had put to death three of his sonnes Aristobulus Alexander and Antipater and by testamentall legacy had divided his dominions amongst his remanent sonnes Archelaus Herod Antipas and Philip which testament being ratified by Augustus Iudea Samaria and Idumea were alloted to Archelaus the Tetrarchie of Galilee to Antipas and Iturea and Trachonitis to Philip. Ioseph being returned from Egypt when he heard that Archelaus did reigne in Iudea in stead of his father Herod feared to dwell in Iudea but beeing warned of God in a dreame went to the parts of Galilee and dwelt in a Citty called Nazaret All this was done in the dayes of Augustus After hee had reigned 56. yeares or as Iosephus writeth 57. yeares viz. with Antonius 14. yeares and after hee overcame Antonius and Cleôpatra Queene of Egypt in sea-warfare over against Epirus hee had the Imperiall soveraignty himselfe alone all his dayes and died in the 77. yeare of his age Tiberius AFter Augustus raigned Tiberius Nero 22. yeares seven moneths seuen dayes The Romane Deputies that were sent to Iudea in the time of his raigne were Valerius Gratus Pontius Pilat and Vitellius Valerius Gratus for loue of gaine remooued the Priests of the Iewes from their offices at his owne pleasure Ananus Ismael Eleazarus Simon the sonne of Camithus all these were denuded of their priestly dignity when as two of them viz. Eleazarus and Simon had continued scarce one yeare in office In end Iosâ—phus Caiphas is advanced to the Priesthood This is the cause wherefore the Evangelist Iohn calleth Caiphas the high Priest of that same yeare Matters of religion were now come to an horrible abuse and were not ordered according to Gods holy ordinance but according to the appetite of the Roman Deput ies After Gratus Pontius Pilate was sent to be Deputy in Iudea a man vigilant and actiue in all civill affaires as the blood of the Galileans mixed with their sacrifices clearely proueth but in the cause of Christ remisse negligent and slacke After the issue of ten yeares Vitellius is appointed Deputie in Iudea and Pontius Pilate addresseth toward Rome By gratifying of the Iewes of a matter of small importance he obtained great fauour The priestly garments were wont to bee kept in the Castle called Antonia but Vitellius gaue commandement to the Captaine of the Castle to let the high Priest haue the vse of them when hee pleased and to chuse what place he liked best for the custodie of the priestly garments Hee disauthorized Caiphas following as appeareth the example of Valerius Gratus and gaue his office to Ionathan the sonne of Ananus sometime high Priest In the 15. yeare of the raigne of Tiberius Christ our Lord and Saviour was baptized by Iohn in Iordan was led to the wildernesse fasted forty dayes was tempted of the divell and began to preach In the 18. yeare of Tiberius the Lord was crucified and offered a sacrifice for our sinnes which hath a perpetuall vertue to saue such as beleeue Hee arose againe the third day from death The high Priests and Rulers of the people gaue money to the souldiers to obscure the glory of his resurrection yet it was sufficiently knowne not onely to Christs Disciples by his frequent apparitions to them but also to Pontius Pilate the Romane Deputy himselfe who had given out a sentence of death against Christ. Pilate by letters signified to Tiberius the miracles of Christ his resurrection and that hee was supposed of many to be God But the Senate of Rome refused to acknowledge the divinity of Christ because hee was worshipped as God before his Godhead was approved by the Senate of Rome The words of the Apostle Paul had performance in the Romane Senate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was full of darknes when they professed themselues to be wise they became fooles The very smoke that riseth from the furnace seemeth to be somewhat at the first but when it mounteth vp into the aire the higher it ascendeth the more it scatereth and the sudden dispartion of it declareth it is but a vaine thing Such was the wisedome of the Romane Senate when they mounted vp so high as to iudge of diuine things farre surpassing the reach of the naturall vnderstanding of man they prooued starke fooles and people destitute of true vnderstanding and Pilate himselfe ouerladen with many heauy calamities in the dayes of Caius put hands into himselfe and so ended his wretched life Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 7. Caius Caligula CAius Caligula successour to Tiberius raigned three years and nine months Hee was a proud Tyrant enemy to all righteousnesse the very childe of the diuell I insist only vpon Church matters Hee was an hatefull enemy to the Iewes dwelling at Ierusalem and at Alexandria For
into great distresse for want of water but was supported by the prayers of the Christian legion that was in his army For they bowed their knees to Christ and prayed for helpe and the Lord Iesus sent raine in aboundance to refresh the army of the Romans dashed the Barbarians with thunder and fire In remembrance whereof the Christian legion was after that time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Fulminatrix After this victory hee asswaged his anger and wrote to the Senate of Rome to deale gently with Christians by whose prayer hee acknowledged both himselfe and his Army to haue received deliverance from God Commodus COmmodus the sonne of Antoninus raigned 13. yeares Many of the Romanes not without cause called him Incommodus He presumed to do great things and to change the names of moneths and would haue the moneth of December to be called Commodus like as the two names of two moneths Quintilis and Sextilis had beene changed in time past and called Iulius and Augustus for honour of these two welbeloved Emperours But hee was not so well favoured of the people that this ordinance could haue place any longer then during his owne life time The Church in his dayes was not altogether free of persecution for Apollonius a man of noble birth in Rome and a man of great learning suffered death because hee would not forsake the Christian religion His accuser also was punished to the death Such advantages Iudges might easily haue taken finding so many discrepant lawes some made in favour and some conceived in disliking of Christians Pertinax and Iulianus AeLius Pertinax Emperour sixe moneths Didius Iulianus two moneths Eusebius maketh no mention of D. Iulianus but of Pertinax onely to whom succeeded Severus Eseb. lib. 5. cap. 27. CENTVRIE III. Severus AFter Pertinax and Iulian Severus governed seventeene yeares and eight months Eusebius reckoneth onely twelue yeares He stirred vp the fift persecution against the Christians The crimes obiected against the Christians besides those that were obiected in the former persecution were these Rebellion against the Emperour sacriledge murthering of Infants worshipping of the Sunne and worshipping the head of an Asse which last calumny was forged against them by the malice of the Iewes This persecution raged most severely in the townes of Alexandria and Carthage like as the former persecutions had done in Lyons and Vienne in France Leonides the father of Origen was beheaded his sonne being but young in yeares exhorted his father to persevere in the faith of Christ constantly vnto the death Potamiae a young beautiful virgin in Alexandria was by the Iudge condemned to death and delivered to a Captaine called Basilides who stayed the insolency of the people that followed her to the place of execution with outrage of slanderous and rayling wordes crying out against her for this cause shee prayed to God for the conversion of Basilides to the true faith and was heard of God in so much that hee was not onely converted to the faith of Christ but also sealed it vp with his blood and had the honour of martyrdome Alexander who was a fellow labourer with Narcissus in Ierusalem escaped many dangers yet was he martyred in the dayes of Decius the 7. great persecuter Of this Emp erour the Senate of Rome sayd Aut non nasti aut non mori debuisse that is Either he should never haue been born or else should never haue tasted of death So it pleased the Lord by his wife dispensation to suffer the dayes of Traian Antoninus Philosophus and Severus Emperours renowned in the world to be more cruell against their owne people then the dayes of Nero Domitian Caligula or Commodus to the end of the poor Church might learne to be content to be spoiled of all outward comfort and to leane vpon the staffe of the consolations of God onely Many that were brought vp in the Schooles of Origen suffered martyrdome such as Plutarchus Serenus Heraclides Heron and another having the name of Serenus also Among women Rhais was burned with fire for Christs sake before shee was baptized with water in Christs name Innumerable moe Martyrs were slaine for the faith of Christ whose names in perticular no Ecclesiasticall writer ever was able to comprehend therefore it shal suffice to heare the names of a few The rest whose names are not expressed enioy the crownes of incorruptible glory as well as those doe whose names are in all mens mouthes It is the comfort of our hearts to remember that the Apostles Evangelists sealed vp with their blood the doctrine which they naught and committed to writ and no other doctrine and the holy Martyrs immediately after the Apostles dayes sealed vp with the glorious testimony of their blood that same faith which we now professe and which they received from the hands of the Apostles but they were not so prodigall of their liues to giue their blood for the doctrine of worshipping of Images invocation of Saints plurality of Mediators of intercession the sacrifice of the Masse both propitiatory and vnbloody expresly against the wordes of the Apost le Heb. 9. ver 22. and such other heads of doctrine vnknowne to antiquity The Romane Church in our dayes is a persecuting and not a persecuted Church fruitfull in murthers and not in martyrdomes glorying of antiquity and following the forgery of new invented religion This Emperour Severus was slaine at Yorke by the Northerne men and Scots Bassianus and Geta. SEverus who was slaine at Yorke left behinde him two sonnes Bassianus and Geta. Bassianus flew his brother and raigned himselfe alone six yeeres so that the whole time of his government both with his brother and alone was 7. yeeres 6. moneths Hee put to death also Papinianus a worthie Lawyer because hee would not plead his cause concerning the slaughter of his brother before the people but said that sinne might be more easily committed then it could be defended He tooke to wife his owne mother in law Iulia a woman more beautifull then chaste In all his time as hee confessed with his owne mouth hee never learned to doe good and was slaine by Macrinus Macrinus with his son Diadumenus MAcrinus and his sonne raigned onely one yeere Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Antoninus Heliogabalus ANtoninus Heliogabalus raigned after Macrinus 4. yeeres He was a prodigious belly-god a libidinous beast an enemy to all honesty and good order So many villanous things are written of him that scarcely if the Reader can giue credit to the history ever such a monster was fashioned in the belly of a woman At his remouing in his progresse oft-times followed him 600. chariots laden only with bauds and common harlots His gluttony filchinesse and excessiue riotousnes are in all mens mouthes He was slaine of the souldiers drawne through the Citie and cast into Tiber. Alexander Severus ALexander Severus the adopted sonne of Heliogabalus raigned
The like crueltie the Arrians practised in Constantinople Paulus Bishop of Constantinople was banished to Cuculus a little towne in Cappadocia where he was strangled by the Arrians Macedonius was placed in his roome a notable Heretique who vsed no lesse crueltie in compelling the Christians of Constantinople to communicate with him then was vsed of olde to compell Christians to sacrifice to the Idoles of the Gentiles The exquisite diligence of the Arrians in procuring Councels to bee gathered for establishing of their errour shall be declared in the right place God willing Now to returne to the ciuill estate of Constantius After that Magnentius had made an end of his owne life in most desperate manner as is said and his associate Britannio had humbly submitted himselfe to Constantius and obtained pardon yet was not the Emperours estate quiet and free of trouble for there arose another Tyrant called Siluanus whom the Captaines of Constantius armie in France did hastily cut off and make out of the way Also the Iewes of Diocaesaria a towne of Palestina rebelled against him who were ouerthrowne by Gallus the Emperours coosen and the Citie of Diocaesaria was leuelled with the ground This good successe made Gallus somewhat insolent and he slew Domitianus the Emperours great Treasurer in the East therefore the Emperour gaue commandement to cut him off Finally the Germans who had assisted him in his warres against Magnentius they rebelled against him And hee sent against them his coosen Iulian the brother of Gallus who subdewed the Germans and hee likewise waxed insolent and suffered the souldiours to salute him with the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of an Emperour This was not vnknowne to Constantius who made hast to preuent all further vsurpation But by the way as hee was leading his armie through Cilicia hee concluded his life sorowing for this as Theodoretus writes that he had changed the forme of the Nicene faith Iulianus IN the yeere of our Lord 365. Iulian began to raigne and he raigned 3 yeeres Ruffinus assignes vnto him one 8. monethes only he was Constantius neere kinsman who made him Caesar and gaue vnto him in marriage Helena his sister He was brought vp in Christian Religion but was peruerted by Maximus an Ephesian Philosopher whom Valentinian the Emperour afterward punished vnto the death as a practiser of Magicall artes In the beginning of his raigne he restored those Bishops to their places againe whom Constantius had banished not for loue of Religion but to impare the fame of Constantius yet immediately after hee manifested his affection toward Heathnicke superstition and opened the doores of the Temples of the gods of the Heathen which Constantine had locked vp and incouraged others by his owne example to offer sacrifices to the gods of the Gentiles Iulian absteined for a time from crueltie and shedding of blood not for pitie and compassion of Christians but rather for enuie For he enuyed the glory of Christian Martyrs whose magnanimitie courage and constant perseuerance in the faith of Christ vnto the death was commended in the mouthes of all men But he indeuoured by subtile and craftie meanes to vndoe Christian Religion He debarred the children of Christians from Schooles and from the vse of Learning Also hee debarred them from warre fare from offices of gouerment of Romane Prouinces and from offices of heauie taxations which taxations also the auarice of the Deputies of Prouinces increased and made them more grieuous and intollerable Neuerthelesse when Christians complained of the vnrighteous dealing of the Deputies the Emperour mocked them and said their happinesse was increased according to the speech of Christ their Lord and Master Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake Likewise in the market places of Cities he set vp his own Image with the Effigies of the gods of the Heathen pictured round about it to the ende that whosoeuer should doe ciuil reuerence to the Emperours Image might also seeme to worship the gods of the Gentiles And by the contrarie they who would not bow to the gods of the Gentiles might seem also to refuse all due reuerence to the Emperour When he distributed gold to his Captaines and Warriours as the custome was he vsed a forme of distributing not accustomed before to haue an altar neere vnto his Princely throne and coales burning vpon it and incense vpon a table neere vnto the altar whereby it came to passe that no man receiued gold before he cast incense vpon the coales of the altar by this subtile artifice circumuenting many who knew not that it was Iulians purpose to intangle them with the rites of ido latrous seruice In Antiochia in the Region round about he dedicated all the Fountaines to the Goddesses of the Gentiles and caused all the victuall that was to be solde in market places to be sprinckled with Heathenicke holy water Neuerthelesse Christians without scruple of conscience dranke of the water that was in the Welles and ate of the meate which they bought in the market beeing fully perswaded that to the cleane all thinges are cleane and againe it is written Whatsoeuer is solde in the shambles eat ye and aske no question for conscience sake The libertie that Iunentius and Maxentius two worthie Warriours vsed in reprouing the Emperour to his face for his Heathnike superstition moued Iulian to such wrath that hee punished them vnto the death And so by degrees the policie and wisedome of Iulian in the end breakes foorth into the fruites of crueltie and shedding of blo od Albeit no publicke mandate of Iulian was set foorth commanding to persecute Christians yet by many euident testimonies it was knowne to the people that the Emperour hated them and that no man would incur punishment for outrage and violence vsed against them Therefore in the towne of Sebaste the Sepulchre of Iohn the Baptist was opened his bones were burnt and the ashes scattered abroad Likewise the wicked men of Gaza and Ascalon killed Preachers and holy Virgins ripped their bellies filled them with barlie and cast their bodies to the swine to be eaten Cyrillus also a Deacon in Hierapolis a towne of Phoenicia at the foote of Mount Libanus who in time of the raigne of Constantine had broke in pieces the images of the Gentiles was taken by them his bellie was ript his liuer was drawne out of his bodie which with Barbarous inhumanitie they chawed with their teeth But the Lord suffered not such vnkouth crueltie to escape vnpunished for the teeth of those who commited this fact of vnnaturall inhumanitie fell out of their jaw bones their tongues rotted within their mouthes and their eyes were darkned and blinded a just and deserued punishment of brutish Sauages practised by men Marcus Arthusius had his body ouerlaid with hony and it was hung vp in hot summer weather to be molested with wasps and flies In
raising vp of the bones of the men of God Bucer and Fagius out of their graues and the cruelty intended against her owne sister Lady Elizabeth all these things being so well and amply discoursed in the Booke of Martyrs the godly Reader is to be remitted to the reading of the sayd booke Now to conclude this Historie of Charles something is to be noted of his warres with the Turkes In his time Solyman the great Turke conquered the citie of Belgrade the most sure and strong garrison of the Christians and vexed the countrey of Hungarie He besieged the Isle of Rhodes and tooke it to the great shame and rebuke of Christian men who provided not support for the Rhodians that resisted the common enemy so long and so couragiously After this Solyman slew Lewis King of Hungarie and Paulus Bishop of Collen who more rashly then wisely with a small power of foure and twenty thousand men encountered the great Turke leading an army of 200000. souldiers Also hee besieged Vienna but was mightily resisted and repulsed with losse of a great number of his army all this was done before the Emperour Charles began to stirre himselfe against the Turke but when the matters of religion in Germanie were put to some point in the Councell of Ratisbon the Emperour raised an army of eighty thousand footmen and thirty thousand horsemen and compelled the Turke to raise his siege from the towne of Gunza and with speed to retyre backe to Constantinople After this Charles sayled with an army vnto Africa and restored the King of Tunis to his kingdome againe whom Barbarossa Admirall of the Turkes Navie in Africke had dispossessed and deprived of his kingdome In this same voyage he delivered 20000. captiues out of servitude Notwithstanding Solyman with vnsatiable ambition pnft vp to conquer all Europe was ever subduing townes and Isles as Corcyra Zacynthus Cythara Naxus with diverse others also the towne of Newcastle in Dalmatia and Buda in Hungarie which hee obtained by meanes of Frier Cogdridge Tutor to Stephen sonne to Iohn Vaivod of Transilvania and meanes of the relict widow of the sayd Vaivod These two sent for aide to the Turke against Ferdinand and the Turke not neglecting so good an occasion came to Hungarie discharged the Hoast of Ferdinand that was besieging Buda and got the citie into his owne hands Which done hee prevailed mightily in Hungarie and tooke the towne called Quinque ecclesiae and Strigonium Alba regalis and Vizigradum and it was an easie matter for him to haue conquered all Hungarie in respect the Emperour Charles was so busie in warres with the King of France that the common enemy of all Christian people had leave to rage at his owne pleasure and had it not beene the gracious providence of God pitying the misery of Christian people who stirred vp the Persian Sophie against Solyman and droue him backe out of Europe for a time and likewise the murther of his owne sonne Mustapha which stirred vp a peece of a Tragedie in his owne house the Christian people had no doubt beene brought to greater extremities in Solymans dayes The vnprosperous voyage of the Emperour to Argier I passe by and many conventions of Estates in Germanie kept for quieting of religion and preparation for warre against the Turkes In the end the Emperour finding himselfe troubled with sicknesse resigned the gouernment of the Low Countries into the hands of King Philip his sonne and surrendred the Imperiall crowne vnto the Electors of Germany sayled vnto Spaine where hee entered into an house of religion and gaue himselfe to meditation and prayer and there concluded his life Ferdinandus AFter that Charles the fift had surrendered the Imperiall crowne into the hands of the Electors of Germany they assembled at Frankford and there elected Ferdinand King of Bohemia and brother to the forenamed Charles the fift to bee Emperour who raigned seven yeeres The ancient manner was that he should be crowned in the forenoone at masse but because diverse of the Electors would not in any wise come to masse the coronation was solemnized in the afternoone and the masse with other like ceremonies omitted To this King before hee was elected Emperour his Nobles in the countrey of Bohemia made earnest supplication that they might bee permitted to vse the Sacrament in both kindes according to Christs institution but he strictly commanded them they attempted no alteration in religion Neverthelesse the Nobility continuing constant in the purpose of their mindes at last after many earnest suits obtained their desire In France about this time the persecution of the Protestants waxed hot and King Henry the second was sore grieved that the Parliament of Paris it selfe could not be kept free of this new doctrine as hee called it Wherefore hee caused Annas Burgeus an honourable and wise Counsellor to be taken to whom hee spoke in great wrath that hee would stand by and see his body burnt for that new religion which hee favoured But hee was wonderfully cut off before hee could get his heart satisfied with that pitifull spectacle of the burning of a noble Counsellor For God so disposed the matter that the King cloathed all in armour put a speare in one of his subiects hands and compelled him against his will to runne at him at which time the said speare broke and a small splinter of it entring at the Kings eye pierced into his braine whereby hee died Yet by his death was not the foresaid persecution relented but rather vehemently augmented for Francis the second succeeding to his father Henry in the the kingdome married Mary Queene of Scots who was descended of the linage and stocke of the house of Guise By this meanes the Guisians were in great credit and authority with the King and presumed to high things not onely to suppresse the Gospell vtterly in France but also in Scotland For at this time a great part of the Nobility and people of Scotland had shaken off the yoke of the Romane Bishop they had throwne downe Altars and Images and had forsaken all the superstitious ceremonies of the Romane Church The Guisians purposing to supresse the Scotish Nobility sent out of France into Scotland an army of 4000 men vnder the conduct of Monsieur La Broch This army assisted the Queene regent to reduce backe againe the kingdome of Scotland to the Romish religion But the Scottish Nobility obtayned helpe of the Queene of England and brought the Frenchmen to such extremity that they were compelled to accept conditions of peace and to retyre backe againe to France So this first high attempt of the Guisians against the reformed religion in Scotland was by the providence of God disappointed In France the King with advice of the Guisians had appointed a nationall Councell to bee kept in Orleance for the quieting the tumults which were like to ensue for religion in France but all was done in hypocrisie and with deceitfull
Charitie they entred in the way of Beauce drawing towards Montargis From this time forth a great mutinie began in the army of the strangers being mooved with impatience because they could neither haue money nor sight of the King of Navarre whereof the King being then at Bonevall had intelligence and thereupon vsed all the meanes hee could to sound the hearts of the Switzers and perswaded them to separate themselues from the rest of the army and retyre home whereunto the Switzers condiscended and vpon agreement of 400000. crownes payed to them in ready money they returned backe againe to their owne countrey The Duke of Guise perceiving the army of the Rutters to be as a body dispersed hauing nothing left but the armes and legges tooke boldnesse to set vpon them as they camped at Aunew and entred with his footmen into the streets about the time that the carts and baggage were ready in the morning to issue out and so couragiously surprised the Rutters at their breakefast when the trumpets began to sound a chivall having no meanes to issue out they were constrained to retyre into their lodgings at the pleasure of the assaylants The booty was great being 800. chariots iewels and chaines of gold and two thousand horse both for the field and waggons The gates being seazed vpon and the streets chained there was no meanes to saue themselues but by the walles which the Generall leaped ouer Notwithstanding of this surprise the army of the Rutters was in such estate that by reason of some small assurance they had of the King of Navarres arrivall it was likely to haue overcome the Duke of Guise forces And as it was at point to retyre backe againe the Prince of Condie the Duke of Bulloigne and the Lords of Chastillion and Cleruant promised to pay them all their wages if they would march forward The hope of their pay made them to march in a time not very convenient towards the Forrest of Orleance The King perceived that the longer the armie kept the fields the greater would be the ruine of his Countrey and that being ioyned with the king of Navarre would doe great hurt caused the Sienrs of the Isle of Cormont to certifie the Coronels that if they would yeeld vp their colours and sweare to beare no armes in Fraunce without the expresse commandement of his Maiestie hee would giue them assurance to retire in safetie They on the other part perceauing themselues to be farre from the king of Navarre hardlie handled by the Frenchmen beaten by the league pursued by the king and forsaken of the Switzers assembled themselues together at Marsigni and accepted his Maiesties offers sent by Monsieur D' Esperno and retired out of France toward Geneua The Marques Du pont eldest sonne to the Duke of Loraine and the Duke of Guise against their faith giuen followed the miserable troupe of the Rutters to the mountaine at Saint Clande where they gaue thankes for the good successe of their companie and from thence to please their hungrie troupes they trauersed the Countrie of Bourgoundie entering into the Countries of Mombeliard and Hericourt where his men vsed diuers great cruelties and spared not the lands of the Bishop of Basile After the bloodie ceasing of so lamentable vengeance vpon a poore innocent people which as yet doe feele the losse and destruction of two hundred villages the violence vsed to a number of women and maids the Massacre of so many old men and the furious and beastlie inhumanitie of the League they beare the signes of their spoyles into Loraine Neuerthelesse after this exploite of the Duke of Guise so full of crueltie falshood inhumanitie the Roman Church extolled him aboue all measure The Pope sent vnto the D. of Guise a sword engraued with burning flames in token of his valiantnes accompanied with burning zeale towards the Roman religiō The Preachers of France advāced him aboue the king saying that Saul had slaine his thousand but Dauid ten thousand and so the Duke of Guise puft vp with winds of popular praise seeing also that the greatnesse of the Soueraigne maiestie was embraced and that the Protestants were retired vnto the Rotchell also that England had a proud Spaniard embarked on her backe meaning the great Spanish Nauie by Sea hee assured himselfe to take the king without danger and to this effect aduertised the Cardinall of Burbone not to neglect so good an occasion but to gather his principall friends at Nancie there to aduise the meanes to passe forward and to constraine the king as it were to make his will and so that assemblie concluded that the King should be summoned to ioyne his forces to the league to refuse the Counsell amitie of such as should be named vnto him to establish the inquisition in euerie towne to publish the Councell of Trent euen touching the things that derogated the priuiledge of the French Church to consent to the restitution of the goodes that had bin alienated and sold for the charges of the warres to giue them townes wherein they might place men of warre to make such fortifications as the necessity of the time would require ordaine the sale and confiscation of Hugonits goodes also the disabling of their persons entertaine an armie vpon the Fronteris of Loraine against the returne of the Germans that would come to haue some recompence for the cruelties by the league committed in the countie of Montbeliard The Duke of Guise came to the King at Soissons to constraine the King either to bow or breake and to confirme the articles drawne and deuised at Nancie and Dyion The King on the other part by Mousieur de Bellieure gaue the Duke to vnderstand that he should doe him a pleasure if he would abstaine from comming to Paris in so troublesome a time wherein so many factions raigned and if hee came thither against his will hee would lay the cause of all the troubles that might arise by his presence vpon him But the Duke of Guises heart as it were attainted with a burning feauer could find neither appetite nor pleasure but in that which liked his stomach would needes for the loouer or die by the way and therefore mounted on horsebacke with eight Gentlemen about nine of the clocke at night leauing the Prince de Iumueille his sonne at Soissons and desiring the Archbishop of Lyons to follow him in the morning and so arriued at Paris This maner of arriuall together with the peoples fauour vttered by their ioyfull acclamations at the Duke of Guises lighting increased the distrust of the kings heart so that hee resolued to preuent the enterprises intended against him and commanded the Marescall Biron to cause foure thousand Switzers to enter into the Towne and to lodge them in diuers quarters thereof who seased incontinent vpon the bridges of Nostredame and Saint Michael But the Parisians being abashed at the sight shut vp their shoppes
very first words of it proue it to be false forged Pontianus sanctâ— uniuersalâ—s Ecclesia Episcopus c. that is Pontianus B. of the holy vniuersal Church to al them who feare loue God wisheth welfare Such magnificke stiles as these were not as yet in vse when they crept into the Church afterward they were giuen by persons who admired the vertues of some singular and rare men such as Cyprian and Athanasius and Eusebius but no man did vsurpe such proud arrogant ti tles of dignitie in his owne writings directed to other Christians and therefore the learned reject this epistle as composed by some late vnlearned and flattering fellow After Pontianus succeeded Anterus the 18. B. of Rome to whom Eusebius assigned but one month of continuance in his ministrie Damasus assigneth to him 12. yeeres Platina 11. yeeres 1. month 12. dayes and this diuersitie of counting cannot be reconciled Next to Anterus succeeded Fabianus the 19. B. of Rome vpon whose head a doue lighted when the people were consulting concerning the election of a B. therefore with full consent of the whole coÌ„gregation he was declared to be their B. The people at this time were so farre from being secluded froÌ„ giuing their consent to the election of him who should be ordained their Pastour that the consent of the people had the sway in the election of Pastours Func Chron Commentar He suffered martyrdom vnder the raigne of Decius the 7. great persecuter after hee had continued in his office 14. yeeres 11. months 11. daies Many constitutions made by him are cited by Gratianus and inserted Tom 1. Concil One of them I cannot passe by We constitute that vpon euery Lords day the oblation of the altar shall be made by euery man woman both of bread wine to the end that by these oblations they may be deliuered froÌ„ the heapes of their sinnes First marke in this constitution that the bread and wine which the people brought with them vpon the Lords day for the ministration of the holy communion is called the oblation of the altar the table whereupon the bread and wine were laide was called the alter the bread and the wine are called the offering or the sacrifice because part of it was distributed in the holy communion to keepe a memoriall of the Lords death and the rest was giuen to the sustentation of the poore and in that respect also it was called a sacrifice as â—he scripture speaketh To do good to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is pleased The last part of the decreet is blasphemous and falsly attributed to Fabian because the sinnes of men and women who beleeue and repent are forgiuen onely for the merite of that bloodie sacrifice which the Lord Iesus offered vpon the Crosse for our sins But our furnishing of elements to the coÌ„munion sustentation of the poore cannot merite forgiuenes of sins The successour of Fabianus was Cornelius the 20. Bishop of Rome He had a great strife against Nouatus and his complices He assembled a Councell at Rome of 60. Bishops besides Elders and Deacons by whom the heresie of Nouatus was condemned and the Nouatians were separated from the fellowship of the Church Cornelius was baÌ„ished from Rome by the Emperour Decius and sent to a towne in Hetruria called Centum-cellae where hee had great comfort by the mutuall letters that passed betweene him and Cyprian Bishop of Carthage When the Emperour got knowledge of this he sent for Cornelius and accused him as a man who not onely despised the worshipping of the gods was disobedient to the Emperours commandement but also that he was a trafficker against the estate of the empire by receiuing and sending letters beyond sea Cornelius answered that he wrote matters pertaining to Christ the saluation of mens soules and not of matters belonging to the estate of the empire Notwithstanding the Emperour Decius commanded that hee should be scourged with plumbats this was a sort of grieuous whip and afterward that hee should be led to the Temple of Mars with commandement to put him to death if he refused to worship the image of Mars Thus was Cornelius beheaded for the name of Christ after hee had gouerned 2. yeeres 3. daies Or as Eusebius writeth 3. yeares Lucius the 21. Bishop of Rome was successour to Cornelius continued in the gouernement of the Church of Rome 3. yeeres 3. months 3. daies Platin. Euseb. 8. months lib. 7. cap. 2. One decretall epistle is assigned vnto him written vnto the Bishoppes of France and Spaine wherein hee braggeth that the Bishops of Rome cannot erre in matter of faith but the ineptitude of a barbarous Latine stile wherein the Epistle is dited declareth it hath beene written by an vnlearned Asse and not by Lucius Bishop of Rome Stephanus 22. Bishop of Rome ruled that Church 2 yeeres Platin. 7. yeeres 5. months 2. dayes He was greatly commoued against Cyprian B. of Carthage because that by his opinion of rebaptizing those who were baptized by Heretikes the vnitie of the Church of Christ was perturbed and rent Platina writeth that Cyprian before his martyrdome forsooke his opinion of rebaptizing and was content by imposition of hands according to the custome of the Romane Church to receiue such as had beene baptized by Heretikes The constitution concerning consecrated garments that men in spirituall offices should weare in the Church and no where else lest they incurre the like punishment with Baltasar who abused the holy vessels of the house of God in my opinion is not judiciously attributed by Platina vnto this B. Stephanus because the ordinance smelleth rather of Iudaisme then of Christian religion and the reason subioyned to the constitution is altogether impertinent It was sacriledge indeed and a proud contempt of God in the person of Baltasar to drinke common wine with his harlots in the vessels of gold dedicated to the holy seruice of God but an holy preacher to walke in the same apparell in the streete wherein he preached and ministred the communion in the Church this is no sinne nor a thing forbidden by any Apostolike precept But Platina is dreaming when he ascribeth such sriuolous constitutions to a Bishop preparing himselfe for death for Platina supposeth that he was martyred in the dayes of Galliexus Let the reader marke vpon what sandy ground of friuolous constitutions and falsely alledged Popish faith is grounded The decree of Stephanus concerning marriage bearing that the Priests Deacons Subdeacons of the Oriental Church were coupled in matrimonie but in the Roman Church no person in a spiritual office from the Bishop to the Subdeacon had libertie to marrie if it were true as it is assuredly false the Orientall Church hath a great commendation because they would not be wiser then God and they would not lay the yoke of the ordinances of men vpon the
with affection then reason Nectarius continued in that office vntill the third yeere of the raigne of Arcadius that is vntill the yeere of our Lord 401. In his time the confession of sinnes done in secret to presbyter Poenitentiarius was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople vpon this occasion as Socrates writeth A certaine noble woman was confessing in secret her sinnes to presbyter Poeniteâ—tiarius and she confessed adultery committed with one of the Church Deacons Eudaemon this was the name of the Father confessor gaue counsell to Nectarius to abrogate this custome of auricular and secret confession because the Church was like to be slandered and euill spoken of by these meanes Socrates can scarse giue allowance to this fact of Nectarius in respect that by abrogation of this custome the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse were lesse coargued and reproued But Socrates considered not that Christ when he talked with the Samaritane woman at the Well sent away his Disciples to buy bread to the ende the poore Samaritane sinner might more freely poure out her secret sinnes in the bosome of Christ who knew all things that were done in secret It is not my purpose to contend with Socrates he is writing an history I am writing but a short Compend of an history he taketh libertie to declare his iudgement concerning this fact of Nectarius in abrogating confession of secret sinnes to presbyter Poenitentiarius No man can blame me to write my iudgement concerning auricular confession It is in our dayes not like vnto the mantle wherewith Sem and Iapheth couered the nakednesse of their Father Noe but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the Deuill couering the nakednesse of his children that is the horrible treasons that are plotted in secret by the children of the Deuill against Christian Magistrates Now is auricular confession for greater causes to be abrogated then of olde presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius Bishops of Ierusalem TO Thermon succeeded Macarius Anno 318. about the seauenth yeere of the raigne of Constantine In his time it is thought that Helena the mother of Constantine found the Crosse of Christ but Ambrose writes that shee worshipped it not for that saith he had been Gentiliâ— error vanitas impiorum that is an errour of Pagans and vanitie of vngodly people But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree whereupon our Lord suffered What necessitie had Helena to be so earnest to seeke out this tree and to commit it to the custodie of all posterities seeing that Ioseph of Arimathea who sought the bodie of IESVS at the hands of Pilate to the end he might burie it honourably yet sought he not the tree whereon Christ was crucified which with little adoe might haue beene obtained Secondly during the time that the Crosse was easie to be found and easie to haue beene discerned from other Crosses How could the blessed Virgine the mother of the Lord and holy Apostles haue committed such an overâ—sight in not keeping that precious treasure if so be in the keeping of it there be so great deuotion as the Romane Church now talkes of Thirdly what is the cause that the Romane Church brags so much of antiquitie when as the worshipping of the crosse one of the maine points of their Religion was vnknowne to the first three hundred yeeres of our Lord and now in the fourth Centurie the crosse is found but not worshipped yea and the adoration of it is detested and abhorred as an errour of the Pagans To Macarius succeeded Maximus who had beene his fellow-labourer as of olde Alexander was to Narcissus Macarius gouerned the Church of Ierusalem in the peaceable dayes of Constantine but Maximus gouerned that same Church himselfe alone in the dayes of Constantius He was present at the Councell of Tyrus but Paphnutius a Bishop and confessor in Thebaida pittied the simplicitie of Maximus whom the Arrians with deceitfull speeches had almost circumueened and he stepped to him and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of vngodly people whereupon followed a bond of indissoluble coniunction not onely with Paphnutius but also with Athanasius who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Councell of Tyrus This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come so that he was not present at the Arrian Councell of Antiochia gathered vnder pretence of dedication of the Temple which Constantine began to build but his sonne Constantius perfected the building of it To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus a man greatly hated by the Arrians in so much that Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Palestinae deposed him no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emperour Constantius with aduise of Arrian Bishops Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus receiued him and he taught in that Congregation with great liking and contentment of the people The strife of Acacius against him in the Councell of Seleucia I remit vnto its owne place In time of famine he had a great regard to poore indigent people and sold the precious vessels and garments of the Church for their support This was a ground of his accusation afterward because of a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the church of Ierusalem which Cyrillus sold to a Marchant in time of famine and againe the Marchant sold it vnto a lasciuious woman and such friuolous things were aggregated by the Arrians who hated the men of GOD. Of other Pastors and Doctors in Asia Africa and Europe BEsides the Patriarchs of principall places God raised vp in this Centurie a great number of learned Preachers who were like vnto the Ibides of Aegypt a remedy prepared by God against the multiplied number of venemous flying Serpents Euen so learned Fathers of whom I am to speak were instruments of God to vndoe the heresies which abounded in this age aboue all other ages Did not Nazianzenus vndoe the Heresie of Apollinaris Basilius the Heresie of Eunomius Hilarius like vnto a second Deucalion saw the ouer-flowing flood of Arrianisme abated in France Ambrosius Epiphanius and Ierom set their hearts against all Heresies either in their time or preceding their dayes It were an infinite labour to write of them all who in this age like vâ—â—â— glistering starres with the shining light of celestiall doctrine illuminated the darknesse of the blind world but the names of some principall Teachers God willing I shall remember Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine liued vnder the Emperour Constantine with whom he was familiarly acquainted He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia whose deposition the Arrians without all forme of order had procured most vnrighteously but he would not consent to accept that charge so that the chaire of Antiochia wanted a Bishop eight yeeres Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius others feeding themselues vpon vaine hopes that Eusebius
Bishops Gregorius flattering Epistle written to Phocas after he had traiterously murthered his master Mauritius his wife and children will be a perpetuall blot to the name of Gregorius The constitution hee made concerning prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices hee was compelled in his owne time to abrogate againe because it was not onely the occasion of vncleannesse but also of secret murthers of innocent babes and whereas the Apostle Paul said It was better to marrie then to burne Gregorie was compelled to say It was better to marrie then to murder The sending of the Monkes Augustine Melito and Iohannes to Brittaine was not so much to reduce them to Christian religion which they had embraced in the dayes of Lucius King of the Brittaines and of Eleutherius Bishoppe of Rome as hath beene declared in the second Centurie the second chapter as to conquer them to the ceremonies and rites of the Romane service Gregorius was the first of whom wee reade that writeth of sacrifices to be offered for relieving of soules tormented in Purgatorie and hee leaneth vpon such ridiculous fables which hee heard of one Foelix Bishop of Centum-cellae as it is a shame to rehearse them but seeing they are not ashamed of lyes let the dung of their owne inventions be cast into their owne faces hee writeth that a Presbyter of Centum-cellae went to the bath-house to wash himselfe where hee found a man vncouth and vnknowne to him but very humble and seruiceable and after he had serued him sundry dayes the Presbyter to requite his kindnesse brought vnto him two consecrated hostes as a blessing and a reward for him who had served him so dutifully but the man with sadde countenance answered This bread is holy and I am not worthy to eate it I was sometime Master and Proprietare of this house but now for my sinnes I am appointed to this seruile occupation if thou would doe a benefit to me offer them to the Almightie God as a sacrifice for my sinnes and thinke that ye are heard of God when yee cannot finde me in this place any longer Surely Popish Purgatorie soule-Masses are first grounded vpon foolish fables and afterward confirmed by dreames of foolish Monkes Patriarches of Constantinople EVPHEMIVS before he would annoint Anastatius to be Emperour who came to that honour by Ariadne the wife of the Emperour Zeno whom he married he craued a confession of his faith with a promise sealed by his hand-write that he should make no novation in Religion during his time The Emperour craued his hand-write againe which seeing that Euphemius refused to render backe againe the Emperour procured his deposition and banished him and placed Macedonius in his roome To Euphemius succeeded Macedonius to whose custodie the hand-write aforesaid was committed by Euphemius which when he would not render the Emperour banished him also and commanded to slay him at Gangra the place of his banishment To Macedonius succeeded Timotheus an vnconstant man and iustly compared to the narrow sea that runneth betwixt Baeotia and Calchis which floweth and ebbeth seuen times in 24. houres so was this Bishop wauering minded and more bent to please men than to be approued of God In witnesse whereof I haue set downe one example The Abbot of the Monasterie called Studitum refused to be ordained by imposition of his hands for he said the hands of that man who hath damned the Councell of Chalcedon shall not be laid vpon me whereunto Timotheus answered whosoeuer accuseth or damneth the Councell of Chalcedone let him be accursed and when this was reported to the Emperour Anastatius to eschew his indignation he said the contrary whosoeuer accepteth the councell of Chalcedone and alloweth of it let him be accursed Iohn of Cappadocia is not worthy that his name should be inserted in this Catalogue a proud avaritious ambitious heretique who could neuer behaue himselfe dutifully neither in a ciuill nor in a spirituall calling He was first the Emperour Anastatius his Deputie and was deposed for aspiring to an higher place Next he became Patriarch of Constantinople and aspired to the dignitie of Oecumenicke vniuersall Bishop It is true that Iohannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsurped the title of preheminence therefore this Iohannes Cappadox was laid aside as an Eutychian heretique and the great invectiues against this vsurped authority are chiefly set against Iohannes Ieinnator But marke how Pelagius the second ere Gregorius trod vpon this pride with a proud mind as Diogenes did vpon the couering of Plato his bed he is not content to damme the decree of the Councell of Constantinople but also he affirmed that it was not lawfull to him to assemble a Councell without libertie first obtained from the Bishop of Rome which thing no man spake before him so Sathan wrought mightily in them both as he doth in the children of pride and disobedience After him succeeded Iohn called Scholasticus and continued not aboue one yeere Evagrius calleth him Iohannes Sirmiensis lib. 4. cap. 39. To Iohn succeeded Epiphanius in the dayes of Iustinian who blessed his armie which went to fight against the Vandales vnder the conduct of Belisarius he ministred sixteene yeeres as Chytreus writeth The name of Anthimus is worthy of the roll of obstinate heretiques He was Bishop of Trapezus but by the meanes of Theodora the Emperour Iustinians wife he was promoted to be Bishop of Constantinople Theodora was too busie in Church affaires and Sophia the wife of Iustinus the second was too busie in ciuill affaires The estate both of Church and Kingdome had beene in better plight if both of them had beene lesse busie Anthimus being deposed and banished for heresie succeeded Menas who kept the true faith and gouerned the Church of Constantinople sixteene yeeres Evagrius reckoneth Basilides in the roll of Bishops of Constantinople Anthimus to be Bishop of Alexandria To Menas succeeded Eutichius of whom occasion will be offered to speake in the fift generall Councell wherein he disputed iudiciously in the question Whether or no it was lawfull to excommunicate heretiques after their death His opinion concerning the bodies of the Saints after their Resurrection that they should be subtle like vnto the aire and winde and not solide and palpable was refuted by Gregorius the first who proued by the example of Christ his body after his Resurrection that the body of the Saints should not be like vnto the aire and the winde for Christ saith Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me haue After Eutichius followed Iohn called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ieiunator this name he obtained by the sobrietie and temperancie of his life Notwithstanding when his stomacke was emptie of meat his heart was full of pride and he followed the footsteps of Iohannes Cappadox and would be called vniversall Bishop against whom Gregorius the first
the Bishop of Rome Likewise in the cause of Rhotardus Bishop of Soission whom Hincmarus deposed and removed from his office Nicolaus the first Bishop of Rome absolved him Hadrian 2. gaue him commandement to excommunicate C. Calvus King of France his soveraigne Lord but he refused to performe such an vnlawfull commandement and writ vnto the Pope to be circumspect and not precipitate rashly his sentences of excommunication The question whereunto Hadrian 2. was so serious was about division of lands betwixt C. Calvus and his brother Lotharius C. Calvus denyed that he did vniustly invade any of his brothers lands but lands duely belonging to himselfe by paction and covenant And the Nobles of the country said that it was a strange and an vnaccustomed thing that the Pope would take vpon him to be iudge in a controversie concerning the Titles and Rights of kingdomes because he could not be both a Bishop and a King CENTVRIE X. Popes of Rome TO Thedoricus succeeded Pope Iohn the tenth hee abrogated all the decrees of Pope Stephanus the sixt and allowed the decrees of Formosus whereupon great tumult and vprore arose in Rome For this cause the Pope fled to Ravenna and gathered a Councell of 74. Bishops also Carolus Simplex King of France was present at this councell There hee ratified the decrees of Formosus and damned the decrees of Stephanus Here let vs marke that the Bishops of Rome doe both mocke God and the world in saying that their Councels are guided by the holy Spirit and cannot erre in the meane time one of their Councels damning another and being altogether opposite one to another After hee had come backe to Rome he concluded his life having ruled two yeeres and fifteene dayes To him succeeded Benedictus the fourth and continued three yeeres and foure moneths After Benedictus ruled Leo the fift and continued not in his Popedome aboue forty dayes for he was cast into prison and bonds by Christophorus his owne domestique servant Christophorus by vnlawfull meanes attained to the Popedom and lost it againe vnworthily in the seventh moneth of his government for hee was thrust into a Monastery as the only refuge of all disasterd people Those monsters saith Platina God permitted them not long to liue After Christophorus Sergius the third ruled seven yeeres foure moneths and fifteene dayes Hee raised againe the body of Formosus out of the graue wherein hee had lien buried eight yeeres and beheaded it as if it had beene aliue and cast it into the river Tyber accounting it vnworthy of a buriall place Platina doth marke that Formosus had been his competitor and hindered Sergius from attaining to the Popedome they who are so overtaken with ambition and hatefull malice that they cannot moderate their owne affections how shall they governe and rule the vniversall Church of God Beside this barbarous cruelty he was a vile whoremonger and begate Iohn the twelfth who afterward was made Pope with Marozia the wife of Guido a famous harlot After him Anastatius the third ruled two yeers of whom nothing worthy of memory is written except this that he was not so malicious in damning the memorials of other men as his predecessors had beene Landus succeeded to Anastatius and ruled sixe moneths and 21. dayes To Landus succeeded Iohn the eleventh and ruled thirteene yeares two moneths and three dayes Hee was more martiall in exployts of warfare then religious and expert in knowledge of heavenly things For hee fought against the Saracens who had been brought into Italy by the Grecians and discomfited them But when hee returned againe to Rome hee incurred the hatred of Albericus Marquis of Hetruria who had fought with him against the Saracens and could not abide the pride of a presumptuous Bishop who in his triumph ascribed the whole praise of the victory to himselfe onely This variance was the occasion of great trouble in Italy for Albericus allured the Hungarians to enter into Italy who did greater damage to the Countrey then the Saracens had done before On the other part the Italians who could not avenge themselues by rendering like evill to the Hungarians they poured out their wrath vpon Albericus and killed him The Pope also by the souldiers of Guido was cast in prison and strangled by stopping a pillow in his throat The villany betweene him and Theodora a notable harlot I haue overpassed with silence fearing to be prolixe Leo the sixt followed and continued seven moneths and fifteene dayes After Leo followed Stephanus the seventh and ruled two yeeres one moneth and twelue dayes The two preceding Popes are supposed by Italian heights to be made out of the way by Marozia a notable harlot to the end that her sonne Iohn the twelfth whom shee had borne to Pope Sergius the third might bee promoted to the Popedome who ruled foure yeeres ten moneths and fifteene dayes Marozia was an incestuous harlot who like vnto Herodias was not ashamed to marrie two brethren namely Guido and Hugo according as the verse made thereof witnesseth Nubere Germanis satagens Herodia binis Herein appeareth the terrour of the wrath of God punishing the vngodlinesse of the Romane people they were guided by the Popedome and the Popedome was guided by notable harlots After him succeeded Leo the seventh and ruled three yeeres six moneths and ten dayes Stephanus the eight was a Germane and ruled three yeers foure moneths and ten dayes Hee was mightily troubled with the seditions of the people of Rome and was so miserably wounded that hee was ashamed to come forth vnto publique places to be seene Martinus the third succeeded to Stephanus the eight and governed three yeeres six moneths and ten dayes Platina calleth him a devout man and altogether bent to religion because he repaired old Churches that were tending to ruine and decay the substance of religion being lost the care of the fabricke of the Church and such other externall things was counted the onely devotion Agapetus the second successor to Martinus continued in his Popedome nine yeeres seven moneths and ten dayes In his time Berengarius King of Italy and his sonne Albertus tyrrannously abused the countrey not sparing those of the Clergie So that Agapetus was compelled to send messengers to Otto the first whose fame was spread abroad in all Nations and Otto without delay addressed himselfe to Italy and suppressed the insolencie of Berengarius and his sonne Albertus as hath beene already declared in the historie of the life of Otto the first To Agapetus succeeded Iohn the thirteenth and governed nine yeeres three moneths and fiue dayes A man from his very youth replenished with all kinde of abhominable vices a libidinous beast a monstrous varlet of whom I haue made so frequent mention already and the head of Councels will cast vp the filthinesse of his infamous name of new againe so that for the present I write the lesse He
neuer at Rome Eightly That the Clergie of Rome is a den of Theeues Ninthly That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leades to eternall death In another treatise he disputes of free iustification by grace and that workes are no efficient cause of Saluation Sed causa sine qua non for the which doctrine hee was condemned by the Pope I passe by a great number who clearelie discouered the corruptions and Apostasie of the Church of Rome such as Ioannes de Gunduno Gregorius Ariminensis Andreas de Castro Dante 's an Italian Taulerus a Preacher of Argentine in Germanie Franciscus Petrarcha a man famouslie learned who in his workes in Italian verses speaking of Rome calles it the whoore of Babilon the schoole and mother of errour the Temple of heresie the nest of treacherie growing and increasing by the oppression of others Likewise Ioannes de rupe scissa who was cast in prison by Pope Innocentius the sixt also Conradus Hager a Germane of the citie of Herbipoli Gerardus Ridder Michael Cesenas Provinciall of the Gray friers Petrus de Corbaria with one Ioaxnes de Pâ—liato This foresaid Michael general of the gray friers writ against the tyrannie pride and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome to be the whoore of Babilon drunken with the blood of the Saints He affirmed there were two Churches one of the wicked florishing wherein raigned the Pope the other of the Godly afflicted also that the veritie was almost vtterlie extinct and for this cause hee was depriued of his dignitie and condemned by the Pope Notwithstanding he stood constant in his assertions and left behind him many fauourers and followers of his doctrine of whom a great part were slaine by the Pope Some were condemned as William Ockam who writ both in defence of the Emperour Lewes whom the Pope excommunicated and likewise in defence of Michael generall of the gray friers whom the Pope had cursed for an heretike and some were burned such as Ionnes de Castellione and Franciscus de Arcatara Likewise Armachanus a Bishop in Ireland and Matthias Parisiensis Ioannes Montziger rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica Iacobus Milnensis and one Milezius Henricus de Iota and Henricus de Hassia Likewise in this most desperate time when the estate of religion was vtterlie corrupted and the onely name of Christ remained amongst Christians his true and liuely doctrine being vtterly vnknowne and turned into an heape of shadowed Ceremonies which so increased that there was no end of heaping vp of ceremonies invented by man at this time I say the Lord raised vp Iohn Wickliffe a professor of Diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Oxford who seeing that error by long vse and custome had beene so deeplie rooted in the hearts of men that it could hardly be plucked out hee medled not with all at once bâ—â— firsâ— bâ—gâ—â—nne to touch the matter of the Sacraments and discoâ—er 〈◊〉 â—rrours that men were fallen into in this head of 〈◊〉 but this byle could not be touched without the great griefe and paine of the whole world For first of all the whole rabble of Monkes and begging Friers were set on rage and madnes against him and after them the Priests and then after them the Archbishop Simon Sudburie tooke the matter in hand who for the same cause depriued him of his benefice which then he had in Oxford Notwithstanding being supported by the friendly assistance of the Duke of Lancaster sonne to king Edward the third and some other friends whom God raised vp for his protection he bare out the malice of the Friers and Archbishop Likewise Pope Vrbane was so busied with suppressing of another Pope Clement the seuenth set vp against him that he could not spare any time to suppresse Iohn Wickliffe and so it came to passe thorow the prouidence of Almightie God that the enemies of the true light with fretting minds were compelled to see the sparkles thereof not being able to quench them The chiefe heads of doctrine which hee maintained against the Roman church were these That the substance of bread remained in the Sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration That it is not found in the Gospell that Christ instituted or confirmed a masse That it is a presumptuous Speaking to affirme that the infants of the faithfull who die vnbaptised are condemned That in the time of Paul there were onelie two orders of Clerks to wit Elders and Deacons neither was there in the time of the Apostles any distinction of Popes Patriarches Archbishops Bishops but these the Emperours pryde did finde out That the causes of diuorcement for spirituall consanguinitie or affinitie are not founded on the scriptures but onely by the ordinance of men That he who is most seruicable and humble in the church and most inamored with the loue of Christ the same is the neerest vicar of Christ in the militant Church If corporall vnction were a Sacrament then Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance of that vntouched Whatsoeuer the Pope and Cardinals doe command which they cannot deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures the same is to be accounted hereticall and not to be obeyed That it is but a follie to beleeue the Popes Pardons That it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the church of Rome to be supreme head of other Churches A Deacon or Priest may Preach the word of God without the authoritie of the Apostolike sea The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Sathan neither is the Pope immediatlie the vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles That the Emperour and Secular Lords are seduced who so inrich the Church with ample possessions If any man enter into any priuat religion whatsoeuer it be hee is thereby made more vnapt and vnable to obserue the commandements of God Of Monkes POpe Clement the sixt bearing rule Iohn king of France sonne of Philip invented the sect and order of those Monkes which in Latine are called Stellati whose maner is alwayes to weare a starre vpon their brest signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the cleere shining of good workes Yea that they themselues are the light of the world according to the saying of Christ vos eslis lux mundi yea are the light of the world Item That they shall rise againe at the later day all shining and glistering as the most cleere and pleasant starres according as it is written by the Prophet They that informe many into righteousnes shall be as the starres world without end In Anno 1336. Pope Boniface the ninth raigning a certaine man called Gerardus being of great learning and vertuous conversation ordained a certaine fraternitie or brotherhood of learned godlie men to teach schollers and to bring vp youth not onely in good letters but also in good maners that by those means there might be
fornication of Athanasius of the hand of Arsenius of the Table Cuppe and bookes aboue mentioned but they forged new accusations against him whereunto the Emp. gaue too hastie credit and banished Athanasius to Triere Immediatly after the Councell of Tyrus many Bishops were assembled at Ierusalem for the dedication of the Temple which the Emperour Constantine had builded at the place of the Lords sepulchre Concerning the Councell of Antiochia wherein the Arrians deposed Eustatius and the Councell of Arles wherein Cecilianus was absolued from the accusation of the Donatists no further discourse is needful then is contained in the history of the liues of these two Bishops GAngra is a towne of Paphlagonia In this towne were assembled certaine Fathers to the number of 16. about the yeere of our Lord 324. The occasioÌ„ of their meeting was the heretike Eustatius who admiring the Monasticke life or as others affirme fauouring the heresie of Encratitae and the ManicheaÌ„s he spake against Marriage against eating of flesh and hee damned the publicke Congregations of Gods people in Temples and said a man could not be saued except he forsooke all his possessions and renounced the world after the forme of monkish doing These opinions were daÌ„ned in the Councell of Gangra The subscriptions of the fathers of this Councell after their Canons are worthie to be remarked These things say they haue wee subscribed not vituperating them who according to Scripture chooseth vnto themselues an holy purpose of a continent life but them onely who abuseth the purpose of their minds to pride extolling themselues against the simpler sort Yea and damne and cut off all those who contrary to Scripture Ecclesiasticall rules bring in new commandements But wee admire humble Virginity and we approue continencie that is vnder taken with chastity and Religion And we embrace the renounciation of secular businesse with humilitie And wee honour the chast boÌ„d of Marriage And we despise not riches joined with righteousnesse good workes And we coÌ„mend a simple course apparrel vsed for couering the body without Hypocrisie Likewise we reject loose and dissolute garments And we honour the houses of God assemblies that are in them as holy and profitable not debarring men from exercises of pietie in their owne priuate houses But places builded in the name of the Lord we honour and Congregations assembled in the places for the common vtilitie wee approue And good workes which are done to poore brethren euen aboue mens abilitie according to the Ecclesiasticall traditions we blesse them And we wish all things to be celebrated in the Church according to holy Scriptures and the ordinances of the Apostles IN the time of the raigne of Constantine in Eliberis a towne of Spaine were assembled nineteene Bishops of Presbyters thirty six The end of their meeting was to reforme horrible abuses both in Religion manners which in time of the ten Persecutions had preuailed in Spaine And now in time of peace such enormities and festered manners could hardly be amended Many Ecclesiasticall Canons were made in this Synode to the number of 81. Whereof wee shall rehearse but a few and such as clearely pointeth out the principall end of their meeting They ordained the Heaâ—hnicke sacrificing Priests called of old Flamines if they were content to abstaine from sacrificing to Idols and to learne the groundes of Christian Religion after three yeeres repentance they should be admitted to baptisme Likewise they ordained that Christian Virgins should not be giuen in marriage to Pagans lest in the floure of their youth they should be entangled with spiritual whooredome In like maner that Bishops should receiue no reward from men that did not communicate with the Church They ordained that nothing that is worshipped should be pictured on the wall And that in priuate houses no Idols should be found And in case the masters of houses were afraid of the violence of their seruants at least they should keepe themselues pure and cleane which if they did not they should be counted strangers from the fellowship of the Church And that if any man happen to be slayne in the action of breaking downe images his name shall bee enrolled in the catalogue of Martyrs because it is not written in the history of the Gospell that the Apostles vsed any such forme of reformation whereby they signifie that by wholsome doctrine images should be cast out of the hearts of men rather than broken with popular violence and with the tumultuary attempts of priuate men Any iudicious man may perceiue by these Canons both the time when and the cause wherefore this Councell was assembled THey who count the first Councell of Carthage to be that Councell whereinto Cyprian with aduise of many other bishops of Numidia Lybia and other partes of Africa ordained men who were baptized by Heretikes to be rebaptised againe they commit a great ouer sight to reckon the first Councell of Carthage to be holden vnder the raigne of Constantine whereas it is certainely knowne that Cyprian was martyred in the dayes of Valerian the eight persecuting Emperour But the first Councell of Carthage that was kept in Constantines dayes was that Councell whereinto the Donatistes coÌ„demned Caecilianus Bishop of Carthage whose innocencie afterward was tryed by many Iudges In it there was no matter of great importance concluded and therefore I ouer-passe it with few wordes as an assemblie of little account All these Councells aboue mentioned were assembled in the dayes of Constantine the Great Now followeth Councells gathered in the dayes of his sonnes The cause pretended for the gathering of the Councell of Antiochia in the dayes of Constantius the sonne of Constantine was the dedication of the Church of Antiochia which albeit Constantine had builded yet fiue yeeres after his death and in the seuenteenth yeere after the foundation of the Temple was laide Constantius his sonne finished and perfected the worke And vnder pretence of dedication of this Temple as said is this Assemblie of Antiochia was gathered Anno 344. but indeed of purpose to supplant the true Faith To this Assemblie resorted many Bishops to the number of 90. But Maximus Bishop of Ierusalem and Iulius Bishop of Rome neither came they to the Councell neither sent they any messenger in their name fearing as the truth was that they were gathered for euill and not for good At this time Placitus the success out of Euphronius gouerned Antiochia Now when they were meâ— together many accusations were heaped vp against Athanasius First that hee had accepted his place againe without aduise of other Bishops Secondlie because at the time of his returning backe againe to Alexandria there fell out great commotion amongst the people and some were slaine others were contumeliouslie beaten and violently drawne befor justice seates Mention also was made of the decrete of the Councell of Tyrus against Athanasius It was an casie matter for the
of Christ. And the bookes of holy Canonicke Scripture which are to be read in time of holy Conuocations of people are particularly reckoned out both of olde new Testament And in this Catalogue of canonicke bookes no mention is made of the bookes of the Machabees of Ecclesiasticus and other Apocreeph bookes VNder the raigne of the Emperours Valentinian and Valens and about the yeere of our Lord 370. With aduice of both the Emperours a Councell was gathered in Illyricum wherein the Nicene Faith had confirmation and allowance The Emperour Valens was not as yet infected with the poison of the Arrian heresie LAmpsacum is a towne situated about the narrow passages of Hellespontus The Macedoniā heretikes sought liberty from the Emp. Valens to meete in this towne who granted their petition the more willingly because he supposed that they had accorded in opinion with Acacius Eudoxius but they ratified the Coūcel set foorth at Seleucia damned the Councel holden at Constantinople by the Acacians The Emp. Valens being deceiued of his expectation commanded them to be banished and their Churches to be giuen to the fauourers of the opinion of Eudoxius This dash constrained the Macedonians to take a new course and to aggree with Laberius Bishop of Rome But these Camelions when they had changed many colours they could neuer be white that is sincere and vpright in Religion VNder the Emperour Valentinian in the West Damasus bishop of Rome gathered a Councel in Rome wherein he confirmed the Nicene Faith and damned Auxentius Bishop of Millan with Vrsatius Valens and Caius Likewise hee damned Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus IN the yeere of our Lord 38.3 or as Bullinger reckoneth 385 in the third yeere of the raigne of Theodosius a Generall Councell was gathered at Constantinople consisting of 150. Bishops of whom 36. were entangled with the heresie of Macedonius who called the Holy Spirit a creature a minister seruant but not consubstantiall with the Father and the Son In this Councel the Macedoniā heretikes were louingly admonished to forsake their errour to embrace the true faith and that so much the more because they had once already sent messengers to Liberius and professed the true Faith But they continued obstinately in their errour departed from the Councell The heresie of Macedonius was dāned the Nicen faith confirmed with amplification of that part of the Symbole which concerned the holy Spirit in this manner I beleeue in the holy Spirit our Lord giuer of life who proceedeth from the Father with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped glorified They ordained Nectarius B. of Cōstantinople that Constātinople shuld haue the prerogatiue of honour next to Rome Great care was had of Prouinces that they should not of new againe be infected with Heresies For this cause the name of Patriarches in the Councell of Nice appropriated to a few in this Generall Councell is communicated to manie To Nectarius Megapolis and Thracia was allotted Pontus to Hellodius Cappadocia to Gregorius Nyssenus Meletina and Armenia to Otreius Amphilochius attended vpon Iconium and Lycaonia Optimus vpon Antiochia and Pisidia Timotheus vpon the Churches of Aegypt Laodicea was recommended to Pelagius Tarsus to Diodorus and Antiochia to Meletius who was present at the Councell and ended his life in Constantinople To other Bishops a care and sollicitude of their owne boundes was committed with this caueat that no man should inuade the bounds belonging to another but if necessitie so required Synods should be assembled and euery one being desired should mutuallie assist his neighbour THe great affaires of the Church the care of their brethren in the West compelled them to meete againe in Constantinople where they wrote a Synodicke letter to Damasus B. of Rome to Ambrose Britto Valeriāus Acholius Anemius Basilius to the rest of the Bishops cōueened at Rome Wherin they declare the māifold troubles they had sustained by heretikes now albeit in the mercie of God they were ejected out of the sheepe-folds yet like vnto rauening wolues they were lurking in woods seeking oportūity to deuour the sheepe of Christ. They excuse their absence because the infirmitie of their Churches newly recouered from the hands of heretikes could not permit many of their number to journey to Rome Alwayes they sent their beloued brethren Cyriacus Eusebius Priscianus to countenance the assembly at Rome In matters of Discipline they recommended vnto them the Canons of the Councell of Nice namely that Ecclesiasticall honours should be conferred to persons worthy that with the speciall aduice and consent of the Bishops of that same Prouince with assistance of their confining neighbours if neede required After this manner was Nectarius B. of Constantinople Flauianus B. of Antiochia Cyrillus B. of Ierusalem ordained Heere marke that the consent of the Bishop of Rome was not necessarie to the ordination of the Bishops of the East And the vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome smelleth of Noueltie and not of Antiquitie This Synodicke letter sent from Constantinople would seeme to import that the Councell which Damasus gathered at Rome was assembled in the dayes of Theodosius or els that hee had gathered two assemblies in Rome at diuers times and yet for owne purpose GOdly Emperours and Kings such as Constantine Theodosius and Dauid were very carefull of the vnitie of the Church that it might be like vnto a compact Citie as Ierusalem was when the tower of Iebus was conquised then the people worshipped one God were obedient to one Law and subject onely to one Soueraigne Theodosius in the fifth yeere of his raigne caring for the peace of the Church conueened a great Nationáll Councell at Constantinople not onely of Homousians but also of Arrians Eunomians and Macedonians hoping that by mutuall conference possibly they might in end accord The good Emperour consulted with Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople Nectarius with Agelius a Bishop of the Novatians Agelius with Sisinius an eloquent man and a mightie Teacher and a Reader in his Church This man considering that by contentious disputations Schismes were increased but not quenched gaue this aduice to Nectarius that hee should counsell the Emperour to demande of Heretikes in what account they had the holy Fathers who preceeded their time The Heretikes at the first spake reuerently of the Fathers but when they were demaunded if in matters of Faith they would giue credit to the testimonie of the Fathers the Heretikes were diuided amongst themselues Therefore the Emperour rent in pieces the summes of the Arrian Eunomian and Macedonian faith and ordained the Homousian Faith onely to haue place THe second Councell of Carthage was assēbled vnder the raigne of Theodosius neere vnto the time of the Generall Councell holden in Constantinople In it first the summe of the Nicene Faith is confirmed The continencie of
his rigour and through the intercession of the Bishop of Mentz and the Palsgraue granted peace to the Protestants so that they should ayde the Emperour against the Turks and on the other part the action of the Chamber-court should cease in all sutes of Religion against the Protestants About the same time that all this businesse was in Germanie for the Doctrine of Martin Luther Vlricus Zuinglius Preached the Word at Zurik detested the abuse of pardons of other corruptions then reigning in the Church but see great offence begun to rise and diverse stepped out on the contrary side to Preach and inveigh against him Vpon this the Magistrates and Senate of Zurik sent forth their commandement to all Priests Ministers within their Dominion to repaire to the Citie of Zurik against the 29. of Ianuarie next ensuing there euery one to speake freely and to be heard quietly touching those Controversies of Religion This disputation was appointed in the yeare of our Lord 1523. Zuinglius had contriued all his doctrine in a certaine ordâ—â— of places to the number of 77. Articles which he had published also abroad before to the end that they who were disposed might resort thither better prepared for disputation The Bishop of Constance sent thither Iohannes Faber Stapulensis his Vicegerent who in stead of disputation reasoned that this was no convenient place for disputation but rather the handling of Controversies in Religion belonged to a generall Councell which he said was alreadie appointed and nigh at hand Wherevpon the Senate of Zurik caused incontinent to be proclaimed through all their Dominions and Territories that the traditions of men should be displaced and abandoned and the Gospell of Christ purely taught out of the old and new Testament When the Gospell begun thus to flourish in Zurik the yeare next following Anno 1524. another assemblie of the Helvetians was convented at Lucerna where Decrees were made on the contrary part that no man should deride the Masse that no mention should be made of Luther or any new doctrine that Pictures and Images of Saints in euery place should be kept inviolate and finally that all the lawes and decrees set forth by the Bishop of Constance should be obserued After these things thus concluded at Lucerna the Cantones of Helvetia together direct their publique Letter to the Tygurines or men of Zurik complaining that they had receiued a new Doctrine which would be the seed of discord whereas before time all things were in quiet Wherevnto the Tigurines answered that at the first this Doctrine seemed strange to themselues but after they vnderstood it directed them onely to Christ as the pillar and onely rocke of their saluation they could no otherwise doe but with ardent affection receiue so wholesome and ioyfull message And like as faithfull Christians in former times after they had receiued the Gospell did not by and by fall out in debate with their neighbours So lâ—kewise they trusted God willing to keepe peace with all men Neuerthelesse the rest of the Cantons grew in hatred against the men of Zurike and for suppressing of the doctrine of Zuinglius appointed a disputation to be holden at Baden which was kept in the moneth of Iune Anno 1525. where were present amongst other Divines Iohannes Faber Eccius and Murnerus The Bishops also of Lucerna Basile Curiak and Lawsanna The conclusions there propounded were these 1. That the true body and blood of Christ is in the Sacrament 2. That the Masse is a Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead 3. That the blessed Virgin and other Saints are to be invocated as Mediators and Intercessors 4. That Images ought not to be abolished 5. That there is a Purgatorie Which Conclusions or assertions Eccius tooke vpon him soundly to defend Against him reasoned Oecolampadius Preacher at Basile with other moe Zuinglius at that time was not there present but by writing confuted the doctrine of Eccius declaring withall the causes of his absence which were for that he durst not for feare of his life commit himselfe to the hands of Lucernates Vrbani Suitij Vnternaldi and Tugiani his enemies and that he refused not to dispute but onely the place of disputation excusing moreouer that he was not permitted of the Senate to come Neverthelesse if they would assigne the place of disputation either at Zurik Berna or Sangallum thither he would not refuse to come The conclusion of this disputation was this that all should remaine in that Religion which hitherto they had kept and should follow the authoritie of the Councell neither should admit any other new Doctrine within their dominions In the yeare of our Lord 1527. the Senate and people of Berne whose power amongst all the Helvetians chiefely excelled considering how neither they could haue the acts of the disputation of Baden committed vnto them and that the variance about Religion still more and more increased assigned another disputation within their owne Cittie and sending forth writings thereof called vnto the same all the Bishops bordering about them as the Bishops of Constance Basile Sedune Lusanna determining also the whole disputation to be decided only by the authority of the old new Testament To all that would come thither they graunted safe conduct And to the end men might come thither better prepared before they proposed in publique writing ten conclusions in the said disputation to be defended by their Ministers by the Scriptures which Ministers were Franciscus Colbus and Bertholdus Hallerus The Theames or Conclusions were these 1. That the true Church whereof Christ is the head riseth out of Gods Word and persisteth in the same and heareth not the voyce of any other 2. That the same Church maketh no lawes without Gods Word 3. That traditions ordained in the name of the Church doe not binde but so farre forth as they be consonant to Gods Word 4. That Christ onely hath made satisfaction for the sins of the world and therefore if any man say there is another way of saluation or meane to put away sinne he denieth Christ. 5. That the body and blood of Christ cannot be receiued really and corporally by the testimonie of the Scripture 6. That the vse of the Masse wherein Christ is presented and offered vp to his heauenly Father for the quicke and the dead is against the Scripture and contumelious to the Sacrifice which Christ made for vs. 7. That Christ onely is to be invocated as the Mediatour and Advocate of Mankinde to God â—he Father 8. That there is no place to be found â—y the holy Scripture wherein soules are purged after this life and therefore all those prayers and ceremonies yeerely dirges and obiles which are bestowed on the dead also Lampes Tapers and such other things profit nothing at all 9. That to set vp any Picture or Image to be worshipped is repugnant to the holy Scripture and therefore if any such be