the border of the Alpes in Italie Of his thirde wife Ethelwide he receiued two sonnes Edmund and Edred which both reigned after Adelstane And two daughters Egburga whome hee made a Nonne and Eadguina who was married to Ludouicus Prince of Aquitania in Fraunce These sonnes and daughters Kyng Edwarde thus brought vp Hys daughters hee set to spinning and to the needle Guliel de Reg. His sonnes he set to the studie of learning vt quasi Philosophi ad gubernandam remp non iam tudes procederent that is to the ende that they being as first made Philosophers should be the more expert thereby to gouerne the common wealth ¶ King Ethelstane or Adelstane EThelstane or Adelstane after the death of Edwarde hys father began his reigne in England and was crowned at Kingstone He was a prince of worthy memorie valyant and wise in all his actes nothing inferiour to hys father Edwarde In like worldly renowne of ciuile gouernance ioyned with much prosperous successe in reducing this realme vnder the subiection of one monarchie For he both expelled the Danes subdued the Scottes and quieted the Welshinē as wel in Northwales as also in Cornwale The first enemie against this Ethelstane was one Elfredus who with a faction of seditious persons conspiring against the saide Ethelstane at Winchester continently after the death of hys father went about to put out his eyes Notwithstanding the king escaping that danger through the helpe of God was at that time deliuered Elfrede vpon the same being accused fled to Rome there before the Pope to purge himselfe by hys othe Who being brought to the Churche of S. Peter and there swearing or rather forswearing himself to be cleare which in deede was guiltie thereof sodenly vpon his othe fell downe and so brought to the English house in Rome within 3. daies after departed The Pope sending worde to king Ethelstane whether he would haue the sayde Eldred buried among Christians or not at length through the perswasions of his friendes and kinsfolkes it was concluded that he should be buryed in Christen buriall This storie although I finde in no other writers mentioned but only in the Chronicles of Guliel Lib. de Regi yet forasmuch as it heareth the witnesse and wordes of the king himselfe as testified in an old dede of gift giuen to the monastery of Malmesbury I thought the same the more to be of credite The wordes of the king procede in this tenor as followeth ¶ The copie of an olde writing of king Ethelstane testifying of the miraculous death of Duke Elfrede sodenly stroken by the hande of God for periurie SCiant sapientes regionis nostrae non has praefatas terras me iniustè rapuisse rapinamque Deo dedisse Sed sic eas accepi quemadmodum iudicauerunt omnes optimates regni Anglorum Insuper Apostolicus Papa Romanae ecclesiae Ioannes Elfredo defuncto qui nostrae foelicitati vitae aemulus extitit nequitiae inimicorum nostrorum consentiens quando me voluerunt patre defuncto coecare in vrbe Wintonia si non me Deus sua pietate eripuisset Sed denudatis eorum machinamentis remissus est ad Romanam ecclesiam vt ibi se coram Apostolico Ioanne iureiurando defenderet Et hoc fecit coram altare sancti Petri Sed facto iuramento cecidit coram altare manibus famulorum suorum portatus est ad scholam Anglorum ibi tertia nocte vitam finiuit Et tunc Apostolicus ad nos remisit quid de eo ageretur a nobis consuluit an cum caeteris Christianis corpus illius poneretur His peractis nobis renunciatis optimates regionis nostrae cum propinquorum illius turma efflagitabant omni humilitate vt corpus illius per nostram licentiam cum corporibus poneretur Christianorū Nosque flagitationi illorum cōsentientes Romam remisimus Papa consentiente positus est ad caeteros Christianos quamuis indignus Et sic iudicata est mihi tota possessio eius in magnis in modicis Sed haec apicibus literarum praenotauimus ne quando aboleatur vnde mihi praefata possessio quam Deo sancto Petro dedi donatur Nec iustiùs noui quám Deo sancto Petro hanc possessionem dare qui aemulum meum in conspectu omnium cadere fecerunt mihi prosperitatem regni largiti sunt c. In the second yeare of the reigne of King Adelstane for an vnitie and a peace to be had betwene the King and the Danes of Northumberlande hee marryed to Sythericus their king his sister whereof mention is made before But shortly after within one yeare this Sythericus died After whose death King Ethelstane seazed that prouince into hys owne hande putting out the sonne of the foresayde Sythericus called Alanus who wyth his brother Godfridus fledde the one into Irelande the other to Constantine King of the Scottes And when he had thus accorded with the Danes of Northumberlande hee shortly made subiect vnto him Constantine King of Scottes But the sayde Constantine meeked himselfe so lowly to the King that he restored him to his former dignitie saying that it was more honour to make a king then to be a king Not long after the sayde Constantine King of Scottes did breake couenaunt with king Ethelstane Wherefore hee assembled his Knights made toward Scotland Where he subduing his enemies and bringing them againe vnto due subiection returned into England with victory Here by the way in some storie wryters who forgetting the office of historicians seme to play the Poetes is written and recorded for a maruell that the sayde Ethelstane returning out of Scotland into England came to Yorke and so into the Churche of S. Iohn of Beuerly to redeeme his knife which before hee had lefte there for a pledge at hys going forth In the which place he praying to God to S. Ihon of Beuerley that he might leaue there some remembrance wherby they that came after might know that the Scots by right should be sudbued to the English mē smote with sword they say vpon a great hard stone standing nere about the castle of Dunbar that with the stroke thereof the stone was cut a large elne deepe with a lie no lesse deepe also then was the stroke in the stone But of this poetical or fabulous storie albeit Polychronicon Fabian Iornalensis and other mo constantly accorde in the same yet in Guliel and Henricus no mention is made at all But peraduenture hee that was the inuentour first of this tale of the stone was disposed to lie for the whetstone Wherefore in my minde he is worthy to haue it Of like truth credite seemeth also to be this that followeth about the same yeare and time vnder the raigne of King Ethelstane being the viij yeare of hys raigne of one Bristanus Bishop of Winchester who succeeded Frithstanus in the same sea and gouerned that Bishoprike
the monke what he had brought He said of his frute and that very good the best that he did euer tast Eate said the king and he toke one of the peares which he did know and did eate Also being bid to take an other did eate lykewise sauerly And so likewise the third Then the king refraining no longer tooke one of the poysoned peares and was therewith poysoned as is before c. In the raigne of this king Iohn the citizens of London first obtained of the king to chose yerely a Maior In whose time also the bridge of London was first builded of stone which before was of woode Rastall * King Henry the third AFter this king Iohn had raigned as some say 17. yeres or as some say though falsly 19. yeres was as is abouesaid poisoned died Thys king left behinde him 4. sonnes and 3. daughters first Henry second Richard and he was Earle of Cornwall Third William of Valentia Fourth Guido Disenay He had also an other sonne who afterward was made bishop Of his daughters first was Isabel maried afterward to Fredericke the Emperour The second named Alinour maried to William earl Marshal The third to Mounfort the Earl of Leicester c. An other story sayth that he had but two daughters Isabel and Elionore or as an other calleth her Ioane which was after Queene of Scotland Ex Chronico vetusto Anglic. This king Iohn being deceased which had many enemies both of Earles Barons especially of the Popish Clergie Henric hys eldest sonne was then of the age of 9. yeares At what time the most of the Lordes of England did adhere to Ludouike or Lewes yâ— French kings sonne whom they had sent for before in displeasure of king Iohn to be their king and had sworne to him their allegeaunce Then William Earle Marshall a noble man and of great authority and a graue and a sound couÌ„seller friendly and quietly called vnto him diuers Earles and Barons and taking this Henry the young prince sonne of king Iohn setteth him before them vsing these words Behold saith he right honourable and well beloued although we haue * persecuted the father of this yong Prince for his euil demeanour worthely yet this yong childe whome here ye see before you as he is in yeres tender so is he pure and innocent from these his fathers doings Wherfore in as much as euery man is charged only with the burthen of his owne workes and transgressions neither shall the childe as the Scripture teacheth vs beare the iniquity of his father we ought therefore of duetie and conscience to pardone this young and tender Prince and take compassion of his age as ye see And now for so much as he is the kings natural and eldest sonne and must be our soueraigne and king and successor of this kingdom come and let vs appoynt him our king and gouernour and let vs remoue from vs this Lewes the French kings sonne suppresse his people which is a confusion and a shame to our nation and the yoke of their seruitude let vs cast off from our shoulders To these words spake answered the Earle of Glocester And by what reason or right sayd he can we so do seeing we haue called him hether haue sworne to him our feaultie Whereunto the Earle Marshall inferred againe and sayd Good right and reason we haue and ought of duety to do no lesse for that he contrary to our minde and calling hath abused our affiance and feaulties Truthe it is we called him c ment to prefer him to be our chieftaine and gouernor but he estsones surprised in pride hath contemned and despised vs and if we shal so suffer him he will subuert and ouerthrow both vs and our nation and so shall we remaine a spectacle of shame to all men and be as outcastes of all the world At these words all they as inspired from aboue cried altogether with one voice be it so he shal be our king And so the day was appoynted for his coronation which was the day of Simon Iude. This coronation was kept not at Westminster for as much as Westminster the same tune was holdeâ— of the Frenchmen but as Glocester the safest place as was thought at that time in the realme an 1216. by Swallow the Popes Legate through counsel of all the Lords and Barons that held with his rather king Iohn to witte the Bishop of Winchester Bishop or Barn Bishop of Chester and Bishop of Worcester the Earle Radulph of Chester William Earle Marshal William Earl of Pembroke William Tren Earle of Feres William de Bruer Serle or Samarike de mal Baron These were at the crowning of the king at Glocester Many other lords and Barons there were which as yet helde wyth Lewes the French kings sonne to whom they had done their homage before And immediatly after the crowning of thys king he held his couÌ„cell at Bristow at S. Martines least where were assembled 11. Byshops of England Wales with diuers Earles Barons and knights of England All which did sweare feaultie vnto the king After which homage thus done to the king the legate Swalo interdicted Wales because they held with the foresaid Lewâ—es and also the Barons al other as many as gaue help or counsell to Lewes or any other that moued or stirred any war against Henry the new king he accursed them All which notwithstanding the sayde Lewes did not cease but first laid siege to the Castel or Douer xv daies when he could not preuaile there he tooke the castel of Berkhamsted and also the castel of Hartford doing much harme in the countreis in spoiling robbing the people where they went by reason wherof the Lordes and Commons which held with the king assembled theÌ„selues together to driue Lewes and his men out of the land But some of the BaroÌ„s with the Frenchmen in the meane season went to Lincoln and tooke the Citie and held it to the vse of Lewes Which being knowen ensoones a greate power of the kinges parte made thether as the Earle Ranolfe of Chester William Earle Marshal and William de le Brues Earle of Feres with many other Lords and gaue battaile vnto Lewes and his party so that in conclusion Lewes lost the field and of his side were slaine the Earle of Perchis Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester Henry de la Bohon Erle of Herford and syr Robert le Fizwater with diuers other moe Wherupon Lewes for succour fled to London causing the gates there to be shut kept waiting there for more succour out of France Which assoone as the king had knowledge off immediatly sent to the Maior and Burges of the Citie willing them to render them and their Citie to him as their chiefe lord and king promising to graunt to them againe all their fraunchises and liberties as in times past to confirme the same by his great
with the rest of the multitude and perswading them what they should do and what had bene obteined for theÌ„ caused them to void the citie and not onlie them but also a great number of other mo who perswaded by him vnder that preâ—ence changing themselues in womens apparell or faming some impotencie so escapeh out of the citie At whose comming out Eusebius on the other side was readie to receiue them and refreshed their hungrye and pined bodies whereby not onelye they but the whole Citye of Alexandria was preserued from destruction Eusebius lib. 7. cap. 32. By this little historie of Eusebius and Anatholius described in the vij booke of Eusebius cap. 32. and briefly here set foorth to thee gentle Reader thou mayest partly vnderstande the practise of the Prelates what it was in those daies in the church which was then onlie imploied in sauing of life and succouring the common weales wherein they liued as by these two godly persons Eusebius and Anatholius may wel appeare Unto the which practise if we compare the practise of our latter prelates of the church of Rome I suppose no little difference will appeare The next Emperour to Florianus as is said was Marcus Aurelius Probus a Prince both wise and vertuous and no lesse valiant in martial affaires as fortunate in the successe of the same During his time we reade of no persecution greatly stiring in the church but much quietnes as well in matters of religion as also in the common wealth In so much that after his great and manye victories such peace ensued that his saying was there needed no more souldiers seing there were no moe enimies to the coÌ„mon wealth to fight against It was his saying also that hys souldiers nede not to spend corne and victuale except they laboured to serue the common wealth And for the same cause he caused his souldiers to be set a worke about certayne mountaynes in Syrinia in Messia to be planted with vines and not so much as in winter suffered them to be at rest therfore by them at length he was slayne after he had reigned the space of vj. yeres and 4. moneths an 284 Eutrop. Carus with his two sonnes Carinus and Numerianus succeeded next after Probus in the Empire the raygne of which Emperors continued in all but iij. yeares Of the which three first Carus warring agaynst the Persians was slayne with lightning Of Numerianus his sonne beyng with his father in his warres against the Persians we finde much commendation in Eutropius Vopiscus and other writers which testified to him to be a valiaunt warriour an eloquent orator as appeared by his declamatioÌ„s and writinges sent to the Senate Thirdly to be an excellent Poet. This Numerianus sorrowing lamentyng for the death of hys father through immoderate weeping fell into a great sorenes of his eyes by reason whereof he keping close was slaine not long after of his father in lawe named Aper who traiterously aspiring to the Empire dissnnuled his death with a false excuse to the people asking for him saying for the payne of his eyes he kept in from the wind and weather til at length by the stinch of his body being caried about his death was vttered In the life of this Emperor Carus aforesaide written by Eutropius in the later edition set forth by Frobenius I finde whiche in other editions of Eutropius doth not appeare that Numerianus the sonne of this Carus was he that slewe Babylas the holye Martyr whose history before wee haue comprehended But that seemeth not to be like both by the narration of Chrysostome and also for that Vrspergensis declaryng the same hystorie and in the same wordes as it is in Eutropius saith that it was Cyrillus whome Numerianus killed the story whereof is this what time Carus the Emperour in his iourney going toward the Persians remayned at Antioche Numerianus his sonne would enter into the church of the christians to view and behold their misteries But Cyrillus their bishop would in no wise suffer him to enter into the church saying that it was not lawfull for him to see the misteries of God who was polluted with sacrifices of Idoles Numerianus full of indignation at the hearing of these words not suffering that repulse at the hands of Cyrillus in his fury did slay the godlye Martyr And therefore iustly as it seemed was he himselfe slayne afterward by the hands of Aper Thus Carus with his sonne Numerianus being slaine in the East partes as is declared Carinus the other sonne raigned alone in Italye where he ouercame Sabinus striuyng for the Empire and raigned there with much wyckednes till they returning home of the army againe from the Persians who then set vp Dioclesian to be Emperor by whome the foresayde Carinus for the wickednes of hys life being forsaken of his host was ouercome at length slayne with the hande of the Tribune whose wyfe before he had defloured Thus Carus with his two sonnes Numerianus and Carinus ended their liues whose raigne continued not aboue three yeares All this meane space we reade of no great persecution stirring in the Church of Christ but was in meane quiete state and tranquilitie vnto the xix yeare of the raigne of Dioclesian So that in counting the time from the latter ende of Ualerian vnto this foresaid yeare of Dioclesian the peace of the church which God gaue to his people semeth to continue aboue 44. yeares During the which tyme of peace and tranquilitie the church of the Lord did mightely increase and florish so that the more bodies it lost by persecution the more honor and reuerence it wan daily among the Gentiles in al quarters both Grekes and barbarous in so much that as Eusebius in his vij booke describeth amongst the Emperours themselues diuers there were which not onely bare singular good will and fauor to them of our profession but also did commit vnto them offices regiments ouer countries and nations so well were they affected to our doctrine that they priuileged the same with liberty and indemnitie What needeth to speake of them which not only liued vnder the Emperors in libertie but also were familiar in the court with the Princes themselues entertained with great honour and speciall fauour beyond the other seruitures of the court as was Dorotheus with his wife children and whole family highly accepted aduaunced in the palace of the Emperour Also Gorgonius in like maner with diuers other mo who for theyr doctrine learning which they professed were with theyr Princes in great estimation In like reuerence also were the bishops of cities and Diocesse with the Presidentes and rulers where they liued who not onely suffered theÌ„ to liue in peace but also had them in great price and regarde so long as they kept themselues vpright and continued in God his fauour Who is able to number at that time the mighty
other whose name was Tirannion which was made meate for the fishes of the sea and of Zenobius which was a verye good Phisition which also was slaine with brickebates in the same place Eusebius lib. 8. cap. 13. Furthermore he maketh mention in the same place of others which were not tormented to death but euery day terrified and feared without ceasing Of some others that were brought to the sacrifices and commaunded to doe sacrifice which woulde rather thrust their right hande into the fire then to touch the prophane or wicked sacrifice also of some others that before they were apprehended would cast downe themselues from steepe places left that beyng taken they should commit any thing against their professiō Also of two virgines very faire and proper with their mother also which had studiously brought them vp euen from their infancy in all godlines beyng long sought for and at the last founde and straightly kept by their kepers whilest they made their excuse to do that which nature required threw thēselues downe headlong into a riuer also of other two yong maidēs being sisters of a worshipfull stock moued with many goodly vertues which were cast of the persecutors into the sea and these things were done at Antioche as Eusebius in his 8. booke and 13. chap. affirmeth But Syluanus the Bishop of Emissa the notable martyr together with certaine others were throwen to the wilde beastes Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 13. Diuers and sondry torments were the christians in Mesopotamia molested with where they were hāged vp by the feete their heads downewards with the smok of a small fire strangled And also in Capadocia where the Martirs had their legs broken Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 12. Henricus de Erfordia maketh mention of the Martyrs of Tharsus in Cilicia as Tharatus Probus and Andronicus But yet the Martirs in the region of Pontus suffered far more passing and sharper tormentes wherof I wil hereafter make mention Eusebius ibidem So outragious was the beginning of the persecution whiche the Emperour made in Nicomedia in Bithinia as afore is saide that he refrained not from the slaughter of the children of Emperours neither yet from slaughter of the most chiefest princes of his court who a litle before he made as much of as if they had ben his owne childrē Such an other was Peter which among diuers and sundry tormentes among whō he being naked was lefted vp his whole body being beaten with whips and torne that a man might see the bare bones and after they had mingled vineger salt togither they poured it vpon the most tender parts of his body lastly rosted at a soft fire as a man would rost flesh to eate as a victorious Martir ended his life Dorotheus and Gorgonius being in great authoritie and office vnder the Emperour after diuers torments were strangled with a halter which both being of the priuie chamber to him when they saw beheld the greuous punishment of Peter their houshold cōpanion wherfore said they O Emperour do you punish in Peter that opinion which is in all vs Why is that accounted in him an offence that all we confes we are of that faith religion iudgement that he is of Therfore he commaunded them to be brought forth almost with like paynes to be tormented as Peter was afterwardes hanged Euseb. Rufini Lib 8. cap. 6. After whom Anthimus the Byshop of Nicomedia after he had made a notable confession bringing with him a great company of Martyrs was beheaded These men being thus dispatched the Emprour vainly thought that he might cause the rest to do whateuer him listed To this ende came Lucianus the Elder of the congregation of Antioche and was martired after hee had made his Apologie before the Emperour Eusebius Lib. 8. Cap. 13. Hermanus also that monster caused Serena the wife of Dioclesian the Emperour to be martyred for the Christian Religion so much did the rage of persecutiō vtterly forget all naturall affectes Other Martyrs of Nichomedia doth Nicephorus in hys vii booke and xiiii chapter recite as Eulampius and Eulampia Agapen Irenea Chionia and Anastacia vnder Illyricus chiefe officer were bound hand foote to a post and brent Vincentius Lib. 12 cap. 66. And also Euseb Lib. 8. cap. 6. mentioneth such an other like matter full of horror and grief There assembltd together in their temple many Christian men to celebrate the memory of the Natiuitie of Christ of euery age and sorte some There Maximianus thinking to haue bene geuen a very fit occasion to execute hys tyranny vpō the poore Christians sent thether such as should burne the temple the doores being shut and closed rounde about Thether came they with fire but first they commaunded the cryer with a loud voyce to cry that who soeuer would haue life should come out of the temple do sacrifice vpō the next altar they came vnto of Iupiter and vnles they would do this they shoulde all be brent with the temple Then one stepping vp in the temple answered in the name of all the rest with great courage boldnes of minde that they were all Christians beleued that Christ was their onely God king and that they woulde doe sacrifice to him with his father and holy Ghost that they were now all readye to offer vnto him Wyth these words the fire was kindled and compassed about the temple and there were brent of men women and children certeine thousands There were also in Arabia very manye martyrs slayne with axes as Eusebius Lib. 8. cap. 12. There was in Phrigia a citie vnto which the Emperour sent his Edictes that they should doe sacrifice to the gods and worship Idoles all which Citizens the Maior himselfe the Questor and chiefe Captaine confessed that they were all Christians The Citie vpon this was besieged set on fire and all the people Euseb. Lib. 8. cap. 11. In Melitina a region of Armenia the bishops and Elders were cast in prison Eusebius eodem cap. 6. In Arabrace a region neare adioyning to Armenia Eustratius was Martyred as Nicephorus declareth Lib 7 cap. 14. This Eustratius was y◠countrey man borne and very skilfull in the Greeke tong executyng by the Emperours commaundement the shiriffes office at Licia in the East which also did execution there vpon the Christians and was a Scribe of great estimatiō called Ordinis Ducalis This man beholding the meruailous constancie of the Martyrs thirsted with the desire of Martyrdome for that he had priuily learned the Christian religion Therfore he not abiding for other accusers detected himself and worthely professed that he was a christian openly execrating the madnesse and vanitie of the wicked Ethnikes He therefore being caried away was tyed vp beyng first most bitterly beaten After that he was parched with fire beyng put vnto his bowels and thē basted with salt and vinagre and lastly so scotched bemangled with the shardes of sharpe and
the second vpon his workmen and builders of his new works whereof he had great delight cunning the third vpon strangers Likewise the other second halfe vpon spirituall vses he did thus diuide in foure portions One to the releuing of the poore An other to monasteries The iij. portion to the schooles of Oxforde for the mainteining of good letters The iiij he sent to foreine Churches without the Realme This also is left in stories written to his commendation for his great tolerance and sufferance that when he had builded the new Monastery at Winchester and afterward hys sonne Edward had purchased of the Byshop and the Chapter a sufficient peece of grounde for certaine offices to be adioyned vnto the same had geuen for euery foote of ground mancam auri pleni ponderis which was as I thynke a marke of golde or more yet Alfrede therwithal was not greatly discontented to see his coffers so wasted Ouer and besides how sparing and frugall hee was of time as of a thing in this earth most pretious and howe farre from al vain pastimes and idlenes he was this doth well declare which in the storie of William de Reg. other wryters is tolde of hym That hee so deuided the day and night in three parts if he were not let by warres or other great busines that eight houres hee spent in studie learning and other eight houres he spent in praier and almes dedes and other eight houres he spent in his natural rest sustenance of his body and the needes of the realme The which order he kept duely by the burning of waxen tapers kept in his closet by certaine persons for the same purpose Guliel How studious he was carefull of the commō wealth and maintenance of publike tranquillitie his lawes most godly set forth and diuised by him may declare Wherein especially by him was prouided for the extirping and abolishing all theft and theeues out of the Realme Wherby the Realme through his vigilant care was brought into such trāquillitie or rather perfection that in euery crosse or turning way he made be set vp a golden brouch at least of siluer gilded through his dominiōs and none so hardy neither by day nor night to take it downe for the more credit wherof the wordes of the Latin story be these Armillas aureas iuberet suspendi quae viantium auiditatem irritarent dum non essent qui eas abriperent c. Guliel Lib. de Regibus Angl. And no great maruel therein if the Realme in those dayes was brought in such an order and that iustice then was so well ministred when the king him selfe was so vigilant in ouerseeing the doings of his iudges and officers Whereof thus also we read in the saide author testified Iudiciorum a suis hominibus factorum inquisitor perperam actorum asperrimus corrector 1. he was sayeth mine author speaking of the king a vigilant inquisitor of the doings of his iudges and a strict punisher of theyr misdoinges Iornalensis also wryting vpon the same thus sayth Facta ministrorum suorum potissimè iudicum diligenter inuestigauit adeo vt quos ex auaritia aut imperitia errare cognosceret ab officio remouebat that is he did diligently search out the doings of his officers especially of his iudges so that if he knewe any of them to erre eyther through couetousnes or vnskilfulnes them he remooued from their office And thus much concerning the valiant actes and noble vertues of this worthy Prince whereunto although there were no other ornamēts adioyning besides yet sufficient were they alone to set foorth a Prince worthy excellent commendation Nowe besides these other qualities gifts of Gods grace in him aboue mentioned remayneth an other part of his no litle praise commendation which is his learning and knowledge of good letters wherof he not onely was excellently expert hym selfe but also a worthy mainteiner of the same through al his dominiōs where before no vse of Grammer or other sciences was practised in this Realme especially about the Westparts of the lād there through the industrie of this king schooles began to be erected and studyes to florish Although amōg the Britaynes in the towne of Chester in Southwales lōg before that in kyng Arthurs tyme as Galfridus writeth both Grammer and Philosophy with other tongues was thē taught After that some writers record that in the tyme of Egbert kyng of Kent this Ilande began to florishe with Philosophy About which tyme some also thinke that the Uniuersitie of Graūtechester neare to that which nowe is called Cambrige began to be founded by Bede following this coniecture therein for that Alcuinus before mētioned which after went to Rome from thence to Fraunce in the tyme of Charles the great where he first began the Uniuersitie of Paris was first traded vp in the exercise of studies at the same schoole of Graūtechester Beda Lib. 111. cap. 18. writing also of Sigebert king of Eastangles declareth how the sayd Sigebert returning out of Fraunce into England according to the examples whiche hee did there see ordered and disposed schooles of learning through the meanes of Felix then Bishop and placed in them maisters and teachers after the vse and maner of the Cantuarites And yet before these times moreouer is thought to be two schooles or vniuersities within the realme the one Grek at the town of Greglade which afterward was called Kyrklade The other for Latine whiche place was then called Latinelade afterward Letthelade neare to Oxford But howsoeuer it chāced that the knowledge and study of good letters being once planted in this realme afterwarde went to decay yet King Alfrede deserueth no little praise for restoring or rather increasing the same After whose time they haue euersince continued albeit not continually through euery age in like perfection But this we may see what it is to haue a Prince learned him selfe who feeling and tasting the price and value of science knowledge is thereby not only the more apt to rule but also to instruct frame his subiectes from a rude barbaritie to a more ciuile congruencie of life to a better vnderstanding of thinges as we see in this famous Prince to happen Cōcerning whose first education bringing vp although it was somewhat late before he entred any letter yet suche was the apt towardnesse docilitie of his nature that being a childe he had the Saxon Poemes such as were vsed then in his owne toung by hart and memory Who afterward with yeares and time grewe vp in such perfection of learning and knowledge in so much that as mine author sayeth Nullus Anglorum fuerit vel intelligendo acutior vel in interpretando elegantior The which thing in him the more was to be marueiled for that he was xij yeares of age before he knew any letter Then his mother careful and tender ouer him hauing by chance
this king was one called Clito Ethelwoldus a yong man king Edwardes vncles sonne Who first occupying the Towne of Wâ—nborne taking thence a Nonne rb him whome then he had maried fled oc by night to Northumberland to adioyne himself vnto the Danes who was made chiefe king and captaine ouer them Then chased from thence hee fled ouer into France but shortly returning againe into England landed in Eastengland where the saide Clyto wyth a company of Danes of that countrey gathered vnto him destroied and pilled much of the countrey about Crekinford and Crikeland And so passing ouer Thamis after he had spoyled the lande there to Bradeuestocke returned againe to Northfolke and Suffolke where he meting with a bushment of Kentish men which dragged taried after the maine hoste of Edwarde contrary to his commaundement inclosed them in and slewe the moste parte of them Soone after the two hostes meeting together betwene the two diches of S. Edmunds laÌ„d after a long fight Clyto with many of the Danes were slaine and the remnaunte were constrained to seeke for peace which vpon certaine conditions and vnder a tribute was to them graunted In processe about the 12. yeare of his reygne the Danes repenting them of their couenants and minding to breake the same assembled an hoste and met with the king in Staffordshire at a place called Totenhall soone after at wodnefield at which two places the king slew two kings two erles many thousand of Danes that occupied the countrey of Northumberland Thus the importunate rage of the Danes being asswaged King Edwarde hauing nowe some leysure geuen from warres to other studies gaue his minde to the building or repairing of cities townes and castles that by the Danes were rased shatred and broken As first of Chester which citye he double enlarged to that it was before compassing the castle within the walles of the same which before stood without That done the king builded a strong castle at Herford in the edge of Wales Also for the strengthening of the Countrey he made a Castle at the mouth of the water of Auene and an other Castle at Buckingham and the third fast thereby vpon the riuer of Owse Moreoouer he builded or reedified the townes of Towsetor and Wigmore destroied the castle that the Danes had made at Demesâ—ord Likewise vpon the riuer of Trent against the old towne of Notingham he builded a new towne on the southside and made a bridge ouer the riuer betweene the said ij townes Also by the riuer of Merce he builded a citie or towne in the North end of Mercia and named it Thilwall and after repaired the citie of Manchester that sore was defaced with warre of the Danes In this renuing and building of townes and Castles for the more fortifying of his Realme his Sister Elfleda daughter of king Alfrede maried to the Duke of Mercia as is afore mentioned was no small helper Of this Elfleda it is firmely of wryters affirmed that shee being as is sayde maried to Ethelrede Duke of Mercia after she had once assayed the paines of women in traueling wyth her childe so much shee abhorred euer after the embracing of her husbande that it seemed to her she sayde not seemely for a noble womaÌ„ to vse such fleshly liking wherof so gret sorow and trauaile should ensue And yet notwithstaÌ„ding the same Elfleda for all her delicate tendernesse in eschewing the natural passion which necessity geueth to women so hardy she was in warlike daungers which nature geueth not to women that fighting against the Danes so venturous shee was of stomacke that foure of her nexte knights which were gardeius of her body were slain fast by her This Elfleda among her other noble actes whereby she deserued praise was a great helper and stirrer vp of her brother Edward who builded and newly repaired many Castels and townes as Toniworth beside Lichfielde Stafforde Warwike Shrowesbury Watrisbury Eldisbury besides Chester in the forrest now destroyed Also in the North ende of Mercia vpon the riuer of Merce a castle called Rimcorne also a bridge ouer Seuerne named Brimmisbury bridge As touching the lawes and statutes of thys Edwarde as also of his father Alfrede made before him I omit heere to recorde them for length of matter and wast of time yet notwithstanding this admonition by the way I thinke good to note that in those dayes of these auncient Kinges reigning in Englande the authoritie then both of conferring Bishoprickes and spirituall promotions and also of prescribing lawes as well to the church men as to the laâ—tie and of ordering and intermedling in matters mere spiritual was then in the hands of kings ruling in the land and not onely in the hande of the Pope as appeareth by these lawes of Alfred Si quis fornicetur cum vxore aliena c Si quis in quadragesima sanctum velum in publico vel in lecto c. Vt Christiani Deum diligant paganismo renuncient c. Si quis Christianitatem mutet c. Si quis ordinatus sacris furetur c. Si praesbyter ad rectum terminum sanctum Chrisma c. Si duo fratres vel cognati cum vna aliqua fornicentur c. By these and other such like constitutions of King Alfrede it may appeare how the gouernaunce and direction of the church in those daies depended not vpon Monsieur le Pope of Rome but vpon the kings which here in their time vnder the Lorde did gouerne the land To this also the example of King Edwardes time geueth testimonie which Edward wyth Pleimundus aboue mentioned Archbishop of Canterbury and with other bishops in a sinode assembled assigned and elected 7. Byshops in 7. Metropolitane churches of the realme Which were 1. Fridestane 2. Adelstane 3 Werstane 4. Adelelme 5. Edulfus 6 Dernegus 7 Kenulphus In which election the kings authoritie semed then alone to be sufficient c. This Edward as in the beginning was sayd reigned 24. yeares Who had three wiues Egwine Elfled and Ethelwide Of Egwine hee had hys eldest â—onne Adelstane who next succeeded in the kingdom and a daughter maried after to the duke of Northumberland Of Elflede he receiued two ionnes and vj. daughters to witte Ethelward and Edwyne Ethelward was excellently well seene in all knowledge of learning much resembling both in countenance and conditions his grandfather Alfrede and died soone after his father Of his vj. daughters two of them 1 Elflede and Ethelhilda were made nonnes The other foure were maried Edgina to Charles the French King in hys fathers time Ethilda by King Ethelstane was maryed to Hugo the sonne of Duke Robert Edgitha and Algina were both sent to Henricus Prince of Almaines Of which two sisters the seconde the sayd Henricus maried to hys sonne Otho who was the first Emperour of the Almains The other sister which was Edgitha the foresayde Henticus maried to a certaine Duke about
newe to honour the Priestes and with great reuerence to defend them after the example of the godly prince of most happy memory 4 Constantinus which sayd when a complaint of the Clergy was brought to him You said he can be iudged by no secular iudge which are reserued to the only iudgement of God And for so much as we doe read that the holy Apostles and their successors appoynted by the testimonie of God cōmanded that no persecution nor troubles ought to be made nor to enuie those which laboure in the fielde of the Lorde and that the stewardes of the eternall King shoulde not be expelled and put out of their seates Who then doubteth but that the Priestes of Christ ought to be called the fathers and maisters of all other faithfull princes Is it not a miserable madnesse then if the sonne shoulde go about to bring the 5 father vnder obedience or the scholer his maister and by 6 wicked bondes to bring him in subiection by whome he ought to beleue that he may be bounde and loosed not only in earth but also in heauen If you be a good and a catholike king and will be such a one as we hope or that we rather desire you should be be it spoken vnder your licence you are the childe of the church and not the ruler of the Church You ought to learne of the priestes and not to teach them you ought to 7 folow the Priests in ecclesiasticall matters and not to goe before them hauing the priuiledge of your power geuen you of God to make publike lawes that by his benefites you shoulde not be vnthankfull against the dispensation of the heauenly order and that you shoulde vsurpe nothing but vse them with a wholesome disposition Wherfore in those things which contrary vnto that you haue through your malitious counsel rather then by your own mind wickedly vsurped with all humilitie satisfaction speedily geue place that the hande of the most highest be not stretched out against you as an arrowe against the marke For the most highest hath bended his bowe openly to shoote against him that will not confesse his offences Be not ashamed whatsoeuer wicked men say vnto you or that traitors do whisper in your eare to humble your selfe vnder the mightie hande of God For it is he which exalteth the humble and throweth downe the proude which also reuengeth himselfe vpon Princes he is terrible and who shall resist him You ought not to haue let slip out of your memorie in what state God did finde you howe he hath preferred honoured and exalted you blessed you with children enlarged your kingdome and established the same in despite of your enemies In so much that hetherto in a maner all men haue sayd with great admiration that this is he whome God hath chosen And howe will you reward or can you reward him for all these things which he hath done vnto you Will you at the prouocation and instaunce of those which are about you that 8 persecute the Church and the ecclesiasticall ministers and alwaies haue according to their power persecuted them rendring euil for good bringing oppressions tribulations iniuries and afflictions vpon the Church and church men do the like Are not these they of whome the Lorde speaketh he that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eie Verely forsaking al that thou hast take vp thy crosse that thou maist folow thy God our Lorde Iesus Christ. Yet wil it scarsely be or not at all that thou shalt appeare a thankefull recompencer of the benefits receaued at his hand Search the scriptures of such as are learned and you shall vnderstande that 9 Saul albeit he was elect of the Lord pearished with his whole house because he departed from the waies of the Lord. Ozias also king of Iuda whose name is spoken of and spread ouer all through the manifould victories geuen him of God hys heart was so puffed vp to his destruction because the Lorde did helpe and strengthen him in euery place that he contemning the feare and reuerence of the Lord would vsurpe vnto himselfe that which was not his office that is to say the priesthoode to offer incense vpon the altar of the Lord for the which he was stricken with a leprosie and cast out of the house of the Lorde Manie other kings and holy men of great substaunce because they haue walked aboue their estate in the meruails of the world presuming to rebel against God in his ministeries haue perished and at the last they haue founde nothing of their substance in their power Also king Achaz because he did vsurpe the office of Priesthoode was likewise striken with a leprosie by God Oza also albeit he was not king yet for somuch as he touched the arke and held it when it would haue fallen by the vnrulines of the Oxen which thing perteined not vnto him but vnto the ministers of the Church was striken by the wrath of God fell downe by the Arke O king it is a famous prouerbe that a man forewarned by an other mans misfortune will take the better heede vnto himselfe For euery man hath his owne busines in hand when his neighbours house is on fire Dearely beloued king God woulde haue the disposing of those things which pertaine vnto the church to belong only vnto priests and not vnto the secular power Do not chalenge vnto thy selfe therefore another mans right neither striue against him by whom al things are ordained least thou seeme to striue against his benefites of whome thou hast receiued thy power For by the common 10 lawes and not by the seculare power and by the bishops and priests almighty God would haue the cleargie of the christen religion to be ordered and ruled And Christian Kings ought to submit al their doings vnto ecclesiastical rulers and not to preferre themselues for it is written that none ought to iudge the bishops but onely the Church neither doeth it pertaine vnto mans law to geue sentence vpon any such Christian princes are accustomed to be obedient vnto the statutes and ordinaunces of the church and not to prefer their owne power A prince ought to submit himselfe vnto the bishops not to iudge the bishops for there are two things wherwith the world is chiefly gouerned that is to say the sacred authoritie of bishops and royall power 11 In the which the bishops charge is so much the more waighty in that they shal at the latter iudgement render accompt euen of the kings themselues Truely you ought to vnderstande that you depend vpon their iudgement and can not reduce them vnto your owne will for many Bishops haue excommunicated both Kinges and Emperours And if you require an especiall example thereof Innocentius the Pope did excommunicate Arcadius the Emperour because he did consent that Iohn Chrisostome should be expulsed from his seate and S. Ambrose also did
the same and came to Brundusium and frō thence without any disturbance went forthwith to the sea he fell into the same sickenes agayne by the which he was let of hys purpose which thing saith he he is able to proue by sufficiēt testimony Now the Pope also doth lay the loosing of Damieta and other thinges whiche prospered not well with him vniustly to hys charge when as he had made great prouision for the same iourney both of soldiors other necessary thinges But he that will vnderstande these things more playnely among other Epistles of Petrus de Vineis written in the name of Fridericke let hym read these especially which begin thus In admirationem iusticiam innocentiam Leuate oculos And truely euen as Fredericus the Emperour declareth in his letters concerning thys matter all the olde writers of Germany doe accord and agree in the same Math. Parisiensis also briefly collecteth the effect of an other letter which he wrote to the king of England complayning vnto him of the excommunication of the Pope agaynst him Whose wordes are these And amongst other Catholicke Princes sayth he He also wrote his letters vnto the king of England embulled with gold Declaring in the same that the Bishop of Rome so flamed with the fire of auarice and manifest concupiscence that not being contented with the goodes of the Churche which were innumerable but also that he shamed not to bring Princes Kinges and Emperours to be subiectes and contributors to hym and so to disherite them and put them from their kingly dignities And that the king of Englande himselfe had good experiment thereof whose father that is to say King Iohn they so long held excommunicate till they had brought both him and his dominions vnder seruitude and to pay vnto hym tribute Also that many haue experience of the same by the Earle of Tholouse and diuers other Princes which so long held theyr persons and landes in interdict till they might bring them into like seruitude I pretermit sayth he the Symonies and sondry fortes of exactions the lyke whereof was neuer yet heard which dayly are vsed amongest the ecclesiasticall persons besides their manifest vsury yet so cloked and coloured to the simple sort that therewithall they infect the whole world They be the sugred and embalmed Simonistes the insatiable horse leaches or bloudsuckers saying that the Churche of Rome is our mother and nurse where as it is in deede the most polyng Court in the vniuersall world the roote and right mother of all mischiefe-vsing and exercising no motherly doings or deeds but bringing forth the right exercises of a wicked stepdame makyng sufficient proofe thereof by her manifest fruites to all the worlde apparaunt Let the Barons of England consider whether this be true or not whom Pope Innocent by his bulles with one consent encouraged to ryse and rebell agaynst their soueraigne Lord and Prince king Iohn your father as an obstinate enemy to the Church of Rome But after that the king farre out of square remembring himselfe had crouched vnto him and obliged both himselfe and kingdome to the Church of Rome more liker a woman then a man and that the wise Barons whome the Pope had first mayntained and stirred up without all shame eyther of the world or feare of God had done the same sought howe he might with gaping mouth deuoure and consume the sweet fat from thē whom he had miserably to death betrayed and disherited as the maner of the Romayne Bishops is By whose greedy auarice it came to passe that England the Prince of prouinces was brought vnder miserable subiection and tribute Behold the maners and conditions of our Romaine Byshops behold the snares wherwith these prelates do seeke to intangle men withall to wype their noses of their money to make their children bondmen to disquiet such as seeke to liue in peace being clothed with sheepes clothing when in deede they be but rauening Wolues sending their Legates hither and thither to excommunicate and to suspend as hauing power to punish whom they list not sowing the seed that is the word of God to fructifie but that they may bribe and pole mens purses and reape that which they neuer did sow Thus commeth it to passe that they spoyle the holy Churches and houses of God which should be the refuge for the poore and the mansion houses of sainctes which our deuout and simple parentes to that purpose builded and ordeined to the refection of poore men and pilgrimes and to the sustentation of suche as were well disposed and religious But these degenerate varlets whome onely letters hath made both mad and malipert doe striue and gape to be both kinges and Emperours Doubtles the Primatiue Church was builded and layd in pouerty and simplicitie of life and then as a fruitfull mother begate she those her holy children whom the Catologe of Saintes nowe maketh mention of and verily no other foundation can be laid of any other Church then that which is layd by Iesus Christ. But this Church as it swimmeth and waloweth in all superstuitie of riches and doth build and rayse the frame in all superstuous wealth and glory So is it to be feared least the walles thereof in time fall to decay and when the walles be downe vtter ruine and subuersion follow after Agaynst vs he knoweth that is the searcher of all hearts how furiously these Catholiques rage and go to work Saiyng therefore excommunicating me that I will not take vpon me the iourney I haue promised beyond the seas whereas ineuitable and most vrgent causes and perils as well to the Churche of God as also to the Empire besides the annoyaunce of myne infirmitie and sicknes do deteine me at home and stay the same but specially the insolency of the rebellious Sicilians For why neither do◠we thinke it safety to our Empire not expedient to the Christian state that we should now take our iourney into Asia leauing behinde vs at home such intestine and ciuill warres no more then for a good surgeon to lay healing plaister to a grieuous wounde newe striken with the sworde and made In conclusion also to this he addeth admonishing all the Princes of the world that they would beware and take heede by their auaricious iniquitie of lyke perill and daunger to themselues Because that as the prouerbe is It behoueth him to look about that seeth his neighbours house on fire Thus much out of Parisiens pag 69. But now that Fredericus the Emperor might in very deed stop that slaunders of the cruell Pope which did persist and goe forward still in his excommunication agaynst him And that he might declare in the whole world howe that the last yeare he torslowed not his iourny by his own voluntary will but by necessitie when he had deutied and prepared all thing meet for the warre and that he had gathered together and leuied a great army of mē
Testament forsooke worldly Lordship and was here in fourme of a seruaunt and forbad his Priestes such Lordships and sayd Reges gentium dominantur eorum c. vos autem non sic That is The kinges of the heathen beare dominion and rule c. But you shall not do so And as Saynt Peter sayeth Neque dominantes in clero c. Not bearing rule and dominion ouer the Clergy c. So it seemeth me that it is agaynst both lawes of God that they haue such Lordships and that theyr title to such lordships is not ful good And so it seemeth me that zif they bene thereto of euill lining it is no great perill to take away from them suche Lordships but rather medefull if the taking away were in charity and not for singular couetousnesse ne wrath And I suppose that if friers that be bounden to theyr fouÌ„ders to liue in pouerty would break theyr rule and take worldly Lordships might not men lawfully take from theÌ„ suche Lordships and make them to liue in pouerty as theyr rule would And forsooth it seemeth me that Priestes oughten also well to keepe Christes rule as Friers owne to keepe the rule of theyr founder Ieremy witnesseth how God coÌ„mended Rachabs children for they would not break theyr faders bidding in drinking of wine And yet Ieremy profered theÌ„ wine to drinke And so I trow that God would commend his Priestes if they woulden forsake worldlye Lordships and holden them a payd with lifelot and with clothing and busy them fast about theyr heritage of heaueÌ„ And God sayth Numeri 18. In terra eorum nihil possidebitis nec tenebitis parteÌ„ inter eos Ego pars haereditas vestra in me dio filiorum Israel c. Et Deut. 18. Non habebitis sacerdotes Leuitae omnes qui de eadem tribu estis partem haereditatem cum reliquo Israel quia Sacrificia Domini oblationes eius coÌ„â—dent nihil accipient de possessione fratrum suorum Dominus enim â—ipse hereditas ipsorum sicut locutus est illis Et Lucae 14. Sic ergo omnis ex vobis qui non renunciauerit omnibus quae possidet non potest meus esse discipulus Et Ieronimus in Epistola 34. Et Bernardus libro 20. ad Eugeneum Papam Et Hugo de Sacramentis parte 2. libri Secundi cap. 7. Et 12. q. pri cap duo sunt Et ca. clericus Et Bernardus in Sermone de Apostolis super illud Ecce nos reliquimus omnia Et Chrisost super Math. vetus Testamentum That is You shall haue no inheritaunce in theyr laÌ„d nor haue no part amoÌ„gst them I wil be your part and inheritaunce amongest the children of Israell c. Deut. 18. The Priestes and Leuites and all that be of the same tribe shall haue no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israell because they shall eate the sacrifices of the Lord and his oblatioÌ„s and they shall take nothing of the possession of theyr brethren The Lord himselfe is their possessioÌ„ as he spake vnto them And the 14. chap. of Luke Euen so euery one of you which forsaketh not all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple And Ierome in his 14. Epistle hath the like wordes And Bernard in his 20 booke to Eugenius the Pope And also Hugo in his booke De Sacramentis the second part of his secoÌ„d booke the 7. chap. Also in the 12. q. first chap Duo sunt and in the chap. Clericus And agayn Bernard in his booke De sermone de Apostolis vpon thys place Ecce nos reliquimus omnia Behold we leaue all c. Chrisostome vpon the Gospell of S. Math. c. ☞ The third conclusion toucheth the matter of preaching of Priestes withouten leaue of Bishops and is this that such true Priestes may counsel sinnefull men that shewen to them their sinnes after the wit and cunning that God hath geuen to turne hem from sinne to vertuous life as touching preaching of the Gospell I say that no Bishop oweth to let a true Priest that God hath giffen grace wit and cunning to do that office For both Priestes and Deacons that God hath ordeyned Deacons or Priests bene holden by power geuen to them of God to preach to the people the Gospell and namely souereÌ„ly Popes Bishops Prelates and Curates for this is due to the people and the parishners to haue it and aske it And hereto seemeth me that Christ said generally to his Disciples Ite praedicate Euangelium omni creaturae Goe and preach the Gospell to all creatures as well as he sayd Ite baptizate omnes gentes Goe and baptise all nations that also as well longeth preaching to Priestes without leaue of a Bishop as doth baptising and then why may he not preach Gods word withouten a Bishops leaue And sithen Christ bod his Priestes preach who should forbidden them preaching The Apostles were forbidden of a bishop at Ierusalem to speake more of the name of Iesus but Peter sayd Si iustum est in conspectu Dei vos potiùs audire quà m Dominum iudicate That is Whether it be iust in the sight of God to heare and obey you before the Lord be your selues Iudges A Bishop may not let a Priest of geuing bodily almes in his Dioces much more may he not let the doing of spiritual almes in his dioces by gods law A Priest may say his Mattines withouten the Byshops leaue for the Pope that is aboue the Bishop hath charged Priestes therewith And me thinketh that Christes bidding should be all so much of charge as the Popes Math. 10 Euntes autem praedicate Ite ecce ego mitto vos Et Mar. 16. Euntes in mundum vniuersum c. Lucae 10. Ft Anacletus pap dis 21 cap. In nouo TestameÌ„to Et Beda super illud Messis quidem multa Et Isydorus de summo bono ca. 44. Et Gregorius in canone dis 43. Preconis quippe officium suscipit c. Chrisostom distinct 43. Nolite timere Et Aug. dis 34. cap. quisquis Gregorius in suo pastorali ca. 38. qui enim est Et Chrisost. om 31. in Tollitano concilio Ignorantia Aug. in Prologo sermonum suorum Ieronimus dis 9. Ecce ego Et Aug. super id Homo quidam peregrinus That is Go you forth and preach And agayn Behold I send you c. Mar. 16. Go you into all the world c. and Luk. 10. cap. in nouo Testamento And Beda vpon this place Messis quidem multa the haruest is great Also Isidorus De summo bono cap. 44. And Gregorius in the Canon dist 43. Preconis quippe officium suscipit c. and Chrisostome in hys 34. distinction Nolite timere And Augustine in the 34. dystinction cap. quisquis And Gregorius in his Pastorall cap. 38. Qui enim est And Chrisostome in his 31. Homelye Et in Tollitano concilio ignorantia And Augustine
God deuysed ordayned for the best vnto the elect Christians The fourth Like as the mystical body of Christ is the congregation of al the Electiso Antichrist mistically is the church of the wicked of al the reprobates The fift The conclusions of Swinderby be agreable to the fayth in euery part ¶ This letter was thus subscribed By the spirite of God sometime visityng you ☞ Besides this epistle aboue prefixed there is also fouÌ„d annexed with the same a deuise of an other certayne letter couÌ„terfeited vnder the name of Lucifer prince of darknes writing to the Pope and al popishe Prelates persecuting the true and right Church with all might and mayne to maintayn their pride and domination in this earth vnder a coulourable pretence visor of the catholique church succession Apostolical Which letter although it seemeth in some authors to be ascribed to Dekam aboue mentioned yet because I find it in the same Register of the church of Herford coÌ„teyned inserted amoÌ„g yâ— tractations of Walter Brute and deuised as yâ— Register said by that Lollards I thought no meeter place then here to annexe the same the tenour wherof thus proceedeth in words as follow ¶ The deuise or counterfayt of a certayne letter fayned vnder the name of Lucifer Prince of darknesse wryting to the persecuting prelates of the popish clergy I Lucifer prince of darknes and profound heauinesse Emperour of the high mysteries of the Kyng of Acharont Captaine of the dungeon Erebus kyng of hell and comptroller of the infernall fire To all our children of pryde and companions of our kyngdome and especially to our Prynces of the Church of this latter age and tyme of which our aduersary Iesus Christ accordyng to the Prophet saieth I hate the church or congregation of the wicked send greeting wish prosperitie to all that obey our commaundementes as also to those that be obedient to the lawes of Sathan already enacted that are diligent obseruers of our behestes and the precepts of our decree Know ye that in times past certaine vicars or vicegerents of Christ following hys steppes in miracles and vertues liuing and continuyng in a beggerly lyfe conuerted in a maner the whole world from the yoke of our tiranny vnto their doctrine maner of lyfe To the great derision and contempte of our prison house and kyngdome and also to the no little preiudice and hurt of our iurisdiction and authorytie nor fearing to hurt our fortified power ond to offend the maiestie of our estate For then receiued we no tribute of the world neyther dyd the myserable sort of common people rushe at the gates of our deepe dungeon as they were wont to do with continuall pealyng and rappyng but then the easie pleasant broad way which leadeth to death lay still without great noyce of traÌ„pelyng trauaylers neyther yet was trode with the feete of myserable men And when all our courtes were without sutets Hell then began to houle And thus continuyng in great heauines anguish was robbed and spoyled Which thing considered the impacient rage of our stomacke coulde no longer suffer neyther the ougle retchelous neglygence of our great Captayne generall could any longer indure it But we seeking remedy for the time that should come after haue prouyded vs of a verye trimme shift For in stead of these Apostles and other their adherentes whyche draw by the same lyne of theirs as wel in maners as doctrine are odious enemis vnto vs We haue caused you to be their successors put you in their place which be Prelates of the church in these latter times by our great might and subtletie as Chryst hath sayd of you they haue raigned but not by me Once we promised vnto him al the kingdom of the world if he would fal down and worships vs but he would not saying my kingdome is not of this would and went his way when the multitude would haue made him a temporall kinge But to you truely which are fallen from the state of grace and that serue vs in the earth is that my promise fulfilled and all terrene thyngs be our meanes which we haue bestowed vpon you are vnder gouernment For he hath said of vs as ye know The prince of the world coÌ„meth c. and hath made vs to raigne ouer al children of vnbeliefe Therfore our aduersaryes before recited dyd pacientlye submit themselues vnto the Princes of the worlde and did teache that men shoulde do so saying Be ye subiect to euery creature for Gods cause whether it be to the Kyng as moste chiefest And agayne Obey ye them that are made rulers ouer you c. For so their maister commauÌ„ded them saying The kinges of the heathen haue dominion ouer them c. But I think it long til we haue powred our poyson vpoÌ„ the earth and therefore fill your selues full And now bee yee not onely vnlyke those fathers but also contrary vnto them in your lyfe and conditions and extoll your selues aboue all other men Neyther do ye geue to God that which belongeth to him nor yet to Caesar that which is his But exercise you the power of both the swordes according to our decrees makinge your selues doers in worldlye matters fighting in our quarell intangled with secular labours and busines And clyme ye by litle little from the myserable state of pouerty vnto the highest seates of all honours the most princely places of dignitie by your deuised practices false and deceitfull wyles and subtlety that is by hypocrisy flattery lying periurie treasons deceits simonye and other greater wickednes then which our infernal furies may deuise For after that ye haue by vs bene aduaunced thither where ye would be yet that doth not suffice you but as gready staruelings more huÌ„gry then ye were before ye suppresse the poore scratch and rack together all that comes to hand peruerting and turninge euerie thing topsie toruey so swollen that redy ye are to burst for pride liuing like Lechers in all corporal delicatenes and by fraude dyrecting all your doinges You challenge to your selues names of honour in the earth callyng your selues Lordes holye yea and most holy persons Thus eyther by violence ye rauen or els by ambition subtilly ye pilfer away and wrongfully wraft and by false title possesse those goodes whych for the sustentation of the poore members of Christ whom froÌ„ our first fall we haue hated were bestowed and geuen consuming them as ye your selues lyst therewith ye cherish and maintaine an innumerable sort of whoores strumpets and bawdes with whom ye ride pompously like mightie Prynces farre otherwise goinge then those poore beggerly priestes of the primatiue Church For I would ye shoulde buylde your selues ryche and gorgeous palacies yee fare lyke Prynces eating and drinking the most daintiest meates and pleasauntest wiâ—es that may be gotten ye hoord and heepe together an infynite deale of treasure not like to him
Emperour nor king nor any mortall man but against the Lord hymselfe euen against your God of your owne making being therein as you say no substance of bread but the very personall body flesh bloud and bone of Christ himself which body notwythstanding the foresayd Pope Gregory the 7. tooke and cast with his owne hands into the burning fire because he would not aunswere him to a certaine doubt or demaund Benn Card. pag. 172. Southly if sir Iohn Oldcastle had taken the body of king Henrye the 5. and throwne him into the fire the facte being so notoriously certaine as thys is I would neuer haue bestowed any worde in hys defence And could thys and so many other hainous treasons passe throughe your fingers M. Cope and no other to sticke in your pen but the Lord Cobham Finally and simply to conclude wyth you M. Cope and not to flatter you what is the whole working the procedings actions practises of your religion or hath bene almost these 500. yeares but a certaine perpetuall kinde of treason to thrust downe your princes and magistrates to derogate from their right and iurisdiction and to aduance your owne maiesties and dominations as hath bene sufficiently aboue proued and laid before your faces in a parliament holden in Fraunce by the Lord Peter de Cugnerijs vide pag. 383. Wherefore if the assemble of these forenamed persons either within or wythout S. Giles field be such a great mote of treason in your eies first loke vpō the great blocks and milstones of your owne traytors at home and whē you haue well discussed the same then after poure out your wallet of your trifeling Dialogues or Trialogues if ye lift against vs and spare vs not Not that I so thincke thys to be a sufficient excuse to purge the treason of these men if your popish Calenders and legeands be found ful of traytours Multitudo enim peccatorum non parit errori patrocinium But thys I thincke that the same cause whyche made them to suffer as traitors hath made you also to rail against them for traitors that is mere hatred only against their Relygion rather then any true affection you haue to your princes and gouernors Who if they had bene as feruent in your Popery and had suffred so much for the holy father of Rome or for the liberties of the holy mother church of Rome I doubt not but they as holy children of Rome had bene rong into your Romish Calendare with a festum duplex or at least with a festum simplex of 9. lessons also with a vigil peraduenture before them Nowe because they were on the contrary profession enemies to your Magna Diana Ephesiorum you playe wyth them as the Ephesian caruers dyd wyth Saint Paule and worse Ye thrust them out as seditious rebels not only out of life and body but also can not abide them to haue any poore harbour in theyr owne friendes houses among our Actes and Monuments to be remembred In the whyche Actes and Monuments and if gentle maister Ireneus with hys fellow Critobulus in your clerkely Dialogues will not suffer them to be numbred for martyrs yet speake a good word for them M. Cope they may stande for testes or witnesse bearers of the trueth And thus muche for defence of them Now to the other part of his accusation wherein this Alanus Copus Anglus in hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sixfolde Dialogues contēdeth and chaseth against my former edition to proue me in my history to be a lier forger impudent a misreporter of trueth a deprauer of stories a seducer of the worlde and what els not Whose virulent words and contumelious termes howe wel they become his popish persone I knowe not Certes for my part I neuer deserued thys at his handes wittingly that I do know Maister Cope is a man whome yet I neuer sawe and lesse offended nor euer heard of him before And if hee had not in the fronte of hys booke intituled himself to be an English man by his wryting I would haue iudged hym rather some wilde Irishman lately crept out of S. Patrikes Purgatory so wildely he wryteth so fumishly he fareth But I cease here and temper my selfe considering not what M. Cope deserueth to be sayd vnto nor howe far the pen here could run if it had his scope but cōsidering what the tractatiō rather of suche a serious cause requireth And therfore seriously to say vnto you M. Cope in thys matter wher you charge my history of Acts and Monuments so cruelly to be full of vntruthes false lies impudent forgeries deprauations fraudulent corruptions and fayned tables briefly and in one woord to answere you not as the Lacones answered to the letters of their aduersary wyth si but with osi would God M. Cope that in al the whole booke of Actes and Monumentes from the beginning to the latter end of the same were neuer a true storie but that all were false all were lies all were fables Would God the cruelty of your Catholikes had suffred all them to liue of whose death ye say now that I doe lie Although I deny not but in that booke of actes and monumentes containing such diuersity of matter some thing might ouerscape me yet haue I bestowed my poore diligence My intent was to profit all men to hurt none If you maister Cope or any other can better my rude doings and finde things out more finely or truely with al my hart I shall reioyce with you and the commō wealth taking profit by you In perfectiō of wryting of wit cunning dexterity finenes or other induments required in a perfect writer I contend neither with you nor any other I graunt that in a laboured story such as you seeme to require conteyning suche infinite varietie of matter as thys doth much more time would be required but such time as I had that I did bestow if not so laboriously as other could yet as diligently as I might But here partly I heare what you will say I shoulde haue taken more leysure and done it better I graunt and confesse my fault such is my vice I can not sitte all the day M. Cope fining and minsing my letters and coming my head and smoothing my selfe all the day at the glasse of Cicero Yet notwythstanding doing what I can and doing my good will me thinkes I should not be reprehended at least not so much be railed on at maister Copes hand Who if he be so pregnant in finding faulte with other mens labours which is an easy thing to do it were to be wished that hee had enterprised himselfe vppon the matter and so should haue proued what faults might haue bene found in him Not that I herein doe vtterly excuse my selfe yea rather am ready to accuse my selfe but yet notwythstanding thynke my selfe vngently dealt with all at Maister Copes hande Who being mine owne countreyman an English man as he sayeth also of the same
my deedes that in this busines of election wherunto now by the will of the Coūcell we are sent I wil seeke nothing els then the onely saluation of the Christen people and the profit of the vniuersall Church This shall be my whole care and studye that the authority of the generall Councels be not contemned that the Catholick fayth be not impugned and that the fathers which remayne in the coūcell be not oppressed This will I seek for this shall be my care vnto this withall my whole force and power will I bend my selfe neyther will I respect any thing in this poynt eyther for mine owne cause or for any frend but onely God and the profite of the Church With this minde and intent and with this hart will I take mine othe before the Councell His wordes were liuely and fearefull After him al the other Electours in theyr order did sweare and take theyr othe Then they went with great solemnity vnto the Cōclaue where they remayned 7. dayes The maner of their election was in this sort Before the Cardinals seate was set a Deske wherupon there stood a basen of siluer into the which basen all the Electors did cast their scheduls which the Cardinall receiuing read one by one and foure other of the Electors wrote as he read them The tenour of the Schedules was in this maner I George Bishop of Uicene doe chuse such a man or suche a man for bishop of Rome and peraduenture named one or two euery one of the electors subscribed his name vnto the Schedule that he might thereby know his owne and say nay if it were cōtrary to that which was spokē wherby all deceit was vtterly excluded The first scrutiny thus ended it was found that there were many named to the papacy Yet none had sufficiēt voices for that day there were xvii of diuers natiōs nominate Notwithstanding Amedeus duke of Sauoy a man of singuler vertue surmoūted them all for in the first scrutiny he had the voyce of xvi Electors which iudged him worthy to gouerne the church After this there was diligent inquisition had in the Councell touching those whiche were named of the Electors and as euery mans opinion serued him he did either prayse or discommēd those which were nominate Notwtstanding there was suche reporte made of Amedeus that in the next Scrutiny which was holden in the Nonas of Nouember the sayd Amedeus had 21. voices and likewise in the 3. and 4. Scrutinye 21. voyces And for so muche as there was none found in all the scrutiny to haue 2. partes all the other schedules were burnt And forsomuch as there lacked but onely one voyce to the elecion of the high bishop they fell vnto prayer desiring God that he would vouchsafe to direct theyr mindes to an vnity and concorde worthely to elect and chuse him which shoulde take the charge ouer the flocke of God Forsomuch as Amedeus seemed to be nearer vnto the papacy then all other there was greate cōmunication had amongst them touching his life and disposition Some said that a lay man ought not so sodenly to be chosen for it would seeme a straunge thing for a secular prince to be called vnto the Byshopricke of Rome which would also to much derogate frō the ecclesiasticall state as though there were none therein meete or worthy for that dignity Other some sayde that a man which was maryed and had children was vnmeete for such a charge Other some agayn affirmed that the bishop of Rome ought to be a Doctor of law and an excellent learned man When these words were spoken other some rising vp spake farre otherwise that albeit Amedeus was no Doctour yet was he learned and wise for so muche as all his whole youth he had bestowed in learning studye had sought not the name but euen the groūd of learning Thē sayd another if ye be desirous to be instructed further of this princes life I pray you geue eare vnto me which doe know him throwly Truely this man from his youth vpward and euen from his yong and tender yeares hath lyued more religiously then secularly being alwaies obediēt to his parentes and maysters and being alwayes indued with the feare of God neuer geuen to any vanity or wantōnes neither hath there at any time bene any childe of the house of Sauoy in whom hath appeared greater wytte to towardnes whereby al those which did behold and know this man iudged and foresaw some great matter in him neyther were they deceiued For if ye desire to know his rule gouernance what and how noble it hath bene First know ye this that this man hath raigned since his fathers decease about xl yeares During whose time iustice the Lady and Queene of all other vertues hath alwayes florished For he hearing his subiectes himselfe woulde neuer suffer the poore to be oppressed or the weake to be deceiued He was the defender of the fatherles the aduocate of the widowes and protector of the poore There was no rapine or robbery in all his territory The poore and rich liued all vnder one lawe neither was he burthenous vnto his subiectes or importune against straungers throughout all his country there was no greuous exactions of mony throughout all his dominion He thought himselfe rich enough if the inhabitāts of his dominions did aboūd and were rich knowing that it was the poynt of a good shepheard to sheare his sheepe and not to deuour them In this also was his chiefe study and care that his subiectes might liue in peace and suche as bordered vpon him might haue no occasion of grudge By which pollicies he did not onely quietly gouern his Fathers dominion but also augmēted the same by others which willingly submitted themselues vnto him He neuer made warre vpon any but resisting agaynst such as made war vpon him he studied rather to make peace then to seeke any reuenge desiring rather to ouercome his enemies with benefites then with the sword He maried onely one wife which was a noble virgin of singuler beauty and chastity He would haue all his family to keep their handes and eyes chaste and continent and throughout all his house honesty and integrity of maners was obserued When as his wife had chaūged her life and that he perceiued his Duchy to be established that it should come with out any controuersye vnto his posteritye he declared hys mind which was alwayes religious dedicate vnto god shewed what will and affectiō he had long borne in hys hart For he contēning the pompe and state of this world calling vnto him his deare frends departed and went into a wildernes where as building a goodly Abbey he addicted himselfe wholy to the seruice of God and taking his crosse vpon him folowed Christ. In which place he being cōuersant by the space of many yeares shewed forth great examples of holynesse wearing no other garmentes then such as could withstand the
he was repulsed in so many battailes to his great dishonour during all the life of Zisca of Procopius as is afore more at leÌ„gth expressed who was so beaten both of the Turkes at home of his owne people that he neuer did encounter with the Turkes after Then followed the Councell of Basill after the beginnyng wherof within vi yeares this SigismuÌ„dus which was Emperour king of Hungary and kyng of Boheme dyed in Morauia an 1437. ¶ Albertus Emperour THis Sigismund left behinde him one only daughter Elizabeth who was married to Albert Duke of Austrich by reason whereof he was aduanced to the Empire and so was both Duke of Austrich Emperour king of Hungary and king also of Boheme But this Albert as is afore declared being an enemy and a disquieter to the Bohemians and especially to the good men of Thabor as he was preparing and setting foorth against the Turkes in the meane time died in the second yeare of his Empire an 1439. leauing his wife great with child who lieng then in Hungary and thinking to be great with a daughter called to her the Princes and chiefetaines of the Realme declaring to them that she was but a woman and vnsufficient to the gouernaÌ„ce of such a state and moreouer how she thought her selfe to be but with childe of a daughter and therefore required them to prouide among them such a Prince and gouernour reseruing the right of the Kingdome to hir selfe as were fit and able vnder her to haue the regiment of the land committed The Turke in the meane while being eleuated and encouraged with his prosperous victories against Sigismundus aforesaide began then more fiercely to inuade Hungary and those parties of Christendome Wherefore the Hungarians making the more haste consulted among themselues to make Duke Uladislaus brother to Casimiâ—us King of Polony their King But while this was in working betwene the Hungarians and Uladislaus the Duke in the meane space Elizabeth brought forth a sonne called Ladislaus who being the lawfull heire of the kingdome the Queene calleth backe againe her former word minding to reserue the kingdome for her sonne being the true heire thereof and therefore refuseth marriage with the saide Uladislaus which she had before pretended But Uladislaus ioyning with a great part of the Hungarians persisting stil in the condition before graunted would not geue ouer by reason whereof great contention and diuision kindling amoÌ„g the people of Hungary Amurathes yâ— great Turke taking his aduantage of their discord and partly surpressed with pride of his former successe against Sigismund aforesaid with his whole maine force inuaded the realme of HuÌ„gary where Huniades surnamed Uaiuoda Prince of Transiluania ioining with the new King Uladislaus did both together set against the Turke anno 1444. and there Uladislaus the new King of Hungary the fourth yeare of his kingdome was slaine Elizabeth with her sonne was fled in yâ— meane while to Fridericke the Emperour Of Huniades Uaiuoda the noble Captaine and of his Actes and also of Ladislaus Christ willing more shall be sayd heereafter in his time and place ¶ Fridericus the third Emperour AFter the deceasse of Albert succeeded in the Empyre Fridericus the third Duke of Austria an 1440. By whome it was procured as we haue before signified that Pope Foelix elected by the Councell of Basill did resigne his Popedome to Pope Nicholas the fift vpon this condition that the said Pope Nicholas should ratife the acts decreed in the said Councell of Basil. In the daies of this Emperour much warre and dissention raged almost thorough all Christian Realmes in Austria Hungaria Polonia in France in Burgoine and also heere in EnglaÌ„d betweene King Henry the sixt and King Edward the fourth as ye haue already heard whereby it had bene easie for the Turke with little maistry to haue ouerrunne all the Christian Realmes in Europe had not the prouidence of our mercifull Lord otherwise prouided to keepe Amurates the Turke occupied in other ciuill warres at home in the meane while Unto this Fridericke came Elizabeth as is aforesaide with Ladislaus her sonne by whome he was nourished enterteined a certaine space till at length after the death of Uladislaus aforesaid king of Ungarie which was slaine in battaile by the Turkes the men of Austria through the instigation of Ulricus Eizingerus and of Ulricus Earle of Cilicia rising vp in armour required of Fridericke the Emperour either to giue theÌ„ their yong king or els to staÌ„d to his own defence When Fridericke heard this neither would he render to them a sodaine answere neither would they abide any longer delay and so the matter growing to warre the new Citie was besieged where many were slaine and much harme done At length the Emperours part beyng yâ— weaker the Emperour through the interueÌ„tion of certaine Nobles of Germany restored Ladislaus vnto their hands who being yet vnder age committed his in kingdomes to three gouernours Whereof Iohn Huniades the worthy Captaine aboue mentioned had the ruling of Ungarie George Pogiebracius had Boheme and Ulricus the Earle of Cilicia had Austria Which Ulrice hauing the chiefe custody of the King bare the greatest authority aboue the rest a man as much full of ambitioÌ„ and tirannie as he was hated almost of all the Austrians and shortly after by the meanes of Eizingerus was excluded also from the King and the Court but afterwarde restored againe and Eizingerus thrust out Such is the vnstable condition of them which be next in place aboute Princes But this contention betwene them I ouerpasse Not long after Ladislaus the yong King went to Boheme there to be crowned where George Pogiebracius as is said had the gouernaunce But Ladislaus during all the time of his being there though being much requested yet would neither enter into the Churches nor heare the seruice of them which did draw after the doctrine of Hus. In somuch that when a certaine Priest in the hygh tower of Prage was appointed and addressed after the maner of Priests to say seruice before the King beeyng knowne to hold with Iohn Hus and Rochezaua the King disdaining at him commaunded him to giue place and depart or else he woulde sende him downe headlong from the rocke of the Tower and so the good minister repulsed by the King departed Also another time the sayde Ladislaus seeing the Sacrament carried by a Minister of that side whome they called then Huslites woulde doo thereunto no reuerence Ex Aene. Syluio At length the long abode of the King although it was not very long yet seemed to the godly disposed to be loÌ„ger then they wished and that was not to yâ— king vnknowen which made him to make the more hast away But before he departed he thought first to visit the noble Citie Uratislauia in Schlesia In the which Citie the foresaid King Ladislaus being there in the high Church at seruice many great Princes were about him Among whome was
againe Thys booke being in Latine and Printed beareth thys title Rosacea Augustissimae Christiferae Mariae Corona and in the front it sheweth the name of Iodocus Bisselaius a noble manne of Aquine And this by the occasion of Pope Sixtus Which Sixtus what a maintainer of blind superstition hee was partly by that aforespoken partly by the ende following it may be seene For we reade in certaine wryters yâ— after thys Pope had vnderstanding that Hercules Estensis Duke of Ferraria had ioyned peace wyth the Uenetians against hys will he was so greeued therewith that for rancour of minde wythin 5. dayes after hee died whereunto hys Epitaph following geueth sufficient record About whose time also died Platina a man not vnlearned but yet a shamefull flatterer and bearer wyth the wicked liues of the Popes The Epitaph of Pope Sixtus is this Non potuit saenum vis vlla extinguere Sixtum Audito tandem nomine pacis obit An other Epitaphe of the same Pope Sixte iaces tandem nostri discordia secli Saeuisti in superos nunc Acheronta moue Sixte iaces tandem deflent tua busta cinaedi Scortaque lenones alea vina venus An other Gaude prisce Nero vincit te crimine Sixtus Hic scelus omne simul clauditur vitium But leauing here pope Sixtus with hys verses vices let vs nowe proccede as we before promised to enter the story of Maximilian keeping notwithstanding the order of our kinges here in England For a little before the reigne of Maximilian king Edward the fourth ceased his life an 1483. after he had raigned 22. yeares In the tyme of which K. Edward this also is not to be forgotten that one Burdet a marchant dwelling in Cheapside at the signe of the crowne whiche is the signe nowe of the flower de luce merely speaking to his sonne sayd that he wold make him inheritour of the crown meaning in deed his own house For the which words when K. Edward caused to be misconstred interpreted as though he had ment the crowne of the Realme wtin lesse space then 4. houres he was apprehended iudged drawne and quartered in Chepeside King Edward the 5. THis king Edwarde left behinde hym by hys wife Elizabeth 2. sonnes Edward Richard 2. daughters Elizabeth and Cicilie Which 2. sonnes Edward Richard for somuche as they were vnder age and not ripe to gouern a consultation was called among the pieres to debate whether the foresayd yong prince king shold be vnder the gouernment of his mother or els that Rich. Duke of Glocester brother to K. Edward the 4. vncle to the child should be gouernor of the K. and protector of the realme there hath bene and is an old adage the wordes whereof rather then the true meaning is wrasted out of Salomon Vae regno cuius Rex est puer 1. Wo to the kingdom the king whereof is a child c. But if I may finde leaue herein to thrust in a glose I would this adde and say Vae illi puero qui fui regni Rex non est 1. Wo to that childe whiche is a king in a kingdome vnruly and ambitious There was the same season among other noble peeres of the realm the Duke of Buckingham a man of great authoritie who had maryed King Edwards wifes sister Because the duke being so neare alliaunt to the K. had bene vnkindely as he thought of the king entreated hauing by him no anauncement nor anye great frendship shewed according to his expectation took part therfore with Richard Duke of Glocester both against the Queene her children to make the foresayd Duke the chiefe gouernour and protector The whiche thinge being broughe to passe by the ayde assistaunce and workinge of the Duke of Buckingham the Queene tooke sanctuarye with her yoÌ„ger sonne the elder brother which was the king remayned in the custody of the Duke of Glocester his vncle Who being now in a good towardnes to obtayne that which he loÌ„g loked for sought all the means soone compassed the matter by false collour of dissembled words by periurie and labour of friendes namely of the Duke of Buckingham and the Cardinall Archbishop of Caunterburye that the other brother also shoulde bee committed to his credite Thus the ambitious protector and vnnaturall vncle hauing the possession of his two nephewes and and innocent babes thought himselfe almost vp the whele where he woulde climeâ— Although he could not walke in such mistes and cloudes but his deuised purposes began to be espyed which caused him more couertly to goe about to remoue from him all suspicion and to blinde the peoples eyes But before he could accomplish hys execrable enterprise some there were whom he thought first must be ridd out of his way as namely the Lorde Hastinges and the Lord Stanley who as they were sitting together in counsaile within the tower the protectour the matter beyng so appoynted before sodaynly rushed in among them and after a few words there commoned he sodainly hasted out agayne his minde belike being full of mischiefe and furye was not quiet Who within the space of an houre returned agayn into the chamber with a sterne countenance and a frowning look and so there set him downe in hys place When the Lordes were in great meruell and muse at the meaning hereof then he out of a cankered hart thus begaÌ„ to bray asking them what are they worthy to haue which go about to imagine the destruction of him being so neare to the kings bloud and protectour of the Realme At the which question as the other Lords sate musing the Lord Hastinges because he had bene more familiare wyth him thus aunswered that they were worthy of punishement whatsoeuer they were Which when the other Lordes also had affirmed that is quoth the protectour yonder sorceresse my brothers wife meaning the Queene and other with her adding moreouer and saying that sorcereâ—â— other of her counsayle as Shores wife with her affinitie haue by their witchcraft thus wasted my body and therewith shewed forth his left arme a wearish withered thing as it was neuer otherwise as was well knowne This Shores wife had bene before a Concubine to K. Edward afterward was kept by the same Lorde Hastinges Moreouer here is to be noted that by the consent of the said Lord Hastinges the cruell protectour had deuised about the same time the kindred of the Queene innocently to be headed at Pomfret of mere despite and hatred Wherfore this punishment not vndeseruedly by the iust hand of God fell vpon the said Lord Hastinges It followeth then more in the storye that when the L. Hastinges had heard these false accusations of the tyraunt which he knew to be vntrue certaynly my Lord sayd he if they haue so done they be worthye of haynous punishement Why quoth the protector doest thou serue me with if and with and I tel thee they haue
Athens Beocia likewise Aetolia Acarnauia with all the region beyond Peloponesus vnto the coast of Corinth to whome S. Paule also wrote other two epistles were brought in bondage and slauery vnto the Turke In Epirus and in that quarter that adioyneth to Macedonia named Albania reigned then one Ioannes Castriotus who perceiuing himselfe too weake to matche with the Turkes power made with the Turke this cōuention that he should haue Croia a famous Citie in Grecia and also gaue to him his three sonnes for hostages to wit Constantinus Reposius and Georgius In this George such towardnes of noble courage such vigour of minde and strength of body singularly did appeare that the Turke caused him more freely to be instructed after the Turkish religion and maner in his owne court where he being traded vp did so shoote vp as well in feates of actiuitie as in strength of body that he excelled all his equals in so much that he was named Scanderbeins which soundeth as much as Alexander Magnus After this Alexander was grown vp to mature ripenes of age and was well trained vp in feates of war he was sent out by the Turke to warre against Caramannus of Cilicia The Turkes enemy In which expedition he sped himselfe most manfully fighting hand to hande first with a footeman of Scythia then with an horseman of Persia being chalenged by them both to encounter first with the one after with the other whom he so valiantly ouerthrew the he wan great renoun with the Turk In so much that he trusting to the Turks fauour whē he heard of the decease of his father durst aske of the Turke the graunt of his fathers dominion to be giuen vnto him Which request although Amurathes y◠Turke did not denie him yet notwithstanding he perceiuing the matter to be dalied out with fayre wordes by subtill meanes and policie slipt out of the Turks court and came to Epirus his owne inheritance where first by forged letters he recouered Croia The other Cities of their voluntary minde yeelded themselues vnto him who then gathering vnto him the people of Epirus Macedonia which were not so many in nūber as with good willing minds they stucke vnto him so māfully and valiantly behaued himselfe that against all the puissance both of Amurathes and also of Mahumete he mainteined his owne repulsed their violence and put to flight their armies many yeres together But to returne againe to the course of Amurathes victories after he had thus preuailed as is before signified agaynst the East parts of Europa and Grecia and had conuented thus for the dommion of Epirus he inuaded Iluricum otherwise called now Sclauonia conteining in it Dalmatia Croacia Isiria and Liburnia which Countreys after he had spoiled and wasted he continued his course to Albania and Bosna In which regions when he had subdued a great part and had led away an innumerable multitude of captiues he moued further to Walachia and Seruia vpon hope to conquere all Pannonia There reigned at the same time in Seruia a certayne prince named Georgius Despota who made great sute to the Turke for truce peace promising to giue his daughter to mariage for by y◠Turkes lawe they may marry as many wiues as they lust It was not long after Amurathes had maried the daughter of Despota but he contrary to his league and promise made warre vpon Despota his father in law and expelled him out of his kingdome taking from him diuers Cities as Scopia Nouomonte Sophia and all Misia Georgius himselfe fled into Hungary leauing behind him his son to defed the town of Sinderonia Amurathes vnderstāding of the flight of Despoto his father in law compassed the Citie of Sinderonia with a strōg siege which whē he in few daies had expugned he tooke his wiues brother sonne of Despota and without regard of all mercy and affinitie after the barbarous tyranny of the Turkes put out his eies with a basen red hoat set before his eies and after that led him about with him in derision and despite of his cowardly father Ex Christof Rhicherio Gallo Gasp. Peuc alijs Seruia beeing thus wonne and gotten Amurathes thinking to go further into Hungary besieged the Citie called Belgradum and no doubt had also suppressed the same had not the prouidence of God found a meanes that partly through slaughter of his men partly for lacke of victuall and other forage he was compelled to raise his siege and retire In the meane time Ioannes Huniades of whom mention was made before pag. 720. had got great victories against the Turkish power and had recouered parte of Seruia and all Muldauia against whome Amurathes the Turke with a mighty army moued into Pannonia But Huniades with the power and ayde of Ladislaus King of Polonia but specially by the power of the Lord did soone infringe the puissance of the Turke and gaue him the ouerthrow recouering vnto the Christians the greatest part of Seruia and Bulgaria In this battaile Huniades had fiue sundry conflictes with the Turks vpō one day and with fiue victories put them to the worse and toward night did so discomfit and ouerthrow the great captaine of Amurathes called Bassa the Duke of Anatolia which is otherwise named Asia Minor that he slue of the Turks that day to the number of 30. thousand Amurathes although he was not a little thereat discouraged yet dissembling his feare with stout counteuace sent for Carambeius his principal stay captaine with a new power brought out of Asia to assist him in his warres Then Carambeius in the downes of Trasiluania Ladislaus the foresaid king of Polonie the Lord so working through the industrie of Ioannes Huniades so receiued with such celerity oppressed him vnprouided that all his stout sturdy army either was slaine downe right or else put to flight disparcled Carambeius the Captaine being himselfe taken prisoner in the same field These victories of Huniades strooke no little terror to Amurathes in somuch that for distresse of minde he was ready to destroy himselfe as some do write but being cōfirmed by Helibeus Bassa his coūsailer he kept himselfe wtin the streites of the moūt Rhodope Who then hearing that Caramannus inuaded the same time the countrey of Bithinia and Pontus in Asia was glad to take truce wyth Ladislaus and Huniades vpon such conditions as they listed to make themselues which conditions were these that Amurathes should depart clearely from all the region of Sernia and should remoue from thence all his garrisons which were placed in the Castles and forts of the same Also he should restore George Despota which is to say Prince of Seruia vnto his possession and set his children free whome he had in captiuitie and restore them to their inheritance Item that he shoulde make no more claime nor title to the countrey of Moldonia aboue mentioned nor to that part of Bulgrauia which he
riches and shall treade downe pride with his owne death In the night he shall rise vp and be changed he shall liue and raigne and all these things shall be consummated and regeneration or newe things be made at last hee shall iudge both good and euill c. And thus much briefly collected out of Sybilia Erythrea concerning Christ our Lord. Furthermore touching the state and course of the Church and of Antichrist it foloweth in the sayde Sybille saying Then shall 4 Winged beastes rise vp in testimonie they shal soūd out with trumpets the name of the lambe sowing righteousnes the law irreprehensible Against which law the beast shal gainstand the abhomination froth of the dragon But a maruelous star shal rise hauing the image of the 4. beasts shal be in a maruelous multitude he shal bring light to the Greekes and shal illustrate the world The lake of the fisher shall bring the name of the lambe with power into the Citie of Eneas vnto the end of the worlde or time Then in the city of Eneas the starre ioyned shall loose such as were bound of the deuill and thereof hee shall reioyce and glory and glorious shal be his end c. After this Sybilia wryting as it semeth of Antichrist importeth these words And it shall come to passe that an horrible beast shal come out of the East whose roaring shall be heard to Aphrike to the people of Carthage Which hath 7. heades and scepters innumerable feete 663. He shall gainstande the lambe to blaspheme his Testamēt encreasing the waters of the dragon The kings princes of the world he shall burne in intolerable sweat they shal not diminish his feete And then two starres like to the first starre shall rise against the beast and shal not preuaile till the abhomination shall be come and the wil of the Lord shall be consummate And again speaking of the same matter he inferreth these words of the foresaid 2. starres aboue mētioned And toward the latter dayes two bright starres shall arise raising vp men lying dead in their sinnes being like to the first starre hauing the face of the 4. beasts which shall resist the beast the waters of the dragon testifying or preaching the name and lawe of the lambe the destruction of abhomination and iudgement and shal diminish his waters but they shal be weakened in the bread of affliction and they shall rise againe in stronger force c. And it foloweth moreouer After the abhomination then shal truth be reuealed the lambe shal be known to whom regions and countreis shal submit their necks all earthly men shal agree together in one to come into one fold and to be ruled vnder one discipline and after this shal be but a small time c. And shortly after the saide Sybilia speaking of the latter iudgement to come declareth how all the abhominations of sinnes shall come before the lambe and that terrible fire shall fall frō heauen which shall consume al carthly things created vnto the top of heauen c. And thus muche out of Sybilla touching her prophesies of Christ Antichrist according a◠I founde them alleaged of a certaine catholike Romish wryter in his booke entituled Onus ecclesiae excerped as he sayeth out of the library of S. George in the citie of Uenice Philip Melancthon in his preface vpon Bartholomaeus Georgienitz Peregrinus wryting of the Origene and manners of the Turks alledgeth a certaine prophesy of Hikenus mentioned hereafter which foresaid that the Turkes should beare rule in Italy and in Germany An. 1600. Now it remaineth in conclusion of these prophesies of the Turks something to say of the Turks owne prophesies concerning the enduring ending of their own kingdom whose propheticall prognostication being taken out of their owne language and their own bookes I thought here to insert as I finde it alleaged in the booke of the forsayd Bartholomaeus Georgienitz as followeth A Turkish prophecie in the Persian toung of the raigne and ruine of the Turkes PAtissahomoz ghelu Ciaferum memleketi alur keuzul almai alur Kapzeiler iedi y ladegh Gyaur keleci csikmasse on ikiyladegh onlaron beghlig eder eusi iapar baghi diker bahesai baghlar oglikezi olur onichi yldensora Hristianon Keleci csichar ol Turchi gerestine tus chure The Latine of the same IMperator noster veniet ethnici Principis regnum capiet rubrū quoque pomum capiet in suam potestatem rediget quod si septimum vsque annum Christianorum gladius non insurrexit vsque ad duodecimum annum els dominabitur Domos ae dificabit vineas plantabit hortos sepibus muniet liberos procreabit post duodecimum annum apparebit Christianorum gladius qui Turcam quaqua versum in fugam aget The same in English OUr Emperour shal come he shal get the kingdome of the Gentiles prince also he shal take the red apple and shall bring it vnder his subiection and if the sworde of the Christians shall not rise vnto the vij yeare hee shall haue dominion ouer them vnto the xii yere He shal build houses plant vineyardes shal hedge about his orchards shall procreate children and after the xij yeare shal appeare the sworde of the Christians whych shall putte the Turke to flight euery where They whych make declaration of thys Turkishe prophesie do expound this xij yeare to signify the xij yeare after the winning of Constantinople which Constantinople they say is ment by the redde apple And after that xij yeare say they shall rise the sworde of the Christians c. and this prophesie being wrytten and translated out of the Persian tounge with this exposition vpon the same is to be found in the boke of Bartholomeus Georgienitz Albeit concerning the exposition therof it semeth not to be true which is there spoken of the xij yeare after the wynning of Constantinople being nowe 100. yeares since the wynning thereof Wherefore it may rather seme probable that by the vij yeare and xii yeare of the Turkes this to be the meaning that if the vij of the Ottaman Turks do scape the sworde of the Christians they shall continue builde and plant c. vntill the xij Turke which is thys Solymannus then after that shall rise the Christians sworde whych shall put them to flight and vanquish them in al quarters And this exposition may seeme to accord with the place of Genesis wherin is wrytten of Ismael that he had xij sonnes no mo So that this Solymannus being the xij Turke after Ottomannus may by the grace of Christ be the last whō we heard credibly to be reported at the printing heereof to be dead But howsoeuer this prophecy is to be takē it appeareth by their owne Oracles that at length they shal be ouercome by the Christians A Table describing the times and yeares of the Saracens Turkes and Tartarlans for the better explaining
England one for Greeke the other for latine Ex historia Guliel de Regibus Ang. Pleimondus teacher to king Alfred and after Bishop of Canterbury Bookes translated out of latine by K. Alfrede None permitted to haue any dignitie in the court except he were learned Polycron lib. 6. cap. 1. The Psalter translated into English by king Alfrede The cause why the king turned latine bookes into English Learned men sent for and placed about the king The dialoges of Gregory translated Neotus â— Abbot The schole and vniuersitie of Oxford first begonneâ— King Alfrede The newâ— Colledge in Oxford Ioan. â—â—â—tus The aunswere of Ioannes Scotus to the French king Ioan Scotus translated Hierarchiam Dionâ—tij from Greek to Latine The booke of Ioannes Scotus called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioannes Scotus adicted more to the Greeke Churche then the Latine Ioan Scotus accused of the pope for an heretike Ioannes Scotus slayne by hys owne scollers Ioan Scotus a Martyr This Ethelwitha builded first the house of Nunnes at Winchester The children of K. Alfrede All hys daughters learned The decease of King Alfred An. 901. Etheredus Plâ—imundus Athelmus Vlâ—elmus Odo Archb. of Canterbury 9. Popes in ix yeares at Rome Fermosus first Pope Ex Chroniâ—oâ— Sigeberti Schismes among the Popes Character indâ—lebilis Whether the pope with hys Cardinals may erre Bonifacius 6. Pope Stephen 6. Pope Ex Chroni Martini panitentiarij Sigebert Ex Polych alijs Pope Theodorus 2. Pope Iohn 10. One councell burneth an others decrees Pope Benedictus 4. Pope Leo. 5. imprisoned and vnpoped by hys own chaplayne Pope Christoferus 1. Pope Sergius Pope Formosus after hys death be headed of Pope Sergius A false fayned myracle vpon the body of Formosus Popish miracles not to be credited Bearing of candels on Candlemas day how it came vp Pope 〈◊〉 Pope Lâ—â—â—do 1. Pope 〈◊〉 11. Harloâ—â— this time ruled 〈◊〉 Rome P. Iohn 1. P. Leo. 6. P. Stâ—â— â— restored Liuthpranâ—dus 〈◊〉 sis lib. 3. P. Steph. â— P. Leo. â— P. Marâ— â— P. Agapetus 2. Ordo Clâ—niacensis beginnâ—â— King Edward the elder The Edwardes before the â—â—quest A comparison betweene Alfrede and hys sonne Edward Vse and long exercise of things maketh perfectnes Clyto Ethelwold rebelleth agaynst K. Edward An. 904. An. 913. Chesâ—er repayred and enlarged The Castle of Herford builded Castles builded vpon the riuer of Auene and Ouse The townes of Towcetour and wigmore builded The newe towne of Nottingham builded Thilwall Manchester repayred Elfleda Cittyes Townes and Castles builded by Elfleda The lawes of king Alfred and K. Edward Note howe kinges of England in tymes past had authoritie in spirituall causes Anno. 925. The Children of K Edward the elder Prince Ethelwald excellâ—nt in learning Galiel de Regib The bringing vp of K. Edwardes Children King Ethelstine or Adelstane Duke Elfrede sodenly stroken by the hand of God for periury Guliel lib. de Regib in vita Ethelstani The copie of an old Cart of K. Ethelstane Anno. 927. Northumberland subdued to king Ethelstane The Scots subdued to the king of England It is more honour to make a king then to be a king A fabulous miracle falsely reported of king Athelstane Bristanus Byshop Anno. 933. A ridiculous miracle forged vpon Bristanus Byshop of Winchester A miracle of soules aunswering Amen A sore battaile sought at Brimford An other vnlike myracle of K. Athelstanâ— sword Odo Archbishop of Cant. Analanus The North Brittaynes brought to tribute The South Brittaynes subdued K. Ethelstane seeketh the death of his owne brother A note to learne not to sowe discorde betwixt brother and brother The cause of building Abbeyes examined Otho first Emperour of the Germaine Precious iewels sent to king Ethelstane from the French K. Concerning one of the nayles wherewith our Sauiour Christ was crucified Kinges of England gouernors as well in 〈◊〉 ecclesiastical aâ—â—â—mporall Extractum on legib 〈◊〉 Athelstane * alias 〈◊〉 * alias minoribus * alias scristes dictionum * alias seruitistimentalas * 〈◊〉 sunt * alias seristes mensia 〈◊〉 * in sua scrysiseyra A lawe how that maisters ought to condiscend and beare sometime with their seruauntes The law of king Ethelstane concerning tythes Tythes The K. woulde vsurpe no mans goodes wrongfully The law of K. Ethelstane concerning fealous stealing aboue xii d. Epitap in Ethelst Sol illustrauit bisseno scorpion ortu Cum regeÌ„ cauda percuâ—â—t ille sua Anno. 940. Edmundus kyng of England Ex historia Cariona Monkes put out of Eusham the yeare of our Lord. 941. The difference betweene Monkes and priestes Chastitie wroÌ„gly defined Holy mariage by the definition of Paphnutius is chastitie Monkes how they differed from Priestes and how they first began in England Guliel de pontiâ—â—â—â— The monâ—stery of Fâ—â—riake Oswaldes Byshop of Yorke a great paâ—â—â—â— of Monkery Guliel lin 3. de pontif The origâ—â— of monkery how it first began in England Dunstane Abbot of Glastonbury The sonnes of King Edmund The impâ—dent vanitie of the Popes Churche in forgyng false myracles Guliel lib. 1. de pont The monastery of Glastonbury Dunstane Abbot of Glostanbury The Abbey of Glostenbury was first builded by K. Iue by the couÌ„sell of Adelmus after beyng destroyed by the Danes Guliel lib. 2. de Regib The lawes of king Edmunde touching as well the state spirituall as temporall Vlstanus Archbishop of Yorke Odo Arch. of Canterbury Guliel de pont lib. 1. Polycron lib. 6. ca. 6. Odo made monke at Floriake after he was Archb. of CaÌ„terbury Guliel de pont lib. 1. Guliel lib. 3. de pont Ebor. The difference of habite and garmentes among men of the Church False and lying myracles noted vpon Odo A note to the reader Transubstantiation not yet receaued The letter of Odo Archb. to the prelates Elsinus Archb. of Caunt elect S. Edmundesbury The children of King Edmund Anno. 946. Edrede gouernour of the Realme Dunstane made byshop of Wirceter and after of London With lye and all K. Edwyne Anno. 955. The king suspensed by the Archbishop K. Edwyne an enemye to Monkes Monkes put out and seculâ—r priestes placed in their roomes The death of K. Edwyne Anno. 959. K. Edgar called Pacificus Dunstane made Bysh. of Worceter and of London Ex hist. Rog. Houenden Spirituall liuinges geuen by the king and not by the Pope Oswaldâ—â— byshop of Worceter and after â— Yorke Ethelwâ—â—â— byshop of Wint. a great â—â—â—tayner of Monkery An. 96â— Ex Guliel Malmâ—sâ—â—rieâ—â— de gostis ponâ—â—â— Aâ—g Monkishe dreames Dreames not necessary to be regarded Difference of dreames How and wheÌ„ monks first began to swarme in England Dunstane Ethelwold Oswald three setters vp of Monkishe religion 40. Monasteries builded and repayred by K. Edgar Priestes thrust out of Cathedrall houses and monkes set in Roger Houeden lib. Continuationum post BedaÌ„ Chronicon Iornalense Guliel de gestis pontifi lib. 1. Oswald Byshop of Wytceter and Archb. of Yorke The pollicy of Oswald in driuing out priestes to place
DispensatioÌ„ from Pope Alexander to forsake his first wife and to marry an other Ludouicus Vladislaus sonne king of Hungary Boheme Warre betwene Charles Duke of Burgoyne Fredericke the Emperour Anno. 1475. Charles Duke of Burgoyne slaine in warre Anno. 1477. Mary daughter of Charles of Burgoyne maried to MaximiliaÌ„ Warre dissention among Christen princeâ— The discord of Christians scourged by the Turkes Discord and dissention in the Church noted Ambition auarice of the church of Rome Ex Rapulario Henrici Token The sea of Rome is turned into an Oceane that haâ—â— no bottome What a million is Concilium Bituriense Pragmatica Sanctio Ex loan Maria Belga de Schismat Conciliis cap. 24. Pope pius laboreth that Pragmatica Sanctio should be abolished The counsaile of Paris appealeth from the pope to the generall Councell Vid. supra pag. 670. The complaint of the Germaines to the Emperour for helpe and ayde against the oppression of the Pope Fredericke made the Germaines twise subiect vnto the Pope Frid. Albertus his brother and Sigismundus striue for the dukedome of Austria Warre betwene Franciscus Sfortia and the Venetians about Millaine Warre betwene Lewes the French king and the citie of Millaine Iohn a Notherde of Franconia Martyr Anno. 1476. Iohn de Wesailia persecuted Anno. 1479. The articles and opinioÌ„s of Iohn de Wesalia Free will nothing Prelates haue no more power ouer scriptures then other men Extreme vnction reproued Against the primacy of the Pope Iohn de Wesalia brought before the prelates The Inquisitour speaketh The answer of Wesalianus reasonable The cruell proceeding of the Inquisitour The greater cause of the Pope described Scio. Credo His opinion of the sacrament His opinion of Monkes and Nunnes The vowe of chastitie Mortall sinne founnd by the Pope beside that which is expressed to be mortall in the scripture What is this article but to make the Pope a god Christ left no vicar in earthe Pardons and indulgences be of no effect The treasure of saintes merites is not in earth This saying waâ— taken out of one Cantor Pariensis which was went to say thaâ— pardoÌ„s were holy decertes because that laye men there were prouoked by naughtie decerteâ— to geue good almes Degrees â—nscripture forbidden to marry Nothing to be beleued but which is in scripture conteyned The Church geueth witnes who were the writers of the scripture but hath no authoritie aboue that which is writteÌ„ By this inquisition Christ himselfe might be condemned Ex Orth. Grat. Ex Paralip Abat Vrsper Discorde betwixt Reals Nominals Ex Orth. Grat. Doct. Iohn de Wesalia reuoketh his opinioÌ„s Albert duke of Saxonie called Dextra manus imperis Albert Marques of Brandenburg called Achilles Germanicus Anno. 1484. The abhomination of Pope Sixtus Ex Declamatione Agrippa ad Lonanienses The warres of Pope Sixtus Ex Ioan. Laziardo lib. Historia Vniuersalii cap. 284. A large gift of the Pope to the begging Friers Alanus author of our Ladies Psalter Then had the blessed virgine Mary two husbandes An olde knaue to sucke his wiues brest The detestable impietie and blasphemie of the popishe lying religion Mendacem memorem esse oportet Ex Latinâ— Codice impresso cui tituluit Rosasea Maria Corona The death of Pope Sixtus 4. Here endeth Platina The death of king Edward 4. Anno. 1483. Burdet Tyranny in miscoÌ„string a mans wordes The lawes of the realme misconstred for the princes pleasure K. Edward 5 Eccle. 10. Vaepuero regi in suo regno Richard Duke of Glocester made protectour The young king committed to Duke of Gloucester The Duke of Buckingham a great doer for the protectour Both king Edwardes children in the possessioÌ„ of the protectour The deuelisliâ— protectour picketh quarelles The Queene Shores wife falsely accused of the protector to bewitch his arme Adultery punished of God Murder iustly punished of god L. Hastings arrested for a traytour L. Stanley wounded B. Morton The tyranny of the protectour The L. Hastings beheaded The beastly protectour accuseth his owne mother Doct. Shawes impudent sermoÌ„ at Paules crosse Sap. 4. Example for all flattering preachers to bâ—ware The Duke of Buckingham an other minister for the protectours furie The Duke of Buckingham speaketh for the protectour in the Guildhall An hard thing to make the tongue speake against the hart A stolne consent in the Guild-hall Fye of hipocrisie The hypocrisie of the protector denying the crowne thrise before he would take it King Richard 3. vsurper King Richard crowned The truth of Robert Brabenbury to his prince Iames Tyrel I. Dighton Miles Iorest cruell traytors and murtherers of their Prince YouÌ„g princes The 2. children of king Edward murdered The iust punishmeÌ„t of God vpoÌ„ the minderers of them two The punishment of God vpon K. Richard The punishmeÌ„t of God vpon the Duke of BuckinghaÌ„ Doct. Shaw and Doct. Pinkie two flattering preachers Gods iudgement vpon flattering preachers The first motion of ioyning the two houses Yorke and Lancaster togeather Earle Henry maketh preparation toward his iourney The arriuing of Henry Earle of RichmoÌ„d in Wales K. Richad gathered his power to encounter with Earle Henry K. Richard taketh the field of Bolworth This Lord Stanley was he which was hurt at the Tower when the L. Hastings was arested vide pag. 727. Bosworth field The history of Sir Tho. More word â—or word taken out of Polid. Virg. W. Brandon Charles Brandon The death of king Richard Duke of Northfolke slaine Lord Tho. Haward Earle of Surrey aduaunced by K. Henry 7. K. Richards sonne punished for the wickednes of his father K. Richard proposed to marry Elizabeth his brothers daughter L. Stanley husband to K. Henries mother forsooke k. Richard The L. Strange meruelously preserued The shamefull tossing of king Richardes dead Corpes Anno. 1485. King Henry 9. K. Henry marieth with Elizabeth The two houses of Yorke and Lancaster ioyned together Anno. 1486. Maximilianus Emperour The reigne and death of Fridericus Emperour Anno. 1494. Maximilian marieth the Duches of Burgoyne This Mary was neece to king Edward 4. The learning of Maximilian coÌ„mended Maximilian writer of his owne stories Ex leaÌ„ Carione Maximilian first ordeiner of the vnyuersitie of Wittenberg Learned meÌ„ begin to grow in Christendome Doct. Weselus Groningensis Weselus called Lux Mundi The doctrine of Weselus Groningensis Ex lib. D. Weseli De sacrameÌ„to peniteÌ„tia The Popes supremacie written against Ex Epist. cuinsilam in opere Weseli Christes aunswere to Tho. de Corselis touching this place Quicquid ligaueris Not what so euer is said to be loosed in earth is loosed in heauen but whatsoeuer is loosed in very deede in earth that is also loosed in deede in heauen Against tiches in the Church The preceptes of the Pope prelates how they binde The Popes keyes Vowes Doctrine not to be receaued without examinatioÌ„ Excommunication Ex Nouiomago A prophesie of Weselus This Oftendorpius was a man well learned and Canon of the minster of Lubecke Here it appeareth that