the Church What humane spirit can scandalize these the Emperors letters What scruple of equity of piety or vprightnesse can any man say is wanting in them Who can iustifie that hee wrote otherwise then became a true and a Christian Emperor He but retorted the Bishops pride he maintained but the honor of the Empire he sought but reason and that was Christian humility and modesty in Christian Churchmen which in those times as the world then complained was not to be found in that sort of people What followed Peace I warrant you nothing lesse For the Pope not contented that by letters hee had bandied with the Emperor but writing vnto all the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany he punctually noteth downe the cariage of the cause and aggreuateth the indignity of the fact Admonishing them that sithence the action concerned the whole body of the Church for they will make vs beleeue that without their intrusions all Christendom must perish that they should corroborate themselues as a wall of brasse to sustaine the declining estate of the house of God And that they should not only find meanes to reduce the Emperor into the right way but also take open and condigne satisfaction vpon Rainold the Emperors Chancelor and Otto Earle of Wittelspach who forsooth had belched out infinit blasphemies against the Apostolike Legats and the Church of Rome That as the inciuilitie of their speech had offended the eares of manie so their penances might be an example to restore as manie againe into the right path of obedience But for that as certaine of the writers of that age doe testifie the then Bishops were not so eagerly addicted to maintaine the Popes vsurpations as many of them are now they conuocated a Councell and thus wrote backe vnto his fatherhood That they were not onlie wonderfullie agreeued at these abuses but also Arnold of Mogunce and Euerard of Saltzburge by their priuate letters admonished all Roman Priests Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Massemungers to giue ouer their saucinesse their pride their auarice their perfidie and all other enormities by which they robbed the poore and disturbed the peace of the Empire Finallie they humblie besought them that they would put their helping hands to worke Adrian to obserue peace vndertaking for the Emperor that he should do nothing but what stood with religion reason and equitie Sure these were bitter pills for Hadrians stomach But what remedy Popes as they are cursefull so are they politique and beeing well skild in speculation they know by the Planets when it is high time to hold a candle before the Diuell He that now reigneth is not Henrie the fourth but Frederick the first who is now preparing for Italie and hauing sent his honorable Embassadors Rainold his Chauncellor and Otto of Wittelsbach before to assemble a conuocation of the Princes and Bishops of Italy prepareth his way in potent and Princelike manner and meaneth himselfe in short time to sit in person in Councell amongst them Now is it time to fly vnto the fox his case a necromantique spell hath informed vs that the Lions skin will nothing preuaile vs Humble letters are dispatched towards Augusta to lenifie the Emperours displeasure and Henrie Duke of Saxonie and Bauaria with Otho the Frison made intercessors to reconciliation No long time after Hadrian betakes himselfe againe to his perspectiue where obseruing that the Cities of Italy Crema being hardly besieged by Frederick had interprised a conspiracie to re-uindicate their liberty the Pope hauing vtterly forgotten his yesterdaies reconciliation traiterously adhereth to the faction and animateth the conspiracie vpon these conditions First That neither partie should accept of peace without the good leaue of the other Secondly That if the Bishop chanced to die that none but one of the same faction shoald be created in his stead And then to giue the better countenance to the rebellion for an infinit Masse of mony hee is corrupted to accurse his Maiesty So saith mine Author but in these daies I am of opinion that malice is as powerfull in a Papists breast as corruption in the Papall Court But our best and great God who by the mouth of his seruant Dauid seemeth punctually to cry out against these hired Excommunications of Popes They curse and thou blessest Let those that rise against me be confounded but thy seruant shall reioice This good God I say inuerted this execrable maledict vpon the Popes own head and miraculously confounded the man to the terror of all posterity For being at Anagnia the place where hee had excommunicated Fredericke it chanced that as he walked abroad amongst his familiars to take the aire as hee was drinking at a certaine fountaine a flye flying into his throat stucke so fast therein that no physicall experiment could giue him ease and so he died miserably choked Would it not amase any humane flesh to see so huge a gyant in the middest of his armed and rebellious battalions but euen now scorning the Emperor and all his forces presently to lye dead with the stroke of a flie Or is there any Priest amongst them so irreligious that dare but imagine that this stroke proceeded from casualty and not from the finger of God considering that that throat which had but now belched out so iniust an execration against a most godlie and innocent Emperor was also appointed the instrument to confound his spirits Yea this vnshamed rabble being nothing terrified with so miraculous a president could by no meanes be diuerted from their intended conspiracy For perceiuing that they could not haue their wills vpon his Maiesty by force beeing strōg in soldiery Lord of Italy in diuers ouerthrows putting the Millanois to the worse they made their recourse to villany and by treason laid wait for his life To the execution whereof by great rewards they cunningly corrupt a fellow of a strong body vnder the habit of a foole or iester to goe vnto Landa the place where the Emperor then resided and there vpon oportunity to offer him violence The traitor wholly animated by their large promises resolueth vpon the villany goeth to Landa entreth the Campe and by iests and fooleries maketh his accesse euer into the Emperors pauilion His Tent at that time was pitched vpon the very banke of the riuer Abdua so steep and sliding that if any thing fell thereinto the swift course of the streame would forth with carry it away with violence Which the foole-villaine obseruing to be a fit proiect for his intended treason assaulteth the Emperor according to his custome going alone vnto his prayers by day dawning and by struggling and tugging laboureth to carry him to the foresaid steep place The Emperor plaieth the man so that both parties being intangled with the tackling of the tents fell to ground by which time the Gentlemen of the chamber being awaked by the calling of the Emperour runne to succour and taking the villaine they threw him headlong
to be shewed and the Popes letters to be read Whereat his Maiestie being astonished and perceiuing that there was no further time of denial cōfesseth the truth asketh honorable vsage The Soldan after many discourses with his Maiestie incloseth him his Chaplin in prison and according to his calling entreateth him accordingly At three moneths end they inter-parly againe when the Soldan perceiuing by conference that Fredericke was an vpright man in whom no vertue requisite in so great a personage was wanting admiring his wisdom his cariage his faith and integrity hee fell into imagination with himselfe that it would be much for his honor and glory to set at liberty so great so magnificent a Monarch Whereupon he sendeth for the Emperour and proposeth his conditionall liberty viz. That hee should giue him hostages and pay for his ransome three hundred thousand sicles The Emperor answereth that he is able to do neither first that he had no man there to be his pledge and secondly that his treasure being exhausted by this long war he could not pay so excessiue a masse of mony The Soldan well knowing that he spake nothing but truth deliuered him on condition That hee should euer during his life keepe firme peace pay one hundreth thousand duckets and leaue his Chaplin behinde him vntil the mony were paid The couenants are drawn the Emperor prepareth for his iourney willeth his Chaplin to be of good courage and promiseth him neuer to giue ouer vntill the mony were procured himself safe returned into Germany The Soldan bountifully honoreth the Emperour prouideth for his iourney and conducteth him to Brixia by the seruice of 34. horse and certaine companies of foot The Princes vnderstanding of the Emperors returne in frequent assemblies congratulate his safety Caesar requiteth his conuoy with an honorable larges and adioyeth some troupes vnto them to safe conduct them to the frontiers of the Empire Then proclaimeth he a Diet at Norimberg and before all the Princes of the Empire he vnfoldeth the treason of Alexander readeth the letter and declareth in what maner hee was taken and vpon what conditions deliuered The Nobility promise to assist him so that hee should keepe his day of payment with the Soldan and in anger advow that they will neuer forsake him vntill they see him reuenged on the Traytour Alexander An Armie is inrolled in Italie no man repining and Rome approached Thether hee sendeth his Embassadors and requireth of the Romanes concealing yet a while his priuate wrongs that vpon hearing of either Bishops cause they would restore concorde to the Church by determining the right of the Papacie to one of the Elected If thus they would doe he promised to giue them peace as also to restore what in right they could challenge The Pope perceauing that by these good courses the Emperour was become Lord of his desires by night he flieth to Caietta afterward to Beneuent and lastly in the habite of his Cooke to Venice Where after he had lien hid certaine moneths in a Monasterie he is at length made knowne and in Senatorial habite by the commandement of Duke Sebastian honorably receiued and in his Pontificalibus accompanied to the temple of Saint Mark. Frederick being giuē to vnderstand of this reception stormeth at the Venetians for receiuing their common aduersarie He desireth them to send vnto him the destroyer of the Cōmon wealth The Venetians deny Frederick sendeth his Son with an Armada to demand the man but with prohibition at any hand to fight before himselfe was come in person Otho a Prince yong frolicke and aduenturous desirous of honour and glory copeth with his enemies is taken and made prisoner Vpon whose captiuity Alexander mounted vpon the wings of this prosperous successe vtterly denieth to treat with Caesar vnlesse he would suppliantly come to Venice and there accept the already written conditions of peace Wherewith Caesar being mooued not vpon any base conceit or despaire of victory but partly through his affectionate loue towards his child but more for desire to settle a firme peace in Europe assented and impawned his Honor to come vpon the day prescribed Where according to promise appearing and proceeding to capittulation Alexander sent him word That he would not absolue him from the censure of Excommunication vntill he come into the Temple of S. Marke Here is He now ariued accoutred in humble and religious habiliment The Pope before a multitude of people most papally commandeth him to lie agroofe on his belly and suppliantly to aske forgiuenesse The Emperor German-like simply suspecting that a Bishop who ought to haue been the mirour of modesty would haue abused him with no grosse or dishonourable behauior obeieth the Pope word and so groueleth at his feet At the sight whereof He not only insulteth but that worse is most tyrannically he treadeth vpon his prostrated neck and then blasphemously yelleth foorth this misapplied place of Scripture Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and the Bosiliskc and thou shalt bruse downe the Lyon and the Dragon Did euer History record of so sauage a demeanor Surely some barbarous souldiers who in battell haue taken Princes prisoners haue intreated them more inhumanely then stood with their estates Sapores the Persian vsed to set his foot vpon the neck of Valerianus the captiuated Emperor as he mounted his Horse The Tartarian Tamerlan the correlatiue tyranny to this of the Popes inclosing Baiazeth Emperour of Turkes in an yron Cage carried him so dishonoured through all his iournies But what is this to a Pope By how much the disproportion holdeth betwixt a souldier and a Churchman betweene a Christian and an Ethnique by so much is the immatuity of the Pope the more damnable They being Barbarians might plead some probability of excuse in that they misused but their enemies and those by the law of Nations captiuated for seruility But the Pope is a Christian seruus seruorum a peace-maker and a Priest whose office is only to pray and to preach Wherefore I can not blame Bellarmine if he could make vs beleeue that this History may be doubted of when I shall relate vnto you in the word of truth That this mirror of Christian Humility Cyclopica immanitate first with a Gyantlike rudenesse saith mine Author most ignominiously with his bestiall feet presumed to touch nay to tread vpon the sacred necke of a mighty Emperour then as I said in peaceable maner lying agroofe and humbly desiring absolution of an vniust Excommunication But why do I against the Precepts of history thus lash out by aggreuating of so barbarous a cruelty to mooue the mind of my Reader to compassion sithence I can neuer do it for that the president in it selfe goeth far beyond any delineation that humane wit can possibly polish it withall Vox faucibus haeret c. Well Caesar knowing himselfe and recalling his generous spirits to shew that he was not a little moued at the indignity openly calleth vnto
fit here to be pretermitted Innocent the second he whom a little before Lotharius had restored vnto the Papacie had caused to be painted in a Table the Pope as it were sitting in his chaire and the Emperor with his hands held vp together receiuing the Imperiall Diadem where vnder were written the foresaid two verses Rex venit ante fores c. When this picture with the inscription was shewed vnto his Maiesty it did greatly displease him and casting foorth some obiurgatorie word he instanced the Pope to take it away which hee promised to doe least so friuolous a spectacle might giue matter of discontent to many worthy personages then residing in the City Frederick is departed and Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople vnderstanding with what desire of reuenge the Popes stomack burned against William King of Apulia by Palcologus his Orator and Embassador he offereth vnto the Pope his voluntary seruice and withall to expulse William out of Italie vpon condition If the businesse tooke expected issue that then according to the treaty the Grecian should inioy three maritime cities in Apulia Doubt not I beseech you but that he who had already depriued William of Apulia for contemning such religious wares as are Popish Bulls and Curses did not straine much curtesie to accept of the Articles Whereof William taking notice and withall somewhat fearefull by his Embassadours moueth his holinesse to hearken vnto peace promising not only to restore vnto the Church whatsoeuer he had taken away but also that he would adde somewhat of his owne thereto Moreouer that hee would thencefoorth containe the Romans rebells to the Church in their due obedience These were honourable conditions but that the Pope should not accept therof the Cardinalls disswaded him like true men of armes hoping to reape more crownes by war then by peace Whereupon warre is proclaimed against William Hee leuieth an army throughout Sicily landeth in Apulia wasteth the country by sword and fire and finally routeth Emanuel who had pitched his Tents not far from Brundusium vnto Beneuent where at that time the Pope with his Cardinalls resided he gaue such sharpe assaults that in despaire of their liues he inforced them to sue for peace William accordeth and is receiued into fauour and proclaimed king of both kingdoms on this side and beyond Pharum but vpon oath that from thenceforth hee would neuer againe infest the territories of the Church Thus as you heare matters being ignominiously compounded the Pope riding in visitation through the territories of the Cassinates Marsi Reatini Narnienses and Tudertini at last ariueth at Ouieta and there is giuen to vnderstand that Rome is in combustion the Consuls doing their vtmost to restore the City to it former liberty Hereupon groundeth He his deadly hatred against Frederick most greeuously complaining that being in distresse between the swords of the Romans and William that contrary vnto his superabundant promises against all right he had forsaken him yea that he was now so incircled with perils that he could not liue in security at Rome As if the Emperor were a vessell especially chosen rather to patronize the Popes wilfull errors and ouersights then to defend the innocency of the Christian flock committed vnto his tutelage But Fredericke taking in euill part many the Popes actions but especially the alienation of Apulia being an appendancy of the imperiall dignity without his consent or knowledge As also calling to remembrance That the Pope had wrested from the late Emperors the right of Inuestiture of Prelates That by his ministers hee had impouerished the subiects of the Empire and by their subtill dispersions of treasonable practises had done what in them lay to raise sedition throughout the Empire Vpon these grounds I say the Emperours Maiesty now thought it high time to put remedy vnto these violent intrusions vpon the regalties of the Empire Hereupon hee exacteth an oth of fidelity of all the Bishops of Germany The Popes Legats such as were not called in by his good pleasure he commandeth to depart the Teutonick kingdom prohihiteth his people either to appeale or trauaile to the Romish Court and in his mandats causeth his name to be inserted before the Popes Vpon the proclaiming of this Inhibition it happened that a certaine Bishop in his way from Rome whether as a contemner of the Emperors edict or vpon any other cause I know not was taken prisoner and committed to ward Now hath the Pope found an occasion by the taking of this Bishop to fulminate his long-conceiued displeasure against the Emperor and by a proud Embassie seemeth only to be agreeued that the Bishop is not deliuered from Captiuity but withall interlaceth both in his letters as also in the speeches of his legat many blundering Items which did abundantly insinuate in what manner he deemed the Emperor to be obliged vnto him For by his letters he wisht him to re-consider how from him he had receiued the confirmation of the Imperiall crowne and yet did his Holinesse nothing repent it had the fauours which he had bestowed vpon him been far more beneficiall Vpon the reading of which letters the nobility falling into discontent one of the Legats rose vp and resolutely tooke vpon him to broach That the Romane Empire was transferred from the Grecians to the Almans not to be called Emperor but King of the Teutonicks vntil he were confirmed by the Apostolique sea Before consecration he was a King after an Emperor Whence then hath hee his Empire if not of the Pope By the election of the nobility he hath the name of a king by consecration of the Pope the stile of an Emperor and Caesar Augustus Ergo per Papam imperat Search Antiquity Zachary inobled Charles and gaue him the sirname of Great that he mought be Emperor and ordained that euer after the Teutonic King should bee Emperor and Champion of the Apostolique Sea That Apulia by him should be pacified and restored to the Church being in truth holden of S. Peter and not of the Empire Rome is the seat of the Pope Aquis in Arden is the Emperors Whatsoeuer the Emperor possesseth he holdeth it whollie of the Pope As Zachary transferred the Empire from the Greeks to the Teutonics So may the Pope retransfer it from the Almans to the Grecians Behold it is in his power to giue it to whom he pleaseth beeing onlie constituted of God ouer Kingdoms and people to destroie to pull downe to build and to plant In conclusion he termeth the Germans cowards for that they could neither expulse Roger out of Italy nor would at anie time bring the Danes and Frislanders to subiection Vpon the hearing of these scandalous exorbitations both the Emperor conceiued a iust displeasure and the whole nobility so stormed thereat that Otto of Wittelspach drawing the sword which he accustomed to beare before the Emperor had shethed it in the body of the Legat had not the Emperor thrust betweene them Of these abuses the
vnto themselues an Emperour Without depending vpon the Pope in whose power it is not to limit vnto any prouince vnder the cope of heauen a King or gouernour without its owne agreement But admit there were no such law is not the inauguration of all Princes meerly temporall are not the setting on of a Crown the girding of a sword and the deliuery of a Scepter orders meerely ceremoniall where are then your interessed claimes I will leaue you to your wits and proceede to your starting-holes of spiritualia Which I am sure consist in suffering the people to receiue the blessed Communion vnder both kinds Here is a sinne vnpardonable Stay I beseech you Did not Paul the third and he a Pope send out his Bulls wherby he gaue all the Bishops throughout Germanie full authority to communicate vnto the people vnder both kinds How say ye shall his Maiesty be exempted and they priuiledged will you tolerate an order of your owne inacting in euery parish and not suffer the magistrate to see the same by peace and quietnesse preserued and executed through a whole kingdom you know vpon what points of necessity that Bull was granted and now rather then you will faile to make odious his sacred Maiesty to the fautours of your passions you will quarrell him about an act of your owne allowance Woe vnto you you Hypocrits who in words seeme Saints but in your hearts retaine not a graine of piety Woe vnto you who offer your open brests to penitentiaries but hauing them in your clutches you teare them in their consciences with more then heathenish foppery You inioine penance to others and performe no such matter your selues Amongst your selues yee reueale all secrets and are Iouiall thereat but treasons and massacres you conceale and then your impudent wits must beare you out for your faces will not that it was told vnder the vaile of confession Thus by impostures you liue you raigne and deceiue the world neither caring to enter heauens gates themselues nor suffering others to enter that would Well during the Interim of these ponderous machinations against his Maiesty by the college of Cardinalls Guzman comming to the vnderstanding thereof day by day hastneth his Audience before his Holinesse At last after three moneths attendance and earnest begging but not before hee had receiued a more strict commandement from his Master either vpon audience to execute his commission or without delay to returne from Rome hee is admitted to speake in the presence of seuen Cardinals from whom hee rereceiueth this aunswere Forasmuch as his demaund required the most mature deliberation of the Cardinals and such like persons learned in the Lawes that according to his Masters commaund hee might depart at pleasure meane time his Holinesse would recall the whole matter vnto full examination Good GOD what other deliberation could be meant heereby more then a meere cunning and dilatorie illusion For the matter had beene againe and againe disputed on and the confirmation so long delayed in expectation of some disaster which Time might produce against Caesar that before any thing was determined this politique Impostor was taken out of this world After whom departed vnto the place of eternall blisse this worthy Emperour but so that the confirmation which Clement made litigious Pius the fourth offered willingly and Ferdinand reiected as constantly after the examples of Radulph of Habsburge his progenitor and Maximilian his Grandfather contenting himselfe with the orderly election of the German Princes I haue heard report of as weighty a toleration as this euen in matters of religion if as vertuous a Princesse as any of these afore-named would haue condiscended to haue accepted the approbation at his Holinesses hand And as the world now standeth who doubteth but the Pope would doe much to be reconciled to some Christian Constantines And therefore to conclude I hold it not fit to conceale these worthy remembrances of his godlinesse and sincerity That in his raigne in the yeare 1552. the second day of August an Edict was obtained whereby peace was graunted to the professors of the Augustan confession That in the yeare 1555. that noble Decree followed wherein it was ordained that no force nor offence directly or indirectly in case of Religion should be thence-forth vsed against Prince Earle or any imperiall Citie In the yeare 1559. at Augusta in a full assembly of the States the said Decree was reuiued and confirmed After which Constitutions confirmed by the transaction of Passauia and confirmed by the Estates as I saide at Ausburg this good Emperour perswading himselfe that mens mindes were wrought to Religion more by preaching and teaching then by force and bloud-shed was willing euen within his owne hereditarie possessions That no subiect of his should bee troubled for his conscience Wishing that some abuses vsed by the Romanists might by lawfull and moderate proceedings be reformed and yet the Hierarchy and order of the Ecclesiastical policy be decently maintained Whereupon when the Austrians desired the publique vse of the Lords supper in both kindes as also other articles of religion to be freely permitted them which they had drawen forth in the confession of Ausburg Ferdinand not onely tooke the articles and the reasons of the abuses deseruing reformation into his owne consideration but also when he heard the testimonie of the Greeke Church concurring with the petition hee sent Vrban Bishop of Gurcia for this cause principally to Venice that there he should procure instructions how the Greekes accustomed to doe in distribution of this part of the Lords supper as also what was their Opinion concerning this maine point of doctrine And in the Synod of Trent by his Orators he did most instantly insist and vrge That by leaue of the Pope the people of Austria might vse both the parts of the Sacrament Somewhat before his death he receaued the Breue authorizing the Communion to be administred vnto the Laity vnder both kindes which Pius the fourth sent vnto the Archbishop of Salisburge but interlaced with diuers limitation of conditiōs Wherat this good Emperor did exceedingly reioyce and gaue thanks that it pleased God that he had obtained that which his subiects of Austria had so often and so earnestly desired of his Maiestie For his cariage towards the Counsell of Trent which he referred wholy to his Holinesse I hold it not fit to speake For he adiudged that hee had receiued an infinite pleasure from the Pope in that he had graunted him that though by much intreaty and many restrictions which Christ commanded vnto all Christians plainly and effectually ⧠Maximilian the second Hee began his raigne in the sixt yeare of Queene Elizabeth BEtter fortunes then his father and vncle Charles had not Maximilian the second from whom concerning the ample promises of Clement the seuenth wee haue heard this saying to proceed It is surely Iacobs voice but his hands denote him to be Esau vehemently complaining That euermore these people haue
He is denied At three daies end instancing admittance with greater importunacie It is answered That his Holinesse is not yet at leysure to attend his suit Henrie by patience making a vertue of necessity In that he could not be admitted into the City contenteth himself to abide in the Suburbs but not without many incommodious greeuances For the wether was sharpe and all places appeared hoary with frost At last after his incessant three-daies petitioning and deniall at the instance of Maud the Countesse of Adelaus Earle of Sauoie and the Abbot of Clunois he is admitted vnto presence Vpon the fourth day in signe of vnfained penitency he resigned his Crowne and imperiall Ensignes and maketh a protestation that hee were vnworthy to enioy the Title of an Emperor if he should againe commit the like offences against the Roman Sea as formerly he had done For all this this inexorable Prelat would neither pardon nor absolue him vnlesse he would put in good securitie that according vnto his Popish pleasure he would expiate the offence in a Councell and be forth comming at euerie day and place appointed there the Pope being Iudge to answer vnto all accusations without once plotting in his thoughts anie scruple of reuenge 2. Yea after his purgation and reconciliation either to retain or forsake his kingdom if the Pope thought it so fitting 3. Thirdlie that before the Examination of his Cause he should not presume to weare anie Kinglie habit neither haue borne before him anie Imperiall ensignes That hee should not meddle in state gouernment nor exact anie oth of allegiance vpon his vassalls Vpon promise of performance and future obedience the attonement is now at length confirmed aswell by Oth as Indenture and Henrie absolued Now obserue I beseech you the restlesse humours of attainted consciences The Court of shauelings deep polititians men of profound reaches and admirable well seen in the principles of Machiuell and carefull aswell to preuent future blowes as to oppose against present perils either reuoluing in their far reaching wits or suspecting in their seared consciences that Henrie beeing sure seated in a peaceable estate could not possibly disgest so vilanous an indignity nor the world allow of so base a tiranny fall againe to their old plots but a new-Counsell viz. how they might vtterly dispossesse Henrie of his Empire Rodulph Duke of Sweuia Henries brother in law is presented with a golden Crowne thus inscribed Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodulpho And withall the Bishops of Magunce and Colen are commanded that rebelling against Henrie they shold set it vpon Rodulphs head and assist him therin to the vtmost of their forces Was it for Loue or Honor may the world dispute that the Pope became thus bountifull of an other mans patrimony to bestow it vpon Rodulph Or doth any History make mention that Rodulph was a more kinde Son to the Church then Henrie Beleeue me the Pope did neither vpon any such respects it was far from his imagination But this was the windlace of all if Henrie must liue in peace Henrie must seek reuenge but if the Duke of Sweuia find him play on one side Romandiola shall be secured on the other side Let Rodulph or Henrie sinke or swim meane while res nostrae tutiores redduntur that is the Court of Rome may securely swagger If Henrie haue the better yet shall he be much the weaker if Henrie haue the worse then all the care is taken for Rodulph is infinitly beholding vnto vs. And be it as be may nether party being potent Princes shall haue cause to laugh at their bargain let time try the sequell and so it hapned O the blind folly of ambition For albeit that Rodulph was the Emperors sworne liege-man his brother in law by mariage indowed with the Dukedom of Sweuia after his decease and honored with many other fauours notwithstanding being seduced by the faire and false protestations of the Bishops and borne out by his own greatnesse and the succours of Saxonie he inuadeth the Empire and rebelliously to his vtmost power moueth war against his Soueraigne master Caesar by the admonishment of the Bishop of Argentine seeing the danger arising from all parts leuieth his people affronteth Rodolph and setteth all vpon the hazard of a battell The issue whereof was this That the Pope vpon mistrust of the worst commanded both parties to Peace and that Henrie should expect his sentence at the Synode which shortly hee would proclaime to be held in Germanie Which limitation when Henrie stomacked vpon protestation that hee would suffer no Assembly to bee holden in Germanie vnlesse Rodolph were first remooued The Pope rather then hee would disharten Rodolph by finall Peace renueth the Excommunication and sendeth foorth his Mandates full stuffed with hellish furie Henrie is nothing abashed but the third time giueth the battell at Elistrum of Misia and there ouerthroweth his enemy This came to passe in the yeere 1080. the Ides of October Rodolph being grieuously wounded and from the field conueied to Merseburg intreateth the Bishops and the Leaders of his people to compeere before him Where being assembled Rodolph feeling death seazing vpon him stretched forth his right hand and said My Lords this is the hand with which I plighted my faith to my Lord Henrie At your intreaties thus and thus many times hath it vnfortunately fought against him Returne yee and make good your first Othes to the King I am to depart to my fathers Rodolph being vanquished and Germanie by his death resonably well quieted Henrie neither forgetting Hildebrands iniuries neither hauing his spirits so peaceably affected but that hee could call to remembrance how the Pope had twise Excommunicated him how for three dayes space being a most suppliant Petitioner in a very cold season he could attaine no reconciliation As also that cunningly hee had assisted his enemie euen the competitor of his Kingdome proclaimeth a Synod of the Bishops of Italy Lombardy and Germanie to bee celebrated at Brixia a Citie of Norica Where being assembled and the Acts of Hildebrand examined with one consent they promulge this suffrage For that it is apparently knowne that Hildebrand was not Elected of God but most impudently by fraud and briberie made his owne way to the Papall dignitie And therein being seated hath subuerted all the Orders of the Church disquieted the whole Christian world intended the death both of body and soule to a most peaceable and Catholicke King defended a periurd Prince and amongst the peaceable sowed seedes of discord c. Wee here Congregated by the Grace of God and assisted by the Legats and letters of nineteene Bishops assembled against the foresaid Hildebrand at Mognuce the eight day of Pentecost doe canonically giue iudgement against the said Hildebrand That he is to bee deposed and expelled for vnaduisedly Preaching of Sacriledges and factions defending Periuries and Scandals Abclieuer of Dreames and diuinations a notorious Necromancer a man possessed
publique oth of safe conduct was taken by his Sonne Henrie then being degraded most vnwillingly of all imperiall ensignes as also of his Crowne by the Bishops of Mogunce Colen and Wormes hee was committed to prison in the towne of Leyge where pining to death through griefe he finished his troublesome daies in this most lamentable maner Notwithstanding such was the irreconcilable rancor of these charity-preaching fathers that they not contented with these their most cruell turmoiles practised against his life Hyena-like with as barbarous bestiality they also preyed vpon his liuelesse carkasse For the body being already buried in the monastery of Leyge they inforced the Bishop of the place to dig it vp againe and without either honor to so great a personage or reuerence to holy sepulture they commanded it to bee cast amongst other carcases into a prophane place The reason was grounded vpon one of their owne Canons Quibus viris ecclesia non communicat illis etiam nec mortuis communicare possit Repentance etiam in nouissima hora and the reward of him that came into the vineyard at the cloze of the day equalized to his that began to worke in the dawning is of no force with them It is scripture and scripture you know is not sufficient for saluation I quake in writing Councels may controll It the Church The Councels and who is the Church the Pope For otherwise it were folly to broche so many positions as it doth against law conscience and sound diuinity if it lay not in their fulnesse of power to doe and vndoe say and vnsay To conclude at last the body is conueyed in a coffin of stone from Leyge to Spire and there also for fiue yeeres space it remained without the duties of Christian buriall ⧠Henrie the fift NOw let vs see if Henrie the fift seduced by the witchcraft of the false Pope to vsurpe vpon the Empire of his father experimented any other allowance of loue and fidelity from the Bishops then did his ancestor Comming vnto Rome to be crowned with the imperiall Dyadem he thought it much to concerne his honor to demand restitution of his right in the confirmation of Bishops Abbots and Prelates The Pope forgetfull of all former fauours doth stoutly deny the motion From request they fall to blowes insomuch that the Pope with certaine of his seruants was taken prisoner and conueied to Mount Soracte now called Mount Siluester Paschal seeing no remedy sent vnto the City for Notaries and at length confirmeth and reuiueth to the vse of the Empire the auncient prerogatiues claymed by the EMPEROVRS in the Creation and Inuestiture of Popes and Bishops and in requitall is honoured againe by the Emperour with many rich presents But such was the iust iudgement of God towards this Henrie that as he obserued not faith towards his father no more did others keep towards him For euen those men who for his sake had forsaken his father rise now in rebellion against the Son For presently vpon his returne in the yeere 1116. into Germanie the Pope congregateth a full Councell of his owne creatures and there bewailing his sinne which he had committed in surrendring his priuileges after long and solemne debating of the case vndoeth all he had done before confirmeth the Decrees of Gregorie the seuenth and vpon the custome lately taken vp Excommunicateth Henrie Hereupon many the Princes of Germanie and especially the Bishop of Mogunce fall into rebellion Caesar sendeth vnto the Pope to treat a peace but by his death that businesse was determined After his decease the Cardinalls create Gelasius Pope neither calling Caesar to Councell nor once acquainting him with their determinations Whereat Caesar being agreeued flyeth to Rome consecrateth Mauritius Archbishop of Brachar for Pope Gelasius being deposed and Maurice confirmed they both conspire with ioynt consent to curse the Emperor in his retrait from Rome dispersing their Ministers through Germanie after the precedents of their predecessors to incite the Subiects of the Emperor to rebellion Henrie fearing the sequell hastneth into Germany Gelasius being dead Calixtus the second being his successor warreth vpon the Antipope whom as wee told you the Emperour had consecrated Henrie perceiuing the Pope vnderborne by the Armes of the Normans to bee too strong for him and that he began to meate the same measure towards him as his predecessors had towards his father In the yeere 1122. by the speciall mediation of the Apostolicke Legat Lampert afterward Pope and called Honorius he became so deuote a Conuert to Papacie that hee resigned his whole right of Inuestiture concerning the Ring and the Staffe granted a free Election and Consecration to be thenceforth vsed in all Churches and couenanted to restore or at least to cause to be restored all Regalities formerly renounced or at least as many as remained in his dispose The Pope againe couenanted that the Election of Bishops and Abbots should be done in the Emperors presence without violence so farre foorth that the Elect should receiue his Regalities by the Scepter from the Emperour This Concord bore date at Wormes Nono Cal. Octob. Anno Dom. M.C.XXII But albeit this Henrie vtterly discouraged with the Thunder-bolts of curses gaue way to all Popish vsurpations and to the euerlasting staine and impouerishment of the Germane Empire thrust his necke vnder the yoke of the Romish tyrannie yet in regard of new tumults and rebellions practised in Belgia and the higher Germanie he could not liue out the remainder of his daies in affected peace For appeazement wherof as he trauelled towards Vtrick he fell sicke and died without issue This accident and not iniustly men argued to haue proceeded from the iudgement of God for that contrary to his commandement he had behaued himselfe so vngraciously towards a father that had so well deserued of him his sonne ⧠Lotharius Saxo. Hee raigned in the yeere 1125. about the fiue and twentie yeere of Henry the first HENRIE being gone and Germanie still reeking in blood and ciuill war The greatest care that the Bishops tooke was to prouide that the people should not reunite their forces and take time to breath from these inhumane and vnnaturall murders Whereupon after the death of Henrie when as Cunrade Duke of Sweuia Henrie the fift sisters sonne laied claime to the Empire against him by the cunning of Albert Archbishop of Mogunce they set vp Lotharius Duke of Saxonie the man in truth whose infidelity they had vsed in the miscarriage of Henrie the fifth Cunrade is now in march and hauing ouertopped mount Septim is honorably receiued of the Millanois and crowned by the Archbishop Anselme at Modoecia the chiefe Sea of the Kingdome of Italie Honorius in fauour of Lotharius and in despight of the House of Henrie which he thirsted vtterly to extinguish deposeth Anselme and by the terror of his Curses inforceth Cunrade to post out of Italie Who finally in despaire of the Germane aide by reason of
destroying them all to haue razed their verie name from the memorie of mankinde through the whole world Heere likewise it happened vpon Ashwednesdaie as hee was casting Ashes according to Custome amongst the people the Archbishop of the City kneeling vpon his Maribones with his head vncouered to receiue the Ashes the Pope by chaunce vnderstanding that hee was a Gibelline where his Holinesse should haue saide Remember Man that thou art but Ashes and into Ashes thou shalt returne againe Not so quoth the Pope Remember Man that thou art a Gibelline and with the Gibellines thou must bee turned to dust and therewithall in a most furious manner without once regarding the holinesse of the place the presence of the people or the regard of Religion of set purpose missing his head he cast great quantities thereof into his eyes Afterward he depriued him and then againe restored him At last by Gods iudgement it came to passe that those Gentlemen who as we told you left Italy with the Pirats returned againe and gathering together some companies of such as here there lay lurking in feare of Maleface breaking open the gates of the place where he lay mistrusting no such aduerse aduenture they tooke him and brought him prisoner to Rome where in the space of fiue and thirtie dayes what for griefe and greatnesse of stomacke he breathed out his loathsome soule ouer-laden with innumerable mischiefes ⧠Fredericke Barbarossa He raigned Anno Christ 1152. about the seuenteenth yeare of King Steuen FRederick for his redde Beard commonly termed Barbarossa the sonne of Frederick Duke of Sweuia the brother of Conrade a Prince of excellent partes both for body and minde succeeded this Conrade a Prince also no whit inferiour to his successor for his honourable carriage in peace and warre To speake little of his Nobility it is recorded that the intire right of the most noble Families of the German Common-wealth viz. of the Henries of Gweiblingen and Gwelforum of Altorff descended vpon him Howsoeuer by the consent of all writers hee was reputed to bee of an excellent capacitie prouident in Councell of a good memorie eloquent constant and valiant a good Souldier and well practised in Armes To the humble courteous To the peaceable milde Amongst honest men vertuous Amongst proude persons imcompatible Very bountifull and in science of many humane ornaments not immatcheable to any In regard of which his manifold vertues by the suffrage of the whole Nobilitie he is declared Emperour not without assured expectation that through his worthinesse Peace should be maintained through Germanie the disgraced forces of the Empire restored and Italy now growne insolent through continuall rebellion brought into order and requisite acknowledgment The Romish contentions with the Germane Emperours by vile and nouell prescription seemed now so possessionated that the Bishops by whose suffrage the Emperours were to be confirmed began to make small or no account of the Imperiall Maiestie which the preposterous ambition and immatcheable pride of the Romanists the Germane Princes and who can blame them taking to heart could hardly disgest but by how much this noble Heros in the greatnesse of his mind meditated to abate the insufferable pride of this pernicious rable by so much the more found hee all things to oppose against him with more and more disaduantage to the impeachment of all his proiects Which his noble exploits albeit they are not vnknowne to all men neither is it any part of my minde nor the proiect of this pamphlet to set them downe punctually for so they would require an Ilias yet by patience I will glance briefly at some of them which in my iudgement shall sufficiently informe you what was the obseruancie and what the fidelity of the Bishops of these times towards the sacred maiestie of this most worthy Emperour Obserue therefore that the third yeare after his election this Frederic hauing set Germanie in order and especially through infinite paines taking procured a firme peace betweene Henry the younger and Henry Dukes of Saxonie and Austrich with a populous armie marcheth into Lombardy now by the long absence of the Emperours growne confident in ability of resistance by proiecting many infallible signes of insolencie and rebellion By the way he destroyeth the camp of the Millanois Rosatum Gailarda Treca and Gaira and setteth the citie of Ast on fire Derthona most strongly fortified by art and nature hee taketh by force and from thence remouing his troops through Romania and Tuscanie hee passeth as farre as Sutrium In these times the Romane sea stood incumbred with most dangerous contentions William King of Sicil who succeeded Roger the same that we spake of in the life of Conrade had taken from Hadrian the fourth by birth an English man the suburbs of Beneuent Ceperanùm and Bacùm in Campania Moreouer the Romanes by the instigation of Arnold of Brixia redemanding their lost liberties in chusing their senate for the gouernment of their Citie maintained the contention so farre forth against Hadrian that as after his election hee made his progresse towards the Lateran to be consecrated the people meeting the Cardinal of Saint Pudentiana in the via sancta taking his way towards the Court twice wounded him At this outrage Pope Hadrian grew out of all patience accurseth the King releaseth his subiects of their oath of allegiance the easier to draw them into rebellion leaueth them at libertie The Romans sped no better vntill vpon alteration of their humours they banished Arnold out of the Citie and renouncing their Consular prerogatiues diuested the absolute gouernment of the place vpon the discretion of his Holinesse Who now hearing that Frederic was vpon his way towards Rome the Pope with his Cardinals neither for loue nor in honour but to mediate reuenge against the Romans and Roger goe forth to salute him Frederic reioysing at the approach of his Holinesse receaueth him with wonderfull deuotion and maiestie holdeth his left stirrope as hee alighteth from horse-back so conducteth him to the Imperial pauilion Could more reuerence be deuised to be done by an Emperor to a Pope when Christ came to Ierusalem vpon Palme Sonday did Herod or Pilat so obserue him or did Nere so salute Peter at his first comming to Rome Well these so great personages being arriued at the emperiall pauilion The Bishop of Bamberg in the name of the Emperor in the exordiū of his oration began to discourse with what earnestnes of affection his Maiestie had desired this long expected conference with his Holinesse And God be blessed quoth he that he now is become master of his desires Humbly and submissiuely he requesteth your Holinesse that according to the accustomed maner by the Inauguration of the Imperiall diadem you would declare him chiefe Prince and defender of the Catholique Common-weale And herewithall the Bishop concludeth honestly and elegantly with the reasons and causes which could not but inable him most worthy of so reasonable so iust and
Emperor or euer after made vse pretending that the cause of his so and so doing took originall from these saucy and malepert speeches of the Popish ministers And thereupon causing the Legats to be safe conducted to their lodging at break of day hee commaunded them to be packing with especiall caution that they should not rome hether and thether vpon the liuings of the Bishops Abbots but that they should keepe the high way towards the Citie without declining therefrom either to the right hand or the left The especiall reason was that according vnto the accustomed dog-trick of the Romanists they should not disperse their conceiued poyson of discontent ouer all the Churches and Parishes of the Kingdome neither strip the Altars nor carie away the vtensils of Gods house nor fliece the crosses And because that no man should imagine that this intimation was inflicted aboue desert nor any commotion should thereupon arise Caesar by the councell of the wise men of his Kingdome sendeth his letters through the whole Empire shewing the tenour of the cause And thereunto adioyneth his most passionate complaints vpon the diminution of the honor of the Empire with a declaration That by the election of the Princes vnder God onely the Empire had deuolued to him and his successours Against which if any man presumed to affirme that the Emperour ought to hold of the Pope in fee he was to suffer punishment as a person guilty of an vntruth one that maintained an opinion contrarie to the diuine institution the doctrine of Saint Peter The Legats ariue at Rome where in most calumnious manner aggrauating their wrongs and iniuries in the presence of Hadrian by adding flame to fire they so incense his holinesse already transported with furie and reuenge but to thinke that Frederick had done what his auncestors durst not haue dreamed of for of which of the Romane Emperours is it read of that euer interdicted the Romanists Germanie That forthwith hee addresseth his minitory letters vnto Caesar wherein most bitterly and papally hee expostulateth with his Maiestie of these and all fore-passed greeuances The transcript whereof because they are worth the reading and animaduersion for the benefit of the Reader I will here insert Adrian Bishop seruant vnto the seruants of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall benediction vnto Frederick Emperour of Romanes As the Diuine Law assureth long life vnto those that render due obedience vnto their parents So vnto him that disobeyeth his father or mother it inflicteth the sentence of death and damnation The voice of veritie doth teach vs that euery soule that exalteth it selfe shall be humbled Whereupon beloued sonne in the Lord according vnto your wisedome we are not a little amazed that you shew not that measure of reuerence towards Saint Peter and the Romane Church as you are bound to doe In your letters dated to our Holinesse you insert your stile before Ours Wherein you incurre the scandall of presumption I will not say of Arrogancie As concerning your fealtie auowed and sworne to Saint Peter and vs how is it kept when you require Homage exact fealty and hold the holy hands of those betweene yours who are duly dedicated to God being his most glorious children viz. the Bishops shewing your selfe manifestly rebellious vnto vs in denying our Cardinals directed vnto you from our side not onelie entrance into the Churches but also into the Cities of your Kingdome Repent repent therefore wee aduise you least that in seeking to deserue a Crowne and coronation at our hands in affecting things vngranted you lose not what is alreadie granted We tender your noblenesse What inference of humility or apostolicall lenitie appeareth I beseech you in these letters nay rather may not a good Christian without offence terme such a pride to be truly Luciferian that taketh so great a scorne to haue the papall stile placed behinde the Imperiall as if other Emperours in their letters to His Holinesse had not before times done the like See 97. dist c. victor 63. distinct c. tibi After the receite of these blunt and proud-papall mandats the Emperour according to his excellent sufficiencie in Christian sapience requiteth him and as the prouerb is driuing out one naile with another he payeth his holinesse home in this manner Frederick by the grace of God Emperour of Romanes alwaies Augustus vnto Adrian Bishop of the Catholique congregation Whatsoeuer Iesus began to doe and to teach in all things ought wee that to follow The Law of Iustice distributeth vnto euerie man his owne Wee derogate not from our parents as long as in this Kingdome we vouchsafe them due Honour from whom viz. our progenitours wee haue receaued the dignitie and Crowne of the Kingdome I pray you in the time of Cōstantine was Siluester known to haue anie interest in the Regalties By his Pietie the Church obtained libertie and peace and what euer iura regalia your Papacie can claime they accrewed vnto you by the bountie of Princes Turne ouer the Cronicles and if you please not to belieue what I write there shall you finde as much as we affirme What should then let vs that we should not exact homage and oathes of allegeance from them which are Gods by adoption yet hold of vs in regaltie sithence that He who was ours and your Master taking nothing from the King but distributing all his goods indifferentlie amongst all persons paying tribute to Caesar for himselfe and Peter and leauing the example behinde him for you to follow hath warranted the president by saying Learne you of me for I am meeke and humble of heart Wherefore let them either resigne their regalties viz. their temporalities or in the name of God if they shall iudge them profitable let them giue vnto God the things that are Gods and vnto Caesar what belongeth to Caesar The reason wherefore we interdicted your Cardinals the Churches and forbad them our Cities was because we finde them not Preachers but robbers not peace-makers but money masters not conuerters of the people but heapers of insatiable treasure Yet when we shall finde them such as the Church ordaineth them messengers of peace lights to their Countrie and impartiall assistants to the cause of the Humble then will we not deferre to relieue them with competent stipends and necessarie prouisions meane time you wrong humilitie the Princesse of vertues and mightilie scandalize your submissiuenesse by terrifying the consciences of secular persons with positions wholy impertinent to religion Let your fatherhood therefore take heede lest while you motion points of such nature whereof we make light account that you offend not those who would otherwise euen in hast open their eares as willingly vnto the words of your mouth as vnto a presage of a ioyfull accident These things we can not but aunswere sithence so detestable a beast of pride hath crept into S. Peters Chaire Fare you well alwaies and God at all times make you carefull for the peace of
into the same place of the riuer This stratagem being fâ—ustrated they fall to a second but will be seene in neither They suborne eight creatures of their owne with plenty of crownes to set Landa on fire One of them mistaking the night and laying his traines was taken by the watch with an other of his companions a counterfeit Monke and both hanged Being also deceiued in the execution of this Gunpowder plot they fall to a third and send forth a certaine Mountebank resolute to death accompanied with some such fellowes as himselfe to set to sale in the Emperours Campe poysoned rings bridels and spurres so deadly inuenomed that if the Emperour had touched any of them he had surely perished But his Maiestie being fore-warned causeth this Marchant to be watched and apprehended Commandeth him to be examined but finding that he scorned both questions and torments without more a-doe hee sendeth him to the gallowes Hadrian as we told you being choakt with a Fly the Cardinals begin to wrangle about the choise of a successor For two and twentie being the Emperours aduersaries would haue chosen Roland of Siena one of those Cardinals whom a little before Hadrian had sent Legat vnto Frederick and Frederick had banished Germanie But nine others adhearing to the Emperor by the suffrages of the Prefect of the Citie and the people created Octauianus a Romane borne Priest and Cardinall of Saint Clements and stiled him Victor But these rash elections being likely to foster infinite dissensions It was agreed betweene the Electors of both parties that neither of the Elected should be confirmed before it was agreed vpon at all hands who should be the Man and the contention quite silenced But the Rolanders being the maior partie falsifying their oathes proclaimed the election of Roland and new christned him Alexander the third From hence arose a mighty Schisme Victor remaineth at Rome Alexander flieth vnto William King of Sicil and there the twelfth day after his election is confirmed Pope And to preuent that this dissension should not draw with it the finall destruction of the Church of Rome by his legats hee intreateth the Emperour Frederick that by interposition of his authority he would vouchsafe to put end to the Schisme The doubtfull issue of a new Schisme much troubled Frederick wherefore finding that both the Elettos being orderly consecrated he could not lawfully determine the strife without the authority of a Councell after the examples of Constantine Theodosius Iustinian and other Emperors knowing that the summoning thereof appertained vnto him he nominateth the day of the Assembly to be held at Papia and thether he warneth both the Bishops to appeare promising also to be there in person to take cognizance of eithers greeuances After proclamation whereof Alexander goeth to Anagnia whereat the Emperour being angrie for his contempt despatcheth his letters vnto him by Daniel and Herman Bishops of Prage and Verdim citing him by the name of Bishop and not of Pope to appeare at the Councell Alexander reiecteth Caesars Ambassadors most contumeliously and in very arrogant termes telleth them plainly That the Romane Bishop was to bee iudged by no mortall creature They doing no good vpon Alexander retire towards Octauianus him they salute as Pope and accompany to Papia There the Councell being assembled and the cause vpon sufficient witnesse through all circumstances iudicially examined Victor is declared Pope and so acknowledged by all the German Bishops by the commandement of Caesar At which pretended iniury Alexander being mooued he accurseth Fredericke and Victor and forthwith dateth his letters of iustification vnto all Christians Kings and Potentates That what He did was done with equitie and good reason But at his returne into the City finding many new vpstart aduersaries openly opposing against him he went to Tarracine And there going on shipbord purposely there layde for him by William of Sicil hee retyred into France where by the good leaue of Philip assembling a Conuenticle in Claremount in all hast he proclaimeth his curse against the Emperor and the Antipope His Maiesty albeit he foresaw the mischiefes likely to arise vpon this dissension notwithstanding he continueth his siege against Millan vntill enforced by famin and wants the inhabitants voluntarily surrendred the City at discretion This dispatched he sent his Ambassadors to the French King to desire that he would call a Councel at Didion Whether if hee would bring his Pope then would his Maiesty also promise to bee there and with him to bring his Pope also What answer these Ambassadours receiued it is not truely known but so much is recorded to memory that the Earle of Blois gaue the Emperor his faith that the King his master would not faile to be there Whereupon at the prefixed day the Emperor with Victor kept promise and pitched his tents neere Didion Thither came also Henrie the second and William kings of England and Scotland But Alexander could not only not be perswaded to come vnder pretence that the assembly was congregated by the Emperor and not by him but he also so wrought with Philip that he came vnto the place indeed but before the Emperor where washing his hands in the riuer hard by forthwith by the voice of an Herauld he summoned his Maiesty as if herein he had satisfied his oath and so departed Wherewith the Emperor the Kings the other Princes being much agreeued wished Victor to returne to his Popedome and they retired euery man to his own home Victor ariued at Lucca in Hetruria fell sicke and died in whose place succeeded Guido Bishop of Cremona called Paschal the third And vnto him at Goslaria the Emperor and all the Princes and Bishops of Germany did their reuerence Alexander who was yet in France to keep Rome in obedience constituted Iohn the Cardinall his Vicar generall and regranted liberty to the Romanes to chuse their owne Consuls prouided that they were such as were fauorites of his faction Then departeth he from France into Sicil foorthwith returneth to Rome and is willingly receiued of the Romanes and Guido reiected Whereupon the cities of Italie incouraged by the comming of Alexander to hope after liberty contrary to their oathes sworne before vnto the Emperor they reedified Millan but lately razed and subuerted by Caesar Then at the instigation of Alexander they enter into actuall rebellion they inuade the Emperors ministers and fauorits some of whom they expell and some they murder Then vsing his further councell and assistance they proceed to the building of a new City called Alexandria in honor of Alexander and contempt of Frederick culling out of euery City fifteen thousand men for inhabitation vnto whome they deuide the territory and assigne portions whereupon to build their dwellings Vpon intelligence of these rebellious combinations Caesar leuieth an armie and prepareth for Italie where inforcing certaine of the rebels to composition he besiegeth Alexandria but this siege proued nothing honourable for
his Hetrurians leauied in Italie and his Sweuians raised in Germanie he beginneth with Alsatia next neighbour to Sweuia and wasteth it then falling vpon the Thuringer confederated with the Bohemian hee inforceth him to submission and routeth the Bohemian This done through the reconciliation of the Colennois at Confluence hee treateth a league with the Dukes of Brabant Lotharinge with whom and his associates descending to Aquisgran with great solemnity he is there crowned by the fore-said Colennois Finally meeting with Otho not farre from Colen he put him to flight and without his companions enforceth him to flie againe into England When the Princes perceiued these prosperous successes to attend Philip being now throughly wearied with these ciuill combustions by a generall consent they conclude to send an honourable Embassie to his Holinesse who vpon restitution of Philip into fauour should intreat his fatherhood to confirme him in the Rights of the Empire He giueth audience and returneth for aunswere that vnlesse Philip will giue vnto Richard his brothers sonne newly created Earle of Thuscanie Spolet and Marchia Anconitana with the daughter of Philip hee will neuer harken vnto the Emperours Ambassie Behold here another trick of Popish discontent By this match hee onely meant and hoped to inuest his Nephew in the perpetuall inheritance of these goodly Lordships Thus haue these Holy fathers long since accustomed vnder the habit of Saint Peter to fish rather to inrich their Nephewes their kindred and their Gossips then to be carefull ouer the Church and the common-weale yea in these respects they haue often moued warres so that the meanes by which God hath ordained to reconcile families to corroborat peace they haue inuerted to maintaine factions and to serue their owne purposes After the Embassadors had heard the proposed condition altogether impertinent to the businesse whereabout they had taken so much paines they tooke it as a strange motion That the daughter of a King should be affianced to the base Nephew of a Pope Howbeit not to offend his Holinesse they answered that they had no commission to treat of any such ouerture but desire that by some people of his owne hee would acquaint their Lord and Master with his Holinesse request Whereupon with more heat then good discretion he adioyneth vnto the Embassadors of Philip now vpon their returne Hugoline and Leo Cardinals of Hostia and Saint Crosses in Ierusalem Who arriuing at Augusta were honourably receiued and highly feasted but vpon notice of the proud and preposterous message of their Master nothing ashamed to violate the Constitutions of his Lord Peramount the King and his Counsell secretly laughing at the Legats discoursing vpon matters nothing tending to Peace and Absolution from Augusta the Court remoued to Spiers and so to Northius And there after long debatement the peace was ratified and the Bishops Nephew reiected vpon condition that the daughter of Philip whom the foole-Bishop eagerlie instanced should be affianced to Otho And that he liuing in priuate during the life of Philip after his death should succeed in the Empire Not long after this treatie Philip died for leauing Saxonie and for recreation sake retiring vnto Babenberg in Sweuia he was traiterously slaine in his Chamber there solely remaining after the opening of a vain by Otho of Wittelsback Nephew vnto him vpon whom Frederick as we told you before had bestowed Bauaria The cause of his discontent arose for that being a suter to his daughter in regard of some imputation of disloyaltie he had beene repulsed and the Lady by the Emperour her fathers good liking affianced to Otho After this lamentable regicide Otho by the generall consent of the Nobility assembled at Francofurt is saluted Emperour ⧠Otho the fourth OTho by consent of the Princes being thus installed in the Imperial throne setteth all things through Germany in good order and then with a warlike Armie marching by the vally of Trent hee passeth by Lombardie and so commeth to Rome to receiue the Imperiall diademe where by the Pope the Clergie and the people hee is heartely welcommed and honourably receiued And so much the rather the Pope studied to honour and gratifie his Maiestie for that hee had heretofore alwaies assisted his partie against Philip his predecessour But this extraordinarie kindnesse was of no long continuance betweene these new friends but being soone ripe soone vanished and turned into hatred For vpon the very day of the Coronation an affray began betweene the Dutch and the Romanes about the donatiues which the Emperors accustomed to bestow at this time amongst the souldiers so that as report went about one thousand and one hundred men were slaine and as many wounded Whereupon Otho being moued at so great an indignity complained vnto the Romans for reparation of amends which they promised but performed so slowly that the Emperor began to enter into suspition that the Pope himselfe became a fautor of the tumult whereupon hee departed towards Millan and there laying aside his Imperiall ensignes hee infested Tuscanie Mark Ancona and Romandiola vulgo S. Peters patrimony Moreouer in warlike manner he inuaded Apulia subdued the Dutchy of Capua and tooke from Frederick the second many other Cities pertayning to the kingdome of Sicil at that time mistrusting no such outrage Vpon intelligence hereof Innocent admonisheth Otho to restore the feodary possessions of the Church and to abstaine from further violence But Caesar not only reiecteth his admonitions but infesteth those possessions with more and more souldier-like depredations Innocent flyeth to Excommunication depriueth him of his Imperiall titles and absolueth the Princes of their oth of allegiance towards Otho And that more is prohibiteth vnder paine of damnation that no man serue account or call Otho Lord or Emperor It is reported that he caused the Princes anew to sweare vnto Frederick King of Sicil being as yet an Infant and him he made choice of to succeed in his place Whereupon Otho returned into Germany where albeit in the Assembly of Noremberg vpon complaint of the Popish tyranny and the cowardize of the Princes he had entred a strict bond of alliance with many and had moreouer taken sharpe reuenge vppon Herman Lantgraue of Thuringe by wasting his territories for that at the Popes commandement he had violated his faith yet at last being forsaken of his people hee was glad to retire into Saxonie where the fourth day after his royall mariage at Northuis with the daughter of Philip he fell sick and died ⧠Fredericke the second He raigned 1212. About the thirteenth yeare of King IOHN FRederick the second by the vniuersall consent of all Writers a Prince worthy all attributes of honour as well for his gouernment in peace as his cariage in warre vpon the deiection of Otho at the commandement of Innocent the third tooke vpon him the Imperiall Crowne at Aquisgran And in the yeare next following Otho departing at Perusium he was crowned at Rome and honoured with the name
honorable friends from railing so furious is the fire of a Popish conscience No maruell for this is that Boniface the eight who like the Diuell in the Gospell censured all principalities and powers to bee in his donation who vsurped vpon both swords and would needs haue inforced the whole world to haue acknowledged him their Lord Peramount glorying that to him were committed the keies of Heauen gate That he ought to be iudged of no man no though hee carried a million of soules with him to hell for company ⧠Henricus Septimus Hee raigned Anno 1308. About the second yeere of Edward the second AFter the decease of Albert Henrie of that name the seuenth of the House of Lucelburge by the lawfull suffrage of the Electors is nominated Emperor Clement the fift then High-Priest liuing at Auignion well fare the iarre betweene him and Philip the French King in odium Philippi gaue so courteous and facil a way vnto this election that sending his Legats through all the quarters of Germanie and Italie hee gaue strict commandement that Henry should be acknowledged Emperor and really confirmed in the election prouided that within the space of two yeares hee should come to Rome to be crowned and personally visit Italy which now by reason of sixty yeares absence of the Germane Emperours was miserably afflicted with intestine dissensions But the Pope could not long be Master of his own breast hee must needes follow the accustomed knauerie of his vafrous predecessours For when Henrie in satisfaction of his promises had made his perambulation throughout euerie Prouince of Italie had twice rowted Rupert King of Apulia with the Vrsins approached Rome and expected his Coronation in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter The Pope repenting him of his forwardnesse by calling to minde of Henries powerfulnesse and Ruperts friendship at first commandeth the Cardinals not to proceede to Henries inauguration and then againe vpon the Emperours serious expostulation changing his interdiction hee assenteth conditionally that hee take an oath of fidelity to the sea of Saint Peter Which when his Maiestie refused alleadging the president to be new and but lately vsurped in the dayes of some fewe of his Predecessours That the chiefest Prince of Christendome should be obliged by an oath of fealtie to the seruant of seruants at last with much a-doe but vtterly against the Popes minde by the loyall seruice of Steuen of Colonna he was crowned by the Cardinals For Clement himselfe in deadlie hatred against Him reuolted to Rupert King of Apulia by a lawfull triall condemned of high treason and reuersed his sentence of condemnation not so much for any defect in Law but in extreame malice against his Maiestie Thus was the quarrell pickt against Henry obserue the cause thereof I beseech you and tell me if the president hold not with their practises at this day But by the suddaine and immature departure of this religious Emperor nothing was effected For Henrie now being resolued to take vpon him the Crowne of Sicilie being thereunto nominated by the Sicilians vpon the vigil of the Assumption of our Lady was come as farre as Bonconuent Where by Bernard the false dominican Monke who before times had giuen many hypocriticall testimonies of seruice towards his Maiestie by a new and neuer heard of example at Masse mingled poison and the powder of Adamant which as men say bringeth speediest death into the communion cup and so slew his Lord and soueraigne All the wakes Annals records songs rithmes verses and Epigrams written in those daies doe make ample relation of this tragedy But the whole Rabble and blame them not of the Dominicans do vtterlie deny it giuing out that in griefe of mind for that he could not be fully reuenged vpon his enemies hee gaue vp tho ghost after he had receiued letters from his Holinesse in testimoniall of this afore-said villaines innocencie But howeuer These faire glosses could not so exempt their Order from the suspition of this murder but that many of their Couent together with their houses were burnt and destroyed by sword and fire in manie places throughout Tuscanie and Lombardy ⧠Lodouicus Bauarus He raigned Anno 1314. About the seuenth yeare of Edward the second HEnry last spoken of being thus dispatched the tempest which in his life time lay smothered in embers in hideous maner now breaketh out vpon the head of his successors For Frederick of Austria and Lewes of Bauaria being both by the discordant suffrages of the Electors named for Caesars Iohn the 22. findeth an occasion to disquiet them both and first in very ignominious fashion hee quarelleth with Frederick And thus it fared Conrade the Bishop of Gurcia was sent to Rome by the Austrians to desire his Holinesse in fauour of Frederick to giue assent to the election and to represse Lewes where in making his Oration he chanced to discourse vpon the praises of Frederick his grandfathers and great-grandfathers concluding that the Christian world was likely to reape nothing contrarie to expectation considering That it was alwaies seene that from good and valiant Parents discended good and valiant children yet by your fauour most arrogantly and impertinently replied his Holinesse Of all men liuing without question Salomon was the wisest and yet he begot a sonne most foolish Not obscurely intimating thereby that Frederick was degenerated from the vertues of his auncestors and therefore vnworthy of the Imperiall diademe VVas this displeasure deeme yee of continuance no surely for then had it not beene papall But at that time Iohn had no neede of Fredericke Lewes Iudas-like was saluted King and the beloued sonne But now Mapheus with his sonnes the Visconti are vp in Italy and assaulting Genoa And thereupon must a league of reconciliation be priuily contracted with Frederick to the expulsion of Lewes and the re-ordering of Mapheus Eight yeares after his election Frederick was foiled in field and taken prisoner Howbeit the Pope prosecuteth Lewes with continuall malice denounceth him an Enemie to the Church a Schismatike and an Heretike First for that immediatly vpon his Election without his Holinesse permission hee had stiled himselfe Emperour secondly for that hee presumed to relieue certaine of his yonger bretheren being condemned of heresie and outlawed after excommunication and thirdly for his rash assistance sent to Galeas Visconti of Millan against his holy forces Whereupon Lewes vnderstanding by the best Diuines and Lawyers of that age that the acts and sayings of Iohn were repugnant to Christ his Doctrine That the Pope in truth ought to be subiect to the Emperor and not the Emperor to him in temporall causes tooke thereat such incouragement that he appealed from the Pope male informato as the Lawyers speake to the Pope meliùs informando at the next generall Councel to be held when he sate at Rome in Peters chaire Meane time valiantly and vigilantly hee preuenteth all iniuries and diuulgeth the Tenor of the Appeale throughout all the
expectation and in requitall of like office towards the Bohemians for their choice and election vpon the assembly of the Princes at Rensium for the nomination of a new Emperor worketh with Baldwin of Treuers Walram of Colein Rodulph Duke of Saxonie and Iohn the father a Bohemian to nominate and elect Charles King of Bohemia for supreme Lord of the Empire But for all this albeit Charles in the life time of Lewes was crowned at Bonna yet such was his reputation and such the affection of all the good townes through the Empire towards his seruice that vpon a conuocation of a Diet and that after the coronation of Charles No one of the Princes was found either to second the election or to regard the Popes Breues or to swarue from their promised fidelity Had he beene a Popelike Prince that is If to worke his will he would haue hazarded his Title vpon warre and bloodshed what could hee not haue performed But beeing of a quite contrary disposition and guided by the best spirits of vnpartiall Prechers he neuer began a warre against any man though prouoked but onely for the quiet and honour of his country And in detestation of slaughter resolued with himselfe neuer to determine a quarrel by warre if any secondarie meanes might finish it by peace and therefore betaking himselfe to his quietest dispositions by the trechery of Clement as some Authors report he was poysoned at a meriment and after as he rode on hunting as soon as by labor and the motion of his beast his blood heated hee fell headlong from horsebacke Thus most vnworthyly was this Emperor to the griefe of all good Christians made away in the second yeere after the election of Charles the fift of the Ides of October in the yeere of Grace 1347. after hee had so honourably gouerned the Empire for the space of thirty and three yeeres that those good spirits who all his life time had administred vnto him true and loyall seruice against al Papisticall malediction now after his death with like constancy and honesty defended his neuer dying memory against all Shemeis posterity as at this day it is apparantly seen not only by record of history but also by the particular letters of the Consul of Basil And thus it is the Bishop of Bamberg by vertue of a commission directed vnto him from Auignion by the Popes authority to absolue as many as adhered vnto Lewes the yeere following the death of Lewes iournied with Charles towards Basil At his ariuall he made a very perswasiue speech to induce the Inhabitants sithence they stood excommunicated in the behalfe of Lewes for assisting his party with all humility to demand absolution vnto whome Conradus of Bernsfield the Maior of the City in the presence of Charles and the rest of the nobility as well secular as ecclesiasticall made this resolute reply Lord of Bamberg know that we will neither confesse nor beleeue that our Soueraigne Lord Lewes Emperor of Romans was euer an Heretique But howeuer whomsoeuer the Electors shall impose vpon vs for our Master him onely wee acknowledge without asking leaue of the Pope Surely as this Heroique speech of the Consul shewed the Christianlike courage of the man in attributing due obedience to his lawfull Soueraigne and may to future ages be a testimony of innocency protested and in meere loue and admiration of vertue so without question this noble and worthy Emperour deserued no lesse if the whole impartiall world were to returne a Iury vpon the passage of his intire life being doubtlesse an honest man vnspotted studious of his countries freedome and onely a seuere opugner of the Romish tyranny so far foorth that without exception he is to be remembred with all those stiles of Honor which are accustomed to be instiled vpon those who for the loue of their countries haue refused to vndergoe no difficult perills ⧠Charles the fourth He raigned in the yeere 1346. About the twentieth yeare of Edward the third LEWES being dead Charles after he had by diuerse meanes appeased the competitors opposed against him by the electors of Mogunce the Palatine the Saxon and the Brandeburgean is at last vpon promise that he should procure absolution for the free Cities yet standing excommunicated for their adherence vnto Lewes crowned Emperor and on his iourny towards Italie but there entertained with more disgrace then any of his predecessors For as on foot he entred the City Behold quoth a certaine Senator in his Oration before the people in the Capitol thy King commeth towards thee in great humility very bitterly taunting him with scoffes and reuilements Insomuch that the Cardinall of Hostia sent from Auignion by Innocent the sixt would not condiscend to Crowne him before he had giuen security to remaine in Rome nor in Italy no longer then the businesse imported How base and ignominious this limitation was to the Honour of the Empire is apparantly to be discerned by the Epistles of Francis Petrarch that most learned and eloquent Poet written vnto Charles himselfe in these wordes I knowe not what this promise made and sworne to the Romane Bishop meaneth as if your Maiesties entrance into the Citie had beene gaine-said by some inexpugnable trench or impassable mountaine what manner of pride is this that the Romane Prince the life and fountaine of liberty should himselfe be depriued of liberty so farre forth that he who ought to be Lord of all can not be said to be Lord of himselfe And in another place Nerio of Friuli in his writings doth not much dissent All superiority is impacient of corriualty whereof if antiquity can not giue vs presidents I feare that late examples will make the case frequent For now as fame goeth the Pope of Rome hath forbidden the Romane Prince Rome whom hee not onely suffereth but also commandeth to be contented with the diadem and sole title of the Romane Empire Him whom he suffereth to be Emperour at no hand will he suffer to enioy Emperie As the cowardize of Charles in dissembling his greeuances against this propagating pride of the prelacie is with iust cause to be complained of No lesse are the Popes worthy of eternall reprehension who for their proper respects in deposing of good godly Emperors substituted in their places such Ministers whose mindes they knew were alwaies prepared to satisfie their behests by warre and bloud-shed most wickedly feloniously imposing vpon the Empire those losses and disgraces wherewith at this day wee see it weakned and generally taxed For surely this Charles to inable his proiects to appease his Competitors to dispose of the reuenues of the Crowne at his pleasure and freely to bestow them where he thought good gaue vnto Gunther Earle of Swatzburg a valiant and warlike Leader and by the Electors saluted for Emperor 22. thousand markes of siluer with two Imperiall Cities in Thuringe for the terme of his life Vnto Frederick Marques of Misnia elected in stead of
violated their faith and broken their leagues That against all right and equitie their words are of no validity nor their oathes of force And therefore hereafter neuer to be captiuated with security He was created Emperour in the yeare of our Lord 1564. A Prince of a sincere disposition especially in matters of religion which when hee perceiued to be sorely shaken and rent with diuersity of opinions hee greeued in minde but shewed himselfe indifferent to the professors thereof neuer hindering the course with any seuere edict Which his godly moderation caused the Romanists to offer him some hard measure surely not to be said to haue vtterly washt away the contagion of their ancient treacherie and malice in esse diuolued vpon them from the successiue discent of so many their predecessors But this worthy Prince was nothing mooued thereat neither started one iot from his accustomed lenitie Crato Craftheim his Councellor and Physition a man beyond all exception shall witnesse it in his funerall Oration The Emperor Maximilian neuer entred into iudgement of another mans Conscience but alwaies in controuersie of Religion forbore by force to settle mens minds For he confessed in the hearing of many men ten yeeres agoe vnto William Prelate of Olomuch That no sinne was more greeuous then the forcing of Consciences Many are also aliue who remember what hee said to a Prince flying his kingdome and in his flight resorting vnto him for succour Surely those that arrogate power ouer mens consciences inuade the bulwarkes of Heauen and oftentimes loose that Authority which God here hath giuen them vpon earth Such care and study as Father Ferdinand vsed in obseruing the Pacification of Passania the same the sonne Maximilian emulated and defended permitting vnto the Austrian Nobility the doctrine of the confession of Ausburg by edict dated the 18. August 1568. For when as many noble men of Austria vnder the gouernment of Ferdinand had presented vnto Charles the fift certaine Euangelicall ministers professing the Confession of Ausburg and amongst these many turbulent spirits dismissed vppon many occasions from many parts of Germanie had resorted vnto his gouernment as to a place of security And vnder blinde pretences of Euangelicall liberty had inconsiderately innouated and tumultuously preached many things concerning Church-gouernement This Maximilian after the example of his father thought it not meet to prohibit his subiects the confession of Ausburg and yet forbore not to restraine that anarchiall temerity of such hot spirits throughout euery seuerall village of the Prouince almost teaching and instituting a peculiar forme of Doctrine and Ceremonies At last at the earnest entreaty and humble petitions of the Austrian Nobility he permitted them the free exercise of the Augustan confession both in Churches and families so that they would assure him to obserue that certaine order of doctrine and celebration of the Lords supper throughout all their Churches which as then was already vsed and imbraced by the residue of the Protestant Churches according to the prescript of order of the said confession For reformation whereof he emploied Ioachim Camerarius and Dauid Chytreus and the promise once granted being afterwards Emperor he obserued most religiously Of whose faith and integrity although to his neuer dying honour much may be spoken yet here will we cease and fall to discourse vpon the succession of his Sonne Rodolph What further matter the good and well minded Reader may expect I will leaue to his own discretion to be exemplified by the application of these old verses Tempora mutantur Papa mutatur in illis Felix quem faciunt Romana pericula cautum ⧠Rodolph the second RODOLPH now onely remaineth Here whether I should admire at the busie but now out-worne fury tyranny and ambition of these selfe-wild Bishops or reioice at the restored magnanimity fortitude and constancy of our Emperour Rodolph I confesse my selfe grauelled But to affirme nothing of mine owne braine here behold a witnesse acting his own part A man aboue exception auouching He is the same who was Author of the Commentary vpon the Coloin Businesse These are his words What saith hee should I speake of the inuincible Emperour Rodolph who now raigneth I haue seene his Embassadours at Rome the most noble and valiant Lord Flacchus Prior of the Order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem in Germany and Ierome Turner of his Maiesties Councell A man of exquisit learning of high wisedom faithfull and honest I soiourned with them in the same house For they lodged with Cardinall Mandrutius whome for honours sake I name my very honourable good Master and a man of excellent vertues He for acquaintance sake intertained them kindly and vsed them royally they stayed with vs almost one whole summer of which delay this was the cause The Pope Gregorie the thirteenth was wonderfull desirous to haue the Emperour performe his obedience to his Popeship For that it ought so to be he pleaded prescription The Ambassadors to doe more then their Commission warranted resolutely refused And their Commission stretched no further then to promise Obsequium his humble seruice to the Pope but obedience vnto the Church Letters hereof were sent vnto his Maiesty and meane while Turner was eagerly assaulted by the Cardinals to change opinion but he was constant At last vntill the Emperors Maiesty could be wrought to relinquish that forme of words which the worthy and laudable Caesars Ferdinand his grandfather and Maximilian his father had vsed the Embassador was accepted to do what he was commanded And so in a full assembly of the Cardinals the Pope being mounted vpon an high Seig Hee promised his Holinesse his seruice and the Church his obedience In action whereof he gaue good proofes of his learning wisedome and admirable boldnesse To many in the City this seemed a ridiculous contention sithence the words obsequium and obedientia doe so little differ in substance but let them laugh The Popes rites well vnderstand the meaning thereof otherwise let them bee assured that his wisedome would not so stifly haue insisted vppon the bare word of obedience As for the Emperour the world knoweth that here he made it manifest that hee was not bound to giue obedience vnto a Bishop his subiect from whome hee expected subiection and fealtie At leastwise he layde an excellent foundation towards the restitution of the decayed Honour of the Empire by others to be perfected as God and time shall offer occasion For what a greater blessing can a Christian man wish then to see a Bishop praying and preaching and abhorring to prescribe lawes vnto a temporall Emperour What other thing more necessarie for peace and humane society can the Councel of State deuise then to bridle seditious mindes from taking aduantage to disquiet the State vpon euery sinister seducement of an vnconscionable Iesuite Which if they once effect then shall the Emperours giue them their due fauours that is acknowledge the Lateran Bishops to be venerable fathers If these passages I say were