the Count de Lodron theyr Captaine After by the space of certaine moneths hee remained peaceable in his gouernment of the lowe Countries which he forraged at his pleasure heaping vp a maruellous bootie to himselfe The third ciuill warre tooke an end in France and the Edict of pacification was published in the Parliament of Paris the 11. day of August Iohn Brencius a Minister in the Duchie of Witemberge of the age of 69. yeares and who had begun to preach write after the first Doctors of our time died the 11. day of September Certaine yeares before his death he had published by diuers Imprinted bookes a new opinion to maintaine the carnall presence of Iesus Christ in his holy Supper The summe of this opinion willing to attribute to the flesh of Iesus Christ a presence in all places as well as to his diuine nature was that the humane and diuine nature being inseperably vnited in one alone person the humane is in each place as well as the diuine But in the explication of this mysterie he maintained that the personall vnion of these two natures in Iesus Christ doo onely signifie that they are together not otherwise in Iesus Christ then in S. Peter and other seruants of God according to the essence But as to the efficacie that all the properties of the diuine nature are really and indeed dispersed and communicated to the humane nature so that thereby hauing egall maiestie and power with the diuine the said diuine nature worketh and doth nothing without it Although the authoritie of this person serued to the increase of this dangerous errour yet there wanted not for many learned men which opposed themselues betimes against this errour and prooued euen to Brencius himselfe without that either he or any of his Disciples could answer pertinently therevnto that if such an opinion of the vbiquitie of the flesh of Iesus Christ and of the personall vnion of the two natures according to the definition of Brencius were true the two natures of Iesus Christ should be seperated euen according to the essence as well in Iesus Christ as in S. Peter and other the faithfull and Christ should be God after the flesh Behold a blasphemie which establisheth the heresie of Nestorius seperating the two natures of Christ and which on the other side confoundeth the properties of those two natures as did the heretike Eutiches Notwithstanding that they discouered to Brencius the absurdities and blasphemies rising vpon his opinion yet left not he to maintaine it hauing a Disciple called Iames Andreas who with certaine other that after rose vp added errors vnto errors And which is worse Brencius in the end of his life in the place to humble himselfe before God for so molesting the Churches in the making of his testament thundred against the Churches which approoued not his vbiquitie being so farre audacious euen he alone who could not vnto the purpose reply to the arguments of certaine Doctors which liuely refuted him as to condemne all the Churches of France England Scotland Suetia and others This testament was maintained by his Disciples and from that time till this instant hath caused great euils and kindled a fire which cannot be extinguished if God set not too his hand in some especiall maner The last day of October East and West Friseland Holland Zeland Brabant and other places thereabouts were sore tormented and beaten with a straunge tempest of windes and two dayes after the Sea swelled and hauing broken and ouerthrowne her dikes and leuies drowned many Countries and infinite people and cattaile with such an astonishment of all that it was feared all the lowe Countries would haue bene swallowed vp There happened as much in the Balthike sea especially at Hambourge There was also great ouerflowings of waters in France about the end of this yeare About this time the Turke made quicke warre vpon the Venetians in the I le of Cyprus with a puissant Army which by assault tooke Nicosia one of the greatest Townes thereof wherein there was made a cruell and bloudie butcherie of the besieged in the moneth of September The fourteenth day of Nouember Phillip King of Spaine espowsed his Nieco Mario the daughter of the Emperor Maximilian The 17. of Nouember a great Earthquake hapned at Venice Ferrara and other places of Italy whervpon followed maruellous tuines and desolations especially at Ferrara The 26. and others following Charles King of Fraunce espowsed at Mezieres Elizabeth the daughter of the Emperor Maximilian The 16. of December the Riuer of Rhene so ouerflowed that in 80. yeares had not beene seene the like wherevpon many discourses published remembring the miseries passed and the wonders happening teach vs euery one to feare and preuent the euils to come The 11. of the same moneth the Emperor assembled the estates at Spire to prouide for the affaires of Almaine and to giue audience vnto straunge Embassadors The Kings of Denmarke and Snede made peace together the 13. of the same moneth hauing bene at warre together 10. yeares or there abouts The 20. of that moneth the Embassadors of the Protestant Princes made a long oration to the King of France beeing then at Villers to exhort him aboue all things to keepe his Edict of pacification which he promised to doo The French Churches lifted vp their heads after many stormes Ieachim Elector of Brandebourge died the second day of Ianuary and 11. dayes after deceased also his brother Iohn Marquesse of Brandebourge The 13. day of March Iohn Vaiuoda of Transiluania suffering himselfe to be gouerned by a pernitious heretike called Blandrata one that counterfeited himself a Phisitian was slaine by the drugges of the said Blandrata and died without heires by meanes whereof Stephen Bathory was chosen Vaiuoda in his roome The 28. day of May began a disputation betwixt Peter Datherius Minister of the Gospell and 15. Preachers Anabaptists in the presence of Frederick Elector Palatin who had giuen them safe conduct The Articles in the disputation to the number of 13. touched that which is in chiefe debate at this day betwixt them and the reformed Churches namely of the authoritie of Canonicke bookes of the old and new Testament of the vnitie of the diuine essence and of the destination of the three persons subsisting therein of the one flesh and humane nature of Iesus Christ borne of the Virgin Mary of the Israelitike and Christian Church of originall sinne of little children of iustification of the resurrection of the flesh of excommunication and diuorce of the proprietie and possession of goods of the Magistrate and of criminall iustice of an oath of the Baptisme of litle children and of the communion of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ in the Supper This disputation was set downe in writing and continued from the 28. of May vntil the 19. of Iune without any fruite because of the obstinacie of the Anabaptists
containe also errors contrary to the doctrine of him As the adoration of the Sacrament the Inuocation of Saints and chiefly of the Virgin Marie The Emperour Constantine hauing ouercome all these tyrants namely Maxentius Maximian and Licinius the Lord gaue rest to his Church which was almost ruinated and troden vnder feete and gaue a gentle spirit to Constantine to repaire by a Monarchy the great dissipation and discord which the misgouernment of many had brought Constantine was long ere hee could vnwrap himselfe out of his auncient and Ethnicke superstitions his wife Fausta maintaining him therein but after hee sawe himselfe peaceable in his Empire there was courage giuen vnto him to applye his power vnto the matters of the Church True it is as for Baptisme that hee deferred it a long time because hee alwaies determined to goe against the Persians and vpon deuotion without knowledge to be baptized in Iordain Eusebius reciteth it in his life yet after all hee honoured it and authorized it by Edicts and Lawes which hee caused to be published Hee had a burning heart to the Faith and was maruellous carefull to helpe the necessities of the Church hee was of nature soft and benigne and delighted in all good workes and not onely reuoked the tyrannicke and cruel lawes that were before made against Christians but gaue to Churches great priuiledges It was not inough for him to account Ministers equall to himselfe but hee honoured and preferred them before him as representing the diuine Maiestie And by such meanes hee was both loued honoured and cherished not as an Emperour but as a Father Euseb Siluester a Romane was constituted Bishop of Rome after Melchiades and gouerned the Church a long time Being ordeined Bishop he exercised not onely the office of a Pastor in teaching but also in reprehending the vices of the Cleargie There are attributed vnto him certain miracles by which he drew many to the Christian faith When Maxentius raigned at Rome to shunne his crueltie Siluester retired out of Rome and remained a certain time at the Mount Soracte and returned vnder Constantine after the death of the said Tyrant Constantine established many lawes First that Christ should be worshipped of all as the true God Item that whosoeuer should doo iniurie to any Christian the halfe of his goods should be confiscated Hee permitted all such as were vnder his Empire not onely to be Christians but also to found and build Temples The word Martir was vsed in the time of Constantine then when in remembrance of the Martirs men builded Temples and about the thirtieth yeare of Constantine a Temple called Martirium Magnum was builded in Ierusalem in the place called Cranium See Sozom Ich. 2. Cap. 26. Constantine caused to bee made a Tabernacle in forme of a Temple which he commaunded to be carried when he went to the warres wherein he held the assemblies of the Christians Sozom. Lib. 1. Chap. 8. Touching the Donation attributed vnto him that is to say that he gaue Rome Italie and other Westerne Prouinces to Siluester as the Romane Bishops pretend it is a matter inuented or at least doubtfull and euen the Popes owne decrees are against it The two last Chapters make no mention of other Prouinces but onely of the Towne of Rome no nor in the auncient volumes of decrees is there any mention nor any thing found in any Author of that time as Antonine saith in his Chronicles See Naucler Of this matter see Laurencius Valla and Iohn le Maire in his Treatise of the difference of Schismes and Councells of the Church Constantine determined to build a Towne of his name and elected Bizantium for it which he compassed with ditches and the Towne builded in the middest he called Constantinople of his name there establishing the Emperial seat of his Empire Bizanzium was an auncient Towne which a litle before was destroyed by Gallien and Pertinax but Constantine restored it and adorned it with rich ornaments brought from all the parts of the world in so much the Hierome writeth that Constantine stripped naked as it were all the Townes of the world to embellish this new Rome For he transported from the Castle which was at Ilion the chiefe Towne of Troy the Palladium and from Troas the Image of Apollo which was of Brasse and of a maruellous greatnesse From Rome a piller of Porphire called Coclis which he enuironed with diuers mettalls and placed it in the market place paued with stones Before wee come to the successors of Siluester wee will briefly touch the estate of the Church at that time And first Of the Ecclesiasticall degrees There were of olde three Ecclesiasticall degrees namely the Bishop the Priest and the Deacon with the Ministers and company of the faithfull Ambrose in his booke of the Sacerdotall dignitie Hierome to Nepotian saith that Bishops and Priests were all one sauing that the Bishop was a name of dignitie and Priest was a name of age but in respect of schismes and necessities happening in the Church there was made a distinction Ambrose in the aforesaid booke witnesseth that the ordination is alike for both are Priests but the Bishop is the chiefe Priest Other names as Subdeacons Acolites and Exorcists came after The name of Cleargie was receiued in this time to signifie all Ecclesiasticall offices and dignities Euseb Lib. 10. Chap. 2. Hierome to Nepotian yeeldeth this reason of the name Cleros saith he in Greeke signifieth Lot in Latine therefore are Clarkes named because they are of the lot and of the inheritance of the Lord or for that the Lord is their Lot that is to say their part and heritage Afterward men called Clarkes such as euery Church nourished at the owne charge to serue after for the ministerie of the Church Metropolitanes were so called by reason of the principall and chiefe Townes whereof they were Bishops and so Zozomen Lib. 3. Cap. 16. He calleth Basile Metropolitane of Cappadocea And the same in Lib. 2. Chap. 8. saith the like of an Archbishops name Patriarke was named the Bishop of all the Prouince Socrates Lib. 5. Chap. 8. The office of a Bishop was to teach the people as also the Priests But in the Church of Alexandria after the poyson of Arrius the Bishop alone had that charge Socrates lib. 5. chap. 22. The ordination of Ministers appertained to the Bishop which is all the right of preheminence that they had aboue Priests as S. Ierome saith to Euagrius Vicars of Bishops are found in the Canons of the Councell of Ancyra Neocesaria and Antioch Chorepiscopi and Basile vseth that name in the Epistle fiftie and foure Amongst the generall Epistles there is one found vnder the name of Damasus to Prosper wherein Damasus beeing asked answereth that Vicars called Chorepiscopi were no more but Priests and that they could not consecrate Priests Deacons Subdeacons nor Virgines nor Aultars neither dedicate
one seditious guiltie of treason was giuen in charge to 10. souldiers or rather tormenters to be led to Rome and be put to Lions wherof Ignacius himselfe saith I haue had to fight with beasts from Siria to Rome by sea by land night and day amongst 10. Leopards c. Ireneus in his fift booke speaking of Ignacius beeing condemned to beasts he said saith he I am the wheat of Iesus Christ and shal be grinded with the teeth of beasts to the end I may be made the bread of God Alexander the 7. Bishop of Rome was a Romane and gouerned 10. yeares namely from the 12. yeare of Traian til the third of Adrian Many things are spoken of the integritie of his life wherby many of the Romane Senators were drawne to the Christian faith seeing in him vertues truly Episcopall yet it is attributed vnto him that he should first bring in new ceremonies of the Church as the holy water so keepe in houses and Churches against the diuell and for remission of sinnes Also to mingle wine and water together at the Lords supper Also the Asperges vpon the people Also that Bread should be without Leauen and not commō bread as before They make him the first which by decree excommunicated them who resisted Apostolicke messengers He ordeined that no Clarke should be accused and drawne before a secular Iudge he is said to be the first which added to the Lords supper Caena pridie quà m pateretur made that ouerture to his successors to adde thervnto which haue not since ceased vntill the whole Supper of the Lord was corrupted and chaunged Also he ordeined to celebrate but once a day Note heere generally for the Bishops which were first at Rome that many Epistles haue bene attributed vnto them which mention greater number of Ceremonies then there is in other Churches and such as were vnknowne to them which writ in that time which made them then suspected For the Popes which came after haue made those first Bishops their buckler for authors of their lyes and dreames Alexander receiued the Crowne of Martirdome vnder the Emperour Adrian by the commaund of his Gouernour Aurelian who demaunded of Alexander why hee held his peace when the fire was lightned about him to burne him He answered that he was speaking to God signifying that he prayed and therefore it was not lawfull for him to speake vnto men Honorius and Nauclerus Dion rehearseth of the Emperour Traian that before he died his members were retracted and al his body senslesse His sences also were dulled and after that he became to be full of the dropsie and greatly swelled He finally died in Selinion a Towne of Cicile Some say his body was brought to Rome and deified by the Senate after his death after the maner of the Romanes Although this Prince had great politicke vertues yet is he to be placed in the third ranke of the cruel enemies and persecutors of the Church of God Adrian the 16. Emperour raigned 22. yeares gentle and cunning in all knowledges He persecuted the Christians But when he knew the truth of their life he caused the persecution to cease Quadratus Bishop of Athens the Apostles Disciple presented an Apologeticke booke to the said Adrian in defence of the Christian Faith Aristides a Philosopher of Athens a faithfull man made a like Booke wherevpon Adrian sent to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia that he should no more persecute the Christians But if they did any thing against lawes he would that he should therein deale according to the qualitie of the crime And if any slaunderoufly accused them he commaunded such should be chastised for their malice Nicomedia and Nice were ruinated by an Earthquake and afterward restored by the liberalitie of Adrian Euseb Chro. All euils which came to men were laide vpon the Christians saying they came all for their cause whether they were Earthquakes warre or other calamities Sixtus or Xistus a Romane 8. Bishop of Rome ruled about 10. yeares He decreed that none should touch the consecrated ornaments Vessels Challices c. vnlesse they were Church-men He added to the Communion of the Eucharist Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth He graunted this priuiledge to Clarkes that they might appeale from their Bishop to the Apostolicke Sea In his Decretalls he is called Arch-bishop of the Romane Church Item vniuersall Bishop of the Apostolicke Church About this time those words Arch-bishop Metropolitane and Clergie beganne to be vsed in Epistles He appointed certaine punishments for Priests or Ministers that were negligent in baptizing Children before their deaths At this time the Supper of the Lord was called Eucharist The words Sacrifice or Masse were not yet brought in And although Ireneus sometimes called the Eucharist Oblation hee declares his meaning therein in his 4. Booke and 34. Chapter We make vnto him an Oblation saith he not as to him which stands in need thereof but as giuing him thankes for the good he hath done vnto vs. And againe he willes also that we giue offerings at the Aultar and often and without ceasing But the Aultar is in heauen saith he and thither must we addresse our prayers and Oblations It may well be that then this word Oblation was in common vse because the custome then was to offer Loaues of bread in great abundance for the vse of the Supper wherewith the Ministers liued and the poore were nourished The Iewes surprised with a new rage beganne againe to take armes against the Romanes Dion saith the occasion thereof was for that Adrian had builded there a Temple to Iupiter and placed there Idols of the Gentiles The Iewes chose for their Captaine Barrochabas who named himselfe the sonne of the Starre This man exercised great crueltie against Christians because they woulde not ioyne with the Iewes But Adrian repressed those seditious people and famished them and tooke away their waters and finally discomfited them nigh to Bethera a little Towne by Ierusalem and in one onely battaile hee slew fiftie eight thousand men After Nicephorus Ancelme speaketh of fiftie thousand Iewes slaine fiftie holdes taken and nine hundred eightie fiue Villages destroyed as well by famine as by fire and bloud and all the rest of the Iewes miserably driuen from Ierusalem into far Countries and sold ouer all the world The Emperour Adrian would not that the Citie of Ierusalem should any more retaine his auncient name but hauing againe made it he called it by his owne name Aelia Capitolina Honorius and Eusebius say that hee made Edicts be published whereby it was not lawfull for the Iewes no not so much as to regard a farre off their Country of Iudea The first so terrible a destruction might haue sufficiently taught them that the kingdome was taken from them as the Prophets had foretold But God would that a second time they should feele a punishment almost as horrible
vailable 8. q. 3. c. Salus in omnibus Galen the Phisitian flourished at this time Valentine the hereticke a Platonician denied the resurrection of the flesh Hee affirmed that Christ tooke no humane flesh off the Virgines wombe but that hee passed through it as through a conduit Cerdon the Stoike said at Rome that the holy Ghost descended not vpon the Apostles but vpon himselfe Note here the saying of Tertullian namely that the Philosophers are Patriarkes of heretickes Martian the Stoike a follower of Menander made two contrary principles This Pope seeing hee named himselfe so was a learned man and made a booke intituled De Trinitate vnitate Dei. Pius first of that name 11. Pope of Rome an Italian of Aquilia ruled at Rome a 11. yeares Some say hee ordeined that Easter should be celebrated vpon the Sunday by the perswasion of Hermes who said it had bene reuealed vnto him by an Angell in likenes of a shepheard And this ordinance was after confirmed by many Pope That hee decreed punishments for Ecclesiasticall persons which administred the Sacraments of the body and bloud of Christ negligently That is to say that he that by imprudency negligently let fal vpō the earth any of the blood of Christ so speakes he should do penance 40. dayes If it fell vpon the Aultar 3. dayes If vpon the Chalice cloth 4. dayes If on any other cloth 9. dayes And that the said bloud so falne should be licked scraped or washed and after all burnt and kept for the Sacristeres By litle and litle then the Romane seate beganne to forge ordinances Also that Virgins or Nunnes should not take vpon them the vaile before the age of 25. yeares Item that if any Ecclesiasticall person did sweare or blaspheme he should be deposed and euery Laie person excommunicated Anicetus 12. Pope a Sirian ruled 10. or a 11. yeares wise and of good life Some attribute vnto him that hee ordained the Crowne for Priests He was martyred vnder Marcus Aurelius In his time Egesippus an Hebrew came to Rome dwelt there vntill Eleutherius Iustinus a Christian Phylosopher writ a booke in defence of Faith and Religion to the Emperour Antonius Pius who also was much enclined to maintaine it He writ against Martian Policarpus Bishop of Smyrna in Ionia which is in Asia the lesse aboue Ephesus came to great age Ireneus saith that he was ordeined Bishop by the Apostles and it is likely that he began his ministery the 2. or 3. of Traian S. Ierome in his Catalogue saith he was placed there by S. Iohn the Euangelist who dyed the yeare 68. after the passion of Iesus Christ as most say Ireneus reciteth of him that one day as Marcian encountred him and said vnto him Take knowledge with vs. Policarp answered him I know thee for the first sonne of Satan And Ireneus saith further There are some haue heard him say that Iohn the Disciple of Iesus went into Bathes to wash himselfe and seeing Cerinthus the hereticke there he went out and washing himselfe saying Let vs flie from hence least this house fall vpon vs where Cerinthus enemy of the truth washeth Note how the Disciples of the Apostles had this rule not to communicate with them which falsifie the truth of the Gospell Whilest Policarpus was at Rome he withdrew many from their heresies Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Verus the brother of Antonius Pius obtained the Empire 18. yeares Lucius Verus his sonne in lawe gaue himselfe to dice and to haunt the Stewes Therfore was he sent into Siria by Marcus Aurelius and at last as some say poisoned After some he dyed of an Apoplexe So Marcus Aurelius Antoninus raigned alone The fourth persecution after Nero was stirred against the Christians by Marcus Aurelius And as Eusebius saith many euils happened in Italie great pestilence warre earthquakes Invndations of waters and a multitude of Grashoppers In the meane while by the persecutions as it were continuall the Christians affaires encreased from day to day by the doctrine of the Apostles Disciples Wherof yet many then did liue that the Christian Religion tooke strong roote being thus bedeawed with the bloud of Martyrs We must not here forget the sentence of Iustine spoken in a colloquie with Trypheus Hee saith thus Men may each day perceiue that we which beleeue in Christ cannot be astonished nor turned backe Let them cut off our heads Let them crucifie vs Let them expose vs to beasts to fires or other torments and so much more as men torment vs so much more do the number of Christians encrease Euen as when a Vine is cut it is but to make it more fertile So the Vine which God hath planted and the Sauiour Iesus that is his people cannot but multiply by torments c. Melito Bishop of Sardis writ to the Emperour for the Faith and Christian Religion Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis was at this time Theophilus Bishoppe of Antioche writ against Martian Denis Bishop of Corinthe Iustus Bishoppe of Vienne a Martyre for the Faith Attalus Blandina Photin Bishop of Lions a Martyr also for the Faith Persecution in Asia The end of the life of Policarpus was at this time Marcus Antonius Verus and the chiefe Gouernours of the Empire caused such a persecution that it came euen to the Christians which dwelt in the Towne of Smyrna whereof Policarpus was Bishoppe and had beene a long time and was there burnt hauing serued the Church of God about three score and tenne yeares which was the seuenth of this Emperour Some say hee was of the age of foure score and sixe yeares The Prayer of Policarpus before his death is in the Eccleciast History Booke 4. His bones taken out of the fire were laide in a Sepulchre Pionius Martyre Soter an Italian 13. Pope helde the seate about tenne yeares He endured many aduersities and in the ende was Martyred He ordained that none should celebrate without two men present That Nunnes should carry Vailes on their heads That they might not touch sacred Ornaments as Chalices Corporalles and that they should not Incense in the Temple nor about Aultars In his second Decretall he calleth himselfe Pope Hee instituted that each Priest doing his Office should haue with him an other Priest If there chaunced some suddaine necessitie to happen Hee saide that an oath made imprudenly which redounded to an euill ende ought not to be kept For it were better saith he to periure himselfe then for keeping his oath to fall into a greater crime At this time Peregrine a Philosopher did publickely at Pise cast himselfe into the fire vpon vaine-glorie At this time beganne the Cataphryges heretikes by Montanus with Priscilla and Maximilla They vsed in their Sacrifices a Childes blood which they mingled with Flowre or with Breade If the Childe whose blood was drawne out dyed they held him for a Martyr If
witnesseth Sabellicus Enne 7. lib. 8. Arithimus Bishop of Nichomedia after he had made a confession of his Faith hee was beheaded with a great troupe of Martyrs Serena Dioclesians wife endured constantly martyrdome This persecution was so cruell that none were spared Hermanus Gigas In Europe at Rome aboue all places was there greatest number of Martyrs The Prouost Rictiouarus in Gaul made a great massacre especially at Cullaine at Treuers and towards Moselle Beda writeth that this persecution came euen into England and then that Saint Alban a man very renowned receiued the crowne of Martyrdome From this time they beganne to finde out diuers kindes of torments but how much the more horrible they were so much more exquisite appeared the constancy of Martyrs Eusebius saith he beheld the persecution made at Thebaida and saith that the glaues axes and swordes of Tormentors were blunted and turned againe with so great slaughter and were altogether tyred when the Christians with ioy of hart singing Psalmes presented them selues to death Sulpitius in the holy history li. 2. saith that Christians then more ardently desired martyrdome then the ambition of the Cleargie afterward demaunded Bishopprickes Beda de temptat and Orosius lib. 7. cap. 25. Dioclesian crooked with age after he had assaied all cruelties that could be deuised to extirpate the Christians willingly dismissed himselfe of the charge of the Empire and went to Nichomedia and being tossed with rage and fury led a priuate life Maximian his companion who obeyed him as the lesser the greater deposed himself at the same time in the Towne of Milaine Dioclesian at Solone passed his time as a Gardener This change was made after they had raigned together the space of twentie yeares What deaths they had shal be told hereafter Marcel borne at Rome one Benets sonne was chosen Bishop about the 20. yeare of Dioclesian after the Chronicle of Henry the first He was a true Pastor of the Lords Church In the booke of Councells there is attributed vnto him two Epistles The one to them of Antioch wherein he exhorteth to follow the Romane Church and that without authoritie thereof no Sinode can bee called But any bodie may see it is but a counterfeyt and not agreeing with the time which then was The other written to Maxentius is altogether impertinent wherein after he hath commended Christian charitie hee reciteth things which are as pertinent so the time of that Church as conuenient to haue bene written to a Tyrant who afterward was named Emperour Such Epistles doo sufficiently shewe that they wore forged by them which after thrust themselues into the sheep-folde of the Lord not to feed but to rule He confirmed in the faith Maurice as hee came from Syria to goe into Gaul with the Legion which was called of Thebes Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximin or Maximian were made Augustes to goe through with the warres which their predecessors Dioclesian and Maximian Herculeus left Eutropius the Father of Constantius a Romane knight of a noble house was discended from Aeneas The Empire as thus parted that Constantius gouerned Gaul Spaine Italie and Affrike and Galerius which Dioclesian had adopted giuing him his daughter Valeria the rest namely Slauonia Greece and the East Yet Constantius who was neither ambitious nor couetous refused Affrike Italie cōtenting himselfe with Spaine Gaul which he gouerned well and peaceably was well beloued of his subiects and no enemy of the Christian faith He had two wiues the first Helena which was of base condition of whom he had Constantine the great which wife he was constrained to leaue and take Theodora the daughter of the wife of Maximian Herculeus He died of a mallady in England two yeares after Dioclesian had deposed himself from the Empire for long time before had he bene made Caesar and adopted by Dioclesian Some attribute vnto him those two yeares of raigning beginning from the natiuitie of our Lord 505. See Pomp. Laet. During his raigne there was stirres of warre He was called Chlorus for the colour of his bright shining face Ignat. Lib. 1. He had of his wife Theodora Constantius who was father of Gallus and Iulian. Maximian Herculian solicited Dioclesian to take again the Empire Some say Dioclesian answered if he once vnderstood the pleasure of Gardens hee would neuer thinke of raigning The Historiographers write that Dioclesian dyed in a rage and fury feeling an infection in all his members See Nicepho lib. 7. cap. 20. Some say hee poysoned himselfe tenne yeares after he deposed himselfe from the Empire fearing Constantine and Licinius who bitterly reprehended him as a fauourer of Maxentius See Eutrop. lib. 9. and Bapt. Igna. lib. 1. Seuerus was adopted and made Cesar by Galerius when Constantinus had left the administration of Italie and of Affrike and to Seuerus was giuen the charge of the saide Countries But at Rome Maxentius was made Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers and without contradiction of the Senate Seuerus not thinking himselfe strong enough to resist Maxentius thought to retire into Slauonia to Maximin but hee was entrapped and ouercome at Rauenna Pompon Laet. Maxentius sonne of Maximian Herculian being chosen Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers in a tumult and hauing gotten the victory vpon Seuerus waxed proud and gaue himselfe vnto pleasures cruelties Then Maximin or Maximian the sisters sonne of Galerius who also by him was made Cesar with Seuerus and had once the charge of the East adopted Licinius which he left in Slauonia after comming to make warre vpon Maxentius was tolde of the treason of his people and so retyred See Pomp. Laet. in the life of Constantine and Galerius Galerius then hauing made Licinius Cesar as is said a litle time after fell into a terrible disease which fretted his entralles whereof he died This was because of his exceeding great lecherie towards all and horrible crueltie towards Christians For an vlcer he had in his bladder did eate his priuy members and as all that part of his bodie rotted wormes came out and no remedie could be found for it So the Phisitians abandoned him For the stench was so intollerable that neither Phisitian nor other durst approach vnto him Wherefore in the ende hee dyed of a death worthy such a man after hee had raigned two yeares alone and with the Cesars and companions of his Empire the space of 16. yeares In the persecution moued by Maxentius Marcel Pastor of the Church of Rome was apprehēded to sacrifice vnto Idols and to renownce his office but hee despised all threatnings and smiled which the Tyrant Maxentius seeing commaunded he should be beaten and chased out of the Towne He retyred into an house of a widowe named Lucine and there secretly maintained a Church Which the Tyrant hearing made a stable of it for horses and other beastes of the house there locked vp Marcel Being thus condemned he left not to do the office of a true Pastor by Epistles which
he writ to many But finally being tormented by the filthinesse and stench of the place in the end he yeelded his spirit to God the yeare 308. Eusebius a Gretian by Nation a Phisitians sonne after Damasus succeeded in the gouernment of the Romane Church in the great persecutions in the time of Maxentius the horrible Tyrant The Authours of the Ecclesiasticall history make no mention of this Eusebius The booke of Councells attribute to him three Decretall Epistles The first to the Bishoppes of Gaul The second to the Egiptians The third to the Bishoppes of Tuscane and Campania His ordinances contained in those Epistles are these in effect That sheepe shall not draw their Shepheard or Bishop into Lawe vnlesse he denie the Faith That a mayd which shall be espowsed only by words of the present time may enter into Religion That the Sacrifice of the Aultar be consecrated not in cloath of silke but in linnen cloth and such like bables which the infamous fauourers of the seate of Popes haue not beene ashamed to assigne to those good and faithfull Ministers of the Lorde to disfigure and defile with their orders this honest face of the primitiue Church which follow his head Iesus Christ in continuall persecutions to establish their seate of perdition and to pollute the bloud of those holy Martyrs But contrary Eusebius trauailed much in the haruest of the Lords word as well at Rome as other where in the time of persecutions vnder Maxentius vntill that as Christianus Mattoens saith hee finished his life by martyrdome the yeare of the Lord 309. But amongst Histogoriographers there is great diuersitie for the number of yeares Licinius born in Dare was made Augustus companiō of the Empire with Maximin Galari after the death of Seuerus the yeare of our Lord 308. He was a warlike man and Slauonia was first giuen him to gouerne after the East he was noble although he came of a pesant he shewed himselfe cruel towards the children of Galerius his ally He was an enemy vnto letters as hauing no knowledge no not to write his owne name And he called the liberall Arts a publike poyson and pestilence Euseb lib. 4. ca. 13. He deserued praise in that he repressed abuses the boldnesse insolencies of the brauest of his Court which he called the Moathes and Rattes of his Pallace He raigned 14 yeares liued 60. See Pomp. Laet. Constantine the great sonne of the Emperour Constantius and Helena S. Ambrose in his funerall Oration of Theodosius saith that hee was a seruant in a stable and was borne in England Hee was instructed in the Militarie Art vnder Galerius He tamed the Sermates a fearce Nation barbarous brought their Duke captiue to Galerius who cōceiued enuy at the glory of this yong Prince whereof being aduertised he retired from Rome towards his Father into England who dyed soone after By the fauour of Princes he was declared Emperour the yeare 309. The Senate writ vnto him Letters to aduertise him of the euil gouernment Maxentius for the great cruelties hee exercised at Rome wherevpon he marched towards Rome and pursued Maxentius who retiring into the Towne made couer Tyber with Boats nye the bridge Miluius which by subtil deceit as hee thought he made ioyne together to deceiue Constantine and to haue drown'd him whē he followed him But he himself as furious first comming out to flie not remembring his owne stratageme that hee practised for an other entred on horsebacke with a fewe people vpon the bridge where he was drowned in Tyber the 6. yeare of his Empire For this happie deliuerance honors were giuen to Constantius so he acquited Italie and Affrike For his Father had only left him the Gaulois and Spaine and would so haue contented himselfe had it not bene for the warre that Licinius raised making himselfe Cesar and was established in the East Maximian as we haue said with his great griefe had forsakē the Empire being greeued so long to lead a priuate life did his best by the meanes of Maxentius his sonne chosen Emperour to returne to the Empire but because hee succeeded therein not well he retired towards his sonne in lawe Constantine vnto whom he had giuen his daughter Fausta and sought by ambushes to cast him out of the Empire Which Fausta perceiuing well reuealed to her husband preferring him before her father Wherefore the sonne in lawe besieged him at Marcellis tooke him aliue and bad him choose whatsoeuer kind of death he would He strangled himselfe with a cord or girdle And so this wicked and bloudie man which had shead so much Christian bloud vnluckily finished his life of his age sixtie Licinius at the first had some great familiaritie with Constantine and to please him made a shew to loue the Christians in so much that he married Constance the sister of Constantine and by a mutuall consent together caused to publish lawes for the Christians but afterward comming againe to his nature and forgetting the honour that Constantine had done him began to conspire against him because Constantine so fauoured Christians whose enemie he declared himselfe alleadging this cause that in their assemblies they prayed for Constantine and not for him Licinius then beganne the persecution by his owne house after he stretched it farre by Lawes and Edicts into the Prouinces of the East forbidding especially Bishoppes to make assemblies and Sinodes Secondly that men and women to auoyd scandalles and offence not to assemble at prayers Thirdly that such as were appointed prisoners as transgressors of Edicts should not be visited nor succoured in paine to incurre the like condemnation c. He then set himselfe against the Bishops not openly for feare of Constantine but made them die secretly by his Committees Euseb Lib. 10. Chap. 8. In the Towne of Sebasta Losias killed in a poole fortie souldiers whose Martirdome Basile the great described and other Martirs which were cruelly murdered Licinius increased more and more his crueltie but the Lord sent Constantine to represse him who experimented against him the Forces of the Gaules and Italie hauing ouerthrowne him in Hungarie and pursued him into Macedonia where he repaired his forces He was chased into Asia and in the end yeelded himselfe seeing he was vanquished by sea and by land and was sent into Thessalonica to liue priuately yet could he not so escape the true vengeance of his boldnesse crueltie and infidelitie For hee was slaine by Constantines souldiers about the yeare of our Lord three hundred twentie and foure after some writers Melchiades the thirtith Bishop succeeded in the Church of Rome and was of Affrike after Damasus A man of great pietie and a true seruant in the holy Ministerie of the Gospell and in the affaires of the truth of God vntill hee was put to death vnder Maximin Galerius the yeare of the Lord 314. Read herevpon the Ecclesiasticall History of Eusebius where he reciteth diuers cruell kindes of death wherewith the
Saints of that time were persecuted Carsulan Platina Stella and other of the Popes flatterers attribute wrongfully to these holy Martyrs of the Lord Iesu whole Chariots full of lying decrees to the ende the diuellish ordinances of their ceremonies or rather blasphemies might be approued by their authoritie They attribute vnto him the forbidding of Fastes on the Sundayes or Thursdayes because on them the Painims celebrated the solemnities of their God Saturne Item a decretall touching Baptisme and the Confirmation De consecratione distinct 5. cap. Spirit sanct cap. De his c. Note this for the Bishops of the Romaine Church vntill Siluester the first But what man would thinke that poore and simple Ministers of the word and Pastors of the Church such as then were the Bishops of Rome inhabiting in ditches and caues attending nothing vnder those Tyrants from day to day but only death could haue thought vpon this pride arrogancy which after those Popes vsed in buildings and other ordinances seeing they had neither Temples nor houses whether they might retire Peace was not yet giuen to the Church They yet enioyed not that vnprofitable Idlenesse nor the soueraigne delights of this world nor that whoore which by litle and litle rose vp had not yet her bedde ready yet such haue bene the inuentions of false Prophets to set out the whoores body and so is the Popes Sinagogue founded vpon so euident lies as nothing more Assuredly it were great folly to giue faith to such ridiculous dreames of Sathan forged for the gaine and profits of Priests Better therefore it is in this case to prooue the spirits namely whether they be of God or not as it is said 1. Iohn Chapter 4. seeing many false Prophets are come into this world Vntill this time Pastors were as Starres in the Firmament of the Church shining as well in doctrine as in good example they were also garded by the right hand of him that walked in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes Hitherto men esteemed them as Angels preaching the word of the Almightie God without fiction yea that more is hitherto they were figured by the white horse because in the ministerie they carried the victorious Iesus Christ as well in their hearts as in their bodies and as well in mouth as worke Ceremonies in the celebration of the Supper The memorie of the Lords Supper was not performed but in publike assemblies and therefore the Synode of Gangre vnder the Emperour Constans condemned Eustace Bishop of Seluste in Armenia because contrary to the order of the vse of the Church he permitted some which disdained to come into the Church to Communicate in particular houses Socrat. Lib. 2. Cap. 43. Neither was it lawful to celebrate the Supper in a prophane place as appeareth by Athanasius in the Epistle to them of Antioche Hierome against Iouinian reprehendeth the maner of doing in other Christians at Rome which Communicated in houses Wherfore said he entred they not into Churches c. Deacons distributed the Supper of the Lorde Priestes beeing present with one diuiding the Eucharist and this was after the Canon of the Councell of Nice The Priests distributed the Cup of the bloud of the Lord Doctors of this time often call it Cup or Mistike vessell S. Hierome writing of vessells to distribute the Lords Supper in saith of a Bishop of Tholouze called Exuperius There was nothing so rich as that which carried the body of our Lord in an Osier basket and the bloud in a Glasse By the first booke of Euseb of the Euang. 92. Demonst Chap. 10. One may easily knowe that Christians daily celebrated the memorie of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ And S. Ambrose in his fift booke of Sacraments Chapter 4. reprehendeth the Easterne Churches because they communicated but once a yeare In the Churches of Affrike they which should communicate passed the night in watchings prayers As Athanasius reciteth in the Apologie of his flight adding that all mutually ought before to be reconciled together And in the Westerne Churches al communicated except the Catechumenistes and such as did penance as appeareth by Hierome vpon the 7. Chapter of the 2. to the Corinthians About this time water was giuen with wine as appeareth by S. Ambrose first Chapter of his fist booke of Sacraments They put saith he into the Cup wine then water c. which being mingled was consecrated with the wine The maner of the Churches was to giue the Eucharist in the hand of him that tooke it as appeareth by the words of S. Ambrose to the Emperour Theodosius Reachest thou out thy hands which yet are bloudie and which yet distill the bloud by thee shead to take the holy body of the Lord Darest thou apply to thy mouth the precious bloud of the Lord c. The Priest as he distributed the bread said Take the body of the Lord and in distributing the wine Take the bloud of Christ and at both the Communicant answered Amen Ambrose in the 4. booke of Sacraments Chap. 5. To such as were nigh their deaths they brought the Eucharist Horatius a Priest of the Church of Verseil carried it to Ambrose nigh his death Paulinus in the life of S. Ambrose reciteth it May abuses began in this time to arise Such as made any great voyage either by sea or land carried the Eucharist as appeareth in the Oration of Saint Ambrose vpon the death of Satyrius Touching the ceremonies vsed in administring the Sacrament Denis hath left by writing that which followeth The Bishop hauing ended the prayers before the Aultar began to perfume and compasse all the place after returning to the Aultar he began to sing Psalmes and all followed This done the Ministers in order read something of the holy scripture That read they caused the Catechumenistes with the Enenguinians to goe out and such as were admitted to penance One part of the Ministers kept themselues before the portall of the Temple shut the others did such things as belonged to their charge Such as are elected to minister with the Priests presented the bread before the Aultar and the Cup of blessing Whilest all the Churchmen sung praises and Himnes to the Lord the Bishop which said the praiers pronounced peace to all And after euery one had saluted one an other the Priests and the Bishop washed their hands with water After the Bishoppe in the middest of the Aultar enuironed with Priests and Ministers began to praise and magnifie the workes of the world and propose to the people the signes of the Supper and to declare them vnto them and inuite them to the participation thereof which finally ended in thankes-giuing c. The word Messe was not found amongst the writers of this time And as for the two preparatiue prayers of the Priest meaning to say Masse which are shufled into the workes of Ambros Erasmus himselfelfe iudgeth them not to be S. Ambroses They
Churches or like things contained in the Epistle whereof let each man iudge considering that time wherein Damasus was To Priests or Lords it appertained also to take vp debates and controuersies It appeareth by Epiphanius Lib. 2. Tom. 2. Heresie 69. that they were also sent Embassadors to Councells to accuse Heretickes The custodie of Ecclesiasticall goods belonged vnto them Sozomen Lib. 5. Chap. 8. saith that Theodoretus a Priest of Antioche was Gardian of the precious vessells Deacons administred onely and executed Ecclesiasticall charges They were carried vnto publike disputations to play the Notaries and gather together the Actes As appeareth in the example of Athanasius who came with his Bishop Alexander then an olde man to the Councell of Nice and did greatly helpe and aide Alexander to discouer and confute the fallacies of heretickes Rufin lib. 1. chap. 14. The constitutions of Siluester as is conteined in the 1. Tome of Councells makes those degrees A commaundement of Subdeacons to obey Deacons and Acolites Subdeacons Exorcistes to obey Acolites Lectors Exorcistes Porters Lectors and to Porters the Abbot and to the Abbot the Monkes Exorcists after Epiphanius were such as interpreted one tongue by an other either at Lectors or at Colloquies In the Code of Theodosius there are certaine constitutions which make also mention of Diaconesses which was a ministry of women for the visitation and inspection of bodies Each Towne had his Bishop Ruffin lib. 1. cap. 6. saith that in the 10. Canon of the Councell of Nice it was forbidden that in any Cities should be two Bishops to the end that the order of Ecclesiasticall gouernment as proceeding from one head might be distributed into diuers actions to Priests and Deacōs wherof the number was indifferent although ordinarily it was of seuen according to the 14. Canon of the Councell of Neocesaria The Eccclesiasticall administration Basile diuideth the Auditors of Gods word into two companies the one of such as were rude and the other of such as had made some progresse therin Ambrose distinguisheth them into Lay-men Clarkes in his booke of the Sacerdotall dignitie chap. 2. Hierome vpō the expositiō of the 7 chap of the 2. to the Cor. diuideth them into 3. that is Catechumenes faithfull and penitent Praiers were ordinarily made for all things necessary for the prosperitie of the Empire for the health of the Church for publique tranquilitie for enemies and for such as were not yet conuerted See Socrates lib. 2. cap. 37. Nectarius first tooke away in the Church of Constantinople the ceremony ordained for penance and confession wherein a Priest particularly applied absolution ordained that each one after the witnes of his conscience should approach the cōmunion The occasion of this defence came of a woman of a noble house who hauing confessed to a Priest that shee had had the company of a Deacon in the Church the Priest reuealed this scandal to the said Bishop and the ceremony of confession was abolished Socrates lib. 5. chap. 9. In the time of Constantine many ceremonies vnnecessary and euill agreeing with the word of God were brought in as candles lighted in the day time which this Costantine instituted in Temples newly by him builded and consecrated worthy ornaments and other things altogether superfluous and superstitious which other Churches then tooke vp Bishops also at this time denounced to their people Feast-dayes As Basile rehearseth of himselfe that he denounced in a Sermon the feast-day of a Martyr Iulitta One new thing not vsed in times past was now brought in The Emperour Constantine gaue power to Clarkes to appeale from ciuill Magistrates to Bishops which thing was the first that gaue occasion to Antichrist to chaunge transforme the kingdome of Iesus Christ into a polliticke kingdome by litle litle to lift himselfe vp aboue Magistrates of Ministers and Doctors to become Dictators and Kings leauing the charge of soules A new thing also of this time the care to build Temples was committed to Bishops As Constantine cōmitted to Macarius Bishop of Ierusalem the building of a Temple which he willed should be builded in the place where the Sepulchre was Sozomene in his 4. booke and 13. chap rehearseth that Basile builded the Tēple of the Towne of Ancyra in Gallatia A new charge also was giuen to Bishops of this time to consecrate Temples to seeke out transport frō place to place reliques of Saints As we may see in the 85. Epistle of S. Ambrose Such graunts peruerted the true office of a Bishop which is to teach and feed the flocke with the pure word of God Of the goods of the Church The Church of this time began to be enriched by gifts largitions munificēces of Princes Maximin feeling himself taken with a greeuous disease made an Edict for the Christians that the houses lands possessions takē away in times of persecutiōs should be restored to the true possessors Euseb li. 9. ch 10. The Emperor Cōstantin not only caused that which had bin takē frō the Christiās to be again restored but also caused to be sold for the cōmoditie of the poore of the Church all the most precious Images of the Heathens Sozomene lib. 2. chap. 5. Moreouer he withdrew from the Reuenewes of euery Towne a certain Impost and ordained it for the profit of the Church and cleargie thereof commaunding by Edict that that gift should passe to them successiuely for euer The same Sozomene li. 1. chap. 3. li. 5. chap. 5. He commaunded further to bring to the treasurie of the Church their goods who had bene martyred which left no children nor kinsfolkes their heires As Eusebius reciteth in the life of Constantine li. 2. Hee willed also that men should distribute Corne in common to the poore Basile in his Epistle 104. witnesseth that many dedicated whole houses to the profit of Churches yea some of their owne motion all their substance vnto Churches which not being permitted daring the raigne of other Emperours was permitted and lawfull by the constitution of Constantine contained in the lawe Ei eod De sacro sanct Eccles The vse of the goods of the Church was applied to sustaine the poore pilgrimes Yet Ambrose in his first booke of Offices chap. 56. excepteth such as had any goods and reuenues of their owne to maintaine them And Hierome in the Epistle to Damasus admonisheth that amongst Clarks there should be none but such as were nourished at the charges of the Church and that had no patrimony or that had no other meanes to sustaine themselues Besides the wages and oblations which Constantin gaue he also granted in all places Immunities to Priests which also the heires of Constantine ratified See the Code de epischo cleris After Ministers the chiefe care was of the poore whose Proctors the Deacons were Cyrillus Bishop of Ierusalem is praised because in a great dearth for the succour and helpe
of the poore he caused the vessells vailes and other precious things of the Temple to be solde Sozomene lib. 4. cap. 25. And Hierome ad Rusticum accuseth Bishops which vsurpe and make proper that which is common If the liberalitie of Emperours failed the Churches defrayed the charges of Bishops and all others that went to Sinodes Theodoret. lib. 2 cap. 16. Libraries The bookes of the holy scripture which for the most part were lost during the persecutions at this time by the benificence of the Emperour Constantine were written in great dilidence and with magnificence worthy of such an Emperour By the witnes of Athanasius it is plain inough that in the Chrians Temples there were Libraries and therein he accuseth the impietie of the Arrians which tooke out these bookes burnt them Hierome against Rufin makes mention of the Librarie at Cesaria It appeares by the Acts of a Romane Sinode held vnder Siluister that the Romane Church mainteined certaine Notaries to write the acts of the Martirs Schooles There were also Schooles of two sorts Ethnicks or Philosophicall and Ecclesiasticall Nazianzenus in the death of his brother Cesarius makes mention of the Schooles of Palestine wherein he learned Rhethoricke Lactantius held that of Nicomedia Ephiphanius a Sophister kept that of Laodicea That of Cesaria in Cappadocia was renowned bicause Constantius caused Gallus and Iulian his children to be taught there But aboue al that of Alexandria was most famous for blind Didimus who ruled there Rufin Lib. 2. Cap. 7. And Basilius calleth it a goodly shape of all doctrine In Europe that of Athens because of letters was of most acount wherin Iulian had for condisciples Basile and Gregorie Nazianzenus as the said Gregorie witnesseth in his Inuectiue against Iulian. Victorinus Affrican taught at Rome Rhethorike See Hierome in his Treatife of Illustrious men The Salarie or reward was to professors payde after the lawe of Constantine conteined in the title de profess med in the Code At this time there was a man called Arrius a professor in the schoole of Alexandria in Egipt whose Heresie did miserably torment and distract the vnion of the Church He was a man swelled with ambition and presumption One day hauing heard in the congregation of the faithfull Alexander Bishop of Alexandria subtilly and learnedly disputing of the diuine essence after he had shewed that the vnitie thereof was in a priuitie Arrius Logician rather then a Theologian began to dispute and vomit out the pâ—ison he had long time gathered Epip Lib. 2. Tome 2. Necesie 69. rehearseth that Arrius was now found in an errour that Melitius a Bishop in Thebaide accused before Alexander his Bishop who after that looked to him more narrowly and tooke heed to his subtilties Such a care had Bishops at this time one of an other that no euill should goe forward Arrius maintained the Sonne of God to be a creature and the holy Ghost created of him But with what arguments and babble of words he vsed to confirme his error it should be superfluous to rehearse There are long Epistles of Arrius to Alexander and of Alexander to all Churches by which one may more at large know the spring of all this infection Alexander at the beginning sought to stop this euill by silence But seeing that Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia tooke vpon him the cause of Arrius in hatred of the Church of Alexandria Alexander not onely published the Apostasie of Arrius but also excommunicated him and his adherents as Heretickes and Schismatickes which would maintaine that God was sometimes without being Father and that the Sonne was a creature and made who knew not perfectly and exactly the Father It is straunge how so cursed an errour should in so litle time subuert so many Bishops yea the most learned not onely of the East Church but of the West also Epiph. saith that Arrius being chased away went into Palestine But Alexander hasted Letters euery where to the number of seuentie to aduertise the Bishops of Arrius his doings who was receiued of his Protector Eusebius Arrius in the meane time sent Letters to Alexandria naming him Pope and his Bishop The great Councell of Nice Anno domini 320. These debates and contentions brought great dolour and care vnto the good Emperour Constantine and incontinent to giue order therefore seeing this euill from day to day got the vpper hand sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine to Alexander a man of great pietie and authoritie with his Letters Patents to the Church to finde meanes to extinguish this fire whose flames were blowne all ouer Eusebius reciteth the Tenure of Constantines Letters full of all pietie in the life of the said Emperour Lib. 2. Hosius furnished with these Letters came into Egipt and did all that he could to agree Alexander Arrius but in vaine Whereof the Emperour being aduertised was more grieued then before at the request of the Bishops and instance of Alexander as witnesseth Rufin lib. 1. cap. 1. ordained at his owne charge an vniuersal Sinode at Nice a town of Bithinia the yeare of Christ 320. after some and the yeare of his Empire 17. At which Sinode from all the parts of the earth came Bishops and the number was 250. after Socrates li. 1. ca. 8. besides Priests Deacons A colites other multitudes Theodoret. li. 1. ca. 7. saith 318. Bishops and this is about the number wherof the most part of the Elders agree that haue written thereof Some say that the Emperour before he assembled this generall Sinode had caused Arrius to come vnto him and in the presence of some Bishops hauing enquired of his heresie Arrius with an oath answered that he bred no heresies then straight the Emperour in the presence of all said If thou hast sworne with a good conscience that thy oath be made with a full faith then departest thou an Innocent But if falsly thou callest God to witnesse let him whom thou hast offended take vengeance So many spake for him which he before had gained Notwithstanding the Emperour writ large Letters that men should take heede of Arrius that they builded not their Faithes vpon his heresies These letters beganne with these words Constantine the great Augustus c. The place for the Sinode was in the Emperours Pallace wherein hee had placed seates couenable and conuenient for each state and degree The Emperours seate was in the first ranke and it was couered with Golde as Eusebius saieth in his life Liber 3. Hee himselfe made the first exhortation to enter into the matter wherevnto by consent of all Eustachius Bishop of Antioche had charge to answere The Emperour the better to agree with them proposed the great crueltie and tirannie of the persecutions passed that now peace was open vnto them and that it should be a straunge thing the outward enemies being vanquished to stirre vp warres within Theodoret. Lib. 1. Cap. 7. Amongst the Bishops which were there assembled
saith that the Towne was dedicated by him the yeare of his Empire 28. and as he had taken the Empire diuided and vnited it in his person so he diuided it againe as a paternall heritage and made a partition thereof amongst his children whom whilest he liued he created Cesars one after an other that is to say Constantine his eldest sonne Anno. 10. Constantius the second Anno. 20. and Constans the youngger Anno. 30. Whose Empires were very turbulent and endured but 24. yeares 5. moneths 12. dayes according to the Chronicle of Hierome Constantine the Father died at Nicomicha after he had liued 66. yeares and raigned 31. yeares Pompon Laet. Licinius the sonne of Constantia sister of Constantine the great and Crispus sonne of the said Constantine the great with his said son Constantine the eldest were created Caesars the yeare of the Lord 316. But the wickednes of Fausta the wife of Constantine the great caused the death of Licinius and Crispus and many other noble personages See Aure. Victor and Pompo Laet. Crispus was instructed by Lactantius Constantine the eldest sonne of Constantine the great was Emperour with his two brethren after the father the yeare of our Lord 338. The Empire was thus parted namely that Constantine should enioy Gaul Spaine and England Constance should haue Italie with Slauonia and Greece And Constantius should holde Constantinople with the East This partition contented not Consantine hee raised warre against his brother Constance being proud of his Army of Gaul but warring more couetously then warily was ouerthrowne by an ambush nigh to Aquilea and being wounded in diuers places dyed there hauing raigned but three whole yeares and liued 25. See Bapt. Egnat and Pomp. Laet. Constance after he had vanquished his elder brother passing the Alpes came to make warre in Gaul and in two yeares with great difficultie conquered the Countrey which his brother had in partition He at the beginning gouerned well but after gaue himselfe to pleasures and at last became odious to all men So that in the end they conspired against him as he was at hunting and was slaine by the deuice and treason of Magnentius who vsurped his Empire yet he had saued this Magnentius his life Constance liued thirtie yeares and raigned fourteene See Pomp. Laet. Constantius had for his part the Empire of Constantinople with the East Hee vanquished Vetranio who made himselfe Emperour in Hungarie after the death of Cōstance Moreouer to reuenge the death of his said brother Constance hee made great warre against Magnentius In the first battaile there were slaine of one part and the other 53000. fighting men Magnentius had the worst And againe making head was ouercome nigh Lions Constantius was suspected vpon enuie and ambition to haue made away Dalmatius his Cousin-germain a vertuous man who better resembled Constantine the great then his owne father and who was appointed for a copartner with the said Constantius when he had his partition But Constantius liued not long after For as he was going the second time against the Persians vnderstanding that Iulian had made himselfe Augustus he tooke a Feuer and dyed the yeare of his age 40. and of his Kingdome 24. See Eutrop. Aurel. Vict. Pompon Laet. and Bapt. Egn. The Sinode of Sardis in her Sinodall Letters calleth Iulius their friend and companion Theodoret. lib. 2. chap. 8. It followeth that the Bishop or Archbishop of Rome had not the pretended superioritie It seemeth that Iulius was dead when Constantius hauing tamed the tyrannie of Magnentius and Syluanus hee was in Italie to appease the discordes of Athanasius his cause Liberius borne in Rome his father being called Augustus succeeded Iulius the yeare of Christ after S. Hierome 352. about the 12. yeare of Constance Empire his confession was agreeing vnto the Catholique faith and writ to Athanasius very Christianly of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost as may be seene in his Epistle which is affixed to the workes of Athanasius Athanasius in the Epistle to them which leade solitary liues rehearseth how Liberius was subuerted The Emperour Constans sent to Rome one named Eusebius an Eunuke with Letters wherby he threatned him exile and on the other side tempted him with presents to induce him to cōsent with Arrius and to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius Liberius despised both his menaces and gifts as a sacrifice of blasphemie Whereat the Emperour being exceedingly grieued found meanes to get him out of Rome and being come to him threatned him with death But Liberius manfully answered I am ready to endure all rather then of Christians we should be accounted Arrians Why what art thou said the Emperour that with one wicked man troublest all the world The word of Faith said Liberius dependeth not vpon multitude He was then banished by this Emperour Constans into Berrea which is a Towne in Thrace Where after hee had bene two yeares he was called home as saith Theodoret his restitution after some was accorded by the Emperour at the request of many Romanes and of the Westerne Bishops The same saith Athanasius in the before alleadged Epistle Also that Liberius after his two yeares exile feared with threatnings and apprehension of death sealed to the condemnation of Athanasius Ruffin saith the same and Hierome as Baleus saith writeth that by ambition Liberius fell into the heresie of Arrius being once fallen from the integritie of faith We finde some constitutions of Liberius namely not to make noises in fasting time that times of fasting and Lent bee not polluted by the act of marriage that in time of famine and pestilence men should appease the Lords anger by fasting almes and prayers An aduertisement The principall felicitie and ornament of the Church of this time was the multitude of excellent Doctors which by their doctrine sought so farre as in them lay to conserue multiply the puritie of doctrine But this felicitie was greatly obscured partly by the multitude of heretickes and partly by the rage of seditious people and schismatickes In so much that since the time of the Apostles there was no Church that hath endured more dissentions combats and diuisions within it then that of this world Wherevpon by good right Basile the great in a certaine poeme writing of the iudgement of God complaineth saying I haue liued the age of a man and I haue seene great concord amongst the Arts and Sciences But in the Church of God alone for which Iesus Christ dyed I haue obserued so many dissentions that it is altogether dissipated and wasted And comming to the cause As I searched saith he the cause I remembred the place of the booke of Iudges where it is written That then euery one did whatsoeuer hee thought good in his owne eyes Great persecutions were vnder Constantius after the death of Constans against the Catholike Doctors and Bishops by the Arrians Many were put to death euen within the Temples others
learne the Magike Art by the law Culpasimilis Cod. de maleficis mathematicas Finally the Lord ordained this Emperor Theodosius as a second Iosias wholly to roote vp all the Idols Temples Thod li. 5. ch 20. On the other side the Doctors of the Church were exceeding carefull to refute all this false religion of the Painims and Ethnikes Arnob. Lactantius Theodoret and the most part of them which writ in that time vnto whose bookes we send them that will know more at large Damasus builded certaine Temples and adorned them with gifts he gaue fields and possessions and bathes to the Cleargie He augmented certaine straunge facions of seruing of God He approued S. Hieromes translation of the Bible The hearts of the Archbishops of Rome began to be taken with too much ambition After this Damasus as hee could diligently calculate times to the end that in time to come in the Romane seate might bee placed Bishoppes of renowme hee drew briefly in writing the liues and statutes attributed to his predecessors Bishops of Rome yet this was not without manifest lies As for his faith and doctrine Theodoret giueth great witnesse he had a good opinion of the Trinitie and by his Epistle to the Bishops assembled at a Sinode at Constantinople exhorted them to maintaine the holy doctrine of the sonne of God But in his Epistles although he call the Bishops vnto whom he writ his brothers yet he sheweth himselfe too much giuen to eleuate the dignitie of the Romane seate For he thus beginneth his aforesaid Epistle to them of Constantinople In the reuerence deare children which you owe to the Apostolike seate you doo much for your selues c. Theod. Lib. 5. Chap. 9. He had many combats to maintaine the doctrine of the Councell of Nice especially against Auxentius of Millan Hee condemned many heretikes and amongst others the Apollinaries at a Councell of many Bishops at Rome Hee had firme amitie with Hierome who in his writings gaue great witnesse of him Virgin Doctor of the Virgine Church in his Preface vpon the foure Euangelists calleth him great Priest Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike calleth Damasus his very deare companion in the Ministerie c. Gregorie Nazianz calleth Damasus happie in his Epistle to Clidonius Damasus dyed of the age of 80. yeares in the raigne of Theodosius witnesses Hierome and Suidas after hee had administred his Bishopricke 18. yeares the yeare of Christ after Naucle 385. but after Prosper the yeare 387. Aduertisement From the time of Siluester the first and others after him the Bishops or Archbishops of Rome being inriched by gifts munificences of many began to liue at their ease and to receiue vnvsed apparell as Miters and other pontificall ornaments to make themselues to be accounted of and to prepare the seate for the great Antichrist by their traditions and canons yet neither Siluester nor his successors till Boniface the 9. who was about the yeare 1390. were Lords of Rome much lesse did they holde the domination of the West For wee haue seene that Liberius was sent into exile by Constantius that Iulius implored the aide of Constantius for Athanasius against the furie of the Arrians and that Damasus by vertue of the Letters of Theodosius called the Easterne Bishop vnto the Sinode of Rome And as for the right to choose the Emperours to Crowne them and put on their Imperiall purple and such other solemnities requisite it was partly done by ordinary souldiers And the Emperours Constantine the great Iulian Iouinian Valentinian the first and second were created Emperours and Cesars by the Campe of souldiers Constantine ordained his three sonnes Valens was ordained by his brother Theodosius by Gratian. Arcadius and Honorius by the Father It is not read in any approued Author of this time that any Romane Bishop thrust himselfe in to choose or crowne an Emperour Theodo lib. 5. chap. 6. saith that Theodosius in a dreame sawe Meletius Bishop of Antioche who gaue vnto him the Mantle and the Imperiall Crowne Syricius a Romane the sonne of one Tiburtius succeeded Damasus There are attributed vnto him many ordinances Hee put such as were Bigami that is such as were married twise from the misteries of the Masse and was the first that admitted Monkes to receiue Ecclesiasticall orders because of their continencie which before were not accounted no not amongst Clarkes Fastings and abstinencies The varieties and multiplications of Fastings certaine dayes at this time engendred great disputations and contentions Augustine in his Epistle to Casulan writeth that some men fasted on the Wednesday because Iesus Christ was solde that day And on the Fryday because hee was then on the Crosse As for fasting on Satterdayes there was great strife They of Millain and of the East maintained that none ought to fast on it because Iesus Christ rested that day in the Sepulchre And contrary the Romanes and Affricanes and others fasted it because Christ was cast euen to the ignominie of the Sepulchre P. Martir Monicha S. Augustines mother comming from Affrike to Millan seeing none fast there on the Saterday maruelled greatly Augustine her sonne beeing then not yet baptised came to Ambrose and prayed him in the name of his mother to expound what were best to be done therein Doo answered Ambrose as I doo Augustine by this answere thought he should not fast vpon Saterday because Ambrose fasted not but hee declared his meaning more plainely in these words When I am at Rome I fast on the Saterday because there they fast but when I am returned to Millan againe I there fast not Men attribute to Melchiades Bishop of Rome aboue mētioned the ordinance not to fast on the Sunday nor Thursday because Christians fastes should bee farre from the fastes of Ethnikes and heretikes Epiphan also bringing the reason wherefore wee should fast on the Wednesday saith because Christ that day ascended into heauen And that it is written when the Spowse shal be taken away that then the Apostles shall fast c. and this hee affirmeth to bee a tradition of the Apostles I leaue other Fastes of Angaria that is to say of torment when some calamitie comes and other differences and abstinences and meates which were after inuented as these discourses in their place shall shewe Superstition hath peruerted the exercises of pietie despight or negligence hath caused them to be forgottē in the Church which are two extremities that all the faithfull must shunne Theodosius after hee had established peace in the Church and caused many publike Sinodes to be assembled died at Millain of the age of 50. yeares and raigned 17. that is to say 6. with Gratian and 11. after The same yeare his body was carried to be buried in Constantinople See Aurel. Vict. Pomp. Laet. Paul Diac. lib. 12. Ambrose lamented his death and made a funerall oration wherein amongst other things hee said I loued this Prince who when his soule
was ready to depart from his body had more care of the state of the Church then of the dolours of his death This care for Religion is a singular vertue worthy of a Christian Prince Archadius and Honorius the children of Theodosius and of Placille his wife a vertuous Ladie raigned after their mother the yeare 397. Arcadius was Emperour of the East and Honorius of the West Their father ordained them Tutors before hee died to Arcadius Rufin and to Honorius Stillico and Gildo was also Instituted Gouernour of Affrike Honorius then ruled the Empire at Rome his brother gouerning that of Constantinople Three yeares after this Gildo Gouernor of Affrike carried himselfe as Maister and Lord but afterward he was ouercome by Mascezel his brother whose children he had slaine The Westerne Church about this time receiued the fashion to sing Augustine in his Confessions the 9. booke saith it was by the meanes of Ambrose For in the time of the Arrian fury this holy person being constrained by the people to remaine in the Temple yea euen in the night time fearing it should haue bene deliuered to the Arrians accustomed the people to sing Psalmes and Hymnes to put off griefes and passe away the time The East Church from the beginning receiued singing as appeares by Plinie to the Emperour Traian who was at the time that Iohn the Euangelist liued But Augustine in the same booke confesseth he failed therein in that hee gaue more attention to the Song then to the words that in it are passed and accused that sinne for that the voyce and the Song are made for the word but not the word for the Sōg In that place likewise he reciteth the maner of the Church of Alexandria vnder Athanasius See also Hierome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians Whensoeuer you assemble as S. Paul saith if each one sing Psalmes or Doctrine or Reuelation or Language or interpretation let all be done to aedification 1. Cor. 14. f. 26. The appellation of the Masse The communion of the Eucharist at this time to be called Missa It is twise found in S. Augustine namely in his Sermon of Time 237 wherein hauing exhorted men to pardon iniuries done to one another saith You must come to the Masse of the Catechumenes There we pray Pardon vs our offences as wee pardon them which wee haue offended c. And in an other Sermon 91. he saith In the historie which is read at Masses c. Many doubt whether these Sermons bee S. Augustines But Peter Martir a Diuine of Zurike saith the stile and sentences seeme to bee S. Augustines I am of opinion saith he that in that time of S. Augustine it beganne onely to bee vsurped For if it had beene vsuall S. Augustine would haue oftner made mention of it seeing hee vsed to applye his Sermons after the common manner of speech Iohn Cassian liued in this time vnder the Emperour Honorius The heretikes chased him from the Church of Ierusalem hee came to Marcellis and liued there a Monastike life The word Masse is found in his writings Lib. 3. Chap. 7. and 8. but in an other signification then for the holy Communion that is for the accomplishment and the ende of the congregation of the faithfull For speaking of the sleepe of Monkes he saith Being contented with the time that is permitted to them to sleepe that is from the Masse of the Vigiles vntill the light of the day c. vnderstanding by these words the time wherein they ended the Vigiles As for the deriuation of the name euen as the Latine Doctors which were before this age vsed the word Remissa for remission Tertullian Lib. 4. against Martion in the leafe 24. and Ciprian in his booke of the good of patience so it seeemeth afterward they said Missa for Missio or Demissio that is sending away when the Catechumenes went out of the Temple For after the holy scripture was read in the assembly and that the Sermon was done the Deacon with a loude voyce pronounced Goe or goe out Cathechumenes After this the Cathechumenes went out with the Euergumenes that is to say they which were handled with euil spirits and thirdly such as did penance Dionisius in his Hierarchie makes mention of these orders and so the Latine Church called the celebration of the Eucharist Messe because it was done after the dimission or sending away of the Catechumenes and such as were not capable to bee admitted therevnto And in this signification Ambrose saith Missas facere for sending or letting goe This is the opinion of Peter Martir in his Commentaries vpon the Iudges Some haue said that the word Missa was deriued of the Hebrew word Mas because the gifts which the faithfull offered were said to be presents and sent And the occasion hereof came of the oblations which the Iewes offered at their feast of Pentecost If it were so the Papists abused the word Masse for they will not name it of the almes and gifts which are giuen there but of the oblation they make of the body and bloud of Christ for the quick and dead P. Martyr Catechumenes signified such as were instructed in the faith and were not yet baptized The word is deriued from the Greeke word which signifieth to teach especially by liuely voyce Tertullian calleth them sometimes Hearers or Auditors Augustine calleth them Competitors For before they were admitted to be baptised at Easter they gaue vp their names 40. dayes before During which time the Pastors not onely got information of their faith and doctrine but also of theyr life P. Martir The Papistes Apes of antiquitie had it in custome to send their children to schoole in Lent Rufin before named French by Nation tempted with pride sent presents and siluer to Alarike King of Gothes and stirred him to raise vp warre against Archadius perswading him that that young Prince affrighted would leaue him the Empire His practise was dicouered and Stilico pursued him The souldiers cut off his head and his right hand and after carried them into Constantinople for a shewe See Pomp. Laet. Deuastation of the fourth Monarchie The yeare of the Lord 405. the Gothes entred into Italie with a great and fearfull company But because there is often mention of them we will briefly touch the history of their originall The appellation of Gothes doth not only comprehend one people but many that is to say Gothes Vandales Rugians Hunnes c but the Gothes properly were they which from the I le of Gothland occupied a great part of Lifsland Procopius an Historiographer saith they were Cymmerians and Greekes Being come into Thrace and Hungarie the Romane Emperours sought to driue them backe but could not The first greatest battaile of the Romanes against them was vnder the Emperour Decius wherein he was slain But after the Vandales and Huns comming from Scithia did driue away the Gothes and placed their seates in Hungaria The
Gothes then entered into Italie by the disloyaltie of Rufin which as it is said fell vpon his owne head by the iust iudgement of God Stillico a Vandall by Nation hoping to lift vp Euchere his sonne to bee an Emperour raised vp the Sueuians Vandales and Alenems and other people to the number of 200000. conducted by theyr King Redegastus or Radagastus who afterward was discomfited in the straite of Appenin After Radagastus a new Armie of Gothes came into Italie hauing for their Captaine Alricus or Alaricus who was sollicited by the Emperour Honorius to leaue the Countrey of Italie and to discend into Fraunce which then was so occupied with French Burgonians and other Nations that Honorius dispaired to hold it But as Alaricus prepared his departure Stillico thought to haue surprised him on the sudden beeing vpon Easter day there being a truce betwixt them not yet expired Alaricus the next morning came against Stillico and to be reuenged besieged the Towne of Rome Honorius being at Rauenna The treason of Stillico being disclosed hee caused him to bee beheaded so receiued hee the reward of his infidelitie Then was there found no Captaine for the warre to leuie the siege before Rome wherefore the Towne was taken by Alaricus after it had endured long time the siege This was about the fifteenth yeare of the Empire of Honorius and of the Lords Natiuitie 412. and from the foundation of Rome 1164. Alaricus neither burnt nor wasted Rome but gaue commaundement that they should be spared which fled vnto the Temples of the Christians He died soone after Adolphus succeeded him and came to Rome but by the meanes of Placidia the sister of Honorius he spared Rome and tooke his way towards Gaul and Spaine and so the Gothes left Italie and occupied Spaine which Alaricus before had inuaded and got the domination thererof In so much that the kings of Spaine that came after discended of them Diminution or the Romane Empire From henceforward the fourth Monarchie receiued such calamities that in place to rule and haue straunge people in subiection it selfe was made a seruant vnto barbarous Nations The Towne of Rome the seate of the said Monarchie in lesse then 139. yeares was foure times taken by the Gothes Vandales and other barbarous people The first is that alreadie recited by Alaricus The 2. by Gensericas the Vandall vnder Martinian the yeare 456. The 3. by Totila King of the Gothes which was the most grieuous oppression that euer Rome endured For it was taken and burnt the yeare 21. of Iustinian and from the foundation of Rome 1300. and of Christ 548. The 4. it was sacked three yeares after the other namely the yeare of Christ 551. as shall be seene in this Historie The Pope Siricius added the Anthems to the Psalmes He made a Lawe that orders that is to say the ceremonies and obseruations which they vse in the consecration of their Church-people should be celebrated and giuen by certaine spaces of time betwixt one an other Ambrose Bishop of Millaine was his familiar and writ vnto him some Epistles which are amongst his workes One in the number 49. and the other in the number 54. wherein hee calles him his Father He died about the yeare 399. hauing occupied that seate 15. yeares after Socrat. lib. 7. chap. 9. and Sozom. lib. 8. chap. 25. Anastasius the first of that name borne at Rome succeeded him and gouerned about three yeares Hee ordained that euery one should heare the Gospell standing and not sitting Hee cast out of the Ministerie such as wanted or were maimed in any of theyr members or subiect to any disease Hee ordained that none beyond the Seas should bee admitted to any Ecclesiasticall estate without hauing a Testimoniall sealed with fiue Bishops This was because of the Manechies which came from Affrike to corrupt Churches Chrysostome borne at Antioch disciple of Libanius the Sophister and an Auditor of Andragatius a Philosopher forsooke the estate of an Aduocate and followed Euagrius with two other his companiōs Theodorus and Maximus which after were Bishops after they had well profited in holy scriptures in the Monasteries For then Monasteries were publike Schooles and Abbots or Priors which gouerned them did publikely teach the holy scriptures Innocent the first of that name borne at Albe preferred the seate at Rome before all others and ordained that it should not be subiect to any other He commaunded the faithfull to fast on the Saterday to the ende that that day they might with Mary Magdalen mourne for Iesus Christ being in his graue He ordained that the Pax should be giuen at Masse and that a Temple which once had beene consecrated should be so no more Hee made certaine lawes concerning the Iewes Painims and Monkes and made the Sacrament of Vnction of such as were sicke Chrysostome was often sicke of a disease of the stomacke therfore he abstained from eating in company He was hardie and liberall in reprehension and aboue all in his publike Sermons and therefore was he hated of the Cleargie He resisted Gaiuas an Arrian who begged of the Emperour a Temple in Constantinople for his people See the Tripart Hist Chap. 6. Lib. 10. Constantinople was diuinely aided against Gaiuas who sending souldiers in the night to burne the Emperours Pallace a great multitude of armed men were seene come against them three nights which made them desist and leaue off their enterprise Chrysostome was sent in ambassage towards the said Gaiuas who had wasted all the countrey of Thrace who met the said Chrysostome and commaunded his owne children to kisse his knees and he himselfe kissed his hand Certaine Monkes Egipt Antropomorphites maintained that God had a body whereabouts came many contentions amongst the Bishops Insomuch that the Arrians and Catholiques in the night slew one an other There was an earthquake in Constantinople The siluer Image of Eudoxia was placed nigh to the Temple of S. Saphie and playes celebrated in her honour Chrysostome crieth out against it and in a Sermon vnder the name of Herodias taxeth Eudoxia whereof beeing angry she suborned people to sley Chrysostome but the people guarded him both day and night he was afterward exiled into Pontus The Church of Constantinople so increased by the Chrysostonites that many of them were put to diuers torments After his exile there happened at Constantinople in September a great haile and foure dayes after died Eudoxia See the forealleadged booke Chap. 15.16 20. The Pernitious errour of Pelagius In the time of Innocent Pope of Rome there was in the Countrey of England one called Pelagius who began to teach that we are not iustified by Gods mercie for Iesus Christes sake without Merite but that through our owne workes and naturall vertues we acquire true and perfect righteousnesse before God Against this Pelagius many good Doctors of this time writ but aboue all Augustine hath shewed that by faith onely we are Iustified
thing worthy of remembrance the great constancie of a woman called Denise and the exhortation she made to her sonne called Maioricus Remember said she my sonne that we were baptised in the name of the Trinitie wherefore let vs not loose the garments of our saluation Also an other called Victoria who neither by the solicitation of her husband nor the teares of her children could be perswaded c. Naucler Epiphanius Bishop of Pauie a very graue man brought into peace and concord the people of Liguria and brought from Burgonie many Captiues as well by his Siluer as his holie life whereby he entreated the redemption of 6000. Captiues Paul Diaconus and Naucler after him Seuerin an Abbot in Noric was now of great renowne Odoacer King of the Gothes as he passed by Noric into Italie went vnto him for his blessing Odoacer occupied Italie and was made King thereof and the Gothes raigned there by the space of 70. yeares The West Empire takes here an end after Augustulus had deposed himselfe the yeare of Christ 472. Sidonius Bishop of Auuerne a famous Poet in this time Clouis the fift King of France and the first Christian King raigned 30 yeares That is fifteene a Painim and fifteene a Christian Hee reuenged himselfe of them which cast out his Father Childerike out of his kingdome Going to Soisons hee tooke it by force and draue away Siagre the sonne of Giles the Romaine who occupied the kingdome against Childeric as hath bene said And at his returne tooke Melum and chased away the Romanes He amplified the kingdome of France hauing subiected to it all the Cities and Townes which the Romanes held betwixt the Riuers Rhene and Seine also all such as were betwixt Seine and Loire The histories of France say that in a certaine battel against the Almaines being at a strait he remembred the admonitions which Clotilde his wife had often giuen him to imbrace the Christian faith and religion In such sort that being pressed he lifted vp his eies to heauen and said Lord God deliuer me from this perill wherein I am thus enuironed with mine enemies and I will beleeue in thy name I all my people It came to passe not only that he was deliuered from perill but also that he had victorie vpon his enemies wherefore he was baptized by Remy Bishop of Rhemes his two sisters and more then 3000. of the noblest of his people besides women and children The inuention and fable of the holy Ampoule as they call it wherwith the kings of France are annointed is reported of this time Clouis for recompence gaue to the Church of Rhemes many great gifts lands signories and rents S. Remy afterward had great authoritie and was principall Councellour of king Clouis Some say he builded the Church of Laon and that hauing erected it a Bishops place gaue vnto it the land of Laon. Patricius the brother of S. Remy Earle of Soissons was after Bishop of Soissons and also gaue to the said Church the Earledome which the Bishop there holds at this day For you must vnderstand that S. Remy and his brother were children of the Duke of Laon and of Soissons of a noble and auncient race The Annales of France make mention that Alaric King of Visigots then occupied a great part of Gaul namely all the country along the Riuer of Loire from Orleans euen to mount Pirenes which do seperate France and Spaine Item the countries of Berry Auuerne Limosin Quercy Perignex Angolmois Agenois Languedoc Prouence and other nigh places against which Clouis willing to make warre as he passed nie Tours he sent to make his offerings to S. Martin to haue his succours against the said Visegoths and that after the victory he himselfe came to Tours and offered great gifts to the Temple of S. Martin If this be so for a first Christian king he was partly instructed in the Christian faith and felt yet his Paganisme because in the place of his old Gods he reclaimed called now vpon Saints The fault may be imputed to the Bishops Pastors which then were more superstitious then religious and more foolishly deuout then well and diuinely instructed in the word of God As S. Brice Patrice Fourcy Medard Gildard Vaast Remy Severin Germanie Loupe Nicaisius Aguien and other Saints of like branne were canonized after their deaths Vnder Zenon there happened such a fire in Constantinople that the greatest part of the Towne was brought into ashes and more then sixe score thousand volumes were lost and consumed Clouis had in marriage Clotilde the daughter of Chilperic King of Burgonie who was slaine by his owne brother called Gondobaldus and his wife mother of the said Clotilde was drowned Felix the third of that name borne at Rome gouerned the Church of Rome 8. or 9. yeares his Father was a Priest called Felix The consecrations of Temples and their dedications yearly are attributed vnto him Germain Bishop of Capua in this time Vaast Bishop of Arras Vedastus in Latin Fulgence Bishop of Rupe in Affrike Auitus Bishop Vienne Solemus Bishop of Chartres preached Christ and Fourcy that came new from Ireland The Councell of Orleans the third at this time after Iohn le Maire In the first Melanius was President In the saide Councell which was vnder Clouis it was agreed that the goods of the Cleargie should be imployed for the mainteining of Priests for the reliefe of the poore for the deliuerance of prisoners and for the repairing of Churches In the Councell of Tarrascon in Spaine Church-men were enioyned not to buye good cheape with intent to sell the same thing dearer for then they should be deposed Meane cares occupied the assemblies of Bishoppes Anastatius the Emperour called Dicorus for the chaunge of colours which appeared in his eye-browes succeeded Zeno and raigned 27. yeares he commaunded straightly to worship a quaternitie that is to say foure persons in the Diuinitie which pernitious heresie was by him maintained Gelatius of Affricke gouerned the Romaine Church fiue yeares his Father was a Bishop named Valericus Naucler The distinction of Autentike and Apocrypha bookes of the scripture are attributed vnto him Hee declared many bookes Apocryphaes as the booke called the Assumption of the Virgine Mary Item the Canons of the Apostles such like In the 1 volume of the Councels The Manicheans againe are condemned and exiled and their bookes burnt He shewed how Anastatius the Emperor might be excommunicated Hee is numbred amongst them which chiefly ordained the Canon Te igitur clementissime c. Some attribute to him the ordinance of Bigamies that is of such as haue bin twise married that they should not be promoted to orders vnles it were by ordinance of the Apostolike sea That orders should be made foure times a yeare and on the Saterday only He made Hymnes Collects Responds Graduels Prefaces of the Masse and brought all into order He
added to the Masse Vere dignum iustum est The Canons then was made at diuers times in diuers times It is then no maruell if it be euil sowed and patched with rags and tatters without any certaine Authour He made 5. bookes against Nestorius Eutiches Item two against the Arrians and a Treatise of excommunicatiō He restored Messenus Bishop after the knowledge of his penance He excommunicated the Emperour Anastatius because hee fauoured Acarius and other heretikes He excōmunicated the king of Vandals all his people which thē in Affrike afflicted the true faithfull in fauour of the Arrias He commanded Priests that they should not communicate but in both kindes and not vnder one alone The Cleargie greatly loued waxed rich in this time and increased Gelatius in full Councell at Rome declared that in the Eucharist neither the substance of the bread and wine nor their natures are chaunged but that in them as in an Image the flesh and bloud of the Lord are represented and that in the Sacrament both are exhibited to the faithfull Hee also declared them to be excommunicated which gaue not nor tooke the Sacrament of the Eucharist whole In the first volume of the Councels Gennaduis at this time was Bishop of Marceil Anastatius a Romane second of that name Pope gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares This is the second Pope noted of heresie whose beginning was reasonably good and excommunicated the Emperor Anastatitius an Eutechian heretike but afterward he himselfe did all he could to reuoke Acetius from exile and stucke vnto him He prooued also very fauourable vnto the Nestorians and communicated with Photin a Deacon of Thessalonica wherfore many Clarks Priests and Bishops refused to communicate with him See the Chap. Anastatius distinct 9. In the moneth of September he created 12. Priests and 16. Bishops Hee died very miserably as it is saide beeing vpon the priuie where he voyded all his bowels as did Arrius Naucler Acatius Bishop of Constantinople an heretike was at this time murthered Sigeb Simmachus borne in the I le of Sardiue ruled in Rome 16. yeares The first schisme in the Romane Church The election of Popes consecrated with bloud When Simmachus was chosen an other likewise called Lawrence was ordained Simmachus in the Temple of S. Iohn de Latran and Lawrence in the Church of S. Mary the greater for which election there was great diuision in the Church In so much as the people and the Romane Senate were diuided Wherefore a Councell was held at Rauenna the King Theodoric being present wherin the election of Symmachus was confirmed Laurence was recompenced with the Bishopricke of Nycerre by Symmachus but by some of the Cleargie of Rome this same sedition began againe about foure yeares after In so much that Theodoric being grieued thereat sent to Rome one Peter Altin Bishop of Rauenna to be Pope the other two reiected But Symmachus assembled the Councell and there in the presence of all 102. Bishops made his Oration and therin so purged himselfe of all vices and crimes laid against him that he was againe elected and approoued of all and Laurence and Peter Altin were reiected yet the noise at Rome was greater and the sedition more enflamed then before For at euery faction there was bloud-shead As well Priests as Lay-men slew one an other in the streetes Finally Faustin the Consul appeased the sedition laying hand to Armes against such as were chiefe Captaines of so many euils See the fruites of the riches of the Romane Church Symmachus ordained that on Sundayes and solemne daies of Martirs they should sing Gloria in excelsis Deo adding to the Cantic the rest which are more then the words of the Angell Item that whilest the Pope liueth none should holde talke of chusing a new Pope vpon paine of excommunication He caused certaine houses to be builded nigh the Church of S. Peter for the ease of the poore and prouided them of all things necessary for liuing Vnder Trasimundus King of Vandals many Bishops of Affrike were put to exile and sent into the I le of Sardine to the number of 202. Amongst the which was Fulgentius which this Symmachus helped with siluer and redeemed many Captiues Olimpius Bishop of Carthage an Arrian beeing at the Bathes and blaspheming the Trinitie was suddenly burnt Naucler Boetius a Poet of this time whose wife was named Elphe was sent into exile by Theodorice King of the Ostrogothes and after sent to prison where he made his bookes De Consolatione Philosophiae In this time Abbies and Temples began to be founded in Fraunce and to be dedicated to the honour of Saints and called by their names The King Clouis vowed to build a Church if he obtained victorie against Allaricus King of Visegothes Hee caused to bee builded the Church of S. Geneurefue at Paris then called Saint Peter and Pauls where hee was buried He founded the great Temple of Strasbourge Gerard Bishop of Laon was married and of his wife had a sonne who succeeded him in the Bishoppricke Symmachus cast out of Rome the Manecheans and caused publikely their bookes to be burnt And made a booke Intituled The excesse of Clarkes He created 92. Priests and 107. Bishops Many Sinodes were held at Rome and one Councell at Valence in Spaine whereby they sought to force Ecclesiasticall persons to leaue their wiues Childebert the sixt King of France a cruell man raigned 45. yeares He founded the Abbay of S. Germain des prees nigh Paris where he was buried and the Abbay Du Mont at S. Michaels the Church of S. Germain del Auxerrois at Paris But the booke called Le mer des histoires sayth otherwise Hormisda Pope borne at Fresselon a Citie of Campania gouerned the Romane Church 9. yeares Hee ordained that Priests should addresse no Aultars without the licence of their Bishop That marriages should be made publikely and solemnly Suppl Chron. That no Lay-man should be chosen to be Bishop A Councell was at Rome against the Eutechians wherein it was ordained that he that had done his penance and made an honourable amends should not be admitted into any Ecclesiasticall estate Supp Chro. Many Monkes corrupted with the Nestorian heresie not leauing it by the exhortations of Hormisda but rather sowing diffametory speeches against him were banished from Rome against the hipocrisie also of which he writ He sollicited by Letters and messengers Iohn Bishop of Constantinople companion of Acarius and euen the Emperour himselfe to leaue the Eutechian heresie but not onely Anastatius despised his admonitions but iniuried his foure Embassadors saying that it belonged to an Emperour to command and not to a Pope Paulus Diaconus addeth that the Emperour Anastatius besides all this caused them to mount on the Sea to goe into Italy in a light and worne ship forbidding them to take no land in Greece but quickly passe away without taking any Porte
obserued as the Gospell which is a sacriledge to compare humane ordinances with the eternall word of the liuing God It was there also ordained that no Bigamus should be ordained Priest and that Priestes accused of the people should haue this authoritie that by oath they might purge thēselues and approue their innocencie By this meanes they would be all innocent Monkes were forbidden to carry any to baptise and women that they should not enter into anye Monasterie of Monkes In Italie after a great drought there came an innumerable multitude of Grashoppers which consumed all the graine and fruite whereof came a great famine in Italie which endured two yeares Chro. Euseb The Legends of Saintes were forged at this time of such liues as these Fathers writ Many Relikes were found out by the subtilties of Sathan As Christes Coate vppon which the souldiers cast Lottes is said to be found in a Coffer of Marble in the Towne of Zapha and frō thence carried into the towne of Ierusalem Abb. Vrsperge and Naucler Such foule absurdities merit no recitall but that the greatest of the world haue bene deceiued with these inuentions of Relikes Argentuel nigh Paris made a Banner of this Coat Agilulsphus king of the Lombards was 2. yeares before Rome and the Arrabian Sarrasins entered into Sicilie and by fire wasted it Mauricius otherwise a good Prince who had many victories especially against the Persians in the end became odious to his souldiers because of his infinit couetousnesse which is a very detestable vice in a Prince He by his auarice dissembled rapines and murthers and payed not his souldiers but not them especially which serued vpon the Frontiers of Sarmatia to resist the fiercenesse of the Scithians They remained in barraine places enduring great necessities For this cause the souldiers conspired against him and Phocas was designed Emperour Who caused his M. Maurice his head to be cut off in Chalcedone the heads also of his wife three Children Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine the rehearsall thereof is worthy memorie that Maurice seeing his children murthered by Phocas and that hee himselfe straightway must be put to death he often cryed in this voice which is in 145. Psalme and verse 12. Lord thou art iust and thy iudgements are also And so dyed of the age of 63. yeares and the 20. yeare of his Empire We may learne by the example of the Emperour who was not of the worst in great cruell temptations in such sort to bridle our thoughts that the iustice of God may alwayes haue his praise and be vnto vs a buckler against all temptations Colomban of Scotland a very renowmed Bishop dyed the yeare 598. Abb. Trit The Lombards were conuerted to the Faith by S. Gregorie who writ his Dialogues and presented them to Theodelinde the wife of Agilulphus their King Supplem Chron. Eutropius a Bishop at this time Abb. Trit Phocas 42. in number and the 19. of the Grecian Emperours of Constantinople which ruled in the East from a Gouernour of Scythia after he had wickedly slaine his maister was chosen by the vnlucky Armie whereof he had charge a verie slaue of couetousnesse who handled secret matters with Courtiers after the manner of the Persians and solde the Offices of Magistrates Iudgements and dearly loued such as tormented the people by rapine and extortion This is hee who first ordeined that Rome should first be the chiefe of all Churches yea though it were Constantinople Gregorie the first besides so many ceremonies and superstitions made certaine ordinances and gaue permissions and lycences Amongst others he suffered diuorces for the long disease of a woman which cannot yeeld her dutie to her husband if he cannot conteine vpon condition notwithstanding that he helpe and succour his said wife in her disease This is in the second Epistle to Augustine the English man And in the second volume of Councells But why then did he not rather vse moderation towardes men and women which were cast into Monasteries when they cannot conteine wherefore constraine they them not to marry See the same Epistle Hee made many bookes amongst many others the Dialogues of the miracles of Saints in foure bookes which are full of Fables whereby he pretendeth to prooue that the soules of the dead returne againe and that we must pray for them These Fables inuented to pray for the dead gaue great authoritie to Masses which after came in great credit Sauinian Pope a Tuscane after Gregorie gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares He is accounted the third Pope noted of abhominable infamie an insatiable man and a sworne enemie of his predecessor Gregorie euen to cause his bookes to be burnt He being once admonished to follow the liberallitie of the said Gregorie towards the poore he answered that he dissipated and wasted the goods of the Church to get a good report and the fauour of the people Hee passed not his Popedome without inuenting and ordaining something namely that there should bee burning Lampes kept continually in the Temple and the houres of the day should be distinguished and rung in Churches The sea of Histories Boniface Pope the third of that name a Romane after Naucler ruled in the Church of Rome one yeare fiue moneths In a Sinode at Rome of 72. Bishops 30. Priests and some Deacons it was ordained vnder paine of excommunication that none should be elected Pope or Bishop but three daies after the death of his predecessour and by the consent of the Prince or of the Lord of the place It was also ordained that all such as by gifts fauour came to any Episcopall dignitie should be excommunicated Then it followeth that all their Bishops at this day are excommunicated This Pope ordained that the Aultar should be couered with cleane cloathes That the corporall of the Aultar should be kept cleane This Phocas as is said the murtherer of his M. the Emperour ordeined Boniface Bishop of Rome the soueraigne Bishop of all Chistianitie and the Romane Church chiefe of all the Churches of the world Abb. Vrsp. The primacie then of the Romane Church was established by an homicide and a traytor who died miserably Cosroes King of the Persian vnderstanding his Father in lawe Maurice was put to death by the ambushes of Phocas detested so that treason that he rebelled against the Empire In such sort that he wasted Siria and tooke Ierusalem where there were nintie thousand men slaine And the Chronicles adde that the wood of the holy Crosse was then taken and carried into Persia and the Bishop Zacharie was also prisoner The East Empire beganne to decline The Hans likewise reuolted against the Empire and with their great multitude they ouerranne the Romane Prouinces The Persians occupied Mesopotamia and Assiria and from Ierusalem ranne euen to Cappadocia and Gallatia and succoured all the Country euen to Chalcedone On the other side the Sarrazins wasted Egipt Boniface Pope 4. of that
done by their commaundement and ordinance Childeric second of that name the 14. King of France raigned two yeares Hee was by treason slaine for his crueltie and his wife bigge with childe was also slaine The Annalls of France Adeonatus or Deodatus Pope borne at Rome ruled there foure yeares and more His father was a Monke called Iouian or Iouinian Hee amplified the Monasterie of Saint Erasmus in the Mount Coelius wherein he was a Monke Hee instituted against Thunders and Tempests which then happened many Supplications and Letanies Supp Chron. Donus Pope a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares After some a yeare and fiue monethes Hee caused S. Peters Court to be paued with Marble and so dedicated the Church of the Apostles and of S. Euphemia and greatly augmented the honour and dignities of the Cleargie The sixt Councell of Constantinople was called vnder this Pope began vnder Agathon and ended vnder Leon the second Here the Church of Rauenna agreed not with the Romane Church beeing not subiect vnto her but called chiefe of it selfe did willingly subiect her selfe for the integritie of this Pope and that with the consent of Reparatus then Bishop of Rauenna In the second volume of Councels But their successors afterward would haue recouered this libertie and auncient freedome againe Wherfore there was a great and long cōtention betwixt the said Churches of Rome and Rauenna Finally the Chuch of Rauenna was made subiect by violence For Iustinian the second inducted and inuited by the Pope besieged the Towne and their goods were pilled many banished and their Bishop which then was called Felix had his eyes put out with an hotte Iron and was after sent into exile into the I le of Pontus Some say this happened in Agathons time Theodorike the fifteenth King of Fraunce raigned fourteene yeares hee was drawne out of the Monasterie of Saint Denis where hee had beene a Monke Hee founded the Abbey of S. Vaast at Arras and was buried there as shall be said Agathon Pope a Sicilian a Monke before ruled at Rome two yeares and an halfe or foure yeares after Naucler It was he that ordained that the decree of the Romane sea should be serued as proceeding from the mouth of S. Peter Dist 19. Chap. Sic omnes In this time the Romane Church encreased much and the Letters of that sea were sealed yet with waxe but after with leade The sixt generall Councell held at Constantinople was of 289. Bishops against the Monothelites which denied two wills and natures in Christ Gregorie or George Bishop of Constantinople left his heresie but Machirus Bishop of Antioche left it not Wherefore hee was cast out of his Bishoppricke The Pope Agathon sent to the Councell Iohn Bishop Portuensis and Iohn Deacon And the dissention that then was betwixt the East church and the West was appeased In this Councell Iohn Bishop Portuensis celebrated the first Masse in Latine and the vse and order thereof was allowed of the said Councell There also the Priests of Greece were permitted to liue in marriage and to haue lawfull wiues but not the Priests of the West Churches The Author of the booke called Fasciculus temp yeeldeth a reason therof saying that willingly he had already vowed chastitie vnder Gregorie But what should they doo if they had not the gift of continencie And moreouer could they vowe for others that came after them Lastly they vowed vppon constraint and authoritie of Councells as appeares aboue It was there also ordained that none should beare a child to be baptised vnlesse he knew the Lords prayer and the beliefe of the faithfull In the second volume of Councells Item not to vowe not to marrie and that Priests which seperate themselues from their wiues because of their sacred orders should bee excluded from the Communion Peter Viret in the Dialogue to them of Orbe A Briefe of the sixe generall Councells Hitherto there hath beene held sixe generall Concells The first at Nicene was of 318. Bishoppes against Arrius vnder Siluester and Constantine the great The second at Constantinople of 150. Bishops vnder Gratian and Theodosius Emperours and Damasus against Macedonius Bishop of Constantinople and Eudoxius who denied the spirit of God The third was in Ephesus of 200. Bishops vnder Celestine Sixtus and Theodosius the great against Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople who called the virgin Mary the mother of Christ man but not God The fourth in Calcedon of 360. Bishops vnder Leo the Pope and Martine the Emperour against Eutiches Abbot of Constantinople who denied two natures in Christ The fift was vnder Iustinian the Emperour and Vigilius Pope against Theodorus and other heretikes who said that the virgin Marie did onely bring forth a man and not God and man There it was ordained that iustly and truly the virgin Marie is called the mother of God The sixt Councell was at Constantinople against Gregorie or George and Machairus and Cirus Sergius Honorius Pirrhus Paulus Petus Bishops which denied two willes as it is said Abb. Trit Theodorus Arch-bishop of Rauenna was a great Almes-giuer and very desirous to keepe the Cleargie in good order for the which hee was hated In so much that on a Christmas day as he was going to celebrate Masse he was left of all whereat beeing much grieued hee went towards Agathon and willingly subiected his Church to the Romanes Nauclerus Leger Bishop of Anthun was in this time Ebroine Prince of the Pallace of France vnder Theoderic caused Legier his eyes to be plucked out the soles of his feete taken away and his tongue and lips cut off and at last cut off his head and his brother Guerin was stoned to death This Ebroine cast Lambert out of the Bishoppricke of Vtrich Ame Bishop of Sens was banished by Ebroine Chron. 519. In this time there was a great pestilence at Rome whereof Agathon died and the Sea was vacant a yeare seuen moneths and fiue dayes Leo Pope the second of that name a Sicilian raigned two yeares or thereabouts Abb. Vrsp After his death the Sea was vacant 11. monethes Supp Chron. This Pope was cunning in Greeke and Latine and made many Epistles and Homilies He ordained that after the Agnus Dei of the Masse they should giue the Paxe to kisse vnto the Assistants Supp Chron. Fasci Temp. Hee permitted to baptise at all times in case of necessitie He ordained by the authoritie of the Emperour that the election of the Bishop of Rauenna should not be good if the Romane Pope did not approoue it but that the Arch-bishop should pay nothing for his Inuesture for many mischiefes came of this largition Supp Chron. and Fasci Temp. The Councell of Toledo 12. and 13. in this time wherein such were anathematized as forbad eating of flesh P. Virel This is meant as it was ordained in the 14. Chapter of the Councell of Bracar 2. See aboue Benet Pope second of that name a
side from whence bloud came wherwith many maladies were healed This thing being declared to the Bishop of the said place he made that blood to be preciously kept and shewed it and carried it hither and thither And therevpon ordeined each yeare a feast called the Passion of the Lordes Image the eight of Nouember Of this blood there was brought to Mantoua Supp Chron. Who sees not that this Fable was inuented to the end that vnder the shadow of miracles the seruice of Saints and Images might be set forward against the Grecians Emperours Whē men haue no authoritie from the holie scripture they cry Miracle Miracle Note hereby the refuge of Papists There was a Sinode held in France against the Grecians touching Images by the authoritie of King Pippin Abb. Vrsp In this time Saints liues were forged on all sides Verus Biship of Siuil wrote the life of S. Eutropius Bishop Abb. Trit Wibaldus composed the life of S. Boniface his maister Bishop of Magunce Tritem Constantine Pope second of that name a Romane gouerned at Rome one yeare By ambition and force hee occupied the Papacice And from the estate of a Laie-man being made Priest hee was chosen Pope by store of money and Armes but after was taken and cast into a Monasterie and his eyes put out In this time likewise there was an Antepope called Phillippicus or Phillip who also was deposed and Stephen the third constituted Sergius Bishop of Rauenna and Christopher Authours of the former schisme had their eyes put out Stephen Pope third of that name Monke of Sicilie ruled at Rome foure yeares This Pope assembled a Councell at Rome where all that was reuoked which Constantine his predecessor had ordeined euen in disgrading them which by him were consecrated In the said Councell assisted 12. Bishops of France Naucler There was also ordeined that no Laie-man should be made Pope or Bishop but successiuely by order and Ecclesiasticall degrees Naucler Item that euery Sunday the Gloria in excelsis should be sung at Masse There was condemned the Councell of Constantinople 7. wherein the Emperour Constantine the 2. and the Bishops of Greece had ordeined that Images should be laid downe This Councell was declared hereticall and againe Images commanded as worthie of honour and veneration This thus agreed vpon the next morning there was made a great procession where the Pope went on foote in great deuotion and all others Naucler and Supp Chron. A great token of repentance for a Pope Charlemaigne the sonne of Pippin 22. King of France had this surname of great for his prowesses and vertues Hee had maruellous warres The first in Aquitane The second against the Lombards And the third against the Saxons He had also warre in Spaine in Bauiere and in Hungarie against the Hunois which Historiographers declare in their order Adrian Pope a Romane gouerned the Romane Church 24. yeares This Pope shewed himselfe cruell against such as impugned the seruice of Images and made a booke Intituled Of the worshipping of Saints Chron. Sigeb and Abb. Trit Dedier 22. and last king of Lombards desired the loue and friendship of this Pope but he would not consent therevnto Saying that he would not accord with him which so often had broken his promise wherewith Didier being moued practised many euils against the Church of Rome In so much that Adrian was constrained to demaund aide in Fraunce Supplim of Chron. Charlemaigne came into Italie at the request of Adrian against Didier and obtained victorie against him after he had raigned 18. yeares hee sent him prisoner into France with his wife and children And the kingdome of the Lombards finished in Italie which had endured 224. yeares or 213. After hee had ouercome the Lombards hee instituted the Vniuersitie of Pauie and adorned it with learned people Charlemaigne came to Rome and kissed the Popes feete Blundus and P. Emilius He restored to the Romane Church his reuenewes priuiledges and ratified all that which his Father Pippin had giuen to the said Church Wherefore this Adrian caused a Councell to be held of 153. Prelates by which was giuen to Charlemaigne the right of Inuesture placing Bishops in possession of their seates and to elect the Pope of Rome from hence forward Distinct 63. cap. Adrianus This priuiledge endured not long and was but feined hypocriticall And the succeeding Popes obserued it not saying it was but curtesie and a personable priuiledge which could not exceed the person of the Emperour which then was Leon Emperour fourth of that name sonne of Constantine Emperour raigned fiue yeares his wife was of Athens named Hirene otherwise also Theodora a faire woman and of great spirit Naucler He loued precious stones and hauing seene a Crowne full of precious stones in the Treasury of Saint Sophie put it vpon his head but by the coldnesse thereof he fell into a Feuer whereof he dyed Chron. Sigeb Fasc temp Naucler Supp Chro. After his wife Hirene raigned Charlemaigne enterprised warre against the Saxons Infidels and Painims and this endured 33. yeares Naucler For they often reuolted and feined themselues to be Christians abusing Charlemaigne Abb. Vrsp. Finally they were made subiect Adrian builded certaine Towers and walles at Rome and gaue great gates of Brasse to the Church of S. Peter and adorned the Aultar with a couering of Gold Hee ordeined that an hundreth poore people should be nourished in the Court of Lateran He restored S. Anastatius and other ruinated Churches He was puissant and noble of race and none of his predecessours came to like temporal glory and riches Supp Chro. Fasci temp Charlemaigne displeased at the discord of the Church Musicke betwixt the Romanes and the French sent two Clarkes to Rome to learne the Song of the Romane Church which first instructed the Church of Metes in Lorraine and after al France in the same singing Supp Chron. Constantine 6. of that name Emperour 76. of Leon the 4. raigned tenne yeares with his mother Hirene but being come to age he depriued her of the Empire exhorting her rather to deale in domesticall affaires without medling with gouerning the Empire Sigeb Charlemaigne made warre in Spaine against the Sarrasins Naucler Where the Peers of France were betraied Ganelon Hirene had her deuotion towards the virgin Mary and all other Saints And at the request of Pope Adrian and of Therasius Arch-bishop of Constantinople she assembled after Sigeb a Councell at Nice called the seuenth of 350 after some or of 325. Bishops Naucler Wherin it was decreed that not only in Temples should be Images but also that they should be worshipped of right that al gainsaiers should be excommunicated but this decree was after abolished by Constantine Chro. Euseb Here tooke the Vniuersitie of Paris her beginning by the care of Alenin an English man who was Charlemaignes maister Constantine the 11. yeare of his Empire depriued his mother of the
Laie person By which answere Charlemaigne being appeased after also that Leo had affirmed by an oath that he was not culpable he declared him absolued and innocent The Pope for these benefites willing to yeelde some pleasure on Christmas day assoone as the King was come from the Church he put the Crowne on his head and pronounced Charlemaigne Emperour of the Romanes without that he had aspired to receiue the Imperiall Crowne And all the Romane people cryed saying Life and victorie be to the thrice Christian Charles alwaies August Crowned of God great and peaceable Emperour And whereas before they vsed to call him by the name of Patrician he was called Emperour the yeare of his raigned 23. and of our saluation eight hundreth and three Hirene Empresse of Constantinople hearing what had beene done at Rome sent three Embassadors towards Charlemaigne to confirme the peace Charlemaigne on his side also sent his Embassadors towards the Empresse for a greater confirmation of peace demaunding her in marriage wherevnto she had consented but for the hinderance by ambushes laid against it as if she would haue solde the Empire by her marriage to strangers Nicephorus then was crowned Emperour and Hirene chased away who passed the rest of her life in exile Nicephorus sent his Embassadors to Charlemaine to renew the alliance vpon those conditions That both should be called Augustes and bretheren together the one of the East and the other of the West That in Italie which is on the side beyond Naples and on the other side beyond Sipont namely all that which stretcheth towards the Sea should belong vnto the Greeke Emperour and the rest to the French Emperour That Venice should be in the middest and as the limitte and border betwixt those two Empires and acknowledge the Maiestie of them both That the Venetians should be subiect neither to the one nor the other but should vse their owne lawes and be the friend of both whether in peace or warre Some say that the Emperour after his Coronation said that if he had knowne the Popes enterprise he would not that day haue entred into the Church Aduertisement Although successiuely there were alwaies Emperors of Constantinople which kept the Romane Empire vntill the Towne was occupied by the Turkes yet because the true brightnesse and Maiestie of the name and of the tuition of the Empire and of Italie was in Charlemaine and his successors we leaue in Nicephorus the Greeke Emperours because they haue not bene like these Therefore leauing the East namely that of Constantinople we will set downe in order the Emperours of the West namely of Rome Charlemaigne then deliuered the Romane seate from all molestations of forraine Princes and atchieued that for which principally hee came into Italie that is to say at the siege of Pauie hauing constrained Didier the last King of the Lombards to yeeld himselfe hee got possession of all Lombardie And to the ende they should no more molest Italie hee droue them away as seditious persons and sent Didier Captiue with his wife and children into the Towne of Liege Paul Diaconus an Historiographer and Secretarie to the said Didier was ledde with him and from that time Charlemaigne made his the Kingdome of Lombardie leauing all the Townes of Italie in theyr accustomed libertie to the ende hee might giue no occasion of trouble vnto the Greeke Emperour About this time Acayus the 65. King of Scots made the first alliance with King Charlemaigne and with Fraunce which hath endured euer since and yet at this present is maintained betwixt these two Nations Tassilo Duke of Bauiere moouing warre against Charlelemaigne lost his Countrey and was put in a Monasterie with his sonne and although hee was Charlemaignes kinsman yet for his faith before violated hee vsed this seueritie towardes him Nicephorus raigned at Constantinople eight or nine yeares whom the Romanes would not acknowledge for Emperour wherevpon there rose great enuie and hatred betwixt them of the East and of the West A Schisme betwixt them of the East and of the West Whatsoeuer agreement was made there was stil enuie and enmitie betwixt the East and the West Emperours and they could not suffer one an other yet this dissention hapned not onely betwixt them but also betwixt the East and the West Churches wherof altogether the Pope was cause in intent to withdrawe and exempt himselfe from the obedience of him of whom he held all his good Charlemaigne inriched many Churches Abbeys and Bishoppricks especially in Almaine the Bishoppricks of Magunce Strasbourge Colongne and Treuers giuing them great priuileges Briefly there were fewe renowmed Churches in Germanie nor in all the two Frances which hee endowed not with some goods and reuenewes Iohannes Scotus a Monke of S. Benet a Disciple of Beda and a companion of Albin or Alcuin Charlemaignes maister wrote vpon S. Mathewe three bookes and other things Abb. Trit Hinmarus Bishop of Rhemes before Monke of S. Deuis wrote two bookes of the life of S. Remy Bishop Tritem Charlemaigne at the last got the vpper hand of the Hungarians and tooke great riches from them for it had bene two hundreth yeares that they did no other thing but pill and spoile all other Nations without beeing pilled themselues After he tamed the Bohemians hauing ouercome their King called Lechon And so in the ende Charlemaigne was peaceable of Italie France Almaine Hungarie and Bohemia So oftentimes the Lord sends puissant Monarkes to repaire things confused as also to represse the insolencie and disordinate dealings of great persons dispersed on the earth Charlemaigne of the age of 72. yeares died at Aix in Almaine of a Feauer and a Plurisie the yeare of his raigne 46. of his Empire 14. and the yeare of Christ 814. hauing instituted the Vniuersitie of Paris and Pauie Lewis Charlemaignes sonne by his wife Hildegarde surnamed Le Debonaire because he was of a soft and gracious spirit was after the death of his father pronounced Emperour by the chiefs of the Kingdome Stephen fourth of that name a Romane being substituted in the place of Leo three monethes after went into Fraunce towards Lewis Debonaire the Emperours to the ende to purge himselfe concerning his election for that against the decrees of Adrian and Leo his predecessors hee had beene chosen and confirmed Pope by the Cleargie and the people of Rome without the counsell and authoritie of the Emperour Wherein we see that the Romane seate is so faithfull an obseruer of her owne lawes and ordinances that the first that succeeds him which made them breakes and transgresseth them But to the end that this flatterer vsing hipocrisie might the rather for a time abuse Lewis hee set on his head a faire Crowne which hee brought with him and an other on the head of the Queene Hirmingarde calling her Auguste or Empresse But the subtil Foxe being recompenced by the Emperour returning and the
all madnesse that whilest they of the Cleargie be compelled to relinquish the company of their owne lawfull wiues they become afterward fornicators and adulterers with other women and wicked ministers of other sinfull filthinesse These be they which bring vnto the Church of God this Heresie as blinde guides leading the blinde that it might be fulfilled which the Psalmist speaketh of as foreseeing the errours of such men and accursing them after this manner Let their eyes be blinded that they see not and bowe downe alwaies their back For as much then ô Apostolicall Sir as no man which knoweth you is ignorant that if you through the light of your discretion had vnderstood and seene what poysoned pestilence might haue come vnto the Church through the sentence of your decrees they would neuer haue consented to the suggestions of certaine wicked persons Wherefore we counsell you by the fidelitie of our due subiection that with all diligence you would put away so great slaunder from the Church of God and through your discreet discipline you would remooue the Pharasicall doctrine from the Flocke of God So that this only Sunamite of the Lordes vsing no more adulterous husbands doo not seperate the holie people and the kingly Priesthood from her Spowse Christ Iesus through an irreconciliable diuorcement seeing that no man without chastitie not only in the virgins state but also in the state of Matrimonie shall see our Lorde Iesu who with the Father and the holy Ghost liueth and raigneth for euer Amen This Epistle sheweth vs as it were with a finger that in all times the truth of the Lord hath found a passage through the middest of the Furies of this world raising vp faithfull Ministers to oppose themselues against the horrible discipations of the aduersaries The Sarrasins came from Affricke into Italie vnto the Territorie of Beneuent before whome went the Emperour Lewis the second being ayded by his brother Lotharie who dyed in the way at Plaisans Pal. Floren. The King of Bulgaria receiued the Faith made himselfe a Monke and left the kingdome to his sonne who reiected the Faith In so much as his Father came out of the Monasterie and went against him in battaile and hauing obtained victorie put out his sonnes eyes and held him in prison giuing his kingdome to his younger sonne and after returned to his Monastery Naucler and Sigeb The body of Saint Innocent Pope was transported from Rome into Saxonie by the Duke of Saxe Chron. Sigeb Michael Emperour of Constantinople made a fellowe and companion of his Empire one called Basile a Macedonian a puissant man by whom afterward hee was slaine Nauclerus Lewis sonne of Lewis de Bonaire king of Germanie Vncle of Lewis 2. Emperour obtained a victorie against the Cleuois and caused their Dukes eies called Rastrix to be put out because he had falsified his faith Naucler After the death of Nicholas Pope the seate was emptie eight yeares seuen moneths and nine or ten daies as some say Abb. Vrsp. The Britons were vanquished of the French vnder Charles le Chauue king of France Naucler The Normains being ouercome receiued the faith Naucl. The Countrey of Holland was erected into an Earledome or Countie and Flaunders likewise whereof Baudwin was the first Count. Adrian Pope second of that name the sonne of Talarus Bishop ruled at Rome fiue yeares The Emperour hauing sent his Embassadors for the Popes election the Cleargie and Romane people attended not their comming but vsurping the authoritie of choosing proceeded to the election The Embassadors mal-contented the subtil Romanists laid the fault vpon the common people as hard to represse and appease being stirred They satisfied with this excuse saluted Adrian with the name of Pope Platina R. Barns Soone after came Letters from the Emperour signifying that the election pleased him and because strangers could not know the qualitie of him which should be elected he graunted the election to the Citizens Naucler and Cor. Abb. Adrian then ordained that no Lay-man should thrust himselfe into the election of the Pope Naucler 63. Dict. Cap. Nullus He sent three Legates to the Bulgarians who were newly conuerted namely Siluester Leopard and Dominic to ordaine the affaires of that Church after the Romane fashion but after perswaded of the Grecians they cast off the Latine Priests and receiued the Greekes which afterward engendred great hatred betwixt the Latine and Greeke Church and all the diuision of the aforesaid Churches came onely for the Primacie and for the diuersitie of Ceremonies Robert Barns and Nauclerus Edmond the last King of the East Angles was slaine by the Painims of Denmarke Anno. 871. and was Canonized a Martyr Alfredus or Aluredus the 7. English king was crowned by the Pope Adrian Polydore Lib. 5. The Greciās vsed bels by the benefit of the Venetiās Sabell About this time a Councel was held at Constantinople which was called the eight generall Councell Adrian sent thither his Legates Donatus Bishop of Ostia Stephen Nephesin and Marinus a Deacon of the Romane Church R. Barns Ignatius who vniustly was depriued of his Patriarchall dignitie was restored and Photin some call him Phocas was reiected and excommunicated Sabellicus in his 9. booke 1. cap. It was there ordained that they of Bulgaria should be subiect to the Romane church the Emperour Basilius contradicting it Here it was also ordained that no Lay-man should be admitted to the election of a Pope an Archbishop a Patriarke or Bishop but that the Bishop should be chosen by the Cleargie of the Chapter R. Barns Adrian excommunicated Lotharius King of Lorraine brother vnto the Emperour Lewis for his adulterie but comming to Rome as he returned from the warre against the Sarrasins as some say Nauclerus alleadgeth to excuse himselfe receiued the Communion with his Princes but they all died within the yeare And the King Lotharius himselfe died in the way in the Towne of Plaisance Fascic Temp. Chron. Vrsperg and Sigeb In Lombardie nigh Brize it raigned bloud three dayes and three nights after Nauclerus and the Chron. Sigeb And in Fraunce there was a great multitude of Graffe-hoppers with sixe winges fiue feete and two teeth which destroyed all grasse hearbes and Trees They were driuen into the English Seas by the force of exceeding great windes and againe by an other winde they were returned vpon the Sea sandes vpon the putrifaction wherof came such a pestilence that great multitudes of men dyed saith Sigeb Naucler saith that the third part of men died Iohn Scotus a learned man was called from France into to England by Alfredus King there who founded the Schoole at Oxenford where the said Scotus gouerned but after making himselfe a Monke he was slaine by the Monkes of that couent as he was teaching he was cunning in the Greeke tongue and translated into Latin the Hierarchie of S. Denis Naucler Iohn Pope 9. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome ten yeares Suppl Chron. being a
or 10. yeares 6. or 7. moneths and 8. or 10. dayes after the diuersitie of writers In this time Crescentius Momentanus a Consull of Rome had vsurped rule ouer the Towne of Rome and perswaded the Romanes Italians to take againe the Empire Hee so persecuted this Pope Iohn that hee was constrained to flie out of Rome and to soiourne in Tuscane and Lombardie But when he heard that the said Iohn had now the third time sent for succors of the Emperor Otho he sent messengers towards the said Pope to recall him At whose request the Pope returning Crescentius demaunded pardon of him Otho desiring to haue the Emperial crowne hauing gathered together a great army and before hee entred Rome hee made a peace betwixt the Duke of Beneuent and the Duke of Capuae from thence hee came to Rome and was crowned by Gregorie 5. of that name his cofin before called Bruno son of Duke Otho of Saxonie whō he made Pope in the place of Iohn maugre the Romans and by him was crowned Emperour Certain time after Crescentius Conful of Rome corrupted with auarice procured y t the Bishop of Plaisance who was a Grecian by nation a very pernitious man was constituted Pope was called Iohn 18. and held the seate 10. months Gregorie then retyred towards the Emperour to bee reuenged of the iniurie was done him The Emperour sore mooued at that outrage with great power returned to Rome Crescentius vnderstanding of his cōming not trusting in the Roman people caused the Castle de S. Angelo to be fortified And as these things were in doing the Emperor besieged the towns The Romane people more meet for seditiō then to fight desired pardō of y e Emperor opened the gates vnto the Almains Crescentius Pope Iohn being destitute of Councel retired into the fort of the said Castle Some by treason promised them assurance if they would demand pardon of the Emperor They then came downe as they came were surprised Pope Iohn after his eies were put out his mēbers mutilated he was slain Crescentius was set vpō a Mare his face towards the taile his nose eares being cut off hee was led before the Towne for a spectacle vnto all Some say he was hanged without the towne others say his head was cut off R. Barns Therfore Gregory being restored into his Bishoprick seeing the troubles y t in time past had bin for the electiō of Emperors and the variable issues therof assembled a Councel wherein the first ordinance establishment of Electors was decreed to the end the dignitie Emperial should no more remain in one house family by successiō of line This electiō then was giuē to the Germanike natiō which yet holdeth it at this day Sixe Princes were established three Ecclesiasticall that is to say the Archbishoppe of Magunce of Treuers and of Colongne the three other secular were the Marquesse of Brandeberge the Duke of Saxonie and the Counte of Palatine vnto which was giuen the right and power for euer to elect the Emperour With them was ioyned the Duke of Boheme Boheme then had not obteined the title of a kingdome as the seuenth to accord them if peraduenture they were euen in yeares If it be demaunded wherfore so high a dignitie of election was not rather committed to other Princes which then were puissant namely he of Bauieres Sueuia and Franconia Historiographers make no mention thereof But if it be lawfull to set downe some appearance of cause it is certaine that Boheme was a Country meete to maintaine the right of election as a Countrey inuited by nature Saxonie had that honour because the Emperour descended out of that house as also for that it is a very large and puissant Country The Country of Brandeberge held then also on the house of Saxonie and it is likely the Emperour Otho desired to aduaunce that which was of his owne house The Counte Palatine sued to haue that prerogatiue by reason of the posteritie of Charlemaigne For the Countie of Palatine was then of the line of Charlemaigne After that this election was thus established the Italians stirred many troubles against the Emperour new matter of sedition wanted not therevnto Whilest Iohn 18. ruled at Rome and that Gregorie the fift was absent and deiected as is said one called Odillo a Monke and afterward the Abbot of Clugni instituted in his Monastery the day of All-soules the next day after All-saints which institution was incontinently receiued and approoued by all the Church The occasion hereof was that this ignorant Monke had vnderstood of an Hermite returning from Sicilie that great noyses and lamentations were heard in the Mountaine Aetna who hee thought were the soules of the dead which suffered paine in Purgatorie therefore hee thought they might be helped by Orisons and prayers See Iustine in his booke 3. Chron. Sigeb and Polyd. Verg. lib. 6. cha 9. The house of Sauoye issued from the Dukes of Saxonie as is said is raised into a Counte The Emperor Otho espoused the daughter of the King of Arragon a very intemperate woman who maintained a young man in womans array as one of her Chamber-maides but the thing discouered the adulterer who was burnt aliue and by intercession of friends the Empresse was reconciled but for all this she desisted not from perseuering in her incontinences often requiring men before she were required In the Towne called Modena in Italie she was imbraced with the loue of a Count very faire and of good grace and sought by all meanes to cause him to condiscend to her luxutious desire which he would not fearing the losse of his estate She accused him to the Emperour saying he solicited her of dishonour The Emperour angred hereat in his furie caused him to be beheaded But the truth afterward being knowne she was burnt aliue and foure goodly places were giuen to the wife of the saide Counte in recompence Ammonius a Monke of Fleury in this time wrote a booke of the myracles of S. Benet and Herigerus Abbot of Lob wrote an other of the dissonance of the Church an other booke of the diuine office Also of the bodie and blood of the Lord and others Abb. Trit Robert 36. King of France raigned 34. yeares a learned and very studious man He went to Rome vpon deuotion The Sea of Histories Constance his wife founded the Abbey of Poissi wherin she was buried The same Siluester Pope second of that name of the Countrey of Aquitane called before Gilbert or Gerbert a Magician Nigromancer as hath bene saide came to the saide seate by the art of the diuel vnto whom he had done homage that all his affaires might goe after his wish In his youth he was a Monke of Fleury in the Diocesse of Orleans but for the ardent desire hee had of learning left his Abbey got him to Siuile in Spaine which then the Sarrasins held and gaue himselfe to
the Popedome of Benet R. Barnes There was great trouble in Hungarie vnder the King Andrewe and after vnder his brother Vela against such as demaunded againe to returne vnto their Paganisme and auncient superstition Naucler Clement Pope second of that name before called Werdigerus or Singerus or Sindegerus Bishop of Bamberge was Canonically elected in full Councel after that the foure others aboue named were deposed He crowned the Emperour Henry the third and his wife Agnes on a day of the Natiuitie of Christ Naucler Henry before he departed from Rome constrained the Romanes by oath to renounce their right of election without any more medling therein thereafter to auoyd Schismes and scandales which commonly rise of such election Others say the poore gaue them that commaundement and defence Naucler The Romanes after the Emperours departure forgetting their oath impoysoned this Pope after he had gouerned nine moneths Some say that Stephen his successour who was called Damasus was authour thereof Benno saith it was Gerard Brazure a friend of Theophilact and of Hildebrand a man expert in poysoning In this time men forged Visions and miracles to establish the Sacrament of the Masse which then was called of the Aulter Many durst not speake what they thought therein for feare of Popes The wickednesse of Popes merited that the power of election should be taken from Ecclesiasticall persons by the iust iudgement of God saith Nauclerus This Pope was poysoned soone after the Emperours departure Damasus Pope second of that name otherwise called S. Stephanus Baguiarius borne in Bauiere Bishop of Brixe ruled by force the seate 23. dayes as Histo and Chron. say For he occupied the Popedome without election either suffrage of people or Cleargie R. Barnes Leo Pope 9. of that name an Almaine of the Countrey of Alsac the Earles of Ausperge and being Count or Earle of Etisheim called Bruno Bishop of Tulles a man of good nature was sent to Rome by the Emperour at the request of the Romanes and being chosen Pope gouerned fiue yeares two moneths sixe dayes after Suppl Chron. Some say that as he came to Rome Hugo Abbot of Clugny and Hildebrand the Monke encountred and met him in his pontificall attire they perswaded him to take off that habite and to enter into Rome in his vsuall and priuate attire vpon this reason that the Emperour had not giuen him the right to chuse the Pope but only the people and Cleargie of Rome Bruno agreeing to their speech confessed his fault and accused himselfe that he had rather obey the Emperour then God At Hildebrandes perswasion the Cleargie elected him for this that hee confessed that the election ought to appertaine to the Cleargie and not to the Emperour Leo then to recompence Hildebrand created him Cardinall and committed vnto him the Church of S. Paul The yeare of Christ one thousand fiftie one Leo assembled a Councell at Verseil where was first handled the opinion of Transubstantiation although that word was not inuented of long time after and there was condemned the opinion of Iohn Scotus of Bertramus and Berengarius Doctor borne at Tours Arch-deacon of Angiers who maintained the opinion of Scotus and of Bertramus touching the Eucharist In the said Councell Berengarius appeared not but sent thither two Clarkes and as they would haue excused Berengarius and haue told the reason they were laid hold on and put inprison Behold how they disputed O Ecolampadius These be the pooceedings of the aduersaries of the truth to ioyne tyrannie with ignorance Berengarius had Lanfrancus for his aduersary who maintained the opinion of Pascasius the first author of this doctrine against Scotus and Bertramus Hubert Cardinall Rogerius Guimondus maintained Lanfancus his part which mingled subtilties with outrages against Berengarius who shewed himselfe litle constant For although he had the truth on his side yet had he a certaine hatred against Lanfrancus Rogerius mingled with glory hope of victorie which made him loose the desire he had to maintaine the puritie of the doctrine For he mingled withal certain speeches of marriage the Baptisme of litle children and therfore they stifled amongst some errours by his fault So commeth it to passe whē without the feare of the Lord we wil maintaine the cause of the Gospell O Ecolamp At this time the Emperour caused a Sinode to be held of an hundreth and thirtie Bishops at Magunce Some write that Leo was there and there it was ordeined that the Clarks should nourish no dogges for hunting nor hawkes That Clarkes should deale with no secular nor prophane affaires That none should be admitted or receiued into a Monasterie for a Monke vnlesse hee were of a lawfull age and that hee should come in of his owne good will without constraint Simony and marriage was forbidden Priests That the houses of Clarkes should be builded nigh vnto Temples and Churches 12. quest 2. cha Necessaria Henry the third gaue to Leo the Towne and Countrey of Beneuent to redeeme the yearly rent of an hundred marks paid as is aboue said yearely out of the Cathedrall Church of Bamberge and Leo confirmed the priuiledges graunted to the said church accorded to the said Archbishop the Mantle which they call Palilium to vse three times in the yeare At Easter at the Feast af S. Peter and S. Paul and vpon S. George his day the Patrone of that Church Naucler Vpon the aforesaid Sinode Nicholas a Monke of Constantinople writ a Booke against the Latines Intituled De nuptijs Sacerdotum Of the marriage of Priests which was condemnemned by Hubert the said Popes Legate and sent to Constantinople Trit Abb. This Pope being at Ratisbone the Legates of Paris being present approued the Relickes of S. Denis whereof there had bene a long doubt whether they were Saint Denis his Relickes or no. Chron. Abb. Vrsp. Vnder Henry the third the Hungarians returned vnto Paganisme and hauing reiected the Faith put to death all their Bishops and Cleargie Naucler Vpon a Christmas day Leo the ninth and Henry the third being at a great Masse in the Towne of Wormes after the Subdeacon had sung the Epistle in the accustomed maner and Tune the Pope presently deiected depriued him of his office because he sung the Epistle in the Popes presence in an other Song and Tune then the Romane Church did The Arch-bishop of Wormes who saide Masse that day greeued that his Subdeacon should be so handled after the Gospell was sung retyred into his Episcopall seate leauing his office vnperfected saying he would make no ende if the Pope would not restore his Subdeacon to his former state The Pope because hee would not hinder that the seruice should not be ended restored his Subdeacon R. Barn Albert. Crane lib. 4. Saxo. ca. 45. Anne Queene of France wife of Henry the first founded in the Towne of Senlis a Church of S. Vincent where are Regular Chanons and an other in the suburbs where were
of a Regular Chanon he was made Bishop Cardinall and after Pope ruled at Rome fiue yeares and sixe monethes He was sent vnto Norway by Eugenius the third Pope to preach the faith and when he had instructed the people of the said Countrey he was chosen Pope Beeing receiued the Romanes prayed him to leaue the administration of the towne free to Consuls and Magistrates after their auncient maner which be refused wherat the Romanes grieued did many euils vnto a Cardinall In so much that Adrian set all the Citie of Rome vnder an Interdict or excommunication After his election he would by no meanes go to the Church of Laterane to be consecrated vntill first Arnold bishop of Brixe were cast out of the Towne who opposed himselfe against the Administration of ciuill things and of the temporall sword which the Cleargie had vsurped And therefore he called him an heretike solliciting the Romane people to maintain their libertie Magistracie and other offices R. Barns Of this same time was Peter de Blois who in his writings touched the wickednesse of the Cleargie-men In a certaine Epistle which he writeth to a Bishops Officiall he admonisheth him to come out of Babilon detesting the tirannie of Bishops and their Officials calling them infernall harpies which do but powle and sheere the Church of Iesus Christ He often calleth the Cleargie Siria Edom Calues of Bethel Idols of Egipt the fatte of Samaria Priests of Baal and Iudges which forge vniust lawes and many such like names he giueth them This saith he of Rome At Rome all is subuerted by gifts Monkes may do all things by siluer and redeeme by annuall pentions all wickednesse of the flesh There filthinesse began to be sung in the Tabernacle of Geth in the streets of Ascalon So was he made the Prince of Sodome and his Disciples after him are set in the chaire of pestilence Such writing should be noted for their excellencie and raritie The yeare of Christ 1155. Frederic went into Italy Adrian met him euen at Sutry hoping by the Emperours meanes to reuenge himselfe vpon his enemies And as hee arriued at the Emperours lodging the Emperour hasted to meete him and as he lighted he held the left stirrope of his horse and taking him by the hand ledde him into his Castle The Pope greatly disdaining held as a mockery that the Emperour at his lighting held his left stirrope and not his right Insomuch that he departed from his Castle much offended discontent The next morning the Emperour dissembling all like a wise man calling the Pope as hee met him againe held his right stirrope at his lighting For hee had not forgotten his lesson of the day before After they went to Rome and there Frederic was crowned by Adrian at S. Peters and returned into Almaigne Ri. Barnes Iohn of Salisbury Bishop of Chartres was in this time who sharply opposed himselfe against the wickednes of Popes and Cleargie He writ a booke Intituled Obiurgatorium Cleri In his booke Intituled Policraticus he saith thus In the Romane Church are set Scribes and Pharisies loading mens shoulders with insupportable burthens The great Bishop is heauy vnto all yea importable His Legates cast themselues so into the fields as if Sathan were come from the Lorde to torment the Church Iudgement amongst them is no other thing but a true marchandise They esteeme of gaine as of pietie it selfe They iustifie the wicked by gold and siluer and reioyce in wickednes They eate the sinnes of the people They are apparelled nourished in all luxurie whilest the true worshippers worship the Lord in spirit He that sticketh not vnto their doctrine either is he iudged an hereticke or a schismaticke c. Often were there such Doctors in the Church but they durst not speake nor write of all that was needfull In a booke Intituled Speculum that is to say the Glasse It is said that that good Bishop Iohn amongst other complaints hath bene sometimes heard say to the Pope Adrian the fourth his very familiar friend these words The Pope indeed is truly the seruant of seruants because he serueth the Romanes seruants of couetousnesse The same Pope Adrian was heard say to the said Bishop Iohn That there were many Popes which rather succeeded Romulus in murders paracides then S. Peter in feeding of sheep Romulus the first founder of the Citte of Rome slewe his owne brother Remus and so the walls were dedicated in that Parricide Adrian excommunicated William the sonne of Rogier king of Sicily and Pouille and absolued his subiects of their oathes towards him but seeing he profited nothing by that meanes he incited Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople Emanuel promised the Pope to deposed the said William Onely he demanded three Maritime or Sea Townes if he came to his purpose These conuentions made in the meane while the Grecians occupied Pouille and wasted it William vnderstanding these practises prayed the Pope to be reconciled vnto him and that hee would onely graunt him the title of king of the two Sicilies and he would restore him whatsoeuer he demanded yea he would giue of his owne The Pope was content but the Cardinalls kept him from it William then went into battaile against the Grecians and obtained the victorie droue the Grecians out of Pouille and recouered it The Captaine prisoners were bound with chaines Afterward he went against Beneuent and besieged it The Pope and his Cardinalls which by chance were there are prisoners and constrained to demaund peace and to agree wiih him The Pope first absolueth him of his excommunication and pronounceth and declareth him King after hauing done him homage to hold his Land Seignory of the holy Father Adrian returned to Rome and straight fel vnto cōtention For the Consuls would maintaine their franchise ancient libertie Wherfore fearing because the Interdict endured yet he got himselfe Anagnia or Arignianum R. Barns Frederic was not content that the Pope without his knowledge had graunted the title and right of Sicilia because he was thereby defrauded of the Inuestures also for that the Popes Legates pilled so the Countries subiect vnto his Empire Because the Pope began secretly through all the Empire to sowe reasons to retire his subiects from his subiection Wherefore he demaunded homage of the Bishops of the Germaine Nation and oath of fidelitie hee forbad that any should appeale vnto the Romane Sea He commaunded the Popes Legates which appealed not to him to get them out of his Countries The Pope very much grieued at all those things as also that the Emperour set his owne name before the Popes in his Letters missiues which he sent writ Letters vnto him rebuking him for those foresaid things admonishing him to amēd The Emperor answered them frō point to point First that iustly by good right he set his name before his seeing the Pope oweth all humilitie to the Emperour as Christ hath taught And if Popes haue
but euen our owne soules and not onely as is said in an other place to leaue their father and mother but also to hate them yea our owne liues Briefly Iesus Christ would that we should be readie to forsake all when the confession of his truth requireth it There are learned people of our age which say they haue seene foure bookes which he writ Intituled a Collection of the Catholike and Canonicke scripture He writ also a booke Intituled the fiftie markes and signes of false Prophes Hee writ against Bonauenture who then was the chiefe Buckler of the begging Friars Matheus Paris an English Historiographer writes that in this same time there was in the schoole of Paris great disputations against Monkes which by multitude would needs oppresse and oppugne all the schoole hauing forged a new booke full of errors and blasphemies which they then reiected and intituled Euangelium eternum that is the euerlasting Gospell which they would needs bring into light But to appease this tumult there were sixe delegates of all the schoole which were of the greatest estimation in all the Vniuersitie amongst which was Guilliam de S. Amour to send them to Rome vnto the Pope and shewe the insolencies and blasphemies of those Monkes The Monkes also sent thither on their part and after great contention their errors were condemned touching their eternall Gospell But the Pope with certaine Cardinals Monkes repressed nothing the tirannie of the begging Friars thinking it was needfull that such his black gard should become mightie ouer all These be the words of Matheus Paris who was in this time Wee also finde a booke written in this time intriuled de periculis mundi of the daungers of the world which the Papists attributed vnto Guilliam de S. Amour making him alone of that opinion but it seemeth to haue bin written by many and conteineth complaines against those new rising Monkes with an aduertisement vnto the Church that by them great mischiefes would follow This S. Amour was condemned an heretike wherevpon great stirres fell out amongst the schooles at Paris but to obey the Popes commaundement Guilliam S. Amour was banished from France We heare that some of his bookes are yet at this day in the librarie at Sorbone and many other Doctors haue since written the like as in our discourse shal be said Truth is alwaies banished yet still getteth the vpper hand of all Alexander being come to Viterbe to make peace betwixt the Venetians and Geneuois died there and the seate was vacant foure moneths Albert the great and other studious people were at this time at Paris An Aduertisement From Siluester the 2. that diuellish Magician vntil this time 1260. Popes haue raigned as Incarnate diuels in all trumperies deceites oppressions of the good and manifest tirannies Their Cardinalls Legates and Bishops haue come out from them as Sathans to trouble the world The greatest Monarkes haue bene tormented by their infernall furies Examples for all are the two Emperours Henry the fourth and fift the two Fredericks first and second and other Princes of the earth From henceforward from Innocent the fourth and Alexander the fourth the Popes by a new forged Armie established and priuiledged by them they wasted and destroyed all that is to say by foure Sects of Mendicant Monkes which like true Locusts deuoured and consumed by their Sophistike doctrine whatsoeuer was greene of the word of God From which like theeues which enter into the sheepfolde by breaches and mines nothing can bee looked for henceforth but thefts robberies persecutions and murthers of the true faithfull which God gaue and raised vp to maintaine the eternall veritie Vrbain Pope 4. of that name French borne at Troy in Campagne a Monke of the order of Cysteaux Patriarke of Ierusalem ruled at Rome three yeares one moneth and foure dayes The Greekes recouered Constantinople which the French had held 55. yeares Chron. of the Kings of France and the Sea of Hist. Vrbain instituted the Feast of the Sacrament and the Octaues with Indulgences whereof he was free to such as obserued the said Feast Martin fift Pope doubled them and added yet others to such as fasted the eue and as went to the Precession and Communion that day S. Thomas d' Aquin Iacopin made the office of the said feast with the Prose and the Hymne and sent it to the Pope who for a recompence of such an inuention sent him a Doue of siluer c. Naucler The yeare of Christ 1263. Vrbaine sent to S. Lewis King of France that he would send him his brother Charles Count Angiou and Count de Prouence with a good Armie then hee would crowne him King of Sicilie and giue him Pouille Calabria Hee said that the said Kingdome was held of the Romane Church and that the king of Sicilie was the Popes man Vrbain caused the Croisado to be preached in France against Manfroy who occupied the said Sicilia The said Charles came and marched in battaile against Manfroy and after against Conradin and ouercame them both and so obtained the Lands but the end was miserable For the Sicilians after in the yeare 1282. rebelled against him maintaining the quarell of the king of Arragon whom they would needs haue for their king And they marked the doores and gates of whatsoeuer houses the French men lay in in the Countrey then at an euening slew them all indifferently and opened which they knew to be great with childe with the French men and cast away their fruite that there might remaine none of that generatiō in that Countrey This occasion was afterward ordinarily called The Euensong of Sicilie In this time Bonauenture Generall of the Friers wrote two bookes against M. Guilliam de S. Amour The one of the pouertie of Christ and the other an Apologie of the poore The Bishoppricke of Ratisbone was offered vnto him but he refused it louing better to follow his studies and died of the age of 80. yeares Chron. Abb. Vnder this Pope the Idolatrie of Chaplets was inuented at Amiens in Picardie called Peter the Hermit See Peter Viret of the spring of Chapelets The Souldane made a great Armie in Siria A Comet seene 3. monethes together This Pope died at Peruse and for troubles the seate was vacant 10. monethes Clement Pope fourth of that name borne at Narbone ruled at Rome 3. yeares 9. monethes and 21. dayes before hee was called Hugo Falcodius hee had bene an aduocate and was after the king of France his Councellor After the death of his wife he was Bishop of Puy and after Archbishop of Narbone lastly Cardinall and Bishop of Sabine Finally by the Pope Vrbane hee was sent into England for the reformation of peace and being in that Legation was chosen Pope at Peruse after the death of Vrbain He caused to come info Italie Charles brother of the king of France and made him Senator of Rome and sent two Cardinalls into the Church of
the Pope Clement in fauour of the king noted them of heresie and infamie wrongfully and vpon enuie Paral. Vrsper Some thinke that the kings of France of England and of Spaine conspired against them for the possessions and Castles which they had in their kingdomes The yeare 1309. the Sarabits Monkes which came out of Egipt began in England Their garments were of Oxe and Swines skinnes and they were tyed with cordes Iohn Clyn Hybernus The order of Paulins entred into England and placed thēselues at Glocester the yeare 1310. Chron. Caletense This Pope Clement in a well leaded Bull which is yet at this day kept by Copie at Vienna at Limoge and at Poiters in the Coffers of priuiledges commanded the Angels of Heauen to carrie into the Ioyes of Paradice and draw out of Purgatorie the soule of him whosoeuer should die in the way going in Pilgrimage to Rome Moreouer saith he we will that the paines of hell shal no way be inflicted vpon them Agrip. de vanit sciēt Iean wife of Lewis king of Fraunce after the death of her husband went to Rome and resigned the kingdome of Naples deliuering it into Pope Clements hand who after made a gift of it to Lewis duke of Angiou brother of Charles the fift king of France sauing the profits to the vse of the said Iean for her life But he enioyed it not for he died with fiue thousand men in conquering it against Charles Nephew of the said Lewis King of Hungaria who occupied the kingdome and held it foure yeares and left a sonne called Ladislaus who raigned 29. yeares at Naples by the helpe of Pope Vrbain the 6. This Pope condemned the Beghards or Begnins which would not worship the Bread of the Eucharist He commaunded that the great Maister of the Templers should be burned at Paris with one of his cōpanions in the presence of Cardinals made certain ordinances against the insolencies of the Iewes after hauing confiscated their goods He ordained that oathes deliuered by Princes were not oathes of subiection but of fidelitie and commanded that the goods of the Church should not be alienated Hee ordained that Clarkes which occupied temporall traffiques and wore precious garments should be punished and forbad Monkes all kinde of huntings as well of beastes as birdes He confirmed the Feast instituted in the honour of the bread of the Eucharist which the Papists commonly called La feste dieu God his Feast He gathered in his volume the Constitutions called Clementius and pronounced that the reliques of Saints ought to be greatly honoured He gouerned the affaires of Italie by Neapolion and Pelagura Cardinalls his Legates and added Celestine the fift to the number of Popish Confessors He set in order the constitutions of Monkes and againe declared the rule of Friars Finally this Clement being tormented one while with a flux of the belley and an other with a paine of the stomack sides deceased in a Castle called Rocquemaure vpon Rosue the yeare of the Lord 1314. his body was carried into Gascoin and the Papall seate was emptie euen till the third yeare This yeare it selfe that he died as Henry of Lucembourg Emperor determined to draw to him by force of Armes the kingdome of Sicilie vnto which he was called hee was traiterously brought to death by a wicked Monke called Bernard du Mont Polician of Domcastre who was of the conspiration of the Guelphes and yet made a countenance that he was the Emperours friend He gaue a poysoned host to this good Prince who as soone as he felt the mischiefe aduertised this traitor Monke to flie away saying vnto him Away away for if the Almanes perceiue any thing and such as doo affect mee you shall die So this wicked Iudas withdrawing himselfe to Sienes receiued the siluer that had bene promised him for the reward of his treason but hereby hee deliuered not his bretheren Iacobins For many of them perished by fire and sword with their houses as wel in Tuscane as in Lombardie and many other places The Vniuersitie of Orleance was instituted in this time Chron. of the Kings of France The yeare at Crist 1313. the King of Fraunce Phillip le bel became a Leper and therefore he caused all the Leapers of France and Flaunders as well men as women to bee burnt For he vnderstood that they had infected the waters And the Chroniclers of Almaine say that the said king became a Leper because he made the Templers die Arnold de Villa Noua an excellent Phisitian and Mathematician some say of Chalon others of Narbone was iudged an heretike because he said that Sathan had made all Christian people stray from the truth Item that the faith of Christians of his time was no other then such as diuels haue Item that such as are in Cloisters are out of Charitie and condemne themselues in falsifying the doctrine of Iesus Christ leading Christians into hell Item that the Theologians haue maliciously mingled the Dreames of Philosophers with the holy scripture Item that in the sacrifice of the Aultar the Priest offereth nothing to God and that Masses profiteth neither quick nor dead He prooued by Daniel and by Sibilla Erithra that Antichrist in a full tirannie should persecute the faithfull after the yeare 1300. Besides his Phisicke bookes he writ against the Iacobins that it was lawfull to eate flesh The cutting sword against the Thomistes The admonition of Iesus Christ to Christians Of the subtilties of false Prophets Of the misterie of the Churches Cymballs Of the consummation of the world and other bookes He was iudged an heretike by the Iacobins at Tarraeon Finally being sent to the Pope by Frederic king of Sicilie he died in the way and was buried at Genés a true champion of the Lord. Margarite Queene of Nauarre daughter of the Duke of Burbon Iean daughter of the Count of Bourgongne and wife of the Count of Poiters Blanche second daughter of the said Count of Bourgongne wife of the Count de la Marshe were taken by the kings commaundement and condemned to continuall prison for their fornications and adulteries against them manifestly prooued Yet afterward Iean Countesse of Poiters returned with her husband For it was knowne that she was not culpable of all that which was imposed on her The Adulterers that is Phillip d'Annoy which kept the Queene and his brother Gualter de Annoy which kept the said Blanch knights were scorched there genitories cut off and they drawne and hanged Schisme in the Empire There was a diuision amongst the Electors some did chuse Lois the fourth of that name Duke of Bauiere others Frederic Duke of Austrich and the one had warre against the other eight yeares In the end Lewis obtained alone the Empire and raigned 24 yeares after the Chron. of Euseb which make 32. yeares The Sea of Hist Loys Hutin sonne of Phillip le bel succeeded in the Kingdome and is
I that am Pope But although it displeased the others which were there present yet they must needs dissemble it so furious terrible and enuironed with souldiers was hee After his election he remained a certaine time at Bolongne then went he to Rome it beeing the chiefe of his enterprise There he assembled a Sinode to the end to giue the Imperiall Crowne to Sigismond In the first Session of this Sinode as the aforesaid Iohn was sitting on an high seate after the Masse of the holy Ghost was sung there came an Owle who placing her self vpon one of the balkes of the Temple and looking directly vpon the Pope saluted him in a straunge maner with his fearefull song Such as were there present began to wonder looking one at an other and also casting their view vpon the Pope they could scant keepe themselues from laughing As for Iohn hee began to bee much ashamed to sweate and to bee sore anguished and tormented in himselfe Finally finding no other meane whereby hee might remedie his so great confusion after hee had giuen leaue to such as were there assembled he rose vp and retired There was an other Session after this wherein came the like For this Owle could not bee chased away neyther for any cryes no nor yet for stones and staues which were cast at him There were then many which by this spectacle were induced to beleeue that such spirituall pillers haue long time gouerned the Church of Rome Nicholas Clemengis Archdeacon of Baieux reciteth this Historie in his Epistles A Councell assembled at Constance To put end to the aforesaid discords and slaunders they were forced to assemble a general Councel for which the place was assigned at Constance This was against the Pope Iohns wil who desired it might be held in such a place wherein hee had more powre then the Emperour See Naucler Leonard Aretin who were in this time In the said Councell finally appeared Pope Iohn the 24. of that name and arriued at Constance vpon S. Simon and Iudes euen Anno. 1414. Likewise the Emperour Sigismond came thither on Christmas euen after midnight with the Empresse his wife and many other Princes Counts Barons and Nobles which were in number about 30940. persons Courtiers saith the Sea of Histories With the Pope Iohn arriued foure Patriarkes twentie and nine Cardinalls 47. Archbishops and 160. Bishops See Naucler On Christmas day the Pope sung three Masses one at midnight one in the morning and one at noone and Sigismond attired Deacon like sung the Gospell Exijt edictum a Cesare c. Naucler This Councell endured three yeares and seuen weekes after some or about foure yeares after Naucler and there was 46. Sessions See the 2. volume of Councells The yeare 1414. the king of France laid siege before Champaine and it was taken by composition Hee tooke Soissons and after laid siege before Arras but a peace was made by the Duchesse of Holland sister of the Duke of Burgongne The Sea of Hist The Friday after Candlemas day as they call it there arriued at the Councell sixe Cardinalls of Pope Gregories the 12. which approoued the Councell by the authoritie of the said Gregorie Naucler The yeare 1415. was the battaile of Blangy betwixt the English and French wherein the chiefe bloud of Fraunce was shead and it was commonly called La male Iournee The Sea of Histo. In this time Wencelaus king of Boheme was required by the Councell to send Iohn Hus who went thither with the Emperours safe conduct There went with him also Ierome of Prage with one onely Clarke They were admonished and greatly sollicited to desist from their opinions but they were constant They maintained that they were true in their propositions and reasons being founded on the truth of the holy Gospell And contrary that the Romane Church had withdrawne it selfe from the truth and the Apostles doctrine c. See a more ample declaration of this Historie in the first part of the booke of Martyrs They were both condemned to be burned Iohn Hus was first executed about the fourth day of the moneth of Iuly the yeare 1415. and a good while after Ierome of Prage was also burnt in the moneth of September They endured death constantly and merily went to the fire glorifying the Lord euen in the middest of the flame Their Ashes were cast into the Lake of Constance The Bohemians vnderstanding what was done at Constance against their Doctors sacked and spoiled all the Couents and Monasteries of the Countrey and fired them and from that time withdrew themselues from the subiection of the Romane Pope as is said In the said Councell Iohn Wickliffe an English man was condemned an heretike and although dead yet his bones were condemned to be vnburied Also Lay-people were inhibited to communicate the Sacrament vnder both kindes There was also a Decree that the Councell was aboue the Pope and not contrarie That the Councell hath full power to correct iudge and depose the Pope yea to ordaine of all things and not the Pope to Iudge correct or chaunge Decrees and Statutes of the Councell Iohn 24. Pope seeing that in the said Councell many crimes were obiected against him fled away in a disguised habit by the helpe of the Duke of Austrich Frederic and by the Councell of the Archbishop of Magunce although the Emperour did all he could to hinder it Naucler He fledde first to Shaffufe and from thence to Lusemberge and after to Fribourge to take his way towards the Duke of Bourgongne if hee could get thither Naucler The Duke Frederic was cyted in full Councell by the Emperour and that many times And for that hee appeared not the Emperour absolued his subiects of the oath of disobedience which they ought vnto the Duke Also hee depriued him of all his riches and goods and gaue his goods to such as could take and occupie them This gaue many occasion to assaile his person and his goods whereof yet at this day the Cantons and the Valesans hold many places as Bade Melingen Prenigarten Wallestat Diossenhosen which they got by force of Armes Others occupied other Townes and places See Naucler Iohn was taken and brought to Constance and there deteined prisoner at Richman After they prooued against him 40. criminall Articles He was deposed by all the Councell the Wednesday of Trinitie 14. and 15. and hee himselfe approoued his deposition In the second Volume of Councels there is mention made that more then 54. Articles were proposed and proued against him to euery of which he answering cryed Ah I haue yet committed a greater crime namely I haue passed the Alpes and am come into Almaine After his condemnation hee was giuen vnto the Count Palatin who kept him three yeares in Menhen he was not suffered to haue any Italian with him no not his Chamberlaine his Gard were all Almaines and he spake vnto them by signes onely Naucler After the deposition of Pope
the first of December vnderstanding that the French had bene vanquished at Millaine by the Emperours people and chased out of all Italie which also was not done without his meanes drinking making good cheare hee maruellously reioyced at this newes and herein suddenly died as they say Hee which neuer beleeued there was either hell or heauen after this present life There was a Poet called Sannazarius which made a Distiche that is two Latin Verses of the death of the said Leo which because they seeme to be wel made are set downe Sacra sub extrema si forte requiritis hora. Cur Leo non poterat sumere vendiderat The sence of these Verses is If you aske wherefore Leo could not take the Sacraments beeing so nigh his death the reason is he had sold them before That which is aboue spoken of the taking of Rhodes and of the wonders seene the same day that agreement was made to yeeld the Towne into the Turkes hands cannot accord with that which is spoken of the death of Leo. For it is a certaine that Rhodes was taken by Pope Adrian his successor and was yeelded to the Turkes Anno 1522. An Aduertisement touching a certaine coniecture of the supputation of time It would bee noted in this place that the yeare after the Incarnation of Iesus Christ 161. Paulus Samosatenus beeing Bishop of Antioche began to disgorge his blasphemies against Iesus Christ denying that he was the true and eternall sonne of God Which most daungerous and pernitious heresie of all others was afterward augmented by Arrius and Mahomet and is yet at this day by that Antichrist the Pope Moreouer the Monkes which began as it were the same yeare vnder Paul the first here vnto haue nourished and maintained the same heresie in theyr diuers maners of life and theyr wicked doctrines whilest Antichrist raigned in the Temple of God and dealt with preaching and teaching publikely in the Church namely by the space of 42. moneths or of 1260. dayes which is all one which dayes if wee take them for yeares as they ought adding thervnto the first number of 261. yeares they will come to the yeare 1521. after the Natiuitie of Iesus Christ But that you may vnderstand this secret That yeare was discouered that great aduersarie of God who lifted himselfe aboue all that ws called God or worshipped as God This yeare then that error which so long time had beene mainteined vnder the tyrant of Antichrist began to bee shaken and to fall because the truth and righteousnesse of Faith through the spirit of Iesus Christ were reuealed by the meanes of certaine learned persons For in the said yeare 1521. Martin Luther beeing well fortified by the spirit of God in the presence of all the Estates of the Empire assembled at Wormes confessed and maintained constantly and hardily the true doctrine of our Lord Iesus Christ which the aforesaid heretikes denied And since this confession the true Church of our Lord Iesus Christ hath againe begun to renew it selfe and his kingdome to take and gather more greater forces And the kingdome of Antichrist hath begun to diminish and approacheth his ruine This which followeth is extracted out of the book of Christien Masseus The yeare of the Lord 1515. Frances King of Fraunce receiued of Leo a Iubile that is to say pardons to sell to be published through all France which was also spread through all Christendome This was a bottomelesse depth of all euills for vnder the shadowe of fighting against the Turkes they heaped vp inestimable treasures They which had this charge and commission perswaded the simple people that whosoeuer would giue tenne French soules should deliuer the soule for whom hee gaue them from the paines of Purgatorie For they held this for a certaine rule that God would doo whatsoeuer they would according to that which is said All that you doo on earth c. So that if there had wanted but one farthing lesse then the said tenne soules they said all could profit nothing Such like marchandise displeased many good men and they began to debate this question touching the Popes power whereof the old Bishops neuer heard speake Martin Luther was then in Almaine who then began to cry very sharply against Indulgences against whom one called Iohn Bekins opposed himselfe and they two entered into great disputations and contentions touching this matter Pope Leo the tenth thundred a great processe against Martin Luther and condemned him as an heretike and reiected him from the communion of the faithfull He straight appealed vnto the Councell to come After this Leo commaunded that his bookes should be burnt at Rome and on the other side Luther burnt at Wittemberge his Canons and Popish Decretalls saying As they haue done to me so haue I done to them Thus farre Masseus The rest of this historie you may see in Sleidon Baptista Mantuanus had before exhorted the said Leo to doo his office thus speaking vnto him in the fourth booke de fastis Yet there remaineth many things for thee to doo of great importance holy Father If they be great and waightie thou must enterprise them with great courage But there are there amongst others which are most worthy wherin thou shouldest employ thy selfe and trauell therein The first is warre wherewith Italie alreadie tyred and the fields thereof bedeawed with humane bloud An other is That the Romane Court is infected with a daungerous poison which spreadeth it selfe ouer all Nations Lastly there is a Faith which is oppressed and on all sides offered a pillage vnto all cruell and barbarous Nations All these things cry after thee and demaund succours of thee helpe them for the Commonwealth of Christ staggereth and Faith is sick and alreadie nigh her death Leo hauing gathered a great summe of siluer for pardons which he sold inriched his parents bankers and listed them vp into great dignities Martin Luther a great Theologian began to preach the true and pure doctrine against the hypocrisie of Papists and from thence forward the Popedome ceased not by litle and litle to fall into ruine Francis de Valois Duke de Angoulesme as the nighest and meetest to succeed in the Crowne was King 57. yeares after the death of Lewis the 12. whose eldest daughter called Claudia he married Selim hauing driuen away and after poysoned his olde father because he liued too long was Emperor of the Turkes in the yeare 1510. Vnto this wickednesse he added the murdering of his bretheren and the strangling of his Nephewes He vanquished and droue the Sophie away and in many battailes ouercame the two Souldans Campson Tonombeus with the Mammelus and Arabians hee added to his Empire Egipt and Arabia and tooke the great Caire Afterward returning the into his Countrie an Vlcer engendred in his loynes which still encreasing as a Canker killed him the 7. yeare of his raigne See hereof Munster in his Cosmographie Paulus Iouius and Ritche the first booke Soliman the
at large in the booke of Martyrs which I haue set forth At the Iourney of Carignan in Piemont nigh Cirisolles the Emperialists vnder the conduction of Alphonsus Dauall are discomfited by the Prince d' Anguien The Emperour taketh againe Luxembourge by composition he taketh Ligni and the Castle after S. Dedier where Rene Prince of Aurange was stricken with a bullet and died to the great griefe of the Emperour Anthonie Duke of Lorraine died not so much of age as of griefe to see the warre so nigh him yea euen as it were in his Countrey Francis his sonne succeeded him who married the Emperours Neece The King of England laid siege before Bologne and in the end tooke it by composition The Emperor being incamped vpon the Riuer of Marne the Count Guillam de Furstemberge was taken by certaine French horsmen as he sounded the Watch. The Emperor being at Soisson made peace with the king of France the 24. of September In the moneth of March Lewis Palatin Elector deceased and had Frederic his brother his successor Henry de Brunswic a sworne enemie of all vertue making no account of Marie the sister of Vlrich Prince of Wittemberge his wife but giuing himselfe to an whore one of his wiues Damzells by whome hee had seuen children was accused by the Protestants in a full Audience of Estates the fift of Aprill and to the end the thing should be more secret they caused to be made an Image like to an whore by certane Apostate women when this was done they caused her to bee buried with great pompe and magnificences after they had made all the Priests thereabouts say Masses Vigills and all the Seruice accustomed to be done by the Papists at the buriall of their dead To this he had nothing to answere but remained confounded The King of France caused a Fort to be built vpon the sea banke nigh Bullen to hinder the victualling of the Towne holding his Armie thereabouts Charles Duke of Orleance the king of France his sonne who should haue bene sonne in lawe or in other alliance of the Emperour the ninth day of September beeing of the age of 23. yeares was taken away by a malladie which held him but fewe dayes Guillam de Fustemberge prisoner at Paris after he had payed 30000. Skutes for his raunsome was set at libertie in the lowe Countrie with the Emperour who honourably and amiably receiued him The Sorbonists of Paris were assembled at Mèlun by the Kings commaundement to determine of Articles to propose at the Councell After long disputation they thought it best wholy to followe them which they had lately caused to be disputed on at Paris The Theologians at Louaine writ 32. Articles of the same subiect that they of Paris Peter Bridly minister in the Church of the Straungers at Strasbourge was secretly called vnto Tornay by such as were there desirous of the Gospell after hee had some litle while caught there the 19. of Februarie he was cruelly burnt with a litle fire See the booke of Martyrs Francis Duke of Lorraine died leauing a sonne a litle child The Bishop of Mets his Vncle and his mother were appointed his Tutors The daughter of Ferdinand married to the sonne of the king of Poland dyeth also This Pope Paul had assigned the Councell of Trent as is said not to remedie the euills of Christianitie for the tranquilitie of consciences or to place Religion in a good seate and estate to the honor and glory of God but to tread vnder feet his truth and to oppresse the Ministers of his word In which place seeing that he did not all he would the yeare 1546. vnder colour that the ayre was there corrupted he transported himself vnto Boulongne to the end by that meane hee might the better take away all libertie from Christians to say their opinions and to hinder the reformation of the Church This Antichrist raised horrible and straunge warres against the seruants of God pursuing them by fire sword imprisonments and all other sorts of punishments Yea he spared not his Cardinalls namely Fulger and Contarien after they had tasted the sauour of the word of God nor the Bishop of Pontus Iohn Baptist nor his brother Paulus Vergerius Bishop of Iustinopoli The chiefe amongst the tormentors were his Nephewes the Cardinall Farnese and Octaua Duke of Parma his brother which beyond all measure glorying therein the yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ 1546. as they were vpon their departure frō Italie into Almaine to make warre vpon the Protestants they vaunted brauely and fiercely that they would make such an effusion of the Lutherans bloud that their horses should swim therin And the meane while that good holy Father Paul tooke his pleasure with his daughter Constance after the old maner They say also that that old man stinking as a Goate sollicited to whoredome an other his Niece who was a very honest maide and no lesse laudable for her honestie and chastitie then for her excellent beautie This Pope as Baleus saith had in his Tables the number of 45000. whores whereof he exacted euery moneth tribute to the end they might haue libertie to exercise their whoredome and as saith the booke intituled Eusebius Captiue they are greatly esteemed they kisse the Popes feete they talke very familiarly with him they frequent day and night with him But such as trust onely in Iesus Christ and embrace the true doctrine are held by the Pope for heretickes and of him are banished set in prisons and stockes and punished by fire sword and Gallies The Elector Palatin reformed in his Countrey the doctrine and Popish ceremonies and receiued the Gospell The Conference of Reiusbourge is held See Sleidan The 7. of Ianuary the Councell began at Trent Alliance betwixt the Pope and the Emperour concluded the 26. of Iune to reduce the Almaines vnto the obedience of the Pantople The Pope binding himselfe to deliuer 200000. Ducats into the hands of the Venetians Moreouer to furnish ten thousand footemen Italians and fiue hundreth light-horsemen waged for sixe moneths Moreouer permitting the Emperour to sell of the reuenew of the Monasteries of Spaine to the valew of 100000. Crownes and to take the moitie of all Ecclesiasticall liuings In the end a peace was made betwixt the kings of France and England vpon conditiō that Bologne should remaine English vntil the king had payed the siluer by him promised On Satterday the 7. of August of this yeare 1546. the Towne of Maligues was in such sort handled with Thunder and Lightning that of long time there had not bene seene the like The Thunderbolt fell vpon a Tower called Saderpoort that is to say the gate of Canon powder where there was more then 800. Barels of Gunpowder which being on a flame augmented the tempest and first laid on the earth that which was about it after it so embraced the Towne that without abundance of raine mingled with the thunder it was thought
imposed vpon him lawes of extreame rigour Amongst others that hee should subiect himselfe to that which the Pope would ordaine vpon him touching Religion The Duke wished rather to die whereat the Emperor maruelling remitted that condition but yet he tooke from him all his goods sauing 50000. Crownes which the Duke Maurice vnto whom that spoyle came should giue him yearely The 21. of May Wittemberge yeelded it selfe by that Dukes commaundement after hee had acquited to his sonne and his subiects the oath of fidelitie they ought him and Maurice tooke season thereof An example of magnanimitie and constancie more then Heroicke that is Christiā which God giueth to his in the middest of the greatest afflictions of this world The estates of the Empire assembled at Vlme There the Emperours Embassadors purposed to make a league frō thenceforward to appease all troubles if any such arise like this last But the pestilence dissipated this conspiration against the Gospell and the estates retired to Ausbourge The Lantgraue of Hesse to obey the conditions of peace proposed vnto him came vnto the Emperour at Hale and after supper as he would haue departed he was stayed He complained that hee was betrayed and promises not performed vnto him The Emperour before the estates at Ausbourge declared the cause wherefore he set him not at libertie to be this That hee exhibited not the Letters and secrets of the League of Smalcalde And taketh witnesse vnto Maurice and Brandebourge that he neuer meant him lesse then a perpetuall prisoner The doctrine of the Papists dispenseth herein namly that vnto Heretickes men should keepe no faith Peter Lewis the Popes sonne was shine at Plaisance in his Castle by a Band of 36. which had cōspired against him They hanged his body in a chaine on the toppe of the Castle walls a thing much pleasing the people He was slaine the 10. of September on the same day wherevpon his Father Pope Paul being cunning in Negromancie had warned him to take heed The end of tyrants are miserable and horrible and should put vs in mind of Gods iudgement Certaine time after he had beene cast into the graues the Plaisantines themselues massacred him with the stabs of Daggers After Dom Ferdinand de Gonsague strengthned the towne with a Garrison The Masse was abolished in England by a decree iudgement of the publike Councell of all the Realme The Venetians after the Emperours fashion made a very rigorous Edict against such as are called Lutherans One called Francis Spiera of the Citadelle a Towne of the Territories of Venice for that in the said Venice before Iohn Cuse the Popes Legate he had renounced the truth of the Gospell which hee knew fell into dispaire and of a vehement and great apprehension thereof got a great malladie and sicknesse wherein hee could no way be comforted and whatsoeuer any alleadged of Gods promises of his mercie he would still answere that they nothing appertained vnto him because he said hee had sinned against the holy Ghost And in that dispaire finished he pitiously his dayes This is a great good example worthy to be earnestly thought on Maximilian the eldest sonne of Ferdinand from Trent arriued in Spaine and in great magnificence espowsed Mary the Emperours eldest daughter his Cousin-germaine Iane the onely daughter of the king of Nauarre who before was promised vnto the Duke of Cleues was giuen in marriage vnto the Duke of Vendosme The Emperour giueth charge to certaine traytors of the truth namely Iulles Pflug Michael Sidonius and Iohn Islebe Agricula with a Secretarie of Grauiele to build a booke of Religion and called it Interim This booke shooke Almaine more then all the grieuous persecutions that had bin before It was called the Emperours booke Ellenor the dead king Francis widowe left France and retired into her brothers lowe Countries The Bourdelois in Guienne mutined against the King because of a subsidie or taxation and slew the kings Lieftenant there whereof they were by the Constable chastised He constrained themselues to make the fire and to burne all their priuiledges He caused a great number of the chiefe of the towne to be put to death They were constrained to follow the Funeralls of the said Lieftenant slaine in the habit of Criminalls carrying Torches in their hands and demaunding mercie Ambrose Blaurer Minister of Constance and with him a great number of the Bourgesses left the Towne because of Religion The Princes and Townes of Almain are sollicited and forced by the Emperour to giue answere vnto the approbation of his booke The Emperor also caused to be set out a forme of Ecclesiasticall reformation for an outward shew which after they had heard recited they approoued and promised to cause them to be obserued in their Churches with the Popes good pleasure The Duke of Wirtemberge at the alone commandement of the Emperour straightway caused the booke to be read vnto the people forbidding them to do any thing to the contrary The Duke of Saxonie being prisoner was much sollicited to receiue the Emperours booke of reformation but he still remained constant without bowing or yeelding either by threatnings or promises which was cause that his gardes began to handle him more roughly and rudely The Preacher which he alwaies till then had with him fearing danger found meanes to escape A great diuersitie of courage betwixt the two Dukes The Duke Maurice returning into his Countrey proposed the Emperours decree caused the Diuines of Leipsic and of Wirtemberge to assemble and determine therevpon Which after they had two or three times assembled they ordained of things indifferent commonly called Adiaphores In the end they set out in writing at Leipsic a forme of Religion which all Duke Maurice subiects should follow The Bishop of Strasbourge summoned the Ministers and Regents of the schoole which held the Colledge of S. Thomas to receiue the Emperours decree Bucer and Phagius with the Senates leaue departed the first day of April to goe into England whither they were called by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Thus the Lord prouideth for his After he hath taken his truth from one place he sendeth them into an other to doe his worke there The King of Fesse in Affricke being chased by a certaine Zepziphe king his neighbour who from low estate was growne vnto that greatnesse implored helpe of the Emperour at Auspourge Whilst Religion was thus troubled in Almaine the Pope thought it good to make his profit thereof Therefore he sent their Legates into Almaine with an Indult by which power was giuen vnto them to receiue all such as they would into the bosome of the Church and to permit by the Popes authoritie to communicate the Supper of the Lord vnder both kinds and to eate all kinde of meates at all times The Ministers of the Lantgraues Country refused the Indult Phillip of Austrich made his entry into Bruxelles where his Father was and is receiued in great magnificence and pompe the
the consent of all the Cardinalls This man being in Venice in his hypocrisie inuented a new Sect of Monkes called Iesuites as if our Sauiour Iesus had ingendred such Popish Idolaters After this beeing made Cardinall as he departed from Venice to Rome he said vnto his Monkes which asked him whither he went Whither I go you cannot come now Abusing the scripture and prophaning the Lords words hee meant hereby that he left them shut vp in a Cloister in pouertie and miserie that he went vnto Rome to come vnto an high and mightie estate and dignitie wherevnto they could not come He writ a booke sometimes vnto Paul the third touching reformation of the Church but being become Pope he cared neither for Iesus Christ nor his Church In that booke he confirmeth almost all the poynts that we vse to reprehend in the Papists namely that the Church is so ruinated in Poperie that it is no more the Church of Iesus Christ but of the diuell For saith he Popes heape vp Doctors after their owne fancies and desires That Cardinalls and Bishops are cause that the name of Christ is blasphemed amongst people which vnder the colour of keyes gather great summes of money That wicked people are prouided for That Symoniacke Marchandices are greatly practised That Prelates burne with ambition and couetousnesse That horrible sinnes and iniquities are committed in Monasteries That the Towne of Rome is full of whoredomes and many such like More enormious and wicked things are committed at Rome then that which Theatin rehearseth in that booke for hee there only toucheth the vices abuses that are found in their common maner of liuing without making any mention of the contempt of the doctrine there vsed On Thursday the 16. day of May of this yeare there hapned a tumult at Geneua about 10. of the clocke in the night by the conspiracie of some which had for their stirrers Captaines certaine of the petit Councell of the Towne which not being able to beare so happie a prosperitie of the Gospell determined to chase away such as into that Towne had come from France to shun persecutions And as in the night time they ranne too and fro they cryed as for a false ensigne and token that the French were in Armes and the Towne betrayed but the French men stirred not out of their houses The commotion was bridled and stayed by certaine Lords of the Towne As for the seditious people some amongst them were executed others saued themselues by flight But the cause wherefore they would haue driuen away the French amongst others was because lately there were many of them receiued for Burgesses by meanes whereof their faction was weakened and the other part strengthned by the number of the new Burgesses which had bene added therevnto The French at this time raced many Castles by the Count Montferrat that they might haue victuals in greater assurance For if the enemie had occupied them Casal had bene brought into great necessitie In these parts was there a Towne called Vlpian which is of great importance The Spaniards held it then and it was revictualled at the comming of the Duke of Albe who had gathered together a great number of people Mariembourge also which the yeare before had beene taken in the lowe Countries from the Emperour was at the same time againe victualled by the French In the Countrie of Grisons there is a Towne nigh Italie called Lucarne which appertaineth vnto the whole communaltie of the Swisses The Citizens thereof required that they might be permitted to liue according vnto the reformation of the Gospell But because their Superiours and they were not of one Religion there was vpon deliberation diuers opinions Some agreed vnto their demaund others sought to hinder it So that there appeared towards some intestine and ciuill dissention yet in the end they of the Towne preuailed which wished that they should remaine in the Religion of their Auncestors and that they amongst them which accorded not therevnto might goe dwell otherwhere So were there found a great number which forsooke their naturall Countrey and withdrew vnto Zurich where they were receiued ioyfully and much relieued in their pouertie A great number of Vessels laden with all kindes of Marchandize came by Sea from Spaine towards Flaunders but vpon the coast of Normandie they were assailed with all force by the French which had espied them The combat amongst them was horrible many ships both of the one part and of the other were burnt and many sunke many a valiant man died there as wel by the sword as by burning and drowning The French in the end carried away some number of ships which they tooke into Diepe Hauen from whence they departed This happened in the moneth of August in the end of which moneth Phillip of Austrich repassed from England into Flaunders accompanied with a great number of English Gentlemen to finde the Emperour his father at Bruxels In September George Count de Montbellard the Duke of Wittemberge his Vncle tooke to wife Barbe the Lantgraues daughter The dissention of the Lords Supper and the presence of Christs body which had continued the space of thirtie whole yeares amongst the learned renewed againe in this time and there were published by certaine Ministers of Hambourge and Breme certaine litle bookes namely against Caluin and Iohn Alasco Caluin after answered them in earnest so did also Bullinger and Alasco who dedicating his booke to the King of Polongne greatly complained that without knowledge of the cause that without any disputation or amiable talke but onely vpon a certaine preiudice their doctrine was condemned after the maner of the Papists who in lieu of arguments from holy scripture proceed not but by force and commaundement The Marquesse of Marignan dying at Millaine the Cardinall of Trent was sent into Lombardie by the Emperour and King Phillip to bee there Gouernour At Naples the Duke of Albe was constituted About Christmas day the Pope according to his custome created new Cardinalls and amongst others Iohn Gropper the Archbishop of Cologne his Councellor Then also the Cardinall Poole being made Deacon Cardinall prest as they say began to say Masse For by the Popes lawe Deacons haue not yet that power In the beginning of Ianuarie happened great stormes and tempests in Saxonie Misne and Boheme Thunders and Lightnings which endaungered many places especially Churches In the same moneth at Vitodur in Suetia a litle Towne within two leagues of Zurich appeared in the night in one of the towers of the Church there a sparkling fire making such a noise as the Burgesses on all sides ran to put it out being come thither they found no flame yet it twise appeared that is to say the 4. 14. of the said moneth After this certaine of the Cantons of Suetia sollicited by the Pope got them to Rome whereas many maruelled King Phillip after he had receiued of his father the gouernment
of Flaunders the 18. of Ianuary he made a solemne entry into Antwerpe In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswic espowsed the sister of Sigismond king of Pologne The 26. of the same moneth died at Aitsem Frederick Count Palatin Elector now very old and there succeeded him Otto Henry his brothers sonne who long time before had receiued the Gospell and for that cause was in daunger to haue lost all his goods Shortly after he had receiued his peoples oath of fidelitie he made an Edict that no person shuld sing any Masse or exercise any other ceremonies any where in his countries Mary Queen of EnglaÌ„d did what she could that church goods and lands might be restored because Pope greatly vrged her thervnto But many Princes great Lords held them therfore it could not be done During this Parliament many Innectiue and biting bookes were dispersed in London amongst which some were sufficient to haue stirred the common people to sedition against the Spaniards and to haue with drawne the Queenes loue froÌ„ King Phillip Search was made for the authors of these libels but it was not possible to finde them out Before the Assembly was departed affaires dispatched the Bishop of Winchester the Chauncelor died of a dropsie Thomas Heth Archbishop of Yorke who had sometimes bene in Almaine with him before of Canterbury and once had knowledge of the true Religion was come into his place About the fift of Nouember died the wife of Duke Iohn Frederic of Saxonie the Lantgraues daughter The Duke of Venice Francisco Venerio was deposed from his estate for ill dealing in the charge of victualls and hauing much more regard vnto his particular profit then to the publike weale About the end of February of this yeare the Moâ—râ—aâ—â—e called Dupetit S. Bernard on the valley side of Aouste which is in the subiection of the Duke of Sauoy was seene couered with red snowe and certaine white snowe fell but the whitenesse vanished away and the rednesse remained This was notoriously knowne and seene and the red snowe touched by many inhabitants of the said Countrey These prodiges and maruels admonish vs to beseech the Lord to turne away the tribulations and calamities which the poore world ceaseth not to draw vpon it selfe by his rebellion A frost of three weekes was so sharp in December that Seine was frozen wherevpon followed great mischiefes Oziander with his new doctrine of Iustification had long time stirred trobles in Pruse but after as it were al learned people had condemned him by their writings the Duke of Pruse Albert declared by a publike writing that therein hee would follow the doctrine of the confession of Ausbourge and so enioyned the Ministers of the Churches to teach accordingly and gaue them full licence And to the end the thing might be so fully and surely accorded that the wound might no more renew and be worse Iohn Albert Duke de Megelbourge the Duke of Pruse his sonne in lawe a Prince very well instructed in Letters went into the said Countrey of Prusia and by the meanes of certaine learned people whose labour he vsed hee did so much with Iohn Functius which was hee that chiefly maintained the opinion of Ozeander that publikely he confessed his fault and withall protested that he would neuer teach but according to the tenor of the confession of Ausbourge Others did the like So the Theologians were receiued into fauour and the estate of the Church pacified The 4. day of March began to appeare a Comet which was seene by the space of 12 dayes There is a litle Towne in Aulsâ—iâ— three leagues from Strasbourge called Oberene in that Towne a certaine Gardiner the tenth of Aprill in the absence of his wife was the murderer of his owne children of a girle of the age of 7. yeares of a boy of the age of 4. yeares and of an other yet in the cradle not past sixe moneths old The 10. of may the Duke d' Arscot who was a prisoner in the wood de Vincennes nigh Paris escape and came safe into his Countrey The Bauarois sollicited their Prince Albert to haue libertie of their religion as well as they of Austrich and almost at one time the Prince seeing that Ferdinand his father in law had permitted to his people the same thing was content to doo the like And because there was then some question for siluer he suffered his subiects for a time to receiue the Lords Supper whole and to eate flesh on dayes prohibited when necessitie driues them therevnto Yet he made great protestations that he would not diuide himselfe from the religion of his Auncestors and that this should onely be till by publike authoritie it were otherwise ordained About this time certaine great Lords of Transiluania reuolted from Ferdinand There became also great mutinies in England where diuers Nobles were imprisoned others beheaded and some saued themselues in other Countries As for such as died for the truth of the Gospell we haue amply deducted their estate and extracted their confessions in our bookes of Martyrs Albert de Bauieres began the Imperiall iourney at Ratisbone in the name of king Ferdinand who then was busied in holding the estates in Bohemeâ— and Austrich The Emperor hauing attend 〈…〉 of Septembeâ— and from 〈◊〉 Countries accompanied 〈…〉 â—â—â—ior Dowary of France and Mary Queâ—â—â— of Hungary 〈…〉 cauing al the rule of the lowe Countries to king Phillip his sonne and the administration of Almaine vnto his brother King Ferdinand Dauid George who after called himselfe Iohn de Bruck borne at Delphes in Holland a very pernitious seducer author and Prince of the vilest Sect that euer was making himselfe king and immortall Christ died this yeare 1556. the 24. day of August his wife being dead a litle before He retired with his family which was very great into Basill the yeare 1544. making himselfe a fugitiue from his owne countrey for the cause of the Gospell He bought houses in the Towne and a Castle nigh the Towne called Binningen with possessions of a great reuenew It was easie for this man being very cautelous and subtill and hauing his eyes looking on all sides to gaine the hearts of many and to procure outward reputation who was greatly sustained and augmented by that he had great summes of money and very pretious moueables daily brought him from base Almaine and Flaunders There hapned certaine prodigious signes before his death One of his houses he had two in Basill was burned with fire of lightning and the other which he had sumptuously builded in the Medowes was also consumed by fire and all his pretious moueables which were therin soone after the chamber floores of his house where he made his residence fell downe suddenly yet they say nothing hapned vnto him more intollerable to beare before his death then this that one of authoritie in base Almaine came to the Towne of Basill and
the English men gaue ouer Hance de grace or New Hauen vnto the French king The same time they of Lubec and the king of Denmarke made warre vpon the king of Snede Henry de Brunswic made many courses into Almaine into the lands of the Bishop of Munster The eight day of September Maximilian king of the Romanes was crowned king of Hungary The 24. of September Charles the ninth king of France caused his Maioritie to be published declaring to the Parliament of Paris that he would take vpon himselfe the managing of the affaires of the kingdome The 28. was published and affixed at Rome on the part of the Cardinals Inquisitors a monitorie personal adiournament against Iane d' Albret Queene of Nauarre who because of the profession of the Gospell was cited to Rome to answere in the Popes consistory therefore and for want of appearance within sixe moneths her Countrey to be giuen vnto the first conquerer thereof and her vassalls and subiects absolued from their oath of fidelitie This was but a subtill deuice tending to an other end and the king of France tooke into his hand the cause of this Princesse so that for that time the Popes thunderclaps turned into smoake The second day of October the Bishop of Wirtzbourge was slaine his Towne occupied and raunsomed wherevpon followed great troubles in Almaine and at that time of Automne the pestilence was vehement in the quarters about Francfort Nuremberge and in the coastes about the Balthique Sea which carried away nigh three hundreth thousand persons The ninth day of Nouember the Armies of Denmarke and Snede encountred together and had a bloudie battaile wherein were slaine 3000. Snedes with great losse of their Artillery and baggage The fourth day of December was ended the Councell of Trent Betwixt the first and last session whereof were eightteene yeares In it all the Articles of the Popish doctrine were confirmed There was a great strife betwixt the Embassadors of France and of Spaine for the primer seat but he of Spaine got it at that time In the same yeare and the 13. day of August died Wolfangus Musculus Doctor in Theologie at Berne a man who by his writings greatly serued and yet doth the Churches of God He was then of the age of 66. yeares The 26. of Ianuary 1564. the Lithuaniens got a great victorie vpon the Muscouites which lost nine thousand men vpon the field with their baggage and many flying perished in pooles and Isy Marishes The first day of February died at Marpurge a Towne of Hesse Andrew Hiperius a very learned Theologian amongst thē of our time who left many profitable bookes to the edification of the Churches of God He was then of the age of 53. yeares In the moneth of April Frederick Elector Count Palatin came with Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge into the Abbey of Malbrun nigh to Spire where by the space of 7. daies their Diuines disputed some against others of two Articles in the doctrine of the holy Supper that is to say of the vbiquitie or presence of the body of Christ Iesus in all places and the interpretation of the words of the holy Supper This is my body After long contestations and strifes they departed without according any thing and after that their debate waxed hotter to the ruine of Churches and to the great contentment of the Pope and his adherents The 27. of May about eight of the clocke at night dyed Iohn Caluin a professor in Theologie a Minister of the word of God in Geneua a person of singular pietie memorie viuacitie of iudgement and admirable diligence of a solide doctrine wherin he hath comprehended the pure Theologie as his writings read without preiudice or sinister affection do apparantly shewe He was moreouer endowed with incredible zeale and prudencie in all the course of his Ministery hauing serued to the aduancement of the doctrine of the Gospel and to the edification of the Churches amongst all the excellent persons raised vp in our time to ruinate the tyrannie of Antichrist and to establish the throne of the celestial veritie He was of the age of 55. yeares saue one moneth and 13. daies he was buried without pompe hauing left many bookes very profitable for such as would seeke to aduance and goe forward earnestly in the intelligence of the holy scripture and an honorable memorie vnto all reformed Churches About this time the Maritimal and Sea Armies of the kings of Denmarke and Snede encountred vpon Balthique Sea in battaile wherein the Snedes remained victors and carried away three great ships of warre with a number of prisoners which the king of Snede caused afterward to be cruelly handled But about the end of Iune they of Denmarke and Lubec had their reuenge and ouercame the Snedes vpon the Sea conquering one ship though inexpugnable vntill then after hauing sunke many moe The Emperour Ferdinand a gentle and peaceable Prince died the 25. day Iuly at Vienna in Austrich hauing liued 61. yeares foure moneths and an halfe leauing for successor to the Empire his sonne Maximilian who soone after was elected and crowned The beginning of his yeare 1565. was very sharpe and colde in many Countries of Europe and there fel an extraordinary quantitie of snowe which beeing frozen and after melted in the spting time there followed great Invndations The Churches of France maintained themselues in some estate whilest the young King guided by his Councell made his voyage of Bayonne A warre in Hungary against the Turkes with losses and ruines on both parts The Churches in the lowe Countries began also to lift vp their heads especially vnder Charles the fift The encrease of the French Churches encouraged them they also published their confession of faith The Ecclesiasticke Romanes that which afterward came to pass e amongst other practises sought to establish the Spanish Inquisition and certaine yeares before made new Bishops to the end more easily to maintaine the Popes authoritie After this erection by the space of foure or fiue yeares whilest Margarite Dutches of Parma gouerned the lowe Countries for her brother the king of Spaine some ceased not to cōtend against others by remonstrances bookes and diuers practises some to abolish others to giue entry and authoritie vnto the Inquisition The I le and Towne of Malte was furiously assailed by the Turkes in the moneth of May but they were Iustained and pushed backe by the knights of Malta being assisted with the succors which were sent from many places In the monethes of Iune and Iuly were great deluges and ouerflowings of waters in diuers quarters of Almaine especially in Thuringe A very sharpe warre was in Hungarie betwixt the Turkes and the Almaines with diuers accidents that befell on both sides The eight of December the Pope Pius the fourth died of the age of 66. yeares and 8. moneths hauing bene Pope about six moneth
were now exposed to the spoiles slaughter of all Sigismond Prince of Transiluania repented him of his change of life and that he had giuen vp his gouernment wherfore he came out of Silesia through Poland into Transiluania and desired of his subiects that their oath of alleageance to him might be renewed and perswaded Maximilian Arch-duke whom the Emperour had made Gouernour of Transiluania that hee would lead his forces against the Turkes towards the recouerie of Agnia then against Transiluania Vpon the fourth of August Syr William Cecill knight of the Order Lord Burghley Maister of the Wards and Liueries high Treasurer of England a famous Counsellor to y e Queenes Maiestie all her raigne and likewise had bene to Edward the sixt who for his singular wisedome was renowned throughout all Europe departed this mortall life at his house by the Strand his body was conueyed to Westminster with solemne Funerall and from thence secretly to Stamford in Lincolnshyre and there buried I. Stowe The second of October George Earle of Comberland returned from the Seas hauing made spoile of the strong Towne and Castle of S. Iohn de Portanoico in Spaine This yeare died Phillip the 2. king of Spaine being of the age of 72. yeares Pope Clement the 8. created 13. Cardinals amongst whom was Robert Bellarmine Iesuite Phillip the 3. the sonne of Phillip the 2. succeeded his father in the kingdome of Spaine Hee tooke to wife Margarite of Austria And Albert Arch-duke of Austria married the Infant of Spaine the kings sister Both these marrriages were celebrated by the Pope Clement the 8. at Ferrara The 7. of February the right honourable Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy hauing taken his leaue at the Court departed towards Ireland as Lieftenant there Souldiers out of diuers Shyres were sent before him and also after him in this moneth of February This yeare Richard Lord Bishow of London with two other Commissioners to wit Doctor Perkins Doctor Swale were sent in Embassage to Emden there to treat with the Commissaries from the King of Denmarke and returned the eight of Iuly following On Tuesday the 5. of August Charles Iames king of Scots in Scotland escaped a straunge and strong conspiracie practised by the Earle Gowrye and his brother About the 8. of August arriued at Doner certaine Embassadors and assistants 16. in number sent from the king of Marocco in Barbaria I. Stowe The 18. of September certaine Embassadors came from Moschouie or Russia and the 14. of October the said Embassadors rode to the Court and had audience before her Maiestie FINIS A briefe Discourse of the Churches estate from the death of Iesus Christ vntill this present ALl which hath bene succinctly said in this booke touching the estate of the Church should remember the Reader of three diuers times in the consideration of the gouernment of the house of God the better to marke things as they came and to haue thereof a certaine abridgement in his memorie We take the first time of the Christian Church from the beginning of the Apostles preaching vntil the Empire of Phocas which is ordinarily distinguished into three periodes 1. The first of about 70. yeares from the Lords Ascention vntill the death of the Apostles and of their first Disciples 2. The second began at the Empire of Traian and stretched by the space of 200. yeares vntill Constantine which time also was honoured with the presence of certain of the Apostles Disciples other excellent Pastors of the Church and faithfull Martyrs of Iesus Christ 3. The third frō Cōstantine vntil Phocas which is the last periode of the first time of the Church about 300. years during which the Church had many great Doctors Greeks Latins As for the first periode of the first time it is very certaine that neuer Christian Church was more happie thē during that time whether we consider the doctrine taught by the Apostles and their first successors or wee contemplate all the parts of the Ministerie and of the Ecclesiasticall discipline Now for the doctrine we haue by a singular grace of God the Apostles Epistles whereby it is easie to gather a body and summary of all that which euery Christiā ought to know touching his saluation And that which is more if they which came after the Apostles had continued to build vpon the foundation which they had laid the Church had remained in his first spirituall splendor and brightnesse the simplicitie then being such and so great in doctrine in the maner of teaching and in ceremonies that the sheepheards and sheepe were altogether eliuated vnto the heauenly Father through Iesus Christ liuing moreouer in such charitie concord as truly this world might be well called the golden world For although that in the Apostles time and their next successors there rose vp certaine mutinous persons to trouble the happie rest of the Church this hurt not much the maiestie of the spirit of God discouering it selfe in such sort in the preaching of the Gospell that all the world was constrained to acknowledge in this infirmitie of the seruants of God an admirable efficacie to biing all wisedome and humane power captiue vnder the obedience of Iesus Christ True it is that alreadie Sathan thought vpō his affaires and brought forth his practises with greater force then euer before building his Sinagogue nigh vnto the Church For euen when the Apostles themselues liued certaine Iewes and Gentiles making the same profession of Christianisme fought against Iesus Christ in diuers maners as S. Paul his Epistles doo witnesse And what diligence soeuer the seruants of God vsed to eradicate and root out the tares which the enemie did sowe yet remained there the seedes thereof in the bosome of the Church during the periodes following God meaning to humble his and to shewe them that truly they had and would alwaies haue cause to fight in this life but that the triumph therof was reserued for the other world For as for the strength of the persecutors since the Apostles time it hath alwaies shewed it true that the bloud of the Martyrs is the seede of the Church But let this be said in a word onely to awake the Reader and to prepare him to a diligent meditation of the Ecclesiasticall historie Now something is to be said of the second periode of the first time The Apostolike men armed with the vertue and power of y e Lord maintained constantly the truth amongst all the tempests and stormes of persecution and in despite of Gentilisme of diuers heresies which boldly began to left vp their heads In so much that great maruel it was that so soone after so great light men should see the East in many places couered with so deep darknes many goodly Churches ruinated and the doctrine of saluatiō transported otherwhere Yet the greatest euil was in the bowels of the Church it selfe many Pastors wherof not being so attentiue as of reason they shuld
haue bin to conserue and keepe the puritie of the Euangelicall doctrine but suffering to take roote I know not how that which tasted of carnall wisedome in so much that in the place of the true end marke which the Gospell proposeth vnto vs men began to establish vnto vs all the perfection of Christianitie in sufferings and afflictions for the Gospell and in arresting abiding a litle too subtilly vpon the stay of certaine fantastike persons springing from the schoole of Philosophers so fell by litle and litle to that vnhappinesse as to transforme the holy scripture into allegorike interpretations a maruellous baite for the curiositie of humane vnderstanding and a fountaine of infinite mischiefes in the Church True it is that the first inuentors of such things thought nothing lesse then that which came after So much then did the Lord humble his people But about the end of this periode euil was seene to aduance and ceremonies encrease in such sort that men enclined vnto Indaisme and Paganisme the loue of solitude and Munkery the abstinence from marriage and from certaine viands and meates on particular dayes many Feasts and other seeds of superstition after succeeding tooke a maruellous roote So the commencement of praiers for the dead and of the sacrifice of the Masse did then discouer themselues not that the intent of such as made mention of the dead to encourage the liuing constantly to serue God and which brought of their goods into the company of the faithfull for the comfort of the poore after the celebration of the Supper was to bring in the execrable Idolatrie which long time after sprung vp There were also introducted and brought into Baptisme certaine ceremonies yet not such as the ridiculous superstitions which since haue bin forged Finally the good intent began to shewe it selfe and from thenceforth to lift vp the head vntill at the last vpon the ende of the second time of the Church it rose vp aboue the word of God As for the third periode of the first time heerein it was happie in that God during that time raised vp diuers learned persons Greekes and Latines to oppose themselues with liuely voyce at Sinodes as also by their bookes whereof wee haue some number at this day against the impietie of infinite heretikes Amongst other S. Augustine was an excellent Doctor of the Church who notwithstanding is not alwaies so cleare as is to be desired Amongst the Latines this time also brought forth other great persons yet men also which yet is more seene in the Greeke Doctors lesse pure then the Latines especially in the right knowledge of the merite of Iesus Christ and all was the want of a pure and natiue intelligence of the Lords language in the Prophetike and Apostolike bookes Their allegorike interpretations had as it were gotten the vpper hand ceremonies maruellously encreased Monkeries began to take footing the true meanes to diuide the Church and to forge a new seruice of God afterward the veneration of the Martyrs Sepulchres paintings and after Images glistered in Churches The pure doctrine of the Lords Supper began to bee falsified for want of right vnderstanding the manner of Sacramentall speeches and the vertue of the alone sacrifice of Iesus Christ Bishops especially that of Rome thrust into the world and the misterie of iniquitie formed it selfe as it afterward should come into the light For Arrianisme hauing serued for a seed to Mahumatisme and the dispising of the celestall veritie with corruption of manners maintaining the audacitie and boldnesse of the Bishops of Rome this periode finishing gaue entry vnto straunge euils wherewith the Church was ouerthrowne a litle space after Let vs now say something of the second time of the Church which we diuide into two periodes The first from Phocas about the yeare 600. vntill Charlamaine by the space of 300. yeares The second from Charlamaine vnto Charles the fift of that name Emperour about 700. yeares In the first periode of this second time of the Church as the Antichrist of the East thrust himselfe well forward that of the West established his Throne and then was the doore open to all errours which notwithstanding entred not at once but came by litle and litle into the Church Aboue all the opinion of purgatorie fire and of the sacrifice for the dead were the foundation of the Papaltie and of all that vermine of their Cleargie and infinite Sects of Monkes which like Grashoppers from the deepe pit came to spread themselues through Europe But it was in the second periode of the second time that Idolatrie and superstitions obtained the vpper hand Insomuch that the poore Church as it were buried had no more any spring neither appeared there any token wherevpon to cast her eye but onely the inuocation of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost in Baptisme And although from time to time the Lord made shine some flames and torches in the bowells of that darkenesse to redargue and weaken such as rotted in so heauie and palpable ignorance yet was their blindness so lamentable and their sleepe so deepe that for one which lifted vp the head and to whom Antichrist gaue no release nor leaue to approach witnesse all such as during this periode opposed themselues neuer so litle against his tyrannie an infinite remained liuelesse and altogether dead The Lord making himselfe admirable in the mercie which he shewed vpon some and renowned in horrible and iust punishment of their ingratitude which loued better lyes then truth Who can heere recyte the superstitions Idolatries of Antichrist his crafts and subtilties to establish his kingdome and tirannie vpon bodies and soule He had his seruants and instruments of all sorts to leane fasten encrease and multiply his Throne in the Temple of GOD carrying in his browe the name of miserie sitting in the Temple of God calling himselfe God yet vnknown of such as called themselues Christians which he put off vntill the end of the world and to I know not what fancie and dreame of an Antichrist which should be borne but a litle before the second comming of the sonne of God Briefly the great spiritual Babilon the murdresse of soules had her kingdome during this period tyrannizing the Israell of God hid and dispearced in a litle number and by her impostures blasphemies and impieties mocked the true God Father of Iesus Christ whose name auowed with the mouth shee trode vnder her feet by her abhominable errour But the Lord willing to make his worke admirable which was to ruinate Babilon to destroy the man of sin by the breath of his mouth and by the brightnesse of his comming presented himselfe in the third time and by the ministerie of people feeble and of small appearance yet driuen and drawne on with the zeale of his glory first brought in y e knowledge of tongues then the celestial truth maugre all the strengthes of the world and in
Ierusalem Horrible famine The taking of Ierusalem Rom. 10. Titus Linus Naucler Cletus Chro. Euseb Anacletus Domitian Euseb Fasc Tem. The second persecution against the Christians Notaries and pronotaries The death of S. Iohn the Euangelist The Chron. of the Emper. Clement Eusebius The third persecution Suppl Chro. Singing of Psalmes auncient Fasci temp Anacletus Naucle Now none but the Priest communicateth Suppl Chro. Sinode In the first volume of Councell Heretickes Suppl Chron. S. Aug. Eusebi Sup. Ch. Eusebi Histo Ecclec Lib. 3. cap. 26. Euaristus Anno. Christ 121. Euseb Fasci Temp. marriage pub like Euseb Lucian Alexander Euseb De cense dist 2. cap. in Sacramento Dist 10.102 to Si quib 10 Dist cap. Relatum The first addition to the Lords Supper Adrian 2. Tess 2. de conse dist 2. cap. Sufficit The Popes afterward forged their decretalls Anno Christ 101. Suppl Chro. Sixtus Not to touch Challices The word Oblation The last destruction of the Iewes Barrochabas the Iewe. Telesphorus Heresies in the Church Epiphanius Gnostiques Adrian A Buggerer worshipped as God The death of Adrian Torments and cruelties against Christains Pius An. Christi 123. In the booke he writ to Strapula Higinius Pope De conse dist 1. ca. Lignae 36. Hom 10. cap. 1. Si qua nud S. August Anicetus Supp Chro. Easter celebrated vpon a reuelation made to Hermes Swearing and blaspheming Priestes Crowne Marcus Aurelius The company of heretickes daungerous Chro. of Emper The fourth persecution Soter Anno Dom. 169. Montanus Not to touch Chalices 7.9.1 ca. Illud Diuini 22. q. 4. ca. 51 quid Cataphryges S. Augustin The vse of things indifferent Alcibiades Anno Domi. 179. Commodus Lucius Naucle Chroni Euseb Naucler Chron. of the Empe. Chro. Euse Sup. Chro. Edict Imperiall Persecution Pertmax Didius Reconciliatiō Seuerus Seuerus Ireneus Bishop of Lions Quatorzians In the volume of Councells Of Tertullian A Schisme by the occasiō of Montanus The Bishops of Ierusalem The Church of the Gentiles in Ierusalem The fift persecution Zephyrim The death of Ireneus Bassianus Execrable Incest Macrin Heliogabalus Calixtus A place of S. Paul euill Interpreted Alexander Porphirius Maximin Wodden Priests Notaries and Protonotaries Pontian The beginning of the Cardinals The sixt persecution Celsus the Heretick Fabian Gordian Proclus an hereticke Sapor King of the Persians The Councell of Philadelphia Phillip The first Christian Emperours Helchesites Heretickes The death of Phillip The cause of this seuenth persecution vnder Decius Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem The torments of the Martyrs The death of Decius Gallus This persecution counted the eight The death of Gallus The Romanes tributaries Lucius Decretalls examined Decretalls attributed vnto Lucius Noetus and Sabellius The Art Magicke ouerthrew Valerian Lucian The miserie of Valerian Lucius Ed. 9. The death of Saint Ciprian The death of Lucius Athenodorus Gregor of Neocesaria The heresie of Sabellius buried Paul Samosatane The end of Origenes Stephen Suidas counteth this of Origen and Nicephorus after him The fall of Origenes The differēce of rebaptizing heretikes The death of Denis Bishop of Alexandria Sixtus Chiliastes renewed Laurence a Deacon of Rome The history of Laurence Denis The Councell of Antioche Married Bishops Hist Eccle. Lib. 5. cap. 15. Claudus Quintilius Aurelian Aurelian The ninth persecution Tacitus Florian. Probus Felix Probus Numerian slaine Carinus Dioclesian Marcelline Dioclesians pride Kissing of shooes The tenth persecution Dioclesian The Empresse Martyred Cōstantius The death of Dioclesian The ende of Galerius Constantin the great The death of Maxentius The issue of Maximinian Maximian chose his owne death Apocal. 1. li 16 Apo. 1.2 Epist ad Rusticū Momacū Vigills The Eucharist giuen to sicke persons Abuses of the Supper Ceremonies in administrating the Supper The word Messe vnused Martir Temple Donation of Constantine 96. Dist c. Cōstantinus c. Fundamenta De. electio Lib. 6 12. q. 1. c. Futuram Bizantium Constantinople Bishops Priests Cleargie Clarkes Metropolitanes Patriarke The office of a Bishop Ministers Vicars or Bishops particulers Deacons New degrees Diaconesses Diuers sorts of Auditors Prayers Confession taken from the common people Ceremonies inuented Feastes The Immunitie of Clarkes beganne Building of Temples Edicts for the Christians Reuenewes assigned to the Church The vse of the goods of the Church Immunities The poore Libraries Notaries at Rome Reward of profess Arrius a professor Arrius Hist Eccle. Li. 10. Chap. 4. Spiridian Pathuntius Hist Eccle. Lib. 10. cha b. Prouinciall Councels each yeare Catechumenes Vnlawfull gaine Ordinances against Arrius Arrius giueth in his confession Sinode of Ierusalem A tumult of the Arrians The names of dayes Donatist 3. Images chap. 60 Athanasius called to the Sinode Temples builed in Palestine Constantin the second The death of Constantine the great Constance Cōstantius 53000. slaine The cōstancy of Liberius Heretickes cruell Monkes at this time Liberius Hilarie Bishop of Poiters Eusebius Bishop of Verceil Iulian. The death of Constantius A Sinode in Alexandria Essentiall Substance Subsistence Iulian instituted in pietie Humane Letters prohibited Holy water Extreame cruelties 1. Cord. 10. fol. 25. Iulians enuy for the name of Martyr Iouinian The horrible death of Iulian. A Christian Emperour Athanasius came from exile Councell at Antoiche Peace with the Persians Two kindes of Monkes Valentiniā Cenobites Anachirites Remoboth Europe had not yet receiued Monkes Valens Monkes A Prophetike Dreame Heretikes Adolatrie at Arras Vulphilas Hist Trip. lib. 8. The electiō of S. Ambrose Gratian. The constancie of the faithfull The death of Valens Damasus Apoc. 6 2.10.11 Theodosus Translation eleuation of the bodies of Saints Vigils or watches of Saints Obseruation of dayes Obseruation of Letters Three arguments against false religion Slaunders against true doctoctrine Accōmodatiō Such Princes as opposed themselues against Paganisme S. Hieromes Translation Syricius The successors of Siluester had not the rule of Rome The right of choosing and crowning the Emperours Monicha S. Augustines mother The Papist hold that it was vpon Thursday Fastes of Angaria Arcadius Honorius Singing receiued into the Westerne Church Singing receiued in assembly from the time of the Apostles In his Commentary vpon the Iudges Contenti somno qui a missa vigiliarū vsque ad lucem conceditur ctc. Remissa peecatorū for remission of sinnes Euergumenes Missas facere to let goe Catechumenes which were not yet baptised Auditors Competitors Radagastus Rome taken by Alaricus The Kings of Spaine discēded of the Gothes Antiphonae Anhemes Orders Iohn Chrysostome Monasteries Pelagius the heretike Iustification of faith Arcadius Henorius Francion The fourth schisme The beginning of Venice The introitus of the Masse Valentiniā Abb. trip Naucler Supp Chro. Blund lib. 2. Naucler Sureties Inuention of Letanies The sea of histories Valentiniā 1. Volume of Councels Martin Abb. trip Naucler The sea of Histories Childeric Annualls of France Leo the first Suppl Chro. Leo. Zenon Zenon Denise Victoria Churches began to become rich Visigots Dedication In the first volume of Councells Anastatius Anastatius Quaternitie Naucler Gelasius Bread and wine of
Persians and receiued a mortall wound and casting a full handfull of bloud into the ayre hee vttered this blasphemie against Iesus Christ Thou hast ouercome ô Gallelean In the end thou art vanquisher and as hee had lost much bloud being in a burning Feuer hee called for water about midnight and dranke it colde and expired the yeare of his age 31. hauing gouerned the Empire the space of a yeare and seuen moneths Of the publike ioy they of Antioche made for his death see the Tripartite historie lib. 6. chap. 48. Iouinian or Iuuian borne in Hungarie was created Emperour with great ioy of the Armie the next morning after the death of Iulian. He was a Prince naturally liberall and who vnder Iulian had shewed well that he loued better to loose all dignities then to obey one wicked commaundement and against Christian religion Beeing importuned by the souldiers to accept the election he said hee was a Christian and that hee would not bee the Emperour of Ethnicks and Idollatrous people Hee accepted not the Empire vntill all with a common voyce had protested they would bee Christians Eutropius Lib. 10. Socrat. Lib. 3. Chap. 22. One called Lucius an Arrian whom George Bishop of Alexandria had promoted accusing Athanasius when he returned from exile Iouinian would not heare him but knowing Athanasius commaunded silence to Lucius Sozomen li. 6. cap. 5. He customably said to flatterers that they rather worshipped purple then God The Church had rest vnder him and he restored whatsoeuer Iulian had taken away There was a Councell held at Antioche vnder him to establish the faith of the Councell of Nice Sozom. lib. 6. chap. 4. He made peace with the Persians to his great dishonour and to their great aduantage yeelding them fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris also he promised to giue no succours vnto the King Arsaces allied with the Romanes He died soone after of an euill of the stomacke as he was in his chamber wherein for cold he caused to be made a great fire of coles all the night He liued 23. yeares and raigned seuen moneths The originall of Monkes and Monasteries The Monastike life began first in Aegypt Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life which incontinent was disperced into Palestine Armenia and Paphlagonia Sozomen li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at how this world which in it had so many excellent Doctors did straight admit this manner of life which was neuer instituted of God and not onely allowed it but euen themselues instituted it and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes some in sollititude and others in Cities and companies Sozom. li. 3. ch 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life namely that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing to be peaceable that hee ought to haue an honest habit a moderate voice words well disposed to take his refection peaceably and with silence and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation humilitie and simplicitie of heart watchings teares in prayers sobrietie in his speech and eating Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith that Monasteries were shops of vertue abstinence fasting patience and labour Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these vertues Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monasteries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some labour or worke And this was their rule and as it were their Simbole Hee that trauelleth not ought not to eate The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium speaketh of three sort of Monkes in Egypt The first were called Cenobites Sansos in that countrey language as we might say liuing in common The second Anacharites because they dwelt alone in the Desarts far from mē The third they called Remoboth these dwelt two with two or three with three at the most and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for they nourished themselues in common but often had they debates amongst them Before the time of Hierome it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe but that Ambrose in whose time began persecutions of virgins makes often mention of companies of sacred virgins otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found Certaine it is that Sozomen lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies Valentinian borne also in Hungarie was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian borne in Hungarie of a meane place and in fauour of him Valentinian was chosen to the Empire which hee refused but after accepted and made his brother Valens pertaker with him who had the Countrey of the East and made his sonne Gratian Augustus In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire was by them discomfited After Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles was set at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodosius Valens then being chosen a consort of the Empire was at first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian but after hee was infected with the Arrian heresie at the perswasion of his wife and of Eudoxius Bishop of Constantinople an Arrian of whom he was baptised During the life of Valentinian the westerne Church was peaceable and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme against such as were called Homousiastes that is to say the true Catholiques and stirred great horrible persecutions and aboue all in Antioche and Laodicea his brother Valentinian reprehended him and admonished him by Letters to desist as Zonoras writeth but hereby was he stirred so much the more and determined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxius but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne who knowing it be Gods vengeance turned him from his euill will and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares and sustained many persecutions in great constancie and patience died about this time After his death persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Valens Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7. Damasus a Spaniard some write him to bee of Rome the sonne of one called Antonius succeeded Liberius his election was turbulent and bloudie because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church and of the pretended donation
of Constantine Of the writings of Damasus see Suidas and Hierome in his Epistle ad Eustochium Tome 4. makes mention of Damasus Of Virginitie saith hee read the bookes of that Pope Damasus composed in verse and prose He reuerenced the Sinode of Nice and condemned Auxentius Bishop of Millan an Arrian Theodor. lib. 4. chap. 30. saith that with S. Ambrose hee fought strongly against the Arrian heretikes expresly condemning Sabellius Arrius Eunomius the Macedonians Photin Marcellius and the heresie of Apollinaris Hierome writeth vnto him often and in his Apologie against Iouinian he calleth Damasus a singular man well instructed in the scriptures and Doctor of the Virgin Church Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike calleth Damasus his deare companion praysing his diligence that hee assembled a Sinode at Rome against the Arrians He was charged to haue committed whoordome whereof beeing accused by two of his Deacons namely Concordius and Calitxtus hee defended his cause in a full assembly of Bishoppes and was absolued and his accusers proscripted Sabelli Enu 7. Lib. 9. There were many vertuous Monkes in this time as Paulus Pior Isidorus Apsius Pierius Enagrius Ammonius c. Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 10. One of the Monkes said that the Monke which laboured with his hands was like a theefe Some were cruelly slaine by Valens because they would not goe to warre Anthonie of the age of an hundreth and fiue yeares died at this time Hee sawe in a Dreame as it were swine which destroyed and plucked downe Aultars with their feete and when he awaked hee said that the Church should bee once dissipated and wasted by whoremongers adulterers and men disguised P. Melancton noteth this Prophesie against the whoordome and voluptuos life of Priests and Monkes Amongst other heretickes at this time there was Photinus Hebionite Ennomius an Arrian and Priscilian a Bishop in Spaine who cōfounded the persons in the Trinitie They which they called Donatists said that Christ is lesse then the Father and the holy Ghost lesse then the Sonne and rebaptized the Catholiques The Luciferians and Apollinaries said that Christ receiued an humane body without a reasonable soule The diuinity supplying the place thereof Athalarike King of the Gothes persecuted greatly the Catholiques against his owne people The Burgonions gathered themselues together in number 80000. towards Rhene which afterward receiued the faith Paul Diac. In the Towne of Arras in the Countie of Artois the 4. yeare of Valentinian fell wooll from Heauen with the rayne Hierome in his Chronicle Paul Diac. and Orosius Lib. 7. Herman Gigas saith that it was in the third yeare of Valentinian For Lana some Historiographers haue set downe Manna wherefore yet at this day they of Arras vnluckily do worship it for the Manna of Heauen The Hungarians cast themselues vpon the West Countrie in great numbers The Arrians made burne and drowne many faithfull and Catholique people Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 2. The Huns cast themselues vpon the westerne parts and draue away the Gothes which were cōstrained to giue place and passe beyond Danubia and came into Thrace and from thence into Pannonie Vulphilas a Bishop of the Gothes in Sarmathia translated the Bible into the Gothike tongue for the vse of his people As Ierome did into the Dalmatike for his people And in Creatia which is in the lower Pannonie the Churches there and the Bishops vsed the scriptures translated into their vulgar tongue Auxentius an Arrian Bishop deceasing at Milan there fell a great sedition betwixt the Arrians the Catholiques for the electiō of their Bishop The Proconsul his deputie then was Ambrose a Citizen of Rome who hearing such a noise by reason of his office went hastily to the Church where the people were assembled and after he had made many reasons to reduce the people to concord suddenly rose there vp a common and an agreeing voyce that Ambrose must needs be baptized who was yet a Catechumene and after be consecrated Bishop whervnto he would not consent but by the commaundement of the Emperour Valentinian who incited him therevnto hee accepted the office And then the Emperour gaue thankes to God that hee had called this person from the gouernment of the body to the gouernment of soules Councells held at this time 1. In Aquilege where S. Ambrose assisted against Palladius and Secondianus Arrians 2. In Valentia in Dalphine wherein it was ordained that Bigami might not be consecrated 3. In Laodicea whereof is before spoken c. 4. At Rome against Apollinaris Hist Trip. lib. 9 chap. 16. Valentinian of the age of 55. yeares died of a flux of bloud of a veyne breaking He raigned 17. yeares 6. with Gratian and 11. after his body was carried to be buried at Constantinople S. Aurel. Vict. and Pomp. Before his death he againe declared his sonne Graiian Emperour Procopius the Tyrant vanquished by Valens was taken and hauing his two feete bound vnto two trees and let goe they tore him in peeces Naucle Valens gaue a blowe vnto the Gouernour of the Towne of Edesse in Mesapotamia because hee had not chased away the Christians which daily assembled in ths Temple of S. Thomas It grieued him to put the Emperours commaundement in execution and to cause such a multitude to die wherefore he secretly sent thē word that they would assemble no more there But leauing his counsell and searing nothing the Emperours Edict the next morning all assembled in the said place as they accustomed to doo So then as the Prouost of the Towne with a great company of souldiers went to the said Temple to put in execution Valens his commaund hee encountred a woman who ranne with a litle childe of hers to the assembly of the faithfull to whom he said Whether runnest thou Thither said she whether all others haste to goe How said hee hast thou not heard that the Prouost goeth thither to sley all he findes there I vnderstand it said she and therfore do I make so much haste to be with them And whither leadest thou that litle childe That he may also receiue the Crowne of Martyrdome quoth she When the said Prouost vnderstood these things and the courage of the Christians which ran thither he returned towards the Emperor Valens shewed him this storie how they were ready to endure death for their faith that he thought it very vnreasonable to sley so great a multitude of people Vpon these words Valens moderated his anger Socrat lib. 1. cap. 18. Theo. lib. 4. cap. 17. Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 18. Affrates a very olde Monke departed from Antioch being sent into exile Valens seeing him from his Pallace said to him whither goest thou I goe said he to pray for thine Empire Thou shouldest haue done that in thy house said Valens Yea answered Affrates if thou wouldest permit it and so did I when Christs sheepe were in peace Valens in the end fought vnluckily against