STATUS ECCLESIAE GALLICANAE OR THE Ecclesiastical History OF FRANCE From the first Plantation of CHRISTIANITY there unto this Time Describing the most notable CHURCH-MATTERS the several Councils holden in FRANCE with their principal CANONS The most Famous Men and most LEARNED WRITERS and the Books they have written with many Eminent French Popes Cardinals Prelates Pastours and Lawyers A description of their UNIVERSITIES with their FOUNDERS An impartial account of the State of the Reformed CHURCHES in FRANCE and the Civil Wars there for Religion With an exact succession of the FRENCH KINGS By the Authour of the late History of the Church of GREAT BRITAIN Historia est lumen Veritatis vita Antiquitatis LONDON Printed for Thomas Passenger at the Three Bibles on London-Bridge and Ralph Smith at the Sign of the Bible under the Tiazz of the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 16â—6 Amplissimis Admodum Reverendis in Christo Patribus ac Dominis HENRICO Providentiâ Divinâ Episcopo Londinensi Joanni eadem Providentiâ Episcopo Roffensi necnon Decano Westmonasteriensi Salutem in Christo sempiternam Venerandi Patres Domini Colendissimi EA quâ par est submissione Historicum hocce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex antiquis recentibus Authoribus Collectum vobis offero nuncupo dedico ut splendore clarorum vestrorum nominum lux aliqua opusculo huic per viam affulgeret omnisque sinistra obmurmurantium scaeva propitio vestro favore procùl amoveatur Flosculus est quem Ego pauperculus humilisque Christi Hortulanus vobis proesento non ille quidem Lectissimus sed is tamen qui in vestris primùm sacratis manibus cupiat sua qualiacunque folia explicare Carpent illum e vestris manibus alii quoque delibabunt Si enim vestro olfactui sagacissimo non ingratus fuerit si vestrae gratiae calorem fenserit non dubito quin Piis omnibus bonum publicae aedificationis odorem captantibus gratus jucundus sit futurus Hoc mihi solamen est quòd viri praestantissimi Honore Doctrinâ proecellentes non tam muneris oblati dignitatem quam gratum offerentis animum perpendere soleant Si hunc librum accipere diligenter perlegere dignemini honestabor gratia meis laboribus optima referetur De Materia Methodo hujus Historiae modum an satis servarim Vos pro vestris acerrimis Judiciis aestimabitis Illam siquando fortè inspexeritis in ea aliquid observabitis de quo me admonendum putabitis illud rogo significetis quicquid egeritis meam non modò voluntatem sed etiam sententiam cum vestrâ conjungam hoc etiam Beneficium quidem summum accipiam quo nimirum melior doctior evadam Deus Amplitudinem vestram in Ecclesiae suae nostraeque patriae utilitatem quam diutissimè servet incolumem Vestrae Reverentiae Observantissimus G. G. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THe Design of this Treatise is to set forth the State of the Gallican Churches both of the Popish and the Reformed As to the Popish Church in France it is holden to be the best Privileged of all the Churches in Christendom under the Pope As touching their power the Gallican Clergy stands more stoutly to their Natural Rights against the Encroachments and Vsurpations of the See of Rome than any other that liveth under the Pope 's Authority which they acknowledge so far only as is consistent with their own Privileges and the Rights of their Soveraign for it was long e're they could submit to the Decrees of the Council of TRENT nor have they yet admitted of the Inquisition The Doctors of the Sorbon are accounted together with the Parliament of Paris the principal Pillars of the French Liberty whereof they are exceeding jealous as well in matters Ecclesiastical as Civil When Gerson Chancellour of Paris had published a Book in approbation of the Council of Constance where it was Enacted that the Authority of the Council was greater than that of the Pope the Sorbon Doctors declared that also to be their Doctrine For John Gerson in his defence of the Decree of that Council speaking of the Adversaries saith Perniciosos esse admodum adulatores qui Tyrannidem istam in Ecclesiam invexere quasi nullis Regum teneatur vinculis quasi neque parere debeat Concilio Pontifex nec ab eo judicari queat The Kings themselves also befriend their Clergy in the cause and therefore not only protested against the Council of Trent wherein the Spiritual Tyranny was generally consented to by the Popish faction but Henry the second King of France would not acknowledge them to be a Council calling it in his Letters by no other name than Conventus Tridentinus An indignity which the Fathers took grievously Moreover when King Lewes XI to gratifie Pope Pius the second purposed to abolish the Pragmatick Sanction the Sorbonnists in behalf of the Church Gallican and the Vniversity of Paris Magnis obsistebant animis saith Sleidan in his Commentary a Papâ provocabant ad Concilium The Council unto which they appealed was that of Basil where that Sanction was made so that by this Appeal they verified their former Thesis that the Council was above the Pope And before the Pragmatick Sanction was ordained the Pope had yearly drained the State of a Million of Crowns as the Court of Parliament manifested to King Lewes the eleventh Since which time the Kings of France have sometimes omitted the vigour of the Sanction and sometimes also exacted it according as their affairs with the Pope stood therefore it was called Froenum Pontificum And in the Year 1613. casually meeting with a Book written by Becanus entituled Controversia Anglicana de potestate Regis Papae the French called an Assembly and condemned it For although the Main of it was against the Power and Supremacy of the King of England yet did it reflect also on the Authority of the Pope over the Christians by the By which occasioned the Sentence So jealous are they of the least circumstances in which any of their immunities may be endangered The Pope hath no power in France to pardon criminals Le Rescript C. de precib Imp. offer Gratian. caus 25. The very faculties of the Legates heretofore sent into that Kingdom make not any mention of it but of the Remission of Sins proceeding from crimes And though there should be any such thing yet they are still curbed in with this Bridle To use it in such things as are not contrary derogatory nor prejudicial to the Rights and Prerogatives of the King and Kingdom nor against the sacred Councils the Laws of the Vniversities the Liberties of the Gallican Church and the Ordinances Royal. The Clergy of France do not hold their Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Pope but of the King alone Bellarm. Tom. 1. controv 2. li. 4. ca. 24. howsoever the Jesuits teach the contrary when they do not use it as they ought when
Chilperic received King of France in the place of his elder Brother Anno 578. and Reigned fourteen years at Paris and Soissons while that Childebert the Son of Sigebert Reigned in Austrasia or Lorain and Gonthran at Orleans and Burgongne He found Brunhault the widow of Sigebert at Paris a subtil and audacious woman whom he confined to Rhoven whither he likewise sent his Son Merovee to take possession o the City but there he was surprised by the beauty of Brunehault She so insinuated into the Bishop that he allowed of this Marriage although she was his Aunt Chilperic moved herewith came to Roven degraded and banished the Bishop and puts Merovee into a Cloyster Merovee fleeing is pursued taken and slain by his Father's command and lest Audovere his Mother a virtuous Princess and Clovis her other Son should seek means of revenge he rejects his Wife and causeth Clovis his other Son to be slain For these disorders the Nobility complain against Fredegunde hereupon Chilperic takes Galsonde to Wife the Daughter of Athanagild King of Spain but by the instigation of Fredegonde Chilperic strangleth his second Wife and publickly marrieth Fredegonde Chilperic when he had seen Clotharius born to him of Fredegonde the fourth moneth after a little before night returning from hunting is by privy murtherers killed Anno 584. That murther was hatched by Fredegonde and committed by Landerick an Adulterer of hers thus died this detestable Chilperic Historians make him guilty of impiety as well as of execrable wickedness for he denied the truth of the three persons in one Deity and the Incarnation of the Son of God Gunthran dieth in the year of Christ 593. having left a good memorial behind him of Piety and other Virtues the which being committed to Church-Tables is repeated every year on the 28th of March His Kingdom came to Childebert Childebert Anno 596. is taken away by poison together with his Wife whom Theodoric and Theodebert his Sons succeed under the tuition of their Grandmother Brunehault They fight against Clotharius and being overcome in battel they force him to part with the greatest part of his Kingdom Sagittarius Bishop of Ebreduna and Salonius Bishop of Vopinga in France for their wickednesses and also because being armed they fought in manner of soldiers in the Assembly of Lions were before this deprived of their Episcopacy in the sixth year of Gunthran but they appealing to Pope John were restored by his command At last because they continued in hainous offences they were again by the Cabillonian Council deprived of all Dignity At Augustoritùm died Radegund Anno 587. in whose Monastery were some Virgins sprung from a Royal Stock who being lifted up in pride against Leubovera the Governess of the Nunnery first of all departed from her The Guardians being sent into the Monastery and all things taken away they drew out Leubovera by force from thence At length by the command of Châ—ldebert a Council of Bishops being gathered together in Pictavia they were Excommunicated and Leubovera restored unto her former place About the year 590. Serenus Bishop of Marseilles seeing his people falling to the adoration of Statues brake them and cast them out of the Church About which Pope Gregory the first reproveth him in two Epistles saying That Images indeed ought not to be worshipped but that they ought not to be broken neither because they are instead of Books unto the ignorant But it was not long before the Popes became the great Patrons of the adoration of Images and made it a means of their rising for when the Greek Emperours fell to the breaking of Images Gregory the second took thence occasion to shake off the yoke of the Emperours as enemies of the Saints Sigon Lib. 3. de regno Ital. and made Rome and part of Italy to revolt from the Obedience of their Soveraign And he made himself a Temporal Prince under colour of defending Images as Sigonius relateth Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus by Nation an Italian came into France seating himself first at Tours afterwards at Poictiers he was first made a Presbyter then he became Bishop of that place He is reported to have reduced the French to a more gentle kind of life by his writings and example Illyricus make's mention of one Alcimus Catal. Test verit Lib. 6. of the Ancient Family of the Aviti whose Great Grandfather Grandfather Father Uncle Brother were famous and eminent for Ecclesiastical Dignities His Father succeeded Mammertus in the Bishoprick of Vienna Alcimus succeeded his Father Many excellent Verses of his are extant unto this day Concerning the first sin of Man and the Grace of Christ you may read what he saith in these following Verses Quòd varii eveniunt humana in gente labores Vnde brevem capiunt mortalia tempora vitam Vel quod polluti vitiantur origine mores Quos aliena premunt priscorum fata Parentum Addatur quanquam nostrâ de parte reatus Quodque etiam amisso dudum peccatur honore Adscribam tibi prime Pater qui semine mortis Tollis succiduae vitalia germina proli Et licet hoc totum Christus persolverit in se Contraxit quantum percussa in stirpe propago Attamen Auctoris vitio qui debita lethi Instituit morbosque suis ac funera misit Vivit peccati moribunda in carne cicatrix And speaking unto Christ he addeth Nullum aliud praeter te unum solamen habemus Then speaking of Christ the Mediator whose Figure was that Bow in the Heaven after the flood and of the salvation of those that believe in him he saith Nunc quisquis semel allatam servare salutem Optas signatum potiùs signo inspice Christum Verus enim atque unus firmati faederis arcus Ille deum atque homines inter qui virgine carne Virgineo ex utero sumptâ jam munere lucet Multiplici in caelo Varius sed fulgidus omni Vitalem monstrat sacrati pignoris arcum Hunc coram aspicies quisquis baptismate tinctus Ad coelum liber culpis pereuntibus ibis And of the water flowing out of the Rock he thus speaketh Nec portentificae caepit me oblivio virgae Quo signo summus percussâ rupe sacerdos Protulit irriguos poculis sitientibus haustus Insinuans Christum stabilem consistere petram Percussus jaculo largas qui praebuit undas Porrexitque suis sacro de vulnere potum Hist magdeb Cent. 6. cap. 9. King Chilperic before his death called a Synod made up of the Gallican Bishops at Prennacum upon this occasion The Earl Leudastes applyed himself to Riculphus a Presbyter a perverse man and rebellious against Gregory Bishop of Tours his own Bishop these two reported to the King as if Gregory had said that Queen Fredegund had carnally lain with Bertram Bishop of Burdeaux hereupon Bertram accuseth Gregory before the Synod Chilperic being present Gregory constantly denieth it But the King asserteth that he could convince Gregory of this
calumny by witnesses yet first of all he propoundeth it to be debated by the Synod whether witnesses ought to be admitted against a Bishop or whether the bare assertion of the Bishop only ought to be believed The Synod pronounceth That they could not safely give credit to an inferiour person bearing witness against a Bishop Yet they require Gregory to say Masses at three Altars and that he purge himself by Oath which being done by Gregory he was absolved But the Synod excommunicated his Accuser and certified other Bishops by Letters concerning the absolution of Gregory In this Century Rupertus Bishop of the Francks with twelve other Divines came into the Country of the Boii and there Rupertus by preaching the Gospel converted Theodon the Prince of the Countrey with his Son from Heathenish Idolatry unto Christ and baptized them both at Ratisbon Many others also were converted by him In this Age flourished German Bishop of Paris forementioned Osiand Eccles Hist Cent. 6. Lib. 2. When he was an Abbot in a dream he saw the Keys of the Gates of Paris delivered to him and demanding the cause of it he was answered That he should as Pastor feed the Lords Flock belonging to that Church Not long after the Bishop of Paris dying he was Constituted Bishop there by King Childebert With singular zeal he provoked the People to Godliness great was his gravity in preaching and his words were weighty and powerful he was liberal towards the poor and redeemed many Captives King Chilperic after his death who was wont to deride and contemn other Ministers wrote this honourable Epitaph upon him which I thought fit to set down Ecclesiae speculum patriae vigor ara reorum Et pater medicus pastor amorque gregis Germanus virtute fide corde ore beatus Carne tenet tumulum mentis honore polum The Histories of this Age make mention of one Etius Arch-Deacon of the Church of Paris who when he understood that Innocent Praetextatus Bishop of Rhothomagum accused of Treason against the King was in danger to be condemned in a Synod at Paris he with great boldness entred into the Synod and admonished the Bishops and Assessours to beware of having an hand in the condemning of an Innocent person he told them they ought rather to reprove King Chilperic for his sins In the Reign of this King many Jews were baptized in France but many of them returned to their vomit and perfidiously renounced the Christian Religion In those dayes there were great inundations of waters which did much hurt in many places especially at Lions where part of the walls of that City were thrown down Horrible earthquakes made great concussions in part of France and overturned some mountains toward Spain which overwhelmed many men and beasts A fire falling from Heaven consumed the City of Orleans and the streets of Bourdeaux together with the fruits of the earth Other places were sorely afflicted with a grievous hail There followed almost through all France a malignant Cough and bloody Flux which destroyed very many men and women by which disease that wicked Austigildis Wife of King Gunthran perished The cause of these evils was said to be the dissentions civil wars and horrible impieties of those three Brothers forementioned Sigebert Chilperic and Gunthran Kings of France and their Counsellours and Ministers who provoked them to those impieties who were punished of God for their flagitious practices with most grievous judgements Here I shall make mention of the various fortune of Theodorus Bishop of Marseilles in the Reign of Childebert Divamius a most wicked man being Governour of that Province This man hated Theodorus and laid divers snares to entrap him And when Theodorus was going to King Childebert to implore his help he was seized on by Divamius in the midst of the City of Marseilles and injuriously dealt with and so dismissed In his journey Theodorus by the instigation of Divamius is taken by Gunthran King of Orleans then the Clergy of Marseilles being no better than Divamius being very joyful at the news of it do immediately invade and plunder all the substance and treasures of the Church and load Theodorus with divers calumnies King Chilperic setteth Theodorus at liberty and sendeth him back with Gundulphus the Governour to Marseilles that there he might be restored to his former dignity At the coming of Gundulphus and Theodorus Divamius and the Clergy do shut the gates and drive them back reproachfully But Gundulphus by Art getting into the City with his Soldiers soon brake the power of Divamius and sharply rebuked him yet Gundulphus being appeased with deprecations and gifts Divamius having taken an oath that he would restore Theodorus to his Bishoprick and for the future be faithful to the King he returned to his house But Divamius despising his Oath signifieth the restitution of Theodorus to King Gunthran adding That while Theodorus held his Government King Gunthran could never enjoy the City of Marseilles Gunthran being angry sendeth Soldiers to take Theodorus who seizing upon the Bishop unexpectedly they carry him on horseback bound with chains most ignominiously to their King But King Gunthran knowing the innocency of Theodorus without doing him any harm suffers him to return to his charge bestowing many gifts upon him Upon this occasion great enmity grew between King Gunthran and Childebert Many other calumnies and grievous indignities did this innocent Bishop suffer from other of his wicked and malicious enemies About that time Mundericus Episcopus Ternoderensis being by force taken away from his Church is thrust into a close and strong Tower built upon the bank of the River Rhodanus and there was detained almost two years and most grievously handled Under the Jurisdiction of Gregory Bishop of Tours there was a certain Presbyter who denied the Resurrection of the Body The foresaid Gregory disputed against him which disputation you may read at large in the Magdeburgensian History The disputation being ended the Presbyter promised that he would afterward believe the Resurrection of the dead Chidet Anast Child Reg. cap. 10. This Gregory hath put out these works Hist Francorum de Gloria Martyrum de Gloria Confessorum de vitis quorundam Patrum I find him by a certain Writer thus stiled Osiand Cent. 6. Lib. 4. cap. 17. Antiquissimus fidelissimus Francorum scriptor He wrote sharply against the Jews and Arians yet there are divers errours found in his writings which are mentioned by Osiander He was very intimate with Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome flourishing at that time Century VII THe Author of the Book called the Catholick Traditions first in French and then Translated into English searcheth the difference of all Churches and except in Rites or Ceremonies hath not marked any great difference of the Abyssines and Jacobites from our Reformed Churches And in his Preface he saith They pretend to have their name Jacobites from Jacob the Old Patriarch and the name Cophtes because
Learning and learned men Paul of Pisa instructed him in the Greek and Latin Tongues and Aimon in Philosophy and the Mathematickes He delighted in Poetry but especially in History in which he was well read The University of Paris built or enriched by him doth witness the love and honour he bare to learning A valiant man none commanded with more obedience nor performed any thing with greater fortune nor used his Victories with more mildness and judgement Never did King reign with more Authority nor was more reverently obeyed than Charlemagne About the Year 786 Charles King of France made a league with Archaius King of Scots Archaius sent unto him Albinus or Alcuinus John Melrose so named from the Abby Melrose Claudius Clemens and Anthony all very devout and learned men John Melrose became Abbot of the Augustinians at Ticino Bale in Cent. 14. and Claudius was Bishop of Auxerre They wrote several works as John Bale sheweth Alcuinus had good knowledge of the Latin and Greek Languages Biblioth de la Bigne Tom. 3. Charles calleth him his Master in an Epistle written unto him De Septuages Sexages He hath many excellent things in divers of his Books and Writings Desiderius began to make War first against the City of Ravenna and the Marches thereof and took the Cities of Ferrara Faventia and other Towns The Pope sent to Charles the Great for aid who came into Italy with great Forces Desiderius fled to Pavia and was there besieged Charles leaving an Unkle of his at the siege of Pavia went against Verona which he took without any great difficulty From thence he went to Rome to kiss the Pope's Foot and to hold the Feast of Easter where he was received with great Solemnity After this his coming thither he confirmed to the Church and Popes of Rome the Donation which his Father Pepin had made of Ravenna and other Lands and made another of many other places among which is reckoned the Isle of Corsica and all the Coast of Genoua with the Cities of Parma Ancona Vrbin and many other Towns besides Rome and the Territories thereof which the Popes had already in possession so as to the Emperours remained only that part of Italy which is part of Calabria and of Puglia and a great part of that which now is the Kingdom of Naples Charles having been only eight dayes in Rome returned against Desiderius who after six moneths besieging in Pavia yielded upon composition and Charles carried him with him and banished both him and his Sons into a certain Island and then took Milan and all the other Cities in Lombardy which is the Ancient Gallia Cisalpina where he placed French men for Dukes and Governours So Italy remained in his Obedience excepting those Lands and Provinces which were left to the Church of Rome so ended the Kingdom of the Lombards which had continued 204 years in Italy Rhegno Sub. Annum 787. In the Year 787 Charles being departed from Rome to come into France as soon as he was arrived at Wormes saith Rhegno he called a Synod and declared the Reasons of his journey to the Clergy and Princes of his Realm We find the French Synods in those dayes oftentimes to have consisted both of Lay-men and Clergy-men joyntly to determine of matters as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Charles the Great did the like in the Council of Franckford where he discoursed points of Faith and made them deliver their Opinions upon such as himself proposed The Canons and Decrees also run in his Name the Emperour saith he hath Ordained with the consent of the Synod c. Vide Acta Concil Francf in libello sacro Tom. 3. Concil pag. 635. In the Year 794 Charles Assembled this Council at Franckford partly in regard of the Heretick Foelix who called Christ The Adoptive Son of God in humane nature and was condemned in a Council Assembled at Ratisbon But he was returned to his vomit again and therefore was now again condemned as a notable Heretick in the Council of Franckford partly also in respect of the great contention which arose every where concerning the worshipping of Images disallowed in the Council of Constantinople and allowed in the second Council of Nice Not only the Bishops of France but also of Germany and Lombardy as Provinces subject to the King of France were present at this Council The Pope sent his Ambassadors Theophilact and Stephanus to the Council King Charles himself also was present thereat Alcuinus wrote against the Heresie of Foelix Alcuin contr Foelic Lib. 2. and Elipandrus Bishop of Toledo and in his second Book saith Shew us any Nation Town or Church either Roman or Constantinopolitan or of Jerusalem which was Dedicated by the presence of the Lord himself or of Antioch where first the Name of Christianity is read to have been or of Alexandria or of any other Church either in Italy or Germany or in France or in Aquitain or in Britain which agreeth with you in your assertion Here he acknowledgeth all these to be true Churches at that time and distinguisheth them one from another Foelix continued in his errour till Alcuinus wrote against him and then he became Zealous of the Truth and wrote a Recantation unto the Presbyters and Deacons of his Church That as he had been a scandal unto them so by his means they may be brought again from Errour unto the Truth as he himself writeth And this Recantation is printed among the Works of Alcuinus But Elipant Arch-Bishop of Toledo having read the seven Books of Alcuinus wrote very sharply for maintaining the same Errour R. Hoveden writeth R. Hoveden in continuat Bedae that Charles the Great sent over into England the Acts of a Synod sent him from Constantinople for the Adoration of Images Against this Adoration saith he Alcuinus wrote an Epistle well-grounded on Divine Scriptures and carried it with some Synodical Acts in the names of the English Princes and Bishops to the King of France All Italy being now in peace under the protection of King Charles two Cardinal Priests of great account called Pascal and Capulus conspired against Pope Leo who with their complices apprehended him on a day as he was going in Procession Some say they put out his eyes and cut out his tongue committing him prisoner to the Monastery of St. Erasmus publishing abroad that they did it for the crimes by him committed and the Errours by him maintained Some Authors affirm that he was miraculously restored to his sight and speech Hereupon King Charles cometh to Rome accompanied with many great Dukes and other Princes his Subjects To him came out of Italy and from many other parts many Bishops and Prelates After eight dayes abode there he commanded all the Princes and Prelates which then were in the City to be Assembled and the Pope himself and all the rest being together there were some that accused the Pope to the Emperour Then the Emperour
then it was the custom of the French Kings not to eat alone and seeth twelve poor men ill-apparelled sitting by upon the ground near to the Table of the Noblemen He demanded what those poor miserable Creatures were that did feed apart One answered They were the Messengers and Servants of God He then said Their God was of small account seeing his Messengers and Servants were so miserable and contemptible and thereupon retired himself having by this Treaty qualified the Force of Charles viewed his Train and made shew of his Courage even without an Ambassadour Charles Resolved to avenge this affront of the Saracen He raiseth an Army of an hundred and thirty thousand men He returneth into Spain at the first encounter he defeated Agoiland's Army near to Pampelona and for a seal of his Victory carrieth away the Head of Agoiland slain by the hand of Arnold of Belange a Noble and Valiant Knight Charles wrote divers Books He began a Grammar of the German Language but ended it not He changed the names of the Winds and Months from the Heathenish manner In the Epistle to Alcuinus before his Books De Divinis Officiis he saith when Christ was at supper with his Disciples he brake the bread and gave the cup to them in figure of his body and blood and left a great Sacrament which is profitable unto us Lib. 1. cap. 15. He saith elsewhere The Miracles which they say have appeared in Images if they did not appear truly as no Authentick History sheweth were but lies If by some imaginary over-shadowing they did appear to deceive mens minds it is most dangerous lest that Old Enemy by his subtilty through shew of wonders perswade to do unlawfull things But if these things did verily appear we should understand that when many wondrous things are done at the pleasure of God by some Creatures Lib. 3. cap. 25. or in whatsoever Creatures they be done yet these things are not to be worshipped by which or in which these wonders are made because God who sheweth many signs unto men by visible and palpable things to mollifie the hardness of mens hearts by these visible things worketh not these signs to confirm the worship of any Creature for he hath commanded to worship himself alone Because God spake out of a bush to Moses should the bush therefore be worshipped Because a Woman was healed by touching the hem of Christ's garment should hems therefore be worshipped The Catholick Church professeth to serve God not by Images not by men nor ethereal powers but by Christ our Lord. Charles the Emperour made many Laws and Ecclesiastical Constitutions which Angisus Abbot of Lobien and then Arch-Bishop of Senon gathered together with the Constitutions of his Son Lewis and divided them into seven Books Sinderus testifieth that they were in the Abby of St. Gallus and were not long since printed at Paris Alcuin cont Elipant Alcuinus saith thus of him Charles was a King in Power a Catholick in Faith an High-Priest in Teaching a Judge in Equity a Philosopher in Liberal Studies famous in Manners and excellent in all Honesty He was never served at Table with more than four dishes at once his Recreations were hunting and reading of Histories He died in February Pedro Mexia Hist Anno 814 and was interred at Aix la Chapelle where he was born and his Memory honoured with a goodly Epitaph The greatness of his Monarchy is admirable for he quietly enjoyed all France Germany and the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a part of Spain He left his Son Lewes sole Heir of his great Kingdoms who was the weakest of all his Sons The French Monarchy being come to the height of it's Greatness not long after the death of Charlemagne it began to decline The foolish lenity of Lewes was the beginning the which was continued by the disordered confusions of his Successors who in spite one to another hastened the ruine of their House making way thereunto by their Vices and Misfortunes Lewes more fit to be a Monk than a King was so given to Devotion and of so soft a spirit that he made his Authority contemptible both within and without the Realm This made divers Nations subject to the Crown to fall from their obedience Bernard King of Italy an ambitious young man was perswaded by the Bishops of Orleans and Milan to seize upon the Realm of France But being in field to go into France against his Unckle with an imaginary favour of the French to be proclaimed King both he and all his Counsellours were taken by Lewes his Subjects Lewes having both his Nephew and Counsellors in his Power despoils him of all his Realm of Italy confines him to perpetual prison and puts out his eyes the like he doth to all the Bishops and Noble Men he could get and after a few dayes causeth them to be beheaded This act from Lewes and committed against such persons began to breed a general dislike the which was aggravated by a domestical dissention After the death of Bernard Lewes gave Italy to his eldest Son Lotharius and associated him in the Empire To his Son Pepin he gave Aquitain to Lewes Bavaria and would have them all bear the name of Kings Lewes had a Son by Judith his second Wife an ambitious Woman called Charles This Woman play'd the Empress and Queen over all which caused Lewes to be hated and contemned His Sons Lotharius Pepin and Lewes by the Advice of the Bishops who were incensed against the Emperour by reason of the death of those Church-men resolve to seize upon their Father Mother and younger Brother to dispossess them of all Authority and then to govern the States after their own wills wherein they must use force and a publick consent Lotharius lieves a great Army and calleth a National Council of the French Church at Lions supposing sooner to suppress Lewes by this means than by a Parliament Lewes appeareth and yieldeth to the censure of the Prelates which was to retire himself into a Monastery there to attend his Devotion and to resign the Empire and the Realm to his Children So Lewes was conveyed to Soissons to the Monastery of St. Medard his Wife and her Son Charles were committed to other places and the whole Government committed to Lotharius and his Brethren And the greatest of the Church-men were guilty of this Out-rage seeking to maintain their Decrees Lewes continued in prison five years viz. from the year 829 unto the year 834. Then Lotharius being forced to yield to his Father goes to field takes him prisoner again and leads him back to the Convent at Soissons where he stayed not long for the French did bandy openly against Lotharius and his Brethren abandoned him so as he was forced to yield unto his Father and to crave pardon Then Lewes gives portions to his Children to Lotharius he leaves the Realm of Austrasia from the River of Mens unto Hungary with the Title
Hereupon Charles the Bald Convocated a Council in France at Acciniacum consisting of ten Bishops the Bishops of Lions Vason and Triers were Chief Presidents in the Council Hinckmarus Bishop of Rhemes proposed unto the Council fifty Canons which he desired to be read in the Synod Hinckmar of Laon to defend himself brought forth the Collection of the Decretals of the ancient Popes made by Isidorus where by the Popes Decrees such causes are reserved to the Apostolick See Hinckmar of Rhemes being not learned enough to know the forgery of the Author of these Decretals and not daring to reject them openly brought divers things to invalid their Authority He said that Hinckmar of Laon was mistaken if he thought that he was the only man that had those Epistles that the Countrey was full of them and that Riculfus Bishop of Mentz had published the Book of Epistles collected by Isidorus which was brought to him out of Spain Hinckmar also to defend himself against those Epistles said that they had been good in their time but that the Fathers Assembled in Council had altered those things and made Canons of greater Authority which are to remain perpetually and that those Decretals were never put in among the Canons of the Church That strife between the two Hinckmars happened Anno 870. The Synod forenamed accused Hinckmar Bishop of Laon of petulancy and compelled him to subscribe obedience to King Charles and to his Metropolitan He was also deprived of his Office and both his eyes were thrust out But Pope John IX Hist Magdeb. Cent. 9. cap. 9. under the Reign of Charles the Gross restored him to his Office again being the more affectioned to him because he had appealed from his own Bishop and from a Decree of a Synod in his own Countrey to be judged by the Chair of Rome Pope Nicholas bestirred himself with violence against Hinckmar of Rhemes complaining that he despised the Decretals collected by Isidorus Hinckmar resisted him stifly neither did he ever suffer the causes which he had judged to be revised at Rome nor any man that had been deposed by the Synods of France to be restored by the Pope And all his life time he maintained with great constancy so much liberty as remained to the Gallican Church which liberty suffered by his death a great diminution The Popes durst not touch him because he was the King's Unckle Baronius writing of this Hinckmar of Rhemes notably abuseth him for he saith That upon the testimony of Fredoard Hinckmar had obtained of Pope Leo IV by the mediation of the Emperour Lothary a Pallium or Archiepiscopal Cloak with a privilege to use it every day But Hinckmar himself in the Book of the fifty five Chapters saith the contrary speaking in this manner Leo IV and Benedictus did confer upon me some privileges which I did not ask for For the privileges which are conferred upon every Metropolitan by the sacred Canons are sufficient for me It was a generous part of Hinckmar to declare that he had no need of the Pope's privileges and that he held his dignity from the Canons not from the Roman Prelate As for the writings of this Hinckmar there are his Opuscula Epistolae Admonitio de potestate Regia Pontificia We find this character given of him Fuit vir doctus pietatis studiosus sub Carolo secundo Lu◠vici pii filio circa 870 Domini annum tametsi magni Caroli tempora adolescens attigerit Is dum corrigere vitia morbosque Clericorum conatus est multum molestiarum a perditae vitae Clero eorumque ad Papam appellationibus imo à Papis ipsis sustinuit Illyr Catal. Test verit lib. 9. In this Century Claudius Bishop of Turin was defamed as an Heretick by Theodomire an Abbot Petries Church-Hist Cent. 9. who did accuse him unto the Pope He wrote his own Apology that it might appear wherefore he was accused and to shew how Godly men have been traduced from time to time Agobard Bishop of Lions took part with Lotharius against Lewes his Father and therefore was deposed after their reconciliation he was restored and being a man of wisdom and knowledge was employed about the great Affairs of the Kingdom His Works were printed at Paris Anno 1605. from which Impression these passages are extracted pag. 52. There is one immovable Foundation one Rock of Faith which Peter confesseth Thou art the Son of the Living God And pag. 128 The uncleanness of our time deserves a fountain of tears when so ungodly a custom is become so frequent that there is none almost aspiring to temporal honour who hath not a Priest at home not whom he obeyeth but of whom he exacteth all manner of obedience incessently not in Divine but in worldly things so that many of them do serve at Table or mix wine and lead dogs feed horses or attend Husbandry neither regard they what manner of Clerks these be but only that they may have Priests of their own and so they leave Churches and Sermons and publick Service it is clear that they seek them not for honour of Religion because they have them not in honour and speak disdainfully of them He is large against the worship of Images Bellarm. de scriptorib Eccles Sect. 9. Bellarmine saith that Jonas and other Bishops of France in that Age were overtaken with Agobard's errour By the Jesuites confession then many Bishops of France were against the present errours of Rome Catal. Test verit Lib. 10. Then Angelom a Monk of Luxovia a man of great reading at the entreaty of Drogo wrote many Books Druthmarus of Aquitain wrote some things upon the Evangelists Then Raban Magnentius otherwise sirnamed Maurus was famous in the University of Paris Trithem Catal. illustr viror for Poesie Rhetorick Astronomy Philosophy and Theology unto whom neither Germany nor Italy brought forth an equal saith Trithemius He became Abbot of Fulda where he was born and there he wrote Commentaries on all the Books of the Bible He was sometime Scholar to Alcuinus His Monks were offended that he did so much study the Scriptures and did no better attend their Revenues therefore after 24 years he left the Abby they besought him to return but he would not He abode with Lewes the Emperour until Orgar Bishop of Mentz died and then succeeded Thomas Walden in the Acts of Pope Martin V. reckoned him and Herebald or Reginbald Bishop of Auxerre among Hereticks because they favoured Bertram At that time there was much debate about the Doctrine of Predestination Gotteschalk by birth a Franck or Belgick Avent Lib. 4. Annal. Bojor as Aventinus calleth him was Ordained a Priest by Rigbold Chorepiscopus in the vacancy of the See of Rhemes The forenamed Hinckmar writeth that he held these five Articles 1. God did before all Ages and e're he made any thing Hinckmar in Epist ad Eccles Lugdun predestinate unto salvation whom he would and
and pretending another not to intermeddle nor usurp the cognizance of the Feoffs belonging to the King which he knoweth to appertain to the King and the Peers of France but only to have the cognizance of the perjury And he afterwards adds All this he wrote to appease the Peers of France Cujac in d. c. novit de Judic extr and bear them in hand that he proceeded justly against their King and put all his Kingdom into an Interdict upon this occcasion yet for all that he gained nothing by it In this Century William Arch-Bishop of Senon wrote unto the Pope thus Let your Excellency most Holy Father hear patiently what we say for our Soul is in bitterness and so is your devoted Son the Most Christian King of France how all the Church of France is troubled with scandals flowing in time of your Apostle-ship from the Apostolical See seeing as our Nation saith Satan is let loose there to the ruine of all the Church there Christ is Crucified again and manifestly sacrilegious persons and murtherers go free Peter a Monk of Paris being of great Age dyed Anno 1167. he commendeth God's Word and taxeth the idleness and impieties of Priests the curiosity of School-men the multitude and abuses of Masses the multitude of Men's Traditions whereby the precepts of God are made void He calleth Indulgences a godly deceit Bernard a Monk of Clugny about that time wrote a large Satyr not sparing the Pope nor Cardinals of which here are some passages Pontificalia corde carentia corde probavit Pontificalia corda pecunia contenebravit Pontificum status antè fuit ratus integer antè Ille statum dabat ordine nunc labat ille labante Qui super hoc mare debuerat dare se quasi pontem In Sion omnibus est via plebibus in Phlegetontem Stat sibi gloria pompa superbia divitiarum Hoc propè tempore nemo Studeus fore pons animarum Qui stat in agmine primus in ordine Presbyteratus Est vitio levis officio brevis inguine fractus Then of the Popish Prelats and Clergy he saith Vos volo credere quod volo dicere Pseudoprophetas Nulla feracius ac numerosius hâc tulit oetas His sacra nomina sacraque tegmina corda superba Agnus eis patet in tunica latet anguis in Herbâ Quilibet improbus extat Episcopus Abba creatur Vi precio prece Dignus homo nece sceptra lucratur Nullus ei timor haudque sui memor est aliarum Non sine Simone sed sine Canone dux animarum Divers others he hath of this Nature which I shall pass by Peter Abailard spoke and wrote against the Holy Trinity and against the Office of Christ In the Doctrine of the Trinity he was an Arian of Grace a Pelagian of the person of Christ a Nestorian He was summoned to answer in a Council at Soissons where he did appear but would not answer but only did appeal unto the Court of Rome and did glory that his books had found acceptance there The Bishops did note and condemn his Errour and the sentence against his person they did refer unto Pope Innocent Peter Cantor flourished about this time he was of Paris He wrote a Book de verbo abbreviato In that Book he not only taxeth the loose life of the Clergy and the neglect of their Office but also many other abuses of the Pope and his Mass-Priests John de Vesalia in his Book against Indulgences writeth that this Cantor said that Indulgences are pious frauds Among other things he sharply taxeth many abuses of the Mass especially the too-frequent multiplication and prophanation of it he reprehendeth the heap and impiety of Popish Traditions saying that for the Commandements of Men they made void the Commandements of God Hugo de Sto. Victore was by Nation a Saxon but Abbot of St. Victor at Paris His Works are extant in three Volumns and many of them mentioned in Oxford Catalogue Richard of St. Victor flourished at the same time with Hugo aforementioned and lived in the same Monastery with him His Works are extant in two Volumns Catal. Test veric lib. 15. In that he was esteemed for a very learned Man and was Religious in his outward conversation he wrote many things of which much is lost Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris at this time followed the footsteps of his Brorher Gratian and gathered the sum of Divinity into four Books of Sentences out of the writings of the Fathers Pezel Mellif Hist and he is called The Master of the Sentences Gratian compiled the Pope's decrees or the Canon-Law These two Brethren were the greatest doers in finding out and establishing the blind opinion of the Sacrament that the only similitude of Bread and Wine remained but not the substance of them and this they call the spiritual understanding of the mystery Lombard's Sentences were authorized as the Text in all Schools and to the end that no man from thenceforth should search antiquity and truth any more from Fathers or Councils under no less danger than guiltiness of Heresie Hear what Cornelius Agrippa saith of this Scholastick Theology It is saith he of the kind of Centaures Cornel. Agripp de vanit scient ca. 97. a two-fold Discipline blown up by the Sorbon of Paris with a kind of mixture of Divine Oracles and Philosophical reasonings written after a new form and far different from the Antient Customs by questions and sly syllogismes without all ornament of Language c. He addeth that the faculty of Scholastick Divinity is not free from errour and wickedness These cursed Hypocrites and bold Sophists have brought in so many Heresies which preach Christ not of good will as St. Paul saith but of contention so that there is more agreement among Philosophers than among these Divines who have extinguished antient Divinity with humane opinions and new errours Bartholomew Gravius a Printer at Lovain in his Preface before his Edition of these Sentences telleth us that he had a purpose to reduce all the Testimonies unto the first Fountains sincerely but to his grâ—â—t admiration he was told by the Masters there it could not be so because albeit in their Editions innumerable places were corrected yet many errours were as yet remaining and these not little ones And not a few things in the Edition at Paris were changed not according to the truth of the old Books but in conjecture yea and oft-times the old words were corrupted through an immoderate desire of amending and in many places the worse was put for the better c. And seeing these Books have been so often changed little credit can be given to any of their late Editions and that even the Master himself had not written soundly according to the Fathers which he citeth Century XIII ALegat came into France and commanded King Philip upon pain of Interdiction to deliver one Peter out of Prison that was Elected to a Bishoprick and thereupon he was delivered In the Year 1203.
of Auxerre in France Henry's Son-in-Law 4. Robert 5. Baldwin the fifth and last At this time the Tartarians over-run the North of Asia and many Nations fled from their own Countries for fear of them Among other the Corasines a fierce and Warlike people were forced to forsake their Land Being thus unkennelled they have recourse to the Sultan of Babylon who bestows on them all the Lands the Christians held in Palestine They march to Jerusalem and take it without resistance Soon after the Corasines elated herewith fell out with the Sultan himself who in anger rooted out their Nation so that none remained The French-men make War against Reymund Earl of Tholouse and think to enclose him in his Castle of Saracene but the Earl lying in Ambush for them in Woods slew many of them and 500 of the French Souldiers were taken and of their Servitors to the number of 200 men in armour were taken of whom some lost their eyes some their ears some their legs and so were sent home the rest were carried away Prisoners into the Castle Thrice that Summer were the French-men discomfited by the aforesaid Reymund King Lewes puts a stop to the persecution of the Albigenses saying that they must perswade them by reason and not constrain them by force whereby many Families were preserved in those Provinces In those times lived Gulielmus de sancto amore a Doctor of Paris and Chanon of Beauvois exclaiming against the abuses of the Church of Rome He wrote against the Fryars and their hypocrisie but especially against the begging Fryars In his days there was a most detestable and blasphemous book set forth by the Fryars which they called Evangelium Aeternum or Evangelium spiritûs sancti The Everlasting Gospel or The Gospel of the Holy Ghost Wherein it is said That the Gospel of Christ was not to be compared to it no more than darkness to light That the Gospel of Christ should be preached but fifty years and then this everlasting Gospel should rule the Church He mightily impugned this pestiferous Book Fox Act and Monum p. 410. ad 416. He was by the Pope condemned for an Heretick exiled and his Books were burnt His story and Arguments may be read in Mr. Fox his first Volumn Pope Alexander armed Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure men of violent spirits against him but he was too hard for these reprovers his followers were called Amoraei Pope Gregory succeedeth Innocent and is a great Enemy to Frederick the Emperour who had entred Italy with a great Army After his Election he sends his Nuncio into France to exhort Lewes to succour him The Pope comes into France and calls a Council at Lyons whither he cites Frederick but yet upon so short a warning as he could not appear Frederick having sent his Ambassadours to require a lawful time and to advertise the Pope of his coming begins his Journey to perform his promise Being arrived at Thurin he hath intelligence given him that the Pope had condemned him as Contumax excommunicated him and degraded him of the Empire But this was not without the consent of the Princes Electors of the Empire who after mature deliberation proceeded to a new Election They chuse Henry Landgrave of Thuring for Emperour but he besieging the City of Vlmes was wounded with an Arrow whereof he dyed shortly after Frederick writes to the French King against the sentence against him at Lyons Then the Electors chose William Earl of Holland for Emperour In all the chief Cities the Guelph's Faction was the stronger through the Authority of the Council of Lyons Frederick over-pressed with grief dyeth leaving Italy and Germany in great combustion The Pope having Canonized Edmond Arch-Bishop of Canterbury soon after Blanch Queen Regent of France came into England to worship that Saint representing to him that he had found refuge for his Exile in France and beseeching him not to be ungrateful She said my Lord most Holy Father confirm the Kingdom of France in a peaceable solidity and remember what we have done to thee Now Lewes IX came to assist the Christians in Palestine His nobility diswaded from that design Lewes takes up the Cross and voweth to eat no Bread until he was recognized with the Pilgrim's Badge Their went along with him his two Brothers Charles Earl of Anjou Robert Earl of Artois his own Queen and their Ladies Odo the Pope's Legat Hugh Duke of Burgundy William Earl of Flanders Hugh Earl of St. Paul and William Longspath Earl of Sarisbury with a band of valiant English-men The Pope gave to this King Lewes for his charges the tenth of the Clergy's revenues through France for three years and the King employed the Pope's Collectors to gather it whereupon the Estates of the Clergy were shaven as bare as their crowns and a poor Priest who had but twenty shillings annual pension was forced to pay two yearly to the King Having at Lyons took his leave of the Pope and a blessing from him he marched toward Avignon Where some of the city wronged his Souldiers especially with foul Language His Nobles desired him to besiege the city the rather because it was suspected that therein his Father was poisoned To whom Lewes most christianly said I come not out of France to revenge mine own quarrels or those of my Father or Mother but injuries offered to Jesus Christ Hence he went without delay to his Navy and so committed himself to the Sea Lewes arrives in Cyprus where the pestilence raging two hundred and forty Gentlemen of note dyed of the infection Hither came the Ambassadours from a great Tartarian prince invited by the fame of King Lewes his piety professing to him that he had renounced his Paganism and embraced Christianity and that he intended to send Messengers to the Pope to be further instructed in his Religion but some Christians which were in Tartary diswaded him from going to Rome King Lewes received these Ambassadours cuurteously dismissing them with bounteous gifts And by them he sent to their Master a Tent wherein the History of the Bible was as richly as curiously depicted in Needle-work hoping thus to catch his Eyes and both in his present pictures then being accounted Lay-mens books The French land in Egypt and Damiata is taken by them Discords grew between the French and English the cause was for that the Earl of Sarisbury in sacking a Fort got more spoil therein than the English Then dyed Meladine the Egyptian King Robert Earl of Artois Brother to King Lewes fighting with the Egyptians contrary to the Counsel of the Templars is overthrown In his flight he cryed to the Earl of Sarisbury flee flee for God fighteth against us To whom our Earl God forbid my Father's Son should flee from the face of a Saracen The other seeking to save himself by the swiftness of his Horse and crossing the River was drowned The Earl of Sarisbury slew many a Turk and though unhorsed and wounded in his Legs stood
that Council Witness the Bishop of Panormo in his advice touching the Council of Basil This decree concerneth the general Estate of the Church and the matters belong to a general Reformation which may be hindred by a dissolution as it was by the dissolution of the Council of Vienne Durand further said in that Council that the Court of Rome and the Colledge of Cardinals together with the Pope would have a certain allowance of all Bishops that are preferred there it seems very requisite that this were taken order with For this errour doth much corrupt the Catholick Church and the common people and the remedies which have been applyed hitherto are quite disregarded inasmuch as the contrary is usually practised in the Court of Rome as if it were no sin at all to commit Simony or as if it were not all one to give first and then take as first to take and then to give The thing was taken into consideration at the Council of Vienne so as they were once advised Joann Andr. in Ca. inter coer de offic ordinar to allow the twentyeth part of all livings in Christendom to the Pope and his Cardinals but at last it was shifted off without resolving upon any thing A Doctor of the Canon Law saith it was better for that because their covetousness is so unsatiable that if that had been resolved upon they would have taken both This Bishop of Mende mentioned another abuse fit to be reformed For after he had said that every Bishop's jurisdiction ought to be preserved entire to himself he addeth That Ecclesiastical Benefices which belong to the collation and disposal of Bishops are bestowed by the See Apostolick and others even before they be void and that not only in the Court of Rome but out of it howbeit the Bishops must give account of the cure and of those that execute them whose Consciences they are utterly ignorant of inasmuch as they are none of their preferring He would never have demanded the reformation hereof unless the abuse had been notorious Durand also perswaded the abolition of Fraternities for two reasons for their dissoluteness and for their conspiracy against superiours It would be also useful saith he that Fraternities Durand de modo celebr concilii part 2. tit 35. wherein both Clergy and Laity do nothing but pamper themselves with delicates live in dissoluteness and drunkenness and busie themselves in divers plots against their superiours were abolished Then speaking of dispensations he saith That the very Nerves of the Canons and decrees are broken by the dispensations which are made according to the stile of the Court of Rome Durand de modo celebr concil Tit. 4. part 1. that they are against the common good And citing the Authority of St. Hierom writing to Rusticus Bishop of Narbon he saith Since Avarice is increased in Churches as well as in the Roman Empire the Law is departed from the Priests and seeing from the Prophets He gives us the definition of a dispensation according to the Lawyers which he saith is a provident relaxation of the general Law countervailed by commodity or necessity that if it be otherwise used it is not a dispensation but a dissipation that the question is now about the staining of the state of the Church that those who dispense upon unnecessary causes do err Lastly for matter of dispensation he would have that observed which Pope Leo said viz. That there are some things which cannot be altered upon any occasion others which may be tempered in regard of the necessity of the times or consideration of Mens Ages but always with this Resolution when there is any doubt or obscurity to follow that which is not contrary to the Gospel nor repugnant to the Decrees of Holy Fathers Concerning Exemptions he further declareth in that Council That they give occasion to the persons exempted to live more dissolutely and more at their liberty That they take away the reverence and obedience which the exempted owe unto their Prelates and Ordinaries Durand de modo celebr concil general Tit. 5. part 1. and make them think themselves as good men as the Bishops and other their superiours That the correction and punishing of faults and excesses is hereby hindred and brought to nothing That they are prejudicial to the whole Church Catholick inasmuch as the exempted cannot be judged but by the Pope and he cannot do it by reason of his remoteness from them That they rob men of the means of doing many good works in Religion That they are cause of many scandals That those to whom they are granted abuse their priviledges That they draw after them the ruine of Monasteries being rather a burthen than an honour or profit to them The same Durand maintaineth that the Pope hath no power to grant such exemptions considering that they overthrow the general order of the Catholick Church which proceeds from God the Apostles the Holy Fathers and general Councils and which was approved and confirmed by Popes That by this order all the Monasteries Religious places Abbots Abbesses Monks and Nuns and all other Religious and Ecclesiastical persons are immediately subject to the government and guidance of Bishops within their Cities and Diocesses as unto their Superiours the Apostles Successours and such as have power and Authority over them Pasquier saith there were these remarkable excellencies in William Durand he was a great Divine a great Lawyer Pasqu Recherch de la France li. 9. ca. 35. Leigh's Treat of Relig. and Learning and an excellent Poet He put out a Book entituled Speculum Juris divided into three great Tomes As Lumbard among Divines is not usually quoted by his own name but by that of Master of the Sentences so among the Lawyers he is not quoted by the name of William Durand but he is stiled Speculator He delivered this Sentence about the Sacrament Verbum audimus modum Sentimus modum nescimus praesentiam credimus I find this given as his Character Gulielmus Durandus omnis Divini Humanique juris Consultissimus Natione Vasco Gallus Episcopus Mimatensis Scripsit Speculum juris undè speculator est dictus Multa profectò utilia author monuit praecipuè de Reformatione Papae Cleri Illyr Catal. Test verit lib. 16. Lewes Hutin called Lewes X. began to reign over France Anno 1315. and dyed Anno 1316. He left his Wife with child who was delivered of a Son which lived but eight days Lewes left one Daughter named Jane which was Queen of Navarr and Countess Palatine of Brie and Champagn Philip V. called the long succeeded his Brother Lewes Anno 1316. He dyed in the sixth year of his Reign viz. Anno 1322. Pope Clement V. dyed Anno 1314. after whose death the Papacy stood void two years and three months The Cardinals at last did yield all their suffrages unto Jacob de Ossa Cardurcensis who afterwards went up into the Papal Chair and said I am Pope This
was John XXII He was a Cistercian Monk he sate in that seat eighteen years This John believed that the Souls do not enjoy the presence of God before the day of Judgement He sent two Preachers to Paris the one a Dominican the other a Franciscan to assert and maintain the same Heresie But one Thomas an English Preacher withstood the Pope and the Pope threw him into prison Hereupon the French King summoned a Council unto his palace in Vintiana Sylva the whole Assembly subscribed against the Pope Immediately the King sent to Pope John to reform his errour and to set the Preacher at liberty which he did Some say that the Divines of Paris made him to recant his errour publickly Append. to Martin Polon in Joann 22. sub Ann. 1317. This John XXII erected the Church of Tholouse in France to an Arch-Bishoprick divided the Diocess of Tholouse into six Bishopricks the Bishops whereof should be suffragans to the Arch-Bishop of Tholouse and turned six Villages into Cities viz. Montauban Rieux Lombez-Abbey St. Papoul Lavaur and Mirepoix He created two Bishopricks within the Arch Bishoprick of Narbon the first at Limoux whose Seat he translated to Alet not long after the second in the Abbey of St. Pons setting out their Diocesses He divided also the Bishoprick of Alby into two and created one at Castres He erected divers others besides which are reckoned up in particular by the Authour of the continuation to Martinus Polonus Clement V. predecessour to this Pope had ordained that Emperours by the German Princes elected might be called Kings of the Romans but might not enjoy the Title or right of the Empire to be nominated Emperours without their confirmation given by the Pope Wherefore because Lewes of Bavaria being chosen Emperour used the Imperial dignity in Italy before he was authorized by the Pope the said Pope John therefore Excommunicated the Emperour who often desired of him a Treaty of peace which the Pope refused to hearken to At the same time divers learned Men disallowed the doings of the Pope as William Ocham whose transactions were afterward condemned by the Pope for writing against that See and Marsilius Pativinus who wrote the Book entituled Defensor pacis which was put into the hands of the said Emperour wherein the controversie of the Pope's unlawful jurisdiction in things Temporal is largely disputed and the usurped Authority of that See is set forth to the uttermost Some Writers say that a great cause of the variance was for that one of the Emperour's Secretaries unknown to the Emperour had likened in divers of his Letters the Papal See to the Beast rising out of the Sea in the Apocalypse At length when the Emperour after much suit made to the Pope at Avignon could not obtain his Coronation from him he went to Rome where he was received with great honour and both he and his Wife were both crowned by the consent of all the Lords and Cardinals there and another Pope was there set up called Nicholas V. Not long after Pope John dyeth at Avignon after whom succeedeth Benedict XII Anno 1335. This Man was as uncourteous to the Emperour as John had been he renewed the curses against him bereft him of all Regal Dignity and by his sentence deprived him of the Dukedom of Bavaria Hereupon the Emperour cometh into Germany and assembleth the Princes Dukes Nobles Bishops and other learned men in a Council at Franckford where he caused an injunction to be dispatched wherein he affirmed the sentence pronounced against him unjust and that his Excommunication did no way bind him Wherefore he commanded upon great penalties that no man should obey his censures and interdictions in that behalf which injunction caused great alterations in Germany especially among the Clergy some holding with the Emperour others with the Pope Dante 's a man of profound Learning at that time wrote a Book called The Monarchy wherein he favoured the Emperour for which he was afterward condemned and his Book held for Heresie And other great men wrote Books and Treatises defending the Pope's supream Authority Charles IV. Brother to Philip the long succeeded in the Kingdom of France being the last Son of Philip the Fair. He dyed Anno 1328. having reigned six years leaving the Crown to the second royal Branch of Capets whereunto the order of the fundamental Law did lawfully call them Philip the Hardy had left two Sons Philip the fair and Charles Earl of Valois of whom it is said that he was the Son of a King Brother to a King Unckle to a King Father to a King and yet no King Philip the Son of Charles of Valois is saluted and proclaimed King of France and anointed and crowned at Rhemes according to the usual custom Near the beginning of his Reign De Serres Hist in vit Philip. de Valois the Courts of Parliament and all the Soveraign Judges assembled from all the Provinces made a general complaint against the Clergy of France accusing them of sundry abuses and namely that against the right of their charges they intermeddled with the politick jurisdiction The suit was vehement and famous for the greatness of the parties The King to reconcile this quarrel calls a general Assembly of his whole Realm at Paris The cause was pleaded before him with great liberty by Peter de Cugneriis this is He whom in derision they call M. Peter Cugnet who is in the great Temple in Paris noted with a little Monkey's head placed betwixt two pillars to put out the Candles being odious by reason of his pleading and as coldly defended by Peter Bertrand both famous Advocates in those times The issue was doubtful and Philip seriously exhorted the Prelates to reform themselves and in reforming the abuse to avoid these popular complaints refering the matter to a further hearing This Pope Benedict took from the Emperour the Senatourship of Rome he first took upon him to usurp the presentments of all Bishopricks He abridged many unlearned men of Priesthood He reformed many Sects of Monks He commanded that all his Chaplains should lye in one Dormitory together and should have no other Revenues than for Dyet and Apparel He published certain Acts against the Dominicans he kept divers Concubines And leaving great store of Treasure to the Church he dyed Anno 1342. of whom these verses were made Iste fuit verò Laicis mors vipera Clero Devius a vero turba Repleta mero Clement VI. born in Lemonia by profession a Benedictine called before Peter Rogers being Abbot of Fisca succeeded Benedict at Avignon This Man Excommunicated all the Princes Lords and Bishops that consented to the doings of Lewes the Emperour He made Avignon part of St. Peter's patrimony He ordained that the Jubilee should be kept every fiftyeth year after the manner of the Jews and so it was kept at Rome Anno 1350. Now there were great Wars in France between Edward III. King of England and the King of France
Naples with the King of Spain but in the end lost it by his Treachery suppressed the Pope's insolency and defeated the Venetians He was crowned in the Abbey of Saint Denis in France on the first of July following and on the next day made his triumphant entry into Paris Century XVI LEwes XII after he had worthily performed the Funerals of his Predecessour he first purchased the love of the Noble-men of his Court maintaining every man in his State and Dignity and the Magistrates in their Office He sought to cut off the tediousness of Suits he freed his Subjects from the third part of the Subsidies which oppressed them he put the Men at Arms into Garrisons reducing them to the Antient Discipline of War He made many good Laws against the abusive charges in the pursuit of Justice neither did he ever publish any Edict before it was confirmed by the Judgement of Soveraign Courts De Serres Hist in vit Ludovici XII His Decrees contained some limitation of the priviledges granted in old time to Universities the which they abused to the oppression of the people The University of Paris opposeth against the publication thereof and many infamous Libels were published against the King and the Chancellour of Rochefort The Scholars flock together resolving to abandon both study and the exercise of Learning John Cave being Rector forbids the Regents to read any more and the Preachers to preach until the University had recovered her Antient priviledges The King hereupon draws many Men at Arms into Paris and in Parliament confirms the abovenamed ordinances by an Edict The Rector fearing a check keeps all the Scholars within their Lodgings and revokes the commandement he had given John Standon a Doctor of Divinity one of the chief of the Faction was banished the Realm Thomas Warnet of Cambray who in preaching had railed against the King's Authority banished himself All things being thus settled Lewes takes upon him the Title of Duke of Milan He puts away Joan his Wife and marries with Ann the Widdow of the late King Charles Our Ladies Bridge at Paris fell threescore houses were ruined with it and a great number of persons were swallowed up in the River As touching the priviledges of the Kings of France we find when the Parliament of Paris gave their opinion and all the Chambers met together about receiving the Cardinal of Amboise and the qualifications that should be put to his faculties which was on Decemb. 11. 1501. the Laws of the Land and the Liberties of the Gallican Church were represented at large among which this was one That the King of France cannot be excommunicated that his Kingdom cannot be put under an Interdict as is collected out of the Antient Registers In the beginning of this Century Mr. John le Maire one of the French Historians wrote his Book of Schism and therein gives us to understand that there were endeavours then for the Reformation of the Church Every good Christian saith he ought to pray to God that the two last Councils of the Gallican Church may engender one great Universal and general Council of all the Latin Church to reform that Church as well in the Head as the Members so as the general Councils use to do And that if it be not kept at Lyons it may be kept in some other place most expedient and necessary for the publick good which may be very well done at this present considering the great peace amity and union which is betwixt the two greatest Potentates in Christendom the Emperour and the King together with a third confederate in the League the Catholick King Ferdinand of Arragon who ought altogether to reform the abuses of the Church of Rome Which Reformation must of necessity be made Thus he speaks of the aforementioned Pragmatick Sanction Forasmuch saith he as the Pope's are not content that the Pragmatick Sanction be in force although it be founded upon the Holy Canons Le Maire en la 2 part de la differ de schismes and Authorized by the Council of Basil but it derogates from the unsatiable covetousness of the Court of Rome therefore they say it is a pure Heresie In the time of this King Lewes XII lived Robert Gagwin who wrote the French History Erasmus his intimate Friend calls him a most discreet Historiographer he compares him to Salust and Livy Auâ—erti Miroel Elog. Belg. for purity of speech and composition of his History He was also a good Poet and an excellent Oratour and a Man well skilled in all polite Learning He was sent Ambassadour by the King of France into England Italy and Germany About this time flourished Jacobus Faber skilled in all Learning and especially in Divinity Farel and Calvin were his Scholars Illyr Catal. Test verit Sleidan saith he suffered great persecution for the truth from the Masters at Paris He was very low of a modest countenance and a sweet disposition his mind wholly estranged from all injustice I find him thus characterized Celeberrimus nostri seculi Philosophus Belg. quinimò totius Galliae unum decus Primus apud Gallos ut Cicero apud Romanos Philosophiam rudem impolitam cum eloquentiâ junxit Est in dicendo sublimis in sententiis gravis in attentione exquisitus in compositione diligens ac curiosus Trithem de Viris Illustrib Jodocus Clichtoveus a most learned Man of Paris was contemporary with Jacobus Faber De Serres Hist in vit Ludov. XII King Lewes and the Emperour being at variance a Treaty was agreed on and for this Treaty the Cardinal of Amboise Lieutenant-General for his Majesty at Milan went to the Emperour to Trent where first they Treated of the marriage of Charles the eldest Son to the Arch-Duke Philip of Austria with Claude the only Daughter of Lewes XII then about the calling a General Council to reform the Church not only in the members but even in the Head doubtless there is small assurance in the friendship of Princes who thirst after nothing but their own greatness Moreover seldom shall we see any thing succeed well with them who have coloured their passions with the name of the Church and the Reformation thereof which they did not really intend And likewise all the malitious practices and School-tricks of a Cardinal whose ambitious spirit gaped after the Popedom what could they produce but smoak for France and combustion for Italy The Arch-Duke Philip with his Wife Daughter to Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabel Queen of Castile passed through Paris Novemb. 25. and from thence to Blois where the King and Queen remained where they concluded the marriage of their children But Man purposeth and God disposeth The Duke of Milan was soon after made Prisoner by the Treachery of the Suissers Cardinal Ascanius leaves Milan abandoned but he is betraid and led prisoner to Venice but the French King sent for him to Venice and not only the person of the Cardinal was delivered to him
he continued in a league of friendship with him thirty eight years And saith also That in all that while in which he was acquainted with him he never heard him dispute of the Controverted points of Religion or that he was accustomed to write to others about them Adrian Turnebus was Professour of Philosophy and Greek in Paris under King Charles IX Thuanus calls him grande nostri seculi ornamentum Illa aeternitate digna Adversâ—ria Thuan. Hist Tom. 2. li. 36. He was admirable both in the Greek and Latin Languages and in knowledge of all Antiquity as his Books entitled Adversaria do evidently testifie of which H. Stephanus thus speaketh Vtinam non tantâ brevitate in suis Adversariorum libris esset usus Paulò enim luculentior plenior quorundam locorum explanatio majorem illi operi gratiam laudémque conciliasset lectori multò magis satisfecisset Stephanus Paschasius in his Icones saith thus of him Quicquid in arcano condebat avara vetustas Turnebus tacitis eruit è latebris He hath rectified Plinies Preface to his Natural History by Ancient Copies and added Annotations upon it He hath commented also upon Horace's first Book of verses and upon his obscurer places Vide Lectium de vita Sadeelis et scriptis At this time flourished Anthony Sadeel Anthony Bourbon King of Navarre greatly respected him and was wont to hear him Preach His friends in France were especially Beza Hottoman Goulartius Faius and others John Auratus Regius Professour in Paris for the King of France was much respected by Charles IX and was the chiefest Poet of his time He was most skilful in Greek and Latine Some of his Poems are published Papyr Masson Auratum nemo te dicat magne Poeta Aurea namque tibi Musa lepósque fuit Antoine de Chandieu was a learned French Divine Beza highly commends his Book of the Marks of the true Church There are other works of his also viz. De l'unique sacrifice Contre les traditions Beza gives him this character De la trefare erudition pietè entiere diligence incroyable dexteritè admirable Beze Epistre au Roy devant son Traicte Des Marques De l'Eglise Catholique Andreas du Chesne was the King of France his Geographer he hath put out divers French Books Gilbert Genebrard was a Divine of Paris and the King's Professour of Hebrew He was a most petulant writer By whom saith B. Andr. it is verified that much Learning and railing may be accidents in one Subject Papyrius Massonius was such a writer of the French Chronicle as Cambden of the English There are four Books of his Annals One speaks thus of him Non tam undiquaque Pontificius quin verò Pontificum vitia libere fateatur Mortoni causa Regia cap. 3. Sect. 19. Jacobus Cujacius was a great light of France His Life is written by Papyrius Massonius He is praised by Peter Faber whose Master he was as the greatest Lawyer of his time Pasquier saith In many Universities of Germany when those in the Chair alledge Cujacius and Turnebus they put their hands to their hats for the respect and honour they bear them He was thought to be somewhat inclinable to the Protestant Religion But when any Theological question was askt him he was wont to answer Nihil hoc ad Edictum Praetoris John Passeratius was a learned French man the King's Professour of Eloquence in Paris an excellent Oratour and Poet. He hath put out Orations and Prefaces a Commentary on Catullus Tibullus and Propertius Varia Opuscula His French Works are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque At the same time lived Dionysius Lambinus a Learned French man he hath Commented well on Lucretius Horace Plautus Turnebus often makes honourable mention of him in his Adversaria The Queen of Navarre Prince of Conde the Admiral and the Dutchess of Ferrara having for many Months made request that places should be allowed to the Protestants for their Sermons and Ceremonies and all these and many more Grandees even in the Court it self making Profession thereof the inferiour Protestants Assembled themselves apart whereupon dangerous Popular tumults were raised in many parts of the Kingdom with slaughter on both sides Two divers tumults were raised by Sermons one at Dijon the other in Paris Hereupon the Presidents of all the Parliaments were called and certain Councellours Elected to deliberate what was best to be done All these being Assembled at Saint German where the Chancellour told them That the differences in Religion should be referred to the Prelates but when the Peace of the Kingdom is in question this could not belong to the Ecclesiasticks but to those whom the King would appoint to consult of it That this Particular was then to be considered of whether it were good service for the King to permit or prohibit the Congregations of the Protestants wherein they were not to dispute which Religion was the better because they took not in hand to frame a Religion but to put in order a Republick In the end they concluded that the Edict of July was to be remitted in part and the Protestants to have lieve to Preach The Edict contained many Points That the Protestants should restore the Churches Possessions and other Ecclesiastical goods usurped That they should forbear to beat down Crosses Images and Churches upon pain of death That they should not Assemble themselves to Preach Pray or Administer the Sacraments in publick or in private by day or by night within the City That the Prohibitions and Punishments of the Edict of July and all others made before should be suspended That they shall not be molested in their Sermons made out of the City or hindered by the Magistrates That none shall scandalize another for Religion or use contumelious words of Faction That the Magistrates and Officers may be present at the Sermons and Congregations That they shall not make Synods Colloquies or Consistories but with lieve and in presence of the Magistrate That they shall observe the Laws for Feasts and Degrees prohibited for Marriage That the Ministers shall be bound to swear to the Publick Officers not to offend against this Edict nor to Preach any Doctrine contrary to the Nicene Council and the Books of the Old and New Testament This was Registred and published by way of Provision with this express Clause and Condition Until such time as the General Council or the King himself should order it otherwise The Duke of Guise the Constable and the Cardinals among which the Cardinal of Tournon was lately dead with the Marshals of Brisac and St. Andre being discontented hereat left the Court contriving how they might hinder the execution of the Edict and oppose the Protestants But because they saw that whilst the King of Navarre stood united with the Regent they had no right to intermeddle with the Government of the Kingdom therefore they proposed to themselves to dissolve that Union And knowing that
be enjoyned to bestow them not upon such as seek after them but on those that are worthy of them and avoid them and for certain proof of their Merits to make them Preach sometimes and those such as have taken some Degree in the Universities upon whom only Livings might be conferred by the consent of the Bishop and people Augustine Marlorat one of the Ministers of the Reformed Church at Rhoan in France was taken by the Guisians and hanged upon a Gibbet there before our Ladies Church He was a man excellently learned and of an unblameable Life who had the testimony even of the Papists themselves that in his Sermons he never uttered ought tending to Sedition or Rebellion He hath written upon Genesis Isaiah and the Psalms and an Ecclesiastical Exposition upon the New Testament which hath been well esteem'd of Clement Marot was a famous French Poet. Pasqu Recherch de la France li. 7. ca. 5. He turned fifty of Davids Psalms into French Metre which are read with admiration of his excellent Wit He set them forth at Geneva for he might not safely longer abide in France for suspicion of Lutheranism Marcus Antonius Muretus was a very eloquent and diligent Writer Scarce hath he passed by any Latine Authour either Historian Oratour or Poet which he hath not explained amended and restored to his purity either with his Commentaries Scholia or Notes Terence Petronius Tibullus Catullus Propertius Seneca Salust Tacitus His Book of divers readings sheweth how Learned he was His excellent Orations shew his great Eloquence Gesner mentions his Latine works and Antoine du Verdier his French Thuanus styles him Magnum non solum Galliae nostrae sed ipsius Romae lumen not only a great light of our France but also of Rome it self About this time Father Edmond in a Book of his Printed at Paris by Sebastian Nivelle and by him dedicated to King Charles IX with this Inscription The Pedagogue of Arms Le Pedagogue d'Armes ca. 8 9. to instruct a Christian Prince to undertake a good War well and accomplish it with success to be Victorious over all the Enemies of his State and of the Catholick Church gives such Rules as these That Wars have been alwaies accounted not only profitable but necessary That the Pope is bound to take Arms against Hereticks That to a Monarch undertaking such a War a man cannot urge any of his former Edicts or Ordinances That no man how Potent soever he be can Contract with an Infidel or one that hath revolted from his Conscience He gives this reason For what King is there how redoubted soever he be that can without falsifying his Oath made to God permit and give lieve to the Enemies of all truth and condemn'd by the general sentence of all the world to sow heresies in his Countries and allure souls He adds further That what conditions of Peace soever he can grant unto his Rebels in this case will not endure long But it will behove him not to awake such strong and Potent Enemies That to make a Peace with them at last he must resolve to make a good War And anon As oft as by the Articles of Peace licence is granted to every man to adhere to which of the two opposite Parties he please without being offended at it it is all one in my opinion as if one should cast a man into the fire and forbid him to burn himself In the seventh Chapter he saith If such persons were Infidels or hereticks I would never excuse the Monarch that having sufficient means in his own hands should not assay by all waies even of fact to reclaim such a Kennel or drive them far out of his Country out of the Territories of Catholicks And so much the more roughly ought he to proceed against them as he knows them perverse in all respects and of the Hugonote stamp which should be accounted the most pernicious most devilish upholders of lies that ever rose up against the Church Thus he Waseri Comment ad Mithrid Gesneri In this Age flourished Gulielmus Sallustius Bartassius and excellent French Poet. Ille Poetarum Gallicorum Coryphaeus Sallustius Barthasii Dominus cujus Poemata apud exteros etiam in laude sunt He is translated into many Languages He may be read in Latine French Italian English Dutch Pasquier sheweth that the French Poets imitating the Latine have often equalled and sometimes exceeded them Antoine du Verdier and Thuanus do commend him Near this time also lived Guido de Bres a holy Martyr He hath written against the Anabaptists in French of the Authority of the Magistrate and the immortality of the Soul Johannes Quiquarboreus was Professour of Hebrew and Chaldee to the French King in Paris There is his Chaldee Paraphrase with Scholia upon Ruth Lamentations Hosea Joel Amos. Franciscus Rabeloesus was a witty but Atheistical French writer and Doctor of Physick Robert Constantine was Beza's great friend he was saith Thuanus trium linguarum peritissimus most skilful in three Languages especially in Greek and Latine He lived till he was a hundred and three years old his Senses of Body and Mind being perfect and his Memory strong These are his Works Nomenclator insignium Scriptorum Dictionarium abstrusorum vocabulorum Lexicon Graeco-Latinum John Croy was a learned French Divine He hath written a Treatise entitled Observationes Sacrae Historicae in novum Testamentum That Bâ—â—k and his Specimen conjecturarum observationum in quaedam loca Origenis Irenaei Tertulliani Epiphanij c. and his French Book entitled La verite de la Religion Reformee declare him to be a good Linguist and a General Scholar He hath written a Book against Morinus not yet published but commended and quoted by those who have perused it John Morinus was a learned Papist There are his Exercitationes Biblicae de Hebraeo Graecoque Textu Exercit. Ecclesiasticae In the late Progress of King Charles IX was discharged all Preaching and exercising of the Reformed Religion in the Towns of France wherein it should happen the King to be during the time of his Progress Many new interpretations of the Edict of March were invented whereby the liberty granted to the Protestants was utterly infringed The Prince of Conde having heard that the Kings of France and Spain had made a League for the rooting out of the Protestants addresseth himself to the King on the behalf of the Protestants Symson Eccles Hist li. 1. Cent. 16. complaining that contrary to the Edict of March they were injured and cruelly slain demanding redress for the foresaid injuries and that they might have liberty to enjoy their Religion without molestation The King hearing of the Prince's coming being with four hundred Armed men with all expedition in great fear hastens to Paris and caused the Parisians to give thanks to God as if he had been delivered from a great peril and imminent danger After this the second War for Religion
Crowned King of France Michael Hospitalius Chancellour of France under Charles IX Thuan. Tom. 3. lib. 56. was removed from the Court and made a Prisoner as it were only because he opposed those wicked Counsels against the Protestants in the Massacre at Paris Beza mentions him in his Icones illustrium virorum And Grotius stiles him Grot. Praef. ad Poem Vnicum aevi nostri decus the only ornament of our Age. There are these of his Works published Six Books of Epistles in Latine Verse De Caleto expugnato Epistola carmen cum aliis In the Preface to his Epistle one saith it appeared by a most Ancient Coyn that he much resembled Aristotle Summum illum omnium Philosophorum principem Aristotelem sic ore toto retulit ut alterius ex altero Imago expressa videri posset At this time flourished Michael Montanus or Michael de Montaigne Knight of the Noble Order of St. Michael and one of the Gentlemen in Ordinary to the French King Henry III. his Chamber His elegant Books of Miscellanies written in French are by him modestly styled Essayes or Moral Politick and Military Discourses He hath thereby gotten a great opinion of his Learning and Wisdom and Rome hath chosen and adopted him for one of her Citizens Charles Cardinal of Lorain dieth December 23. 1574. of a Frenzy in the midst of a cruel tempest and violent whirl-wind which uncovered the houses and loosened the bars of Iron in the Carthusians Covent in the Suburbs of Avignon According to the advice of the Queen-Mother the King assaults the Protestant Towns in Provence Languedoc and Dolphiné Lusignan was besieged and yielded upon Composition Pousin is besieged and taken but the Town of Libero in Dolphinè though besieged was not taken In Languedoc D'anville although he was of the Roman Religion yet had joyned himself to the Protestants and took Aques Mortes a Town of great importance in those Parts with many other Towns In Dolphinè Mombrim was chief Commander and had great success in his attempts But in the end being sore wounded he was taken beside â—ia a Town in Dolphinè and by the Commandment of the King and Queen-Mother was carried to Grenoble and there was executed in the sight of the people The Prince of Conde had required help of Casimire the Son of Count Palatine who had also condescended to succour the Protestants The Conditions they agreed on were these That they should not lay down their Arms until that liberty were obtained to the Protestants fully to enjoy their own Religion And likewise that Casimire should have the Towns of Metis Tullion and Verdum in his hands besides other Towns in all the Provinces of France which the Protestants were to require for their further assurance and as pledges of the King's fidelity and faithfulness to them The Army of the Germans and French entered into France under the Prince of Conde and Casimire and came forward to Charossium a Town in Bourbon not far from Molins where Alançon the King's Brother joyned with them and the whole Army conjoyned was found to be of horse-men and foot-men thirty thousand The King of Navarre at the same time departeth from Court and returneth into his own Country The Army draws near to Paris but at length was concluded upon certain Conditions That Casimire should receive from the King a great summ of money instead of those Towns which should have been put in his hands and that liberty should be granted to the Protestants to exercise their own Religion openly and freely without exception of places the Court and the City of Paris with a few leagues about only excepted They were also declared to be capable of places in Parliament and Courts of Justice and all Judgements which were made against them for any enterprize whatsoever were declared void the cruel day of St. Bartholomew disavowed and for better assurance and performance of these conditions they had eight Towns delivered unto them with the Conditions of their Governments Aques Mortes Benecaire Perigneux Le mas de Verdun Nions Yissure La grand tour The Edict of Pacification was Proclaimed May 10. 1576. and an end was put to the fifth Civil War in France for Religion By the Bull of Pope Gregory XIII sent into France Anno 1575. we may see all the Judges Royal both superiour and inferiour utterly despoiled of the Cognisance of criminal Causes The Sixteenth Article is this Vide Collect. diversar constitut Romanor Pontif. in fine Et Eclogam Bullarum motuum propriorum p. 316. We Excommunicate and anathematize all and every one the Magistrates Counsellours Presidents Auditors and other Judges by what name soever they be called the Chancellours Vice-Chancellours Notaries Registers and Executors their servants and others which have any thing to do in what sort or manner soever with Capital or Criminal Causes against Ecclesiastical persons in banishing or arresting them passing or pronouncing sentence against them and putting them in Execution even under pretence of any priviledges granted by the See Apostolick upon what causes and in what tenour and form soever to Kings Dukes Princes Rcpubliques Monarchies Cities and other Potentates by what name and title soever they be called which we will not have to be useful to them in any thing repealing them all from henceforth and declaring them to be nullities The twelfth Article speaks on this sort We Excommunicate all and every the Chancellours Vice-Chancellours Counsellours Ordinary and Extraordinary of all Kings and Princes the Presidents of Chanceries Councils and Parliaments as also the Attorneys General of them and other Secular Princes though they be in Dignity Imperial Royal Ducal or any other by what name soever it be called and other Judges as well Ordinary as by Delegation as also the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Commendatories Vicars and Officers who by themselves or by any other under pretence of Exemptions Letters of Grace or other Apostolical Letters do summon before them our Auditors Commissaries and other Ecclesiastical Judges with the causes concerning Benefices Tithes and other spiritual matters or such as are annexed to them and hinder the course of them by 〈◊〉 authority and interpose themselves to take Cognisance of them in the quality of Judges This is not all for in the following Article he goes yet further striking an heavy blow at the Ordinances of the French Kings Those also which under pretence of their Office or at the Instance of any man whatsoever draw before them to their Bench Audience Chancery Council or Parliament Ecclesiastical persons Chapters Covents and Colledges of all Churches or cause them to be brought in question before them or procure them directly or indirectly under what colour soever beyond the appointment of the Canon Law Those also which ordain and set forth Statutes Ordinances Constitutions Pragmatiques or other Decrees whatsoever in general or in special for any cause or colour whatsoever even under pretence of Apostolical Letters not now in practice or
time flourished Jacobus Sirmondus a Learned French Jesuite he was Confessour to King Lewes XIII Dallaeus saith he was a most Learned and most diligent man Natione Gallus Biblioth societ Jesu A Philip. Alegamb edit Rector olim Collegii Parisiensis vir totius antiquitatis curiosus investigator Latine Graecéque impensè doctus in omni penè literarum genere excultissimus qui humaniores literas theologicas admodum decore conjunxit As for his Works there are his Eucharisticon pro Adventoria de Regionibus Ecclesiis suburbicariis Censura conjecturae Anon. Scriptoris de suburbicariis Regionibus Ecclesiis Propempticum Cl. Salmasio adversum ejus Eucharisticon and other Works of his We owe unto him saith Dr. Du Moulin the Works of Facundus an African Bishop who lived in the time of the Emperour Justinian Claudius Salmasius was a Learned French Critick Vir incomparabilis maximus Salmasius de primatu Papae post quem Homerum siquis Iliada conscribere velit inutilem laborem suscipiet Rivet Grot. Discus Dial. Sect. 5. Vir nunquam satis laudatus nec temerè sine laude nominandus Claud. Salmasius Voss de Orig. progress idol li. 4. ca. 91. Nostri seculi miraculum antiquitatis promus condus Gul. Rivet Praefat. ad vindic Evang. Non Galliae suae duntaxat sed jam hujus Bataviae ingens decus atque adeo totius Reipublicae literariae praesidium Voss de anal li. 3. ca. 46. Clariss Salmasius notis ad Vopiscum ubi post Guilandinum Dalecampium in Plinium ac Scaligeri Diatribam adversus Guilandinum pulchrè indictaque aliis de hoc disserit argumento Voss de art Gram. li. 1. ca. 38. Vir alioquin ad literas summo honore tractandas illustrandas natus si modestiam adhibere arroâ—â—â—ti de se persuasione ac erga alios mdlignitate excussa mentem animi in iis sedulo occupare potuisset Herald animadvers in Salmas observat Ad jus Att. Rom. li. 2. ca. 7. Desiderius Heraldus a Learned French man hath written a Comment on Martial and the other Books forecited and other Learned Works Franciscus Vieta was a Learned French Mathematician There are his Opera Mathematica Vol. 2. Relatio Calendarii vere Gregoriani cum aliis opusc Vniversalium inspectionum ad Canonem Mathematicum lib. singularis De Aequatione recognitione emendatione Thuanus thus saith of him Vir ingeniosa profunda meditatione cujus vi nihil illi inaccessum in abstnusioribus scientiis nihil quod acumine mentis possit confici difficile confectus fuit Thuan. Hist Tom. 5. part 2. li. 129. Nicholas Vignerius was a Learned French Historiographer There are To. 3. de la bibliotheq Hist and other works of his vid. Thuan. Hist Tom. 5. li. 117. part 1. His Son Nicholas Vignerius was a Learned Divine He hath published an excellent Treatise in French styled Theatre de l'Antichrist and a Dissertation in Latine of the Excommunication of the Venetians against Cardinal Baronius And Theses of the satisfaction of Christ which Rivet highly commendeth and annexeth unto his own Disputations Benedict Turretine was also a Learned French man These Books of his are published in French Defense de la fidelité des traductions de la S. bible faictes a Geneve Recheute du Jesuite Plaigiaire Profit des Chastiments Quod adversus Petri Cottoni Jesuitae plagiariam Genevam manifestum fecit vir dum viveret doctissimus accuratissimus Benedictus Turretinus Andr. Rivet Apologet. pro vera pace Ecclesiae The Works of Cardinal David Du Perron are in four Volumes in Folio in French Replique A la Response du Serenissime Roy de la Grand Bretagne Les Diverses Oevres c. Du sainct sacrement de l'Eucharistie Les Ambassades Negotiations He is well answered by Du Moulin Rivet and Blondel The Jesuites seek to be incorporate in the University of Paris whom the University opposed by all means presenting a Petition unto the Queen Regent against them therein laying down at large their damnable Doctrine and strange Equivocations Hereupon Factions began in Paris some standing for others siding against the Jesuites But these Clouds were quickly dispersed and the State preserved for the continuance whereof Monsieuer Pasquier one of the Masters of Requests a man of great Learning and Judgement wrote unto her a Discourse of advice The Abbot of Bois in his Sermons treating of the Question Whether it be Lawful to kill a Tyrant and refuting Mariana's Book and others he made an exhortation to the Jesuites that they should hereafter have a great care that no Book should be published to the prejudice of France under the name of their Society nor with the approbation of their Superiour if they would not willingly expose themselves to those dangers which all their wisdoms fortified with the Authority of their confident friends could not avoid For this did the Jesuites complain and informed against him who answered for himself both wisely and discreetly October 17. the young King was Crowned at Rhemes by Cardinal Joyeuze On November 26. the Great Chamber the Turnelle and the Chamber of the Edict being assembled by a motion made by Monsieur Servin the King's first Advocate against Bellarmines Book touching the Pope's Temporal Power made a Decree against the same whereat the Pope's Nuncio did mightily storm On May 27. 1611. began the Assembly of the Reformed Churches at Saumur whereat many Dukes and Noblemen of the Reformed Religion were present where Du Plessis was chosen President Which Assembly was dissolved September 29. Monsieur de Bullion letting them understand that their Majesties had given him in charge to say that all their just requests should be favourably answered and whatsoever had been promised should be paid The Duke of Espernon to manifest his gratitude to King Henry III. his Master and Benefactor begged of the Queen Regent to give him leave to perform his Funeral Rites he having formerly after the death of the said King attended his Body to Compeigne where the misfortunes of War and the confusions of the times permitted not at that time the performance thereof The Queen readily consented to his request so that the Duke with a great company of Lords and Gentlemen went to fetch the body from Compeigne from whence he conveyed it to St. Dennis where it was deposited in the ancient Sepulchre of the Kings of France A little before his death the Duke caused a Marble Pillar one of the most excellent pieces of Architecture of these late times to be carried and set up in the Church of S. Clou wherein he was so curious as to make it to be wrought in his own house and almost in his own sight his design being to found a Revenue of a thousand Liuvres yearly for the service of the Chappel where it was erected which was also adorned with Pictures and paved with Marble at his own charge But some difficulties arising about the settlement of that foundation which
by the Parliament he disswaded them from it as much as he could both by Letters and Sermons And unto him the Court was obliged that all the Protestant Tows on this side the Loire kept in the King's obedience He shewed that he did it not to serve the times but to serve God The declaring of the Politick Assembly of the Protestants for the Prince of Conde in the year 1616. was the greatest error that ever they committed and they smarted for it as soon as the young King had got more Age and vigour In the mean time Du Plessis laboured much in procuring the peace of the Protestant Churches endeavouring to keep a good correspondence between the King and them which was continually ready to be interrupted in which business he carried himself with so much prudence and fidelity in all occurences between them that he was admired and praised by all Yea even Cardinal Du Perron himself heretofore one of his greatest enemies shewed him great respect in the Assembly of States held at Roven Anno 1617. Speaking of him in all companies with an excess of Praises and telling the King himself that those men had done him wrong who had kept off Monsieur Du Plessis from having a greater Power in the management of his affairs And that his Religion ought not to render him unprofitable in the exercise of those graces which God had given him and that his Majesty ought to keep him near his person so long as he should live After the return of Dr. Du Moulin out of England the Jesuite Arnoux a Court Preacher sent a challenge to the Ministers of Paris to appear before the Queen-Mother to give account of their Religion preacht fire and sword against them before their Majesties and sent them a Pamplet full of heavy accusations The Doctor was charged by his Colleagues to make an answer to it which he did and addressed it to the King In that answer by way of just recrimination he affirmed that he had seen in the Colledge of the Jesuites at la Fleshe a Picture of the Martyrs of their Order and in that rank some Traytors who had been executed for conspiring against the Life of their Kings That the maxims of the Jesuites were pernicious to Kings whereas the Doctrine of the Protestants maintained their Life their Authority nad their States And the Pastours of the Reformed Churches taught their people fidelity and obedience to the King Then he represented the many Perils and Combates which the Protestants had sustained for the defence of King Henry IV. till they had brought him to the Crown Of which services they that had been the King's enemies received the reward This answer of the Ministers was presented to the King by the Duke of Rohan See the Life of Dr. Du Moulin This bold address to the King irritated the great Officers of the Crown of whom not a few or their Fathers had been of the party of the League The Jesuites therefore letting their challenge fall indicted the Ministers of Treason although all the ground they could find for it was that the Ministers called the Reformed Churches their people as if they had pretended some Soveraignty over them The Ministers being summoned before the Council the indictment of Treason was not much urged as being but a Cavil After grave Admonitions and high threatnings by Chancellour Bruslart they dismissed them That challenge of Arnoux and a Pamphlet of his against the confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France occasioned the Doctor to write his Buckler of Faith A Jesuite came to the Doctors Study to dispute with him Monsieur de Monginot a famous Physitian was present at the Conference whereby he was converted and set out an excellent Book of the reasons why he abjured Popery He had many encounters and to relate all his Conferences migh◠fill a great Volume Scarce was he a week without one while he lived in Paris and some of them were very long He was the object of the publick hatred of the Romanists His name was the general Theme of Libels cryed up in the Streets of railing Sermons in all Pulpits and of the curses of ignorant Zealots The Popish Clergy in the year 1617. being assembled at the house of Austin-Friers in Paris as every two years they used to do being to take their leaves of the King elected the Bishop of Aire to be their Spokes-man and to certifie his Majesty of their grievances In performing which business the principal thing of which he spake was to this purpose That whereas his Majesty was bound to give them Fathers he gave them Children That the name of Abbot signifies a Father and the Function of a Bishop was full of Fatherly authority yet France notwithstanding was now filled with Bishops and Abbots which are yet in their Nurses arms or else under their Regents in Colledges Nay more that the abuse goeth before the Being Children being commonly design'd to Bishopricks and Abbacies before they were born He also made another complaint that the Soveraign Courts by their Decrees had attempted upon the Authority which was Committed to the Clergy even in that which concerned meerly Ecclesiastical Discipline and Government of the Church To these complaints he gave them indeed a very gracious hearing but it never went further than a hearing being never followed by redress The Court of Parliament knew too well the strength of their own Authority and the King was loth to take from himself those excellent advantages of binding to himself his Nobility by the speedy preferring of their Children So the Clergy departed with a great deal of envy and a little of satisfaction In the same year the States of the United Provinces desired the Churches of England Germany France c. to send some able Divines to the Synod of Dort whereupon the Churches of France named four viz. Dr. Du Moulin Chamier Rivet and Chaune But when the Doctor was making ready for his journey he was forbidden by a messenger of the Council of State of France to go out of the Kingdom upon pain of death The like prohibition was made to the three other Divines Andrew Rivet was a Godly and Learned French Divine He hath very well expounded Genesis Exodus the Prophetical Psalms and Hosea and wrote Learnedly against the Papists in his Catholicus Orthodoxus and against Grotius Criticus sacer seu censura Patrum Isagoge in S. Scripturam Synopsis doctrinae de naturâ gratiâ He hath published other Learned Treatises in French and Latin William Rivet his Brother hath also published a Learned Treatise De Justificatione an exact French Treatise De invocatione adoratione Sanctorum defunctorum Epist Apologet. Daniel Chamier was also a Learned French man who in his Panstratiae Catholicae hath so Learnedly refuted the Papists that none of them hath made any answer to it His Epistolae Jesuiticae and Corpus Theologiae also shew his great abilities There is also a Work of his in French
to the Duke The peace that had been concluded before Montpelier in the year 1622. Vid. The Histâ—ry of the life of the Duke of Espernon part 3. had hitherto continued the affairs of the Kingdom in some repose and although those of the Reformed Religion expressed some dispositions to a new Commotion there was as yet no manifest breach Soubize by an attempt made upon the King 's Shipping at Blavet made the first breach All the rest of the party broke into Arms at the same time and the Duke of Rohan who had long been known to be the Head of that party stirred them into insurrection A promptitude in his Partizans so much the more to be wondered at as he commanded a sort of people whose obedience was only voluntary Montauban was one of the Cities not only of Guienne but also of the whole Kingdom that engaged the deepest in this revolt the Inhabitants whereof by having had a siege raised from before their Walls and by having baffled a Royal Army even when animated by the presence of the King himself began to think themselves invincible and their City a place not to be taken The King therefore sent order to the Duke of Espernon to take Arms which he did and laid waste the Country about Montauban Many smart engagements there were with great loss of men on the side of the besieged who made a vigorous resistance Many lamentable objects were every where to be seen from Picqueros 〈◊〉 place famous for having been the King's quâ—rter during the siege of Montauban and from whence the whole Plain betwixt the Rivers Tarn and Vairan lay open to the view so soon as the obscurity of the night gave colour to the fire that had been kindled by day one might have seen a thousand fires at once the Corn Fruit-trees Vines and houses were the aliments that nourished this flame Soubize in the mean time endeavours to divert the Duke from his enterprize by Landing three thousand five hundred Foot and some few Horse in the lower Gascony in the Country of Medoc This little Country which is almost all the Duke's environs a great part of the Metropolis of Burdeaux extending it self to the very Gates of the City but Soubize was shamefully repulsed his Forces routed the few that escaped the Victors hands with much ado recovered their Ships leaving their dead their Arms Artillery and Baggage as infallible testimonies of a total defeat About the year 1623. the famous Book of Cardinal Du Perron against King James of famous memory came forth That Book was extolled by the Romanists with great brags and praises His Majesty being especially interessed and provoked by that Book was pleased to recommend the confutation of it to his old Champion Dr. Du Moulin who undertook it upon his Majesties Command And that he might attend that work with more help and leisure his Majesty invited him to come into England And together being moved with compassion by the adversities the Doctor had suffered for his sake he offered him a refuge in England promising to take care of him and to employ him in one of his Universities He accepted that Royal favour He set out of Sedan in March 1624. and went to Bruxels and Antwerp and so to Holland whence after some daies stay at the Hague with his worthy Brother in law Doctor Rivet he took Shipping for England He was graciously received by his Majesty God visited him with a grievous sickness by an heavy oppression in his Hypochondries with an inflammation of black choler which seldom let him sleep and kept him in perpetual agony Yet even then he spent much time in his great work against Cardinal Du Perron and preached often in the French Church In the depth of his pain and anguish he was beyond measure afflicted with the persecutions that ruined the Churches of France and the divisions then increasing in the Churches of England There was at London at that time the Marquess d'Effiat See the Life of Dr. Du Moulin extraordinary Ambassadour of France a zealous Papist who upon a false information of Fisher and other Jesuites that were about him that Doctor Du Moulin by his long watchings and other melancholy fumes was decayed in his Intellectuals did malitiously invite him to his house to engage him in a Conference and insult over his weakness After dinner the Ambassadour desired him to hear a Scottish man who would tell him the reasons that made him leave the Protestant Religion to embrace the Catholick The Scottish man then assisted by Fisher and others of his sort made an elaborate Discourse half an hour long of the Church of St. Peter's Primacy of succession of Chairs and the like When he had done the Doctor resumed all his points and allegations in the same order and answered them with his ordinary vigour and presence of wit And because the principal matter in question was about the Marks of the true Church he maintained that the Profession of the true Doctrine was the Mark of the true Church and thence took occasion to lay open the foulness of the errors of Popery with so much pregnancy that the Ambassadour a Cholerick man rose from his seat in great fury and gave many foul words to the Doctor who thereupon went out and returned home But the Ambassadour sent his Coach to him the next day and invited him to dinner And after dinner the Scottish man spake again of the same points and when the Doctor in his answer had turned his Dispute against the grossest errours of Popery incompatible with the true Church Fisher would have taken the Scottish man's part but the Ambassadour's passion gave him no time to answer but broke vehemently out saying that he could hear no longer that one should revile before him the Catholick Religion and maintain to him that he did wilfully damn himself his Wife and his Children Then the Doctor went out of his house Soon after King James fell sick of the Sickness whereof he died That death of his Royal Patron and the Plague raging in London soon perswaded the Doctor to return to Sedan The labour of the journey and the intolerable heat of the season increased his sickness which to heal the Physitians of Sedan made him drink Spaw-waters which were broâ—ght to him from Spaw to Sedan These waters brought him to a most violent Feaver and the Feaver consumed all those humours and winds that opprest him and left him in health So he returned to his former Function in the Church and University serving God with chearfulness and assiduity and blessed with great success He lived at Sedan thirty and three years from his return into England unto his death without any notable change in his condition but one of publick concernment by the miserable change of the Duke of Bovillon That Duke being Prince of Sedan the Protectour of a flourishing Protestant Church and the refuge of many oppressed Protestants in France was perverted by falling in
degrees turned to an absolute revolt from their Sovereign natural King insomuch that they fled to France The French quickly hearken unto them so there was a Treaty at Narbon whither they sent twelve persons of quality for Hostages and an Order issued out That He should be branded with an hot Iron who spake of any accommodation with Castile It was agreed on that upon putting themselves under the Royal Protection of the most Christian King he should furnish them with an Army of six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to be maintained by the Catalans Hereupon three Commissioners were sent to Paris one for the Clergy another for the Nobility and a third for the Gentry and Commonalty The chiefest Incendiaries were the Preaching Friers and Monks who in lieu of obedience and conformity to Government and compliance with the King having so many Irons in the fire did teach and obtrude to the people nothing more than common Priviledge and resumption of Liberty whereby the affection of the Vassal was withdrawn from his Prince There came a Messenger of State to Paris who brought news of the Great Turks death in the flower of his youth though of a robust constitution He died by excess of drinking some sorts of Wine wherewith he was used to be oft distempered not withstanding the strict Law of Mahomet who often Preached this Doctrine That there was a Devil in every berry of the Grape and therefore absolutely interdicted the use of Wine in his Alchoran Soon after Don John of Bragansa was upon a general revolt of the Portugueses within less than a month fully setled in the Kingdoms of Portugal and the Algarves without any opposition at all This Revolt of Portugal was no great news to the French Cardinal who had his spirits walking there as well as in Barcelona and every where else The Spanish Ambassadours negotiate at Rome that the Duke of Bragansa be Excommunicated for an Usurper If this had taken effect it had made the King of France incapable to assist him being an Excommunicated person But France had such a powerful Faction in the Consistory and the Pope was such a friend to the French that the Catholique King could do little good in this point Then was France blessed with another Masculine Royal Offspring the Duke of Anjou In the year 1642. Mary de Medices Queen-Mother and Dowager of France expired at Colen She had been Regent of France mâ—ny years during which time she discovered great abilities transcending her Sex She was afterwards twice in Arms against her Son and she came at length to conceive such a Junonian indignation against the Cardinal Richlieu who had been chief of her Counsels and her Creature afterwards in point of greatness for she first preferred him to the King that the breach could never be made up between them And she was used to say that the worst thing she ever did was the advancement of Richlieu In the sense of this indignation she forsook France and drew a voluntary Exile upon her self She first retired to Flanders thence she removed to Holland thence to England and her last retirement was to Colen where she died The Cardinal of Richlieu was sick that time that the Queen-Mother died at Colen yet he forced himself to creep to the Altar and officiated many Church-duties for her soul From that time he was never perfâ—ctly recovered and now more like a Skeleton than his Eminence being carried upon the shoulders of men hath houses broken down to make him room to come in at so much French blood lost at home so much shed in the field disquiets and dejects his spirit now imprisoned in a languishing body Cinque-Mans the Grand Constable and de Thou late Master of Requests were apprehended at Narbon the very day that the King had but in the morning embraced and kissed Cinque-Mars and had talked very courteously to de Thou The â—ame was done to de Bovillon at Casailles The Prisoners are brought to Lions where by chosen Judges they are condemned and upon a Scaffold beheaded De Bovillon got off with the surrender of Sedan At length Cardinal Richlieu's scarcely breathing Corpse nothing benefited by the Waters of Borbogne is brought to Paris he died in the end of the year 1642. Richlieu was no great Zealot in his own Religion but as he made it subservient to his political ends nor would he ever employ any Jesuite He had a moderate opinion of the Reformists which made him to be called the Hugonot Cardinal And he would have often in his mouth this saying Maneat moralis benevolentia inter discordes sententia Yet he wrote a Book against them which is extant He did them more mischief by Complementing with them than by combating He was a great cherisher and promoter of vertuous men and would find them out wheresoever they were insomuch that he gave every year in Pensions little less than an hundred thousand Franks He erected two Academies one in Paris called l'Academie de Beaux Esprits where the Prime Wits of the Kingdom met every Monday and another at Richlieu where the Mathematiques and other Sciences were read in the French Language the difficulty of the Latine deterring many of them from studying other places He did so oblige all the Wits of the Kingdom that they strove who should magnifie him most never were there such hyperbolical expressions of any man and not without some mixture of profaneness Some blasphemously said That God Almighty might put the Government of the World into his hand That France in God and the Cardinal's hands were too strong That what the soul was to the body the same he was to France Si foret hic nullus Gallia nulla foret Some appropriate the reduction of the Rochellers solely to him Therefore to sooth him one French Chronicle impiously writeth that in the taking of that Town Neither the King nor God Almighty himself had any share in the Action but Cardinal Richlieu Thereupon Another made this Distich Richelii adventu portae patuere Rupellae Christo infernales ut patuere fores The Gates of Rochel opened to Richlieu As those of Hell to Christ asunder flew Divers other Latine Distichs there were of like nature And in the French Language there are abundance of such Hyperboles I will instance in some Et si nous faisons des ghirlandes C ' est pour en couronner un Dieu Qui soubs le nom de Richlieu Recoit nos Voeux nos offrandres Another Heros a qui la France crige des Autels Que prevois qui fais le bon heur des mortels Qui scais mieux l'advenir que les choses passcès Penetre dans mon Ame c. Another Si quelq ' un dans ces vers parlâ— de Richlieu Qui sous l'habit d'un homme il nous descrive un dieu Vous n' estes point suiet a l'humaine impuissance c. A Royal Chronologer attributes more to him than to his Master the
Of Matrimony 9. Of extreme Unction 10. Of care to be had for the dead and of their Funerals and burials 11. Of the Relicks and Images of Saints 12. Of Indulgences 13. Of prohibited meats and a dispensation of them 14. Of Holy-daies and their veneration 15. Of Vows and Religious Pilgrimages Part 3. 1. Of Churches Chapels Altars and other things of like sort 2. Of Oratories scituate in the way 3. Of Schools and Fellowships of Christian Doctrine 4. Of Universities and Colledges 5. Of Seminaries of Clerks 6. Of Hospitals houses for Lepers and other pious places 7. Of confraternities and fellowships Part 4. 1. Of Excommunication 2. Of Ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the judicial Court of a Bishop 3. Of letting to hire or the Alienation of Benefices and Ecclesiastical things 4. Of Tenths and Oblations 5. Of Simony 6. Of Provisions and renouncing of Benefices 7. Of Residency 8. Of a Visitation 9. Of the right of Patronage 10. Of the holy Inquisition 11. Of prohibited Books 12. Of Hereticks Magicians Soothsaiers and Astrologers 13. Of Blasphemy 14. Of Usuries 15. Of pious Testaments and Legacies 16. Of exempt and priviledged persons 17. Of the things which generally belong to these Decrees The Admonitions of the Synod of the Clergy of France Assembled at Paris in the year 1595. and 1596. sent into the Provinces of France for restoring the state of the Church The Index of the Titles 1. DEs conciles Provinciaux concerning Provincial Councils 2. De la Vacance aux Prelatures of Vacancy to Bishopricks 3. Des Provisions abusives de ce temps of the abusive Provisions of Benefices 4. Of Simonies and Confidences 5. Des Syndies Diocesains of Diocesan Commissioners Then followeth Advis de l'Assemble'e du CLERGE de l'An 1598. envoye aux Provinces contre les Oeconomats spirituels constitutions des Pensions aux personnes seculiers sur les Benefices The Admonition of the Assembly of the Clergy of France at Paris Anno 1598. sent into the Provinces of France against spiritual Oeconomies and Pensions upon Benefices granted to Lay persons The Statutes of the Assembly of the Clergy of France at Paris Anno 1606. for the Administration of Ecclesiastical jurisdiction Then follow THe Decrees of the Provincial Council of Narbon Which are of the same nature with the Decrees of Divers of the former Councils This Council assembled Anno 1609. A Council Assembled at Aquens to censure a Book De Ecclesiastica Politica potestate of Ecclesiastical and Politick power Another Assembly of the Clergy of France met at Paris Anno 1615. for the reception of the Council of Trent A Provincial Council was congregated at Bourdeaux Anno 1624. in the month of September the Decrees whereof were of the same kind with some of the foregoing Councils There was also a General Council of the Clergy of France Assembled at Paris Anno 1625. Divers Propositions were collected out of a Book set forth in English Entitled Apologia pro modo procedendi Sanctae sedis Apostolicae in regendis Catholicis Anglie durante persecutionis tempore cum defensione Status Religiosi Auctore Daniele à Jesu Then followeth an Epistle of the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops then acting at Paris to the Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops through France concerning the condemning of two Volumes to which these Titles are prefixed 1. Traictez des Droicts Libertez de l'Eglise Gallicane 2. Preuue des Libertez de l'Eglise Gallicane February 14. 1639. The first Council of the Province of Paris under Francis de Gondy the first Archbishop of Paris in the time of Pope Vrban VIII and King Lewes XIII was celebrated in the year 1640. against a Book entituled Optati Galli de cavendo schismate c. Whosoever shall desire to be satisfied fully concerning the French Cardinals I shall refer him to a Book entituled Gallia Purpurata Of the Universities of France Paris PAris the Metropolis is the first and most antient University of France Erasmus saith That Lutetia Academiarum omnium Regina Paris is the Queen of all Universities The Emperour Charles the Great instituted this famous University Having made a League with Archaius King of Scots he entreated that King to send unto him Professours of the Greek and Latin Tongues and of other Learning for his University of Paris Archaius sent unto him the forementioned Alcuinus or Albinus John Melrose so named from the Abbey Melrose Claudius Clemens and Anthony Florentius reckoneth them among Hereticks who followed the Greek Church because they opposed the Romish Rites The Kings of France have beautified this University from time to time with many sumptuous Edifices endowed it with many great Priviledges and Princely Revenues The principal Colledges are the Sorbonne and the Colledge of Navarre King Lewes IX by the Counsel of Robert of Sorbon which took his sirname as they say from the place of his Nativity his Almoner and Confessour erected a Colledge of Divines which retains the name of Sorbon Pope Clement IV. confirmed the foundation of this Colledge He that answereth there continueth from morning to night The Colledge of Navarre was founded by Joan Queen of France and Navarre Amo◠1304. She likewise enriched this Colledge with an excellent Library The greatest part of the young Princes Lords and Gentlemen in France are customarily nourished and instructed in this Colledge Peter de Alliaco Chancellour of Paris hath bestowed so much on this Colledge that he is esteemed as a second founder Poictiers Poictiers is an University especially for the Civil Law and a See Episcopal It was erected under Charles VII King of France and confirmed by Pope Eugenius IV. Scaliger in his Cities thus speaks of it Si studium est animae veniunt à corpore vires Galliaque à meritis poscit utrumque sibi Haec studiis aliae belli exercentur amore Pictavium est animus caetera corpus erunt John Capnion and Christophorus Longolius were Professours here Lions Lions is pleasantly seated on the confluence of the Soasne and the Rhosne anciently a Roman Colony testified by many old Inscriptions and honoured with a magnificent Temple dedicated by the Cities of France to Augustus Caesar now the most famous Mart of France and an University which is very ancient being a seat of Learning in the time of Caius Caligula For in those times before an Altar consecrated to Augustus Caesar in the Temple forementioned this Caligula did institute some Exercises of the Greek and Roman Eloquence the Victor to be honoured according to his merit c. The Archbishop hereof is the Metropolitan of all France Angiers In it is an University founded by Lewes the Second Duke of Anjou the Son of King John about the time that Rupertus Palsgrave of Rheine founded Heidelberg in Germany about the year 1346. It flourisheth in the Study of the Latine especially Henry Valois Brother to King Charles IX augmented the same He invited thither many very Learned Scholars among the which was Francis Baldwin who therein
established the profession of the Civil Law Out of this University came Johannes Bodinus Avignon It is an ancient City of Provence scituated on the Bank of Rhodanus wherein is an University of long continuance In this City are said to be seven Palaces seven Parish-Churches seven Monasteries seven Nunneries seven Inns and seven Gates Pope Clement V. transferred the Papal Seat from Rome into this City where it remained seventy four years It was made an University at the time of the Pope's first setling here and so it still continueth Alciat the great Emblematist was here Professor and taught the Law Petrus Castrensis a Lawyer by sundry Learned Works he wrote much ennobled this University Orleans It is a rich and plentiful City plâ—ced on the Bank of the River Loire Some write That the foundation of this City was laid by Aurelian the Emperour Anno 276. and from him was called Aurelia which name it retaineth unto this day In this City was erected an University by Philip the fair King of France Anno 1312. Here the Civil Law is Learnedly professed and this University by divers Learned Writers hath been often entitled the Nurse or Mother thereof Bourges It is a famous University called by Learned men the Ornament of Letters and habitation of the Muses It was long since founded by a certain Duke of Bourges but afterwards in process of time falling to decay and being almost utterly extinct it was again restored by sundry Kings of France It was authorized and endowed with many great priviledges and high prerogatives by Pope Paul the second of that name Here Alciate Rebuffus Duarenus Hotoman Bonellus and Cujacius famous Lawyers lived and taught with great applause Caen. It is a City of Normandy seated upon the River Orne second in reputation of the whole Province and famous for the Sepulchre of William the Conquerour An University was erected here by Henry V. King of England who after many glorious Conquests atchieved against the French King he at last bereaved him of Normandy Anno 1418. In token and memory of which Victory as a perpetual Trophy and Monument of his glory he caused to be laid in Caen the foundation of this University The Archbishop of Dublin was the first Reader of Divinity there In this University lately flourished Bochart that Learned French Divine Rhemes It is the Metropolis of Champaigne wherein not long since was erected an University by Charles Guise Cardinal of Lorrain Archbishop and Duke of Rhemes In this University among other Colledges there is one appointed for the education of young English fugitives The Archbisop of this See is one of the twelve Peers of France The French Kings are anointed at Rhemes it is said with the oyl wherewith St. Remigius had anointed Clovis the first Christian King of France Bourdeaux It is the chief City of Aquitain seated on the South Bank of the Garond not far from the Sea among the Marishes An University was founded here by King Lewes XI and a large Cathedral Here Ausonius that famous Poet was born and educated Tholouse It is the chief City of Languedoc and one of the greatest in all France so ancient that some report it to be built when Deborah Judged Israel It is the seat of an Archbishop and an University Pope John XXII first instituted the University which enjoyeth the same priviledges that heretofore have been granted unto Paris Nismes It was antiently a Colony of the Romans now a Bishops See where there remain some marks of the Roman greatness especially the ruines of a spatious Palace built by the Emperour Adrian in it an University was lately erected Montpelier It is a City in Languedoc not far from the Mediterranean Sea it is scituate on a high Mountain as the name importeth Here is an University for the Study of Physick and for that very commodiously seated the Country round about affording great variety of medicinal Herbs Out of this University many famous Physitians have proceeded viz. Gentilis insignis Avicennae Commentator Falco Argenterius Dalechampius Rondeletius Valeriola Jacobus Fontanus Laurentius Joubertus Andreas Laurentius insignis Anatomes scriptor Bisanson It is the Metropolis of Burgundy seated between two Mountains on the Banks of the River Doux by which it is almost encompassed In the year 1540. a small University was founded here by the authority of Pope Julius III. and the Emperour Charles V. which hath since flourished exceedingly Dole It is a City in Burgundy Anciently it was an University for the Study of the Civil Lawes here Carolus Molinaeus publickly taught the Law But now the University is devoured by a Colledge of Jesuites who fearing lest the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches might creep in among the people not only have debarred them the use of the Protestants Books but have expresly forbid them to talk of God either in a good sort or in a bad Valonce It is a City in Daulphiné the chief City heretofore of the Valentini then a Roman Colony now a Bishops See and an University for the Civil Laws FINIS The Table of the First Part. A. ABbey of St. Badour Page 34 Abbey of Lexovien Page 32 Abbey of Shelles Page 34 Abbey of St. Gallus Page 56 Agelom a Monk of Luxovia Page 62 Agobard Bishop of Lyons Page 62 Agoiland the Saracen his Treachery and Death Page 56 Alcuinus a Learned Man in the time of Charles the Great p. 41 Governour of the Monastery of St. Martin Page 45 Alcimus Bishop of Vienna Page 27 Amandus Bishop of Bourdeaux Page 13 Amandus Bishop of Paris Page 33 D' Amboise and Ascanius Cardinals Page 185 The Bishop of Ambian a great Lawyer against the Fryars hearing of Confessions c. Page 148 The Battel at Agin-Court where ten thousand French were slain Page 163 Alanus of Chartres Secretary to King Charles VII Antonius de Rosellis a famous Reader of the Law Page 172 Andoclus a Martyr Page 8 Angisus Abbot of Lobien Page 56 Ambrose Ansbert a good Writer Page 67 Anselm Bishop of Laon betrayeth Charles of Lorrain with his Wife and Children unto his Enemies Page 69 The Cardinal of Arles Page 171 An Assembly of the Prelates at Tours called by King Lewes XII Page 186 Aponius a Writer of divers Books Page 38 Jacobus Amiotus Abbot of Bellesona Page 209 Aphordisius first Pastor of Bourges in France Page 2 A great Army against the Albigenses Page 104 Arnalt Bishop of Orleans against the Pope's power over the French Bishops Page 69 Arnulph Bishop of Metz a Learned and good Man Page 32 Arnulph a singular Preacher Page 85 George Cardinal of Armignag Page 214 Avitus Bishop of Vienna he converted the Burgundians to the Faith of Christ Page 22 Audoenus Bishop of Roven Page 35 Austregesil Bishop of Bourdeaux Page 33 B. BAvo a Roâ—â—er Converted by Amandus Page 33 Cardinal Bettone Arch-Bishop of Avignon Page 174 Peter Bertrand Bishop of Edven his Speech Page 136 Theodore Beza a Learned Protestant Divine his Works Page 216