defied the Persians who spoiled the coūtry of Mesopotamia And being ariued at Asia hauing takē phisycke for to recouer his health he dyed not without suspition of impoisonment This is he who is surnamed the great who called Bizantius a Citie of Thracia by his name where he placed the seat of the Empire Constantinople He begane to raigne about CCCXII yeres after the natiuity of Christ A blaising starre of straūge and wonderfull greatnes preceaded his death Constantinus Constantius Constans bretheren He left behind him thre sones to wet Constantinus Cōstantius Constans vnto Constantinus befell the regiment of the Alpes Fraūce Spaine Englad the Iles called Orchades Ireland Thile Vnto Cōstans Italy Afrike with the Iles Sclauony Macedonia Achaia * Now called Morea Peloponesus Grecia vnto Constantius the country of Asia of Thracia Constantinus not wel content with this particiō stirred vp war against his brother Constans and was euē already come to Aquileia where he gaue the on set against his brothers army But hauing lost his army he was slain After this victory Cōstans who in the meane while made warre wyth the Getes and Sarmatians in * A coūtrye beyond Hūgarie called now Transilianiam Dacia came into Italy and hauyng passed the mountaines he entered by force into Fraunce in suche sorte that by the space of two yeares he enioyed all the dominions of his brother disceassed But shortelye after he was murdered by the Ambusches and conspyratyes of Magnentius who was chosen Emperour by the Souldiours he oftentymes repeteth that it appertaineth to him only who is Bishop as he saith of the chiefe seat to assemble the generall coūsells a thing commytted vnto hym by synguler pryueledge and by deuyne Commaundement A man myght meruyll how he could for shame write this or the residue boste themselues therof seyng that before his time Constantinus had assembled that of Nice more then an hūdreth yere after him the Emperour Martianus that of Chalcedon He saith Moreouer that it appertaineth to hym onley as beyng Bishop of Rome to haue knowledge of Bishops causes other like affaires The other Bishops could not suffer this hys arrogancie and presumption The Bysshops resist Iulius therfore being assembled at Antioch they vertuously answered him that it appertained not vnto him to retract the sentence by thē pronoūced seing that they were in like degre of dignitie with him that the doctrine of Christ was proceded out of their country finally came to Rome by the meanes and trauayle of the Apostles Moreouer yf that he dyd contynue in hys opinyon and makynge of newe decrees they woulde not onely not obey but they woulde also neyther make nor meddell wyth hym and they would consulte to gyue order herein accordynge to the wayttynesse of the matter In an other Synode holden in the self same Towne where they were assembled in greatter number they ordayned amongeste other thynges what was the offyce of the Byshop and that of the Metropolytan yf anye Proces should happen as touchyng thynges of greate importaunce For yf it chaunce that the Bishops doe not accorde they commaunde that the Metropolytan take certayne of the next prouince for Iudges to gyue absolute and diffinityue sentence If that anye Byshoppe for hys offence or cryme be condempned by the common consent of the other Byshoppes they wyll that the sentence remayne ferme and stable and not to be retracted by any other They ordayne moreouer that the Bishoppe employe faythfully the goods of the Church gyuen to the vse of the poore yf nede require that he take therof as much as shal be nedefull for his necessitie forasmuch as sainct Paulle sayth that we ought to be content with meate clothing And if it so happen that the Byshoppe employe these gooddes to hys owne perticuler profite or of his gyuing the vse therof to hys kynsfolkes they wyll that he be reprehended by the Synode Iouinianus hauyng the enemye at hys elbowe he made a treaityes of Peace verye ignominius vnto the publyke weale for he restored the fyue prouynces whyche Galeryus had conquered beyonde Tyger as it hathe beene sayde wyth a certayne part of Mesopotamya Moreouer he promysed in the treatyes of Peace that the Romayns should not succour nor helpe the Kyng of Armenia although he were their frend and compaynyon Thys done goyng on with his armye to retyre homewards he died in the confynes of Bithinia The armie incōtinently after elected Valentinianus to be Emperour Valentinianus who being ariued at Constantinople tooke Valeus hys brother to be hys compaynion in the regiment of the Empire and committing vnto him those countries there he went into Germanye where he subdued the Saxons borderers of the Ocean sea This brought to passe he drew into Fraūce where some say he died for anger At this time his brother Valeus the other Emperour Valeus was in Asia for to represse and withstand the fury of the Parthians who forraged in Armenia and the kinge of the Persians who stirred vp warre contrary to the couenantes But beyng aduertised that the Hūnes or Tartarians and Scithians did spoyle the country of Hungarie Albanie and Thessalie he retyred into Europa beyng vainquished in the assaulte he was brought into a litle house very sore hurt where the enemies setting the same a fyer brunt him There is found a certaine acte or law made by the Emperours Valentinianus Valeus The decree of Valentinianus and Valeus by the whych it is commaunded that they that follow the deserte monasticall lyfe auoiding by thys meanes the publike charges goyng a warfare should be plucked out of their dēnes and shuld be constrayned eyther to serue the country or to be frustrated of all other commodities the whiche shoulde be transferred to them who did sustaine daungers trauills for the publike weale The enemyes forth with encamped before Constantinople but being pacified by the gyftes and presentes of the Emperour they raised their campe and departed When the coūtry of Saxonia was pacifyed the Emperour Valentinianus dyd adopte Gratianus hys sōne to be compainion of the Empyre Now the father the Vncle beyng dead Gratianus Gratianus succeded them both and for as muche as the publyke weale was incombered with diuers troubles he elected Theodosius an excellent Captayne Theodosius sent him towards the East coūtry He ouerthrew and defeicted the Hūnes Gothes about Constantinople and draue thē out of the country of Thracia Shortly after Gratianus was traitrously slayne in Fraunce by a certaine Captaine of hys named Maximus who coueted the Empire Ansonius Poet. Ausonius of Bourdeaux was his schole maister of whom is found a certaine Poesie who also was exalted by the Emperour euen to the dignye of Consull of Rome His sone Valentinianus dyed almost after the sayd sort through the deceipte of Abrogastus his famillier frend But the mourderers remayned not long vnpunished
the fyrst election was not rightly constituted required again to be solemnly elected the which was done albeit that Pope Bonifacius the eight did say there against and did not approue that which had bene done of other princes Shortly after as a great quarell was moued betwene him Philip the faire king of Fraunce he confyrmed him Emperour spake meruelous things in the laud praise of his house At length Albertus was murdered of his kinsmeÌ„ at such time as being furnished with al things he had put himself in iourny for to bring the Bohemians to this point for to receiue Fridericus his son to be their king bonifacius the eyght This Bonifacius added vnto the epistles decretalls of Gregory the ix contained in v. bokes another boke named the sixte Amongst other thyngs he ordayned that it was lawful for the Pope to forgoe his estate For it is sayd that by subtyll and vnlawfull meanes he had perswaded that vnto Celestinus the fyfth hys predecessour After Albertus Henry the seuenth of that name of the house of Luxembourg Henry the seuenth came to the Empyre He founde meanes to make Iohn hys sonne king of Bohemia by mariage makyng and drew into Italye whose estate was then most miserable For since the death of the Emperour Fridericus the seconde about fyftie fyue yeares space the Emperours made no count of Italy Wherthrough befell that it was meruelously reâ—t in pieces by theÌ„ that were of most power namely by the Gelphes and Gibellins The Gelphes and Gibellins the which two factions and seditions haue many clients in those couÌ„tries He first then set gouernours through the townes and fredomes of Lumbardie made the inhabitants swere vnto him Afterward hauing soiourned a certayn time at Millan he could not with his labour accord the factions wherof I haue spokeÌ„ And forasmuch as Turrianus went about to take him at vnwares after the conspiratie was disclosed and the aduersaries repulsed he gaue the ouer sight gouernment of the towne vnto the vicouÌ„t All the townes of the country did yeld vnto his power and deuotion Brixe only rebelled the which he toke after long seige brake downe the walls From thence he passed by Genes by Pise for to go to Rome where he was crowned by certain Cardinalls because that Pope Clement the v. had left the town being retired into Fraunce dwelt in Auignon The popes in AuignoÌ„ The Cardinalls demaunded of him the oth which they said ought to be made vnto the Pope but he refused it would not so make it that therby he should be bound vnto the Pope The Pope hearing this he declared afterwards at large this forme of othe for to encrease alwaies his power and regestred it wyth the other decrees which now remaine For he also coÌ„posed diuers lawes which beare his name The ouerthrow of the templiers are called Clementines At this time the Templiers were with the same fury ouerthroweÌ„ in an instant diuers places Philip the fayre king of Fraunce toke the most part of their goods by the Popes permission since their name and memory was condemned and at the counsell of Vienna which was held in * A couÌ„try in Fraunce so called Dauphine their possessions were geuen vnto them who are called horsmen of the Rhodes At this tyme also the vniuersitie of Orleans was erected by the aucthoritie of king Philip and Pope Clement After that the Emperour Henry was dead not without great suspicioÌ„ of poison and that he was buried at Pise sharpe contentions were moued in Germany for the election For Fridericus duke of Austrich son of the Emperour Albertus did contend for the principallitie wyth Ludouicus duke of Bauieres Two Emperours crowned The archbishop of Mense crowned Ludouicus at Aix in germany but the bishop of Coloigne crowned Fridericus at Rome HerevpoÌ„ pope Iohn the xxii named theÌ„ both Emperours howbeit he was more affectioned on Fridericus side Which was cause to enflame the hatred so that they came euen to take weapon in hand and to giue earnest battaile nere vnto Eling a towne of Swane Neuertheles they departed from the conflicte almost equall Afterwards they fought yet again more fierslye in Bauieres in the whych battaile Fridericus was taken the most part of his men put to the sword but he was let go and retired home where certayn yeres after he dyed Ludouicus then hauing gotten the seignorie marched into Italy with his army The Emperour Ludouicus that against the Popes wyll There he ordayned Lieutenantes through the townes and fredomes was crowned at Millan by the archbishop Which done he sent Ambassadours into Auignon once or twise for to be crowned solemnely which forasmuch as he could not obtain he hauing left order vnto the affaires of Millan toke iourney towards Rome Where being ariued he wanted no gretings and honour at his entraunce was crowned by one or two Cardinals Herevpon the pope did redouble his excommunicatioÌ„ Wherthrough came to passe that by the counsell of the princes the Emperour created another Pope so by his meanes there was a deadly hatred betwene them The fyrst tenthes did impute great crimes the one vnto the other The Annales of Fraunce recite that Charles the faire son of Philip permitted first of all vnto pope Iohn to leuie tenthes vpon the ecclesiasticall reuennes that they shuld deuide the bootie betwen theÌ„ for the popes purpose was no other then to haue pence against the Emperour After the Emperours retourne into Germany the pope died whose successour Benedictus the xii excommunicated also the Emperour depriued him of his dignity The Emperour then coÌ„uocated the princes at Francfort Oration of the Emperour against the Pope where he made a trime oration by the which he complained of the desloiualties of Popes declared what was hys faith set forth desplaed the ancient lawes of the Empire shewed that the popes had nothing to do in the gouernment of the Empire forasmuch as he is lawfull Emperour who is elected by the consent of the princes albeit that the Pope do not accord thervnto nor wil not coÌ„secrate him For al this is but a ceremony the which by litle litle hath crept in now is ouer much auctorized to the great dishonour domage of the Empire Clement the .vi. succeded Benedictus Clement the sixth who surmouÌ„ted all the residue in violence was the most terriblest He propounded certain coÌ„ditions very ignominius became more enraged for that they were refused Wherfore he aduertised the princes very expresly that they shuld procede to the election of another yea in such sort that he limited theÌ„ the time Which if they failed to do he would giue order that the church shuld not be any longer without a protector patron The estate of the publike weale being so mutable variable Charles king of Bohemia sonne of Iohn nephew of Henry the .vii.
74 Galeatius the first duke of Millan fol. 97 Hanniball poysoneth hym selfe fol. 21 Heliogabalus fol. 38 Hieromes sentence fol. 49 Heraclius victorie fol. 60 Henry the seconde fol. 77 Henry the thyrde idem Iulius Cesar ouerthroweth the Swicers fol. 28 Inconstantie of Cicero fol. 32 Iesus Christes byrth fol. 34 Iesus Christes death fol. 36 Iulianus fol. 47 Iouinianus idem Iustinus Emperour of Grecia fol. 56 Iohn kyng of Fraunce taken of the Englishe men fol. 97 Iohn of Bourgony delyuered by a straunge meanes idem Lysimachus fol. 12 L. Luculus against Mithridates fol. 27 Leges Iuliae fol. 32 Litorius against the Gothes fol. 32 Leo Emperour fol. 54 Lyes and falsholde in the Popes Histories fol. 56 Long warre against the Saxons fol. 69 Ludouicus the Maffler fol. 73 Learning and good letters reestablisshed fol. 99 Melius slayne for his ambition fol. 14 M. Antonius the Philosopher fol. 37 Maximinus Empe. fol. 38 Martianus Empe. fol. 52 Mauritius Empe. fol. 59 Mahomets Alchoran the beginning of his authority fol. 60 Mariage forbidden to Priestes fol. 64 Nimrod the first Kyng of Chaldea fol. 1 Nabuchodonozors power fol. 5 Notable Iurisconsulles fol. 16 Nestorius condemned fol. 5 Narses the Eunuche fol. 57 Odoacer subdueth Italy fol. 54 Ottomanus the first Emp. of the Turkes fol. 66 Otho first of that name fol. 75 Otho displaceth the Pope idem Otho the seconde fol. 76 Otho taken by Pyrates idem Otho the thyrde idem Ptolomeus Philadelphus father of good letters fol. 12 Papyrius Cursor fol. 15 Pyrchus against the Romaines fol. 16 Persta king of the Macedonians taken prisoner fol. 21 Probus and the cause of his death fol. 43 Phocas fol. 59 Pipine king of Fraunce aydeth the Pope fol. 64 Priuileges of the Emperour fol. 75 Printing inuented fol. 99 Quintus Fabius a most prudent captaine fol. 17 Resination of the Empyre fol. 43 Rome taken by the Gothes fol. 51 Rome taken by the Wandales fol. 53 Rome taken by Totilas fol. 57 Rome robbed by Constans fol. 61 Robert king of Fraunce fol. 77 Robert Palatine Emperour fol. 98 Reuelation of Antichrist fol. 104 Semiramis and her noblenes fol. 2 Sardanapalus and his ende fol. 3 Socrates the fountaine of Philosophie fol. 15 Scipios victorie in Affrike fol. 19 Septimus Seuerus fol. 38 Sapor king of Persia fol. 39 Synode or counsell at Constantinople fol. 49 Strife betwene the Grekes and the Latines fol. 88 Sigismundus Emperour fol. 98 The wynnyng of Ierusalem fol. 4 The warre of the Persians fol. 8 The Penoponicall warre against the Athenians fol. 8 The ouerthrowe of the Athenians in Sicilia fol. 9 The beginning of the fourth Monarchie fol. 12 The tyme in which Rome was buylte fol. 13 The warre of Troye eodem The beginning of the Romaines eodem The first gouernement at Rome eodem The Fabiens slaughter eodem The thyrde mutation of the Romain policie fol. 14 The first warre of Carthage fol. 16 The seconde warre of Carthage fol. 17 The thirde warre of Carthage fol. 22 The warre of Numance fol. 23 The warre of bondmen and slaues eodem The byrth of Cicero fol. 24 The lawes of Sylla fol. 26 The first pleadyng of Cicero eodem The exile of Cicero fol. 29 The fourth and last monarchie fol. 32 The yerely reuenewe of Egipt fol. 33 Tyrants fol. 44 The counsell of Nice against Arrius fol. 45 The Emperour excommunicated by the Pope fol. 50 The sixte counsell of Carthage eodem The deceipt of the bishop of Rome disclosed eodem The treason of Stilico eodem The Wandales enter into Affricke fol. 51 The Britons driuen out by the Englyshe men fol. 52 The first foundation of Venice fol. 53 The number of the dukes of Venice eodem The counsell of Calcedon eodem The West Empyre sore afflicted fol. 54 The Lumbards enter into Italy fol. 59 The fourth counsell of Toletanum fel. 60 The sixte counsell of Constantinople fol. 62 The beginning of the turkes fol. 66 The number of Emperours murdered fol. 67 The great Maisters of Fraunce and their credit fol. 68 The Empyre renued by Charlemaine fol. 70 The seuen electours of the Empyre instituted fol. 77 The sonne against the father fol. 85 The counsell of Latran fol. 88 The euenings of Sicilia fol. 93 The ouerthrow of the templers fol. 94 Two Emperours crowned fol. 95 The first tenthes eodem The golden Bull. fol. 96 The king of Hungarie defeited by the turke fol. 97 The Popes court transferred into Fraunce fol. 98 The Papacie as Cerberus hath thre heads fol. 99 The counsell of Constance eodem The prophecie of Daniel expounded fol. 101 The foure beastes eodem The tenne hornes fol. 102 The wicked doctrine of Mahomet eodem The Ramme and the Goate eodem The Pope and the Turkes enemies of them pyre fol. 103 There shal be no fifte monarchie eodem The thre hornes of the turkes fol. 104 The fury of Sathan at the ende eodem Victorie of Pompeius against Mithridates fol. 27 Victorie of Cesar in Affricke fol. 31 Vlpianus Iurisconsull fol. 38 Valerianus fol. 40 Vitigis king of the Gothes taken prisoner fol. 57 Vsurpation of the Popes ouer the Empyre fol. 63 Vitories of Charles the fifte in Affricke fol. 100 Vnstabilitie of the Lords of Millan fol. 101 Victories of Alexander fol. 102 Warre against Philippe of Macedonia fol. 19 Warre against Antiochus kyng of Siria eodem Warre against Iugurtha fol. 24 Warre against Mithridates fol. 25 Warre against the Pyrates fol. 27 Warre in Alexandria against Cesar fol. 30 Warre of the Romains in Dutchland fol. 34 Warre betwene the Frenchmen the Englishmen fol. 96 Xerxes the fourth Emperour fol. 8 Xerxes ouerthrowen by the Grecians eodem Zenobia the valiaunt wyfe of Odenatus fol. 4◠Zeno Isauricus fol. 54 FINIS To the Reader SIth no mans doings can auoyde Reproch at Momus hand I iudge it nedeles to craue ayde The same for to gaine stand Wherefore I will contented be The same to ouerronne With silence and simplicitie As many moe haue donne Trusting that such as be of skill Hereat wyll not disdayne But it in gre they accept will To recompence my payne ¶ Faultes escaped in the prynting Note that a. signifieth the first side of the page and. b. the second Follio 1. b. line 17 Affrica read Asia fol. 2. a. line 15 brought out read were brought out fol. 6. a. line 12. haue these two read leaue these two fol. 14 b. line 7. surmounte read surmounted fol. 14. b. line 8. was bannished read he was bannished fol. 15. a. line 22. it hathe bene read as it hathe bene fol. 19. b. line 1. to be read is to be fol. 23. b. line 3. sure read seuere fol. 28. a. line 23. adde next to thys worde grauen were molten fol. 28. a. lyne 24. the molten image read the image fol. 39. b. lyne 5. Persians held read the Persians held fol. 43. a. lyne 4. short stand read shortly stande fol. 50. a. lyne 9. Priestes read bishop fol. 90. a. lyne
call them should be receyued into twoo Churches The pluralitie of benefices were then vnknowen the whiche at this daye is so common as nothinge more yea almost euen in our memorie amongst the other spots of the Churche this allso hathe bene introducted that the Pope hathe made no dificultie to graunt two bishoprikes vnto one man If he did agayne establishe the coustoume lately obserued herein he shoulde do his dewtie But in asmuche as he can not abyde that do we thynke that he wyll euer suffer that the things should be refourmed accordyng to the holy scriptures decrees of the Apostles and of the primatiue church No doubt they labour in vayn who seke to rule and frame the Popes doings accordyng to the maner of the auncient religion Martianus dyed the seuenth yere of his raign and Leo succeded hym Leo Emp. As touchyng Rome and the West parties after the taking of the said citie by Gensericus his retourne into Affrike Auitus succeded Valentinianus after hym Maiorianus and after him Seuerus after him also Authemius and consequently others of small name who slew one another by treason and ambushments The Wes◠empyre sore afflicted so that none of them raygned long wherthrough that part of the Empyre towards the West was very soore afflicted and vexed There is found nothyng wrytten of the Emperour Leo whych is worthy of memory but that he made an atonement and league wyth the Gothes who forraged in Sclauonia There are yet found one or two Epistles of Leo bishop of Rome which are directed vnto hym The sayd Emperour had Zeno Isauricus to hys successour Zeno Isauricus Amongest them who after the death of Valentinianus had the domination of Rome there was one also named Augustulus At this tyme Odoacer bryng accompanied with a great armye of Herulois and Scyrois passed from Hungaria into Italy by force of armes He stewe Orestus a gentle man of the chiefe bloud of Rome whom he had taken in Pauie where he was retired wyth his souldiours not content therewith he proyed and brunte the towne and procedyng onwards he subdued the whole countrey euen vnto Rome Augustulus seyng these thyngs hys corage fayled hym and willingly euen of his owne accorde he depriued him self of the Empyre Odoacer subdueth Italye Odoacer made his entrye into Rome and after he had obtained the domination of Italy he enioyed it raigned peaceably ouer the same for the space of xiiii yeres That time passed the Emperour Zeno did send Theodoricus king of the Ostrogothes from Constantinople In his way he vanquished Gepides and Bulgares who did resist him Theodoricus king of the Ostrogothes Afterwards passyng by Mysia and Hungaria he entred into Italy and encamped before Aquileia where Odoacer went to mete hym and they fought earnestly together wyth all theyr myght and power Odoacer had the worst and was put to flyght But he renewed his army presented agayne the battayll about Uerona Where he being also the second tyme ouertorowen and put to flight he hastened towards Rome leauing the greatest number of his men behind him partly slaine in the field and partly drowned in the ryuer of Athese He being excluded from Rome spoy led the fields and medowes there abouts and retyred to Rauenna where he was beseiged almost thre yeres and finally hauyng yelded hymself was slain He being dispatched Theodoricus remained maister of Italy and made his entrye into Rome where he held two cousells of bishops whome he had made to come thither out of diuers Prouinces of Italy for to iudge vppon the cause of Symnachus bishop of Rome whome many did reiect as vnworthy and euill elected This Theodoricus was an Arrian as the bokes of the Papistes report It is he who was surnamed Veronensis and was kinsman to that Theodoricus who as it hath bene said was slaine in the battell against Athila Odoacer was a Rugien which is a certain people of Germany towardes the sea of * It is the ocesian sea towards y◠countrey of Prusse Balthicus Theodoricus seking to fortifie him selfe did ioygne the kinges of the Wandales Visigots and of Bourgony in affinitie and league with him Whilest these thyngs were a doyng in Italy great tumults were raised in Thracia Affricke and England in which finally the Saxons were maisters Anastasius succeaded Zeno who was disceassed at Constantinople He mainteyned certayne Anastasius who helde the opinion of Eutyches Whereof sprong great dissention betwene hym and Gelasius bishop of Rome who accordyng to theyr bookes dyd admonysh hym by large and long letters not to maintayn or defend such men For there are two principall thyngs which are concurrant in the regiment of this world the sacred authoritie of bishops and the regall power As touchyng the byshops they haue the greater charge in as muche as they must once render an accompt for the residue Truth it is that he presedeth in ciuill pollicie but not withstandyng he is subiect to the ministers of sacred thyngs and dependeth vppon theyr iudgement And seyng that the Priests do obey the polityke lawes it is mete that he for his part do not refuse that whych the Dispensatours and Presidents of sacred thyngs do decerne Also for as much as thys honour vndoubtedly ought to be referred to al the ministers of the Church How much more then vnto hym whom God fyrst of all by hys voyce and after by the consent of the church The arogācie of the bishop of rome would haue to be aboue all order of Priesthode Let hym therefore refrain and heare hym rather as an intreatour in this life then as an accusour in the other Hys decre as touchyng the holy Byble is ioygned next after Wherein he attributeth chief authoritie vnto the Romain sea so they name it secondly vnto Alexandria and thyrdly vnto Antioche In Anastasius raigne great seditions and motions of warre were styrred vp in Cilicia the which were asswaged and pacified after that the author was dispatched The Hunnes dyd then also spoyle Armenia and Capadocia The Getes Macedonia Thessalia and Albania in such sort that the Emperour was constrayned to pacifie ech of them with gyftes and great losses About thys tyme to wit the yere of saluation CCCCC Clodoueus kyng of Fraunce receyued fyrst of all the religion of Christ after he had bene long tyme solicited by hys wyfe who was of the house of Bourgony to forsake the Idols and superstitions Clodoueus the first christen kyng of Fraunce There remaineth yet a counsell of Orleans holden in his raigne by .xxxiii. French byshops by the whych amongest other thyngs it is ordeyned that if any hauing rauyshed a mayde flye and take Sanctuary in the temple yea albeit he haue enforced her that he should not dye but that he should eyther be as a bondman or els redeme hym self by her The ryght Canon sayth that Anastasius braste a sunder and so dyed others say that he was striken wyth lyghtnyng Iustinus folowed hym
second was byshop of Rome There remaineth a certain Epistle of him wherin he sharply rebuketh taxeth Aurelius who at the foresayd counsell was bishop of Carthage sayth that by the motion instigation of the deuyll he wyth hys fellow Byshops straue against the church of Rome Also he giueth god thanks the Eulatius Aurelius successour then Byshop of the sayd place was reconciled with the Church of Rome Moreouer he reciteth a certayn writting of Eulatius by the which he protesteth that he coÌ„demneth aswel his elders as his successors who haue gone or shal go about to subuert deminyshe the priueleges of the holy and apostolike church Agapetus successour of Bonifacius the second did dysplace Authemius patriarch of CoÌ„stantinople who denied two natures in Christ Theodora the Emperours wyfe was sore displeased therewyth and by Belisarius warned Syluerius Agapetus successour to reestablyshe hym And because that the sayd Agapetus was accused of certayne other matters Belisarius dysplaced hym and putte Vigilius in his towne But because that he beyng called to Constantinople The Bysshoppes of come were in the Emperours power would not restore Authemius to hys offyce he was serued wyth the lyke Whereby it is euydent ynoughe that then the Byshoppes of Rome weare in the Emperours power In the raigne of Iustinus the second the Parsian warre was renued And because that it went yll and vnfortunallye on the Emperours part Auchelaus his Lieutenant did again make peace Narses the other Lieutenant of the Emperour dyd enioye Italy for .xvi. yeares space after he had driuen out the Gothes and that Totilas was disceassed Afterwards he beyng called from thence by the Emperour and hauyng receyued vnpleasaunt letters and conceauing great ingratitude in them he not onely not returned but also to auenge hymself he sent Ambassadours for to entyse and draw the Lombardes into Italye in propoundyng vnto them great profytes and commodities and declaryng vnto them that Italy exselled all other counttryes in beauty and fertilitie The Lomberds enter into Italy They had at that tyme taken their inhabytation in Hungaria At such tyme as they were thether ariued they dyd possesse that parte of Italy which beareth theyr name euen to thys day The Hystoriographers wrytte that thys Iustinus dyd instytute a Magystrate in Italye named * That is to say lorde or gouernour Exarche who was as the Vicemperour He remayned for the most parte at Rauenna not passyng for Rome and placed in euery City and Towne a gouernour The Italyen wrytters sayd that thys new institution was cause of the ruyne of Italye and of Rome Narses afterwardes dyed at Rome Tiberius Emperour Tyberius who had allreadye bene made compaynyon of the Empyre succeaded Iustynus He ouerthrewe the Parsyans in twoo battayls He made peace with the Lombardes who raigned from the * A couÌ„try in Italy called now Aprucium Samnites eueÌ„ to the Alpes the City of Rome excepted the which they had straightly beseiged for a certayn tyme but fynally were coÌ„strained to raise their campe through the greatnes of teÌ„pests vnseasonable weathers great raynes Mauritius Mauritius Tiberius sonne in lawe was Emperour and in certayn battayles vanquished the Parsians by his Lieutenants fynally he made peace with them Afterwards hauing called back agayn hys army he draue the Scythes from Misia He kept the Lombards vnder by force in Italy displaced the HuÌ„nes out of Hungaria He grew in hatred of hys souldiours because of hys couetousnes Wherfore he was constrayned for to auoyde the sedition begoÌ„ne to fly to Chalcedon where fynally he was slayne wyth hys wyfe and chyldren and all his race by a certayn centurion named Phocas who afterwards was choseÌ„ Emperour by sediâ—ioâ— Phocas In Mauritius raign there appeared a blaysyng starre for syxe Monthes space And as certayn writings do mention Mahomet was then borne of whom we wyll shortly hereafter speake At that time Iohn Byshop of CoÌ„stantinople dyd name himself the vniuersall Patriarch Quarells for the supremacie Gregorie the fyrst against the ambitioÌ„ of the Pope Whom the Byshop of Rome Pelagius the second did stroâ—gly and stoutly withstand pronounced his decrees to be of no vallewe Gregorius the fyrst his successor doth sharply reprehend that in him and saith that this title and honour was attributed to his ancestours at the counsell of Carthage howbeit neuer any of them would euer vse it He wryting also vnto Mauritius the Emperour he exhorteth him to restrayne and kepe him vnder inas much as it lyeth in his aucthoritie the whych is sore minished by the power that the other vsurpeth It is sayd that Bonifacius the thyrd who folowed Gregorye dyd obtayne the supremacye of Phocas Wherof he published patents laws The entry of the popes In Phocas raygne the Persians did greatly endomage the publike weale For they possessed Mesopotamia and Assyria passed euen into Asia the lesser so great was the negligence of the Prynce Moreouer Germany Fraunce Spaine and the most part of Italy dyd reuolte The Saracenes spoyled and proyed Egipt Wherof it befel that he was slain for his cruelty for neglecting the publike weale In Heraclius tyme hys successour Heraclius the Parsians made great roades From Egipt they marched into Affrike the whych they subiected vnto them The Scithes dyd dismember rent Europa in pieces diuers sondry wyse Heraclius fynally toke iourney into Asia and seyng that he could not obtain peace no not in offering meanes finally râ—douÌ„ding to the Romayns honour Heraclius victorie he entred eueÌ„ almost by constraint into plaine battaile against the sayd Persians who then spoyled oppressed Iudea and ouerthrew them in two battailes From thence forthwith passed the floode Tiger spoiled the whole country of Persia vntyll such tyme as he made aliaunce wyth Sirochus the kyng of Persyans sonne who hauyng killed his father had made himself king By thys meanes the country of Affrike Egipt all that the Parsians had subdued was rendred and it was agreed that the flood Tiger should seperate the Parsians dominioÌ„ from that of the Romains About that time a great multitude of Saracenes who were at the wags of Heraclius did reuolt because they were defrauded of their payment robbing proiyng in Siria vnder the conduct of Mahomet they possessed Damascus proied Egipt subdued Arabia fought luckly agaynst the Parsians The beginning of Mahometes authoritie Mahomet proceded from out of a poore towne familie notwithstanding he was subtil audacious afterwardes was enriched by his mariges being had in estimatioÌ„ for the proÌ„ptnes dexterity of his spirit The Alchoran of Mahomete he propouÌ„ded a new doctrine very pleasant to humaine reason but worthy to be mocked and laughed at and also wicked for the most part to the end that therby he myght more more allure mens minds vnto him fortifye his kyngdome And albeit that at the first it was very
vpon the Senate did will Antiochus not to meddle or make with Egipt Whereat he being displeased especially because that Hanniball the fugitiue did incite him as much as was possible Antiochus vanquished and spoyled to make warre he sailed into Grecia with his armie where he was ouerthrowen as we haue before saide After that the Romaines made a new armie by Sea for to folowe and pursue him and being sayled into Asia they dyd vanquishe and gette a great Battayle of him and dyd putte hym to flyght from beyond the mounte of Taurus After hys ouerthrowe he was wont to saye as Cicero reciteth that the Romaine people had done hym a great pleasure in easynge hym from ouer great charge and in leauing him so straight limittes of hys countrey L. Cornelius Scipio the brother of P. Scipio Affricanus did conduct this warre who for this cause was surnamed Asiaticus Shortly after M. Fuluius surnamed Nobilior dyd subdue the Etolians and triumphed ouer them And when P. Scipio Affricanus who in that warre had been lieutenant for his brother was retourned to Rome the Tribunes of the people beganne to trouble and torment hym Wherefore he departed from thence and went into Laterne to hys Towne and there as certaine saye thys noble man dyed beyng nine and fourty yeres olde The deathe of Pub. Scipio no yonger nor elder then M. Portius Cato Cicero in the Dialogue which he wrote of olde age doth introduct Cato speaketh louyngly and honorablye of the age of them bothe and of theyr studyes But aboue all he magnifieth the greatnes of courage that was in Scipio Titus Liuius sayth that Cato did beare hym enuy that he vsed to take this hys fortune and prosperitie in euyll parte Cato enuious agaynst Scipio Cicero affirmeth that he was prompt and quicke in all his affayres In that tyme floryshed Ennius Plautus and Nenius Poetes Antiochus beynge ouerthrowen Hanniball dyd flye vnto Prusias kynge of Bithinia And for because that the Romaynes dyd require that he shoulde be rendered vnto them Hanniball poysoneth hym selfe he droncke poyson and so kylled him selfe Antiochus the noble succeaded this Antiochus He also dyd deliberate to gette the kyngdome of Egypte for as muche as he was the Vncle of Ptolomeus Philometor Kyng of Egypte who beyng yet but a chylde had succeaded hys father deceassed Wherefore he declared hym selfe to be hys Protectour myndynge by thys meanes to oppresse hym and to take to hym selfe the chyefe dignitie But hys enterpryses beynge knowen the Romaynes whome the Egyptians had agayne solicited to succour them dyd hasten to sende C. Popilius Lenas in Embassage Who beynge comme to speake face to face with Antiochus he wylled hym in the name of the Romaine people to departe from Alexandria whyche he kept beseiged but as Antiochus did aske respit to aduise therevppon Popillius made a rounde circle before hym with the rodde that he helde and did commaunde him to declare what he mynded to do before he departed from thence By thys meanes he who was not ignoraunt of the power of the Romaines was so affrayed that he promysed to leaue all thinges in peace Popilius maketh Antiochus affrayed These thinges are recited to the ende to declare howe by litle and litle the Romaines are waxed greate of small beginninges and howe they did so aduaunce them selues that they assubiected almost all countryes For euen alreadye theyr valyauntnesse was passed through Italy and had inuaded diuers parts of the world Not withstanding there was yet many lettes and inconueniences in such sort that they had no lytle a do for to establyshe thys so great an Empyre which should comprehend and compasse the principall part of the world as I wyll here after orderly and briefly declare Philip kyng of Macedonia of whome mencion hath been made beinge very wroth for that he was so enclosed by the Romaynes purposed to begynne to make warre agayne But he was preuented by death and Persea hys sonne succeaded hym who of long tyme was so eneduraged agaynst the Romaynes in such sort that he tooke in hand as it were the heritage of makyng warre But L. Emylius Paulus who had been twyse Consull finally dyd gyue hym the ouerthrow in playne battaylle Persea king of the Macedonians taken prisoner and tooke hym Prysoner wyth hys Wyfe hys Mother and hys Chyldren whome also he ledde away in triumphe And for thys victory he was surnamed Macedonicus From that tyme also Macedonia was made a Prouince of the Romaynes In the former laste yeare Ennius beynge three score and tenne yeares olde accordynge to the sayinge of Cirero departed oute of thys lyfe Fewe yeares after P. Cornelius Nasica dyd assubiect the Dalmatians The thirde warre of Carthage And incontinently after the thirde warre of Affrike beganne to brust forth For because that the Carthagiens who could not liue in rest did moue warre and oppresse their neyghbours but chiefly Massinisse king of Numidie the compainion and frend of the Romaines the Romaines beyng required to succour them purpossed to put themselues in armes aboute the sixe hundreth and foure yere after the foundation of Rome Diuers iudgments as touching the preseruation or distructiō of Carthage But their opinions were diuers to wytte whether it were more conuenient to breake downe and destroy the Citie then to preserue it The saying of them who were of opinion that it was not conuenient that it should be destroied was that if Carthage were once taken away they would afterwardes euen amongest themselues make hurliburlies by seditions ciuill warres But M. Portius Cato did counsell the contrary declaring the great danger which did threatē the publike weale of Rome if thys Citie were not vtterlye rooted vp and destroied His opinion gotte the victorie albeit that he disceased in thys deliberation The death of P. Cato hauynge lyued foure score and fiue yeres Cicero doth name hym amongest the auncient oratours and doth place hym nexte vnto Marcus Cornelius Cethegus who he saith was renoumed of Ennius He sayth moreouer that an hundreth and fyftie of Catos orations were found full of learned wordes and notable matters and rebuketh the nicenes of hys time because they did not regarde to reade them diligently ouer He compareth him to Lysias the Scriuener of Athenes P. Scipio Aemilianus the sonne of Paulus Macedonicus and the nephew by adoption of P. Scipio Aphricanus had the charge and gouernement of the thyrde warre of Carthage And foure yeres after that certain others had begonne the war he came and assaulted Carthage wyth suche force that hauyng constrained them to yelde he spoiled it brunte it and beate it downe to the ground The distruction of Carthage By reason wherof he was also surnamed Aphricus aswell as he who dyd vanquishe Hanniball as it hath bene sayde And behold here the end of a most myghtie Citie whose foundation was more ancient then that of the City of Rome and being nothing inferrior in
Germains and did not onely ayde himselfe with the Romain souldiours but also with the Mauritans Odronians and Parthians who had bene afore tyme in the wages of Alexander He brunt diuers Villages of the Germains and slew diuers and besides this he tooke many prisoners Wherefore he broughte backe agayne his souldiours loden with the spoyle When Germany was pacified he went to Syrme purposynge to make war with the Sarmatians and not content herewith he forecaste to assubiect vnder the romain Empyre all the countreys which are vnder the Septentrion coast euen vnto the ocean sea But the army beyng offended with hym for hys crueltie dyd elect Gordianus Emperour Gordianus the which the Senat who also bare Maximinus yll wyll ratified and pronounced Maximinus enemye of the publyke weale He myndyng to aduenge hym self of this iniurie made an oration to his enemy and drew towards Rome Which beyng knowen the Senate dyd declare and create Pupienus and Balbinus Emperours gyuinge vnto Pupienus the conduction of the war against Maximinus who had layd siege before Aquileia Pupienus Balbinus Where he at such tyme as he tooke his rest in his tent was slain with his sonne by his souldiours This beyng brought to passe Pupienus and Balbinus remained not long after vnslaine by sedicion of souldiours after they had raigned two yeres the Empyre fell into the hands of Gordianus beyng very yonge Gordianus The fourth yere of hys raigne he iournyed through Mesia and Thracia for to go agaynst the Parthians and there he defeited the enemies of the Romayns From thence he tooke his way by Syria for to go vnto Antioche which at that time Persians held He made often tymes battayll against them Sapor king of Persia and put Sapor theyr kyng to flyght in such sort that the Persians who then did affraye and trouble Italy were enforced to retyre into their owne countrey Finally the sixt yere of his Empyre he was betraied slain by Philippus his chief gouernour who had moued incited the souldiours to sedicion Philippus was recompensed with the like end who had sent certain bandes of men against the Scichians Philippus which did molest with force of armes the confederates frends of the Romains He had Decius to his successour Decius who was chosen Emperour by the Legions whiche were in Sclauonia afterwards approued by the Senate He first of all appeased the conspiraties rebellions of Fraunce Furthermore hauing commended the publyke weale vnto the Senate he forthwith toke his iorney against the Scithians being accompanied with his sonne who was conioyned with him in the Emperiall dignitie For the said Scithians did oppresse molest the countrey of Thracia other countreys of the Empyre both by sea by land Decius was victorious ouer them in certain battails might haue bene altogether seyng he had already enclosed them in a narow straight had it not been that Gallus Hostilianus gouernour of the latter Mesia Gallus Hostillianus did bewray his enterprise to the enemy Whereof it befell that the father the sonne were circumuented slain by treason Gallus was made Emperour by a Legion the residue of the souldiours who made peace with the Scithians but to the great dishonour shame of the Romains in that he promised to paye tribute vnto them a thinge neuer harde of before and alltogeather vndecent and vnworthie of the maiestye of so greate a name The Scythiens waxced more fearce and breakynge the treaties of peace they spoyled and wasted Dardania Thracia Thessalia and Macedonia yea esteming this as nothyng they cast them selues by force vpon Asia spoyling destroying diuers townes By their example diuers did declare them selues enemies of the Romains many did rebell The Parthians did violently enter into Asia did subdue Armenia putting the king Thyridates to flight The Scithians in the mean whyle were so outragious that they threatened Italy And it semed that thei should haue vtterly destroyed it had it not bene that Amilianus gouernor of Mesia towards the side of Polonia Amilianus did stirre vp and encourage hys souldiours by promysyng and putting them in hope of good rewards by which meanes he put the Scithians to flyght and manfully pursuyng them he entred by force into theyr countrey and subdued it Vppon which occasion he was chosen and created Emperour by the sould yours Whereof Gaulus beyng certified he went forth to resist and withstand hym But he with Volusianus his sonne and fellow of the Empyre was ouerthrowen and slaine At this tyme Cyprianus byshop of Carthage florished Cyprian of whome amongest many other thinges are founde certaine Epistles written to Lucius bishop of Rome whō he calleth his brother and fellow in administration He writte moreouer diuers Epistles vnto Cornelius where he complaineth amongest all other thyngs of them who beyng condemned for theyr demerites by the bishops of Affricke The complaynt of Cyprian and depriued of their priesthood had recourse vnto Rome for more ample knowledge in the matter For sayth he reason requireth that the cause shuld be there pleaded where the fault hath bene committed seyng that to euery pastour is committed a certayn portion of the flocke of whome they shall render an accompt vnto the Lord. Wherfore the vnitie of the byshoppes ought not to be broken neither ought the iudgement of them of Affrike to be neglected or dispised who had already gyuen absolute and diffinitiue sentence of the matter and cause In the meane tyme another armye whych was in the Alpes Valerianus dyd place Valerianus in the Emperiall dignitie who was of a noble house This beyng knowen the souldiours of Emilianus who feared to comme in trouble slew theyr Emperour and tooke Valerianus part As soone as Emelianus was declared Emperour he wrot vnto the Senate promisyng to delyuer Thracia and Mesopotamia from the enemyes and to recouer Armenia and to dryue from all places the enemies of the romain Empyre Valerianus beyng arriued in Persia for to offer battaill was taken by Sapor kyng of the Persians Sapor who would neuer vulose or let hym go albeit that the princes and people there aboute dyd admonishe hym so to do declaryng and alledgyng vnto hym the desteny of the Romans which was that beynge vanquished they dyd resist moore stoutly and couragiously Valerianus beyng captiue Gallienus Gallienus hys sonne succeaded hym He gaue hym self wholly vnto all maner of pleasures and dilicaties laying a syde and neglectyng the affayres of the publike weale in such sort that the souldiours which were in diuers places throughout the prouinces dyd elect and chose them new Emperours as in Fraunce Spaigne Hungary Sclauonia Egipt Affricke and other places which euery one of them wer oppressed partly by hym partly by the dissentions and ciuill conflictes that were amongest them them selues In thys tyme the Gothes held and possessed Thracia oppressed Macedonia and beseiged Thessalonica The Scythians dyd inuade
but also toke him into great familiaritie As touching the resydue he deliuered theym not and besydes thys he gaue their goods in pray to others Moreouer he buylt new bulwarks and stronge holdes in such sort that he held his foote as it were vppon the Saxons throts and had almost vtterly destroied their libertye In his absence he gaue the whole administratiō vnto Otho of Bauieres who was issued out of Saxony Furthermore he ordayned a Byshop vnto them of Bamberg of Coloigne and an abbot vnto them of Fulden He had bene already accused vnto the pope of this chiefly that he solde the ecclesiasticall iurisdictions Wherethrough it befell that the Pope did summon him by his Embassadours The Emperour summoned by the Pope that within a certayn day he should appeare in Rome for to plead his cause He on the other syde made an assembly of Byshops Abbates at wormes wherin it was concluded through consideration of the wicked practises by that whych Hildebrand attayned to be Pope that he shuld be displaced Which was published at Rome by Embassadours The Pope was nothing astonished therewith yea so litle that he fained not to excommunicate the Emperour The Emperour excōmunicated by the Pope with the Bishops of Mense of Vtter and of Bamberg chiefly prouided that before he had excommunicated certain of the Emperours familiers through whose coūcells he thought hym to be incited to enterpryse such things Now it came to passe that certayne Prynces of Germany beyng greuously offended with the maner doings of the Emperour chiefly for that against his faith he dyd pursew the Saxons wyth so deadly an hatred conspired agaynst hym so much the more boldly in that he was excommunicated and vnder this title let goe the captyues that were yelded and of whom the Emperour had geuē them the custody assuring thēselues that they were no more bound vnto the Emperour for any former othe The Princes rebel agaynste the Emperour At the same tyme certayne nobles of Saxonie hauyng conspyred and drawen the resydue to take their parts toke the strong holdes that had bene buylt wherof some they toke by force and power other some rendred and yelded vp and let go the souldiours that were there in ward whole and safe after they had takē othe of theym that from thenceforth they should not beare weapon against the country of Saxony This knowē the Emperour by a certayn subtilitie did willingly demisse the Princes that he held captyue to the end that they beyng retourned into Saxony should faithfully ayde him to punishe the rebells For he saw that there was no better way to attayn to hys purpose then to sowe dyssentions amongst them and to seperate thē one from another Subtilitie agaynste subtilitye But fortune failed him and it befell cleane contrary For they beyng refourned home and knowyng hys disposition dyd delyberate to vnite theyr powers and courages to the end to fyght for their libertye Duke Otho did the lyke and forsoke him Now the Emperour fylled wyth good hope passing though Bohemia and aided wyth the souldyours of the country was entred wythin the regyon of Misenum where hauyng receaued newes of the common accord of the Saxons and of the armye euen then in all readynes he losing all hope departed thence Then the Princes of Germany came together in a very great number on a certayne day that was assigned Thether also arriued the Popes Embassadour He hauyng declared the causes for the whych the Emperour was excommunicated incited theym to elect another the whych they would not haue let to haue done of theyr owne accord An assembly for to displace the Emperour For they remembryng the Emperours lyfe from hys chyldhod called hym the spotte shame and dyshonour of the Empyre and agreed that he ought to be dysplaced because of the great domages and hurts that he had done to the Empyre He being in such distresse beganne to entreat and make requests by hys Ambassadours But after diuers procedings these cōditions were propounded vnto hym Hard conditions he should represent hymself in Iustice and should submitte hymself vnto the iudgement of the Pope whom they would cause to come to Ausbourg about the fyrst day of February He should demaund and obtayne absolution before that the yeare of the excommunication be expired If he doe it not he shall lose wholly hys cause He should breake hys armye The meane whyle he should lyue pryuatly at Spyre wyth small trayn not medlyng wyth any publyke affayre He should not haue hys gard and should not beare any scepter nor any other marke of the Empyre vntyll suche tyme as the Proces should be voyde The Emperour accepted these conditions and as he was at Spire it came in his brayne to goe into Italy for to appease the Pope in Good tyme. He put hymselfe then in Iourny wyth hys wyfe and hys lyttle sonne in the sharppest of the wynter The miserable vsage of the Emperour and passing through Bourgony and Sauoy wyth great dyfficulty and daunger of hys lyfe at length he came into Italy where the Prynees and Bysshoppes of the Country louyngly accepted hym supposyng that he was thether comme in dyspleasure agaynst the Pope In the meane while the Pope had taken hys Iourny at the request of the Prynces of Germany and beyng already gonne on wardes a lyttle waye he was aduertyssed of the Emperours commyng Therfore he stayed to know the cause Here vppon the Emperour hastned forthe a gorgeous and honourable Ambassage in the whyche were certayn noble women of whom one of theym as the common reporte goeth was a lyttle to muche at the Popes commaundement He prayed that he woulde voutsaufe to gyue hym absolution The Pope at the beginning made the matter very strang saying that he could do nothing vnlesse the accusers were present But after long proces he was wonne by supplications and agreed thervnto Howbeit before that euer the Emperour could haue entraunce vnto him The ignominius homage of the Emperour vnto the Pope he remained thre whole dayes in the court and gate of the castell where the Pope was clothed very simply wyth out any marke or appearaunce of Emperour bare fote and without drinking or eating vntil night The fourth day finally he was admitted then the Pope propounded vnto him these lawes he should represent himself to be examined he should aunswere vnto the accusations of the Princes If he were conuicted he should for goe the Empyre should not conspire any vengaunce The meane whyle he should liue as a priuate man and should do nothing in publike person He should quite his subiects of their faith and othe He should put frō him his counsellers and famillier frends If he do any thing to the cōtrary the grace which is now shewed vnto him shal be of no vallew and it shal be in the lybertye of the Prynces to substitute incontinently another These lawes beyng approued of the