them that was yet lefte in the west parte of the empire and to translate it from them som whider elles and that they might get suche Emperours whose powers they shulde haue the lesse nede to be adradde of and by whose autoritie and empire they shoulde be defended from the driftes and conspiracies of their foes For which cause Leo the thrid sake pope Leo the thrid being endued wyth very large benefites of Charles the great and seing euidently his valeaunt courage of stomacke his notable boldenesse his ioyous successe of victories his redy good wil wythal towardes the churche of Rome the Bishoppes of the same toke vpoÌ„ him so bolde an entreprise to doo so great a feate as none of his pÌ„decessours euer did greater nor aueÌ„tured with more perile that was to traÌ„slate the empire Than to thintent he might get the most men to fauour his purpose and the more easily bring the mater to passe that he wolde he complayned long many tymes to the people and cleargie of Rome of the decayed streynght of the empire and of the vnprofitablenesse of the greke emperours For they ê™ he dwelling being so very farre of can be hable in no wise to assiste sely Italie being many wayes distressed especially seing they were daily vexed with newe and that most haynous batailes And therfore sauegarde peace and freedome can not be better restored to Italie again than if a newe chosen emperour in the west take vpon him all the dignitie of the empire and the charge of the same These wordes in dede moued many meÌ„nes heartes which being ledde wyth the likelyhode of the wordes perceaued not manifestly what the popes drift was Than perceauing the greatest parte of the people to incline to his purpose in the yeare of our Lorde Iesu Christ DCCCiij he brought the mater to ful effecte For in Petres churche after the solemne seruice by the sentence and at the besechinges of the people of Rome the pope ordayned Charles with a great lowde voice emperour gaue him the crowne Imperial and ther vnto the people of the Romaynes shouted three tymes aloude To Charles the mightie crowned of God the great and peacemaking Emperour be life and victorie And albeyt the greke emperours toke these maters right greuously yet they were not hable to leste these thinges froÌ„ doing bothe in that they were turmoiled with innumerable warres and also bicause the empresse Hirene being polluted with the cruel murthering of her sonne stered vp newe hurly burlies and exceding great stormes of busynesse for she can in nowise seme to haue ben vnknowing of this dede seing Charles now made emperour went about to mary her she her selfe not being discoÌ„tented So the bishoppes of Rome vsing these knackes promoted the Frenche kinges their most earnest defendours and most trusty aiders with wonderful sleyght subtiltie to the highe dignitie of the empire by whose helpe and mayntenaunce they became afterwarde of higher power than all their enemies Than after Lewis that was called Pius gaue Rome to the Pope emperour Charles the great Lewis his sonne succeded who also for his great liberalitie was very dearely beloued of the bishoppes of Rome for that cause they named him Pius godly or deuout For he did not only coÌ„firme the gifte of his progenitours that is to saye of Pipine his grandfather and of his father Charles but he also wonderfully augmented it and gaue them ouer those thinges they hade before the citie of Rome with his iurisdicioÌ„ and al the landes rouÌ„de about with the cities hauens and sea coastes of Hetruria Wher vpon bishop Antichrist is encreaced agayn with newe streynghtes is become Lorde of the olde auncient seat of the Empire that is to wete Rome Ther is no cause welbeloued christian brethren why we shoulde maruaile that the bishop of Romes dignitie and power growed vp on such an heyght that he hade all the bishops not only of Italie but also of Fraunce Germanye and Spayne vnder their daungier and in subiection to their sea seing they coulde fynde out such men to be their defendours and patrones which hade the administracion of all those naciones and the power of the empire it self in their owne handes Nowe though all these maters which we haue hitherto made rehearsall of are muche vnworthye and also full of wickednesse and falsehead yet the bishoppes of Rome not conteÌ„t herewith thought they might be bolde to doo more vnworthye more wicked entreprises thaÌ„ al those And to thintent they might vse their dignitie and power with the more ease quietnesse they were nothing ashamed at all to mocke the Frenchemen also with the same falshead that they practiced before against the greke emperours For they thought to chearishe and make muche of Princes and peoples freÌ„dship so farre as it might serue to mayntene their pleasur idlenesse Kyng Beringarius And for that cause wher as Berengarius whych at that tyme bare the rule in the LuÌ„bardes landes greued al Italie very muche with his power disquieted it many wayes the Frenchemen cam not whan they were called but gaue ouer their aide froÌ„ the defeÌ„ce of Italie of the church of Rome ne yet folowed the example of their auÌ„cettours forewardenesse in that behalfe Bishop Agapetus and after him Iohn the. 13 of that name wrote lettres to Ottho which thaÌ„ being king of Germanye Prince of SaxoÌ„ was after warde made emperour and garnished wyth this syrname Augustus humbly beseching him for the loue of God the apostles Petre Paule to de liuer the holy churche of Rome out of the daungier of Berengarius and his coÌ„plices In this mater Ottho being a very mightie Prince and moued Ottho also by other meÌ„nes instaunt desires and lettres tendred the bishoppes peticiones And therupon he gathered a great armye of Germaynes cam in to Italie He ouercame Berengarius and whan he hade takeÌ„ him prisoner he banished him away wyth his wife and Albert his sonne in to Babenberge and so deliuered all Italie from the feare and tyrannye of him And than like a conquerour he entred the citie of Rome and was most honourably receaued of pope IohnÌ„ and crowned in the title of the Empire of Germany Pannonye To be brief this IohnÌ„ through whose crafte and deuise the empire was translated was he that as the Italian writours recorde being euen froÌ„ his springing youthe tyme spotted with al the villanye in the worlde and all filthynesse and geuen more to hunting if he hade any spare tyme from hooring than to praier shamed the churche of Rome wonderfully with his lyuing polluted that sea in many behalfes and at leynght being takeÌ„ in the abominable synne of hooredome was slayne and suffred worthie paynes of his wickednesse and hooreoome But how muche either of honour or profite in the wanyaunt came hereof vnto king Ottho being otherwise a very good and a right noble man it
Lumbardes restoring it to her auncient peace and libertie Than Pipine not forgetting the good turne that he hade receaued of Bishop Zacharie before allowed Pope Stephanes peticion and promisyng him aide against his enemie gathered out of hande a myghtie valeaunt power of French-men He wente wyth Pope Stephan beyonde the Alpes and at the straite of the mountaynes geuing the onlette vpon the Lumbardes he wanne the victorie and ranne through the fielde and vehemently besieged their king Aistulphus lyeng in Papia for his sauegarde and at leynght he compelled Aistulphus perforce by marcial power to graunt these condiciones that he should graunt peace and obedience to the churche of Rome and also to sende ouer to Pipine fourtie men to be pledges in confirmacioÌ„ of the mater By reason wherof Pipine him selfe retiered in to Fraunce and sent Pope Stephan wyth Folradus the kinges chaplayne and a doughtie coÌ„panie of FrenchemeÌ„ to Rome These thinges were done in the year of our saueours birthe DCCLV Notwythstanding bicause Aistulphus king of the Lumbardes perfourmed nothing that he hade promised to Bishop Stephane and hade coÌ„firmed by an othe being constrayned therto by Pipines force of armes Pipine immediatly the next yeare folowing weÌ„t agayn in to Italie wyth a mightie rowte of Frenchemen to deliuer the Pope from the LuÌ„bardes armye And assone as he passed the alpes cam downe in to Italie Gregorie themperour CoÌ„stantine the fourthes chief secretorie with other of them perours embassadours mette him and admonished him in themperours name that he shoulde not meddle wyth the Exarcheship of Rauenna whom the Lumbardes hade possessioÌ„ of themperour being letted of the Saracenes either to chalenge it for him self or geue it to the pope or to the Romaynes but forasmuche as they were of the empire and not the popes he shoulde cause them to be restored to Constantine agayne Hereunto Pipine saide naye and affirmed that he wolde not serue either Constantine or any man elles sauing the churche of Rome protesting that he hade put on harnesse for that intent to deliuer the sea apostolike from the iniurie of all men on the earthe and therupon that he wolde doo the best for the commodities of it that shoulde lye in his vttermost possible power to doo And so assone as he hade wonne the victorie and ouerthrowne the power of the Lumbardes he gaue to the sea of Rome the Exarcheship of Rauenna and what so euer places elles hade before that tyme ben in subiection to the Emperour and Empire WhervpoÌ„ it came to passe that the Grelie Emperour beyng before dryuen out of Italie by the Lumbardes force of armes yet not cleane spoiled of his ryght and title of iuste possession hathe nowe lost them altogether and beyng dryuen out of al hole Italie hathe loste al the Empire that before he had in it Nother was he hable to resiste the Popes wicked endeauours ne reuenge the wronges done vnto him bicause he was letted by the Saracenes warres which disquieted the east Empire with coÌ„tinual inuasions of batailles And surely it is to see the Popes subtile wylynesse to be suche that they haue ê“uided for their owne maters at that tyme specially as they haue sene the inperours and other kinges that were against theÌ„ occupied with other warres so as they should be the lesse hable to wythstande their endeauours But Pipine for doyng these his so large good turnes for the bishoppes of Rome hade worthily for his labour the excellent highe title of Most Christian Kyng Most christian king bothe to him his successours which the Frenchekinges are prowde of eueÌ„ at this daye for this one cause you must vnderstande that they toke the places which belonged to the Emperour in Italie out of the Lumbardes handes restored not them to the emperours agayne as ryght was but gaue them to the churche of Rome Notwithstanding al this gaire the Popes ambicion couetousnesse was not satisfied as long as they sawe the Lumbardes whose powers were at that tyme exceading great in Italie not al together ouerthroweÌ„ extinct King Desiderius Pope Adriane And therfore whaÌ„ their last king Desiderius began to attempte some thing against Pope Adriane the furst of that name by by he also besought Charles that sonne of Pipine who afterward for his nobly done dedes receaued the name of Charles the great for the defense of the sea Apostolike And he easyly Charlemayne obteyned his desyre For Charles renneth through by by into Italie with an hoost of men whan he mette Desiderius wyth his armie of Lumbardes he cruelly bette them downe in the fielde he hade all their townes yelded vp vnto him and sent the king prisoner wyth his wife and children awaye in to Fraunce as banished folkes And in dede thus was the reigne of the Lumbardes which they hade possessed in Italie more than CC. yeares all together despeched And therfore the thrid horne was through Antichristes subtilties and violence smytten of also in the yeare of our Lorde DCClxxvi Than Charles the Frenche king which was Pipines sonne after this gaire was done came in to a perpetuall league wyth the Bishoppes of Rome and what his father Pipine hade geuen before to Stephane the seconde of the landes that he hade violently taken from the Emperour he coÌ„firmed the same also wyth more ample priuileges and with a solenne othe to make sure worke Hitherto now it hathe with cleare euideÌ„t exposicion ben declared welbeloued brethren in Christ that the olde notable saienges of the holy goost which are in Daniel be most truly fulfilled by the Bishoppes of Rome that the B. of Rome is that littell horne which figureth vnto vs the emperial autoritie of Antichrist which in dede at the furst begynnyng of his reigne was but vile naught set by but anon he ouerlaide three very mightie kingdomes with his wyly fatches and deceates and wyth their powers which he claymed to him selfe he was aduaunced to so great a height of reignyng Now it remayneth dearely beloued brethren that we consideratyuely weighe out of the Emperours histories wyth what craftes he made sure and augmented his streinght and power and how he became superiour and aboue euen the emperours them selues The bishoppes of Rome being not The translating of the empire to the Frenche men wythout cause afraide of the greke emperours powers for the many and sondry wroÌ„ges and most mysheuous losses that they hade occasioned vnto theÌ„ least padueÌ„ture the Saracenes other eastren enemies being wel tamed the emperours hauing leasure wolde set vpoÌ„ Italie goo about to clayme to them selues again the Exarcheship of Rauenna other places beloÌ„ging to the empire which Pipine and Charles hade violently takeÌ„ from theÌ„ and bestowed vpoÌ„ the churche of Rome by by they beganne as they are myschieuous wylie felowes to bende their for casting studies to this ende that they might plucke all the greke Emperours power force awaye from
Antichrist not only to knowe but also to folowe And furst he repeteth the same that he hade spoken before and biddeth vs beleue Beleue thē not them not that saye Christ is here or there that is to saye that goo about to shewe vs a false Christ or tel vs that the giftes of God which are geuen vs by non but by only Christ are to be hade elles where Now that we may vnderstande folowe this warnyng as we should doo it is necessary for vs to call to remembraunce that sayenges that are spoken in the Homilies before bothe of the true Christ I meane the only saueour of this worlde also of the false Christes He is the true Christ whom the autoritie of the holy scripture describeth to be very God and very mā the only saueour of the worlde the only priest the only sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde yea the only head of the churche and mennes intercessour in heauen As many thā as shewe this Christ any wher elles than in heauen as many as appoint other heades of the churche other redemers of the worlde other sacrifices for the synnes of the worlde and other aduocates intercessours and mediatours are comprehēded in these wordes of Christ and those be euen they whom it is not laufull for vs to beleue or to geue credence vnto And this is so openly done in the papacie of the pope him self and his membres that no man can say naye to it For furst they are not wont to shewe Christ our Lorde in heauen which was crucified for vs and died which rose again and ascended in to heauen according to the articles of the apostles Crede but to tell folkes that he is either conteyned in a prety litel white cake or in churches consecrated for that purpose which they are not afraide to dresse with these written wordes Hic Deum adora Here worship God Are not these they than that shewe Christ our Lorde in closettes or secret places as he hī self told before hāde As we will speake nothing how their vse is to teach vs a farre other Christ thā is purported in the holy scriptures for the scriptures beare recorde that he was only incarnate made very mā for our sakes But these men not contenting them selues with that feyne him also to be impanate or embreaded Yea and they ymagine him to be such a one that he may be called euery daye in to a piece of breade by the priestes enchauntementes as though he were a certain new Elicius Iupiter Furthermore if they purpose to speake of those thinges that Christ our Lorde hathe purchaced with the merite of his owne death as of remission of synnes the grace of God the father iustice right of adopcion and the possession of euerlasting blessednesse than their maner is with such open wickednesse shamelesnesse to shewe them elles where thā in Christ alone that they can not denie it though they wolde neuer so fayne The Apostle Paule sayeth that Christ is made of 1. Cor. 1. and. 2. God vnto vs wysedō righteousnes sanctificacion redempcion that he knewe nothing els but Iesus Christ euen him that was crucified And in an other place declaring the certaintie of his doctrine he sayeth Although we Gal 1. or an Angel from heauen shall preache vnto you any other gospel than that we haue preached vnto you cursed be he But we heare the popishe shauelinges greasye doctours preache a farre other maner of Gospell than the Apostles haue sent vnto vs in their writynges For they teache righteousnes to be in mennes owne workes merites They teache folkes to seke forgeuenesse of synnes at the handes of wicked and hooremonging yea most filthie rakehell masse priestes As for the grace and fauour of god they ascribe it against Goddes commaundement vnto ymages that they set vp and therfore they vse to name them gracious as Our lady of grace such other Tushe yf a mā wold recken vp al the hole dong hil of popishe religiō vnto these he shal see that they ascribe al that is necessary vnto saluation to externall toyes and trifles And wher the scriptures shewe vs one only patron mediatour euē Iesus Christ very God very man they haue deuised as many mediatours patrones and intercessours besides him as they beleue ther be sayntes soules in heauē Therfore wil we nyl we we must nedes saye that they be the same that the redemour vndenyable scholemaister of the worlde maketh mencion of in this place What must we doo now in this behalfe you mē and brethren Christ saithe Beleue them not Lo our saueour geueth a shorte symple playne commaundement which is a present medicine against all the obiectiones that man can deuise Thow shalt take them to be deceauours as many as goo about to bring in this maner of doctrine and therfore thow shalt not beleue their sayenges Here therfore lieth all the autoritie The B. of Rome of the bishoppes of Rome of fathers and of the counsailes in the Dust which they holde them most chiefly by For if they wolde obiecte the B. of Rome as though men must nedes beleue him bicause he is with to ambicious a name and title called the head of the churche yet ther is no cause why we should be afrayd of hys autoritie For here we do heare the true and supreme head of the church and our chief priest saye Beleue them not Nother is ther any cause why they Counsailes fathers should vaunt of the canones of counsailes and decrees of fathers For the autoritie of them is spoken against by this counsaile which is the holiest counsaill that maye be hade or deuised and the presidēt and head of this counsail is the only begoten sonne of God and the eternal truthe of God who hauing communicacion in the presence of his welbeloued apostles of the deceauours that should com in the later age of the worlde commaūdeth them not to beleue them Now let them hearken to the decrees of fathers let them beholde the Canones of counsailes and make thē selues subiectes vnto the ymaginacions of most shameles vile men which sermore by lyes thā by the truth and hade rather be dāned than saued For wherto doo we passe vpon them any more Wherto doo we wretches take hede to the autoritie of coūsailes Cā not the autoritie of Christ deserue credence at our handes onles it be approued by the consent of mē Nay let vs rather heare Christ him self him that Christ ordayned to be the doctour of the gentiles If an angel from heauen preache any gospel besides that we haue preached cursed be he And If they saye vnto you Lo here is Christ or ther is Christ beleue them not Who so euer therfore dare be so sawcye as to declare forgeuenesse of synnes righteousnesse the grace of God and saluacion any wher elles than in Iesus Christ alone and to shewe him any wher elles
maye be playnly ynough perceaued of the othe that he was constrayned to bynde him self in to pope IohnÌ„ that monstre of hooredome For his successours enrolled the forme of it in their Canones and decrees on this wyse To thee Lorde Pope IohnÌ„ I Kyng Otthoes othe Ottho doo promyse and sweare by the father the GoÌ„ne and the holy Goost by this tree of the quickening crosse and by these reliques of sayntes that yf by the sufferaunce of God I shal come to Rome I shal exalte the holy churche of Rome and thee the gouernour of the same according to my power lyfe and membres and thou shalt nor lose the honour that thow haste by my will or by my couÌ„sail or by my coÌ„sent or by myne exhortacion and in Rome I shall make no pleaye nor ordinaunce in al the thinges that perteyne to thee or to the Romaynes And what so euer shall come to our possession of G. Petres lande I shall rendre it to thee againe And to whom so euer I shallcommytte the gouernaunce of Italie I shall make him sweare to be thy helper to defende G. Petres lande according to his power Lo welbeloued brethren in christ this is the soleÌ„ne excellent othemaking of the emperour Ottho which othe dothe well beare witnesse that Ottho hade non other rewarde geueÌ„ him for his most large good turnes shewed to the pope and for the deliueraunce of all Italie but that he was constrayned to bynde him selfe to the popes seruice and become a mayntenour a defeÌ„dour of that hoore of Babilon and of her wicked tyranny Besydes this assone as he came furst in Apo. 17. to the citie he was commaunded to subscribe with his owne hande to the donacion of king Lewis wherof we haue spoken a litell before to this ende you must vnderstande that he should by no clayme chalenge to the Empire either the citie of Rome or other places belonging to the Empire out of the popes handes and that the bishoppes of Rome might vse their wickedly goteÌ„ goodes with the more ease and securitie These maters as they are now set out the historie wrytours make meÌ„cioÌ„ were done about the yeare of Christes birthe DCCCC lxij Furthermore albeit the FreÌ„che men toke it very euil that the title and dignitie of the empire was taken from them and translated to the Germaynes yet the bishoppes of Rome considered that suche mightie emperours of the Germaynes which hade bounden them selues by a sore othe vnto their will as it is allready declared should not be reiected And for that cause they set their myndes with diligent studie to this ende the rather that by som haÌ„dsom meane they might confirme the Empire to the Germaynes and reserue the clayme and dignitie of it in their owne hande And in this case pope Gregorie the. 5. Gregorie the. 5. shewed his sleightye witte which helped and set forewarde this deuise very mightyly For he inasmuche as he was borne in Sarone and was kynsman also to Emperour Ottho the thrid of that name toke this establishement for chosing the emperour Ottho him self not denyeng but coÌ„senting to it rather that it should be lauful froÌ„ thensfurthe to the Germaines alone to chose the emperour And he ordayned sixe Electours which at the deceasse of euery Emperour should of duetie haue the charge of that mater that is to wete three Prelates of the bishoppes noÌ„bre as many princes The Emperour chosen by 6. Electours of Germany And vnto theÌ„ he added a seuenthe the king of Boheme to sattle the discorde of the ê‘tes But although he wold seme to haue coÌ„mitted al the power of chosing the emperour vnto them yet he hathe bouÌ„den both them al the Germaynes with this condicion that whom so euer they should haue chosen he should than be taken for emperour and Auguste in case the bishop of Rome hade comfirmed him These appeare euidentlie to be done in the year of our Lorde M. II. But in this place also it is to see the popes craftes and deceates to be in a maner vnauoideable wherby they confirmed their supremacie and power in more ample wise than afore with a newe addicion For furst of al he placed amoÌ„g the Princes Electrours three bishoppes who seing they are straitly bouÌ„deÌ„ to the sea of Rome by an othe they dare chose non other man to be Emperour but whoÌ„ they perceaue maye be allowed by the popes good will And moreouer although the election succede not all after the popes mynde yet hathe he reserued the confirmacion coronacion to himself which if he denye to him that is chosen he shall nother be called Emperour nor August Wherof it is manifestly apparent that the electours haue nothing geueÌ„ them but bare titles of honour and that the popes by this contrefaicte colour wolde cloke their ambicion and tyraÌ„nye which they are ashamed to practice more openly Hereof their owne Canons beare witnesse which saye that like as the secular sweorde wherby the armed Emperour reigneth ought to be in subiection to the spiritual that is to saye to the bishop of Rome him selfe so they clayme that power to the bishop also that he alone by his owne autoritie with out al consent either of the hole Counsail or any prelate maye depryue the Emperour of his dignitie yf he perceaue him to be in displeasure with him And verily they haue alwaies foughten with this their autoritie against euery of the most holy empeperours not wtout greuous losse of al Germanye like as the actes of HeÌ„ry ye. 4. Lewis ye. 4. Friderich Barbarosse others make meÌ„cioÌ„ of which maters it shal be treated more pleynteously and more clearely in the homilies folowyng Of these thinges now which hitherto haue ben reckoned vp I suppose it appeare sufficieÌ„tly opeÌ„ ynough with what beginninges they clymbed vp aloft vnto so highe estate of dignitie power wherof they vse euen at this daye so prowdely so shamelesly to boast that is to saye that they haue conueyed these maters to their owne haÌ„des through most wicked craftes treasoÌ„ robberies periuries falshead For furst of al they obteyned at Phocas that most cruel tyraÌ„nes haÌ„des the proude title of general vniuersal bishop not wtout stiffe striuing had with the bishoppes of ConstaÌ„tinopole And they vsed Phocas autoritie power furst of al against the emperours of the grekes which were their benefactours For wher they wolde not abide to haue ydolles nor maintenaunce of Idolatrie in their temples the popes layde at them with the cruell thoÌ„derbolt of cursyng expulsed them froÌ„ the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the church were so bolde as ê‘tly to kil their Exarches in Italie ê‘tly to driue theÌ„ out of Italie so as whaÌ„ they had draweÌ„ it al together to the Departing they plucked it cleane out of the emperours power FroÌ„ thece they ranne sawcely into FrauÌ„ce oppressed the kynges blood aduauÌ„ced such to the crowne of the realme as
his father wyth besieging him he enuyroned him toke him by treason he robbed him of his empire and so taking him prisoner suffreth him miserably and sorowfully to dye And these prankes were not played by the commaundement of any barbarous tyraÌ„ne nor by the inceÌ„semeÌ„t of any Phalaris but by the couÌ„sail of the Phalaris was a tyranne in Agrigentine most holy father in the deuilles name Reioyce nowe you Caligulaes be mery you Neroes as many as haue hade the famous reporte of crueltie For you haue one which though he lefte The. B. of Rome is more cruell than either Caligula Nero. Friderich the. 1. you a long space behinde him yet he acquieteth you froÌ„ the infamie remeÌ„braunce of a cruel name euen the bishop of Rome which commauÌ„deth the sonne to bathe his sweorde in the fathers blood And God wotteth the noble feates of Adriane the. 4. and Alexander the. 3. may be also coupled to these rehearsalles which they practiced with most high wickednesse against the very godly and most valeaunt prince Friderike whose sirname was Barbarousse For albeit he hade the vpper hande ouer al his enemies yet it was not in his power either to auoide or to breake the tyraÌ„nie of the popes but after haynous batailes most lameÌ„table flaughtres he was coÌ„pelled ê‘force to fall huÌ„bly to the popes fete to laye downe his necke for Antichristes filthie fete to treade vpon Now who is it that wolde seke any charitie at their handes which haue not learned so much as to beare fauourably with the dignitie of an Emperour After that about the yeare of our Lorde Friderike the. 2. MCCxx Friderichus the secoÌ„de suffred no lesse wickednesse false head of theÌ„ also For whan he made warres against the Turkes they with most spiteful vilany abominable force of armes resisted him and as he with luckie successe warred against the enemies of Christes crosse they with their false driftes droue him backe and layeng at him with their thonderboltes they depryued him also of the communioÌ„ of faithfull christen people and of his Empire and chosed other emperours agaiÌ„st him Which thing was in dede the cause of most greuous batailes engeÌ„dred innumerable muche bloodsheading Morouer in the year of our lorde M. CCC whan Albert the duke of Austrike was choseÌ„ emperour Pope Bonesace the. 8. of that name wold nother confirme him nor crowne Boniface the. 8. him except he wolde furst promise that he wolde make warre against Philippe the FreÌ„che king and dryue him out of his realme And the cause of that warre was this that Philippe whaÌ„ he espied the sleightie shiftes of the sea of Rome denyed the pope al his reuenues of the realme of Fraunce And for that cause that holy father hauing goodly in mynde the precept of charitie to thintent he might prouide for his owne priuate commoditie purposed to set twoo the mightiest naciones of christendome FrauÌ„ce and Germanye together to warre cruelly the one against the other and glad to geue the loking on him self of the destroyeng of cities wasting of fieldes slaughter of men and al the myschief besides that warre bringeth with it so that it turne to his owne aduauÌ„tage But the father of heauen prouydeth better for mennes maters For he put those kinges in suche mynde that they forgate the pope and layeng downe their weapones conuerted the lamentable warres in to a ioyous mariage And here it is not to be omitted that the bishopes of Rome being of the same spirite did vnto Ladislaus king of Vngarie and Polone He hade Ladislau ouercome with wonderfull luckie notable victorie Amurathes the most mightie prince of the Turkes and scatred the turkishe armye and obteyned perforce such condiciones of peace as were harde to be obteyned of the enemye But whan the Turkes hade the ouerthrowe in that skyrmyshe they were fayne perforce and bicause of the condicions of peace to medle no longer with inuading Vngarie and beganne to make new roades in to Italie to stere vp daungers against the pope Eugenius the bishop of Rome to deliuer him self and Italie from Eugenius pope all daungier sent Cardinal Iuliane to Laudislaus to condemne his league with the Turkes as wicked and vnworthy and to persuade with all that christianes are in no wise bounden to kepe promise with infideles And he gaue not ouer counsailing and prouoking till he hade persuaded the king compelled him to breake the league and so to become a promyse breaker Anon than by the forwardenesse of the most holy father and the legate Iuliane the apostatalike apostlelike I wold saye blowing to the fielde ther was most cruell batail renewed which hauing vnluckye successe king Ladislaus was slayne and Amurathes caried awaye a large and a gorgeous victorie This was done in the year of our Lorde M. CCCC xliiij Lo this is the most holy fathers charitie this is the loue that he beareth to the Lordes flocke by the couÌ„sail wherof he teacheth the Kyng rashly to violate his promise of peace and shamelesly to faile his fidelitie that he hade made and not that only but he also casteth both such as be very good to muche simple kinges the people ouerlight of belefe vpon the most cruel weapons of Christes enemies the Turkes so as he him selfe maye lyue safe and sure at Rome To be shorte least through aboundauÌ„ce of examples my tale growe out to ouer great a mater it semeth not necessarie that we should set furth with a busye paynted shewe of wordes the thinges that the Bishoppes of Rome haue in tymes past done against the lawe of charitie seyng that these our owne dayes can euidently ynoughe beare witnesse of the same For loke you dearly beloued brethreÌ„ in Christ vpoÌ„ these present hurly burlies warres of Germany at home wtin theÌ„ selues which is vndoubtedly occasioned by the trauaile deuise of pope Paule the iii. of his meÌ„bres And searche diligeÌ„tly Paule the 3. if it please you whether so much as one token or sparke of charitie be shewed in this dede doing For who knoweth not that the greater parte of christendome especially the hole flocke of them that are right wise and learned men haue allready complayned these many yeares of the tyrannye and intolerable yowke of popes And Emperours haue ben in the same thought which haue with most earnest faithfulnesse and godly aduise admonished them bothe to amende their owne maners and restrayne the ecclesiastical ministers and their lasciuious lyues and to exercice a worthye discipline among them to frame their hole life by But all is in vayne For they like most naughty me wold nother heare the coÌ„playntes of the congregacions nor doo after the admonishementes of emperours bicause they haue alwaies loued their owne lust more than all the discipline and honestie in the worlde Whervpon all thinges set aparte they haue vsed their owne lustes and vicious demeanour with al losenesse of
Benedicte ye. 5. was created pope by making Benedicte the. 5. Iohn̄ the. 14. of a sedicion And shortly after Iohan the 14. toke the seat who being in an vproare by the Romaynes dryuen out of the cytie and returnyng the eleuēth moneth of his exile vsed such crueltie against his foes as hade ben mete to haue ben practiced rather by the most bloodthursty tirannes Phalaris Dionise and other like them than by the apostles of Christ After Iohan succeded Benedicte the Benedicte the. 6. 6. which was takē of Cinthius a citeze of Rome and shutte vp in to Adrianes pile and shortly after he was strangled in the same place Whom albeit Platina wold fayne excuse with worthy reasones yet being offeded wyth those bishops most mischieuous maners he is enforced to saye Vereor ne talia fuerint Benedicti merita quale praemium a Cinthio consequutus est That is to say I am afrayde least Benedictes desartes were suche as the rewarde was that he receaued of Cinthius Than next after Donus the seconde Boniface the. 7. whose sirname Bonisace the. 7. countrey by reasō of his basse astate is vncertain obteyned to be pope through noughtie sciences And by the power of the magistrates the setting on of good citezenes he was compelled to flee the citie stealing awaye al the preciousest Iewelles out of saynt Petres churche he fled to Constātinopole taried ther so long till he hade solde the wares that he had takē awaye by sacrilege so hade gotē together a great deale of mony which he vsed as an helpe to practice his tyrānie cam again to the citie going about to corrupte the citezenes of Rome with rewardes But the good men wtstode his purposes specially Iohā that diacon Cardinal whom whā the B. hade takē by the helpe of a sorte of myschieuous felowes he thrust out his eies out of hād Howbeit that autor of so great myschiefes the sedicion encreaceing more and more wtout fear as Platina hauing alwaies a better hope of those holy fathers saithe wythout repentaunce of the dede that he hade done died miserably and filthyly Iohan the 15. of the name in the thrid moneth of hys popeheadde was takē Iohn̄ the. 15. by the Romaynes bicause of his tirānye vsing being shutte vp in Adrtanes pile as in the cōmon warde was pyned ther so long wyth the stynke of the prison with hungre grief of mynde till he shamefully fynished his life After him succeded Iohn the 16. who was in wōderful hotte hatred against Iohn̄ the. 16. The charitie of the Pope and clergie the cleargie wherupō he was iustly hated of the cleargie again But specially bicause he gaue out al bothe diuine humane treasures to his kinsfolkes and alliaunce and so God wotteth he set aparte the honour of God and that dignitie of that sea of Rome leauing an example of this right naughtie vsage to his successours which the bishoppes wyth most diligēt endeauour folowe the like euen at this present daye Now therfore let euery hartie man iudge right louing brethrē in Christ whether all good men haue not iustly cōplayned of the bishoppe of Romes tyrannie and wickednesse seing that sea hathe hatched vp so many knaues tyrannes theues robbers murtherours sedicion sowers and open churche robbers as we haue rehearsed and all wythin these lxxxv yeares And I pray you who wold honour it as an holy see inasmuche as it could abyde so many pestilent myschiefes And for al these their regestres were neuer ful ynough of such mischeuous villanes popes as these were For scarcely a dousin yeares after that Iohn Iohn̄ the. 18. the 18. of that name stearte vp who pope Gregorie the 5. being yet a lyue occupied the papacie by meanes of diuision and rewardes And for that cause Platina calleth him a theefe and a robber and in the. 10. moneth of his vsurped popeship he made a shameful ende of his life His successour was Siluester the secōde who as we said a litel before was promoted to be pope by the deuilles diligent payne taking Anon after this folowed Benedicte the. 9. Benedicte the. 9. Siluester the. 3. Gregory the. 6. Siluester the. 3. and Gregorie the. 6. thre most vggly monstres which like as they sought gredily to haue that see by rewardes euē so playeng wickedly among them selues they were not afraide to sell this honour and dignitie and to redeme it again one of another for money Whervpō sence they were notoriously bruted to be wicked vsers of Symonie they did great iniuries and ther withall great shames vnto the see of Rome After these succeded Clement the seconde whom Damasus poisoned Clement the. 2. Damasus and toke the popes rowme vpon him self with shame ynough And these sixe most naughtie villane knaues as we reade were all bishoppes of Rome within 46. yeares space But what nede is it to reckē thē vp which without all doubt haue either vnlaufully occupied this see or elles more wickedly haue ordred it and all but a fewe yeares a goo inasmuche as three bishops of this see of Rome are yet freshe in memorie which by the autoritie of the coūsail of Constaunce were depryued of their dignitie for their most vngracious desartes Let them be marked also if it so please you that within our fathers remembraunce and ours haue bē bishoppes of Rome and we haue sene that by their deuises and crafty conueyaunces they haue passed ouer the toppe of the Alpes and com through euen to our countrey of Heluetia as Sixtus Sixtus the 4. Alexāder the. 6. Iulius the 2. Leo the 10. Clemēt the. 7. the. 4. Alexander the. 6. with his sonne duke Valentine the monstre of all mischief vngraciousnesse and vice Also Iulius the seconde a man that delited muche in blood sheading and burnyng Leo the tenthe Clemēt the 7. of whose false crafty artes and traiterous deceates Florentia an vnfortunate citie to hatche vp so vnthankeful a babe was a feling witnesse And who wil not saye that these marchaūtes were not only like vnto the other before but many waies much worse For let them com furthe as many as euer haue dwelt in the citie of Rome in their tymes and haue marked wel their life and maners or haue ben knowing of their counsailes and I knowe they will confesse if they will confesse the truthe that they were notable naughtie packes not in common trifling vices alone but also in all maner of most vngracious and notorious wickednesse that could be Finally marke the most holy father Paule the thrid that late was And Paule the 3. let his children and childres children be marked also And we shall fynde in them no lesse myschieuous cruel and abominable partes But this must nedes be cōfessed that if Rome should see two or three popes of his like condiciones that wold as he is vsed to doo bestowe the goodes of the churche cities townes castles villages and landes vpon
him self aboue all In his iurisdicion shall he worshippe the God Mayzim and the God whom his fathers knewe not shall he honour with golde and siluer and precious stones and other costly gaires And he shal conuerte them in to the stroÌ„g fences of the God Mayzim with his straunge God and he that will acknowlage him he shall aduaunce him vnto honour and shall make him Lorde of many people and distribute the laÌ„de vnto him wyth rewardes And a litell after He shall also haue dominion ouer the treasures of golde and siluer ouer all precious Iewelles c. These are the vndoubted wordes of that prophet Daniel wherin sixe principall Daniel â—â—â—scribeth 7. workes of Antichrist workes of Antichrist are described vnto them we shall afterwarde knytte the seuenth also out of thafore mencioned seuenth chap. of the same Daniel These shal we marke in ordre and coÌ„sidre wtall how they are put in bre in the papacie of the bishoppes of Rome 1. Antichrist maketh men couenaunt breakers The furst worke that the prophet Daniel attributeth to Antichrist is that he shall bring in men to forsake the couenaunt shrynke froÌ„ it wickedly But he speaketh here of that great no table excellent and sauing couenauÌ„t that the eternal almightie heauenly father hathe vouchedsafe to make with vs wretched meÌ„ which by nature are the children of wrathe and damnacioÌ„ This is made plaine by Moses in the 17. of Genesis by the prophet Iere. the 31. chap. is coÌ„prehended in two chap. or articles For furst God which is the most highe euerlasting goodnesse what the couenaunt is eueÌ„ the only fouÌ„tayne of al goodnesse calleth him self our God our full feding the perfite sufficieÌ„ce of al thinges promiseth wtall that bothe he him self all that he hathe shal be ours Secondarily euen he the same God requireth this of vs again that we be his people his catail that we walke before him as it becometh his people to doo that we obey serue him not as the frowardenesse of our owne reason enueagleth but as he commaundeth by the autoritie of his worde And his coÌ„maundement is that we should acknowlage him alone to be our only God that we shoulde not haue seke nor worship any other Goddes but him that we should make no Idoles grauen ymages nor any maner of similitudes that we should not worship suche as were made of other meÌ„ nother with semelinesse nor reuereÌ„t behaueour of the bodye and muche lesse wyth the deuocion of the hearte but that we should be most farre of froÌ„ al maner of Idolatrie bothe inward outwarde that we should also nother defile nor blemishe his holy name but that in all our doinges sayenges in all our hole life we should halowe it honour it to the best of our possible powers and that we should not defyle any of the tyme which he wold haue halowed to be appointed to serue him to the considerate meditacion of his benefites workes with no prophane vses but that we should also kepe continual holy daye froÌ„ wicked workes studies Finally that we should applye our selues in al those thinges that we owe bothe vnto him to our neighbour according to the offices of faithe lawes of Charitie after such sorte that we maye be an holy people as he is holy Leui. 19. 20. But albeit through the deceaueablenesse of our owne infirmitie corrupt nature of our fleshe we do neuer accoÌ„plishe the chief poiÌ„tes of that couenauÌ„t which belong vnto vs as we ought to do nother yet are hable to accomplishe them yet that gentil harted and merciful father wil not cast vs away nor dryue vs out of the inheritaunce of his kingdome but like as he furst offred the couenaunt vnto vs euen so mynding also to succour our infirmitie he gaue his only begoten sonne Iesus Christ which being very man and made like vnto vs in all thinges synne only except perfourmed in his owne persone al that which God the father according to his iustice required and satisfieng the lawe in al thinges at leynght he suffred also deathe for vs and hauyng shedde his blood for vs he confirmed most fully that couenaunt of God and testament of our saluacion like as in his last supper that he kept with his disciples he him self recorded This I saye is the couenauÌ„t wherof Daniel in this place maketh mencion and saithe that Anti-Christ shall drawe men awaye from this couenauÌ„t so as whan they haue forsaken it they shall also be spoiled of the benefites that are promised theÌ„ in it But that the B. of Rome dothe this same thing plainly in his doctrine in the decrees of his religion it may be shewed wtout any businesse easily perceaued of any man For as touching the furst point of that couenaunt and promise of God which is geuen vnto vs the B. of Rome propouÌ„deth a farre other maner of God by his doctrine and religion than the wordes of the couenaunt make mencion of For they promise that God shal be ours in all thinges so that being knytte and ioyned vnto him we may sucke out of him most pleynteously what so euer is necessarie vnto saluacioÌ„ But the pope feyneth vs such a God that were like vnto a highe stately and an earthy prince yea rather like a tyranne that wold receaue no mannes sutes nor billes of suplicacioÌ„ nother wold allowe any man to com to his speche ne yet wold heare any mannes cause except he either obteyned his fauour with bribes or elles with muche sute makiÌ„g giftes he bought frendship of courtyours to speake for him And in dede thus hathe the pope beÌ„ the autor of extreme desperacion vnto sely wretched people For this hathe ben the constaunt opinion almost of al men that they beleued no man being infected with the spotte of synnes could com to the sight of God yea that it was not laufull for a wretched synner to be bolde to flee vnto the succour of the righteous God By reason wherof as sone as they haue forsakeÌ„ God the only omnisufficieÌ„t fulnesse of mankynde they turned theÌ„ vnto Idoles worshipped theÌ„ with gold and siluer they honoured theÌ„ being desirous to obteyne the intercessions of sayntes they brought al the money they hade theyr clothes theyr corne yea their catail to that they might haue theÌ„ that more fauourable that than hauyng their waye made sure by the meane of saintes helpe intercessioÌ„ they might preace forewarde into the sight of God What other thing shal we cal this but the most grosse vnknowing of God through the which meÌ„ being blynded haue not acknowlaged that God any more which in his couenauÌ„t making ê“miseth that he wil not only be beneficial mercifull vnto vs but also that he al the goodes he hathe shal be altogether ours Moreouer they haue opeÌ„ly set this out in their religioÌ„ that they