more at quiet Yet in respecte of this persecution which was great and lasted longe time wherin were destroied many thousand Christians y Christian religion ought not bée iudged false or worse to bée estéemed of or that the gentile and profane religion of the Romanes is righteous and sownd For throughout the whole world and in all ages the Christian religion is only true righteous and constant nether hath God doone amisse in giuinge the Ethnickes so great power against the faithfull For by meanes therof the Christian faith is nothinge diminished nether by punishment nether by sheadinge of blood but it is rather increased in all partes of the worlde wherfore it is not without cause amonge our forefathers growen into a prouerbe the field of Christ is dungged and made frutefull with Christians innocent bloud Wherfore let vs al likewise now be of good hope in midste of persecutions and sheadinge of miserable innocent Christian blood Of the. 9. Tragical acte or persecution which was vnder Antoninus Verus with his brother Lucius and what worthy men exhibited Apologies of the christian faith vnto the Emperours Chapter vii THe yere of Christ 170. and. 178. the Roman Emperours Marcus Antoninus Verus and his brother Lucius for none other causes then we haue aboue recited sharply persecuted al christians that generallye were vnder the Romane Empire This persecution Historicians call the fourth but I terme it the ninth The exacte description and at large therof whoso desireth to beehold let him reade the fourth and fift bookes of Eusebius ecclesiasticall historie In this persecution were slayn not only many of the Christian Church but also the moste famous and renowmed doctoure of that age who in teaching and writing set frooth the christian relygion enlarged it and defended it commendinge their doctryn with their most holly life and bearinge wytnes therto with theyr owne blood Among whom was Polycarpus Discyple to the apostles an extreme ould father and minister of the congregatyon at Smyrna whom they call the doctor of Asia and father of the Christians also the holye and paynfull Minister of christ Pionius both these with many monotable christians were burnt Lykewyse y most lerned and faythfull mynysters of Christ Iustinius a philosopher and Iraeneus Byshop of Lions in France whose bookes in defence of the christyan fayth agaynste all kyndes of errours and heresies are yet extant were slayne wyth the sword But chifly at Lions and Vienna in France nigh the riuer Rhodanus was very mutch cruelty and extremitie shewen This persecution is described by the ministers of Christe dwellynge at Vienna and Lions in an epistle vnto y brethren of the congregations of Asia and Phrygia let him read that list herof the foure first chapters of the firste booke of Eusebius ecclesiastical historie there among other thyngs they declare how Photinus bishop of Lyons a worthie man learned and holly and aboue foure score and ten yéeres old and therfore féeble of body but valiant of minde and without all feare was brought to the place of iudgement of whom when there was required an accoumpt of his fayth with a wounderfull courage hée professed Christe and the Christian faith wherfore hée was by the rashe furious people stroken buffeted spurned without al regarde of age or callyng reprochefully abused so y he was drawen backe agayne to the prison for dead where not longe after hée yéelded vp the ghost In the same place are singularly described y cruel torments wherwith the holy men were long time tormeÌ„ted as Maturus Sanctus and Blandina a woman of singular courage constancy in the true faith with Attalus borne of a noble race in faith more noble All these were slayne with most cruell and continuall tormentes bicause they would not yéeld one iote from the trueth They write moreouer how that the common raskall multitude in this persecution was so sauedge cruelly pricked foorth with anger and rage y they left nothyng vndone that appertayned to the most cruell and ignominious vsedge of them For they would not permit the bodies of sutch as were slayne in prison to bée honestly buried but cast them to dogges who if they left any thyng that they burned and threwe the asshes into Rhodanus these turmentours in the meane time criyng alowd as it is reported behold the Gods haue reuenged themselues on the enemies of the Ethnicke religion where is now their god what maner of faith and religion is this that spoyleth them thus of their liues Thus thei reioiced triumphed like conquerours y had defended and confirmed their owne religion and on th' other part the Christians remained in great sorow heauines and daunger Whoso desiereth to vnderstande more of this matter let him read it in Eusebius in the epistle aboue recited Moreouer there is set downe by Hermannus Contractus in his chronicles an whole catalogue of principall blessed martirs y suffred in this persecution Wherfore y which I haue often sayd I say againe is there any maÌ„ so simple and deuoyd of iudgment y dareth to say that the doctrine and religion of the holy Martyrs and witnesses of Christe was false bicause God deliuered them ouer into y handes of their enimies gentils and vnfaithful ether y their doctrine religion was tru and righteous bicause as apperteyninge to the body they vanquished slewe and oppressed the faithfull And who is so presumptious that he will dispute with God why hée suffreth his dearly beloued Church to bée cast down and â—roden vnder foote with so many afflictions and calamities But in this age the next following God through his grace raised euen among y gentiles worthie renowmed men learned holy wel disposed who offred vnto y Roman emperours to the Senate lieutenants bookes written with diuine instinct perspicuous and wise wherin they declared the innocencie of Christians confessing the faith of christ praising defendyng it shewinge also how falsly y christians were charged with notorious crimes y were layde against theÌ„ This kinde of writyng they terme Apologies In which apologies thei vttred such constancie and valientnesse of minde y thei durst also to discipher and disproue the errour vanitie of y Ethnick religion I minde to set downe in this place a catalogue and rehersal of al sutch as wrote Apologies I wil note also the time of doyng of al those things out of Eusebius y al men may perceaue how couragiously the Christian religion set foorth herself openly and without all feare in midst of persecutions glisteryng therin as it were the sunne howbéeit there whiles the vnfaythfull persecuted the same as heresy deceite and washing the Christians in their owne blood In the yere of Christ 119. Quadratus a graue and holy man preferred an Apologye or defence of the Christians vnto the Emperour Adrian After whom the yere of our Lord. 122. Seremus Granius one of the nobillytie of Rome wrote also and
Apologie to the same Emperour Likewise Aristides a famous man made meanes vnto Adrian in the same maner Al whose writtings preuailed so much with the Emperour that he directed his letters vnto Minutius Fundanus lieuetenant of Asia commaundynge hym that thence forward hée should receiue no accusations against Christians for their relygion vnlesse they were accused of other crimes and offences Afterward in the yere of our Lord 141. Iustinus a Philosopher a man not only most renowmed at Rome but also in other places preferred an Apollogy for the christians vnto Antoninus Pius y Emperour Which selfe same request almost Asianus Appolinaris byshop of Hierapolis and Milciades who also exhibited their owne Apologies vnto Antoninus But the Emperour Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius in his letters sent to the Lieutenantes of Asia commaunded them that they shoulde in nowise molest the Christians The copie of this Epistle is to be found in the. 4. booke and. 13. Chapter of the ecclesiasticall History Besides all this Athenagoras a Philosopher of Athens wrote an Apology and defence of the Christians vnto Marcus Aurelius Antoninê° and vnto Lucius Aurclus Commodus whiche defence is yet extant both in Gréeke and Latine At Rome also Appollonius a Senatour a noble gentilman and wise being accused of the Christian religion wrote a worthy booke of our Religion and of the innocency of the Christians and reade it in Rome in the Senate Notwithstandyng hee was condemned to dye the yere of our Lord. 188. Last of all Tertulian about the yerâ—e of our Lord. 209. wrote a singular boke in behalf of the Christians wherin hée declareth their innocencie and the folly of the Ethnick religion and contrariwise the trueth and excellencie of the Christian faith This booke is yet remaininge in our daies By these and like reasons it appeareth that our true auntient vndoubted Christian faith although y worlde contemne it raile at it and persecute it neuerthelesse is the only true and autenticke faith Of the. 10. Tragicall Acte or persecution vnder Seuerus and of the. 11. vnder Iulius Maximinus of the. 12. vnder Traiane Decius of the 13. vnder Valerianus and of the 14. vnder Aurelianus the Emp. Chapter viii ABout the yere of our Lorde Iesus Christe 204. Septimius Seuerus the Emperour a prince of a firce disposition began sharpely to persecute the Christian church And in sundry places in all prouinces of the Romane empire many woorthie men of the faithfull were tormented and slayn amonge all whom as cheif is numbred Leonidas father of the most renowmed doctour Origen Whose goodes after his death were all confiscate his wife and childreÌ„ amonge whom was Origen brought to extreme beggerie At Carthage Perpetua and Faelicitas were cast vnto wilde beastes and by them torne in péeces And manie sutch like accidentes chaunced in other places After this Iulius Maximinus persecuted y Church of Christ The same commaunded y specially the doctours and bisshoppes of y Christians should bée sought out y those with their sermoÌ„s and preachings seduced the simple people and mooued tumults in the empire and therefore y they ought to be put to death y peace and quieâ—nes might be restored in y empire y subiects quight discharged from y troublesom doctrine There were slaine in this persecution very many ministers of the congregations among whoÌ„ as cheif ar numbred most worthy meÌ„ PaÌ„philus Maximus Origen also at the same time to the farther comfort of the Church wroate a booke of martirdome where hée sheweth that true Christians ought openly to professe with their mouth and expresse in their déedes the faith which they haue receaued and if occasion also shal serue to bear witnesse therof with their owne blood At the same time sprange vp the froward heresie of the Helchesaites who taught that it was sufficient to retaine the true faith in a mans hart and that it skilled not if a man were in enie daunger to denay the same with his mouth Although this doctrine doth openly repugne against the doctrine of the Gospell and Apostles as is to bée séene the .x. of Mathew and .x. to the Rom. This persecution conteinued thrée â–ª whole yéere duringe which time there was mutch precious and innocent blood shedde Afterwarde the yere of Christe 252. or accordinge to the supputation of other 254. Traianus Decius the emperour persecuted the Church yet farre more cruelly sending a broade through out all the empire most vehement and bloodie edictes And this is the twelueth persecution of the Christian Church which distroyed manie excellent and worthie men For there were â—layn in this persecution Sixtus bysshop of the Congregation at Rome who was beheaded Laurence his deacon broyled vpon a gridiron as PrudeÌ„tious writeth by whom also is described the martirdom of blessed Hyppolitus who was torne in sunder by wylde horses Babilas also bysshop of Antioche was then slayn a very famous man and a noble minister of Christe This Babilas desiered that the chaine wherwith he was lead vnto execution might bée buried with him for an ornament and delight vnto him Serapion beinge first hacked with manie woundes and stabbed through at the last was cast downe headlonge from the top of his owne house Macharius Alexander Epimachus were burnt Manie virgins most singularly with vertues adorned were most miserably tormented and at length cruely slayn as Appollonia Eugenia Victoria Theodora Anatholia Ruffina and manie moe There is extant in Eusebius in the sixte boke of his ecclesiasticall history the 13. chapter the Epistle of Dionisius Bisshop of Alexandria writen vnto Fabianus of Antioche wherein he reciteth the blessed Martirs which suffred martirdome in Alexandria vnder Decius Likewise in Hermannus Contractus in his cronicles is to be found a longe Catalogue of Martirs that in diuers places of the Roman Empire suffred vnder Decius In fine in this twelfe persecution vnder Decius it is not able welnigh to be recited what plenty of precious and holy bloud of innocent Christians was shed and many notable men besids made away This cruell persecution was scarce fully finished wheÌ„ immediatly y 13. began about y yere of Christ 260. at commaundement of the Emperour Valerianus In whiche persecution were beheaded two of the chief doctours of the Christian church in Italye Cornelius bishop of Rome in Affrica Cyprian byshop of Carthage There be also manye moe numbred in the cronicles that at the same time receaued the crown of martirdom At whiche time the moste cruel punishment of flawing was commonly vsed against christians to proue if by that meanes they would bée reduced from the christian to y Ethnick beléefe but it was in vaine I cannot in this place passe ouer but I must make some bréef rehersal of such thinges as are written of these persecutions vnder Detius and Valerius by Sainct Ierome in the lyfe of Paule the firste Eremite who reporteth that the persecutors
studied not onely to defile the innocencie of the christians through dread practice of such punishmeÌ„ts and torturs as y lyke had not bin heard before but also by prouocation of lust and plesure For when they could not ouerthrow them with torments they tempted them with pleasures to cause them to fall offring vnto them bewtifull wemen y should allure them to lechery In which place he sheweth of a certen martir that bit of his toung betwene his teth spet it in his fine miks face y he might be so deliuered from her At the same time Paule the Eremit fled into the wildernesse and liued a solitary life in a certen den vnto whom beefore hée died came Saynct Antonie And these twayne were the first beeginners of Eremites life that is to say of those that lead ther liues in wilde and desert places as though it were out of the worlde a life full of hardnes and shapnes laboringe with their handes and vsinge great abstinencie Saint Ierome writeth that Antony died the yéere of Christe 661. and in the .xv. yeere of his owne age And out of this fountaine in processe of time sprange Monkerie which the holy Church of Christe knew not at all when it was most excellent and pure Béesides that this life hath no warrant nor commaundement from the woorde of God and is nothinge else but an inuention and deuise of men that were a fraide And like as in those former persecutioÌ„s they indeuored to pluck the christians from the trueth through alurementes of pleasure so likewise in our age many are carried awaye from the true faith and confession thereof and after knowledge of the trueth they are wrapped in errours through pleasures honours glory ritches prefermentes gret offices fat benefices as they terme them or great reuenewes of y church The yeare of our Lorde Christ 273. Valerius Aurelianus obtayned the Empire whom Historicians make the Aucthour of y ix persecution which according vnto our accoumpt is the. 14. This Aurelianus at first beginnyng of his raigne was gentle and friendly towards ChristiaÌ„s but towards th' ende he changed his conditions and through perswasion of naughty persons suffred himself to be abused fully determinyng with him selfe to persecute the Church of Christ Eusebius testifieth in the 7. boke and. 26. Chapter of his ecclesiasticall history vnto whom also Orosius agréeeth that he rather intended to execute this persecution then fully accomplished the same Howbeit the Church at that time was in great peril heauenesse but when contrary vnto expectation the Emperour was taken away the persecution ceased and became nothinge Of the greeuous woful and long tragicall Acte or persecution being in number the. 15. vnder the Emperours Dioclecian and Maximian wherein innumerable Christians were martired and slayne Chapter ix NOne hath written more dillygentlye of the persecution of the Emperours Iouius Dioclecian and Herculius Maximian then Eusebius in the laste booke of his ecclesiasticall historye For he lyued at that time behelde the doyng of many things whereof he writeth Wherefore the full and true discourse of these matters muste be borrowed of him which although it be terrible yet is it there withall pleasant profitable to be read As for me I mean but breifly to touch y chiefest poyntes The Christian Churche enioyed peace and tranquillitye a fewe yéeres from the raigne of Aurelian vnto the xix yéere of the raigne of Dioclecian and Maximian about the space of 28. yéeres For the Christians had commonly their Churches and godly congregations and méetinges together professing and exercising their relygion openly without any feare wherein also they had the assistance of lieutenants of prouinces euery where vnto whom the Christian Relygion was knowne â—nd many of great power in the Emperours Court as namely Dortheus and Gorgonius who being Christians aided and defended them of their owne religion The Christians also in the begining of this peace and quietnes agreed very well together were feruent in y worshipping of God and of holy conuersation and therefore the number of the faithful increaced very much so that it was néedefull to enlarge their Churches and places of common prayer But in processe of time that feruent loue of Relygion began to waxe colde and ther arose dissentions contentions cheifly amonge bisshops and doctours who beinge addicted to strife vnquietnesse fell sore at debate amonge themselues handlynge their controuersies whereby the people were nothing edefied wherfore the Lorde taking away his hand from his people suffred y faith lesse Gentiles to lay their handes vpon his Churche to scoure away the ruste which daily increased more and more And this is the .xv. persecution of the Church which Orosius calleth y tenth At the béeginning of this persecution the Lord dealt verie gently not giuyng the reigne and bridle immediatly to the persecution and suffringe the Churches to be destroyd but the onset of the persecution was béegun by the souldiours And doubtles vnto this purpose apperteineth that which is written by Otho Frisingensis in the. 3. book and. 45. chapter speakinge of bleassed Mauritius Who marchyng forward into Germanie vnder Maximian with his legion of men which were all Christians goinge against the Bacharides whome Eutropius termeth Bongarides a troublesome and seditious kinde of people to bring them to dutie and quietnesse when the armie had passed the Alpes and was arriued into the country of the Veragri whiche at this day they cal the lower Vallesia there Maximian commaunded his souldiours to sacrifice to the Gods that they might obtaine good fortune and victorie against their enemies Then Mauritius answered that hée would not so doe nor the residew of Christians that were vnder him franckly professinge himself his company to be Christians for whom it was not lawful to do sacrifice to y gods Wherefore they were first craftely deuided and some sent to SolodoruÌ„ Bonna Colen Santum and abroad vnto other places for defence sake dispersed Last of all the greater part of the legion whiche remayned with Mauritius neare vnto Octodorum whiche is at this day called Martenacum and Agaunum whiche is nowe called by the name of S. Maurice which was slain by y heathen souldiours S. Ierome reporteth that the expedition against the Bagaudae was in the yéere of Christe 290. I cannot nor I ought not in this place let passe to make mencion of Foelix and Regula being Germans who were also of Mauricius companie both these diuers other moe whose seruice it pleased God that he woulde vse to preache Christ to the Gentiles by flight escaped from the slaughter at Octodorum and first they came to Glarona and so along the Lake were brought vnto the most auncient citie of Zuirick in which at y time y Ethnick idolatry florished wher they preached simply the Christian relygion and as wée haue shewed in the beginning of this booke purely faithfully without any aditions of man The same they approued valientlye
and at length confirmed with their bloud For after manie and diuerse torments they were slayn with the sworde by Decius the Romane lieutenant that dwelte in the castle of zuirick And these most holly Germans haue left vnto vs the most holly and precious treasure of the Gospell and Christian fayth These our Apostles or rather teachers sent vnto vs from heauen are farre more auncient then y counsailes These liued and taught and are blesledly departed this life béefore the Papisticall Churche was establyshed in forme and manner as it is for at theyr time there was not that Papacie which afterwarde ensued there were then no Images in Churches there was no sacryfice of Mas no inuocatiō of saints no Munks no institutiōs or foūdations of Abbeies for they lyued in those yeres after Christe whiche wée haue before noted so that the Christyan fayth hath contynued amongst vs and also the auntient Congregation of Zuirick aboue 1270. yeares whiche I praye God alwayes with his grace to preserue But when this losse whiche the Churche had sustayned and this token of the wrath of God against his people had mooued but fewe in the Churche to repentaunce the more parte remaynynge carelesse and impenitent and alwayes procéedynge farther in theyr vnthankefulnesse God also increased the correction suffryng the Churche to bée oppressed with a moste sharpe persecution For in the .xix. yéere of Dioclecian which was the. 306. after the birth of Christe in the month of March euen on Easter day were published euery where edictes from y emperours againste the Christians wherin was charge giuen that Churches and Oratories of the Christians shoulde bée plucked downe to the grownd the Bibles and all bookes of holly scripture burned and whosoeuer of the Christians hée were that were in any honour office and dignite should bée disgraded and made imfamous with many other commaundmentes of that sorte Shortly after it was commaunded by another edict from the emperours that in euery place the bysshops and ministers of the Church should bée apprehended and constrained to do sacrifice to the Gods if anie spake against it they should be enforced therto or slaine Héerevpon ensued a miserable and cruell slaughter For the christian byshops doctours and ministers of the Churches were thicke and thréefolde led and drawn to the temples of Idols to do sacrifice and manie times those that lead them mooued with certein compassion exhorted them whom they lead to holde their peace and if they woulde but dissemble as though they dyd sacrifice they woulde then lette them departe But they declared with a loude voyce that they neither had Sacrificed neither woulde Sacrifice but that they were the seruantes and ministers of Christe wherfore vnaccustomed and new tormentes and diuerse tortures and punishments were laid vpon the Christians in execution wherof the tormenters and officers were more wery in appliyng then the Christians in suffringe them For they through thée goodnes of God continnued constant in the Christian faith vnto death notwithstandinge certen through feare and greatnes of paine and torment renounced their faith to the wounderfull sorowe and greif all the godlie At Nicomedia in Bythynia when the emperours commaundement and proclamation was openly set abroade and both emperours at that present soiurned at Nicomedia a certen noble citizen and of great dignitie in that city rent downe the emperours edict and tore it all to péeces wherfore with out delaye hée was brought vnto the emperours Who after that hée had confessed that hée was a Christian and that whiche hée had doone hée did it on a feruent zeale hée was deliuered vnto the hangemen and Iurmagantes who tormented him with sundrie torments vntill hée died But amonge the outragious tormentes wherewith they martyred him there neuer appéered any one sygne of sorrowe in his countenaunce At the same tyme were tormented and slayne the chéeife Prynces and nobles of the Emperours householde amonge whom Peter after sundrie vexations and tortures was layde vpon a Gridyron and roasted with this moste cruell kynde of deathe endynge his lyfe Lykewyse Dorotheus and Gorgonius Gentilmen of the Emperours Chamber after the bitter taste of sundrie tormentes were laste of all hanged Anthimus also bysshop of Nicomedia was at that time slayne with the sword and with him a great numbre of cityzens as shéepe followynge their sheapheard through tormentes and death with a most constant faith In Nicomedia at that time there arose a great fire suddeinly within the kinges palace as who should say that God ment to punishe the extreame crueltie of the emperours and the heathen people which had burned and broiled so manie innocent and godlie men But the same chaunced which befell at Rome in the time of Nero for like as hée imputed the cause of burninge the citie vnto the giltlesse Christians beeinge cause therof himselfe so these emperours published new commaundementes wherby they strayghtly charged y the Christians should bée extinguished with fier sword in euery place In Syria likewise the faithfull Doctours noble and vnnoble men and women younge and ould were drawen by heapes into prison in so mutch that the prisons and common places of the citie were full of prisoners and but few men there were that walked abroade the place resemblyng the shew of a forlorne wildernesse Wherof when the Emperours were aduertised they willed that sutche as would do sacrifice to the gods should bée released the residew that continued in the christian béeléefe should bée put to death with moste cruell kindes of tormentes The people of Tyrus also in the land of Palestine whole flockes as it were of men and women in places of common resorte for shewes were thrown vnto wylde beastes and when the wild beastes were more gentyl towards the Christians then the men neither forced vpon them to teare them yea rather teare their kéepers and maisters that egged them to others notwithstanding these faithlesse tyrants crueller then all beastes ranne vpon the miserable christians woundyng them stabbyng them and cruelly without all pittie murtheryng them A strainge kynde of crueltye also the vngodly in Egipt and Thebais practized against the faithfull wherwith they slew infinite numbers of them They vsed in certayne places to bend downe two Trées and to bynde the faithfull vnto eche trée by the legge then to let them rise agayne and so tearyng the men in péeces And Vspurgensis reporteth how at the same time in one monethes space were seuentéene thousand men martyred and slayne Eusebius in the. 9. and. 10. Chapters of the 8. booke describeth the strange torments and punishments of many christians which he himselfe dyd beholde amonge whom he mentioneth one Phileas a worthy man who was a Martir himselfe and had wroten of Martirs There was also in Phrigia a certen famous Citie wherein all the people highest and lowest young and old professed the Christian faith The same Citie the Emperours army beseidged round about and set it on fire burninge
vngodlye séeke to rule There is also very great difference béetwéene the auntient Churche of Rome and the firste Bisshoppes thereof and the Churche of Rome Pope Cardinalles and byshops which be now at this day The antient Byshopes of the Church of Rome whiche lyued and sate there from the yere of Christ 70. vnto y yere 314. and during the time of Constantine the great were in number 32. who wer all faithfull in their callyng profitynge the Churche by teachinge and otheir meanes and for christe and his Gospels sake were martyred and slayne They medled not at all with the ciuill gouerment there was no Court of Rome no senat of scarlet Cardinalles no guarde for the body no other superfluities which now adayes are frequented by Popes Histories of credit do confirme this same such as were not writen in flatterie of the Popes Also the name of Pope at that time was not proper onely to the Bysshoppe of Rome but other Bishoppes also abroade in other Prouinces were called by the same name For Aurelius and Ciprian Byshops of Carthage Ambrose Byshop of Millaine and other Byshops in other places were also called Popes And lykewise Saincte Ierome termeth S. Augustine whiche was Bysshop of Hippo in certen Epistles by the name of Pope For this woorde Papa Pope in the Syracusian tounge signifieth as mutch as this word Pater a Father as Suidas testifieth For it behooueth the Ministers of the church to be faithfull fathers of the people as Sainct Paule writeth Moreouer amonge all the Byshops of Rome from Constantinus the great and Pope Syluester vnto Gregorye the firste which were in number xxxvi ther was not one within compasse of 280. yéeres that vsed y pompe pride maiestie and power which the Popes vse accustomably now now a daies Their aucthoritie was great amonge other Churches and Byshops because for the most parte they were learned and skilfull men neither infected with heresies as some other Byshops in other Churches were but principally because thei were Ministers of the same Churche whiche the Apostles planted at the béeginninge which was therfore called the Apostolick Churche and the Apostolick seate and Sainct Peters Chaer. Howbeit the title and name of the Apostolick seat was not giuen only to the Romane Church but vnto other Churches also namely Ierusalem and Antioche And this woord seate signifieth not a iudgment seat or a princes throne but an ecclesiasticall preachers pulpit So that our forefathers in the ould time termed the aboue named churches Apostolike seates of the Apostolicke doctrine bycause the Apostles taught in those places and from those Apostolick Churches the Apostolick doctrine stretched foorth vnto other Churches aswell farre as nere Wherfore those places in which is not the Apostolick doctrine can not glory of the Apostolick seat although indéed it were ther many hundred yéeres béefore For there is also a seate of the Diuell as Saynt Iohn declareth in the 2. Chapter of the Reuelation But in the time of Pope Gregory the first whiche was within 300. yéeres after the birth of Christe the Church of Rome was so farre from the dominion which now it obtaineth that Gregorye very vehemently with stood Iohn which was bisshop of Constantinople who ambitiously sought to haue cheif place and superioritie in the Church would also bée called vniuersal bysshop Which title notwithstandinge and greater to the bysshops of Rome do vse at this day but Gregorie said that this was a Deuilish pride and the malice of Antichriste Hée that lust let him reade the fourth sixte books of Saint Gregories Epistles touchinge this matter Howbeit not longe after the death of Gregory Bonifacius the 3. vsurped that title which was graunted vnto him by Phocas the emperour a naughtie and wicked man For Otho bysshop of Frisingen a writer of Cronacles in the v. booke and eight Chapter reporteth how Pope Bonifacius the 3. had obtained of Phocas the Emperour that by his aucthoritie power and commaundement the Churche of Rome might bée cauled and also bée indéede the head of all other Churches Beda also writeth the same And Vrspurgensis saith that Rome ought to bée mother of all other Churches Nauclerus writeth that al other Churches in the worlde ought to obey the Churche of Rome and the Bishop therof Wherby it may bée easely perceaued how that this decrée of Phocas the Emperour whom all Hystoricians do verie mutch reprooue was no decree or institution of the Apostles made by Peter or Paule The Sea of Rome béeyng exalted after this maner the bishops which consequently ensued began more more to busie and medle themselues with ciuile matters neither sought they only for power and dominion but deuised how they might plucke their necks from the emperours iurisoiction and extol themselues aboue them how they might challenge bryng in subiection vnder them their prouinces peoples and maiestie But in y meane season they quight forgot their submission and duty departing far wide from thence became altogether vnlike vnto y first bishops of Rome At length the matter proceeded so farre that they durst boldly withstande y emperours and rise agaynst them for euen so Gregory the .ij. and Gregory the .iij. Popes of Romes opposed themselues against Leo the .iij. and Constantine the .v. emperours For these calling certen coūsels vnto which there assembled a great numbre of learned men and bishops of Asia Grecia and other regions they argued the controuersie of Images namely whether it were lawfull to haue and to woorship the Images of Christe and the holly saincts in the Churches of the Christians Whereas at that time it was concluded and confirmed out of the holy scriptures and doctrine of the auncient fathers that Images ought not to be worshipped nor to be suffred in churches but to bée taken away whersoeuer they were founde But after that th' emperors had giuen foorth cōmaundment to the Popes and vnto other vnder the Roman Empire that all of them accordyng to the woord of God and the meaning therof discussed in this present coūseil should take downe th'images out of their Churches sutch was the presumption of the Popes that béeyng called to y counsel they neither appered and afterwarde by their owne aucthoritie contrary to the cōmandement of the Emperours they called peculyer Counsels of Italian Byshops wherein they decréede y Images ought bée to retained in churches and more worshipped then euer they had bin before Nether presumed they onely thus farre but withdrue the Emperours subiectes from due obedience towards hym excommuncaityng the Emperours themselues withoute cause raising morouer tumults great feditions wherein the Emperours lieutenantes and debites were slayne as namely Paulus at Rauenna and Mauritius with Adriane his sunne in Campania And by this meanes all dutifull seruice and obedience was denied to the Emperours they were driuen from the gouerment of Italye But by what right the Popes brought these thinges to passe by
religion and Idolatrie verie mutch increased vnder him and sutch as in the time of Constantinus had hid themselues hopyng that shortly there would come soome change brake then abroade into light and violently assaulted the Christians The emperour him selfe spoyled the Churches and the ministers of the Churches of all their priuiledges immunities liberties and dignities which Constantinus had giuen them Hée forbid also the Christiās all schooles that they should not learne poetrie oratorie nor philosophie meaninge therby to make them vnlearned that they should not bée able to confute the Ethnick relygion out of the booke of Ethnick writers Himself also wroat certen bookes against the Christian religion wherto verie well answered S. Syrillus byshop of Alexandria Moreouer he termed Christians disdaynfully Galileans and Christ himself the Galilean He dyd not only confiscate the goods of the Church but also layde great tributes and exactions vpon the christians there withall also mockyng and floutyng them saying that theyr God y is to say our Lord Iesus Christ forbid them to heape vp treasure commaundyng them that whoso tooke from them their coate they should giue hym their cloak also So y he both spoyled flouted the Christians and whatsoeuer trouble or reproche hée put them vnto he sayd how they ought to beare it wyllyngly and patiently for so their Christ taught them to doe And lyke as Constantinus the great tooke away the Images of the Gentile Gods out of the Romane ensigne or standard placynge in the stead of them a white crosse so contrarywise Iulianus restored the Images of Iupiter Mercurie and Mars that the Christians worshipping th'ensigne and bowing them selues before it shoulde séeme to worship the Gods. Likewise all that were appoyncted to warfarre and receiued their natiue or rewarde must caste a grayne of frankincense into the fire vppon the Aulter and so worshippe the Gods. This thing troubled hym very much For when certen Christian souldiours had vnaduisedly done the same wayyng the matter more dyllygently perceued what they had done of their owne motion they came vnto the Emperour and casting away their donatiue in his presence cryed aloude saying that they were Christians and woulde continew in the Christian fayth that whiche they had done they dyd it vnaduisedlye wherein they had gréeuouslye offended wherefore they presented there theyr bodies vnto hym that they might suffer for that wherein their handes had offended Then the Emperour commaunded that they shoulde all bée lead away to execution bée beheaded But when they were gone out of his presence he chaunged his minde pardoned their liues notwithstāding he made a law y thencefoorth no christian should bée admitted to warfare or into y Emperours court or vnto any bēch of iudgment or any other kind of preferment In euery place also of the Roman empire Christians were reprochefullye dealte withall pitifullye tormented and slaine amongst whom is remēbred an antient man and a notable minister of Christ Marcus bysshop of Artehusa The same in former and more happie times had destroied the temple of y gods at Arethusa by reason whereof Iulian hated him persuading with the citizens y they should constrain him to build vp the temple againe which béeing impossible for him to do they required that at the least wise he would contribute sumwhat to the charges But when he had answered that hée would not giue them the valew of one farthinge hée was by them most miserably and cruelly and to their great shame tormented and put to death Likewise renownied men and worthie ministers of Christe were martyred as Gregorie of Alexandria Eusebius Nectarius Zenon Basilius Ancyranus and Cyrillus Deacon of y church of Ierusalem At Heliopolis manie vertuous virgins were brought naked into the Theater and afterwarde their bellies cut vp and stuffed full of oates and barly and cast to swine to bée torne In Meroe a citie of Phrygia thrée honest citizens Macedonius Theodulus Tacianus when as the day before the cheif officer of the citie had set open a temple of Idols whiche had vntyll that time bin shutte vp to th'eintent there should now be sacrifice done in it in the night entring into it they plucked down the Idoles and brake them But when this iudge and chief officer Amatius began to haue tormented sundry Christians whereby hée might come to knowledge who had broken the Idols these thrée comming vnto the iudge desired him not to torment any man for breakyng the Idols for they were the doers of it Wherefore they were taken and rosted a great while at length burnt In the same persecution Artemius lieutenant of egipt bicause he cōstantly professed y faith of Christ was spoyled of al his goods in the end lost his head y like wherof many good and honest men suffred whoso desireth a more large description of these things let him read y 6. booke of y Tripartite history also the histories of Ruffi Theodo and Sozo Moreouer Iulianus to y intēt he might molest the Christans whom hée could not compell to the Gentiles religion he gaue licence to the miserable Iewes to returne to Ierusalem there to assemble themselues togither and to build a temple and to frequent their sacrifice promisinge vnto them his asistance for the better accomplishinge the same But after that a great multitude of them was gathered togither out of al nations and had prepared stuf for their present busines erected scaffoldes to woork vpō and partly had digged their foundations and partly layd them being busie about their buildinge béeholde a great earthquake shooke the foundations and cast them downe there flamed also an horrible fier out of the verie foundations and a strange and terrible tempest ouer threwe the scaffoldes shakinge downe what euer they had builded and slew a great multitude of the Iewes There was also a terrible boule of fier tūbling there about all the day longe whiche hindred and indamaged them verye mutch and wheras béefore the Iewes and Gentiles triumphed insulted ouer and threatned the Christians Cyrillus bishop of Ierusalem with great grauity constancie forewarned them out of Daniell the prophet and the Gospell that it was not possible y they should sacrifice héere or else build vp y Iewish temple So y they which before this dispersion or scattryng had in derision y minister of christe after so great miracles of god were altogether quailed discouraged But after y Iulian was slayn in battel agaynst the Persians which was in the yéere of christ 367. there was quietnes agayne restored to y Christians which notwithstāding cōtinued not long For Valens with his brother Valentinian obtaining th' empire was seduced by the Arrians although his brother Valētinian were sound in the Christian faith yet hée neuerthelesse about the yéere of thriste 371 began to persecute the godly christians intending to bring them to y Arrian heresy But y church constantly withstoode him wherfore the faithfull and
Catholicke bishops were by him sent into banishment and many of theÌ„ tormented and finally slayne Since therfore at that time there reigned such tirranny in euery place and the ministers of the churches other faithfull men were nowher in salftye but were commonly reprochefully intreted spoyled plucked out of their houses and stayne at length the Church decréed to send some notable embassedge vnto the Emperour complaynyng of their iniuries and requiryng his maiesties clemency helpe and protection To which purpose were sent 80. of the chiefest the their countinaunce and credit might be the greater Who when they were com to Nicomedia to the Emperour had exhibited their supplication the Emperour was greuously mooued against theÌ„ yet dissemblyng his anger charged priuely Modestus one of his seruants that he should destroy al those byshops But because hée doubted lest if they shoulde be openly executed the people might chance to raise a tumult they were all imbarked in a Ship as yf they shoulde be sent into banishment And when the Ship was come into the midest of the déepe sea the mariners setting it on fler theÌ„selues escaped away in boates thus in one Ship were 80. holy seruants of God consumed with fire Which most cruell tragedie and impious fact stroak the Church of God into most greuous sorowe and heauinesse But who so is delighted to vnderstand the most firce Barbarousnes and most outragious tragedies heinous murthers which haue bin coÌ„mitted against the holy faithfull of Christ let him read the. 7 booke of the Tripartite historye and the fourth of Socrates and Theodoretus where these thinges are setfoorth at large I omitte in this place to set out the persecution of Athanaricus King of the Gothes whome others call Athalaricus Hée persecuted the Christians about the yéere of Christe 373. whereof some he flewe some hée banished But because some reporte that they whiche suffred these thinges were Arrians therefore I thought it not conuenient to recken this among the persecutions of the holye Catholick Churche Howbeit after that the Vandales had possessed Affrica driuyng the Romans thence about the yéere of Christ 443. being then peace throughout all the empyre Genserick King of Vandales and Lord of Affrica being infected with the Arrian heresie as were Constantinus and Valens the Emperours intended to enforce the christians to the Arrian heresie whervpon there began a bloudy and butcherly slaughter For he shut vp the Churches of the faithful and spoiled the Ministers whereof many hée killed with hunger and to be short he left nothing vndone whatsoeuer before him Dioclecian and Maximian the most cruell tyrants had practized against the faithfull Whom notwithstanding hée could not enforce to reuoult for all their most greuous and cruell punishments After Genserick there succéeded him both in his kingdome and tyrrannie his sunne Honorius in the yéere of Christe 476. who persecuted also the Christians most cruelly for the profession of the trew faith The whole storie of this persecution is described by Victor bysshop of vtica which liued in those bloody times After Honoricus there succcded in the kingdome Gundamundus in the yéere of Christe 484. who likewise as his predicessours did persecuted the Christians The like afterward also did Trasimundus the yéere of Christe 503. by whom were at one time 220. bysshoppes banished into Sardinia but Hildericus sunne to Trasimundus recallinge them home again out of exile restored them to their churches in the yeere of Christe 523. This Hildericus was a good prince sound in the Christian religion but in the yéere of Christe 530. he was by Gilimer takeÌ„ by a trayn and cast into prison and reprochefully vsed Howbeit Gilimer enioyed the crowne not longe but was by Bellisarius as Procopius reporteth about the yéere of Christe 535. vanquished and stain with whom the kingdome of Vandales also toke his ende This persecution vnder the Vandales continued in Affrica about fouerscore yéeres Of the 19. Tragical acte or persecution which was the longest and most greeuous of all other vnder Machomet which the Sarracens and Turkes haue mantayned agaynst the Churche of Christe Chapter xi BY meanes of these persecutions which wée haue heatherto declared which are to bée accoumpted as certen Chastisement and corrections of God few in the Church were brought to any repentance or amendment but many became rather the worse for sundry heresies and schismes as namely of the Macedonians Nestorians Pelagians with diuerse other arose increasinge more and more the recitall whereof were now to tedious by occasion wherof gréeuous contentions troubles and disagréement fell out not only amongst the learned but also amongst the common people and the vnlearned sort giuinge occasion of great and outragious diuisions in religion ouer all the East Béesides in the west the bysshop of Rome wickedly aduaunced himself and his Church aboue al Churches and ministers of Churches throughout all Christianitie and that expresly against the holy doctrine of the Gospell and the writinges of Gregory the pope Wherfore while matters continued in this state God suffred his Churche to bee touched with most sharpe troubles and oppressed with greeuous persecutions For in the yéere of Christe 613. was first knowne and béecame famous in Arabia the wicked hypocrite and most craftie verlet Machomet whom some terme Muhammat the same from his youth vpward was a merchant but afterward hée boasted that he was a prophet sent from god There had ioyned themselues vnto him certen wicked and stubberne Iewes and also one Sergius a munke an apostata and an heretick â—i whose aduice and ayd he deuised a new lawe which hée called Alcoranus for this woord Alcoran signifieth a mingle-mangle of lawes In whiche hee erred directly from the scriptures of both testamentes wherin are set downe the true lawes prescribed by God béeside whom wée haue no néede of anye other booke of lawes howbeit Machomet hath set foorth a new and peculiar lawe to his Sarracens Turkes and all that shall hereafter béeléeue in him which law of his is in very déede a miserable feined deuise impure false and full of filthy fables that it was great meruell how wise men could giue credite to such absurde and doubtfull trifles Howbeit therin appeareth the dreadfull wrath of God against al such as ar not contented with the doctrine of Christ the holy scriptures for it followeth deseruedly that al the are not contented w the truth to beléeue it afterward they giue credit vnto lies ar shamefully deceued seduced In this his law Machomet the diuellish and false prophet hath instituted and diuised a new religion altogither repugnant to the faith of Christ He acknowledgeth the ther is one God maker of heauen and earth whom onlie we must adore and call vpon and that wée must not worship or honour any other Gods Idols or Images whiche the Sarracens and Turkes doo hate excéedingly But hée doth not acknowledge according to the effect of the holly
in the yéere of Christe MDXIX béeinge the tenth Prince and fourth Emperour of the Turkes The same tooke Bellogradum or Alba Graeca a passing stronge Citie and the key of all Hungary which was in the yéere of Christe MDXXI After this in the yéere of our Lord. 1523 hée béesiedged the I le of Rhodes and compelled it to yéeld Then afterwarde in the yéere of Christe 1526 â–ª hée discomfited and slew Ludouick kinge of Hungarie with all his armie Againe in the yéere of our lorde 1529. hée brought an army into Austria béesiedged vienna the head of the cuntrey which although hée obtayned not yet hée woundrouslye indamaged the Region with fier spoylinges murther and captiuity of many thousand Christians whom hée caryed thence Beesides this in the yéere of Christe 1537. hée ouercame the Christians againe in Hungarie and did them verie mutch harme After whiche in the yéere of our Lorde 1541. hée tooke Buda the Metropolitan Cittie of all Hungarie and also the whole countrey But bicause all these thinges are fressh in the memories of men whiche were done within fiftie yéeres I thought it sufficient only to touch them and repete them For it is not vnknowne what greate harme hée did and what autragies hée committed in Hungarie about the time that he dyed which was in the yeere of oure Lorde M. D. lxvi when he tooke Ligethum where either hee slew or caried awaye as prisoners most part of the Christians whiche in deede were verie manie And now last of all what the Christians haue to looke for at the handes of Selimus the .ii. sonne to Solimannus the xi Prince of the discent of Othomannus and the fift Emperour of the Turkes who bega to reigne in y yeere of Christ M. D. LXVI the experience it selfe hath taught in the yéere of our Lorde M. D. LXX in which he tooke the noble Kingdome of Cypres slaying manye thousand Christians whom he had tormented and then slaine or carying theÌ„ awaye into perpetuall and most cruell seruilitie I suppose that in this place manie will marueile at this rehersall of the Sarracenicall and Turkish persecutions which are not of opinioÌ„ themselues that they should be accompted among persecutions but rather amoÌ„g warres wherof the reason and nature is farre otherwise sions are not excused that were infected with errours Semblably in these Sarracenicall and Turkish warres I haue applied the name of y Christian churche like as I admonished in y béeginning of this booke vnto all those that are called Christians whom the Turks for y names sake do persecute by reason of an hatred which they beare to the christian faith although many do much want of y simplicitie and puritie of the Christian religion neither by any meanes therby are the errours of the Romish Churche excused The thinges which first incensed the Sarracens and Turkes to commit these furious cruell tyranycall Tragedies these warres persecutions was cheifly the Diuell himselfe who is excéedingely delyghted with sheadynge of mans blood secondly the hatred of the trew Christian faith and a gréedye desier to rule farre and wide couetousnes to heaâ—e vp ritches and to liue sumptushoppes theretelye also a zeale and Rome Pope Cache wicked and false which be now at thâ— met with other causes which her after shalbée declared And this mutch I thought bréefly to set downe concerninge the Sarracenical and Turkish persecutions And it is to bée wisshed that all those which are Christians and would so bée named woulde soundly surely acknowledge that this gréeuous tyrany of the Turkes is a very true persecution laid vpon vs from aboue to sée if haply men would bée brought vnto wisdome wherby to embrace ernestlye the pure doctrine of Christe studeinge more to lead a Christian life then hetherto they haue doone for surely vnlesse wée do soe wée must néedes looke for farre woorse But now in these Sarracenicall and Turkish persecutions to returne vnto that whiche wée haue often admonished béefore I aske this question if ther bée any man of so small or froward discretion that dareth avouche that the Machometan religion is true and the Christian false bycause y followers of machomet in euerie place haue â—â— among perâ—â— oppressinge the ChrismoÌ„g warres whermously railinge at nature is farre otherwise And who dareth deney that all these religions and Churches which Saynt Paule the Apostle conuerted to the faith of Christe are now ouerturned and destroyed by that filthie and horrible Machometan beast and that the most impious froward faith of Machomet yea rather that lothesome abhomination is there established And who is so presumptious and deuoyde of all religion that bicause God of his iust iudgement permitteth the Turkes to commit so manie thynges which hée coulde easely prohibite will therefore dispute with God and demaunde of him wherfore hée suffreth so mutch bloud to bée shedde so many thousande Christians to bée slayne How hee can abyde so manie vnspeakable calamities miseries and afflictions of the godly and that so many hundred yéeres And why rather hee distroyeth not with Thundre and lightdiffeâ—â— from Heauen the impure and Churche of â—â—ire of the Turkes or caâ—shoppes thereoâ— â–ª to gape and swallow Rome Pope Carâ— abhomination But which be now at this â—e and great causes why God who is true holy and righteous suffereth and permitteth all these thinges Furthermore long sithens hée foretolde by Daniell the Prophete and Christe himselfe prophiseth in the Gospell that the last persecution before the later Iudgmente shoulde bée so sharpe and great that there was neuer the like vpon the earth ether heard or sene And I am of opinion that the final iudgment and the redemption of all the faithfull glorious clarification and blessed rewarding is not far of from vs Lorde Iesus Christe take pittie vpon thine aflicted Church and vouchsaue to comforte and helpe it in this latter cruell and moste rare kinde of persecution Of the. 20. and last Tragical Act or persecution which the Bishops of Rome haue moued and practized against the Chur 〈…〉 of Christ certen hundred 〈…〉 Chapter 〈…〉 THe Papistical pe 〈…〉 next to the 〈…〉 much the more daungerous how much the lesse it was to bée looked for and so much the more cruell because it is practized by those who of all other oughte moste to bée séekers of peace and quietnes and sutch as would bée accoumpted most soundest in relygion and most hollyest of all other in the Church as vnto whom Christe hath giuen all power in the Church that in matters of faith they may rule all thinges accordinge to their pleasure and to bée the head and vniuersall pastours ouer the Catholick church of Christe For all men knowe what titles the Pope and all his spirituall persons do boaste of But in the béeginninge of this booke wée haue declared that there bée sundrie vnderstandynges and distinctions not onely of faith and Religion but of the Church also ouer which the
of Rome But vndoubtedlye the Lorde will come shortlye to iudge both the quick and the dead But to the end that this matter may the better bée vnderstoode and for the more exact knowledge therof it cannot bée denied that many errours and abuses not now first but sumwhat béefore haue crept in and haue bin receaued into the Church so that through continuance of time they haue growen into custome Which thinges with manie other moe in processe of time are confirmed and cheifly by the Popes forced vpon men and by subtile practises but specially by the swoorde inlarged and preserued in so mutch that many perceauynge the errour yet durst not openly withstande it for they saw well that they might not so do without daunger of their owne bloud But cheifly in these later times this custome hath preueyled which I wil now recite In the dayes of the emperours Lotharius and Conrade the .iij. or as other some say of Fridericke about the yéere of Christe 1130. Gratianus Bononiensis a Munke of the order of Benedictus gathered together the sentences of the counsels fathers and popes touching sundry matters apperteinyng to religion the Church and setfoorth that work abroad which is commonly called Decretum or Decree After Gratianus certein popes as Gregory the. 9. Bonifacius the 8 Clemens the. 5. Iohn the. 22. following the example of Gratianus haue gathered also with y help of certein munks and Doctours they patched together seÌ„tences and iudgements of Popes concernyng rites and institutions and businesses apperteinyng to Churches and ecclesiasticall orders The same are called Decretales and Extrauagantes and were added vnto Gratianus Decretum and all of them togither do make the body of the Canon law This law béegan to bée taught in schooles which all other followed in doing the like in their ecclesiasticall iudgmentes and administration of the Church â—y which menes Schooles and vniuersities whiche are called the Schooles of lawes Canons came vnder the Popes iurisdiction wherein the scholars Maisters and Doctours muste take an othe to bée obedient vnto the Pope and the 〈◊〉 of Rome or vnto sutch as are obedient vnto him or against his lawes and institutions â–ª Yea this matter hath proceded so farre that the emperours also as well as all other bysshops must take an othe vnto the Pope The fourm of which Othe is extant in the Decrées Decretals And by this meanes the Pope hath made subiect bound béeholding vnto him al sortes and orders of the Church Héereunto oppertaineth that at the same time with Gratianus not longe after accordinge to the supputation of other about the yéere of our Lorde 1172. Peter Lumbard whom they call maister of the sentences wroat and setforth 4. bookes of the Christian faith and doctrine which were receaued into the Schooles as was the body of the lawe so that like as Gratianus is aucthour of the Canonistes doctours of the Pontifical lawe so Peter Lumbard is aucthour of the scholasticall diuinitie For the Doctours of those times and cheiflye mendicant friers read Lumbardes sentences openly in schools and haue written vpon the same as Albertus Thomas Bonauenture Scotus and many other And according vnto these sentences they ordred the doctrin of faith and all other affaires of the Church At which time the Christian doctrine was wonderfully torne cut into sundrie questions wherof they coÌ„monly disputed and argued in the scholes and holy sermons or rather skoulded wherby the Christian doctrine béecame altogither vnlike vnto th'auntient Apostolike singlenes integritie Althings were referred and subiected to the sea of Rome and y pope vnto whom al the Canonistes diuines were bound by an othe And this is the conspiracie of the clargie which they cal vaunt to be the consent of al the church in faith doctrine Howbeit in veri déed it is none other but this conspiracy which we haue héere recited Wherfore out of this fountaine and welspryng flowed y greuous papisticall persecution against the Christian Church For whosoeuer misliked with the Popes Monarchie and conspiracy of the clergy which they terme consent and agréement of the church and did not speake althinges according to the intent of the Canonistes and Theologistes vpon those they ran in flockes and through the Popes helpe and asistance of the seculer arme they proclamed them euerywhere hereticks persecuted and oppressed them Touchyng which purpose in the Decretals there is extant a decrée of Pope Lucius the third the effect whereof is this Whosoeuer thinke otherwise of the Sacramentes then the holy Church of Rome thinketh and lykewise all whom the Pope shall condemne let them be accoumpted for heretickes and excomunicate persons Ther is added also an explication how the ciuill Magistrate shall procéede against sutch which if hée wyll not doe how they shall procéede against the disobedient Maiestrate The thirde booke the seuenth Title of Heretickes Chapter Ad abolendum To abolish c. Hereunto accorded the counsell which as wée haue before admonished the Popes had vnder their owne power for by occasion of them they haue alwayes kept their consent and agréement and all that euer resisted the same those haue they oppressed put to flighte or quight rooted out For whatsoeuer were decréed in the counselles the same must be brought to effect immediatly put in execution whereunto all Maiestrats wer bound and as many as were able to beare armour In the yéere of our Lorde 1215. Pope Innocentius the third held a great counsell in Lateran at Rome the manner and forme of the indiction Abbas Vrspurgensis hath expressed in his Cronacles whiche comprehendeth verye many thinges the cheife summe wherof bée these First of making warre vpon the Sarracens and recouering Ierusalem and the holye Sepulcher The second of rooting out heresies The third of mendinge of manners and refourming the Church The same Chapters were propounded almost in al counsels which haue bin holden from that time hitherto They all intreate of thrée poyntes Of repressinge the force of the Turkes of rooting out of heresies and of refourming the Church But although they haue celebrated many Counsels within the precinct of 300. yéeres and more yet haue they in none of them refourmed that was amisse wherby it might deserue the name of a reformation For errours and superstitions with sundrye abuses moe are not taken away but more increased mutchlesse haue they reformed anye whit in the head as they speake or members of the Church And although the whole world during the space of certen hundred yéeres haue woorthely accused the abuses and most corrupt state of the ecclesiasticall order with other enormities of the Church which well deserue to be taken away and mended Notwithstandinge they haue not touched them with their little finger and therfore oftentimes arise some greater discordes and they fall farther of from the Christian discipline Yea all such as séeke for and require to haue some
true reformation reprehending the disorders and abuses and specially y popes vnlawfull aucthorytie the filthye and lecherous lyfe of the Clargye which all men are constrained to confesse to bée very culpable the same men neuerthelesse are condempned for scismatickes and Hereticks ar sharply persecuted For vnto them all are Heretickes whosoeuer do not submit themselues to the Sea of Rome and the Pope in all thinges and beléeue in althinges which that Sea beléeueth and commandeth to bée beléeued accordyng to the aboue named conspiracie and so Lucius the pope defineth Heretickes in his Decretall wherof we haue made mention before in the Chapter Ad aboliendum to abolyshe Wherefore with them it is not sufficient that a godlye man confesse all the articles of the antient true vndoubted and Apostolick faith saying that hée beléeueth in one God the father c. that hée also alowe and confesse the foure orders of our beléefe set foorth by the auntient counselles and S. Athanasius and whatsoeuer are taught and confirmed out of the holy scriptures of both Testaments moreouer doo condemne y heresies which were conuicted condemned in y antient counsels In ould time this kinde of confession was sufficient enough for christiās in y auntient church but amongst these men all these things aveile nothinge neither suffice to the confession of the faith but a man muste néedes confesse and beleue in the church of Rome as it is now vnder the Pope and follow the consent thereof or else he shall léese honour goodes bodie lyfe and all And therefore during the time of the Counsels before and after them haue bin many bateiles murthers and foule wastings committed nether were these things done onely against the Sarracens and vnfaithfull men but with mutche more extreamitie and crueltie against Christians which would bée indéed and named Christians and not papists and which disallowed and also be wayled the pride and tyrany of the Pope his great and manifest abuses and deprauations of holy thinges Wherefore in the ould time it grewe into a prouerbe Euery counsell breedeth warre which is to be vnderstoode of Papisticall counsels and found indéed to be true by proofe For that I may passe ouer in this place warres and moste bloody persecutions of faithfull men but enemies to the Sea of Rome whiche were waged and committed in the reigne of Pope Innocentius the thirde and certen other Popes next ensuing let vs onli examin those thinges which are not farre past the memory of men that are aliue The counsel of Constance I pray you what warres persecutions burninges wastyngs and murthers purchased it vnto Boheme Germanie He that knoweth not this let him learne it at least wise out of Pope Pius the seconde who when he was called as yet Aeneas Syluius wroat these thinges very dilligently in his storye of Boheme The troubles seditions slaughters which the counsel of Basile brought forth are in part recited by Platina in the life of Eugenius the fourth But béesids this we haue a more fresh and certeine example of the Tridentine Counsel which beeing first appoynted at Mantua and afterwarde at Vincentia was at the last by Paule the thirde in the yeare of our Lord. 1542 called at Trident nigh Athesis wholy in manner and fourme as we haue béefore recited whiche was conluded and ended by Pope Pius the fourth in the yéere of our Lorde 1563. Howbeit what thinges were doone certen yéeres before this counsel and also since against holie and faithfull men which only beleeued in the Gospell but not in traditions of Popes nor in the sea of Rome by Leo. x. Clemēt 7. Paul. 3. and ▪ 4. Iulius the 3. Pius the 4. and. 5. and by this present Pope Gregorye the. 13. the space of 53. yéeres I néede not repeat For they are knowen vnto God and al the world and as it were writen in heauen vnto which place the blood of all innocents together with the blood of Abel crieth from the earth vnto God for vengeance Many gréeuous longe and bloodye warres for sundry causes were waged in those yéeres but at the same time no lesse gréeuous and bloody persecutions wer committed against the faithfull for faith and religions sake Faithfull and Godly men were reprochefully and iniuriously dealt withal apprehended thrown out of dores driuen into exile spoyled of their goods beheaded hanged on gallowes burned vexed with al kindes of tormentes and punishment And by this meanes were oppressed tormented slayne hundred thousands of faithfull men and professours of the Gospell both in the higher and lower Germanie in Scotlād England Spaine which found out the new practize of the inquisition in Italie and other regions But cheiflye what hath bin doone in France ther is no man at this day but knoweth And there are extant whole bookes written of the gréeuous and long Papisticall persecution and the thinge doone is yet fresh in memory wherfore it is not néedefull that I should specially declare it againe at large since yet at this present they make no end of their crueltie and sheding of blood Since therfore thei which would séeme to be Fathers and pastours of the church do make themselues executioners of this last papisticall persecution wée may not only compare it w the olde persecutions but in respect of the greatnes prefer it aboue it Moreouer as in auntient times the ould persecutors of the church were egged forwarde to rigour through an vnsatiable desire to rule to th' intent they might kéepe and increase their dignitie pleasures ritches and superstition so likewise is the Papisticall persecution committed for the same cause But like as the Christian faith in the ould time was no whit the lesse estéemed of for the persecutions so at this present the Euangelicall doctrine is nothinge the woorse nor viler bicause the Papists do persecute the professours of the Gospell and manie times ouercome them There are sundrie causes why God suffreth this to bée doone neither ought any man to accuse or call the iudgment of God into question And this mutch I had to saye of the persecutiōs which the Church of Christ hath suffred from the birth of our Sauiour vnto our time comprehendinge breefely the whole summe wherby the matter beeing otherwise verie large might seeme ouerlonge and tedious to the reader Howbeit much more might and oughte to haue bin written of thys manifold and ample argument Of the Sundry causes why God suffreth the Christian Church to be torne with Tyrantes and afflicted with persecutions Chapter xvii HEerafter I intende to declare the causes and effectes of the aboue recited persecutions of y christian church which doo worke in the faithfull And although I haue already almost in euery one shewed them notwithstandyng ther remaine some more speciall which are of vs with more diligence to bée considered Persecutions are sent to the Churche by the iust iudgment of god as the scripture plainely witnesseth were sent vnto Iob the