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A42559 Status ecclesiæ gallicanæ, 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 chuches 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. Geaves, William. 1676 (1676) Wing G442; ESTC R7931 417,076 474

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the Heretical and forbidden Books The King was informed of their shifts and of that Letter Wherefore he ordereth the Bishop to require them again After divers exhortations to this purpose they send fifteen places which they had marked The Bishop conferreth with their Deputy Gagneius upon these Instances and writes a large Letter unto them commending the Annotations and shewing what course they should observe in their censure They were the more enraged at that commendation and would not go on in their censure but would have the Book to be condemned which they had declared Heretical Then the King sent his Letters Patent and sealed charging them to proceed in their censure and to deliver it unto his Printer They do still refuse and at that time King Francis dyeth viz. on March 31. Anno 1547. His Son King Henry II. who succeeded him sendeth the like charge unto them on August 16. 1547 They return Answer that they shall perfect their censure before November 1. But then in place of the censure they send a supplication craving that the Books may be forbidden because he is a Sacramentarian and had written that mens Souls are mortal The Printer is informed of it and addresseth himself to answer before King and Council Then they return unto Paris But he shews how false their calumnies were At that time they sent unto the King forty six Articles which they had collected It was told unto their Deputies that they had spoken of some thousands of Errours and were these all turned to forty six They answered the University had more but had not as yet put them in form The Printer returns to Paris chiding some of the Divines for accusing him falsly The Printer craves of the King protection from the malice of his Enemies The King grants it under his Seal This storm being over he gathereth fifteen old Manuscripts of the new Testament in Greek and printeth it with the divers lections on the Margin and gives the first copy unto Castellan The Pope sends into France Jerome Boccaferrius a Roman Cardinal of St. George in shew to condole with the King for the death of his Father and to give him joy of the beginning of his Kingdom but with commission to make confederation with him The Pope gave the Legate most ample power to grant the King all his demands in matter of Benefices without regarding the Decrees of the Tridentine Council a strong Alliance is made between the Pope and the French King and two Cardinals are created at the King's instance viz. Charles of Guise Arch-Bishop of Rhemes and Charles of Vandosme of the Blood-Royal The Cardinal of Guise made an open discourse in publick consistory in the name of the French King shewing Hist Concil Trident li. 3. that King Francis had never spared any cost or danger to maintain the liberty of other Princes In conformity whereof Henry not degenerating from the vertue of his Ancestors as soon as he had left to mourn for his Father's death was willing to declare his observance towards the See of Rome That the merits of the Kings of France were famous and exceedeth all those of other Nations But this was above all which the King now doth promising all his Forces to preserve the Papal Dignity now when it is so contemned He prayed the Pope to receive the King for his Son and to promise to himself all assistance from him and to take care that the Church should receive no damage nor shame in regard that from small beginnings great factions have risen which have brought the Popes into great calamities He exemplified in many Popes afflicted who were defended and raised by the Kings of France concluding that the present King will not yield to his Ancestors in preserving the Dignity of the Apostolick See In the year 1549. The French King making his first entry into Paris caused a solemn procession to be made and published an Edict wherein he signifieth that he received the protection of the Catholick Religion and of the See of Rome and the care of the Ecclesiastical Order and that he abhorred the Novity of Religion and testified unto all his will to persevere in the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and to banish the new Hereticks so he called the Protestants out of all his Dominions He caused this Edict to be printed in French and sent it into all parts of his Kingdom He gave leave also to his Prelates to make a Provincial Assembly to reform the Churches Which being known at Rome was thought to be a bad example and might be a beginning to make the French Church independent of the Church of Rome He caused also many Lutherans to be put to death in Paris himself being present at the Spectacle and in the beginning of the next year he renewed the Edict against them laying grievous punishments upon the Judges who were not diligent in detecting and punishing them Pope Paul III. dyeth Anno 1549. the Cardinals were divided into three factions about the choice of a new Pope Imperialists French and dependents on the dead Pope and by consequence on his Nephews Hist of Cardin. part 3. li. 2. They made agreement among themselves that nine Cardinals should be named of each Faction three but that the nomination should be made by two only of the Faction of France and that afterwards it should be lawful for the Imperialists to take one of the said nine at their pleasure and that the rest should be obliged to concur Of the French Faction accordingly were named the Cardinals of Lorrain Tornon and Bellai Of the Imperial Faction Theatino Monte and San Marcello and three others of the other Faction Salviati Ridolfi and Trani The Imperialists refused all the nine persons which were named which gave great offence to the other two Factions insomuch that it was proposed by the French to the Farnesians to unite among themselves and to choose a Pope in spite of the Imperialists But they could not agree in the choice of their persons because there were several Cardinals among the Farnesians who were much obliged to the Emperour and much afraid of his displeasure But after a tedious discussion of the Cardinals for the space of three months during the vacancy of the See Gio Maria del Monte was created Pope on February Anno 1550. by the name of Julius the third And now the Faction of the Nipotisme was introduced into the conclave having over-powred the Factions of the Emperour and King of France with no small reputation The Council having been translated to Bolonia the Emperour having protested against it the Pope deliberates about the remitting of it to Trent The French King offered to the Pope whatsoever he was able to do for him promised to assist the Council and to send the Prelates of his Kingdom and all favour and protection for the maintenance of the Papal Authority The Book of Francis Duraneus a learned Lawyer entituled De Sacris Ecclesiae Ministeriis came
by Sir Philip Sidney and at his request finished by Arthur Golding He published a Treatise containing the reasons why the Council of Trent could not be admitted in France He was sent by the King of Navarre to the National Synod of Vitray in Bretagne where he was joyfully received by the whole Company He was likewise present in the General Assembly of the Protestants held at Montauban by the King's permission Anno 1584. Where he was desired by the Assembly to draw up the form of their Complaints against the violation of the Edict for Peace which He together with the Count de la Val presented afterwards to the King at Blois When the League of the House of Guise brake forth which was formed first against the King under pretence of the Defence of the Catholick Religion and afterwards declared against the King of Navarre and the Protestants That famous Declaration in the name of the said King was Penned by Du Plessis In the following Civil Wars for Religion he did many important services for the King of Navarre and the Protestants both with his Sword and Pen having answered a virulent Book published by the League against the King of Navarre called the English Catholick In the year 1590. he built a Church for the Protestants in Saumur and obtained a Grant from the King for the instituting an University there which was afterwards confirmed by a National Synod held in the same place Anno 1593. he wrote a large Letter to the King who then had changed his Religion desiring the continuance of his favour to the Protestants and withal expostulating that sudden change Anno 1598. he Printed his Work of the Lords Supper The Jesuites of Bourdeaux Petitioned the Parliament there that it might be burnt Jacobus August Thuanus is a most faithful Historian He wrote an History of things done throughout the whole World from the year of Christ 1545. even to the year 1608. in a most elegant style He is highly commended by divers Learned men Suae aetatis Historiam summo judicio fide sine odio gratia ad Dei gloriam publicam utilitatem prudentissimè conscripsit opus styli elegantiâ gravissimarum rerum copiâ ac majestate cum quibus●is sive veterum sive recentium in eo genere scriptis conferendum Lans Orat. pro Gallia Inter multa quae in te admiratura est posteritas ego illud unicè obstupesco unde tibi modo in fori arce modo in summâ Republicâ versanti otium unde vis indefessa animi ut res tot ac tantas aut scribendas cognosceres aut cognitas scriberes Grot. Epist 16. Jac. Aug. Thuano Quem ego virum divinitus datum censeo saeculo isti in exemplum pietatis integritatis probitatis Casaub Epist Append. Vir immortali laude dignus Historicae Veritatis lumen Montac Antidiat Vir non minus eruditione quàm officij dignitate Nobilis siquis alius Veri studiosus Morton Causa Regia Isaac Casaubon was a great Linguist a singular Grecian and an excellent Philologer He hath written in twelve Books of his Exercitations Animadversions on those twelve Tomes of Baronius his Annals Scaliger in an Epistle to Casaubon commends his Bok de Satyra and in another his Theophrastus his Characters He is thus styled by Salmasius Incomparabilis Vir seculi sui decus immortale Isaacus Casaubonus nunquam sine laude nominandus nunquam satis laudatus Salmas Praefat. ad Hist August script The Marriage between the King and Queen Margarite being pronounced void and a Contract past between him and Mary of Medices the Duke of Florence's Daughter She being blessed of Aldobrandino the Pope's Legate at Florence went from thence and arrived at Marseilles from whe●ce being every where Royally entertained she came to Lions and there after eight daies stay met with the King where in St. John's Church the Nuptial solemnity was performed to this Couple by the Legate On September 27. 1601. the Queen was delivered of a Son which was named Lewes The King blessing him put a Sword in his hand to use it to the glory of God and the defence of his Crown and people The Pope sent presently unto the King and Queen to congratulate with them of this Birth and to carry unto the young Prince swadling bands bearing clothes and other things blessed by his Holiness Then the Pope granted a Jubilee and pardons to all the French that should go visit the Church of St. Croix at Orleans doing the works of Christian Charity An infinite number of people went thither from all parts of France the King and Queen went thither with the first and gave means to help to build this Church which had been ruined during the fury of the first Civil wars The King laid the first stone of this building Then the King did forbid the superfluous use of Gold and Silver in Lace or otherwise upon garments and made an Edict also against Usury and another against Combates Not long after the Duke of Biron's Conspiracy was discovered who was sometimes heard say he would die a Sovereign Refusing to submit hi●self to the King's Clemency he is seized on at the King's Chamber door and his Sword being taken from him is carried Prisoner to the Bastille There uttered he those passionate words That if they desired to put him to death they should dispatch him that they should not brag they had made him to fear death that they should speedily drink themselves drunk with the blood which remained of thirty five wounds which he had received for the service of France The King sent his Letters to the Court of Parliament to make his Process In the end being found guilty the Chancellour pronounced the sentence of death whcih was inflicted on him in the Bastille which he took most impatiently King James of happy memory before his coming to the Crown of England sent expressions of Royal favour to the Consistory of Paris who chose the forementioned Du Moulin to address their humble thanks by Letters to his Majesty And when his Majesty publisht his Confession of Faith against which Coeffeteau since Bishop of Marselles writ an eloquent Book Du Moulin undertook the defence of the King's Confession and wrote a French Book with that Title which was most welcome to the King and to the English Clergy and his Majesty made Royal and bountiful expressions of his acceptance And because other Adversaries besides Coeffeteau had writ against the King Du Moulin wrote another Book in his defence in Latine entituled De Monarchia Pontificis Romani The Duke of Bovillon having been accused by those which had been examined in Council upon the Conspiracies of the Duke of Biron being sent for refuseth to come to the King but afterwards in the year 1606. he made his peace and came to the King being then at Dunchery on April 11. The King with the Queen Princes of the blood and other Officers of the Crown
Christians which would not renounce their Faith he cashiered and deprived of all military honour and some of their lives Many of the Bishops were plundered slain and martyred Great Cruelties were exercised against the Christians in Egypt Syria Phrygia and in other parts Vincentius saith Vincent in Specul Lib. 12. That at Triers which is a City situated by the River Mosella one Bietionarius exercised so great cruelty that the River was red with the blood of the Christians that were slain In France likewise he sent Posts up and down hither and thither with Decrees and express Commissions to this end that in whatsoever place any Christian was found he should presently be put to death But these two bloody Emperours seeing the number of the Christians rather to encrease than to diminish notwithstanding all the cruelty that they could shew and having now as it were their fill of blood they ceased at last of their own accord to put any more Christians to death and finding themselves not able to destroy the Church they gave over the Empire and became private men Constantius Chlorus and Maximinus Galerius succeeded in the Empire Constantius parted the Empire with Galerius and would Rule but in Britain Spain and France Galerius chose to him his two Sons Maximinus and Severus and Constantius took Constantine his Son Caesar under him Constantius was a great supporter of the Christians And when in the other Jurisdictions of the Empire the Congregations of the Christians were molested with Persecutions Constantius gave liberty to the Christians Century IV. COnstantius dying at York ANNO 306. Constantine his Son succeeded him in the Empire Constantine who Ruled France did not only abstain from shedding Christian blood but also had the Christians in great esteem Nazarius and Patera were esteemed rare Oratours in France living at that time The Histories of those Times make mention of one Sebastian a Martyr he being born in that part of France called Gal●ia Narbonensis Fox Act. Monum Vol. 1. was a Christian and a Lieutenant General in the Army of Dioclesian who also encouraged many Martyrs of Christ by his Exhortations unto Constancy and kept them in the Faith He being therefore accused to Dioclesian was apprehended and brought into the open field where of his own Soldiers he was thrust through the body with innumerable arrows and after that his body was thrown into a jakes or sink St. Ambrose makes mention of this Sebastian the Martyr in his Commentary upon the 118. Psalm Constantine restored Peace unto the Church Anno 311. he Reigned thirty and two years great Tranquility enjoyed the Church under this good Emperour Before he had subdued Licinius he set forth many Edicts for the restitution of the Goods of the Church for the revoking the Christians out of Exile for taking away the Dissentions of the Doctors out of the Church for the setting of them free from publick charges A Copy of his Constitutions may be seen in Eusebius his Ecclesiastical History in his tenth Book and fifth Chapter In the fourteenth Year of Constantine there was holden a Council at Nice for the debating of the Controversie about the Feast of Easter and for the rooting out the Heresie of Arius There was likewise a Council holden at Arles under Constantine's Reign Constantine left three Sons whom he had by Fausta Maximian's Daughter Heirs of the Empire who also divided the Empire among themselves A sudden Sedition after their Father's death embroiled them all in blood and wars by the commotion and dissimulation of the Emperour Constantius In his Time the Arrian Heresie which for fear of Constantine had been suppressed began now again to lift up it's head for Constantius propagates that Heresie Hilary Bishop of Poictiers in France lived under the Reign of Constantius a man in Religion constant in Manners meek and courteous he wrote sharply against the Arians Ruffin Lib. 1. cap. 31. he was banished immediately after the Council of Milan into Phrygia as some suppose Among divers others he dedicated his Book De Synodis fidei Catholicae contra Arianos to the Bishops of the Provinces of Britain during his Exile for the Orthodox Faith commending them for their constancy in the profession of that Faith Theodor. Lib. 3. cap. 4. Theodoret writeth that he was banished to Thebaida and recalled from Exile again under Julian But it is more apparent that he remained in Phrygia until the Council of Seleucia unto which Council he was brought from banishment not by any special Commandment from the Emperour but by a general command given to his Deputy Leonas Hist Magdeb. Cent. 4. cap. 10. to assemble together the Bishops of the East under pretence of executing the command of the Emperour Hillary being banished in the East was brought to the Council of Seleucia from thence he went to Constantinople The Emperour refused to hear him dispute with the Arians in matters of Faith but gave him liberty to return to his own Countrey again He took great pains to purge the Countrey of France from the Arian Heresie and he prevailed so far that Jerome compares him to Deucalicon who both saw the flood of waters overflowing Thessalia and the abating of them also even so Hillary saw both the growth and decay of Arianism in France Hilar. Lib. 10. de Trinit Yet even this Father had his Errours for in his Tenth Book of the Trinity and upon Psal 138 and 53 he maintaineth That Jesus Christ in his death suffered no pain but that only he would make us believe that he suffered and that the blows did not give him any pain no more than if an arrow pierced the water or prickt the fire or hurt the air and that the virtue of the body of Christ received the violence of pains without feeling The same Father saith That Christ did eat and drink not out of any necessity but to comply with Custom for which Opinion he is reproved by Claudius Bishop of Vienna Du Moulin cont Perron Lib. 1. cap. 49. in the Book of the State of the Soul That Errour so gross hath brought him to another that in these words of the Lord Father let this Cup pass from me Jesus Christ desired his Father that his Disciples also might suffer in the like manner so that by his account St. Peter felt no pain in suffering martyrdom It is also one of his Opinions that Souls are Corporal He lived six years after his return from banishment and died under the Reign of Valentinian Stephanus Paschasius hath these Verses of him in his Icones Et nos exhilaras Hilari sanctissime Praesul Et monitis victa est Arria secta tuis Jerome although he was born in a Town of Dalmatia called Stridon and was instructed in rudiments of Learning at Rome yet from Rome he went into France of purpose to increase his Knowledge and to divers other places Constantius being dead Julian his Cousin German alone governed
Jurisdiction nor Domination of the Bishop of Rome over the Churches of France Hilary called himself Primate of the Churches of Gauls subject to the Roman Empire that is of Provence and Daulphine for the rest of the Gauls was then held by the Visigoths and by the Francks The quarrel was that Hilary conferred the degree of Bishop in his Diocess not expecting the consent and approbation of the Bishop of Rome but Leo would oblige him to acquaint the Roman See with it and to get his approbation Upon that Leo sends Letters to the Bishops of Daulphine where after he ha●● 〈◊〉 swe ling words exalted the Dignity of the Roman See he add●●h Hillary To trouble the State of the Church Leon. Epist 87. ad Episcop per Viennensem provinciam constitutos and the Concord of Bishops by new presumptions hath exceeded measure desiring so to subject you to his power that he will not suffer you to be subject to the blessed Apostle Peter challenging to himself the Ordination of all the Churches in Gauls But Hilary came to Rome not regarding the Anathema's of Leo and to his face affirmed that neither did Christ appoint Peter to be Head of the rest of the Apostles neither had the Bishop of Rome a Sovereignty over the Churches of France In that strife Leo according to his custom had his recourse to Valentinian who presently without hearing what Hilary could say for himself gave sentence for Leo and made a Law which is extant in the Theodosian Code among the Novel Constitutions in the 24th Title the Law runs in these words Whereas the merit of Peter who is the Prince of the Episcopal Society and the Dignity of the Roman City and Authority of the Sacred Synod have established the Primacy of the Apostolick See let not presumption attempt any lawful thing against the Authority of that See for then shall the peace of the Churches be maintained every where if the Vniversality do acknowledge their Governour In which words we may observe by the way that Valentinian doth not ground the Popes Primacy upon the Word of God He addeth We Decree by a perpetual Ordinance That it be not lawful either to the Bishops of Gauls or to those other Provinces to attempt any thing against the venerable Pope c. but that to them and to all whatsoever the Authority of the Apostolick See hath decreed or shall decree may be a Law so that what Bishop soever being evocated to the judgement of the Roman Prelate shall neglect to appear he be constrained by the Governour of the Province to make his appearance But Valentinian being deprived of Africa by the Vandals of Africa and of Spain and Guienne by the Gothes and of most part of Gauls by the Franks nothing remaining to him but Italy Sicily Provence and Daulphine all the East being in the power of Theodosius that Law was but of little force How much that Law was despised in the Empire of the East it is easie to see for in the Year 472. that is about 22 or 23 years after that Law of Valentinian a contrary Law was established by the Emperour Leo which is the 16th Law in the Code De Sacrosanctis Ecclesiis The words of the Law are these Whereby the Emperour decreeth that the Church of Constantinople be the first of all Churches and the Bishop of Constantinople be the first of all Bishops We judge and decree that the most holy Church of this Town which is Mother of our Piety and of all Christians of the Orthodox Religion and the most holy See of the same most Religious City have all the privileges and honours concerning the Creation of Bishops and the right of sitting before others c. Baronius declaimeth against that Law of Leo and saith It proceeded from him who is the Head over all the Sons of pride Baron Annal. ad Ann. 472. Then lived Sidonius Apollinaris Bishop of Clermont in Auvergn whose Epistles are extant great part of which are written to the Bishops of France his Colleagues but in none of them is there any trace of subjection to the Roman See or of communication with the Bishop of Rome The same Sidonius calls Lupus Bishop of Troyes Bishop of Bishops and the first Bishop of the world and saith That he is sitting in the Apostolick See This Man wrote all his Epistles in Latin and Preached also in Latin In the tenth Epistle of the second Book he complaineth That in his time among the Vulgar the purity and property of the Latin Tongue decayed and degenerated into barbarousness And in the Epistle to Pope Perpetuus for then all the Bishops that were a little more respected than the ordinary Bishops were called Popes there is a Latin Sermon made by the said Sidonius unto the people of Bourges a certain proof that the people of Bourges understood Latin About this time flourished Prosper of Aquitain so called from his Countrey not the place of his Bishoprick as Baronius saith He wrote De Vitâ Contemplativâ Of a Contemplative Life In his first Book Chap. 23. he prescribeth That the Preacher's Language be simple and plain though it be not very good Latin yet that it be orderly and grave Usser de Britan. Eccles Primord Cap. 8. that it may hinder no body though ignorant to understand it He wrote a Book De Ingratis by which name he alway marketh out the Pelagians that sprung out of the ashes of that Arch-Heretick Pelagius Regiensem Episcopum fuisse recentiores commemorant In sententias quasdam Augustini Epigrammata varia conscripsit Catal. Test Verit. He wrote many excellent things in defence of the Grace of Christ against the Pelagians and sheweth himself to be a Disciple and vehement defender of St. Augustine saith Bellarmine Salvianus Bishop of Marseilles lived then when the Nation of the Goths oppressed France and many began to doubt of the Providence of God in regard that those wicked wretches had got the upper hand and prospered so much in the world therefore he wrote an excellent Treatise De Judicio Providentia Dei to Salonius Bishop of Vienna One entitleleth him Gallicae Gentis Episcoporum Magistrum The Master of the Bishops of the French Nation Salonius wrote upon the Books of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Claudianus Mammertus Bishop of Vienna is praised by Sidonius with excessive commendations as if all the Graces of Jerome Augustine Patr. Syms Eccles Hist Basil Nazianzen and many other Fathers had been incorporated in him He wrote three Books De Statu Animae Of the State of the Soul to the same Sidonius with two Epistles How much the Popish Bishops differ from those Famous Bishops that flourished in those dayes the Reader may understand by this following Epitaph of Claudianus Mammertus made by Sidonius Hoc dat cespite membra Claudianus Triplex Bibliotheca quo Magistro Romana Attica Christiana fulsit Quam totam Monachus virente in aevo Secreta bibit instructione
the end of his periods He was a very learned man as by the Commentaries which he wrote upon the Old and New Testament evidently appeareth Catal. Test verit Among the Collections of Aventinus there is an Epistle with this Title The Epistle of the Bishops of Germany and France to Pope Anastasius This was written in the time of King Clovis Leporius a French Monk made a flourish of the Nestorian Heresie but being refuted by Augustine he asked pardon of his Errour Faustus of an Abbot was made Bishop of Rhegium in France as Gennadius writeth in his Catalogue He wrote against the Pelagians and Epicureans A contention arose in France about the Doctrine of Predestination which had it's rise out of the Books of St. Augustine being ill understood Lucidus made opposition Faustus chastised him and brought him to his Opinion Eleven Bishops subscribed to the Epistle of Faustus in the Council of Arles by which Faustus himself affirmeth that an hard piece of work was put upon him of disputing concerning Grace and Free-Will About the same time also was solemnized at Lions an Assembly of twenty seven Bishops Victorinus of Aquitain at the request of Hillary set forth an Easter-Circle of 532 years in the year 563. Century VI. THe Province of Narbon which was called the first Province of France remained in the Goths subjection and thence it began to be called Gothia for Amalaricus his Father Alaricus being dead hastily flying into Spain he retained under his Power Spain with that part of France which we have mentioned before The Divine Providence gave to Clovis above all other Princes in the world such happy success as oftentimes his wars were miraculously confirmed to be guided of God among which is that remarkable thing That hastening against Alaricus having encamped near the River Vigenna he found a shallow place by the direction of an Hind that passed over the River before him through which he transported his Army to the other side and after this victory preparing to besiege Angoulesm the walls of the City falling down of their own accord gave him an easie entrance into the City Which things being known the Emperour Anastasius the year following the victory of Vocles sent a Standard to Chlodoveus or Clovis Petav. Hist Orbis Lib. 7. cap. 2. And he went in Procession in St. Martin's Church at Turin with his Belt his Purple-gown and his Diadem then coming to Paris there he established his Throne Anno 507 with so happy successes Procopius saith that the Franks made a League offensive with King Theodorick against the Burgundians and that the Goths delaying the time purposely at length arrived when the fight was ended and so without receiving any loss they divided the spoil with the Francks equally sharing the Kingdom which it is like came to pass about the year 508 it being after the Visigoths great defeat although at that time the Burgundian Kingdom was not utterly extinct in France for Gundebaut being defeated and dead Sigismond his Son kept still what remained who harkening to Avitus Bishop of Vienna changed his Arian Heresie into the Orthodox Faith After this Clodoveus raging against his nearest Friends put them almost all to death and at last in the year 511. died in Paris Clovis convoked the first Synod at Orleans Then flourished in France Caesarius Bishop of Arles whom we read to have been one of the Council of Agathus held in the year of Christ 506. and lived unto the time of Vigilius of whom he received a Letter Anno 538. Also Avitus Bishop of Vienna by whom the Burgundians received the Christian Faith Remigius Bishop of Rhemes called the Apostle of the Francks died Anno 534. In the same Year was held a Council at Avergnes wherein was Flavius Bishop of Rhemes Then are Hincmarus and Flodoardus mistaken in saying that he officiated in the Bishoprick 74 years and lived 96 years In France Launomarus of Chartres and Maximinus of Orleans were renowned Friars Maximus builded the Micians Monastery near unto the City he was Nephew to Euspicius Clovis as he went first to Orleans brought them both thither along with him Sigebert calleth that Monastery of the Micians Maximus's Monastery also Avitus and Carilesus Maximus's Disciples But Clovis being dead his four Sons divide the Realm into four Kingdoms Childebert was King of Paris and under this Realm was comprehended the Provinces of Poictou Main Tourain Champaigne Anjou Guyenne and Auvergne Clotaire was King of Soissons and the dependance of this Realm were Vermandois Picardy Flaunders and Normandy Clodamir was King of Orleans and the Estates of this Realm were all the Dutchy of Orleans Burgundy Lionois Daulphine and Provence Thierri was King of Metz and to his Realm was subject the Country of Lorain and all the Countries from Rhemes unto the Rhine and beyond it all Germany which was the Ancient Patrimony of the Kings of France De Serres in vit Childeb He was received in this Royal Partition with his Brethren though he were a Bastard the which hath been likewise practised by others in the first Line And as every one of these four Kings called themselves Kings of France so they also added the name of their Principal City where they held their Court. But there was a Civil Dissention betwixt the Brethren they Leavy Forces with intent to ruine one another They Reigned forty and two years together as Kings of France yet with a particular Title under this general as hath been said But in the end Clotaire remained King alone At this time were frequent meetings of Bishops in Aurelia or Orleans many superstitious Constitutions were hatched among them Symson's Church History Lib. 6. de Conciliis especially about prohibition of marriage for this Doctrine had now got the upper hand in the West In the second Council Simony is condemned and the receiving of money for the admitting a man to a Spiritual Office is condemned In the third Council Perjury is abhorred in a man having a Spiritual Calling but softly punished by two years excluding him from the Communion In the fourth Council it is Ordained The Bishops met in the Synod at Orleans direct their letters thus to the King To our Lord the most Illustrious King Clovis the Son of the Catholick Church all the Clergy whom you commanded to come unto the Council c. And it is said in the Preface to the second Council of Orleans We are here Assembled by the Command of our most Illustrious Kings in the City of Orleans That in the offering of the Holy Chalice nothing shall be presented but Wine only unmixed with water because it is a sacrilegious thing to transgress the holy mandate and institution of our Saviour Christ In the fifth Council it is condescended that no man shall be Ordained Bishop without consent of King Clergy and People according to the Ancient Constitution of the Church and that no Spiritual Office shall be bought by money There was an
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
battel But Charles Martel getting out of prison assisteth Plectrude gathereth Forces and overcometh the new King and Rainfroy Charles is now received and installed Major of France and having assured himself of the Children of King Dagobert he caused them to be gently brought up in a Monastery At Colen he seizeth on Plectrude and Thibauld and inflicts no other punishment upon them but enjoyns them to live quiet and to attempt nothing without his liking He pardons Rainfroy and gives him the Government of Anjou He degradeth Chilperic being advanced against Law and causeth the eldest Son of Dagobert to be chosen King named Chilperic the third Chilperic dies having reigned five years and in his place his Brother Thierri was crowned King He reigned ten years and dying left his Son Childerick the last King of this first race of the Merovingiens Charles Martel from Major of the Palace is chosen Duke or Prince of the French Eudo Prince of the Gascoigus to whom Rainfroy joyned himself called in the Saracens with their King Abdiram out of Spain Anno 725. whom Charles met and killed them with an universal slaughter there were slain in one day three hundred seventy and five thousand and of the French fifteen hundred among which were many of the Nobility and men of Note And having recovered Burgundy and Lions in the year following Eudo dying he invaded Aquitain and overthrew the Saracens in great numbers invading France in the year 731 and regained Avignon taken by them and forceth them to abandon Narbon and the whole Country to his mercy At that time divers devout Monks lived in France viz. Vandegrisil of Fontinel a builder of Monasteries of whom Sigebert makes mention Vrsmar of Lobia a Founder of a Monastery Bertine Abbot of Sithiena and holy Aegidius Childeric was King in shew nine years Anno 744. Pepin in the time of King Childeric called a Council at Soissons where he assisted in person together with the greatest Peers of the Land five under the Authority of Charles Martel and four under Pepin the Son of Charles who dispossessed him Charles Martel having governed the Kingdom five and twenty years dieth He had four Sons Carloman Pepin Giles and Grypho Giles was made Bishop of Rhotomagum and left his Government assigned him by his Father unto Carloman and Pepin and they two divide the Kingdom and Govern each one his own part under the Title of their Father as is apparent by the first words of the Council under Carloman In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I Carloman Duke and Prince of the French in the year from the incarnation of Christ 742. on the 11th of the Kalends of March by the advice of the servants of God and of my Nobes I have Assembled the Bishops in my Kingdom c. Within seven years after this Synod he laid aside his Princely Authority saith Bellarmine and entred into a Cloyster becomes a Monk and so dieth at Vienna and then all the Authority was in Pepin alone Grypho had rebelled against Carloman but at last Pepin took him in Italy and caused him to be beheaded Anno 753. Pepin having the Government alone aimed at an higher Title Blondus and others who have written the Acts of the French Blond dec 14. Lib. 10. say that the Nobility and Commonalty of that Nation duly considering the worthiness of Pepin and sottishness of Childeric consulted with Zachary Bishop of Rome whether they should tolerate so foolish a King any longer and defraud Pepin of his deserved Princely honour And when the Pope answered That he was most worthy to be a King who could best discharge the Office of a King Petrie's Church-Hist Cent. 8. the French with the publick consent of the whole Nation did pronounce Pepin for their King and Childerick was shaven and made a Monk Then the Pope wrote unto Boniface Bishop of Mentz to Anoint Pepin King of France and declare all his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance unto their lazy Soveraign The Pope was chiefly moved hereunto with hope to draw help from Pepin against the Lumbards Concil apud Palat Vernes his mortal enemies Pepin Anno 755. called almost all the Gallican Bishops to meet at the Council of Vernes the Palace About this time Aponius a French man wrote several Books In the Council called by Carloman of which I hinted before he beginneth thus I Carloman c. have Assembled the Bishops which are in my Kingdom with the Priests into a Council and Synod These are Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz Burchard of Wirtzburg Reginfrid Guntharius with the rest of the Bishops and their Priests That they should give me Counsel how the Law of God and Religion of the Church may be restored which in the dayes of former Princes hath been shattered and fallen and how Christian People may attain the salvation of their souls and not perish being deceived by false Priests And by the advice of my Priests and Nobles We have Ordained Bishops through Cities and set over them the Arch-Bishop Boniface who is the Legate of St. Peter And we have Ordained that Synods should be called every year Concil Tom. 2. Edit Crab. that in our presence the Decrees of Canons Rites and Laws of the Church may be restored And we restore unto the Churches the Monies that have been taken from them We have also discharged all the Servants of God from hunting and wandring in woods with Dogs and that they have no Hawks nor Faulcons We have also Decreed according to the Holy Canons That each Presbyter dwelling in a Parish be subject unto the Bishop where he dwelleth and that alwayes in Lent he give an account of his Ministry whether of Baptism or Catholick Faith and prayers and order of Masses Then he forbiddeth sacrifice to the dead and other profane Rites of the Heathen He appointeth punishments against the Fornications and Adulteries of Monks It was also decreed that Monks and Nuns should live within their Abbies and Cloysters according to the Rule of their Father Benedict Pope Stephen confirmed Pepin and his Heirs for Kings of France and of him asked aid to withstand the Power of Aistulphus then King of Lombardy who then had exacted Tribute from certain Lands belonging to the Bishop of Rome and because it was refused took up Arms. The Pope wrote a Letter directed to the Kings of France and to all Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks and to the Glorious Dukes and Counts and unto the whole Army of the Kingdom of France Stephen Pope and all the Bishops Priests and Deacons Dukes Counts People and Army of the Romans all being in anguish with how doleful and bitter grief we are encompassed on every side with how great perplexity and doubtfulness we are distressed and how many tears our eyes do shed because of the continual troubles which are multiplyed upon us we think that the smallest part of all the elements do declare for who beholding our
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
openly asked every mans opinion concerning those accusations all answered That no man ought to judge the Head of the Church which the King observing he asked no more questions The next day all being Re-assembled the Pope went up into the Pulpit and taking a Book of the Holy Evangelists in his hands said with a loud voice That he sware by God and those Holy Evangelists That all that which his Adversaries had laid to his charge was false and untrue and that he had neither committed nor thought any such matter as they objected but that they had of malice and envy slandered him and that he therefore publickly made this Protestation and confirmed it by his Oath seeing that to them all the manner of his Life and Government was well known His Oath was allowed and himself commended and the King commanded his Accusers Pascal and Capulus to be sought out and put to death But the Pope was content their lives should be spared so as they might be committed to prison and thence be condemned to perpetual exile Eight dayes after the Pope having considered first how much the Greek Emperours envied his Greatness together with the small affection they bare to the worshipping of Images and other points wherein they were opposite to the Church of Rome and then how requisite it was to have an Emperour which might maintain the Provinces of Italy in peace which were often disturbed but chiefly to shew himself grateful for the benefits which he and the Church of Rome had received from him and the House of France But above all for accepting his Protestation in his own defence for a proof of his Integrity he resolved to make Charles the Great Emperour and to Translate the Head of the Empire into the West And having ruminated hereupon against the day of the Nativity of Christ he commanded all the Priests Cardinals and all the other Prelates to come to a Mass whither Charles was also invited and came together with all the other Princes and so about the midst of the Mass the Pope then saying it he turned about from the Altar to the People and with a loud voice said That he did there Elect Create and publish Charles the Great the most Mighty and Victorious King of Italy of the Germans and of the Frenchmen Emperour and ever Augustus Which being done he set the Imperial Crown upon his head and all those which were present consented thereunto with acclamations and applauses saying To the most Godly ever Augustus Great and most Victorious Emperour Charles God grant long life and victory This acclamation being ended the Pope anointed him and then and there also anointed and entituled his Son Pepin with the good liking and consent of his Father King of Italy Which Coronations were performed with great Feastings and Solemnity upon Christmass day Anno 800. So Charles remained Emperour and the Empire was transported from the Greeks to the Germans Pope Adrian with his whole Synod which consisted of one hundred fifty three Bishops Abbots and Religious persons had given before the right and power of Electing the Pope unto Charles the Great and further Ordained That the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of all the Provinces should receive their investiture from him in such sort as no Bishop can be Consecrated by any man unless he be approved and invested by the King pronouncing an Anathema against such as shall do otherwise Century IX CHarles having left his Son Pepin in Italy visiteth Germany subdueth the Saxons and reduceth them to the Christian Faith He had Wars with them for the space of thirty years he oftentimes subdued them and gave them their Liberty upon condition they would embrace the Christian Religion but on every occasion their Duke Wedekind cast off both Loyalty and Christianity At several times when Charles had obtained a Victory he erected a new Bishoprick He founded seven Episcopal Cities in that Province Crantz in Saxon. Lib. 2. cap. 23. giving them Princely Power because he judged that those fierce people might be tamed by Religion rather than by Arms. These were Bremen Verda Minda Padeburn Osnaburg Hildeshein Halberstadt The Historian saith Although Charles gave unto the Bishops power of Governing yet the Nobles did not altogether lose their Power whence it came to pass that when the War was ended the Secular Power beyond the Veser was acknowledged by them all to belong unto him At last because the Saxons had so often revolted he removed ten thousand of them with their Wives and Children into Brabant and Flanders and sent and settled some French in that Province and left his Son Charles there with an Army to keep them in obedience Charles understood that the Latin Translation of the Bible was much corrupted through the negligence of Writers Baron Annal. Tom. 9. ad Ann. 908. and gave it in charge unto Alcuinus to amend the Translation who did Correct both the Old and New Testament as Baronius testifieth Alcuinus was Governour of the Monastery of St. Martin at Tours yet was he neither a Monk nor a Priest but contented himself with the Order of a Deacon He died on Whitsunday Anno 804. Pepin King of Italy and Charles two Sons of Charles the Great died before him When Charles the Emperour was now Aged and saw many abuses in the Church he endeavoured by all means possible to procure Reformation of the lewd manners of Churchmen therefore he appointed at one time Symson's Church-Hist Cent. 9. namely in the year 813. five National Councils to be Convened in divers places for the Reformation of the Clergy and People One was Convened at Mentz a second at Rhemes the third at Tours the fourth at Cabillon or Chalon and the fifth at Arles In all these Councils no opposition was made to the Council of Frankford neither was the adoration of Images avowed in any of the Councils So available is the Authority of a Prince for suppressing of false Doctrine and Heresie In the Council of Mentz were Assembled thirty Bishops twenty five Abbots with a great number of Priests Monks and Judges After three dayes abstinence and fasting joyned with Litanies publick prayers and imploring Gods assistance they divided themselves into three Companies In the first were the Bishops with some Scribes reading the History of the Gospel and the Epistles and Acts of the Apostles together with the Canons and Works of the Ancients and the Pastoral Book of Gregory to the end that by the Precepts contained in those Books the enormity of mens lives might be corrected In the second Company were Abbots and Monks reading the Rules of St. Benedict for the reformation of the lives of Monks In the third Company were Lords and Judges pondering the causes of all men who came to complain that wrong was done unto them The first second and third Canons of this Council entreat concerning Faith Hope and Charity The fourth concerning the Sacraments to be ministred chiefly at Easter and Whitsunday
c. The fifth that unity and concord shall be kept in the Church because we have one common Father in Heaven one Mother viz. the Church on Earth one Faith one Baptism and one Celestial inheritance prepared for us c. The sixth and seventh Canons entreat of Orphanes and poor People whose weakness is to be supported The eighth Canon recommendeth unity to be kept betwixt men in spiritual Offices and Civil Judges The ninth and tenth Canons prescribe to the Clergy Precepts of a modest and sober life with abstinence from the delicate pleasures of the world from theatrical spectacles from pomps and unhonest banquets Usury Avarice and Ambition Deceit and Conjurations and many other sins were also restrained I pass by the Precepts concerning the behaviour of Monks and Nuns and the fabrick of their dwelling places In the 32 Canon the difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set down In the 33th the great Litany or Rogations to be observed three dayes by all Christians with fasting sack-cloth ashes walking bare-footed and all kind of humble carriage In the 34 35 and 36 publick fastings and keeping of festival dayes is commanded In the 37 That the Sabbath-day be kept holy that in it no Merchants wares be sold and no criminal cause be judged In 38. and 39 That Tithes be precisely paid and men fleeing to Churches for safeguard are not to be violently drawn out from thence In the 40 In Churches and the porches thereof let no secular judgement be exercised In the 41 That no Ancient Church be spoiled of Tithes and Possessions for the building of new Oratories In the 42 concerning Church-rents bestowed for reparation and upholding of Churches In 44 That no Priest say Mass himself alone for if he have none but himself how can he say Dominus vobiscum or sursum corda or other such passages All frequent offering of the sacrifice of the Mass and presenting of the Paxe is recommended to Christian people In 45 That every person be acquainted with the Creed and the Lord's Prayer and that every one at least learn them in their own vulgar language In 46 That they who continue in drunkenness be excommunicated In 47 That Godfathers shall see that their spiritual Children be brought up in the true Faith In 48 That lascivious songs be not sung in Churches In 49 The cohabitation with Women is forbidden to all the Clergy In 50 That all Bishops Abbots and Church-men have such Agents in their affairs who are men that fear God and hate all unrighteous dealing In 51 That the dead bodies of the Saints be not transported from place to place without the advice of the Prince of the Countrey or the Bishop and Synod In 52 That no dead body shall be buried within the Church except the body of a Bishop or of an Abbot or of a worthy Presbyter or of a faithful Laick person In 53 That incestuous persons be separated from the fellowship of the Church except they be penitent In 54 55 and 56 Marriage in the fourth degree of consanguinity is forbidden and that no man shall marry his God-daughter nor spiritual Sister neither the Woman whose Son or Daughter he hath led to the Sacrament of confirmation And in case they be found to be married they shall be separated again And no man shall take in marriage his Wives Sister neither shall a woman marry her Husband's Brother Of the Council of Rhemes A Council was also Assembled at Rhemes by the Commandment of Charles the Great Anno 813. In this Council Wulfarius the Arch-Bishop was President forty four Canons are rehearsed in the second Tome of Councils made in this Council In the 1. Canon it was concluded That every man should diligently acquaint himself with the Articles of his Faith 2. That he learn the Lords Prayer and understand the meaning of it 3. That every man in holy Orders shall walk worthily according to his Calling 4. The Epistles of St. Paul were read to give instructions to Sub-Deacons how they should behave themselves 5. The Gospel was read to give instruction to Deacons to Minister worthily in their Office 6. Ignorant Priests are instructed to celebrate the Service with understanding 7. They are also instructed how to prepare the Catechumeni to the Sacrament of Baptism 8. The holy Canons were read out of the Decretal of Innocentius for ordering the lives of Chanons 9. The Rule of St. Benedict was read to reduce Abbots and their Convents to a remembrance of their Order 10. The Pastoral Book of Gregory was read to admonish Pastors of their Duty 11. Divers sentences of the Ancients were read to admonish both Prelates and People to a holy life 12. Then they set down a form of receiving confessions and prescribing of penance according to the Canonical institutions 13. They reasoned about the eight principal vices that every one might know what vices to eschew and teach others to beware of the same 14. That Bishops should take heed to the reading of the Books of Canonical Scripture and the Books of Fathers and should attend upon the preaching of the Word of God 15. That Bishops should preach the Sermons and Homilies of the Holy Fathers so as the People might understand them 16. The sixteenth Canon is coincident with the twelfth 17. That Bishops and Abbots permit no man to solace the company with filthy jesting in their presence but that the poor be refreshed at their Tables with Lectures of Divine Scripture and praising of God 18. In the 18th Gluttony and Drunkenness is forbidden to the Ministers of God 19. That no Bishop judge rashly in things secret which are to be referred to the judgement of God 20. Presbyters shall not transport themselves from a low place to a greater 21. Whosoever by giving money procureth a preferment in the Church shall be deposed 22. No Church-man shall cohabit with a Woman except it be with his Mother or Sister or such like person by whose company no suspicion of uncleanness can arise 35. That the Sabbath-day be kept holy and no servile work be done in it 36. That no man bestow upon the Church that thing which he hath fraudulently taken from others 37. Nor yet by lies and deceit withdraw any thing duly belonging to the Church 38. That Tithes be precisely paid 39. That no man receive rewards for his Decree and Sentence 40. That Prayers be made for the Emperour and his Noble Race 41. In the 41 Canon mention is made of a certain Rent left by King Pepin which they wish the Emperour Charles should not alter nor transfer into another summ lest many perjuries and false testimonies might ensue 42. That no man should be removed from his Mansion to whom the Emperour's Almes is distributed 43. That the Statute may be confirmed by his Highness's allowance whereby all contentions are Ordained to have an end 44. That the Statute made in Bononia concerning false witnesses may be ratified
with augmentation if need require for eschewing of perjuries false testimonies and many other inconveniences Of the Council of Tours In the same Year 813 at the Commandment of the Emperour Charles the Great a Council of many Bishops and Abbots was Assembled there about establishing Ecclesiastical Discipline 1. In the first Canon all men are admonished to be obedient to the Emperour Charles and to keep the Oath of Allegiance made unto him and to make prayers for his prosperity 2. All Bishops shall frequently read all the Books of holy Scripture together with the Books of Ancient Fathers written thereupon 3. It is not lawful for any Bishop to be ignorant of the Canons of the Church and of the Pastoral Book of Gregory 4. Let every Bishop feed the Flock committed to him not only with Doctrine but also with an holy Example 5. That a Bishop be content with a moderate diet that holy Lectures be read at his Table rather than the idle words of Parasites 6. Let strangers and poor people be at Bishops Tables whom they may refresh both with corporal and spiritual repast 7. That the delicate pleasure of the eye and ear be eschewed lest the mind be enchanted therewith 8. Let not the Lords Servants delight in vain jesting nor in hunting and hawking 9. Let Presbyters and Deacons follow the footsteps of their Bishops in leading a pious life 10. Let Bishops take care of the poor and faithfully dispense Church-goods 11. That Bishops may with consent of Presbyters and Deacons bestow somewhat out of the Church-treasure to support needy people of that same Church 12. A Presbyter is not to be Ordained till he is thirty years old 13. Let the Bishop see that in his own Parish Church no Presbyter coming from any other parts do Service in his Church without Letters of Recommendation 14. Let a Presbyter leaving a low place and presuming to an higher incurr that same punishment which a Bishop taken in the like fault should incurr 15. A Presbyter who getteth a Church by giving money for it let him be deposed 16. Let Tithes bestowed upon Churches by advice of Bishops be faithfully distributed to the poor by the Presbyters 17. The Families of the Bishops shall be instructed in the summ of the true Faith in the knowledge of the retribution to be given to good men and the condemnation of evil people and of the resurrection and last judgement c. 18. That the Bishop instruct his Presbyters concerning the Sacrament of Baptism what it is they should desire the baptized people to renounce 19. That Presbyters when they say Mass and do communicate do not distribute the Lord's body indiscreetly to children and to all persons who happen to be present c. Then Reader take notice that private Masses had no place in those dayes but they who were duly prepared did communicate with the Priest 20. Presbyters shall not suffer the holy Chrism to be touched by any man 21. Presbyters shall not haunt Taverns 22. Bishops and Presbyters shall prescribe to sinners who have confessed their sins penance discreetly according to the nature of their fault 23. Chanons who dwell in one City shall eat in one Cloyster and sleep under one roof that they may be ready to Celebrate their Canonical hours 24. From the 24 to the 32 Canon are Constitutions concerning Monks and Nuns which I overpass with silence 32. All Christians are exhorted to peace and concord 33. Lords and Judges should hearken to the good admonitions of their Bishops and Bishops on the other side should reverently regard them 34. Lords and Judges are not to admit vile persons to bear witness in their Judicatories 35. Let no man for his Decree receive a reward 36. Let every one be careful to support indigent persons of his own kindred 37. That Christians do bow their knees in prayer except upon the Lord's Day and other Solemn dayes on the which the Universal Church keepeth a memorial of the Lord's Resurrection At such times they use to stand and pray 38. That none enter into the Church with noise and tumult and in time of prayer and celebration of the Mass not to be busied in vain confabulations but even to abstain from idle thoughts 39. Let not the Consistories of Secular Judges be in the Church or porches thereof in any time to come because the House of God should be an house of prayer 40. That Merchandize be forbidden on the Lord's Day that the whole day be spent in God's service 41. That paricides murtherers and incestuous persons be reduced to Order by the discipline of the secular power 42. That all people abstain from Magical Arts which are the deceitfull snares of the Devil 43. A frequent custom of swearing is forbidden 44. That the causes of many Free Subjects brought to poverty by oppression be examined by the Emperour 45. That false weights and measures are an abomination to the Lord. 46. The 46 Canon bewaileth that Tithes were not duly paid to the Church shewing the ill effects thereof 47. When general Fastings are appointed for any impendent Calamity let no man neglect the fellowship of the humble Church c. 48. Drunkenness and surfeiting are forbidden c. 49. Lords and Masters are to be admonished not to deal cruelly with their subjects yea and not to seek that which is due unto themselves with excessive rigour 50. Let Laick people communicate at least thrice in a year unless they be hindered by some great sins committed by them 51. In the last Canon mention is made that they diligently examined the cause of them who complained to the Emperour that they were dis-inherited by the donation of Lands which their Fathers and Friends had bestowed on the Church and in their bounds they found no man who did complain yet in that matter if any thing was done amiss they humbly submitted themselves to be corrected by their Soveraign Lord and King Of the Council of Chalons This Council was Convened in the same year of our Lord 813 by the Commandment of Charles the Great for the Reformation of the Ecclesiastical Estate Many of the Canons of this Council are co-incident with the Canons of the former which I shall overpass and mention only some of the other Can. 3. Let Bishops Constitute Schools wherein Learning may be encreased and men brought up in them that may be the salt of the earth to season the corrupt manners of the people and to stop the mouths of Hereticks 4. Let Church-men shew humility in word deed habit and countenance 5. Let Priests be unreproveable adorned with good manners and not given to filthy lucre 7. Bishops and Abbots who have circumvented simple men and shaven their heads and by such means do possess their goods let them be subject to Canonical or Regular Repentance 8. If Church-men lay up provision of Corn in Victualling-houses let it not be to keep them to a dearth but therewith to support the poor in a time of need
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
also unto destruction whom he would 2. That they who are predestinated unto destruction cannot be saved 3. That whereas the Apostle saith God willeth that all men be saved he meaneth only all them who shall be saved 4. That Christ came not to save all men nor did he suffer for all men but only for them who shall be saved by the mystery of his passion 5. Since the first man fell of his Free-will none of us can use Free-will to do good but only to do evil Remigius Bishop of Lions in the name of the Church of Lions defended these five Articles whereupon Hinckmar wrote unto Pope Nicholas against Gotteschalk and calleth these Articles the heresie of the Predestinarians which was overthrown in Africk and afterwards in France by Authority of Pope Celestine When Gotteschalk returned from Italy Raban Bishop of Mentz summoned him to a Synod and when he could not perswade him to change his mind he wrote unto Hinckmar and others Hinckmar summoned Gotteschalk unto a Synod of twelve Bishops and some Priests and Abbots in Carisiac on Isara where four Articles were enacted against him He was condemned of Heresie and contumacy he was whipt with rods Vid. Petries Ch. Hist Cent. 9. and cast into prison The Church of Lions after sight of these four Articles sent forth their censure of them Remigius was a man of a most holy Conversation and very learned as appeareth by the Comments which he wrote upon the Old and New Testaments At this time was published a Commentary on the thirteen Epistles of the Apostle St. Paul which was lately printed at Rome under the name of Remigius of Rhemes Lupus Abbot of the Monastery of Ferraria by the water Lupa running into Sein at the same time wrote several Epistles unto King Lewes and to Hinckmar which were printed at Paris Anno 1588. He comforteth his Master Einhard after the death of his Wife He speaks honourably of Marriage and comfortably of the estate of the Godly after this life without any mention of purgatory or Mass for the defunct At the same time also was a question of the presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament Charles the Bald King of France commanded Bertram a Priest at Corbey to search and write what was the Doctrine of the Fathers and Ancient Church in this Article Trithemius saith Bertram was singularly learned of an excellent eloquence and utterance pregnant in judgement and no less famous for holiness of life and wrote many excellent Treatises In obedience unto King Charles he compiled a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini which is all inserted in Catal. Test verit lib. 10. This Book was forbidden to be read by order from the Roman Inquisition confirmed afterward by the Council of Trent Usher's Answ to the Jesuites challenge The Divines of Doway perceiving that the forbidding of that Book did not keep men from reading it but gave them rather occasion to seek more earnestly after it thought it better Bertram should be suffered to go abroad but handled in such sort as other ancient Writers that made against them were wont to be Bishop Ridley highly commends this Bertram Ridl Pres at coen Dom. Paschasius Rathbert Abbot of Corbey at the same time wrote a Book of the Eucharist Remigius Bishop of Auxerre flourished about the year 880 he wrote many Books He was called Doctor Sententiosus Charles the Bald died at Mantua Anno 879 being poisoned by Sedecias the Jew whom he employed for one of his Physicians leaving the Realm to his Son Lewes the second called the Stuttering Lewes King of Germany had vowed that he would take both Empire and Kingdom from Charles the Bald but was arrested with sickness at Frankford There he divided his Kingdom among his three Sons to Lewes he gave Saxony Turingia Frisia and the Provinces within them with the Title of East-France to Carloman he gave Bojaria Austria Bohemia and Moravia with the Title of King of Bavaria To Charles his third Son he gave Suevia Franconia with some parts of Lorain which he had taken after the death of Lotharius with the Title of King of Germany De Serres Hist Charles the Fat King of Germany strove for the Empire and was Crowned by the Romans Pope John would not consent and therefore was imprisoned he escaping goes into France and confirmeth Lewes the Stutterer He was courteously received by Lewes stays in France a whole year and there holds a Council at Troyes in Champagne The Pope was scarce gone but Lewes dieth having reigned only two years He had no lawful Children but two Bastards he left his Wife with Child The Queen was afterward delivered of a Son which was saluted King and called Charles During the minority of Charles Lewes and Carloman Brothers the two Bastards of Lewes the Stutterer are chosen by the States to Govern the Realm of France Lewes was defeated by the Normans and dies for grief Soon after his Death it is said that Carloman fell down and brake his neck Another Lewes succeedeth to these two Brethren but he quickly dyed Then the States called Charles the Gross King of Bavaria to this high Dignity He began his reign Anno 885 and reigned nine years His entrance was goodly but his end Tragical He was crowned King with promise to restore the Crown to the lawful Heir and to govern according to the will of the States He was Son to Lewes called Germanicus Son to Lewes the Gentle Being defeated by the Normans he yieldeth to a prejudicial peace and is much hated of the French At length the French and the Grrmans resolve to dispossess him The Germans made choice for their Emperour of Arnulph Son to Carloman the Son of Lewes the Gentle The French likewise reject this miserable Charles from the Regency of the Realm and call Eudes of Odon Duke of Anger 's named by the will of Lewes the Stutterer So this poor Prince is cast out both from Realm and Empire and remains naked without an house to shrowd himself in from this disgrace being banished from Court and driven into a poor Village of Suevia where he lived some days in extreme want without any means of his own or relief from any Man in the end he dyed neither pitied nor lamented of any in a corner unknown but to have been the Theatre of so extraordinary a Tragedy that one of the greatest Monarchs in the World should dye without House without Bread without Mourning and without Memory but the note of this end so prodigiously memorable Century X. CHarles the Third called the Simple was Crowned in the Year 902. Eudes governing with him eight Years from his Coronation Charles remaining alone after the Death of his Regent Reigned 27 Years His Reign was miserable throughout Now begins a notable league against the King Robert Duke of Anjou becomes the Head of this League accompanied with many great Men of France This Robert was Governour by the Death of his
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 gr●●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.
feared wherein that sentence was alledged Quòd virtus reddit non copia sussicientem Et non paupertas sed mentis hiatus egentem That great riches stop not the taking of much but a mind contented with a little 6. They added that great riches would cause factions among the Romans and taking of sides and parties so that by great possessions sedition might follow to the ruine of the City 7. That though they would oblige themselves to that contribution yet their Successours would not be so bound nor yet ratifie that bond of theirs 8. They desired the Legat that the zeal of the Universal Church and of the Church of Rome would move him for if this oppression of the Church should be Universal it were to be doubted lest an Universal departing might follow from the Church of Rome which God forbid said they should happen The Legat hereat excused himself that he being in the Court never agreed to this exaction and that the Letters came not to him before he was in France and as for him he would stir no more in the matter before it were proved what other Countries would say and do therein King Lewes passing with a great Host by Bourges and Nevers marched to Lyons and from Lyons to Avignon which for disobedience to the Church of Rome had stood accursed by the Pope for seven years The Citizens of Avignon shut their gates against the King and his Army not suffering them to come within the City Wherefore the King assaulted the City Fabian's chronic and lost there many of his Men among which Guy Earl of St. Paul and the Bishop of Lemerick and others to the number of two and twenty thousand there were slain In the end they submitting to the King's pleasure and the correction of the Pope an agreement was made and the King and his Army were received into the City and the Citizens received absolution from the Pope's Legate King Lewes to avoid the pestilence that was in his Camp went into an Abbey not far off where shortly after he dyed and was carried to Paris where he was interred Anno 1226. Near unto this time Gulielmus de Alta Petra Bishop of Paris wrote a Book de Clero wherein he thus speakerh of the Clergy of his time No godliness or Learning is seen in them but rather all devilish filthiness and monstrous vices they are not the Church but Babylon and Egypt and Sodom the Popish Prelats build not the Church but destroy it they mock God and they and their Priests do prophane the body of Christ they lift up to the Heavens with all manner of Ecclesiastical honour the limbs of the Devil in a word they bring Lucifer into the Church of Christ He taught also that there is no Law belonging to the salvation of man but the Gospel of Christ King Lewes IX called St. Lewes succeedeth his Father in the Kingdom of France being but twelve years old and was Crowned at Rhemes There is extant a constitution of this King Lewes bearing date Anno 1228. sub Tit. de Taliis wherein he regrateth the Avarice of Popes saying that exactions and grievous burthens of Moneys are laid on the Churches of our Kingdoms by the Court of Rome whereby the Kingdom is miserably exhausted We will therefore that these be levied upon no condition nor gathered except only for a reasonable pious and most urgent necessity and by our express and willing consent and with the consent of the Church it self of our Kingdom At that time the Senate of Paris did present unto John Santroman the King's Advocate the Pope's Bull to be read and answered He replyed saying The greatest confusion of all things would arise upon the accepting of that Bull for by authority of such in former times the French people had in great numbers gone out of the Kingdom to Rome of whom some became slaves or clients to the Cardinals and some living more liberally had idly wasted their Patrimony Brut. Fulmen ex Chronic. Britan. Armoric li. 4. and others in the City or by the way had perished with the badness of the Air and frequent pestilence and so France was exhausted of Subjects especially of Learned men He sheweth also how vast sums of Moneys were carried away for vacancies ad Advouzons of Bishopricks and Abbeys and other Titles in the Church so that sometimes ten or twelve Bulls were sold for one Priesthood And if this custom shall continue saith he it shall come to pass that who hath any store of Moneys will send to Rome and buy a Priesthood unto his Son or Cousin The Rector of the University of Paris spake to the same purpose and having protested at length against the Bull he appealeth from the iniquity thereof to the next Council The Pope's Legate having raised an immense sum of Money in France Lewes prohibited that the Money which was yet in France should be delivered to the Pope's Assigns or transported out of the Kingdom King John Bren resigneth the Kingdom of Jerusalem to Frederick the second Emperour There was also a Peace with the Turks concluded for eight years John got now more in a twelve-month than in seven years before P. Aemil. in Phil. 2. going from Country to Country In France besides rich gifts left to himself he had the managing of sixty thousand Crowns the Legacy which Philip Augustus the King on his Death-bed bequeathed to the Templars and the Holy War In England he received many presents from King Henry III. though afterward he proved but unthankful for them Math. Paris p. 627. In Spain he got a rich Wife marrying Beringaria the Daughter of the King of Castile In Italy he tasted largely of the Pope's bounty but at last perfidiously raised rebellions against Frederick his Son-in-Law by the Pope's instigation It is conceived that the Pope provided that match for Frederick to employ him in Palestine whilst he at home might play his game at pleasure Frederick recovereth all Palestine and Jerusalem without expence of time or blood and concluded a ten years truce with the Sultan without the Pope's consent And on Easter-day tryumphantly entring Jerusalem crowned himself King with his own hands For Gerard Patriarch of Jerusalem and Oliver Master of the Templars with all the Clergy absented themselves neither was there any Mass sung in the City so long as the Emperour being excommunicated remained there In the Interim the Christians every where build and repair the Cities of Palestine being now resigned into their hands Joppa and Nazareth they strongly fortified the Walls of Jerusalem were repaired the Churches adorned But short were the smiles of this City which groaning under God's old curse little joyed her self in this her new bravery About the year 1232. the Greeks recover their Empire from the Latines who had made an hard shift to hold Constantinople almost sixty years under five succeeding Emperours 1. Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders 2. Henry his Brother 3. Peter Count
was written in the same Bull We command the Angels to carry the absolved Soul into Paradise It was then a received Article that the Pope may command the Angels as his Serjeants Pope Clement granted great Indulgences to such as could not go but could find Money for that use Out of an old French Chronicle so as he that gave a penny was to have one year's pardon he that gave twelve pence twelve year's pardon and he that would give as much as would maintain a man going over Seas a plenary pardon for all The Pope appointed certain men whom he put in trust for the receiving of this Money Unspeakable were the sums of Money that were given for the purchasing these pardons for five years together At the end whereof when the good men were ready to go and perform what they had promised and vowed the business was broke off but the Pope kept the Money the Marquess his Nephew had a share of it and King Philip the fair and his three Sons who had taken up the cross to go thither in person Edward King of England and other noble persons stayed at home In this Council it was ordained that the feast of Corpus Christi should be kept with many Indulgences granted unto them who should celebrate this Feast In the same Council Pope Clement V. set forth a Book of Papal decrees called Liber Clementiarum which was received Symson Eccles Hist in Cent. 14. allowed and ratified by this Council Nauclerus saith that Clement before his death repented the setting out of this Book and commanded it to be burnt Yet notwithstanding the succeeding Popes and particularly John XXII confirmed and Authorized the said Book again together with the Decretals of Gregory and Boniface because these Books highly advanced the See of Rome exempting the Bishop of Rome from subjection to general Councils and attributing power to him to receive or reject the Emperour after he is chosen comparing the Pope to the Sun and the Emperour to the Moon Finally counting it a thing necessary unto Eternal Life that every person be subject to the Bishop of Rome It was also ordained that Schools should be erected and foreign Tongues should be learned namely the Hebrew Chaldaick and Arabick Languages It was also ordained that the name and remembrance of the Templars should be rooted out which decree was put in execution by all Christian Princes Know then Tho. Fuller supplem Hist sacribelli ca. 1. that about nineteen years after the Christians had lost all in Palestine by the cruel deed of Pope Clement V. and foul Fact of Philip the fair King of France the Templars were finally extirpated out of all Christendom Pope Clement having long sojourned in France had received many great courtesies from King Philip yea he owed little less than himself to him At last Philip requested of him a boon great enough saith my Authour for a King to ask and a Pope to grant namely all the Lands of the Knights Templars in France forfeited by reason of their horrible Heresies and licentious living The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received and being thus long the King's Guest he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods to pay for his entertainment On a sudden all the Templars in France are clapt in prison damnable sins were laid to their charge as sacrificing of Men to an Idol they worshipped roasting of a Templar's Bastard and drinking his Blood spitting upon the cross of Christ conspiring with Turks and Saracens against Christianity they were charged with Sodomy Bestiality with many other Villanies out of the Road of humane corruption and as far from Man's Nature as God's Law The sole witness against them was one of their own Order a notorious Malefactor who at the same time being in prison and to suffer for his own offences condemned by the Master of their Order sought to prove his Innocency by charging all his own Order to be guilty And he swore most heartily to whatsoever was objected against their Order Besides many of the Templars being brought upon the rack confessed the accusations to be true wherewith they were charged Hereupon all the Templars were most cruelly burned to death at a stake through all France with James the Grand-Master of their Order Many men accounted not the Templars Malefactors but Martyrs First because the witness was unsufficient a Malefactor against his Judge and Secondly they bring tortured men against themselves And a confession extorted upon the Rack say some is of no validity But being burned at the stake they denyed it at their death though formerly they had confessed it A Templar being to be burned at Burdeaux and seeing the Pope and King Philip looking out of a Window Hospin de Orig. Monach. ca. 18. fol. 193. cryed unto them Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is no other among mortal men to whom I should appeal for my unjust Death I cite Thee together with King Philip to the Tribunal of Christ the just Judge who redeemed me there both to appear within one year and a day where I will lay open my cause and Justice shall be done without any by-respect In like manner James Grand-Master of the Templars though by piece-meal he was tortured to death craved pardon of God and those of his order That forced by extremity of pain upon the rack and allured with hope of life he had accused them of such damnable sins whereof they were innocent True it is they were generally cryed up for innocents But Pope Clement and King Philip were within the time prefixed summoned by death to answer to God for what they had done Besides King Philip missed of his expectation and the morsel fell besides his Mouth the Lands of the Templars which were first granted to him as a portion for his youngest Son being afterwards by the Council of Vienne bestowed on the Knights-Hospitallers William Durand Bishop of Menda in Languedoc being summoned by Clement V. to the general Council at Vienne to come and see what was fitting to be reformed in the Church made a Book de Consiliis toward the beginning whereof he saith It seemeth to be a thing considerable and it is most expedient and necessary that before any thing else we should proceed to the correction and reformation of such things as ought to be corrected and reformed in the Church of God as well in the head as the Members And in the first Chapter of the third Book Verily as concerning the Reformation of the Catholick Church to bring it about profitably and effectually it seems expedient that it begin at the Head that is at the Holy Church of Rome which is the Head of all others Then he sets down in particular such things as stood in need of reformation notably representing many abuses of the See of Rome that deserved to be corrected But for all his learned discourse there was nothing done therein in
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
the Council of Constance He was counted a subtle disputer and profound School-Doctor One calleth him the learned and devout Chancellour of Paris He was much acquainted with Temptations and wrote a Book de variis Diaboli tentationibus He was sirnamed Doctor Christianissimus His works are Printed in four Volumes his French works are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque Gerson de defect Viror Eccles ca. 52. In his Treatise de defectu virorum Ecclesiasticorum he sets down such things as ought to be reformed in the Church and among others mentions this That known Men and such as are most fitting be Elected out of the same Countrey that strangers in manners language and education be not sent and set over Churches And in his Book of Ecclesiastical power Gerson lib. de Eccles potest after he hath spoken of the divers abuses of the Popes he addeth What shall we think is to be said of an infinite number of such like things that are done casting aside all care and regard of all Spiritual and Divine matters which concern the Christian Faith and Religion What think you What shall we say for the present of that so easie a dispensation as they speak of granted by the Pope and the Prelates over lawful Oaths reasonable Vows for the excessive plurality of Benefices the general non obstantes of Councils the privileges and exemptions against common right Who can number all the ways whereby the force of Ecclesiastical yea of Evangelical Discipline is enfeebled consumed and quite annihilated He addeth the cunning and glozing flattery of Vp-starts whispering the Clergy but especially the Pope in the Ear. Oh how great is the height of your Ecclesiastical power O sacred Clergy all secular Authority is but a Toy in comparison of thine seeing that as all power is given to Christ both in Heaven and Earth so Christ hath bequeathed all to St. Peter and his Successours So that Constantine gave nothing to Pope Silvester which was not originally his own but only restored unto him what he unjustly detained from him Again as there is no power but is of God so there is nothing Temporal or Spiritual Imperial or Regal which is not of the Pope upon whose Thigh God hath Writ King of Kings and Lord of Lords So as to dispute his power is a kind of Sacrilege To whom no Man may say why do you so Although he should exchange purloin or sell all the Temporals the Goods Lands and Lordships of the Church Let me be a Lyar if all these things be not written by such as seem to be wise men in their eyes and if they have not been believed also by some Popes Stephanus Paschasius in his Icones hath these Verses of Gerson Quid potuit Sorbona doces meritissimè Gerso Tu magni Gerso luxque decusque Chori At the same time flourished Nicholas de Clemangiis a Master of Paris and Arch-Deacon of Baion a man pious and Learned one calls him one of the most Learned and Eloquent Divines of his time He wrote a Book of the ruine and reparation of the Church Nic. de Clemang de ruin repar Eccles Of which I shall set down some passages in general terms First saith he let us speak of the Head upon whom all the rest depends He afterwards addeth For the supream Bishops who by how much they see themselves ranked above others in greatness and Authority by so much they labour the more to overthrow them out of a domineering humour for the enlarging of their primacy and supreme power considering that the commodities of the Bishoprick of Rome which is very large and above any Kingdom though it hath been sufficiently curtail'd by their negligence can no way suffice to maintain the greatness of their State which they have purposed to raise high enough above all the Kings and Emperours in the World have cast themselves into those flocks of others that abound in breeding in Wool and Milk He afterwards specifies the looseness the luxury vanities worldliness Clemang lib. de lapsu reparat justit p. 10. rapines vexations usurpations oppressions and other such like abuses and vices of the Popes and their Courts In another Book of his he sheweth that the Court of Rome hath infected France by coming there specifying all the vices and blemishes that are communicated unto it and those not a few There was a time saith he when the Apostolick Bishop being vexed with the Tyranny of the Italians made choice of France for his seat and for all the Court of Rome supposing he could not find assured refuge else-where to whom I could with saith he the strength of France had not proved a Staff of a Reed as it was a long time before fore-told that it should What was it else that brought France upon the sudden into these miseries making her fall away from eminent glory which made her flourish above all other Nations but that degenerating from those Ancient vertues which adorned her with such an excellency of Honour she is changed from Valour to cowardise from diligence to sloath from honesty to ignominy from gravity to a wanton lightness from temperance to luxury from courage to presumption from liberality to covetousness and unrestrained spoiling from order to confusion from zeal of the publick good to private gains from correction and discipline to a general impunity and license of all wickedness and mis-demeanours and from Justice to all iniquity And elsewhere he complaineth thus So the Church which Christ hath taken for his Spouse without blemish disfigured by this horrible villany Tract de praesul p. 66. is now the shop of all Pride of all Trading filching and stealing where the Sacraments are hung out for a shew and all the orders even the Priesthood it self where favours are sold for silver dispensations for not preaching licenses for non-residence Where all Offices and Benefices yea even sins are bought and sold Lastly where Masses and Administration of the Lord's body are set to sale Would any Man have a Bishoprick let him provide his Money and that no small sum but a great one for so great a Title and let him not stand upon emptying his purse for the purchase of such a Dignity seeing he will quickly fill it again and that more soundly than he could do by many sorts of Merchandize Doth any desire a Prebend a Provost's place or some other dignity it is no matter for knowing his deserts his Life and Conversation but so many Crowns as he hath in his Chest such hopes may he conceive of compassing his desire For what should I speak of poor folks who are accounted unprofitable in all things and unworthy of all charge or government and who have no other hopes but to wax old and pine away in misery disrespected and despised What should a poor Man go to Market for with an empty pouch when he hath nothing to buy the Wares with And in
and wicked example He was a Man of great Learning and worthy to be had in perpetual memory for this cause especially that He and Cardinal Bellay Leigh's Treatise of Religion and Learning l. 3. c. 8. Bishop of Paris did counsel and perswade this King Francis to do a most noble Act that is to appoint great stipends for the Readers of Tongues and good Arts in Paris Buchanan hath this distich of him Gallia quod Graeca est quod Graecia Barbara non est Buchan li. 2. Epigram Vtraque Budaeo debet utrumque suo Stephanus Paschasius in his Icones hath these Verses of him Et Latiae nobis debent Graiaeque Camenae Laudem utram quaeras magnus utraque fui He dyed at Paris Anno 1539. The several courses King Francis took for the restoring of Learning in France Antoin du Verdier mentions in his learned preface to his Bibliotheque and in his Book he saith he was deservedly called The Father of Learning because he founded Colleges in Paris for the instructing of youth in the Hebrew Greek and Latin Tongues and gathered together Learned men of good life out of all parts of the World to read publickly in the University of Paris Thevet and Postellus travelled into the East to procure him rare Books for his Library Through long use and custom he had acquired much knowledge for Dining and Supping his talk was commonly of Learning and that most eagerly using many years for the same purpose James Coline a Learned man and in the vulgar Tongue most eloquent and after him Peter Castellan Of these two he had learned whatsoever was written in the Books of Poets Historiographers and Cosmographers Moreover he attained to a perfect knowledge of whatsoever Aristotle Theophrastus Leigh of Relig. and Learn Pliny and such other like have written of the nature of Plants Herbs Beasts Mettals pretious Stones and by daily use and hearing did remember them He used also to confer much of the Mathematical Sciences and often to reason out of the Scriptures In his own Tongue he was always accounted right grave and eloquent Throughout Greece and Italy Sleid. Comment li. 19. p. 283. he had those that sought and copied out for him the works of old Writers and he made a great Library the keeper whereof was Castellan William Bellay was a man of much honour and vertue and a special Ornament of the French Nobility by reason of his notable Learning Eloquence Experience and singular Dexterity in all affairs Andrew Thevet was Cosmographer to the King of France He hath written an Universal Cosmography in French in two Tomes in Royal paper in which he doth not only rehearse what he learned from the Books of others but what himself had seen by travelling almost over the World and by viewing all the Seas so that some think there is no thing more learned and more orderly disposed He hath also written Les vies des hommes illustres the lives of Illustrious men in French in a great Folio with their pourtraicts Bibliand de at Comm. on n. lingu William Postellus was a good Linguist but he was little better than mad for he held that Adam's Soul was in him with many other gross opinions Bibliander makes honourable mention of him because he was the first Christian man that published the rudiments of the Arabick Grammar There are these works of his De Linguarum 12 Differentium Alphab Clavis absconditorum aeternae veritatis De Phaenicum Lit. De Orbis Terrae Concordiâ De Etruriae Origine Peter Castellan was Bishop of Orleans a Man highly esteemed in France at this time for his excellent Learning Tur●eb advers li. 24. He hath written four Books de esu carnium Marguerite Queen of Navarr was Sister to Francis the first There are her Memoires In the Epistle to the Reader are these words Que Rome vante taut qu' il luy plaira les Commentaires de son premier Empereur La France a maintenant les Memoires d'une grande Roine qui ne leur cedent en rien Her poetical works are joyned together Clandius Espencaeus a Doctor of Sorbon flourished at this time None of the Divines of Paris had a greater concourse of all Degrees and was more admired for his frequent Sermons to the people than He. There are many questions concerning Religion discussed by him in Latin and French with great sub●ilty He was very eloquent His Commentaries upon Timothy and Titus are well approved In his Comment on Titus he proves by many good Authorities that Clergy-men are subject to Secular Princes and owe all honour unto them as to their Lords On the same Epistle he sets down a List of the many tricks and devices of the Court and Chancery of Rome invented meerly for catching of Money where he puts in among the rest expectative graces or reversions secret reservations bestowing of Benefices upon the first comer uniting of many Benefices to one Chappel Prebend or other Benefice Mandates preventions propinations small or ordinary services conditional resignations detaining of all the revenue in lieu of pension and a number of such like things which were not heard of for a long time in the Church and which would be strange news to Peter and Paul if they should come into the World again This learned Divine hath spoken much of these things And those that desire further to be informed herein I will refer to the Book entitled Taxa Cancellariae Apostolicae Printed at Paris by Toussaint Denis Anno 1520. And yet this is nothing in comparison of the Penitentiary Tax Printed with the same book where every sin every crime how hainous soever hath it's price set so that to have a License and impunity for sinning there needs no more but to be rich to have a pasport to Paradise both for a man's self and for his misdeeds But that which might make Rome blush if there were any shame in her brow is that pardons and indulgences are denyed to the poor and indigent who are not of means sufficient to raise these criminal and incestuous impositions It may seem that the Bull of Pope Leo X. added at the end of the Concordat and confirmed by the Letters of King Francis I. hath derogated from the Pragmatick Sanction But that Bull was never received and approved in France Petr. Rebuff in Concord Rubric de m●ndat Apostol as Mr. Peter Rebuffus doth testifie This constitution saith he as being about a money-mater was never received by the Inhabitants of this Kingdom Nor is it comprehended within the Concordate nor the King's Declaration concerning it verified in the Court of Parliament In the year 1516. Pope Leo X. under pretext of collecting money to wage War against the Turk sent Indulgences through all Christendom granting pardon of sins both for guilt and punishment unto all which would give Money Tecelius exposeth these Indulgences to sale in Germany and Luther writeth against the abuses of them some write
against Luther and others defend him Luther proceedeth and writeth against other corruptions of the Church of Rome and many are enlightned by him Charles V. being Emperour calleth a Dyet at Wormes and thither is Luther summoned Anno 1521. who stoutly defendeth his Doctrine and many Priests began to preach and even in Wormes after they had seen the constancy of Luther they receive the preachers of the Gospel and because they could not have the liberty of the Churches they set up a portable pulpit and heard the preachers in many places of the Town until the year 1525. The Gospel was preached in Saxony and embraced there as also at Halberstat Hamburgh Pomerania Liveland and many other places Charles Duke of Savoy was desirous of truth and purity Luther understanding it by Annemund Coot a French Knight writes unto him a confession of Faith to confirm him in the zeal of piety In the closure he saith Well! Illustrious Prince stir up that spark which hath begun to kindle in thee and let fire come from the house of Savoy as from the house of Joseph and let all France be kindled by thee yea let that Holy fire burn and encrease that at last France may be truly called for the Gospel's sake the most Christian Kingdom In the year 1523. the Gospel began to be openly preached in France at Gratianople in the Daulphinatè by Peter Sebevilla Zuinglius by writing encouraged him to lift up his voice like a Trumpet and sound forth the Gospel in France At the same time in Melda about ten miles from Paris was Bishop William Brissonnet he was a Lover of Truth and Light he passeth by the Monks and sought learned Men to teach the Gospel So from Paris he calleth Jacobus Faber William Farel Arnold and G●rard Red who did most fervently instruct the people in the truth But the Bishop's courage was soon abated by terrible menaces of the Sorbonnists nevertheless the word of God was planted in the hearts of many and by the wondrous counsel of God from the persecution of that one Church many Churches through France were planted for both the Teachers and hearers were spread abroad After Martin Luther had opened the way in Germany John Calvin born at Noyon in Piccardy a Man of a great wit marvellously eloquent and generally Learned departing from the Faith then generally held proposed in his Books which he published in Print and in his Sermons which he preached in divers places in France one hundred twenty eight axiomes so he called them disagreeing from the Roman Church The French Wits curious by Nature and desirous of Novelties began at first rather for pastime than through choice to read his writings and frequent his Sermons But as Davila a Papist observeth in his History of the civil Wars of France as in all business of the World it useth often to fall out that things beginning in jest end in earnest so these opinions sowed in God's Church Davila Hist of the Civil Wars of France lib. 1. so crept up saith he that they were greedily embraced and firmly believed by a great number of people and persons of all qualities insomuch that Calvin came to be reverenced of many in a short time and believed for a new miraculous Interpreter of Scripture and saith my Authour as it were a certain infallible Teacher of the true Faith The foundation of this Doctrine was in the City of Geneva scituate upon the Lake Antiently called Lacus Lemanus upon the confines of Savoy which having rejected the Government of the Duke and Bishop to whom formerly it paid obedience under the name of Terra Franca under pretext of liberty of conscience reduced it self into the form of a Common-wealth From thence books coming out daily in print and men furnished with Wit and eloquence insinuating themselves into the Neighbour Provinces who secretly sowed the seeds of this new Doctrine in progress of time all the Cities and Provinces of the Kingdom of France were filled with it though so covertly that there appeared openly only some few marks and conjectures of it This began in the time of King Francis the first who though sometimes he made severe resolutions against the preachers and professours of this Doctrine yet notwithstanding being continually busied in Forreign Wars took little notice thereof Peter Viret was an eloquent French Divine whom Calvin desired for his Colleague His French Books are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque William Farel was also a learned Divine of Geneva He hath written De Vray Vsage de la Croix and other Books Upon Calvin Farel and Viret there is this Epigram of Beza Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper Quo nemo docuit doctiùs Est quoque te nuper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortiùs Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum Quo nemo fatur dulciùs Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim Aut interibis Gallia Stephen Pasquier a French Writer and a Papist doth much extol Calvin's piety wit and learning Recherch de la France li. 8. ca. 55. John Clerk was apprehended at Melden in France Anno 1523. for setting up upon the Church-door a certain Bill against the Pope's pardons lately sent thither from Rome in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist For which he was three several days whipped and afterwards had a mark imprinted in his Forehead as a note of infamy His mother being a good Christian-woman though her Husband was an Adversary when she beheld her Son thus grievously scourged and ignominiously deformed in the face did boldly encourage her Son crying with a loud Voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be these prints and marks After this execution and punishment sustained the said John departed that Town and went to Rosie in Brie and from thence to Metz where he was taken for casting down Images and there his hand was first cut off from his right Arm then his Nose with sharp pincers was violently pulled from his Face after that both his Arms and his paps were likewise pluckt and drawn with the same Instrument He quietly endured these Torments in a manner singing the Verses of the 115 Psalm Their Idols be Silver and Gold the work only of Man's hand The rest of his body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed Anno 1525. Doctor John Castellan after he was called to the knowledge of God he b●came a true preacher of his word in France at Barleduc also at Vittery in Partoise at Chalon in Champagne and in the Town of Vike which is the Episcopal Seat of the Bishop of Metz in Lorrain After he had laid some foundation of the Doctrine of the Gospel in Metz in returning from thence he was taken prisoner by the Cardinal of Lorrain's servants and carried to the Castle of Nommenie from thence he was carried to the Town and Castle of Vike always constantly persevering in the same Doctrine He was degraded by
partly otherwise slain partly sent to the Galleys twenty five persons that fled into a Cave near the Town of Mussy were smothered to death with smoak Certain of the Helvetians sued unto the French King to favour the Waldenses but no entreaty would serve But the bloody Tyrant Minerius the Governour of Provence escaped not the just Judgement of God for God smote him with a terrible Disease and he felt as it were a fire burning him from the Navel upward and the lower parts were rotten and consumed away with Vermine with an extream stink and profusion of Blood in place of his Urine and so with great torments he ended his wretched Life Lewes de Vaine Brother-in-law to the said Minerius the President and also the Brother and the Son-in-law to Peter Durant Master Butcher of the Town of Aix these three did slay one another upon a certain strife that fell between them And upon the same day the Judge of Aix who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution as he returned homewards going over the River of Durance was drowned By an Ordinance of this King Francis I. dated January 15. 1546. the Visitation of the Hospitals and other charitable places is committed to the Judges Royal Voyes le recueil des ordonnances fait par Fontanon Tom. 4. Tit. 27 des malad Hospit ca. 4 Ordinaries of the place where such Hospitals are scituate All Governours and Administrators of Hospitals or other charitable Foundations shall be compelled by our Judges of the places next adjoyning to give up their accounts of the Revenues and Administration of the said Hospitals by what Title soever they hold them together with the Charters and Titles of their Foundation if they have any within two months after the publication of these presents Whom we Command and expresly enjoyn every one respectively within his Precincts and Jurisdiction that immediately after the publication of these presents they visit the said Hospitals and charitable Foundations Orontius Fineus was professor of the Mathematicks at Paris at this time to enquire of the Revenue Estate and reparation of the places and the number of beds and poor people whom they shall find there There were four Stevens French-men Henry the Father and Robert his Son Henry Robert's Son and Paul the Son of that Henry all learned Men and Printers Robert Stevens not only Printed but made many excellent works himself His Thesaurus Linguae Latinae is incomparable Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque commends him and this Work Gesner Bibliothec Dictionarium seu Latinae Linguae Thesaurus non singulas modò Dictiones continens sed integras quoque Latinè loquendi scribendi formulas ex optimis quibusque Latinae Linguae Scriptoribus Opus excusum parisiis apud Authorem divisum in Tomos tres Anno 1542. He published an Edition of the Latin Bible wherein he had conferred the copies that were in use at that time with some old Manuscripts and according to them he amended some errours The University took this ill that he had attempted to change the Translation He defended himself that he had changed nothing but had Printed according to old Copies which he had by him His answer was tolerable in the Judgement of reasonable men Nevertheless they pursue him before the Court of Paris and do petition that he may be burnt In respons Rob. Steph. ad censuram Theologot Paris pag. 109. But their petition was burnt Then he printeth the Bible retaining the corrupt Translation and in the Margin he addeth the words of the Manuscripts with Notes shewing the Copies whence he had these words These do accuse him before King Francis and his Council but were put to shame and silence Then he Printed the ten Commandements in great Letters and in such a form that they might be fixed upon Walls of Houses for common use and so did he with a sum of the Bible This did provoke them yet more especially because he had Printed the second Commandement Thou shalt not make unto thy self any graven Image c. And they accuse him But the King gave him a Warrant to reprint both the Ten Commandements and the sum of the Bible both in Latin and French They summoned him to appear before them saying that his work was worse than the Teaching of Luther Fifteen persons did approve him and added their seals unto his attestation So the most of them seeing the King's Warrant and that attestation were ashamed and their Deputies did assoil him R. Stevens did first distinguish the Verses of the Bible with Arithmetical figures Henry Stevens his Thesauri Linguae Graecae and his other works shew his great abilities Scaevola Samarthanus in his second Book of Epigrams hath these Verses In Gellii Noctes Atticas ad H. Stephanum Quis Stephanum esse neget Phoebi de semine cretum Obscuris adfert noctibus ille diem Henry Stevens Robert's Son made also the Greek Concordance Beda's Works were Printed in three Tomes at Paris Anno 1545. At this time flourished Francis Vatablus Regius Prefessor of the Hebrew Tongue in Paris King Francis ordered him to expound the old Testament out of the Original and his Hearers did write his exposition and his Annotations The King's Printer dealeth with the Hearers and receives from them a new Translation which he printeth with the old Translation and with the Annotations This work being perfected in the year 1545. he sheweth it unto some of the University entreating them to shew him if any part thereof had not been rightly observed by the Hearers to the end if there be any thing amiss he may amend it They do approve the work and assure him that no evil could proceed from the Lectures of Vatablus But the Books being sold some observed that the Translation and the Annotations were contrary unto the present Doctrine of the University and therefore the Books should not be sold seeing they were Printed without the knowledge of the Faculty The Printer goeth unto the Court and sheweth Peter Castellan Bishop of Mascon that the University was offended and intend to hinder the selling of his Books He seeing the Bishop doubtful what advice to give saith if the Divines will give him their censure he is willing to Print it with the Bible and he will neither be ashamed nor take in ill part to advertise the Reader of whatsoever errour is in the Book This overture did please the Bishop and he relates all unto the King who willeth the Bishop to write in his name unto the University that they shall revise the Translation and the Annotations and note what doth not please them and subjoyn unto every fault a reason of their Judgement and deliver their censure to be printed either apart or with the Bible Castellan writes so unto them and they promise to obey But they were often required to deliver their censure They evade it and send unto the Divines of Lovain entreating them to reckon that Translation among
had lately taken Geneva into his Protection shewing clearly to all the world how little he esteemed the Catholick Religion and how much he was inclined to the enemies of the Bishop and See of Rome That therefore he had excluded all the Catholick Lords from any access to the Court or administration in the Government particularly those who had spilt so much blood for the preservation of the Kingdom and Religion and had brought in a new people that were privy to his designs and friends to the House of Bourbon That therefore he deprived all the old Servants of the Crown of all their Offices and Honours of the most Principal Governments and most suspected Fortresses to put them into the hands of men that were Catholicks in shew but really partial to Hereticks and inwardly adherents to the King of Navarre He added that notwithstanding the King 's publick shews of Devotion yet in his private Lodgings he gave himself over to the unbridled lusts of the flesh and to the perverse satisfying of his loose depraved appetite From which things set forth with many specious reasons he concluded it was time to unite themselves for their own defence and to destroy those designs before they were brought unto perfection Now the Duke of Guise by means of the Preachers and Friers in Pulpits and other places of Devotion labours to insinuate the Catholick League into the People Among these the chief were Guilliaume de la Rose a man of great eloquence who came afterward to be Bishop of Senlis Jean Prevost chief Priest of S. Severin an eloquent and learned man Jehan Boucher by birth a Parisian and Curate of S. Benet's Parish in the same City one Poncet a Frier in the Abby of S. Patrick at Melun Don Christin of Nizza in Provence and Jehan Vincestre all famous Preachers And finally most part of the Jesuites And as these prosecuted the business of the League in Paris the same was done at Lions by Claude Mattei a Priest of the same Society at Soissons by Mathew de Launoy Canon of that Cathedral at Roven by Father Egide Blovin of the Order of the Minims at Orleans by Bourlate a very noted Divine at Thoul by Francois de Rosier Arch-Deacon of that Church and an infinite number of others dispersed through the several places of France who by their Credit and Eloquence sometimes in their Pulpits sometimes in the Congregations of the Penitents sometimes in their secret conferences at Confessions did allure the people and entice them to enter into that Combination which it is likely very many did out of a respect to Religion believing that thereby the Calvinists would utterly be rooted out and the Authority of the Church be restored to its pristine greatness But many entred into that League invited by other ends and drawn to it by different hopes or else necessitated by their particular interests though all shrouded themselves under the same cloak of the preservation and maintenance of Religion Charles Cardinal of Bourbon the third Brother of Anthony King of Navarre and Louys Prince of Conde deceased and Unkle to Henry the present King of Navarre is desired for the Head of the League a man alwaies most observant of the Romish Religion and an open enemy to the Hugonots Then the Preachers did publickly in all places term the King a Tyrant and favourer of Hereticks the people did applaud them and from this deadly hatred which they had conceived against the King his Council and favourites sprung that fury which soon after was dispersed over all the body of France On July 15. 1582. Renauld of Beaune Archbishop of Bourges and Primate of Aquitain had then spoken at Fountainbleau in this sort The whole Church Christian and Catholick assisted by the Legates and Ambassadours of the Emperour of this your Kingdom and of all other Christian Princes Did call assemble and celebrate the Council of Trent where many good and wholesome Constitutions useful for the Government of the Church were ordained To which Council all the Legates and Ambassadours did solemnly swear in the behalf of their Masters to observe and keep and cause it to be inviolably kept by all their Subjects yea even the Ambassadours of this your Kingdom solemnly took that Oath Now it is received and observed by all Christian Catholick Kings and Potentates this Kingdom only excepted which hath hitherto deferred the publication and receiving of it to the great scandal of the French Nation and of the Title MOST CHRISTIAN wherewith your Majesty and your Predecessours have been honoured so that under colour of some Articles touching the liberty of the Gallican Church the stain of Schism resteth upon your Kingdom among other Countries Wherefore the Clergy doth now most humbly beseech your Majesty that you would be pleased to hearken to this publication and make an end of all to the glory of God and the union of his Church There was a Nuncio from the Pope who arrived in France in the beginning of the year 1583. who prosecuted this matter with great vehemency yet for all this he could not move King Henry III. at all the King of Navarre having written to King Henry III. concerning it the King of France made him this answer Brother Those that told you that I would cause the Council of Trent to be published were not well-informed of my intentions for I never so much as thought it Nay I kiow well how such publication would be prejudicial to my affairs and I am not a little jealous of the preservation of my Authority the priviledges of the Church of France and also of the observation of my Edict of Peace But it was only proposed unto me to cull out some certain Articles about Ecclesiastical Discipline for the Reforming of such abuses as reign in that State to the glory of God the edifying of my Subjects and withal the discharge of my conscience A thing which never toucheth in those Rules which I have set down in my Edicts for the Peace and tranquillity of my Kingdom which I will have inviolably kept on both sides On October 14. 1585. the Bishop and Earl of Noyon in the name of the Clergy assembled in the Abbey of St. German near Paris presented to the King a Book written by the advice of the Prelates of the Council of Trent They told him They brought unto him the Book of the Law of God which they humbly entreated him to receive The Provincial Synod held at Roven made this instance to the same Prince After that a good number of Bishops and Proxies for those that were absent together with Ecclesiastical Person● from all quarters of our Province of Normandy were met in our Metropolitan Church at Roan they tendered nothing more than earnestly to sollicite the publishing and promulgation of the Council of Trent within this Realm Wherefore this our Assembly by common consent have resolved to present their humble Petition to our most Christian King in like manner as was
at Paris after he had taken his leave of the Ladies and some other friends becometh a Capuchin The King commended his resolution and dining one day where there was only the Duke of Mayenne l'Esdiguiers and himself he said That in the world there were men of all conditions and qualities to be found but they should hardly find four so different as they were Whereof there was a Sinner converted a Leaguer repented a Capuchin diverted and a Hugonot perverted Century XVII THe Pope prest King Henry to make his Sister turn Catholick and the King to please the Pope used his utmost endeavours for it employing the most learned and subtil of his Clergy to seduce her especially Du Perron then Bishop of Eureux and Father Cotton These two had several bickerings with the Learned Du-Moulin who in his Book entitled the Novelty of Popery opposed to the Antiquity of true Christianity giveth an account of an occasional encounter of his with M. Du Perron But they had another which was a pitched field It was at the Court before a few but Grave and Select assistants After some dispute when Du Perron gave back to the force of an Argument and was at a loss some body hid behind the hangings cried up One. And when the like hapned to him the second time the same voice cried up Two and so till Five Upon which Du Perron complaining of interruption broke the Conference One Beaulieu Bouju a young Clergy-man having got some Manuscripts of Du Perron about the Eucharist made use of them to write against Du Moulin who thereby was provoked to answer him and confute him There are Letters extant and Printed among Du Perrons Works wherein he chides that same Beaulieu Bouju both for stealing and more for ill using his meditations and tells him in substance that though he could get his weapon yet he could not wield it King Henry IV. to satisfie the Court of Rome and the French Clergy of the care he took of his Sister's Conversion would often desire her to hear the Sermons of his Chaplains which she would not yield unto till once being made sensible how the King's credit was interessed that she should once at the least hear one Court Sermon she condescended so far to the request of a King and a Brother as to promise to hear Father Cotton who therefore was appointed to preach before the King and her immediately after Du Moulins Sermon and in the same Room for those two contrary services were performed in the same Room every Lord's day morning as long as the Princess lived and was at the Court. The Princess to strengthen her self against that assault gave notice of it to Du Moulin and after his Sermon brought him into a private Room whence he might hear the Jesuites Oratory His Subject was the dwelling of the Holy-Ghost in the Soul and he made his entry into that matter after this manner I went once saith he to visit the Hospital of Fools where a grave old man received me kindly at the door and went about with me to shew me the distracted persons and inform me about their several kinds of folly Here is one said he that thinks himself made of Snow and will not come near the fire for fear of melting This thinks himself metamorphosed into an earthen Pitcher and will not suffer any to come near him for fear of being broken with a knock These four think themselves top full with the spirit of Prophecie one will be Elias another Jeremiah another Daniel another St. Paul But I that am the Holy-Ghost said he can assure you Sir that they are all either Fools or Impostors for I never sent them The like folly is to be seen among those of the pretended Reformed Religion There you shall find wise and Religious Princesses intimating the King's Sister Wise and valiant Treasurers intimating the Duke of Sully Wise and valiant Generals of Armies intimating the Duke of Bovillon Wise and learned Counsellours of State intimating Mr. Du Plessis Mornay All wise in all things but that they think they have the Holy-Ghost but have it not The Sermon was suitable to the Preface and wrought an answerable effect in the Hearers making them all merry but no Converts The worthy Dr. Peter Du Moulin Son to the said Du Moulin tells us in his life that in the end of the year 1601. time and place being appointed for a Conference between Du Moulin and Cayer sometimes a Minister and then a Doctor of Sorbon Cayer put off the meeting several times till the King's Sister going to Lorain took Du Moulin along with her In his absence Cayer put forth a Book with this Inscription A Conference by Ministers granted and by them refused In which Book he accuseth Du Moulin of deserting his Cause and runing away But Du Moulin being returned in May to Paris the challenge was renewed on both sides So they met on May 28. 1602. in an house next to the King's Sisters house The Conference held a fortnight They had Scribes on both sides multitudes of hearers and good order kept The Questions agitated Propounded by Cayer himself were Of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Adoration of the Prope and of the veneration of holy Images Cayer was assisted with two Doctors Carmelites Du Moulin had no assistant Toward the midst of the Conference the Faculty of Sorbon grievously censured Cayer for ill defending the Catholick cause and suffering the Adversary to wade too deep into questions and the B●shop of Paris forbad him to sign that which he had indicted to the Scribes The Doctors of Sorbon perceiving that the more the Conference continued the more their Cause was discredited came in a body to the King's Advocate in the Court of Parliament to complain of that Conference saying that it was a pernicious thing tending to Sedition that they had contrived how to break it and that the effects of it would shortly appear This hindered Du Moulin from coming to the ordinary place where he was before Cayer The Master of the house would have kept him out but Cayer coming soon after the door was opened to him and the people pressing in after him Du Moulin got in with the Crowd There they considered how to get another place for their meeting But the Conference being discountenanced by Authority no body durst offer his house for it So the parties agreed to continue the Conference in writing and to publish nothing but by mutual consent But Du Moulin asked two Conditions upon which Cayer brake The one that the Conference should be limited and that it should not be permitted to make replies in infinitum but Cayer would have no limitation The other that Cayer should sign the Acts of that Conference till that day which Cayer utterly refused saying It was enough that it was subscribed by the Scribes When Du Moulin represented to him what disgrace he put upon himself and his Cause and challenged him Cayer answered that he
cared not for the talk of the people nor for challenges And to get out of that mire he moved a question to Du Moulin whether he could tell after what manner of Creation the Angels were created Du Moulin knowing that this was their last meeting answered that the Question in hand was only of subscribing the Acts. But Cayer refusing turned his back and said you shall hear of me and so went away to the great scandal of the Romanists there present A Protestant made the company laugh saying that Cayer was not yet of Age to sign Thus was the Conference broken to the great satisfaction of many faithful souls and the instruction of many ignorant Papists who since gave glory to God by an open Profession of the truth The Acts of the Conference are extant published by Archibald Adaire a Reverend Bishop of Scotland The Doctors of the Faculty of Sorbon stung with the ill success of this Conference provoked him to another in which the body of the University took interest They were to oppose three daies upon what points they thought best and Du Moulin was to oppose three daies also and choose what points he pleased He was then Respondent for three daies and found in the Dispute that blessing of God which never was wanting to him in the defence of his truth After the Dispute of the third day he being returned home and retired to his study a man in a Priest's habit came in the dark evening up the stairs and knockt at his Study door When Du Moulin had opened it the man thrust the door with all his strength to have rusht in and Du Moulin with all his strength in which he was inferiour to few men of his size kept him out and called for help The man hearing some stirring below ran hastily down the stairs and so into the Street It is supposed upon probable ground that the man was come to kill him before he presented himself to be opponent according to the Covenants of the Conference But on the next morrow he met with a Prohibition from the King to continue that Conference any longer These passages raised his reputation very high whereby God was glorified his Truth confirmed and his Church edified and increased with many Converts The last sickness of the King's Sister gave a great exercise to his zeal and industry whereby he did faithfully and constantly assist her in that extremity Du Perron did his utmost to pervert her and to fright him away When she drew near to her end Du Moulin standing by her Bed side Du Perron came and said he was sent by the King and would remove him by plain force But Du Moulin held fast the Bed-post And when Du Perron told him he was to take place of him in all Companies Du Moulin answered that his place was before Du Perron's at the Princesses Beds side and in that service He added that he believed not that the King would offer violence to his Sisters Conscience appealing to her self and beseeching her Highness to declare her pleasure She declared that she would die in the Reformed Religion and that she would have Du Moulin to stay by her Whereupon Du Perron withdrew and the good Princess persevered in God's truth to her last breath The King wisht she had died in the Roman Profession and did all he could without violence to pleasure the Court of Rome in that point A little before there was a Conference between the Bishop of Eureux and Philip de Mornay Lord of Plessis Marly Governour of Saumur in the presence of the King Princes and Officers of his Crown Counsellours of State and other Noblemen of Mark. It was touching a Book which Monsieur du Plessis had published of the Institution of the Lords Supper and against the Mass wherein the Bishop did tax him to have falsified many Authorities Whereupon Du Plessis presented a Petition unto the King that his Majesty would be pleased to appoint Commissioners to examine every passage of Scripture cited in his Book The King yielded to this Conference referring the care thereof to his Chancellour The Commissioners appointed for the Catholicks were Augustus Thuanus President of the Court of Parliament at Paris Pithou Advocate in the Court and Fleure Schoolmaster to the Prince of Conde in whose absence came Martin the King's Physitian And for the other the President of Calignon Chancellour of Navarre in whose place entred De Fresnes Gavay President of the Chamber of Languedoc and Isaac Casaubon his Majesties Reader for the Greek Tongue All men of great Learning and well skilled in the Tongues This Conference began on May 4. in the Hall at Fountainbleau De Serres Hist in Henry IV. in the midst whereof was a Table of a reasonable length At the one end sat the King on his right hand the Bishop of Eureux and on the left right against him Du Plessis Pasquier Vassaut and Mercier Secretaries of the Conference were at the lower end of the same Table Somewhat higher on the right hand sate the Chancellour and the Commissioners Behind the King stood the Archbishop of Lions and the Bishops of Nevers Beauvais and Chastres On the King 's left hand were the four Secretaries of State Behind them which conferred were the Dukes of Vaudemont of Nemours of Mercoeur of Mayenne of Nevers of Elbeuf of Aiguillon and of Janville the Officers of the Crown Counsellours of State and other Noblemen of quality All were commanded to keep silence The King said that the Dispute was not betwixt party and party but particular betwixt the two Conferents not for any question of Right and Doctrine but for the literal truth of some passages He desired they would treat with all mildness and moderation without any bitterness or passion but that of the truth Declaring moreover that he did not mean that this Dispute should in any thing alter or disquiet the peace of his Subjects as the Chancellour did then Declare unto them at large by the King's Commandment After the first daies Conference M. Du Plessis fell very sick so as they could proceed no further The King did write the same day unto the Duke of Espernon what had past in the Conference and shewed by his Letter what his judgement was My friend the Diocess of Eureux hath vanquished that of Saumur Wherewith Du Plessis was discontented so that in a Discourse Printed soon after touching this Conference he termed this Letter A spark of fire and said That the Bishop of Eureux Fly was made an Elephant Some Months after Canay one of the Commissioners and President in the Chamber of the Edict at Castres a man learned in Philosophy and the Tongues and well read in the Church History left his Profession of the Reformed Religion and became a Romish Catholick Philip Mornay Lord of Plessis his work concerning the truth of Christian Religion was written in French against Atheists Epicures Paynims Jews Mahumetists and other Infidels began to be translated
his Guard to stay behind Being between the Draw-bridge and the Port a miserable wretch Francis Ravillac born at Angoulesm by Profession a Lawyer watching his opportunity drew near unto the Coach on the right side thinking his Majesty had been ther but seeing he was on the left hand and hearing them command the Coach-man to drive on he went the nearest way by narrow Lanes and met with the Coach again in the Street called Ferroniere near Innocents Church where staying to make way for a Cart to pass the King leaned down on the one side towards the Duke of Espernon pressing him to read a Letter without Spectacles Montbazon with the Mareschal de la Vardin was in one of the Boots who turned toward them and one of the Footmen was busie in tying up his garter on the other side so that this Monster had the opportunity to stab the King in the left Pap but the wound was not great Whereupon crying out O my God I am wounded he gave him a second blow which was mortal the knife entring between the Fifth and Sixth Rib it cut asunder the Vein leading to the heart And the wound was so deep that it entred into Cava Vena the which was pierced wherewith the King did presently spit blood losing all apprehension and knowledge for any thing they could perceive who being carried back into the Louvre was laid upon a Couch in his Cabin●● where presently after he gave up the ghost After whose death the Queen-Mother was declared Regent in France by whose Commandment the King's heart was delivered to the Jesuites to be laid up in their Colledge of la Fleche as the King himself had long before resolved The first Edict at Nantes was also confirmed for the entertainment whereof a Declaration was made by Lewes the young King The Murtherer being arraigned was put to the Rack on May 25. and on the 27. had the Sentence of death given against him His execution was after this manner He was brought out of the Prison in his shirt with a Torch of two pound weight lighted in one hand and the knife wherewith he had murthered the King chained in the other Then was he set upright in a Tumbrel or dung Cart and so he was conducted with a good Guard to our Ladies Church where he did penance After this he was accompanied to the place of Execution by two Doctors of Divinity who still perswaded him to save his soul from everlasting punishment by revealing his Associates the which he would not In this manner he was carried to the Greve where there was a strong Scaffold built for his Execution At his coming up on the Scaffold he crossed himself in token that he died a Papist Then was he bound to an Engine of wood which done his hand with the knife chained to it wherewith he had slain the King was put into a Furnace then flaming with Fire and Brimstone wherein it was in a terrible manner consumed and yet he would not confess any thing but cast forth horrible cries like a soul tormented in Hell Then the Executioners having made Pincers red hot in the same Furnace they did pinch his Paps the brawns of his arms and thighs with the calves of his legs and other fleshy parts of his body pulling out collops of flesh and burning them before his face Then they poured into those wounds scalding Oyl Rozen Pitch and Brimstone melted together After which they set a hard roundel of Clay upon his Navil having an hole in the midst into the which they poured molten Lead yet he revealed nothing but roared out most horribly Then they caused four strong Horses to be brought to tear his Body in pieces But these Horses could not of a long time pull him asund●r though another very strong Horse was put in the place of one of the four who strained but faintly until they were constrained to cut the veins under his arms and thighs by which means his body was the easier torn in pieces Then the enraged multitude pulled this dismembred Carkass out of the Executioners hand which they dragged up and down through the dirt and cutting off the flesh with their knives the bones which remained were burnt at the place of execution and the ashes scattered in the wind His Father and Mother were commanded to depart the Land and never to return again His Brethren Sisters Uncles and others his Kinsfolk enjoined to take another Name His goods were declared forfeited to the King and the house where he had been born to be beaten down This wicked Parricide confessed no other motive of his Crime but the Book of Mariana a Spanish Jesuite Which Book by a Decree made by the Colledge of Sorbonne and confirmed by a sentence from the Courts of Parliament was for that cause by a sentence condemned to be publickly burnt before our Ladies Church in Paris After the execution of Ravillac there was a foul imputation laid on the Jesuites and many condemned them as Abettors and favourers of the Murtherers of Princes for which cause Father Cotton employs all his Wit and Eloquence to wipe it off in whose behalf the Bishop of Paris wrote which as a Preface was prefixt before his Declaration and Printed But the Learned Du Moulin put forth that famous Book called Anticoton in which he proved that the Jesuites were Authours of that horrible Parricide Though he put not his name to it yet the Jesuites soon knew that it was his Work and made an answer to it directed unto him because there was in the Anticoton an Anagram of Father Cotton which fathered the King's death upon him thus PIERRE COTON PERCE TON ROY They also made this Anagram upon Du Moulin's name PETRUS DU MOULIN ERIT MUNDO LUPUS With these Verses Petri hostis Petrus christi insidiatur ovili Quo deglubere quo dilaniare queat More Lupi verè Lupus est cui nomen omen Et mores insunt ingeniumque Lupi Which Verses Du Moulin answered thus Quisquis es insulso qui fundis acumine versus Hellespontiaco victima digna Deo Quàm frustrà vacuum scalpsisti sinciput ô quos Risus H●●rida vox semilatrina movet Dum tua men●●ariè turbata elementa pererrat Et spargis virus nomen in innocuum Quin in hoc casu quaedam est industria dum tu In laudem imprudens nomina nostra trahis Namque Lupo cohibemus equos agitator equorum Improbioris equi comprimit ora lupo Qui in gyrum cogit facilique peritus habenâ Compositos gressus agglomerare docet Ergo lupus mundo est qui fraenans ora lupato Dura per errorum devia monstrat iter Nec mirum si nos Papalis verna culinae Si ciniflo Satanae dixerit esse lupos Cum Christum Satanam Pharisaeus dicat apella Nemo bonus secum mitiùs optet agi Ergo Dei servum vanis latratibus urgens Meque lupum appellans desinat esse canis At this
Cognard a Professour of the Reformed Religion for writing a Book by order and with approbation of the Synod of Normandy in answer to a book full of calumniations and falsities written by a Physitian of that place who from a Protestant had a little before turned Papist And the said Archbishop by his violent persecution having obliged the said Cognard to leave this City by a just judgement of God who useth ordinarily to punish men in the very things wherein they have sinned He the said Archbishop fell into the same pit which he had digged for another having at Roven published a most dangerous Pamphlet containing this seditious doctrine That it is lawful to fall on the Hereticks and granting either by his Archiepiscopal authority or otherwise an Indulgence or Pardon of an hundred years to any one that should fall on any pretended Heretick This cursed doctrine coming to the knowledge of the French Court and the dangerous consequences of it having been there seriously weighed the King sent order to the Duke of Longueville Governour of that Province to apprehend the said Archbishop but he timely hearing of it ran away and absented himself from thence An English man was imprisoned at Bourdeaux having been taken as he was endeavouring to seduce divers persons to turn to the Sect and Opinions of the Quakers a thing not heard of in France before that time Great talk was in Paris of a Miracle which they say hapned in the Monastery of Port-royal in that City upon one that was a Pensioner belonging to that Monastery who was said to have been cured of a Fistula in the eye called Fistula lachrymalis by the touch of one of the thorns which the Priests say was taken out of the Crown of our blessed Saviour But how it came into France I cannot tell you And albeit in this prying age the Church of Rome hath not been very forward to broach any new miracles especially on this side the Alpes yet this hath been much cried up The Grand Vicar of the Arch-bishoprick of Paris was the first that was Patron of it and afterward it was approved by the Curat of S. Severin the present grand Vicar assisted therein by five Doctors of the Sorbon and a publick mass and thanksgiving was celebrated for it Hereupon many were drawn to the said Monastery to be cured by the holy Thorn The Assembly of the Clergy lay so heavy with their importunities upon the King that it was yielded at length that a Declaration should be issued forth contrary to the sence of former Declarations which were made in favour of the Protestants Hereupon the Parliament of Tholouse proceeded so far as to ratifie the said Declaration against the Protestants of France and ordered that two Counsellours should go into upper and lower Languedoc to put it in Execution and to cause such Churches to be demolished as had been built since the Wars Soon after the Bishop of Soissons died a Prelate of much reputation who had served King Henry IV. in the quality of Almoner He was promoted to the said Bishoprick in the year 1623. He had the honour to consecrate the present King at his Coronation Since the Declaration forementioned another Declaration of the French King was published at Paris in behalf of the Protestants intimating that the Edict of Nantes should be punctually observed and that two Commissioners one Protestant one Papist should repair to the places where any innovations or contraventions had been made to reform the same Some Bishops of the Assembly of the Clergy viz. those of Montauban and Alby represented to the said Assembly that the answer made in the behalf of the Protestants to the late speech of the Archbishop of Sens ought to be burnt as a Book pernicious and injurious to the King as they reported and other Bishops affirming the contrary for the proving of the truth the same answer was read in their Assembly by the Secretary from one end to the other and upon reading of it the Assembly concluded th●t there was no just ground therein to complain of it to the King and so the said Assembly dissolved without prosecuting the business any farther at that time Not long after a certain Popish Priest discoursing one day with a French Protestant with design to draw him over to the Church of Rome he thought he had brought him into a very hopeful way when the Protestant had told him that all the Protestants in France would submit themselves to the Pope if the Pope would submit himself to the Councils to whom the Priest replyed it will be necessary then that a Council be called and such rules established by common consent as shall be thought necessary for the Government of the Church To which the Protestant replyed a little fiercely How will the Pope observe the Decrees of a Council that cannot be kept ●rom violating the Precepts of the Gospel but if you will undertake to bring the Pope to a submission to them I do not question to convert all of my Religion to the Pope for to tell you the truth Sir I hold one as feasible as the other After the taking of Dunkirk by the English and French and put into the hands of the English Crequi is sent Embassador to O. Cromwel with Mazarine's Nephew in his pompous train Cromwel died not long after Divers places in Flanders were surrendered to the French but amidst these prosperous successes the French King falls into a Fever at Calais judged to be mortal Supplications were made for him at all Altars and prayers for his recovery were publickly enjoyned Mazarine day and night sate by his bed side to make him governable in taking Physick which he would taste himself either to take off the unpleasantness or to make proof of it The eleventh day accounted Critical the King seemed at the point of death could scarcely life up his eyes that now appeared almost set in his head His Majesty having Antimony with judgement given him by Geunault recovered and being conveyed to Paris pay'd his Vows in Nostre-Dame Church An heart of massy Gold was hung upon the wall as an oblation afterwards to confirm his health he removed to Fontainbleau Mazarine stayed some time behind to advance the siege of Graveling The taking of Graveling was the last Monument of the French glory before the conclusion of the peace At twenty four Sessions the business of the peace between France and Spain was compleated and at length on November 7. 1659. the Articles agreed on by the two Ministers were signed and published The Cardinal at Tholouse rendered the King and Queen an account of the peace concluded whereat they received much satisfaction From hence the Court made a Progress into Provence till the King of Spain should come with his daughter who was to be married to the French King to compose the disorders at Marseilles which had broken out about the Priviledges of their Consuls Gaston Duke of Orleans born of Henry IV. and
Popes Nuntio the Ambassadors of Venice Sweden Savoy the Vnited Provinces and all Forreign Ministers to be present as also the Peers of the Realm the Chancellor and four Secretaries to register it In this concourse Fuentes thus spake to the King There being nothing more upon the King my Masters heart than Religiously to observe the Laws of Consanguinity He hath sent me hither with a charge to confirm them which at his Personal presence he established with his Royal mouth His Person I sustain this day not representing a King that knows not to yield but a Father whose spirit only nature works to a complyance He hath thought fit voluntarily to quit to you those Transitory honours which he hath enjoyed so long since shortly death is liks to put a period to them These Gallantries may become your Age. Such youthful Ambition an old man and your Father-in-law envies not The London outrage hath sunk deeper into his than your heart He could not more effectially redress it than by punishing the Author The revocation of Batteville is a publick declaration of inflicting punishment on him But what could have been added more to this than to lay strict injunctions that his Embassadors for the future do not contend with yours about precedency This is the occasion of the Embassie which I the rather perform because the Peace lately concluded is hereby confirmed May it stand in full force to all Generations The King receiving satisfaction in his due honour gave him a nod when he had concluded his speech He advised the Embassadors to be mindful of what had passed and to report to their respective Princes what they had seen and heard Now Dunkirk by contract is delivered up by the English into the hands of the French A Book had been published entituled The Journal of Monsieur de St. Amour D. of Sorbonne containing a full account of all the Transactions both in France and at Rome concerning the five famous Propositions controverted between the Jansenists and the Molinists from the year 1646. till 1653. and an addition was made to this Journal in the year 1662. The same year the King by Proclamation commanded the Tenets of the Jansenists condemned by Pope Innocent X. and Alexander VII Franc. Albici was employed by Pope Innocent X. in the business of the Jansenists which he transacted so well that the Pope made him a Cardinal in the year 1654. to be abolished The Jansenists received their denomination from Cornelius Jansen Bishop of Ypres who about the fortieth year of his Age put out a Book about Grace and Free-will About this time an affront is offered unto Crequi the French Embassador at Rome The Corsi the Soldiers that are the Popes Guard upon pretence of some trivial quarrel with Crequi's Pages shoot Pistolls in at his windows set upon his Wives Coach as she is coming home and offer all sorts of injuries trampling upon the Sacredness of the Embassy Crequi departeth from Rome unsatisfied and the Corsi triumph Hereupon the King his Master applyeth himself to the Colledge of Cardinals for redress and his Letter was exactly as followeth Cousin THe assault that was made the twentieth currant upon the person of my Cousin the Duke of Crequi my Embassador Extraordinary his Lady and all the French the Corsi of Rome could meet with in the Streets that day is an enormity so great in all its circumstances that perhaps in no time nor place even among the Barbarians themselves can an instance be found in which the jus Gentium hath been with so much inhumanity violated and abused And forasmuch as your Eminence is a member of that sacred body that is the natural Council of the Popes I have charged Monsignor Burlemont Auditor of the Rota to wait upon you in this conjuncture and acquaint you with my resentment of so great an offence to the end that by your interposition which I doubt not but you will willingly undertake as far as you shall be able I may receive a satisfaction adaequate to the quality and extravagance of the affront But if your Eminences good offices should happen to be ineffectual they shall not be imputed to me after this application whatsoever mischiefs or calamities shall happen assuring my self I shall be excusable both to God and to man whatever the consequences be And thus referring the rest to what Monsignor Burlemont will present to you by word of mouth I beseech God my good Cousin to preserve you in his holy favour St. Germans en ley August 20. 1662. LEWIS De Lominie This Letter was read and deliberated in the Sacred Colledge and the Cardinals answer to the Kings Letter was as followeth Most Christian and most Royal Sir I Am very sensible of the transcendent favour your Majesty hath done me in vouchsafing to impart to me your resentment for the unhappy accident between the Corses and certain of the Duke of Grequi's train besides the honour you have done me by the benign confidence expressed in your Letter and by the mouth of Monsignor Burlemont your Majesty also hath given me occasion with all reverence to represent the great displeasure conceived by our whole Court but more especially his Holiness in whose heart there is already so great an impression and augmented by so many glorious actions so many perpetual testimonies of your valour and piety in demolishing the Garrisons of Hereticks and shutting their Chuches in palces under their Command So that his Holiness could not evidence with more paternal demonstration the disgust that action hath given you which he hath not only declared publickly in his Briefs upon that occasion but in the Consistory also and in his private discourse but much more in his actions bending all his thoughts to your Majesties satisfaction as he hath alwayes designed I hope therefore your Majesty with your wonted generosity will reflect upon the just motives and remain satisfied even for the entire quiet and consolation of your servants among which I being not inferiour to any in point of observance neither have failed nor will fail in my obedience to your Majesty nor in employing my self to the utmost of my abilities in your Majesties service On the other side likewise I shall rejoyce if in your Majesties Resolutions your Majesties Royal Bounty and Prudence doth mroe and more appear So that to make me perfectly happy there remains nothing but your Majesties fresh commands which I most obsequiously do beg of your Majesty and make my most humble obeisance Rome 24. Septemb. 1662. The Count de Brienne was sent by the King of France to the Popes Nuntio at the French Court to Command him to leave Paris and to retire to Meaux and not to stir from thence till further Order from his Majesty pretending it aa an expedient to secure his person against some such tumult as hapned in Rome Piccolomini replied with all possible respect that he would obey his Majesties Order but he desired first to be heard and went
manners and religion of the Parents And he shall try what progress the youths have made in learning he shall also have regard to their wit vertue and disposition either to good or evil And whom by manifest conjectures he shall judge to be unfit for learning piety and the Priesthood he shall by no means admit into the Seminary Before any one be admitted into the Seminary he is to be often admonished that he may not be educated and nourished in the Seminary if he propound to himself any other kind of life than an Ecclesiastical life Therefore let him by oath vow and holily promise that he will never depart to any other course of life but will alwayes faithfully serve the Church of Christ in that degree and order which shall be assigned to him by the Bishop He shall also promise to obey the Governour of the Seminary and his Substitutes in all things and that he will observe all the Laws and Statutes of the Seminary which shall be read unto him c. Let none be received till he be instructed concerning his Bed Gown Cap Wastecoat and other Garments Surplice and Breviary 3. Of the President and Overseers of a Seminary None are to be admitted into any Office in a Seminary unless he be first diligently examined and tryed by the Bishop Great care shall be taken that the Governours of a Seminary be men grave prudent and adorned with all kind of vertue who by their example and exhortations may provoke those that are under their charge to the study of Piety and Vertue Let all first put the confession of their faith according to the form expressed in the Provincial Council in the hands of the Bishop In the Seminary there shall be one President of venerable gravity and a Priest of singular piety whom all in the Seminary shall obey as well in Spirituals as Temporals And to the President two other Priests shall be joyned whereof one shall be an Overseer of all businesses of the Seminary the other shall have the care of the houshold affairs and shall be called the Under-Master of the Seminary In the Seminary shall be so many servants as the Bishop or those delegated by him shall think fit The Governours of the Seminary shall diligently require of their Scholars a repetition of the Lecture and direct them in their manners and behaviour And one of them shall teach the Clerks an Ecclesiastical Song Let the President be daily in the Seminary and with his presence and care contain all in their duty and to the Bishop let him often give an account of the whole Seminary Let the President have a Book in which he may set down the names sirnames condition the day and year of the reception of all those who shall be admitted into the Seminary and whatsoever houshold-stuff every one shall bring 4. Of the Oeconomy or Houshold-Government of the Seminary A skilful Procurator shall be set over the house in temporal matters who shall take care of affairs at home and abroad he shall gather in time all the yearly rents and profits of the Seminary and the moneys collected he shall straightway deliver to the President to be kept in a chest And he shall have a Book in which he shall diligently and faithfully set down whatsoever profits and moneys he shall receive and of whom and for what cause and shall note the day the month and the year He shall give an account to the President of what he receiveth and expendeth every month and the President shall sign the book of accounts with his own hand and the same accounts shall the Bishop examine every third month c. He that shall buy in food and other things shall be one that is found to be a man faithful and conscientious who shall every day receive so much money as is necessary from the Procurator and every day give an account to the Procurator of what is received and expended and that particularly and by piece-meal The houshold-stuff and all the several Vessels and Instruments of the Seminary shall the Procurator set down in a Book and shall give an account of them to the Governour in the sixth month Moderate food frugal and not very delicate shall be described by the Bishop and his Delegates 5. Of the Discipline of the Seminary and first of Piety Let the Clerks be excited to Piety and Religion Let every one be raised up at four a clock in the morning then let them come together in one place and with bended knees apply themselves to Prayer for half an hour and they shall rehearse one going before others answering with a clear voice the hourly prayers of the blessed Virgin They who shall be initiated to sacred orders shall recite the Breviary in convenient time and with great attention Before nine a clock in the evening before they lye down to rest they shall all together rehearse the Litanies and by and by shall search and examine their consciences c. Every month shall every one confess his sins to the Priest and being prepared let them receive the holy Eucharist with great devotion unless their Confessor see cause to with-hold it from them Every holy day going out two by two out of the Seminary and putting on their Surplices let them come together to the greater Mass and Vespers of the Cathedral-church of the City in which the Seminary shall be and there let them stand and sit in places appointed for them and sing with the Quire and on those days they shall be present at the publick Sermon in the same Church or another place The President also shall diverse times in every month give brief exhortations to the Clergy concerning the dignity of Vertues and the filthiness of Vices with the remedies thereof concerning blessedness the pains of Hell concerning death the last judgement In the beginning of Dinner and Supper one of the Priests shall pray for a blessing and give thanks after Supper or Dinner all modestly answering the Priest going before them The Psalm de profundis c. is to be added and other Collects for the Founder and Benefactors In the time of Dinner and Supper let one read by suggestion some Chapter out of the holy Bible to which may be added the reading of some pious Book which they shall all diligently hear that whilst the body is refreshed with food the mind may never be idle Among other Writings of Pious and Learned men let them often read privately and publickly that famous Epistle of S. Hierom to Nepotian de Vita Clericorum that unto that Rule every one may endeavour to direct himself 6. Of obedience and other duties of the Clerks of the Seminary The Clerks of the Seminary are to be obedient to their Governours in all things Let none go out of the Colledge without leave and a companion joyned to him with whom let him also return back again into the Seminary Let none send or otherwise receive Letters unless by
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 pl●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 Ro●●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
Monastery of St. Medard at Soissons Page 57 Lotharius becometh a Monk in the Abbey of Pluviers When the Pope's Legates came first to the Councils of France Page 59 King Lewes IX lost all his Army and himself ●ith his two Brethren Alphonso and Charles are taken Prisoners in Egypt Page 113 The Principal Laws observed in the Creation of the Pope Page 120 121 Lupus Bishop of Troyes Page 17 Lupus Bishop of Sens. Page 33 Lupus Abbot of Ferraria Page 63 Letters passed between King Philip the fair and Boniface VIII Page 128 129 A Letter of the French Prelates sent to Pope Boniface VIII Page 131 132 Many Lutherans commanded to be put to death in Paris by King Henry II. Page 207 M. CLaudius Mammertus Bishop of Vienna Page 17 Margaret Queen of Navar Sister to King Francis 1. her memoires and poetical works Page 191 A Table of French Martyrs Page 175 ad 200 Martyrs at Lyons and Vienna Page 3 4 c. Maurice Bishop of Anjou Page 13 Martial converted divers Provinces and People in France to the Faith Page 2 Rabanus Maurus famous in the Vniversity of Paris Page 62 St. Martin Bishop of Turin Page 13 The Monastery of St. Martin near Paris called des Champs Page 73 John le Mayre a French Historian Page 183 Minerius a cruel Persecutor of the Albigenses in the Town of Aix in Provence Page 203 Miximus builder of the Micians Monastery Page 22 Maximinus first Pastor of Aquens Page 2 Maximinus a Fryar of Orleans Page 22 John Melrose Abbot of the Augustinians Page 41 Francis Morellus President in a Synod of the Protestants Page 211 N. WIlliam Nagaretta Professour of the Laws his Declaration and Appeal against Pope Boniface VIII at Paris before the King and his Council Page 120 Nicholas de Clemangiis a learned French-man he wrote against the abuses of the Popes and Court of Rome Page 166 O. ODilo Abbot of Clugny made Arch-Bishop of Lyons Page 173 Odo Bishop of Baieux Page 77 Nicholas Orem he Preacheth before the Pope and his Cardinals at Avignon Page 152 P. MAthias Parisiensis proveth that the Pope is Antichrist Page 155 The Pastorelli and their Destruction Page 114 Paschasius Rathbert Abbot of Corbey Page 64 Paul of Pisa Tutor to Charles the Great Page 41 Peregrinus when he flourished Page 17 Philastrius Bishop of Breux Page 13 Philip the Apostle said first to have Preached the Gospel in France Page 1 Postellus a learned French-man Page 190 Peter Castellan Bishop of Orleans Page 191 Peter Abailard an Antitrinitarian Page 100 Peter Bishop of Clugny Page 91 Peter a Monk of Paris Page 100 Peter Cantor he wrote against the Pope and the Mass-Priests Page 101 Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris the Master of the Sentences Page 101 Peter de Cugneriis his Oration Page 135 The Appeal of King Philip the Fair against Pope Boniface VIII at Paris Page 130 Articles of William de Plesiano Knight read against Boniface VIII at Paris ibid. Peter de Aliaco Cardinal of Cambray and Chancellour of Paris Page 169 The Pragmatic Sanction of King Charles VII first made in a Synod assembled at Bourges Page 168 An Arrest of the Parliament of Paris against the Pope's exactions of Annates in France Page 159 Projectus Bishop of Marseilles Page 33 The Story of Peter the Hermit a French Pilgrim Page 80 81 Prosper of Aquitain when he flourished Page 17 Q. ST Quintin a Preacher and Martyr Page 9 R. REmigius Bishop of Rhemes he baptized King Clovis and 3000. of his Souldiers with him Page 20 Remigius Bishop of Lyons he defended the Doctrine of Gotteschalk Page 63 Robert the Norman refuseth the Kingdom of Jerusalem Page 83 John Rochetalada Preacheth that the Church of Rome is the Whore of Babilon c. and is burnt at Avignon Page 147 Rusticus a Martyr Page 9 Thomas Rhedon a French Carmelite Page 172 S. SAlvianus Bishop of Marseilles Page 17 Solonius a good Writer ibid Salonius Bishop of Vopinga Page 26 Sagitarius Bishop of Ebreduna Page 26 Saturninus the first Bishop of Tholouse Page 9 Paulus Sergius first Bishop of Narbon in France Page 2 Sebastian a Martyr Page 11 Sidonius Apollinaris first Bishop of Clermont Page 16 Henry Stevens and Robert his Son Henry Robert's Son and Paul the Son of that Henry all learned Men and Printers Page 204 Great contention between the Masters of Sorbon in Paris and the Preaching Fryars Page 114 Serenus Bishop of Marseilles Page 27 The Sect and Order of Monks called Stellati instituted by King John Page 152 The great Schism between the French and Italian Cardinals after the Death of Pope Gregory XI about the choice of the Pope Page 155 T. TRophimus first Bishop of Arles Page 1 Theodorus Bishop of Marseilles Page 30 Thevet a learned French-man Page 190 V. VIctorinus of Aquitain Page 21. A Synod at Verceles against Berengarius Page 74 An Assembly of Bishops at Vicenas Page 138 A book written in France called the Vergers Dream Page 154 Peter Viret an Eloquent French Divine Page 194 Francis Vatablus Regis Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in Paris his Works Page 205 W. WUlfarius Arch-bishop of Rhemes Page 48 William Arch-bishop of Tyre a very learned Man Page 93 The Waldenses their Original and Doctrine Page 96 X. XYstus first Pastor of Rhemes Page 1 The end of the Table of the first part The Table of the Second Part. A. AN Assembly of the Clergy in the Abbey of St. German page 41 A provincial Council at Aix in Provence page 42 An Assembly of the States at Blois page 35 65 Antoine du Verdier page 11 An Assembly of the Reformed Churches at Saumur page 101 A National Assembly of the Protestants page 142 An Assembly of the Bishops and Clergy of France at Paris page 128 Johannes Auratus Regius Professor in Paris page 10 Anthony Sadeel a good Preacher and Writer ibid Adrian Turnebus Professor of Philosophy and Greek in Paris ibid Andrew Tiraquel an excellent Lawyer page 8 Antoin de Chandieu a Learned French Divine page 10 Andreas de Chesne Historiographer to the King of France page 10 B. THe Abbot of Bloys writes against the book of Mariana the Jesuit page 101 The Lady Katherine de Bourbon Sister to King Henry IV. marryed to the Duke of Bar she was a firm Protestant page 85 A Woman of Burgundy killeth 18 sick German Souldiers page 52 Briquemald and Cavagnes dyed constantly in the Faith page 26 John Bodin a great Statesman his speech and works page 36 Renauld of Beaune Arch-bishop of Bourges his speech page 40 The Duke of Bovillon Prince of Sedan turneth Papist page 122 Birth of the present King of France page 153 Guido de Bres an Holy Martyr page 16 Gulielmus Salustius Bartassius an excellent Poet. ibid C. JOhn Castle pierceth King Henry IV. his upper Lip c. and is executed page 83 Father Cotton his ridiculous Sermon page 88 A conference between Du Moulin and Cayer page 88 Conference
between the Bishop of Evereux and Du Plessis Morney page 90 A new Colledge built by King Henry IV. at la Fleshe page 95 A conference between Du Moulin and Father Gontier a Jesuit page 96 A Congregation of French Prelates page 4 A Colloquy at Poisy in France between the Popish Doctors and the Protestant Ministers page 5 6 John Croy a Learned French Divine page 10 A Conference at Flex page 33 A Conference between the German and French Divines at Mompelgart page 45 A Council of sixteen in Paris page 53 Robert Constantine a Learned Frenchman page 19 An affront put upon the Duke of Crequi at Rome and the effects thereof page 177 178 Jacobus Cujacius a great Lawyer page 11. D. LAmbertus Danaeus a French Divine of Orleans page 71 The Death of the Bishop of Chartres who had been Confessour to Cardinal Richlieu page 171 Dionisius Lambinus a Learned French-man page 24 The French Divines answer and censure the Book of Sancterellus the Jesuit page 182 The Death of King Lewes XIII page 160 Daniel Chamier a learned French-man page 107 Daniel Tilenus Professor at Sedan page 104 E. AN Edict made against Duels page 129 Father Edmonds Prior of the Covent of Jacobines executed page 70 Queen Elizabeth 's Letter to King Henry IV. upon change of his Religion page 80 French Exiles at Mompelgart page 45 F. ANthony Faius a good French Divine and Abraham his Son their works page 50 John Fernelius a learned French Physician page 8 A difference between the Bishops and the Fryars in France page 143 A sore Famine in Paris page 76 Francis Cupif a Sorbon Doctor turneth Protestant his Censure page 152 Fishes called Surdonnes sent by God's providence to the relief of the Poor at Rochel during the Siege page 27 G. THe Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Guise slain page 59 60 A League of the Guisian Faction page 34 35 Gilbert Genebrard a Divine of Paris page 10 Paul Gondy Arch-bishop of Corinth and Cardinal de Rhetz page 163 Henrico Gaetano sent Legat by the Pope to the League of France page 71 The Guisian League sworn in Tholouse by the black Penitents page 45 Many places in France side with the Guisian Faction page 43 H. KIng Henry III. curseth the City of Paris p. 55. he is murthered by a Jacobine Monk page 67 Michael Hospitalius Chancellour of France an opposer of wicked Counsels against the Protestants page 29 King Henry IV. embraceth the Roman Catholick Religion p. 79. he is murthered by Ravillac page 97 I. THe Jesuits restored in France page 95 Julius Caesar Scaliger and Joseph Scaliger very learned Men. page 9 L. A List of the Protestant Churches in France lately demolished page 189 190 191 The latter Councils of France since the Council of Trent page 192 c. The Laws of a Seminary College p. 194. and that of Bourdeaux in particular page 199 200 A Letter of King Henry III. to the King of Navar. page 41 M. CHarles Marillac Bishop of Vienna page 2 August Marlorat Minister of the Reformed Church at Roven hanged by the Guisians page 17 Clement Marot a famous French Poet. page 17 The bloody Massacre of the Protestants at Paris page 23 24 Peter Merlin a learned French Divine page 24 John Morinus a Learned Papist page 19 Muretus an eloquent Writer page 17 Duke of Montmorency beheaded page 144 Papyrius Massonius a Writer of the French Chronicle page 1● Count Montgomery taken and put to death page 28 Andrew Melvin his Verses page 29 Michael Montaign his Works and when he flourished page 30 Cardinal Mazarine made prime Minister of State p. 164. he raiseth a stately Library p. 164. his Death page 175 John Mercer a learned French-man Successor of Vatablus as Hebrew Professor at Paris page 24 N. KIng of Navar and Prince of Conde excommunicated by Pope Sixtus V. page 44 Their Protestation against it ibid The King of Navar 's Declaration against the Guisian League page 44 O. OBusson Arch-bishop of Yverdon A Form of an Oath propounded by those of the Guisian League page 35 D'Ossat and Du Perron made Cardinals page 84 Some Orders cryed down in France because of their Conspiracies against the State page 45 P. PEter de Espignac Arch-Bishop of Lyons page 35 Peter Verseris Advocate in the Court of Parliament at Paris page 35 The Protestant Princes of Germany raise an Army to defend the French Protestants page 51 John Passeratius an excellent Orator and Poet. page 11 Du Plessis Morney his Story page 103 104 105 Protestants disturbed in the exercise of their Religion page 34 A Popish Form of Profession of Faith page 195 ad 203 The Works of Cardinal Du Perron page 101 Q. JOhn Quinquarboreus Professor of the Hebrew and Chaldee to the French King in Paris page 18 R. A Relation of the present Estate of the Reformed Churches of France page 184 ad 188 The Duke of Rohan his military Actions in France p. 140. his Peace made with the King 141 his Death page 152 The Siege of Rochel page 137 The English attempt to relieve it but in vain ibid It is yielded to the King page 138 Cardinal Richlieu his death The Characters given of him page 156 157 Francis Rabalaesus a Witty but Atheistical Writer page 19 Peter Ramus slain in the Parisian Massacre page 24 Rozarius a Preacher at Orleans Apostatizeth and afterwards recanteth page 24 Andrew Rivet and William Rivet two Godly French Divines page 107 A Provincial Synod held at Roven page 41 S. SEdan a Refuge for the Protestants page 122 A Star seen in the Constellation of Cassiopea page 29 A National Synod held at Tonneinx p. 104. another at Alais in Languedoc page 108 Gaspar Scoppius his Book tending to the Rebellion of Subjects against the Soveraign power burnt by the Hangman page 102 The Spanish Renuntiation of all Priority to France page 176 Claud. Salmasius a learned French Critick page 100 Jac. Sirmondus a Learned French Jesuit p. 99. his works page 100 T. BEnedict Turretine a learned French-man page 100 V. FRancis Vieta a learned French Mathematician page 100. Nicholas Vignerius a Learned French Historiographer page 100 Nicholas Vignerius Junior a Learned French Divine page 100 The Bishop of Verdun imprisoned page 131 FINIS ERRATA PArt I. Page 2. Line 31. read Mantz p. 13. l. 23. 24. r. circumcelliones p. 28. l. 14. r. Avergne p. 31. l. 29. r. Theodorick p. 57. l. 38. r. levies p. 83. l. 17. r. Carthusians p. 91. l. 20. r. his p. 109. l. 27. r. and p. 112. l. 8. r. There Part II. p. 7. l. 11. r. leave and l. 37. r. leave p. 11. l. 3. r. Undiquaque p. 30. l. antepenult r. peace was concluded p. 54. l. 41. r. at Soissons p. 70. l. 19. r. Mars p. 105. l. 3. r. Towns p. 130. l. 19. r. the chief p. 146. l. 22. r. one Fish-day p. 208. l. 8. r. Bells