11. The Bishop or Abbot must not resort to Civil Judicatures to plead their own Cause except it be to support the poor and oppressed Presbyters Deacons and Monks having obtained Licence from the Bishops may appear in Civil Judgement-seats accompanied with their Advocate 12. Let no Presbyters Deacons or Monks be Farmers or Tillers of the ground 13. An Oath used by some in the time of Ordination inhibited 14. Bishops in visiting of their Parishoners not to be chargeable unto them 15. This Canon was against the Tyranny of Arch-Deacons 16. That Bishops provide Balm and Chrism for the Lights of the Church 17. That Presbyters pay no Tribute to the Bishop 18. Against taking of pawns from incestuous persons and from those who pay not their Tithes and from negligent Presbyters 19. Let people give their Tithes to those Churches wherein their Children are baptized and whereto they resort all the year long to hear Church-service 23. The Ordination of Presbyters and Deacons is to be made at certain prescribed times 24. Concerning Presbyters Deacons and Monks who shall happen to be slain let the Emperour determine to whom the satisfaction of blood shall belong 25. That the Emperour be entreated that the Ancient Discipline may be restored again and they who sin publickly may be brought to publick repentance and every man according as he deserveth may either be excommunicated or reconciled 27. Neither the Sacrament of Baptism nor the Sacrament of Confirmation should be re-iterated 28. Concerning the degrees of Affinity and in what degree Marriage may be bound up every one is to go to the Canons of the Church to be resolved 30. Rules concerning the Marriage of Servants 31. That such Women as either negligently or fraudulently present their own Children to Confirmation shall be forced to do penance all the dayes of their life neither shall they be separated from their Husbands 32. Let a sinner confess unto his Father-Confessor all his sins which he hath committed either in thought word or deed 34. In prescribing of penance let favour and hatred of any person be laid aside and let the Injunctions be given according to the Rule of Holy Scripture and according to the Canons and Customs of the Church 36. Let no man sin of purpose to the end he may abolish his sins by Alms-deeds for that is all one as if a man should hire God to grant unto him a liberty to sin 37. That such Canons of Councils are especially to be read as appertain unto Faith and reformation of Manners 38. Books called Libelli Poenitentiales are to be abolished 39. In the Solemnities of the Mass prayers are to be made for the Souls of them who are departed as well as for them who are alive 40. Degraded Presbyters remaining impenitent are to be excommunicated 41. No Presbyters to be admitted in strange places without the testimony of the Bishop and other sufficient witnesses 42. Let no Church be committed to a Presbyter without consent of the Bishop 43. In some places are found Scotch men who call themselves Bishops and they Ordain Presbyters and Deacons whose Ordination we disallow 45. Against the going of the Clergy and Laicks to holy places such as Rome Turon c. men imagining that by the sight of these places their sins are remitted 46 and 47 That the receiving the Sacrament be not long deferred and none to come to it without due preparation That when the Sacrament is to be universally received in one day none do neglect to receive it except some grievous crime do hinder him from receiving it 48. According to the Precept of St. James that weak persons should be anointed with oyl by the Elders which oyl is blessed by the Bishop From Canon 52 unto the 66 are contained Precepts of chast and honest living prescribed to Prioresses and Nuns Of the Council of Arles The Canons of this Council were in number 26. 1. They set down a confession of their Faith The five following Canons are some of those mentioned in the former Councils The 7 and 8 Canons belong to the ordering of Monks and Nuns The 9th pertaineth to the payment of Tithes and First-fruits 10. That Presbyters shall preach the Word of God not only in Cities but also in every Parish From thence to the 17th are some of the Canons of the other Councils 17. Let every Bishop Visit his Bounds once every year and support the oppressed 18. Let Presbyters keep the Chrism and give it to no man under pretense of Medicine 19. Parents and Witnesses shall bring up baptized Children in the knowledge of God 20. Ancient Churches shall not be deprived of Tithes nor of any other possession 21. That the Constitution of the Ancients shall be kept concerning burial in Churches 22. That Civil Judgement-seats shall not be in Churches 23. If goods belonging to the poor be bought let it be done openly in sight of the Nobles and Judges of the City 24. Let fugitive Church-men be sought out and sent back again unto the Bishop 25. He who hath a Benefice bestowed upon him for helping the fabrick of Churches let him support the building of them 26. They who sin publickly let them make their publick repentance according to the Canons All these Canons were presented unto the Emperour to be corrected by the wisdom of his Highness Charles at the request of Pope Adrian 1. Banished the Ambrosian Service out of his Kingdom and against the will of the French Clergy by force established the Gregorian or Roman Office By this change the Latin Tongue in the Publick Service was fully established Here I shall make mention of one notable passage written in the Life of Charles the Great namely when he made war against the Saracens of Spain Agoiland one of the Saracen Kings made shew of friendship with Charlemagne and open hatred of the other Saracen Kings with whom notwithstanding he had a most strict correspondence to betray Charles Agoiland seemed to encline to peace After many Messengers sent on either part they resolve to parley So upon Charlemagne's Faith Agoiland cometh to the Camp of the French Charles told the Pagan he should have his Friendship if he would be baptized and become a Christian Agoiland answered That he was not yet so Abject nor his Forces so weak as to refuse the battel But because it would be an infinite loss to hazzard so many men he desired to make tryal of the Right by some Troops and he that vanquished should have the Right and True Religion on his side protesting to yield to that Religion which should appear to be the best by that Tryal The condition was accepted by Charlemagne The Combate being made the Christian Troop vanquished the Saracen Now Agoiland protesteth openly to be a Christian De Serres Hist in vit Caroli magni but in heart he meant otherwise and takes this occasion to break the Treaty One day he finds Charlemagne at Table well acccompanied with his Chief Followers for
Jurisdiction nor Domination of the Bishop of Rome over the Churches of France Hilary called himself Primate of the Churches of Gauls subject to the Roman Empire that is of Provence and Daulphine for the rest of the Gauls was then held by the Visigoths and by the Francks The quarrel was that Hilary conferred the degree of Bishop in his Diocess not expecting the consent and approbation of the Bishop of Rome but Leo would oblige him to acquaint the Roman See with it and to get his approbation Upon that Leo sends Letters to the Bishops of Daulphine where after he haâ—◠〈◊〉 swe ling words exalted the Dignity of the Roman See he addâ—â—h Hillary To trouble the State of the Church Leon. Epist 87. ad Episcop per Viennensem provinciam constitutos and the Concord of Bishops by new presumptions hath exceeded measure desiring so to subject you to his power that he will not suffer you to be subject to the blessed Apostle Peter challenging to himself the Ordination of all the Churches in Gauls But Hilary came to Rome not regarding the Anathema's of Leo and to his face affirmed that neither did Christ appoint Peter to be Head of the rest of the Apostles neither had the Bishop of Rome a Sovereignty over the Churches of France In that strife Leo according to his custom had his recourse to Valentinian who presently without hearing what Hilary could say for himself gave sentence for Leo and made a Law which is extant in the Theodosian Code among the Novel Constitutions in the 24th Title the Law runs in these words Whereas the merit of Peter who is the Prince of the Episcopal Society and the Dignity of the Roman City and Authority of the Sacred Synod have established the Primacy of the Apostolick See let not presumption attempt any lawful thing against the Authority of that See for then shall the peace of the Churches be maintained every where if the Vniversality do acknowledge their Governour In which words we may observe by the way that Valentinian doth not ground the Popes Primacy upon the Word of God He addeth We Decree by a perpetual Ordinance That it be not lawful either to the Bishops of Gauls or to those other Provinces to attempt any thing against the venerable Pope c. but that to them and to all whatsoever the Authority of the Apostolick See hath decreed or shall decree may be a Law so that what Bishop soever being evocated to the judgement of the Roman Prelate shall neglect to appear he be constrained by the Governour of the Province to make his appearance But Valentinian being deprived of Africa by the Vandals of Africa and of Spain and Guienne by the Gothes and of most part of Gauls by the Franks nothing remaining to him but Italy Sicily Provence and Daulphine all the East being in the power of Theodosius that Law was but of little force How much that Law was despised in the Empire of the East it is easie to see for in the Year 472. that is about 22 or 23 years after that Law of Valentinian a contrary Law was established by the Emperour Leo which is the 16th Law in the Code De Sacrosanctis Ecclesiis The words of the Law are these Whereby the Emperour decreeth that the Church of Constantinople be the first of all Churches and the Bishop of Constantinople be the first of all Bishops We judge and decree that the most holy Church of this Town which is Mother of our Piety and of all Christians of the Orthodox Religion and the most holy See of the same most Religious City have all the privileges and honours concerning the Creation of Bishops and the right of sitting before others c. Baronius declaimeth against that Law of Leo and saith It proceeded from him who is the Head over all the Sons of pride Baron Annal. ad Ann. 472. Then lived Sidonius Apollinaris Bishop of Clermont in Auvergn whose Epistles are extant great part of which are written to the Bishops of France his Colleagues but in none of them is there any trace of subjection to the Roman See or of communication with the Bishop of Rome The same Sidonius calls Lupus Bishop of Troyes Bishop of Bishops and the first Bishop of the world and saith That he is sitting in the Apostolick See This Man wrote all his Epistles in Latin and Preached also in Latin In the tenth Epistle of the second Book he complaineth That in his time among the Vulgar the purity and property of the Latin Tongue decayed and degenerated into barbarousness And in the Epistle to Pope Perpetuus for then all the Bishops that were a little more respected than the ordinary Bishops were called Popes there is a Latin Sermon made by the said Sidonius unto the people of Bourges a certain proof that the people of Bourges understood Latin About this time flourished Prosper of Aquitain so called from his Countrey not the place of his Bishoprick as Baronius saith He wrote De Vitâ Contemplativâ Of a Contemplative Life In his first Book Chap. 23. he prescribeth That the Preacher's Language be simple and plain though it be not very good Latin yet that it be orderly and grave Usser de Britan. Eccles Primord Cap. 8. that it may hinder no body though ignorant to understand it He wrote a Book De Ingratis by which name he alway marketh out the Pelagians that sprung out of the ashes of that Arch-Heretick Pelagius Regiensem Episcopum fuisse recentiores commemorant In sententias quasdam Augustini Epigrammata varia conscripsit Catal. Test Verit. He wrote many excellent things in defence of the Grace of Christ against the Pelagians and sheweth himself to be a Disciple and vehement defender of St. Augustine saith Bellarmine Salvianus Bishop of Marseilles lived then when the Nation of the Goths oppressed France and many began to doubt of the Providence of God in regard that those wicked wretches had got the upper hand and prospered so much in the world therefore he wrote an excellent Treatise De Judicio Providentia Dei to Salonius Bishop of Vienna One entitleleth him Gallicae Gentis Episcoporum Magistrum The Master of the Bishops of the French Nation Salonius wrote upon the Books of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Claudianus Mammertus Bishop of Vienna is praised by Sidonius with excessive commendations as if all the Graces of Jerome Augustine Patr. Syms Eccles Hist Basil Nazianzen and many other Fathers had been incorporated in him He wrote three Books De Statu Animae Of the State of the Soul to the same Sidonius with two Epistles How much the Popish Bishops differ from those Famous Bishops that flourished in those dayes the Reader may understand by this following Epitaph of Claudianus Mammertus made by Sidonius Hoc dat cespite membra Claudianus Triplex Bibliotheca quo Magistro Romana Attica Christiana fulsit Quam totam Monachus virente in aevo Secreta bibit instructione
calumny by witnesses yet first of all he propoundeth it to be debated by the Synod whether witnesses ought to be admitted against a Bishop or whether the bare assertion of the Bishop only ought to be believed The Synod pronounceth That they could not safely give credit to an inferiour person bearing witness against a Bishop Yet they require Gregory to say Masses at three Altars and that he purge himself by Oath which being done by Gregory he was absolved But the Synod excommunicated his Accuser and certified other Bishops by Letters concerning the absolution of Gregory In this Century Rupertus Bishop of the Francks with twelve other Divines came into the Country of the Boii and there Rupertus by preaching the Gospel converted Theodon the Prince of the Countrey with his Son from Heathenish Idolatry unto Christ and baptized them both at Ratisbon Many others also were converted by him In this Age flourished German Bishop of Paris forementioned Osiand Eccles Hist Cent. 6. Lib. 2. When he was an Abbot in a dream he saw the Keys of the Gates of Paris delivered to him and demanding the cause of it he was answered That he should as Pastor feed the Lords Flock belonging to that Church Not long after the Bishop of Paris dying he was Constituted Bishop there by King Childebert With singular zeal he provoked the People to Godliness great was his gravity in preaching and his words were weighty and powerful he was liberal towards the poor and redeemed many Captives King Chilperic after his death who was wont to deride and contemn other Ministers wrote this honourable Epitaph upon him which I thought fit to set down Ecclesiae speculum patriae vigor ara reorum Et pater medicus pastor amorque gregis Germanus virtute fide corde ore beatus Carne tenet tumulum mentis honore polum The Histories of this Age make mention of one Etius Arch-Deacon of the Church of Paris who when he understood that Innocent Praetextatus Bishop of Rhothomagum accused of Treason against the King was in danger to be condemned in a Synod at Paris he with great boldness entred into the Synod and admonished the Bishops and Assessours to beware of having an hand in the condemning of an Innocent person he told them they ought rather to reprove King Chilperic for his sins In the Reign of this King many Jews were baptized in France but many of them returned to their vomit and perfidiously renounced the Christian Religion In those dayes there were great inundations of waters which did much hurt in many places especially at Lions where part of the walls of that City were thrown down Horrible earthquakes made great concussions in part of France and overturned some mountains toward Spain which overwhelmed many men and beasts A fire falling from Heaven consumed the City of Orleans and the streets of Bourdeaux together with the fruits of the earth Other places were sorely afflicted with a grievous hail There followed almost through all France a malignant Cough and bloody Flux which destroyed very many men and women by which disease that wicked Austigildis Wife of King Gunthran perished The cause of these evils was said to be the dissentions civil wars and horrible impieties of those three Brothers forementioned Sigebert Chilperic and Gunthran Kings of France and their Counsellours and Ministers who provoked them to those impieties who were punished of God for their flagitious practices with most grievous judgements Here I shall make mention of the various fortune of Theodorus Bishop of Marseilles in the Reign of Childebert Divamius a most wicked man being Governour of that Province This man hated Theodorus and laid divers snares to entrap him And when Theodorus was going to King Childebert to implore his help he was seized on by Divamius in the midst of the City of Marseilles and injuriously dealt with and so dismissed In his journey Theodorus by the instigation of Divamius is taken by Gunthran King of Orleans then the Clergy of Marseilles being no better than Divamius being very joyful at the news of it do immediately invade and plunder all the substance and treasures of the Church and load Theodorus with divers calumnies King Chilperic setteth Theodorus at liberty and sendeth him back with Gundulphus the Governour to Marseilles that there he might be restored to his former dignity At the coming of Gundulphus and Theodorus Divamius and the Clergy do shut the gates and drive them back reproachfully But Gundulphus by Art getting into the City with his Soldiers soon brake the power of Divamius and sharply rebuked him yet Gundulphus being appeased with deprecations and gifts Divamius having taken an oath that he would restore Theodorus to his Bishoprick and for the future be faithful to the King he returned to his house But Divamius despising his Oath signifieth the restitution of Theodorus to King Gunthran adding That while Theodorus held his Government King Gunthran could never enjoy the City of Marseilles Gunthran being angry sendeth Soldiers to take Theodorus who seizing upon the Bishop unexpectedly they carry him on horseback bound with chains most ignominiously to their King But King Gunthran knowing the innocency of Theodorus without doing him any harm suffers him to return to his charge bestowing many gifts upon him Upon this occasion great enmity grew between King Gunthran and Childebert Many other calumnies and grievous indignities did this innocent Bishop suffer from other of his wicked and malicious enemies About that time Mundericus Episcopus Ternoderensis being by force taken away from his Church is thrust into a close and strong Tower built upon the bank of the River Rhodanus and there was detained almost two years and most grievously handled Under the Jurisdiction of Gregory Bishop of Tours there was a certain Presbyter who denied the Resurrection of the Body The foresaid Gregory disputed against him which disputation you may read at large in the Magdeburgensian History The disputation being ended the Presbyter promised that he would afterward believe the Resurrection of the dead Chidet Anast Child Reg. cap. 10. This Gregory hath put out these works Hist Francorum de Gloria Martyrum de Gloria Confessorum de vitis quorundam Patrum I find him by a certain Writer thus stiled Osiand Cent. 6. Lib. 4. cap. 17. Antiquissimus fidelissimus Francorum scriptor He wrote sharply against the Jews and Arians yet there are divers errours found in his writings which are mentioned by Osiander He was very intimate with Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome flourishing at that time Century VII THe Author of the Book called the Catholick Traditions first in French and then Translated into English searcheth the difference of all Churches and except in Rites or Ceremonies hath not marked any great difference of the Abyssines and Jacobites from our Reformed Churches And in his Preface he saith They pretend to have their name Jacobites from Jacob the Old Patriarch and the name Cophtes because
battel But Charles Martel getting out of prison assisteth Plectrude gathereth Forces and overcometh the new King and Rainfroy Charles is now received and installed Major of France and having assured himself of the Children of King Dagobert he caused them to be gently brought up in a Monastery At Colen he seizeth on Plectrude and Thibauld and inflicts no other punishment upon them but enjoyns them to live quiet and to attempt nothing without his liking He pardons Rainfroy and gives him the Government of Anjou He degradeth Chilperic being advanced against Law and causeth the eldest Son of Dagobert to be chosen King named Chilperic the third Chilperic dies having reigned five years and in his place his Brother Thierri was crowned King He reigned ten years and dying left his Son Childerick the last King of this first race of the Merovingiens Charles Martel from Major of the Palace is chosen Duke or Prince of the French Eudo Prince of the Gascoigus to whom Rainfroy joyned himself called in the Saracens with their King Abdiram out of Spain Anno 725. whom Charles met and killed them with an universal slaughter there were slain in one day three hundred seventy and five thousand and of the French fifteen hundred among which were many of the Nobility and men of Note And having recovered Burgundy and Lions in the year following Eudo dying he invaded Aquitain and overthrew the Saracens in great numbers invading France in the year 731 and regained Avignon taken by them and forceth them to abandon Narbon and the whole Country to his mercy At that time divers devout Monks lived in France viz. Vandegrisil of Fontinel a builder of Monasteries of whom Sigebert makes mention Vrsmar of Lobia a Founder of a Monastery Bertine Abbot of Sithiena and holy Aegidius Childeric was King in shew nine years Anno 744. Pepin in the time of King Childeric called a Council at Soissons where he assisted in person together with the greatest Peers of the Land five under the Authority of Charles Martel and four under Pepin the Son of Charles who dispossessed him Charles Martel having governed the Kingdom five and twenty years dieth He had four Sons Carloman Pepin Giles and Grypho Giles was made Bishop of Rhotomagum and left his Government assigned him by his Father unto Carloman and Pepin and they two divide the Kingdom and Govern each one his own part under the Title of their Father as is apparent by the first words of the Council under Carloman In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I Carloman Duke and Prince of the French in the year from the incarnation of Christ 742. on the 11th of the Kalends of March by the advice of the servants of God and of my Nobes I have Assembled the Bishops in my Kingdom c. Within seven years after this Synod he laid aside his Princely Authority saith Bellarmine and entred into a Cloyster becomes a Monk and so dieth at Vienna and then all the Authority was in Pepin alone Grypho had rebelled against Carloman but at last Pepin took him in Italy and caused him to be beheaded Anno 753. Pepin having the Government alone aimed at an higher Title Blondus and others who have written the Acts of the French Blond dec 14. Lib. 10. say that the Nobility and Commonalty of that Nation duly considering the worthiness of Pepin and sottishness of Childeric consulted with Zachary Bishop of Rome whether they should tolerate so foolish a King any longer and defraud Pepin of his deserved Princely honour And when the Pope answered That he was most worthy to be a King who could best discharge the Office of a King Petrie's Church-Hist Cent. 8. the French with the publick consent of the whole Nation did pronounce Pepin for their King and Childerick was shaven and made a Monk Then the Pope wrote unto Boniface Bishop of Mentz to Anoint Pepin King of France and declare all his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance unto their lazy Soveraign The Pope was chiefly moved hereunto with hope to draw help from Pepin against the Lumbards Concil apud Palat Vernes his mortal enemies Pepin Anno 755. called almost all the Gallican Bishops to meet at the Council of Vernes the Palace About this time Aponius a French man wrote several Books In the Council called by Carloman of which I hinted before he beginneth thus I Carloman c. have Assembled the Bishops which are in my Kingdom with the Priests into a Council and Synod These are Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz Burchard of Wirtzburg Reginfrid Guntharius with the rest of the Bishops and their Priests That they should give me Counsel how the Law of God and Religion of the Church may be restored which in the dayes of former Princes hath been shattered and fallen and how Christian People may attain the salvation of their souls and not perish being deceived by false Priests And by the advice of my Priests and Nobles We have Ordained Bishops through Cities and set over them the Arch-Bishop Boniface who is the Legate of St. Peter And we have Ordained that Synods should be called every year Concil Tom. 2. Edit Crab. that in our presence the Decrees of Canons Rites and Laws of the Church may be restored And we restore unto the Churches the Monies that have been taken from them We have also discharged all the Servants of God from hunting and wandring in woods with Dogs and that they have no Hawks nor Faulcons We have also Decreed according to the Holy Canons That each Presbyter dwelling in a Parish be subject unto the Bishop where he dwelleth and that alwayes in Lent he give an account of his Ministry whether of Baptism or Catholick Faith and prayers and order of Masses Then he forbiddeth sacrifice to the dead and other profane Rites of the Heathen He appointeth punishments against the Fornications and Adulteries of Monks It was also decreed that Monks and Nuns should live within their Abbies and Cloysters according to the Rule of their Father Benedict Pope Stephen confirmed Pepin and his Heirs for Kings of France and of him asked aid to withstand the Power of Aistulphus then King of Lombardy who then had exacted Tribute from certain Lands belonging to the Bishop of Rome and because it was refused took up Arms. The Pope wrote a Letter directed to the Kings of France and to all Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks and to the Glorious Dukes and Counts and unto the whole Army of the Kingdom of France Stephen Pope and all the Bishops Priests and Deacons Dukes Counts People and Army of the Romans all being in anguish with how doleful and bitter grief we are encompassed on every side with how great perplexity and doubtfulness we are distressed and how many tears our eyes do shed because of the continual troubles which are multiplyed upon us we think that the smallest part of all the elements do declare for who beholding our
Learning and learned men Paul of Pisa instructed him in the Greek and Latin Tongues and Aimon in Philosophy and the Mathematickes He delighted in Poetry but especially in History in which he was well read The University of Paris built or enriched by him doth witness the love and honour he bare to learning A valiant man none commanded with more obedience nor performed any thing with greater fortune nor used his Victories with more mildness and judgement Never did King reign with more Authority nor was more reverently obeyed than Charlemagne About the Year 786 Charles King of France made a league with Archaius King of Scots Archaius sent unto him Albinus or Alcuinus John Melrose so named from the Abby Melrose Claudius Clemens and Anthony all very devout and learned men John Melrose became Abbot of the Augustinians at Ticino Bale in Cent. 14. and Claudius was Bishop of Auxerre They wrote several works as John Bale sheweth Alcuinus had good knowledge of the Latin and Greek Languages Biblioth de la Bigne Tom. 3. Charles calleth him his Master in an Epistle written unto him De Septuages Sexages He hath many excellent things in divers of his Books and Writings Desiderius began to make War first against the City of Ravenna and the Marches thereof and took the Cities of Ferrara Faventia and other Towns The Pope sent to Charles the Great for aid who came into Italy with great Forces Desiderius fled to Pavia and was there besieged Charles leaving an Unkle of his at the siege of Pavia went against Verona which he took without any great difficulty From thence he went to Rome to kiss the Pope's Foot and to hold the Feast of Easter where he was received with great Solemnity After this his coming thither he confirmed to the Church and Popes of Rome the Donation which his Father Pepin had made of Ravenna and other Lands and made another of many other places among which is reckoned the Isle of Corsica and all the Coast of Genoua with the Cities of Parma Ancona Vrbin and many other Towns besides Rome and the Territories thereof which the Popes had already in possession so as to the Emperours remained only that part of Italy which is part of Calabria and of Puglia and a great part of that which now is the Kingdom of Naples Charles having been only eight dayes in Rome returned against Desiderius who after six moneths besieging in Pavia yielded upon composition and Charles carried him with him and banished both him and his Sons into a certain Island and then took Milan and all the other Cities in Lombardy which is the Ancient Gallia Cisalpina where he placed French men for Dukes and Governours So Italy remained in his Obedience excepting those Lands and Provinces which were left to the Church of Rome so ended the Kingdom of the Lombards which had continued 204 years in Italy Rhegno Sub. Annum 787. In the Year 787 Charles being departed from Rome to come into France as soon as he was arrived at Wormes saith Rhegno he called a Synod and declared the Reasons of his journey to the Clergy and Princes of his Realm We find the French Synods in those dayes oftentimes to have consisted both of Lay-men and Clergy-men joyntly to determine of matters as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Charles the Great did the like in the Council of Franckford where he discoursed points of Faith and made them deliver their Opinions upon such as himself proposed The Canons and Decrees also run in his Name the Emperour saith he hath Ordained with the consent of the Synod c. Vide Acta Concil Francf in libello sacro Tom. 3. Concil pag. 635. In the Year 794 Charles Assembled this Council at Franckford partly in regard of the Heretick Foelix who called Christ The Adoptive Son of God in humane nature and was condemned in a Council Assembled at Ratisbon But he was returned to his vomit again and therefore was now again condemned as a notable Heretick in the Council of Franckford partly also in respect of the great contention which arose every where concerning the worshipping of Images disallowed in the Council of Constantinople and allowed in the second Council of Nice Not only the Bishops of France but also of Germany and Lombardy as Provinces subject to the King of France were present at this Council The Pope sent his Ambassadors Theophilact and Stephanus to the Council King Charles himself also was present thereat Alcuinus wrote against the Heresie of Foelix Alcuin contr Foelic Lib. 2. and Elipandrus Bishop of Toledo and in his second Book saith Shew us any Nation Town or Church either Roman or Constantinopolitan or of Jerusalem which was Dedicated by the presence of the Lord himself or of Antioch where first the Name of Christianity is read to have been or of Alexandria or of any other Church either in Italy or Germany or in France or in Aquitain or in Britain which agreeth with you in your assertion Here he acknowledgeth all these to be true Churches at that time and distinguisheth them one from another Foelix continued in his errour till Alcuinus wrote against him and then he became Zealous of the Truth and wrote a Recantation unto the Presbyters and Deacons of his Church That as he had been a scandal unto them so by his means they may be brought again from Errour unto the Truth as he himself writeth And this Recantation is printed among the Works of Alcuinus But Elipant Arch-Bishop of Toledo having read the seven Books of Alcuinus wrote very sharply for maintaining the same Errour R. Hoveden writeth R. Hoveden in continuat Bedae that Charles the Great sent over into England the Acts of a Synod sent him from Constantinople for the Adoration of Images Against this Adoration saith he Alcuinus wrote an Epistle well-grounded on Divine Scriptures and carried it with some Synodical Acts in the names of the English Princes and Bishops to the King of France All Italy being now in peace under the protection of King Charles two Cardinal Priests of great account called Pascal and Capulus conspired against Pope Leo who with their complices apprehended him on a day as he was going in Procession Some say they put out his eyes and cut out his tongue committing him prisoner to the Monastery of St. Erasmus publishing abroad that they did it for the crimes by him committed and the Errours by him maintained Some Authors affirm that he was miraculously restored to his sight and speech Hereupon King Charles cometh to Rome accompanied with many great Dukes and other Princes his Subjects To him came out of Italy and from many other parts many Bishops and Prelates After eight dayes abode there he commanded all the Princes and Prelates which then were in the City to be Assembled and the Pope himself and all the rest being together there were some that accused the Pope to the Emperour Then the Emperour
c. The fifth that unity and concord shall be kept in the Church because we have one common Father in Heaven one Mother viz. the Church on Earth one Faith one Baptism and one Celestial inheritance prepared for us c. The sixth and seventh Canons entreat of Orphanes and poor People whose weakness is to be supported The eighth Canon recommendeth unity to be kept betwixt men in spiritual Offices and Civil Judges The ninth and tenth Canons prescribe to the Clergy Precepts of a modest and sober life with abstinence from the delicate pleasures of the world from theatrical spectacles from pomps and unhonest banquets Usury Avarice and Ambition Deceit and Conjurations and many other sins were also restrained I pass by the Precepts concerning the behaviour of Monks and Nuns and the fabrick of their dwelling places In the 32 Canon the difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set down In the 33th the great Litany or Rogations to be observed three dayes by all Christians with fasting sack-cloth ashes walking bare-footed and all kind of humble carriage In the 34 35 and 36 publick fastings and keeping of festival dayes is commanded In the 37 That the Sabbath-day be kept holy that in it no Merchants wares be sold and no criminal cause be judged In 38. and 39 That Tithes be precisely paid and men fleeing to Churches for safeguard are not to be violently drawn out from thence In the 40 In Churches and the porches thereof let no secular judgement be exercised In the 41 That no Ancient Church be spoiled of Tithes and Possessions for the building of new Oratories In the 42 concerning Church-rents bestowed for reparation and upholding of Churches In 44 That no Priest say Mass himself alone for if he have none but himself how can he say Dominus vobiscum or sursum corda or other such passages All frequent offering of the sacrifice of the Mass and presenting of the Paxe is recommended to Christian people In 45 That every person be acquainted with the Creed and the Lord's Prayer and that every one at least learn them in their own vulgar language In 46 That they who continue in drunkenness be excommunicated In 47 That Godfathers shall see that their spiritual Children be brought up in the true Faith In 48 That lascivious songs be not sung in Churches In 49 The cohabitation with Women is forbidden to all the Clergy In 50 That all Bishops Abbots and Church-men have such Agents in their affairs who are men that fear God and hate all unrighteous dealing In 51 That the dead bodies of the Saints be not transported from place to place without the advice of the Prince of the Countrey or the Bishop and Synod In 52 That no dead body shall be buried within the Church except the body of a Bishop or of an Abbot or of a worthy Presbyter or of a faithful Laick person In 53 That incestuous persons be separated from the fellowship of the Church except they be penitent In 54 55 and 56 Marriage in the fourth degree of consanguinity is forbidden and that no man shall marry his God-daughter nor spiritual Sister neither the Woman whose Son or Daughter he hath led to the Sacrament of confirmation And in case they be found to be married they shall be separated again And no man shall take in marriage his Wives Sister neither shall a woman marry her Husband's Brother Of the Council of Rhemes A Council was also Assembled at Rhemes by the Commandment of Charles the Great Anno 813. In this Council Wulfarius the Arch-Bishop was President forty four Canons are rehearsed in the second Tome of Councils made in this Council In the 1. Canon it was concluded That every man should diligently acquaint himself with the Articles of his Faith 2. That he learn the Lords Prayer and understand the meaning of it 3. That every man in holy Orders shall walk worthily according to his Calling 4. The Epistles of St. Paul were read to give instructions to Sub-Deacons how they should behave themselves 5. The Gospel was read to give instruction to Deacons to Minister worthily in their Office 6. Ignorant Priests are instructed to celebrate the Service with understanding 7. They are also instructed how to prepare the Catechumeni to the Sacrament of Baptism 8. The holy Canons were read out of the Decretal of Innocentius for ordering the lives of Chanons 9. The Rule of St. Benedict was read to reduce Abbots and their Convents to a remembrance of their Order 10. The Pastoral Book of Gregory was read to admonish Pastors of their Duty 11. Divers sentences of the Ancients were read to admonish both Prelates and People to a holy life 12. Then they set down a form of receiving confessions and prescribing of penance according to the Canonical institutions 13. They reasoned about the eight principal vices that every one might know what vices to eschew and teach others to beware of the same 14. That Bishops should take heed to the reading of the Books of Canonical Scripture and the Books of Fathers and should attend upon the preaching of the Word of God 15. That Bishops should preach the Sermons and Homilies of the Holy Fathers so as the People might understand them 16. The sixteenth Canon is coincident with the twelfth 17. That Bishops and Abbots permit no man to solace the company with filthy jesting in their presence but that the poor be refreshed at their Tables with Lectures of Divine Scripture and praising of God 18. In the 18th Gluttony and Drunkenness is forbidden to the Ministers of God 19. That no Bishop judge rashly in things secret which are to be referred to the judgement of God 20. Presbyters shall not transport themselves from a low place to a greater 21. Whosoever by giving money procureth a preferment in the Church shall be deposed 22. No Church-man shall cohabit with a Woman except it be with his Mother or Sister or such like person by whose company no suspicion of uncleanness can arise 35. That the Sabbath-day be kept holy and no servile work be done in it 36. That no man bestow upon the Church that thing which he hath fraudulently taken from others 37. Nor yet by lies and deceit withdraw any thing duly belonging to the Church 38. That Tithes be precisely paid 39. That no man receive rewards for his Decree and Sentence 40. That Prayers be made for the Emperour and his Noble Race 41. In the 41 Canon mention is made of a certain Rent left by King Pepin which they wish the Emperour Charles should not alter nor transfer into another summ lest many perjuries and false testimonies might ensue 42. That no man should be removed from his Mansion to whom the Emperour's Almes is distributed 43. That the Statute may be confirmed by his Highness's allowance whereby all contentions are Ordained to have an end 44. That the Statute made in Bononia concerning false witnesses may be ratified
with augmentation if need require for eschewing of perjuries false testimonies and many other inconveniences Of the Council of Tours In the same Year 813 at the Commandment of the Emperour Charles the Great a Council of many Bishops and Abbots was Assembled there about establishing Ecclesiastical Discipline 1. In the first Canon all men are admonished to be obedient to the Emperour Charles and to keep the Oath of Allegiance made unto him and to make prayers for his prosperity 2. All Bishops shall frequently read all the Books of holy Scripture together with the Books of Ancient Fathers written thereupon 3. It is not lawful for any Bishop to be ignorant of the Canons of the Church and of the Pastoral Book of Gregory 4. Let every Bishop feed the Flock committed to him not only with Doctrine but also with an holy Example 5. That a Bishop be content with a moderate diet that holy Lectures be read at his Table rather than the idle words of Parasites 6. Let strangers and poor people be at Bishops Tables whom they may refresh both with corporal and spiritual repast 7. That the delicate pleasure of the eye and ear be eschewed lest the mind be enchanted therewith 8. Let not the Lords Servants delight in vain jesting nor in hunting and hawking 9. Let Presbyters and Deacons follow the footsteps of their Bishops in leading a pious life 10. Let Bishops take care of the poor and faithfully dispense Church-goods 11. That Bishops may with consent of Presbyters and Deacons bestow somewhat out of the Church-treasure to support needy people of that same Church 12. A Presbyter is not to be Ordained till he is thirty years old 13. Let the Bishop see that in his own Parish Church no Presbyter coming from any other parts do Service in his Church without Letters of Recommendation 14. Let a Presbyter leaving a low place and presuming to an higher incurr that same punishment which a Bishop taken in the like fault should incurr 15. A Presbyter who getteth a Church by giving money for it let him be deposed 16. Let Tithes bestowed upon Churches by advice of Bishops be faithfully distributed to the poor by the Presbyters 17. The Families of the Bishops shall be instructed in the summ of the true Faith in the knowledge of the retribution to be given to good men and the condemnation of evil people and of the resurrection and last judgement c. 18. That the Bishop instruct his Presbyters concerning the Sacrament of Baptism what it is they should desire the baptized people to renounce 19. That Presbyters when they say Mass and do communicate do not distribute the Lord's body indiscreetly to children and to all persons who happen to be present c. Then Reader take notice that private Masses had no place in those dayes but they who were duly prepared did communicate with the Priest 20. Presbyters shall not suffer the holy Chrism to be touched by any man 21. Presbyters shall not haunt Taverns 22. Bishops and Presbyters shall prescribe to sinners who have confessed their sins penance discreetly according to the nature of their fault 23. Chanons who dwell in one City shall eat in one Cloyster and sleep under one roof that they may be ready to Celebrate their Canonical hours 24. From the 24 to the 32 Canon are Constitutions concerning Monks and Nuns which I overpass with silence 32. All Christians are exhorted to peace and concord 33. Lords and Judges should hearken to the good admonitions of their Bishops and Bishops on the other side should reverently regard them 34. Lords and Judges are not to admit vile persons to bear witness in their Judicatories 35. Let no man for his Decree receive a reward 36. Let every one be careful to support indigent persons of his own kindred 37. That Christians do bow their knees in prayer except upon the Lord's Day and other Solemn dayes on the which the Universal Church keepeth a memorial of the Lord's Resurrection At such times they use to stand and pray 38. That none enter into the Church with noise and tumult and in time of prayer and celebration of the Mass not to be busied in vain confabulations but even to abstain from idle thoughts 39. Let not the Consistories of Secular Judges be in the Church or porches thereof in any time to come because the House of God should be an house of prayer 40. That Merchandize be forbidden on the Lord's Day that the whole day be spent in God's service 41. That paricides murtherers and incestuous persons be reduced to Order by the discipline of the secular power 42. That all people abstain from Magical Arts which are the deceitfull snares of the Devil 43. A frequent custom of swearing is forbidden 44. That the causes of many Free Subjects brought to poverty by oppression be examined by the Emperour 45. That false weights and measures are an abomination to the Lord. 46. The 46 Canon bewaileth that Tithes were not duly paid to the Church shewing the ill effects thereof 47. When general Fastings are appointed for any impendent Calamity let no man neglect the fellowship of the humble Church c. 48. Drunkenness and surfeiting are forbidden c. 49. Lords and Masters are to be admonished not to deal cruelly with their subjects yea and not to seek that which is due unto themselves with excessive rigour 50. Let Laick people communicate at least thrice in a year unless they be hindered by some great sins committed by them 51. In the last Canon mention is made that they diligently examined the cause of them who complained to the Emperour that they were dis-inherited by the donation of Lands which their Fathers and Friends had bestowed on the Church and in their bounds they found no man who did complain yet in that matter if any thing was done amiss they humbly submitted themselves to be corrected by their Soveraign Lord and King Of the Council of Chalons This Council was Convened in the same year of our Lord 813 by the Commandment of Charles the Great for the Reformation of the Ecclesiastical Estate Many of the Canons of this Council are co-incident with the Canons of the former which I shall overpass and mention only some of the other Can. 3. Let Bishops Constitute Schools wherein Learning may be encreased and men brought up in them that may be the salt of the earth to season the corrupt manners of the people and to stop the mouths of Hereticks 4. Let Church-men shew humility in word deed habit and countenance 5. Let Priests be unreproveable adorned with good manners and not given to filthy lucre 7. Bishops and Abbots who have circumvented simple men and shaven their heads and by such means do possess their goods let them be subject to Canonical or Regular Repentance 8. If Church-men lay up provision of Corn in Victualling-houses let it not be to keep them to a dearth but therewith to support the poor in a time of need
they connive at the punishment of crimes whereof they have the Cognizance the Courts of Parliaments may interpose by means of an Appeal as from Abuses especially considering it is it that grants them Jurisdiction over Spirituals And if the Question be of granting pardon to a Priest or other Ecclesiastick not only in a priviledged case but also in a common crime by him committed it belongs to the King only to grant it not to the Pope nor the Bishop And so it hath been always accustomed to be done in France Moreover the Pope cannot there restore Clergy-men to their former State Papon ca. 15. 16. des libertez de l'Eglise Gallic so as to free them from the infamy which they have incurred nor Lay-men unless it be to receive them into Orders Offices and Ecclesiastical Acts not otherwise As also that within this Realm he cannot pardon or remit the Honorary Amends adjudged by a Lay-man albeit the condemnation were passed by an Ecclesiastical Judge and that against a Clerk as making such Honorary condemnation a part of the civil satisfaction The Pope cannot make any Vnions or annexations of the livings in France during the life of the Incumbents nor at other times but he may grant out Writs of Delegation concerning unions which is conceived to be done according to the form prescribed in the Council of Constance and with the consent of the Patron and not otherwise The Kings of France have always reserved this authority and prerogative to themselves to determine of the Residence of Bishops to compel them to feed their Flocks and wait upon their Churches when need required and that by seizing upon their Temporals to call them from Rome to return into France to dispense with them and approve the causes of their absence The Pope cannot in France dispense for any cause whatsoever with that which is of the Law of God or Nature or with that wherein the Councils do not allow him to dispense And the Ordinances of the French Kings do expresly forbid all the Judges of the Land to have any regard to dispensations granted contrary to the sacred Decrees and Councils upon pain of losing their places And declare furthermore That such as procure the said Proviso's and dispensations shall not make use of them unless they get leave and permission from his Majesty The Gallican Church is also more free from payments to the Pope than the Church of Spain as also to the King The Clergy of France pay only the Disme whereas in Spain the King hath his Tertia's Subsidio Pyla Escusado in all a moiety of the Church-livings As to the French Churches separating from Communion with the Church of Rome they have often been brought very low by the Popish party Sad was the condition of the Church of Merindol which was cruelly rooted out by vertue of an Arrest of the Parliament of Aix Men Women and Children being destroyed And yet I doubt not but some small remainder of them was preserved For so the story saith expresly pauci quidem profugi Genevam alia loca Vicinia pervenerunt Osiand Eccl Hist Some few of them escaped by flight to Geneva and other Neighbouring places What Persecutions did the Waldenses or Albigenses suffer when the Pope sent about his Fryars in France it seemeth to preach Crusado 's viz. That whosoever would take the Badge of the Cross upon his Garment and serve the Pope forty days in his Wars against those Christians who denyed him obedience and opposed his Pride and Tyranny should have full pardon of all his sins and if he dyed in the Wars should presently go to Heaven and escape the flames of Purgatory and by this means as I remember he had at one time about an hundred thousand of the silly people in Arms whom he used against the most faithful Christians seeking utterly to extirpate them and by this means much Blood was shed It was easie for him in those times of darkness to draw multitudes of poor blind Souls to Destruction And Reimond Earl of Tholouse a great Prince and Peer of France was ruined the Pope seizing on his Estate and holding it unto this day A French Historian speaking of the bloody massacre in the Reign of Charles IX saith Thuan. Hist li. 54. that many wise men that were Papists themselves did think that in all Antiquity there could not be found an example of like cruelty But even then remarkable was God's Providence towards those of the Reformed Religion in France In the time of that cruel massacre at Paris the Protestants being in great fear shifted for themselves here and there Among the rest many of them fled to a certain honourable Lady for protection who being near of kin to the King was the more bold but being a faithful Christian she was also willing to receive them Hereof complaint being made the King in great displeasure commands her to dismiss them all which she could not withstand so that in one day about 300 Waggons for the most part filled with Women and young Children were constrained to dislodge and without a guard to go to a strong Town for the safety of their lives In this Journey they were to pass through their bloody enemies stragling up and down in Armes and ready to seize on such a booty But by the special providence of God a certain Troop of Armed Gentlemen on Horse-back hapned to meet them who soon perceiving and pitying their danger conducted them along in safety and often repulsed their enemies that were ready to assail them And though the French Kings have all of them professed the Roman Religion yet the Lord hath had many Instruments who with the hazard of their lives and outward Estates have stood for the defence of his Church divers Princes of the Blood Nobles Gentlemen and others and did strangely raise his Church again after that horrid massacre by which it seemed to have been extinguished And King James of happy Memory speaketh thus of those worthy Patriots whom God raised up for the defence of his Church at that time in his book of the defence of the right of Kings I never knew yet saith he that the French Protestants took Arms against their King In the first troubles they stood only on their defence Before they took Arms they were burnt and massacred every where And the quarrel did not begin for Religion but because when King Francis the second was under Age they had been the Refuge of the Princes of the Blood expelled from the Court even of the Grandfather of the King now reigning and of that of the Prince of Condè who knew not where to take Sanctuary it shall not be found that they made any other War Nay is it not true as a learned Divine of ours hath well observed that King Henry III. sent Armies against them to destroy them and yet they ran to his help as soon as they saw him in danger Is it not true that
they saved his Life at Tours and delivered him from extream danger And in the Year 1617. they had the Testimony of their fidelity from their own King Lewes XIII written to their Deputies assembled in a Synod at Vitre in these terms We have received with good satisfaction the new assurances and protestations which you have made unto us of your fidelity obedience in the which if you persist as ye ought and as ye have done before you may also be assured that we shall always have a care to maintain and preserve you in all the advantages which have been granted unto you A Reverend Divine on the Revelation speaking of the French Churches saith God hath made the Church of France a wonder to me in his proceeding toward them from first to last and therefore to me great and special honour would seem to be reserved for them yet at the last For the first light of the Gospel the first and second Angels preaching Rev. 14. which laid the Foundation of Antichrist's ruine was from them namely those of Lyons and other places in France and they bare the heat of persecution which was as great as any since if not greater Moreover the Churches of France have ever since had as great a share in persecutions yea greater than any of the Protestant Churches And although it be well nigh five hundred years since they began to separate first from Antichrist yet they never had the great honour and priviledge which other Churches have been so blest with as to have a supream Magistrate professing their Religion except one who also continued not therein Pareus in his Commentary on the Revelation writing concerning the destruction of Rome Paraei Com. in 17. Apoc. Vis 6. inserts a Prophecy taken out of an Antient Manuscript found in the house of Salezianus and a little before his writing on that Chapter sent unto him which is as followeth Ex Natione Illustrissimi Lilii orietur Rexquidam c. There shall arise a King out of the Nation of the most illustrious Lily viz. France having a long forehead high brows great eyes and an Eagle's nose He shall gather a great Army and destroy all the Tyrants of his Kingdom and slay all that fly and hide themselves in the Mountains and Caves from his face For Righteousness shall be joyned unto him as the Bridegroom to the Bride with them He shall wage War even to the fortyeth year bringing into subjection the Islanders Spaniards and Italians Rome and Florence he shall destroy and burn with fire so as salt may be sowed on that Land The greatest Clergy who have invaded St. Peter's seat he shall put to death and in the same year obtain a double Crown and at last going over Sea with a great Army he shall enter Greece and be named King of the Greeks The Turks and Barbarians he shall subdue making an Edict That every one shall dye the death that worshippeth not the crucified one and none shall be found able to resist him because an holy Arm from the Lord shall always be with him and He shall possess the Dominion of the Earth These things being done he shall be called The rest of Holy Christians Thus far the Prophecy which every one may credit so far as it likes him saith my Authour There is another common Prophecy viz. That from the Carolingians that is of the race of Charlemaigne and Blood-Royal shall arise an Emperour of France by name Charles who shall be a great Monarch and shall reform the Church and State He that is curious to see this Prophecy may find it among the vulgar Revelations Whether this Prophecy hath any weight in it I refer my self to other Mens Judgements When God hath appointed it to be done he will touch their hearts that shall do it W. G. THE Ecclesiastical HISTORY OF FRANCE Century I. BEing about to write the History of the Gallican Church Ephr. Pagit Christianogr I shall begin with the first Plantation of the Gospel in France Some Writers tell us that Philip the Apostle of the City of Bethsaida first preached the Gospel in France and having afterwards preached in Phrygia he was honourably buried with his Daughters at Hierapolis Others say Heylin's Cosmogr Lib. 1. that the Christian Faith was first planted among the Gauls by some of St. Peter's Disciples sent thither by him at his first coming to Rome Xystus Fronto and Julianus the first Pastors of Rhemes Peregort and Mantz being said to be of his Ordaining in the Martyrologies The like may be affirmed but on surer grounds of Trophimus said to be the first pastor or Bishop of Arles For afterwards in a controversie betwixt the Archbishops of Vienna in France and Arles for the Dignity of Metropolitan in the time of Pope Leo the first it was thus pleaded in behalf of the Bishop of Arles Quod prima inter Gallias c. That Arles of all the Cities of Gaul did first obtain the happiness of having Trophimus ordained Bishop thereof by the hands of St. Peter Trophimus was a partaker with St. Paul in all his afflictions and his daily companion Zosimus writeth that out of his Spiritual Fountain all the Rivers and Brooks of France were filled Neither is St. Paul to be denied the honour of sending some of his Disciples thither also to preach the Gospel Euseb Eccles Hist Lib. 3. cap. 4. Crescens a companion of St. Paul mentioned by him in his second Epistle unto Timothy is said to have departed into Galatia 2 Tim. 4.10 which Eusebius saith was France That he was the first Bishop of Vienna forementioned not only the Martyrologies but also Ado Viennensis an ancient Writer of that Church doth expresly say And that it was into this Countrey that he sent Crescens at that time and not into Galatia in Asia Minor the testimonies of Epiphanius and Theodoret Doroth. de LXX Discip which affirm the same may sufficiently confirm Dorotheus saith that Crescens preached the Gospel in France and was there martyred and buried in the time of Trajan the Emperour In the History of Lazarus and Maximinus we find that they with Mary Magdalen and her sister Martha came to Marseilles Maximinus was one of the seventy Disciples of Christ as divers Authors tell us The French Antiquities tell us That after the Ascension of our Lord Anno 14. the Jews raised so horrible a persecution against the Christians that the most part fled whither they could That Maximinus accompanied with Lazarus took Mary Magdalen Martha Marcella her handmaid and some others and committing themselves to the Sea to avoid the fury of the Jews they arrive at Marseilles where the Prince of Marseilles was baptized Lazarus became first Pastor of Marseilles and Maximinus of Aquens They were ordained to those Churches in the Year of Christ 46. in which Year these Authors tell us that Simon the Leper whom our Saviour cured of that infirmity was Ordained to be Minister of
she was taken down cast into prison and reserved for further Torment Attalus also a Famous Man and notably exercised in the Christian Profession was led within compass of the Theatre with a Scroll before him wherein was written in the Roman Tongue This is Attalus the Christian The President knowing that he was a Roman commanded him to be imprisoned and closely kept with the other prisoners concerning whom he had written unto Caesar and expected an Answer Alexander a Phrygian born and a Physician having dwelt in France many years a man well known for his great Zeal towards God and boldness of speech stood hard by the Tribunal-Seat and comforted and encouraged many Martyrs at their Examination When the people that stood by took in evil part that they which before had recanted did now confess Christ with one consent they cry out against Alexander as Author thereof Then the President demanding of him what he was he Answered I am a Christian for which Answer he was allotted to be torn in pieces by the wild Beasts Attalus was fryed to death in a scalding Iron Chair so that the savour of his broiled body filled their nostrils who being demanded what Name God had Answered God is not called after the manner of Men. Blandina together with Ponticus a youth of fifteen years of Age was brought forth whom they would have compelled to swear by their Idol's Name But they contemning their Idol the multitude were enraged against them tormenting them with all manner of punishments Ponticus being comforted and confirmed by Blandina in presence of the Pagans after he had suffered most exquisite Torments yielded up the Ghost Last of all Blandina like a noble Mother having exhorted her Children and sent them before as Conquerours unto the King pondering with her self all the punishments of her Children hastened after them joying and triumphing at her end as if she had been invited and going to a wedding dinner After scourging after combating with wild Beasts after the broiling of her body as it were in a frying-pan at length she was wrapped in a Net and tumbled before a wild Bull which fanned and tossed her on his horns to and fro yet had she no feeling thereof in the end she was beheaded the Pagans themselves pronouncing That never any Woman among them was heard to have suffered so many and so great Torments As many as were choked with the noisom stench of the prison were thrown to be devoured of Dogs the Pagans keeping a watch day and night that none of them might be buried by their Friends To be short after that the bodies of the blessed Saints had been every kind of way spitefully and scornfully entreated lying six whole dayes unburied at length they were burned to ashes the ashes also they gathered together and scattered in the River Rhodanus which passed by so that no jot or relique thereof should any longer remain upon the earth This they did that there might as they said be no further hope of their Resurrection Irenaeus after Photinus was Bishop of Lions he flourished in the dayes of the Emperour Commodus his meek disposition and peaceable carriage answered to his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Peaceable and made his Name to be in great account among Christians Euseb Eccles Hist Lib. 4. The Martyrs forementioned did highly commend Irenaeus unto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome as their own words do declare in this manner Father Eleutherius we wish you health in all things and alwayes in God We have requested Irenaeus our Brother and Fellow-labourer to deliver you these Letters whom we pray you to accept of as a zealous follower of the Will of Christ For if we understood that any mans degree yielded forth and delivered Righteousness unto the Graduate namely as being Minister of the Church which this man is we would have chiefly commended this in him Iren. Lib. 3. cap. 3. Eusebius hath set down out of Irenaeus a Catalogue of the Roman Biships unto his time Iren. Lib. 2. cap. 57. Irenaeus sheweth how unto his time Miracles were wrought by the faithful some saith he do soundly and truly cast out Devils others have the foreknowledge of things to come they see Divine Dreams and Prophetical Visions others cure the diseased and restore them to health by their laying on of hands The dead were raised to life saith he and lived together with us many years Again in another place Irenaeus thus writeth We have heard of many Brethren in the Church which had the gift of prophesying which were able through the Holy Ghost to speak with sundry Tongues Iren. Lib. 5. which could reveil the secrets of men where it so behoved and expound the dark mysteries of God Then arose a Controversie about the keeping of Easter for the Church of the West and part of that of the East did Celebrate the Feast of Easter upon the Lord's day but part of the Church of the East did Celebrate it upon the fourteenth day of the Moon of March not looking for the Lord's day Towards the end of this second Century Victor the successour of Eleutherius Bishop of Rome took that business in hand with eagerness and for that cause separated the Oriental Churches from his Communion Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus resisted him Victor being incensed with that resistance excommunicateth all the Eastern Churches Eusebius saith That this did not please all the Bishops wherefore also they made him a contrary Command that he should keep Peace Union and Charity with his Neighbours Among other Examples he brings forth the Epistle of Irenaeus to Victor whereby he accuseth him to have violated Charity and to have departed from the Example of his Ancestors Ruffinus relateth the same Eusebius makes mention of what Irenaeus wrote concerning the Holy Canonical Scriptures and the translation of the Septuagint Irenaeus wrote divers Epistles to confute such as at Rome corrupted the sincere Rites of the Church He wrote one to Blastus of Schism another to Florinus of Monarchy or shewing that God is not the Author of Evil which Opinion Florinus seemed to be of but afterwards he was seduced with the Errour of Valentinus Irenaeus in his Epistle to Florinus Reporteth that he had conversed with Polycarpus so that he remembred the place where Polycarpus sate when he taught his course of Life the figure and proportion of his body the Sermons he made unto the Multitude the report he made of his Conversation with St. John the Apostle and others which saw the Lord how he remembred their sayings and what he heard out of their mouths touching the Lord of his Power and Doctrine These things saith he I diligently marked and printed them in my heart And I am able to testifie if that Holy and Apostolick Elder had heard any such thing he would have presently stopped his ears and reclaimed it To be short this may be reported for true out of the Epistles which he wrote for the
Confirmation of the bordering Churches or out of the Epistles which he wrote to certain Brethren for Admonition or Exhortation-sake Thus far Irenaeus There are but few of the Fathers but have some particular Opinion which the Church of Rome disalloweth as well as we The Learned Dr. Du Moulin mentioneth many of the Ancients Du Moulin Contr. Perront Lib. 1. cap. 49. and among them Irenaeus who saith that Jesus Christ Taught until the Age of forty or fifty years Fevardent who hath Commented upon the Book hath written in the Margin Naevus de aetate Christi it is a fault of Irenaeus about the Age of Christ The same Father also Teacheth that the Souls separated from the bodies have a bodily shape and keep the character or form of the body to which they were joyned The same Irenaeus saith Iren. Lib. 4. cap. 30. That the Law was not given to the Fathers that lived before the Law because they were Righteous and there was no need they should be warned by Reprehensions but that this Righteousness being given in Egypt God then had given his Law The same Father in the Fifth Book Chap. 33 and 34 brings in bodily Feasts after the Resurrection because Christ said He should drink of the New Fruit of the Vine in the Kingdom of his Father The same Father opposeth them as Hereticks that hold that the Souls of the Faithful departed do enjoy the Heavenly Glory His Opinion was that at their going out of the Body they go down into an invisible place where they expect the Resurrection Besides those Epistles of Irenaeus forementioned there is extant another very learned and necessary Book of his against the Gentiles Entituled A Book of Science or Knowledge Another unto Marcianus his Brother Entituled A Declaration of the Apostles Preaching And another Book of divers Tracts where he makes mention of the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Book of Wisdom called Solomon's Ex Platina in vita Sixti In the time of the Emperour Commodus Peregrinus flourished who had been sent before by Xistus Bishop of Rome into the parts of France to supply there the room of a Bishop and Teacher Because of the horrible Persecutions thereabout those places were left desolate and destitute of Ministers and Instructors where after he had Preached with much success among the Flock of Christ and had established the Congregation there returning to Rome he there finished his Martyrdom Six several Synods were held about the Observation of Easter and the fourth was held in France in which Irenaeus was Chief Century III. AFter the Death of the Emperour Commodus Reigned Pertinax but few months after whom succeeded Septimius Severus under whom was raised a notable Persecution against the Christians Great Persecution was stirred up on every side whereby an infinite number of Martyrs were slain as Eusebius reporteth Vincent Lib. 11. cap. 6. Ex Martyrol Vincentius speaketh of one Andoclus whom Polycarpus before had sent into France which Andoclus because he spread there the Doctrine of Christ was apprehended of Severus and first beaten with staves and after was beheaded About the same time died Irenaeus Henry of Erford Ado and other Martyr-writers do hold That he was martyred with many more for the Confession and Doctrine of Christ about the fourth or fifth year of Severus This Irenaeus as he was a great Writer so was he greatly commended of Tertullian for his Learning whom he calleth Omnium doctrinarum curiosissimum exploratorem a great searcher of all kind of learning In the time of this Irenaeus the state of the Church was much troubled not only for the outward persecution of the foreign enemy but also for divers Sects and Errours then stirring against which he diligently laboured and wrote much although but few Books be now remaining Calixtus succeeded Zepherinus Bishop of Rome and after him Vrbanus which both as some Writers affirm did suffer under the Emperour Alexander Severus This Calixtus in his two decretal Epistles written to Benedictus and to the Bishops of France giveth forth divers Ordinances concerning the Bishops and Ministers of the Church Vincentius affirmeth that Calixtus was tied to a great stone and so out of a window was thrown into a ditch Under the Emperour Decius as Gregory of Tours observeth Gratian came to Tours to preach the Gospel among the Pagans Gregor Turonens Hist Lib. 5. Anno Christi 252. Saturninus preached at Tholouse and was the first Bishop of that place Dionysius also came to Paris where he was Bishop and suffered Martyrdom This is he who is falsly named Dionysius or Denis the Areopagite Saturninus also was thrown down from the Capitol of Tholouse Rusticus and Eleutherius also there suffered Martyrdom The Author of St. Omer's Life relateth that Fuscianus and Victorinus the Companions of Dionysius preached at the same time the Faith of Christ That St. Quintin did the same among the Ambianians and suffered Martyrdom Aurelius Probus being invested with the Empire Anno 276. went into France where he regained sixty Towns out of the Barbarians hands and killed of them near seventy thousand Having quieted all things in France he went into Sclavonia and overcame the Nations in Scythia And being gone thence into the East he gave battel to the Persians and having overcome them and taken some of their Cities as he was returning to Italy passing through Sclavonia he was killed at Sirmium by the Soldiers Anno 282. M. Aurelius Carus born at Narbon in France succeeded Probus who soon after Created his Sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars And having sent Carinus into France to keep it in peace he with his Son Numerianus went against the Persians there having overcome Mesopotamia he was strucken dead by a Thunderbolt Numerianus was slain by the conspiracy of Aper his Father in Law Carinus was slain by a Tribune whose Wife he had defloured Dioclesian succeeded him Dioclesian upon his Establishment associated unto him Maximianus Hercules in the Government of the Empire and they both chose Constantius Chlorus and Galerius to be their Colleagues and they were Created Caesars In the time before the Tenth Persecution the Church of Christ having had above forty years of outward rest and peace through the connivance and indulgence of some Emperours viz. from the death of Valerian until the nineteenth year of Dioclesian this prosperity being abused by the Clergy and other Christians unto idleness contentions c. moved the Lord to scourge them whereupon followed that sharp and cruel Persecution under Dioclesian Maximianus in the West and Dioclesian in the East bent all their Forces to root out the profession of Christian Religion Dioclesian endeavoured to destroy all the Churches and Temples of the Christians that they might not Assemble together to Pray and to use Divine Service he burnt all the Books he could get of the Holy Scripture and would not permit any man if he were a Christian to hold any Office or Magistracy The Soldiers being
the Empire Anno 361. having before obtained of Constantius the Title of Caesar and been Entitled Augustus by the Soldiers in the City of Paris In the Year 375. St. Martin was made Bishop of Turin in France Exuperius was Bishop of Tholouse Simplicius of Vienna Amandus of Bourdeaux Maurice of Anjou Philastrius of Breux these were all accounted Bishops of great fame About this time sprung up the Sect of the Donatists Fuller's Prophane State Cap. 11. who were so called from a double Donatus as one saith whereof the one planted the Sect the other watered it and the Devil by God's permission gave the encrease The elder Donatus raised a Schism in Carthage against good Cecilian the Bishop there whom he loaded unjustly with many crimes which he was not able to prove August ad quod vult Deum and vexed with this disgrace he thought to right his credit by wronging Religion and so began the Heresie of the Donatists His most Dominative Tenet was that the Church was perished from the face of the earth the reliques thereof only remaining in his party There were two principal sides of them first the Rogatists so called from Rogatus their Teacher to whom St. Augustine beareth witness That they had zeal but not according to knowledge These were people of good lives hating bloody practices though erroneous in their Doctrine But there was another sort whom they called Circumcellions though as little Reason can be given of their Names as of their Opinions Their number in short time grew to be considerable Their Tenet was plausible and winning and that Faith is easily wrought that teacheth men to think well of themselves From Numidia Quod apud eum solum justitia locum haberet Aug. contr Petil. Lib. 2. where they began they overspread Africa Spain France Italy and Rome it self Their greatest increase was under Julian the Emperour This Apostate next to no Religion loved the worst Religion best they fled to this Bramble for succour extolling him for such a Godly man with whom alone justice did remain and he restored them their Churches again and armed them with many privileges against Christians Hereupon they killed many men in the very Churches murthering Women and Infants and ravishing Virgins c. The Donatists were opposed by the Learned Writings of private Fathers Optatus Milevitanus and St. Augustine and by two Councils one at Carthage Vid. August Epist 162. another at Arles in France Pope Miltiades was by the Emperour made Judge between the Catholicks and Donatists and after him the Bishop of Arles This Heresie continued till about the six hundreth year of Christ and that which put a period to this Heresie was partly their own dissentions but chiefly they were suppressed by the Civil Magistrate for Honorius the Emperour by punishments mixt with Instructions from the Church Vide Baron Annal in Anno 362. Num. 264. converted and reclaimed very many He caused the Patent of Privilege which Julian granted the Donatists Publicis locis affigendum in ludibrium To be affixed to publick places for a reproach unto them Julian was slain in battel against the Persians having governed the Empire after the death of Constantius one year and seven months Then Jovian was saluted Emperour who being a professor of the Christian Faith rejected the Arians but he died of a surfeit in the eighth month of his Reign Then Valentinian was Elected Emperour a man constant in the Christian Faith but he died of an Apoplexy in the twelfth year of his Government leaving his Son Gratian to succeed him in the Empire who after the death of Valens his Uncle had the Government both of East and West his Brother Valentinian was his Colleague in the Government of the West Gratian in the beginning of his Reign reduced from banishment those Bishops whom Valens that Arian Persecutor had banished Gratian was slain by Andragathius Captain of the Army of Maximus who usurped the Empire of the West by fraud and treachery near Lions in France where he made his abode But Theodosius a man of Noble Parentage in Spain to whom Gratian had committed the Government of the East being mindful of the kindness of Gratian toward him lâ—d an Army against Maximus The Captains of Maximus's Army hereupon delivered him bound to Theodosius who put him to death Andragathius who slew Gratian seeing no way to escape threw himself head-long into the Sea and so perished Not long after Eugenius by the Power of the Earl Arbogastes Usurped the Government Anno 391. And the year following the said Arbogastes slew Valentinian at Vienna in France Epiphanius saith he was strangled in his Palace Century V. IN the Year 401. died St. Martin Bishop of Turin who following Hillary into France from his banishment having there lived an austere and retired life was Created Bishop of Turin almost at that time that St. Ambrose was established Bishop of Milan viz. in the Year 375. A man to be admired above all his Predecessors for Piety whom the Emperours themselves have had in great esteem and among the rest Maximus who feasted him Anno 386. in a Feast that his Wife the Empress had prepared who supplyed the place of a Waiter and Attendant at the Table her self Sulpitius Severus in the life of St. Martin sheweth that when he was to be chosen Bishop one of the people having taken the Psalter in the place of the Reader then absent began to read the eighth Psalm where there was Vt destruas inimicum defensorem at which word defensorem the people cryed out against one Defensor who opposed Martin's Election to the Episcopacy About this time the Monastical Profession came into Europe to which Jerome at Rome and St. Martin in France did much contribute In the Year 446. the Pelagian Heresie having spread over all Britain the British Churches being infected therewith King Vortigern sent for Germanus Bishop of Auxerres and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Champagne out of France men eminent for their Counsel and Doctrine who confuting the Pelagians gained to themselves great esteem among the Britans After the return of Germanus and Lupus into their own Countrey Pelagianism began to sprout forth again in Britain But after three years Germanus returning back again into Britain brought with him Severus and the Pelagian Heresie was again condemned in a second Synod Britain being thus settled in good order Germanus went again into France and died soon after his return In this Century flourished other worthy Bishops and Preachers in France Eucherius Bishop of Lions was then eminent some of whose writings are yet extant Baron ad Ann. 453. About this time Baronius speaks of a Synod of Anjou which saith Let none be Ordained Priests or Deacons but such as have one Wife only who married Virgins Hillary first Bishop of Arles and afterward as appeareth of Vienna flourished about the year 458. he opposed himself directly to Leo Bishop of Rome and would acknowledge no
Orator Dialecticus Poeta Tractator Geometra Musicúsque Doctus solvere vincla quaestionum Et verbi gladio secare sectas Vi quae Catholicam fidem lacessunt Tandem Concludit At tu quisquis doles amice lector De tanto quasi viro nihil supersit Vndis parcegenis rigare marmor Mens gloria non queunt humari Paulinus lived about this time he was Bishop of Nola born in France a man of a great wit and an excellent Orator and Poet. Of both Testaments he writeth thus to Severus Paulin. Epist ad Sever. 12. Nam quia latorem duo Testamenta per unum Pacta Deum in Christo copulat una fides Lex antiqua novam firmat veterem nova complet In veteri spes est in novitate fides Sed vetus atque novum conjungit gratia Christi And upon the Supper of the Lord I will add these mystical Verses out of the same Epistle In cruce fixa caro est quâ pascor de cruce sanguis Ille fluit vitam quo bibo corda lavo Carne tua vivet tunc illi pocula sanguis Praebeat in verbo vivat agátque tuo The next I shall mention is John Cassian the Scholar of Chrysostome and made Deacon by him at Constantinople afterwards he was a Presbyter of the Church of Marseilles Vincentius Lirinensis a French man spent the first part of his life in Secular and Military employments but afterwards he led a solitary and contemplative life and became a Presbyter as the Catalogue of Gennadius relateth he wrote against the Pelagians and Nestorians and against prophane novelties In the Year of Christ 485. Clovis the first of that Name and the fifth King of France began his Reign being about the Age of fifteen years a Prince of singular Hope born for the establishment of the French Monarchy He had the honour to be the first Christian King of France Although Clovis was a Pagan before by Profession yet was he no enemy to the Chrstians fitting himself to the humour of the Gauls who generally followed the Christian Religion He suffered his Wife likewise to Baptize her Children Causins Holy Court Part. 2. Clotilda desired nothing more than the Conversion of her Husband which happened in this sort The Suevi a people of Germany passed the Rhine with great Forces Commanded by many Kings who were personally in the Army and came to rush on the Gauls with intentions to destroy the beginnings of the French Monarchy Clovis speedily opposeth them with good Troops for he likewise had drawn together to his Aid the Ribarols people near bordering on the Rhine who were Allied to the French and had first of all given notice of the Enterprize of the Suevi who in a near degree threatned them The encounter of the two Armies was near Colen which was one of the most desperate that we find in Histories The King undertook the Conduct of the Cavalry and had given unto Prince Sigebert his Kinsman the Infantry There was nothing but fire tempests deaths and slaughters so great was the resistance on either side In the end Sigebert valiantly fighting was wounded with an arrow and born all bloody out of the battel by his Son The Infantry through the absence of their Colonel was defeated and put to rout All the burden of the battel fell upon the Cavalry which did great exploits fighting before the eyes of their King but in the end the shock of their enemies was so impetuous that it brake through and scattered them Clovis covered with blood and dust performed the duty both of a great Captain and valiant Soldier but notwithstanding all his endeavours terrour had so seized on these flying men that his affairs grew desperate Hereupon Aurelianus the Kings great Favourite perswadeth him to make a vow unto God to be Baptized if he returned victorious from this battel which he did calling aloud upon the God of his Wife and promising an absolute Conversion to the Christian Faith The word was no sooner spoken but that his Troops rallied themselves up made head against their enemies pursued them ran through and routed them with so great a massacre that the fields were all covered with dead bodies The discomfiture so terrified them on the other side of the Rhine that the Almans which survived yielded themselves tributaries to his Majesty Clotilda hearing the news of this victory and of the King 's pious Resolution went out to meet him as far as Champagne accompanied with Remigius Bishop of Rhemes a man of great Piety and Eloquence to instruct him in the true Doctrine wherein he was very ignorant De Serres Hist in Vit. Clodov It was necessary he should be instructed by a discreet man that in leaving the vanity of Pagans he might not be infected with the Arian Heresie which then was dispersed in divers places and even his own Sister Lantielde was infected therewith The preaching of Remigius was effectual with Clovis and the Example of Clovis with his men of war When he came to the Church of Rhemes to be Baptized Remigius spake to him these words Bend thy neck to the yoke in mildness worship that which thou hast burnt and burn that which thou hast worshipped He Answered I worship the true God which is the Father Son and Holy Ghost the Creator of Heaven and Earth The King being Baptized exhorted his men to the same belief they cry all joyntly We leave our Mortal Gods and are ready to follow the Immortal So Clovis was baptized at Rhemes by Remigius and with him three thousand of his Soldiers to the incredidible joy of the Gauls greatly affected to Christian Religion and this perfected the union betwixt them and the French making their yoke easie and them tractable The first War he undertook after his Baptism was against Gombaut King of Burgundy who being vanquished became Tributary to Clovis Gombaut was an Arian and this his Heresie drew upon him the vengeance of God Afterwards Clovis encountred with the Forces of Alaricus in Aquitain discomfiteth them and kills Alaricus The hand of God thundred and lightened at that time upon many Diadems of Heretical Kings viz. Gombaut Godemar Chilperic Godegisilus Alaricus and in the end on Theodorick himself Remigius was a man of most holy Conversation and besides his admirable sanctity acknowledged throughout all France he had the reputation to be one of the most able and eloquent men of his time witness Sidonius Apollinarius who speaking of his eloquence with admiration saith He thought there was not a man living upon the face of the earth whom Remigius surpasseth not without any elaborate study at all through the experience he had acquired of well-speaking his conceptions were unimitable his language so sweet and polite that it resembled a very smooth piece of ice whereon nothing might be seen unequal His sentences were full of weight his arguments forcible and his words glided along like a river and ever bare in them some flashes of lightning at
the end of his periods He was a very learned man as by the Commentaries which he wrote upon the Old and New Testament evidently appeareth Catal. Test verit Among the Collections of Aventinus there is an Epistle with this Title The Epistle of the Bishops of Germany and France to Pope Anastasius This was written in the time of King Clovis Leporius a French Monk made a flourish of the Nestorian Heresie but being refuted by Augustine he asked pardon of his Errour Faustus of an Abbot was made Bishop of Rhegium in France as Gennadius writeth in his Catalogue He wrote against the Pelagians and Epicureans A contention arose in France about the Doctrine of Predestination which had it's rise out of the Books of St. Augustine being ill understood Lucidus made opposition Faustus chastised him and brought him to his Opinion Eleven Bishops subscribed to the Epistle of Faustus in the Council of Arles by which Faustus himself affirmeth that an hard piece of work was put upon him of disputing concerning Grace and Free-Will About the same time also was solemnized at Lions an Assembly of twenty seven Bishops Victorinus of Aquitain at the request of Hillary set forth an Easter-Circle of 532 years in the year 563. Century VI. THe Province of Narbon which was called the first Province of France remained in the Goths subjection and thence it began to be called Gothia for Amalaricus his Father Alaricus being dead hastily flying into Spain he retained under his Power Spain with that part of France which we have mentioned before The Divine Providence gave to Clovis above all other Princes in the world such happy success as oftentimes his wars were miraculously confirmed to be guided of God among which is that remarkable thing That hastening against Alaricus having encamped near the River Vigenna he found a shallow place by the direction of an Hind that passed over the River before him through which he transported his Army to the other side and after this victory preparing to besiege Angoulesm the walls of the City falling down of their own accord gave him an easie entrance into the City Which things being known the Emperour Anastasius the year following the victory of Vocles sent a Standard to Chlodoveus or Clovis Petav. Hist Orbis Lib. 7. cap. 2. And he went in Procession in St. Martin's Church at Turin with his Belt his Purple-gown and his Diadem then coming to Paris there he established his Throne Anno 507 with so happy successes Procopius saith that the Franks made a League offensive with King Theodorick against the Burgundians and that the Goths delaying the time purposely at length arrived when the fight was ended and so without receiving any loss they divided the spoil with the Francks equally sharing the Kingdom which it is like came to pass about the year 508 it being after the Visigoths great defeat although at that time the Burgundian Kingdom was not utterly extinct in France for Gundebaut being defeated and dead Sigismond his Son kept still what remained who harkening to Avitus Bishop of Vienna changed his Arian Heresie into the Orthodox Faith After this Clodoveus raging against his nearest Friends put them almost all to death and at last in the year 511. died in Paris Clovis convoked the first Synod at Orleans Then flourished in France Caesarius Bishop of Arles whom we read to have been one of the Council of Agathus held in the year of Christ 506. and lived unto the time of Vigilius of whom he received a Letter Anno 538. Also Avitus Bishop of Vienna by whom the Burgundians received the Christian Faith Remigius Bishop of Rhemes called the Apostle of the Francks died Anno 534. In the same Year was held a Council at Avergnes wherein was Flavius Bishop of Rhemes Then are Hincmarus and Flodoardus mistaken in saying that he officiated in the Bishoprick 74 years and lived 96 years In France Launomarus of Chartres and Maximinus of Orleans were renowned Friars Maximus builded the Micians Monastery near unto the City he was Nephew to Euspicius Clovis as he went first to Orleans brought them both thither along with him Sigebert calleth that Monastery of the Micians Maximus's Monastery also Avitus and Carilesus Maximus's Disciples But Clovis being dead his four Sons divide the Realm into four Kingdoms Childebert was King of Paris and under this Realm was comprehended the Provinces of Poictou Main Tourain Champaigne Anjou Guyenne and Auvergne Clotaire was King of Soissons and the dependance of this Realm were Vermandois Picardy Flaunders and Normandy Clodamir was King of Orleans and the Estates of this Realm were all the Dutchy of Orleans Burgundy Lionois Daulphine and Provence Thierri was King of Metz and to his Realm was subject the Country of Lorain and all the Countries from Rhemes unto the Rhine and beyond it all Germany which was the Ancient Patrimony of the Kings of France De Serres in vit Childeb He was received in this Royal Partition with his Brethren though he were a Bastard the which hath been likewise practised by others in the first Line And as every one of these four Kings called themselves Kings of France so they also added the name of their Principal City where they held their Court. But there was a Civil Dissention betwixt the Brethren they Leavy Forces with intent to ruine one another They Reigned forty and two years together as Kings of France yet with a particular Title under this general as hath been said But in the end Clotaire remained King alone At this time were frequent meetings of Bishops in Aurelia or Orleans many superstitious Constitutions were hatched among them Symson's Church History Lib. 6. de Conciliis especially about prohibition of marriage for this Doctrine had now got the upper hand in the West In the second Council Simony is condemned and the receiving of money for the admitting a man to a Spiritual Office is condemned In the third Council Perjury is abhorred in a man having a Spiritual Calling but softly punished by two years excluding him from the Communion In the fourth Council it is Ordained The Bishops met in the Synod at Orleans direct their letters thus to the King To our Lord the most Illustrious King Clovis the Son of the Catholick Church all the Clergy whom you commanded to come unto the Council c. And it is said in the Preface to the second Council of Orleans We are here Assembled by the Command of our most Illustrious Kings in the City of Orleans That in the offering of the Holy Chalice nothing shall be presented but Wine only unmixed with water because it is a sacrilegious thing to transgress the holy mandate and institution of our Saviour Christ In the fifth Council it is condescended that no man shall be Ordained Bishop without consent of King Clergy and People according to the Ancient Constitution of the Church and that no Spiritual Office shall be bought by money There was an
Chilperic received King of France in the place of his elder Brother Anno 578. and Reigned fourteen years at Paris and Soissons while that Childebert the Son of Sigebert Reigned in Austrasia or Lorain and Gonthran at Orleans and Burgongne He found Brunhault the widow of Sigebert at Paris a subtil and audacious woman whom he confined to Rhoven whither he likewise sent his Son Merovee to take possession o the City but there he was surprised by the beauty of Brunehault She so insinuated into the Bishop that he allowed of this Marriage although she was his Aunt Chilperic moved herewith came to Roven degraded and banished the Bishop and puts Merovee into a Cloyster Merovee fleeing is pursued taken and slain by his Father's command and lest Audovere his Mother a virtuous Princess and Clovis her other Son should seek means of revenge he rejects his Wife and causeth Clovis his other Son to be slain For these disorders the Nobility complain against Fredegunde hereupon Chilperic takes Galsonde to Wife the Daughter of Athanagild King of Spain but by the instigation of Fredegonde Chilperic strangleth his second Wife and publickly marrieth Fredegonde Chilperic when he had seen Clotharius born to him of Fredegonde the fourth moneth after a little before night returning from hunting is by privy murtherers killed Anno 584. That murther was hatched by Fredegonde and committed by Landerick an Adulterer of hers thus died this detestable Chilperic Historians make him guilty of impiety as well as of execrable wickedness for he denied the truth of the three persons in one Deity and the Incarnation of the Son of God Gunthran dieth in the year of Christ 593. having left a good memorial behind him of Piety and other Virtues the which being committed to Church-Tables is repeated every year on the 28th of March His Kingdom came to Childebert Childebert Anno 596. is taken away by poison together with his Wife whom Theodoric and Theodebert his Sons succeed under the tuition of their Grandmother Brunehault They fight against Clotharius and being overcome in battel they force him to part with the greatest part of his Kingdom Sagittarius Bishop of Ebreduna and Salonius Bishop of Vopinga in France for their wickednesses and also because being armed they fought in manner of soldiers in the Assembly of Lions were before this deprived of their Episcopacy in the sixth year of Gunthran but they appealing to Pope John were restored by his command At last because they continued in hainous offences they were again by the Cabillonian Council deprived of all Dignity At Augustoritùm died Radegund Anno 587. in whose Monastery were some Virgins sprung from a Royal Stock who being lifted up in pride against Leubovera the Governess of the Nunnery first of all departed from her The Guardians being sent into the Monastery and all things taken away they drew out Leubovera by force from thence At length by the command of Châ—ldebert a Council of Bishops being gathered together in Pictavia they were Excommunicated and Leubovera restored unto her former place About the year 590. Serenus Bishop of Marseilles seeing his people falling to the adoration of Statues brake them and cast them out of the Church About which Pope Gregory the first reproveth him in two Epistles saying That Images indeed ought not to be worshipped but that they ought not to be broken neither because they are instead of Books unto the ignorant But it was not long before the Popes became the great Patrons of the adoration of Images and made it a means of their rising for when the Greek Emperours fell to the breaking of Images Gregory the second took thence occasion to shake off the yoke of the Emperours as enemies of the Saints Sigon Lib. 3. de regno Ital. and made Rome and part of Italy to revolt from the Obedience of their Soveraign And he made himself a Temporal Prince under colour of defending Images as Sigonius relateth Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus by Nation an Italian came into France seating himself first at Tours afterwards at Poictiers he was first made a Presbyter then he became Bishop of that place He is reported to have reduced the French to a more gentle kind of life by his writings and example Illyricus make's mention of one Alcimus Catal. Test verit Lib. 6. of the Ancient Family of the Aviti whose Great Grandfather Grandfather Father Uncle Brother were famous and eminent for Ecclesiastical Dignities His Father succeeded Mammertus in the Bishoprick of Vienna Alcimus succeeded his Father Many excellent Verses of his are extant unto this day Concerning the first sin of Man and the Grace of Christ you may read what he saith in these following Verses Quòd varii eveniunt humana in gente labores Vnde brevem capiunt mortalia tempora vitam Vel quod polluti vitiantur origine mores Quos aliena premunt priscorum fata Parentum Addatur quanquam nostrâ de parte reatus Quodque etiam amisso dudum peccatur honore Adscribam tibi prime Pater qui semine mortis Tollis succiduae vitalia germina proli Et licet hoc totum Christus persolverit in se Contraxit quantum percussa in stirpe propago Attamen Auctoris vitio qui debita lethi Instituit morbosque suis ac funera misit Vivit peccati moribunda in carne cicatrix And speaking unto Christ he addeth Nullum aliud praeter te unum solamen habemus Then speaking of Christ the Mediator whose Figure was that Bow in the Heaven after the flood and of the salvation of those that believe in him he saith Nunc quisquis semel allatam servare salutem Optas signatum potiùs signo inspice Christum Verus enim atque unus firmati faederis arcus Ille deum atque homines inter qui virgine carne Virgineo ex utero sumptâ jam munere lucet Multiplici in caelo Varius sed fulgidus omni Vitalem monstrat sacrati pignoris arcum Hunc coram aspicies quisquis baptismate tinctus Ad coelum liber culpis pereuntibus ibis And of the water flowing out of the Rock he thus speaketh Nec portentificae caepit me oblivio virgae Quo signo summus percussâ rupe sacerdos Protulit irriguos poculis sitientibus haustus Insinuans Christum stabilem consistere petram Percussus jaculo largas qui praebuit undas Porrexitque suis sacro de vulnere potum Hist magdeb Cent. 6. cap. 9. King Chilperic before his death called a Synod made up of the Gallican Bishops at Prennacum upon this occasion The Earl Leudastes applyed himself to Riculphus a Presbyter a perverse man and rebellious against Gregory Bishop of Tours his own Bishop these two reported to the King as if Gregory had said that Queen Fredegund had carnally lain with Bertram Bishop of Burdeaux hereupon Bertram accuseth Gregory before the Synod Chilperic being present Gregory constantly denieth it But the King asserteth that he could convince Gregory of this
they are circumcised and in Qu. 5. he saith They call themselves Christians of the first Conversion Phocas a mean Captain in Thracia in a sedition of the people did kill his Soveraign Mauritius the Emperour usurped the Crown and held the Empire seven years He gave unto Pope Boniface the Title of Universal Bishop which Title Gregory his Predecessour had disclaimed Gregory devised many new Rites yet tied not others to follow them For when Augustine whom he sent into Britain demanded of him seeing the Faith is one why are the customes of the Church divers and why is one sort of Mass in Rome and another in France Gregory answereth Thy Brotherhood knows the custome of the Roman Church in which thou hast been nourished but it pleaseth me whether in the Church of Rome or of France or in any other thou hast seen any thing that may please the Almighty God that thou diligently follow it In France the two Sons of Childebert Teodorick and Theodebert their Grandmother Brunehault working that thing reigned with perpetual disagreement among themselves and with Clotharius Theodebert being overcome by his Brother in Battel Anno 612. is slain by his own Soldiers at Colonia Theodorick dieth the year following Brunehault being hated of the French Anno 613. Clotharius having obtained the whole Kingdom of the French bound Brunehault with a Cable rope led her about with wild Horses and tare her to pieces Thus by God's judgement She died most justly who had cruelly caused many others to die Thus died Brunehault only commended in Histories to have built many Temples and given great revenues for the maintenance thereof De Serres Hist whilst she wallowed in her pleasures St. Gregory hath set down certain Letters of his to Brunehault wherein he commends her highly though basely flattering her for her Piety and singular Wisdom Clotharius seeing himself King of so great a Monarchy after a long and horrible confusion of intestine wars used all diligence to pacifie the Realm He augmented the great Authority of the Maires of the Palace who controlled Kings and in the end usurped the Royalty whereas they were before but Controllers of the King's House not of the Realm He had one only Son whose name was Dagobert He committed him to Arnulph Bishop of Metz a learned and good man to be instructed by him Petries Church-Hist in Cent. 7. Agrestin who had been Clerk to King Theodorick entred the Abby Lexovien with all his wealth but he soon became weary of the superstitious Rites and left the Abby Then went he to Aquileia which then was not under the Romish yoke and from thence he wrote unto Eustasius Abbot of Lexovien against the Rites of the Monks exhorting him to reject those Rites Eustasius and his Convent exclude him out of their Society For removing this Controversie was Assembled the fourth Council at Matiscon in Burgundy there Agrestin accuseth Eustasius of many superstitious Ceremonies contrary to Canonical Institution viz. That they did use to lick a Cockle marked with a Cross and used Hallowings when they went in or out of an house Catal. Test Verit Lib. 7. Ex Vit. Eustas Abb. they multiplied Prayers and Collects in the Mass they ridiculously cut off their hair and abstained from the company of men but the Bishops condemned Agrestin Hence we see that some persons did not allow the Rites creeping in and the Inventers of them were but private persons and the Abetters were pleased with the least shadow of Reason Clotharius dieth in the year 631. having Governed 44 years from his cradle and passed happily through many perillous difficulties He left his Son Dagobert for his Successour Dagobert at his coming to the Crown found great difficulties among his Subjects being bred up without Justice under the long licentiousness of Civil Wars and the lenity of Clothaire whereto he provided wisely reducing Justice fortifying it by his Authority with so good a moderation as no man was offended at his severity neither durst any man attempt any thing against the Laws seeing both the reign and the rod in the hands of their Lawful Prince To this good Order he professed to love holy things and the better to confirm this Opinion in the minds of his Subjects he built and enriched many Temples especialy that of St. Denis the which hath since been the Sepulchre of the French Kings This King was much ruled by the forenamed Arnulph Bishop of Metz and by Pepin Major of the King's Palace This Pepin was Grandfather to that Pepin who was the first King of the second Race of the French Kings Fabian's Chron. Part. 5. and began to deal absolutely in the Government of the Realm Dagobert and all his Realm were in great honour and tranquillity till the death of Arnulph after which the King began to change his conditions to the hurt of his whole Realm There were at this time great numbers of Jews in France the which were hurtful to the Realm Dagobert banished them by a perpetual Edict out of the Territories under his obedience But this Zeal of Religion was blemished with the soul blot of Adultery which made him infamous both to his Subjects and to Strangers Amandus Bishop of Paris reproved him for his fault but Dagobert impatient thereof banished him Yet by the earnest perswasion of Pepin he yielded to Reason and having dismissed many of his lewd followers he calleth home Amandus again from banishment Amandus was a man famous for Holiness in those dayes At that time Austregesil was Bishop of Bitures Lupus Bishop of Sens Bavo was converted from a robber by Amandus Columban likewise being much vexed by Brunehault lived under Clotharius and his Scholar Gallus Projectus was a Martyr in Aquitain he was successour to Serenus Bishop of Marseilles Dagobert having Assembled the Estates of France in great solemnity at Byguage he made his Testament and Ordained that he made his younger Son Clovis King of France Fabian's Chronic and his elder Son Sigebert King of Austrasia or Lorain His Testament he had caused before to be written in four sundry skins endented to be read and then sealed with certain seals whereof the one he willed to be kept in the Treasury of St. Denis the second in the Treasury of the City of Lions the third in the Treasury of Metz in Lorain and the fourth in the Kings Treasury Dagobert died having Reigned fourteen years and was buried in the foresaid Monastery To maintain the invocation of Saints the Papists say that at that time the soul of Dagobert King of France was delivered out of the hands of the Devil by Dionysius and Maurice Martyrs and Martin the Confessor whom Dagobert had Adored A Council was Assembled in a Town of France Symson's Church-Hist Lib. 4. Cent. 7. called in Latin Altissidorum vulgarly Auxerre in which were met a number of Abbots and Presbyters with one Bishop and three Deacons In this Council they condemned Sorcery and the consulting with
Sorcerers in the first third fourth and fifth Canons whereby it appeareth that Sorcery hath been in frequent use in France Many superstitious Constitutions were set down in this Synod concerning the number of Masses prohibition of tasting meat before Mass concerning burial prohibition of Baptism before the Festivity of Easter except upon necessity and fear of approaching death prohibition of Matrimonial copulation with their own Wives to Presbyters and Deacons after their Blessing and Consecration with prohibition of Marriage also to the Widows of the defunct Presbyters Deacons or Sub-deacons Brothers and Sisters Children are forbidden to marry They Ordained that it is not lawful for a Presbyter to sit in judgement when any man is condemned to death That it is not lawful for a Clergy-man to cite another of the Clergy before a Secular Judge That it is not lawful for a Woman with a naked hand to touch the Holy Eucharist That it is not lawful to take refreshment of meat with an excommunicate person If any of the Clergy receive an excommunicate person without the knowledge of him who did excommunicate him he shall receive the like sentence that is he shall be likewise excommunicated That it is not lawful for a Presbyter in Banquetting-time to sing or dance Many Canons to the number of 45 were concluded in this Council But I shall not trouble you with an heap of unprofitable unnecessary and superstitious Canons Another Council was afterwards called at Cabillon vulgarly called Chalon which is a Town in Burgundy not far distant from Matiscon In this Town by the Commandment of Clovis King of France convened 44 Bishops Gandericus Bishop of Lions was President and Landilenus Bishop of Vienna Theodorus Bishop of Arles because he refused to appear before the Council was suspended from his Office until the next Council In this Synod the Canons of the Council of Nice had great allowance It was forbidden that two Bishops should be Ordained in one Town that no man should sell a Christian Servant to a Jew and that two Abbots should not be chosen to govern one Monastery That no labouring of the ground or other secular work shall be done on the Lord's day with many other Canons coincident with the Canons of other Councils Clovis the second married a Gentlewoman of Saxony named Baudour a Lady of good life and much given to Devotion as the Abby of Shelles St. Baudour with other Foundations do witness Whilst she busied her self in her Devotion and to build Monasteries Clovis addicted himself to sensuality Yet one memorable thing is recorded of him In a time of great dearth to relieve the poor people he suffered them to take the Silver wherewith the Temple of St. Denis had been covered by Dagobert Aimo saith that two years after a famous Assembly of Bishops being had he appointed the Monastery of Dionysius which his Father had built nigh unto the City to be free from the Jurisdiction of all Bishops Landerick the Chief Ruler of Paris agreeing to it Clovis died Anno 660. of his Reign 17. At the same time Erchenwald Major of the Palace dying Ebruin succeedeth him From which time the French Kings being let loose into sloth and riot the Government of the Affairs of State came to the Majors of the Palace The Kings being contented only with the Name or Title contained themselves in their Palace neither came they but once every year viz. in the Kalends of May into open view of the people Clotharius the eldest Son of Clovis succeeded his Father but having Reigned four years he died Anno 664. Theodorick his Brother for a short space was Chief but the French being weary of this man shut up Theodorick in a Monastery being shaven at St. Denis in Paris and Ebruin at Luxovien Then Childerick was made King who after three years Reign was slain by Bodille a Noble French man whom he had commanded being bound to the stump of a tree to be whipped with rods His Queen also being great with Child was killed by the same Bodille Ebruin secretly breaking out of the Monastery Petav. Hist Lib. 8. again invadeth the Lieutenantship of the Palace and killeth Leudesius the Son of Erchenwald Major of the Palace and Leodegar Chief Ruler of Augustodunum whom after he had been tortured with divers torments and in an Assembly of Bishops spoiled of his Dignity he commanded to be smitten with a sword In those times there were many in France flourishing in Holiness among whom Eligius Bishop of Noviomum and Audoenus Bishop of Roven are mentioned Eligius died in the seventieth year of his Age. Audoenus died being ninety years old in the 44 year of his Bishoprick Private persons also graced France with an exact holiness of Life viz. Furseus Foillanus Vltan who having come out of Ireland built Monasteries in France Thierri the first is now made King of France a King in shew who is a spectator of divers Tragedies Thierri dieth having reigned 19 years Ebruin in the third year after the death of Leodegar was thrust thorow by Hermenfrid then Pepin governeth the Kingdom Clovis the third the eldest Son of Thierri reigned four years and dieth without Children His Brother Childebert the second succeedeth him Century VIII CHildebert Reigned 17 years and died Anno 711. having left two Sons Dagobert and Clothaire Pepin made great shew of love to Religion and for this cause makes war against Robod Duke of Frisia a Pagan whom he conquered and forced to receive the Christian Religion with all his Subjects He restored Lambert Bishop of Traict to his Dignity being expelled by Ebruin and confined unto a Monastery and one of his chiefest cares was to advance them that had charge over the Church He commanded absolutely being armed with the Authority of his Soveraign neither was there any appeal from him to the King Yet Pepin besides his Lawful Wife called Plectrude held a woman named Alpaid for the which the forenamed Lambert reproved him Of this Alpaid he had a Son whom he named Charles which Charles was after sirnamed Martel and was very profitable to the Realm of France Alpaid caused Bishop Lambert to be slain by her Brother Dodon who soon after felt the punishment of this blood for being diseased with Worms not able to endure his own stench he cast himself headlong into the River Meuze Pepin upon his death-bed Ordained Charles his Bastard to succeed him in the Government of the Realm But Plectrude after the death of Pepin causeth Charles to be imprisoned at Colen and advanceth Thibauld to the Government although in effect She under his Name governed all the Affairs of State Dagobert dying at this time the French took a Prince of the blood called Daniel out of a Cloyster Him they called King under the Name of Chilperic the second and they give him a Noble Man of France called Rainfroy to be his Major who having leavied an Army De Serres hist defeated Thibauld and his Grandmother Plectrude in
tribulations will not mourn who hearing of our calamities will not lament Affliction is on every side and we know not what to do O ye Christians behold the dayes of trouble the dayes of mourning and bitterness are come upon us It is come as we feared from the Lombards for we are afflicted distressed and besieged on every side by their most ungodly King Aistulph and that Nation Therefore with the Prophet we pray the Lord saying Help us O God of our Salvation and for the honour of thy Name deliver us c. And now because Aistulphus with an Army hath pitched his Tents and encamped against us and hath often said unto us Open unto me the Gate of Salaria that I may enter into your City and give me your High Priest and I will shew Clemency unto you If not beware lest when I have battered down your walls I kill you altogether with the sword and let me see who can deliver you out of mine hand Wherefore our Beloved I beseech you and as if I were present I adjure you by the mysteries before the true and living God and before St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles that with great speed you help us lest we perish seeing under God we have committed all our lives into your hands forsake us not After this the Pope sent another Letter in the Name of St. Peter A Letter sent in the name of St. Peter as if it had been written from Heaven which beginneth thus Peter called an Apostle Grace Peace and Power to deliver the Holy Church of God and the People of Rome committed to me from the hands of their enemies be fully given from the Lord God unto you most excellent men Pepin c. and to the most holy Bishops Abbots Presbyters and all Religious Monks c. I Peter the Apostle of God who have you my adopted Children to deliver from the enemies hand this Roman City and the people committed of God unto me provoking all your Love do exhort and protesting do admonish you to deliver the Church of God which by Divine Power is commended to me seeing they suffer very great afflictions and oppression by the most wicked Nation of the Lombards Think not otherwise but certainly believe it that I my self am standing alive in the flesh before you and our Lady the Mother of God the Virgin Mary with us doth adjure you with the greatest Obligations and Protesteth Admonisheth and Commandeth c. Behold here with what fooleries and impieties they would bewitch the world But Pepin did not leavy an Army until Pope Stephen came into France And when he took his journey he commended himself to St. Mary and his flock unto St. Peter Pepin hearing of his coming sent his Son Charles an hundred miles to meet him and when he came within three leagues of Carisiac Pepin went forth unto him and returned on foot and the Pope on horseback Then Pepin was crowned again by the Pope for the greater pomp Pepin went into Italy and forceth Aistulph to give hostages to render unto the Pope all due Right But after the return of Pepin into France Aistulph with new Forces doth more mischief to Rome Then Pope Stephen wrote another Supplication to Pepin who made no delay but forceth Aistulph to perform the former conditions and to give unto the Pope the exarchate of Ravenna Within a year Aistulph dieth then a division ariseth between Rachis and Desiderius for the Kingdom Then Stephen wrote his fourth Epistle unto Pepin giving him thanks for his aid wishing many blessings unto him and shewing that Aistulph was stricken by the hand of God and drowned in the bottom of Hell and that by the hands of Peter Prince of the Apostles and by thy most powerful arm speaking unto Pepin Desiderius a most mild man was Ordained King of the Lombards who had sworn to restore unto St. Peter the Cities Faventia Insubres and Ferrara with all their Territories and also Ausimo Ancona Humana Bona with all their Territories and he had sworn to keep peace with the Church of St. Peter and to be Loyal unto the Crown of France and entreated Pepin to approve the Coronation of Desiderius upon these conditions Henceforth the Pope began to lift up his head and having large Territories given unto him will not rest until he be Monarch of the world When Stephen had peace he began to repair the Churches which Aistulph had caused to be thrown down and died in the sixth year of his Papacy Fabian's Chroni Part. 6. Then Gaifer Duke of Guienne imposed a Tribute upon the Lands of the Clergy in his Dukedom without their consent wherefore the Bishops for a redress complained unto King Pepin thereof Pepin reproved the Duke for it but the Duke not regarding the Kings Admonition Pepin soon after with an Army entred the Territory of Guienne wasting and spoiling the Countrey Hereupon the Duke hearkened to him and bound himself to restore unto the Clergy what he had extorted from them But the King being returned into France the Duke gathering Forces together sent them to the City of Chalours in Burgundy and did much hurt to that Town and Countrey The King being sorely discontented at it returned with his People into Guien and therein beat down many strong holds and Castles and took or won Burbon Cancarvile and Cleremont and wasted the Country with fire and sword till he came to Limoges The winter coming on the King having strengthened the foresaid Cities Towns and strong Holds that he had won and then rode to a place called Caus there kept his Christmass and Easter In the next Spring he re-entred the foresaid Dutchy and took by force the Cities of Bourges and Tours The People of that Countrey considering the obstinacy of their Duke murthered the said Duke and after yielded themselves and their Country to the King with all such Treasure and Jewels as to the said Duke belonged whereof King Pepin offered a great part unto St. Denis Then this victorious Prince was vexed with grievous sickness wherefore in all hast he sped him to St. Martin's where he made certain Prayers and Oblations And from thence his sickness increasing he was conveyed unto Paris where he shortly after died when he had reigned as King there by the space of eighteen years After the death of Pepin the Estates of France Assemble and by their consents Charles and Carloman his Sons divide the Realm between them by equal portions Charles was Crowned at Wormes Carloman at Soissons But by the death of Carloman the whole Realm came to Charles within three years after the death of his Father Charles was endued with singular gifts both of body and mind he had the instructions of a virtuous Conversation and was bred up in Learning and Arms He was Religious and reverenced the Churches and Pastors he was a great Justitiary a reliever of the poor and kept his Faith both to friend and foe he was a lover of
also unto destruction whom he would 2. That they who are predestinated unto destruction cannot be saved 3. That whereas the Apostle saith God willeth that all men be saved he meaneth only all them who shall be saved 4. That Christ came not to save all men nor did he suffer for all men but only for them who shall be saved by the mystery of his passion 5. Since the first man fell of his Free-will none of us can use Free-will to do good but only to do evil Remigius Bishop of Lions in the name of the Church of Lions defended these five Articles whereupon Hinckmar wrote unto Pope Nicholas against Gotteschalk and calleth these Articles the heresie of the Predestinarians which was overthrown in Africk and afterwards in France by Authority of Pope Celestine When Gotteschalk returned from Italy Raban Bishop of Mentz summoned him to a Synod and when he could not perswade him to change his mind he wrote unto Hinckmar and others Hinckmar summoned Gotteschalk unto a Synod of twelve Bishops and some Priests and Abbots in Carisiac on Isara where four Articles were enacted against him He was condemned of Heresie and contumacy he was whipt with rods Vid. Petries Ch. Hist Cent. 9. and cast into prison The Church of Lions after sight of these four Articles sent forth their censure of them Remigius was a man of a most holy Conversation and very learned as appeareth by the Comments which he wrote upon the Old and New Testaments At this time was published a Commentary on the thirteen Epistles of the Apostle St. Paul which was lately printed at Rome under the name of Remigius of Rhemes Lupus Abbot of the Monastery of Ferraria by the water Lupa running into Sein at the same time wrote several Epistles unto King Lewes and to Hinckmar which were printed at Paris Anno 1588. He comforteth his Master Einhard after the death of his Wife He speaks honourably of Marriage and comfortably of the estate of the Godly after this life without any mention of purgatory or Mass for the defunct At the same time also was a question of the presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament Charles the Bald King of France commanded Bertram a Priest at Corbey to search and write what was the Doctrine of the Fathers and Ancient Church in this Article Trithemius saith Bertram was singularly learned of an excellent eloquence and utterance pregnant in judgement and no less famous for holiness of life and wrote many excellent Treatises In obedience unto King Charles he compiled a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini which is all inserted in Catal. Test verit lib. 10. This Book was forbidden to be read by order from the Roman Inquisition confirmed afterward by the Council of Trent Usher's Answ to the Jesuites challenge The Divines of Doway perceiving that the forbidding of that Book did not keep men from reading it but gave them rather occasion to seek more earnestly after it thought it better Bertram should be suffered to go abroad but handled in such sort as other ancient Writers that made against them were wont to be Bishop Ridley highly commends this Bertram Ridl Pres at coen Dom. Paschasius Rathbert Abbot of Corbey at the same time wrote a Book of the Eucharist Remigius Bishop of Auxerre flourished about the year 880 he wrote many Books He was called Doctor Sententiosus Charles the Bald died at Mantua Anno 879 being poisoned by Sedecias the Jew whom he employed for one of his Physicians leaving the Realm to his Son Lewes the second called the Stuttering Lewes King of Germany had vowed that he would take both Empire and Kingdom from Charles the Bald but was arrested with sickness at Frankford There he divided his Kingdom among his three Sons to Lewes he gave Saxony Turingia Frisia and the Provinces within them with the Title of East-France to Carloman he gave Bojaria Austria Bohemia and Moravia with the Title of King of Bavaria To Charles his third Son he gave Suevia Franconia with some parts of Lorain which he had taken after the death of Lotharius with the Title of King of Germany De Serres Hist Charles the Fat King of Germany strove for the Empire and was Crowned by the Romans Pope John would not consent and therefore was imprisoned he escaping goes into France and confirmeth Lewes the Stutterer He was courteously received by Lewes stays in France a whole year and there holds a Council at Troyes in Champagne The Pope was scarce gone but Lewes dieth having reigned only two years He had no lawful Children but two Bastards he left his Wife with Child The Queen was afterward delivered of a Son which was saluted King and called Charles During the minority of Charles Lewes and Carloman Brothers the two Bastards of Lewes the Stutterer are chosen by the States to Govern the Realm of France Lewes was defeated by the Normans and dies for grief Soon after his Death it is said that Carloman fell down and brake his neck Another Lewes succeedeth to these two Brethren but he quickly dyed Then the States called Charles the Gross King of Bavaria to this high Dignity He began his reign Anno 885 and reigned nine years His entrance was goodly but his end Tragical He was crowned King with promise to restore the Crown to the lawful Heir and to govern according to the will of the States He was Son to Lewes called Germanicus Son to Lewes the Gentle Being defeated by the Normans he yieldeth to a prejudicial peace and is much hated of the French At length the French and the Grrmans resolve to dispossess him The Germans made choice for their Emperour of Arnulph Son to Carloman the Son of Lewes the Gentle The French likewise reject this miserable Charles from the Regency of the Realm and call Eudes of Odon Duke of Anger 's named by the will of Lewes the Stutterer So this poor Prince is cast out both from Realm and Empire and remains naked without an house to shrowd himself in from this disgrace being banished from Court and driven into a poor Village of Suevia where he lived some days in extreme want without any means of his own or relief from any Man in the end he dyed neither pitied nor lamented of any in a corner unknown but to have been the Theatre of so extraordinary a Tragedy that one of the greatest Monarchs in the World should dye without House without Bread without Mourning and without Memory but the note of this end so prodigiously memorable Century X. CHarles the Third called the Simple was Crowned in the Year 902. Eudes governing with him eight Years from his Coronation Charles remaining alone after the Death of his Regent Reigned 27 Years His Reign was miserable throughout Now begins a notable league against the King Robert Duke of Anjou becomes the Head of this League accompanied with many great Men of France This Robert was Governour by the Death of his
Brother Eudes They caused Charles to quit the Crown discharging him with the name of simple or foolish and declaring him incapable of so great a charge Robert arms boldly against Charles to dispossess him of his Estate Charles flees to Henry the third Emperour and laboureth to calm this storm At the approach of their Armies Robert to have some Title to make a War causeth himself to be Crowned King at Rhemes by Herve the Arch-Bishop who died three days after this unlawful Coronation As the Armies approach near Soissons striving in the view of Paris they joyn the combate is cruel but Robert fighting in the Front is slain leaving for that time the victory to King Charles who seeks a Treaty of Peace out of an unseasonable fear Hebert Earl of Vermandois Son-in-law to Robert beseecheth Charles to come to St. Quintins to confer together Charles cometh thither without Hostages Hebert there takes him Prisoner and conveys him to Soissons where he had assembled the chief of the Realm chosen after his own humour where he makes him to resign the Crown to Raoul his God-son the first Prince of the Blood by his Mother Hermingrade Daughter to Lewes and Wife of Boson King of Burgundy So this poor Prince is led from Prison to Prison for five years and dyeth of a languishing melancholy He had by his Wife Ogin a the Daughter of Edward King of England a Son named Lewes She takes her Son Lewes and flees into England to her Brother Athelstan who then Reigned But the Reign of Raoul was unfortunate who Reigned thirteen years during Charles his imprisonment and after his Death But Raoul after many broils dyeth at Compiegne Anno 936. Now are great confusions in France there is nothing sacred all is violated for Rule all respect is laid aside every one plays the King within himself for one King there are many and where there are many Masters there are none at all In this confusion there were many Kings Dukes and Earls although these Titles were but temporary having no other Title but the Sword There was no Governour of any Province throughout the Realm which held not proper to himself and his Heirs those things which were given to them but as Offices From hence sprang so many Dukedoms Earldoms Baronies and Seignories which for the most part are returned to their beginnings Italy given to an Infant of France was now possessed by divers Princes Germany withdrawn from the Crown was banded into divers factions so as the Empire of the West confirmed in the person of Charlemaigne continued scarce one hundred years in his Race for Lewes the Son of Arnulph was the last Emperour of this Blood In his place the Germans erected Conrade Duke of East Franconia Anno 920. the Empire being then very weak After Conrade was chosen Henry the Fowler Duke of Saxony and after him his Son Otho Princes adorned with singular virtues fit for the time to preserve the West For the Emperours of the East did run headlong to their ruine who were men either of no valour or altogether wicked attending the last blow by the hand of the Mahumetans whose power they strengthned by their vitious lives until they had lodged them upon their own heads In these confusions of State the power of the Pope of Rome encreased daily by the ruines of the Empire The design of the Popes was to erect a Monarchy in the Church by Power and Authority Seignories civil Dissentions Arms Revenues and Treason And soon after they grew to that greatness as they sought to prescribe Laws to Emperours and Kings who refusing it and disputing this primacy many dissentions arose and were dispersed among the people After the Death of Raoul Athelstan King of England having drawn unto him William Duke of Normandy sends an honourable Ambassage to the States of France entreating them to restore his Nephew Lewes to his lawful and Hereditary Dignity The French consent to it So Lewes the Son of Charles is called home by the Estates of France being accompanied with a great Troop of English-men and Normans Lewes hegan to Reign Anno 935 and Reigned 27 years About this time Ambrose Ansbert a French-man wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and Canticles and part of the Revelation In this tenth Century there was little study of liberal Sciences the Schools were few and empty of Languages The Popish Priests and Clergy having forsaken their old Discipline were given to filthy lucre nor were they respected by their flocks only Monks were noted to have some Eloquence And such was the corruption of the times that none durst scarce speak of the Corruptions Idolatries Superstitions and wickednesses of that Age which at that time were so luxuriant Divers Signs were seen in Heaven and great changes happened almost in every Kingdom The Hungarians oppress Italy and Germany besides many other broils in both those Nations France will shortly have another Race of Kings great were the Wars in Spain between the Moors and the old Inhabitants and the Saracens suffered neither Greece nor Asia to rest in peace Bellarmine speaking of this Century saith Behold an unhappy Age Bellarm. in Chronol in which are no famous Writers few or no Councils bad Emperours and no good Popes Baronius on the beginning of this Century saith Baron ad Anno 900. Sect. 1. A new Age beginneth which for rudeness and barrenness of goodness may be called The Iron Age and for deformity of evil abounding The Leaden Age and for want of Writers is called The Dark Age. Under the Reign of Charles the Simple King of France a Council was called at Rhemes for correcting the abuse of Church-rents for Noble-men in Court such as Hugo and his Brother Robert Master of the King 's Horses and Vincmarius with divers others under pretence of sustaining the King 's Honourable Estate and paying wages to Souldiers had converted to their own use a great part of Church-rents especially belonging to Abbeys Fulco Arch-Bishop of Rhemes uttered his mind freely in the Council Vincmarius one of the notable oppressours in the Court defiled the Council with Blood and killed Fulco Bishop of Rhemes The Fathers of the Council returned unto their own Churches with great fear for the like of this was not heard since the second Council of Ephesus in which Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople was slain Du. Haillan in vit Caroli Simpl. A Council also was held in France in which it was permitted Priests to marry Virgins At this time there was a great Famine in France The People had been much given to Gluttony and Drunkenness and God punished them with penury and scarcity of Victuals Lewes dyeth Anno 955. at Rhemes hated of the French leaving to Lothair his Son a Crown near the ruine and to Charles the youngest the favour of his eldest Brother Lothair detested of all men died Anno 964. leaving behind him an execrable memory of his actions and Lewes his Son for a final conclusion of
his race as an out-cast of great Charlemagne Lewes V. reigned one year only and dyed without Heir leaving his place void in troubles of State and confusion of times horribly corrupted unto the House of Hugh le grand Earl of Paris God had prepared the means both for the Father to lay the foundation and for his Son Hugh Capet appointed for the Regal Dignity to finish this goodly building Now cometh in the third race of the Kings of France called Capets of the name of Hugh Capet Charles Duke of Lorrain was first Prince of the Blood-royal he was Son to Lewes IV. Brother to Lothair Unckle to Lewes V. the last King to whom the fundamental Laws of France did adjudge the Crown But Hugh Capet was chosen King by the French assembled in Parliament and Charles Duke of Lorrain was rejected from the Crown This change happened in July Anno 987. This new King was sirnamed Capet or Capitosus either for that he had a great Head or that being young he was accustomed to catch at his Companions caps as a presage of that he should do unto Kings Otho and Henry two other Sons of Hugh le grand were Dukes of Burgundy one after another his other Sons were advanced to Ecclesiastical Dignities the one Arch-Bishop of Tholouse the other of Rovan and another dyed young Charles of Lorrain gathered an Army and entring France came to the City of Laon within which City he by the Treason of Anselm the Bishop of that City was taken and delivered with his Wife and Children into the hands of his Enemies Hugh being crowned King causeth his Son Robert to be crowned King at Rhemes Anno 990. three years after his Father's election Hugh decreeth that the elder Son should reign alone among his Brethren and suppresseth the Majors of the Palace He likewise decreed that hereafter Bastards should not be only rejected from the Crown but also from the sir-name of France the which before was allowed them To him likewise are due the goodly Ordinances of Justice Paris was the chief place of Hugh's residence which City was greatly augmented and beautified in his Reign Arnulph Bastard to Lothair was the only Man which had favoured Charles of Lorrain against Hugh Capet This Man was both perverse and disloyal having deceived both Charles of Lorrain and Hugh Capet who had given him the Arch-bishoprick of Rovan in recompence of the service he promised him against Charles to whom notwithstanding contrary to his Faith he gave means to seize upon the Cities of Rhemes Laon and Soissons Hugh therefore resolves to suppress Arnulph but respecting his quality he assembled a National Council of the French Church in the City of Rhemes This Assembly deposed Arnulph as guilty of Treachery and a troubler of the publick quiet and they substitute Gilbert in his place who had been School-master unto Robert Afterwards Hugh confines him to Orleans with Charles of Lorrain there to end his days in rest The Prelates of France in this Synod made a Declaration that the Popes have nothing to do to usurp the power and authority of Kings Arnalt Bishop of Orleans maintained in that Synod that the Popes have no power at all over the Bishops of France so as to have any cognizance of Cases belonging to them and he declaimed most stoutly against the avarice and corruption of the Court of Rome Seguin Arch-Bishop of Sens was sent also to Orleans to be imprisoned because he consented not freely to the deposition of Arnulph Pope John 12. being displeased with Hugh for that he had not appealed to him for his confirmation in this new Royalty disanulleth this Decree of the Council of Rhemes excommunicates the Bishops which had assisted restores Arnulph and deprives Gilbert of the Arch-bishoprick of Rovan and to temper this sharp and rough proceeding with some lenity he doth invest Gilbert with the Arch-bishoprick of Ravenna And this was a means to raise him to the dignity of Pope Acta Synodi Rhemensis Anno 990. The Acts of this Council of Rhemes under Hugh Capet have these words Poor Rome What clear lights of Fathers hast thou brought forth in the time of our Predecessors What horrible darkness hast thou poured out upon our times which will redound to our shame and dishonour in future Ages The Pope threatens his curse against Hugh and his Son Robert The King returned Answer that he had done nothing in contempt but that he was willing to justifie what He or his Bishops had done if it pleased the Pope to meet him at Gratianople on the Frontiers of Italy and France or if rather he would come into France he promised to receive him with the highest honour The Pope sent his Legates into France Gerebert Arch-Bishop of Rhemes sent an Epistle unto Seguin forementioned who was said to favour the deposed Arnulph the tenour whereof is Morn in Myst iniqu It became your worthiness to eschew the craftiness of deceitful men and to hear the voice of the Lord saying Here is Christ Hist Magdeb. in Actis Synodi or there is Christ follow not One is said to be in Rome who justifieth those things which ye condemn and condemneth those things which ye think just God saith If thy Brother offend against thee go and rebuke him How then say some that in the deposition of Arnulph we should have waited the determination of the Romish Bishop can they say that the Judgement of the Bishop of Rome is greater than the Judgement of God But the Prince of the Apostles saith We must obey God rather than Man St. Paul also cryeth If any Man Preach unto you otherwise than what you have received although he were an Angel from Heaven let him be accursed Because Pope Marcellinus offered Incense unto Idols should therefore all Bishops offer Incense I say boldly that if the Bishop of Rome himself sin against a Brother and being often admonished will not hear the Church even the Roman Bishop according to the command of Christ should be esteemed as an Heathen and a Publican for the highest rise hath the lowest fall And if he think us unworthy of him because none of us assenteth to him when he judgeth contrary to the Gospel he cannot therefore separate us from the Communion of Christ seeing even a Presbyter unless he confess or be convict should not be removed from his Office c. The Priviledges of St. Peter saith Leo the Great are not where Judgement is not exercised according to Righteousness Wherefore occasion should not be given unto these our envyers that the Priesthood which is one every where as the Catholick Church is one should be subject unto one Man that if he be corrupt with Money favour fear or ignorance none can be a Priest except whom these virtues recommend unto him Let the Law of the Catholick Church be common Farewel and suspend not your selves from the sacred Mysteries Pope John had intelligence of this Letter and summoned the
Bishops of France unto a Synod first at Rome then at Aken The Bishops answered They were not obliged to go out of their own Country At last he named Munson on the borders of France where only Gerebert appeared and boldly maintained the cause of the French Church so that the Legate Leo could do nothing without new instructions from the Pope save only that he appointed another Synod at Rhemes and in the mean time he suspends Gerebert who wrote the Apology of the French Church as his Epistle unto Wilderodon Bishop of Argentine testifieth Gerebert excelled in Learning and came afterward to the Roman Chair and called by the name of Silvester the second he was promoted to that dignity by the Emperour Otho Hugh Capet having reigned peaceably nine years died Novemb. 22. 996. leaving his Son Robert his successour a Prince wise resolute peaceable and continent he is said to have been Learned a lover of Divinity and humanity They sing Hymns of his Invention the which thus beginneth O Constantia Martyrum mirabilis the which bearing resemblance with the name of his Wife Constance he was wonderfully pleased with the humour she had to be honoured with his writings being then greatly esteemed throughout the World He preferred virtue before the prerogative of primogeniture and caused Henry his younger Son to be Crowned in his life time decreeing by his Will that his eldest Son Robert should content himself with the Dutchy of Burgundy doing homage for it to the Crown of France Century XI IN the beginning of this Century Arnold Earl of Sens Fabian's Chronic. used great Tyranny among the Bishops and Ministers of the Church Hereupon Leofricus Bishop of that See through the advice and aid of Reginald Bishop of Paris put out the said Arnold and delivered the City unto King Robert But the Brother of the said Arnold with divers of his Knights fled to the Castle and held it by force Then the King besieged the said Castle and took both it and Fromond the Brother of Arnold and sent him to Orleans where being imprisoned he dyed shortly after This Robert builded the Castle of Mountfort He founded also divers Monasteries and Temples at Orleans the Temple of St. Avian at Stamps a Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and many other in divers places of his Realm And he endowed the Church of St. Denis with many great priviledges and had special devotion to St. Hypolite above all other Saints At this time flourished Fulbert Bishop of Chartres a very learned Man Sundry Sermons and Treatises that are amongst the works of St. Austin are said to be his He wrote an Epistle to Adeodatus wherein he first reproveth a gross opinion of some Men who held that Baptism and the Eucharist were naked signs Then he proveth that these should not be considered as meer and outward signs but by Faith according to the invisible vertue of Mysteries The Mystery of Faith it is called saith he because it should be esteemed by Faith and not by sight to be looked into spiritually not corporally the sight of Faith only beholdeth this powerful Mystery c. Then he illustrates the same by comparison of a baptized Man who albeit outwardly he be the same he was before yet inwardly he is another being made greater than himself by encrease of invisible quantity that is of saving grace c. Here is no word of substantial change of the Elements the Bread is still Bread But we find two other changes the Faithful are transposed into the body of Christ and Christ is infused into the habitation of a faithful Soul yet so that Christ 's body remaineth in the Heavens and by the Revelation of the Spirit faith beholdeth Christ present Biblioth part de e bigne Tom. 3. or lying in his Mother 's bosom and dying rising and ascending and he entreth into the gratious habitation of a faithful Communicant and many waies refresheth him Here also we see that the substance of Bread remaineih as the substance of him who is Baptized remaineth albeit inwardly he be another Some say that Fulbert composed many Songs in praise of the Virgin Mary and that he built a Temple and dedicated it unto her Historians also do feign that Fulbert being sick was visited by the Virgin Mary Hist Magdeb. Cent. 11. and that she cherished him with her own Milk O impudent forgers of lies O foolish Mortals who gave credit to such palpable lies King Robert dyed Anno 1031. His Son Henry succeeded him and reigned 33 years In his time the Realm of Burgundy had an end in the posterity of Boson and the Emperours of Germany challenged the right and title of it Robert Duke of Normandy had maintained the Hereditary love of his Father with King Henry greatly relying upon his friendship Having resolved upon a long and dangerous Voyage to the Holy-land he intreated him to take the protection of William his Bastard Son whom he had made his Heir excluding his lawful Children Robert settled his Estate before his departure appointing him good Governours and putting the strongest holds and treasure into their hands Robert dyed in this long Voyage beyond the Seas at the City of Bythinia having before his departure commanded the Lords of Normandy and sworn them and Robert Arch-Bishop of Rovan to perform their Allegiance unto his Son William and to take him for their Lord and Duke if he return not again When King Henry had settled his Land in quietness he then builded the Monastery of St. Martin called Des Champs besides Paris and set therein secular Priests King Henry after he had reigned 31 years dyed and was buried at St. Denis Anno 1046. Gregory VI. created Odilo Abbot of Cluny Arch-Bishop of Lyons sending him the Pall and the Ring which he received yet without accepting the dignity saying he would reserve it for him that should be chosen Arch-Bishop Berengarius a French-man Deacon of St. Maurice in Anjou was the Disciple of Fulbert He was the first that was accounted an Heretick for denying of Transubstantiation and troubled for the same In his days it was broached that the Bread of the Eucharist was the very body of Christ and the Wine his Blood substantially or properly Berengarius on the contrary taught that the Body of Christ is only in the Heavens and these Elements are the Sacraments of his Body and Blood Adelman Bishop of Brixia wrote unto him In the beginning he saluteth him as his holy and beloved Brother and Con-disciple under Fulbert Bishop of Chartres Then he sheweth he heard it reported that Berengarius did teach that the Body and Blood of Christ which are offered upon the Altar throughout the Earth are not the very Body and Blood of Christ but only a figure or certain similitude howbeit indeed Berengarius had said nothing so To the intent Adelman may bring his Brother from this opinion he entreateth him not to depart from the Doctrine of their Master Fulbert and of
the Catholick Church Then he appealeth to the testimony of Ambrose Augustine and Hierome who never taught the Doctrine of Transubstantiation He writeth also that the very Flesh and Blood of Christ was given unto the Apostles at the first Institution and are still given unto faithful Communicants Adelman enlarged much on this subject What answer Berengarius did return to him we find not But he wrote an Epistle to Lanfrank declaring the abuses of the Sacrament and commending the Book of John Scotus upon that question Occolampad Epist l. 3. And he wrote expresly that the Body of Christ is not in the Sacrament but as in a sign figure or mystery He spake also in his Preachings against the Romish Church in the Doctrine of Marriage and necessity of Baptism And Bellarmine witnesseth that Berengarius called the Church of Rome the malignant Church the Council of vanity and the seat of Satan and he called the Pope not Pontificem vel Episcopum sed pompificem Pulpificem It happened that Lanfrank was not at home and the Convent opened the Letter of Berengarius and sent it with a Clerk of Rhemes unto Pope Leo IX The Pope summoned a Synod at Verceles Berengarius was advised not to go himself to the Synod but send some Clerks in his name to answer for him The two Clerks were clapt in Prison Scotus was condemned 200 years after his death and the Doctrine of Berengarius was condemned yet nothing done against his Person at that time because many favoured him Lanfrank pleaded for him but he was commanded by the Pope to answer him under no less pain than to be reputed as great an Heretick as he Petries Ch. Hist Cent. 11. Lanfrank following the sway of the World for afterwards he was made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Willliam the Conquerour performed the charge Guitmund Bishop of Aversa wrote more bitterly and less truly against Berengarius Nevertheless Berengarius abode constant and was in great esteem both with the Nobility and People And therefore Pope Victor the second gave direction to the Bishops of France to take order with him The Pope's Ambassadours were present at the Council and Berengarius answered that he adhered to no particular opinion of his own but he followed the common Doctrine of the Universal Church that is saith he as the Fathers Primitive Church and Scriptures have taught This gentle answer mitigated the fury of his Adversaries yet he persisted in his own opinion and for this cause Lanfrank objected against him that he deluded the Council of Tours with general and doubtful words Du. Moul. Contr Perron li. 1. Afterwards Pope Nicholas the second hearing that he was honoured of many assembled a great Council against him at Rome of 113 Bishops where it was declared and pronounced That the Bread and Wine which is put upon the Altar after the Consecration is not only the Sacrament but also the true Body of our Lord Jesus Christ And that not only the Sacrament but the Body of the Lord is * It seems they meant sensibly sensually and in truth handled by the hands of the Priest broken and bruised by the teeth of the faithful When Berengarius with many Arguments defended that the Sacrament to speak properly was the figure of Christ 's body and Cardinal Albericus who was nominated to dispute against him could not by voice resist him Sigon de reg Ital li. 9. and neither of the two would yield unto the other Alhericus sought the space of seven days to answer in writing And at last when disputation could not prevail against him he was commanded to recant or else he must expect to be burnt They prescribed to him a form of Recantation of his errour as they called it Gratian de consecrat dist 2. The Recantation was penned by Cardinal Humbert and is registred by Gratian. Nevertheless the words of the Recantation are far from Transubstantiation These are the words so far as they concern our present purpose Massons Annal. Franc. li. 3. faithfully translated I Berengarius do consent to the Apostolick and Roman See and with my Mouth and Heart confess that the Bread and Wine laid on the Altar after the Consecration are not only the Sacrament but the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus and sensibly not only in Sacrament but in truth are handled with the hands of the Priest broken and chewed with the hands and Teeth of the faithful John Semeca the Glossator of the Decrees expresly condemneth the words of this Recantation and saith If thou understandest not the words of Berengarius soundly thou shalt fall into a greater Heresie than he did for we break not Christ 's body into pieces nisi in speciebus Usser de success Eccles Berengarius returning home returned also to his former Doctrine and wrote in defence of it Some have written that Berengarius denyed the Baptism of Infants But Arch-Bishop Vsher saith that in so many Synods held against him we never find any such thing laid to his charge Illyricus gives this Character of him Tempore Leonis noni circa 1049. Berengarius Vir pietate eruditione Clarus Andegavensis Ecclesiae Diaconus quum videret Pontificios Doctores quam plurimos ingenti fastu Transubstantiationis fundamenta sternere quod mentem Augustini aliorum Veterum non intelligerent Vid. Thevet vies des hommes Illustres li. 3. sed Sacramentales Hyperbolicas nonnullas locutiones ad novum sensum inducendum detorquerent veram sententiam ex Orthodoxo consensu repetitam his corruptelis opposuit verbo Dei Testimoniisque Veterum Theologorum refellere conatus est scriptis etiam evulgatis libris ut pii in vera Doctrinâ confirmarentur Catal. Test Verit. lib. 22. Berengarius dyed holding his first Doctrine at Tours in the Isle of St. Cosina and was buried at St. Martins where his Tomb was reared and Hildebert Bishop of Caenoman and then of Tours and made his Epitaph which William of Malmesbury hath set down And this is a part of it Quem modò miratur semper mirabitur orbis Ille Berengarius non obiturus obit Guil. Malmsb. de Gest Anglor li. 3. Quem sacrae fidei vestigia summa tenentem Huic jam quinta dies abstulit ausa nefas Illa dies damnosa dies perfida mundo Quâ dolor rerum summa ruina fuit Quâ Status Ecclesiae quâ spes quâ gloria Cleri Quâ cultor juris jure ruente ruit Post obitum secum vivam precor ac requiescam Nec fiat melior sors mea sorte suâ Platina calleth Berengarius famous for learning and holiness He was a great friend to learning Platin. in vit Joann 15. and bred many Students of Divinity at his proper charge and by means of them his Doctrine was sowed through all France and the Countries adjacent This was matter unto his adversaries to envy him the more Albeit he did waver as
Peter did and although his Doctrine was so often condemned by the Popes yet it could not be rooted out of the minds of men for Matthew Paris writeth Math. Paris Hist Anglor Math. Westm that all France was affected with this Doctrine and Matthew of Westminster at the same time saith That the Doctrine of Berengarius had corrupted all the English Italian and French Nations So that the Berengarians that is the Preachers of the true Faith which the Romanists call Heresie against the rising errours did not lurk in a Corner Sigeb Gemblac Chroni And Sigebert in his Chronicle saith that there mere many disputations among divers persons both for him and against him both by word and by writing Thuan. Hist in Epist Dedicat. Thuanus also hath noted that in Germany were many of the same Doctrine and that Bruno Bishop of Trevers banished them all out of his Diocess but sparing their Blood And John Tossington a Franciscan in his confession set forth Anno 1380. saith thus The Heretical sentence which is raised of the dreams of Berengarius affirmeth openly that all the Fathers of the Church and Doctors of the second thousand years as they speak that is who have been within 380 years have been after the loosing of Satan and the Doctrine which we saith he hold to be the Faith of the Church Usher ca. 3. concerning the blessed Eucharist they say it is not right but an errour and heresie and the tares of Satan being let loose To defend the words of the former Recantation which was given in the Synod at Lateran unto Berengarius these flatterers of the Romish Idol have devised a new distinction of oral manducation viz. That oral eating is either visible or invisible And they called the opinion of eating Christ 's flesh visibly the errour of the Capernaites and they said the eating of Christ 's flesh with the mouth invisibly was the explication of Christ But the Fathers of higher antiquity condemned all oral eating as Capernaitism neither were the Capernaites so subtle as to make such distinctions yea surely Christ would have made his correction according to their errour Mark what St. Augustine saith August Tract 27 in Johan who abideth not in Christ and in whom Christ abideth not without all doubt he neither spiritually eateth Christ 's flesh nor drinketh his blood albeit carnally and visibly he with his teeth do press the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ And Tract 28. What is it They are Spirit and Life they are spiritually to be understood Understandest thou them spiritually they are Spirit and Life Understandest thou them carnally so also they are Spirit and Life but not to thee They understanding spiritual things carnally were scandalized Here St. Augustine opposeth carnal eating unto spiritual eating and he saith that carnally men eat not the flesh of Christ but the Sacrament of his flesh Philip the first succeeded his Father Henry This Henry had caused his Son Philip to be crowned King being but seven years old and gave him Baldwin Earl of Flanders for Tutor and Regent of the Realm He lived but a little time after his Son 's Coronation The King 's Minority passed quietly by the wise government of Baldwin who having accompanied his Pupil to the Age of 15 years dyeth and leaveth him his Realm in peace Baldwin left two Sons Baldwin and Robert with their Mother Richilde Then their Unckle Robert the Frison pretended the Inheritance to belong to him and supplanting his Nephews seizeth on the Earldom of Flanders and King Philip forsakes Baldwin's Children at their need forgetting the good Offices he had received from their Father Now William Duke of Normandy is received King of England and Crowned in a solemn Assembly of the English and homage is done unto him as their lawful Lord Anno 1066. He had encountred King Harold and overcome his Host in that place where afterward was builded the Abbey of Battle in Sussex The day after the Battle very early in the morning Odo Bishop of Baieux sung Mass for those that were departed being slain in the Battle Before this time Priests were forbidden to marry but could not be restrained from their liberty In the Year 1074. Pope Gregory VII otherwise Hildebrand in a Synod at Rome condemned all married Priests as Nicolaitans He directed his Bulls as they called them to Bishops Dukes and other Powers declaring every one to be no Priest that had a Wife His Bull was sent into Italy and Germany This Decree being proclaimed through all Italy he sent many Letters unto the French Bishops commanding that they should upon pain of an everlasting curse put away all the Women from the Houses of Priests But the residue of the Clergy stoutly withstood the Pope 's decree and would not agree thereunto Then there arose such a Schism in the Church that the people would not send their Priests unto the Bishops but did elect them among themselves and put them in Office without the knowledge of the Bishops And Nauclerus saith that both Priests and people did oppose the Pope 's decree and that not only in Germany but in France also Yea Gebuiler a late Papist testifieth that in those times 24 Bishops in Germany and France with their Clergy did constantly maintain the liberty of Priests marriage If other Nations had followed the like concord and constancy of these German and French Ministers the devilish decree of this Hildebrand had been avoided About this time at Nantes a Letter was presented unto a Clerk as directed from Hell in it Satan and all that fry gave thanks unto all the Popish Clergy Math. Paris Hist because they were not wanting to do their wills and pleasures and because by negligence of preaching they had sent so many souls to Hell as no Age preceding had seen so many After the death of Hildebrand Victor the third Abbot of Cassa was made Pope not by the Election of the Romans or Cardinals but was thrust in by the aid of his Harlot Mathilda and the Normans that were of his faction He being established began to defend Gregorie's pranks against the Emperour and others But the hastiness of his death shortned his malice When Gregory and Victor were dead the Bishops of Germany and France considering the calamities of the Church by that unhappy schism Avent Annal. li. 5. met at Gurstung to end the controversie There Conrade Bishop of Vtrecht made a long Oration in the Assembly The Papal party had chosen Gebhard Bishop of Salisburgh to speak in their name but when he heard the Oration of Conrade he would not open his mouth to speak on the contrary At length a Synod was convocated at Mentz whither came the Emperour the Electors and many Dukes Peter Bishop of Portua and Legate of Clemens and many Bishops of Germany and France There the faction of Hildebrand by common suffrage was condemned as contrary unto Christian piety and a decree was published
that all Christians should shun the company of those accursed persons Hildebert Arch-Bishop of Tours lived under Philip the first King of France At that time the Kings of France furnished the Churches with Pastors after the death of the Incumbent Then Hildebert approved the presentation made by the King to a certain Bishoprick of his Realm commending him in this manner I congratulate with vertue Review of the Counc of Trent p 295. that hath her reward under our King He hath found that the power of a King shines more bright by gifts and liberality than by the Scepter and that it is not sufficient for a Prince to stir up his Subjects to well-doing by Examples unless they be also provoked by rewards Hence it is that your good manners were honoured by a great Priesthood The disposition of the King was sound and prudent considering it could not better provide for the Church than by placing you in it At this time Ivo Arch-Bishop of Chartres in France after he was elected by the Clergy was presented to the same King Philip the first and received his Investiture and pastoral staff from him upon the refusal of the Arch-Bishop of Sens he was consecrated by the Pope whereat the said Arch-Bishop was highly offended insomuch that He with other Bishops at the Synod of Estampes were upon the point of revoking the said consecration made by the Pope as prejudicial to the King 's Authority See here what the same Bishop saith of it in a Letter unto Pope Vrban Moreover I give your Holiness to wit Ivo Epist 12. that the Arch-Bishop of Sens being infatuated by the Counsel of the Bishop of Paris having summoned the said Bishop of Paris and two others of the same humour viz. he of Meaux and He of Troyes did very indiscreetly accuse me this present Year because of the consecration which I had received from you saying that I had offended against the King's Majesty by attempting to receive my consecration from the See Apostolick This Vrban the second Ivo Epist 134. forbade the Bishops of France to Crown King Philip whom he had excommunicated but they were readier to obey their King 's commands than his prohibition In the Council of Clermont in France saith Matthew Paris held Anno 1094. Math. Paris in Will 2. Pope Vrban excommunicated Philip King of France And another English Authour saith Will. Malmsb. li. 4. In this Council the Pope excommunicated King Philip of France and all such as should call him their King or their Lord and which should obey him or speak unto him In like manner Ivo Bishop of Chartres speaks of them both By reason of this accusation King Philip was excommunicated by Pope Vrban at the Council of Clermont and having resumed the same Wife after he was divorsed from her he was afterwards excommunicated at the Council of Poictiers by the two Cardinals John and Bennet Notwithstanding which Excommunication he was Crowned by the Arch-Bishop of Tours in a full Assembly of other Bishops Know you therefore saith the same Bishop of Chartres in a Letter of his to Pope Vrban that contrary to the prohibition of your Legate Ivo Epist 28. ad Urban secund the Arch-Bishop of Tours hath set the Crown upon the Head of the King He speaks afterwards of the Election of a Bishop made at the same time by those who were assembled with the said Arch-Bishop In another Epistle written to the same Vrban he sheweth him how Philip had sent Ambassadours unto him with prayers in one hand and threats in the other such as these That the King and Kingdom would relinquish their obedience to him unless he did restore the King unto his Crown and absolve him from the sentence of Excommunication And afterwards he advertiseth him How the Arch-Bishop of Rhemes Sens and Tours had by injunction from the King appointed their suffragan Bishops to meet at Troyes the first Sunday after All-Saints day after he should have returned his Answer Whence we collect two things 1. That the Bishops of France did not cease to acknowledge their King nor to obey him and communicate with him notwithstanding the prohibition from the Council of Clermont 2. That they were very ready to put in Execution those threats which the Ambassadours went to make unto the Pope in case he did not condescend unto the King's pleasure The same Ivo complains of the Pope's Legate because he had chosen the City of Bloyes there to decide the cause of the Clergy of Chartres who could not repair thither with safety by reason of the populousness of that City The same Bishop having a controversie with some of his Clergy depending before the Arch-Bishop of Sens his Metropolitan intreats him to appoint a place for Judgement whither they might go and come in safety The Legate fore-mentioned having appointed a Council consisting of French Bishops to meet at Sens for the absolution of King Philip the first from the Excommunication which was darted out against him by the Pope by reason of his unlawful marriage he gives him notice that he might have done better to have proceeded to that absolution in another place than Sens Ivo Epist 166. that so every one might have had means to speak his opinion freely Idem Epist 116. The same Bishop of Chartres continuing his devotion to Pope Vrban upon the Election of an Arch-Bishop of Rhemes assureth the Pope that one was chosen who was very zealous for the See Apostolick adding afterwards No whow necessary is it for the Church of Rome to place in that See a Minister which is devout and affectionate unto her it is not for me to inform your Wisdom which knows very well that this See wears the Royal Diadem and serves for a pattern to all other Churches of France either of Ruine or Resurrection This Ivo of Chartres although he had received his Investiture from King Philip yet inasmuch as he had gotten his confirmation from Pope Vrban he was always affectionate to him and the Roman See even to the prejudice of the King and Kingdom as may be collected from some of his Epistles Lup. Epist 40. On the contrary because Lupus had gotten the Abbey of St. Peter de Ferriers in the Diocess of Sens by the donation of Charles the bald he was always loyal and even brags of it in one of his Epistles It happened that there came a French Pilgrim to Jerusalem called Peter an Hermit Tho. Fuller Hist of the holy War lib. 1. ca. 8. born at Amiens in France one of a contemptible person yet a man of a quick apprehension and eloquent Tongue and one that was counted very Religious With him Simon the Patriarch of Jerusalem often treated concerning the present miseries of the Christians under the Turks what hope of amendment and how the matter might be secretly contrived that the Princes in Europe might assist and relieve them Peter moved with the Patriarch 's perswasions the
Church from the sole of the Foot to the Head the Bride was spoiled and even they that were called the Bridegrooms of the Church were not the friends of the Bridegroom And the Council so far took with this rebuke that some Acts were made for Reformation though no reformation followed About that time had been started that opinion concerning the Virgin Mary viz. of Universal freedom from original sin which opinion had been in the minds only of some private persons but yet was not come among the ceremonies of the Church nor into the minds of the learned About the year 1136. the Chanons of Lyons durst first bring it into the service of the Church St. Bernard flourishing at that time for piety and learning before all the Divines of that Age and so immoderate in the praises of the blessed Virgin that he calleth her the neck of the Church as if by her all Grace did flow from the Head nevertheless he sharply writeth against these Chanons that without reason and without example of former times they had brought in so dangerous a novelty He confesseth that they had matter enough to commend the blessed Virgin but such ambitious novelty which is the mother of fondness the sister of superstition and daughter of levity he saith could not please her Recentissimus est vixitque post confirmatam Episcopi Romani Tyrannidem Cham. de Oecum Pontif. Bernard dyed in the 63. year of his Age Anno 1153. From erring Bernard that frequent proverb of writers erring drew it's Original Bernardus non vidit omnia neither is it a wonder seeing he flourished in the darkest midnight as it were of Popery He is much commended by divers learned Protestants as by Bishop Morton Bishop Carleton Carlet Consens â—â—cles contr Trident. l. 6. Hist Pelag. li. ca. 21. Vossius and others He hath solidly disputed concerng the chief Heads of Faith of the Scriptures of the Church of the misery of man of free justification of grace of new obedience with the Catholick Church against the Tridentine Fables so that nothing can be found more solid In the Council of Rhemes forementioned where were assembled 434 Prelats these five principal acts were concluded 1. That no Man should either buy or sell any Bishoprick Abbotship Fox Act and Monum Deanry Arch Deaconship Priesthood Prebendship Altar or any Ecclesiastical promotion or Benefice Orders Consecration Church-hallowing Seat or Stall within the Quire or any Office Ecclesiastical under pain of Excommunication if he did persist 2. That no Lay-person should give Investiture or any Ecclesiastical possession and that no spiritual man should receive any such at any Lay-man's hand under pain of deprivation 3. That no man should invade take away or detain the goods or possessions of the Church but that they should remain firm and perpetual under pain of perpetual curse 4. That no Bishop or Priest should have any Ecclesiastical Dignity or benefice to any by way of inheritance Adding moreover that for Baptism Chrism Anointing Burial no Money should be exacted 5. Item That all Priests Deacons and Sub-Deacons should be utterly debarred and sequestred from company of their Wives and Concubines under pain of excluding from all Christian Communion The Acts thus determined were sent soon after to Henry the Emperour to try before the breaking up of the Council whether he would agree to the Canonical Elections free consecration and investing of spiritual persons and to other Acts of the said Council The Emperour maketh answer that he would lose nothing of that Antient Custom which his Progenitors had given him Yet because of the authority of the general Council he was content to consent to the residue save only the investing of Ecclesiastical function to be taken from him unto that he would never agree Upon this at the next return of the Pope to the Council Henry the Emperour was excommunicated In the Year 1142. Pope Eugenius came to Paris where that he might usurp the right of investiture and deprive the King of it he gave the Arch-Bishoprick of Bourges to his Chancellour of the Apostolical Chancery named Peter Aimery without the consent of King Lewes a Prince very much given to obedience unto the Papal See Yet the King was so angry at it that he swore upon the Holy Relicks that never so long as he lived Aimery should set his foot in Bourges But the Pope knowing the King 's timerous nature excommunicated him put his person in interdict and gave order that in France in all places where the King came divine Service should cease and all his Court were deprived of the Communion This lasted three whole years till St. Bernard came to the King and perswaded him to receive the said Arch-Bishop But because by so doing the King brake his Oath made upon the Holy Relicks he was enjoyned for satisfaction to take a Journey to the Holy Sepulchre in Syria to fight against the Saracens In which Journey the King lost the flower of the French Nobility and returned afflicted and full of confusion as you shall see more hereafter Peter Bishop of Clugny was in great account with Pope Eugenius Bernard wrote many Epistles to him in one Epistle he calleth him a Vessel of Honour full of Grace and Truth and endued with many gifts The loss of Edessa wherein Christianity had flourished ever since the Apostles times moved Conrade Emperour of the West and Lewes VII sir-named the young King of France to undertake a Voyage to the Holy Land Pope Eugenius III. bestirred himself in the matter and made St. Bernard stis solicitour to advance the design The Emperour's Army contained two hundred thousand foot besides fifty thousand Horse nor was the Army of King Lewes much inferiour in number Paul Aemil. in Lud. VII In France they sent a Distaff and a Spindle to all those that went not with them as upbraiding their effeminateness But by the way the Grecian Emperour did them all possible mischief by mingling lime with their meal by killing of straglers by holding intelligence with the Turks their enemies by corrupting his Coyn so that the Dutch sold good Wares for bad Money and bought bad Wares with good Money by giving them false conductors which trained them into danger so that there was more fear of the guides than of the way The King of France followed after the Emperour and drank of the same Cup at the Grecians hands though not so deeply till at last finding that those who marched through the Continent met with an Ocean of misery he thought better to trust the Wind and the Sea than the Greeks and taking shipping safely arrived in Palestine where he was welcomed by Reimund Prince of Antioch Some weeks were spent in entertainment and visiting holy places till at last Tho. Fuller holy War lib. 2. Elianor Wife to the King of France who accompanied her Husband made Religion her Pander and plaid Bankrupt of her honour under pretence of Pilgrimage keeping
King Richard took Messana by assault seized on most Forts in the Island Tankred gave to our King what rich conditions soever he demanded to pacifie him Worse discords daily encreased betwixt the Kings of England and France King Richard slighting the King of France his Sister whom he had promised to marry King Philip hasted presently to Ptolemais Richard followed with more leisure and took Cyprus in his way Cursac reigned then in Cyprus who killed the English that landed there But King Richard speedily over-ran the Island bound Cursac with silver fetters The Island he pawned to the Templars for ready money and there took to Wife his beloved Lady Beringaria Daughter to the King of Navarr The City of Ptolemais was taken the Houses which were left with the spoil and Prisoners were equally divided betwixt Philip and Richard Here the English cast down the Ensigns of Leopold Duke of Austria who had fought so long in assaulting this City till his Armour was all over gore-blood save the place covered with his belt But King Richard afterward paid dearly for it King Richard caused seven thousand of his Turkish Prisoners to be put to death and Saladine in revenge put as many of our Captives to death But the French King reserving his Prisoners alive exchanged them to ransom so many Christians Philip the French King Odo Duke of Burgundy Duke Leopold most of the Dutch all the Genoans and Templars side with King Conrade King Richard Henry Count of Champaigne the Hospitallers Venetians and Pisans take part with King Guy But King Conrade's side was much weakned by the departure of the French King About that time Conrade King of Jerusalem was murdered in the Market-place of Tyre Now King Guy exchanged his Kingdom of Jerusalem for the Island of Cyprus which he had redeemed from the Templars to whom he had pawned it Henry of Champaign was chosen King by the procurement of King Richard who after many notable exploits done in Palestine and a peace made with Saladine in his return passing through Germany in a disguise was taken Prisoner in Austria sold and sent by Duke Leopold to Henry the Emperour At last he was ransomed for an hundred and forty thousand marks a sum so vast in that Age that to raise it in England they were forced to sell their Church-plate to their very Chalices After this Money Peter of Blois made an Apostrophe to the Duke or Emperour sending this good prayer Bibe nunc Avaritia Dum puteos argenteos Larga diffundit Anglia Tua tecum pecunia Sit in perditionem And now thou basest Avarice Drink till thy Belly burst Whilst England pours large silver showers To satiate thy Thirst And this we pray Thy Money may And thou be like accurst King Richard after eighteen Months imprisonment returned into England And in Austria the Duke with his Money built the Walls of Vienna But God punished the Dominions of Leopold with fire and water and by famine for the Ears of Wheat turned into Worms A Gangreen seized on the Duke's body who cut off his Leg with his own hand and dyed thereof who by his Will caused some thousand Crowns to be restored again to King Richard Soon after Henry King of Jerusalem as he was walking in his Palace fell down out of a Window and broke his neck Roger Hoveden tells us that near about this time there was in the City of Tholouse a great number of Men and Women whom the Pope's Commissioners viz. Peter Cardinal of St. Chrysogon and the Pope's Legate with the Arch-Bishops of Narbon and Biturium Reginald Bishop of Bathe John Bishop of Pictavia Henry Abbot of Clareval c. did persecute and condemn for Hereticks of whom some were scourged naked some chased away some compelled to abjure Now sprang up the Doctrine and name of them which were then called Pauperes de Lugduno which of one Waldus a chief Senator in Lyons were named Waldenses they were also called Leonistae Insabbatati about the year of our Lord 1170. It happened on a day as divers of the principal men of the City assembled together consulted upon divers matters that one of the company fell down and dyed suddenly the rest of the company looking on This Waldus being terrified at the sight of it was converted and presently reformed his Life He ministred of his Goods large Alms to the Poor he purchased a Bible studied the Scriptures instructed himself and his Family with the true knowledge of God's word He admonished all that resorted to him to repentance and amendment of Life He gave out to them that were ready to learn certain rudiments of the Scripture which himself had translated into the French Tongue for he was both Wealthy and Learned The Popish Prelates threatned to excommunicate him but he neglecting their threatnings said God must be obeyed rather than Man At length they drave both Waldus and all his adherents out of the City The Articles of the Waldenses I find in order and number to be these 1. That only the Holy Scripture is to be believed in matters pertaining to Salvation c. 2. All things to be contained in Holy Scripture necessary to Salvation 3. That there is one only Mediator that other Saints are in no wise to be made Mediators or to be invocated 4. They rejected purgatory asserting that all men either by Christ are justified to Life or without Christ be condemned and besides these two neither any third or fourth place to be 5. That all Masses viz. such as be sung for the dead be wicked and are to be abrogate 6. That all Mens Traditions are to be rejected at least not to be reputed as necessary to Salvation c. That constrained Fasts difference of Meats such variety of degrees and orders of Priests Fryars Monks and Nuns superfluous Holy-days so many sundry benedictions and hallowing of Creatures vows peregrinations with all the Rabblement of Rites and Ceremonies to be abolished 7. The supremacy of the Pope usurping above all Churches and especially above all politick Realms and Governments not to be acknowledged neither that any degree is to be received in the Church but only Bishops Priests and Deacons 8. The Communion under both kinds to be necessary to all people according to the Institution of Christ 9. That the Church of Rome is Babylon spoken of in the Revelation and the Pope is Antichrist 10. They reject the Pope's pardons and indulgences 11. They hold the Marriage of Priests and Ecclesiastical persons to be pious and necessary in the Church 12. That such as hear the Word of God and have a right Faith are the true Church of Christ John Arch-Bishop of Lyons excommunicated Waldus and all his followers They were dispersed into divers places of whom many remained long in Bohemia who writing to their King Vladislaus to purge themselves against the slanderous accusations of one Doctor Austin gave up their confession with an Apology for their Christian profession defending with strong and
Engine had his Head parted from his body Some conceived they saw God's finger in the Womans hand that because the greater part of his cruelty lighted on the weaker Sex for he had buried the Lady La Vaur alive respecting neither her Sex nor Nobility a Woman was chosen out to be his Executioner He dyed even then when the Pope and three Councils of Vaur Lateran and Montpelier had pronounced him Son Servant favourite of the Faith the invincible defender thereof Among other of his stiles he was Earl of Leicester in England and Father to Simon Montfort the Cataline of this Kingdom See Camden in Leicester-shire also in Worcester-shire who under pretence of curing this Land of some grievances had killed it with his Physick had he not been killed himself in the battle of Evesham in the Reign of King Henry the third Here ended the storm of open War against the Albigenses though some great drops fell afterward And the Pope grew sensible of many mischiefs in prosecuting this people with the Holy War Perin de Albigensib li. 2. ca. 4. Three hundred thousand of these croised Pilgrims lost their lives in this expedition within the space of fifteen years so that there was neither City nor Village in France but by reason hereof had Widows and Orphans cursing this expedition The Pope therefore now resolves upon a privater way namely to prosecute them by way of Inquisition The chief promoter of that War was Dominick the Authour of the Order of the Dominicans His Mother being with child of him dreamed that she had a dog vomiting fire in her Womb. Du. Moul. Contr Perron l. 7. This ignivomus Cur as one calleth him did bark at and deeply bite the poor Albigenses who put above two hundred thousand of them to death Almerick for his laziness was deposed by the Pope and John Bren was made King of Jerusalem In the beginning of his Reign this accident fell out In France a Boy for his years went about singing in his own Tongue Jesus Lord repair our loss Restore to us thy Holy Cross Numberless Children ran after him and followed the same tune their Captain and chanter did set them No bolts no bars no fear of Fathers nor love of Mothers could hold them back but they would to the Holy Land to work wonders there but this merry musick had a sad close all either perishing on Land Math. Paris p. 324. or being drown'd by Sea Mathew Paris saith it was done by the instinct of the Devil King Lewes VIII having compounded with Almery the Son of Simon Earl of Montfort for Languedoc resolves to unite this rich Province to the Crown To this end he levies a great Army fortified with cruel Edicts against the Albigenses as Hereticks and Rebels Count Reymund submits himself to Pope Honorius and yieldeth to Lewes and perswades the Earl of Cominges to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people and go to Rome leaving the poor Albigenses to the mercy of Lewes who presently subdues all Languedoc and Provence The House of Montlor one of the greatest in the County of Vivaret having followed the Albigenses party makes his peace by means of the Town of Argentiere given to the Bishop of Viviers who enjoyeth it to this day Many Families were made desolate These poor miserable people were dispersed here and there and such as remained in the Country were forced to acknowledge the Pope's Authority Lewes ordered the Marshal Foy of the house of Mirepois to command his Forces leaving the Lord of Beaujeu for Governour and Lieutenant-General of Languedoc All this mischief was contrived by the Pope who had sent his Legat into France Fox Act. monum Vol. 1. to summon a Council at Biture whither the King with six Arch-Bishops and the Bishops and Suffragans of nine Provinces repaired to the number of an hundred besides the Abbots Priors and Proctors of all the Covents of France Having dispatch'd the business of Earl Reymund and the Albigenses the event whereof hath been before declared Romanus the Pope's Legate gave leave to all Proctors of Covents and Chapters to return home only retaining with him the arch-Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots to whom he opened another part of his Commission which was to obtain of every Cathedral Church two Prebend-ships one for the Bishop the other for the Chapter And in Monasteries also after the like sort where the Abbot and Covent had divers and several portions to require two Churches one for the Abbot the other for the Covent keeping this proportion that how much should suffice for the living of one Monk so much the whole Covent should find for their part and as much the Abbot for his likewise The Clergy of France answered that the thing he enterprized could not be brought to effect without great offence taken and inestimable damage to the Church of France In conclusion when the matter came to debating with the Legat the objections of the inferiour Clergy were these following 1. They alledged the great damages and expences Math. Paris which they were like to sustain thereby by reason of the continual procurators of the Pope which in every Diocess must live not of their own but must be sustained upon the charges of the Cathredral Churches and other Churches also and many times they being but procurators will be found as Legats 2. By that means they said great perturbations might ensue to the Covents and Chapters of Cathedral Churches in their elections Forasmuch as the Pope's Agents and Factors being in every Cathedral Church and Chapter-house perchance the Pope would command him in his person to be present at their elections and so might trouble the same by delaying and deferring till it might fall to the Court of Rome to give and so should be placed more of the Pope's Clientele in the Churches of France than of the proper Inhabitants of the Land 3. By this means they affirmed that all they in the Court of Rome should be richer and receive more for their proportion than the King of the Realm by means whereof the Court of Rome would delay and drive off great suits and would scarce take any pains with small causes Thus would Justice be turned aside and poor suitors should dye at the gates of Rome and for the better speeding of their causes they thought seeing it was meet they should have friends in the Court of Rome by keeping them needy their gifts might be the sweeter and their causes sooner dispatched 4. Seeing it is impossible that the Fountain of greedy desires should be stopped it was to be feared that either they would do that by others which they were wont to do by themselves or else they should be enforced to give greater rewards than before for small gifts with great Rich Men are little regarded 5. Whereas the removing away the slander was alledged which goeth on the Court of Rome by this means rather the contrary were to be
feared wherein that sentence was alledged Quòd virtus reddit non copia sussicientem Et non paupertas sed mentis hiatus egentem That great riches stop not the taking of much but a mind contented with a little 6. They added that great riches would cause factions among the Romans and taking of sides and parties so that by great possessions sedition might follow to the ruine of the City 7. That though they would oblige themselves to that contribution yet their Successours would not be so bound nor yet ratifie that bond of theirs 8. They desired the Legat that the zeal of the Universal Church and of the Church of Rome would move him for if this oppression of the Church should be Universal it were to be doubted lest an Universal departing might follow from the Church of Rome which God forbid said they should happen The Legat hereat excused himself that he being in the Court never agreed to this exaction and that the Letters came not to him before he was in France and as for him he would stir no more in the matter before it were proved what other Countries would say and do therein King Lewes passing with a great Host by Bourges and Nevers marched to Lyons and from Lyons to Avignon which for disobedience to the Church of Rome had stood accursed by the Pope for seven years The Citizens of Avignon shut their gates against the King and his Army not suffering them to come within the City Wherefore the King assaulted the City Fabian's chronic and lost there many of his Men among which Guy Earl of St. Paul and the Bishop of Lemerick and others to the number of two and twenty thousand there were slain In the end they submitting to the King's pleasure and the correction of the Pope an agreement was made and the King and his Army were received into the City and the Citizens received absolution from the Pope's Legate King Lewes to avoid the pestilence that was in his Camp went into an Abbey not far off where shortly after he dyed and was carried to Paris where he was interred Anno 1226. Near unto this time Gulielmus de Alta Petra Bishop of Paris wrote a Book de Clero wherein he thus speakerh of the Clergy of his time No godliness or Learning is seen in them but rather all devilish filthiness and monstrous vices they are not the Church but Babylon and Egypt and Sodom the Popish Prelats build not the Church but destroy it they mock God and they and their Priests do prophane the body of Christ they lift up to the Heavens with all manner of Ecclesiastical honour the limbs of the Devil in a word they bring Lucifer into the Church of Christ He taught also that there is no Law belonging to the salvation of man but the Gospel of Christ King Lewes IX called St. Lewes succeedeth his Father in the Kingdom of France being but twelve years old and was Crowned at Rhemes There is extant a constitution of this King Lewes bearing date Anno 1228. sub Tit. de Taliis wherein he regrateth the Avarice of Popes saying that exactions and grievous burthens of Moneys are laid on the Churches of our Kingdoms by the Court of Rome whereby the Kingdom is miserably exhausted We will therefore that these be levied upon no condition nor gathered except only for a reasonable pious and most urgent necessity and by our express and willing consent and with the consent of the Church it self of our Kingdom At that time the Senate of Paris did present unto John Santroman the King's Advocate the Pope's Bull to be read and answered He replyed saying The greatest confusion of all things would arise upon the accepting of that Bull for by authority of such in former times the French people had in great numbers gone out of the Kingdom to Rome of whom some became slaves or clients to the Cardinals and some living more liberally had idly wasted their Patrimony Brut. Fulmen ex Chronic. Britan. Armoric li. 4. and others in the City or by the way had perished with the badness of the Air and frequent pestilence and so France was exhausted of Subjects especially of Learned men He sheweth also how vast sums of Moneys were carried away for vacancies ad Advouzons of Bishopricks and Abbeys and other Titles in the Church so that sometimes ten or twelve Bulls were sold for one Priesthood And if this custom shall continue saith he it shall come to pass that who hath any store of Moneys will send to Rome and buy a Priesthood unto his Son or Cousin The Rector of the University of Paris spake to the same purpose and having protested at length against the Bull he appealeth from the iniquity thereof to the next Council The Pope's Legate having raised an immense sum of Money in France Lewes prohibited that the Money which was yet in France should be delivered to the Pope's Assigns or transported out of the Kingdom King John Bren resigneth the Kingdom of Jerusalem to Frederick the second Emperour There was also a Peace with the Turks concluded for eight years John got now more in a twelve-month than in seven years before P. Aemil. in Phil. 2. going from Country to Country In France besides rich gifts left to himself he had the managing of sixty thousand Crowns the Legacy which Philip Augustus the King on his Death-bed bequeathed to the Templars and the Holy War In England he received many presents from King Henry III. though afterward he proved but unthankful for them Math. Paris p. 627. In Spain he got a rich Wife marrying Beringaria the Daughter of the King of Castile In Italy he tasted largely of the Pope's bounty but at last perfidiously raised rebellions against Frederick his Son-in-Law by the Pope's instigation It is conceived that the Pope provided that match for Frederick to employ him in Palestine whilst he at home might play his game at pleasure Frederick recovereth all Palestine and Jerusalem without expence of time or blood and concluded a ten years truce with the Sultan without the Pope's consent And on Easter-day tryumphantly entring Jerusalem crowned himself King with his own hands For Gerard Patriarch of Jerusalem and Oliver Master of the Templars with all the Clergy absented themselves neither was there any Mass sung in the City so long as the Emperour being excommunicated remained there In the Interim the Christians every where build and repair the Cities of Palestine being now resigned into their hands Joppa and Nazareth they strongly fortified the Walls of Jerusalem were repaired the Churches adorned But short were the smiles of this City which groaning under God's old curse little joyed her self in this her new bravery About the year 1232. the Greeks recover their Empire from the Latines who had made an hard shift to hold Constantinople almost sixty years under five succeeding Emperours 1. Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders 2. Henry his Brother 3. Peter Count
recommending different persons The Princes finding all their intercessions ineffectual returned as they came leaving the whole business to the Cardinals In the first assembly after the Kings were departed John Cardinal of Porto observing the pertinacity of the Cardinals whilst they were together invocating the Holy Ghost cryed out publickly and with a loud voice My Lords let us uncover the Roof of this Chamber perhaps the Holy Spirit will not come where we are thorow so many Roofs It would be necessary to have a Holy Ghost for every one seeing there is no two will agree The Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles because they were met together with one mind but how can we expect him that are so strangely divided At length the Cardinals being weary of going up and down to the places of their Assemblies and doubting by their delay to bring in some new schism into the Church two thirds of the Cardinals agreed in the Election of Tibaldo Visconte a Milanese Arch-Deacon of Lodi who was called Gregory the tenth not yet return'd from his Voyage into Asia whither he was sent by Innocent IV. upon whose Election Cardinal Giovanni del Porto made these Verses Papatûs munus tulit Archidiaconus unus Quem Patrem Patrum fecit discordia fratrum The Cardinals at odds and out of hope Arch-Deacon Tibald was created Pope Gregory endeavouring to make peace between the Genoans and Venetians who had been at Wars one with another for several years together went into France in the year 1273. where he gave beginning to the Council of Lyons Philip King of France was present at that Council with an infinite number of Noble and Learned persons both French and English He called four Bishops from Germany four from England four from France two from Spain from Sicily from the Kingdom of the Church Hungary Dacia Bohemia Poland Sweden Spottiswood Hist of Ch. of Scotland lib. 2. Norway and Scotland from each of these one There were two Patriarchs fifteen Cardinals five hundred Bishops and one thousand mitred Prelates besides the King of France the Emperour of Greece and many other Princes 1. In this Council the first proposition was for the Holy War and for it they decree that a tenth part of all Benefices in Christendom the priviledged Churches not excepted should be paid for six years That all Penitentiaries or Confessors should urge offenders to assist that holy business with their wealth and riches and that every Christian without exception of Sex or Quality should pay a penny yearly during that space under pain of Excommunication 2. For remedying abuses in the Church it was ordained Petr. Church Hist Cent. 13. 1. That no procurations to Bishops nor Arch-Deacons should be paid unless they do visit the Churches in their own persons 2. No Church-man should possess more Benefices than one and should reside at the Church he retaineth 3. None of the Clergy shall without the Pope's license answer the impositions which shall be laid upon them by any Prince or State 4. The mendicant Fryars shall be reduced to four Orders the Minorites Predicants Carmelites and Hermites of St. Augustine who shall continue in their present Estate until the Pope shall otherwise think good 5. A prohibition was made to admit or advise any new order besides these named Here also was decreed the Union of the Greek and Latin Church and the peace betwixt the Princes of Christendom But many of these Statutes in a short time turned into smoak pluralities being of new dispensed with the clause of non obstante which then first came in use The Orders of Fryars and Monks were restored one by one The Cistertians redeemed their liberty by payment of 500000 Marks The Bernardines paid 600000 Crowns and other Orders made their composition Whereby it appeareth that the Statutes which were enacted were only devised to raise sums of Money and not of any purpose to redress their abuses This Pope advanced the Dominicans highly even to the wearing of red hats In that Council of Lyons Canons were made for the manner of electing the Pope for from Sylvester's time unto this Gregory's Popedom they were not used to be shut up in a conclave but if they were in Rome the Electors met either in the Church of St. John Lateran or of St. Peter or in some other place as occasion offered if they were out of Rome they met in the Cathedral of the place where they were or in some other Church more convenient But the Electors many times regarded not expedition in their Elections of the Pope Hist of Cardinals part 3. lib. 1. whilst they had liberty to command to go and come as they thought fit therefore the invention of the conclave by Gregory was rationally thought very good and necessary There were likewise established by the said Gregory several Laws and Orders for the conclave which were afterwards by several Popes reduced into better form till that in process of time they were reduced into that which I shall insert in this place The principal Laws which are usually observed in the Creation of the Pope 1. That the Election be made in a proper and convenient place and ordinarily there where the last Pope dyed If that cannot commodiously be done let it be made in that City to whose jurisdiction that place doth belong provided it be not under interdiction for in that case they are to chuse another City in the same Diocess or at least not far off c. 2. That after the death of the Pope there shall be no discourse of the Election of a Successour till ten days be past in which time the absent Cardinals are to be expected and the nine days obsequies for the deceased Pope be celebrated with due respect by all the Cardinals that are present in the place 3. That no absent Cardinal shall send his Vote in any manner whatsoever by which it is intended they shall be deprived of their Voice as often as they are absent from the Election 4. That the nine days ceremony for the death of the Pope being over the Mass Dello Spirito santo solemnly said and the prayer de eligendo Pontifice recited let all the Cardinals which are present in the palace which shall be called the Conclave which is to be in a secure place close in all parts and well guarded be shut in with two or three servants only for their necessities Let it not be lawful for any to enter after the conclave is shut up nor for any to come forth except in the case of infirmity And if any be obliged to go in or out let it be by consent of the whole Colledge Nor is this conclave to have any Wall or partition to distinguish one chamber from another but let there be certain traverses of Linnen or cloath to divide their Lodgings and they to be given to the Cardinals by lot to prevent all controversies for place 5. That it be not only unlawful to Elect those
all that hath been done And whosoever believeth otherwise We judge them Hereticks Given at Lateran the fourth of the Nones of December in the sixth year of our Popedom Unto this Letter of the Pope King Philip makes Answer in manner as followeth Philip by the Grace of God King of France to Boniface calling himself the Soveraign Bishop little or no health Let thy foolishness know that in Temporal things we are subject to no Man and that the Gifts of Prebends and Benefices made and to be made by Vs were and shall be good both in time past and to come and that We will defend manfully the possessour of the said Benefices and We think them that believe or think otherwise fools and mad-men Given at Paris the Wednesday after Candlemas Anno 1301. After these and other Writings had passed to and fro between the French King and the Pope within a year and an half after the King summoneth a Parliament sending down his Letters to his Sheriffs and other Officers to summon the Prelates and Barons of the Realm unto the said Court of Parliament according to the Tenour of the King's Letters Patents Then William Nagaretta Knight and professour of the Laws Vid. Fox Act Monum Tom. 1. p. 448. made a large Declaration and appeal against Pope Boniface VIII at Paris before the King and his Council He taxeth Boniface to be an Intruder into the Papacy that entring not in at the door he is to be judged a Thief and a Robber He declares him to be guilty of many Heresies and to be an horrible Simoniack He chargeth him with cursing and blasphemy a blood-thirsty man a destroyer of the Churches one that is very greedy after gold and rooted in all sins that he is the Abomination of Desolation described by Daniel the Prophet Then he thus speaks to King Philip I beseech you my Lord and King that you would declare thus much to the Prelates Doctors People and Princes your Brethren in Christ and chiefly to the Cardinals and all Prelates and call a Council In the which when the aforesaid Boniface is condemned by the worthy Cardinals the Church may be provided of a Pastor And I beseech and require the said Cardinals by you and I require them and the Church of God that this wicked Man being put in prison the Church of Rome may be provided of a Vicar which may minister those things that shall appertain until the Church of God be provided of a Bishop utterly to take away all occasion of Schism After this protestation of Nagaretta immediately ensued the Appeal of the King pronounced and published against the said Boniface The manner and form is set down at large by Mr. Fox Act Monum Tom. 1. p. 449. 450. This was done Anno 1303. Indictione prima June 13. on the 14 th day of the same Month of June the aforesaid King Philip being present and also the Lords Arch Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors and many witnesses being present William of Plesiano Knight objected propounded affirmed and read out of a certain paper which he held in his hand divers Articles against Pope Boniface to the number of thirty charging him with denying the immortality of the Soul with asserting that Whoredom is no sin charging him with Witch-craft Simony Sodomy Murther Oppression Bribery Adultery and many other detestable sins These things being thus read and done King Philip answered and his Appeal is as followeth We Philip by the Grace of God hearing and understanding the Objections propounded by our beloved and faithful Knight W. of Nagaretta against Boniface having now the Regiment of the Romish Church c. We earnestly beseech and require in the Bowels of Jesus Christ you arch-Arch-Bishops and other Prelates here present as Children of the Church and pillars of the Faith that you would labour the calling and assembling of a Council in which We intend to be personally present c. Then the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots and Priors answered the premisses provoked and Appealed c. And made an Appellation Agreement and protestation as was contained in a certain paper there openly and plainly read in Tenour and Form following We Arch-Bishops of Nicosen Remen Senorem Narbon and Bishops of Landviren Belnacen Carolacen Antisidore Meldimen Nurmen Chartres Orleans Anjou Constance with many others And we Abbots of Clugny Proemonstrator of the greater Monastery of the Court of St. Denis in France St. Victor St. Genoveue St. Martin c. and Fryar Hugh Visitor of the Houses of the Order of Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in France and the Father Prior of St. Martin in the fields c. Hearing these things which were said propounded and objected yesterday and to day by you the Lords Earls and Wil. aforesaid against Pope Boniface VIII c. We answer you our Lord and King and you our Lords Earls and William that the Honour and Reverence of the Holy Romish Church salved in all points we agree to your due Request in this behalf for the calling of the Council and are ready to assist to the calling together of the said Council according to the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and to the lawful Orders of the Canons not intending by any means to make parties of this matter nor to stick to any that maketh parties And lest we should be hindred by any means by the said Boniface by Excommunication suspension interdiction deposing deprivation c. And that we may sit in the same Council to judge and do all other things that belong to the Office of Prelates that We our friends our subjects Parish-Churches c. may remain safe We provoke and Appeal in Writing to the aforesaid Council that is to be gathered and to him that shall be the true and lawful highest Bishop and to him or them to whom of right we should Appeal and do earnestly require our Appellations committing us our parish-Parish-Churches and them that stick to us our state and theirs c. to the godly defence of the aforesaid Council and of him that shall be true and lawful highest Bishop And we protest to renew this Appellation where when and before whom it shall be thought meet This was done at Paris at Lupara in the Chamber of the King many Lords and Earls Knights and Clerks and others being Witnesses After these things thus in the Parliament decreed and agreed the Prelates consulting with themselves what to do in so doubtful a matter and dreading the Pope's displeasure for what was now done to clear themselves to the Pope partly to certifie him what was done and partly also to admonish him what he should do sent this ensuing Letter to him thus directed To their most Holy Father and dearest beloved Lord Boniface the chief Bishop of the Holy Romish Church and the Universal Church his humble and devout arch-Arch-Bishops Abbots Priors Conventuals Deans Provosts Chapters Covents and Colledges of the Cathedral and Collegiat Churches Regular and Secular of all the Realm of
was a great lover of the King of France he was chosen by common consent and a Courier sent post to him who was then at his Bishoprick to know what name he would carry he replyed he would not change the name he was baptized with which was Clement and so he was published accordingly to the people and called Clement the fifth After publication in the usual place the Cardinals dispatched several messengers to the new Pope to entreat him to hasten his Journey into Italy Il. Cardinalismo p. 234. But the Pope being instructed by the King of France made answer that the Flock was to follow the Shepherd and not the Shepherd the Flock commanding the Cardinals immediately to repair to him in France and particularly in the City of Poictiers as they also did This Clement was the first of seven French Popes which held the See one after another unto Vrban VI. under whom the Italians recovered it again with much trouble These seven Popes were Clement V. John XXII Benedict XII Clement VI. Innocent VI. Vrban V. Gregory XI Clement V. being chosen Pope he came to Lyons where King Philip received him accompanied with the Kings of England and Arragon in great pomp The Pope was on Horseback and the King with his two Brethren on Foot holding the Reigns of his Horse He was crowned in the Temple of St. Justus where they had built a great Theatre for so goodly a spectacle But the press of people was so great that the Scaffold brake so that the multitude sell one upon another The Pope King Princes and Noble-men were all on an heap and the Scaffold fastned to an old Wall pulled it down The King was hurt in the Head the Pope in the Foot and the Duke of Britain slain with many Noble-men and multitudes of the common people that were smothered under these ruines The Pope's Crown fell from his Head into the press where he lost a Carbuncle valued at six thousand florins of Gold Thus this feast gave no cause of joy but was famous to posterity by this notable accident and by the translation of the Pope's seat from Rome to Avignon Anno 1305. unto the year 1379. under Vrban VI. viz. the space of seventy four years This unlucky pomp being ended Clement created many French Cardinals and not one Italian and removed the Court presently to Avignon He avouched openly to keep a Concubine the Daughter of Count de Fuxa he sent three Cardinals with Senatorial power to govern Rome and Italy He ordained that none should use the Title or exercise the power of Emperour until he were confirmed by the Pope In the year 1307. a Parliament was summoned against Pope Clement by King Philip touching temporal jurisdiction belonging to Princes and Ecclesiastical belonging to the Church Forasmuch as Pope Clement V. extolled himself above all Princes as in other Countries so also in France he extended his usurped jurisdiction above the Princely Authority of the King claiming to himself full government of both the States as well Secular as Ecclesiastical the King therefore directeth his Letters mandatory to the Prelates and Barons of the Realm of France to assemble themselves together at Paris in the Year afore-mentioned in the beginning of December At the day specified in those Letters the Prelates and Clergy assembled themselves before the King at his palace in Paris Fox Act Monum li. 2. p. 461. 462. where after due reverence done unto the King there sitting in his own person with his Barons and Council about him a certain wise and noble Lord Peter de Cugneriis one of the King's Council stands up and makes an Oration before the Parliament in the King's behalf His Oration is divided into two parts 1. He sheweth that obedience and reverence is due unto the King 2. That there ought to be a difference betwixt the jurisdiction of the Clergy and Laity so that spiritual matters should be defined and ordered by the Prelates and spiritual men and Temporal causes ruled and determined by the King his Barons and Temporal men All which he proved by many reasons both of Fact and Law Articles against the Clergy of France His Oration being ended he repeated certain words in the French Tongue which imported that the King's Will and pleasure was in some points to renew the Temporal State and jurisdiction and therewith he exhibited a certain Bill in French whereof also he gave a Copy to the Prelates containing sixty five Articles which may be read at large in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 462. 463. 464. 465. After he had spoken the Prelates required to have time to answer thereunto whereupon the Friday next ensuing was appointed for the same on the which day the Bishop Edven and the Arch-Bishop of Senon Elect in the name of the whole Clergy answered for them all be-before the King holding his Parliament on that day at Vicenas They endeavour to prove that both the Temporal and Spiritual jurisdictions are compatible notwithstanding the distinction of them one from the other Then they proâ—â—â—d to prove that a person Ecclesiastical which hath Jurisdiction Spiritual may also have Temporal jurisdiction and that the Jurisdictioâ— Temporal may be in an Ecclesiastical person they alledge for this the example of Melchisedeck who was both King and Priest and of Samuel who was both Priest and Prophet and for a long time appointed Judge over the people in Temporal matters They assert also that Christ by his humane nature had both powers shewing that he was a Priest after the order of Melchisedeck and that he had both in his vesture and on his Thigh written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Many other places they cite out of the new Testament Then they offer to prove it by the Civil Law and by reason and many places in the Canon Law they shew what priviledges of this nature had been granted to the Clergy by Charles the Great King of France by Lewes the second and by other Kings of France which priviledges they offered to shew Moreover they assert that whatsoever things be offered up to the Church and are converted to the dominion and property of the same be God's and appertain unto him forasmuch as they be said to be dedicated and sanctified by him But this jurisdiction which is diversly converted to the Dominion and property of the French Church is God's and therefore to be reserved to and for him They urge the King to consider that at what time he was crowned he sware only these things following 1. That he would defend and maintain the Canonical Law priviledge and Justice granted to the Bishops and the Church and as much as in him lay to enlarge and amplifie the same 2. Also that by his Arbitriment all Christian people at all times should keep the true peace of God and his Church 3. That he should forbid to all Nations all kinds of sacriledges spoilings and iniquities and that in
all kind of Judgements he should will and command equity and mercy 4. That throughout his whole Territory and jurisdiction he should labour to exterminate and cut off from the Church the noted Hereticks They argue also that by the possessions of the Church many Brethren and Kinsmen of the French Nobility be maintained Ergo such possessions are not to be grudged at And because a Bill of many Articles was exhibited whereof part did infringe the whole Ecclesiastical jurisdiction to the defence thereof they said they would stand to the death On the next Friday following being Decemb. 29. the Prelates assembled themselves again together at the King's Palace in Paris where the Lord Peter Bertrand Bishop of Eduen spake openly before the King sitting with his Counsellours and Barons about him In his speech he extolled the King's person and his miraculous attaining to the Crown of France adding that he ought to be the Champion and Defender of the Faith all which he proved in few words by many reasons and Authorities Afterwards he touched those propositions which were propounded by the aforesaid Lord Peter de Cugneriis He besought the King for his Souls health to maintain the rights and liberties of the Church desiring him to consider what commodities he daily receiveth by the Church and that his Church never failed him yet when he had need of the Laity shewing the dangers and examples of them who did to the contrary Further he entreated the King to weigh how entirely his Lord the Pope doth love his person and Realm After this in the said Session the aforesaid Bishop of Edven answered particularly to the Articles exhibited by the Lord Peter in writing to the King and Parliament Which because they touch more the subtilty of the Law and stiles of the Courts than are necessary to this our History and because I would not burthen this Treatise with them little profit being contained in them I have here purposely for brevities sake omitted them The next Friday after this the Prelates assembled at Vicenas before the King to hear their answer Where the aforesaid Peter de Cugneriis being Prolucutor for the King said that their King was to keep the rights of the Church and Prelates which they had by Law and by good aâ—d reasonable custom where between the first and second conclusion he went about to prove that the cognition of civil causes ought not to appertain to the Church for that such things were Temporal and ought to pertain to the Temporalty as Spiritual things to the Spiritualty And besides his other reasons he alledged the 86. Distinct declaring that for this intent the Clerks Crowns were first shaven in sign that they should be free from all worldliness and forsake all Temporal things He added that their Lord and King was ready to hear them who would instruct him of any custom and those customs which were good and reasonable he would observe The Bishop Edven answered for all the Prelates saying that the words of the Lord Peter engendred darkness and obscurity and might give occasion to the Temporal Lords to break and infringe the Rites and Customs of the Church As to that which was spoken concerning the shaving of the crown it was answered that the crown did betoken rule and excellency and the shaving did signifie that they ought not to heap up Temporal things so as to apply their hearts thereunto but that the Temporal things ought to be subject to them and not they to the Temporalty After divers other speeches the said Bishop concluded and besought the King that it would please his Grace to give them a more plain and comfortable Answer and that they might not go away sad and pensive out of his presence whereby occasion might be given to the Laity to impugn the Rites and Liberties of the Church In the end it was answered to them in the behalf of the King that his mind and intent was not to impugn the Customs of the Church The Sunday following the Bishops assembled themselves again before the King at Vicenas where the Bishop of Senon in the name of all the Prelates gave humble thanks for it and he besought that such Proclamations as were made to the prejudice of the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction might be revoked and repealed Hereunto the King himself answered with his own mouth that they were not published at his commandement neither did he know of them nor ratifie them Moreover the Bishop proposed that those abuses which the Temporalty complained of should be so ordered and reformed that every man should be content therewith Finally he besought the King that he would give them a fuller and more comfortable answer Then answered the Lord Peter in the name of the King That if the Prelates and Bishops would see reformation of those things which were to be amended about which he would take respite betwixt this and Christmas next following his Majesty would innovate nothing in the mean time And if in the aforesaid space they would not correct and reform what was amiss his Majesty would appoint such order and remedy that should be acceptable both to God and his Subjects Then the Prelates had leave of the King to depart and went hoâ—â—e A brief recapitulation of Bishop Edven's answer with certain notes in answer to his Popish reasons may be read in the Acts and Monuments of the Church p. 476. 477. The Ecclesiastical Judges have since that time attempted to usurp this jurisdiction over the Laity in case of Adultery c. but the complaint which was made of it by Peter de Cugneriis In Libr. compos super facto Praelator on the behalf of the King's Judges which we may read at this day extant did put an end to that trouble And always whatsoever the Clergy attempted to meddle in such matters they have been prohibited by the Parliaments upon Appeals as from abuses which have been put in against their decrees Pope Clement had promised unto King Philip to abolish the memory of Pope Boniface VIII and to anull all his Acts but by advice of Cardinal Pratensis he delayed unto a general Council and this he summoned to be held at Vienna in France Naucler p. 872. and 878. where the King required from the Pope the performance of his promise The Council did acknowledge Boniface to have been a lawful Pope but they did declare all his Acts against the King to have been unjust and that none of them should be prejudicial to the King or to his Successours In this Council the Pope propounded the aid of the Christians in Syria the punishment of the Templars and the reformation of the Church Wars were proclaimed and Indulgences were offered in these words We Will that the punishment of Hell be no way laid upon him who is signed with the Cross granting also unto every signed person power to pull three or four Souls out of Purgatory at their pleasure Hereat the Divines of Paris were offended because it
was written in the same Bull We command the Angels to carry the absolved Soul into Paradise It was then a received Article that the Pope may command the Angels as his Serjeants Pope Clement granted great Indulgences to such as could not go but could find Money for that use Out of an old French Chronicle so as he that gave a penny was to have one year's pardon he that gave twelve pence twelve year's pardon and he that would give as much as would maintain a man going over Seas a plenary pardon for all The Pope appointed certain men whom he put in trust for the receiving of this Money Unspeakable were the sums of Money that were given for the purchasing these pardons for five years together At the end whereof when the good men were ready to go and perform what they had promised and vowed the business was broke off but the Pope kept the Money the Marquess his Nephew had a share of it and King Philip the fair and his three Sons who had taken up the cross to go thither in person Edward King of England and other noble persons stayed at home In this Council it was ordained that the feast of Corpus Christi should be kept with many Indulgences granted unto them who should celebrate this Feast In the same Council Pope Clement V. set forth a Book of Papal decrees called Liber Clementiarum which was received Symson Eccles Hist in Cent. 14. allowed and ratified by this Council Nauclerus saith that Clement before his death repented the setting out of this Book and commanded it to be burnt Yet notwithstanding the succeeding Popes and particularly John XXII confirmed and Authorized the said Book again together with the Decretals of Gregory and Boniface because these Books highly advanced the See of Rome exempting the Bishop of Rome from subjection to general Councils and attributing power to him to receive or reject the Emperour after he is chosen comparing the Pope to the Sun and the Emperour to the Moon Finally counting it a thing necessary unto Eternal Life that every person be subject to the Bishop of Rome It was also ordained that Schools should be erected and foreign Tongues should be learned namely the Hebrew Chaldaick and Arabick Languages It was also ordained that the name and remembrance of the Templars should be rooted out which decree was put in execution by all Christian Princes Know then Tho. Fuller supplem Hist sacribelli ca. 1. that about nineteen years after the Christians had lost all in Palestine by the cruel deed of Pope Clement V. and foul Fact of Philip the fair King of France the Templars were finally extirpated out of all Christendom Pope Clement having long sojourned in France had received many great courtesies from King Philip yea he owed little less than himself to him At last Philip requested of him a boon great enough saith my Authour for a King to ask and a Pope to grant namely all the Lands of the Knights Templars in France forfeited by reason of their horrible Heresies and licentious living The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received and being thus long the King's Guest he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods to pay for his entertainment On a sudden all the Templars in France are clapt in prison damnable sins were laid to their charge as sacrificing of Men to an Idol they worshipped roasting of a Templar's Bastard and drinking his Blood spitting upon the cross of Christ conspiring with Turks and Saracens against Christianity they were charged with Sodomy Bestiality with many other Villanies out of the Road of humane corruption and as far from Man's Nature as God's Law The sole witness against them was one of their own Order a notorious Malefactor who at the same time being in prison and to suffer for his own offences condemned by the Master of their Order sought to prove his Innocency by charging all his own Order to be guilty And he swore most heartily to whatsoever was objected against their Order Besides many of the Templars being brought upon the rack confessed the accusations to be true wherewith they were charged Hereupon all the Templars were most cruelly burned to death at a stake through all France with James the Grand-Master of their Order Many men accounted not the Templars Malefactors but Martyrs First because the witness was unsufficient a Malefactor against his Judge and Secondly they bring tortured men against themselves And a confession extorted upon the Rack say some is of no validity But being burned at the stake they denyed it at their death though formerly they had confessed it A Templar being to be burned at Burdeaux and seeing the Pope and King Philip looking out of a Window Hospin de Orig. Monach. ca. 18. fol. 193. cryed unto them Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is no other among mortal men to whom I should appeal for my unjust Death I cite Thee together with King Philip to the Tribunal of Christ the just Judge who redeemed me there both to appear within one year and a day where I will lay open my cause and Justice shall be done without any by-respect In like manner James Grand-Master of the Templars though by piece-meal he was tortured to death craved pardon of God and those of his order That forced by extremity of pain upon the rack and allured with hope of life he had accused them of such damnable sins whereof they were innocent True it is they were generally cryed up for innocents But Pope Clement and King Philip were within the time prefixed summoned by death to answer to God for what they had done Besides King Philip missed of his expectation and the morsel fell besides his Mouth the Lands of the Templars which were first granted to him as a portion for his youngest Son being afterwards by the Council of Vienne bestowed on the Knights-Hospitallers William Durand Bishop of Menda in Languedoc being summoned by Clement V. to the general Council at Vienne to come and see what was fitting to be reformed in the Church made a Book de Consiliis toward the beginning whereof he saith It seemeth to be a thing considerable and it is most expedient and necessary that before any thing else we should proceed to the correction and reformation of such things as ought to be corrected and reformed in the Church of God as well in the head as the Members And in the first Chapter of the third Book Verily as concerning the Reformation of the Catholick Church to bring it about profitably and effectually it seems expedient that it begin at the Head that is at the Holy Church of Rome which is the Head of all others Then he sets down in particular such things as stood in need of reformation notably representing many abuses of the See of Rome that deserved to be corrected But for all his learned discourse there was nothing done therein in
that Council Witness the Bishop of Panormo in his advice touching the Council of Basil This decree concerneth the general Estate of the Church and the matters belong to a general Reformation which may be hindred by a dissolution as it was by the dissolution of the Council of Vienne Durand further said in that Council that the Court of Rome and the Colledge of Cardinals together with the Pope would have a certain allowance of all Bishops that are preferred there it seems very requisite that this were taken order with For this errour doth much corrupt the Catholick Church and the common people and the remedies which have been applyed hitherto are quite disregarded inasmuch as the contrary is usually practised in the Court of Rome as if it were no sin at all to commit Simony or as if it were not all one to give first and then take as first to take and then to give The thing was taken into consideration at the Council of Vienne so as they were once advised Joann Andr. in Ca. inter coer de offic ordinar to allow the twentyeth part of all livings in Christendom to the Pope and his Cardinals but at last it was shifted off without resolving upon any thing A Doctor of the Canon Law saith it was better for that because their covetousness is so unsatiable that if that had been resolved upon they would have taken both This Bishop of Mende mentioned another abuse fit to be reformed For after he had said that every Bishop's jurisdiction ought to be preserved entire to himself he addeth That Ecclesiastical Benefices which belong to the collation and disposal of Bishops are bestowed by the See Apostolick and others even before they be void and that not only in the Court of Rome but out of it howbeit the Bishops must give account of the cure and of those that execute them whose Consciences they are utterly ignorant of inasmuch as they are none of their preferring He would never have demanded the reformation hereof unless the abuse had been notorious Durand also perswaded the abolition of Fraternities for two reasons for their dissoluteness and for their conspiracy against superiours It would be also useful saith he that Fraternities Durand de modo celebr concilii part 2. tit 35. wherein both Clergy and Laity do nothing but pamper themselves with delicates live in dissoluteness and drunkenness and busie themselves in divers plots against their superiours were abolished Then speaking of dispensations he saith That the very Nerves of the Canons and decrees are broken by the dispensations which are made according to the stile of the Court of Rome Durand de modo celebr concil Tit. 4. part 1. that they are against the common good And citing the Authority of St. Hierom writing to Rusticus Bishop of Narbon he saith Since Avarice is increased in Churches as well as in the Roman Empire the Law is departed from the Priests and seeing from the Prophets He gives us the definition of a dispensation according to the Lawyers which he saith is a provident relaxation of the general Law countervailed by commodity or necessity that if it be otherwise used it is not a dispensation but a dissipation that the question is now about the staining of the state of the Church that those who dispense upon unnecessary causes do err Lastly for matter of dispensation he would have that observed which Pope Leo said viz. That there are some things which cannot be altered upon any occasion others which may be tempered in regard of the necessity of the times or consideration of Mens Ages but always with this Resolution when there is any doubt or obscurity to follow that which is not contrary to the Gospel nor repugnant to the Decrees of Holy Fathers Concerning Exemptions he further declareth in that Council That they give occasion to the persons exempted to live more dissolutely and more at their liberty That they take away the reverence and obedience which the exempted owe unto their Prelates and Ordinaries Durand de modo celebr concil general Tit. 5. part 1. and make them think themselves as good men as the Bishops and other their superiours That the correction and punishing of faults and excesses is hereby hindred and brought to nothing That they are prejudicial to the whole Church Catholick inasmuch as the exempted cannot be judged but by the Pope and he cannot do it by reason of his remoteness from them That they rob men of the means of doing many good works in Religion That they are cause of many scandals That those to whom they are granted abuse their priviledges That they draw after them the ruine of Monasteries being rather a burthen than an honour or profit to them The same Durand maintaineth that the Pope hath no power to grant such exemptions considering that they overthrow the general order of the Catholick Church which proceeds from God the Apostles the Holy Fathers and general Councils and which was approved and confirmed by Popes That by this order all the Monasteries Religious places Abbots Abbesses Monks and Nuns and all other Religious and Ecclesiastical persons are immediately subject to the government and guidance of Bishops within their Cities and Diocesses as unto their Superiours the Apostles Successours and such as have power and Authority over them Pasquier saith there were these remarkable excellencies in William Durand he was a great Divine a great Lawyer Pasqu Recherch de la France li. 9. ca. 35. Leigh's Treat of Relig. and Learning and an excellent Poet He put out a Book entituled Speculum Juris divided into three great Tomes As Lumbard among Divines is not usually quoted by his own name but by that of Master of the Sentences so among the Lawyers he is not quoted by the name of William Durand but he is stiled Speculator He delivered this Sentence about the Sacrament Verbum audimus modum Sentimus modum nescimus praesentiam credimus I find this given as his Character Gulielmus Durandus omnis Divini Humanique juris Consultissimus Natione Vasco Gallus Episcopus Mimatensis Scripsit Speculum juris undè speculator est dictus Multa profectò utilia author monuit praecipuè de Reformatione Papae Cleri Illyr Catal. Test verit lib. 16. Lewes Hutin called Lewes X. began to reign over France Anno 1315. and dyed Anno 1316. He left his Wife with child who was delivered of a Son which lived but eight days Lewes left one Daughter named Jane which was Queen of Navarr and Countess Palatine of Brie and Champagn Philip V. called the long succeeded his Brother Lewes Anno 1316. He dyed in the sixth year of his Reign viz. Anno 1322. Pope Clement V. dyed Anno 1314. after whose death the Papacy stood void two years and three months The Cardinals at last did yield all their suffrages unto Jacob de Ossa Cardurcensis who afterwards went up into the Papal Chair and said I am Pope This
third was that the Pope could not give general licence to hear confessions so but that the Parishoner so confessed was bound to reiterate the same confession made unto his own Curate Which he proved by divers places of the Canon Law The fourth opinion was that the Fryars by the Licence of the Pope and of the Bishops might lawfully hear confessions and the people might be of them confessed and absolved But yet notwithstanding it was just honest and profitable that once in the year they should be confessed to the Curates although confessed before to the Fryars because of the admininistration of the Sacraments especially at Easter of which opinion was William de monte Landuno The fifth opinion was that albeit the Fryars might at all times and at Easter also hear confessions as the Curates did yet it was safer at the time of Easter to confess to the Curates than to the Fryars And of this opinion was Richard of Armagh Arch-Bishop and Primate of Ireland In the time of Pope Clement VI. John King of France invented the Sect and Order of those Monks Sympson Eccles Hist p. 391. which are called Stellati whose manner is always to wear a star upon their Breast signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the clear shining of good works yea that they themselves are the light of the World Item That they shall rise again at the last day all shining and glistering as the most clear and pleasant stars according as it is written Dan. 12.3 They that turn many unto Righteousness shall be as the stars for ever and ever After the death of Pope Clement VI. succeeded Innocent VI. before whom the aforesaid Richard of Armagh published nine Articles against the begging Fryars This Pope builded Walls about Avignon and founded an house of Carthusian Monks without the City Pope Vrban V. succeeded him Anno 1364. Nicholas Orem made a Sermon before the Pope and his Cardinals on Christmas-even in which he rebuketh the Prelates and Priests of his time declaring their destruction not to be far off by certain signs taken of their wicked and corrupt life He proveth the Popish Clergy to be so much worse than the old Synagogue of the Jews by how much it is worse to sell the Church and Sacraments than to suffer Doves to be sold in the Church In the year 1370. Peter Belfort of Lemousin who took the name of Gregory XI was created likewise at Avignon who thought good to transfer the Apostolical Chair from Avignon back again to Rome a thing almost incredible for so many French Popes succeeding one another they had so weakned the Italian party that there were scarce any Italian Cardinals among them all and of the French there were more than twenty Several reasons are alledged to have moved Gregory to this resolution but particularly these following The first was that he saw all Italy in Arms not only by the Wars betwixt Venice and Genoa but by a resolution several Cities had taken to shake off the yoke of their servitude and re-establish themselves in a state of Liberty which he believing to be occasioned by the absence of the pilot from the Vessel of Rome he began to think of resettling his pontifical residence in Italy The second was That one day reprehending a certain Bishop his familiar that he left the Bishoprick to follow the Court the Bishop confidently replyed And you who are Pope of Rome why are you in France Hist of Cardin. part 3. lib. 1. Why are you so long from the place where your Church doth lye Others will have it that a Letter from St. Bridget whom the Pope lookt upon as a true Saint contributed much in which she advised him as from God to return to Rome He gave order for twenty Galleys to be ready in the Rhone pretending to go somewhither else with them because he suspected that the French who had so much advantage by the residence of his Court in France would obstruct it if they had the least notice of his removing the See to Rome But indeed they took not the least Alarum at all the preparations which were made as not imagining that a French Pope would put such an affront upon his Nation So that they had no notice of it till the Pope was at Sea being passed as far as Genoa and from Genoa to Cornetto where being weary of his Galleys he made the rest of his Voyage by Land and being arrived at Rome he began to apply fit Medicines and specifical to the maladies of Italy But he dyed Anno 1280. of a great distemper in his Bladder after he had sate six years in France and five in Italy It is reported that at the hour of this Pope's Death the palace of the Pope at Avignon was set on fire and could not be quenched Bale's Pageant of Pope's till the greatest part thereof was burnt Afterwards ensued the greatest schism and division that ever hapned in the Popedom King John dyed Anno 1364. to whom succeeded his Son Charles the fifth of that name King John dyed in England for the French King had an earnest desire to see the King of England again because he had so honourably entertained him whilst he was his prisoner So he went and was entertained very Royally But shortly after he fell sick and dyed at London His Body was conveyed over into France and buried in the Town of St. Denis the King of Cyprus being present at his Funerals Charles V. called the Wise was crowned at Rhemes together with his Wife the Daughter of Peter Duke of Bourbon He made his younger Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy who had been prisoner with his Father in England Many Lords in Gascoign revolted from Prince Edward unto the French King Prince Edward after his great victories had carried himself roughly toward the Noble-men his Subjects But the French King besides his excellent Wisdom was also gentle and courteous insinuating himself into the affections of all men The Duke of Anjou marching with his forces from Tholouse easily recovered all the Towns and holds that were pertaining to the English in those quarters The King of England lost all his whole Seignory of Gascoign the people partly rebelling and partly yielding themselves willingly to his enemy Poictiers also yieldeth to the French The men of Rochel yield also unto the French King Charles dyed of poison taken long before He was a Prince so wise and politick Frossard's chronic in Charl. V. Anno 1380. that fitting in his Gown at Paris in ease and quietness he recovered many things by counsel and policy which his predecessours had lost in the field to their Enemies And among other vexations which hapned to King Edward at his last Voyage that he intended into Britain for the rescue of his men besieged when he was forced back by the extremity of Weather this one thing troubled him above the rest that he must make war
Jacob. Mejer in annalib rerum Flandricarum would not suffer the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of Rhemes Rhoan Sens Paris Beauvis and some others to assist there because they were Benedict's partizans by reason of the great courtesies they had received either from him or his predecessour In a Decree made February 18. 1406. we find a complaint by Charles VI. They take occasion to reserve the First-fruits in the vacancies and to extort great sums of Money whereby the Kingdom is exhausted and to thrust themselves upon the Popedom for to enrich both them and theirs And when there is any question saith he of preferring men to elective dignities they never used those ways which ought to be observed and which are appointed to examine and try them Whence it comes to pass that it being not possible that the Pope should know all Men and the state of the Churches he admits divers into those dignities who are unworthy of them and sometimes such as are unknown to him but by their money He addeth They insert divers clauses in their Bulls which are sometimes inextricable they make divers Rules besides the Law or else quite against Law which they revoke at their pleasure insomuch that the most clear-sighted cannot discern who hath best right among divers pretenders Hence arise infinite Suits in Law which they must prosecute out of the Kingdom with great expence and charges In another Decree made the same year he accounts this among other extortions Imposing Tenths and other Subsidies at their pleasure without ever consulting the rest of the Bishops about it in the raising whereof there is no mean observed either of Justice or equity It was then ordained that none should pay Tythes to Popes nor Cardinals And in another Decree made in March Anno 1408. mention is made of certain presidents by Charles VI. established at a Council at Paris Not long ago saith he it was proposed and demanded by our Attorney-General at a Council holden at Paris consisting of the Bishops and Clergy of the Churches within our Kingdom and Daulphiny where our Cousin Lewes King of Sicily our eldest Son Duke of Aquitain and Viennois the Duke of Bourges our Vnckle by the Father's side the Duke of Burgundy our Cousin and the Duke of Burbon our Vnckle by the Mother's side did preside for us that the Pope 's exactions and other grievances formerly rehearsed might be utterly abolished We read of another Decree made afterwards wherein complaint is made by the same King Charles VI. That an infinite deal of Gold and Silver and Rents were transported out of the Kingdom and the Province of Daulphinè to the prejudice of the antient Customs and the undoing of the Realm to the irreparable loss and damage of the Common-wealth and the miserable desolation of the Churches as well such as were of Royal Foundation as others And elsewhere he complaineth That certain Collectors and other the Pope of Rome 's Officers particularly for his Moneys have of late oppressed the Church and Church-men of our Realm and Province of Daulphinè by an insufferable slavery in seizing upon the Goods of the Bishops and Clergy-men both Regulars and Seculars presently upon their Decease An Edict was made discharging the payment of Annates Pope Vrban VI. being dead in Rome after he had managed the Popedom for eleven years with little satisfaction either to the people or Clergy the Cardinals created Boniface the ninth in the 33. year of his Age who shewed much prudence in the whole course of his Papacy He sate fourteen years and nine months and dyed Anno 1405. Guilel Noubrigensis li. 4. ca. 1. King Charles VI. bestirred himself to remove the schism which was between Benedict XIII and Boniface IX and to dispose all the Princes of Christendom for the same design according to the Testimony of an English Historian He heard with patience saith he the Legates of either Pope but by the advice of his Divines he would not submit himself neither to the one nor to the other He rather thought on a means whereby he might relieve the Church by removing out of her all matter of dissention Having therefore sent his Ambassadours to the Emperour as also to the Kings of England Bohemia and Hungary he conjured them not to be wanting to the publick good and tranquillity He perswaded Wenceslaus the Emperour to come to Rhemes where a general Council was held on that occasion I find another Ordinance of the same King Charles VI. made by the counsel and assistance of the Lords and Clergy of France Vid. Libell de Eccles Gallic in Schismat p. 15. wherein he saith That the Royal power is ordained of God for the preservation of the Church and that the Kingdom of Heaven increaseth by means of the Earthly Kingdom when those which destroy the Church are crushed by the rigour of Princes That the sacred Canons will have recourse to be made unto Princes when such things are committed by great men in the Church and that according to the opinion of Holy Doctours the Pope ought not to be obeyed in such things wherein the state of the Church is notoriously disturbed And in another Ordinance of April 17. 1410. These things being considered that it belongs unto us who are the Guardian Protector and Defender of the Churches of our Kingdom and of Daulphinè and who have ratified and approved the Statutes and Ordinances aforesaid made in the Council aforesaid to cause all this and all that followeth upon it to be kept inviolable c. There is an Arrest of the Parliament of Paris toward the latter end of this King's Reign wherein it is said that Pope Benedict and his Officers should from thenceforth give over and abstain from the exaction of Annates in the Kingdom of France and the County of Daulphinè The same Charles VI. being excommunicated by Benedict the XIII put the bearers of his Bulls to the * Armende honoraire So they call this ignominious kind of punishment Honourable Amends making them to be carried in Tumbrels apparelled in painted Coats with paper Mitres upon their heads and the Pope's Bull represented in their hands and his Arms reversed All which was done by the advice of his Princes Lords and the Prelates and other Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom together with the Parliament and University of Paris as appeareth by the Acts published concerning this particular After the death of Pope Boniface IX the Cardinals created Cosmo di Sulmona Pope who took the name of Innocent VII he lived but two years after and dyed in a time when all Italy was in an ill condition Whilst this schism continued Three Princes in France who by reason of the King's indisposition did then govern that Kingdom viz. the Dukes of Berry of Burgundy and of Orleans went all of them together to Pietro di Luna who was called Benedict XIII to Avignon beseeching him to provide against this disorder by renouncing the Papacy urging that it was
another place speaking of the Popes he saith They have arrogated unto themselves the right of disposing of all Churches in all places as far as the Christian Religion reacheth of all Bishopricks and Dignities which are conferred by election voiding and disanulling the Decrees formerly made by the Holy Fathers with so much care and commodity that so they may by this means fill their own Budgets the better And since this custom was used there have been none but Dunces Worldlings Money-men and such as were raised to those Dignities by Simony And again To the end that the Rivers of Gold derived from all parts may flow unto them in a fuller stream they have taken away the power of presentations and the liberty of bestowing and disposing of Benefices by any means whatsoever from all Diocesans and lawful Patrons forbidding them upon pain of Anathema rashly to presume for so their Writs run to institute any person into a Benefice within their jurisdiction till such time as some one be presented to it to whom by their Authority they have granted it And again saith he What greediness is this speaking of the Cardinals to hold such a number of repugnant and incompatible Benefices They are Monks and Chanons Regulars and Seculars Vnder the same habit they enjoy the Rights Degrees Offices and Benefices of all Religions of all Orders of all Professions not two or three but ten twenty an hundred two hundred yea sometimes five hundred and upwards and those no petty ones nor contemptible but of the best and fattest And how great a number soever they have of them they are never content but still would have more They are daily suing for new Graces new Grants Thus they catch up all the Vacancies and go away with all Charles VII now King of France was so distressed that he had only two entire Provinces left him viz. Gascoign and Languedoc and his enemies were about them and all the rest was possessed by the English who besides had besieged the City of Orleans and brought it to that pass that the highest hopes of those therein was to yield on good terms Three French Noble men conclude to set up a Virgin called Joan of Arc to make her pretend that she had a Revelation from Heaven to drive all the English out of France By the mediation of the Lord of Baudricourt she is brought to the presence of King Charles whom she instantly knew though never seen before and at that time of set purpose disguised To the King she saith boldly That this was the time wherein the sins of the English and the sufferings of the French were come to the height and she appointed by the God of Heaven to be the French Leader to conquer the English Ever after she went in Man's cloaths being armed Cap-a pe and mounted on a brave steed No sword would please her but one taken out of the Church of St. Katherine at Firebois in Tourain Polid. Virgil in Henr. VI. p. 471. Her first service was in twice victualling of Orleans whilst the English made no resistance Under her conduct the French drive away the English from Orleans Hence she marched on into other Countries which instantly revolted to the French Crown The English in many skirmishes were worsted and defeated with few numbers The French following their blow in one twelve-month recovered the greatest part of that the English did possess This was done Anno 1429. But this Joan of Arc after the Coronation of King Charles at Rhemes seeking to surprize St. Honories Ditch near the City of St. Denis she was not only wounded her self but also lost a Troop of her stoutest Souldiers and not long after nigh the City of Compiegne was taken prisoner by the Bastard of Vendosme who sold her to the Duke of Bedford and by him she was kept a prisoner a twelve-month and burnt in Rhoan being condemned by the English for a Witch The pragmatick Sanction of King Charles VII was made in a Synod assembled at Bourges consisting of Arch-Bishops Bishops Chapters Abbots Deans Provosts and other Ecclesiastical persons together with Doctors of Law Divine and humane and other Learned Men of the Realm and also of the chief Lords of France and others of the King's Council about receiving the Councils of Constance and Basil The Sanction hath this complaint The Prelates and other ordinary dispensers as also the Patrons are deprived of their right the Hierarchy of the Church is confounded and many other things are committed contrary to the Laws of God and Man to the loss of Souls and the oppression of the Churches of our Realm The Council of Basil did provide a remedy against this abuse and the pragmatick after it but so as the Popes have cast off the yoke of it having disanulled almost all the Decrees of that Council Du. Moulin contr Porron li. 3. cap. 37. The Popes for a long time branded all the French for Hereticks by reason of that pragmatick Sanction Pope Martin V. dyed Anno 1431. whom Eugenius IV. succeded who was deposed by the Council of Basil assembled by himself to reform the Church In the place of Eugenius the Council chose Amadeus Duke of Savoy who called himself Felix But Eugenius brought against Basil the Daulphin of France who was afterward Lewes XI who in all things opposed his Father Charles VII and his confederates He brought four thousand horse against Basil to break the Council which yet he could not have effected had not the pestilence within Basil forced the Fathers of the Council to separate themselves after they had condemned Eugenius as an Heretick and unworthy to govern the Church But Eugenius took Arms and being held up by Princes maintained himself against the Anti-Pope Felix who after he had been five years Pope retired to Ripaille a pleasant house in Savoy there to lead a private Life So the Popedom remained in the hands of a Man deposed by a Council assembled by the Pope himself where Bishops met out of all parts of the Roman Church Note that after this deposition he created many Cardinals and Bishops whose Office was null since they were created by an Usurper who had by force maintained himself in the Office of a Pope after his deposition And yet those very Cardinals created by this Usurper of the Popedom are those very men that elected the Successours of Eugenius Nicholas and Pius the second from whom is descended the succession of the Popes of our time as the learned Dr. Du-Moulin hath well observed The Arch-Bishop of Lyons in the Council of Basil did declare that in the time of Pope Martin Fox Act and Monum there came out of France to the Court of Rome nine millions of Gold which was gathered of the Bishops and Prelates besides innumerable sums of the poor Clergy which daily without number ran unto the Court of Rome carrying with them all their whole substance The Arch-Bishop of Turenne said also at Basil that three
against Luther and others defend him Luther proceedeth and writeth against other corruptions of the Church of Rome and many are enlightned by him Charles V. being Emperour calleth a Dyet at Wormes and thither is Luther summoned Anno 1521. who stoutly defendeth his Doctrine and many Priests began to preach and even in Wormes after they had seen the constancy of Luther they receive the preachers of the Gospel and because they could not have the liberty of the Churches they set up a portable pulpit and heard the preachers in many places of the Town until the year 1525. The Gospel was preached in Saxony and embraced there as also at Halberstat Hamburgh Pomerania Liveland and many other places Charles Duke of Savoy was desirous of truth and purity Luther understanding it by Annemund Coot a French Knight writes unto him a confession of Faith to confirm him in the zeal of piety In the closure he saith Well! Illustrious Prince stir up that spark which hath begun to kindle in thee and let fire come from the house of Savoy as from the house of Joseph and let all France be kindled by thee yea let that Holy fire burn and encrease that at last France may be truly called for the Gospel's sake the most Christian Kingdom In the year 1523. the Gospel began to be openly preached in France at Gratianople in the Daulphinatè by Peter Sebevilla Zuinglius by writing encouraged him to lift up his voice like a Trumpet and sound forth the Gospel in France At the same time in Melda about ten miles from Paris was Bishop William Brissonnet he was a Lover of Truth and Light he passeth by the Monks and sought learned Men to teach the Gospel So from Paris he calleth Jacobus Faber William Farel Arnold and Gâ—rard Red who did most fervently instruct the people in the truth But the Bishop's courage was soon abated by terrible menaces of the Sorbonnists nevertheless the word of God was planted in the hearts of many and by the wondrous counsel of God from the persecution of that one Church many Churches through France were planted for both the Teachers and hearers were spread abroad After Martin Luther had opened the way in Germany John Calvin born at Noyon in Piccardy a Man of a great wit marvellously eloquent and generally Learned departing from the Faith then generally held proposed in his Books which he published in Print and in his Sermons which he preached in divers places in France one hundred twenty eight axiomes so he called them disagreeing from the Roman Church The French Wits curious by Nature and desirous of Novelties began at first rather for pastime than through choice to read his writings and frequent his Sermons But as Davila a Papist observeth in his History of the civil Wars of France as in all business of the World it useth often to fall out that things beginning in jest end in earnest so these opinions sowed in God's Church Davila Hist of the Civil Wars of France lib. 1. so crept up saith he that they were greedily embraced and firmly believed by a great number of people and persons of all qualities insomuch that Calvin came to be reverenced of many in a short time and believed for a new miraculous Interpreter of Scripture and saith my Authour as it were a certain infallible Teacher of the true Faith The foundation of this Doctrine was in the City of Geneva scituate upon the Lake Antiently called Lacus Lemanus upon the confines of Savoy which having rejected the Government of the Duke and Bishop to whom formerly it paid obedience under the name of Terra Franca under pretext of liberty of conscience reduced it self into the form of a Common-wealth From thence books coming out daily in print and men furnished with Wit and eloquence insinuating themselves into the Neighbour Provinces who secretly sowed the seeds of this new Doctrine in progress of time all the Cities and Provinces of the Kingdom of France were filled with it though so covertly that there appeared openly only some few marks and conjectures of it This began in the time of King Francis the first who though sometimes he made severe resolutions against the preachers and professours of this Doctrine yet notwithstanding being continually busied in Forreign Wars took little notice thereof Peter Viret was an eloquent French Divine whom Calvin desired for his Colleague His French Books are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque William Farel was also a learned Divine of Geneva He hath written De Vray Vsage de la Croix and other Books Upon Calvin Farel and Viret there is this Epigram of Beza Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper Quo nemo docuit doctiùs Est quoque te nuper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortiùs Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum Quo nemo fatur dulciùs Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim Aut interibis Gallia Stephen Pasquier a French Writer and a Papist doth much extol Calvin's piety wit and learning Recherch de la France li. 8. ca. 55. John Clerk was apprehended at Melden in France Anno 1523. for setting up upon the Church-door a certain Bill against the Pope's pardons lately sent thither from Rome in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist For which he was three several days whipped and afterwards had a mark imprinted in his Forehead as a note of infamy His mother being a good Christian-woman though her Husband was an Adversary when she beheld her Son thus grievously scourged and ignominiously deformed in the face did boldly encourage her Son crying with a loud Voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be these prints and marks After this execution and punishment sustained the said John departed that Town and went to Rosie in Brie and from thence to Metz where he was taken for casting down Images and there his hand was first cut off from his right Arm then his Nose with sharp pincers was violently pulled from his Face after that both his Arms and his paps were likewise pluckt and drawn with the same Instrument He quietly endured these Torments in a manner singing the Verses of the 115 Psalm Their Idols be Silver and Gold the work only of Man's hand The rest of his body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed Anno 1525. Doctor John Castellan after he was called to the knowledge of God he bâ—came a true preacher of his word in France at Barleduc also at Vittery in Partoise at Chalon in Champagne and in the Town of Vike which is the Episcopal Seat of the Bishop of Metz in Lorrain After he had laid some foundation of the Doctrine of the Gospel in Metz in returning from thence he was taken prisoner by the Cardinal of Lorrain's servants and carried to the Castle of Nommenie from thence he was carried to the Town and Castle of Vike always constantly persevering in the same Doctrine He was degraded by
forth Anno 1551. At this time a War was denounced against King Henry the second by the Pope and the Emperour and that upon an unjust quarrel He gave some hopes saith Onuphrius of composing the differences in Religion Onuphr in Julio 3. when at the request of the Emperour he declared by his Bull in the first year of his Popedom that the Council should be continued at Trent at the beginning of the next May. And presently after he addeth he unwittingly put himself upon the War of Parma and thereby set all Italy nay all Europe on fire The first Session of the Council on May 1. 1551. and the second upon the first of September were only for Ladies for there was nothing done King Henry II. set forth an Edict at the same time dated the third day of September the same year containing a restraint of transporting Gold and Silver to Rome where he sets down at large the occasions of the War of Parma begun by the Pope And among other things he saith Which holy Father upon a sudden fit of Choler had caused a certain company of Men of War both Horse and Foot to be levied and set forth and also enticed and perswaded the Emperour with whom we were in good Terms of Peace and Amity to take Arms to aid his forces in the design of the recovery of Parma And after he had harassed and laid wast all things whatsoever he pleased in the Countrey of Parma Edict du Roy Henric. 2. imprime a Paris l'ann 1551. he caused his said Forces to march toward the Territories of Mirandula which hath for a long time even during the Life of our late most Honoured Lord and Father been in the known protection of the Crown of France which he beleagured using most incredible and inhumane cruelties towards the Inhabitants of the said Territory yea such as Barbarians and Infidels would not have used the like giving the World to know very stoutly that he meant them to us who have not deserved any such things at his hands or the Holy See There were six Sessions holden in the time of that War those two forementioned and four more in two whereof the most material points of Faith of Manners and Church Discipline were discussed and determined as those of the Sacrament of the Eucharist Transubstantiation Penance and extreme Unction as also about the Jurisdiction of Bishops where many blows were struck at the Liberties of the French Church and the rights of the Crown Another Edict of King Henry II. was made at the Camp near Weldenaggbes May 21. 1552. and Printed at Paris the same year From this time till the beginning of the year 1560. the Council of Trent did nothing What time Pope Pius IV. as soon as he got into the Chair sent forth a Declaration for the continuation of it against Easter-day the next year The French King makes preparation for a National Council and protesteth against the Council then assembled in Trent Jacobus Amiotus Hist Concil Trident. li. 4. Abbot of Bellosana appeared in the name of the French King with Letters of his Majesty which he presented to the Legate desiring they might be read and his credency heard The Legate receiving them gave them to the Secretary to be read The Superscription was Sanctissimis in Christo Patribus Conventûs Tridentini Much fault was found with the word Conventûs The Bishop of Mentz said if they would not receive a Letter from the King of France who called them Sanctissimus Conventus how would they hearken to the Protestants who called them Conventus Malignantium Then the King's Letter was opened and read The French King dismisseth the Pope's Nuncio but fearing that by his dissention with the Pope those that desired change of Religion would make some innovation or that himself might come into the bad opinion of his people as if his mind were averse from the Catholick Faith and perhaps to open a way for reconciliation with Rome he made a most severe Edict against the Protestants confirming all the other which he had published before adding greater punishments more ways to discover the guilty and greater rewards to the promoters Hereupon many were apprehended condemned and burnt as I have shewed before in the Table of French Martyrs concluding it at the year 1557. On the fifth of September 1557. in Paris at night about two hundred persons were assembled in an house to celebrate the Communion which being discovered by the common people the house was assaulted and some fled but the women and weaker sort were taken and seven were burnt and the greater part of the others reserved for the same punishment to be inflicted when the complices were found out The Suisses made intercession for these and the King gave order that the proceeding against them should be moderate but the Pope is angry with the French King for using any moderation But the number of the Protestants being now increased in France thâ—ir courage increased also And there being a custom among the people of Paris in the Summer Evenings to go out of the Subburbs of St. German in great multitudes to take the Fresco and to solace themselves with divers kinds of sports those of the new Religion instead of doing so began to sing the Psalms of David in French Verses 〈…〉 The multitude first laughed at the Novity then leaving the sports joyned themselves unto the singers And the number of those who came to that place began to increase more than usually The Pope's Nuncio told the King of this Novity as of a thing pernicious and dangerous because said he the Ministeries of Religion usually celebrated in the Church in the Latin Tongue by Religious men only were put into the mouth of the common people in the vulgar Language which was an invention said he of the Lutherans telling him that if he did not resist the beginnings all Paris would be Lutheran The King gave order that the principal Authours should be proceeded against wherein they went not very far having found Anthony King of Navar and his Wife in that number But for hereafter it was forbid upon pain of death The King now understanding that some of the Parliament were Protestants in a Mercurial so they call the Judicature instituted to examine and correct the actions of the Counsellours of Parliament and Judges of the King held in Paris June 15. 1558. where they were to treat of Religion after the congregation was assembled entred in person And having commanded them to prosecute the things begun Claude Viole one of them spake much against the manners of the Court of Rome and the bad customs grown to be pernicious errours which have caused the new Sects Therefore it was necessary to mitigate the severe punishments until the differences of Religion were removed and the Ecclesiastical Discipline amended by Authority of a General Council the only remedy for these evils as the Councils of Constance and Basil have judged
commanding that one should be celebrated every ten years His opinion was followed by Ludovicus Faber and some others Anno du Bourge did add that many villanies were committed condemned by the Laws for punishment whereof the rope and fire were not sufficient viz. frequent blasphemies against God perjuries Adulteries not only secret but even cherished with impudent license making himself to be plainly understood that he spake not only of the Grandees of the Court but of the King himself also adding that while men lived thus dissolutely divers Torments were prepared against those who were guilty of nothing but of publishing to the World the vices of the Church of Rome and desiring an amendment of them In opposition of all this Egidius Magister the prime President spake against the new Sects concluding that there was no other remedy but that which was formerly used against the Albigenses of whom Philip Augustus put to death six hundred in one day and against the Waldenses who were choaked in the caves whither they retired to hide themselves All the voices being given the King said he had how heard with his own Ears that which before was told him that the contagion of the Kingdom doth hence arise that there are in the Parliament who do despise the Pope's Authority and His that he well knoweth they are but few but the cause of many evils Therefore he exhorted those who are good Subjects to continue in doing their duty and immediately gave order that Faber and du Bourg should be imprisoned and afterwards caused four more to be apprehended in their houses But at the same time as if there had been no danger at all the Ministers of the Reformed for so the Protestants are called in France assembled in Paris in the Suburbs of St. German made a Synod in which Francis Morellus the chief man among them was President ordaining divers constitutions of the manner of holding Councils of removing the domination in the Church of the Election and Offices of Ministers of censures of Marriages of Divorces of degrees of consanguinity and affinity that throughout all France they might not only have an Uniform Faith but Discipline also And their courage did increase because the same of the severity used in France coming into Germany the three Electors and other Protestant Princes sent Ambassadours to the King to disswade him from that rigour against the professours of their Religion But the King though he gave them a courteous Answer yet remitted nothing of the severity but after the Ambassadours were gone he deputed four Judges of the body of the Parliament in the causes of the prisoners with the Bishop of Paris and the Inquisitor Anthony de Mocares commanding them to proceed with all expedition Nicholas Clinet one of the Elders of the Church at Paris and Taurin Gravelle a Lawyer and Advocate in the Court of Paris and elder of the same Church were both burnt at Paris Bartholomew Hector was burnt at Thurin Mistriss Philippa de Luns was strangled at Paris Anno 1558. after she had a little felt the Flame with her Feet and Visage Of the same company was also Nicholas Cene a Physician Brother to Philip Cene above-mentioned and Martyred at Diion and Peter Gabart which two were brought forth to their execution Octob. 2. They were holden long in the Air over a small fire and their lower parts burnt off before that the higher parts were much harmed with the fire Nevertheless these Holy Men ceased not in all these torments to turn up their eyes to Heaven and to shew forth infinite Testimonies of their Faith and constancy In the same fire many Bibles and Testaments were burnt Among divers young Scholars and Students that were in the little Castle with Peter Gabart there were these two viz. Frederick Danville and Francis Rebezies neither of them being past 20 years of Age. How valiantly they behaved themselves in the cause of Christ what conflicts they had disputing with the Doctors of Sorbonne what confessions they made their own Letters left in writing do make Relation these valiantly suffered Martyrdom Crispin li. 6. comment Gallic de Statu Relig. Reipub. Rene Seau and John Almerick were almost wracked to death in prison and afterwards both of them dyed in prison John Bordel Matthew Vermeil Peter Bourdon Andrew de Fou at the Countrey of Bresil were also Martyrs Villegaignon Lieutenant to the French King brought three of them to the top of a Rock and there being half strangled without any Judgement threw them into the Sea The fourth viz. Andrew de Fou he caused by manifold allurements somewhat to incline to his sayings so he escaped the danger not without a great offence taken of a great part of the French-men in that Countrey Benet Romain a Mercer at Draguignan in Provence was wracked and burnt Francis Civaux who had been Secretary to the French Ambassadour here in England in Queen Maries time after being desirous to hear the word of God went to Geneva Also he was placed to be Secretrary to the Senate of Geneva where he continued about the space of a year Having then certain business he came to Diion where he was betrayed by a Priest apprehended and carried to prison and within seven days after was first strangled and then burnt Peter Arondeau of Rochel was burnt quick at the place called St. John in Greve at Paris The Heroick constancy which God gave hâ—m and wherein he endured victorious unto death was a mirrour of patience to Anne du Bourg Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris and to divers other then prisoners and was to them a preparation toward the like death which shortly after they suffered Thomas Moutard was burnt at Valenciennes Divers others also suffered Martyrdom at Paris for the profession of the Gospel Philip the second King of Spain after the death of his Wife Mary Queen of England was married to Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Henry II. Philibert Emmanuel Duke of Savoy married with Marguarite the King 's only Sister and Charles Duke of Lorrain with Claude a younger Daughter of Franoe The King yielded to Philip all that he had taken from him as well on this side as beyond the Mountains To the Savoyard he restored Bresse Savoy and Piedmont to the Genevois the Isle of Corse and about four hundred places more conquered during the late fatal Wars which had made so many Provinces desolate ruined so many Castles Towns and Villages drunk up so much Christian blood and slain so many millions of Men of all qualities retaining nothing but the Territories of Boullen and Calais The prisons were now full of the Protestants the Marriages of the King's Daughters and Sister were solemnized with all the pleasures and sports that could be devised The Court exceeded in sumptuous Plays Masks Dances and Bon-fires the people expressed publick joy by reason of the peace with loud acclamations in these ceremonies But this pleasant Comedy was converted by a sad
many of the chief Nobility and greatest persons of the Kingdom their Assemblies and Sermons were then no more celebrated in Stables and Cellars as in the Reign of King Henry second but in the Halls and Chambers of the best Gentry and most eminent Nobility Beza's Translation of the new Testament and his accurate notes upon it have made him famous His French Psaltery was so well liked that it was well Translated into the German Bohemian English Scottish and many Languages and it is both in use and esteem with all the Orthodox Churches Thuanus saith that Beza would repeat whole Psalms in Hebrew and whatever Chapter one could name out of Paul's Epistles he would rehearse it all in Greek for the things he had formerly learnt his Judgement failed him not He lived eighty six years and toward his latter end he began to forget what he had spoken His French works are mentioned by Verdier in his Bibliotheque His Latin are known News was brought unto the Pope that his Subjects of Avignon had taken up Arms against him accounting his succession unlawful because that Countrey was not justly taken from Raimond Count of Tholouse concluding also that the Ecclesiasticks cannot by the commandment of Christ possess any Temporal Dominion And resolving to rebel by the means of Alexander Guilotimus a Lawyer they put themselves under the protection of Charles de Montbrun who being in Arms for Religion was much followed in Daulphinè Charles entring the Territory with three thousand foot made himself Lord of the whole Countrey with much joy of the Inhabitants James Maria Bishop of Viviers Vice-Legate of Avignon made opposition and very hardly kept the City The Pope therefore sent Cardinal Farnese to defend the City But the danger was moderated because Cardinal Tornon whose Neece Charles had married made him desist and go to Geneva by promising restitution of his Goods confiscated for Rebellion and to be recalled shortly with liberty of Conscience if he would go out of France So the Pope's Territory deprived of that protection did remain in subjection but full of suspicions and ready to embrace every Novity Davila saith that Godfrey de la Barre Sieur de la Renaudy Davila Hist of the Civil War 's of France is made head of the conspiracy aforementioned who was one of a desperate fortune with whom many others joyned themselves some led by Conscience others thrust on through desire of change and many also invited by the natural humour of the French Nation who cannot endure to live idly To those of best quality among these he gave several charges to raise men and to bring them to a place appointed dividing to all their several Provinces To the Baron of Castelnaw was committed the care of Gascoign To Captain Mazares the charge of Bearn To Mesny the Countrey of Limâ—ges To Mirabel Xaintonge To Goccaville Piccardy To the Sieur de St. Mary Normandy and to Montejan Britany Men who as they were all of Noble Families so were they of known courage and reputed principal leading-men in several Cities and their own Countries where they lived All these departing from the Assembly at Nantes a City in Britany and returning every one with great expedition to the Province allotted him in a few days working with wonderful secrecy brought a great number of people of several conditions to be at their devotion The Conspirators prepared a great multitude who should appear before the King without Arms to demand that the severity of the Judgements might be mitigated and Liberty of Conscience granted designing they should be followed by Gentlemen who should make supplication against the government of the Guisards The Conspiracy was discovered and the Court retired from Blois an open place to Amboise a strong Fortress This troubled the Conspiratours who while they were thinking of a new course some of them who took Arms were beaten and slain and others taken and sentenced to dye and to appease the tumult pardon was granted by the King's Edict dated March 18. to all who simply moved with zeal of Religion had entred into the conspiracy so that they disarmed within 24 hours Then the King forbad all Assemblies for Religion and committed to the Bishops the hearing of the causes of Heresie An Ordinance was made by the States at Orleans Anno 1560. in the short Reign of King Francis the second Ordonnance des Estats d' Orleans l'Ann 1560. Art 5. That the Abbots and Curates who hold many Benefices by dispensation or reside upon one of their Benefices requiring actual service and residence shall be excused from residence upon their other livings Always provided that they depute sufficient Men for their Vicars of a good life and conversation to every one of whom they shall assign such a portion of the revenue of the Benefice as may suffice for their maintenance Otherwise in default hereof we admonish and enjoyn the Arch-Bishop or Bishop of the Diocess to take order for it and most expresly command our Judges and Proctors to assist them therein to cause the Temporalties of such Abbeys or other Benefices to be seized upon without dissembling a Month after they shall have warned and required the Prelates and other Titulars to reside or cause some to reside upon their Benefices and to fulfill the contents of this present Ordinance Another Ordinâ—nce was to this effect That a Prebend or the revenues thereof shall be assigned for the maintenance of a School-master who shall be bound in the mean time to teach all the youth of the City Gratis without any wages Which School-master shall be chosen by the Arch-Bishop or Bishop of the place calling in the Canons of the Church together with the Mayors Sheriffs Counsellours or Capitons of the City and to be put out by the said Arch-Bishop or Bishops with the advice of them aforesaid Here I will set down the Indulgences granted to divers Churches Brother-hoods and Hospitals granted by divers Popes and Printed about this time at Chartres by Philip Hotot I shall transcribe the whole 1. The Statutes and Ordinances of the Worshipful Fraternity of the most blessed Body of our Lord Jesus Christ newly founded and erected in the Church of St. Hilary of Chartres together with a summary of the Pardons and Indulgences given and granted by our Holy Fathers the Popes and by our Holy Father Pope Paul the third of that Name confirmed to the said Fraternity and all others of like denomination as well at Rome as out of Rome erected or to be erected Which Statutes and Ordinances by vertue of taking put of those Bulls made thereupon by Authority of Pope Julius III. of that name Given at Rome May 6. 1550. shall be observed and kept in manner and form following The Pardons Indulgences and Jubilee and plenary Remissions granted to such as visit the Altar where the blessed Sacrament and precious Body of Jesus Christ is placed in the said Church of St. Hilary upon the days in the year and
are granted only to the Brothers and Sisters of the said Fraternity which shall upon the days aforesaid every year visit the said Altar in the said Church of St. Hilary of Chartres in France upon which the blessed Sacrament and precious body of Jesus Christ is placed Medard Thiersault Priest Licentiat in the Laws Chanon of Chartres Official and Vicar-General both in the Spiritualty and Temporalty of the Reverend Father in God Monsieur Lewes by the Grace of God Bishop of Chartres To all and singular the Parsons and Vicars of the Churches within the City of Chartres sendeth greeting c. Pope Paul the third did heretofore of his own proper motion for the honour of the blessed Sacrament grant unto the Brothers of the Fraternity of the blessed Body of Jesus Christ in the Minerva of Rome certain Indulgences plenary remission of sins and other graces the good devotion and upon petition of the faithful Christian Brothers Which Indulgences and plenary remission of Sins our holy Father Julius III. Pope to the end that all Christians might come devoutly and honour the blessed Sacrament of his own Authority hath willed and decreed that they be of perpetual force and efficacy And these Indulgences and other graces aforesaid at the instance of the most noble Personage Mr. Christopher de Herovard the Lieutenant General of the Most Christian King within the Bailiwick of Chartres hath granted them to the Brothers and Sisters of the Fraternity of the blessed Body of Jesus Christ heretofore erected and instituted in the Church of St. Hilary of Chartres always provided that like grace and gift was not formerly granted to any other Church of the said City of Chartres And forasmuch as we have viewed the contents of the said Indulgence in the publick Instrument out of the Copy of Dominick Bishop of Hostia Cardinal of the hâ—ly Church of Rome by Title Traven Dean of the sacred Apostolical Colâ—ege Protectour and Patron of the Fraternity of the blessed Body of our Saviour founded in the Church of our Lady of Minerva of the order of Fryars Predicants in the City of Rome in manner of an exemplification published drawn signed and sealed by Genese Bulter Secretary to the said Fraternity Given at Rome May 6. 1550. And furthermore whereas by a certain declaration made unto the Court of Rome by the command and with the leave of the Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Chartres and as it seems to us truly and lawfulâ—y made that 't is certain the like grace was never granted to any other Church in the City of Chartres Wherefore we command you to publish and cause to be published in your Churches the said Indulgences and the exemplifications of the Letters aforesaid according to their form and tenure Giving leave to the said Christopher de Herovard to cause the said graces and Indulgences to be published within the City and Church of Chartres whether by Siguis's or otherwise the same Herovard shall think good Given at Chartres under the seal of the Chamber of the said Bishop of Chartres Anno 1550. July 31. Subscribed P. le Seneux Pope Pius IV. in his Bull of the publication of the Council of Trent which was for the continuation of it bearing date December 30. 1560. sheweth in effect that it was begun continued and ended among the troubles in France and Germany And as Sleidan saith Sleidan l. 16. as soon as new broils were raised in the neighbouring parts of Germany and a great war was kindled in Italy and France the Council was afterwards suspended and adjourned After the suppression of the Conspirators forementioned in a secret Council held in the Kings chamber it is resolved to punish the favourers of the Conspiracy And to get the Favourers of the Hugonots into their power it was resolved to call an Assembly of the States at which among others the Princes of the Blood are to assist But the Queen-Mother and the Guises doubting more than ever new Insurrections the Prince of Conde who was as a prisoner is discharged of his Guard and set at liberty He presently departed from Court and went into Bearn to the King of Navarre The Constable the Admiral of France and the rest were entertained with kind Letters and Commissions and Charges of trust The dissensions and suspicions of the Grandees in France encreasing on the 21. of August the King called a very great Assembly at Fountainbleau The Assembly at Fountainbleau in which the necessities of the Kingdom were declared by the Chancellour which he compared to a man sick of an unknown disease Afterwards Jasper Coligni gave the King some Petitions which he said were delivered to him by a multitude of people when he was in Normandy The summ of them was That the faithful Christians dispersed throughout the whole Kingdom did pray his Majesty to look on them with a favourable eye that they desired a moderation of their punishments until their cause were heard and that they might make publick profession of their Religion to avoid suspicion by private Assemblies Then John Monluc Bishop of Valence shewed That the principal remedy of these distempers was to flie unto God to assemble godly men out of the whole Kingdom to find a way to root out the vices of the Clergy to forbid infamous and immodest Songs and instead of them to command the singing of Psalms and holy hymns in the vulgar tongue and if the common interpretation be not good to take away the errours suffering that which is good to be used by all Another remedy was the General Council alwaies used to compose such differences saying That if a General Council could not be obtained they were to assemble a National that they did grievously err who troubled the publick quiet with Arms upon pretence of Religion that their errour was as great who condemned to death those who adhered to the new Doctrine only for the opinion of piety who dying constantly and contemning the loss of their goods stir up the minds of the multitude and make them desirous to know what Faith that is for which they endure so great punishment Charles Marillac Bishop of Vienna spake in the same manner adding That the disease of France was so sharp that there was no time to call a Physician from far therefore they were to call a National Council Coligni added that requiring those who gave him the Petitions to subscribe them he was answered That five thousand men would subscribe if there were occasion Francis of Guise concerning the point of Religion said he referred himself unto the judgement of learned men but protested that no Council should make him decline one jot from the old belief The Cardinal of Lorain said That the Petitions presented were most proud and that to grant the Orators publick Exercise were to approve their Doctrine he said that the greater part used Religion for a pretence and therefore his opinion was they should be proceeded against with more
be enjoyned to bestow them not upon such as seek after them but on those that are worthy of them and avoid them and for certain proof of their Merits to make them Preach sometimes and those such as have taken some Degree in the Universities upon whom only Livings might be conferred by the consent of the Bishop and people Augustine Marlorat one of the Ministers of the Reformed Church at Rhoan in France was taken by the Guisians and hanged upon a Gibbet there before our Ladies Church He was a man excellently learned and of an unblameable Life who had the testimony even of the Papists themselves that in his Sermons he never uttered ought tending to Sedition or Rebellion He hath written upon Genesis Isaiah and the Psalms and an Ecclesiastical Exposition upon the New Testament which hath been well esteem'd of Clement Marot was a famous French Poet. Pasqu Recherch de la France li. 7. ca. 5. He turned fifty of Davids Psalms into French Metre which are read with admiration of his excellent Wit He set them forth at Geneva for he might not safely longer abide in France for suspicion of Lutheranism Marcus Antonius Muretus was a very eloquent and diligent Writer Scarce hath he passed by any Latine Authour either Historian Oratour or Poet which he hath not explained amended and restored to his purity either with his Commentaries Scholia or Notes Terence Petronius Tibullus Catullus Propertius Seneca Salust Tacitus His Book of divers readings sheweth how Learned he was His excellent Orations shew his great Eloquence Gesner mentions his Latine works and Antoine du Verdier his French Thuanus styles him Magnum non solum Galliae nostrae sed ipsius Romae lumen not only a great light of our France but also of Rome it self About this time Father Edmond in a Book of his Printed at Paris by Sebastian Nivelle and by him dedicated to King Charles IX with this Inscription The Pedagogue of Arms Le Pedagogue d'Armes ca. 8 9. to instruct a Christian Prince to undertake a good War well and accomplish it with success to be Victorious over all the Enemies of his State and of the Catholick Church gives such Rules as these That Wars have been alwaies accounted not only profitable but necessary That the Pope is bound to take Arms against Hereticks That to a Monarch undertaking such a War a man cannot urge any of his former Edicts or Ordinances That no man how Potent soever he be can Contract with an Infidel or one that hath revolted from his Conscience He gives this reason For what King is there how redoubted soever he be that can without falsifying his Oath made to God permit and give lieve to the Enemies of all truth and condemn'd by the general sentence of all the world to sow heresies in his Countries and allure souls He adds further That what conditions of Peace soever he can grant unto his Rebels in this case will not endure long But it will behove him not to awake such strong and Potent Enemies That to make a Peace with them at last he must resolve to make a good War And anon As oft as by the Articles of Peace licence is granted to every man to adhere to which of the two opposite Parties he please without being offended at it it is all one in my opinion as if one should cast a man into the fire and forbid him to burn himself In the seventh Chapter he saith If such persons were Infidels or hereticks I would never excuse the Monarch that having sufficient means in his own hands should not assay by all waies even of fact to reclaim such a Kennel or drive them far out of his Country out of the Territories of Catholicks And so much the more roughly ought he to proceed against them as he knows them perverse in all respects and of the Hugonote stamp which should be accounted the most pernicious most devilish upholders of lies that ever rose up against the Church Thus he Waseri Comment ad Mithrid Gesneri In this Age flourished Gulielmus Sallustius Bartassius and excellent French Poet. Ille Poetarum Gallicorum Coryphaeus Sallustius Barthasii Dominus cujus Poemata apud exteros etiam in laude sunt He is translated into many Languages He may be read in Latine French Italian English Dutch Pasquier sheweth that the French Poets imitating the Latine have often equalled and sometimes exceeded them Antoine du Verdier and Thuanus do commend him Near this time also lived Guido de Bres a holy Martyr He hath written against the Anabaptists in French of the Authority of the Magistrate and the immortality of the Soul Johannes Quiquarboreus was Professour of Hebrew and Chaldee to the French King in Paris There is his Chaldee Paraphrase with Scholia upon Ruth Lamentations Hosea Joel Amos. Franciscus Rabeloesus was a witty but Atheistical French writer and Doctor of Physick Robert Constantine was Beza's great friend he was saith Thuanus trium linguarum peritissimus most skilful in three Languages especially in Greek and Latine He lived till he was a hundred and three years old his Senses of Body and Mind being perfect and his Memory strong These are his Works Nomenclator insignium Scriptorum Dictionarium abstrusorum vocabulorum Lexicon Graeco-Latinum John Croy was a learned French Divine He hath written a Treatise entitled Observationes Sacrae Historicae in novum Testamentum That Bâ—â—k and his Specimen conjecturarum observationum in quaedam loca Origenis Irenaei Tertulliani Epiphanij c. and his French Book entitled La verite de la Religion Reformee declare him to be a good Linguist and a General Scholar He hath written a Book against Morinus not yet published but commended and quoted by those who have perused it John Morinus was a learned Papist There are his Exercitationes Biblicae de Hebraeo Graecoque Textu Exercit. Ecclesiasticae In the late Progress of King Charles IX was discharged all Preaching and exercising of the Reformed Religion in the Towns of France wherein it should happen the King to be during the time of his Progress Many new interpretations of the Edict of March were invented whereby the liberty granted to the Protestants was utterly infringed The Prince of Conde having heard that the Kings of France and Spain had made a League for the rooting out of the Protestants addresseth himself to the King on the behalf of the Protestants Symson Eccles Hist li. 1. Cent. 16. complaining that contrary to the Edict of March they were injured and cruelly slain demanding redress for the foresaid injuries and that they might have liberty to enjoy their Religion without molestation The King hearing of the Prince's coming being with four hundred Armed men with all expedition in great fear hastens to Paris and caused the Parisians to give thanks to God as if he had been delivered from a great peril and imminent danger After this the second War for Religion
repealed or of any Custom or Priviledge or any other manner whatsoever or that make use of them when they are made and ordained when by them the Ecclesiastical liberty is abolished impaired depressed or restained in any manner whatsoever or who do any prejudice to our Laws and those of our See directly or indirectly implicitely or explicitely See yet another which follows after this Those likewise who do any ways hinder the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates superiour and inferiour and all other ordinary Ecclesiastical Judges in the exercise of their Ecclesiastical jurisdiction against any person according as the Canons the sacred Constitutions of the Church the Decretals of General Councils and principally that of Trent do ordain There is further in the same Bull some Excommunications against those which appeal from the Pope's Sentence to General Councils Against those that hinder Clergy or Lay-men from going to plead at Rome which is a remarkable thing Against Kings and Princes which make the fruits of Ecclesiastical Livings to be sequestred upon any occasion whatsoever which concerns the right of the Crown Against those which impose any Tenths Subsidies or other Taxes All this was levell'd against the rights of the King and the liberties of the Gallican Church Rebuff in praxi benefic de union benef num 28. A Bull had been granted by Pope Alexander VI. in the year 1500. for the union of the Parish-Church of Doway with the Chapter of the Cathedral-Church of the same place But the Parliament of Paris upon the appeal Papon lib. 3. tit 8. art 2. as from abuse exhibited from the Curate of Doway to stop the Execution of it disannulled the union by an Arrest of the first of May 1575. because there wanted a Writ for Commission In Partibus Divers other unions besides have been declared to be abusive because they were made without the consent of the Lay-Patrons and the Bulls have been annulled as well by the Parliaments as by the Grand Council King Charles IX in his demands of the Council of Trent required a reformation of the abuses of Fraternities That Council found nothing to be corrected in them but tacitely confirmed them by ordaining That the Administrators of them shall give account of their Administration every year unto the Ordinary We read that Leagues and Monopolies and Conspiracies against the State have been hatched in such Fraternities as these and that disorders and other unlawful things have been committed among them They have been prohibited in all well policied Kingdoms and Common-wealths and particularly in France where we must observe That as they have been Instruments of trouble and dissoluteness so they have been judged hurtful to peace and concord And for that reason they are condemned by the Edicts and Declarations of the French Kings as the Mothers or at least the Companions of Conspiracies For they are so joyned together by the same Ordinances as in that of King Henry III. of September 1577. And all Leagues Associations and Fraternities made or to be made under any pretence whatsoever to the prejudice of this our Edict shall be utterly void and of no effect And in that of the same Prince given the 20. of December in the same year We expresly forbid all our said Subjects of what quality soever they be to begin make or prosecute any League Association or Fraternity among themselves to the prejudice of our said Edict of Pacification The forty fourth Article of the Conference of Flex saith in express terms All the foresaid viz. Provosts Majors Consuls Sheriffs of Towns c. mentioned in the former Article and other Subjects whatsoever of this Realm of what Condition soever shall depart from and renounce all Leagues Associations Fraternities and Intelligences as well within the Realm as without Duke Casimire had no sooner turned his back from France but they began to find the Peace to be counterfeit being made only to disarm them and to divide the Commanders The Prince of Conde first felt the breach of these Promisâ—s They deny him his Government of Picardy Peronne is seized upon Divers enterprizes upon the Princes person make him to leave the Duke of Alançon and to retire into Guienne to the King of Navarre who had before declared himself for the Protestants and whom those of Rochel received into their Town with much honour on June 28. All such of his Train aâ— they suspected were excluded Upon denial of Peronne the King granted to the Prince the Town of S. Jean d'Angeli but the Inhabitants had a Watchword and a mutual Oath after the manner of a private League made by sixty Gentlemen of Poitou who would have no exercise of any Religion but the Catholick to maintain one another and not to give access to any one of what Religion soever to the end their quiet might not any way be disturbed The Prince finding this repulse caused some Captains to enter secretly and so assured himself of the place But finding this place too weak for the assurance of his Person in the end of October he takes Brovage a strong place near unto Rochel The Protestants complain unto the King that in divers places they are disturbed in the exercise of their Religion granted by the Edict That many Preachers move the people to Sedition That the Chambers of both Religions are not erected and that justice is denied them That both great and small bandy against them And they produce ample proofs of these complaints Now those of the house of Guise studied to discover those terrible Projects which they had long hatched Their chief designs were to overthrow the succession brought in by Hugh Capet in the full assembly of the States and to cause the naming of a Successour to be subject unto the said Estates to cause the Princes of the blood that should oppose against the Decrees of the Estates to be declared incapable to succeed unto the Crown And the residue of what qualities soever Noble-men Gentlemen and others to be degraded of their Dignities the money growing of their Confiscations to be employed for the War and their Bodies to be executed To make the Estates protest to live and die in the Faith set down by the late Council of Trent to cause it to be signed in the open Parliament To revoke and disannul all publick Edicts in favour of the Protestants and their Associates and to pursue them to the death that should hinder the extirpation of Heresies De Serres Hist in vit Henry III. To cause the King to revoke the Promises made unto the Protestants and to prescribe a certain time unto their Associates in the which they should present themselves before the Ecclesiastical Judges to be absolved and then to be sent unto the King to purchase pardon of the Crimes committed against his Majesty To cause the King to make the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant General A League of the Guisian Faction a Person fit to encounter the Rebellion of Princes
had lately taken Geneva into his Protection shewing clearly to all the world how little he esteemed the Catholick Religion and how much he was inclined to the enemies of the Bishop and See of Rome That therefore he had excluded all the Catholick Lords from any access to the Court or administration in the Government particularly those who had spilt so much blood for the preservation of the Kingdom and Religion and had brought in a new people that were privy to his designs and friends to the House of Bourbon That therefore he deprived all the old Servants of the Crown of all their Offices and Honours of the most Principal Governments and most suspected Fortresses to put them into the hands of men that were Catholicks in shew but really partial to Hereticks and inwardly adherents to the King of Navarre He added that notwithstanding the King 's publick shews of Devotion yet in his private Lodgings he gave himself over to the unbridled lusts of the flesh and to the perverse satisfying of his loose depraved appetite From which things set forth with many specious reasons he concluded it was time to unite themselves for their own defence and to destroy those designs before they were brought unto perfection Now the Duke of Guise by means of the Preachers and Friers in Pulpits and other places of Devotion labours to insinuate the Catholick League into the People Among these the chief were Guilliaume de la Rose a man of great eloquence who came afterward to be Bishop of Senlis Jean Prevost chief Priest of S. Severin an eloquent and learned man Jehan Boucher by birth a Parisian and Curate of S. Benet's Parish in the same City one Poncet a Frier in the Abby of S. Patrick at Melun Don Christin of Nizza in Provence and Jehan Vincestre all famous Preachers And finally most part of the Jesuites And as these prosecuted the business of the League in Paris the same was done at Lions by Claude Mattei a Priest of the same Society at Soissons by Mathew de Launoy Canon of that Cathedral at Roven by Father Egide Blovin of the Order of the Minims at Orleans by Bourlate a very noted Divine at Thoul by Francois de Rosier Arch-Deacon of that Church and an infinite number of others dispersed through the several places of France who by their Credit and Eloquence sometimes in their Pulpits sometimes in the Congregations of the Penitents sometimes in their secret conferences at Confessions did allure the people and entice them to enter into that Combination which it is likely very many did out of a respect to Religion believing that thereby the Calvinists would utterly be rooted out and the Authority of the Church be restored to its pristine greatness But many entred into that League invited by other ends and drawn to it by different hopes or else necessitated by their particular interests though all shrouded themselves under the same cloak of the preservation and maintenance of Religion Charles Cardinal of Bourbon the third Brother of Anthony King of Navarre and Louys Prince of Conde deceased and Unkle to Henry the present King of Navarre is desired for the Head of the League a man alwaies most observant of the Romish Religion and an open enemy to the Hugonots Then the Preachers did publickly in all places term the King a Tyrant and favourer of Hereticks the people did applaud them and from this deadly hatred which they had conceived against the King his Council and favourites sprung that fury which soon after was dispersed over all the body of France On July 15. 1582. Renauld of Beaune Archbishop of Bourges and Primate of Aquitain had then spoken at Fountainbleau in this sort The whole Church Christian and Catholick assisted by the Legates and Ambassadours of the Emperour of this your Kingdom and of all other Christian Princes Did call assemble and celebrate the Council of Trent where many good and wholesome Constitutions useful for the Government of the Church were ordained To which Council all the Legates and Ambassadours did solemnly swear in the behalf of their Masters to observe and keep and cause it to be inviolably kept by all their Subjects yea even the Ambassadours of this your Kingdom solemnly took that Oath Now it is received and observed by all Christian Catholick Kings and Potentates this Kingdom only excepted which hath hitherto deferred the publication and receiving of it to the great scandal of the French Nation and of the Title MOST CHRISTIAN wherewith your Majesty and your Predecessours have been honoured so that under colour of some Articles touching the liberty of the Gallican Church the stain of Schism resteth upon your Kingdom among other Countries Wherefore the Clergy doth now most humbly beseech your Majesty that you would be pleased to hearken to this publication and make an end of all to the glory of God and the union of his Church There was a Nuncio from the Pope who arrived in France in the beginning of the year 1583. who prosecuted this matter with great vehemency yet for all this he could not move King Henry III. at all the King of Navarre having written to King Henry III. concerning it the King of France made him this answer Brother Those that told you that I would cause the Council of Trent to be published were not well-informed of my intentions for I never so much as thought it Nay I kiow well how such publication would be prejudicial to my affairs and I am not a little jealous of the preservation of my Authority the priviledges of the Church of France and also of the observation of my Edict of Peace But it was only proposed unto me to cull out some certain Articles about Ecclesiastical Discipline for the Reforming of such abuses as reign in that State to the glory of God the edifying of my Subjects and withal the discharge of my conscience A thing which never toucheth in those Rules which I have set down in my Edicts for the Peace and tranquillity of my Kingdom which I will have inviolably kept on both sides On October 14. 1585. the Bishop and Earl of Noyon in the name of the Clergy assembled in the Abbey of St. German near Paris presented to the King a Book written by the advice of the Prelates of the Council of Trent They told him They brought unto him the Book of the Law of God which they humbly entreated him to receive The Provincial Synod held at Roven made this instance to the same Prince After that a good number of Bishops and Proxies for those that were absent together with Ecclesiastical Personâ— from all quarters of our Province of Normandy were met in our Metropolitan Church at Roan they tendered nothing more than earnestly to sollicite the publishing and promulgation of the Council of Trent within this Realm Wherefore this our Assembly by common consent have resolved to present their humble Petition to our most Christian King in like manner as was
my most secret thoughts If it be best for this People that I should attain the Crown which belongs to me by right do thou favour and Protect the justice of my Arms. But if thy will hath determined the contrary if thou takest away my Kingdom take away my life also at the same time that I may shed my blood fighting at the Head of those who put themselves in danger for my sake At the end of which words there arose in the Front of the Battel a loud acclamation from those that heard him with an unanimous cry of vive le Roy which being taken and redoubled from Squadron to Squadron through the whole Army gave an happy beginning to the Battel The Cavalry of the League being defeated save themselves by flight The Swisses laying down their Colours and Arms upon the ground had quarter given them by Mareschal de Biron The Germans who having been raised by the King's money had revolted to the Duke of Lorain were all put to the sword The French Infantry that yielded had their lives given them The Duke de Mayenne fled towards Dreux and having entred the Town broke up the Bridge before his own people were all come which was the reason that multitudes of them the King's Army pursuing them were miserably drowned The Reiters of the League fight till they are all destroyed There died that day above six thousand of the League among which were the Duke of Brunswick the Sieur de la Chastaigneray and the Count d'Egmont who was cut in pieces with all his Lanciers Divers Lords with 204. Ensigns and Cornets were taken by the King with all their Canon and Baggage On the King's side there were but 500. slain This Battel was fought on March 14. 1590. The news of this defeat came the next day to Paris whereat every one was afraid But on March 16. Father Christino de Nizza took an occasion to discourse on those words Whom I love I rebuke and chasten And in the Pulpit tells the Parisians of the defeat and by his Eloquence prevails so on them that they resolve to endure any thing for the Catholick Religion without fearing the heavy tryal of a future siege or Famine The same did William Rose Boucher Prevost and all the other Preachers and last of all Francesco Panigarola who though he Preached in the Italian Tongue was much followed by reason of the same of his Eloquence After the yielding of other places Melun is taken by the King's Army a little Town but well Fortified seven Leagues distant from Paris through which run two Currents of the River Seine and therefore is divided into three parts by the stream and only joyned together by Bridges The Sieur de Villeroy being come to Melun to treat an agreement with the King perswades him by many reasons to turn Catholick and propounds a Cessation of Arms. He was sent by the Duke of Mayenne unto the King To which the King gave a large answer And as to the point of Religion he said he had already contented those Catholicks that followed him who were many of great wisdom and strength and very great extraction to whose determination he thought all the rest might accommodate themselves Mâ—rc Antonio Mocenigo Bishop of Ceneda treats with the Mareschal de Biron and propounds a Cessation of Arms but it is rejected All hope of Truce failing the Parisians prepared for a strict siege from the King's Army The people was already disposed by the long exhortations of their Preachers and sollicitations of those that Governed to endure the siege being wrought upon by the frequent Decrees of the Sorbon and by the Declarations and Protestations of the Cardinal Legate that an agreement could not be treated with the Hereticks without damnation Hereby mens minds were so confirmed that some were put to death for saying it was better to make peace with the King than starve with hunger The Duke of Mayenne by many Letters assured them that he would relieve the City within a few weeks To encrease this inclination in the people a solemn Procession was made by Order from the Cardinal Legate to implore Gods assistance in those necessities in which Procession the Prelates Priests and Monks of the several Religious Orders walked all in their accustomed habits but besides them they were Armed also openly with Corslets Guns Swords Partezans and all kind of Arms offensive and defensive making at once both a shew of devotion and constancy of heart prepared to defend their lives which heightened the courage of the common people After this Procession they made another of all the Magistrates of the City and among the Ceremonies of it the Duke of Nemours their Governour and other Commanders of the Souldiers and Magistrates of the people swore publickly in the great Church to defend the City to the last man and never make an agreement with an Heretick Prince for any danger or calamity whatsoever should befall them The King drew nigh to Paris and shuts up the passages of the River of Seine on every side and the City is in great scarcity for want of Victuals Cardinal Gondy Bishop of Paris gives way that the Church Plate should be turned into money for the relief of the poor and the Cardinal Legate distributed among the poor 30000. crowns extorted from the Pope with much ado The Ambassadour Mendoza promised sixscore crowns a day in Bread The Dutchesses and the richest Lords sold their houshold stuff jewels and Ornaments to relieve the urgent necessities of the common people During this siege the Cardinal of Bourbon dies at Fontenay which produceth no alteration at all only the Duke of Mayenne invites the Deputies of the Provinces to Meaux to chuse another King The Duke of Mayenne having met the Duke of Parma at Conde obtains of him 1500. Spanish Foot towards the relief of Paris In that populous City the Famine was so sore that within the space of three Months moe than an hundred thousand died in it The Duke of Parma cometh with an Army to relieve Paris at his arrival at Meaux he joyns with the Duke of Mayenne The Abbot del Bené dies a man of great abilitie in State affairs at which the King is troubled Upon August 30. the King riseth from the siege of Paris While the two Armies lie still observing one another the Parisians furnish themselves with some Provisions The King sends a Trumpet to the Duke of Mayenne to challenge him to fight The Duke of Parma drawes his Army into Battalia as if he would give Battel goes away suddenly to Lagny and deceives the King The Duke of Parma takes Lagny before the face of the King's Army whereby the passage of the River Marne being freed upon Septemb. 6. great store of victuals enter into Paris The King withdraws his Army and marcheth towards St. Dennis He gives a Scalado to the City which proveth ineffectual The Duke of Parma takes Corbeil and so absolutely frees Paris from want
cared not for the talk of the people nor for challenges And to get out of that mire he moved a question to Du Moulin whether he could tell after what manner of Creation the Angels were created Du Moulin knowing that this was their last meeting answered that the Question in hand was only of subscribing the Acts. But Cayer refusing turned his back and said you shall hear of me and so went away to the great scandal of the Romanists there present A Protestant made the company laugh saying that Cayer was not yet of Age to sign Thus was the Conference broken to the great satisfaction of many faithful souls and the instruction of many ignorant Papists who since gave glory to God by an open Profession of the truth The Acts of the Conference are extant published by Archibald Adaire a Reverend Bishop of Scotland The Doctors of the Faculty of Sorbon stung with the ill success of this Conference provoked him to another in which the body of the University took interest They were to oppose three daies upon what points they thought best and Du Moulin was to oppose three daies also and choose what points he pleased He was then Respondent for three daies and found in the Dispute that blessing of God which never was wanting to him in the defence of his truth After the Dispute of the third day he being returned home and retired to his study a man in a Priest's habit came in the dark evening up the stairs and knockt at his Study door When Du Moulin had opened it the man thrust the door with all his strength to have rusht in and Du Moulin with all his strength in which he was inferiour to few men of his size kept him out and called for help The man hearing some stirring below ran hastily down the stairs and so into the Street It is supposed upon probable ground that the man was come to kill him before he presented himself to be opponent according to the Covenants of the Conference But on the next morrow he met with a Prohibition from the King to continue that Conference any longer These passages raised his reputation very high whereby God was glorified his Truth confirmed and his Church edified and increased with many Converts The last sickness of the King's Sister gave a great exercise to his zeal and industry whereby he did faithfully and constantly assist her in that extremity Du Perron did his utmost to pervert her and to fright him away When she drew near to her end Du Moulin standing by her Bed side Du Perron came and said he was sent by the King and would remove him by plain force But Du Moulin held fast the Bed-post And when Du Perron told him he was to take place of him in all Companies Du Moulin answered that his place was before Du Perron's at the Princesses Beds side and in that service He added that he believed not that the King would offer violence to his Sisters Conscience appealing to her self and beseeching her Highness to declare her pleasure She declared that she would die in the Reformed Religion and that she would have Du Moulin to stay by her Whereupon Du Perron withdrew and the good Princess persevered in God's truth to her last breath The King wisht she had died in the Roman Profession and did all he could without violence to pleasure the Court of Rome in that point A little before there was a Conference between the Bishop of Eureux and Philip de Mornay Lord of Plessis Marly Governour of Saumur in the presence of the King Princes and Officers of his Crown Counsellours of State and other Noblemen of Mark. It was touching a Book which Monsieur du Plessis had published of the Institution of the Lords Supper and against the Mass wherein the Bishop did tax him to have falsified many Authorities Whereupon Du Plessis presented a Petition unto the King that his Majesty would be pleased to appoint Commissioners to examine every passage of Scripture cited in his Book The King yielded to this Conference referring the care thereof to his Chancellour The Commissioners appointed for the Catholicks were Augustus Thuanus President of the Court of Parliament at Paris Pithou Advocate in the Court and Fleure Schoolmaster to the Prince of Conde in whose absence came Martin the King's Physitian And for the other the President of Calignon Chancellour of Navarre in whose place entred De Fresnes Gavay President of the Chamber of Languedoc and Isaac Casaubon his Majesties Reader for the Greek Tongue All men of great Learning and well skilled in the Tongues This Conference began on May 4. in the Hall at Fountainbleau De Serres Hist in Henry IV. in the midst whereof was a Table of a reasonable length At the one end sat the King on his right hand the Bishop of Eureux and on the left right against him Du Plessis Pasquier Vassaut and Mercier Secretaries of the Conference were at the lower end of the same Table Somewhat higher on the right hand sate the Chancellour and the Commissioners Behind the King stood the Archbishop of Lions and the Bishops of Nevers Beauvais and Chastres On the King 's left hand were the four Secretaries of State Behind them which conferred were the Dukes of Vaudemont of Nemours of Mercoeur of Mayenne of Nevers of Elbeuf of Aiguillon and of Janville the Officers of the Crown Counsellours of State and other Noblemen of quality All were commanded to keep silence The King said that the Dispute was not betwixt party and party but particular betwixt the two Conferents not for any question of Right and Doctrine but for the literal truth of some passages He desired they would treat with all mildness and moderation without any bitterness or passion but that of the truth Declaring moreover that he did not mean that this Dispute should in any thing alter or disquiet the peace of his Subjects as the Chancellour did then Declare unto them at large by the King's Commandment After the first daies Conference M. Du Plessis fell very sick so as they could proceed no further The King did write the same day unto the Duke of Espernon what had past in the Conference and shewed by his Letter what his judgement was My friend the Diocess of Eureux hath vanquished that of Saumur Wherewith Du Plessis was discontented so that in a Discourse Printed soon after touching this Conference he termed this Letter A spark of fire and said That the Bishop of Eureux Fly was made an Elephant Some Months after Canay one of the Commissioners and President in the Chamber of the Edict at Castres a man learned in Philosophy and the Tongues and well read in the Church History left his Profession of the Reformed Religion and became a Romish Catholick Philip Mornay Lord of Plessis his work concerning the truth of Christian Religion was written in French against Atheists Epicures Paynims Jews Mahumetists and other Infidels began to be translated
1626. and the next day the General and particular Deputies ratified and confirmed them King Lewes made a severe Edict against Duels and took a solemn Oath not to shew any favour to those who should break it About this time there arose very great Disputes in the University of Paris especially between the Doctors of Divinity about a certain Book composed by Sanctarellus a Jesuite which treated of the power Popes had over Kings which Book had been approved by their chief President by the Pope's Vicegerent and by the Master of the holy Palace His Doctrine was That Popes had a power of direction or rather correction over Princes that they might not only Excommunicate them but deprive them of their Kingdoms too and absolve their Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance whether it were for Heresie Apostasie or any other great publick crime whether it were for the insufficiency of their persons or for their not defending the Church and that the Pope might at last give their States to such as he should think fit For the present it made a great noise among the Doctors and was opposed by several Books which then were published The whole Body of Divines did condemn it some indeed of the old League seemed to favour it But the Parliament called the chief of the Jesuites before them and obliged them to sign a Declaration by which they should condemn the said Book and to cause another of the like to be subscribed by all the Provincials and Rectors and by Six of the most ancient of every one of their Colledges in France and so ordered the Book to be burnt by the common Hangman with prohibition to the Stationers to sell any of them At this time there were Combinations of divers Grandees of the Court against the King and State Madam de Chevuruse being discontented that her private intelligences with the English Ambassadour were so publickly taken notice of did not a little promote the undertakings by her animating of Monsieur the Grand Prior and Chalais to execute it both which were engaged by love to her as also that the Colonel d'Ornano abusing Monsieur's goodness and the credit which his place gave him did absolutely divert him from the Marriâ—ge which his Majesty had so earnestly desired should be celebrated The Cardinal discovered that Chalais was one of chief Instruments of the Enterprize and that Colonel Ornano was the Ring-leader of the Plot. That their chief end was to unite all the Provinces so close together that they might enforce his Majesty not to remove any thing from the Court and withal to permit them to live in the same licentiousness that they had a long while formerly enjoyed That to this effect they endeavoured the breaking of the match between Monsieur and Madamoiselle de Montpensier and to bring on that of Madamoiselle de Bourbon which would more nearly engage Monsieur to their Interests or else to persuade him to marry some other stranger Princess which might be a means to shelter and defend their designs by the forces and assistances which they might reasonably expect from such a Family That this once effected they intended the Count de Soissons should Marry Madamoiselle de Montpensier that the Houses of Guise and Bourbon might be united together and in this manner they would in a moment huddle up together all the leading potent persons of the Court. The Marshal de Ornano is arrested at Fountainbleau and carried Prisoner to the Castle of Bois de Vincennes where he died a few months after of a stoppage in his Bladder The Cardinal beseecheth the King to permit his retirement from the Court. And the King causeth the Duke de Vendosm and the Grand-Prior of France his Brother to be imprisoned at Blois The Marriage of Monsieur and Madamoiselle de Montpensier was celebrated soon after to the quiet and content of the whole Kingdom Chalais the Master of the King's Wardrobe is arrested from the Chamber of Justices at Nantes who condemned him of Treason and sentenced him to be beheaded which was done accordingly Then was the Sieur de Baradas removed from the Court who had been much in favour with the King About the end of this year great differences arose between the Bishop and the Officers of Verdun This being a Frontier Town was then lookt upon as considerable in regard Monsieur de Lorrain seemed to be active and able to attempt something upon France which obliged the King to go on with a design which he had long before resolved of the building a Citadel there The Abbey of S. Vannes was ever reputed the most fit place of all the City for that purpose whence it happened that in the Charter of the said Abbey there had been divers Articles concluded between the Bishop of Verdun and those to whom that place hath ever belonged in which they bound themselves to build their Church in some other place if it should be found necessary to make use of some part of it for the raising of a Citadel However the lines were so contrived that the Church was saved but that of the Capuchins was forced to be taken down which was afterwards done and rebuilt in another place Now the Bishop of Verdun being Lorrain's kinsman was wholly moved by him so that not considering what dependence he had upon the King he suffered himself to be engaged by the Duke to prevent the building of the Citadel On December 30. he published a Monitorium fixed upon all publick places against all such as should labour about it This proceeding was lookt on as a strange thing by the King's Officers The Sieur Guillet presently called a Council of his Majesties Officers of the Town to consider of what was to be done where it was concluded to tear down such Papers as had been any where posted up and to set others in their places of a contrary tenour in the King's behalf which was presently done The Bishop offended at it thundered out an Excommunication the next day against Guillet which he fastened in divers places and having given order to his Vicars not to act any thing in prejudice to his pretended authority he departed from Verdun and rode Post to Cologne In the mean while the Sieur Charpentier his Majesties President in Metz Thoul and Verdun being acquainted with the whole proceeding he declared the said Monitorium to be abusive and scandalous and commanded it to be torn and burnt by the Hangman That the said Bishop should be sent Prisoner to Paris That his Benefices in the mean time should remain in his Majesties hands and that he should pay a fine of ten thousand livres for his said fault This Judgement was put in execution with the usual form excepting only as to the Bishop's being sent to Paris so that he resolving not to suffer himself to be thus despoiled of his goods thought it his best course to send to the King to pacifie him for his rashness he also gave order to
reconcile himself to her favour but all in vain she was still so implacably bent against him that the Peace of Italy being now concluded and the time come wherein the King had promised her to remove the Cardinal she was importunately instant with the King for the accomplishment of his Royal word At last the order was signed for the Cardinal's removal The Cardinal withdrawes himself a little time from the Court but by the advice of the Cardinal de la Valette restores himself again with the the King and so the Queen-Mother not only fell from her hopes but also from her credit with the King whereupon she departeth out of France and goeth to Bruxels Monsieur the King's Brother requesteth the Parliament to indict the Cardinal so doth the Queen-Mother But the King justifies Richlieu by his Letters and Declarations The Duke of Espernon stops the progress of a new Insurrection by dismantling several strong Cities of the Hugonot Party as Millant St. Afrique Pont de Camares Saint-Rome Tarn and several other places The King of Sweden having invaded Germany the French King makes an Alliance with him he establisheth a Chamber of justice in Paris who give judgement against several persons Then is the Cardinal Richlieu created Duke and Peer of France The French Protestants had obtained permission by the King 's Breviate about the beginning of this year to make a National Assembly of their Ministers of France for the maintaining of their Order and worship The Cardinal was of opinion that his Majesty should require them to meet at Charenton because being within his view they would have the less freedom to renew such Cabals as they had formerly made in their Assemblies of Guienne and Lauguedoc This Order was followed and the Sieur de Galland Counsellour to his Majesty was sent to be President in the King's behalf his Loyalty was not to be suspected and they were obliged to accept of him in regard of divers authentique testimonies which made appear that this Order was conformable to that of Councils assembled in the Primitive times which they professed to honour The King especially commanded him to be careful that no Proposition were made which did not concern their Faith or Discipline to silence them in his Majestie 's name in case they should discourse of any other affairs and to establish such Rules as the Cardinal had proposed to keep that Party in submission To this end he used his utmost Prudence and Loyalty he perswaded them to enact that there should not any more National Assemblies be made but in the presence of a Commissary from the King who might by testifying their obedience be a means of continuing them in quiet Besides he induced them to resolve upon the absolute excluding of all Stranger Ministers this being intended of all that were not natural French and to inhibite their Ministers from leaving the Kingdom without his Majestie 's Licence by this means to prevent all intelligences associations and correspondencies with the enemies of the State according to the Laws of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's particular prohibitions In fine he used so much prudence that they required their Ministers not to intermeddle in any affairs Politick or Military and condemned a Book of Berraut Minister of Montauban as erroneous because he maintained that Ministers had a particular call from God to bear Arms. Divers Ordinances were made there for the subsistence of their Party The Emperour of Germany sendeth Cardinal Pasman to Rome to endeavour to break the French King's Alliance with the King of Sweden The French King having lately been in Lorrain The Administ of Card. Ricâ—â—eu after his return the Cardinal undertook to compose a difference between the Bishops and Friers which had made a great noise for sundry ages together The Friers relying upon their priviledges obtained from Rome pretended to have power both to Preach and confess without permission from the Bishops And the Bishops unto whom all people within their Diocess are subject by common right did perpetually thwart that pretension They could not down with the Friers Priviledges alledging they ought to be declared void as being repugnant to the Primitive Constitutions of the Church This quarrel had been especially fomented during the last year by reason some Books had been published in the name of the English Catholicks which preferred the Monastical life before that of the Prelates and seemed to imply that Friers were more necessary at least more useful to the Church than the ordinary Pastors Was it probable that the whole Society of Friers would relinquish the Priviledges they had obtained from the See of Rome On the other side what reason was there that the Prelates should have so little Authority over them in Administration of Sacraments and the Word of God seeing of old Friers were only mixed among the Laity and addressed themselves unto the Bishops Congregations to receive the Sacraments from their hands or those who executed their charge The Cardinal took upon himself to end this difference though he was at that time employ'd in the most important affairs of Christendom He therefore caused the Superiours of the Orders to come before him one by one well knowing that to negotiate such a business in a publick Assembly would be a labour in vain He was a person well versed in all Antiquities and accordingly he represented to them how that in the first institution of Monks they were Consecrated unto God by the mediation of Bishops who received their Vows instructed them and directed their Consciences He laid before them the Original of the whole affair and shewed them how that the Son of God had subjected all those who sold their goods and followed him unto the Apostles whose Successours the Bishops are whereupon they making a strict profession of leading an Evangelical life were more particularly obliged to observe the Order established in and by the Gospel not that he would question the validity of those exemptions granted from the See of Rome unto which he owed much more respect and obedience than to debate the Ordinances thereof yet that he must needs inform them that they could not be dispensed with from following the Order established by Jesus Christ or his Apostles in Administring the Sacraments and Word of God That in fine themselves could not deny but they were obliged to relinquish some part of their pretensions for the avoiding of trouble to the Church which was likely to ensue upon this account and whereof the Hugonots discoursed with much freedom That this peace would be more acceptable to God than all the advantages it could otherwise procure unto particular persons That it would tend unto their honours by testifying unto the world the moderation of their minds and humility of their spirits and that the world would esteem the better of them That he should not willingly propose that the Bishops should have ordinary jurisdiction over their persons or power to visit their Monasteries but
them the quality of Judges under the good pleasure of the Pope and the King the Duke having absolutely submitted himself to their determination But this resolution was not for the gust of the Court. They assembled then again at the Palace of the Archbishop of Burdeaux and from thence sent a Deputation to the King wherein the Archbishop of Arles was to speak for the rest The Bishop in his Oration used all the odious terms he could invent to possess the King with the highest sense of the Duke's misdemeanour Upon which occasion Caspian Bishop of Nantes one of the most vertuous Prelates of his time cried out That if it were possible for the Devil to submit himself to God Almighty to such a degree as the Duke did he would infallibly obtain pardon for all his offences and that notwithstanding the Church deny'd this pardon to a Christian who had ever served God and his Church Upon the Complaints of the Clergy prefer'd to the King by the mouth of the Archbishop of Arles the Cardinal who was present at the Council was of opinion That upon the Duke 's single confession contained in his answer he ought to be reputed Excommunicat◠and as so that the King ought to declare him lapsed from all his Offices and Dignities till by vertue of his Absolution he should be re-united to the Church The Duke now sends his Secretary from Plassac to Rome to procure his Absolution But so many rubs from France were laid in his way that four whole months were laps'd before the Duke could receive his Absolution The Duke's Absolution being resolved on and order given to the Archbishop to give it him and the day for Absolution being appointed the Duke of Espernon attended by the Duke de la Valette and several persons of quality went to Coutras whither being come the Archbishop who was already there accompanied with his Ecclesiasticks went first to the Church where the Duke following after and presenting himself before him kneeled down upon a Velvet Cushion laid ready for that purpose In this posture and in the presence of five Counsellours of the Parliament of Burdeaux who were by the King's order to be assisting at this Ceremony the Archbishop pronounced his Absolution in these words Et Ego Authoritate Ecclesiae eâ quâ fungor absolvo te à vinculo Excommunicationis quam incurristi quia immunitatem Ecclesiae meae Metropolitanae perfregisti manum armatam militum ut me currumque meum in via sisterent misisti Statione dispositâ Palatium nostrum vallasti Jurisdictionem Ecclesiasticam violasti eamque tibi arrogasti Nos Clerumque nostrum insignibus indignis contumeliis affecisti In nomine Patris Filii c. Though the Duke was no great Latinist he had nevertheless so much as to understand many words of this Absolution by which he observed they were not according to the ordinary stile of the Church The Duke after his return received by an express Currier from Court his Majesties orders to return into Guienne to his former Government And it happened well not to the Duke alone but as much also to the Province and to the whole Kingdom that the Duke was at this time restored to his Command Soon after a great Sedition was raised in Burdeaux by reason of the Excise upon Victuallers The Duke opposeth the Seditious forceth divers Barricado's wherein divers of his men are slain and wounded and beateth down their Barricado's and reduceth the City to its obedience to the King The whole Province of Guien except Montauban brake out into open Arms committing every-where all the barbarous Acts of an inhumane fury The Duke sends his orders into all parts of the Province which a little quiets them The commotions of the City were no sooner appeased but that madness diffused it self into the Villages of the adjacent Country The Boors in great numbers got into the Suburb of Burdeaux called S. Surin to which place the Duke's house was near enough for him to hear their Clamours and from his Chamber-window that looked into the fields to see the fires they had kindled in several houses of which the greatest part were miserably consumed The Duke being under great indisposition got out of his bed mounted to horse by night and with forty or fi ty Gentlemen his Guards and some of the Town-Companies went out toward these Mutineers They had fortified themselves in several places of the Suburb had Barricado'd the Church and made a shew of defending themselves But at the Duke's arrival they almost all disbanded and ran away none save those in the Church making any resistance who also at the first Volley discharged upon them fled after their fellows forty or fifty of them were slain by the Cavalry pursuing them at whose death the Duke was greatly afflicted The report of this execution dispersing it self in a moment throughout the whole Province caused a calm every-where Now the Cardinal de la Valette Son to the Duke of Espernon was sent at the head of a great Army into Germany the Command whereof was equally divided between him and Duke Weimar The Duke of Espernon was dissatisfied that the Cardinal de la Valette advanced into the Church by his Learning Birth and Fortune to so eminent a degree of dignity and reputation that should wholly have applied himself to her service that he should hazard his life in so dangerous a profession He ever apprehended it would be fatal to him and therefore had done all he could to disswade him from it employing also the endeavours of several his most intimate friends and servants but all in vain Either the humour of the time the inclination of his Son the necessity of his destiny or all together still prevailing with him above the fears or foresight of so affectionate a Father In the mean time the Duke of Rohan was faln from Lorrain into Alsatia where he took Ruffach by storm Then Commissary Bullion had private directions to go along with Monsieur de Lande Ambassadour and Governour of the French Forces which were in Rhetia to the enterprize of the Valtoline The French Forces marched toward the Mountain Spluga and came to Chiavena advanced to Riva and passing over Sassocorbe which is a Rock between the Mountain and the Lake by which way they are to pass who will go from thence by Land into the Valley which is a very strait passage they came to Traon not meeting with any hindrance For the State of Milan wanting necessary Forces for maintaining it self was rather thinking upon self defence than how to set upon another And because the French mens design was to shut up all passages into that State in such sort as it should be impossible for the Emperour to send them any succour by the way of Tyrol the Duke of Rohan came thither on April 24. with two Regiments of Switzers and five Companies of Horse and made himself Master of the rest of the Valley But after Rohan
upon Assumption-day at the Altar in the Morning and that in the Evening a general Procession should be made wherein the Provost of Paris and all the Soveraign Companies should be assistant with the Court of Parliament This Command extended to all other Archbishops and Bishops throughout France that they should in every Cathedral Church erect one special Altar to the Virgin Mary for this end and in commemoration of this Act to pepetuity One Instance more I shall add of his Zeal to the Romish Religion When the Old Marshal de la Force a Protestant was admitted to see him a little before he expired he told him on his death-bed That he thought God Almighty suffer'd him meaning the Marshâ—â— to live so long upon Earth expecting his Conversion as he had done that of Lesdiguiers He put out sundry Proclamations against Swearers against Pride in apparel as also against Duels and the last was so strict That both the appellant and defendent whosoever did survive should suffer death without mercy and be deprived of Christian burial but both rot upon the Gallows with their heels upwards Here I shall put down a List of divers Books that were Printed in France for sundry years past Francisci Garciae Evangelicus concionator Printed at Lions Anno 1622. Petri Damiani Cardinalis opera Printed at Lions 1623. Bibliothica Veterum Patrum Graecorum Printed at Paris 1624. Deus Natura Gratia by Saint Clara Printed at Lions 1625. Puteani Commentaria in summam D. Thomae Printed at Tholouse 1627. Biblia Septuaginta cum Graeco Testamento Graec. Lat. in three Volumes Printed at Paris 1628. Biblia Vulgata Printed 1628. Bibliotheca Ordinis Praemonstratensis per Job le Praige Printed at Paris 1633. Ludov. Dolae de Concursibus Dei creatura Printed at Lions 1634. Concilia Generalia Graec. Lat. ten Volumes Printed at Paris Franc. Lanovii Chronicon generale ordinis Minimorum Printed at Paris 1635. Didacus Baeza de Christo figurato in Vet. Testam Printed at Lions 1636. Francis Hallier de sacris electionibus ordinationibus at Paris 1636. Historia Ecclesiae Gallicanae at Paris 1636. Franc. Bouquet de Pontificibus Romanis è Gallia oriundis Jacobi Sirmondi propemptrion contra Eucharist Cl. Salmasii Jac. Sirmundi opuscula Dogmatum veterum Scirptorum Andrew de Saussay Martyrologium Gallicanum at Paris 1637. Mart. Bonacinnae opera omnia Printed at Paris 1638. Jacobi Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici Steph. Fagundez in Decalog at Lions 1640. Theses Theologicae Protest Academiae Salmuriensis at Saulmur 1641. Hâ—ttingeri Historia Ecclesiastica five Volumes compleat Hottingeri Analecta Historico-Theologica Octavo Afterwards Anno 1646. there was published Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Epitome at Roven Novissima Galliae Concilia à Tempore Concilii Tridentini ad Annum 1646 at Paris Lewes XIV the present French King succeeded his Father in the Kingdom being about five years old Mazarine casting with himself what is hutful and profitable past this sentence upon the Clergy These are his words counselling the Queen Regent The Sacred Order for these many years hath had but a thin harvest of excellent Persons however it come to pass Men follow after nice Questions live idly do not embrace serious Studies All is done with pomp nay if any Sermons be to be made and the very venerable sacrifice offered Of their Office they lay claim to nothing but their Rents the duty of Preaching which is the principal dignity of a Bishop they quit to any one though never so insufficient They think themselves Bishop enough if they can but ride in fine Coaches with their Arms set on out-vie one another in rich Liveries and Lacquies and punish with rigour those that transgress in the least matters Perpetual haunters of Ladies Couches not without undervaluing the Pastoral staff This is for the most part for there are some that lead holy and unreprovable lives He that shall take offence will own himself not to be one of these but those other So much power hath Religion over the minds of men that as often as among men in holy Orders any eminent vertue hath got up and overcome the common attainments and the vices of mankind it is adored like a Deity At that time that company was of no weight nor moment in France said Mazarine There was Francis Paul Gondy by extraction a Florentine but born in France Abbot of Rhetz afterwards Coadjutor to the Bishop of Paris Archbishop of Corinth one that if occasion had offered would have aspired high as Cardinal Mazarine confessed he was perswaded Over and above an honourable Family he had eloquence and learning with promptness of spirit All was now prosperous and quiet in France whose power reached over Almania from the Mazelin Brink beyond the Rhine By the Victory at Norlingue the parts confining on the Danube were afterwards invaded and terror struck on all sides In Spain by seizing Tortosa and Flix the French got to the River Iber. Their Fleets ranged over the Mediterranean and Ocean All Italy from the Pope who then was Vrban VIII to the least Princes bore reverence The Dukes of Savoy Mantua and Modena then rather Instruments of French slavery than free Princes The Kings of Sweden and Denmark boasted of their friendship the Pole sued for it The Electors of Germany sought to interest themselves in their favour Portugal rent from Spain depended on the looks of France whose Yoak Catalonia had put on being weary of the Spanish Dominion The Low Countries stuck close to them All Europe with astonishment stood gazing at such a state of the French affairs nothing was then wanting to compleat their happiness besides moderation and the art enjoying it Paul Gondy designed Archbishop of Paris is consecrated of Corinth it is the Bishop of Rome's practice that so the whole world may be thought depending on the Vatican Oracle to exercise his authority even upon the dissenting parts That day was first occasion of much ensuing mischief Ferraro Pallavicini a Canon Regular a Parmesan of a Noble house sharply inveighing in libellous Pamphlets against the practices of the Roman Court lost his Head at Agivnon in France and gave instance how unsafe a thing it is to touch upon the Roman State in writing though never so truly The Divisions of Italy being closed up Pope Vrban VIII died July 29. 1644. after he had sate twenty one years and some months Then Gio Battista Pamphilio a Noble Roman was Proclaimed Pope after the See had been vacant 45. daies He assumed the name of Innocent the Tenth The Hist of Cardinals part 3. lib. 2. This Election was not at all displeasing to the French though they were not a little displeased at Cardinal Antonio who for his own private Interest had by his reiterated instances perswaded that Crown to the exclusion of Pamphilio and afterwards consented to it contrary to the King's order and without expecting the return of the Currier which was dispatched to that Court that they might consult upon the
Galliae THe Heads of the Statutes of the Provincial Council of Rhemes Charles Archbishop of Rhemes Cardinal of Lorrain being President Statute 1. Of the Residence of Curates 2. Of the Office of a Curate in choosing and preaching sound Doctrine 3. Of the Office of Curates in the Administration of the Sacraments 4. For what ends spiritual alliance shall be thenceforth contracted by Baptism 5. Of the lawful times of Marriage 6. Of the life and honesty of the Curates 7. Of providing fit Clerks for the supply of Vacant Churches who are to be examined by six Doctors or Licentiates in Divinity or in the Canon-law or other Clerks either Secular or Regular 8. Of promotion to holy Orders 9. Of the first Tonsure No youths are to be admitted to the first Tonsure unless they have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and the rudiments of faith and shall learn to read and write 10. Of restoring the offices of Minor orders by the Churches from a Deacon to a door-keeper 11. Of the distinct collation of the things of the Orders and the qualities of those that are to be ordained 12. That all Clerks be appointed to some certain Church 13. Of the Age and quality of those that are to be promoted to the greater orders None to be admitted to the Order of a Sub-deacon till he be two and twenty years of age none to the Order of a Deacon till three and twenty years of age nor of a Priest till five and twenty years of age 14. Of the Examination of those to be promoted to the greater Orders concerning their persons age education manners faith and doctrine 15. Of the Office of a Sub-deacon and Deacon and Priest about the Church to which they are admitted 16. All Orders are to be conferred Gratis 17. Of the Visitation of Arch-deacons and the office of Rural Deans 18. Of the reparation of Churches and the use of Images These Acts of the Council were perfected after nineteen several Congregations I shall omit the names of those who were either present in this Provincial Council of Rhemes or sent their Procuratours Some Decrees of the Synod concerning Marriages and Ravishers of Women were approved but not published I shall also pass over the procurations of the Archbishop of Rhemes through the Cities Diocess and Province of Rhemes The Constitutions of the Synod of Melum Anno 1579. 1. COncerning the profession of the Catholick faith 2. Of the diligence to be used by Pastors against Hereticks 3. Of the punishing of rash swearers 4. Of Magical Arts in general and of divinations prohibited by Law 5. Of the Visitation of Churches 6. Of the Celebration of Festivals 7. Of the Sacraments in general 8. Of the Sacraments in special 9. Of Confirmation 10. Of the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist 11. Of the things pertaining to the Celebration of the Mass 12. Of Penance 13. Of fasting 14. Of Extream Unction 15. Of Matrimony 16. Of the Sacrament of Order And first of the life and honesty of the Clergy in general Of the causes of the reproaches cast upon the Clergy 17. Of promotion to Holy Orders 18. Rules given to Bishops to walk by 19. Of Canonists 20. Of Parish-priests 21. Of Residency 22. Of the reformation of Regulars The Laws of a Seminary Colledge which is to be instituted in every Diocess according to the Decree of the Council of Trent Sess 23. c. 23. Chap. 1. OF those that are to be admitted and those that are to be discharged 2. Of those things which respect piety 3. Of the things which pertain to obedience 4. Of the things which pertain to modesty 5. Of the things which respect studies 6. Of those who shall have the charge of the spiritual affairs of a Seminary and things pertaining to learning as also of temporal things 7. Of Hospitals for sick folks Of a Procurator appointed for pious causes whom some call a Procurator of Souls 8. Of the trimming and adorning of Churches 9. Of the funerals and burials of Catholicks 10. Of the preservation of Church-goods 11. Of the things that pertain to outward jurisdiction Now concerning the Correction of publick Crimes 1. Of Whores Bawds and Panders 2. Of Concubinaries 3. Of Usuries Here they pray and beseech all Princes and Magistrates that they would use their utmost endeavours to remedy these evils 12. Of the office of foraneous Vicars and Arch-presbyters 13. Of a Diocesan Synod and of Synodal witnesses 14. Of School-masters 15. Of the restraining of immoderate charges 16. Of the Sealings of Notaries The Canons and Decrees of the Provincial Council of Cambray Anno 1565. Chap. 1. OF the suspected and prohibited books of Hereticks 2. Of Divinity-lectures in Chapters and Monasteries 3. Of Schools and of the books to be taught in them and the manner of teaching youths 4. Of a Seminary and of the age of youths to be admitted into a Seminary 5. Of Doctrine and preaching the Word Of God 6. Of Worship Ceremonies and Divine Service 7. Of Ecclesiastical Ministeries 8. Of the life and honesty of the Clergy 9. Of the Examination of Bishops and of the Examination of Pastours 10. Of the Residency of Bishops and Curates 11. Of the residency of Pastors and their Office 12. Of a Visitation 13. Of Ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction 14. Of Matrimony 15. Of Purgatory and suffrages for the dead 16. Of the Monasteries of Men and Women 17. Of the Saints of their Veneration Worship and Invocation 18. Of Images of the Images of Christ and the Saints to be used in Temples none of which are to be admitted without the consent and judgement of the Bishop 19. Of Indulgences none are to be offered that are new and unknown and such only as are approved by the Ordinary The Decrees of the Provincial Synod of Roven Anno 1581. 1. THat profession might be made of the faith of the one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church we excommunicate and anathematize according to the Lateran Council said they all heresie exalting it self against the Orthodox and Catholick Church and all who do assert and believe otherwise than the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church doth believe and teach 2. They set down a form of Profession of faith I N. do with firm faith believe and profess all and every thing which is contained in the symbol of faith which the holy Roman Church useth c. Concluding thus And I most firmly believe and embrace the Apostolick and Ecclesiastical Traditions and the rest of the observations and constitutions of the same Church Item I admit the holy Scripture according to that sence which our holy Mother the Church hath held and holdeth whose right it is to judge of the true sence and interpretation of the holy Scriptures neither will I ever receive and interpret it but according to the unanimous consent of the Fathers I also profess that there are seven sacraments of the new Law instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord viz. Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist
Penance Extream Unction Order and Matrimony and that they do confer grace and of these that Baptism Confirmation and Order cannot be reiterated without sacriledge And I receive and admit the received and approved rites of the Catholick Church in the solemn administration of all the foresaid Sacraments I embrace and receive all and every thing which have been defined and declared in the holy Council of Trent concerning Original sin and Justification Likewise I profess that there is offered up unto God in the Mass a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice for quick and dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly really and substantially the body and blood together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a conversion of the whole substance of the Bread into the Body and of the whole substance of the Wine into the Blood Which conversion the Catholick Church calleth Transubstantiation I confess also that under one kind only whole Christ and the true Sacrament is received I constantly hold that there is a Purgatory and that the souls detained there are helped by the suffrages of the faithful Likewise that the Saints reigning together with Christ are to be Worshipped and called upon and that they do offer up prayers to God for us And I assert that their Relicks are to be Worshipped That the Images of Christ and the Mother of God alwayes a Virgin and also of other Saints are to be had and retained and that due honour and veneration is to be given to them And I affirm that the power of Indulgences was left by Christ in the Church and that the use of them is very comfortable to Christian people I acknowledge that the holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church is the Mother and Mistress of all Churches And I freely promise and swear true obedience to the Roman Bishop the Successour of the blessed Peter the Prince of the Apostles the Successour of Jesus Christ And I undoubtedly receive and profess all other things delivered by the Sacred Canonical and Oecumenical Councils and especially the holy Council of Trent Moreover I condemn reject and anathematize all contrary things and heresies whatsoever condemned rejected and anathematized by the Church And this Catholick faith without which no man can be saved which I freely profess and truly hold for the present the same I will retain and profess constantly unto the end of my life by the help of God c. And this I promise vow and swear so help me God and his holy Gospels 3. The third Decree was concerning Divine Worship in general 4. Concerning the Sacraments As for the Sacrament of Confirmation it was to be done frequently and Gratis by the Bishops through the Towns in their Diocesses 5. Concerning Bishops where diverse qualifications are pre-requisite before any one be admitted to the Office of a Bishop 6. Concerning the Offices of Bishops 7. Concerning the Offices of Curates and other Presbyters and Parish-Priests 8. Concerning Monasteries wherein divers Instructions and Rules are prescribed to the Abbots and Priors for the better governing themselves and their Monasteries 9. Concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdicton There were also divers Statutes made in the same Provincial Synod concerning the foundation of Schools and Seminaries The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Rhemes Anno 1583. 1. COncerning the Catholick faith and the reason of professing the same 2. A Form of Confession is set down 3. Concerning Divine Worship 4. Concerning the Breviary Missal and Manual 5. Concerning Festival Dayes 6. Concerning Divination by lots and other things contrary to Christian piety 7. Concerning the Sacraments 1. Of Confirmation 2. Of Penance 3. Of the Eucharist 4. Of Order 5. Of Matrimony Whereunto is added the Decree of the Council of Trent concerning the reformation of Matrimony ex Sess 24. 6. Of Extream Unction 8. Concerning Seminaries 9. Of the Clergy in general 10. Of Regulars and their Monasteries 11. Of Curates 12. Of Chapters and Canons 13. Concerning Bishops 14. Concerning Simoniacks and Fiduciaries 15. Concerning Burials 16. Concerning Usury 17. Concerning Jurisdiction 18. Concerning a Visitation 19. Concerning a Diocesan Synod 20. Of a Provincial Synod The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Bourdeaux together with the Laws of the Seminaries Anno 1583. all approved by the Pope 1. COncerning a Confession of Faith 2. Of those things which have respect to Divine Worship and Religion 3. Of Ecclesiastical Prayers 4. Of the Breviary Missal and other Books pertaining to Divine Offices 5. Of those things which either are to be observed or to be taken heed of in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass as they call it and in Divine Offices 6. Of Festival-dayes 7. Of Magick Arts and other things contrary to Christian Religion 8. Of the Sacrament 9. Of Baptism 10. Of Confirmation 11. Of the Eucharist 12. Of Penance 13. Of Extream Unction 14. Of Order 15. Of Matrimony 16. Of Bishops 17. Of Chapters and the Canons of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches 18. Of Parish-Priests 19. Of the Residency of Pastors 20. Of preaching the Word of God 21. Of the life and manners of Clergy-men 22. Of the Examination of those that are to be promoted to benefices with cure 23. Of Simoniacks and Confidentiaries 24. Of Monasteries 25. Of Seminaries 26. Of the not alienating the things of the Church 27. Of Schools Printers and Book-sellers 28. Of Hospitals 29. Of Usuries and unlawful Contracts 30. Of Burials 31. Of Jurisdiction 32. Of a Visitation 33. Of a Diocesan Synod 34. Of a Provincial Council 35. Of Punishments Of the Institution and Laws of the Seminaries of the Province of Bourdeaux 1. OF the Houses of a Seminary That they be built in a large and spacious place near unto the Cathedral Church That there be a Chappel wherein the Clergy may meet at prayers That the dormitory be open and common in which every one may have his own bed c. That an Hospital be appointed in an open place for sick folks in which all things may be provided for the sick with singular piety and charity 2. Of the manner of admitting Clerks into Seminaries The election and admission of Clerks shall be in the power of the Bishop or of those to whom this care shall be committed by name That out of all youths very fit youths may be chosen the Bishop shall cause it to be proclaimed through all the Cities and Towns of the Diocess especially where there are Schools that if any be poor and born of lawful Matrimony who desire to be promoted to the Priesthood and who have attained to the age of twelve years and have not exceeded the twentieth and have made some progress in the Grammar that they appear to be examined at the time and place which he shall appoint them The Bishop shall not admit any to be examined whom he shall behold to be maimed or deformed Then shall he enquire diligently concerning the condition estate
the hand of the President who shall diligently read them c. None shall eat with any one without the Seminary unless with his Parents and Kindred and that very seldome and with leave neither shall he sleep out of the Seminary If any go forth and abide without the President being ignorant of it he may not be admitted without consulting the Bishop whose right it is to appoint whether he be to be received into the Seminary or not Let none touch another so much as in jest but every where and among all preserve modesty and gravity Let silence every where be kept religiously in the Temple in the Schools in the Chamber between going to and returning from the School and in all places let Ecclesiastical modesty appear They shall not discourse with those they meet except by decent and modest salutation which may be done in passing by As often as they shall go either to the Temple or the School they shall proceed modestly two by two their Governour following them to whom they are committed When they are at study let none speak with other neither in the morning before nor in the evening after prayer All shall go to bed at nine a clock and rise at four all shall lye single in their beds that they may preserve their health After Dinner and after Supper they shall spend one hour in honest recreation c. Let them keep their clothes chambers beds books clean let them make up their beds early in the morning 7. Of their Learning Let all first learn the Compendium of the Catholick Catechism so exactly that by mutual interrogations concerning it they may be able to render an account of the Catholick Faith to every one requiring it And to that end a repetition of it shall be made twice in a Week And when they shall be advanced herein let the reading of the Roman Catechism be diligently commended to them that from thence they may learn the higher Doctrine of the Sacraments Let them alwayes keep the Law of speaking Latin and let them be diligent in learning their lessons and getting them by heart in the time prefixed c. Let none be absent from School in the appointed time In the School let the Clerks who shall be of the same form sit together and endeavour to excel others with all modesty Let them neither buy nor have any Books but those whom the President shall judge to be profitable for them Books that are condemned by the holy Apostolical Chair and immodest Books let them not so much as know them by name much less let them dare ever to read them They shall be exercised in all kind of Disciplines which do especially help to the knowledge of Divinity and when they shall learn more humane Learning and Philosophy they are to be chiefly instructed in that part of Divinity which unfoldeth cases of conscience Let them also learn Ecclesiastical Books diligently and those which they call Ritual Let all be exercised in their order in making Orations and Exhortations concerning the commandments of God and of the Church concerning the Articles of faith Vertues to be followed and Vices to be shunned or some other sentence of Scripture c. 8. Of Correction If any be wayward and sawcy especially who infect and corrupt the manners of others all endeavours are to be used lest they bring any detriment to the Seminary if the Moderators are somewhat indulgent toward them neither are they who are of a crabbed nature long to be retained in the Seminary unless they shall reform them by words or correction As they are not to be born in a Seminary who are ignorant and slothful so much less they who neglect piety who violate the Statutes of the Seminary who enter into society with dissolute persons who are delighted in the discourses of those that are without who are wont to whisper and backbite c. who art wont to lye and excuse their own faults who impatiently bear punishments injoyned who speak or answer malapertly undecently or ironically These and the like Vices are first of all to be stopt by the whole Seminary and sharply to be corrected without excepting any 9. Of the reason of promoting Clerks and dismissing them from the Seminary As often as Orders shall be celebrated the President shall give to the Bishop a Catalogue of those who for their age piety and learning may be promoted to some Order In examinations which shall be had to vacant Benefices the Seminary-Clerks if they be fit let them be preferred before all others They shall be sent at the pleasure of the Bishop to Churches destitute of Pastors or to govern Schools or to undergo other Ecclesiastical Offices for the necessity of times and places Whosoever shall be sent away from the Seminary for what cause soever let him render an account of his Office to the President which he hath exercised at home and restore all things to its place which have been committed to him Those who have been educated in the Seminary and without the licence of the Bishop have delivered up themselves to any place or person or have fled out of the Diocess in which they ought to serve the Church shall be bound to make restitution of that maintenance which they have received in the Seminary They who depart if they come to better preferment yet are they to remember that they ought to be beneficial and grateful to the Seminary Departing let them take their leave of the Lord Bishop if he be in the City his Vicars the President the Priests and the rest of their companions and let them earnestly entreat them all to pray for their prosperity The Decrees of another Provincial Synod follow made partly at Tours in the month of May 1583. and partly at Anjou in the month of September I shall only set down an Index of the Titles 1. THe Prologue of the Synod 2. Supplications to the Pope and the Most Christian King 3. Of the care of defending the Profession of Faith 4. A Form of Confession of Faith is set down 5. Of the Extirpation of Simony 6. Of the Sacraments and their use 7. Of Baptism 8. Of Confirmation 9. Of the Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass 10. Of Matrimony 11. Of Order 12. Of the celebration of Festivals the Veneration of Reliques and of Images 13. Of Ecclesiastical Discipline the Reformation of the Clergy as well as the people 14. Of Chapters Dignities and Canons 15. Of Parish-Priests Presbyters and other Clerks 16. Of Christs faithful Laity This Synod requireth Women not to go abroad and especially not to come into the Church without their heads and breasts veiled Indignum est c. It is an unworthy thing say they that Christian women whom it becometh to be adorned with modesty and sobriety to profess piety by good works after a whorish manner to expose themselves to the people with curled hair and naked breasts They forbid all temporal businesses to be done
in the Church where Prayers and Divine Offices are to be performed They require all Christians not to eat without first consecrating their Table and not to depart from Table without pious and humble thanksgiving unto God If any one hath taken counterfeit money though ignorantly and he know not the person from whom he received it yet he shall not presume to put it away to another because it cannot be done without appearance of evil All Laicks are forbidden to walk in the Church especially during the time of Divine Offices under pain of Excommunication 17. Of Monks and Monasteries of the manner of the admission of Novices into Abbies Monasteries and Convents None is to be admitted to that profession before the year of probation and before the sixteenth year of his age Of the antient Ceremonies and Customs of the Monasteries the habits of the Monks and their shaving their beards and having a round ring of hair on their heads The Laity are forbidden to sit among the Monks whilst the Divine Mysteries are celebrated 18. Of Nuns and their Habits A Prohibition to men to enter into the Monasteries of the Women 19. Of Burials The bodies of Hereticks not to have Christian burial Those who deny the Oblations or Legacies of the dead or refuse to pay them or conceal their Wills and Testaments or deceitfully retain them are to be excommunicated 20. Of Jurisdiction and Visitation 21. Of preserving Church-goods and not alienating them 22. Of Seminaries Schools and Universities The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Aquitain celebrated at Bituriges in the month of September Anno 1584. IN the first place there is a Form of Confession of Faith by those who were present in this Provincial Council The Index of the Titles 1. Concerning the Adoring Worshipping and Calling upon God 2. Concerning Faith 3. Of the Preaching and Exposition of the Word of God 4. Of taking away the abuse of the Scriptures 5. Of avoiding Hereticks 6. Of Invocation of Saints and of Festival dayes 7. Of Pilgrimages to holy places No Clerk may presume to visit such places without having obtained a licence from his own Bishop or his Vicar in writing and before he begin his journey he is first to confess all his sins and to receive the holy Eucharist None is to visit holy places out of curiosity or out of pleasure or to view divers Towns and places but for the amendment of his life and the fulfilling of Vows 8. Of Vigils and Fastings 9. Of Churches and Temples 10. Of the Reliques of Saints The first Canon was that the Bishops take care that the honour of Reliques be preached to the people of God That Reliques are not to be shewed out of the Box except it be done out of a solemn manner and custom of some Church but they are to be kept with honour and reverence The Reliques of Saints may not be translated without the authority of the Pope or the Bishop or a Council They are to be carryed by Ecclesiastical persons in publick prayers not by Laicks unless perhaps it be granted them out of an antient and laudable custome of Churches and places 11. Of Images 12. Of the celebration of the Divine Office of Canonical hours and the Ecclesiastical Hymn 13. Of daily distributions 14. Of Boyes-Choristers of their age manners habit and learning 15. Of the Ornaments and Vessels of the Church 16. Of Coemeteries the care of the Dead and of Purgatory 17. Of Traditions 18. Of the Sacraments in general 19. Of Baptism 20. Of Confirmation 21. Of Penance and the parts of it 22. Of the Eucharist 23. Of the Mass 24. Of Order 25. Of the Clergy 26. Of Priests 27. Of Matrimony 28. Of Extream Unction 29. Of the greater and lesser Seminaries of Schools and Universities 30. Of Jurisdiction 31. Of Excommunication 32. Of Archbishops and Bishops 33. Of a Visitation Procuration and the persons to whom the power of Visiting is given 34. Of Canons and Chapters 35. Of the Rectors of Parish Churches 36. Of Benefices 37. Of Monasteries and Religious Houses 38. Of things pertaining to the Church 39. Of Blasphemies of an Oath and of Perjury 40. Of Divination by lots Enchantments Conjurations and such like Superstitions 41. Of Simoniacks and Fiduciaries 42. Of Concubinaries 43. Of Hospitals 44. Of Confraternities and Fellowships 45. Of Laicks 46. Of Councils This Council was concluded with acclamations to Pope Gregory XIII to King Henry III to the Patriarch of Bituriges and to all the Bishops that were present in that Council wishing them long life and an happy return to their Churches An Indulgence of fourty days was granted by the Patriarch to all who were present in this Synod and to all people which favoured so holy a work with their wishes and prayers An Index of the Titles of the Decrees of the Provincial Council of Aquens Anno 1585. 1. COncerning the Profession of the Catholick faith 2. A Form of confession of faith 3. Of the Rudiments of faith and the Schools of Christian doctrine 4. Of prohibited Books 5. Of the Sacraments 6. Of the Sacrament of Baptism 7. Of the holy Chrisme 8. Of Confirmation 9. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of the most holy Eucharist 10. Of the celebration of the Mass 11. Of the Missal and Breviary 12. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of Penance 13. Of Matrimony 14. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of Extream Unction 15. Of those things which belong to the Sacrament of Order 16. Of the Worship of Festival dayes 17. Of the life and honesty of Clerks 18. Of Bishops of those things in which the Bishop out of the Council of Trent as delegate of the Apostolical Chair may and ought to proceed 19. Of a Visitation 20. Of Sermons and Preaching the Word of God 21. Of Canonists 22. Of Chapters 23. Of Beneficed persons or Mansionaries 24. Of Parish-Priests and Curates 25. Of Residency 26. Of Churches and their Ordaining 27. Of the Quire 28. Of the Altar 29. Of the Sacrist 30. Of the Coemeteries Bell Obsequies and Funerals 31. Of Processions 32. Of Indulgences 33. Of Reliques 34. Of Excommunication 35. Of those things which pertain to the Collation of Benefices and the preservation of rights and goods 36. Of a Seminary 37. Of a Diocesan Synod 38. Of foraneous Vicars 39. Of Monasteries 40. Of Nuns and their Vows of Chastity 41. Of those things which generally belong to these Constitutions The Titles of the Decrees of the Provincial Council of Tholouse Anno 1590. Part 1. 1. COncerning a Profession of Faith 2. Concerning Bishops 3. Concerning Chapters 4. Concerning Parish-Priests 5. Of Presbyters and Clerks 6. Of Preachers 7. Of foraneous Vicars 8. Of Nuns Part 2. 1. Of Sacraments and things belonging to the Sacraments 2. Of Baptism 3. Of Confirmation 4. Of Penance and Confession 5. Of the Eucharist and the holy Communion 6. Of the celebration of Masses 7. Of the Sacrament of Order 8.
Frequent Meetings of Bishops at Orleans Page 22 23 Bertram an Holy Man and singular Writer Page 64 Berengarius the first that was accounted an Heretick for denying Transubstantiation Page 73 Bernard a Monk of Clugny Page 190 St. Bernard Abbot of Clarevaux his story Page 87 88 89 Ann du Bourg a famous Protestant burnt for the Truth Page 214 William Brissonnet a Godly French Bishop Page 193 Peter de Bruce he Preacheth against the Popes Page 92 Pope Boniface VIII affirmeth that the Realm of France is a Benefice of the Papal Majesty p. 127. He put France under an Interdict ibid. He investeth the Emperour Albert King of France Page 128 Bruno the Founder of the Order of the Carthusians Page 83 Queen Blanch worshippeth St. Edmond at Canterbury Page 112 William Budaeus Secretary to King Francis I. his Library-keeper and afterwards his Counsellour his works Page 189 Cardinal Bellay ibid William Bellay a Learned Nobleman Page 190 Stephen Brulifer a Doctor of Sorbon and Franciscan Page 172 C. JOhn Calvin his Learning and Industriousness Page 193 Dr. John Castellan a sincere Preacher of the Word in France and Martyr Page 194 The beginning of the Cistercian Order Page 83 Clovis I. the first Christian King of France his story from Page 18 ad Page 22 Caesarius Bishop of Arles Page 22 Charles the Great made Emperour of the West by the Pope Page 44 He subdueth the Saxons and reduceth them to the Christian Faith Page 45 Claudius Bishop of Auxerre Page 41 Jodocus Clichtoveus a Learned Man of Paris Page 184 Philip de Commines an Historiographer Page 178 King Charles VII reduceth all to his obedience which was subdued to the English except Calais Page 164 When the Cardinals were first shut up in a Conclave at the Election of the Pope Page 120 Charles of Guise Arch-Bishop of Rhemes and Charles of Vendosme made Cardinals Page 206 Crescens one of the first Preachers in France Page 2 Columban an Holy Man Page 33 Councils at Matiscon Page 24 25 A Council at Orleans Page 23 24 A Council at Poictiers Page 26 A Council at Auxerre Page 33 Councils at Cabillon or Chalon Page 34 52 A Council at Franckford Page 42 A Council at Mentz Page 46 Councils at Rhemes Page 48 68 69 84 89 A Council at Clermont Page 80 A Council at Tours Page 49 A Council at Arles Page 54 Councils at Lyons Page 57 111 119 Councils at Paris Page 58 Page 93 A Council at Meaux Page 59 A Council at Pistis ibid A Council at Acciniacum Page 60 A Council called by Pope John in France Page 64 A Council at Soissons Page 99 A Council at Bourges Page 106 The Council of Constance There it was decreed that a Council lawfully assembled is above the Pope Page 162 Charles the Great banisheth the Ambrosian service and establisheth the Gregorian Page 55 A general Complaint made against the Clergy of France by the Court of France and all the Judges of France accusing them of many abuses Page 145 D. KIng Dagobert built the Temple of St. Denis which hath since been the Sepulchre of the French Kings Page 32 Francis Duraneus a Learned Lawyer Page 208. Durandus a famous Lawyer and Divine Page 142 143 Dionisius Bishop of Paris Page 9 E. ELigius a Bishop Page 35 Claudius Espencaeus a Doctor of Sorbon his Learned Writings Page 191 Eucherius Bishop of Lyons Page 15 Eustasius Abbot of Lexovien Page 32 Exuperius Bishop of Tholouse Page 13 F. JAcobus Faber a learned Frenchman Farel and Calvin were his Scholars Page 183 Faustus of an Abbot made Bishop of Rhegium in France Page 20 France divided into divers Factions in the time when King Henry V. invaded it Page 163 Fulco Arch-Bishop of Rhemes murthered in the Council of Rhemes Page 68 Fulbert Bishop of Chartres a learned Man Page 72 Fursius Foilan and Ultan built Monasteries in France Page 35 King Francis the first a Founder of Learning in Paris Page 190 A contention between the Fryars of Paris and the French Prelates Page 148 149 150 G. GAnderious Bishop of Lyons Page 34 Robert Gagwin a French Historian Page 183 John Gerson a famous Divine of Paris his Learning and Works Page 164 165 Gerebert Arch-Bishop of Rhemes p. 70. He wrote the Apology of the French Church Page 71 Gotteschalk his opinions Page 63 Godfrey of Bovillon chosen King of Jerusalem Page 83 Gratian a Preacher at Tours Page 9 Gratian the compiler of the Pope's Decrees Page 101 Gregory Bishop of Tours Page 30 A strife between the Gray Fryars Prelates and Doctors of Paris Page 114 115 Gregory de Arimino opposeth the Parisian Doctors in the Article of Justification Pope Gregory XII translates his Seat back again from Avignon to Rome Page 152 153 When the Gospel began to be Preached in France by Peter Sebevilla Page 192 Gul. de Sto. Amore a Doctor of Paris Page 111 Gul. de alta Petra Bishop of Paris Page 108 Guilem an Abbot he wrote the Life of St. Bernard Page 92 Wesselus Gansfort a Master in the Vniversity of Paris Page 172 H. HAyabad a Franciscan Preached in Avignon before Pope Clement that the Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon and the Pope and his Cardinals are Antichrist Page 147 King Henry II. kill'd by Earl Montgomery with a Lance. Page 213 King Charles VI puts the bearer of the Pope's Bulls to the punishment called the Honorary Amends ibid King Henry V. of England warreth in France and dyeth there Page 164 Henry VI. an Infant is Crowned K. at Paris ibid Herebald Bishop of Auxerre Page 62 Hildebert Arch-Bishop of Tours Page 78 Hinckmarus Arch-bishop of Rhemes Page 60 61 Hinckmarus Bishop of Laon. Page 60 Hilary Bishop of Poictiers in France Page 11 Hilary first Bishop of Arles Page 15 I. IRenaeus his story Page 6 7 8 Jews banished out of France by King Dagobert p. 33. And by Philip Augustus Page 93 Ivo Arch-Bishop of Chartres a Vassal to Pope Urban II. He wrote divers Epistles to him Page 79 80 Joan of Arc her Story her Valour Success and Death Page 168 Indulgences granted to divers Churches Brother-hoods and Hospitals Page 218 219 220 Pope John XXII erected the Church of Tholouse into an Arch-Bishoprick and divided the Diocess of Tholouse into six Bishopricks Page 144 King John and his Son Philip are taken Prisoners by Edward the Black Prince and carried into England Page 148 James de Paradiso of Chartres he wrote a little after the Council of Basil Page 170 L. LAndilenus Bishop of Vienna Page 34 Lazarus first Pastor of Marseilles Page 2 Good Laws enacted by King Lewes IX Page 116 A League among the French Nobility against the Pope Page 115 Launmarus of Chartres a renowned Fryar Page 22 Leporius a French Monk a Nestorian Page 20 A Letter sent in the name of St. Peter Page 39 Vincentius Lirinensis He wrote against the Pelagians and Nestorians Page 18 The Emperour Lewes imprisoned in the
Monastery of St. Medard at Soissons Page 57 Lotharius becometh a Monk in the Abbey of Pluviers When the Pope's Legates came first to the Councils of France Page 59 King Lewes IX lost all his Army and himself â—ith his two Brethren Alphonso and Charles are taken Prisoners in Egypt Page 113 The Principal Laws observed in the Creation of the Pope Page 120 121 Lupus Bishop of Troyes Page 17 Lupus Bishop of Sens. Page 33 Lupus Abbot of Ferraria Page 63 Letters passed between King Philip the fair and Boniface VIII Page 128 129 A Letter of the French Prelates sent to Pope Boniface VIII Page 131 132 Many Lutherans commanded to be put to death in Paris by King Henry II. Page 207 M. CLaudius Mammertus Bishop of Vienna Page 17 Margaret Queen of Navar Sister to King Francis 1. her memoires and poetical works Page 191 A Table of French Martyrs Page 175 ad 200 Martyrs at Lyons and Vienna Page 3 4 c. Maurice Bishop of Anjou Page 13 Martial converted divers Provinces and People in France to the Faith Page 2 Rabanus Maurus famous in the Vniversity of Paris Page 62 St. Martin Bishop of Turin Page 13 The Monastery of St. Martin near Paris called des Champs Page 73 John le Mayre a French Historian Page 183 Minerius a cruel Persecutor of the Albigenses in the Town of Aix in Provence Page 203 Miximus builder of the Micians Monastery Page 22 Maximinus first Pastor of Aquens Page 2 Maximinus a Fryar of Orleans Page 22 John Melrose Abbot of the Augustinians Page 41 Francis Morellus President in a Synod of the Protestants Page 211 N. WIlliam Nagaretta Professour of the Laws his Declaration and Appeal against Pope Boniface VIII at Paris before the King and his Council Page 120 Nicholas de Clemangiis a learned French-man he wrote against the abuses of the Popes and Court of Rome Page 166 O. ODilo Abbot of Clugny made Arch-Bishop of Lyons Page 173 Odo Bishop of Baieux Page 77 Nicholas Orem he Preacheth before the Pope and his Cardinals at Avignon Page 152 P. MAthias Parisiensis proveth that the Pope is Antichrist Page 155 The Pastorelli and their Destruction Page 114 Paschasius Rathbert Abbot of Corbey Page 64 Paul of Pisa Tutor to Charles the Great Page 41 Peregrinus when he flourished Page 17 Philastrius Bishop of Breux Page 13 Philip the Apostle said first to have Preached the Gospel in France Page 1 Postellus a learned French-man Page 190 Peter Castellan Bishop of Orleans Page 191 Peter Abailard an Antitrinitarian Page 100 Peter Bishop of Clugny Page 91 Peter a Monk of Paris Page 100 Peter Cantor he wrote against the Pope and the Mass-Priests Page 101 Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris the Master of the Sentences Page 101 Peter de Cugneriis his Oration Page 135 The Appeal of King Philip the Fair against Pope Boniface VIII at Paris Page 130 Articles of William de Plesiano Knight read against Boniface VIII at Paris ibid. Peter de Aliaco Cardinal of Cambray and Chancellour of Paris Page 169 The Pragmatic Sanction of King Charles VII first made in a Synod assembled at Bourges Page 168 An Arrest of the Parliament of Paris against the Pope's exactions of Annates in France Page 159 Projectus Bishop of Marseilles Page 33 The Story of Peter the Hermit a French Pilgrim Page 80 81 Prosper of Aquitain when he flourished Page 17 Q. ST Quintin a Preacher and Martyr Page 9 R. REmigius Bishop of Rhemes he baptized King Clovis and 3000. of his Souldiers with him Page 20 Remigius Bishop of Lyons he defended the Doctrine of Gotteschalk Page 63 Robert the Norman refuseth the Kingdom of Jerusalem Page 83 John Rochetalada Preacheth that the Church of Rome is the Whore of Babilon c. and is burnt at Avignon Page 147 Rusticus a Martyr Page 9 Thomas Rhedon a French Carmelite Page 172 S. SAlvianus Bishop of Marseilles Page 17 Solonius a good Writer ibid Salonius Bishop of Vopinga Page 26 Sagitarius Bishop of Ebreduna Page 26 Saturninus the first Bishop of Tholouse Page 9 Paulus Sergius first Bishop of Narbon in France Page 2 Sebastian a Martyr Page 11 Sidonius Apollinaris first Bishop of Clermont Page 16 Henry Stevens and Robert his Son Henry Robert's Son and Paul the Son of that Henry all learned Men and Printers Page 204 Great contention between the Masters of Sorbon in Paris and the Preaching Fryars Page 114 Serenus Bishop of Marseilles Page 27 The Sect and Order of Monks called Stellati instituted by King John Page 152 The great Schism between the French and Italian Cardinals after the Death of Pope Gregory XI about the choice of the Pope Page 155 T. TRophimus first Bishop of Arles Page 1 Theodorus Bishop of Marseilles Page 30 Thevet a learned French-man Page 190 V. VIctorinus of Aquitain Page 21. A Synod at Verceles against Berengarius Page 74 An Assembly of Bishops at Vicenas Page 138 A book written in France called the Vergers Dream Page 154 Peter Viret an Eloquent French Divine Page 194 Francis Vatablus Regis Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in Paris his Works Page 205 W. WUlfarius Arch-bishop of Rhemes Page 48 William Arch-bishop of Tyre a very learned Man Page 93 The Waldenses their Original and Doctrine Page 96 X. XYstus first Pastor of Rhemes Page 1 The end of the Table of the first part The Table of the Second Part. A. AN Assembly of the Clergy in the Abbey of St. German page 41 A provincial Council at Aix in Provence page 42 An Assembly of the States at Blois page 35 65 Antoine du Verdier page 11 An Assembly of the Reformed Churches at Saumur page 101 A National Assembly of the Protestants page 142 An Assembly of the Bishops and Clergy of France at Paris page 128 Johannes Auratus Regius Professor in Paris page 10 Anthony Sadeel a good Preacher and Writer ibid Adrian Turnebus Professor of Philosophy and Greek in Paris ibid Andrew Tiraquel an excellent Lawyer page 8 Antoin de Chandieu a Learned French Divine page 10 Andreas de Chesne Historiographer to the King of France page 10 B. THe Abbot of Bloys writes against the book of Mariana the Jesuit page 101 The Lady Katherine de Bourbon Sister to King Henry IV. marryed to the Duke of Bar she was a firm Protestant page 85 A Woman of Burgundy killeth 18 sick German Souldiers page 52 Briquemald and Cavagnes dyed constantly in the Faith page 26 John Bodin a great Statesman his speech and works page 36 Renauld of Beaune Arch-bishop of Bourges his speech page 40 The Duke of Bovillon Prince of Sedan turneth Papist page 122 Birth of the present King of France page 153 Guido de Bres an Holy Martyr page 16 Gulielmus Salustius Bartassius an excellent Poet. ibid C. JOhn Castle pierceth King Henry IV. his upper Lip c. and is executed page 83 Father Cotton his ridiculous Sermon page 88 A conference between Du Moulin and Cayer page 88 Conference
between the Bishop of Evereux and Du Plessis Morney page 90 A new Colledge built by King Henry IV. at la Fleshe page 95 A conference between Du Moulin and Father Gontier a Jesuit page 96 A Congregation of French Prelates page 4 A Colloquy at Poisy in France between the Popish Doctors and the Protestant Ministers page 5 6 John Croy a Learned French Divine page 10 A Conference at Flex page 33 A Conference between the German and French Divines at Mompelgart page 45 A Council of sixteen in Paris page 53 Robert Constantine a Learned Frenchman page 19 An affront put upon the Duke of Crequi at Rome and the effects thereof page 177 178 Jacobus Cujacius a great Lawyer page 11. D. LAmbertus Danaeus a French Divine of Orleans page 71 The Death of the Bishop of Chartres who had been Confessour to Cardinal Richlieu page 171 Dionisius Lambinus a Learned French-man page 24 The French Divines answer and censure the Book of Sancterellus the Jesuit page 182 The Death of King Lewes XIII page 160 Daniel Chamier a learned French-man page 107 Daniel Tilenus Professor at Sedan page 104 E. AN Edict made against Duels page 129 Father Edmonds Prior of the Covent of Jacobines executed page 70 Queen Elizabeth 's Letter to King Henry IV. upon change of his Religion page 80 French Exiles at Mompelgart page 45 F. ANthony Faius a good French Divine and Abraham his Son their works page 50 John Fernelius a learned French Physician page 8 A difference between the Bishops and the Fryars in France page 143 A sore Famine in Paris page 76 Francis Cupif a Sorbon Doctor turneth Protestant his Censure page 152 Fishes called Surdonnes sent by God's providence to the relief of the Poor at Rochel during the Siege page 27 G. THe Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Guise slain page 59 60 A League of the Guisian Faction page 34 35 Gilbert Genebrard a Divine of Paris page 10 Paul Gondy Arch-bishop of Corinth and Cardinal de Rhetz page 163 Henrico Gaetano sent Legat by the Pope to the League of France page 71 The Guisian League sworn in Tholouse by the black Penitents page 45 Many places in France side with the Guisian Faction page 43 H. KIng Henry III. curseth the City of Paris p. 55. he is murthered by a Jacobine Monk page 67 Michael Hospitalius Chancellour of France an opposer of wicked Counsels against the Protestants page 29 King Henry IV. embraceth the Roman Catholick Religion p. 79. he is murthered by Ravillac page 97 I. THe Jesuits restored in France page 95 Julius Caesar Scaliger and Joseph Scaliger very learned Men. page 9 L. A List of the Protestant Churches in France lately demolished page 189 190 191 The latter Councils of France since the Council of Trent page 192 c. The Laws of a Seminary College p. 194. and that of Bourdeaux in particular page 199 200 A Letter of King Henry III. to the King of Navar. page 41 M. CHarles Marillac Bishop of Vienna page 2 August Marlorat Minister of the Reformed Church at Roven hanged by the Guisians page 17 Clement Marot a famous French Poet. page 17 The bloody Massacre of the Protestants at Paris page 23 24 Peter Merlin a learned French Divine page 24 John Morinus a Learned Papist page 19 Muretus an eloquent Writer page 17 Duke of Montmorency beheaded page 144 Papyrius Massonius a Writer of the French Chronicle page 1â— Count Montgomery taken and put to death page 28 Andrew Melvin his Verses page 29 Michael Montaign his Works and when he flourished page 30 Cardinal Mazarine made prime Minister of State p. 164. he raiseth a stately Library p. 164. his Death page 175 John Mercer a learned French-man Successor of Vatablus as Hebrew Professor at Paris page 24 N. KIng of Navar and Prince of Conde excommunicated by Pope Sixtus V. page 44 Their Protestation against it ibid The King of Navar 's Declaration against the Guisian League page 44 O. OBusson Arch-bishop of Yverdon A Form of an Oath propounded by those of the Guisian League page 35 D'Ossat and Du Perron made Cardinals page 84 Some Orders cryed down in France because of their Conspiracies against the State page 45 P. PEter de Espignac Arch-Bishop of Lyons page 35 Peter Verseris Advocate in the Court of Parliament at Paris page 35 The Protestant Princes of Germany raise an Army to defend the French Protestants page 51 John Passeratius an excellent Orator and Poet. page 11 Du Plessis Morney his Story page 103 104 105 Protestants disturbed in the exercise of their Religion page 34 A Popish Form of Profession of Faith page 195 ad 203 The Works of Cardinal Du Perron page 101 Q. JOhn Quinquarboreus Professor of the Hebrew and Chaldee to the French King in Paris page 18 R. A Relation of the present Estate of the Reformed Churches of France page 184 ad 188 The Duke of Rohan his military Actions in France p. 140. his Peace made with the King 141 his Death page 152 The Siege of Rochel page 137 The English attempt to relieve it but in vain ibid It is yielded to the King page 138 Cardinal Richlieu his death The Characters given of him page 156 157 Francis Rabalaesus a Witty but Atheistical Writer page 19 Peter Ramus slain in the Parisian Massacre page 24 Rozarius a Preacher at Orleans Apostatizeth and afterwards recanteth page 24 Andrew Rivet and William Rivet two Godly French Divines page 107 A Provincial Synod held at Roven page 41 S. SEdan a Refuge for the Protestants page 122 A Star seen in the Constellation of Cassiopea page 29 A National Synod held at Tonneinx p. 104. another at Alais in Languedoc page 108 Gaspar Scoppius his Book tending to the Rebellion of Subjects against the Soveraign power burnt by the Hangman page 102 The Spanish Renuntiation of all Priority to France page 176 Claud. Salmasius a learned French Critick page 100 Jac. Sirmondus a Learned French Jesuit p. 99. his works page 100 T. BEnedict Turretine a learned French-man page 100 V. FRancis Vieta a learned French Mathematician page 100. Nicholas Vignerius a Learned French Historiographer page 100 Nicholas Vignerius Junior a Learned French Divine page 100 The Bishop of Verdun imprisoned page 131 FINIS ERRATA PArt I. Page 2. Line 31. read Mantz p. 13. l. 23. 24. r. circumcelliones p. 28. l. 14. r. Avergne p. 31. l. 29. r. Theodorick p. 57. l. 38. r. levies p. 83. l. 17. r. Carthusians p. 91. l. 20. r. his p. 109. l. 27. r. and p. 112. l. 8. r. There Part II. p. 7. l. 11. r. leave and l. 37. r. leave p. 11. l. 3. r. Undiquaque p. 30. l. antepenult r. peace was concluded p. 54. l. 41. r. at Soissons p. 70. l. 19. r. Mars p. 105. l. 3. r. Towns p. 130. l. 19. r. the chief p. 146. l. 22. r. one Fish-day p. 208. l. 8. r. Bells
and knees made with continual praying valiant also and excellently well seen in martial affairs After the death of Arnulph Patriarch of Jerusalem Guarimond born in France succeeded him About this time the two great orders of Templers and Teutonicks appeared in the World The former under Hugh de Paganis and Ganfred of St. Omer their first Founders They agreed in profession with the Hospitallers and performed it alike vowing poverty chastity and obedience and to defend Pilgrims coming to the Sepulchre It is falsly fathered on St. Bernard that he appointed them their rule who prescribeth not what they should do but only describeth what they did At the same time began the Teutonick Order consisting only of Dutch-men well descended living at Jerusalem in an house which one of that Nation bequeathed to his Country-men that came thither on Pilgrimage King Baldwin was afterwards taken prisoner and Eustace Grenier chosen Vice-Roy while the King was in durance stoutly defended the Countrey Baldwin a little before his death renounced the World and took on him a religious habit He dyed not long after viz. in the thirteenth year of his Reign and was buried with his predecessours in the Temple of the Sepulchre Fulco Earl of Tours Mam and Anjou coming some three years before on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem there married the King 's Daughter he was chosen the fourth King of Jerusalem He was well nigh 60 years old By his first Wife he had a Son Geoffery of Plantagenet Earl of Anjou to whom he left his Lands in France and from whom our Kings of England are descended Fulco having reigned eleven years with much care and industry Tyrius lib. 15. ca. ult was slain as he followed his sport in hunting Thomas Fuller brings him in thus speaking his Epitaph A Hare I hunted and Death hunted me The more my speed was was the worse my speed Fuller's holy War lib. 2. For as well-mounted I away did flee Death caught and kill'd me falling from my Steed Yet this mishap an happy miss I count That fell from Horse that I to Heaven might mount Baldwin the third succeeded his Father He was well learned especially in History liberal witty and facetious His mother Millesent continued a Widow and as for Children's-sake she married once so for her Children's-sake she married no more St. Bernard and she often conversed together by Letters He extolled her single Life This St. Bernard Abbot of Clarevaux or Clareval was famous in that time He often complains of the defection of the Church He sharply rebuked the vitious lives of Bishops and Abbots Yea he did not spare the Popes Bern. Ep. 42. as appeareth partly by what he wrote unto Pope Eugenius and unto Innocent the second And for his liberty in speaking against the errours of his time Epist 178. Apolog ad Willerm Abbat he was reproached so that he was constrained to publish Apologies where he saith that they called him the most miserable of Men one who presumed to judge the World and by the shadow of his baseness insult over the lights of the World And he saith there that he was like to be killed every day and was judged as a sheep for the slaughter yet nevertheless he was not afraid to speak of their vices because said he melius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur It is better that a scandal should arise than truth should be relinquished Who at the beginning when the order of Monks began saith he could think that Monks would become so naughty Oh how unlike are we to those in the days of Anthony did Macarius live in such a manner did Basil teach so did Anthony ordain so did the Fathers in Egypt carry themselves so how is the light of the World become darkness how is the salt of the Earth become unsavoury I am a Lyar saith he if I have not seen an Abbot having above sixty horses in his train when ye saw them riding ye might say These were not Fathers of Monasteries but Lords of Castles not feeders of Souls bur Princes of Provinces They have carried after them their Table-Cloths Cups Basons Candlesticks and Portmantua's stuffed not with straw but ornaments of Beds scarce will any of them go four miles from his house but he must have all things with him as if he were going into a leaguer or through a Wilderness where necessaries could not be had O vanity of vanities the Walls of Churches are glorious and poor folks are in necessity Yet may it be said that Bernard was a follower of the Popes I answer yes he gave them all the Titles that others gave them but see what blows he gave them as appeareth by what he wrote to Innocentius and Eugenius he lays on them the blame of all the wickedness in the Church In rites he was carried with the sway of the times but his Doctrine was far different from the Tenets of the Church of Rome In one of his Epistles he writes thus Bern. Epist 91. ad Abbates Suess Congreg I would be in that Council where the Traditions of Men are not obstinately defended nor superstitiously observed but where they search diligently and humbly what is the good perfect and acceptable will of God thither am I carried with all my desire and there would I abide devoutly In Tract de praecept Dispens And elsewhere he saith many things were devised and ordained not because they might not be otherwise but because it was so expedient and certainly but for conserving charity therefore so long as the things do serve charity let them stand without change nor can they be changed without offence no not by the Rulers But contrarily if they be contrary unto charity in the judgement of such only unto whom it is granted to oversee is it not clearly most just that what things were devised for charity should also be omitted or intermitted for charity when it is so expedient or at least that they be changed to another thing more expedient as on the other side certainly it were unjust if these things that were ordained for charity be held against charity Let them therefore hold fast that which is immoveable The same Bernard informs us Bern. de consider ad Eugenium li. 3. that then was held a Council at Rhemes wherein the Pope was president And saith he Brethren I tell you of another Synod where the Lord God will sit in Judgement where we must all stand and there will God judge all the World Here on earth unrighteousness is shut up in a bag but in that Judgement God will judge righteously and there we must all appear whether he be a Pope or a Cardinal or an Arch-Bishop or a Bishop or poor or rich or learned or unlearned that every one may receive according to what he hath done in the body whether good or ill Moreover he said unto the Council that the Imposthume was spread through all the body of the