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 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
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
asseÌ„bled aboue .300 prelates of dyuerse couÌ„tres through all crystendom this couÌ„ceyl was partly gadered at kyng Phillips reqÌ„st to reproue y e forsayd boniface an herytyke a sismatyke whiche was his cruell ennemy to disanul his actes and decrees howbeit it came not to pas though clement bysshop promysed hym the couÌ„ceyll wold not consent therunto yet notwithstaÌ„dyng it was iudged sayd and declared that his actes and decrees against y â— Kynge were nowght vniust and of no valoure ¶ Also at this couÌ„ceyll was vtterly destroyed all the rules wrytynges of the Templers and brent them and all theyr possessyons gyuen vnto y â— order of saynt IohnÌ„s in Ierusalem the which we call the knyghtes of the Rodes ¶ Also at this couÌ„ceyll the gray Fryers were at great dyuysyon within them selues for y â— which was decred many actes and decrees in y â— canon boke called Clementynys compyled by this sayd Clement bysshop of Rome also at this couÌ„ceyll was great counceyll for to recouer the holy Lande but it nothyng auayled also some hystoryans holde opynyon y t this bysshop Clement kepte two other couÌ„ceyls in Fraunce to destroye the herysyes that were in valdoyes and pyemont and sauoye this fynyshed y â— great counseyll of Uyenne ¶ Of a counceyll holden at Auynyon AT the tyme of the .xxi. sysme ye shal here more largly of in y â— later end of this boke and so this couÌ„ceyll of Auynyon began by Iohan bisshop of Rome the .xxii. of y â— name a graye Fryer in whose tyme arose an Antypape by y â— mayntenaunce of themperour Lowys of Bauaria the whiche antypape helde a counceyll in Italye where as he declared y â— sayd IohnÌ„ .xxii. of that name to be an herityke and this sayd Antypape and his company helde opynyon y â— Chryst his discyples were pore and y t they had nothyng pryue nor comon the which was proued the countrary in this counceyll of Auynyon ¶ Of two couÌ„ceyllys holden in FrauÌ„ce at Parys in y â— tyme of kynge Charles the syxth forcause of a great dyssencyon that was in the church in the two and twenty sysme SOme men wyll thynke that kynge Phyllyp la bell dyd for a polecy cause Clement to moue the see appostolyke from Rome so to be kept at Auynyoâ— but al thynges pondered it tourned his country to moche trouble ruyne and grefe as longe as it was there-holden the space of .lxxiiii. yeres for as sone as the see appostolike was moued to Auynyoâ— by Clement then succedyd IohnÌ„ the .22 of that name Anno .1327 of our Lorde in his tyme rayned Lowys de Bauaria Frederyk duke of oystryche which had great warre together by this meane also kynge Phyllyp de valoys father of kyng IohnÌ„ y â— was prysoner in EnglaÌ„d through y â— cause y â— .xxi. sisme of y â— which ye shal here more of in y â— last part of this boke thrugh this forsaid cause arose also an Antipape iÌ„ Italye named Nycolas y â— thyrd which was supported by the emperoure Lowys de Bauarya ¶ Also yet further incoÌ„uenyenses arose by this meane y t this sayd Bisshop preached and supported dyuerse visions faÌ„tasyes and dremyes of contemplacyon whiche was of lytle fayth y e whiche dyuerse doctoures in dyuyne withstode proued the contrarye yet furthermore this sayd bysshop oppressyd y â— realme of Fraunce w t imposycyons donacyons and decimis subsides expectatyues with other inuencyons such as y â— court of Rome could well coÌ„tryue in so moch that no learned man of Parys could obtayne any benefice but they were polled and pylled by cardynalles curtysians vnder theÌ„ of auynyoÌ„ through y â— whiche pyllage abhomynable liuynge it was generally called the whore of babylon for theyr great pyllage ryches pomp pryde in somoch they had the halfe of al the benefyces in FrauÌ„ce and this abhomynacyon was sore resysted by the vnyuersyte of Parys ¶ After this shamful ruyngne y â— sete appostolyke was remoued to rome agayn Anno DnÌ„i .1376 in y â— tyme of Gregorye the eleuenth borne in Lymogys and he was not longe without great preiudyce and flaunder by the .xx. sisme moued by Urbane the .vi. Neopolitane borne whiche Urbane caused .v. Cardynallys of Fraunce to be drowned and in this season was two bysshops in crystendome the one in Rome and y â— other in Auynyon in somoch that people were so a mased troubled that they colde not iudge nor knowe which of them was in y â— iust and in ryght auctoryte and this sysme endured .40 yeres which was more troblous and daungerous then any y â— euer befel afortyme thus befel euyll vpon eyull so the Bohemis became as y â— tyme requyred farre from the faythe vtterly denyed and disspysed the Romayns ¶ Thus was all crystendome vexed troubled with these two bysshops whiche contynued many yeres successyuely from bysshop to bysshop after the dethe of Urban y â— which held his see at Rome after whome succeded Innocent the .7 and after hym succedyd Augelus a Uenecyan whom was named Bonefacius the .ix. and thus after Clement .vi. y â— dyed in Auygnyon succedyd Benedictus .xiii. whose errours were worse theÌ„ were afore for this Benedictus was very obstynat ¶ By this occasyon was Charles sore moued and vnquyeted through these sysmes sent noble enbassatours vnto Auynyon to y â— bysshop which was onely for the concorde vnyte of cristes Church but it lytel auayled for they retourned without aunswer ¶ That seynge the kynge assembled at Parys a great counceyll of all his prynces and barons w t the prelates the best learned meÌ„ of his realme where as they coÌ„sulted togyder y t both bisshops shulde be deposed wherupon the duke of bauarye and y â— duke of Burgone went to the byâ—shop at Auynyon to discus this message with a noble power and when the bysshop vnderstode what was theyr comynge and wherfore for feare to conseÌ„t fled away secreatly out of Auynyon left them alone without farewel or leue taken retourned in to his natyue couÌ„trye wherof these dukes were abasshed and so retourned to Parys agayne pensiue where y â— Kyng lay after this they helde another couÌ„ceyl in the same Cytie in the tyme of charles y â— .vi. for this vnyon of the church to y â— which this bisshop y â— fled wold not coÌ„seÌ„t nor be coÌ„fyrmable ¶ Of other two couÌ„cellys in FrauÌ„ce the one at lyons y â— other at burges by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of charles y â— .vii. al to abolyshe this sayd sysme AFter the great couÌ„ceyl of coÌ„staunce whiche was assembled in Almayne by the aduyse of sygisemundus with the assystaunce of .v. pryncypall crysten nacyons that is to wet germany Fraunce Englande Spayne Italye for to extyrpe these sismes in the church and to depose thre bysshops sysmatykes y t was Gregorye the .xii. AlexauÌ„der the fyfth IohnÌ„
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
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