the ennemy of Christe whiche neuerthelesse should speake like a Dragon like an euill spirite and should rage as vnmercifully as the firste beast did whiche destroyed Peter and Paule and great companies of fainctes whiche with her charmes should so bewitche the worlde and with monstrous workes should growe into suche admiration that none might by or sell but such as had the seale or the name of the beaste in his forehead But as touching the name of the beaste he shewes it mistically by these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch X St reciteth it to be discussed This saith Iohn is wysedome let him that hath vnderstanding accompt the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his nuÌ„ber is this 666. Apocal. 13. What meane thefe markes but that wee should searche the time wherein this beaste should arise from the earth and the bottomlesse pitte and should destroye the Christian common wealth But howe shall a man apply it if he haue not the certaine time when Pompeie toke the scepter from the Iewes according to the notable prophecie of Iacob entring the temple prophaned the Sanctum sanctorum But that was done as Iosephus wryteth in the time of Tullius consulship the 60. yeare before Christe was borne To these three score yeares adde six hundred vntill after the death of the sayd Gregorie the great who prophecied that he should be Antechriste whiche would be compted vniuersall bishop or head of all churches Therefore marke well what kinde of times happened in the 666. yeare after Hierusalem was taken by the Romaines Pompeie being their general and you shall se straunge matters fal out at the time that this Phocas was Emperour of whome VVilliam Stantphurdius wryteth as foloweth The Empier Phocas chokes and doth the Popedome first aduaunce By wicked writts about his Empier sent for to enhaunce And to confirme moste sure foray vnto the after age The premacy of Rome and of the dragon that doth rage Against Gods power Furthermore applie this misticall number of 666. containing highe wisedom in iâ— froÌ„ the time of Christes birth or from the tyme of his passion or from the xv yere of Domician at whiche time the reuelation was written and stil ye shal finde some moÌ„sterous thing wrought in the church But to returne to the matter of Englande In the yeare of Christe 593. Colman Harding and Fabian saye that the raigne of the seuen kinges at one time began whereby 173â— yeares after Brutus their first king the royall estate of the Brytishe king ceased For as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his fourth booke the Britaines founde tâ—at the Saxons were in steade of succourers suppressours and cruell ennemies vntrusty warring rigorously vpon them who had entertained them for ayde Anno 596. the foresaid Augustine sent from Gregorie came into Englande who at his comming did not reproue but maintaine and vpholde the wicked treasons the horrible robberies the slaughters more cruell then were Neroes whiche the Saxons coÌ„mitted Anno â–ª 600. Gregorie gaue to Augustine his byshops pall Thereby as was sayde London was spoyled of her right without all order to the destruction bothe of the commonwealth and of religion and finally the vndoing of the Brytishe kingdome and thereupon are sumptuous teÌ„ples builded Before that time the Britains had their churches dedicated to eternall God the father and to our sauiour his sonne Iesus Christe But afterwarde the SaxoÌ„s did coÌ„secrate their temples to Images and dead sainctes â–ª Anno. 604. the ChristiaÌ„ Emperour Maurice being slaine Phocas an adulterer and a murtherer obtayned the seate imperiall and in him the maiestie of the Caesars and the moste noble Empire of the Grekes decayed together As for the Romaine Empire that was weakened and empaired yea and at length brought to nothing by meanes of the Popedome whiche he had graunted and established Anno 606. in Nouember and December as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his 18. booke euen at the rising and beginning of the Popedome there appeared a wonderfull great blasing starre There were straunge sightes and monsters of the Sea shewed them selues to the terrour of many Thus in the time of this Phocas murderer of the Emperour whiche is to be noted as a misterie concerning the Popes Papistrie and Mahumets religion began bothe together at one time which corrupted darkened and weakened the doctrine of the sonne of God in many regions For in another yeare of the same Phocas as Bibliander writeth Mahumet recited the Alcoran so that saieth hee the Egles three heades awaked all at ones according to the heauenly vision in the fourth booke of Esdras that is to saye Phocas him selfe Pope Boniface Mahumet the Arabian now followeth the thirde troupe of Romishe Popes whiche is deuided into fiue partes The firste parte of this thirde troupes of the Popes or Romaine Antechristes prophecied of by the names of Sodome or Egypt Apocal. 11. vntill the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1. Boniface the thirde ABout this time the bishoppers of Constantinople endeuoured to obstaine the title of vniuersall bishop and to haue their Church called the head of all Churches vsing these fonde reasons that because the Emperour beinge chiefe of all Princes kepte at Constantinople therefore that shoulde be the chiefest Church and there the chiefe bishop This ambitioÌ„ enflamed many to speake and wryte against it but especiallye the late Gregorye who in this wyse reproued Iohn bishop of Constantinople for the same Sayinge None of my predecessors although the Emperours began first in Rome and were wont to byde there onelye and yet do keepe the title thereof durste take vppon them this title of vniuersall bishop And againe Gregorye sayd plainlye that such a one was the forerunner of Antichrist Yet notwithstanding that the Church of Constantinople with great infamye preuailed not herein because that Antichrist or the whore of Babilon according to the 13. of the Reuelation should be in the Citty builded on seuen hilles that is Rome it selfe For so diuers auctors testifye that onelye Rome is knowen to be builded on vii hils and certaine it is that when this Reuelation was written Rome was then the greatest Cittye being built on seuen hils as Mantuan testifyeth in the life of Syluester speaking of S. Blaze at the ende of the first booke And the fulnesse of that time prophecied of now drawing nighe this Boniface the thirde Anno 607. by the meanes of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer traytour and murtherer of his Lorde and soueraine Maurice the Emperour with his wife and children was aduaunced to be bishop of Rome with much hurley burley and greate tumulte and in despite of manye bishops and Churches standinge against it he is extolled confirmed and worshipped as Lorde and Prince of all bishoppes By great sute but greater bribery he obtayned of the sayde bloudye Emperour that Rome should be called the head of all Churches partlye by the same reasons that Constantinople vsed as Platina sayth that where the heade
Romaynes that he coulde do nothinge worthy remembraunce for hee was so shamefullye wounded and foulye mangled and defaced amid the broyles that for shame of his foule disfigurings he durst neuer shewe his face abroade So litle reuerence had the Popes at that time for their litle holinesse Steuen dyed Anno 944. 66. Martin the third MArtin the thirde being Pope gaue himselfe onelye to repayre the Church not in Religion but in building not in reforminge ceremonyes but encreasinge the dignitye and pompe of the Church He was very beneficial to the poore bestowed plentifully on their bellyes He was diligent in reformation of outward manners In the first yeare of this Pope a great blasing starre was seene in Italye after which saith Vspergensis followed an extreame famine and againe saith Masseus the Sunne appeared verye terrible threatninge the sequeale of Gods vengeance Martin dyed Anno 947. 67. Agapetus the second AGapetus the seconde being Pope ruled Popelike in the time of one Berengarius a Marques of Italy who was the last of that name that had that dignitye after Hughe This Berengarius is reported to haue dryuen many Monkes oute of their cloysters whiche liued idellye and gaue them selues to the pleasures of the worlde The Pope perceiuing howe he could not rule Berengarius in these and such other spiritual matters that he would not restraine his soueraignitie according to the wil of him and his Hee sent for Otho the first king of the Germaines to come into Italy promising him the kingdome of the Romaines to fight with Berengarius and so saith Sabellicus troubled the estate of that countrey And except it were the settinge of these princes together by the eares he did nothing worthy memory till his death being Anno. 954. In his time was a counsell holden at Ingelhaim but suche was the negligence of the time that no man can tell what was done there or wherefore it was 68 Iohn the thirtene IOhn the thirtene being the sonne of the foresayde Albericus sonne to Marozia obtained to be Pope partly by the bribery partly by the threatning of his father Albericus being Prince He being Pope liued not like a bishop but altogether like a ranke ruffianly roister geuing him selfe wholly to all kinde of pleasure as to whoredome adultery incest masking momming hunting maygames playes robberies fyring of houses periury dyce cardes blaâ—ing robbing of churches and other villanies euen froÌ„ his youth he misused his cardinalles in cropping their noses thrusting out their eyes chopping of their fingers and handes cutting out their tongues gelding them and vsing diuers diuersly For before the Emperour Otho in an opeÌ„ Sinode it was layde to his charge as Luthprandus wryteth in his sixt booke that he neuer sayde Mattins that in celebrating the masse he him selfe had not communicated that he made Deacons in his stable among his horses that he had committed incest with two harlots being his owne sisters That hee played at dice prayed to the diuell to sende him good lucke that for money he admitted boyes to be bishops He had rauished virgines and straunge womeÌ„ He had made the holy pallaice of Lateran a stewes brothell house That he had defloured Stephana his fathers concubine and one Rainera a wydowe besyde one Anna an other wydowe and her niece that he had put out the eyes of Benedict his ghostly father vsed common hunts that he woare armour and set houses on fyre brast open dores and wyndowes by night that he tooke a cup of wyne dranke to the diuell and neuer blessed him selfe with the signe of the crosse these and many more odious articles were layde to his charge Whereupon the Emperour by the consent of the Prelates deposed him And Leo the eight was set vp in his steade But as sone as the Emperour was gone those harlottes that had bene his companioÌ„s inueigled the nobles of Rome promising theÌ„ the treasures of the church to depose Leo and place Iohn againe whiche they did out of hande and so Leo whom the Emperour appointed was deposed and Iohn established againe Who in his Popeship decreed that the Emperour should euer be crowned at Rome by the Pope But as he was solacing him self with out Rome on a certaine night with the wyfe of one that was a valiaunt man he was taken by him euen in his adultery and so sore and depely wouÌ„ded with a dagger that he died thereof within eight dayes in the tenth yeare of his Popedome as Mantuan witnesseth Of this Pope Iohn S. Dunstane a Nicromancier and a coniuring MoÌ„ke archbishop of Caunterbury in Englande receiued at Rome coÌ„firmation and pall to be metropolitan Anno. 960. This Dunstane did shamefully snaffle king Edgar For the king had deflowred a certaine Noonne for the which cause DuÌ„stane did so taunte and rate him that the king fell downe flatte before him offering to submitte him selfe to any satisfaction and obayed this that was commaunded him by Dunstane first because he was yet vncrowned he charged him that he should not take the crowne vpon him for seuen yeares and that during this time he should fast twyse in the weke distribute his treasure to the nedy builde a Noonnery at Shaftesbury and last of al that he should driue out all maried ministers calling them adulterous priestes Cronicon SaxonicuÌ„ ecclesiae VVigorniensis But as other stories testifie they were shortly after restored againe the moÌ„ks who had encroched their places were depriued Also he purchased of him for a great somme of money a coÌ„mission to disanulle and coÌ„demne the mariage of the Clergie and to constrayne them to single life or els to depriue them of ecclesiasticall benefites So writeth Iohn Capgraue and Polidor Virgil. in his sixt booke of the history of Englande Hereupon he being emboldened by the auctoritie of king Edgar ioyning to him selfe in the same commission Oswalde bishop of Yorke Ethelwalde bishop of Winchester and Monkes of the like disposition did violently thrust out of the cathedrall churches the Curates and Ministers whiche would not forsake their wiues and planted in them Monkes with their counterfaited chastitie whiche they kept vntill the time of the moste renowmed Prince kyng Henry the eight But many there were that stoutly stoode in defiance of this wicked doing especially a certayne Scot did bitterly speake against it Of this Pope Iohn came this prouerbe As mery as Pope Iohn 69 Benedict the fift BEnedict the fift after the departure of Otho the Emperour with his armye and depriuing of Leo being but a Deacon and Cardinall was made Pope by Iohns frends in a tumultuous time But Otho would not suffer Leo whome he had appointed to take this iniurye and therefore returning to Rome with his armie hee plonged the Romaines diuers wayes to make them yelde this Benedict into his handes and to restore Leo. Therefore after they had kept the gates lockt twoo monethes they yelded Benedict vnto the Emperour and receiued Leo and established him solemly in the
lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that cānot pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begīning of the Romaine tyrānye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I cānot hold my peace If at VVitēberg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defēded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are Presidēts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardō mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the coūtrey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would aboūd as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al mē at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaīst thē thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers cōtrouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia Tigurū Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas
Pope Gregorie aliue whom the Emperour himselfe had first created And when the Popes Legates demaunded of the Emperour to giue ouer his auctoritye in Ecclesiasticall causes and bestowing spirituall liuinges he desired respit to deliberate thereon with the Princes of Germanye who councelled him to seeke for the fauour of the Pope to such puissancye was the Pope then start vp ouer the mightie Monarches Finallye Embassadours meetinge at VVormes in Germanye for eyther parte to debate the matter after greate controuersyes and sharpe reasoninges on eyther syde the Pope bare awaye the victorye for the Emperours Proctours were the bishop of Spire and the abbot of Fulda by theyr callinge bounde to fauour the Popes part who perswaded the Emperour to yelde ouer his righte for feare of the excomunication which would cause his subiects to reuolt from him And so he obeyed This beinge done the Popes Legates did absolue him and gaue him licence to repayre to seruice in the Church which Gelasius had denyed him These compositions were drawne in wrighting for both sydes and therfore the Popes part euen to triūph of their victorye and shewe how the Emperour was vanquished caused theirs to be read with open Proclamation and hanged them vp at Lateran to be seene openlye Calixtus after he had thus maistred the Emperour persecuted Pope Gregorie his aduersarye that stoode against him for the Popedome by the Emperours meanes Gregorie hearing of this fled from Rome to Sturium where Calixtus caught him and to make him a laughing game euen to the Emperours reproche he caused Gregorie to be set vppon a Camel with his face toward the Camels tayle so to be brought to Rome afterward he caused his heade to be shauen so sente him into a Monasterye Amonge manye Canons that Calixtus made one was that it should be adulterye if a man in his life time shoulde forsake his bishopricke or Church wresting this place of Paule vnto it The wyfe is bound to the lawe of her husbande while he liueth c.. He appointed to fast foure times in the yeare whereas before it was but thrise and said it was not lawfull to fast anye otherwise then accordinge as the Church of Rome did addinge this reason For sayth hee as the sonne came to do the will of his father so muste Christians do the will of their mother the Church of Rome He dyed of a feuer which he toke by the trauell of a greate iorneye Anno 1125. One Simeon an Englishman borne in Duresme in the 2. booke of his historye of the Kinges of Englande wryteth that this Calixtus held a generall councell in Fraunce wherin he forbad priestes deacons or subdeacons to haue wyues and first to leese their benefices secondlye the Communion if they woulde not yeilde herein Wherevppon one in Englande wrote a sharpe Epigram against him thus in effect O bone Calixte nunc omnis clerus odit te Quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti Hoc destruxisti postquam tu Papa fuisti Ergo tuùm meritò nomen habent odiò O good Calixtus now the clergye doth the hate In former tyme the Churchmen might enioy their spousal mate But thou bast takē this away to Popeship since thou came Therefore as thou deserued hast they do detest thy name 104. Honorius the seconde HOnorius the second before called Lambert being but of base byrth was first made bishop of Hostia for his learninge and so came to be Pope But sayth Platina his entraunce into Peters place is not to be commēded because he came in rather by the ambition of a few then the cōsent of good men for he was made Pope with great debate by the pollicy of one Leo Frangepain the chiefest Citizen who perswaded that they should not chose the Pope before they knewe all the Canons concerning the electiō While they stayed about this Leo practised to serue this Popes turne by such fetches as he could deuise but the Cardinals perceyuinge his policye did create one Theobaldus a Cardinall Pope callinge him Celestine but the people stoode earnestlye vrginge for another Cardinall that was a Saxō which Leo seemed to like of onelye to defeate the election of the Cardinals and when by this meanes he had the people somwhat indifferent to be ruled by him he brought to passe by them to make Lambert Pope and called him Honorius This Honorius sayth Mattheus Parisiensis sent out a Legat one Iohn Cremensis a riotous Cardinal to fil the Popes bagges He cōming into England Anno 1125. wyth the kinges fauour passed from one Religious house to another still fillinge his pouches with moneye and hys panche with delicate cheare And when he had euen loaden himselfe meetely wel he held a Synode in London where he cōdemned all the clergye of adultery which had wyues and euen the selfe same daye at night my Lord Legat himselfe euen his owne parson was taken in adultery And yet Pope Honorius wrote in his behalfe to the clergye of Englande thus Wee desire you charge you and commaunde you that ye receyue this Iohn as the Uicar of S. Peter w t reuerence heare him with humilitye and at his commaūdement be assistant at his Synodes c. The like for him wrote Honorius to Dauid kinge of Scottes There is a certaine statute made by the same Iohn in the said Synode helde at London to this effecte Wee by our Apostolicall auctoritye commaunde that priestes deacons subdeacons and canonists shall not come in companye wyth theyr wyues concubines yea or any other women except theyr mother sister or aunte or such womē as may altogether giue no suspition and who so shall breake this shall forfaite his orders Wee commaunde that no mariage shal be made betweene kindred or affinitye to the seuenth degree Honorius dyed Anno 1130. Platina sayth that in the time of this Honorius one Arnulphus an Englishmā and a noble preacher of the Christen Religion was murthered at Rome by the treacherye of the clergye because he did sharpelye reproue theyr royat and wantonnesse and rebuked theyr pompe and greedinesse in gatheringe riches Manye of the nobles of Rome did followe this man as a true disciple Prophete of Christe and onelye preacher of the truth 105. Innocentius the second INnocentius the second after he was made Pope coulde deuise no more charitable deede then to suppresse Roger Duke of Sicilia for sayinge that he was kinge of Italye The Pope broughte oute his armye and marched forward stoutlye and manfullye ouerthrew his ennemye but the dukes sonne comminge vppon his backe with an army toke the Pope and his Cardinals and so Roger obtayned all besyde the title of Sicilia In the meane time the Romaynes created one Peter Leo his sonne Pope and called him Anacletus which being heard Innocentius desired to be set at libertye and obtayned it and purposed to returne to Rome but because he saw al was in an vprore at Rome he turned frō thence trauayling till he came into Fraūce In the meane
decreed by Octo and Octogonus the Popes Legates in England at that time An Epistle of Peter Cassiodorus to the Englishmen reprouinge the extreame robbery filching and slauerye vvhereby the Popes spoyled this lande about the yeare of our Lord 1302. to moue them to shake of the bondage of the Popes tyrannye taken out of an ould booke in S. Albons Church TO the noble Church of Englande seruing in claye and bricke as the Ievves did in times past vnder the tyrannie of the EgiptiaÌ„s Peter the sonne of Cassiodore a catholike Souldiour and deuoute champion of Christe sendeth greeting and vvishinge to caste of the yoke of bondage and to receiue the revvard of libertie To whom shall I compare thee or to whom shal I liken thee O daughter Hierusalem to whom shall I matche thee O daughter of Sion Great is thy perturbation like vnto the Sea Thou sittest alone without comfort all the daye long thou art confounded and coÌ„â—umed with heauines Thou art giuen vp into the handes of him from whence thou canst not ryse without helpe of one to lift thee vp for the Scribes and Pharisies sittting vpon the chayre of Moyses thy enemyes the Romaynes are as thy heades and rulers enlarging their garded philacteries seeking to be enryched wyth the marowe of thy bones laying heauie burdens and not able to be borne vpon thy shoulders and of thy mynisters and they set thee vnder tribute which of old time hast beene free beyonde all honestye or measure But maruell not therat for thy mother which is the ladie of people lyke a wydowe hauinge maryed and coupled her selfe to her subiect hath appointed him to be thy father that is to saye the byshoppe of Rome who sheweth no point of any fatherlye loue towards thee He magnifyeth and extendeth to the vttermost his authoritye ouer thee And by experience declareth himselfe to be the husband of thy mother He remembreth oft wyth himselfe the prophetical saying of the Prophet and well disgesteth the same in the inward parte of his breste Take to thee a great booke and write therein quicklye with the pen of a man take the spoyle robbe quickly But is this it which the Apostles sayth that he was appointed for where he wryteth thus Euerye bishop taken from amonge men is appointed for men in those thinges that belonge to the Lorde not to spoyle not to laye on them yearelye taxes not to kill men but to offer giftes sacrifices for sinnes and to sorowe wyth them that be ignoraunt and do erre And so we read of Peter the fisher whose successor he boasteth himselfe to be that after the resurrection of Christ he turned with other Apostles to the office of fishinge who when he could take nothing of the left syde of the ship at the bidding of Christ turned to the right side and drewe to the lande a net full of fishes Wherefore the profitable mynisterye of the Church is to be exercised on the right syde by the which the deuill is ouercome and plentye of soules be lucrifyed and wonne to Christe But certainlye the labourer on the left side of the ship is farre otherwyse for in it the fayth stumbleth heauines beareth rule whan that thing that is desired by seekinge is not founde For who is so foolishe to thinke that hee can both at one time serue God and man and to satisfye his owne will or to sticke to the reuelations of flesh and bloud and to offer worthy giftes to Christ And doubtles that shepeheard that watcheth not for the edifyinge of the flocke prepareth an other way to the roringe Lyon and seeking whoÌ„ he maye deuoure And nowe behold I say O daughter the deedes of him that is called thy father such as haue not beene hearde of before he dryueth away the good shepeheard from the sheepefold and placeth in their steade bishops to rule but not to profyte his nephewes cosins and parentes some that knewe no letters and other some domme and deafe which vnderstand not the plaine voyce of the sheepe nor curing their wounds that be hurt of the wolues but like hyrelinges pluckinge of the fleeses a pase and reaping that which other men haue sowen whose handes moreouer be alwayes readye in theyr baskets and pouches but theyr backes are turned from theyr burdens By which thinge it is manifest that the priesthoode is cleane chaunged at these dayes the seruice of God decayed almes diminished and broughte to noughte the whole deuotion of princes and kinges is banished Maye not this be thought wonderful in the eyes of all men that where as Christ commauÌ„ded tribute to be payd to kinges for him for Peter he nowe goeth about dominion of his stile to subdue to him both realmes and princes of realmes against his will whose Uicar he sayth he is and who refused the realmes iudgements of this world which this bishop contrarywyse chalengeth clayming al that which he in his stile wryteth to be his Alacke O daughter what doth he yet more against thee marke he draweth from thee what so euer pleaseth him and yet he thinketh not himselfe content to haue the tenth part onely of thy goodes from thee except he haue also the first fruites of the benefices of the Ministers wherby he may get a newe patrimony aswell for himselfe as for his kynred contrary to the godly wyls of the first founders Ouer and besides all this he inferreth other execrable taxes and stipends for his Legates and messengers whom he sendeth into England which not onely take awaye the feeding and clothing of thee and thine but also teare in peeces like dogges your fleshe and skinnes Maye not this prince be compared to kinge Nabugodonoser which destroyed the temple of the Lorde and robbed awaye the siluer and goldeÌ„ vessels thereof The very same doth this man also he robbed the mynisters of Gods house and left destitute of due helpe In like maner doth he Truly they be better that are killed wyth the sword then they which be pined with hunger for they are dead straight but these are wasted with the barrennes of the earth O daughter all they that passe by the waye let them haue pitye and compassion on thee for there is no sorrowe like thy sorrowe For nowe thy face is blacker then coales through much sorrow and weepinge and thou art no more knowen in the streates thy foresayd ruler hath placed thee in darcknes and hath giuen thee wormewood and gall to drincke O Lord heare the sorrowe and sighinges of thy people behold Lord and descende for the hart of this foresaid man is more indurate then the hart of Pharao For hee wil not suffer thy people to departe excepte in the fortitude onelye of thy hande For he scourgeth them not onely myserablye vppon the earth but also after theyr death he intendeth to incroche the goodes of Christians vnder the name and title to dye intestate or making no will Therefore let the chiualrye of Englande well remember howe the
shall I trust proceede from vs such vnmeasurable aboundance of corrupt fruite as hath done from those that are the best the most pure and perfits on theyr side euen in those who they saye cannot erre that are the most holye vicars of Christe vpon earth namelye the holye fathers Popes bishops of Rome Whose notorious villanyes from time to time swelled to the full and perfite measure of iniquitye and so farre runne beyond our haynous sinnes that supposing they dyed as they liued I may bouldly warrant them this preferment that if an hundreth of the rankest helhounds that euer raigned vpon the earth might be mustred out of hell fourescore and nineteene of them should be Popes perhaps for the last hundred place eyther VVolsey or some other Cardinall would scuffle in among them Whereof that thou mayest the better iudge gentle Reader I do here giue thee in this booke a little taste of theyr vnsauorye liues I haue set them all forth here in one Pageante in such order as they played theyr Papall partes both Tragicall and Comicall for these Thousand yeares vpon this worldly stage wherein I haue chosen rather to translate them as they were gathered in Latin by maister Bale most faithfullye then to follow the parcial and flattering storye of Platina In some places also I haue added diuers thinges out of sondrye authors not as thoughe I desired to make perfite in all pointes that which maister Bale omitted but because in conferringe his alleaging of storyes I found manye thinges that without anye combraunce might be added and were worth the mentioning especiallye in the sixt booke of this historye out of one Theodoricus of Nyem Secretarye to Pope Vrban the sixt and wrote that which he sawe of that myserable and longe sciesme that set all the world together by the cares the space of xxxix yeares betweene Vrban the sixte Clement the seuenth Boniface the ix Benedict the xiii otherwyse called Iohn Moone and other which booke I am sure maister Bale neuer saw for he would neuer haue omitted such notable and straunge matters as are contayned in it and are here partlye touched by mee Also for so much as these prelates do falsely colour al their praÌ„cks vnder the authoritye of S. Peters name therfore I haue somwhat at large in the beginning shewed how that thoughe they would haue him to play the first part in this Pageant yet he is none of their coÌ„pany But because of the sodaine finishing of this worke in the printers hande I am forced in this Preface to leaue out many matters which I thought to haue vttered which I could neuer finde conueniente leasure to be setled in one certaine place in suche wyse as I might apply my selfe to write that which I purposed since this was finished and came to the hande of the Printer At this time therefore this onelye I haue to request of thee gentle Reader till God shal giue me better oportunitye to finishe that order which I purposed in publishing this booke to marke as thou readest how the manner of these Prelates do agree to the description of Antichrist in the Reuelation as I once purposed to haue noted vnto thee Marke whether we that at this daye do professe the Gospel and are so much noted of their freinds to transgresse haynouslye in our conuersation are to be compared with these holye Popes in anye kinde of enormitye For what villanye is it whereof thou shalt not finde such monstrous examples among them as the earth neuer els bread the like It were tedious for mee here to drawe into tables the examples of their vnsaciable couetousnes their bribery polling pilfringe robbing and ryfling vntollerable pride equal with the ambition of Lucifer their vaine and vnspeakable pompe theyr whoredome and rauishinge of diuers their incest with their owne sisters doughters their Sodomityes treasoÌ„s practised against all Princes on the earth the rebellions seditions bloudshed warres conspiracyes murtherings factions sciesmes braules contentions amonge them selues poysoninge Princes themselues one another euen in mynistring the Sacramentes theyr sorcerye charmes coniurings familiaritye with deuils and honouring of euill spirites their abusing of Princes most slauishlye theyr geuing transporting selling setting vp and deposinge of all estates Empyres and kingdomes theyr licensing of all villanye as murthering incest Sodomitrye periurye blasphemye and an hundred such like moste detestable enormityes whereof thou shalt haue plenty eueÌ„ to the loathing of thy stomacke Which when thou seest then iudge betweene oure fruites and theirs then learne to discerne who is that whore of Babilon the woman arayed in Purple and rose colour and decked wyth gould precious stones and pearles hauing the cup of gould in her hand full of abhomination and filthines Note what Citye is like to be that BabiloÌ„ built on seuen hilles bearing rule ouer the Nations of the earth What Citye is like to be that Babilon that is become the habitacion of deuils the hole of all foule spirites and a cage of all vncleane and hatefull byrdes Note wyth whom the kinges of the earth haue coÌ„mitted fornication and with the aboundance of whose pleasures the marchauntes of the earth are become riche Note who it is that hath bin dronken wyth the bloude of saintes if by these thou finde that these tokens of Antichrist be in these bishops of Rome then surelye saye thoughe wee wretched sinners be as euill as they make vs in deede which they speake so much of yet their holy fathers are farre worse which the Papist wyll not confesse Then saye that surelye Rome is Babilon and the Pope Antichriste and blame not mee for detectinge anye his loathsome villanyes but obeye the voyce of the Lord against thâ—s Babilon saying Come avvaye from her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues c. but revvard her as she hath revvarded you And giue her double according to her vvorkes Finallye let vs all saye Alleluya Saluation Glorye Honour and povver be ascribed vnto the Lorde oure GOD for true and righteous are his Iudgements for he hath iudged the great vvhore vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith her fornication c. Alleluya Farewell TO THE MOST VVORthie and learned men maister Simond Sulcer Henry Bullenger Iohn Caluin Philip Melancthon â–ª most faithful ministers of Christe Iohn Bale wisheth grace and euerlastinge peace in Christe IESVS ALthoughe I sawe that my former edition of the liues of the Romaine bishops ioyned to my booke called the Regester of Englishe writers were safely planted vnder the protection of the most noble Electour Lorde Henry Otho Countie Palatine Yet notwithstandinge I perceiued that this Edition being taken and seperated froÌ„ the greater being drawne into an abridgemente and enriched wyth such additions as are not to be misliked seing it is not able sufficientlye to beare oute it selfe neither by his owne force nor the credite of the wryter it should neede be succoured
the Readers might the easier be searched out being gathered together into one booke and layde out before all mens eyes the which I rather were performed of any man then of me and I had rather taken in hand my contry matters then foraine busines bicause I haue spent my time in vayne But I would not haue stirred vp this hudge puddel of the Romaine historie the which twoe Hercules were not able to clime But hearken what occasion inforced me therto chiefly the exhortatioÌ„ of my frends did draw me into this matter otherwise I refused it bicause my other worke in the Englishe tongue being proper only to English men knoweÌ„ to very fewe did seeme to do small profite to straungers But this being ioyned to it might be a publike commoditie and profitable to the vse of all men and more prouided for in other matters After this I went to it with a good courage and although I did desire that other men whiche were more fit for this matter and more garnished with eloquence should take this matter in haÌ„d Yet I thought that an accompt should be made of my talent and that I had rather to stumble a little then that so great wickednes of Antichriste so great crueltie and inordinate pleasure more and more breaking out and filling all thinges with the stinke therof being omitted of all men should seeme to be detected to fewe or none And if I should seeme to any maÌ„ to speake to frely let him thinke that it doth not procede of the heat of affectioÌ„ but through the knowledge of my coÌ„scieÌ„ce which do not declare things heard or redde only but things knowen by experience who liued 24. yeares in that secte and was present among theÌ„ being no small souldiour of the Pope where what is it that I haue not seene what that I haue not heard whiche is vnworthy of Christ Christians monkes and also of meÌ„ from whose superstitions at that time I was not free but I vtterly abhorred their filthines and mischiefe Wherefore seing that I perceiued many thinges whiche did offend therefore I am nowe compelled to be more diligent in seeking them out and more sharpe in reprouing them seeing they do not repent But sithe these thinges be done haue biene done of this flocke in Italy Sicil Spayne FrauÌ„ce and Englande who doubteth that sheepe will not followe the shepehearde or rather hogges their swyneheard shall we not knowe the father by the childe or the Lion by his talentes when prysons be full of mischiefe shall we thinke that the Romaine court hath none many things haue bene hidden in darkenesse priuie places the which the Sunne hath not seene but tyme the mother of truthe The monasteries being put down in England hath learned to speake and to bewraye them â–ª As for example the registers of the kinges visitatioÌ„ or as they call it the abbrigemeÌ„t of things knowen by experience in the very congregation colleges of the Papistes the which things I sawe them to my great feare and terrour but nowe I possesse them and kepe them to their great ignominie and shame and haue opened a few of them hereafter in the Epistle to the Reader If Ezechiel now should pearce through the wall and should be brought into their entries halles and darke chambers he shoulde not see the Israelites bewayle Thamnum but gelded meÌ„ vnmaried worthy to be woundred at for the godly profession offring their sacrifice to Baalpeor Bacchus Venus And sithe I knowe these thinges to be certayne and true should I not ouerthrowe them should I not make them manifest and openly knowen to all the worlde Truly they will saye that an Englishe man whiche is separated from all other nations dothe certainly knowe what is done at Rome in the secret chambers of the Pope and his Cardinall Shall not I openlye declare for a truth those thinges whiche are declared in Bookes and seene wyth the eyes of the wryter the whiche thinges not the secrete chambers but the princely court not the priuie corners but the open streetes do euidently shew but they deny it not and yet defende it wyth moste wicked Bookes set foorth in their owne tongue the which Christian shamefastnes forbiddeth me to declare The truth therfore ought to be expressed and not couered with visard and disguising but set foorth in his owne kinde not darkened with cloke or sayle cloth but decked finely in his owne collours for they be grosse thinges and may be groped at with handes But so great is the blindnesse of man that at noone daye he can not see and in the clearest Sunne his eyes be darkened This our miserable Realme of Englande may be vnto vs a familiar example for whose sake more willinglye I toke in hande to write this booke that oure Englishe men may see now at the last what a terrible beast they haue receyued into theyr common wealth what a viper they cherishe in their bosome whose hissinge before they could not wel abide do now suffer themselues to be sâ—ong with their tributes to be bitten with their leuying and takinge vp of money to be entoxicated with their idolatrous poyson Unto whom so many kinges so manye noble men did not once obeye whom VVickliffe the moste godliest of hys time did openlye shewe in writing to be Antichrist Whom K. Henry the eyght banished whom Edward the vi that most godlye king cast forth together with all the reliques and dregs of their religioÌ„ Him Queene Mary receyued being thrust in by Cardinall Poole many men litle regarding it manye winking at it as though they saw it not euery man almost allowinge it or at the least with diuers affections filthily reioysing in it It greeueth mee for my countrey sake because they offend God so greatly in forsaking him and in violatinge the oath which they made before to theyr kinges so that now they are compelled to obey at the becke to the newe monstrous cruell gouernment of most wicked Antichriste vnder whom they haue deserued to be oppressed with an idolatrous yoke to be blinded wyth superstition and deuilish Poperye and with a smal assault of the ennemyes to be shamefullye ouercome The which notwithstanding while Gods Religion flourished and Poperye wythered and was wasted away was neyther aflicted with the hand of God neither assaulted with any external power but if it were assaulted yet at no time coulde they conquere it I speake these things most reuerent fathers to my greate griefe and so much the more because I iudge the contempte of the word of God and the gulfe of Romaine filthines to be the cause of the plagues and that Christ beinge troden downe we had rather that the Pope the witch and Circes of the whole worlde not the seruaunt of all seruauntes but the Lorde of all Lords not the Uicar of Christe but the minister of the deuill should treade and skip vpon our shoulders and neckes then we would embrace kisse the sweete yoke the
congregation in the which they may frely call vpon their God sincerely administer the Sacramentes and may fulfill other rites as they were citizens with the priuiledge and highe fauour of the magistrates Happy is that people who enioyeth these thinges and haue so worthy a bishop which gathereth together the dispersed comforteth the broken in heart fauoureth exiles and confirmeth the weake with example and doctrine But perchaunce I may seeme to haue sayde to much to you and to you all most gentle fathers who are troubled with grauer matters and haue no leysure to reade your prayses And indued with suche modestie that you will scarse attende vnto it But beare with me while I doe but my dutie for I prayse not you but the giftes of God that are of you and commende the happy state of your churches vnto the faythful that they may learne to giue thankes and to imitate you I would haue showen the causes why I inscribed to your name the Papall historie of new Rome partly to haue declared my loue towardes you for your benefites bestowed vpon England other countreis Partly that the learning which you haue spread abroade in these days may be defended with your ayde Our Lorde Iesus Christe the prince of sheepeheardes the maister of al truthe the enemy of Antechriste strengthen and confirme you and all your fellowe ministers with the power of the holy ghoste and preserue you in long health to the comfort and ioye of the Christian flocke to the ouerthrowing of Antichriste and the amplifying of his name Amen Iohn Bale Iohn Bale to the Reader I Desire thee Christian Reader vvhosoeuer thou art that delightest in the glory of Christ against the malyce of Antichriste and I beseech thee in the Lord to conster all thinges to the beste euen those matters vvhich seeme to be spoken more bitterly against that mōstrous beast and not to depraue them vvith slaūderings as I vnderstand some of late haue taken occasion to do by my late booke published of the vvriters of Englande Among vvhom some are not ashamed vntrulye to saye that I deale vniustlye vvith some Princes that gouerne the estates of Christēdome Othersome saye that I speake malepertlye and that against all Christiā modestye that I speake vnreuerentlye of Queene Mary of England because in one place I haue vvritten that Iesabell raigneth in Englāde and glutteth her selfe vvith the bloude of Martyrs vvhere as by that name I did not meane Queene Mary but the tyrannie of Rome that miserablye ouerrunneth all Englande For the places in Nicolas Grimoald Traherne Turner the Phisition Hooper ▪ Ridley Rogers Bradford Filpot and other do sufficientlye interprete themselues to be spoken of the greate Antichriste and his mitred and scraped tormentours For as the holye ghoste hath taughte mee I haue called that Romaine Sinagogge the murtherer of Godlye men vvicked Iesabell the horned beast the impe of the Dragō the doughter of the deuill the spouse of Sathan speaking blasphemies the purple beast the misticall Babilon the great strumpet vvith vvhom the kinges of the earth haue cōmitted fornication vvhich haue dronke of the vvyne of her fornication the vvomā cloathed in purple scarlet gould pearles and precious stones hauing a goulden cuppe full of all filthines lustes of the vvorld the mother of fornication and droncke vvith the bloud of the saintes of IESVS CHRIST the habitatiō of deuils and the cage of all euill spirites and hatefull birdes The occasiō vvhich first moued mee herevnto vvas this Anno domini 1554. our Realme of Englande after the xx yeare of her deliueraunce throughe the mercye of God most shamefullye forsooke the holye Gospel of Christe vvhich is the povver and vertue of God to the health of all beleuers made a nevve professiō vnto the great ennemye of God the Romaine deuil and vvicked Antichrist Of the vvhich execrable deede thou shalt read more in the end of this booke Partlye also the horrible vices vvhich follovv this monster vvhereof the most prudent K. Henry the eight had good proofe vvhen he caused the houses of the hooded hypocrites the colleges of the massemongers in his kingdome before their vtter destruction vvhich vvas in the yeare of our Lord God 1538. to be visited by the vvorshipfull doctours of the lavve Thomas Lee Richard Laiton Thomas Bedill Thomas Barthlet the publicke notarie such others In the vvhich there vvere such svvarmes of vvhoremōgers ruffians filthie parsons giltye of sinne against nature Ganimedes and yet votaries and vnmaryed all so that thou vvouldest thincke that there vvere a nevve Gomorrha amonge them The booke of them is called the breuiary of thinges founde out in abbeyes assemblies colleges c. Out of the vvhich booke I vvill shevv but one or other example to an vnsauery tast thereof In the monasterye called Battel abbey in the Diocesse of Chichester these many gilty of sinne agaīst nature vvere foūd in the visitation Iohn the Abbot Richard Salchurst Thomas Cuthberth VVilliam March Iohn Hasting Gregorie Champiō Clemēt VVestfild Iohn Crosse Thomas Crambroke Thomas Basill Iohn Hamfild Iohn Hierome Clemens Grigge Richard Touye and Iohn Austine These vvere incontinente liuers Thomas Lyuet vvyth one maryed vvife one harlot Thomas Cranbroke vvith the same and other beside Lo this is the chast Religion of the Pope At Canterbury amonge the Benedictine monkes these vvere gilty of sinne against nature Richard Godmersham VVilliam Lichfild Christopher Iames Iohn Goldmistone Nicolas Clement VVilliam Causton Iohn Ambrose Thomas Farlegh and Thomas Morton VVhoremongers Christopher Iames aforesaide vvith three maried vvomen and Nicolas Clement vvith one harlot In the Abbey of S. Augustine these vvere found vnchast Iohn the Abbot vvith one vvoman Iohn Langdan vvith tvvo Iohn Langport vvith one Richarde Compton vvith one VVilliam Reynsforth vvith one VVilliā Godmerstone vvith tvvo Dauid Franckes vvith tvvo Robart saltvvood one Laurence Goldstone one VVilliam Holingborne one VVilliā Milton one Iohn Shrevvsbery one and Thomas Barhā gilty of sinne against nature In the abbey of Bath amonge many other Richard Lincombe had vii harlots iij. maryed vvomen and iiii singlevvomen and he vvas giltye of sinne against nature also VVilliam Benushon had xi harlots beside diuers gilty of sinne against nature In the abbey of Monkenferlege in Salisbury diocesse Levvis the Prior had 9. harlots Richard the Prior of Mayden Bradley had v. harlots and sixe bastardes VVilliam the Abbot of Bristovve had iiij harlots iij. vnmaried one maryed Thomas Abbot of Abingtō beside his ovvne naturall sister of vvhom he begat tvvo children had three other harlots and this mā vvas the father of many that vvas gilty of sin against nature In the abbey of Sulbred in the diocesse of Cicester George VValden Prior had vij harlots Iohn Standney vij Nicolas duke v. Henry Selvvood tvvo vvith many others Iohn Blanke Prior of Bermondsey had xi harlots At the castel of VVyndsor Henry VVoodvvard had very many harlots Nicolas VVhyden had iiij George VVhitthorne v. Nicolas
very learnedly and fully entreating hereof wherin as wel the allegacions of the Papistes for Peters being at Rome substantially confuted as reasons brought to improue the same And therefore had it not bene so necessarely appertinent to the argument of this booke I would rather haue referred the reader to their doynges then haue spoken any thing thereof Nowe it remayneth to leaue Peter and to come to the bishops of Rome The order of this history requirth that euerye byshop should be here placed as eche succeded other But there is suche confusion amonge them that wryte of them that no man can certainly tell whome to place first second thirde nor fourth And least it be thought to be spoken rather of affection then otherwyse I thought good to shewe out of Vspergensis their owne authour what wrangling and disagreement there is for those that succeded Peter which though it be somwhat loÌ„g yet is it necessary to be shewed that it may appeare what certaintie they haue of Peter those to whome he committed this vniuersall Popedome The wordes of VspergeÌ„sis in the life of Claudius be these Touching the succession of the Romaine byshops their order â—and the tymes wherein they raigned from the beginning diuerse men thinke diuersly whose opinions I wil here briefly set downe c. Some wryte whereunto the ecclesiasticall history agreeth that after the death of Peter sitting at Rome chiefe of the Churche xxv yeares Linus did next take the gouernement vpon him And when he had ruled xii yeares in the second yeare of Titus he lefte it to Anacletus who also after other xii yeares gaue it to Clement whiche semeth to be in the xiii yeare of Domician Clement after nine yeares suffered vnder Traian After him in the fourth place came Euaristus the nexte was Alexander and then Sixtus and so forth But other wryte that Linus and Cletus were both vnder Peter as his vicars or curates and that Peter as soone as he had taken the Papacy vpon him did appointe Linus in his steade to gouerne the churche whereby he him selfe might the better folowe his function of preaching and that he departing after twelue yeres Peter did substitute Cletus in his place who also dying after twelue yeres euen the same yere that Peter suffered vnder Nero. Then Peter committed his seate to ClemeÌ„t giuing to him and his successours power to bynde and loose whome Anacletus succeded in the tyme of Domician then folowed Euaristus c. But because these accomptes do not agree let vs consider wherein they differ and so trie whiche semeth more credible Therefore if Linus left Anacletus and he Clemens then is Clement thrust out of the beadroll of Popes whose reuerence is so great among all Churches that he is not only mentioned among martyrs but also in the Canon of the masse and in the Letany or procession is placed betwene Linus and Clemens But if after Linus Cletus be placed and then Clemens then Euaristus then Alexander c there is no place for Anacletus to get in And Beda in his Martyrtologie that Anacletus was the fourthe after Peter and suffered vnder Domician making Linus first Cletus second Clemens thirde and Anacletus fourth But if Anacletus be placed after Clement and as Beda sayeth died vnder Domician then cannot it holde that his predecessour Clemens should suffer vnder Traian because it may euideÌ„tly be proued that he suffered vnder Domician if his successour Anacletus bee not denied to suffer vnder the same Emperoure Furthermore if Linus and Anacletus as some saye or Linus and Cletus as other saye did bothe rule twelue yeares a peece after the death of Peter dyinge the xiiii yeare of Nero then it arysing to 24. yeares it falleth out that the latter of them should suffer in the xii of Domician so Clemens could not receaue power to binde and loose neither the seate of Peter Whiche opinion also is coÌ„firmed of diuerse and to this is added that Dionysius Areopagita hasting from Athens to Rome againste the martyrdome of the Apostles Peter and Paule but comming a little to late and sone after their deathes did there finde Clemens his scholefellowe bishop of Rome c. Who sent the same Dionysius into Fraunce to preache But it is saide that this Dionysius was martyred Anno domini 96 whiche is the xiiii yeare of Domician and before his death he had continued long had done very muche in FrauÌ„ce and yet it is sayde that Clemens who sent him thether was made byshop but the twelfth yeare of Domician Againe the booke of the passion of Pope Alexander saith that Clemens was the first after Peter for so it is there written In the fift place after Peter came Alexander But if it were the second from Peter then it foloweth that Cletus being before Clement and Anacletus after him be pushed out because Alexander must be the fifte Namely Peter first Linus seconde Clement thirde Euariste the fourth and Alexander the fifte For otherwyse Alexander cannot be the fift from Peter because if Linus be the seconde froÌ„ Peter and Cletus after Anacletus be placed before Clement Alexander shal be the sixt But if Cletus be before Clement and Anacletus after him then shall Alexander be the seuenth vnlesse Clement be the second after Peter Thus farre doth Vspergensis wander in this maze and thus it appeareth what certaintie the Churche of Rome hath of her beginning of Peters being there of bequeathing his supremacy to whome neither they nor any other for them can tell But ye se howe many bishops here wrestle for the first place and howe they are tossed from the first to the seconde and an other whyle hoisted to the third and fourth place yea and some time shoued cleane out of place So harde a thing it is to finde a sure man that for the beginning of this history a man may wel doubt with whome to beginne but we must be content in this hurly burly either to cast lottes to finde out the ring leader or els to take and set an order among them though perhap not the same wherein they liued yet as if it were the same And if any of the good byshops lese his place of senioritie we must desire him to take it paciently and to blame the negligence of their parishioners and successours of Rome who because nature vseth not to ascende but to discend so muche regarded them selues and their children with the tyme present that they forgat their forefathers if these were they and the tyme past ¶ The first face of the Romaine churche vnder Heathen Emperours FOr the first sorte of Romayne byshops that is from Linus to Syluester they liued continually vnder persecutions For as Eusebius sheweth from the yeare of our lord 67. till the time of Constantine being about thre hundred yeares were tenne persecutions The first by Nero with al rigour and crueltie that might be wherof Hierome in his epistle to Cramatius and Heliadorus
a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest and at length was put to death cruelly Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue where he hid him selfe an Epistle touching God and the incarnation of the sonne of God 9. Pius of Aquilia PIus borne in Aquilia is reported to haue done many godly dedes in the church vnder Antonius Verus And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 159. 10. Anicetus ANicetus a Sirian was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred Anno. 169. 11. Sother SOther borne in Campania as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus serued vnder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe both by doctrine and example of life And in the ende confirmed the Gospell whiche he had faithfully preached with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 177. 12. Eleutherius ELeutherius a Grecian was also a carefull and vigilant pastour in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe yet Masseus saythe he was beheaded Anno. 191. 13. Victor VIctor borne in Aphrica did succeade Eleutherius This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed vsurping authoritie vpon straungers sought to haue an oar in an other mans boate In the former byshops saith Vincelius the spirite abounded but in these that folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled Policrates bishop of Ephesus and Iraeneus bishop of Lions did bouldly reproue this Victor for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō because in keping Easter day they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome So that the churche was then rent in twayne by meanes of his obstinacy He died Anno. 203. 14. Zepherinus ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne a man as writers do testifie more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God then to the cure of any worldly affayres Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode he first did alter that and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse And yet he did not this vpon any supersticion as thinking woode to be vnlawefull or glasse to be more holy for that vse but because the one is more comly and semely as by experience it appeareth then the other And yet some wooden doultes do dreame that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him because that part of the wine or as they thought the royall bloud of Christe did soake into the woode and so it can not be in glasse Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads that thus both deceiue them selues and slaunder this Godly martyr Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnder Aurelius In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into curious and subtile questions 15. Calixtus the first CAlixtus borne at Rauenna when persecution began to wexe hotte againe did like a constant Christian hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina al thinges were kept close and hidden because the persecution was so great euery where yea their churches and places of assembly were in corners and caues for the moste parte But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus and was beaten with coodgiels pent in prison afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte 16. Vrbanus VRbanus a Romaine liued vnder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure and with his sinceritie of life and excellencie in learning he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull he was martyred by cōmaundement of Seuerus Anno. 233. 17. Pontianus POntianus a Romaine in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus being one of Christes ministers and a distributer of Gods misteries suffered both banishement punishement for the Gospell and the churche sake For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache the worde by the princes commaundement being set on by the Idolatrous priestes he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia where after many miseries and sore tormētes he was put to death Anno. 239. 18. Antheros ANtheros was borne in Grece a man of God if any wer He preached Christe stoutely euen vnder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche whiche with his woorde he had fed before 19. Fabian AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne who as Eusebius witnesseth as he was returning home out of the fielde and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop there was a pygeon sene standing on his head and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche whiche he loked not for While he liued he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written and that burying places should be prepared for them who afterwarde vnder Decius that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren ended his life with most glorious death Anno. 150. 20. Cornelius COrnelius a Romaine being in the time of Decius accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe his church had a Godly care ouer the safetie of his neighbours He entertayned curteously and restored to the churche as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes did yet repent thē of their deede afterward O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop O worthy minister of the Gospel for although this mā of God Cornelius was caried away into banishemēt yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth did yelde his necke vnto the sworde of Decius 21. Lucius LVcius a Romain being a faithful seruant in the lordes house and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus the persecutour of Christianitie was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters And at the lengthe after Gallus death euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome enriched the churche with healthful doctrine and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud he pearced the heauenly paradise
the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph the churches of Asia But to thrust vpon them the Romain religion patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe syncere doctrine and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement They had Christian churches whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus In the contrey of the Britaines Christianitie florished hetherto which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among theÌ„ that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine as was Dionotus Anonius and his fellowes who in conteÌ„pt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace but with the banner of his Aposticship with his syluer crosse his Letanie his procession images painted puppettes reliques canticles and bookes of ceremonies But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him Anno. 602. They going to the synode did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man that liued solitarely whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement and forsake those tradiâ—ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers to whome hee aunswered If he be a maÌ„ of God followe him They further asked howe they should proue that Ye knowe quoth he that the Lord commaunded saying Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one it is credible that he also beareth Christes burtheÌ„ and offereth it to you to beare but if he be proude and cruell it is euideÌ„t tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke And howe shall we knowe that quoth they Let Augustine quoth he and his company goe firste to the Synode And if when ye come he ryse vp to salute you knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt and obey ye him But if he disdayne you or make smale accompt of you and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce seing ye are the greater number doe ye likewyse contemne him Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship they by and by conceiuing displeasure noting him to be a proude persone did forthwith ouerthwart euery thing that he put forth For he charged them that they did many thinges coÌ„trary to the custome of the catholicke churche especially in keping their Easter in ministring of baptisme and in their preaching and that they regarded not mans tradicioÌ„s and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome But they aunswered that they would do none of these neither take him for their Archebishop Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death whiche immediatly ensued Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande the seconde booke and the second chapter and likewyse the sayde Godfrey But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine For Gregorie before had so discussed it and wrote vnto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to haue the same order of ceremonies but that euery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites whereof Mantuan saythe The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise And make them fondly force the Britains bend vnto the guise Of Romish church against al right with foolish hardines They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease â–ª As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre To kepemans lawe so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe And to speake in fewe wordes the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde from whome the heauen departed Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse vnto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth and to murther to and fro whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God and constant faith were starres abiding in Christe his right hande so in this second sort vnder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes by the neglecting of the same woorde and their earthly affections they were starres falling to the earth Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke whiche shall followe vnder the name of Popes and Antichristes for their absolute reuolting from Christe and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe Apoc. 9. THE THIRDE Booke ¶ Nowe ensueth the thirde sorte of Romaine bishops coming from euill to worse For as the former company in the seconde booke shewed declining from pure Christianitie and enclining to Antichriste so now appeareth in these that the seede sowed by the forainer is groweÌ„ vp Antichrist as it were appearing aboue the grounde who grewe still forwarde froÌ„ grenenesse to ripenesse as shall appeare by these that followe and so from ripenesse to rottennesse which is to be hoped for in that already he is wexed so mellowe that if he be not plucked from the tree if it please God to sende a smale blaste of winde he will fall of him selfe Note therfore diligently gentil Reader what fruite ensueth and springeth of the former grayne Reade conferre and then iudge whether these men shewe them selues to be the vicars of Christe or deceitful and mischeuous Antechristes for bye their fruites ye shall knowe them whether they are suche as they would be accompted Abadon or the Latin Antichriste IN the yeare of our Lorde sixe hundreth and foure Phocas the tyrant murthered his soueraigne lord Mauricius the Emperoure with his wife his brother his children and many nobles From this yere adding to it two yeres to the beginning of the Popedome established by Phocas are sixe hundred sixty sixe yeares from the coÌ„sulship of M. T. Cicero and Antonius as Bibliander Funccius and other do euidently recken it at whiche time the Iewes while their bishops iarred for supremacie lost their libertie For Christe as Bibliander gathers in his reuelation whiche by his dearely beloued Apostle Iohn he deliuered to the church foare tolde that a certaine tyrannicall Empier should afflicte the true church as Nero and Domician with others did And calleth the beaste hauing two hornes like a lambe
misbegotten sonne murthered the louer of the olde harlot her mother Theodora by the helpe of her husbandes seruauntes But because the people of Rome and the Clergie had not agreed vpon the election of this subordined Iohn the xii the selfe same yeare of his election he was deposed againe And thus the same Iohn of whome being set vp by force by and by thrust downe againe Carsulan Platina Stella and others do make mencion because they knew not the true story of him whiche Luthprandus wrote the ignoraunce whereof bredde muche coÌ„fusion for some toke these twoo Iohns to be both one and some the one for the other 61. Leo the sixt LEo the sixt after that Iohn the xii bastarde of Marozia the harlot and Sergius the Pope was deposed obtained to be Pope by the election of the Romaine people and clergye being in great tumult This Pope did nothinge commendable but the establishing of peace in Italye after he had raigned vii monethes he was poysoned by Marozia wherby she might establishe her sonne againe Anno 930. 62. Steuen the seuenth STeuen the seuenth did as Leo had done he medled with nothing for after he had liued Pope ii yeares in peace securitye and liberty of the fleshe at his owne ease hauing the blinde worlde readye to bende at his becke he toke his death in a cup wherewith as they saye he was poysoned For sayth Crantzius it is a straunge thinge that so manye Popes at this time dyed so soone in their dignityes which is a great presumption that they were poysoned as the moste part of them were knowen to be 63. Iohn the xii IOhn the xii the bastard impe of Pope Sergius the third and of the famous concubine Marozia was now againe made Pope after much sedition At this time a fountaine in Genua flowed with bloud very plentifully prognosticatinge the wrath of God that immediatlye followed for the Aphricans Sarracens and Hungarians wasted and spoiled all and slue a houge nomber of people There are some wryters as is said before that make ii Iohns of this one the one going before Leo and Steuen who they said neuer enioyed the Popes Albe or Rochet the other this which nowe was set vp after Steuen of whom they saye the historyes write nothing Againe there are other some that make this beinge borne in Rome the other borne at Rauenna all one amonge whom Platina sayth that either of them was sonne to Pope Sergius but Anselmus deceiued by Platina sayth the one was brother to the other but other writers do make him a seuerall parson from the other two saying he was not knowne of the Cronographers because he did nothing worthie of memorye But Luthprandus in his thirde booke and xii Chapter wryteth thus of the mother of Iohn Marozia a shameles concubine and mother to Pope Iohn after the death of her husbaÌ„d Gui doth send messengers to his brother Hugh king of Italy a Burgundian borne to desire him to come to her and to receiue of her the noble cittye of Rome vvhich she sayd vvithal she could not do vnlesse he would take her to be his vvife For whiche her incestious desire Luthprandus wrote thus against her in Uerse VVhye broyling thus vvvith Venus brand Marozia doest thou raue Thunlavvfull loue and vvilt thou of thy husbandes brother haue Dare bucksom dame Herodia tvvo naturall brethren vved Lo Ladye blinde Iohn Baptists lavve is quite out of thy hed VVho did forbid that brother vvith his brothers vvyfe should meâ—l And Moses Lavve doth not allovve thy doing to be vvell VVho did commaunde the brother rayse vnto his brother seede If that the former by his vvyfe had issue none in deede But that thy husbande children hath by the can be declarde T is so saye you but dronken loue doth nothinge it regarde Kinge Hughe euen as an Oxe to death for thy desire is brought Vvhose mind not for to gaine thy loue but rather Rome hath sought VVhat boteth it thou cursed dame this noble man to spoile For seâ—king thus by sinne to gaine a Queenely place a vvhile Iehouah iudge doth make thee leese both Rome and all the toile Uppon the said message the king leauing his armye aloofe came to Rome who being honourably receiued passed forth vnto the stronge hould S. Angels castell and so into the bedde chamber of Marozia After he was established in vncesteous mariage with her he began to coÌ„temne and despise the Romaines at which time Marozia had a sonne named Albericus brother to Pope Iohn but begotten by Marques Albericus While this Albericus at his mothers bidding gaue water to king Hugh washinge his handes the king because he did it not handsomelye gaue him a blâ—w on the face Herevppon Albericus to reuenge this iniurye callinge the Romaines together spake thus vnto them The honour and dignity of Rome is brought to such doultishnes and follye that it is nowe controlled euen by harlots For what is more abhominable what more shamefull then that Rome should be brought to obeysaunce throughe the incest of one woman and that the Burgundians whilom slaues to the Romaines shoulde now be lordes ouer them If he beinge yet especiallye but a new come gest take vppon him to dashe me on the face being his verye sonne in lavve hovve thincke you vvil he deale vvith you in processe of time Knovve ye not the pride of a Burgundian c This being sayde without any delaye the Romaynes all defyed king Hughe chose the same Albericus to be their Prince King Hughe being driuen into this terrible feare was compelled to forsake Rome and leauinge Marozia fled to his owne companye Then Albericus and his mother Marozia did only enioye the Monarche of Rome and his brother the Popedome who spendinge fiue yeares in Popishe practises dyed Anno 937 while the harlotte his mother ruled as well the estate temporall as spirituall in Rome 64. Leo the seuenth LEo the seuenth succedinge Iohn because hee desired to liue quietlye medled wyth no matters but as a slouthfull parson did nothinge worthye remembraunce In his time sayth Luthprandus the said kinge Hugh forsaking his wyfe Berta loued especiallye three concubines Bezola Roze Stephana and because they were such notorious harlots hee gaue them the names of three Goddesses callinge Bezola Venus Roze Iuno and Stephana Semele by Bezola he had a sonne called Bozones whom hee made bishop of Placentia by Stephana he had Theobaldus made Archdeacon of Millain Churche and by Rosa he had another greate prelate of the Churche and a doughter beside In those dayes many sawe bloude rayne oute of the Sunne as Masseus wryteth and after it followed a great pestilence amonge men Leo dyed An. 941. 65. Steuen the eight STeuen the eight a Germaine obtained y Popes chayre after this Leo yet this seemeth straunge to many how it should be doone because no Emperour out of Germany procured it But Steuen being notwithstandinge Pope was so vexed with ciuill seditions among the
and vniust dealinge which the Popes haue vsed seing that seate of Rome hath sustaind within so fevve yeares so manye leude persons tyrantes theues filchers robbers rebels adulterers and open purloyners of Church goodes And who in Gods name vvill reuerence that as holye which receiueth so many plagues but as yet the nomber of the wicked ones is not fulfilled as shal follow immediatlye c. The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTE BOOKE contayninge the thirde diuision of the thirde order of Popes or Romaine Antichristes in the kingdome of the greate Dragon which is the deuill and sathan Apocalips 20. vnto the time of Innocentius the fourth FRoÌ„ Ioan the eighte who was an harlot for the space of 146. yeares to this yeare being the thousand yere from Christe his incarnation Antichrist raigned like an harlot in the Churche of Rome pretending chastity in the meanetime Yet we see howe here the prophecye in Daniel 11. concerninge Antichriste was fulfilled contayned in these words And Antichrist shal be in the coÌ„cupiscence of women We see in these former historyes howe these Popes haue liued in wantonesse royat whoredome and worse theÌ„ whoredome incest pride ambition robbinge and riflinge Churches coniuringe treason rebellion discention murders poysoninges such other detestable enormities So that according to the saying of Esaie they deserue rather to be called the Princes of Sodom theÌ„ the elders of the Church Consequentlye after the thousande yeare after Christes byrth it was prophesyed that the deuil should be let loose and this shal be called the kingdome of the great Dragon wherin the actes of the Popes do wonderfully aunsweare vnto it both in Syluester the second who wyth his Necromancye raysed the deuill from hell and hauinge coniured him vp did compounde wyth him for the Popedome And againe in Benedict the ix who made sacrifyce vnto the deuill in woodes and vppon mountayne toppes In Hildebrand or Gregorie the seuenth who toke counsaile of euill spirites and vsed other diuelish charmes beside other 81. Syluester the second SYluester the seconde was a Frenchman in profession a monke and called Gilbert before he was Pope He was of S. Benedicts order in an abbey at Florence where he being a yonge man and addicted whollye to deuilishe artes betoke himselfe to the deuill both bodye and soule Afterward forsaking that abbey he went into Spaine delightiÌ„g much in prophane sciences came to Hispalis vnto a certaine Philosopher being a Sarracen and expert in Magick of whom he learned much both sorcerye and ambitioÌ„ and began to deuise howe he might attaine to greate honour riches and thought in deede that coniuringe and Necromancye were the meetest wayes to come by hys purpose He had espyed before in the house of his host a certaine coÌ„iuring booke and did his endeuour to steale it awaye but the Magician kept it so deuoutlye that Gilbert coulde not come by it therfore he inueigled the MagiciaÌ„s doughter wyth whom beinge in the house he had good acquaintance â—o steale her fathers booke and let him haue a sight thereof the mayde fulfilled his request so he obtayned his purpose He hauing the booke went about to depart by stealth but fearing least this might endaunger his life for stealing the booke he gaue himselfe to the deuill vppon this condition that he should warrant him to passe safelye into FrauÌ„ce and to obtayne great dignityes He came into Fraunce taught the liberal Sciences so as many had him in admiration wherby he had a nomber of scholers and auditors some of great calling that learned the former artes of him as CoÌ„stantine abbot of Maximin Lotharius Archbishop of Seuen Otho the Emperours sonne Roberte kinge of Fraunce wyth sondrye other bishops prelats priestes of Rome By the procurement of these parsons he was made first bishop of Remen afterward by his leude artes he obtayned to be Archbishop of Rauenna Last of all he obtayned to be Pope of Rome by the helpe of the deuill whom he w t coniuration raysed out of hell according to the xx of the Apocalips For Peter Praemonstratensis other wryters saye that he was made Pope in the Thousande yeare of our Lords Incarnation In the which yere sayth Masfeus was a great and terrible earthquake and a blasinge starre horrible to loke vppon the xiiii day of December In his Popedome he concealed his coniuring and dissembled that familiarity which he had with the deuill but yet he kepte in a certaine secrete place a brasen heade of which when he demaunded anye thinge hee receyued aunsweare of an euil spirit At the length in his pontificality he would needes demauÌ„de of the deuil how longe he should be Pope the deuill aunswered doubtfullye and misticallye sayinge he should not dye vntill he sayd Masse in Hierusalem He therfore conceyuing good hope of longe life began to ware carelesse thinking to take heede enoughe of comminge in Hierusalem But the vse was that on a certaine day of stations in the Lent time the Popes should say masse at Rome in the Pallayce of the holy Crosse which was called Hierusalem wherevppon Syluester not fearinge his life nor heedefull enoughe to forecast the deuils despite accordinge to custome said masse in the same Chappel And by by a terrible shyueringe and quakinge came vppon him wyth a great feuer and by the rumbling noyse of deuils as Peter PraemoÌ„stratensis Platina say he perceyued his death was at hand and that he must paye the deuill his fee. And thus bewayling lamenting openly the abuse of his charmes he confessed his fault til he perished miserablye And sayth Benno he commaunded his tongue and his handes to be cut of wherewith he had blasphemed God in sacrifisinge vnto deuils thus he dyed Anno 1003. The reporte is that the tombe of this Syluester doth euer since prognosticate the death of the Pope by the ratlinge of the bones and the gushing out of water that ryseth out of the grouÌ„d about it as also sayth Platina is testifyed by the Epitaphe written on his graue 82. Iohn the 19. IOhn the 19. an Italian did likewise succeede Syluester and gat to be Pope by the deuils ayde for sayth Benno the scholers of the sayde Syluester being coniurers euerye one gaped for the Popedome This Iohn did take from the people the election of the Pope sayinge in behalfe of his doing that the clergye must teache the people but not followe them And againe the lawe which is ruled by Gods spirite is more worthye then that which is mans lawe He allowed commaunded to establishe in all Churches the feast of al soules at the motioÌ„ of one Odiloe abbot of Clunie whoe dreamed that soules were deliuered oute of Purgatorye by vertue of the masse and sayd that he harde the deuils houle and roare while the soules were takeÌ„ froÌ„ them through dirges trentalles After he had raigned 5. monthes he was poysoned by his owne frendes In his time the name of Cardinals began to grow
FINIS 118. Honorius the thirde HOnorius the thirde a Romaine borne was made Pope at Prusium at what time the Cardinals distressed for want of foode did there dispatch the election of him Who byinge to Rome as fast as he coulde toke order about the warre in Asia to maintaine it stil knowiÌ„g how auaylable it was to their matters wroughte heare at home in Christendome forth with Iohn Columna a Cardinal of Rome was appointed to proceede as ambassadour with that armye which Innocentius had prouided for that purpose He crowned Frederick the seconde sonne of Constance the Nonne Emperour against Otho the fourth whom notwithstanding afterward for vsinge his owne right in the coastes of Sicil Apulia the Pope excommunicated Yea this Honorius sayth Marius was so enflamed against this Emperour Frederick that hee did trayterouslye maintaine Thomas and Mathewe Earles of Thuscia with other rebels that put themselues in armoure against the Emperours maiestye whereby the Emperour coulde not punishe them as they deserued which sayth Vspergensis caused him much to complaine that the Sea of Rome did euer maintaine traytours and rebels which presumed vpon that refuge Also he discharged his barons of their fealty to their Lorde which mischiefe was yet for a while stayed by the meanes of Hermannus maister of the flemings of Zeland He coÌ„firmed the orders of Dominican Franciscan friers deuised in the time of Innocentius He maintayned the white fryers and Augustinian fryers that they should vphould transubstantiation against the Valdenses who then began to defye the Church of Rome in many matters for the Dominicans forged that Pope Innocentius a little before his death had a vision wherin was reuealed vnto him that Lateran Church should fall vnlesse their patron Dominicus shoulde bolster it vppon his shoulders whereof Mantuan deluded with such fansyes maketh mention Al. so he wryteth of another dreame for the Franciscan fryers of which though they dreamed as necessarye yet I omitte as vaine and fonde In this Popes time while these thinges were doing there were seene in the ayre strauÌ„g sights testifying the horror of Antichrist encreasing in his members as shall appeare by the Popes following While the ChristiaÌ„ estates were turmoyled abrode fighting for Hierusalem the Pope in pompe and ease at home was at leasure to build sondrye sumptuous Pallaces and gorgeous Temples dedicating them to diuers Saincts He published Epistles decretall and decreed that vnlearned parsons should not be made priestes He commaunded that when the singinge cake was heaued and lifted vp the people should fal downe on their knees and that it should be caryed in comlye order to the sicke with a burning Taper before it He grauÌ„ted Archbishops power to giue pardons faculties dispensations dualities pluralities wtin their diocesse Anno 1223 one Adam CathaneÌ„sis a bishop in Scotlande as Boethius wryteth was burned of his own neighbours in his owne kitchin because he had excoÌ„municated certaine of them for with holding theyr tythes the Pope knowing of this murther neuer ceased till to reuenge the same foure hundred of these men were hanged and their children gelded by king Alexander A sufficient reueÌ„ge for the death of one man Furthermore this Pope warred vppon the Emperour in Apulia and condemned the Earle of Tholos for an hereticke geuinge his landes to the French kinge and finallye would not suffer his bodye to be buryed like a Christian. At length the Pope died Anno 1227. of whom Mattheus Parisius in the 8. booke of his Chronicle wryteth thus Pope Honorius sent his Legate Otho to require to haue Prebendes giuen vnto him throughe all England For sayth the Pope the naturall children must assist their mother in pouertye Therefore he required ij prebends of euery Cathedrall Church one of the bishops stipende and the other from the charter And so he â—raued diuers porcioÌ„s out of the religious houses At this time the Pope was sicke of the spiritual dropsye so that by his Legat he drancke vp the treasures of the clergye and cloystermongers and vsed straunge tyrannye amonge them for Hugh VVells bishop of Lincolne to recouer his bishopricke paide an hundred markes to the Popes Legat and a thousande markes to the Pope At this time it rayned bloude for the space of three dayes in Rome whereuppon one wrote these two Verses O pater Honori multorum nate dolori Est tibi dedecori viuere vade mori O Pope Honorius borne thou werst to mischiefe many men Thou liuest with shame conuaie with speede thy boones to deadly den 119. Gregorie the ninth GRegorie the ninth borne in Campania was nephew to Innocentius the thirde He maintayned the quarell of his predecessour Honorius against the Emperour This Gregorie as Marius wryteth was more maliciouslye disposed toward the sayd Frederick for he accused him because he woulde not fulfill that vaine promise to the needelesse sheddinge of Christian bloud which he made to Honorius for the vnprofitable recoueringe of Hierusalem And therefore this Gregorie did excommunicate him before the Emperour coulde be hearde to speake or were conuicted by reason neither woulde hee suffer the Emperours Embassadours to come to his presence nor heare them in the councell which came to alleadge good and reasonable excuses in the Emperours behalfe as his owne sickenes at his settinge forward caused him to staye besides the death of the Lautgraue Therfore sayth Vspergensis this Pope like a proude man began in his first yeare to excoÌ„municat and curse the Emperour for certaine foolish and false causes neglectinge all order of iudgement as the Emperour sheweth in excusinge himselfe in his epistle to the Princes of Almanye openinge to them because the Pope refused to heare it his innocencye and vpright dealing And therfore certaine noblemen in Rome namely of the house called Frangentes panem when the Pope did the second time excommunicate Frederick they caused the Pope to be driuen oute of the Citye with foule shame so that he ranne awaye byding at Peruse al that yeare the yeare folowing Yet no meanes could asswage his furye but he prouoked Iohn kinge of Hierusalem the foresaid Earles of Thuscia rebels to the Emperour and manye other Princes to trouble him The Emperour appointed a day of assembly for diuers Christian Princes at Rauenna and the Princes were making speede thether to obeye him but by the Popes commauÌ„dement they went backe againe and certaine souldiours wearing the Crosse by the Emperours appointment for the voyage to Hierusalem were robbed and spoiled of all their prouisioÌ„ The Emperour seing this sought to appease the Popes furye and to get his goodwil prepared his iourney according to his promise to Hierusalem he tooke shippe and sayled into Cyprus and afterward to Acon and striued much against the Soldan for the Christian fayth with great paine and trauell In the meane time the Pope seing the Emperours absence seruinge his turne gat Apulia to be vnder his obeisance and forbad that the souldiours wearing
S. Anthony of Padua and others thereby to aduaunce the credite of the begging fryers of their holinesse He decreed that the white fryers should possesse nothing but male Asses and such foode as coms of certaine birdes and beastes as egges milke and all other thinges they should begge from doore to doore as Paleonydorus sayth He graunted the Iewes to be enfranchised for money in spite of all Christian Princes He forbad any man to haue aboue one benefice He commaunded out of Englande the fift part out of lowe Germany the twenteth part of all Church reuenewes He appointed that to Aue Maria should be songe Salue regina and the sacringe bell to be ronge then and at eleuation time He decreed that no lay man should preach and that no custome should take place which leadeth to â—inne And finallye he dyed for thought because the Emperours power preuayled so mightely against him An. 1241. In his time Tiber in Rome braste out so hye that manye were destroyed by it after which ensued such a pestilence that sayth Platina the tenth parson was scant left aliue In his time also a certaine hill in Burgundy cleaued in twaine and swallowed vp an houge multitude of people and a litle before the Pope dyed was such an Eclipse of the Sunne as hath not beene seene before Of the Oracle of Cyrill at Masse IN the time of this Gregorie Anno 1234. Cyrillê° a Grecian the thirde president general of the white fryers dyed by report They say that this man accordinge as Moses Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist did receyued Anno domini 1192. a reuelation from heauen written in Tables of syluer with Gods owne finger in Greeke concerninge the estate of the Church to come and with this new delusion certaine caytifes went about to put awaye and whollye to destroye the Reuelation of S Iohn in that time of deepe darkenes Because at that time in Italy Germanye England Fraunce many through the doctrine of the VValdeÌ„ses and the preachers of Frederick themperour prouinge it out of the ReuelatioÌ„ of Iohn beleeued that Rome was Babilon that great strompet and that the Pope was Antichrist himselfe which opinion the vncle of Petrus Veronensis held as his LegeÌ„d and Fasciculus temporuÌ„ testifye To such shiftes was the totteringe estate of the Pope then driuen as to abrogate the olde Scripture and to forge new for then Princes began to plucke from the Church their temporalities which maintayned theyr excessiue pride and pompe Also they began to defye their transubstantiacion in the masse and to worke diuers thinges that pinched the bellyes of the clergy and made them keepe leaner kitchins In moste thinges this reuelation of Cyrill is cleane contrarye to the Reuelation of Iohn many monkes and fryers haue written great coÌ„mentaryes and fantasticall interpretacions vppon it as Ioachimus Abbas Guilihelmus Cisterciensis Iohn de rupe scissa But who so euer preacheth anye other Gospell c let him be accursed Gallathians 1. 120. Celestine the fourth CElestine the fourth borne of the house of Castilians being a learned aged and crasyed maÌ„ succeded Gregorie who likewyse purposed to pursue the quarell against Frederick but that he was disappointed by a cuppe of poyson whereof it is reported he dyed the xviii daye of his raigne One Thomas Egleston in his booke of the entraunce of the Minorits into England wryteth of an EnglishmaÌ„ called Robert Somerton Cardinall of Rome who likewyse was poysoned hard before the election of this Celestine least he should haue succeded Gregorie of the same Robert Somerton and his death wryteth Mattheus Parisius coÌ„mending him as a man who for the loue he had of all was worthy to be Pope The same Mattheus wryteth of the behauiour of Legates at the same time saying two of the Popes messeÌ„gers remayned in EnglaÌ„d to gather vp his money whose extorsion was so odious shamefull that it is better saith he to let it passe not to offende mens eares then to defyle the ayre wyth the filthye reporte thereof This Celestine vsed this sayinge commonlye It is harder to keepe moderation in prosperity then in aduersitye After his death the Popedome was voyde xxi weekes till the Emperour at the request of Baldwine Emperour of Constantinople and Raimond Erle of Tholos deliuered those Cardinals which he had in captiuitye FINIS THE SIXTE BOOKE and according to maister Baales order the fourth diuision of the third sort of Popes vnto Iulius the seconde contayninge 260. yeares which he calleth the raigne of the Locusts vnder Abadon the destroyer accordinge to the 9. Chapter of the Apocalips For that in this time the Locusts which he enterpreteth the new found orders of begging fryers inuented and ratifyed by the foure last Popes deuoure spoyle waste and destroye all with their sophisticall and cauilling doctrine As did Thomas Aquinas Ioannes Scotus Occam Gerardus Bonomensis Aegidius Romanus Magister SententiaruÌ„ vvith other like subtill schoolemen and Sorbonistes vvho with their gloses allegories and distinctions corrupted the true sence of the Scripture and in maner toke it cleane awaye 121 Innocentius the fourth AFter the Cardinals had long wrangled beinge reproued for it sharpelye by the Emperour they agreed to chose this maÌ„ callinge him Innocent the fourth borne in Genua whose name before was Cynebaldus of the house of Flisci and the countyes of Lauauy who beinge in time paste the Emperours especiall freinde became forth with his deadlye ennemye and did more annoye the noble Prince then any other before had doone Marius reporteth thus of him this Pope sayth he for hate he bare to Frederick did forth with summon a councell at Lions whither hee cited Frederick purposinge himselfe to haue preached there but the Embassadour of Frederick desired he might haue a reasonable daye graunted him that he mighte conuenientlye come to Lions which the Pope did not onlye denye to graunt but forthwith enflamed with wrath and rage did curse themperour depriue him of his estate Emperial release al his Princes of their alleageance and fayth to him and doth moue them to choose another to be Emperour He charged the godly Emperour with diuers false matters as periurye sacriledge emprisoninge certaine of the clergye and such like whereof though the Emperour had by wryting sent to the Princes very honourablye purged himselfe yet this malitious man continued so importunate w t the Princes with great promises that they choose the Landsgraue of Thuringe and rewarded all men with crosses and pardons giuen by Proclamation against the Emperour as againe a Turke or infidell Furthermore he commaunded all bishops and archbishops to publish euery where how he had cursed excommunicated and depriued the Emperour which was boldly doone in England Fraunce and Denmarke but the bishops of Germany fearing the Emperours displeasure besoughte the Pope it mighte not be done Which the Emperour hearinge did valiantlye set himselfe against the Pope and all his tyrannous rebels til he coulde not escape the Popes snares in Apulia For the
addition to Vspergensis sayth After the Pope had depriued and excommunicated both Frederick his sonne Cōradus Frederick did so shake and worrye the Pope and the Church of Rome that some marked w t crosses set themselues in battaile againste him when hee came to batter downe the gates and walles of Rome where he encountred with a mightye armye of these crossed fellowes But ouer comminge them and takinge them prisoners some of them he hewed a fonder w t foure square woundes in forme of a Crosse of some he cleft their sculs a crosse in 4. parts some he marked on the forhed with a crosse cut and as for the clergye hee caused their shaued crownes to be pared a crosse When the said Henry Landsgraue of Thuringe was chosen kinge of the Romaynes and Frederick deposed by this fourth excommunication then the bishoppe of Strosborough like a peaceable prelate of that time to gratifye the Pope tooke part with the Landsgraue and assisted him with such power strength as he coulde both against the father and Conradus the sonne for he assaulted wan diuers townes some he sacked and razed to the grounde some he burnt with fier which townes and Cityes themperour had recouered to the Empyre in Alsatia On the other syde Conradus the sonne of Frederick gathered an armye against Henry but was easely ouerthrowne and manye of his armye being slaine diuers of his nobilitye were taken prisoners But soone after this Henry beinge thus foysted into the Empire by the clergy grew into cōtempt with them that liked not his election whereupon he was in mockadge termed King of clarkes Prince of priestes but the Pope did straitly charge by his Legates al the Almaine Princes to obeye Henry as their soueraigne and to defye Frederick his sonne In the meane time this Hēry dyed and yet the Pope ceased not but sent a Legate into Germanye one Peter Caputius a Cardinall who summoninge the Princes at Collen caused them to electe one VVilliam Earle of Holland a readye man to maintaine any quarell by the sworde In the ende the Emperour beinge in Apulia one hired by the Pope gaue him poyson by meanes whereof he was daungerouslye sicke but seemed to recouer it but was smothered to death with a pillowe by Manfredus his bastard sonne who as some thinke was allured by bryberye and fayre promises of the Pope to do it The truth hereof is written in sixe bookes of Epistles written by Peter of the Uine Anno 1250. Frederick dyed and as some write in his last will and testamente he gaue a summe of moneye for satisfaction to the Church of Rome and bequeathed his estate and the order of all thinges to his sonne Conradus This Will was brought to the Pope to be approued but the Pope did whollye disanull and frustrate the Will sayinge that the Prince whom he had deposed could make no Wil and so it was voide Within a while after a yonge Prince to whom the Emperour by his sonne Kinge Henry was graūdfather was murthered but by whō no mā could tell About this time before the death of Frederick there were certaine preachers in Sweueland who stoutlye and openly preached against the Pope and his Cardinals iustifyed the doinge of Frederick and his sonne Conradus sayinge bouldly that the Pope his bishops and Cardinals had no auctoritye because they were al stayned with that one blot of simony and that their power depended not vppon Christ that a priest committing deadly sinne coulde neither binde nor loose nor consecrate that no man in the world might forbid a Christian to execute diuine functions that they should be hearde celebrated without any difference And in the ende of their Sermons this pardon quoth they which we do pronounce vnto you wee do not declare it to you as forged by the Pope and his prelates but procedinge from Almightye God These preachers were maintayned by Conradus and therfore he incurred almost danger of his life In the former councell helde at Lions it was decreed that the Cardinals should ryde on their trapped Gennets throughe the streates and weare red hattes and crimsen roabes to signifye sayth Parisius that they are readye to spend their bloud for the Catholicke fayth and the safetye of the people but as Platina sayth for the honour of their estate Also in that councell Innocentius decreed amonge manye matters that the Pope mighte depose the Emperour He did greatly fauoure the order of begging fryers and bestowed on them manye priuiledges and benefittes He preferred the Dominicans to dignityes Ecclesiastical and aduaūced the Franciscās to be the Popes confessours He adopted the White fryers and Augustine friers to be his sonnes wher as they liued before in deserts he brought them into Cityes teachinge them to begge their breade w t idlenes By the helpe of the Dominicans he reformed the rule of the Whitefryers mitigated it and finallye with his blessinge confirmed it that as the sayd rule sheweth they should hope to be saued not onlye by Christ He graūted these the begging fryers lycence to preach to dispute and to shriue people Also he exempted them from all power iurisdiction of kinges and bishops whereupon they crammed the worlde ful and chaoked it with their gloses vpon Sentences decretals cannons wich their commentaries vpon Aristotle their Sophisms Repertories Sūmaries Tables Trinies Quatrinies Conclusions Questions Distinctions Quidities Quodlibets Myracles of the dead Legendaryes Saincts liues Martyrdoms Uisions Dreames Reuelatiōs Exorsisms Concordances Discordāces Marials perspectiues Aphorismes wyth a thousande vaine and combrous pamphlets full of grosse deceitful heresyes and then nothing was counted deuinitye nor lawe but their fansyes and canons And in these dayes the world was fallen into such grosse blindnesse ignorance and barbarousnesse that not onelye knowledge in diuinity but also other learning was almost decayed the knowledge of the tongues as Greeke and Hebrew buried in ignoraunce though some rubbishe of the latine tongue were left yet it was rustye corrupte and broken stuffe as appeareth yet by theyr wrytings that the like barbarousnesse is not in any tongue But to returne to Pope Innocent he canonized diuers makinge them saincts that for his aduauncemente had played the traytours and rebels against theyr owne Princes as one Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other of sondrye places Till the time of this Innocentius the 4. sayth Bibliander it was not an article of fayth nor a law of the Church that men should worship the breade and the wyne in the Sacrament therefore sayth he the Pope as a creator brought forth a newe God Mauzis by transubstantiation This Pope offred to sell to king Henry the third of England the kingdome of both Sicils to the vse of his sonne Prince Edmond and yet Conradus kinge thereof was lyuinge He vexed and polled the Churches of England with myserable exactions for money he maintayned and licensed anye wickednes amonge the clergye suffering worser matters in his bastards
whereof he had diuers especiallye one called VVilliam One Robert Capito bishop of Lincolne had a great controuersye with this Pope for he detested defyed both in preachinge and wrytinge the Popes couetousnes pride and tyrannye He would not admit one of the Popes bastardes because he was vnlearned and but a boye of yeares to a canonship of Lincolne but rebuked the Pope for it in a letter and withstoode the Popes pollinge â—obbinge the Realme and therefore the Pope receyuinge the sharpe letter from this Robert Grosted for anger rayled not onlye on the bishop but also brast into these arrogante wordes against his Prince king Henry the third sayinge as Mattheus Parisius testifyeth Is not the kinge of EnglaÌ„d our vassel our slaue our page who may at our pleasure to hamper him put him in prison to vtter shame And finallye because he coulde not tell howe otherwise to ease his rancke stomacke against the bishop hee excommunicated him but he constantlye defyed and despised his excommunication euen to the death He defended in disputation that the Pope could do nothinge against iustice truth and that he was worse then Lucifer and Antichrist at the length being cited to appeare in the court and condempned by the Pope wrongfullye he appealed to the iudgemente of Christe This good bishop after he had detected much of the Popes treachery before his death vttered these two Uerses applying them against the Pope Eius luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Eius auariciae totus non sufficit orbis One concubine could not suffice his burning lust to quenche Nor yet his honger after golde one world serude not to stenche Also this bishoppe by diligent searche tryed it that this Pope and his clarkes had in reuenewes out of Englande aboue iii. score and tenne thousande markes where as the reuenewes of the Crowne came not to 30. thousand Cestrensis in his seuenth booke wryteth that when this bishop of Lincolne dyed a voyce was heard in the Popes court sayinge Veni miser in iudiciuÌ„ dei that is Come thou vvretch to be iudged of God And that the Pope was found deade in his bedde the next daye and a blewe stroke in his bodye as if he had beene beaten wyth a staffe This was done Anno 1253. he being at Naples and loking soone after to haue enioyed the whole kingdome of Sicill where he lyeth buryed Thaddition to Vspergensis sheweth that the yeare before as the Pope was going from LioÌ„s to Millen these straunge tokens happened certaine bloudy cloudes were seene in the ayre streames of bloud gusshed out of breade as oute of wounded bodyes After his death the seate was voide two yeares 124 Alexander the fourth ALexander the fourth borne in Campania being Cardinall of Hostia succeded Innocent He persecuted Ecelinus of Runcan and Manfred king of Sicill because they had beene ennemyes to the former Popes thus he began his raigne And first he craftelye admonished them not to stande against the dignitye of the Church in anye point before he gaue them this charge he had prouided his army in a readinesse meaning to course them if they should seeke to preuent him and his Cardinals of the kingdome of Sicill yet these Princes very couragiouslye with an oast of Saracens and other fearinge not the Popes threates did set vppon his army at vnawares euen in a trench ere they wist and partly slue them partly toke them prisoners In the meane while Pope Alexander goinge to Anagnia excommunicated Manfred and sent a Cardinal called Octauian to Naples to make the Neapolitans to stand faithful to him against Manfred promysing speedely to bring ayde to all Campania and to the Neapolitans but Manfred not pacifyed with troubling Naples did also moue factions in Hetruria but chiefely in Florence where he brought in the Guelphis againe who euer were at deadly foode with the Gibelines Thus was al Italy in a myserable vprore torne in sonder with cruell and saluage warre But Manfred hauing poysoned Conrad king of Sicill was proclaymed kinge at Panorme and with an armye of hyred souldiours he ouerthrew the Popes Legat with great slaughter This Pope sent one Rustand Legate into Englande Anno 1255. to gather vp the tenthes in Englande Scotland IrelaÌ„d to warre against Manfred And saith Mattheus Parisius manye mischiefes detestable issued from the burning fountayne of Rome in those dayes to the destruction of manye for after the begginge fryers had preached the power of the Crosse he required infinite sommes of moneye the exaction of the Pope was such sayth he that the like hath not bene heard Whereupon Fulck bishop of LoÌ„don sayd with great griefe Ere I giue my consent to oppresse the Church vvith such iniurye seruitude and bondage surely I will first loose my head for although that Courte hath often in times past pinched euen to the bone the faithfull flocke of Christ yet it neuer wouÌ„ded in such deadlye sort all and euery one of Christes seruaunts as it did this yeare and the yeare following c. The money the was gathered for the holy land was transposed into Apulia against Christians and sayth Mattheus vnmeete meÌ„ are made gouernours of noble Churches the prelates are sould as oxen and asses this is the extreame point of seruitude c. About this time the said Rustand the Popes Legate being PrebeÌ„dary of Paules Church in LoÌ„don dyed beyond the sea king Henry the third hearing therof gaue the same prebend to one Iohn Crakehale his chaplein but after the sayde Crakehale had full possession thereof came one Iohn Grasse from Rome wyth the Popes embulled letter to chalenge the sayde lyuing Hereupon the matter being in controuersye it was brought before Boniface bishop of Canterbury who finding that the Popes gift was dated before the kinges dispossessed the Englishman and inuested the Popes man which was taken so in despite by certaine repyning to see the Pope and his Italian priestes in this and all such cases to beare more sway then the king and to reape all commodyties from the kinge and his subiects that the said ItaliaÌ„ and a coÌ„panion of his were murthered in a thronge by whom no man knewe Rustand in a conuocation at London alleaged that all Churches were the Popes to whom one Leonard an Englishman answeared modestly yea sir in tuition not in fruition to defend not to expende Seuell bishop of Yorke by the example of the former bishop of Lincolne did likewyse wtstande this Pope Alexander and desyred him by letter to leaue of his wonted polling according to Peters example to feede the sheepe not to flece them not to flea them not vnbowel them neither as a wolfe deuoure them Further it followeth in the sayd Mattheus that the Pope sente yet other Legates into England namelye Arlot Mansuet minorite fryers who had power to pardon for money eyther lyers forswearerers vowbreakers adulterers and Sodomits traytors poysoners murtherers and all suche Whereuppon a certaine woman
sommoned a councell into his Pallaice in Viciana sylua where the whole assemblye subscribed against the Popes heresye and therefore the kinge sent to Pope Iohn willinge him both to reforme his heresye and also to deliuer the prysoner so the said Thomas was set at libertye This Pope reformed and transposed the orders decrees of the Church at his owne pleasure made Colledges of Scribes according to the nomber of the Apostles who receyuing their fee should write such letters as he should appoint He cōdemned Iohn Poliacus a deuine because he taught that mē should not trust the begging fryers He cōpelled certaine Nonnes called Biginae to marrye and detested pictures He helde it for a grounded article that Christ gaue none other rule of godlinesse to his Apostles then to other Christians and that the Apostles neuer vowed pouertye Iohn Mandeuil in his first booke and seuenth Chapter sheweth that this Pope wrote at large to the Greekes that there is but onely one Christian Church and that he was head thereof and vicar of Christ to whō the Greekes aunswered briefely VVee do assuredlye acknowledge your highe power ouer your subiectes but wee cannot abide your high pride wee cannot stanch your greedye couetousnes the deuill is with you but God is with vs. Thus briefely in a worde they reuealed the Popes estate This Pope condemned Lewis Bauare a noble Emperour to be a rebell to the Church a scismaticke and hereticke because he toke vpon him by the Electours choyse the gouernment of the Empyre not vowing anye fealtye to the Pope Thus wryteth Iohn Marius of this Emperour Lewis Pope Iohn sayth he hated vnto death Lewis Bauare partly because he beinge chosen by the estates of Germanye kinge of the Romaynes did disdaine to receyue at the Popes hand according to the Canon of Pope Clement the fifte the name and title Emperiall partly againe because he defended from the Popes power certaine monkes whom he had condemned for heretickes therefore Pope Iohn auouched Lewis to be an hereticke Lewis comminge into Italye appointed his deputies in euery Cittye and came to Millen and because he desired to qualifye the Popes displeasure he sent Embassadours to him kepinge his courte then at Auenio in Fraunce to require of him the ornamentes belonging to the estate imperiall with freindlye affection as his auncestours had done the Pope did not onelye denye the sute but sent awaye the Embassadours with great reproche and cited the Emperour him selfe peremptory wyse as they terme it to come to Auenio submit himselfe to the Canons of the Church The Emperour knowinge the Popes tyrannye vsed in his Church vnderstanding that he had his estate giuen him from God desired to keepe and defende the same holye and vndefiled and therefore woulde not submit himselfe like a slaue vnto Popes and so denyed to come to Auenio And yet being desirous of peace he besought the Pope by Embassadours once againe to bestowe on him with curtesye the ornamentes of the Empyre the Pope stoode peuishlye in his wilfulnes vaunting and boasting in his wrytings that he had power to playe make marre w t Princes and that at his pleasure he might set vp and depose whom he listed and that the Empyre being voyde the Pope is ful Emperour And for malice against Lewis he excōmunicated the Uicounts whom the Emperour had appointed to gouerne Millen The Emperour perceyuinge the Popes obstinate minde taking with him many Princes of Italye came to Rome and was honourablye receyued of al the people and required according to the custome to receiue the solemnityes of the Empyre The Romaine peeres and all the people sent Embassadours to Pope Iohn in Fraunce and humbly besought him to come to visit his City Rome to bestowe vpon the king of the Romaynes the imperiall rites which if he would not do they said plainly that they them selues would keepe the ould law priuiledge of the Romaynes Iohn hauing heard the Embassadours vsing great threates and terrours draue them away with foule rebuke frō him The Romaynes seing this decreed to yeld to the noble Lewis his lawfull request and so by the commaundement of the clergy and people both he and his wyfe together were crowned by Steuē Nicolas being Senatours in the meane time the nobilitye shouted oute saying God saue Lewis Augustus Emperour of the Romaynes The Pope hearing this though the Emperour did nothing but that was lawful and godly did accuse him for a traytour and an heretick he published sore processe against him put him frō his estate imperial depriued him of his kingdome condemned him by vile and cruel curse of excōmunication as a rebell and Captaine heretick againste the Church of Rome by meanes whereof he enflamed all Christendome with such discord deadly warres as could not afterward be quenched in thirty yeres Thus farre wryteth Marius Thus the Pope had nothing to defende his forged supremacye and auctoritye but the dreadfull boultes of his excommunication But there were certaine at this time as well deuines as lawyers which preached that Christe and his Apostles did possesse nothinge properlye and that the Emperour in temporall cases was not subiect to the Pope Amonge these men were Michael Coesenus VVilliam Occam minorites Marsilius of Padua Iohn of Iandane lawyers with diuers other Lewis the Emperour was so comforted by these that he did stoutly withstand the Popes ententes and published this his appellation about the coastes of his Empyre ¶ The Emperours letters WE Lewis kinge of the Romaynes doe pronounce against Iohn who saith that hee is Pope that he doth naughtelye execute the testament and will of Christe cōcerning peace troubling the cōmon tranquility of Christendome neither is he mindfull that what honour soeuer he nowe doth enioye was first giuen by the holye Emperour Constantine to Syluester euen when he forfeare lurked in forrestes Thus doth he shewe himselfe vnthankful to the Romaine Empire from whence hee reaped all the roialty which now he abuseth c. Thus when Lewis and the peeres of Rome perceyued well the iniquitye of Pope Iohn and the people of Rome from the hyest to the lowest did take it in euill part that the Embassadours whō they had sent were so mocked of him they all agreed together that the ould custome of chosing the Pope should be brought into the Church that is that he being chosen by the people of Rome should be admitted and allowed by the Emperour Therefore one Peter of Corbaria a minorite was made Pope and was called Nicolas the fifte and as for Iohn they cōcluded of him that he was an heretick and a tyrant of the Church not a pastour but a breaker of the common peace of Christians In the meane time Pope Iohn Anno 1335. in the fourscore x. yeres of his age dyed at Auenio About the yeare of our Lord 1326. in the time of this Pope Iohn the prelats of Englād played a stout prancke for the bishop of Hertford
dominicans he left to the Church great store of treasure he kept diuers concubines he dyed of an ague while he was hyring one Zotus a conning painter to porâ—rature the storyes of martyrs in his newe buildinges Anno 1342. Of whom these Uerses were made Iste fuit vero laicis mors vipera clero Deuius a vero turba repleta mero About this time Iohn Stratford beinge bishop of Canterbury did greatly abuse king Edward the thirde both in defraudinge him of his treasure when he needed it most in his warres in Fraunce and refusing obstinatly afterward to come at the kinges commaundement to aunsweare vntill time place serued according to his owne pleasure Benedicts coÌ„mon sayings were these to be noted Be thou such a sonne as thou desirest to haue cosens The euil maâ— dreadeth death but the good man feareth him more Those thinges that thou hast learned keepe by reading and get by learning those thinges that thou wantest It is as great shame to haue no freindes as to chaunge them oft It is more dishonour to a Prince to be ouercome with benefits then by force of armes 139. Clement the sixt CLement the sixt borne in Lemonia by professioÌ„ a Benedictine called before Peter Rogers being abbot of Phisca succeded Benedict at Auenio This maÌ„ with his faction troubled the Romaine Empire aboue measure for he excommunicated sayth Naucler all the Princes lordes and bishops that consented to the doings of Lewis To deface the Emperour he created Uicountes and made them Uicares of the Empyre Lewis on the other side appointed other Uicares to gouerne the Church Ierom Marius in his booke called Eusebius Captiuus doth thus set out the rigour of Pope Clement Clement the sixt sayth he much giuen to women honour and auctoritye prouoked with diuelishe furye set vp bills in wrytinge vpon Church doares wherein he threatned the Emperour to be punished w t more cruell tormentes vnlesse he woulde obey the Popes minde and that within three dayes and would giue vp his right of the estate imperiall Great was the cruelty of this Clement voyde of clemency The Emperour commeth to Frankeforde and preparing with all diligence to do all that was commaunded besought the Pope by his Embassadours to pardon him and to receiue him to fauour But the Pope aunswered the Embassadours that he would neuer pardon Lewis vnlesse he would first confesse all his errours and heresyes and yelde vp the Empire and put into the Popes hand both himselfe his children goodes possessions to dispose them at his pleasure would promise that he would neuer more enioy any part thereof without the fauour of the Pope deliuered a certaine fourme of of these articles in wryting to the Embassadours coÌ„mauÌ„ding them to carye the same to Lewis The good Emperour least if he did not thus submit himselfe it mighte bee cause of slaughter and sedition receiued the order taken by the Pope and looking vpon it was content in such wyfe to saue Christian bloud and therefore he did not onely set his seale to it but gaue his oath to performe all Which when the Pope heard he waxed angrye But note whether hee toke the Emperour to fauoure and whether he shewed anye token of good will by that which followeth Lewis shewed that order to the Princes electours and oratours The Princes detested and abhorred certaine of the articles because they were deuised by the Pope to the confusion of the Empyre and therfore they promised sufficient ayde to the Emperour if as he did before he would maintaine the libertye and honour of the Empyre They sence Embassadours desiringe the Pope not to exact those articles that tended to the vtter subuersion of the Empyre and the oratours crauinge and doing nothing els came awaye againe But Clement blaming Lewis onelye for all did purpose the destruction of him and his children he cursed him cruelly euen at consecrating the Sacrament He renued all the extreame processes which Pope Iohn had giuen out against him he pronounced him to be an heretick and scismatick He charged the Princes electours to choose another Emperour He deposed the Archbishop of Mens both of his bishoprick and auctoritye of electorship because he knowing the Emperours innocencye and vngiltiues woulde not abuse his maiestye But the other electours being brybed with money by Iohn king of Bohemia as the bishop of Colen who toke viii Thousande markes the duke of Saxonye two Thousande markes did appoint his sonne Charles to be king of the Romaynes whoÌ„ this vncurteous Clement did allowe afterward in open consistorye But who is able to report the horrible bloudshed and warre that arose in the Empire by meanes of this mischiefe wroughte by Clement for kinge Edward the thirde of England slue xx Thousande Frenchmen and Iohn king of Bohemia father to Charles was slaine with many nobles But Lewis yet takinge thought because of the Popes processes not medling with the gouernment of the Empyre was by the Popes procurement poysoned in a cuppe whereof he dyed Thus wryteth Marius Lo by these kinde of treacheryes haue the prelates of Rome brought the Empyre to the low ebbe and poore estate that it is at this daye for the sayde Charles whom they against all lawe created to make his sonne to succede him did so corrupt the electours wyth bribes and fayre promises that he morgaged to them the coÌ„mon reuenues of the Empyre which they enioye to this daye and therefore the Romaine Empyre cannot aduauÌ„ce it selfe againe For then the Electours coÌ„pelled Charles to take an oath that these pledges should neuer be reclaymed whereby at length it came to passe that the Empyre being thus decayed the Turke inuaded the Church of Christ destroyed it wonderfullye and it is by the especial grace of God that Mahomets blasphemye doth not wyth fyre and sworde rage ouer all Christendome c. This Pope Clement now at the fiftye yeare renued the Iubelie beinge absent caused it to be celebrated at Rome Anno 1350. for his aduauntage and sayth PremonstrateÌ„sis there were fiue Thousande straungers comming in going out at Rome as might wel be counted dailye within the said yeare He made at seuerall times xii Cardinals whereof some were monkes some his nephewes and kinsemen beside he promoted diuers other to dignityes bestowed cost on diuers buildinges He gaue licence to the bishop of Bamberge to absolue those that toke parte wyth Lewis but vppon these conditions first that they shoulde sweare fealty to him as to the Uicar of Christe secondly that they should beleue that the Emperour hath no power neither to make nor marre the Pope thirdlye that they should acknowledge none to be Emperour whoÌ„ the Pope had not confirmed While his companioÌ„s and seruaunts went to dinner leauing onely his chamberlayne with him he fel downe sodeinly dyed of an impostume Anno 1352. This Clement sayth Marius toke vpoÌ„ him so prodigally in his Popedome that he gaue to his Cardinals in
which was saide to be S. Andrewes head beside he wroughte diuers other Popishe pranckes He powred out riches vpon diuers vaine sumptuous and prodigall buildinges He made Corsian the towne wher he was borne to be a Citye calling it after his owne name Pientia buildinge a statelye Churche of wrought stone in it In the ende he dyed of an agew at Ancona goinge thether aboute his warres He was muche troubled with diseases while he liued as with the coughe the stone and the goute Volateranus sayth that ambition did ouerwhelme manye vertues in him for he was euer greedye of promocion and therefore he toke great paynes and sought the fauour of Princes This Epitaphe was founde written of him in an olde booke Frigida membra Pij retinet lapis iste loquacis Qui pacem moriens attulit Italiae Summe Deus quantum mortalibus alme dedisti Fulmine cum tetigit hoc caput aequa manus Vendiderat precio gentes crimina multa Virtutis â—pecie gesserat ille Pius Impius hic fuerat quamuis sub nomine pulchro Crediderit falsis posse iuuare fidem Nunc fidi comites scelerataque turba clientum Ingemuere Pium nam scelus orbis erat CONCLVSIO Impius hic situs est crudelis raptor iniquus Aeneas fatue quem genuere Senae Platina and Sabellicus do testifye that among other his prouerbiall sentences he lefte this in writinge There is a great cause why the clergie shoulde be depriued of mariage but greater cause why they should be suffered to marrye He hath the same sayinge also in his seconde booke of CouÌ„saile Perhaps sayth he it should not be worse if most priestes were wedded because that in maryed priesthoode manye shoulde be saued that in vnwedded priesthoode are dampned This Pius the second saith Coelius secundus did breake vp diuers nooneryes coÌ„mauÌ„ding them to come out of their cloister and to burne no longer in coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce and not to play the strompets secretelye vnder pretence of Religion Iohn Maria Polutianus sayth that in these dayes the Minorites and Bullistes in Italye fell out bitterlye stryuing whether of them should visite keepe and rule the nunnes 157. Paule the second PAule the second was borne in Venice called first Peter Baâ—bus nephewe to Eugenius the fourth he beinge Cardinall of S. Marke succeded Pope Pius He before his Papacye purposed to fall to the trade of marchandize but when hee heard that his â—nckle Gabriel was created Pope he began to applye his minde to his booke and so arose from one degree to another till in the end he gat the Papacye He was a man of a goodlye parsonage but of a hautye minde he was verye couetous and bestowed benefices for rewardes Touchinge his pontifâ—call pompe ye neede not doubte sayth Platina that he furnished it in such sort as he excelled all his predecessours especiallye in his royall kingdome Touching his Miter he bestowed infinite treasure thereon procurinâ—e to haue broughte to him froÌ„ euery place of great price Diamants Saphyrs Carbuncles Chrysolits Iasperstones Pearles and all other kinde of precious stones He being thus royallye attyred like Aaron with Iewels shewed himselfe abrode in such a maiestye as neuer did anye earthlye creature Then his desire was to be gazed on to be worshipped and for this cause he stayed straungers often in the Citye shewinge his handkerchiffe in the streate that the greater companye might behold him He commaunded also that none shoulde presume to weare a scarlet hat but the Cardinals on whom hee bestowed much cloth of the same colour in the first yeare of his Popeship to make them trappinges for their horses and Mules saith Platina He practisinge both by worde by sworde to aduaunce the maiestye of his seate did nothing all his life time but moue warre in Italye sodenlye when he spyed his aduauÌ„tage Amonge diuers others Cityes hee assaulted Arminium and caused both Suburbes and Citye to be myserablye shaken rente and torne with force of gunneshotte and other engins He abhorred euen from his harte the decrees and deedes of his predecessour Pius He restored the regular Canons whom Calixtus had expulsed out of Lateran abbey and bestowed greate buildinges at S. Markes at Vatican He condemned all chose to be heretickes that should make any mention of vniuersityes for he was a very doult and of grosse capacitye and therfore he loued neither learning nor vertue He being whollye addicted to ambition royotousnes and pleasure spent the whole daye eyther in feasting as Volateranus sayth or in takinge vp his money or els in searching oute and vewing of olde coynes images or Iewels His greatest care was that the Citye shoulde neuer lacke victuals Finallye after he had created tenne Cardinals whereof Frauncis Ruerius was one and assured himselfe to liue longe Anno 1470. he dyed of an Apoplexie sodenly by him selfe alone after he had supped meerelye After his death his cosins the Cardinals bestowed on him a woÌ„derfull riche and costlye tombe From this time forward the estate of the Papacye begaÌ„ to impaire and decay Stanislaus Ruthenus reporteth this one notable thinge of this Pope Paule in these wordes VVhen Pope Paule had seene certaine latine Verses written against him and his daughter it is reported that he wept and cryed out against the hardnes of the lawe of single life amonge his frends Because that he who ought to be not onlye the head of the Church but also of chastlife shoulde see his doughter liue in the face and countenaunce of the Citye with great shame and disdaine who although she were verye beutifull yet it greued his harte that it should be said he begat her in whoredome because he knewe that there was a law of God whereby she mighte haue beene borne in wedlocke vnlesse this lawe of single life had disanulled it They saye therefore that he toke councell how he mighte restore againe the mariage of the clergie but beinge preuented by death he coulde not attaine to his purpose 158. Sixtus the fourth SIxtus the fourth was borne at Sauona in Liguria called Frauncis Ruerius before and generall minister of the Franciscans succeded Pope Paule He being at a time of solemnitye caryed in an horselitter to Lateran there arose a sodein tumult so that the Pope was in great daunger of loosing his life being so pelted with stones so that the dryuers did almost forsake him in the Litter This Pope vsed to graunte one benefice to diuers and sondry parsons He loued his frendes so well that to gratifye them he did manye things against all law and equitye He promoted his companion Peter Ruerius both of his owne order and couÌ„trye whom with his brother Hierome he broughte vp for purpose to be a Cardinall a man otherwise borne to wast riches for within the space of two yeres after then which time he liued not longer he spent of himselfe alone by his royotous lyuing â–ª two hundreth thousand Crownes beside this he endebted himselfe three score Thousand and spent
his death Dic vnde Alecto pax ista refulsit vnde Tam subito reticent praelia Sixtus obit Say hag Alecto whence haue we this peace and how are fled The bloudye broyles so sodenlye Pope Sixtus nowe i◠dead ▪ Againe another wrote this Mortuus est Sixtus gaudet nunc Roma trahatur Vt dignum est vnco mortuus in Tiberim Pope Sixt is dead and Rome is glad therefore as it is meete To Tiber draw his carkasse with an hooke fast to his feete Another Sixtus obit gaudent omnes nefunere sicco Transeat amissa plangite glande sues Pope Sixt is dead all men are glad but least that noone bewayle While he is buryed weepe ye hogs and howle your acorns fayle Another Extulit auratas sed postquam maxima glandes Ecclesia innumeris patefacta est ianua porcis When mighty mother Church gan once her goulden acorns yeld It was set oape to howgy heards of swyne that haue it fild ¶ Another Sixte iaces tandem fidei contemptor aequi Pacis vt hostis eras pace peremptus obis O Sixt thou were a foe to peace and peace hath thee now slaine That diddest long in life both fayth and equitye disdaine Sixte iaces tandem laetatur Roma tuo quae Passa sub imperio est funer bella famem Now dead is Sixt and Rome is glad who while as he did raigne Oft burials and wasting warre with famme did sustaine Sixte iaces tandem nostri discordia secli Saeuisti in superos nunc Acheronta moue Nowe Sixt is dead that noyde this age with discord and with euill Thou raged hast against the heauens now wrangle with the deuill Sixte iaces tandem fraudisque dolique minister Et sola tantum proditione potens Now Sixt is dead that did contriue such falsehoode craft guile And onlye bare so great a sway by treason all this while Sixte iaces tandem pressa est quo sospite virtus Leges sacra pium relligioque fides Now Sixt is dead who while as he did liue did keepe in awe Religion fayth zeale godlines all honestye and lawe Sixte iaces tandem deflent tua busta cinedi Scortaque lenones alea vina Venus Now Sixt is dead vpon whose graue there doth lament howle Bauds strōpets bankruts ribaulds stewes eke the drōken nowle Sixte iaces tandem summorum imfamia fexque Pontificum tandem perfide Sixte iaces Now Sixt is dead the shame of those that hye in honour be The scoom of Popes most faithlesse wretch now dead at lēgth is he Sixte iaces tandem vos hunc lacerate Quirites Dentur impastis membra scelesta feris Now Sixt is dead his carkasse then ye Romaynes rent teare And giue the gubs to carrayne crowes to the saluage beare Quid pia profuerint functo solemnia Sixto Tradita sunt celeri vota precesque noto What doth it boote to pray for soule of Sixtus being dead Your prayers are but blastes of winde that in the ayre are fled Riserat vt viuens coelestia numina Sixtus Sic moriens nullos credidit esse Deos. As Sixtus in his life did scorne the God celestiall So at his day of death he thought there was no God at all Sixte iaces tandem superis inuisus imis Inclusus grauido ventre necandus eras Thou Sixt at length art dead whom heauen doth loath also hell If murdred thou in mothers wombe had bene it had bin well Stupra famem strages vsuras furta rapinas Et quodcunque nefas te duce Roma tulit Thou being Captaine wretched Rome no mischiefe could escape As robbing murther vsury theft famin whordome rape Magna licet tardae soluenda est gratia morti Omne scelus tecum Sixte cruente iacet Much are we bound to death though long it were ere shee thee sped For now with the O cruell Sixt all villany is dead By these Uerses which were made vpon Pope Sixtu after his death it maye appeare what opinion men had of his holinesse in his life But to proceede Leander Tritemius say that about the yeare of our Lorde 1470. Alanus de rupe a dominican after he had seene certaine diuelishe visions and illusions contriued his worke called Rosariū out of our Ladyes Psalter and preached it in steede of the Gospell which Iames Sprenger did aduaunce with counterfaited myracles and at the length Pope Sixtus did cōfirme it to be holye and autenticall with his bulles and indulgences Whereupon a certaine booke was published in the beginning wherof it is written that vpon a time the blessed Uirgin came into the Cell of the said Alan it being shut and made him a ring of her owne haire and betrouthed her selfe to the monke that she kissed him giuing him leaue to handle and milke her breastes and finally to be as pleasaunt and familiar with him as a woman would be w t her husband And these grosse monkishe myracles are yet defended by the Popishe priesthoode Of this Alan came the order of religious loyterers called after his name 159. Innocentius the eight INnocentius the eight was a Genewaie borne his fathers name was Aron and his name before was Iohn Baptist Cibo he beinge Cardinall of S. Cicilia was chosen Pope after the death of Sixtus He was sometime a poore boye but of excellent beautye and brought vp among those that waighted vpon Alphonsus king of Sicill wher he learned perfitly courtly fashions Afterward he cōming to Rome continued a long season in the companye of Philip Cardinall of Bononia In time he was made prelate of Sauon then of Melphit afterwarde Secretarye by Sixtus and so came to be Cardinall and last of all Pope He was tall of stature fayre of complexion and of a comly parsonage but of a grosse and dull wit voyde of learninge and so heauye headed that sometime euen when he sate busye about publick affayres he would take a nap and fall a sleepe He was welbeloued of Sixtus for his comlye behauiour and curtesye wherein he excelled all other But verelye he fawned vppon all men with flatteringe face but was freind to no man in deede and being of nature addicted to couetousnes yet he would shift it and colour it with myrth and pleasant ieaftes Euen at his entrye almost to his Papacye he conspired with the Princes of Sicill against their king Ferdinand sending for Robart Seuerinates to be Captaine of the enterprise So well doth the Pope requite his bringinge vp in the king of Sicils house He said that a man oughte to make warre for the dignitye of the Church for the defence of subiectes and for procuremente of peace to ensue contrarye to the Apostle sayinge Do not euill that good may come thereof But at length he seing himselfe disapointed toke peace perforce and yet with these conditions that a tribute shoulde be payed due vnto him and that the rebels should haue no harme But yet the wyse Prince king Ferdinand kept neither of
Earles and noble men with their dominions and great Cityes through the whole countrey of Germanye beside the great commōwealthes of Heluetia Rhetia Vallis Tellina with many hūdred Thousands more of al estates in Flaūders Italye Spayne Fraūce and in the kingdome of Polonia Thus especiallye from the yeare of our Sauiours incarnation 1503. vnder Pope Iulye the seconde the credite of the Romaine Sea began to cracke and dailye ryueth more and more and shall by Gods grace so continue till it be cleane rente in peeces and torne awaye Whereof God hath giuen certaine signes tokens plainlye prognosticatinge the greate fall of this proude Babilon which with these reuoltinge of regions from him being compared may comfort those that reioyce in the aduauncing of the Gospell and in the ruine of Antichriste although it is not to be wished that any mā should ground any doctrine or point of religion barely vpon these prognostications The obseruations that the Papacye shall melt awaye decresing more and more till the daye of Iudgement are these First the forenamed Prophecye of S. Paule in the 2. Chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians that Antichriste must be reuealed before Christe come with diuers other Prophecyes of the holye Scripture in the Reuelation and other places Other proofes hereof maye be those straunge thinges that haue come to passe of latter times in the Church of Rome as the Pope Iohn the 24. was wonderfullye vexed by an owle in open consistorye as is before in his life declared againe that going to Constance he fell oute of his chariot by the waye Afterwarde he was in the same councell of Constance reprochfullye deposed and it was there declared that a councell ought to be aboue the Pope and the Pope to be subiect to the controlment of the coūcel which thing gaue a great pushe to the ouerthrow of his supremacye surelye from his time and the time of Paule the second the Popes maiestye began to shrincke more more Againe in the time of Alexander the sixt by a tempest of thonder lightninge the Augell set on the toppe of Angell castell in Rome the Popes chiefe place was beaten downe into the riuer Tiber. Furthermore it appeareth that it was not so much the fonde furye of Iulye the second as fatall prouidence the Pope Iulye the second when he could not preuaile by Papal auctoritie did hurle away into Tiber S. Peters keyes as they tearme them the counterfaite euidence of his supremacye for as he cast the keyes away so other reiected his supremacie euer since Furthermore in the time of Pope Leo it came to passe that he created in one day 31. Cardinals and the same daye while Leo and his Cardinals were in S. Peters Church there fell such mightye stormes of windes thōder lightnings vpon the Church that it shooke downe a little idoll made for the picture of Christe in the lappe of the virgin Marye Also it stroke the keyes oute of the hande of S. Peters Image in the same Church These and manye other such matters as haue come to passe are to be so construed as they may best serue to the glorye of God and signification of his will which is that Antichriste shall be destroyed with the breath of his mouth that is the power of his holye word and not by the might and arme of man Ioyning therefore the successe that Christe hath giuen to his Gospel with the shaking of Antichriste his kingdome foreshewed by the spirit of God it shall not be amisse to take these signes as witnesses that God sheweth hereby that he is mindefull of his promise made to his elect that the dayes are at hand when Babilō must fall and our Sauiour Iesus Christe come againe in glorye to the subuerting of him The Lorde hasten it for his mercy sake and make vs readye to receiue it with ioye Amen Amen 162. Iulius the second IVlius the secōd was a Genewaie borne who as Erasmus wryting vpon the prouerbe A remo ad Tribunal sayth was in his youth a whirrye slaue and yet at length preased vp to the Papacye And yet sayth he not contenting himselfe with that estate as he founde it did enlarge his dominion and would haue made it larger but that death preuented his purpose Vicelius sayth that he was rather giuen to warres then to serue Christ. Iohn Functius in his Cōmentaryes wryteth thus of him Pope Iulius being borne of a base stocke rysing by degrees throughe good lucke and craftye witte attayned to the hyest He being a fellowe of a subtill and compassinge heade and most giuen of nature to play the warriour did like Nimrod enlarge his porcion by the dint of the sworde so that by his procuremente within seuen yeares were slaine and destroyed to the nomber of two hundred thousand Christians He besieged Rauenna cruellye and in the ende preuayling made it subiecte to his Empire And with the like violence he wrested Seruia Imola Fauentia Foroliuium Bononia and other Cityes from the Princes with great bloudshed Sleidā sayth that whē this Iulius was Pope he toke an oath that he would haue a councell within two yeares But when he troubled and disquieted all Italye with warres beinge enemye one while to the Venetiās another while to the king of Fraūce nowe to the Duke of Ferraria now to the Bononians certaine Cardinals ix in nomber steppinge a syde and assembling at Millen do summon a coūcell to be held at Pisana The chiefe of these were Bernardin Cruceius VVilliam of Praenoste Fraūcis Cossetinus w t whom were the proctours of the Emperour Maximilian and of Lewis the xii king of Fraunce about the same purpose This councell was called the yeare 1511. the xix day of Maye to beginne in September next following The cause hereof is sayde to be because the Pope had broken his oath and for sworne himselfe for notwtstāding he had raigned so many yeares yet contrarye to his oath they could get no hope of hauing a coūcell And furthermore for that they had heynous crimes to charge him w t all they purposed to depriue him of his dignitye which he had gottē by bribery But Iulius chargeth all men vpon paine of great punishmēt that no man should obey them summoned another coūcel to be held the yeare following in Aprill in Lateran at Rome whereunto xxi Cardinals subscribed For this from time to time hath bin the practise of the Pope when any councel hath bin assembled against his doings then to assemble another Synode against the other in some place meete for his purpose There was at this time a famous Lawyer at Papia called Philippus Decius who published a booke defendinge the doinge of the Cardinals against the Pope Diuers other wrote against him some in prose some in verse as Hulricus Huttenus in certaine Epigrams to this effect in Englishe translated verse for verse This Iulie vvho by long discent did sit in Peters seate Through nevv cōceite
sleepeth 167. Iulius the third IVlius the thirde an Aretinian borne before his papacie was called Iohn Mary of the mounte After the Cardinals had iarred many a day about the election in the ende this man was chosen the seuenth daye of Februarie in the yere of our lord 1550. This Iulius because he was a melancholy fellowe and one that hated from his hart the doctrine of Luther was admitted into the colledge of Cardinalles by the former Pope Paule the third and was president for the Pope in the counsell of Trent againste the Lutheranes As sone as he had the Popedome he renewed the Iubelye to make moneye for himselfe And therefore there repayred apace to Rome minstrils pipers harpers fidlers players ieasters iuglers ruffians bawdes harlots and Sodomites with all kinde of rascall people The Papistes conceyued a great hope that this Iulius woulde reforme Religion clergye according to their desire But his delight was to feede like a glotton Peacocks porke and bacon and all kinde of swines flesh were his ordinarye fare that he most desired He promoted none so soone to ecclesiasticall dignityes as yonge and wanton Ganymedes especiallye one of that sorte called Innocentius in whom was no good qualitye Beside that with his detestable doinges did staine the Popes Pallaice he was as wicked in his wordes for in his talke he was so vnciuill and such a ruffianlye ribauld and blasphemer as amonge all the varlets in Italye was not a worse Pantaleon Vergerius Sleidan and other late wryters do report this of him that followeth Anno 1550. the seuenth daye of Februarye Iohn Marie of the mounte after great wrangling among the Cardinals was chosen Pope and called Iulius the third And because this newe Pope might bestowe his Cardinals hat by custome one whom it pleased him he made one Innocentius a boye whom hee fansied carnallye aboue measure while he was Legate at Bononia Against which deede al the Cardinals much repined and cryed out on it yet the Pope did it and furthermore made him his companion in his house But to rifle this matter farther modestye will not suffer it is better to ouerpasse both the rumours and talke of the people touching it and those abhominable speaches where with the Pope himselfe was neither afraide nor ashamed to ieast of his owne villanye to displaye it openlye Neyther could any honest eares endure to heare the contentes of certaine leud amorous letters fraught with all kinde of ribauldrye and wantonnes which one Camillus Oliuus companioÌ„ to the Cardinal of Mantua wrote to one HaÌ„niball Cotiuus there loathsome letters being in their vulgar tongue written in most dishonest and amarous verse were intercepted the same day that the Pope was chosen the Cardinals being together in the consistorye These rimes were copied out and seene of diuers both in Italye Germanye who reported of them that they neuer saw such detestable vilanous and abhominable wrytinges By this the Reader maye iudge with what spirite this Romishe clergye is endued in whom lyeth the electioÌ„ of Christ his vicar as they saye But so farre they are from beinge as they boast exempted from sinne that these treacheryes are common amonge them and by theyr owne shamelesse tongues and pennes detected to all the worlde which gaue occasion to one Velteius to write this Epigram of Rome Roma quid est Quod te docuit preposterus ordo Quid docuit Iungas versa elementa scies Roma amor est Amor est qualis Praeposterus Vnde hoc Roma mares Noli dicere plura scio Touching the making of that boy Innocentius Cardinal Vergerius sayth thus Pope Iulius purposed to make a certaine lad called Innocentius Cardinal This boye was not onelye of very base parentage endued wyth no good qualitye but also was one of vile life and euill behauiour Therefore when the Pope propounded the matter to the Cardinals and euery one stoode against it one of the Cardinals more boulde then the rest saide to the Pope Sir I praye you what do you see in this yonker that you woulde thus honour him with the scarlet roabe To whom the Pope said againe And I pray you what did you se in me that you should thus aduaunce mee to this pontifical dignitye And therefore as this is the game of Fortune that she should aduaunce whom it pleaseth her so ye haue promoted mee vnworthelye and so let vs I pray you promote this boye and create him Cardinall Because that Paulus Vergerius Bernardus Ochinus Hieronimus Marius did inueigh against the monstrous blasphemyes horrible treacheryes of this Pope Iulius therefore he suborned Ierom Muâ—ius to defende and maintaine these things in publicke bookes And auctorised him by his bulles not onelye to apprehende these reprehenders of the Popes treacherye and Sodomitrye but also that he should by his wrytinges defame slaunder with all kinde of bitter and dispitefull reproch the Cittyes and Princes of Germanye Thus may euerye man see how the bishop of Rome doth not onelye fall into this filthie sinne but also defende them and vpholde them as well and lawfullye done euen in open wrytinge Furthermore the said Vergerius in a certaine wrytinge amonge other thinges sayth this Where as the name of Pope Iulye the third is foulye tainted with this former offence and in such sort that he refrayned not from his Cardinals c. I haue hyther to forborne to detecte his doinge touching this notorious enormitye But seing euery man doth coÌ„stantlye report that he doth ordinarilye vtter those same kinde of blasphemyes that vile bauds and other such leude parsons are wonte to vse in contempte of God men ought rather to condemne such an ouglye monster and not Christians c. In the time of this Pope Iohannes Casa a Florentine Archbishop of Beneuentum Deane of the Chamber Apostolicall and in all the Dominions of Venice the Popes Legate with full power and auctoritye did flourishe This Iohannes Casa wrote in the commendatioÌ„ of that most vnnaturall and abhominable filthines of Peter Aloysius setting forth with most loathsome wordes flourishing Retoricke and wicked eloquence in Italian rime that matter which is not to be named among men yet he hath so praysed and commended it as no man withoute sinne maye reporte This cursed worke and detestable booke was imprinted at Venice by Troianus Nauus In his recordes of malefactours made in the time of his Legacye he reckneth none but such as professed the Gospell Whereupon Vergerius sayth vnto him Art thou not ashamed thou abhominable Archbishop Darest thou shewe thy face abreade and burne holy bookes Euen thou that hast written those â—imes euen thou that hast aduaunced the ouglye sinne of Sodom as an heauenlye deede c. Such was the tyrannicall rigour of this Iohannes Casa against the professours of the Gospell that one Franciscus Spiera a lawyer for feare of his crueltye did reuolt from the Gospell subscribe to the Pope but vpon the same deede he fell into