by many ambassadours seÌ„te to Astulphus had requyred y t the places shulde be restored to y e emperiall diction or dominion Astulphus wolde nat in any wise coÌ„sent so to do Steuen weÌ„t to Pipine anoynted him his two soÌ„nes kynges There was also an ambassadour of y e emperours seÌ„te with y e same Steuen they optayned gotte grauÌ„t of Pipine that he shulde briÌ„ge Astulphus in miÌ„de to restore y e places to the empier Pipine seÌ„te ambassadours to Astulphe but all that auayled nat Wherfore bycause he coulde nat by that meane optayne of Astulphe y t restytution shulde be made he made promise to Steuen y t him selfe wold by force of armes take them from Astulphe that he wolde gyue theÌ„ to saiÌ„te Peter Whan y e emê‘ours ambassadour had herde this he retourned home agayn Pipin ê‘fourmed fulfylled those thynges whiche he had ê“mysed and the fourme and maner of this donation or gyfte is coÌ„tayned in y e actes of y e aforsaid Steuen also the ê‘ticulare names of all y e thynges whiche were geueÌ„ zacharie the pope did traÌ„slate the monarchie or kyngdome of FrauÌ„ce vnto Pipin deposiÌ„g fyrst puttyng downe Hilderike the kynge whereof it is redde in the .xv. cause y e .vi. question Alins c. in y e glose VenerabileÌ„ By the reason herof I suppose y e Pipin from theÌ„ce forth did fauour the apostolike see Afterwardes Desiderius kynge of LoÌ„bardie warme recouered agayn by force of armes those cyties or some of theÌ„ in the tyme of Adrian Adrian the pope seÌ„dyng many embasadours vnto hiÌ„ required demauÌ„ded agayn of him the right of saint Peter but he could nat optayne Than Charlemayne of whom Adrian desired ayde and socour recouered the cyties gaue theÌ„ agayn to saint Peter by a soleÌ„pne gyfte or grauÌ„te which is contayned in the actes of the sayd Adrian pope By these thynges it is euydeÌ„te y t ConstaÌ„tine dyd nat gyue the empier to the pope by the duke dome of Rauenna the cyte of Rome the west whereof we do rede that contynually euyn vntil y e times aforesayd the emperours did with full ryght possesse Rome Rauenna Marchia with many other places euyn so as they had before And this is proued by the texte in the .xcvi. distiÌ„ction Bene quideÌ„ c. where it is spokeÌ„ of Patritius which was gouernour or captayne in the name of kyng Adoacre in the lxiii distiÌ„ction Agatho c. And in the xcvi distiÌ„ction CuÌ„ ad veruÌ„ c. And we do rede also that y e popes of Rome did confesse the emê‘ours to be lordes for Agatho the pope writeth vnto ConstaÌ„tine the emê‘our which gathered or asseÌ„bled the vi synode foloweth many yeres after the fyrste of that name how the cyte of Rome is the seruyle cyte of the emperour And Boniface the pope writeth to Honorius y e emê‘our that him selfe ought to gouerne the benefice of the church of Rome in spiritual thiÌ„ges but the emperour ought to gouerne the teÌ„poral thynges in the ende he saith that Rome is the cyte of his mansuetude or mildenes This texte is red in the xCi distiÌ„cion Ecclesiae c. And that I may speke brefly I neuer red the coÌ„trary in any place but y e euermore vntyll the tyme of the aforesayde Pipine the emperour remayned in possession of the places afore named Neither coulde I yet any where rede y t euer any of the popes presumed to haue any ryght or tytle by y e name of saiÌ„t Peter in the sayd places vntill the tyme of Steuen y e .ii. pope of that name These thynges I beleue to be true nat withstaÌ„dyng y e famouse opinion of the contrary which is redde in Palea the xcvi distiÌ„tion ConstaÌ„tinê° c for without doute if that wrytyng had nat beÌ„ apochriphe Gratianus shulde haue fouÌ„de it in the olde bokes collections of the canones but because he dyd nat fynde it therfore he did nat put it theri wherfore those thynges whiche he hath added afterwardes he put that fayned scripture for chaffe euyn so as we do finde many other thiÌ„ges of the apocriphe writyngê to be writteÌ„ in our bokes I haue also fouÌ„de this writiÌ„g set forth of lenght in a certayn boke which coÌ„tayneth moche more than that which is put in the decrees in the place afore alledged whan I had dilygeÌ„tly examined it I fouÌ„de of y e selfe same scripture many manyfeste euideÌ„t argumeÌ„tes tokeÌ„s of the forgynge falsehed of the same whiche nowe to reherce here it shulde be bothe tedyouse also vnprofytable This also is to be marked y t the aforsayd writyng CoÌ„statinê° c. which is had in the xcvi distiÌ„ction is extract drawen out of the legeÌ„de of saint Siluester he whiche dyd put y e texte in y e decree grouÌ„deth the auctorite of it vpoÌ„ the approbation alowyng of Galasius in the Sinode I pray you loke vpon that approbation in the xv distinction Sancta Romana c. it shal be fouÌ„de of small streÌ„gth for he saith that the author therof is vnknoweÌ„ yet y t nat w tstandyng that it is redde among catholyke meÌ„ therfore that it may be redde what maner apê“bation this is euery maÌ„ may considre for there are many histories of saint Siluester One in y e which this is nat fouÌ„de which histori Damasus the pope made Another whose authour is nat knoweÌ„ which the texte saith nat to be true but that it may be redde neither sayth y e texte yet y t this thinge is coÌ„tayned therin Also y e olde auncieÌ„t bokes of y e decrees hath nat y t text but only vnto y e ê‘agraffe Itâ—Ì„ decreta romanorum poÌ„tificuÌ„ c. iÌ„clusiuely And so this ê‘agraffe of y e histori of Sil. is nat fouÌ„de in those bokes Also y e fifth vniuersal Synode which maketh meÌ„tion of y e apê“bate bokes of al lerned authors of y e approued scriptures moreouer y e Synode of Martin y e pope which was made agaynst y e assertioÌ„ of theÌ„ which said y t there was but one wyl in Christ y t is to wit agaiÌ„st Paulus Sergius renuyng y e approued scriptures as I my self haue seen maketh no meÌ„tioÌ„ of these histories neither yet any other apê“ued author or such as is accoÌ„pted for a true author y t euer I sawe maketh any meÌ„tion of theÌ„ I haue redde iÌ„ Vincent in y e xxiiii boke of histories in the ende after the miÌ„de of saynt Ierome y e CoÌ„staÌ„tine cruelly dyd slee his wyfe Fausta his soÌ„ne Crispus And that at y e later eÌ„de of his lyfe after y t he had ben baptyzed of Eusebius bysshop of Nichomedia he declyned to y e heresie of y e Arrians froÌ„ which tyme as saynt Ierome saith spoylyng robbrie
they hale drawe me to execution which nat only do write agaynst them that be deade but also agaynst them that be yet a lyue and that nat agaynst one or two alone but agaynst a great meyny nat agaynst priuate persons onely but also agaīst those which are in auctorite be heed offycers gouernours rulers But what heedoffycers or rulers verely y e pope highest of all bisshoppes which is nat onely armed with the tēporall swerd after the maner and custome of kinges and princes but also with the ecclesyasticall or spirituall swerde that a mā can nat defende himselfe so from him No nat vnder the very shelde that I may so saye of any of the princes but that shall be stricken with excōmunication the great sentence the lesse course And if that man haue ben iuged to haue doone also as wisely as he dyd speake whiche sayd that he wolde nat write agaynst them whiche haue power to proscrybe or banisshe Howe moche more semeth it that I ought to do the same to be ware how I do write agaynst him which shall nat so moch as leaue any place to proscryption or banisshemēt which may so pursue me with the spūall vltyō of his power auctoryte that I may ryghtfully say with y e prophet Dauid in the psalme whether shal I go from thy spyrite whether shal I fle from thy face excepte parauēture we suppose y t the Pope shal take these thīges more paciently than other meane prestes wold do But that is nothyng so for Ananias the hyghest and heed preest commaunded euyn in the presence of the hyghe captayne whiche sat as iudge that Paule shuld be strycken and beten on the face because he sayd that him selfe had lyued bene cōuersaunt among the Iewes with a good conscience and Phaffur beyng endued with the same dignite dyd caste the prophete Hieremie into prison because he dyd speke the trouth boldely and frelye but yet the hyghe captayne the Emperours deputie was both able and also wyllyng to defende Paule the Kyng both myghte and wolde defende Hieremie agaynste the iniurie of the highe preste or bysshoppe but what captayne what deputie or ruler what kynge shal be able although he were willyng to delyuer me frome the hādes of the pope if he may ones lay handes vpō me But there is no cause why this double feare of ieoperdy shuld trouble my mynde or holde me backe from my purpose for neither may the pope eyther bīde or loose any thynge contrary to ryght and goddes lawe and to loose and spende the lyfe in the defence mayntenaunce of trouthe and iustyce is a poynte of most hyghe vertue of moste hyghe prayse and of most hyghe and greattest rewarde Haue nat many men put them selues willingly in daunger and peryll of deathe for the defence of their earthely coūtrye shal I thā be afraide to put my self in daūger of deth for to get optayn the heuenly coūtrey which those men do gette optayne that do please god and nat they whiche do please men Therfore fare wel feare and adewe drede The cause of trouthe the cause of rightuosenesse the cause of god is to be defended with a stronge and bolde mynde with great courage confydence and with good hope for he is nat to be accompted a right oratour which hathe crafte connyng to make a good oration and to speake well except he dare also boldely do it Let vs therfore be bolde and hardy to accuse whosoeuer doth cōmytte thinges worthy accusacion and he which trespasseth agaynst all men let him be checked and rebuked by the mouth of one man for all But perauenture som wyll saye that I ought nat to chyde or rebuke my brother openly but secretely bitwene hym me yes verely He which trespasseth offendeth openly and which wolde nat receyue close secrete coūsaile is to be rep̄ued rebuked opēly y t by thēsāple of him other may be put in feare drede Dyd not Paule whose wordes these were y t I last receyued repreue Peter to his face in the presēce and syght of the congregation because he was reprouable and worthy rebuke he hath lefte this in wrytīg to our doctryne instruction But some man happely wyll saye agayne that I am nat Paule which may worthely rebuke Peter yes verely I am Paule in that I do folowe Paule euyn lykewise as y e whiche is a moch greatter thing I am made one spirite with god wha I do dilygētly obserue obey his cōmaūdementes Neither is it the dignyte of any man that may him safe and sure frome blame or rebukes whiche dyd nat saue Peter frome reprefe nor many other men of the same highe estate and degree but that they haue ben rebuked as Marcellus bicause he had made sacrifyce to goddes and Celestine bycause he was of the same opinion that Nestorius y e heretyke was of as we do knowe also that in our tyme remembraūce certayne haue ben of their inferiours For who is nat inferiour to the pope repreued and rebuked I wyl nat say condempned And verely I doo nat this bycause I do coueyte to rayle vpon any man and to write suche reuilyng rebukefull orations agaynst him as were the oratyons of Cicero agaynst maister Antonius whiche orations are called philyppice for god sheld me from doīg suche a dede but that I myght loose plucke a way erroures wronge opinions frō mēnes myndes and that I myght kepe thē farre away from vyces sīnes either by admonisshīg counsaylyng or els by reprouīg rebukīg of them I dare nat be so bolde to say that other men taught by me may with a hooke or byll cutte kepe lowe y e papale see whiche is y e vineyarde of god beīg now ouer ranke hauyng to many superfluous braunches and compelle it to beare full grappes and nat the small buryes of the wylde vyne which thynge whan I do shall there be any man wylling either to stoppe my mouth or his own eares I wyll nat say to offre or put vnto me punishment dethe that man that wolde so do although he be the pope hym selfe what shall I saye that he is Shall I say that he is a good shepherde or elles rather a deafe serpent which wyl nat heare y e voyce of the charmer or inchaunter but is wyllyng to hurte his membres with her bytyng and poysone I knowe that y e mennes eares haue ben nowe a good whyle desyrouse and longyng to here what faute or cryme I wyll lay to y e popes charge for sothe a great and a huge cryme either of neglygent ignoraunce or elles of outragyouse couetousnesse whiche is the seruitute of ydoles or elles of vanyte and desyre of hauyng dominion and rule whiche vyce tiranny alwayes accompanyeth for now certayn hūdreth yeres either
also of y e other emperours almost euery one after him in ordre of which coynes I haue my self many in myne own haÌ„des coÌ„munely hauyng vnder the Image of the crosse this subscription Concordia orbis A thausande such ioynes shulde there be fouÌ„de also of the popes if euer you had ben the chefe gouernours rulers of Rome wherof now there is none fouÌ„de neither of golde neither of syluer neither is it reported or sayd y t euer any maÌ„ hath seen any suche yet coude it nat be otherwise chosen but y e nedely he must haue had at y t time his ê“pre coyne who so euer helde thaÌ„ theÌ„pier of Rome at y e leste wise vnder the image of our sauiour or els of Peter Oh y e ignorance folysshnes of men do you nat se if the donation of CoÌ„staÌ„tyne be true y t no thyng at al is lefte to y e emperours De latino loquor Lo I pray you what maner eÌ„perour what maner kynge of the Romaynes shall he be whose kyngdom if any maÌ„ had had nothing els besyde he shuld haue vtterly nothyng at al wherfore if it be euydeÌ„t as it is y t Siluester had neuer possession y t is to say y e CoÌ„staÌ„tine did neuer giue or delyuer possession it foloweth also vndoutedly y e CoÌ„stantine neuer gaue as I haue sayd so moche as right or title to possesse theÌ„ excepte you do say y t the right was geuyn but the possessyon nat delyuered for some cause or consyderation ye I wysse he gaue that thynge which he knewe shulde nat come to passe He gaue that which he could nat delyuer He gaue that which he knewe was nat possyble to come into the haÌ„des of him to whom it was gyuen afore that it shulde be destroied He gaue a gyfte which shulde neuer be of strengthe or stande in any stede or at the least nat afore .v. C. yeres were expired To speke this or thinke it is playne madnesse But now it is tyme lest I be made to longe tediouse seyng that we haue cutte mangled the cause of our aduersarys to giue it his dedly wouÌ„de to kyl it with one stroke ¶ The thyrde princypall parte of this oration in which the author sheweth that Constantine was become Christen afore that Siluester was pope that those gyftes whiche ConstaÌ„tine gaue were gyuen to the pope nexte after Siluester which same also were but meane or small thinges no more than suffycient to the popes sustentation EVery hystorie almost which is worthy the name of an historie telleth and maketh mention that ConstaÌ„tine euyn whan he was a childe became ChristeÌ„ with his father ConstaÌ„tius y e long tyme afore that Siluester was pope as Eusebius y e writer of the ecclesiasticall historie whome Rufyne a man right exellently lerned hath traÌ„slated into the latyne tonge and hathe also added two bokes of his owne tyme which were bothe of them welnere in CoÌ„stantines tyme. Besydes this we haue also y e testimonie witnesse of y e pope of Rome whiche nat onely was present at the doyng of these thinges but also bare a great rule in the same beyng also nat a witnesse but the author or doer nat y e teller or rehercer of another maÌ„nes busynes but of his owne He whome I do meane is Melchiades y e pope nexte afore Siluester which saith in this wise The church was come euyn vnto this poynt now y t nat only people natioÌ„s but also the princes of Rome whiche helde thempier of the worlde dyd come together to the faith of Christ and to the sacramentes of the faith Among whom the most deuoute man Constantine fyrst of all other openly gettyng the faith belefe of the trouth gaue lycence through out all y e worlde to as many as were vnder his dominion and gouernaunce nat onely to be made Christen men but also to buylde churches and he ordayned landes to be gyuen And to be short the afore rehersed emperoure gaue exceding gret giftes and he began first the buyldinge of the churche of saynt Peter in so moche that he did forsake his emperiall seate or place and graunted it to the vse and behofe of blessed Peter his successours Lo here Melchiades maketh mention of nothyng that was gyuen by ConstaÌ„tine but onely the palace of Laterane and certayne other laÌ„des of whiche Gregorie very ofte maketh meÌ„tion in his regestre Where than are they nowe whiche do nat suffre it to be doubted whether the donation of ConstaÌ„tine be of value and strengthe or nat seyng that the sayde donation or gyfte bothe was made afore Syluesters tyme and was also of priuate thinges onely which thyng although it is playne euident ynough yet that nat withstanding we must somwhat dispute reson of that priuilege which these folyssh felowes are wonte to alledge and bring forth ¶ The fourth priÌ„cipall ê‘te of this oration in which the author sheweth it to be vntruly sayde that the copye or example of this donation is founde in the decrees or elles taken out of the historie of saynt Syluester and also declareth what folysshe what impossyble what barbarous and what repugnauÌ„t contrary thiÌ„ges with other vnresonablenes is coÌ„tayned in the sayde copie besydes this he maketh mention of the fayned or friuolouse donation of certayn other emperours And laste of al he sheweth that in case it were so that Syluester or any other pope had at any tyme possessed these thiÌ„ges yet being ones put out of possessyoÌ„ so long coÌ„tinuiÌ„g dispossessed as they haue done they caÌ„ nat now after so long space of tyme clayme theÌ„ agayn neither by the lawe of god nor man c. ANd fyrst of all to begyne with nat onely that felowe which wolde fayne seme to be Gratian whiche added certayn thynges to the worke of Gracian is to be repreued of lewde vnshamfastnes but also they are to be reproued of ignoraunce and folyshenes which do wene or suppose that the pagine of the priuilege is contayned in Gratians worke whiche thynge neyther any lerned man dyd euer suppose agayn it is nat founde in the moste auncyeÌ„t and eldest bokes of the decrees if in any place Gratian shuld haue made mention of this thiÌ„ge he shuld haue done it nat in this place where they do put it interrupting and breking of the ordre and contexte of his oration and speche but rather in that place where he speketh of the paction couenaunte of Ludouyke Besydes this there are two thousaÌ„d places in the decrees whiche do proue this place nat to be true of the whiche that place is one where the afore rehersed wordes of Melchiades are alleged Some men do say that he whiche added this chapitour to the decrees was called Palea either for that this was his very right name or els bycause these thinges whiche he dyd adde or put to of his own if they be
I myght to hyde and couer in their offences and trespasses But let vs procede holde on to speke boldely in as moche as this cause can nat otherwise be pleaded Thoughe I do grauÌ„t that the popes did verily so beleue that they dyd it nat of a crafty malicious purpose What marueyle is it if they dyd beleue these thynges wherin so great lucre aduantage is pleasaunt lykyng to theÌ„ seyng that throughe excedynge folysshnesse lacke of knowlege they do beleue many thynges wherin no lucâ—s at all is shewed Do we nat at Ara Celi in so exellent a temple in the moste worshipfull and holy place see a paynted table of Sybill and Octauian as they say by the auctorite and coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Innocentius the thirde writyng these wordes Which also lefte in writyng of the decay ruyne or fall of the teÌ„ple of Peace about the tyme of the byrth of the sauiour y t is to say whaÌ„ the virgin brought forth childe Whiche thynges apê‘tayne more to the distructyon of faith for that they ar false and vntrue than to the establysshing of it bicause they ar marueylous woÌ„derfull thiÌ„ges Dare the vicar of truth for the apperauÌ„ce of trouth godlynesse beholde to make lyes wyttyngly to bynde him selfe to so great synne why Doth he nat lye Ye moreouer dothe he nat se whan he doth this that he disagreeth varieth froÌ„ most holy men I passe ouer other Doth nat saynt Ierome vse the testimony witnesse of Varro that ther were ten Sibels whiche worke Varro made afore Augustus his tyme. And the same Ierome writeth in this wyse of the teÌ„ple of Peace Vespasianus Titus after that the teÌ„ple of Peace was edifyed buylded at Rome they dyd coÌ„secrate the vessels of the teÌ„ple al the gyftes offriÌ„ges in the temple of the same place which thinges the Greke the Romayne history telleth reherseth And this vnlerned felow alone wold that more credeÌ„ce shulde be gyuen to his peuissh lytel boke the same also barbarously writteÌ„ than to the most faithfull true histories of the most wise men that wrot in y e olde tyme. Bycause I haue made meÌ„tion somewhat of Ieronimy I can nat suffre this coÌ„tumely done to him to be passed ouer with syleÌ„ce At Rome by the auctorite coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the pope is shewed a certayne boke of the Byble as it were a relyque of some sainte with tapers alwayes lyghted which they say to haue beÌ„ written with saiÌ„t Ieronimes owne haÌ„de Wilte thou aske by what euydeÌ„t tokeÌ„ they know that Bycause ther is as Vergil saith MultuÌ„ pictaâ— vestis et auriâ—i Moch of paynted garmeÌ„tes of golde And the very thiÌ„g selfe sheweth rather that it was nat writteÌ„ with sainte Ieroms owne haÌ„de WhaÌ„ I had loked somewhat more dilygeÌ„tly in this boke I fouÌ„de that it was writteÌ„ by the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of a kiÌ„ge Robert as I wene with y e haÌ„de of of an vnlerned man moche lyke hervnto is it albeit there ar a thousande suche maner thynges at Rome that among the holy relykes there is shewed in a certayne table y t ymage or portrature of Peter Paule whiche Syluester shewed to ConstaÌ„tyne after that he had ben monysshed taught of the same Apostels in his slepe for the coÌ„fyrmation of the visyon that he had sene I do nat say this bicause I do deny y t those ymages or purtatures be the true ymages pictures of the aforenamed apostles and wolde god that the epistle which was sente urthe name of Lentulus of the ymage of Christe were as true whiche doutles hath beÌ„ no lesse â—eudly forged thaÌ„ this false priuilege which we haue coÌ„futed but for y e that Siluester did neuer shewe that table to ConstaÌ„tine In which thinge I can nat fynde in myne herte to kepe within me the great meruaylyng of my mynde For I wyll dispute reason somewhat of the tale whiche is forged of Siluester And bycause both al our questyoÌ„ depeÌ„deth herof and also seyng that I do speke to the popes of Rome it shall be most semely accordyng for me to speake of a pope of Rome that by this one ensample a coÌ„iecture may easely be taken of other thinges And amonge many other fonde folyes madde trifles which are tolde reherted therin I wyll touche that onely of the dragon to th entent that I may euydently cause you to knowe that ConstaÌ„tine was nat full of leprie For the actes of Siluester or the historie of hiÌ„ as the interpretour witnesseth was made by one Eusebius a certayne man of Grecelande whiche nation hath alwayes be greatly gyuen to lyeng as Iuuenale reporteth of theÌ„ sayeng in his checkiÌ„g satyre Ouicquid Graecia meÌ„dax audet in historia .i. What so euer thynge the lyeng Grekes dare be bolde to do in writiÌ„g of histories From whence dyd that dragon come Dragons are nat gendred at Rome Which also had that dragon his poyson Pestiferouse and venemouse dragons are sayde to be onelye in Affrike by the reason of the excedyng and outragiouse heate of y e region Besydes this whence coulde he haue so moche habundance plentie of venome poyson that he might enfecte and corrupt with pestylence so large a cytie namely seynge that hym selfe laye downe in so depe a denne or dongion that men wente downe in to it by an hundred and fyftie steppes or stayres Serpentes onely the Basilyske or Cocodrise excepted do poyson kyll men nat with their breth but with their byting Neither Cato whan he fledde from Cesar with so great an hoste of men whyles he iornayed through the myddes of Aphricke sondes and slepte there sawe any of his coÌ„pany kylled or destroyed with the venemouse breathing of any serpentes Neither the peoples of that couÌ„trey do fele any corruption or infection of the ayre through that cause And if we do gyue any credence to poetes fables bothe Chimera the monstre and Hydra and Cerberus the mastyffe of hell were sene and touched coÌ„munely without any harme or hurte taken therby Agayne why wolde nat the Romayns rather haue kylled hym Thou wilte peraduenture say bycause they were nat able But yet Regulus slewe a moche gretter serpente in Affrike at the banke of the ryuer Bragadra And it was no mastry to haue kylled this dragon if they had done no more but onely haue closed or stopped vp the mouth of the caue or denne What wolde they nat do so I suppose they dyd worshippe hiÌ„ for a god euyn so as the Babylonians dyd worshippe another dragon Why than wolde natre Syluester rather haue slayne this dragon so as it is sayd that Daniell did in the olde tyme Why wolde he nat haue bounde him with an hempen threde and haue destroyed y e house for euer But the forger of this tale wolde nat that the dragoÌ„ shulde be kylled lest men might playnly deme iuge
an interiection of meruaylyng or wondryng and that it is called Fides orthodoxa quasi recta glia where as in very dede orthodoxa betokeneth nat rectam gloriâ—m but is as moche to saye as rectae opinionis of eighte opinion And they do pronounce this worde Simonem with the mydle syllable shorte whan in very dede they oughte to pronounce that worde with the mydle syllable longe euyn so as they do pronouÌ„ce this worde Platonem and this worde CatoneÌ„ and many other lyke thinges which I passe ouer lest for the faute of certayne I might seme to blame and rebuke all popes These thinges haue I spokeÌ„ to thentente that no man shulde meruayle if many popes coulde nat espye and perceyue that the donatyon of ConstaÌ„tine was but a famed or forged thyng allbeit yet I do iuge that this dysâ—eyte gyle was begoÌ„ne and brought vp first by one of the sayde popes But you wyll saye why do nat the emperours to whose hurte this thynge dyd tourne denye the donation of ConstaÌ„tine but graunt and knowlege it affirme it and conserue or kepe it Forsoth this is an excedyng stronge argumente and a wonderfull defence for of what imperour speakest thou If thou doest speake of the Greke emperour which was the very eÌ„perour in dede than wyll I denye that euer he confessed or grauÌ„ted the sayde donation But if thou doest speke of the latyne emperoure I my selfe also wyll confesse thy forlong to be true For who is he which knoweth nat that the latyne emperoure was frely made of the daye Steuen as I wâ—ne whiche deposed and put 〈◊〉 the Greke emperoure bycause he wolde nat bringe helpe and ayde to Italye and made a latyne emperour so that the emperoure shulde receyue mo thynges of the pope than the pope of the emperour â–ª Doutles the pope the emperour departed and deuyded the empier bytwene them selues alone by certayne pactions and couenauÌ„tes euyn as Achilles and Patroclus dyd deuyde bytwene them two alone the riches of Troye which thynge as me semeth euyn the very wordes of Ludouicus do declare and shew whan he sayth I Ludouike emperour of Rome do decree and graunt by this pacte of our coÌ„frontation to the blessed Peter prince of the apostles and by the to thy vycare lorde Paschalis beyng pope and to his successours for euermore be lykewise as you haue holden them of our predecessours in your power and dominioÌ„ eueÌ„ vnto this tyme the cyte of Rome with the dukedome belongyng to it and all places within the precincte of the sayd cytie and all villages stretes territories belongyng to it both in the mouÌ„tayns and in the see costes hauens or al ryties castels townes and vyllages in the parties of Thustiab c. Ludouike do you make partes couenauntes or bargaynes with Paschalis the pope if these aforesayd thynges be yours that is to saye if they do appertayne to the empier of Rome why do you graunt and gyue them to another if they be his and be possessed of him what nedeth you to confirme them Agayne how lytell of the Romayne empier shall be yours if you haue lost y e very heed and chefe cyte of y e empier The Romayne emperour hathe his name of Rome Moreouer the residue which you haue in possessyon are they yours or do they belonge to Paschalis I suppose you wyll say that they are your owne ThaÌ„ it foloweth that the donation of ConstaÌ„tine is of no strength seiÌ„g that you haue in your possessyon those thinges which were gyuen by him to the pope If it be of strength by what righte dothe Paschalis remitte or release the other thynges to you retayninge to him selfe onely those thynges which he hath in possessyon Is this it that is meaned by so great laâ—gytion of the Romayne empier of you towardes him or of him towardes you ThaÌ„ do you worthely â–ª and nat without a cause call it a pacte that is as a man wolde say a certayne collutioÌ„ or false packiÌ„g bytwen you two But peradueÌ„ture you wyll say to me what shall I do Shall I go about to recouer by warre those thynges whiche the pope violeÌ„tly wrongfully holdeth froÌ„ me That shulde nothiÌ„ge auayle me for he is of more mighte power that waye than I am myselfe Shal I make clayme tytle to theÌ„ by right and lawe That coulde nat helpe for my right is no more but euen so moch as it shall please hiÌ„ to grauÌ„t me For I came nat to the eÌ„pier by the waye of inherytaunce but onely by pacte and couenaunte that if I wolde be emperour I shulde promyse suche and such thinges to the pope agayne of my parte Shal I say that Constantine gaue no whitte at all of the empier If I dyd so I shulde defende the cause of the Greke emperour and put my selfe clene from all the dygnyte of the empier For the pope saythe that he maketh me emperour vpon this condityon that I shulde be as a certayne vycare or deputie vnder hiÌ„ and excepte that I wyll promyse so to be he wyll nat make me emperour And excepte that I wyll obeye him accordyng to my promyse he sayth that he wyl depose me agayne So that he wyll gyue these thynges to me I wyll coÌ„fesse and knowlege all thynges I wyll promyse and couenaunte with him what so euer thynges he shall requyre of me But yet beleue me if I had Rome or Thustia in my possession nat onely I wolde nat than do as I do now but also it shulde be labours all in vayne for Paschalis to tell me that tale of the donation of Constantine whiche as I deme is falsly forged But nowe I do graunt and gyue those thinges which neither I haue in my possessyon neither do hope that euer I shall haue To enquyre and make serche of the popes right that appertayneth nat to me but to the emperour of Constantinople Now Ludouike you haue excused your selfe to me suffycieÌ„tly whatsoeuer other eÌ„perour is lyke to Ludouike What ought to be demed of y e paction promise made bytwen other emê‘ours the popes whan we do know so euydeÌ„tly what SigismuÌ„dus hath done which verily at all other tymes in all other poyntes was the best most valyauÌ„te priÌ„ce but now in extreme age nat so hardy valyant as he was before whom we haue our selues sene hauynge but a fewe seruauntes or a small garde about hym to wander through Italy knowyng nat this day howe or where to haue his dyner to morowe lykewise to haue ben famisshed at Rome if Eugenius had nat giuen him fode but nat for nought for he extorted a donation of him This Sigismundus whan he was comen to Rome for to be crowned there themê‘our of the romains he coude nat be crowned by any meanes of y e pope but onely vpoÌ„ this coÌ„dition that he shulde alowe confyrme the donation of CoÌ„staÌ„tine
pay to sore or greuouse tributes For what if thou do euacuate empouerishe coÌ„sume the substaunce of our coÌ„mune weale Thou hast done so what if thou dost spoyle or robbe churches Thou hast spoyled theÌ„ what if thou dost defloure virgyns defyle wyues Thou hast done it w tout fayle what if thou dost embrue the cytie with the blode of y e cytizens causiÌ„g them to make batayle warre amoÌ„g theÌ„ selfe one with another Thou hast nat fayled to do so Ought we to suffre those thiÌ„ges or els rather seyng that thou hast ceassed to be a fader to vs shal we also forget y t we be thy soÌ„nes This people called y t to them chose the pope for to be a father or if this do please delyte y e more to be a lorde or gouernour vnto theÌ„ nat to be an enemy a tyraÌ„nouse murtherer of them And thou wilt nat play y e father or the lorde gouernour but y e enemy the tourmeÌ„tour We albeit y t we myght rightfully folowe y e ensaÌ„ple of thy cruelte impiete coÌ„sydering y e extreme iniuries whiche thou doest to vs yet y t natwithstaÌ„diÌ„g for as moch as we be christen men we wyll nat Neither wyll we be reueÌ„ged vpon the with y e swerde takiÌ„g thy lyfe from the but onely disposiÌ„g the we wyll chose to vs another father or lorde The soÌ„nes may fle or roÌ„ne away from their pareÌ„tes of whoÌ„ they were begotteÌ„ if the sayde pareÌ„tes be euyll cruell And shall it nat be laufull for vs to fle froÌ„ the which art nat our very naturall father but onely a father adoptyue by electioÌ„ for y e it pleaseth vs to chose call y e thervnto whiche doest intreate vs in the worst most cruell maner facyon And medle thou take thou care for the ordryng of such thiÌ„ges which do belonge to y e offyce of a preest be nat in miÌ„de or wyll to buylde the a seate in the north and from thence to thuÌ„dre throw forthe flaming lyghteniÌ„gê vpon this people other But what nedeth me to make any mo wordes in this thiÌ„g which is most open euydent I say playnly to abyd by it nat only y t ConstaÌ„tine neuer gaue so great thinges nat onely y t the pope of Rome coulde nat prescribe in y e same thiÌ„ges but also in case that the one had gyuen the other had prescribed yet that nothynge withstaÌ„ding I saye that bothe these rightê or tytles are lost destroyed through y e abhomynable offeÌ„ces crymes of y e possessours For as moch as we do se that y e calamite decaye ruine or destruction of al Italy of many prouiÌ„ces hathe flowen out of this one fouÌ„tayne spriÌ„ge alone If the fouÌ„taine be bitter in it selfe the riuer or streame that cometh from it must nedes also be bitter if the roote be vnclene poisoned y e brauÌ„ches must nedes be lykewyse poysoned So contrary wyse agayn if y e ryuer or streme be bitter y e fouÌ„tayne or sprynge is to be stopped vp if the brauÌ„ches be vnclene vnholsome the faute cometh froÌ„ the roote Si missa saÌ„cta non est delibatio quoque abominaÌ„da est May we briÌ„ge forth allege y e onÌ„ation of the papale power for right lawe which we do se to be y e cause of so great sines of so great mischeuouse euylles of all kindes sortes wherfore I do say also do cry out with loude voyce for I wyl nat feare men putting my confydeÌ„ce truste in god that there hath ben no pope in my tyme which in his popedome hath ben either a faythfull or a wyse dispeÌ„satour which also nat only hath nat giuen meate brede to the household seruauÌ„tes of god but also hath deuoured theÌ„ The pope both him selfe maketh warre vpon people which are in quietnes peace also soweth debates striâ—fes betwen cities prices The pope bothe thristeth or gredily desyreth the ryches or goodes of other men suppeth of his own beyng as Achilles sayd against AgameÌ„non a kiÌ„ge the deuourer of the peoples substauÌ„ce The pope nat only selleth getteth lucre aduaÌ„tage by y e coÌ„mune weale which thiÌ„g neither Verres neither Catilyne nether any other robber of y e coÌ„mune weale wolde haue ben hardy or bolde to do but also he selleth y e sacrameÌ„tes the offyces of the church ye the holy ghost also which thiÌ„ge y e Symon y e inchauÌ„tour doth detestate defye And whan he is admonysshed of these thiÌ„ges rebuked therfore of certayn good meÌ„ he doth nat deny these thiÌ„ges but opeÌ„ly coÌ„fesseth knowlegeth theÌ„ ye also bosteth reioyseth therof sayeng y t it is laufull for hiÌ„ by all maner wayes meanes to extorte wrest out y e patrimony of y e churche which was gyueÌ„ by CoÌ„staÌ„tyne froÌ„ the haÌ„des of theÌ„ which violeÌ„tly do holde it in theyr possession As who shulde say that if that were recouered gotten agayn y â— than the christen religion shulde be blessed and happy and nat rather more oppressed ouerwhelmed with all synnes ryotous suê‘â—â—uitees lechery if it be possyble to be more oppressed than it is that there shall be place lefte for mo mischeuouse siÌ„nes than are alredy Therfore for the recoueryng wiÌ„nyng agayn of the other meÌ„bres partes of the donaton the money which he taketh euyll away from good men he spendeth moch worse and norissheth mayntayneth hostes and armes of horsemen fotemen which do noysaunce and hurtes to all men where as Christ in the meane seasoÌ„ dyeth in so many thousaÌ„des of poore men for lacke of foode clothyng Neither perceyueth he O pituous case whaÌ„ he laboureth to take from the seculars such thynges as appertayneh to them that they lykewyse agayne of their parte either are induced or brought in minde through the most vngratiouse exaÌ„ple of the pope or els are constrayned coÌ„pelled through necessyte albeit it is no true necessyte to take away from the ecclesyastycall persons such goodes possessions as do belonge and appertayne vnto them So than there is no relygion or holynes anywhere No vertuouse lyuyng No drede of god and which thynge also maketh me to sheuer quake now to reherce it all wicked myscheuouse synners do take the excusation of all their synnes vyces from the pope At him in his wayters on is the ensaÌ„ple of all sinne and mischef so that we may say with Esaia Paule agaynst the pope those y t be next the pope By you the name of god is blasphemed among the gentils you y t do teache other men you do not teache your selues you y t do preache teache opeÌ„ly y t no maÌ„ ought to steale or to be a thefe your selues are opeÌ„ robbers you y t do abhorre
which 〈◊〉 the pope chalengeth to hiÌ„ selfe onely He is no very emperoure also he is forsworne that goeth nat about to recouer the cite of Rome from the pope The emê‘ors in olde tyme wer nat sworne solempnely to the pope as they are now a dayes what Augustus signifieth why the emperours were called Augusti Augustê° how the pope might be called Augustus The worst pope did moste defeÌ„de the donation of CoÌ„stantyne Nota. Boniface the viii an vngratiouse a myscheuouse pope al set vpon worldly pride had a myscheuouse eÌ„de as the cronicles do testifye Bened. 12 Clement pope It is agaynst humanite and coÌ„trary to the nature of maÌ„ to exercyse violente rule ouer other of his owne hinde Mayster Fabius Foure causes warrior warres are made moste communely Tarquin the proude the laste kynge of the Romains of Iulyus Cesar Rede suetonius in the lyfe of hym Rede the prouerbe Amphictiones Prescription is whan any maÌ„ hath had possession of house or landes so longe tyme as any man alyue caÌ„ remembre as by the space of an c. yeres or more Malae fidei possessio Stulfae fidei possessio Ignorantia facti Ignorantia Iuris Nota. Prescription is made only of dumbe vnresonable thynges Popes wyll trye their ryght by warre nat by the lawe The fraude crafte of pope Boniface the ix nat inferiour in wickednes to Boniface the viii Tarquin A propre semely acte for a pope to do Innocentius the vii was driuen out of Rome Eugenius the iiii of that name was fame â—o diâ—gyse hiÌ„ selfe in a monkes coule so to saue the water of Tybiâ— the Romayns shoâ—â—â—g â—â—â—owyng stones after him Titus flaminius The pope studieth as moche as he can to brynge all men into boÌ„ndage thraldome 3. ReguÌ„ 2 The Roma is haue farre gretter cause to rebelle agaynst the pope than the Israelytes had agaynste Roboam Esaie 14. The fountaineâ— and originall cause of the ruine and decaye of Italye Iacobi .3 Psal 117 Mat. 24 Lucae 12. The pope soweth the sede of discorde debate Are nat these very apoâ—toâ—â— call vertues The pope selleth all thynges the comune weale the sacramentes the ecclesiasticall offyces yee the holy ghoste to for money The goodes which the pope getteth sinfully and vngratiously he spendeth more vngratiously wickedly Esaie 36. At the pope his folowers do all abominable sinners fetche the ensample also the excusatioÌ„ of their wretched noughty lyfe Roma 2. Ouer moche welth abouÌ„daunce of ryches destroied the valiauntnes of the Romayns 3. ReguÌ„ 11 Siluester and the other holy popes were but small possessioners Pope Leo the .9 Our popes of late tyme â—â—dy to be as â—erre excellent in wickednes folye as the old popes were excellent 〈◊〉 vertue wyâ—dome O the charitable and godlye wisshe of Valla. Ephes 6. The donatioÌ„ of Constantyne is nat fouÌ„de iÌ„ any auteÌ„tical bokes or in any approued histories Damasus 〈◊〉 pope at 〈◊〉 Iheromes â—â—â—queste dydâ— write the actes of his predecessours â–ª Astulphus kiÌ„ge of Lombardye Steuen the .ii anoynted pipin the kynge of Fraunce Pope zachari the fyrst deposed Hilderike the kynge of FrauÌ„ceâ— traÌ„slated the sayd kyngdome to Pipin froÌ„ the 〈…〉 Adrianâ— Charlemayn recouered the cyties agayn whiche Desiderius with helde gaue therin to the pope Places in the popes lawe that make plaiÌ„ly against the donation of CoÌ„staÌ„tine Rede that texte Cum ad verum Agatho the fyrste ConstaÌ„tine the iiii assembled the vi synode at CoÌ„staÌ„tinople of ccixxx bysshoppes Bonifac. 1 The emperours were alwayes in possession of 〈◊〉 these thynges neither dyd the popes euer make any clayme to anâ— percels of the afore â—he timâ— of Pipin and pope Steuen the seconde GratiaÌ„ knew no thynge of the donation of CoÌ„staÌ„tine therfore it is nat put in the olde decrees of his collection The chapi in the decrees CoÌ„staÌ„tinê° c. is takeÌ„ of the legeÌ„de of saiÌ„t Siluester A goodly and a worshipfull approbation There aâ— many sondrye 〈◊〉 of saint Siluester Pope Martin 1 Paulus Sergius heretikes VinceÌ„tâ—ê° Constantine â–ª as saint Ierome sayth 〈◊〉 his wyâ—◠〈…〉 dayes 〈…〉 Melchiades predecessour to Siluester Constanly was Chriâ—t iÌ„ Melchiaâ— his tyme â—â—â—ter the myn of saynt Augustyne Leo the .viii. restored to Otto all the landes which Pipin Charles Roberto had gyuen to the church Rome Lewes y e mylde