an anchoresse in S. Albons abbey had this terrible visiion she heard an old man of graue countenaunce crye thre times VVo wo to all that dwel on the earth and then faded away againe Anno 1258. Richard Earle of Cornewall sonne to king Iohn of Englād was chosē king of Almany for his great treasure and the Pope procured that he was chosen Emperour but he did that closely because he had likewyse for the same matter taken a bribe of Alphonsus kinge of Spaine Whereupon a certaine Poet made this Verse Nummus ait pro me nubet Comubia Rome Thus money sayth for loue of me Cornewal with Rome shal lincked be Beside these shiftes made for money this Pope Alexāder vsed another notorious knacke he abusing deluding the simplicitye of the king of England made him beleeue that he would make his sonne Edmond king of Apulia if hee woulde sustaine the charges thereof to maintaine the warres appertayning to it wherupon the king caused his sonne forthwith to be proclaymed king of Apulia and sent to the Pope all the treasure and riches that he could make in his Realme And thus was the king and his sonne deluded and the Realme wonderfullye impouerished by the Popes craft It were to long to discouer all the superstitious wicked deuises of this Pope who at length going to Viterbium Anno 1262. to make peace betweene the Genewaies Venetians according to his owne fansye and because he coulde not haue his will therein he dyed there for anger 125. Vrban the fourth VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles the Earle of Anteganor w t an oast into Italye and made him king of both Sicils After many conflictes the said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent and receyued of the Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill w t the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia whereuppon arose many great slaughters While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse the Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers callinge them Branderesies who had power of life and death in their handes they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour whō banished late before they restored But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye namelye Corpus Christi daye the fifte day after Trinitye sonday vpon this occasion as some and most likely do write namelye Arnold Bostro Petrus Praemonstratensis Anno 1264. as they saye a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar to whom the Pope according to her desire returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe VVe know O daughter that thy soule hath longed with greate desire that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vnto thee that we haue thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament there should be more special and solemne recorde appointing a certaine daye for it namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines and holye with much ioye as is more set out in our apostolicall letters sente for this cause through the world And know ye that we haue caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals bishops and archbishops and other prelats then being at Rome to giue example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour for thine eyes haue seene his saluation which we haue prepared before the face of al people Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes c. This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes Gibelines and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde to the confusion of manye through Italye He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe he dyed for griefe Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope and ceased the same night that he dyed 126 Clemens the fourth CLemens the fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man and had 3. children by his wyfe a sonne two doughters He as his predecessour began continued in sheddinge of bloud he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes This bargaine beinge made betweene them great slaughter bloudshed was committed in diuers places for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill and inheritour of the kingdomes to the former Charles so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes wher his abode was at that time the Pope by report sayd that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples at the first conflict had sufficient victorye yet then the treason reuealing it selfe Conradinus Frederick duke of Austria were taken being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen and the dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by the wickednes of the Pope In the time of
lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that cānot pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begīning of the Romaine tyrānye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I cānot hold my peace If at VVitēberg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defēded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are Presidēts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardō mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the coūtrey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would aboūd as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al mē at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaīst thē thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers cōtrouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia Tigurū Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas
euen as it were by their owne right to scratche together howge heapes of ryches to compasse honour by ill artes coniuring and sorcery and to exercise tyranny Benedict after he had raigned nine yeares died Anno. 894. 77 Iohn the sixtene IOhn the sixtene sonne of one Leo a Prieste succeded by election of the people and Clergie As sone as hee was Pope he began to beare deadly hatred against the Clergye so that he was abhorred not onelye of them but of all the people and chiefelye because he neglecting the dignitye of the Romaine Sea bestowed the riches treasures ther of vppon his kinred his harlots and bastards Which fault sayth Platina and Stella hath continued among the clergye vnto our time for an ill president to the posterity Then the which custome nothing is more perillous when our clergye sayth Platina shall couet spiritual dignities not for loue of Religion to serue God but to maintaine the prodigality gluttonye couetousnes of their kindred and frendes their concubines and bastards Of the like complayneth Mantuan of his tyme. Sanctus ager scurris venerabilis ara cynaedis Seruit honorandae diuum Ganymedibus edes At this tyme appeared a Comet after which followed both famine pestilence with terrible earthquakes which shooke both Beneuent and Capua which plagues moste men iudged were sent for the pride ambition greedines royat of the Popes and for the contempt of God so greate at this time This Iohn dyed in the viii yere of his raigne â–ª Anno. 985. 78. Iohn the 17. IOhn the 17. was verye experte in feates of cheualrye he was made Pope with the goodwill of the clergye laitye He was excellentlye well learned published diuers bookes He beinge troubled with the sedition of one Crescentius the Consull going about to make himselfe king of the Cittye gaue place vnto Crescentius conspiracye and banished himselfe into Hetruria but Crescentius knowing of Iohns displeasure and that he went about to call the Emperour wyth his armye into Italye against him hee sente those frendes and kinsefolke which Iohn had remayning in the Citye to entreat him not to sende for the Emperour but himselfe to returne to Rome wyth his autoritye and he promised to be obedient to him in all thinges Iohn being entreated by his frendes and fearing that the Emperours comminge would do more hurt then good to him and his clergye returned to Rome Against whose comming Crescentius with all the rest of the coÌ„spiratours came forth to meete him who with the other people a great multitude wayted vppon him into the Citye in the porch of Lateran Church Crescentius and his company falling downe before the Pope kissed his feete and craued pardon This Iohn dyed Anno 995. 79. Gregorie the fift GRegorie the fift a Germaine borne but a Saxons sonne was first called Bruno He after wranglinge and iarringe was made Pope by the Emperours auctoritye because he was his cosen But after Otho the Emperour was departed the Romaynes desyringe chaunge of state did aduaâ—nce Crescensius to be Consull againe and committed the estate of Rome to his gouernment This Crescentius and the people of the Cittye toke it greuously that Gregorie beinge a Dutchman shoulde by the Emperours auctoritye be made Pope and therefore they deposed Gregorie after which the people and clergye of Rome established one Iohn the xviii beinge before bishop of Placentia an excellente learned man and very well stoared wyth money Gregorie in fine went to the Emperour to complaine of his great iniurye the Emperour taking it dispitefully went into Italy with his armye besieged Rome assaulted it and toke Crescensius the Consull and Iohn the newe Pope and as for Iohn he had his eyes put out and so dyed Crescensius was put on a vile beastes backe wyth his face to the taylewarde hauinge his nose and his eares cut of to be seene of al men was caryed about the Cittye hauing his members quartered he was honge vp about the walles of the Cittye Then Gregorie his ennemyes beinge punished was restored who perceyuing that the estate of kingdomes were fickle and wauering through the ambition of Princes and couetousnes of the clergye while there followed great warres hard vppoÌ„ his restoring he sommoning a couÌ„saile at Rome made a decree for the election of the Emperour Hee decreed that the election of the Emperour shoulde continue from henceforth amonge the Princes of Germanye that is the Archbishop of Mens of Treuers Collen the Palsgraue of Rhein the duke of Saxonie and the Marquesse of Brandeburge To these also he added the king of Bohemia to be an vmpier if the voyces were euen which decree Anno a thousande ii the Emperour Otho did allowe and confirme but the kinges of Fraunce were highly offended that the Germaynes had this prerogatiue Gregorie dyed Anno 998. the third yeare of his Popedome 80. Iohn the xviij IOhn the xviii a Grecian borne of whom is spoken in the former Gregorie obtayned the place by bryberye sedition and hurlye burlye This maÌ„ was before bishop of Placentia an olde man learned ryche but proud couetous and desirous to be Pope which wrought his horrible and mischeuous ende For hee broughte so muche moneye to Rome wyth him from Constantinople whereby he was able to drawe and tempt vnto him aswel the wyse wary as the simple sort to be of his faction whereby he corrupted Crescentius the Consul violently to abuse Pope Gregorie to driue him out being a Germaine and so purchased the Popedome and the sequele thereof But of those thinges that he and his traine set to sale in his Popeshippe Mantuan wryteth thus Pernices mercantur equos venalia Romae Templa sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae I maruaile sayth Platina that the Chronographers would reckeÌ„ this Iohn amonge the Popes seing he vsurped the place while Gregorie liued vnlesse in wrytinge the Popes liues they thincke to do as they doo in a continuall historye For the peeuishe deedes of tyrants are set among the great exploites of good Princes that the readers may discerne the good from the euill and so by the example of good men be moued to vertue by the example of the ill terrifyed froÌ„ vice and so liue happilye vppon earth which happines this Iohn wanted being a theefe a robber euen in his Popedome So much sayth Platina of him At the leÌ„gth this Iohn w t his CresceÌ„tius perished hauing his eyes digged out and his bodye foulye maÌ„gled Crescentius for his doing was set vppon a vile horse as is saide before hauing his nose cut of and was so led through the Citye his face being turned to the horse tayle and afterward hauing his members cut of he was hanged vppon a gibbet Here will I alledge the wordes of Gualther out of his third homelye as touchinge Antichrist and so ende this booke Nowe sayth hee let anye noble harte iudge vvhether so manye good men haue vppon sufficient cause complayned of the tirannye
of their inheritaunce the yonge Princes Ladislaus Iohn being but a child the sonnes of Charles This Vrban graunted to the sect of begging fryers that they might chaunge theyr vowes to commit another vnhonest act and challenge as it were to restore to righte vnlawfull goodes being in controuersy He dyed in Rome Anno 1390. poysoned as some thincke after he had misgouerned the Popedome x. yeares and fewe or none were sorye of his death The yeare before his death his Mule fel vnder him as he was rydinge where withall he was soore hurt and brosed so as he did neuer recouer it til his death he being dead his nephewe Frauncis was thrust from all his lyuing and came to Rome poore and despised no man shewing him good countenance according to the old saying Cum moritur praeful cognatio tota fit exul When as a prelate goes awaye then all the kindred do decaye And so this Francis with sorrowe and anguishe forsooke Rome at length and went to Sicill This same yeare sayth Funcius this couetous miser Vrban brought vp the yeare of Iubelye because he sawe it would proue gaineful to him and to the Romaynes He also appointed annuities to be payed out of priestes landes vnder pretence of waginge an armye against the Paganes the Englishmen withstanding this constitution calling a Parliamente did decree that the Pope should haue no iurisdiction beyonde the limits of the Ocian Sea but the bishops prelats like traytours to their countrey did take vpon them afterward to paye y pention It would aske a great volume to touche euery vilanous practise of this Pope Vrban Certaine comming to meete him on a time did first kisse the ground three times then his feete with al humility He had giuen him by a certaine Ladye a precious Miter and certaine garments valued at more then xx Thousand Florences He caused a Cardinal in one daye to depose to racke to tormente to spoile imprison all the prelates of Sicilia because they did not mauger their Prince assist him against Clement and made in their steede 32. newe bishops and archbishops and sayth Theodoricus there was not a clarke in al Naples so deltishe and beggerly but that he was made eyther a bishop archbishop abbot prior or some prelate if he woulde take it vppon him to take part with Vrban He vsed the seruice of Charles king of Sicill on a time going before him as his vssher and bearinge the Popes target following with his armye into a towne called Auersa He put sixe Cardinals in a dongion with their feete set in the stockes and caused them to be myserably tormented and racked onlye for suspition of falsehoode against him and so kept them in prisoÌ„ where they pined through famine thirst and cold hauinge also wormes and life breedinge in their bodyes yet they stoode stoutly in their innocencye But no humble and importunate sute neither of them nor anye other coulde euer moue the stonye hart of Vrban to pitye their cases but saith Theodoricus the more he was entreated the more wrathfull he was so that his eyes would sparkle his face burne and glow his throte waxe dry for anger And after sondry examinations he sent vnto them againe Theodoricus the writer of this historye other to examine them in a vaute of the castle where they laye then sayth Theodoricus the Cardinall of Sanger was first broughte vp vnto vs with a paire of iron shakles on his feete and a short mantel about him because it was a colde and windy prison Who when he came to the ende of the cellar and sawe aboue him the roapes hanging wherewith he should be racked and was by y wayters striped out of his apparell leauing him scarcelye his shirt on and bound very hard to the racke Frauncis the Popes nephewe stoode by and laughed at this miserable sight without all measure but I that loued this Cardinal of ould was sore greeued thereat but I could not departe the place But to be short the said Cardinall was an aged man of a corpulent bodye comlye and taule of stature and being bounde he was thrise lifted from the grounde by the stronge pulling of those that racked him so that he waxed verye feble which when I behelde when hee was let go to the grounde againe I said to him softly O deare father do you not see how your bloud is sought for I beseech you for Gods cause confesse something to deliuer your selues for this time from these tormentours He aunswered I cannot tell what I shal say And when they would haue â—acked him againe I bad them cease for he hath satisfyed mee as I wil certifye the Pope in wrytinge so they loseâ— him caryed him out to take ayre who comming to himselfe said vnto vs heauilye Behould my brethren the time hath beene as ye know that I liued in the pompe and royaltye of this world but now I am become a moste myserable caytife and despised wretch And I woulde to God this were graunted to me as a singuler benefite that I hauing nothinge might begge my breade from place to place but out alas this trouble sorrow are iustly by Gods iudgemeÌ„t fallen vpon me because euen in this kingdom of Sicil I was so cruel an executor of the Popes coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in deposing without fauour the archbishops bishops abbots and other of the clergye without respect of age or degree hoping herein to haue pleased his minde The next daye after this Pope Vrban called vnto him one Basilius to be chiefe tormentour of these Cardinals which liked him verye well for hee was a malicious man and hated the clergye naturallye and was a persecutour of God and his seruauntes a notable pirate and a plaguer of Christians whom he vsed to take captiue from his youth at the first he lyued by theft and robbery but when that fayled and he became a begger he sought succour of Pope Vrban who not for deuotion but to obtaine a priorship of an hospital in Tinacria made him a fryer To this fellowe Vrban gaue charge to torment on the next day the Cardinal of Venice and to continue rackinge him vntill such time as Vrban himselfe might heare him crye for paine So when Basilius and we came to the prison wher the Cardinal of Venice was Basilius taking him out bringing him to a certaine hall in the Castle did stripe of his apparell and hauinge the roapes fastened aloft hanging downe to the ground he tyed him hard to them And although the Cardinall were an ould man brokeÌ„ and diseased and weake of complexioÌ„ yet he tormented him vppon the racke most cruellye from morninge till dinner time continuallye but the sillye man euer as he was haled vp cryed stil saide Christ hath suffered for vs c. In the meane time Pope Vrban walked in a garden belowe and read on a booke so loude that wee mighte heare him which he did to this ende that Basilius might the better loke
a byshoprike he fisshed for a Caldinalship caught it Therevpon when he shoulde departe from Venice the Iesuites demaunded of him whither he went to whom he aunswered sayinge Whither I go ye cannot come meaninge thereby that he wente to the Pompe and dignitie of Rome as to an other heauen and that he shoulde leaue them in wretchednes and beggerye Thus it pleased hym to dally sport him selfe with the phrase of the holy ghost Many thinges are reported of him as that he was a stoute Champion for Purgatory and that he knewe the secretes of some mindes and that he dyd many wonders Vergerius sayth he dedicated a booke of reforminge the Churche to Paule the thirde and yet hee made no reformation in his owne time But saith hee who so euer readeth that â—ooke shall see that he confirmeth al those poyntes almost whiche we reproue in the papistes that is to say that the Churche is so decayed amonge them as it is rather the Churche of Sathan then of Christ. For he saithe that the Popes do for their owne luste store them selues with maysters hauing itching eares that the name of Christ is blasphemed amonge the Gentiles throughe Cardinalles and Bishops that the power of the keyes is wiped away with money that lewde persons are made priestes that Simonie is vsed as it were in open fayres that the prelates doe swell with Ambicion and Couetousnes that horrible villanies are practised in monasteries that Rome swarmeth w t shamelesse harlots and struÌ„pets beside many lyke matters onely towching theyr detestable maners but of their manifold superstitions of theyr butcherly slaughters and cruell tyranny raging at that time in Italy England France Spayne and other countries he speaketh not a woorde And yet saith Vergerius who made faithful searche therof wtin lesse then thirty yeares theyr inquisition of heresye hath deuoured and destroyed by diuers kinde of torments an hundred and fiftie thousande Christians This acompt Vergerius made aboue twenty yeares ago And since that time sauynge onely God be thanked for it in England in al the former countries this bloudy persecution for Religion hath not onely continued but mightely encreased Italy dayly tasteth the bytter gall of it as occasion serueth Spaine findeth that the heate therof burneth more feruently in the middest of winter then the scorching Sonne in the middest of sommer at noone daye the flame of the one turneth and tanneth theyr skynnes to black the coales of the other burneth theyr bodies to graye asshes And as towching Fraunce al Europe knoweth that as yet the worme in the grounde hath scant taynted the karkases of thousandes whiche within these fewe dayes haue ben martyred Thus we see howe that prowde Prynce of Babilon hath made all Christendome as it were his burning furnace to destroye those that wyll not fal downe to worshyp his golden image and yet howe that this littell Ilande walketh as it were in the myddest of this vniuersall flame and not so muche as our garmentes are once cinged therewith And yet it is well knowne howe carefull and busie the byshoppe of Rome with his accomplices hath bene to sturre coales amonge vs and to enkendle that fier in Englande the smoke wherof were sufficient to destroy vs who knoweth not howe that if his hotte thunderboltes of excommunication could any thing harme vs we had therewith ben beaten to pouder longe since If the rancke breath of his blacke curses might haue preuayled we had bin blowne to hell bequeathed aliue both bodye and soule to the deuil dampnation longe since If holye leagues as they terme them and conspyring vowes of sondrye estates by his procurement could haue bin stronger against vs then the hand of God with vs how many are we that should haue tasted miserye but how fewe should haue bin left to be waile it at this day When forren inuasions haue bin to weake hath not that Romaine prelate â—ought to procure treason amoÌ„g vs heare at home to delude the simple with bulles pardons entising them to renounce their alleageaunce to reuolt from their naturall Prince to rayse rebellioÌ„s against their owne countrey Hath not his bulls roared at Paules Church gate discharginge subiectes of their dutye And howe they haue wroughte in huggur mugger to steale awaye the hartes of Englishe subiectes manye poore widdowes and wretched orphanes at this daye in the North part of England with heauye harts ran testifye who haue lost their parentes and husbandes throughe detestable rebellion and sedition the roote whereof is the Romishe religion But because that these tumultes treasons and broyles wroughte since the raigne of oure most Gracious Queene against her maiestye and royall estate haue bin practised not in the time of this Pope Paule the fourth but by those that haue succeded him as Pius the fourth Pius the fift the gentle Reader is to be desired not to looke for the perfite discourse hereof as yet neyther the historye of their liues treachery and hurlye burlyes sturred in Christendome for so much as yet they are not to be sufficiently gathered by those Chronicles that haue bin latelye set forth or augmented As for Onuphrius who hath writteÌ„ their liues added to the historye of Platina because he is one hyred by the Pope to put his pen in vre for the cracked credit of their estate at this daye there is iust cause to thincke his wryting to be parciall as one that turneth the best side of his Popes face outward and that which is blemished eyther he hideth it or paynteth it with a fayre coloure to couer the foule blots thereof And therefore seing maister Bales trauaile doth staye heare in Paule the fourth this maye suffice till it shall please God to giue occasion of proceeding in the liues of those that haue succeeded during the raigne of the Queenes maiestye In the meanetime good Christian Reader coÌ„sider those treacheryes which by thy owne experience thou maiest knowe since her highnes came to the Crowne of the Popes dealinge against her Maiestye and her Realme weigh whereunto they tende by the example of these former historyes set forth in this woorke then I doubt not but euerye one shall finde that he hath iust cause to saye Blessed be Almightye God that hath thus preserued vs from the mouth of the Lion and from the wolfe in a Lambes skin I doubte not but they that haue ben false hartâ—d againste our most gracious Queene wyll consider theyr own folly theyr owne iniquitie madnes in enuyinge the good estate of so noble merciful godly most lawful a prince whom it hath pleased Iehoua to make oure Debora a most blessed and worthy instrument to the aduauÌ„cing of his glory the comfort of his Churche the preseruation of the happy and quiet estate of all trewe Englishe hartes the whiche greate treasures of Gods mercye so plentifullye powred vpon vs the Lord geue vs grace to vse them more thankfully then heretofore to glorifie his name with greatter zeale
and vniust dealinge which the Popes haue vsed seing that seate of Rome hath sustaind within so fevve yeares so manye leude persons tyrantes theues filchers robbers rebels adulterers and open purloyners of Church goodes And who in Gods name vvill reuerence that as holye which receiueth so many plagues but as yet the nomber of the wicked ones is not fulfilled as shal follow immediatlye c. The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTE BOOKE contayninge the thirde diuision of the thirde order of Popes or Romaine Antichristes in the kingdome of the greate Dragon which is the deuill and sathan Apocalips 20. vnto the time of Innocentius the fourth FRoÌ„ Ioan the eighte who was an harlot for the space of 146. yeares to this yeare being the thousand yere from Christe his incarnation Antichrist raigned like an harlot in the Churche of Rome pretending chastity in the meanetime Yet we see howe here the prophecye in Daniel 11. concerninge Antichriste was fulfilled contayned in these words And Antichrist shal be in the coÌ„cupiscence of women We see in these former historyes howe these Popes haue liued in wantonesse royat whoredome and worse theÌ„ whoredome incest pride ambition robbinge and riflinge Churches coniuringe treason rebellion discention murders poysoninges such other detestable enormities So that according to the saying of Esaie they deserue rather to be called the Princes of Sodom theÌ„ the elders of the Church Consequentlye after the thousande yeare after Christes byrth it was prophesyed that the deuil should be let loose and this shal be called the kingdome of the great Dragon wherin the actes of the Popes do wonderfully aunsweare vnto it both in Syluester the second who wyth his Necromancye raysed the deuill from hell and hauinge coniured him vp did compounde wyth him for the Popedome And againe in Benedict the ix who made sacrifyce vnto the deuill in woodes and vppon mountayne toppes In Hildebrand or Gregorie the seuenth who toke counsaile of euill spirites and vsed other diuelish charmes beside other 81. Syluester the second SYluester the seconde was a Frenchman in profession a monke and called Gilbert before he was Pope He was of S. Benedicts order in an abbey at Florence where he being a yonge man and addicted whollye to deuilishe artes betoke himselfe to the deuill both bodye and soule Afterward forsaking that abbey he went into Spaine delightiÌ„g much in prophane sciences came to Hispalis vnto a certaine Philosopher being a Sarracen and expert in Magick of whom he learned much both sorcerye and ambitioÌ„ and began to deuise howe he might attaine to greate honour riches and thought in deede that coniuringe and Necromancye were the meetest wayes to come by hys purpose He had espyed before in the house of his host a certaine coÌ„iuring booke and did his endeuour to steale it awaye but the Magician kept it so deuoutlye that Gilbert coulde not come by it therfore he inueigled the MagiciaÌ„s doughter wyth whom beinge in the house he had good acquaintance â—o steale her fathers booke and let him haue a sight thereof the mayde fulfilled his request so he obtayned his purpose He hauing the booke went about to depart by stealth but fearing least this might endaunger his life for stealing the booke he gaue himselfe to the deuill vppon this condition that he should warrant him to passe safelye into FrauÌ„ce and to obtayne great dignityes He came into Fraunce taught the liberal Sciences so as many had him in admiration wherby he had a nomber of scholers and auditors some of great calling that learned the former artes of him as CoÌ„stantine abbot of Maximin Lotharius Archbishop of Seuen Otho the Emperours sonne Roberte kinge of Fraunce wyth sondrye other bishops prelats priestes of Rome By the procurement of these parsons he was made first bishop of Remen afterward by his leude artes he obtayned to be Archbishop of Rauenna Last of all he obtayned to be Pope of Rome by the helpe of the deuill whom he w t coniuration raysed out of hell according to the xx of the Apocalips For Peter Praemonstratensis other wryters saye that he was made Pope in the Thousande yeare of our Lords Incarnation In the which yere sayth Masfeus was a great and terrible earthquake and a blasinge starre horrible to loke vppon the xiiii day of December In his Popedome he concealed his coniuring and dissembled that familiarity which he had with the deuill but yet he kepte in a certaine secrete place a brasen heade of which when he demaunded anye thinge hee receyued aunsweare of an euil spirit At the length in his pontificality he would needes demauÌ„de of the deuil how longe he should be Pope the deuill aunswered doubtfullye and misticallye sayinge he should not dye vntill he sayd Masse in Hierusalem He therfore conceyuing good hope of longe life began to ware carelesse thinking to take heede enoughe of comminge in Hierusalem But the vse was that on a certaine day of stations in the Lent time the Popes should say masse at Rome in the Pallayce of the holy Crosse which was called Hierusalem wherevppon Syluester not fearinge his life nor heedefull enoughe to forecast the deuils despite accordinge to custome said masse in the same Chappel And by by a terrible shyueringe and quakinge came vppon him wyth a great feuer and by the rumbling noyse of deuils as Peter PraemoÌ„stratensis Platina say he perceyued his death was at hand and that he must paye the deuill his fee. And thus bewayling lamenting openly the abuse of his charmes he confessed his fault til he perished miserablye And sayth Benno he commaunded his tongue and his handes to be cut of wherewith he had blasphemed God in sacrifisinge vnto deuils thus he dyed Anno 1003. The reporte is that the tombe of this Syluester doth euer since prognosticate the death of the Pope by the ratlinge of the bones and the gushing out of water that ryseth out of the grouÌ„d about it as also sayth Platina is testifyed by the Epitaphe written on his graue 82. Iohn the 19. IOhn the 19. an Italian did likewise succeede Syluester and gat to be Pope by the deuils ayde for sayth Benno the scholers of the sayde Syluester being coniurers euerye one gaped for the Popedome This Iohn did take from the people the election of the Pope sayinge in behalfe of his doing that the clergye must teache the people but not followe them And againe the lawe which is ruled by Gods spirite is more worthye then that which is mans lawe He allowed commaunded to establishe in all Churches the feast of al soules at the motioÌ„ of one Odiloe abbot of Clunie whoe dreamed that soules were deliuered oute of Purgatorye by vertue of the masse and sayd that he harde the deuils houle and roare while the soules were takeÌ„ froÌ„ them through dirges trentalles After he had raigned 5. monthes he was poysoned by his owne frendes In his time the name of Cardinals began to grow