were now exposed to the spoiles slaughter of all Sigismond Prince of Transiluania repented him of his change of life and that he had giuen vp his gouernment wherfore he came out of Silesia through Poland into Transiluania and desired of his subiects that their oath of alleageance to him might be renewed and perswaded Maximilian Arch-duke whom the Emperour had made Gouernour of Transiluania that hee would lead his forces against the Turkes towards the recouerie of Agnia then against Transiluania Vpon the fourth of August Syr William Cecill knight of the Order Lord Burghley Maister of the Wards and Liueries high Treasurer of England a famous Counsellor to y e Queenes Maiestie all her raigne and likewise had bene to Edward the sixt who for his singular wisedome was renowned throughout all Europe departed this mortall life at his house by the Strand his body was conueyed to Westminster with solemne Funerall and from thence secretly to Stamford in Lincolnshyre and there buried I. Stowe The second of October George Earle of Comberland returned from the Seas hauing made spoile of the strong Towne and Castle of S. Iohn de Portanoico in Spaine This yeare died Phillip the 2. king of Spaine being of the age of 72. yeares Pope Clement the 8. created 13. Cardinals amongst whom was Robert Bellarmine Iesuite Phillip the 3. the sonne of Phillip the 2. succeeded his father in the kingdome of Spaine Hee tooke to wife Margarite of Austria And Albert Arch-duke of Austria married the Infant of Spaine the kings sister Both these marrriages were celebrated by the Pope Clement the 8. at Ferrara The 7. of February the right honourable Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy hauing taken his leaue at the Court departed towards Ireland as Lieftenant there Souldiers out of diuers Shyres were sent before him and also after him in this moneth of February This yeare Richard Lord Bishow of London with two other Commissioners to wit Doctor Perkins Doctor Swale were sent in Embassage to Emden there to treat with the Commissaries from the King of Denmarke and returned the eight of Iuly following On Tuesday the 5. of August Charles Iames king of Scots in Scotland escaped a straunge and strong conspiracie practised by the Earle Gowrye and his brother About the 8. of August arriued at Doner certaine Embassadors and assistants 16. in number sent from the king of Marocco in Barbaria I. Stowe The 18. of September certaine Embassadors came from Moschouie or Russia and the 14. of October the said Embassadors rode to the Court and had audience before her Maiestie FINIS A briefe Discourse of the Churches estate from the death of Iesus Christ vntill this present ALl which hath bene succinctly said in this booke touching the estate of the Church should remember the Reader of three diuers times in the consideration of the gouernment of the house of God the better to marke things as they came and to haue thereof a certaine abridgement in his memorie We take the first time of the Christian Church from the beginning of the Apostles preaching vntil the Empire of Phocas which is ordinarily distinguished into three periodes 1. The first of about 70. yeares from the Lords Ascention vntill the death of the Apostles and of their first Disciples 2. The second began at the Empire of Traian and stretched by the space of 200. yeares vntill Constantine which time also was honoured with the presence of certain of the Apostles Disciples other excellent Pastors of the Church and faithfull Martyrs of Iesus Christ 3. The third frō Cōstantine vntil Phocas which is the last periode of the first time of the Church about 300. years during which the Church had many great Doctors Greeks Latins As for the first periode of the first time it is very certaine that neuer Christian Church was more happie thē during that time whether we consider the doctrine taught by the Apostles and their first successors or wee contemplate all the parts of the Ministerie and of the Ecclesiasticall discipline Now for the doctrine we haue by a singular grace of God the Apostles Epistles whereby it is easie to gather a body and summary of all that which euery Christiā ought to know touching his saluation And that which is more if they which came after the Apostles had continued to build vpon the foundation which they had laid the Church had remained in his first spirituall splendor and brightnesse the simplicitie then being such and so great in doctrine in the maner of teaching and in ceremonies that the sheepheards and sheepe were altogether eliuated vnto the heauenly Father through Iesus Christ liuing moreouer in such charitie concord as truly this world might be well called the golden world For although that in the Apostles time and their next successors there rose vp certaine mutinous persons to trouble the happie rest of the Church this hurt not much the maiestie of the spirit of God discouering it selfe in such sort in the preaching of the Gospell that all the world was constrained to acknowledge in this infirmitie of the seruants of God an admirable efficacie to biing all wisedome and humane power captiue vnder the obedience of Iesus Christ True it is that alreadie Sathan thought vpō his affaires and brought forth his practises with greater force then euer before building his Sinagogue nigh vnto the Church For euen when the Apostles themselues liued certaine Iewes and Gentiles making the same profession of Christianisme fought against Iesus Christ in diuers maners as S. Paul his Epistles doo witnesse And what diligence soeuer the seruants of God vsed to eradicate and root out the tares which the enemie did sowe yet remained there the seedes thereof in the bosome of the Church during the periodes following God meaning to humble his and to shewe them that truly they had and would alwaies haue cause to fight in this life but that the triumph therof was reserued for the other world For as for the strength of the persecutors since the Apostles time it hath alwaies shewed it true that the bloud of the Martyrs is the seede of the Church But let this be said in a word onely to awake the Reader and to prepare him to a diligent meditation of the Ecclesiasticall historie Now something is to be said of the second periode of the first time The Apostolike men armed with the vertue and power of y e Lord maintained constantly the truth amongst all the tempests and stormes of persecution and in despite of Gentilisme of diuers heresies which boldly began to left vp their heads In so much that great maruel it was that so soone after so great light men should see the East in many places couered with so deep darknes many goodly Churches ruinated and the doctrine of saluatiō transported otherwhere Yet the greatest euil was in the bowels of the Church it selfe many Pastors wherof not being so attentiue as of reason they shuld
was Bishop 12. yeares The yeare 88. Domitian by the conduction of Fuscus passed ouer Danaw and ledde his Army against Dorpaneus King of the Gothes or of the Dares The Gothes ouercame the Romanes and Fuscus was slaine and the Campe pilled or spoiled Clement a Romane the fourth Bishop of Rome ruled nine yeares He instituted notaries to write the acts of the Martirs their constancie and patience for example and perpetuall remembrance Domitian of the age of 45. yeares was slaine in his Pallace by the coniuration of his familiar friends consent of his wife He was buried without any honor all his Images cast down The Senate disanulled all his ordinances and called againe such as he had exiled S. Iohn the Euangelist from his exile of Pathmos which is an I le in the sea Egea which is betwixt Asia the great the lesse returned into Ephesus where he died of the age of an hundreth yeares or there abouts and was there buried Nerua Cocceius now olde was made the 13. Emperour and raigned one yeare 4. moneths He died at the age of 71. yeares Being Emperor he pronounced al Christians absolued whether accused or banished and called them backe Hee was wont to say that men must rather respect a mans vertue then his race or country He was by the Senate deified Now rose there many heresies in the Church after the death of the Apostles Traian a Spaniard the 13. Emperour raigned 19. yeares 6. moneths and 15. dayes Hee was greatly praised of Historiographers as a debonaire and gentle Prince yet he persecuted the Christians Vnder him was Clement martyred Foure Townes perished in Asia and two in Greece with Earthquakes The third persecution made against the Christians in the time of Traian He feared some hurt should haue come to the Romane Empire by the encrease of Religion There were each day a great number of Martyrs slaine In so much that Plinie the younger hauing then the administration of a Prouince namely Bithinia and seeing the great number of men which then dyed writ to the Emperour how each day many thousands of persons were put to death yet was there not found that they committed any fault neither did any thing against their Romane lawes but only for that they sung certaine Hymnes and Psalmes afore day to a certaine God they called Christ And finally that Adulteries Homicides Thefts and other crimes were prohibited them and did keepe themselues from such faults liuing carefully according to common Lawes Wherevnto the Emperour gaue answere and commaundement to make no more any Inquisition against Christians Yet was not thereby the occasion taken away from them which had a will to shew cruelty against Christians Timotheus a Martyr in this time Anacletus 5. Bishop of Rome borne in Greece an Athenian ruled two moneths and ten dayes We now enter into the times which were incontinent after the Apostles and take their beginning in the kingdome of Traian Anacletus ordeined that no Clarke should weare a beard and commaunded all the faithfull that were at the administration of the Lords Supper either to communicate or to be driuen out of the Temple Eusebius placeth Anacletus in the place of Cletus after Linus and after Clement immediately he makes mention of Euaristus which is the cause of the discord that is found amongst Historians in this place Anacletus ordeined that the Cleargie two times in the yeare should haue Sinodes or Congregations for the affaires of the Church In his writings amongst other things he admonisheth the people to carrie honour and reuerence to their Ministers and to support them He that speaketh euill of a Minister saith he speaketh euill of Christ and he iudgeth him to be seperate from Christ He was put to death vnder Traian Heresies at this time grieued the Church within and publicke persecutions without 1. Cerinthus the Hereticke held that Moyses lawe must bee kept alone Also that Christ was not risen againe but that hee should rise againe He made the Kingdome of Christ carnall 2. Ebion held Christ to be a pure man engendred as others And he called S. Paul the Apostle of the Lawe 3. Menander a Nigromancian c. 4. Basilides these did infinitely spread their imaginations touching the procreation of their Gods and Angels And to yeeld the more astonishment they vsed disguised and barbarous words 5. The Nicholaites would women to be common 6. Saturnin following Simon Magus said also that men might vse women indifferently as the Nicholaites Papias Bishop of Hierapolis Policarpus Bishop of Smirna Ignatius Bishop of Antioche good and Catholicke Pastors Disciples of S. Iohn the Euangelist See how God destituted not his Church of true Pastors to withstand Heretickes Euaristus the 6. Romane Bishop ruled 8. or nine yeares He ordeined that seuen Deacons should be chosen in euery Citie which should marke and keepe by the Bishop as hee preached and taught the people He appointed them also for witnesses of the word of God that none might impose that he had preached euill against the truth He ordeined that marriages should be publikely solemnized in Churches That the Church should obey his Bishop and that the Bishop should not leaue his Church during his life no more then the woman her husband There be two Epistles found of him In the first he makes that Apostolicke seate head of the Church wherevnto he wils that all doubtfull affaires should be brought yet in his second Epistle he contradicts it In Gallatia three Cities perished with an Earthquake Eusebius Euaristus was Martired the last yeare of the Empire of Traian The Pantheon of Rome burnt with lightning Lucian the Apostate and Atheist composed his dialogues vnder Traian The towne of Antioch was so shaken that euen the Mountaines nigh did shake and quake yea euen the Mount Cassius the highest in Siria the Flouds there dried vp and the earth sounded in a strange maner Tiles falling clattered in such sort and the cries of men ouerthrowne were so fearefull and with dust the obscuritie was so thick that there was neuer seene or heard speake of so straunge things The Emperour Traian was then there and likewise people of all Nations of the Romane Empire Dion writeth this horrible confusion the calamities which proceeded this Earthquake which happened at Antioch Ignacius Bishop of Antioch was led prisoner to Rome to be cast vnto beasts and so to be aspectacle vnto the people As he went from Siria to Rome and passed through the Countrie of Asia in all places where he came he preached to the people and Churches the Christian faith exhorting them to perseuer and keepe themselues from the infection of Hereticks which then began to spring in carefully keeping the doctrine receiued of the Apostles The cause was that in Antioch hauing reprehended the Idolatrie of Traian he was apprehended as
brought to the Church in persecution Phillip and his Courtiers receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and renounced all Painim Idolatries But this felicitie endured not long for the Church For as Phillip did to his predecessor so was done vnto him by his successor Decius yea and to his sonne who was slaine at Rome and the Father at Verone This was their ende after they had raigned 7. yeares Decius Phillip Decius borne at Bubalie a Towne of base Panonia was chosen after Phillip Hee was a Prince worthie praise but that hee stirred the seuenth persecution against the Christians because of the euill will hee bare to his predecessor Phillip Euseb Lib. 6. Cap. 39. This hatred as Sabellicus and Bergomensis say proceeded hereof that the two Phillips being in perill of death gaue their treasures to Fabian Saint Ciprian rehearseth other more vrgent causes And these be his words in his fourth booke and fourth Epistle We must needs confesse that this waste which hath pilled our Flocke and the theft yet at this day practised comes because of our sinnes for that we hold not the way of the Lord but giue our selues to gaine to pride to enuies and dissentions c. Of this persecution Nicephorus saith in Lib. 5. Cap. 29. that it was as possible to number them that suffered in this persecution as to account the sand of the sea Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem honoured for his pietie once was drawne before the Gouernours seate in Cesaria and after hee had made a confession of his faith he died in prison Babilus Bishop of Nichomedie Asclepiades of Antioche Germanie Theophile Cesarius Vital Polychronius Bishop of Babilon Serapion Apollonia a Virgin and infinit others were martyred in this horrible persecution Aboue all other Townes Alexandria then was as a scaffolde when the faithfull mustered See Eusebius Lib. 6. Chap. 40. Diuers kindes of torments were vsed against the Martyrs as Eusebius saieth As sharpe needles against the face and eyes bursting betwixt stones burning pearsing the entralles casting downe from high places to lower tearing in peeces by cardes of Iron plates being applied to their sides the rage of sauage beastes condemnation to digge mettalls c. Saint Ciprian beeing in exile writ verie consolatorie Letters to them which suffered such euilles And as Tertullian in his time defended the Christians against Scapula So also did Saint Ciprian the like against Demetrian a Painim Gouernour shewing thereby that the calamities of the world are fully imputed vnto the Christians Denis of Alexandria writ that after the publication of Decius Edict confirmatiue of this horrible persecution many of the most excellent shewed themselues so fearefull that of their owne motion they made abiurations and sacrificed vnto Idols Ciprian made a Sermon of such as fell namely of such as perseuered not in the confession of Iesus Christ There hee sets downe examples of Gods punishment of such as abiured hee affirmeth that many of them were tormented with euill spirits Hee saith one became dumbe incontinent after hee had renounced An other also after his renouncing comming to take the Supper with others found in stead of bread ashes Also a maide taken with a diuel bitte off her tongue with her teeth Many things are attributed to Fabian conteined in Gratians decree which are not worth rehearsing and as vnworthy that Bishop Beda and Eusebius write that Fabian suffered Martirdome at the beginning of Decius raigne For he bare him euill will because Phillip gaue him his treasures Eusebius in his Chronicle saith that Fabian gouerned the Romane Church 13. yeares Damasus and Marian the Scot say 14. Origene writ to Fabian touching the puritie of doctrine as Euseb Lib. 6. Chap. 6. Decius died miserably before hee had raigned two whole yeares Pomponius writeth that in a warre against the Gothes hee was swallowed vppe of a Gulphe into the which he cast himselfe that he might not fall into his enemies hands Hereupon note the saying of S. Cyprian Cyprian in his booke against Demetrian toucheth it saying Certaine we are that all that we endure shall not long be vnpunished And so much more as the outrage of persecution shall be great so much the greater shall the vengeance be for that persecution and so much the more manifest Although we keepe not in memory things of olde yet the doctrines of things newly happening do suffice that in very little time and so suddenly so horrible a vengeance hath followed c. Gallus and Volucian his Sonne ioyntly succeeded in the Empire Hee was otherwise called C. Verus Trebonian of Gaul Hee was happie enough at the beginning as Denis writeth but continuing the persecution which fell into his hands by his predecessors he prospered not For before two yeares were passed hee and his sonne Volusian were miserably slaine in a warre against Emilian hauing before gotten an opprobry vnto the Romane people to make thē tributary vnto the Scythians by an alliance he made with them as Eutropius and Pomponius Laetus write Cornelius a Romaine was three yeares Bishop of Rome By the Epistle of the Romane Cleargie written to Saint Cyprian we may knowe that the Romane seate was vacant certaine time and that Cornelius succeeded the Bishop Fabian at the beginning of the raigne of Gallus and Volusian Saint Cyprian defended his election against the calumniations of Nouatus the hereticke saying in his fourth booke and Epistle to Antonian that he occupied not his Bishoppricke by bribes nor of his owne desire neither by violence as many doo which are swelled with their owne pride but that hee came thither by the will of God then when the Tyrant envenomed with mortall hatred against Priestes the seruants of God vttered horrible menacies The things then attributed vnto Cornelius in his Decretall Epistles how can they agree with so excellent a Doctor who alwaies was at the combat As that which is written in his first Epistle that at the request of a noble woman he caused to be transported the body or rather the rotten bones of S. Peter and S. Paul which long time had bene kept in a Sepulchre The second Epistle is to Ruffinus a Bishop of the East touching the maners of Priests Eusebius and Saint Hierome who most diligently writ of this holy person make no mention of those Epistles but they mention his determination to haue a Councell held at Rome against Nouatus Damasus and others haue written that Cornelius was banished and finally Martired vnder Decius but S. Hierome transferreth his administration to the time of the Emperours Gallus and Volucian whose authoritie we haue followed Eusebius 51.7 cap. 2. writeth that Cornelius gouerned the Church of Rome three yeares yet in his Chronicle he giueth him but two Lucius succeeded Cornelius he was a Romane Eusebius saith he was not a Bishop 8. whole moneths Nauclerus Platina and Sabellicus giueth him 3. yeares and more Gratian attributes vnto him this decree that Priests
Pope of Rome gouerned the Romane Church a yeare fiue moneth and 12. dayes Naucler He was by force promoted to his dignitie by Theodatus King of Italie who corrupted by siluer constrained the Cleargie to chuse Syluerius without the consent of the Emperour Theodora the wife of the Emperour Iustinian at the instigation of Vigilius Deacon required Syluerius to call again from exile Anthemius and to restore him to the dignitie from which he had bene cast and depriued for his heresie and so to put out Mennas Syluerius would not do this Bellisarius had commission to depriue him of the Popedome and to appoint vnto it Vigilius who subborned false witnesses which affirmed that Syluerius had intelligence with the Gothes and that he would haue deliuered them the Towne of Rome Wherefore Syluerius was constrained to giue place and goe into exile In the second volume of Councells At this time Italie was greatly afflicted with an extreame famine Maurus a Romane and Faustus an Italian Disciples of Saint Benet were sent into France to teach the Monastike life and at the request of the French men who sent messengers to S. Benet to the Mount Cassim Amator a Bishop sent some siluer to Siluerius to maintaine him in exile Syluerius gaue sentence of excommunication against Vigilius The Feast of Purification was at that time instituted in Constantinople to appease a great pestilence Abb. Vrsp. This is Candlemas which then was called Hypapanthy that is to say an encounter or meeting For then Simeon founde Christ whom hee hadde so long attended Liberius made fiue bookes of the Incarnation of out Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and a booke against the Bishops of Affrike Iustinian compiled the Romane lawes first the Code containing 12. bookes Secondly the Digestes Thirdly the Institutes Fourthly an Epitome of Lawes The warre in Italie against the Ostrogothes by Bellisarius Leonard Attelin Iustinian in his new Constitutions ordained that all Bishops and Priests should celebrate the prayers of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper with an high voyce and with words vnderstood of all Christians to the end that the spirits of the Auditors might be lifted vp with greater deuotion to sing praises vnto the Lord. Vigillius borne at Rome gouerned the Romane Church 14. yeares after Naucier or 8. yeares 6. moneths and 26. dayes after others hee entred wickedly into the papacie It was hee also that ordained that the Masse should be said towards the East Rome was taken and burnt by Totila at this time The first vniuersall Councell was now held at Constantinople of 165. Bishops by the commaundement of Iustinian the Emperour and at the request of Vigilius against Anthemius Seuerus Peter of Antioche Zona and other heretikes who said that the Virgin Marie brought forth Iesus Christ onely Man and not God and man There againe it was agreed that it is well said Marie the mother of God The yeare of Christ 551. Rome was taken the second time of the Gothes by Totila the scourge of God before whom came Vigilius or after Nauclerus Pelagius In this time besides the warre and famine which was in Italie there was also a sore plague in so much that houses were inhabited by sauage beasts Benet the younger was cast into a burning furnace by the commaundement of Totila Herculien Bishop of Peruse had his head sawne off by the same In this time were held the Councels of Orleance the second and third or fourth and fift after some In the 10. Chapter of the second Councell it was ordained that a Christian should not take a Iewe to wife nor that a Christian woman should marry a Iewe and such communication was vnlawfull and if they were ioyned they ought to bee seperated In the third Councell wherein Honoratus Arch-bishoppe was President Chapter 2. it was ordained that no Priest Deacon or Subdeacon should haue the company of his wife otherwise that he should be deposed from his office and remitted into the communion of Lay-people In the 16. Chapter it was ordained that the Deacon before 25. and the Priest before 30 yeares should not be ordained Many in this time were infected with the Priscillian heresie abstaining from eating flesh A Councell held now at Auuerne Vigillius being come to the Popedome by the deceit and subtilties of the Empresse Theodora shee commaunded him to come vnto Constantinople and to restore Athemius as hee had promised but hee refused to doo it saying that iustly he was cast out by Agapetus and Syluerius and that therefore he was not bound to keepe his promise which hee made against all right and reason Theodora very angry hereat sent an Embassage to Rome to drawe Vigillius into Lawe for the iniurie done by him in casting Syluerius into exile Item for the plot by him laid for the death of a young man of the chiefe Nobilitie called Asterius and of one which was his Secretarie Vpon these matters the Embassador arriuing at Rome was aided of the Romanes and they tooke Vigilius and lead him to Constantinople and as hee embarked the people cast stones at him with these Imprecations A famine bee with thee a mortalitie be with thee thou hast done a thousand mischiefes to the Romanes euill enough maiest thou finde where thou goest Doo said hee what you will vnto mee for I haue well deserued it And as he approached nigh vnto Constantinople a great multitude of the Cleargie mette him and conducted him into the Towne Theodora in the meane while ceased not to sollicite Vigillius of his promise and to restore Anthemius To whom Vigilius saide that hee would rather endure all things whatsoeuer then doo it He was grieuously afflicted iniuried and outraged and drawne out of the Temple of S. Sophie or Euphemie whereinto hee was fledde for safetie and refuge One put a rope or corde about his necke and ledde him all ouer the Towne from morning till night This done hee was put in prison fed with bread and water and finally sent into exile with the Cleargie which accompanied him at his entrie After the death of Theodora hee was called againe with all such as went with him at the request of the Captaine Narses but in the way he fell sick and died in Sicile at the Citie of Siracusa Denis Abbot a Romane made the great Pascall Cicle in this time Item a booke of the reason of the Feast of Easter Abb. Trit Arator a Subdeacon at Rome wrote the Acts of the Apostles in Hexamiter Verses Radegonde Queene of Fraunce the wife of Clotharius who was King of France after the death of his brother Hildebert Pelagius a Romane gouerned the seate 12. yeares hee was accused to haue bene the principall cause of all Vigilius his euills But in the presence of the Cleargie and people and in the presence of Narses he mounted the Chaire and publikely swore that he neuer did any euill vnto Vigilius and so escaped and was absolued It is hee who
constituted there a familiar friend of his Charles Duke of Bourgongne returned the second time against the Swisses Before he had taken from the Duke Rene of Lorraine Nancy wherefore the Duke of Lorraine ioyned with the Swisses And when the Duke of Bourgongne was before Morat they of the Towne came out and altogether inuaded the the Armie of the Bourguignons and put them vnto flight In so much that 17. thousand Bourguignons or 20000. after Fasci Temp. or 22000. after the Sea of Hist were there slaine The spoile was there left to the Duke of Lorraine for recompence who also after recouered Nancy See Nauclerus The third time the Duke of Bourgongne being greeued to haue beene vanquished by so weake a Prince as the Duke of Lorraine was returned and againe besieged Nancy Hee had 14000 combattants and still looked for other Bands of souldiers Vpon this the Duke of Lorraine and the Swisses came vpon them parted in two Bandes The Bourguignons were discomfited and put to flight some slaine in the woods and others drowned There was also slaine the Duke of Bourgongne hauing receiued three mortall woundes one on the head an other in the thigh and the last in the fundament See Naucler The Bourguignons would not beleeue he was slaine but that being escaped hee retired into Almaine and hee had vowed to make his penance there seuen yeares There were amongst the Bourguignons which solde precious stones horses and other such like things to be paid at his returne Yea euen in Bruchel in the Diocesse of Spine there was an olde man which men thought to bee the Duke of Bourgongne making there his penance whom euery one desired to see and therby got he good almes Nauclerus saith hee sawe the said poore man in the said place The king of France vnderstanding of the death of the Duke of Bourgongne tooke Monididier Roy Peronne Abbenille Monstraeul Arras an Hesdin See the Hist. of France Maximilian sonne of the Emperour Frederic the third affianced Mary the onely daughter of Charles Duke of Bourgongne with whom he had Bourgongne Brabant Flaunders Luxembourge Hainaut Zeland Artois Guelders with other Sergnories and lands The said Maximilian had of his said wife one sonne called Phillip and a daughter called Margarite They had two other children Francis and George which died in their youth Phillip espowsed Iane Queene of Chastile of whom hee had Charles the fift Emperour and Ferdinand and foure daughters Leonor Isabeal Mary and Katherine The Iacobins Inquisitors deputed against heretikes as they call them in diuers sorts molested certaine Theologians of the order of Carmes in certaine causes of the faith Amongst which they said one was called Iulian de Bresse an excellent Preacher of the word of God and an other Peter de Neuolaite for whom Mantuan writ an Apologie conteining three bookes But all this was pacified by the Pope Sixtus at the pursuite of Christopher Martignon which Sextus as tutor and defender of Monkes as Stella witnesseth in the Popes liues that he might take away all occasion of enuie and riots amongst them ordained that all Mendicant and begging Friars should bee equall in such priuiledges as all Popes had graunted vnto them The Vniuersitie of Tubinge in the Diocesse of Constance by Apostolicke authoritie was instituted at the instance of the Count of Wittemberge Naucler The Swisses beganne now to receiue wages of the king of Fraunce Lewis the 11. casheering the French Archers because they pilled and spoyled and did many other mischiefes Naucler Platina composed the Popes liues in Latin and dedicated them vnto Sixtus the 4. Wessalus of Frise in this time writ against the Pope his doctrine and traditions Mahomet the second died of poison as was suspected Naucler or else of a Collicke passion of the age of 50. yeares after Naucler of 53. Baiazetes his son succeeded him Paul Iou. Margarite the daughter of Maximilian was brought into France and espowsed vnto the Dolphin Charles the 8. in the moneth of Iuly at Ambroise who afterward was sent backe againe Naucler Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne Maximilians wife Madam Margarites mother being on hunting fell from her horse and died Chron. Euseb and Naucler The Pope Sixtus Canonized S. Bonauenture The last of August died Lewis King of France a very superstitious man He pilled the people to inrich Churches Hee worshipped and kissed bones and relickes of Saints to obtaine health For hee maruellously feared death In so much that in the end of his dayes hee gaue excessiue gifts to his Phisitian each moneth if at the least they might but prolong his life Sixtus made many warres wrongfully against Ferdinand King of Pouille because hee gaue ayde vnwillingly to his sonne in lawe Hercules d'st Duke of Ferrara which was besieged of the Venetians against the Venetians which he excommunicated Also against the Florentines as is said although that the matter better vnderstood hee absolued them and restored them to their honour and Lawrence de Medices likewise Sixtus being deteined sicke in his bed of a Feauer vnderstanding that a peace was made betwixt the Venetians and other Potentates suddenly yeelded the spirit Naucler Innocent 8. of that name borne at Genes the sonne of one called Aaron called before Iohn Baptist Cibo of a Cardinall Priest of the title of S. Cicilie was created Pope of Priests and Monkes after of Sixtus Volaterane saith he was once a poore childe yet faire and was nourished amongst the seruants of Ferdinand king of Sicilie where he learned all the fashions of the Court life Comming from thence to Rome he remained long time in the house of Phillip Cardinall of Boulongne After this he was made Bishop of Sauonne and thirdly of Melphe by the Pope Xistus and also Dataire finally Cardinall after Pope as hath bin said He was of a great stature a white man and of faire representation but of an heauie and dull spirit and far from all studie of good Letters In so much that sometimes when he was Idle from publike affaires hee seemed as though he slept Almost frō the beginning of his Popedome he conspired against Ferdinand king of Sicilie with the Princes of the kingdome See how Popes vse to recompence the amitie of such as nourish and educate them Hee called one named Robert d' S. Seuerin to be chiefe and Captaine of the Armie which he sent against Ferdinand This holy man said that for the Churches dignitie and the defence of Saints it was lawful to take Armes that peace might follow of it Yet seeing himself deceiued he was forced to make peace vpon this condition that his yearely tribute should be paid him and that such as rebelled should not be in daunger But the king Ferdinand kept neither the one nor the other condition although hee sent one named Peter de Vincence an hardie and bold man who was Auditor of the Chamber with his Secretarie to sollicite his causes After these things Innocent wearie of
the sixt of his name alwaies Rome hath bin destroyed by the sixths This was he who for the summe of 200000. Ducats which he receiued of the Turke called Baiazet poysoned Gemen his brother who fled to Rome This is he say I who being willing to maintaine his tirannie called to his helpe Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes against the king of France Charles the eight and sought to make the Kingdome of Naples yea the very Citie of Rome the Frontiers of the Turkes Empire Lewis the 12. as the nighest succeeded to the Crowne of France after Charles the 8. He sent his Armie into Lombardie vnder the conduct of Iohn Iaques Trivulse and of Sieur Aubigny which tooke Alexandria and Pauie so that then Lewis Sforza abandoned Millaine for feare and retired into Almaine The King vpon these newes passed into Italie and made his triumphant entrie into Millaine from whence hee departed hauing diminished the charges of the people and left the said Trivulse as Gouernour Lewis Sforza returned within a yeare after and againe tooke Millaine and from thence being againe chased by a new Armie from France hee tooke his flight towards Nauarre after his comming from whence being pursued by the French hee was taken and led a prisoner into France This king ordained in France that O salutaris hostia should be sung in the eleuation of the Host Friar Hierome Sauanarola of Ferrara of the order of Dominicains preached at Florence He was burnt at the instance and by the commaundement of that monster Alexander Pope the sixt because hee preached against him and his more then notorious wickednesse He composed certaine meditations vpon the 50. Psalme and certaine others See the Booke of Martyrs The Pope caused to bee cut out the tongue and both the hands of Anthonius Mancinellus a learned man because he had written a very elegant Oration against the wicked maners and villainous and dishonest life of him The warre of Maximilian against the Swissers is renowned in this time Batazetes the Turke tooke by force a Towne in Macedonia called Dyrrachium and the yeare after in Morea hee tooke Methone which belonged vnto the Venetians as also certain time before he had vsurped Naupactus in Epire. He also beheaded the Bishop of the said Towne of Methone Italie was greatly afflicted by the Turkes as soone as warre against the Venetians was on a flame Charles after Emperour sonne of Phillip Arch-Duke of Austrich and of Iane daughter of the king of Castile was borne at Gaunt on the Bissext day the 25 of Februarie on S. Matthias day The Marrhans these were Iewes which made themselues Christians fearing to leese theyr goods such are commonly in Spaine and secretly obserue the Iewish ceremonies are reconciled with the Pope hauing with great summes of money acquired his good grace Naucler The Towne of Basill the ninth day of Iune made alliance with the Cantons of Swisse in the Towne of Lucerne And the tenth of August they of Schaffusen made also a perpetuall alliance with the Cantons of the Swisses in the said Towne of Lucerne They of Noremberge were discomfited by Cassimere Marquesse of Brandebourge with great effusion of bloud nigh their Towne King Lewis the 11. tooke the kingdome of Naples vnder the conduction of Sieur d'Augbini Frederic his wife and his sonnes prisoners were carried into France He recouered Bolongue vsurped by Bentiuoli and yeelded it vnto the Pope After in proper person going against the Venetians which vsurped many Lands of the Duchie of Millaine valiantly vanquished them nigh Agnadel tooke Bartholomew Balnian the conducter of that Armie and carried him prisoner into France Hee tooke againe the said vsurped Townes and many others yeelding vnto the Pope such Townes as the Venetians had taken from him The issue of the Pope Alexander was fearefull and with manifest token of the iust iudgement of God and therefore would diligently be noted As on a certaine day he had made readie an exceeding great banket for certaine rich Senators and Cardinalls and had recommended to his sonne Valentin that he should giue wine to drinke vnto one of the said Cardinalls wherein there was poyson put It came to passe that hee that had the charge to deliuer the wine vnwittingly gaue to the Pope of that flaggon wherin the poison was who being of great age was taken with a languishment and grieuouâ— paine He had by the space of eleuen yeares and certaine monethes excessiuely oppressed Italie and troubled the world Being then deteined in his bed as Iohn Baleus saith hee commaunded one of his men called Madena which amongst all them of his Court and house was his most faithfull and familiar to goe into his gardrobe or wardrope and to bring him a certaine litle booke enriched with gold and precious stones which was in an Armorie which he specified But this litle booke conteined all maners and kindes of Illusions and Enchauntments of Negromancie whereby the old man thought to enforme himselfe to be certified of the closure and ende of his life The seruant obeing the commaundement of the Pope his maister and going vnto the place specified as after hee had opened the doore he was readie to haue entred into the chamber he sawe a certaine person sit in the Popes Chaire there who was altogether like vnto his maister At the sight whereof beeing surprised with an horrible feare astonishment and and as it were halfe dead without taking the booke ranne backe againe towards Alexander vnto whom he rehearsed what hee had seene namely that in his Wardrope hee found such a Pope as himselfe set in a Chaire Alexander after he had vnderstood the thing and seeing his seruant to be exceedingly affraide suffered him to rest a while After hee did so much perswade him that he returned into the said Wardrope to see if againe hee could finde the said Pope The seruant then being entred found in the said chamber him whom before he had seene and that more is being asked by him that sate there what cause brought him into that place and what businesse hee had there Hee being taken with a sore trembling and as it were out of breath aunswered hee came to take a certaine garment for the Pope At which words the diuell beeing then in the Chaire making an horrible noise siad what Pope I am the Pope But after that those things were reported vnto Alexander his euill began to encrease and death approached A short day after a man apparelled like a Carrier or Lackey came and fiercely knocked at the chamber doore wherein the Pope was deteined sicke saying hee must needes speake with him The doore being opened and hee admitted parley with the Pope all others drew aside and the Pope and hee spake together as two vse to doo in secret causes yet men might see a great and maruellous strife and debate betwixt them two and that the Pope was not content For hee said vnto him How goes
the taile the which they gaue her for a bridle in her hand and in a mockerie sent her out at one of their gates The Emperour taking iust indignation against this iniury besieged them seuen yeares before they could enter but at the last constraining them to yeeld hee ruinated and sacked the Towne with great effusion of bloud He receiued some to mercie but it was vpon this cōditiō that if they would saue their liues they shuld draw out with their teeth a Figge from behind of the she Asse Many chose rather to die then to suffer that ignominy Others desiring to liue did whatsoeuer was commanded them Frō hence comes a iust mockerie amongst the Italians to shewe the thumbe betwixt two fingers and say Ecco la fico beholde the Figge Crantes reciteth this Story in his 6. booke of Saxonia Frederic sent Embassadors vnto the King of France to take away that schisme from Rome they agreed to meete in a certaine place very conuenient for France and Almaine and that was at Dijon Thither came Henry king of England the king of Scotland the king of Bohemia Alexander would not bee there saying he was not ordained by his authoritie The King of France was not there in fauour of Alexander Frederic not well content that he and so many Princes had thus lost their paines commaunded Victor to drawe into Italie but Victor died in the way at Luques and in his place Guido Bishop of Cremone was chosen who afterward was called Paschall the third vnto whom the Emperour Frederic the Duke of Bauiere the Count Palatin in Rhene the Lantgraue of Turinge the Bishops of Magdeburg of Breme of Treuers of Colongne and of Banberge promised him obedience R. Barns Amaricus the brother of Baudwin was the sixt King of Ierusalem Sigeb Alexander in the meane while held a Councell at Tours But at Rome the Vicegerent of the Pope Alexander the Bishop of Prenestine died and in his place was substituted Iohn Cardinall of the Church of S. Peter He by siluer and other meanes drewe to Alexander the most part of the Romane Citizens and did so much as they created new Consuls such as fauoured the said Alexander They recalled Alexander out of France and he was well receiued at Rome the Bishop of Pauie was put out for that he held on the Emperours side Frederic the third time went into Italie against certaine that rebelled and came to Rome to knowe the cause of those Popes Alexander would not appeare but drewe backe as before The Townes of Italie rebelled against the Emperor at the perswasion of Alexander and they conspired together The Millainois reedified their Towne in fauour of this Alexander and called it Alexandria Frederic the fourth time returned into Italie with a great Armie against the rebells but Henry Leon Duke of Saxonie corrupted by siluer as is thought left the Emperour and returned into Saxonie with his company The Emperour required him not to faile him in that great need but he lost time therefore was hee constrained to withdrawe from Italie and returne into Almaine in a seruants apparell and that with great difficultie Behold how by Popes the world hath euer beene troubled The yeare of Christ 1173. Saladin slew his Lord the Calyphe and raigned in his place Chron. Euseb The yeare of Christ 1175. Frederic the fift time returned into Italie but at the perswasion of his Confessor he conuerted his Armes against the Turkes and passing through Hungarie came vnto Constantinople occupied many Townes and places of the Turkes as Philomenia and Iconium after he came into Armenia the lesse finally euen to Ierusalem Whilest Frederic was thus busied with the Turke the Pope Alexander with his confederates ceased not to thinke how they might destroy him To the end then that hee should not returne victorious the Pope sent to the Souldan the Image of the Emperour which he caused to be drawne very liuely by an excellent Painter with Letters by which he gaue aduertisement vnto the Souldan to sley or destroy the said Emperour by treason if euer hee pretended to liue in peace The Souldan hauing receiued the said Popes Letters with the Emperours figure sought by all meanes to come to his purpose but occasion fell not out so soone But finally as the Emperour returned from the conquest of Ierasalem being in Armenia one day as it was very hotte hee withdrew into a wood with a fewe of his people and with his Chaplaine and not thinking of any daunger there made his people goe aside and hee and his Chaplaine lighted off their horses vnapparelled themselues and so refreshed them in a running streame of water There was hee surprised by the ambushes which the Souldane had laid and were carried through the wood vnto the Souldan His people knowing nothing of his taking sought him all the next morning The brute came vnto the Campe the Emperor was drowned and by the space of an whole moneth they sought him in the floud where he washed The Emperour being brought before the Souldane feigned himselfe to be the Emperors Chaplaine but the Souldan knowing him by the Image the Pope sent him maintained that he was the Emperour of the Christians and indeed commanded that straight some should bring him the said Image and that the Popes Letters should be read The Emperour astonished at this treason confessed the truth and demaunded fauour Certaine time after the Souldan sent him away vnder certain couenants agreed betwixt them The Emperour returning assigned a day at Noremberg and assembling his Court declared the Pope Alexander his treason shewing his Letters and the Image Briefly euery one promised him helpe to pay his ransome and to doo iustice of the said Alexander In this time of darknesse and horrible tempests after the Grashoppers and vermine of begging Friers which deuoured the title graine of the world here gaue the Lord again a light as it were the breake of day The beginning of the Waldois Peter Waldo a Citizen of Lions beganne by litle and litle in this time to cleare the thicke darknesse therof and this was as a first and litle beginning of the Instauration of the Christian doctrine and religion The Historie is this In the Towne of Lions as many of the chief of the Towne in Sommer time to recreate themselues and talke together one amongst them suddenly fell downe dead in the presence of others amongst which was this Waldo a rich man who more then all other men was mooued and surprised with feare and an apprehension of the humane frailtie and began to think the spirit of God drawing him more nearly to repencance and to meditate true pietie more then euer hee had done before He began then to giue much more almes to open his house to all and to speake of penance and true pietie to such as for any cause came vnto him This feare was of God the fruite and the ende sheweth it in this person But the feare that
moued Bruno to seeke remedie and comfort to his fancie without the word of the Lord was of the diuel and proceeded of his illusions This liberalitie drew many poore and needfull people vnto him that they came by troupes and he alwaies expounded some place of holy scripture in the vulgar tongue for hee was a man learned as the writings of that time witnesse and the Catalogue of the witnesses of the truth the Bishop of the place and the Prelates which carried the keyes as they say and would neither enter nor let others enter beganne to murmure that a Laie man or secular man as they call them should handle or declare in the vulgar tongue the scripture and make assemblies in his house admonishing to cease to do so vnder the paine of excommunication But for all this the zeale that Waldo had to aduance the glory of God and the desire the little ones had to learne was nothing diminished but contrary the resistance and tyrannie of the Prelates gaue occasion to discouer the errours and superstitions of the Romane seate which then were as it were hid in darknesse The like happened in our time for whē the Pope his Priests could not endure that Martin Luther should reprehend their Indulgences they were the cause that a further search was made into their errours and so discouered their abhominable blasphemies Waldo now gathered in the vulgar tongue many places out of the auncient Fathers to cōfirme and strengthen such as were of his side not only by the authoritie of holy scriptures but also by witnesse of Doctors against the aduersaries It is likely to be true by Historiographers yea euen by the writings of the aduersaries that this assembly endured certaine time it may be foure or fiue yeares that Waldo taught in the Towne of Lyons before he was driuen to exile banishment For because he was mightie and had friends he was not so soone exposed to daungers which afterward were laide for him And thus came the appellation of the Pope of Lions Some called them Waldois some Lyonists and some Insabbatati that is such as obserued neither Sabboth nor Feast and many other like names to make them odious and detestable as shall be shewed in the discourse of this Historie Alexander vnderstanding the Emperor marched to come to Rome perceiuing himselfe culpable of the treason he had done him the 7. yeare of his Popedome fled from Rome in the habit of his Coole came vnto Venice remained in a Monasterie where finally being knowne he was led by the Duke the Senate with great solemnitie into S. Markes Church The Emperor vnderstanding y t Alexander was at Venice sent Embassadors to demaund Alexander The Venetians maintained the Pope which the Emperor seeing sent thither his son Otho with an Army yet commanding him not to fight against the Venetians before his comming But Otho led with youth gaue battell lost the victory was prisoner Which the Pope seeing wold not agree with the Emperor vnlesse fist he came to Venice receiued the meanes that he wold offer Frederic to help his son came to Venice the Pope would not absolue him of y e bond of excommunicatiō vntill he presented himselfe at the doore of S. Mark his Church Whē he was come thither the Pope cōmanded him in the presence of all the people to cast himself vpon the ground and to demand pardon of him The Emperor prostrating himselfe vpon the earth at the Popes feete hee set his foote vpon the Emperors neck pressing it downe said It is written Super aspidem basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis Leonem draconem that is to say Thou shalt goe vpon the Aspe Basilike and tread vnder thy feet the Lyon the Dragō The Emperor taking in ill part the contumely answered This was not said vnto thee but vnto Peter But the Pope stepping againe vpon his neck answered Both to me to Peter The Emperour fearing the peril or an hid danger held his peace so was absolued and an accord was made betwixt them vpō condition that the Emperour should hold Alexander for the true legitimate Pope that he should restore to the Romane church all that he had vsurped takē during the war These things ended the Emperor his son departed frō Venice so ceased y e schisme This Pope gaue many priuiledges to the order of Chartreux and Canonized S. Barnard The bodies of three Kings as they call them were transported from Millaine to Colongne by the Bishop of the said place Sabell Eun. 9. lib. 5. The order of the Carmalites began in this time and the order of Willelmins Hermirs Fasc Temp. About this time Henry the second King of England seeing the power of Bishops Cleargie too great in England and that they by oathes made to the Pope did alienate themselues and the Forces of the Realme by such means weakned renewed the auncient rights called the Dignities of the Kingdome And aboue all that which saith That Bishops and Prelates shal sweare to be loyall and faithful vnto the king and the publike vtilitie of the kingdome Thomas Becket Archbishop of Cāterburie gaue that oath to the King but after repented himselfe thereof as of an vnlawfull oath and demanded therfore the Popes absolution The King grieued at such periurie banished him and about fiue yeares he was in France The questiō was long debated at Rome cost much mony vpō Embassadors going betweene the one partie the other Gratian cōpiler of the Decrees was sent on the Popes side Petrus Lombardus on Becket his side The king fearing apparent daungers on the side of France was glad to be quiet but Becket being restored and stil remaining contrary to the king and vnwilling to absolue such as before he had excommunicated he was slain by certaine Nobles of the Realme The 48. yeare after his death there was a disputation in Paris amongst the Doctors whether he were damned or saued There was one Roger a Normane who maintained that he deserued death being a Rebell against the King who is the Minister of God Others contrary maintained that by good right he ought to be held in the number of Martirs because he died for the Clergie and so the Pope Alexander canonized him This Historie sheweth vs what difference there is betwixt the Popes Martyrs and them of Iesus Christ The punishment makes not the Martyr but the cause Many haue written against this Archbishop Becket and condemning him haue maintained the Kings cause Baleus rehearseth it So doth Iohn Eliot and Iohn Bishop of Poitiers Our Ladies Church of Paris is now builded by the Bishop there called Maurice who also founded besides three Monasteries that is Negranx Hermeries and Yeres The Sea of Histories About this time were there seene in the West Countries three Sunnes in September the yeare after three Moones Chro. Euseb Baudwin fourth of that name the seuenth King of