sixt a man of Holland and Schoolemaster to Charles the fift Emperour He endevoured to correct some abuses of the Church of Rome in maners but not the abuses and errours of Doctrine for hee also sent his Ambassadour Cheregatus to Germanie with menacing letters to the Duke of Saxonie because hee maintained Martin Luther But his time was short for hee died before hee had ruled two yeeres in his Popedome To him succeeded Clemens the seuenth and ruled ten yeeres ten months and seuen daies Hee was a man verie inconstant in his friendship to the Emperour Charles the fift but secretlie boūd vp friendship with the king of France but this deceitfull doing redounded to the Popes great hurt For Charles Duke of Burboune chiefe Captaine to the armie which the Emperour had in Italie besieged the towne of Rome and tooke it and albeit the Duke himselfe was slaine yet the rest of the armie invaded the Towne slew great numbers of men defloured women spoyled houses and temples and besieged the Pope himselfe and his Cardinalls seuen months till at length the Pope was free from his Captiuitie by commaund of the Emperour About this same time of the Popes besieging Charles the Emperour was banqueting and reioycing for the Natiuitie of his sonne Philip but hee stayed all banqueting playing and reioycing when the tidings of the Popes besieging was carried vnto him and commaunded to set him at libertie Manie great sinnes are imputed to him by writers and amongst others that hee destroyed the liues of manie by poyson and that in end hee receiued the same recompence himselfe After him followed Paulus the third who ruled fifteene yeeres and twentie nine dayes It grieued him to see the Gospell take so deepe roote and to be ouerspred in many nations and namelie in England by king Henry the eight who abrogated the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome in England called himselfe supreme governour ouer Christ in all Ecclesiasticall causes within the bounds of his owne countrie The Pope being destitute of all other revenging weapons drew forth the old accustomed weapon of the chaire of Rome against Princes and cursed king Henry the eight This Pope ratified the order of the Iesuites and appointed a generall Councell to bee kept in Trent a Towne of Italie bordering neere to Germanie This Councell beganne to be kept in Trent in the yeere 1546. but hereafter was transferred to Bononia as shall be declared God willing The Protestants of Germanie were desired both by the Emperour and the Pope to bee present at the Councell but they would not acknowledge it to be a lawfull generall Councell wherein the Pope or his deputie did sit as a iudge who was indeede partie and whom they were to accuse of false and erroneous doctrine of abusing of the Church of God and vsurping the honour which was onely due to Christ before this Councell ended hee concluded his dayes Iulius the third succeeded in his place who ruled three yeeres one month and sixteene dayes Hee reduced the generall Councell of Bononia backe againe to Trent where it began but the sudden report of the armie of Maurice Duke of Saxonie who tooke armes against the Emperour Charles for detaining the Lantgraue of Hesse his father in law in prison dissolued the Councell againe for a time because they feared lest the Dukes armie should haue come to Trent and set vpon them In this time the Church of England returned backe againe to the Popes obedience in the raigne of Queene Marie and the Pope sent Cardinall Poole to England to absolue that countrie from that curse and interditment which was layed vpon it in the dayes of Paulus tertius After him succeeded Marcellus the second and ruled twentie two dayes After him followed Paulus the fourth and ruled foure yeeres two months and twentie foure dayes Hee was verie contentious and hated the Emperour Charles and brought into Italie 1000. footmen and 2000. horsemen of the french nation vnder the conduct of the Duke of Guise Also hee brought into Italie an armie of Swizers Notwithstanding the Emperour had sent to Italie the Duke de Albe who had taken a great number of townes belonging to the Pope before the Duke of Guise entred into Italie And in the ende the Pope was well content to accept conditions of peace and to receiue backe againe the townes which hee had lost in the warre In his time the Emperour resigned the Emperiall crowne to his Brother Ferdinand entered into a Monasterie where hee concluded his daies but the Pope neither approued nor ratified this election of Ferdinand and Ferdinand on the other part made light account of the Coronation which his Predecessours had receiued from the Pope and was obeyed in Germanie although he wanted the Popes blessing and coronation After him ruled Pius the fourth who continued fiue yeeres two months and fifteene dayes In his time the councell of Trent which was begun in the dayes of Paul the third was finished He sent an Ambassadour to England to invite the learned men of that countrie to the Councell but Queene Elizabeth would not permit the Popes Ambassadour to enter into her Realme Likewise hee sent Ambassadours to the Dukes of Germanie professing the reformed Religion They entertained the Ambassadours honorablie but sent them backe with this answere that they marueled how the Pope could send an Ambassadour to them who acknowledged not his authoritie in such matters From the first meeting of this Councell to the dissolution thereof intervened the space of eighteene yeeres but the time of meeting consultation and sitting of the fathers of that Councell was onely the space of fiue yeeres namely vnder Paulus the third two yeeres vnder Iulius the third one yeere and vnder Pius the fourth two yeeres In this Popes time the reformation of religion in Scotland began images were broken and burnt altars cast downe Monasteries dimolished and the masse abolished The noble men who were the principall authors of this reformation were assisted by Elizabeth Queene of England and defended from the intended persecution of the Frenchmen This Pope made a bloodie massacre in a Towne of Italie called Montalto against a number of Christian people secretlie met together for hearing of the word of God so that one after another were drawne out of the house where they met and their throates cut with a knife in the hand of a bloodie executioner In this massacre were martyred 80. persons and not one of all the number for the feare of death did forsake the true fayth of Christ. In this Popes time was the Isle of Malta invaded by the Turkes but they were strongly resisted and left the siege of the Isle after they had lost 23000. of their number in that siege The disputation of Poissne and grieuous commotions in France after that disputation began in this Popes time whereof is spoken before After him followed Pius the fift
the tenth part of all Ecclesiasticall rents for the space of six yeeres should be payed to furnish out an army to fight against the Infidels for recovering of the holy Land and a full remission of sinnes was promised to all them who would vndertake a part of this war-fare CENTVRIE XIIII IN the yeere of our Lord 1311. Pope Clement the fift bearing rule a generall Councell was assembled at Vienna wherein he set forth a booke of Papall decrees called Liber Clementiarū which was received allowed and ratified by the Councell And albeit as Nauclerus witnesseth Clemens himselfe before his death repented the setting out of this booke and commanded it to be burnt yet the Popes succeeding him and namely Iohannes the two and twentith confirmed and authorized the sayde booke againe together with the Decretals of Gregorius and Bonifacius because these bookes most highly advanced the seat of Rome exeeming the Bishop of Rome from subiection to generall Councels and attributing power to him to receiue or to reiect the Emperour after hee is chosen comparing the Pope to the Sunne and the Emperour to the Moone finally counting it a thing necessary vnto eternall life that every person bee subiect to the Bishop of Rome In this Councell it was ordayned that the feast of Corpus Christi should be kept with many indulgences granted vnto them who should celebrate this feast Likewise it was Decreed that the way to reduce Infidels to the true faith was not by armour and shedding of blood as the preceeding Popes had done for the space of three hundred yeeres though in vaine but by preaching of the Word of God to gaine their soules to the Lords Kingdome And for this cause it was ordained that Schooles should bee erected and forraine tongues should bee learned namely the Hebrew Chaldaicke and Arabique languages Finally it was ordained that the name and remembrance of the order of Templaries should be rooted out and this Decree was put in execution by all Christian Princes who in one day vtterly rooted out the sayd order of Monkes as formerly hath beene declared CENTVRIE XV. IN the yeere of our Lord 1414. the Emperour Sigismund and pope Iohn the 23. gathered a generall Councell at Constance for pacifying of a Schisme which was between three Popes striving for the Popedome to wit Pope Iohn whom the Italians set vp Pope Gregorie whom the French-men set vp and Benedict whom the Spaniards placed In this schismaticall ambitious conflict every one defended his owne Pope to the great disturbance of Christian Nations This Councell endured foure yeeres space The first beginning of it as the manner was is with a masse of the holy Spirit As they were singing according to their custome the Hymne Veni sancte spiritus there was at the same time a certaine paper set vp in the Church by some well disposed persons as it seemed wherein was contained these words following Alys rebus occupatinunc adesse vobis non possumus that is wee are otherwise occupied at this time wee cannot intend to come to you In this Councell was not onely Pope Iohn the 23. deposed for many grievous and haynous crimes obiected and prooved against him but also Gregory and Benedict sustayned the like censure and Pope Martin was chosen as hath beene declared Many wicked things were decreed and done in this Councell as namely in the eight Session thereof a sentence of condemnation was given out against the doctrine of Iohn Wickliffe and for the hatred of his memorie his bones ordained to be raysed out of his sepulchre and to be burnt In the thirteenth Session it was ordayned that no Priest vnder paine of excommunication should communicate vnto the people vnder both kindes of bread and wine In the 15. Session the Sentence of Iohn Husse his condemnation was read and published and he was deliuered to the secular power to be burned In the 19. Session it was decreed that notwithstanding the safe conduct giuen by the Emperour and kings inquirie may be made against a man for heresie by a sufficient iudge and processe to be made according to Law In the 21. Session a sentence of condemnation was pronounced against Ierom of Prague and hee was deliuered to the secular power to be burned And finallie nothing was decreed in this Councell or enacted worthy of memorie but this only that the Popes authoritie is vnder the Councell that the Councell ought to iudge the Pope yet albeit Articles were giuen in to the Councell crauing reformation of the Corrupt life of the Clergie and namely of the Court of Rome and Ioannes Gerson Chaunceller of the vniuersitie of Paris himselfe gaue in 75. abuses which hee willed to bee corrected and amended no reformatiō was obtained because the chiefe gouernors of the Councell themselues being men of corrupt and filthie conversation hated aboue all things the Articles of reformation But on the other part this new Pope Martine although hee could not finde time and leasure to reforme the abuses of the clergie yet found he time to deuise a cruell bloody inquisition against the true professours of the Gospel whom hee called Heretikes and for repressing of the Hussites hee deuised a strict inquisitiō which afterward followed in many Countries and namely in the countrie of Spaine IN the yeere of our Lord was gathered a generall Councell at Basil which as it indured longer then any other Councell before celebrat and holden in the Church for this continued almost 17. yeeres so likewise was it most troublesome in respect that Iulian Cardinall and Deacon of S. Angel being appointed president of the Councel by Pope Martin the fift and after his death being also approued by his successor Eugenius the fourth This Iulian I say suffered a certaine question to be reasoned freely in the Councell touching the authoritie of generall Councells after which reasoning it was concluded that the generall Councell is aboue the Pope and that all persons ought to be subiect to the generall councells as children are subiect to authoritie of their mother This conclusion grieued the Pope the more that this matter being once concluded in the Councell of Constants alreadie was now againe ratified and more amply discoursed in the Councell of Basil for this cause he would haue transported the Councell to Bononie But the Emperour Sigismund who was a great fauourer and protector of the Councell with aduice of the fathers of the Councel admonished Eugenius that hee should not onely leaue off his intended purpose of transferring the place of the Councell but also by his owne appearance before the Councell of Basil ratifie his subiection to the same which if he refused to doe they would proceede against him as a person contumacious obstinatly rebelling against the voyce of the Church The Pope was so dashed with this admonition that he was constrained to dissemble for a time and to confirme the
excuse who could not bridâ—â— the fury of his malicious heart pretending this to be the cause of his anger because the Emperour amongst other conditions of peace bound vp betweene the Christians in Asia and the Saracens hee had licensed them to come alwayes without armour to the place of the holy grave Also hee made rumours to passe through Italy of the Emperours death to the end the townes which were vnder his dominion might be faint-hearted and resigne over their cities into his hands As likewise the souldiers who returned home out of Asia he caused to be cut off left by their reporting the truth and the good successe of Fredericke the townes vnder his obedience might be encouraged The Emperour being advertised of all these practices done against him in his absence left in Asia Renaldus with his garisons coÌ„manding all the other bands to be vnder his appointment And with all speed came with certaine gallies to Calabria and within short space tamed his enemies and recovered all his holds and dominions againe Also he sent to the Pope to entreate for his favour notwithstanding all the iniuries he had received at his hands but was not heard nor accepted into favour vntill hee had paied an hundred and twenty ounces of gold for his absolution After this great rebellon was stirred vp in Germany against Fredericke for his owne sonne Henry Caesar began to vtter the fruits of that old traffique that was betweene him and the Pope and caused Ludovicke Duke of Boiaria of whom we did speake before not onely to be put from his Court but also most cruelly to be murthered The Emperour thought it no time to sleepe wherefore entâ—ing into Germany hee assembled a Councell in the citie of Nâ—urburg where the conspiracy of Henry Caesar was manifestly detected whereof the Pope was the chiefe author and â—ee by the iudgement and sentence of 〈◊〉 Princes condemned of high treason And being commanded by his father to be bound was as a prisoner brought to Apulia where not long after hee died in prison In whose roome hee ordained his third sonne Conradus Caesar by consent of all the Peeres and Princes Also Fredericus Austriacus his sonne was proclaimed for an enemy to the Common-wealth from whom were taken Austria and Stiria and brought againe vnder the Emperours obedience and fidelity who having set Germany at quietnesse left there Conradus Caesar his sonne and with his army returned to Italy to punish such as with Henry his eldest sonne had conspired against him whose treasons were all detected at the condemnation of Henry Caesar and chiefly the Popes who vnderstanding that the Emperour with warlike furniture marched towards Italy albeit hee fained himselfe to be reconciled and a friend to him yet was hee notwithstanding to him a most secret and intestine enemy For hee sent to those cities who had conspired against the Emperour admonishing them that they should ioyne themselues together and that they should furnish strongly their cities with garrisons and send for aide to friends and that with all their force they would prepare themselues for warre Also hee sent Ambassadors to the Emperour to forbid him and his army to come forward vnto Italy and to say vnto him not by way of entreaty but imperiously that what cause of controversie hee had against the Longobards the same hee should commit to him and stand to his arbiterment The Emperour nothing regarding this foolish interditement prosecuteth his purpose and marcheth towards Italy where he brought vnder his subiection those cities that rebelled against him as Mantua Verona Ternisium Patavium and others and then hee afterward set vpon the great Hoast of Mediolanenses the Brixians the Placentines and other confederats of whom hee tooke a thousand prisoners and also their Generall being the chiefe Magistrate in the citie of Mediolanum Petrus Tenopolus the Dukes sonne of Venice and slew diverse Captaines moe and tooke all their Ensignes The Pope perceiving the overthrow of his confederates could no longer cover his malice but did breake out in open fury and rage against the Emperour and pronounced a sentence of proscription against him depriving him of all his dignities honours titles prerogatiues kingdoms and whole Empire Also calling vnto him the Venetian and Genuan Legats made a peace betweene them for they had beene at variance for certaine causes about their Sea coasts and covenanted with them vpon this condition that vpon their charges they should rigge and man 35. gallies which should spoyle and burne all along the Sea coasts of the kingdomes and dominions of Fredericke But when hee saw the good will and fidelity that the Duke of Venice bare vnto the Emperour who notwithstanding the displeasure he tooke by the imprisonment of his sonne yet would he not make warre against him For which cause the Pope had recourse to his old practises whereby his predecessors had trodden all Princes vnder their feet And so hee put forth an edict at Rome to the vniversall Church and people the beginning whereof is Ascendit de mari bellica bestia wherein hee declareth the causes wherefore hee curseth the Emperour to the divell of Hell and deiecteth him from his Princely dignity charging him with treason periury cruelty sacrilege killing of his owne kindred and all impiety and accuseth him as an hereticke schismaticke and miscreant And this edict of the Emperours cursing he commanded all Bishops Prelats and others of the Clergie that they should solemnly recite the same in their Churches in stead of a Sermon And furthermore charged them and all other Christian men vnder paine of cursing and damnation that they neither helpe the Emperour nor yet so much as wish him well Moreover by meanes of Albertus Bebauus his Legat hee stirred vp great rebellion against the Emperor in Germany For hee drew Otto Duke of Boiaria from the Emperours obedience and with him Venceslaus and Belus Princes of the Hungarians and Henry Duke of Polonia To whom also Fredericus Austriacus the Emperours sonne because he was proscript or out-lawed of his father was easily adioyned The Emperour was at Patavium when these newes were brought to him Therefore hee commanded Peter de Vineis his Secretarie vpon Easter day to make a narration to the people of his great munificence to the Bishoppes of Rome and againe of their iniuries towards him in recompence thereof of his innocencie also in all the heads whereof hee was accused by the Pope and finally of the vse of Ecclesiasticall censure and of the errors and abuse of the Church of Rome By which Oration of his he so remooved the clowds of blinde superstion from mens hearts and the conceived opinion of holinesse of the Church of Rome and also of their vsurped power and subtle perswasion that both they saw and plainely perceived the vices and filthinesse of the same At the same time the Emperour as faith Albericus writ to the Pope these veres Roma diu titubans longis erroribus
per viam expedientiae that is although it be not lawfull by way of iustice yet is it meet to doe it as a thing expedient to be done He exercised his tyrannie and power of excommunication against Andronicus Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople declaring him a schismaticke and heretike because hee neither would nor durst suffer the Grecians to make their appeale from the Greeke Church to the Pope neither would acknowledge him for his superior For the Grecians euer constantly refused to be subiect to the Romane bishop except in that short time wherein the Frenchmen had the Empire of the East and in the time of Michael Paleologus who in the Councell at Lyons submitted himselfe to Gregorie the tenth whereby he procured vnto himselfe such hatred that after his death the Grecians denyed vnto him the honour and place of buriall as hath beene declared In like manner hee excommunicated the Venetians for preferring Azada to the estate of Ferrare yea Francis DaÌ„dalus Ambassador from the Venetians to the said Clement for pacifying his furie and obtaining that absolution suffered a chaine of iron to be tyed about his necke and to lye downe vnder the Popes table there like a Dog to catch the bones which fell from the table vntill the Popes furie was assuaged And lest he should be inferiour to his predecessors in subduing all powers vnder his feet hee ordained that the king of the Romans should not enioy the title and right of an Emperour without confirmation giuen by the Pope Next to Clement followed Pope Iohn the two and twentieth After that the chaire of Rome had beene vacant for the space of two yeeres and three months hee ruled nineteene yeeres foure months and was verie much giuen to heape vp riches so that hee proclamed them to be heretickes who affirmed that Christ and his Apostles had no possessions in the world He would not condiscend to the Coronation of Lewes the fift Duke of Bauaria to be Emperour because hee vsed the Empâ—â— all dignitie in Italie before hee was authorised by the Popeâ—â— which cause Lewes tooke his iourney to Rome and theâ—â— crowned by the Cardinalls and set vp another Pope in 〈◊〉 called Nicolaus the fift against Iohn who was then residâ—â— at a Auiniogue in France and so the church of Rome 〈◊〉 begun to haue two heads Pope 〈◊〉 the twelfe followed and ruled seuen yeeres 〈…〉 and seuenâ—â—eene dayes 〈…〉 Pope Clement the sixt and ruled ten 〈…〉 twentie eight dayes hee reduced the 〈…〉 was kept on the hundred yeere to the fiftieth yeere and to allure men to goe to warre for recouering of the holy land hee set forth blasphemous bulls commaunding the Angells to convey euerie mans soule to Paradise who died by the way giuing also power to all and singular persons signed with the Crosse to deliuer three or foure prisoners whom they pleased best out of the pains of Purgatorie After Clement the sixt followed Innocentius the sixt and ruled nine yeeres eight months and six dayes Hee imprisoned a certaine frier called Ioannes de rupescissa because hee Prophecied of the fall of the Pope and his Cardinalls by the parable of a bird cloathed with other birds fethers which in respect of her pryde were all plucked from her After him succeeded Vrbanus the fift and ruled eight yeeres and foure months In whose time the order of the Iesuits begun Next to Pope Vrban succeeded Gregorie the eleuenth who reduced the Papacie againe out of France to Rome after it had continued there aboue 70. yeeres moued hereunto vpon this occasion Hee had reprooued a certaine Bishoppe who stood by him from long absence from his charge to whom the Bishop replyed againe that the Bishop of Rome himselfe who ought to be a patterne to all the rest was longer absent from the place where his Church did tye him whereby the Pope tooke occasion to remoue his court from Fraunce to Rome When hee returned hee found the estate of Italie greatly disquieted with cruell warres and specially betwixt the Venetians and the Genoans whom the Pope threatned with excommunication if they both desisted not but before hee was able to accomplish this worke he ended his life after he had ruled seuen yeeres fiue months after whose death followed a great schisme in the Church of Rome For the Cardinalls of Italie choosed an Italian Pope whom they called Vrbanus the sixt and the Cardinalls of France choosed a Pope of the French nation whom they called Clemens the seuenth This scisme continued for the space of 38. yeeres vntill the generall Councell holden at Constance during which time were found at least two Popes raigning at one time the one in Auiniogue and the other in Rome In the dayes of this Pope Vrbane sprang vp Iohn Wickliffe in England of whose doctrine somewhat shall hereafter be spoken God willing whom Pope Vrbane such was the prouidence of God could not attend to suppresse being otherwise busied in suppressing his Competitor Clement the seuenth insomuch that this litle sparkle which begun in England enkindled forth with flames in the kingdome of Boheme and many other places to the great hurt of Antichrists kingdome To Vrbane after hee had ruled vnhappily as Platina writeth a eleuen yeeres and eight months succeeded Bonifacius the ninth and ruled foureteene yeeres and nine months hee was impudent in selling of Pardons that hee brought Peters keyes into great contempt After him succeeded Innocentius the seuenth and ruled two yeeres Of other Doctors IN this age God raised vp manie witnesses of his truth as also made the knowledge of letters the studie of tongues to spring vp againe after it had bin suppressed many yeeres in the Roman church for some learned men of the Grecians fearing the crueltie of the Turke fled vnto Italie by whose fruitfull trauaills learning begun againe to reuiue and spread it selfe thorow all parts of the West Of this number was Emmanuell Chrysoloras of Byzantium Theodorus Gaza of Thessalonica and Georgius Trapezuntius with many moe whose names are worthie to bee kept in good remembrance because they brought a good treasure with them out of Grecia where with many afterward were enriched Amongst those witnesses of the truth Marsilius Patavinus is iustly numbered who taking the defence of the Emperour Lewes agâ—inst the Pope who did excommunicate him affirmes in his booke called defensor pacis that the Pope hath no authoritie ouer other Bishops much lesse ouer the Emperour Secondly that the word of God ought only to be iudge in all causes Ecclesiasticall Thirdly that the Clergie and Pope should be subiect to Magistrates Fourthly That the head of the Church is Christ and that hee neuer appointed any vicar or Pope ouer his vniuersall Church Fiftly That Bishops ought to be chosen by their owne Church and Clergie Sixtly That the Mariage of Priests may be lawfully permitted Seuenthly That S. Peter was
his hand they put frankencense into his right hand thinking that hee would haue scattered the incense vpon the altar and sacrificed but hee endured the torment patiently saying the words of the Psalme Blessed be the Lord who teacheth mine hands to fight In the end Licinius made warre against Constantine and being diverse times ouercome both by sea and land hee yeelded himselfe at length and was sent to Thessalia to liue a private life where hee was slaine by the souldiers So Constantine obtained the whole Empire alone Here end the ten Persecutions CENTVRIE IV. Constantine THE Church of Christ flourished in time of the ten Persecutions as a Palme tree groweth vnder the burthen and spreads out her branches by increasing growth toward heaven Satan on the other part that piercing and crooked Serpent who striues against the militant Church of God both by might and slight when his might faileth it is time to try his slight which he did by the canker-worme of hereticall doctrine Now therefore let vs entreate of the Arrian and Eutychian Persecutors in the three subsequent Centuries Other Heretiques albeit they were fierce and cruell such as the Donatists yet their crueltie was like vnto the stighling of a fish when the water is ebbed and shee is not covered with the deepenesse of over-flowing water the more stirre she maketh the nearer shee is vnto her death But the Arrian and Eutychian Heretiques found Emperours favourably inclined to the maintenance of their errors such as Constantius and Valens protectors of the Arrian heresie Anastatius and Heraclius favourers of the heresie of Eutyches This support they had of supreame powers strengthened the arme of Heretiques and made them able to persecute the true Church of Christ. Notwithstanding betwixt the ten great Persecutions and the Arrian persecution a short breathing time was granted by God vnto his Church who will not suffer the rodde of the wicked perpetually to lie vpoÌ„ the righteous lest they put out their hand vnto inquity The dayes of the raigne of Constantine were the breathing daies of the persecuted Church Men banished for the cause of Christ by the Emperours edicts were returned from their banishment restored to their offices dignities and possessions which duely belonged vnto them The heritage and goods of such as had suffered death for the cause of Christ were allotted to their neerest kinsmen and in case none of these were found aliue then their goods were ordained to appertaine vnto the Church These beginnings of an admirable change of the estate of persecuted men wrought in the hearts of all people a wonderfull astonishment considering within themselues what could bee the event of such sudden and vnexpected alteration The care that Constantine had to disburthen persecuted Christians of that heauy yoke of persecution that pressed them downe so long was not onely extended to the bounds of the Romane Empire wherein Constantine was soveraigne Lord and absolute Commander But he was carefull also to procure the peace of Christians who lived vnder Sapores King of Persia who vexed Christian people with sore and grievous persecution so that within his Dominions more then sixteene thousand were found who had concluded their liues by martyrdome Among whom Simeon Bishop of Selentia and Vstazares the Kings eldest Eunuch and his nurs-father in time of his minority Pusices ruler of all the Kings Artificers Azades the Kings beloved Eunuch and Acepcimas a Bishop in Persia all these were men of Note and Marke who suffered martyrdome vnder Sapores King of Persia. While the cogitations of Constantine were exercised with meditation by what meanes the distressed estate of Christians in Persia might be supported by the providence of God the Ambassadours of Sapores King of Persia came to the Emperor Constantine whose petitions when he had granted hee sent them backe againe to their Lord and Master and hee sent with them a Letter of his owne intreating Sapores to bee friendly to Christians in whose Religion nothing can be found that can iustly bee blamed His letter also bare the bad fortune of the Emperor Valerian the eight persecuter of Christians and how miserably hee ended his life and on the other part what good successe the Lord had given vnto himselfe in all his battels because hee was a defender of Christians and a procurer of their peace What peace was procured to distressed Christians in Persia by this letter of Constantine the history beares not alwayes his endevour was honest and godly In Constantines dayes the Gospell was propagated in East India by Frumentius and Edesius the brother sonnes of Meropius a man of Tyrus This History is written at length by Ruffinus Theodoretus Sozomenus and many others Likewise it was propagated in Iberia a country lying in the vttermost part of the Euxine Sea by the meanes of a captiue Christian woman by whose supplications first a childe deadly diseased recovered health and afterward the Queen of Iberia her selfe was relieved from a dangerous disease by her prayers made to Christ. The King of Iberia sent Ambassadours to Constantine craving of him that hee would send Preachers and Doctors to the countrey of Iberia who might instruct them in the true faith of Christ. Which desire also Constantine performed with great gladnesse of heart Now to returne and to speake of the Dominions subiect to the Romane Empire Constantine the sonne of Constantius Chlorus began to raigne in the yeare of our Lord 310. and hee raigned 31. yeares hee gaue commandement to reedifie the Temples of the Christians that were demolished in the time of the persecution of Dioclesian This commanmandement was obeyed with expedition and many more large and ample Churches were builded meet for the conventions of Christian people Likewise the temples of Idols were locked vp better they had beene demolished and equalled to the ground then had it beene a worke of greater difficulty to Iulian the Apostate to haue restored againe Heathen Idolatry Many horrible abuses both in Religion and manners were reformed by the authority and commandement of the Emperour such as cubitus mensuralis called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Egypt whereunto was attributed the vertue and cause of the inundation of Nilus by the Egyptians therefore by the Emperors commandement this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was transported out of their Temples In Rome the bloody spectacle of Gladiatores that is of Fencing men with swords killing one another in sight of the people was discharged In Heliopolis a towne of Phoenicia the filthy manners of young women accustomed without controulment to prostitute themselues â—o the lust of strangers vntill they were maried this filthy custom I say by the commandement of the Emperour Constantine was interdicted and forbidden In Iudea the Altar builded vnder the Oke of Mambre where the Angels appeared to Abraham and whereupon the Pagans offered sacrifice in time of solemne Faires for buying and selling of
England by his brothers wife Whereupon the Emperour forsaking the marriage did couple himselfe with Ladie Isabell daughter to King Emmanuel of Portugall which marriage was done in the yeere of our Lord 1526. The King vpon this occasion casting many things in his minde beganne to consider the matter more deeply and finding that neither his conscience could be cleered in keeping his brothers wife nor yet the estate of the Realme firme by the succession of a daughter begotten in such a marriage he proposed the question to the chiefe Vniversities of all Christendome whose censures all agreed in one that the marriage was vnlawful Yet would not the King proceed to the divorcement without the Popes consent Who sent Campeius his Ambassadour with concurrance of the Cardinall of Yorke to be iudges in that cause The Cardinall of Yorke called Wolsey at the first was verily bent to haue the divorcemēt set forward but afterward finding that the Kings affection was bent towardes Ladie Anne Bulloigne to take her in marriage he changed his purpose sent advertisment to Pope Clement that in case King Henry the eight were divorced from Ladie Katherine then should another infected with Luthers doctrine succeede in her place to the great hurt of the Church of Rome For this cause the Pope calleth backe his Ambassadour Campeius before the Kings cause was decided Neuerthelesse the King proceeded in his purpose and was divorced from Ladie Katherine by meanes of Dr Cranmer This was the ground of that great hatred that fell out betweene the Pope and King Henry for on the one part the Pope cursed King Henry and the Realme of England for the divorcement The King on the other part abolished in his Realme the Bishop of Romes vnlawfull tyrannie with commandement that he should be called no more Pope in his Country but onely Bishop of Rome and that the King should be taken and reputed as supreame head of the Church of England haue full authoritie to reforme and redresse errours heresies and abuses in the same Now to returne againe to Germanie The Emperour was so busied with Warres all this time that he had no leisure to tarry in Germanie and although many assemblies were gathered to suppresse the doctrine of Luther he was onely present at two to wit at the first kept at Wormes the last kept at Auspurg For this cause it seemed good to the Emperour to declare his brother Ferdinand to be King of the Romanes and apparent successor to the Empire to the end he might with greater authoritie gouerne the affaires of the Empire in his absence He sent also letters to the Protestants commanding them to acknowledge him King Wherefore the Ambassadours of the Protestant Cities being gathered at Franckford concluded with the Princes that for their part they would not for this resist the Emperour for denying a title and a name only to his brother to make him more eager against their Religion But the Duke of Saxonie other Princes not agreeing thereto writ to the Emperour that because it was done against the manner and liberty of the Empire they could not allow it This seemeth to be the first ground of the warres that after followed For Ferdinand King of the Romanes expelled Vlrich of Wirtenberge from his Lordship and when no redresse could be had at the Emperours hands the Landgraue of Hesse with his cousin Vlrich gathered an Armie at Lawferme by Wirtenberg ouercame their enemies and put them to flight recouered the townes of Asperge Wrath Tubinge and Niphe and tooke prisoner Philip Prince Palatine and chiefe Captaine of Ferdinands armie Shortly after agreement was made on these conditions that Vlrich should haue againe his Lordship of Wirtenberg but so that he should hold it by the benefit of Ferdinand and the house of Austrich that if issue male did saile in the house of Wirtenberge that Lordship should returne to the heire of the Emperours house of Austrich that the Landgraue and Vlrich should come to Ferdinand and submit themselues to him The Emperour foreseeing that this diversitie of Religion that was in Germanie would in the end burst forth into some bitter fruit and great inconuenience aduised with himselfe by what means reconciliation might be made and all controversie might cease and in the end appointed a Councell at Wormes and communication of Religion and for this cause sent Granuellanus thither But the matter was so long delayed by the fautors of the Sea of Rome vntill Letters came from the Emperour againe to deferre the whole matter to the Councell of Ratisbone To which came all the Princes of the Empire except the Duke of Saxonie who came not himselfe but sent thither a noble ambassage together with Melanchthon and other Preachers Vnto the same Councell also came from the Pope Caspar Conterane a Cardinall In this disputation Fredericke the Palsgraue and Granuellane were appointed moderators Melanchthon Bucer and Pistorius Disputers for the Protestants Pflugius Eccius Gropper for the Papists Vnto these six was offered a booke conteining the definition of most Articles in Controversie which they were willed to ouer-looke and either to allow or disallow those things that they could agree vpon This booke was deliuered againe after a time to the Emperour in many points they could not agree in some they did The Protestants deliuered together with the booke their opinion concerning those controversies and their arguments to proue the same The Emperour deliuered the same to the Princes to be examined but they being most part Popish referred the whole matter to the Popes Ambassadour who exhorting the Bishops to honestie of life and suppressing of Luthers doctrine thought good it should be deferred to a generall Councell This convention which began in Aprill Anno 1541. was dissolued in the end of Iulie after that the Emperour had decreed that the communication begun and whole controversie of Religion should be deferred to a generall or Provinciall Councell of Germanie That the Protestants should teach no other points of Religion then such as were agreed vpon That Bishops should see amendment of life in their Diocesse That there should be a Provinciall Councell within a yeare and an halfe if they could not obtaine a generall Councell of the Pope That the Churches of Monasteries should not be pulled downe but reformed that the Church-goods should not be inverted that the decree of Ausbrough and all Proscriptions of the Protestants should be suspended all those conventions of estates disputations promises of generall or provinciall Councels to be kept in Germanie could not reconcile diuerse Religions but at length lurking hatred behoued to breake out into open hostilitie The first occasion whereof was offered by Henry Prince of Brunswick who by often invasion of Cities confederated with the Protestants in Germany moued the Duke of Saxonie and the Landgraue to make warre against him in name quarrell of all the Protestants confederated by the league of Smalcaldy
In this warre they subdued all his dominions and compelled him with his eldest sonne Charles to flie for their safetie into Bavarie Henry to recouer his dominions againe first pursued the Protestants in the Chamber-court of the Empire but the Protestants appealed and refused the iudgement thereof Next he made his complaint to Ferdinand the Emperours brother and last went into Italie to the Emperour there at Cremona grieuously accused the Protestants to whom the Emperour sent an hard message that if the Prince of Brunswick were not restored he would take such order whereby he should be restored whether they would or no. Notwithstanding all this the Emperour at his returning into Germanie after he had heard the declaration of the Protestants against the Duke of Brunswick albeit the Emperour was loath to giue out any grieuous sentence against him yet at length he determined that all the Dukes lands should remaine as sequestred in his hands vntill that matter were ended All this while the Emperour was busied in warres against the King of France â—ut in the end a peace was concluded betweene them vpon certaine conditions Amongst others this was one that they should both ioyne in the restitution of the Romish Religion The effects of this vnhappie agreement were soone felt both in France and Germanie for in France Minerius governour of Provance by the Kings commandement went with an Armie against the Waldenses that dwelt in Merindol Cabreire and certaine other Townes of Provance The poore men of Merindol fearing his comming fled into the Woods and Mountaines with their wiues and children he in the meane time spoyled and burned the townes being left voyde and in Merindol finding but one young man bound him to an Oliue tree and shot him thorow with guns At Cabreire the Citie was yeelded vnto him vpon promise that they should sustaine no harme but he kept no promise but shewed great crueltie killing them euery one some in the Churches some in other places and burned 40 women that were in a Barne full of straw There were slaine partly in that towne partly abroad aboue 800. beside other places They which fled vnto the mountaines woods partly were famished partly otherwise slaine partly sent to the Gallowes 25 persons that fled into a caue by the towne of Mussie were smoothered to death with smoke Certaine of the Heluetians sued vnto the king of France to faâ—our the Waldenses but no entreatie would serue alwayes this tyrane Minerius escaped not the iust iudgement of God for God striked him with a terrible disease and hee felt like vnto a fire burning him from the navell vpward and the lower parts were rotten and consumed away with vermine with an extreame stinke and profusion of blood in place of his vrine and so with great torments hee ended his wretched life In Germanie like as it was harder to oppresse so great a number as had alreadie embraced the Gospell so likewise the Emperour was compelled to doe his turne by craft rather then by force for he sent letters to diuers cities of the Protestants as to Argentine Noriberg Ausbrough Vlmes indeuouring to perswade them that he entended not warre against them but against certaine other traytours and rebells against whom hee doubted not but they would assist him In like manner also he writ to the Prince of Wittenberg Also when Palsgraue of Rhene writ to the Emperour to know against whom he prepared his war he receiued the same answere that before was written to the cities with manifest signification that it was against certaine Princes of the Protestants not so much for religion as for other things and finallie the Heluetians who had receiued the Gospell Tigure Berne and Basile were circumuented with the like policie for the Emperour had perswaded â—hem that he would not medle with religion by this meanes hee had not onely diuers places quiet but also vsed the helpe of many Princes and cities which fauoured the religion against the Duke of Saxonie and Lantgraue of Hesse This war begun in the selfe same yeere wherein the Councell of Trent was gathered to with 1546. the league between the Emp. the Pope against the Protestants was openly pronounced at Trident. The Pope also laied in the Venetians hands for this war 200000. Crownes and moreouer for the space of halfe a yeere did finde 10000. Italian foote and 500. light horsemen Thus was their great preparation and deepe policie vsed to suppresse two noble Princes whom they knew to be chiefe defenders of the reformed religion The Emperour being at Ratisbone and looking for his companies of Italians and Spaniards in the meane time by Proclamation proscribeth out-lawes the Duke of Saxonie and the Lantgraue alleadging these causes That they had made warre against certaine Princes of the Empire That they had spoyled them and oppressed certaine Bishops That they refused and subverted the iudgement of the chamber-court and entered league against him making no mention of religion Shortly after hee sent a copie of this proscription vnto Maurice and August Princes of Saxonie and commaunded them as being next of their kinred to enter vpon the goods lands that appertained vnto them threatning grieuous punishments except they so did The Protestants hauing a copie of the proscription answered vnto the same at large And first whereas the Emperour pretended the fauour of religion and commonwealth they declared by many arguments that it was dissembled false And as touching the causes of their proscription expressed they answered to euerie part and cleered themselues protesting that they did not make warre vpon the Emperour but repell that iniurie which he offered them The Bohemians incited by their king Ferdinand first invaded the lands of the D. of Saxonie lying next vnto them Maurice Prince of Saxonie sent advertisement to the Duke that seeing he was heire to the Dukedome hee would take such order as his heritage should not come into other mens hands and immediatly by the helpe of Ferdinands armie subdued all the Dukes lands except Viteberge Isimake and Goth perceiuing himselfe to be in hatred and displeasure with many for so doing set forth a Proclamation to excuse himselfe saying that hee could not lawfully resist the Emperour seeing that he had assured him that hee would neither opresse religion nor yet hurt the libertie of Germanie The Duke of Saxonie willing to recouer againe his owne lands assaulted Lipsia and departing from thence did not onely recouer all that he had lost in Turinge and Misne but also wanne from Maurice all his cities except Lipsia and Dresta Maurice and August on the other part ioyning with the armie of Ferdinand were all minded to ioyne also with the Emperours armie and so with all their forces to invade Saxonie The nobilitie in the Countrey thinking it was dangerous to their libertie to bring so many Spaniarde and Italians into their Countrie sent word to Maurice and August that they
the Protestants in crauing so great liberties put the enemies in suspicion and feare that the Nobles of Fraunce had secretlie banded themselues with the Protestants About the same time Count Mongomry had returned out of England had taken some townes in Normandy but soone after he was besieged in Donfront a town of Normandy by Matigonus the kings Lieutenant in those parts to whō he yeelded himself vpon certain conditions which were not kept vnto him but he was sent immediatly to Paris to the king The Duke of Aniow had departed from France to the kingdome of Polonia the king of France was fallen sicke also many noble men in the land were highlie offended at the ambition pride and crueltie of the Queene mother who had not onely cut off the noble men of the Protestants but also intended the like crueltie against many other noblemen in Fraunce whose names were insert in the bloody roll of the Massacre albeit they professed the Roman religiō The Queene mother knowing that she was vehementlie hated in the land and fearing left this matter should tend to her vtter disgrace and abandoning of all her authoritie thought meete to prevent all the deuices of the nobilitie of France against her and begun to lay hands on those of the Nobilitie whom she most suspected and cast them in prison such as D. Alauscone her owne son whom she knew to be discontent with her forme of gouernment and the king of Navarre also Monmerance and Cassens Marescallis The Prince of Condie also was to be taken but he conveyed himselfe away secretly vnto Germanie In the meane time the king died in the moneth of May Anno. 1574. with greateffusion of blood from many parts of his body And the Queene mother had all the gouernment in her owne hand vntill the returning of her son out of Polonia whom shee aduertised of the death of his Brother Charles and desired him without all delay to returne againe to Fraunce In the meane time the cruell heart of the Queene mother thirsting for blood procured that Count Mongomrie should be condemned to death This is that noble man who had slaine king Henry the father of Charles with a speare whom king Henry would not suffer to be harmed for that cause it being done in game and against Mongomries heart Neuerthelesse when he came in the hands of this mercilesse woman he must die Before king Henry returned out of Poland vnto France the Prince of Condie had sent from Germanie to France Messengers to declare to the Protestants the great care of his minde to advance the Religion and to procure the peace and libertie of his countrie who also was chosen to be generall commaunder of all the Protestants Many Catholikes were associate with him who being of a contrarie religion notwithstanding tooke armes with the Prince of Condie to restore the countrie to the owne libertie In the moneth of December Anno 1574. the king came to Lyons where the Queene mother accōpanied with Alauscon her son and the king of Navarre and Duke of Guise were awaiting for his cōming In this towne they aduised what was most expedient to be done whether they should prosecute the war or they should quiet the countrie with new edicts of pacification The Queene mothers aduise was that the king should assault the townes of Languedok Delphine that were kept by the Protestants because the presence and terrour of the king would so astonish the peoples hearts that incontinent they would yeeld and giue ouer the townes into the kings hands This aduise was followed and the king besieged the towne of Pusinum in Viuaret tooke it also the towne of Libero in Delphin was strōgly besieged but the king was cōpelled to leaue his siege to depart from the towne which according as the name of it foretokened remained free and vnconquered by the aduersaries during the time of this siege the Cardinal of Loraine died vpon this occasion The king being in Avinion some Paenitentiaries fortuned to scourge themselues in a cold winter season the Cardinall would ioyne himselfe to their fellowship and walked barefooted in the companie of those Paenitentiaries wherby he contracted a deadlie disease and soone repented this repētance The king himselfe was content to afflict his body after the same forme which was expoūded by many to be an euil presage that he should not conquer that little towne of Libero but should be scourged from the towne leaue the siege of it with shame which truly came to passe From thence the king went to Paris to his Coronation where many Ambassadours came to the king not only from the Prince of Condie who as yet remained in Basile but also from the D. of Sauoy and the Cantons of the Switzers and from the Queene of Englād to treat for peace but al their trauels were ineffectuall for the conditions of the peace could not be agreed vpon so the war continued waxed hote In Languedoke Anvillius although he was of the Romane religion yet had ioyned himselfe to the Protestants and tooke Agnes Mortes a towne of great importance in those parts with many other townes In Delphin Mombruniris was chiefe commaunder and had so good sucesse in all his attempts that he was a great terrour to the aduersaries In the end he was sore wounded and taken beside Dia a towne in Delphine and by the commaundement of the king and Queene mother was carried to Grenoble and there was executed in the sight of the people This war was much different from the former warres wherein those that were of one religion were also on one side but now the Catholikes were mingled with the Protestāts which thing albeit it seemed for a time to augment their number yet in the end it turned to euill as shall be declared hereafter God willing The Prince of Condie had required helpe of Cassimire the sonne of Count Palatine who also had condiscended to support the distressed Church of Fraunce and very strict obligations of mutual duties were passed between them as these namely that they should not dissolue their armes vntill that libertie were obtained to the Protestants fullie to enioy their owne Religion And likewise that Cassimire should haue the townes of Metis Tullion and Verdum in his hands besides other townes in all the Provinces of France which the Protestants were to require for there further assurance and as pledges of the Kings fidelitie faithfulnesse towards them While this armie of Cassimire was marching forward towards Loraine Alauscon the kings brother departed from Court and many of the nobilitie of France resorted to him all pretending that they could not suffer the countrie to be exhausted with ciuill warres and the people to be vexed with exorbitant and vnnecessarie taxations All those tumults were found in the end to be the subtile policies of the Q. mother by the meanes of Alauscon her son to
and that he would giue him what part of his Realme hee would aske to let him liue in peace This their enterprise succeeding so well farre aboue their owne expectation mooved them to set forward and to desire of the King that hee would make and sweare an irrevocable edict of extirpation of Heretikes To take by force the townes holden by those of the new religion To renounce the protection of Geneva to authorize their warres to reconcile them vnto him to bee of their league and of a King to become a participant Wherevpon followed an edict prohibiting the exercise of the new religion and revoking all other edicts that favoured it commanding all the Ministers out of the Land and all subiects in France within six moneths after to make profession of the Catholike religion or to depart out of the Realme Dispersing also the tripertite chambers of Parliaments likewise ordayning that the townes given in hostage to those of the religion should be yeelded vp and approving the warre which the Leaguers had begun acknowledging it to be done for his service And not content with this they asked of the King for their further surety the townes of Chalon Thoul Verdium Saint Desier Rhems Soissons the Castle of Dyon the towne and castle of Beaume Rue in Picardie Dinan and Conque in Brittaine to be delivered vnto them The King of Navarre all this while kept himselfe quiet being solicited by the King so to doe But when hee saw the King had rendered himselfe to the appetite of the Leaguers hee set forth a declaration of the cause why the Leaguers had taken armes of the vanity of their pretences and of the fruits which the Estates in France might reape by the conclusions of Peronne Nemours and Nauty for in those places the Leaguers had bound vp their league with protestation that with him the Prince of Condie his cousen the Duke de Mommerencie with Lords Gentlemen Provinces and Townes both of the one religion and of the other so many as would concurre with him should oppose themselues to the authors of these troubles In the meane time while the King of Navarre is so busied with the King and the Leaguers who were now as it were incorporate in one bodie the third assault commeth on and Pope Sixtus the fift with his thunderbolts of excommunication setteth vpon him declaring him to be vncapable of the crowne of France abandoning his person and his countrey for a prey to such as should obtaine them At the same time also the Electors of Germany who in all the former warres had beene so helpfull to the Protestants of France was not vnmindfull of them at so strait a pinch but sent Ambassadours to the King desiring him to heare the requests of his neighbours and to pity the case of his poore subiects and not to keepe backe the edict of peace that hee had lately graunted vnto them The King answered that hee thought strange that forrain Princes should meddle with his affaires and that he would doe nothing against the honour of his conscience nor the fatherly care he had vnto his people With this answer the Ambassadours returned not well pleased The Duke of Guise being advertised of the dislike the Ambassadours of Germany had touching their answere counselled the King to set vpon the Protestants before the Rutters entred into France so that in lesse then eighteene moneths the King of Navarre saw himselfe assayled by fiue Camps royall vnder fiue severall Generals Neverthelesse very few exploites worthy of remembrance were done by those armies vntill the army of the Germanes entred into France vnder the conduct of the Baron of Othna a man of greater courage then experience The Duke of Bulloigne in the name of the King of Navarre ioyned with the Baron of Othna to leade this great army wherein were moe then thirty thousand Switzers Rutters and French-men They marched from Loraine to Cheaumont in Bassigny and passed the river of Marne also they crossed l' Anbe at Montigny and Seine aboue Casklion and Cure aboue Vermentone and Yome hard by Crenaunt and so made haste towards the river of Loire There began the complaints of the Switzers and the mutinies of the Rutters because the King of Navarre came not to them and the King of France was at the side of the river Loire either to fight with them or to stay their passage At this time the King vsed a stratagem which was the cause of his victory and of the dissipation of the army of strangers For hee considered that the onely meanes to breake their army was to impeach their ioyning with the King of Navarre Therefore he commanded the Duke Ioyense to keepe the King of Navarre in Poictou and rather to hazard battell then suffer him to passe the river of Loire as hee determined at the head thereof to the which end the Duke de Ioyense that had an army fortified both with men munition artillery and meanes marched to Coutras to passe la Drogne at Que and vpon tuesday the twentith of October Anno 1587. he stayd with all his forces betweene la Rotch Chalais and Coutras The King of Navarre made toward him fully resolved to fight and about eight of the clocke in the morning the King of Navarres artillery began to play and that of Duke de Ioyense to answer them but not very fortunately for that either the ignorance or malice of the Canoners had placed it so low that the mouth of the canon shot right vpon a little hill of earth wherein the bullets stayed without piercing any further The battell was so soone decided that in ten houres this great army of the Kings that had the vantage both for place and number began to retyre and was sooner broken then fought withall The King of Navarre the Prince of Condie and the Earle of Soissons behaved themselues most valiantly executing the offices both of Captaines and souldiers and gaue thankes to God in open field In this battell Duke de Ioyense and Monsieur de S. Sauueur his brother were slaine and fiue and twenty other Gentlemen of name all their cornets were taken with their artillery and baggage and fourteene Gentlemen of account were taken and put to ransome That done the King of Navarre being eased of so many nets that were set vp to catch him marched forward to ioyne with the forraine army and to passe the river Loire The King on the other part to impeach the meeting of the two armies of his adversaries caused the ditches betweene Povilly and Dony to bâ—e broken vppe filling them with thousands of trees stones and chaines to entangle the feet of the Rutters horse that should passe and in truth the letting of that passage was next to the helpe of God the second cause the King had of the victory For the Rutters being disappointed of their passage were compelled to recoile and having failed of their enterprise at la
and builded an house of presence wherein the people might cherish the Emperour Callynicus was compelled to consecrate the house by prayer but in regard he was enforced against his heart to pray he made his prayer short in this manner Glory be to God who patiently comporteth with vs both now and for euer Amen For this cause Iustinian hated Callynichus and when he returned backe againe from his ten yeers banishment he caused the eyes of Callynichus to be put out and sent him to Rome there to remaine in banishment Patriarchs of Alexandria IN Alexandria before the Saracens vnder the conduct of Mahomet conquered the countrey of Egypt few of note and marke were to be found in that chaire After Eulogius Iohannes scribo continued in office onely two yeeres After him Iohannes Eleemosynarius is highly commended for his liberalitie toward the poore Cyrus his successor was an heretique following the errour of the Monothelites He payed tribute to the Saracens but when the Emp. Heraclius was wearied of the payment of tribute then all the countrey of Egypt was possessed by the Saracens which incursion of the Mahumetans albeit it cutted not off the personall succession of the Patriarches of Alexandria yet it obscureth the cleare notice of their succession vnto vs who are farre distant from them Patriarches of Antiochia IN Antiochia Anastatius Sinaita is found to haue beene Bishop of Antiochia in the dayes of the Emperour Phocas He obtained this name to be called Sinaita because he had macerated himselfe with long fasting and with hard exercises of an heremiticall life vpon mount Sina Anno 610. hee was slaine in a seditious commotion stirred vp by the Iewes who dwelt at Antiochia who slew many other Christians but they vttered great crueltie ioyned with vile in humanitie against Anastatius in whose mouth they cast the verie excrements of his owne bodie as the Magdeburg Historie recordeth citing the testimonie of Nicephorus After him another of that same name called likewise Anastatius succeeded and was B. of Antiochia He was a Syrian a man of a subtile spirit who circumuented the Emperour Heraclius for at the Emperours command he subscribed the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon onely simulately and for desire of preferment but after he had subscribed that two natures personally vnited were to be acknowledged in Christ he demanded of the Emperour what he thought of the will and operation of Christ whether was two willes and operations in Christ or one will and one operation onely The Emperour troubled with the noueltie of the question consulted with Sergius B. of Constantinople who returned this answere to the Emperour that one will and one operation was to be acknowledged in Christ. The Emperour Heraclius being circumvented by false and deceitfull teachers was ashamed to forsake that opinion which he had once condiscended vnto So this heresie of the Monothelites tooke deepe roote in the East vntill the time that God punishing the contempt of his truth suffered the Saracenes with their blasphemous Mahometan doctrine to be vniversally ouer-spred in the East To Anastatius succeeded Macarius a most obstinate defender of the heresie of the Monothelites for the which cause hee was excommunicated and deposed in the sixt generall Councell and Theophanius an Abbot in Sicilie was made bishop of Antiochia After him are reckoned Petrus Thomas and Ioannes without any further discourse except a bare commemoration of their names Patriarches of Ierusalem THe Church of Ierusalem in this age was pitifully defaced as lying nearest to the incursions of strong enemies both Persians and Saracens Zacharias Bishop of Ierusalem was carried captiue by Cosroes king of Persia and remained a prisoner for the space of fourteene yeeres In the ende hee was restored to his former dignitie at that time when the Emperour Heraclius ouercame Cosrâ—es in warre-fare and recouered the â—rosse of Christ againe which the Persians had spoyled and taken out of Ierusalem This came to passe in the yeere of our Lord 624. To Zacharias succeeded Sophronius of a Monke Hee was made Patriarch of Ierusalem He lacked not his owne commendation in the sixt generall Councell as one who kept the true Faith iuuiolable He was present in Ierusalem when Haumer Prince of Saracenes entered into the Towne and Temple and he was a beholder of the last desolation of the Church in the towne Other Pastors and Doctors IN this Centurie there is great scarsitie of learned men yet that which was lacking in learning it must bee supplied one way or other Some were politique others in the opinion of ignorant people were so deuout and holy that miracles were wrought by their handes and at their sepulchres namely lying miracles aduancing the kingdome of the Antichrist The most remarkeable Bishops of Rauenna in this Centurie were Theodorus Reparatus and Foelix all of contrarie dispositions and so flat opposite one to another as possible could be Theodorus was terrible and couetous and when hee saw that hee was despised by the people and Clergie being desirous of reuenge hee betrayed the libertie of the church of Rauenna in the dayes of the Pope Donus Reparatus being ignorant of that which Theodorus had done and finding the Church of Rauenna subjected to the chaire of Rome for verie heart griefe incontinent hee ended his life Foelix refused to pay vnto Constantine the summe of money which hee demanded as a testimonie of subjection For this cause Pope Constantine desired support from the Emperour Iustinian the second for subduing the Bishop of Rauenna Foelix on the other part hearing that the Emperours armie was approching to Rauenna for the cause aforesayd hee instigated the people to fight for the liberty of their Church Both the armies fought with martial courage In the end the Emperours armie preuailed the Towne of Rauenna was taken many were slaine others were carried captiue to Constantinople the eyes of Foelix were put out the rest were banished to Bithynia What can be found in this historie but pride on the one part ambitiouslie seeking superioritie and on the other part policie sometimes yeelding sometimes despairing and sometimes with bellicous hardinesse presuming to pleade a spirituall cause with weapons of a corporall warre-fare In this Centurie many miracles are attributed to the persons whom the people counted to be deuote Ioannes Bishop of Bergomum in Lombardie was a man of so great reuerent account that Princes were wont by rising our of their Thrones to doe honour vnto him It happened vpon a time that hee reproued Iâ—â—ipeâ—tus king of Lombardis freelie and sharpelie in time of a banquet Iunipertus willing to be reuenged of him prouided that hee should be sent home vpon a strong fierce and loftie horse which was accustomed to cast the riders and to teare and lacerate them But when the Bishop of Bergomum was mounted vpoÌ„ him hee left his fiercenesse and carried him peaceably and calmelie vnto his owne house Ioannes â—gnâ—â— bishop of Wâ—recht in whose hand a
father Ludouicus Pius Hee augmented the liturgie of the Masse with the addition of Agnus Dei and ordained that the Hostia should be diuided in three parts To Sergius the second succeeded Leo the fourth and ruled 8. yeares 3. months He was a man of many trades a builder a warriour and a Bishop He compassed the Vatican with a wall and made it in the similitude of a Towne and builded bull-warkes in the passages of Tyber as it issued from the towne He was a warriour fought against the Saracenes against whom also he preuailed And finally at some time he was a Bishop and he gathered a Councell of 47. Bishops in the which Athanasius a Cardinall Presbyter was damned for negligence in the worke of his calling This is the first time in the which mention is made of a Cardinall in the Historie for the Decretall Epistles as I haue alreadie declared are but fabulous lying writings In this Popes dayes Edelwulphus King of England came to Rome for performance of a vowe that hee had made He was courteously accepted by Pope Leo for which cause hee ordained a tribute yeerely to be paide to the bishop of Rome to wit a pennie Sterling out of euery house in England that kindled fire It is well remarked by Philip Morney that Leo the fourth in a certaine Epistle written to the Bishops of Britannie derogateth credit to all the Decretall Epistles assigned to the bishops of Rome preceding the dayes of Pope Siricius except onely to the Decretall Epistles of Pope Syluester So all the authorities that are alleadged by the Romane Church out of the Decretall Epistles for the space of 384 yeeres are of none effect by the confession of Pope Leo the fourth After Leo the fourth succeeded Pope Ioane the eight an English woman borne in the towne of Mentz She went to Athens cloathed with the apparell of a man accompanied with a Learned man and she profited in learning beyond her fellowes When shee came to Rome shee was regarded for her learning and was promoted to the dignitie of the Popedome and ruled two yeeres fiue months and foure dayes About the yeere of our Lord 854 being Pope she played the Harlot and by the prouidence of God this villanie of the Roman church which cannot erre was manifested to the whole world For in the time of a solemne Procession as she was going to the church of Laterā she trauelled in birth died and was buried without honour Onuphrius the Aduocate of all euill causes cannot ouer-passe this matter with silence but he bringeth an argument from the authority of Anastatius a writer of Chronologie to infringe the credit of this historie in this manner Anastatius saith hee liued about this time knew best who succeeded to Leo the fourth he maketh no mētion of Ioane the eight but of Benedictus the third as successor of Leo the fourth To this Philip Morney answereth That an argument taken from authoritie negatiuely hath no force Anastatius maketh no mention thereof ergo it was not done It followeth not for he bringeth in the testimonie of Ranulphus declaring the cause wherefore Anastatius omitted the name of the foeminine Pope to wit Propter deformitatem facti that is For the deformitie of the fact The nature of a short Compend permitteth me not to insist but let them who are desirous accurately to trie out the veritie of this matter reade that worthie Booke of Philip Morney called Misterium iniquitatis Then followed Benedictus the third and ruled two yeeres six months and nine dayes A man in honouring the Funeralles of the Clergie with his presence ready at all times and desirous likewise that the Funerall of the Bishop should bee honoured with the presence of the whole Clergie To Benedict the third succeeded Nicolas the first and gouerned seuen yeeres nine months and thirteene dayes He subdued the Bishop of Rauenna to his obediēce He suffered the Emperour Ludouicke the second to light from his horse to leade his bridle vntil he came to the Campo which was the space of a mile He permitted diuorcement betwixt married persons for Religions cause without consent of parties And that persons in spirituall offices should not be subject to the justice seates of ciuill Magistrates Hee ordained also that no man should receiue the holy Sacrament from a married Priest And that the Emperour should not be present at Ecclesiasticall Conuentions except when questions concerning Faith should bee intreated Likewise hee ordained That the seruice of God in all countries should be celebrated in Latine dispensing in the meane time with the Solauonians and the Polonians to haue the seruice of God in their owne Vulgar Language He added vnto the Liturgie of the Masse Gloria in Excelsis Hadrianus the second succeeded to Nicolas the first and ruled 5. yeeres nine months and twelue dayes He vsed Antichristian authoritie not onely against Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes but also against Carolus Caluus king of France whom hee commanded imperiously to present one Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum and nephewe to Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes to the ende that his cause might bee judged by the Apostolike seate The King tooke these letters in a very euill part and writ vnto the Pope That the Kings of France had euer beene Soueraigne Lordes in their owne countrie and not vice-gerentes vassales to Bishops and That hee would not permit any man who had beene damned in a lawfull Councell in his owne country to wit in the Councell of Acciniacum to make appellation to Rome In this Popes time the eight generall councell was assembled whereof I shal speake in its owne time God willing Ioannes the ninth succeeded to Adrianus the second and gouerned ten yeeres and two dayes This is he who for rewardes crowned Carolus Caluus to be Emperour and was cast into prison because hee was more affectionated to Ludouicus Balbus sonne to Carolus Caluus and king of France than to Carolus Crassus king of Germanie Neuerthelesse hee escaped out of prison and fled to Ludouicke king of France whom also hee crowned to be Emperour But Balbus after his coronation incontinent died and Pope Iohn the ninth must seeke new acquaintance because his olde friends were gone therfore he crowned Carolus Crassus to bee Emperour This was the first Pope who in time of his Popedome crowned three Emperours Martinus the second ruled one yeere and fiue months Hadrianus the third succeeded to Martinus the time of his gouernment was also short for he continued not aboue one yeere and two months yet neuerthelesse men who are busie may make much stirre in short time He perfected that worke which his predecessours had beene busied in bringing to passe many yeeres preceding namely That the Clergie and people of Rome should not attend vpon the allowance of the Emperour but they should freely choose whom they thought meetest to bee Pope Hee tooke
was Pope For this cause hee called the marriage of the Priests the heresie of the Nicholaitans and the acceptation of Prelacies from the hands of secular Princes Simony And vnder colour of extirpating two heresies hee most craftily travelled to bring vnder his soveraigntie all men who were clothed with civill or spirituall offices And first for the abolishing of the marriage of Priests hee sent strict commandement to the Bishops of France and Germany and other places that they should depose married Priests from their offices vnder paine of cursing and that they should accept no persons in their places but those who would binde themselues by a solemne oath to perpetuall continencie The Priests made greater reluctation to the Popes commandement then the Bishops did in so much that in the Councell of Mentz convocated by the Archbishop for obeying of the Popes commandement the Archbishop accompanied with the Popes Ambassadour could finde no other meanes to saue their liues but onely by flying from the incensed wrath of marryed Priests As concerning his other enterprise in extirping the heresie of Simony as hee called it that no Prelat should receiue investment from Emperours and Princes but onely from the Bishop of Rome This could not bee brought to passe without the thunder-bolts of excommunication whereby he so subdued the noble Emperour Henry the fourth that hee was compelled in sharpe winter weather to iourney to Italy and to seeke absolution from the Popes cursing It were too long to discourse of his sorceries lying prophecies and treasonable attempts against the noble Emperour And the weake apologie of Onuphrius will never be an vmbrage to couer the craft malice and divellish pride of this seditious Pope To Gregorie the seventh succeeded Victor the third who onely continued in his Popedome one yeere and an halfe After Victor the third succeeded Pope Vrbanus the second and ruled twelue yeeres foure moneths and eighteen dayes Hee assembled a Councell at Clermont in France and incited Christian Princes to vndertake a dangerous warfare against the Turkes and Saracens for recovering of the holy Land and for supporting of distressed Christians in those parts A certaine Monke called Peter who had gone on pilgrimage to Ierusalem deplored to the Councell in most lamentable manner the pitifull estate of Christians in Ierusalem And many Christian Princes were moued to vndertake an hazardous warre against the Turkes and Saracens vnder the conduct of Godfrey Duke of Loraine Robert Duke of Normandy Robert Count of Flanders and diverse other noble Princes an army of three hundred thousand Christian people set forward toward Ierusalem which they conquered out of the hands of Infidels with great effusion of blood and Godfrey was crowned King of Ierusalem with a crowne of thornes An. 1099. as Functius recordeth Patriarchs of Constantinople BEcause I reade of no memorable thing done by the Patriarches of Constantinople it shall suffice shortly to point out their names onely and to set forward In this Centurie we finde the names of these Patriarchs following to wit Antonius Nicolaus Sisinnius Sergius Eustachius Alexius Michael Constantinus Lithudes Iohannes Xiphilinus Cosmas Eustratius and Nicolaus Of other Pastors and Doctors PEtrus Damianus was brought vp in the Monasterie of Cassinates and was made a Cardinall and Bishoppe of Ostia by Pope Stephanus the ninth Hee was deposed by Benedict the tenth and deprived of his living because hee disapproved his entry to the Popedome Hee was cast into prison and bonds and when he was set at liberty he sought not restitution to his Bishopricke againe but hee lived an heremiticall life And when Pope Nicolaus the second and Hildebrand an Archdeacon obiected this fact against him opprobriously he writ an apologie and defended himselfe by the example of 36. Fathers who had done the like He was very superstitious and approved the custome of Monks who began to scourge themselues very impertinently cyting the examples of Christ who was scourged by Pontius Pilat and of the Apostle Saint Paul who was thrice beaten with roddes and fiue times received thirty nine stripes as if it were all one thing to scourge our selues and to bee scourged by others He was present at the Councel of Millan as substitute of Pope Nicholaus the second Ino Bishoppe of Charters in France was counted learned in his time nothing is more commendable in all his life then this when hee was cast in prison for disprooving the marriage of Philip King of France the Noblemen dwelling about Charters would haue by force delivered him but hee disswaded them from any such attempts onely willed them to pray to God for him His bookes are miserably spotted with the errours of his time such as Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Intercession and merits of Saints in prayer and diverse other errors Lanfrancus was borne in Papia a towne of Italy and became Archbishop of Canterburie hee was much reverenced for his learning Hee writ against Berengarius and defended the opinion of Transubstantiation He was in great credite with William the Conquerour King of England in so much that all spirituall and civill affaires seemed to bee ordered according to his appetite and pleasure This great credite procured against him the hatred of many Noblemen notwithstanding they could not prevaile against him all the dayes of King William Rufus the sonne of King William was of a more sterne and angry nature and albeit Lanfrancus had taken paines vpon his education notwithstanding his emulous competitours alienated the Kings heart somewhat from him whereby hee fell into a sharpe fever and dyed Ranulphus writeth of him that he wished to conclude his life either by fever or dysenterie because in these sicknesses the vse of a mans tongue continues oftentimes to the last breath Hee continued in his Prelacie nineteene yeeres and dyed in the third yeare of King Rufus Anselmus succeeded to Lanfrancus both in place and learning for hee was Bishop of Canterbury and a singular learned man Hee was borne in a towne called Augusta in the confines of Burgundie Hee was the disciple of Lanfrancus hee was first a Monke and afterward an Abbot in a Monastery of Normandie called Bettense and foure yeeres after the death of Lanfrancus the King of England promoted him to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury Anselmus in his admonitions to the King who at that time converted to his owne vse the rents of defunct Bishops and Abbots was free and plaine and for his freedome incurred great indignation in so much that hee compared himselfe vnto an Owle For saith he like as shee hath pleasure when shee remaineth in her owne nest and with her owne brood but when shee flyeth abroad shee is miserably misused and beaten with ravens crowes and other soules that forgather with her Even so saith hee when I am in company of you my familiar friends I liue in pleasure but when I goe to Court and am
Saint Peter himselfe were aliue and did rebuke the lewdnesse of their conversation they would not spare to take Saint Peters life also Moreouer hee sayd they were full of vncleannesse and were blinde guides leading the people headlong to Hell but the Lord would haue in remembrance their iniquities and call their wickednesse to account Thus the hatefull indignation of the Clergie being kindled against him for preaching the truth they layed waite for him secretlie and tooke him and drowned him Platina alledgeth that this fact displeased the Pope alwayes there was no inquisition to know the authors of this fact not punishment of malefactours who shed innocent blood in secret that manifested vnto the world the Popes indignation About this time was a booke written called Opus Tripartitum the author whereof was vnknowne but it is supposed to haue beene compiled by Arnulphus It contained great complaints of the manifold abuses of Church-men After Honorius succeeded Innocentius the second and ruled fourteene yeeres seuen months eight dayes Hee was a man of a militarie spirit albeit not fortunate in warfare For he made warre against Rogerius Duke of Sicilie whom hee besieged also in a certaine Castle But William Duke of Calabria Rogerius his sonne not onely relieued his father but also laid hands on the Pope and his Cardinals and made them Captiues and prisoners Rogerius delt friendly with the Pope and his Cardâ—nals and set them at libertie and obtained at the Popes hand whatsoeuer hee pleased except the name and title of a king At this time when the Pope was busied in warrefare the Romans advanced one called Peter the sonne of Leo a man of noble birth in Rome to be Pope And when Innocentius adressed himselfe to Rome hee did finde the faction of his Competitor to be strong and mighty therefore he sayled to Pisca and from thence to Geneua and from thence to France where hee assembled Councels at Clermont and at Rhemes and deliuered his Competitor to Sathan In the end hee was restored to his chaire againe by the Emperour Lotharius the second In his time the Towne of Rome being wearied with the tirâ—nnie of the Popes tooke resolution to be gouerned by Consuls The Pope to obviat this conceite of the people made an ordinance that whosoeuer did violently put hands on any person of the Clergie hee should be excommunicate and no man should haue power to absolue him but onely the Pope After Innocentius succeeded Coelestinus the second Hee was chosen Pope without the consent of the people as witnesseth Onuphrius he ended his course in the fift month of his Popedome To him succeeded Lucius the second and gouerned the Pestilentius chaire as the Magdeburg historie recordeth in a time when the Pestilence had great vpperhand in Rome Hee concluded his course in the eleuenth month of his Popedome After Lucius succeeded Eugenius the third sometime disciple to Bernard and ruled eight yeeres foure months and twentie dayes He so bestirred himselfe against the Senators of Rome that partlie by cursings and partly by force hee brought them in subiection and compelled them to receiue such Senators as the Pope by his authoritie pleased to assigne vnto them But it came to passe that hee who was desirous to be terrible and awfull to the Romans hee feared them in like manner that they were conspiring secretlie against his estate Therefore hee fled to Tybur and from thence to Fraunce to leade an armie to the East for the support of distressed Christians But this voiage had no good successe notwithstanding that the Popes blessing and Bernards Councell who was Abbot of Clarauall and much regarded at that time were both interposed to advance this often reiterated warrefare against the Turks When the Pope returned from France to Rome accompanied with great forces the people of Rome were affraid but the Pope soone after concluded his course at Tybur Anastatius the fourth succeeded Eugenius who continued in his Popedome one yeere foure months and twentie foure dayes To Anastatius succeeded Pope Adrian the fourth a Monke of the English nation employed by Pope Eugenius to goe to the people of Noroway whom hee brought vnder the Roman superstition and therefore was advanced by Pope Eugenius to the dignitie of a Cardinall and after the death of Anastatius the fourth he was promoted to the Popedome Hee would not goe to the Church of Lateran to be consecrated vntill Arnoldus Bishop of Brixia was driuen from the Towne of Rome because hee had counceled the Romans to claime to the auncient gouernment of their Towne to be guided by consuls and Senators But the proud Pope insisted so seriouslie against Arnoldus and the Romanes that hee compelled them by the force of his multiplied curses not onely to expell Arnoldus out of the Towne of Rome but also to submit themselues absolutely to the gouernment of the Pope The proud cariage of this Pope towards the noble Emperour Fredericke the first his bad successe in warrefare against the Duke of Sicilie and his miserable death in the Towne of Anagnia hath all beene touched in the historie of the life of Fredericke He ended his course after hee had ruled foure yeeres and ten months After Adrian the fourth succeeded Pope Alexander the third who had great debate against his competitor Victor the fourth called before Octavianus in respect the Emperour and the Princes of Germanie and a great number of the Clergie of Rome adhered to Pope Victor And on the other part to Pope Alexander adhered the kings of England France and Sicilie And this scisme indured a long time for remouing whereof the Emperour Fredericke appointed one councell at Papia and another at Diuion To the first hee would not appeare because hee thought the Pope should be iudged of no man To the Second he should not appeare because the councell of Diuion was not assembled by his owne authoritie but by the commandement of the Emperour This Litigious decertation tooke this effect that the Emperour and Bishoppes conuened at the foresaid Councels decreed Victor who appeared and was ready to submit hâ—s cause to the iudgement of a lawfull assemblie him I say they decreed to be Pope lawfully elected Pope Alexander fled to France and in the councell of Clermont hee excomunicated both the Emperour and his Competitor Victor these were the weapons of their warrefare against the Emperours and all others whom they supposed to be their aduersaries After the death of his Competitor Victor Pope Alexander being at Rome the Emperour Fredericke came with a strong armie thereto and Pope Alexander fled to the Venetians What Tragedie fell out in Venice forcing the noble Emperour to stoupe vnder the feete of the Pope for excessiue loue that hee caried towards his sonne hath beene declared in the Historie of the Emperour Frederickes life In this Popes dayes was Thomas Becket Bishop of Canterburie slaine Henry king of England purged himselfe to the Pope that
purpose to the ende hee may abolishe his sinnes by Almes-deedes for that is all one as if a man should hyre God to grant vnto him a libertie to sinne 37. Seeing all Canons of Councels are to be diligently read in speciall such as appertaine vnto faith and reformation of manners should bee most frequently perused 38. Bookes called Libelli Poenitentiales are to abolished because the erroures of these Bookes are certaine howbeit the authors of them be vncertaine and they prepare pillowes to lay vnder the heads of them who are sleeping in sinne 39. In the solemnities of the Masse Prayers are to bee made for the soules of them who are departed as well as for them who are aliue 40. Presbyters who are degraded liue like seculare men neglecting repentance whereby they might procure restitution to their office let them be excommunicated 41. A Presbyter who transporteth himselfe from his owne place shall not be receiued in any other Church except hee prooue both with witnesses and letters sealed with lead containing the name of the Bishop and of the Citie which he liued in that he hath liued innocently in his own Church and had a just cause of transportation 42. Let no Church bee committed to a Presbyter without consent of the Bishop 43. In some places are found Scots-men who call themselues Bishops they ordaine Presbyters Deacons whose ordination we altogether disallowe 44. Presbyters must not drinke in Tavernes wander in Markets nor goe to visite Cities without aduise of their Bishop 45. Many both of the Clergie Laickes goâ— to holy places such as Rome Turon imagining that by the sight of these places their sins are remitted and not attending to the sentence of Ierome It is a more commendable thing to liue well in Hierusalem than to haue seene Hierusalem 46. In receiuing the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ great discretion is to be vsed Neither let the taking of it be long differred because Christ saith Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud yee haue no life in you Neither let vs come without due preparation because the Apostle saith He who eateth and driâ—keth vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation 47. The Sacrament of the body blood of Christ which in one day is accustomed to be receiued of all Christians let no man neglect to receiue it except some grieuous crime doe hinder him from receiuing of it 48. According to the precept of the Apostle Iames Weake persons should be annointed with oyle by the Elders which oyle is blessed by the Bishop these words inclosed in a parenthesis are added to the Text for he saith Is any man sicke amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray for him and annoint him with oyle in the Name of the Lord And the prayer of faith shal saue the sicke and the Lord shall raise him vp And if he haue committed sin it shal be forgiuen him I am cap. 5. vers 14.15 Such a medicine as cureth both bodily spirituall maledies is not to be neglected 49. In the Councell of Laodicea it was forbidden that Masses should bee said and Oblations offered by Bishops or Presbyters in priuate houses This question also was disputed in this Councell 50. The authoritie of the Emperour is to be interponed for reuerent keeping of the Lords day 51. Because the Church is constituted of persons of diuerse conditions some are Noble others are ignoble some are seruants vassalles strangers c. It becommeth them who are in eminent rowmes to deale mercifully with their inferiours knowing that they are their brethren because God is one common Father to both and the Church is one common mother to both From the 52. Canon vnto the 66. are contained precepts of chaste and honest liuing prescribed to Prioresses and Nunnes which I ouer-passe as I haue done in the preceeding Councels 66. It is ordained that prayers and supplications shall be made for the Emperour and his children and for their well-fare both in soule and bodie 67. These things haue we touched shortly to be exhibited to our Soueraigne Lord the Emperour Hee who desireth a more ample declaration of all vertues to be followed and vices to be eschewed let him read the volume of the holy Scriptures of God IN the same yeere of our Lord wherein the preceding foure Councels were conueened by the mandate of the Emperour Charles the Great another Councell was conneened at Arles The Canons of this Councell were in number 25. 1. They set downe a Confession of their Faith 2. They ordaine That Prayers shall bee made for the Emperour and his children 3. They admonish Bishops and Pastors diligently to reade the bookes of holy Scripture To teach the Lords people in all truth and To administrate the Sacraments rightly 4. Laick people are admonished not to remooue their Presbyters from their Churches without consent of their Bishops 5. That Presbyters be not admitted for rewards 6. It is ordained That Bishops shall attend that euery person liue ordinately that is according to a prescribed rule The 7. and 8. Canons belong to the ordering of Monkes and Nunnes The 9. Canon pertaineth to the payment of Tythes and first fruits 10. It is ordained That Presbyters shall preach the word of God not only in Cities but also in euery Parochin 11. Incestuous copulations are to be vâ—terly abhorâ—ed 12. Peace is to bleeâ— kepâ— with all men according to the words of the Apostle Follow peace and sanctification without theâ— which no man shall see God Heb. cap. 12. vers 14 1â— Let Lords Iudges and the rest of the people be obedient to their Bishop let 〈…〉 judgâ—ment be vsed and no bribes receiued nor false testimonie be admitted 14. In time of Famine let euery man support the necessitie of his owne 15. Let all weightes and measures be equall and just 16. Let the Sabboth day be kept holy without Markets Iustice Courtes and seruile labour 17. Let euery Bishop visite his boundes once in the yeere if he finde the poore to be oppressed by the violence of the mightie then let the Bishop with wholesome admonitions exhort them to desist from such oppression and in case they will not desist from their violence then let the Bishop bring the cause to the eares of the Prince 18. Let Presbyters keepe the Chrisme and giue it to no man vnder pretence of Medicine 19. Parentes and Witnesses shall bring vp baptized children in the knowledge of God because God hath giuen them vnto Parents and Witnesses haue pawned their word for their faith 20. Ancient Churches shall not be depriued of Tythes nor of none other possession 21. That the constitution of ancient Fathers shal be kept concerning Buriall in Churches 22. Ciuill Iudgment-seates shall not bee in Churches 23. The goods belonging vnto the poore if they bee bought let it bee done openly in sight of the Nobles
with her The death of King Charles Count Mongomrie condemned to death by the Queene The Prince of Condie chosen the Protestants generall The fifth ciuill warre in France for Religion Libero besieged in vaine by king Henry The death of the Cardinall of Lorain procured by himselfe King Henry scourgeth him selfe after the manner of the penitentiaries Many Ambassadors sollicit the king for peace but in vaine Mombruniris taken and executed by the Queene Cassimire the sonne of Count Palatine promiseth to aide the Protestants Alauscon the kings brother ioyneth himselfe with the Protestants By an edict of pacificatioÌ„ the fift civill warre ended Solyman the Turke besiegeth Zigeth Solyman dieth the towne taken Selim sent for proclaimed Emp. Selim taketh Famagusta from the Venetians The battell of Lepanto wherein the Turkes received a great overthrow by the Christians The league of Peron 1576. for the extirpation of the Protestants The causes moving the Leaguers to proceed in their association The drift of the Leaguers enterprise against the K. and crowne The King for lacke of courage maketh himself a slaue to the appetites of he Leaguers An edict against the Protestants The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie with diverse others oppose themselues to the Leaguers The Pope excoÌ„municateth the King of France The Princeâ— of Germany send Ambassodors to deale for the Protestants helpe The sixt civill war in France for religion An army of Germans enter France in behalfe of the Protestants The battell of Coutras betwixt the Kings army the ProtestaÌ„ts The death of D. de Ioyense A skirmish betwixt the D. of Guise and the Rutters The Rutters retire out of France The Duke of Guise honored by the Pope and extolled by the Preachers of France for his crueltie The assemblie at Nancy of the Leagners against the King The conclusions agreed vpon by the assemble at Nancie The Duke of Guise contrarie to the kingâ— commandement arriueth at Paris and is of the people receiued with ioyfull acclamations The fearefull day of Barricadoes in Paris The king flieth out of Paris An edict published against the Protestants A Parliameâ—â— holden in France The death of the Duke of Guise The Queene mother dieth An assemblie of the Protestants at Rotchell send a request to the states at Bloyes The rebellion of the league against the king Duke De Maine sendeth men to surprise the king but is preuented The leaguers procure a Iacobin Monke to kill the king The death of Henry the third The Iacobin who killed the K. canonized The Cardinall of Burbon proclamed K. by the Leaguers K. Henry the 4. declared K. by K. Henry the 3. opposeth himselfe to the Leaguers The battell of Dreux wherein the Leaguers were discomfited The King besiegeth Paris The Duke of Parma entreth France for the â—eliefe of Paris The Duke of Parma returneth home In all other places of France the Leaguers went to ruine The Duke of Parma entreth France the 2. time in behalfe of the Leaguers but with bad successe The Kings favourites in diverse places prosper against the Leaguers The death of D. Ioyense The defection of the King from religion Peter Burrier stirred vp to slay the King The K. opposeth himself to the Leaguers Diuers towns yeeld themselues to the King Iohn Castill stirred vp by the Leaguers to murther the King is disappointed of his purpose Note The Parliaments decree about the execution of Castill and the Iesuits of Clermonts banishment The preparation of the Spanish nauie Anno 1588. A storme coâ—â—traineth the nauie to put to land The Spaniâ—â— Navie ouerthrowne Apostles Note Ioh. 16. Act. 12. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 32. Ierom. Cat. sâ—rip eccles Ierom. catâ—l sâ—r p. eccles Evangelists Func chron Ierom. The true successours of the Apostles Act. 20. Nazia in orat in laudem Athanafâ— Linus Euseb. l. 3. c. 2. Chap. 4. ver 3. Ignatius Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 36. Papias Euseb. l. 3. c. 39. Bishops of Rome Note Alexander martyred Euseb. eccles hist. lib 4. c 1. Xistus martyred Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 5. Telesphorusâ— martyr Euseb. l. 4. c. 10 Anicetus a martyr Euseb. l. 4. c. 14 Platira de vita Eleuthâ—â—ij The rasâ—nâ—sse of Victor Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 26. Of other Doctours and Preachers Ierom. Catal. scrip eccles Agrippas Castor Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 7. Hegesippus Euseb. l. 4. c. 11 Melito Euseb. l. 4. c. 13. Hist. Magdeb. Euseb. l. 5. c. 24. Iustinus a martyr The manner of Iustinus his conversion Iustin Dialog cum Trepb Iustin. apol 2. Polycarâ—us martyred Polycaryus his dreame before his apprehension Eusâ—b lâ—b 4. cap. 15. Iâ—eneus Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 5. Iren. lib. 5 con Valenâ— Iren. l. 2. c. 34. Clemens Alexandrinus Bâ—colc chron Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 11. Strom. lib. 2. Hist. Magdeb. Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 12. Euseb. lib. 6. cap. â— Zephyrinus Platin. Euseb. 6.21 Note Mat. 18.16 Canon Apost cap. 74. Callistus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Note Vrbanus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 22. Pontianus Platin. Tom. 1. Câ—ncil Anterus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 29. Fabianus Func Chron. Commentar Platin. de vitis Tom. 1. Concil Note Heb. 13 16. Cornelius A councel at Rome against Novatus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 43. The martyrdome of Cornelius Platin. de vita Euseb lib. 7. cap 2. Lucius Platin. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 2. Tom 1. Concâ—l Stephanus Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 5. Platin. in vitâ— Lucij Dan 5. Tom. 1. Concil â— Gratia no. cap. 5. Xistus 2. Euseb lib. â— cap. 27. Note Dionysius Felix 1. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 32. Platin. Mat. 26.73 Eutychianus â—â—seb lib 7. capâ—2 â—2 caius Euseb lib. 7. cap. 32. Func chron Platin. de vita Func Platin. Deâ—â—ct Caiâ— â—x lib. Pent. Dâ—mâ—â— Note Note Marcellinus Platin. Func Chron. Marcellus Platin. de vitis Eusebius Note Tertullian Ierom. catal scrip eccles Hist. Magd. cent 3. cap. 10. Origen Hist. Magd. cent 3. cap. 10. Note Coment Func in Chron. l. 6. Euseb. l. 6. c. 33. Ierom. catal script Eccles. Euseb. l 6. c. 17. Mat. 19.12 Euseb. l. 6. c. 8. Ierom. catul script eccles coment in Iona. Ierom. ibid. Nazian in laudem Cypriani Ierom. catal script eccles Hist. Madg. cent 3. câ—p 10. Note Aug. de Baptis contra Donat. lib. 5. cap. 17. Narcissus Examples of Gods iustice against false witnesses Euseb. c. 6. l. 9. Dios. Germanion Gordius Alexander Ierom. catal script Eccles. Ierom. ibid. Euseb. l 7. c. 14. Func Chron. Heraclas Dionysius Euseb. l. 6. c. 40. Func chron Asclepiades Euseb. l. 6. c. 1â— Zebenus Babylas Euseb. l. 6. c. 39. Fabius Euseb. l. 6. c. 44. Demetrianus Paulus Samosatenus Domnus Euseb. l. 7. c. 2â— Func Chron. Plat. â— Mâ—litiadâ—â— Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 5. August epist. 68. August epist. 162. 166. August Causâ—laâ—o epist. 86. Silvester Platina de vita Silvest Sâ—crat lib. 1. cap. 6. Theo. lib. 1. cap. 2.3 Euseb de vita Constâ—nt lib. 4. Simile Note Marcus Platin. de vita Mar. Iulius Soâ—om l.