other heresyes called Donastytes whiche baptysed y â— cristeÌ„ agayne as our late Anna baptystes vsed and as the enmonyans heretykê y e sayd that Iesu Cryste in his Godhede was not equall w t God the Father by dyuyne nature but onely by grace the massedonyas heretykes denyed the holy Ghost to be equall with the Father and the Sone thus these heresyes arose y â— .xii. persecucyoÌ„ through the coÌ„maundement of Iulian y â— appostata emperour that was fyrst a cristeÌ„ man and after fell to Ydolatry whiche persecucyon arose by euyll example sismes that he sawe in Chrystes church ¶ Here foloweth y e .iii. sisme of y e church of Rome in whiche tyme Rome was destroyed by y e gootes SHortly after the seconde sysme y e thyrde folowed bytweÌ„ Bysshop Damascus borne in Spayne and Ursysinus cardynall deacon his ennemy whiche was his open chalenger to batayll in armes within the church wherthrough were many men slayne one both partes so inconclusyon Damascus ouercame and vaynqueshed vrsysyne y â— antipape whiche was afterward content with the bysshoprycke of naples ¶ Thus is apparant to all the worlde what desolacyon and myschefe ensued vpon the possessions that was gyuen to the bysshops ofâ—Rome by CoÌ„stantyne his successours what w t violence of war persecucyon of tyranny vpon crysten people alas what pety was this to se y e see of Rome so pyteously brought iÌ„ such a name by Damascus bysshop this man was y â— fyrst bysshop of Rome that enterpressed dedes of armes warre for his dignyte yet notwithstandyng he is at this day acepted and taken for a holy glorious confessouâ— yet was he accused for adultrye and this man was the fyrst that auctorysed saynt Ieromes werkes and in his tyme Rome was taken and destroyed by Alarych Kynge of gootes the whiche ingendred great slaunder in the crysten church in somoch that y â— paynymes greatly reproched the chrysten relygyon for suche shamfull enormytes in somoche that many cristen Kynges and Prynces withdrewe theÌ„ frome seruinge of God and so fell frome y â— fayth where vpon saynt Austen compiled and wrote the boke called De ciuitate dei thus through this sysme the deuyll redy to al myschefe engendred another sorte of heretykes called Pelagyans whose opynyons was that maÌ„ myght meryt without the grace and gyft of God and that no maÌ„ shuld passe vpoÌ„ baptyme for the whiche errour was assembled a couÌ„ceyl generall in the cetye of Carâ—age there were asseÌ„ble .cc.xviii. prelates where as saynt Austen was one of them sheued wel his scyence vertue and learnynge ¶ Of the .iiii. sisme tribulacions befel in christê church of y â— great counceylles agaynst y â— great heresyes that then raygned whiche coÌ„tynewed fyfte yeres THus bytwene the thyrde sysme y â— fourthe was but foure pesyble bysshoppes of Rome whiche were Syryake Anastase fyrst InnoceÌ„t y â— fyrst zosynus after whose death began the .iiii. sysme deuisyon in the churche that is to wet bytwene Bonyface the fyrste and eulalyus cardynall preest The cause of theyr dyuysyon was that y â— clarge ware departed in to two partes and sortes in the which tyme the Emperour Theodosius beyng at Mallan w t his wyfe were banyshed shortly after Boniface was reuoked agayne and so made bisshop of Rome onely after that vnto y â— fyfte sysme began the heryses of PredestynacyoÌ„ y â— whiche affyrmed y â— no ê‘son aueyled to do any good werkes but euery ê‘soÌ„ to do his pleasure for god had predestynated euery maÌ„ to be saued daÌ„pned at his plesure in this seasoÌ„ was asseÌ„bled a couÌ„cel at CoÌ„stantynople in the tyme of gratiaÌ„ Emperour theodose damascus bysshop of Rome agaynst the errour of the macedonyans ¶ So folowyng not loÌ„ge after was asseÌ„bled y â— thyrde great counceyll at Ephese by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Theodose afore wryteÌ„ bysshop Telestyn against y â— heresyes of the Nestoryans which held opynyon that the virgyn marye was not mother to the sone of God in this opynyon was many countres sore infected with as Fraunce Spayne Affrique with many other small domynyons in whiche tyme Ursula her coÌ„pany suffered deth and martyrdome at Colone ¶ And in this season was assembled the iiii generall counceyll in Calsydonye in Asia the lesse end the which was asseÌ„ble ccccc xxx bysshops by y â— auctoryte of bysshop Leo the fyrste of y t name MarsuÌ„ then emperour This assemble was to coÌ„uicte the heryses of Eutycyanes abbot of Constantynople who held opynyon that Chryst had takeÌ„ humanyte vpoÌ„ hymself y t he had iÌ„ hym but one nature that was pure dyuynyte the whiche heryses was fordone by y â— sayd counceyll and shortly after began another sysme called Archefallyke y t is to wyte without a hed which denyed all Canons of the sayd counseyll ¶ And this tyme befel a great mischyfe in Rome that Anastasius then seconde bysshop of that name borne in Rome became an herityke was named the seconde bysshop abhomynable in Rome for he fauoured the opynyons of y t nestoryans as Lyberius bysshop dyd afore wryten toke the opinyons of the Arians and this Anastasius was the fyrst that gaue out cursse vpon any Emperour or Kynge in synne this cursed Bysshop dyed full of misery in somoch y t his bowelles fell from hym syttyng at the sâ—ole of eysment as stores make meÌ„cyon he raygned one yere and .xxiiii. dayes ¶ Of the .v. sysme and counceylles gadred for the vnyte of the churche and destruccyon of dyuers herysyes THe .v. sysme of the churche of Rome beganne the yere .494 this sysme beganne bytwene Symachus and Laurence the cause of this dyuisyoÌ„ was that the clargye could not agree in theyr voyces whiche of these two shuld holde the see of Rome for the which rose great dyuysyon and dyssencyon in two pertes amonge the Romayns and in fine agreed to assemble a counceyll at Rauenna in y â— presens of Theodore Kynge of Gotes In the whiche counceyll they agreed that Symachus shulde be bysshop through Theodore y â— Kynge which bysshop was at Sardyne Laureus was made bysshop of Nucerre thus was fynyshed the .v. sysme ¶ Of the .vi. sysme of the Churches THrough the forsayd bysshops was the .vi. sysme fyrste w t in foure yers some of y â— clargy of Rome sediciuos persons and louers of newe tydynges with help of two senatours conspyred to depose Simacus bisshop and wolde haue put in LaureÌ„s afore wryten here vpon the Kynge Theodoryke beynge sore agreued he set one Peter Altyne to kepe the see of Rome for hym selfe and chased the forsayd two bysshops in exyle and so in coÌ„clusyon the sayd Symacus assembled a couÌ„ceyl of .vi. score bisshops and they purged hymselfe cleane of all thynges there layd agaynst hym for the whiche he abode styll bysshop of Rome and yet notwithstoÌ„dynge there was suche dyscorde
¶ The Abbreuyacyon of all generall councellys holden in Grecia Germania Italia and Gallia compyled by IohnÌ„ le maire de belges most excellent Hystoryograffer to kynge Lowys the .xij. of late frenche kynge dedycated to the sayd kyng lowys Anno dnÌ„i .1519 ¶ Translated by IohnÌ„ gowgh the prynter herof by the kynges gracyous Priuilege for .vii. yeres ensewynge dwellynge in Lumbarstrete agaynst the stockys market ¶ The prologue of the translator IohnÌ„ gowgh vnto all chrysten Reders WHere as it is dyew and expedyent for all Chrysten people to haue the perfyte knowledge and puryte of chrysten lyâ—yng whiche oughte to be in the catholyke Churche mylytant here in erthe In the whiche Churche hath ben great abuses by the mynisters hedes therof to whom we haue gyuen great coÌ„fydence and specyally to theyr prophane Cerymonyes decres tradycyons fantasyes and dremes engendred and spionge vp by the vsurped hed therof very Antecrystes bysshoppes of Rome whiche many yeres hath ben called popes as in this present lytell boke is euydently to be red sene vsurpynge the dygnyte of Emperours kynges takynge on them to be hedes and gouernoures ouer all kynges Regyons and nacyons Resystynge all auctorytes temporall ordayned of God and by his dyuyne lawes The whiche abhomynacyoÌ„s I of a very zele and loue and for the honoure of God and that all englysshe men may the more perfyter se what other noble prynces hath don of late dayes haue of my symple capacyte translated this lytell worke out of Frenche in to our maternall tonge and language whiche was compyled of an noble and worthy Historiograffer named IohnÌ„ le maire 〈◊〉 yere paste at the request of kynge 〈◊〉 frenche kynge the last of that name whiche maryed the moste worthy Lady mary fuster to our most redouted Kynge Henry the .viii. whiche had as then great warres to defende the Armye waâ—re made by the pope Iulius whiche with great crueltye oppressed kynge Lowes domynyons couÌ„tres whiche orator dedycated this frenche boke vnto y â— forsaid kyng Lowes y e 〈…〉 yet in our dayes perceyued theyr abhomynable vsurpacioÌ„s the which bysshops of Rome arrogaÌ„tly withhelde agaynst al kyng◠〈…〉 whom he withstode with all his power for the which he was accursed in dyuers regioÌ„â— by the auctorite of this wycked antecryst Iulius can synge dyuers Kynges and countres to inuade his Realme moch lyke to his predecessours in tymes passed puttyng all cristendome to great conflyct and in shedyng of blood and all this was onely to support his eyeâ—rable lyfe vsurped power dygnyte emperyall regall which nothing lesse pertayned to the church of Rome as playnly apperyth in this lytle boke abbreyated out of dyuers autentyke cronacles storys with generall councelles and so most genâ—yll reader bycause there be yet a great nombre of secret popysh stomakes full loth to forsake y e dedly pryson that they theyr forfathers haue ben nourysshed with by these auncyaunt wypers popyssh adhereÌ„tes caused me to set forth this lytle boke by the whiche all men maye se what holy fathers hath ben in tymes past in y â— church of Rome and what peruerse workê they haue gone about in theyr generall counceylles wherfor let vs most crysten people with our hole mynd hart affexion draw in one lyue in one fayth and lawe with one God whiche is only in heuen ¶ And fyx our hartes with oâ—e accorde vnder ouâ— onely Kynge Henry the .viii. whose actes sheweth hym that he hath ben is shalbe euen preserued of God and sent to vs as an Angelycall Kynge to gouern the people of God frome all Babylonytys Ydolaters Murderers Destroyers of the Israelytys also ye shall not fynde yf ye ponder well in your myndes y â— God of his infynyt power hath not wrought in one Kynge so hye and wonderfull actys cyuyll and dyuyne worthy of memorye both farre and nere by yonde the sees and on this syde the sees as he hathe wroughte in this our moste right and worthy Kynge nowe raynynge ouer vs passynge all kynges wrytten of in the olde Testamente as Iosue Gehew Iosyas Ezechias kynges sent from God to gouerne greater Regyons then this is and yet to stable and confyrme vs the Lord god hath sent this out most noble kynge a prynce to gouerne vs when so euer it please hym to cal wherfore let euery man woman lyft vp theyr hartes and open theyr eyes behold the most gloryous and confortable lyght which is no more hyden in close but only to them that shall peryssh the which lyght shyneth onely in our most worthy kynge gyueÌ„ to hym from god afore all other princê reygnyng the which pure lyght his grace doth set forth dayly with his moost noble assystence and worthy councelles vnyuersally ouer al this his realme to y â— great comforte and vnyte of all vs his subiectes â—edressyng the occasyons of all pestelent enormytes sysmes which many yeres hath ben grouÌ„ded and roted in this realme agaynst Goddes honour his pryncely auctoryte wherfor humble I pray you all not to runne to fast afore nor to fare behynd but gladly go with our kynge and obedyently receyue al statutes Iniunccyons and ordynaunces the which be and shall be made by hym and his counceyll to our saluacyon preseruacyon and comforte and â–ª so shall weâ—se and haue agayn al thynges in his dâ—ew orderâ—kynd nature as holy auncyat dyuyne doctouâ—s of the prymatyue church maketh mensyon of in theyr catholyke workes accordynge to holy scryptur as they left it thus wyl god drawe vp by the rottyâ— through his mynysters all suche olde pestylent infexions growen and spronge out of that whore of babylon and of her adherentes for the whiche set vs all with our faythfull hart mynd gyue god thankes â—aude and prayse that through his omnypotent power wyll preserue the honoure helth and prosperyte of our moost noble kynge Henry the .viii. with our prynce Edwarde and his moste prudent counceyl may longe contynewe and endure to his hye honoure and glory and the hole comforte of this Realme nowe and euer AMEN ¶ The fyrste parte and dyfference of this boke FFyrst ye shall vnderstande howe the churche of Rome was fyrst infecte with treasure and possessyons As fyrst by the Emperour Constantyne the great and his successours Pepyne Charlemayn lowys de bonere And by dyuers other prynces Howe be it it was ingendred gadred vnder the shadowe of polecy throughe fayned holynesse Wherof sprang great infexions and therby was ingendâ—ed many wycked chyldren as Pryde Pompe Arrogansy Herisy Auctoryte of Kynges and Prynces suppressynge subiectes with great tyranny w tout mercy shame or pety after y â— whiche thynges there folowed great abusyons and debates in couÌ„ceylles generalles And thus of all these foresayd iniquites engendred great sysmes and diuysions seperacyons impedymentes w t percyalytes amonge chrysten Regyons wherof sprange great euylles trybulacyons incoÌ„uenyences persecutyons through all chrysteÌ„dom And thus through
vprorers among the Romayns y e oftentymes many were slayne in the stretes both Preestes and men of lawe in somoch y e one Faustus a great man of power set a dyreccion amonge the senatours or els had folowed greater ruyne thus maye ye se what vertue or debatê arose by y e possessioÌ„ giftê that Constantine gaue to y â— church of Rome ¶ The .vii. sysme of the churche of Rome IN this tyme raygned Emperour of Constantynople Iustyniane the seconde of that name in whose tyme was Seresinus borne in Surrey Anno xpÌ„i .706 Agaynst the whiche arose an Antypape whiche helde byforse the dygnyte of Rome whose name was Diascorus thus began the .vii. sisme in the churche of Rome with great persecucyon trybulacyon in Rome whiche continewed a great season vnto the tyme of Gregory the seconde of that name borne in Rome w t another named Sygysmond thorowe whose enormytes the fayth of Chryst began sore to decay in the oryent partes and through this horlay burlay the bysshops of Rome toke corage and lyfted vp theyr hornes y â— is theyr power agaynst the Emperours more then euer was sene for this Gregorye Anastase were the second abhominable bisshops that raygned in Rome after Anastase whiche was so bold to excoÌ„munycat his Emperour Leon y â— .iii. of his name y â— whiche cause was y â— he wolde a put downe the worshippyng of ymages through al crystendome sayeng it was ydolatry hated of god the pope w tstonde it beforse wherthrough arose great bandes of coÌ„panyes of persyalytes bytwene Emperours bisshops wherthrough oftimes sysmes hath ben renewed thus during this sysme discorde arose out of Afrique a great army of Sarazyns entred into spayne wone the Realme of Granado and so kept it by force â—yl w t great polecy and forse of Prynces Kynges wane it agayne also in this tyme was a great armye of Sarazyns in Fraunce which were reculed byforse of armes by Charles Prynce and Martyre in this tyme of Gregory began the Lent of forty dayes to be fasted y â— which Lent Melchiades predecessour of saynt Siluester strongly withstode defended bycause therby myght engender great corrupcion and infexion vnyuersally among crysten people As wytnessed then the counceyll of Physycions expert ¶ And in this tyme of contynuauÌ„ce of malyce in the Churche one Constantyne bysshop of Rome vsurped the see of the papasy by force by money whose eyes were perforce put out so put iÌ„ pryson in a monasterye by the whiche he is named the .v. abhomynable bysshop of Rome And in this tyme began the nacyon of Turkys that came out of Tartary who enuayed sore the partê oryentall And so mynysshed sore chrystendome And this heresyes dyd encrease more more where through they were enforsed to assemble the .vii. counceyll at ConstaÌ„tynople for the 〈…〉 and worshyppynge of Images in the Churche whiche many sayd it was Idolatrye and for certayne other Articles that the Greke churche had agaynst the holy ghost ⧠⧠¶ Here foloweth the seconde parte of this boke whiche treateth of the .v. fyrste counceylles holden by the churche Gallicane at Orlyaunce And the thyrde was coÌ„maunded by kyng Clowys the fyrste crysten kyng in Fraunce THe noble 〈◊〉 maketh mension that Clowys the fyrste crysten kyng of Fraunce whiche was bytwene the .iiii. y e .v. sysme then reygned And this kyng was y e fyrst crysten that assembled a general couÌ„cel iÌ„ OrliauÌ„ce Anno. dnÌ„i .486 Raynyng y t tyme at CoÌ„staÌ„tinople y â— emê‘our zeneme And at y â— tyme sat in y â— apostolyk see 〈◊〉 y â— .iii. of y â— name And about 〈◊〉 tyme rayned kiÌ„g Artur of Englande and he sent a presydent to that couÌ„cell at orliauÌ„ce one named Mellanius which he sent for a good purpose for the welth of the churche ¶ Of the councell Germanik holden in the tyme of Charlemayn the great This Charlemain rayned emperour oâ—er Almayne FrauÌ„ce and Ytaly which assembled this counceyll in a cyte in Germanya called Herbypolys in the tyme of Adryan the fyrst bisshop of that name as Platyne wryteth y â— which couÌ„ceyll the Grekes called the great Sinoda and there was condempned the opynyon of the Felycyans the whiche sayd that no Ymages ought to be in the churche and shortly after Pope Leo y â— thyrd of y â— name came into Fraunce to Charle mayne complaynynge of thre Preestes which had done hym great vltrage and dyspleasure y â— one named Pasculis the other Priâ—isserius y â— thyrde called CaÌ„pulus y e which with many of theyr opynyon droue out of Rome the sayd Adryan w t all his affynyte for goyng on precessyon and syngyng the Lateny which Gregory instytuted and ordayned afore for the which Charlemayn was sore displeased and so at the sayd Adryans request Charlemayn raysed a great army and went to Rome to set Adryan bysshop in his see agayne wherthrough he had the name of the Empyre of Rome which he gaue to the see of rome great possessyons rychesse as his father Pepyn dyd afore hym as dyuerse such successours hath syas contynued and augmented ¶ Of a great couÌ„ceyll holden at Aquis GranuÌ„ in y â— tyme of Emê‘our Lowys de boÌ„nere sone to Charlemayn whiche lyeth buryed in Aquis granuÌ„ OF this couÌ„ceyll wryteth Platyne historyograffer y t there were assembled al the Prynces and counceylles vnder y â— power and domynyon of Lowys de boÌ„nere the which Lowys at this connceyll gaue Lotere his sone parte of his Empyre and crowned hym kyng of Ytaly and Pepyn his seconde sone he named hym kynge of Acquitayne and Lowys his thyrde sone he named kynge of Bauarye and at this counceyll y â— Infydelles and Sarasyns laboured for Peace whiche was grauÌ„ted and at the whiche couÌ„ceyll was compyled a great Boke of Lawes and coÌ„stytucyons for ecclesiasticall ceremonies and orders which were straytly kept which boke was made and compyled by Amalarius a man florysshynge in Learnynge in that tyme at this tyme of Lowys y â— good Kynge and Emperour he perceyuynge the abhominable pryde that exceded in bysshops of Rome and other prelates of y e Churche as amonge Preestes and other meane sorte such Pompe and Rayment so presyous rych and superfluous withall and to moch gasynge and glysterynge set with GeÌ„mys perle stone lyke Kynges and Prynces on theyr Fyngers ryche Rynges and so this good Kynge coÌ„mauÌ„ded this pryde glory to be fordone and caused a more sadder and a sympler facyon and maner of rayment vsed and worne and thrusted downe al theyr pryde pompe and caused y t no bisshop nor prelate shuld were but one Ryng of Golde which shuld serue for his singne and seal and so they were coÌ„tented and agreed also as Platyne wryteth the bisshop of Rome Steuen y â— fourth of that name borne in Rome and successour of Leo the thyrde beynge at the sayd counceyll fled
the sayd Kynge shulde in contynent without delay goâ— and prepayre in al hast a great nauey and an armye also to go into the holy Lande the which y â— sayd Kynge coulde not brynge to passe forcause of great warres y t he had at y t time against y â— FlauÌ„ders nacioÌ„ ¶ And thus this sayd ArrogauÌ„t bishop seynge y t he coulde not obtayne his purpose began to threten rebuke y â— kynge rygoryously sayeng that in case that he wolde not fulfyll his message he wolde cause hym to fle out of his Realme and for bycause y â— this bysshop enbassatour vsed hymselfe so rygorously agaynst y â— Kynge the Kynge toke hye displeasure and straytly coÌ„maunded hym to pryson ¶ After this tydinges came to this foresayd Boniface the .viii. Coloryk proud and arrogant aboue mesure And sente strayght an Archedeacon Embasadour coÌ„maundyng the kyng phyllyp the fayre that he shulde not enterpryse to take nor rayse no money Subsidie vpon the churche the whiche subsydie he was enforced to do for the great warres that he was charged with at that tyme for his defence And the sayd archedeacon dyscharged the sayd kyng for the InprysonemeÌ„t of the sayd bysshop that he shuld be exyled all y â— iurisdixion of Rome And that it shuld be auctorysed in Rome for euer his disobedyence and so taken nomynated as an Herytyke and a sysmatyke also y â— sayd Archdyacon syted hym with dyuers other Bysshops prelats of the Cleargy to come vnto Rome parsonally by a certeyn day and disanulled all the Preuylages of grauntes pardons gyuen by his predycessours of the see of Rome ¶ This was an extreme rygoure in the presens of all his barons and counceyll whiche was so dysdaynous proudly spoke by the sayd enbassatour without any seueryte or of good order and yf the Kynge were moued or abasshed it was no marueyle so coÌ„mauÌ„dynge with sober aduysement y t the fyrst Enbassatour the bysshop shuld be set at lybertye and that in all the hast with further deliberacyon he shulde depart his Realme and so in short tyme after he asseÌ„bled a great counceyll of Bysshops barons in the whiche the Kynge openyd all the vltrages and abhomynacyons y t the forsayd Innocent the eyght vsed agaynst hym and openly there expressed howe shamfully craftely this Boniface came by the see of Rome and tourned hym to the Clargy to y â— Lordes temporal sayeng of whome holde ye your Landes possessyons but of me wherfore I wyll ye ye henseforth not so hardy to send or pay any money or treasour to y â— court of Rome and hereupon caused all brydges portys and passages to be stopped and kept thus Boniface y â— bysshop of Rome cursed hym coÌ„spyred great malyce and ingeris agaynst y â— Kyng procured great enuyte agaynst hym by certayne Prynces and shortly this was the fyne and coÌ„clusion of this debate was thus ¶ The Kynge seynge y â— importunat malyce of this Antecryst bysshop y â— Kynge caused .200 men of armys conduted by two subtyle and wyse persons and they which went to y t towne of agnane wher the Bysshop lay in Naplys and toke hym ther in brought hym prysoner to Rome where he dyed myserably for doloure cursed mynde within .24 dayes after and his epytaphe was suche lyke as he deserued as foloweth Intrauit vt Uulpes regnauit vt Leo mortuus est vt cauis y t is in Englysshe he entred as a Foxe rained lyke a Lyon and dyed as a Doge ¶ Of a nother couÌ„ceyll holden in fraunce at Uyenne Anno DnÌ„i .892 THe auctour founde in olde auncyaunt Lybrary a Boke at Lyons wherin was wryten that from the tyme of Formosus bysshop of Rome began the .ix. sisme which shalbe more leargely treated of in y â— thyrd parte of this boke and so by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Lowys Kynge otherwyse called Lowys le balbe throughe the counceyll of his wyfe assembled a counceyll in the churche of saynt Saluatour where were gadered two legatê of Rome the one named pascal the other IohnÌ„ the archebysshop of Uyenne and Aurelyan archebysshop of Ualencie with many other prelates and learned men of the Clergye and yet at this tyme the preestes were maryed and at this counceyll was decreed this acte worde for worde ¶ Ut presbiteri non in villis sicut quibusdam consuetudinis est morentur et feminas suas secum in domibus suis habitare non permittant exceptis quas canonicas permittit auctoritas that is in englyshe That preestes which dwelt in Cyties in Townes of custume hauyng theyr wyfes with them dwellyng shulde no more so be suffered but onely those as shulde be permytted suffered by the auctoryte of the holy Canons ¶ Of a nother general couÌ„ceyl holden at Uyenne in Dolphyne .1312 AFter y â— Ignomynyous and shamfull deth of Bonyface afore wryten y â— .8 of that name bysshop of Rome succeded Benedictê° y â— eleuenth borne at Taruyse in Italye a blake Frere which was amoderat parsone nothynge lyke his predycessour for he assoyled Phillip kynge of Fraunce of y t sensurys of the churche whiche bisshop Bonyface surmysed agaynst hym so this good bysshop rayned but eyght monethes and .17 dayes after whom rayned Clement y â— .v. a gasken borne archbysshop of Burdux whiche was chosen by the Cardynallys resydent for the tym ethe yere of our Lorde at the instaunce of kynge Phyllyp la bel .1305 ¶ Thus shortly after this sayd ClemeÌ„t assembled a great companye of Cardynalles Bysshops to no lytell cost and charge to all y â— churche of Fraunce and so came to Lyons with great pompe wordly glory where met with hym many cardynalles of Italye where as he was corwned with great pompe Royalty at the which coronacion was kyng Phyllyp la bel w t his brother Charles all the prynces of Fraunce in all this pompe royalty befell a great sodayne myschauÌ„ce where as a great nombre of people were slayne in the fall of a great olde wall where as moche people were asseÌ„bled for to beholde this great pomp and ryalty in the which fall was â—layne the duke IohnÌ„ of Brytanye the kyng sore hurte and the new bysshop smyten from his Horse in so moch y â— his crowne fell from his hed lost the rychest stone there one called a Carbuncle estemed worth .vi. M. duccatê thus after this mysfortunat aduentour this sayd bysshop Clement departed from Lyons came to Auygnyon wher as he abode there remoued the See appostolyque from Rome vnto Auignyon the whiche see appostolike remoued abode there the space .lxxiii. yeres after afore it was remoued to Rome agayne ¶ The syxt yere after the forsayd Clementis coronacyon which was the yere .1311 in the moneth of NoueÌ„bre was asseÌ„bled a great generall couÌ„ceyl vnyuersal through all crystendome in the Cytie of Uyenna iÌ„ Dolphyne wher as was
Almayne ¶ Uery longe tedyous it were to this abbreuyacyoÌ„ to excyte and set forth the wonderfull feates of warre with dyfferences alteracyoÌ„s appoyntementê y â— were happened bytwene this gregory the seueÌ„th henry y â— thyrde emperour of almaine gregori gaue out a great curse agaynst themperour his biâ—shops and themperour created another bysshop named Clement afore called gylbâ—rt archbysshop of Raueâ—na he was created and elected by a counceyl in Germany and this bysshop Gregory gaue his tytyle to the duke of saxon named Radulphus but thus in conclusyon after .iiii. bataylles faughten he was coÌ„uyeâ— and slayne by the sayd emperoure Henry the fourth And after these vyctorys cruâ—l bataylles this sayd emê‘our seÌ„t fyrst his soÌ„ne Henry y â— fourth to Rome to subdue the pryde of this arrogauÌ„t bysshop gregorye the .vii. and of his adhereÌ„ces and in this tyme was there dame mehault couÌ„tesse of Mantua which was an Appostasa an ypocryte sturdy and haâ—dy more then became any woman whiche resysted themperour in y â— bisshop of Romes cause whiche was also ouercome 〈◊〉 slayne and thus this forsayd emperour came to Rome byforce he brought w t hym clement his antypape there coÌ„secrated hym was intronysed or crowned so the bysshop Gregory y â— .7 whiche was the very occasion of al this mischefe euyll was beseged afterwarde escaped by the handes of Guyschard y â— normande prynce of poylle whiche conuayed hym yet notwithstandynge he lyued not loÌ„ge after for dolour sorowe and this gregorye was he y â— made many new strauÌ„ge coÌ„stitucions he ordayned that prestê shulde haue no wyues that they theyr wyues shuld not dwel together y â— no man shuld here y â— masse of hâ— y â— held or kepe a coÌ„cubine he ordayned y â— no ê‘sone shuld ete flessh on ymber dayes also y â— none shuld ere flesshe on y â— saterdayes trouth to say this Gregorie was to arrogaÌ„t rigorus as storys wryteth thus by y â— death of gregory y â— .7 the 16. sisme was almost abolysshed but not all hole for his successour named vyctor the .iii. abbote of the mounte cassyn wolde gladly haue susteyned the same opynyons whiche his predycessour helde agaynst y â— emperour but he was soone coÌ„strayned to y â— coÌ„trary whiche dyed other by preuy sycknes or by poyson after hym succeded vrbanus the seconde whiche medled nor enterprysed lytle of these forsayd matters and so this man came in to fraunce where was holden a great counceyll generall at cleremount in auernia wherin he moued al chrysteÌ„dome to haue warre agaynst the infydelys and to recouer Ierusalem with the holy laÌ„de by whose mocyoÌ„ was gadred vnyuersally throughe all chrystendome the greatest army that euer went iÌ„ to the holy land and godfray de bullyon was the chefe captayne therof as apperethiÌ„ the second parte of this boke ¶ Of the .17 sysme whiche arose by certayn quarelles y â— the bysshops of Rome moued agaynst y â— emperours PAscal the secoÌ„de of his name borne in tuskane was no les then a dyscyple of Gregorye the .7 which succeded vrban the .2 yet he dyd no lesse then his predycessours dyd for he began his quarell against y â— emperour supportyng the papall dygnyte so this mater hangyng Godfroy de bullioÌ„ w t al other crysteÌ„ princes helde strong warre batayls agaynst y â— sarasyns in surrey in y â— which tyme they conquered Antioch and Ierusalem Anno dâ—i .1099 whiche was .492 yeres after the sarasyns wan it fyrste in the tyme of Heracle emperoure ¶ After this y â— forsaid pascal some what hye mynded holdynge hye countenauÌ„ce agaynst Henry the fourth of that name emperour he sent his armie agaynst gilbert called ClemeÌ„t antipape elect in Almayne by themperour henry the thyrde and this armye was wel enforsayd and strengthed by Roger le NormaÌ„de Prynce of Sycyl which sent hym many men of armyes also a thousande ouncys of golde to mayntayne his souldyers w t al thus was this antipape for lack of help constrayned to fle the cytie y â— he lay in flede to saue himselfe into the handes of Rycharde de ChaÌ„payne of Naplâ—s and so after in short tyme he dyed for sorowe and dyspleasure This Rychard Erle of Champayne in Naples which fauored this sayd antypape gylbert called ClemeÌ„t he set vp an other antypape named alâ—ertus borne besyde Naples whiche within short tyme was deposed and the inhabitantes of Rome chose another whose name was Theodorus the whiche within a houndred and .v. dayes reuoked his auctorite became an hermit and so the thyrde was chosen called maginus a cytazyne of Rome whiche toke the tytle and auctoryte of the bysshop of rome at RaueÌ„na which was afterward ouer throwen by the romayns ¶ And after al these thynges yet the forsayd Pascal bysshop the seconde of that name recouered sertayne landes of the church of Rome byforce of armyes and so he came into Fraunce to reforme the churche ⧠⧠☞ ☞ ⧠⧠¶ Into Fraunce came this sayd Pascal the seconde in y â— tyme of kynge phyllyp the fyrst and gathered a counceyl attroy in champayne it appereth in the seconde part of this boke for the reformacyon of the church and so after this sayd counceyll he retourned towardes Rome whereas Henry the fourth was come afore hym to be crowned emperoure where as this emperour toke prysoner this sayd bysshop Pascal and all his cardynallys prelates curtasans and so set them at lybertie agayne wheÌ„ he hadde recouered his ryght and tytle that was taken from his predycessours for admyttyng the fre Elexcyon of bysshops of Rome the fyrst fruytes vnyuersal of the bysshops and prelates and benefysed men to be at the Emperours pleasure as his ryght title was and after y â— emperours departynge they reuoked all that they graunted thus was busynesse new to begyn agayne ¶ Of the .xviii. sysme THe .xviii. sisme began bytweÌ„ Gelasius the second bysshop of Rome borne in Gaiectan successour of the said Pascal the seconde another antypape called Benedictus a spanyard elected by Henry the fourth bycause of his tytle of elexcyons inuestures of the spyrytualtye so this sayd Gelasius came in to fraunce and dyed at Clugny in his place was chosen bisshop of rome calixtê° y â— seconde archbysshop of Uyenne in Dolphyne thus Benedictê° afore named antypape which held hymselfe stronge in Italy in the spyte of the sayd Gelasius bysshop and Calixtus his successour dyd in lykwise withstande Gelasius to his power but shortly in conclusyon he was vaynquyshed in playne batayl and taken by the ayed of the french men and the captayne of theym as the cardynall of senâ— Grisigone so set this Benedictê° vpon a camel trussed his vysage towardes the camylles tayle and so was led to rome in dispyt tryumphauÌ„tly with shame thus fynyshed the .18 sysme ¶ Of
the .xix. sisme THus after the death of Calixtus of Burgony Honorius the secoÌ„de of that name borne in Ymola in Italy succeded the papasy the which kept it peasybly the terme of .v. yeres and died and after hym succedyd Innocent the secoÌ„de of y â— name borne in Rome iÌ„ whose tyme began the .xix. sisme the occasyon ther â—f was for raysyng warres agaynst Roger le Normande whiche was called kynge of naples whiche withstode hym with all his power so bytwene them both was moche murther blode shede on both partyes but in conclusyon this sayd bisshop innoceÌ„t was vaynquyshed in batayle raygned â–ª taken prysoner by Wyllyam duke of Calaber sone to the sayd roger kynge of Naples yet was he honestly entreated afterwarde delyuered ¶ And so in the meane seasoÌ„ that this Innocent the secoÌ„de the forsayd bisshop was prysoner the romayns chose another called Peter of Lyon sonne of a myghty rych cetezyn of Rome and he was called Anacletus for the whiche elexcyon Innocent was inforsed to go into Fraunce for socours and at Cleremonde assembled the seconde counceyll and another at Rayns iÌ„ Champayne in the tyme of kynge Lowys le grosse and from thense he came to Lyege where as he fouÌ„de y â— kynge of romayns Lothayre the seconde of that name who promysed hym assysteÌ„ce with all his power thus what by the helpe of theÌ„perour Lothayr and the french men he retourned the seconde tyme into Italy w t great power whiche was Anno dnÌ„i 113â— thus was InnoceÌ„t restored to his papacy agayne and Anacletus the antipape was deposed and spoyled of all his treasure and reliqus of the Churche to paye the souldiers withal wherfore he died for sorow and dyspyte ¶ In certayne tyme after y â— bysshop eugeny the thyrde of y â— name borne in pysa and afore a monke of saynt Barnardes one of his discyples whiche came in to Fraunce for two purposys the one was for the Ingerys and dyspleasurs of the Romayns the other was to monysh the kynge Lowys to moue warre vpon the turkys in the holy Lande as it is more playne in the seconde party of this boke gathered a couÌ„ceyll at vezelay after y â— which tyme he returned to rome agayne peasible w t the help of y â— kynge Lowys ¶ Of the .xx. sisme whiche was in y â— tymâ— of themperour Frederyke the fyrst of his name called Barbarousse this sisme endured .xvii. yeres EUen of the same roote presydeÌ„ce y â— afore tyme hath growen y â— is to say for couetyse which alway rayned in y â— see appostolyk such lyke causes engendred this .xx. sisme that is to wyt onelye for admyttynge the clergye in to benefyces and possessyons who shulde haue the fyrst fruytes whiche began in the tyme of Frederyke barbarousse Emperoure whiche was a maruelous man prynce of slaueny who maryed in the countesse of Bourgonye and bycause he had percâ—yueraunce knowledge what ingeris and displeasures his preâ—â—ssâ—ssours had in tyme passed with the bysshops of Rome by vyolence and vniust cause he conceyued so greatyre and displeasurs agaynst theÌ„ for it that he scourged them in suche wyse that there was neuer senâ— so great dyuysion bytwene the Empyre and the bysshops of Rome in somoch y â— the consequence was yet wel worse that folowed for in the begynnynge of the raygne of this sayd Emperour whiche began to raygne Anno .1154 this sisme was begon bytwene Alexaunder the .3 borne in senis chosen and elect by the souerauÌ„ce of .xxiii. cardynallys an other named Octauyan a romayne whiche was chosen by .3 cardynallys specyall and named hym victor ¶ So this AlexauÌ„der thynking to haue good ryght made a frend by an enbassetouâ— vnto the emperour Frederyke barbarous whiche as y â— tyme lay sege afore the cytie of Cremona in lumbardy and that he shuld set adirexion amonge these aâ—â—ypapes the whiche Emperour to set a vâ—yte and concorde coÌ„maunded them both to mete with hym at payâ—ie there he wolde mete with them vnto the whiche Alexsander wold not consent for the which cause he abseÌ„ted hym selfe thâ—s so incontyneÌ„t frederyke without auctoryte assembled a couÌ„ceyl at pauye where the sayd Octauyan was present there was decreed y â— he shulde posesse y â— see appostolyke was confyrmed maâ—gâ—e the wyl of alexaÌ„der y â— thyrde And iÌ„ these causes the sayd AlexsauÌ„der excoÌ„munycated theÌ„perour frederyk barbarous so frederike toke vp y â— patrymonie profytes of saynt Peter otherwyse called the profytes of y â— church for y â— which cause this alexander fled from rome into frauÌ„ce in the tyme of phylip augustus there asseÌ„bled the thyrde counceyll at cleremound in auernia as we haue expressed in the seconde parte of this boke in the whichâ— couÌ„ceyll Alexander the thyrde named by vyctor antypape excomunycated octauian emperour in this tyme y â— emperour discomfited millan dertome bycause they were rebellyoÌ„s after seÌ„t an enbassadeâ— to kynge Phyllyp to fynde the meane to destroye this sysme then in the churche ¶ The place of this apoyntmeÌ„t was coÌ„seÌ„ted to be at dygyoÌ„ in burgoyne which was IndyffereÌ„t for both prynces for y â— emperour frederyk lay on y â— borders of burgoyne which came thyther w t a noble coÌ„pany w t his quene the kynge of boheme with y â— kyng of scottes theyr Antypape w t theym named vyctor w t a great noÌ„bre of meÌ„ of warre with theÌ„ yet wold not AlexaÌ„der come there sayeÌ„g y â— y â— place was not indyffereÌ„t for his persoÌ„ nor yet coÌ„uenyeÌ„t to kepe such a couÌ„ceyll which only pertayned to his auctoryte wherfore this vnworthy Emperoure w t his antypape ful of yre thretnyngê returned into Almayne w t great displeasure so when the forsayde antipape was deed there was created thre antipapes successiuely one after the other by this meane AlexsauÌ„der was fayne to flye out of rome to Uenyse in a strauÌ„ge habyt iÌ„ al this tyme was war thorow al chrysteÌ„dome al by y â— occasyon of these sysmes and errors y â— arose by these antipapes stoborne bysshops of Rome fynably the cytie of Ierusalem was lost agayne in this season wone by the turkes and sarasyns also the sayd Emperour made that tyme a great vyage in to Turkey a prosperous victorious vnto his death the whiche was great pyte for he was drowned in bathtynge hymselfe in a ryuer whiche was a great desolacyon to al his armye and a dyscomforte to al crystendome so soudayne a chaunce ¶ Of the .xxi. sysme whiche was in the tyme that the court and see of Rome was holden at Auynyon CLement bisshop the .v. of that name borne in burgony was the fyrst that moâ—ed the see of Rome to Auinion as I haue wrytâ—â— playne in the second part of this boke and after the death of hym the see of Rome
stode vacant the space of two yeres thre monethes .xvii. dayes For bycause y â— cardynalles coulde not agree at that elexcion and counceyl of carpentras in so moche that they fell togyther and fought in the whiche arroure was slayne two of the chefyste Cardynalles and this hurle burley in shorte tyme after they gathered a couÌ„ceyll at lyon and they held theyr coÌ„claue within the black freres called our lady of conforte where as they coÌ„cluded to haue IohnÌ„ the .xxii. of y â— name borne in Cauors Anno dnÌ„i 131â— and some wryters say that he was chosen by kynge Lowys and Phyllyp his brother kynges of Fraunce and his brother countye of poyeters ¶ After the coronacyon of y â— sayd IohnÌ„ the .xxii. of y â— name he kept his resydence in Auynyon and for his fyrst acte he exercysed a marueylous iustyce agaynst Hewe bysshop of caours the which bisshop was taken w t a coÌ„spyrasy agaynst the bysshop of Rome IohnÌ„ .xxii. for the which he was degraded and delyuered to the hangman and cruelly put to deth so in this meane season Lowys de bauaria kynge of romayns ouer came in batayl duke Frederyke of Ostrich whiche toke vpon hym bycause he had y â— corone of myllan he wolde vsurpe thempyre of Rome without auctoryte agaynst the whiche IohnÌ„ bysshop aforesayd withstode with great indignation with dyuerse censurys curses agaynst y â— sayd kynge of bauaria which was called nycolas the .v. which caused the .xxi. sysme which seassed not vnto y â— boniface counte de Pisa toke prysoner this sayde antipape the which raysed a great decyme thorowe al the church of Fraunce vnder colour to goo agaynst the sarasyns w t a hole crosse for the which was money gathered he dyd pretend nothyng lesse in this .xxi. sysme amonge the valdays and y â— comons of Lyon arose and engendred many great heresyes ¶ Of the two and twenty sisme longest incontynuaunce and most sclaunderous amonge all other for throughe it the lande of Boheme became full of heresyes ⧠⧠☞ ☞ ⧠⧠THis .xxii. sisme contynued forty yeres in the which season was many bisshops of rome one agaynst another whiche was so obscure and crafty that al y â— clargy in crystendome were troubled therwith to iudge to whome partayned the ryght and iust tytle who shuld possesse the iust patrimony of saynt peter called these appostolyke some sayd the one some opynyon of the other by the which dyuysion the bohemes fel in great decay and heresyes as then it was taken and called bicause partly it preteÌ„did agaynst y â— vsurped maiesti of y â— bisshops of rome and agaynst theyr fylthy deceytfull câ—uyâ—ousnesse inuented for theyr owne lucre for money and pylled and robbed al the worlde many yeres clene agaynst all goddes lawe and holy scrypture as nowe it is euydently perceyued that the lyght is at his lybertye and not darkened as it was then and these be the here syes y â— the Bohemes helde as then was that y â— bysshop of Rome was a bisshope of no hyer preeminence then other bysshops be eche for his perticuler dyoses also they held that there was no purgatory to be remitted by theyr power also that it was vayne and vnprofytable to pray for soules ons passed this lyfe but helde opynyon that it was a profyte inuented by the couetousnesse of Preestes onely for lucre also y â— ymages of Chryst and of sayntes were not to be worshypped nor to stande in syght for it was Ydolatry and also that all the orders of Fâ—eres beggers was not of God but inuented by the deuyllys crafte also that no preest nor bysshop shulde possesse no temporalytes nother in auctoryte nor in iurisdiccion these were great heresyes as y â— tyme required as nowe many may haue experyence ¶ And so to procede come to our purpose of the .xxii. sysme it began the yere of our Lorde a .1378 y â— was anone after the court of Rome was remoued from auynion to Rome agayne by the meane of bysshop Gregorye y â— eleuenth of that name borne in Limogis as I haue wryten more playnly in the seconde parte of this boke where as I wrote of two couÌ„cellys holden at Parys in the tyme of kynge Charles the syxt ¶ Thus that I may come directly and folowe the courses of these sysmes Ye shall vnderstand that in the yere aboue wryten the .xxii. sisme began in the tyme of Gregorie the .xi. the which remoued y â— â—ee appostolyke from Auynion vnto rome then at y â— tyme the cardynallys were deuyded in two bandys or partys so the cardynallys of Italy set vp Urban the .vi. borne in naples and the French cardynalles set vp Robert of Geneua who was called Clement the .vii. and he kept his see in auignion bycause of this sysme thus al cristendome was deuided in two partys by the wilfulnesse of these two monstruous Antypapes beynge a strauÌ„g syght as it were a man to haue two heddes and so this sysme infected the oryent partes of Italy Almayne Hungory which gaue obedyeÌ„ce to UrbaÌ„ the .vi. on the other part FrauÌ„ce spayne Englande helde with Clement the .vii. whiche was the occydent parte ¶ In the tyme of this great dyuysyon Lowys duke de aungeoy which fauoured bisshop Clement the .vii. which held his aucâ—orite in auynyon and so entred into Italy w t .xxxi. thousande horse men of armys party for the Realme of Naples and also to socoure quene Ione agaynst kynge Charles of Hungry as well as for the dyfference that was bytwene the two bysshops aforesayd antypapes to thend to gyue clemeÌ„t the hole auctoryte but in conclusyon this sayd duke of aungeoy soÌ„ne of kynge IohnÌ„ y â— was prysoner in England fel sycke and died within the space of two yeres in the land of polonya afore he had fynysshed his sayd warres for the which this sayd french men departed thense into frauÌ„ce agayne this forsayd bysshop Urban yet coulde not lyue in peace with Charles kyng of Hungry and of naples but was constraynt to flee out of Rome to Gennes by see where as in y â— passage he caused to be drowned .v. Cardynallys whiche were great frendes of this sayd clement in auynyon dyd fauoure hym greatly thus this forsayd quene Ione sold auinion the couÌ„ty of venyse vnto Clement the .vii. but some stories wryt y â— they chauÌ„ged for y â— tribuit which y â— realme of naples ought to y â— church of rome ¶ For to retorne wryte yet further of bysshop Urban the .vi. of the .xxii. sysme ye shall vnderstande that this sayde bysshop as storyes do wryt was a very peruerse man the which toke great pleasure to sowe disceâ—tions and debatys amonge crysten prynces soner raither then to set peace vnite and concorde the which dyscordys and debaytes were not apeased longe after his death and thus longe endured this sysme and so in his place was
was a venecyan borne as Platina historial wryteth of his lyfe which propryete is very strauÌ„ge among meke good bisshops for in his warres he syted the Dolphyne of Fraunce whiche afterwarde was lowys the eleuenth kynge of Fraunce of that name that he shulde come w t a great company of men of armys to rayse and trouble the counceyl of Basyle agaynst Felix his aduersary y â— was chosen by the sayd counceyll whose name was Ame duke of Sauoy somtyme an holye heremyte and thus shortly to conclude this .xxiii. sysme that which was bytwene Felix eugenie whiche contynued .xvi. yeres tyll the deth of of eugenius whome succeded Nâ—colas the .v. borne in the towne of sarasanne in y â— lordshyp of luke sone to a physytien who was choseÌ„ Anno .1447 and at this tyme the church was in diuysion in thre partyes for the one alowed Eugenius and the other Felix and some neyther of both and were not content with the one nor with the other and inconclusyon it was determyned by themperour Fredericus the .iii. that felix of sauoy shulde be constrayned to gyue his dignyte profyte to the sayd Nicolas and this felyx was content to be come Cardynall and Legaâ— appostolyke ouer al countryes to se peace and vnyte vnyuersall and thus endeth the .xxiii. sysme and yet notwithstandynge al decrees and actes whiche the sayd Felix dyd in his papalyte was confyrmed to be good so dyed in good estymacyon and holynesse c. ¶ Of the .xxiiii. sysme which contyneweth to this day as we haue had and haue experyence of ANd so brefly to procede and conclude the .xxiiii. sysme began in calixtus dayes wherof I make no mencyon bycause myne auctoure leueth there at the xxiii â—â—sme as he then hauynge no delyte nor pleasure to wryte therof bycause the abuses and abhomynable vyces enormytes be to tedius to wryt specyally of the arrogauÌ„t abhomynacyons sysmâ—s bataylles blode sheddes luxury symony buggerys treasons poysons with in numerable vyces to moch abhorryng all Cyuyll lyuynge and vrbanyte what shal I say there is so many now lyuâ—ng that which haue experyence of the lyâ—e actes of some of these antecristyans bisshops of Rome folowynge specyalâ—y Iulius the seconde that I can wryt no more of pope holy lyuynge ypocrytall deceyt and dissymylacyon and extorsiâ—n and so to procede ¶ After Nycolas rayned Calixtus the thyrde who rayned .iii. yeres Anno dnÌ„i .1455 then rayned in england Henry the syxth crowned in Fraunce ¶ After hym rayned Pius the seconde Anno dnÌ„i .1458 in Henry the .vi. tyme. ¶ After Pius rayned Paulus the seconde who rayned .vii. yeres Anno dnÌ„i .1464 in whose tyme rained in Fraunce Lowys the eleuenth afore wrytten and kyng Edward the fourth in Englande ¶ After Pius rayned sixtus the fourth thurtyne yeres then rayned Edward y â— fourth in Englande Anno dnÌ„i .1471 ¶ After Pius rayned Innocentius the eyght who rayned .viii. yeres Anno dnÌ„i 1435. then rayned Rychard the thyrde in Englande iÌ„ whose tyme was great waters in Rome great famyne through al out eutopa great pesteleÌ„ce folowed ¶ After Innocentius Alexander the .vi who rayned .xii. yeres Anno dnÌ„i â—492 Then rayned kynge henry the .vii. of Englande ¶ After Alexander rayned Pius the iii.xxx dayes and Iulius the seconde succeded hym whiche was a great warryar and iÌ„ al his tyme was no peace through all crystendome but through his malycyous mynde was all Crystendome in warre batayl and stryffe w t shedynge of Crysten mennes blode to pytefull and lyued an excecrable lyfe both afore god man he rayned .x. yeres Anno dnÌ„i 1543. then rayned kyng Henry y â— seueÌ„th ¶ After this Iulius rayned Leo the .x. he rayned .ix. yeres Anno dnÌ„i .1513 in the v. yere of kynge henry the .viii. in his tyme began Luter to wryt Anno 1517. ¶ After leo rayned Adrianê° de traiecto who rayned one yere and .1522 the .xiiii. yere of kynge Henry the eyght ¶ And after hym rayned ClemeÌ„t the .7 Anno M. ccccc.xxii who rayned .xiii. yeres in the tyme of kynge Henry the .viii. ¶ And after hym Paulus y â— thyrde Anno M. ccccc.xxxv this Paulus was the .cc.xxi. bysshop of Rome in whose tyme now largly appereth the .xxiiii. sysme which longe hath endured and yet more largely shall appere to the hye honor of God and to the great tranquilite of all crysten regyons for the which let vs all gyue laudes and prayer to god that antechryst may be knowen apparently in his owne nature and kynde in the â—yes hartes of all crysten people and that he may be vtterly confounded with all his assystence and adherentes tradycyons sectes thus fynysheth this lytell abbreuyatyon foloweth the conclusyon of the auctor ¶ Here foloweth the coÌ„clusyon of this boke IT is to be vnderstonde that thynges concernynge prophesyes and thynges to come we haue no certayne determynatyons nor yet iust iudgementes of as coÌ„cernynge the veryte and trewth yet it is wryten y â— the world accordynge to scryptures shall fynysshe by fyre elymentall Also it is wrytten in scripture as the appocalypsis wytnesseth that afore that tyme Antechryst shall apere afore al people and shall be knowen after the antechryst openly knowen shall the great and horryble sysme appere the twenty four y t which so loÌ„ge hath ben hyddyn afore the people for the whiche crystyen kynges and prynces shal be in enforsed and constrayned to set to theyr power to resyst to sâ—t reformacyon in the church catholyke vnyuersall as it hath ben reuelated by inspyracyons reuelacyons dyuyne as appereth by the appostles prophetes sybylles sayntes auncyent astronomyers metamatisians whose inspyracions hath set furth a great part of the coÌ„mynge of such lyke thynges ¶ Yet notwithstandyng al such prophesyes and pronostycations as hath ben wryten yet remayneth storyes and wrytynges of dyuerse and of many other holy persons dyuyne which had reuelacyons as these auctours folowynge boccase saynt vincent de valentia abbat Ioachym of calabre raymundus lulliê° reuelacyons of saynt Brigit besyde certayne pagans which I make no mention of yet notwithstandynge I wolde y e no person shulde obstynatly stande faâ—te in ony lyke prophâ—syes and sayenges as an arâ—icle of scripture nor to gyue fayth there vnto none otherwyse then the catholyke churche wyll it admit and so aâ— all such senteÌ„syes wryten and set forthe in laâ—yne to the intent y â— all people may perceyue of whense they be of whome and so foloweth now the hole substauÌ„ce of all thynges that is afore wryten penned and declared by the most noble oratour mayster Alayn charter whiche wrytcth this sentensyes worde â—or worde in the end of his boke called Lâ—xil wherof I do translate but a parte which is expedyent and serueth for this tyme. ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ⧠⧠¶ In olde tymes past was decreed in y e latyne church now called Rome as concernyng
y â— sacreed ordinauÌ„ce of maryege with y â— dignite of preest hode which â–ª was pretended vnder y â— coloure of clennesse chastite without spot yet notwithstaÌ„diÌ„g now is alowed y â— statute of coÌ„cubynage which is clene coÌ„â—rary against al statutê decreed by goddes lawes or of clene lyuyng but rather folowynge al sensualyâ—e bodely lustes pleasurê it is to be iudged y â— the makers of such statutes or decrees were more apt vnto auâ—â—ice and couetousnesse through the procuracyon of symony with dyuerse other vnâ—efull wayes stryfull with processe corrupt as by benefyces prelacions spyrytual whiche ar defyled spotted w t wordly cures busynes temporall thus largely wryteth storyes of the greke churche and the latyne also as concernynge the ambylyon and dishordinauÌ„ces of preestes relygyous persons and men of the clargy which was onely the cause of the seperacion of the people of boheme and also of other nacions of the churches of Rome what shall I meane of Boheme none other then al crysten regyons for the prelates of the church w t theyr adherentes hath so abhominably fylthily enfected not only them selues or theyr estate but al crystendome y â— they haue gyuen occasyon to be disdayned of all crysten pâ—ople both great and small and to be holden as straungers dishobedyent to the holy catholyke church of christ through the baroynesse who were clene destiâ—ute of theyr dyewty of cleâ—e holy mynistracyon lyuynge haue set furâ—h vsed all vnlawfull tradycyons vayne luâ—uryous werkê of baâ—dry and forâ— cacâ—on I may not wryt so large w t my 〈◊〉 as I culde onely for to vtter to moche theyr abhomynacyon for maÌ„nes eres to here or iyes to rede ¶ And yf I shulde say al that I thynke I shulde say playnly the exâ—esse and fatnesse of the goodes temporall medled w t the hote sulfure of enuy with the hete of ambycyon and lechery hath made them redy to put the fyre into the Church but this matter is of to depe inuestigacyon and y â— determinacioÌ„s doubtfull though there be experyence and proffe therof ynowgh so w t this I holde my peace but yet I pray vnto hym which consecrated our mother the holy church w t his blode that which I do thynke folow not pyte hath caused me to wryt this wherfore pray we all to god that al chrysten prynces may perceyue theyr dyewty regall to set forth goddes worde prosperiously vnyuersall accordynge to goddes wyll and to reforme all such enormytes sâ—smes which antechryst hath deceyued vs by whiche we may auoyd to y â— hye honor of God and tranquyl lyte of all chrysten regyons Amen ⧠⧠☞ ☞ ⧠⧠¶ The tenour of the Kynges preuylege HEnry by the Grace of God Kynge of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce defensor of the fayth lorde of Irland supreme hede vnder crist ouer the catholyke church of Englande To all maner of people exercysing the art of pryntyng we gyue gretynge and to vnderstande that we haue onely graunted and lycencyd vnto IohnÌ„ gowgh cytesynâ— and stacyoner of London that he onely to prynte vnder our pryuelege all maner of bokes new begon translated or compyled by the sayd IohnÌ„ gowgh â–ª all suche as he doth cause to be translated and prynted by his procurement cost or charge we graunt lycence auctoryse to the sayd IohnÌ„ gowgh his assigneâ—s factors to prynte all such storyes newe begonne lawful and not prohybyted so that all such storyes or bokes be perused ouersene by our couÌ„ceyl or by such as we shal admyt we graunt to the sayd IohnÌ„ gowgh the makyng pryntyng and vtteraunce of al such bokes newe set forth to his owne aduantage for y â— space of .vii. yeres Imedyatly ensewynge the pryntynge and settynge forth of all such bokes or processe new begonne and not afore prynted and thus duryng the tyme afore lymyted that in onywyse no person vsyng the scyence of printing or not vsyng do by any maner of crafte or delay prynte with in this ont Realme or cause to be prynted elswhere no such bokes but that the forfayd IohnÌ„ gowgh haue the onely auantage accordynge to 〈◊〉 of this our forsayd lycense and pleasâ—t to hym onely graunted vpon payne of forfâ—â—â—ture of all such bokes contrary imprynted to the effect of this our lycense coÌ„maundyng therfore all subiectes â–ª offycers and mynysters to ayde and fauourably assyst the sayd IohnÌ„ gowgh in the executyng of this our lycense and auctorite yf nede requyre ¶ God saue the kynge ¶ Cum priuilegio regali ad soluÌ„ imprimendum ê‘ septiennium ¶ Inprynted by me IohnÌ„ gowgh dwellynge in Lumbard strete agaynst the stâ—ckes market at y â— sygne of the mermayd Anno dnÌ„i M. ccccc.xxxix