nothing and he should be in suretie but hee would not returne Wherefore he caused a Councell to be held wherein the Pope was condemned and deposed for his euill life And there was substituted in his place Leo a Romane 8 of that name but soone after the Emperours departure the seditious and inconstant Romanes droue away Leo and recalled the aforesaid Iohn receiuing him in great pompe Leo got him to the Emperour who fearing to molest the Church with a greater schisme permitted the said Iohn to hold his seate But finally beeing surprised in adulterie hee was slaine by the womans husband Robert Barns Chron. Sigeb Nauclerus and Iohn Maire Conferre good Reader these Popes with the first and see the difference The yeare of Christ 958. there hapned at Venice a memorable thing The Duke of Venice Peter of Candie was besieged in his Ducall Pallace and the Venetians angrie against him set fire on the Pallace in so much that not onely the Pallace burnt but also the Church of S. Marke nigh vnto it and more then three hundreth houses about it And as the Duke thus pressed retired into a secret place of the Pallace which was not yet touched with fire the people altogether enraged hauing found him holding yet his onely sonne a young Infant betwixt his armes and requiring vpon both his knees and in great pittie the mercie of the people they were not content most cruelly to murther him with his innocent sonne and wife but after their deathes the bodies of the father and sonne were carried vnto the butcherie and hewen in peeces and after cast vnto dogges Iohn le Maire and Sup. Chron. The cause of this massacre was because he had constrained his first wife to make her selfe a Nunne to the ende hee might with colour espouse the sister of Hugo Marquis of Hetruria of whom he had alreadie had one sonne Wherefore hauing married her the Allies and kinsfolkes of his said wife stirred the people vnto sedition and so they perished vnhappily Supp Chron. About this time flourished Windichinne a Monke of Corney in Saxonie Smaragdus Abbot of S. Michael of the order of S. Benet wrote the booke called Diadema monachorum a right Monkish booke Item vpon the rule of S. Benet and vpon the Psalter another two vpon the Euangelists and Epistles Item one of diuers Sermons Trit Abb. Spauher Benet Pope fift of that name a Romane ruled after Nauclerus 6. monethes and 5. dayes or 2. moneths and 5. dayes after Supp Chron. hee was chosen by the Romanes against the Emperours will after Iohn was slaine in adulterie The Emperour vnderstanding these newes returned to Rome besieged the Towne and so afflicted it that they were cōstrained to present Benet vnto him at his pleasure The Emperour restored Leo to the seate and Benet was depriued not onely of the papall dignitie but disgraced also of his Sacerdotall and after banished and sent into Almaine where hee died in the Towne of Mamburge others say he was put in prison and there strangled Leo then eight of that name a Romane was restored into the Popedome and raigned a yeare and foure moneths This Pope minding to shunne the fury of the Romanes which proceeded to the Popes election by corruptions menaces and subtill deuices ordained in a full Sinode that none should be made Pope without the consent of the Emperour vnto whom aboue belonged the right of election from Charlemaine and others Naucler and 63. dist cap. in Sinodo He restored also to Otho all the donations made to the Romane Church And this was it which they say Constantine Iustinian Pippin Charlemaigne Lewis le Debonaire and Arit part had giuen to the Church All this he reuoked and accorded to Otho the first of that name and to his successors to the end to keepe Italie from oppressors R. Barns The Abbey of S. Quintin in Vermandois was in this time founded Chron. Sigeb Richard Duke of Normandie founded and restored many Churches and Abbeys amongst others the Abbey of Fesanan of S. Ouan at Roan and the Abbey of S. Michael nigh the Sea An Aduertisement Note heere Christian by the passed and subsequent Histories how in this time Christian Religion was so annihilated that it was altogether set to gather dead bones to build Churches and Monasteries to reare vp and transport dead bodyes to honour reliques to dreame miracles to make themselues Monkes and Nunnes to dedicate and consecrate Churches to compose Hymnes and praises of Saints to sing and pray for the dead and such like ceremonies About this time also began the fourth pestilence of the Church that is to say the Schoole Diuinitie mingled with Aristotles Philosophie which after engendred Transubstantiation and other new doctrines by the Questionaries as thou shalt vnderstand by this discourse Iohn Pope 14. of that name an Italian a Bishops sonne called Iohn gouerned Rome sixe yeares eleuen monethes and tenne dayes Supp Chron. Hee beeing apprehended by Peter Prouost of Rome was put in prison in the Castle of S. Angelo where he remained a 11. monethes but when they heard say the Emperour Otho came against them with a strong hand they tooke him out and established him Some say he was sent into exile banished into Campania frō whence he came again after 2. monethes For the Emperor tooke vngeance on thē that persecuted him causing many of them to die by diuers kindes of death such as were found culpable of the fact and banished some into Saxe As for Peter Prouost he was deliuered to the Pope to doo with him at his pleasure Who gaue him into the tormenrers hands so hee was vnapparelled and his beard being cut off he was set vpon an Asse his face towards the taile and his hands bound vnder the taile of the said Asse and so was ledde through the Towne and beaten with Roddes After this he was againe brought to prison and finally sent into exile in Almaine Naucler Iohn Pope in recompence of the benefite receiued of Otho called and declared Otho the second sonne of Otho the first Augustus Palin In the time of this Pope Theodorike or Deodorike Bishop of Mets caused infinit holy bodies to be transported from Italy into France with a peece of S. Stephens Chaine and a part of S. Lawrence Grate which the Pope Iohn gaue him Chron. Sigeb These bee the Iewels of this darke time The King of Denmarke and all his Countrey were conuerted to the faith by Popon Clarke Chron. Sigeb Benet Pope sixt of that name a Romane ruled a yeare and sixe moneths He was put in the prison S. Angelo wherein he was strangled by one called Cinthius or Cincius Others say he dyed of hunger for which iniurie he neuer did Iustice nor vengeance Naucler Roger Bishop of Liege founded the Abbey of S. Iohn the Euangelist in the I le of Flaunders Chron. Sigeb The heroicall acts of this Emperour Otho the first do sufficiently shewe him to bee one
preserued in the middest of the fiercest waues As is said in Esay 60. Thou shalt haue no more the Sunne to shine by day neither shall the brightnesse of the Moone shine vnto thee For the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glory and thy Sunne shall neuer goe downe neither shall thy Moone be hid for the Lord shall be thine euerlasting light and the dayes of thy sorrow shall be ended The assurance then of the Church ought not to be considered according nor in regard of things present because it is established in God and feareth no chaunges For God is her light so that she hath no need to borrow any brightnesse from either Sunne or Moone And although the faithfull be not depriued of the commodities of this present life but rather there is nothing either in heauen or earth which God hath not created for the loue of them seeing he hath a particular care of them yet is there one thing much more excellent which the children of God do enioy namely the heauenly light which from all times hath bene cast on it We must then lift vp our spirits vnto God who gouerneth all both aboue and below and not attribute any thing to Fortune as prophane men doo heereunto men pretend to bring all the faithfull Therefore hither men come not to feede the spirit of foolish curiositie or here to learne any thing to babble with vaine ostentation or to take pleasure to heare a well adorned language and assoone as the eyes are taken from off the booke all fruite of that reading is lost but there is neither fact nor chance nor issue which euery man oght not to borrow for himselfe If he finde that some vertuous and well liuing man hath bene well beloued of God and honoured of men that vertue ought to be vnto him as a flame to lighten his heart that following such a man he may come to a like felicitie If contrary he encounter and light on one who for his vices fell into some greeuous inconueniences it is an example to serue him for a bridle that hee do not precipitate and throw himselfe headlong into the same ditch and aboue all such as haue great dignities and are called to doo great things so much more as their ruine is daungerous so much more also ought they to be carefull to looke how faithfully they acquite themselues in their charge committed vnto them But well hath one said that The Historie is a treasure which should neuer depart from the hands wherwith men being aided may more commodiously handle their affaires like to such as they finde registred in histories seeing that almost alwaies alike causes happen and come to passe This small aduertisement may profit if it light not vpon crooked and brutish spirits vnto whom this labour will not be profitable but onely vnto such as with an honest pleasure will ioyne a good desire to carry an humble reuerence to all the workes of God But then O Church of God seeing all things come and are done for the loue of thee it is good reason that thy litle estate or rather glasse of thy condition of that thou hast endured since the comming of thy espouse be dedicated and consecrated vnto thee On the one side thou shalt know the heretikes schismatikes mockers contemners with the tyrants and violent oppressors which haue done vnto thee a thousand euils but on the other side thou shalt see Iesus Christ the stronger who hath not declared himselfe thy head for a world or two but for euer a protector of thine And now is there any vnderstanding that can cōprehend lesse tongue to expresse what he hath done for thee in these last dayes when from thy renting and treading vnder foote we see so many children each where of so fruitfull a mother O admirable bountie O indicible ioy and consolation to see the meruailes of the Lord in these last times Let vs pray that hee will continue that hee hath begun and aduanced to his glory and honour So be it Thine in the Lord Iohn Crispin The order of the Bishops and Pope of Rome after this Booke SAint Peter vpon false tokens called the first in number of the Bishops of Rome Linus Cletus Clement Anacletus Euaristus Alexander Sixtus or Xistus Telesphorus Higinus Pius 1. Auicetus Soter Eleutherius Victor Zephirin or Seuerin Calistus Vrbain Pontian Antherus Fabian Cornelius Lucius Stephanus Zistus 2. Denis Felix Eutichien Caius Marcellin Marcel Eusebius Melchiades Siluester Marcus Iulius Liberius Felix Damasus Siricius Anastasius 1. Innocentius 1. Zozimus Boniface 1. Celestinus 1. Sixtus 3. Leo 1. Hilarius Simplicius Felix 3. Gelatius Anastasius 2. Simmachus Hormisda Iohn 1. Felix 4. Boniface 2. Iohn 2. Agapetus Siluerius Vigilins Pelagius 1. Iohn 3. Benit 1. Pelagius 2. Gregorie 1. Sauian or Sabinian Boniface 3. Boniface 4 Deus dedit Boniface 5 Honorius Seuerin Iohn 4 Theodorus 1 Martin 1 Eugenius 1 Vitalian Adeodatus Donus Agathon Leo 2 Benit 2 Iohn 5 Conon Sergius Iohn 6 Iohn 7 Sisinius Constantine 1 Gregorie 2 Gregorie 3 Zacharie Stephen 2 Paulus 1 Constantine 2 Stephen 3 Adrian 1 Leo 3 Stephen 4 Paschal Eugenius 2 Valentine 2 Gregorie 4 Sergius 2 Leo 4 Iohn 8 Benit 3 Nicholas 1 Adrian 2 Iohn 9 Martin 2 Adrian 3 Stephen 5 Formosus Boniface 6 Stephen 6 Romaine Theodorus 2 Iohn 10 Benit 4 Leo 5 Christopher Sergius 3 Anastasius 3 Lando Iohn 11 Leo 6 Stephen 7 Iohn 12 Leo 7 Stephen 8 Martin 3 Agapetus 2 Iohn 13 Benit 5 Leo 8 Iohn 14 Benit 6 Donus 2 Boniface 7. Benit 7 Iohn 16 Iohn 17 Gregorie 5 Iohn 18 Siluester 2 Iohn 19 Iohn 20 Sergius 4 Benit 8 Iohn 21 Benit 9 Siluester 3 Gregorie 6 Clement 2 Damasus 2 Leo 9 Victor 2 Stephen 9 Benit 10 Nicholas 2 Alexander 2 Gregory 7 Victor 3 Vrbaine 2 Pascall 2 Gelasius 2 Calixtus 2 Honorius 2 Innocent 2 Celestine 2 Lucius 2 Eugenius 3 Anastasius 4 Adrian 4 Alexander 3 Lucius 3 Vrbain 3 Gregorie 8 Clement 3 Celestine 3 Innocent 3 Honorius 3 Gregorie 9 Celestine 4 Innocent 4 Alexander 4 Vrbain 4 Clement 4 Gregorie 10 Innocent 5 Adrian 5 Iohn 22 Nicholas 3 Martin 4 Honorius 4 Nicholas 4 Celestine 5 Boniface 8 Benit 11 Clement 5 Iohn 23 Benit 12 Clement 6 Innocent 6 Vrbain 5 Gregorie 11 Vrbain 6 Clement 7 Boniface 9 Benit 13 Innocent 7 Gregory 12 Alexander 5 Iohn 24. Martin 5. Eugenius 4. Felix 5. Nicholas 5. Calixtus 3. Pius 2. Paul 2. Sixtus 4. Innocent 8. Alexander 6. Pius 3. Iulius 2. Leo 10. Adrian 6. Clement 7. Paul 3. Iulius 3. Marcel 2. Paul 4. Pius 5. Gregorie 13. FINIS A Table of the Romaine Emperours with the declaration of the yeares which euery one raigned AVgustus raigned 56. yeares that is to say 12. with Antonius and Lepidus and 44. alone The yeare 42. of his Empire was our Sauiour Iesus borne  yeares moneths
as the first The Christians after dwelt in Palestine with some assurance and there had Churches Sixtus sent many to preach the faith in France hee was afterward martyred vnder Adrian Pernitious heresies now did spring Saturnin Basilides Carpocrates Valentia and Tatien tore in peeces the doctrine of God forging many Gods denying the humanitie of Christ Valentine and Martian forged that Christ brought from heauen his humane flesh Martian saide there was two beginnings the one good and the other euil Montanus denyed the Diuinitie of Christ and affirmed of himselfe that he was the holy Ghost They admitted and allowed whoredomes and villainous filthinesse against marriage Many were turned from the true doctrine by these heresies blasphemies which proceeded from those horrible monsters Instruments of Sathan Telesphorus 9. Bishop of Rome a Grecian ruled sixteene yeares of the time of Adrian and Antonine It is attributed vnto him that he should enioyne Church-men to abstain from flesh 7. weekes before Easter The Decretall likewise attributed vnto him makes mention of Clarkes but not of laie people yet after by succession of time Lent became obserued of all He instituted three celebratiōs of Christs natiuitie one at midnight an other at the point of day and the last at three He added Gloria in excelsis Deo c. Some say it was S. Hillary others Symmacus This hymne seemeth to haue bin writtē against the Arrians as shall be said hereafter And the fourth Councel of Toledo Chap. 12. makes mention that this Cauticke was made by the Ecclesiasticall Doctors Henry Bullinger Lib. 2. of the beginning of his Decad. Chap. 7. He ordained also that none should presume to celebrate in the morning before 3. a clocke In this Decretall hee is called Arch-bishop of Rome Carpocrates an hereticke was the inuentor of a Sect manner of people called Gnostici For he taught them secrets of Magicke dreames of loue which came by diuellishillusiō Many hereby were deceiued led to destruction They which were not yet instructed seeing the execrable life of those villaines which called thēselues Christians would therefore abolish the Christian faith as if all were alike And all the slaunders wherwith they charged the Christians namely that they were cruell and that they medled with all women carnally without any regard of bloud or parentage yea that they did eate little children came not but from those pernitious heretickes So it falls out at this day For the errours of Anabaptists and Libertines are without difference attributed vnto such as follow the Gospell and with a common name they are wrongfully called Lutherans Adrian builded a Temple and a Sepulchre vnto Antinous whom hee had wickedly abused in his life and ordeined that men should euery yeare celebrate the playes and pastimes called with his name Antinoens He also founded a Citie of the said Antinous name which hee called Antinoe Where for feare of the Emperour Antinous is worshipped as God although men knew what a man he was Adrian died very miserably There came vnto him a great fluxe of bloud hee was also taken with great paine and fell to the dropsie he assayed by Arts Magicke to drawe that water out of his body but nothing helped him neither ceased the bloudy Fluxe Sopartianus reciteth that hee called of his Phisitian for poyson and seeing he would not giue it him he demaunded a knife promising great things to him that would deliuer him one He dyed of the age of 62. yeares hauing no member in his body which was not vexed with torments Aurelius Victor He was punished with bloud for the bloud he shead The persecutions in Asia were exceeding great See Euse Lib. 5. Chap. 15. where at length he describeth the Martyrdome of Policarpus Lib. 4. Chap. 23. The Athenians offended at so great persecutions wherein they had lost Publius their Bishop almost reuolted from the faith There was no torment nor punishment that the Instruments of the diuel could deuise whereof the Christians were not iudged worthy for they were espied in and without their houses They cried against them in all publicke places They whipped them trailed them stoned them pilled their goods imprisoned them plates of yron were applyed to their naked flesh They locked them in an Instrument of Torture euen to the fift point they were put in obscure and lowe places in prison Some strangled them some exposed them to beasts and other infinit torments The dead bodies in prison after they were cast into the fields they set Dogges there to keepe them that they might not bee buried In these hard torments Christians gaue courage one to another and were very carefull to take such order as none should fall from their profession either by infirmitie or for want of abilitie to endure the torments The number of Martyrs of this time were too great to be recited in this litle Treatise But Iustine Eusebius Basile the great and other auncient Doctours haue carefully set them downe in writing These examples ought to encourage vs constantly to maintaine the truth of the Gospell Antonius Pius a Gentile Emperour 16. raigned 23. yeares or thereabout a man benigne and modest He said often that he had rather saue a Citizen then to sley a thousand of his enemies Tertullian witnesseth that hee was not altogether gentle towards the Christians and especially in the beginning of his raigne When Arrius Antonius saith hee ceased not to persecute in Asia the Christians assembling in a company presented themselues before the Iudiciall seate And after hee had sent some fewe of them to the Iibbet hee said to the rest O miserable men If you haue an affection to die haue you not cords to hang yourselues or high places to cast your selues downe Higinius an Athenian a Philosophers sonne gouerned the Church of Rome 4. yeares He ordained that Churches should be dedicated by solemne ceremony Item that the number of Temples should neither be augmented nor diminished without the consent of the Metropolitane See the Decretall De conse dist pri ca. Omnes Bacilicae This was the first who entituled himselfe Pope in his second Decretall He for bad that Summers Sparres Tyles and other matter of Temples should be after applied to any prophane vse but burnt or giuen to other poore Churches and Monasteries and not to the vses of Laie men He instituted that at Catechisme Baptisme and confirmation there should be a Godfather or Godmother De conse dist 4. ca. In cat He ordained that if any woman came to the secōd marriage by whom shee had issue that that issue could not be married to the consanguinitie of the first husband vntill the fourth degree Item that no Metropolitane except the Pope shall condemne any of his Cleargie Priest Suffragane or Bishop of his Prouince vnles first the cause be handled and knowne in the Councell of other prouinciall Bishops otherwise the sentence not to be
Saints of that time were persecuted Carsulan Platina Stella and other of the Popes flatterers attribute wrongfully to these holy Martyrs of the Lord Iesu whole Chariots full of lying decrees to the ende the diuellish ordinances of their ceremonies or rather blasphemies might be approued by their authoritie They attribute vnto him the forbidding of Fastes on the Sundayes or Thursdayes because on them the Painims celebrated the solemnities of their God Saturne Item a decretall touching Baptisme and the Confirmation De consecratione distinct 5. cap. Spirit sanct cap. De his c. Note this for the Bishops of the Romaine Church vntill Siluester the first But what man would thinke that poore and simple Ministers of the word and Pastors of the Church such as then were the Bishops of Rome inhabiting in ditches and caues attending nothing vnder those Tyrants from day to day but only death could haue thought vpon this pride arrogancy which after those Popes vsed in buildings and other ordinances seeing they had neither Temples nor houses whether they might retire Peace was not yet giuen to the Church They yet enioyed not that vnprofitable Idlenesse nor the soueraigne delights of this world nor that whoore which by litle and litle rose vp had not yet her bedde ready yet such haue bene the inuentions of false Prophets to set out the whoores body and so is the Popes Sinagogue founded vpon so euident lies as nothing more Assuredly it were great folly to giue faith to such ridiculous dreames of Sathan forged for the gaine and profits of Priests Better therefore it is in this case to prooue the spirits namely whether they be of God or not as it is said 1. Iohn Chapter 4. seeing many false Prophets are come into this world Vntill this time Pastors were as Starres in the Firmament of the Church shining as well in doctrine as in good example they were also garded by the right hand of him that walked in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes Hitherto men esteemed them as Angels preaching the word of the Almightie God without fiction yea that more is hitherto they were figured by the white horse because in the ministerie they carried the victorious Iesus Christ as well in their hearts as in their bodies and as well in mouth as worke Ceremonies in the celebration of the Supper The memorie of the Lords Supper was not performed but in publike assemblies and therefore the Synode of Gangre vnder the Emperour Constans condemned Eustace Bishop of Seluste in Armenia because contrary to the order of the vse of the Church he permitted some which disdained to come into the Church to Communicate in particular houses Socrat. Lib. 2. Cap. 43. Neither was it lawful to celebrate the Supper in a prophane place as appeareth by Athanasius in the Epistle to them of Antioche Hierome against Iouinian reprehendeth the maner of doing in other Christians at Rome which Communicated in houses Wherfore said he entred they not into Churches c. Deacons distributed the Supper of the Lorde Priestes beeing present with one diuiding the Eucharist and this was after the Canon of the Councell of Nice The Priests distributed the Cup of the bloud of the Lord Doctors of this time often call it Cup or Mistike vessell S. Hierome writing of vessells to distribute the Lords Supper in saith of a Bishop of Tholouze called Exuperius There was nothing so rich as that which carried the body of our Lord in an Osier basket and the bloud in a Glasse By the first booke of Euseb of the Euang. 92. Demonst Chap. 10. One may easily knowe that Christians daily celebrated the memorie of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ And S. Ambrose in his fift booke of Sacraments Chapter 4. reprehendeth the Easterne Churches because they communicated but once a yeare In the Churches of Affrike they which should communicate passed the night in watchings prayers As Athanasius reciteth in the Apologie of his flight adding that all mutually ought before to be reconciled together And in the Westerne Churches al communicated except the Catechumenistes and such as did penance as appeareth by Hierome vpon the 7. Chapter of the 2. to the Corinthians About this time water was giuen with wine as appeareth by S. Ambrose first Chapter of his fist booke of Sacraments They put saith he into the Cup wine then water c. which being mingled was consecrated with the wine The maner of the Churches was to giue the Eucharist in the hand of him that tooke it as appeareth by the words of S. Ambrose to the Emperour Theodosius Reachest thou out thy hands which yet are bloudie and which yet distill the bloud by thee shead to take the holy body of the Lord Darest thou apply to thy mouth the precious bloud of the Lord c. The Priest as he distributed the bread said Take the body of the Lord and in distributing the wine Take the bloud of Christ and at both the Communicant answered Amen Ambrose in the 4. booke of Sacraments Chap. 5. To such as were nigh their deaths they brought the Eucharist Horatius a Priest of the Church of Verseil carried it to Ambrose nigh his death Paulinus in the life of S. Ambrose reciteth it May abuses began in this time to arise Such as made any great voyage either by sea or land carried the Eucharist as appeareth in the Oration of Saint Ambrose vpon the death of Satyrius Touching the ceremonies vsed in administring the Sacrament Denis hath left by writing that which followeth The Bishop hauing ended the prayers before the Aultar began to perfume and compasse all the place after returning to the Aultar he began to sing Psalmes and all followed This done the Ministers in order read something of the holy scripture That read they caused the Catechumenistes with the Enenguinians to goe out and such as were admitted to penance One part of the Ministers kept themselues before the portall of the Temple shut the others did such things as belonged to their charge Such as are elected to minister with the Priests presented the bread before the Aultar and the Cup of blessing Whilest all the Churchmen sung praises and Himnes to the Lord the Bishop which said the praiers pronounced peace to all And after euery one had saluted one an other the Priests and the Bishop washed their hands with water After the Bishoppe in the middest of the Aultar enuironed with Priests and Ministers began to praise and magnifie the workes of the world and propose to the people the signes of the Supper and to declare them vnto them and inuite them to the participation thereof which finally ended in thankes-giuing c. The word Messe was not found amongst the writers of this time And as for the two preparatiue prayers of the Priest meaning to say Masse which are shufled into the workes of Ambros Erasmus himselfelfe iudgeth them not to be S. Ambroses They
containe also errors contrary to the doctrine of him As the adoration of the Sacrament the Inuocation of Saints and chiefly of the Virgin Marie The Emperour Constantine hauing ouercome all these tyrants namely Maxentius Maximian and Licinius the Lord gaue rest to his Church which was almost ruinated and troden vnder feete and gaue a gentle spirit to Constantine to repaire by a Monarchy the great dissipation and discord which the misgouernment of many had brought Constantine was long ere hee could vnwrap himselfe out of his auncient and Ethnicke superstitions his wife Fausta maintaining him therein but after hee sawe himselfe peaceable in his Empire there was courage giuen vnto him to applye his power vnto the matters of the Church True it is as for Baptisme that hee deferred it a long time because hee alwaies determined to goe against the Persians and vpon deuotion without knowledge to be baptized in Iordain Eusebius reciteth it in his life yet after all hee honoured it and authorized it by Edicts and Lawes which hee caused to be published Hee had a burning heart to the Faith and was maruellous carefull to helpe the necessities of the Church hee was of nature soft and benigne and delighted in all good workes and not onely reuoked the tyrannicke and cruel lawes that were before made against Christians but gaue to Churches great priuiledges It was not inough for him to account Ministers equall to himselfe but hee honoured and preferred them before him as representing the diuine Maiestie And by such meanes hee was both loued honoured and cherished not as an Emperour but as a Father Euseb Siluester a Romane was constituted Bishop of Rome after Melchiades and gouerned the Church a long time Being ordeined Bishop he exercised not onely the office of a Pastor in teaching but also in reprehending the vices of the Cleargie There are attributed vnto him certain miracles by which he drew many to the Christian faith When Maxentius raigned at Rome to shunne his crueltie Siluester retired out of Rome and remained a certain time at the Mount Soracte and returned vnder Constantine after the death of the said Tyrant Constantine established many lawes First that Christ should be worshipped of all as the true God Item that whosoeuer should doo iniurie to any Christian the halfe of his goods should be confiscated Hee permitted all such as were vnder his Empire not onely to be Christians but also to found and build Temples The word Martir was vsed in the time of Constantine then when in remembrance of the Martirs men builded Temples and about the thirtieth yeare of Constantine a Temple called Martirium Magnum was builded in Ierusalem in the place called Cranium See Sozom Ich. 2. Cap. 26. Constantine caused to bee made a Tabernacle in forme of a Temple which he commaunded to be carried when he went to the warres wherein he held the assemblies of the Christians Sozom. Lib. 1. Chap. 8. Touching the Donation attributed vnto him that is to say that he gaue Rome Italie and other Westerne Prouinces to Siluester as the Romane Bishops pretend it is a matter inuented or at least doubtfull and euen the Popes owne decrees are against it The two last Chapters make no mention of other Prouinces but onely of the Towne of Rome no nor in the auncient volumes of decrees is there any mention nor any thing found in any Author of that time as Antonine saith in his Chronicles See Naucler Of this matter see Laurencius Valla and Iohn le Maire in his Treatise of the difference of Schismes and Councells of the Church Constantine determined to build a Towne of his name and elected Bizantium for it which he compassed with ditches and the Towne builded in the middest he called Constantinople of his name there establishing the Emperial seat of his Empire Bizanzium was an auncient Towne which a litle before was destroyed by Gallien and Pertinax but Constantine restored it and adorned it with rich ornaments brought from all the parts of the world in so much the Hierome writeth that Constantine stripped naked as it were all the Townes of the world to embellish this new Rome For he transported from the Castle which was at Ilion the chiefe Towne of Troy the Palladium and from Troas the Image of Apollo which was of Brasse and of a maruellous greatnesse From Rome a piller of Porphire called Coclis which he enuironed with diuers mettalls and placed it in the market place paued with stones Before wee come to the successors of Siluester wee will briefly touch the estate of the Church at that time And first Of the Ecclesiasticall degrees There were of olde three Ecclesiasticall degrees namely the Bishop the Priest and the Deacon with the Ministers and company of the faithfull Ambrose in his booke of the Sacerdotall dignitie Hierome to Nepotian saith that Bishops and Priests were all one sauing that the Bishop was a name of dignitie and Priest was a name of age but in respect of schismes and necessities happening in the Church there was made a distinction Ambrose in the aforesaid booke witnesseth that the ordination is alike for both are Priests but the Bishop is the chiefe Priest Other names as Subdeacons Acolites and Exorcists came after The name of Cleargie was receiued in this time to signifie all Ecclesiasticall offices and dignities Euseb Lib. 10. Chap. 2. Hierome to Nepotian yeeldeth this reason of the name Cleros saith he in Greeke signifieth Lot in Latine therefore are Clarkes named because they are of the lot and of the inheritance of the Lord or for that the Lord is their Lot that is to say their part and heritage Afterward men called Clarkes such as euery Church nourished at the owne charge to serue after for the ministerie of the Church Metropolitanes were so called by reason of the principall and chiefe Townes whereof they were Bishops and so Zozomen Lib. 3. Cap. 16. He calleth Basile Metropolitane of Cappadocea And the same in Lib. 2. Chap. 8. saith the like of an Archbishops name Patriarke was named the Bishop of all the Prouince Socrates Lib. 5. Chap. 8. The office of a Bishop was to teach the people as also the Priests But in the Church of Alexandria after the poyson of Arrius the Bishop alone had that charge Socrates lib. 5. chap. 22. The ordination of Ministers appertained to the Bishop which is all the right of preheminence that they had aboue Priests as S. Ierome saith to Euagrius Vicars of Bishops are found in the Canons of the Councell of Ancyra Neocesaria and Antioch Chorepiscopi and Basile vseth that name in the Epistle fiftie and foure Amongst the generall Epistles there is one found vnder the name of Damasus to Prosper wherein Damasus beeing asked answereth that Vicars called Chorepiscopi were no more but Priests and that they could not consecrate Priests Deacons Subdeacons nor Virgines nor Aultars neither dedicate
saith that the Towne was dedicated by him the yeare of his Empire 28. and as he had taken the Empire diuided and vnited it in his person so he diuided it againe as a paternall heritage and made a partition thereof amongst his children whom whilest he liued he created Cesars one after an other that is to say Constantine his eldest sonne Anno. 10. Constantius the second Anno. 20. and Constans the youngger Anno. 30. Whose Empires were very turbulent and endured but 24. yeares 5. moneths 12. dayes according to the Chronicle of Hierome Constantine the Father died at Nicomicha after he had liued 66. yeares and raigned 31. yeares Pompon Laet. Licinius the sonne of Constantia sister of Constantine the great and Crispus sonne of the said Constantine the great with his said son Constantine the eldest were created Caesars the yeare of the Lord 316. But the wickednes of Fausta the wife of Constantine the great caused the death of Licinius and Crispus and many other noble personages See Aure. Victor and Pompo Laet. Crispus was instructed by Lactantius Constantine the eldest sonne of Constantine the great was Emperour with his two brethren after the father the yeare of our Lord 338. The Empire was thus parted namely that Constantine should enioy Gaul Spaine and England Constance should haue Italie with Slauonia and Greece And Constantius should holde Constantinople with the East This partition contented not Consantine hee raised warre against his brother Constance being proud of his Army of Gaul but warring more couetously then warily was ouerthrowne by an ambush nigh to Aquilea and being wounded in diuers places dyed there hauing raigned but three whole yeares and liued 25. See Bapt. Egnat and Pomp. Laet. Constance after he had vanquished his elder brother passing the Alpes came to make warre in Gaul and in two yeares with great difficultie conquered the Countrey which his brother had in partition He at the beginning gouerned well but after gaue himselfe to pleasures and at last became odious to all men So that in the end they conspired against him as he was at hunting and was slaine by the deuice and treason of Magnentius who vsurped his Empire yet he had saued this Magnentius his life Constance liued thirtie yeares and raigned fourteene See Pomp. Laet. Constantius had for his part the Empire of Constantinople with the East Hee vanquished Vetranio who made himselfe Emperour in Hungarie after the death of Cōstance Moreouer to reuenge the death of his said brother Constance hee made great warre against Magnentius In the first battaile there were slaine of one part and the other 53000. fighting men Magnentius had the worst And againe making head was ouercome nigh Lions Constantius was suspected vpon enuie and ambition to haue made away Dalmatius his Cousin-germain a vertuous man who better resembled Constantine the great then his owne father and who was appointed for a copartner with the said Constantius when he had his partition But Constantius liued not long after For as he was going the second time against the Persians vnderstanding that Iulian had made himselfe Augustus he tooke a Feuer and dyed the yeare of his age 40. and of his Kingdome 24. See Eutrop. Aurel. Vict. Pompon Laet. and Bapt. Egn. The Sinode of Sardis in her Sinodall Letters calleth Iulius their friend and companion Theodoret. lib. 2. chap. 8. It followeth that the Bishop or Archbishop of Rome had not the pretended superioritie It seemeth that Iulius was dead when Constantius hauing tamed the tyrannie of Magnentius and Syluanus hee was in Italie to appease the discordes of Athanasius his cause Liberius borne in Rome his father being called Augustus succeeded Iulius the yeare of Christ after S. Hierome 352. about the 12. yeare of Constance Empire his confession was agreeing vnto the Catholique faith and writ to Athanasius very Christianly of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost as may be seene in his Epistle which is affixed to the workes of Athanasius Athanasius in the Epistle to them which leade solitary liues rehearseth how Liberius was subuerted The Emperour Constans sent to Rome one named Eusebius an Eunuke with Letters wherby he threatned him exile and on the other side tempted him with presents to induce him to cōsent with Arrius and to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius Liberius despised both his menaces and gifts as a sacrifice of blasphemie Whereat the Emperour being exceedingly grieued found meanes to get him out of Rome and being come to him threatned him with death But Liberius manfully answered I am ready to endure all rather then of Christians we should be accounted Arrians Why what art thou said the Emperour that with one wicked man troublest all the world The word of Faith said Liberius dependeth not vpon multitude He was then banished by this Emperour Constans into Berrea which is a Towne in Thrace Where after hee had bene two yeares he was called home as saith Theodoret his restitution after some was accorded by the Emperour at the request of many Romanes and of the Westerne Bishops The same saith Athanasius in the before alleadged Epistle Also that Liberius after his two yeares exile feared with threatnings and apprehension of death sealed to the condemnation of Athanasius Ruffin saith the same and Hierome as Baleus saith writeth that by ambition Liberius fell into the heresie of Arrius being once fallen from the integritie of faith We finde some constitutions of Liberius namely not to make noises in fasting time that times of fasting and Lent bee not polluted by the act of marriage that in time of famine and pestilence men should appease the Lords anger by fasting almes and prayers An aduertisement The principall felicitie and ornament of the Church of this time was the multitude of excellent Doctors which by their doctrine sought so farre as in them lay to conserue multiply the puritie of doctrine But this felicitie was greatly obscured partly by the multitude of heretickes and partly by the rage of seditious people and schismatickes In so much that since the time of the Apostles there was no Church that hath endured more dissentions combats and diuisions within it then that of this world Wherevpon by good right Basile the great in a certaine poeme writing of the iudgement of God complaineth saying I haue liued the age of a man and I haue seene great concord amongst the Arts and Sciences But in the Church of God alone for which Iesus Christ dyed I haue obserued so many dissentions that it is altogether dissipated and wasted And comming to the cause As I searched saith he the cause I remembred the place of the booke of Iudges where it is written That then euery one did whatsoeuer hee thought good in his owne eyes Great persecutions were vnder Constantius after the death of Constans against the Catholike Doctors and Bishops by the Arrians Many were put to death euen within the Temples others
were exiled others put in prison virgins imprisoned and the houses of Christians pilled and sacked S. Hilarie was sent into exile At this time for the great persecutions without and heresies within many retired into the Desarts They write of two which were called Amon. The one was the Father and chiefe of three thousand Monkes The other Amon with two hundreth and fiftie Clarkes and Monkes was slaine by the Arrians Eusebius Sarmatha and Amathas Disciples of S. Anthonie were slaine by the Painimes Macarus the Aegyptian an other Macarus of Alexandria Hylarion the Disciple of S. Paul the Hermit Theodorus Entichian Pachomius Moyses Beniamin Helias Serapiō was the father of 2000. Monkes whom hee made worke for the necessitie of their liues and to helpe the needes of other poore Paemen other infinit Martin renounced his military estate Hist trip lib. 8. chap. 1. Iohn Cassian in the Collat of Fathers Naucl A coniuration was made by the Arrians after the Councel of Sardis against two Catholike Bishops Eufrates and Vincentius They caused an whoore in the night time to come into their chamber and by Apostate people which suddenly went after the said strumpet and so profered to accuse them to haue bene surprised in whoordome But the harlot disclosed the coniuration A Councell was held at Millaine in fauour of the Arrians against Athanasius the which resisted Paulinus Bishop of Treners Denis Bishop of Millaine Eusebius Bishop of Verceil and Rhodamus wherevpon they were cast out of the Church and with them Liberius Lucifer Metropolitane of the Iles of Sardine and Osius of Spaine sent into exile Anno Christi 361. The said Osius in his age by many torments beatings and wounds was forced to cōsent to the exposition of the Arrians and thervnto to subscribe in the first volume of Councels Tritenius saith that Osius being rich fearing either banishment or losse of his goods consented to the Arrians and being about to depose a Catholique Bishop called Gregory he fell downe out of his Chaire and so died Hereby are we aduertized that it is nothing to begin wel vnlesse we perseuer vnto the end Vnder Constantius many Councels were held namely in Tyre Sardis and Millaine as is said in Arimine in Syrmion of Pannonie in Nicea which is in Tharse in Seleucia which is in Isauria wherein the faith of the Fathers of Nice was condemned Felix borne at Rome sonne of one named Anastasis hauing bene the Deacon of Liberius was thrust into his place by the Arrians hoping he would consent with them in doctrine but hee became a true Catholique in the confession of the Councell of Nice and gaue no place either to the heretickes or to Constance himselfe declaring him an hereticke and was rebaptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia We finde in the booke of Councels an Epistle of the Bishoppes of Aegypt to Felix and Felix his answere to them with certaine constitutions namely that none might accuse a Bishoppe before a ciuill Magistrate Item to restore a Bishoppe who is cast out by force Item not to admit witnesse of prophane people against religious persons Item that Bishoppes should frequent Sinodes or send thither if they could not goe Som say that Felix gouerned with Liberius a certaine time But Theodoret saith that Felix withdrew himselfe into an other Towne Socrat. lib. 2. chap. 37. saith that Felix was driuen away by the Romane people in a sedition and that the Emperour thereby was constrained to send for Liberius thither Others say that Felix was beheaded with many others for that hee prooued the Emperour Hilary Bishop of Poiters was reuoked from exile and Paul Bishop of Treuers died in exile in the Countrey of Phrygia Anno Christi 363. Lucius Bishop of Adrianople dyed in prison Paulus Bishop of Constantinople sent into exile was strangled by the way Nicomedia by an earthquake was wholly subuerted and the Townes nigh were also afflicted After the death of Constance Constantius againe pursued Athanasius and then was the great persecution against the faithfull Liberius returned from exile the yeare of Christ 363. About this time three Sectes of Arrians rose vp That is to say Macedonians Eunomians and newe Arrians 1. The Arrians held the Sonne to be like vnto the Father but by grace not by nature 2. The Macedonians that the Sonne is altogether like the Father but not the holy Ghost 3. The Eunomians that the Sonne is altogether vnlike the Father Eusebius Bishop of Verceil endured great torments of the Arrians because in councell at Millaine he tore in peeces a scedule wherevnto the westerne Bishops had subscribed to the Arrians in the Councell of Arimine Some say hee was seuen dayes without bread and water in a Caue and afterward was kept in a very straight place But after the death of Constantius he was deliuered and returned to Verceil into his Bishopricke vnder Iouinian Finally after the death of the said Iouinian vnder Valens who was an Arrian he was stoned by the Arrians the yeare of Christ 388. Note Reader that at this time in each Towne there were both Catholike Dostors and Arrians Temples for the one and Temples for the other so the Church was diuided Achatius Bishop of Cesaria in Palestine an Arrian was in great reputation with Constantius Iulian borne at Constantinople the sonne of Constantius brother of Constantine the great he was faire of face subtill and of good spirit giuen both to Letters and Armes he set Fraunce at libertie which the Almaines had wasted hee tooke the King an the first cōflict beyond the hope of all Colleine was taken of him when he was very young of which prize hee got great renowne and reioyced the hearts of the souldiers In so much that they named him Emperour in Paris Whereof his Cousin Constantius being aduertised died in dispite about the age of 45. yeares as he prepared to make warre vpon him Yet when he died he made him his heire Anno Domini 363. Athanasius returned into Alexandria George who ruled in his absence was slaine and his body burnt A Sinode was in Alexandria of good Catholique Bishops wherein they that fel into heresie were permitted not onely to returne into the vnion and communion of the Church but euen into their offices and Bishoppricks There was also concluded and declared that the holy Ghost is of one same substance with the Father and the Sonne and that in the Trinitie there was nothing created or lesse or after an other Item that God hath but one essentiall substance but reall subsistence of three persons This word Substance differeth from the word Subsistence when we speake of the persons of the Trinitie For substance cōcerneth the essentiall nature of a thing after which the three persons of the Trinitie are but one alone substance and nature But this word Subsistence sheweth in one same diuine substance three persons and different proprieties not onely in name as the Sabellians say
the Gothes Viscoths Huns and Scyths who hauing passed Danubia ran vpon Hungaria Epire and Thessalia endammaging much the countrey and burning certaine Townes He was ouercome and flying was wounded with a Dart and so fell from his horse and was put in a litle strawe-house to be healed Alanus the Victor pursued him the house whereinto he went was burnt none knowing he was retired thither This was the reward of his tirannie and crueltie against the faithfull And this came to him three yeares after the death of his brother hauing raigned fourteene yeares This battaile was the beginning of great warre that the Romane Empire after sustained Gratian sonne of Valentinian raigned eight yeares with his Vncle Valens three and with Theodosius 4. But his true Kingdome began after the death of Valens the yeare of our Lord 380. Hee reuoked from Exile the Catholique Bishoppes and put backe the Arrians He made Valentinian his litle brother on the fathers side his companion of the Empire Hauing called Theodosius out of Spaine hee gaue him part of the East Empire establishing him as a Ram-part against the Gothes and Huns which occupied Thrace and Daceas as their hereditary countreys Theodosius handled them hardly At his comming he obtained a great victorie against the Almaines But as he cherished too much some of those barbarous Nations which hee caused to come with him hyring them with Gold his owne souldiers bare him euill will insomuch that Maximus was chosen Emperour in England and passing into Fraunce with the Romane Army ouercame Gratian at Paris who fled to Lions where he was taken and killed trayterously by Androgius See Pomp. Laet. Aurel. Vict. Bapt. Egn. lib. 1. Paul Diac. lib. 1. and Oros lib. 7. chap. 33. Theodosius began his true Kingdome after the death of Gratian the yeare 386. He was of the line of Traian who was also sent by the Emperor Nerua to help the Common-wealth Theodosius maintained and amplified the Empire hee put to flight the Huns and Gothes in diuers battailes which came very farre into the Empire hee also graunted peace to the Persians Valentinian the second of that name the brother of the aforesaid Gratian on his fathers side being chased from Italie by Maximus with Iustin his mother Arrian which had wrought great troubles to Ambrose fled into the East towards Theodosius who receiued him and gaue him part of the Empire after hauing shewed him his fault and that because he rebelled against religion and persecuted the Catholiques he fel into this perill Valentinian was strangled seuen yeares at Vienna in Fraunce by his Chamberlaines at the suggestion of Eugenius and of Arbogastes So that it seemed he had strangled himselfe Theodosius tarried not long before hee ouercame Maximus vsurper of the Gaulois and Victor his sonne and Androgius their Coronell which caused Gratian to die Auenging the death of Valentinian he ouercame Eugenius the Tyrant and Arbogastes his companion in a notable victorie For the time the windes the snowe and hayle ranged themselues on his side who had fewe people in respect of the Armie of Eugenius Claudians Latine verses with exclamation witnesse it saying O welbeloued of God who gaue thee a winter armed for thy successors and made come to thy wages the Tempests and the windes c. The said Iustin hauing drawne into her errour Valentinian her sonne sought also to haue deceiued Ambrose but in vaine One day she sent a sort of souldiers to enuiron the Temple to make Ambrose come out who spake to them and said hee would not so easily forsake his place and that to wolues hee would not expose the sheepfolde nor the Temple to blasphemers And that if they determined to sley him let them do it within the temple and so should death please him Theodo li. 5. chap. 13. Reliques The beginning of adoration of Reliques may be reduced to this time Ruffin writeth of Theodosius before hee enterprised warre against Eugenius the tyrant himselfe went with the Priests visiting the Churches and before the Sepulchres of the Apostles made his Orisons and Praiers The contention betwixt Hierome and Vigilantius prest Bishop of Bercolne in Spaine doth sufficiently shewe that superstition was then come forward By the writings of Hierome which are stuffed rather with iniuries outrages then sound reasons out of the holy scriptures we may know that Vigilantius had reason to oppose himselfe to such Idolatry rather then veneration of the Martyrs The words of Hierome writing to Riparius are Thou saist that Vigilantius openeth againe his stinking mouth and spitteth his infection against the reliques of holy Martyrs calling vs which receiue them Cendrier Idolaters which do reuerence vnto dead mens bones And in the booke which he perticularly writ against Vigilantius saith One Vigilantius is risen vp which with an vncleane spirit against the spirit of Christ denieth that we must honour the Sepulchres of Martyrs condemneth Vigils c then addeth And thou sayest in thy booke that as long as we liue we may pray one for an other but after we be dead that the prayers are not heard and yet they pray for the vengeance of their bloud and cannot be heard In which thou proposest vnto me an Apogrypha Booke which thou and the like readest vnder the name of Esdras where it is written that after death none dare pray c. And thou darest out of the gulfe of thy brest vomit so filthy a mockery as to say the soules of Martyrs then loue their owne ashes and flie about them for being absent they cannot heare a poore sinner who by chance resorteth thither c. Briefly he alleadgeth for great meruailes whatsoeuer Vigilantius said but refuteth it not Hee addeth also that Vigilantius heretike saide that Alleluia should not be sung but at Easter That continencie of single life commaunded is heresie and the seede of whoordome It is also reported vnto me saith hee that against the authoritie of Paul vnto whom Peter Iohn and Iames gaue the right hands who commaunds to remember the poore thou forbiddest that any should send any comfort of money to Ierusalem for the vse of the Saints and maintainest that they doo better which vse their owne and which by litle and litle distribute fruites of their possessions then they which hauing solde their possessions giue all at once He saith yet Thou fearest and turnest away viperous tongue Monkes from their application and studie and sayest by way of argument If all men should shut themselues vp or goe into solitude who should celebrate Churches or who should gaine and winne seculer men c. Wee may know by this rehearsall that Vigilantius and other good Doctors of this time maintained that the adoration of Saints was drawne from the Ethnike superstition of the Gods into the Church of the Lord. The abuse came first from the too great praise of Saints It encreased afterward by the false perswasion of the intercession confirmed by signes and lying miracles The
thing worthy of remembrance the great constancie of a woman called Denise and the exhortation she made to her sonne called Maioricus Remember said she my sonne that we were baptised in the name of the Trinitie wherefore let vs not loose the garments of our saluation Also an other called Victoria who neither by the solicitation of her husband nor the teares of her children could be perswaded c. Naucler Epiphanius Bishop of Pauie a very graue man brought into peace and concord the people of Liguria and brought from Burgonie many Captiues as well by his Siluer as his holie life whereby he entreated the redemption of 6000. Captiues Paul Diaconus and Naucler after him Seuerin an Abbot in Noric was now of great renowne Odoacer King of the Gothes as he passed by Noric into Italie went vnto him for his blessing Odoacer occupied Italie and was made King thereof and the Gothes raigned there by the space of 70. yeares The West Empire takes here an end after Augustulus had deposed himselfe the yeare of Christ 472. Sidonius Bishop of Auuerne a famous Poet in this time Clouis the fift King of France and the first Christian King raigned 30 yeares That is fifteene a Painim and fifteene a Christian Hee reuenged himselfe of them which cast out his Father Childerike out of his kingdome Going to Soisons hee tooke it by force and draue away Siagre the sonne of Giles the Romaine who occupied the kingdome against Childeric as hath bene said And at his returne tooke Melum and chased away the Romanes He amplified the kingdome of France hauing subiected to it all the Cities and Townes which the Romanes held betwixt the Riuers Rhene and Seine also all such as were betwixt Seine and Loire The histories of France say that in a certaine battel against the Almaines being at a strait he remembred the admonitions which Clotilde his wife had often giuen him to imbrace the Christian faith and religion In such sort that being pressed he lifted vp his eies to heauen and said Lord God deliuer me from this perill wherein I am thus enuironed with mine enemies and I will beleeue in thy name I all my people It came to passe not only that he was deliuered from perill but also that he had victorie vpon his enemies wherefore he was baptized by Remy Bishop of Rhemes his two sisters and more then 3000. of the noblest of his people besides women and children The inuention and fable of the holy Ampoule as they call it wherwith the kings of France are annointed is reported of this time Clouis for recompence gaue to the Church of Rhemes many great gifts lands signories and rents S. Remy afterward had great authoritie and was principall Councellour of king Clouis Some say he builded the Church of Laon and that hauing erected it a Bishops place gaue vnto it the land of Laon. Patricius the brother of S. Remy Earle of Soissons was after Bishop of Soissons and also gaue to the said Church the Earledome which the Bishop there holds at this day For you must vnderstand that S. Remy and his brother were children of the Duke of Laon and of Soissons of a noble and auncient race The Annales of France make mention that Alaric King of Visigots then occupied a great part of Gaul namely all the country along the Riuer of Loire from Orleans euen to mount Pirenes which do seperate France and Spaine Item the countries of Berry Auuerne Limosin Quercy Perignex Angolmois Agenois Languedoc Prouence and other nigh places against which Clouis willing to make warre as he passed nie Tours he sent to make his offerings to S. Martin to haue his succours against the said Visegoths and that after the victory he himselfe came to Tours and offered great gifts to the Temple of S. Martin If this be so for a first Christian king he was partly instructed in the Christian faith and felt yet his Paganisme because in the place of his old Gods he reclaimed called now vpon Saints The fault may be imputed to the Bishops Pastors which then were more superstitious then religious and more foolishly deuout then well and diuinely instructed in the word of God As S. Brice Patrice Fourcy Medard Gildard Vaast Remy Severin Germanie Loupe Nicaisius Aguien and other Saints of like branne were canonized after their deaths Vnder Zenon there happened such a fire in Constantinople that the greatest part of the Towne was brought into ashes and more then sixe score thousand volumes were lost and consumed Clouis had in marriage Clotilde the daughter of Chilperic King of Burgonie who was slaine by his owne brother called Gondobaldus and his wife mother of the said Clotilde was drowned Felix the third of that name borne at Rome gouerned the Church of Rome 8. or 9. yeares his Father was a Priest called Felix The consecrations of Temples and their dedications yearly are attributed vnto him Germain Bishop of Capua in this time Vaast Bishop of Arras Vedastus in Latin Fulgence Bishop of Rupe in Affrike Auitus Bishop Vienne Solemus Bishop of Chartres preached Christ and Fourcy that came new from Ireland The Councell of Orleans the third at this time after Iohn le Maire In the first Melanius was President In the saide Councell which was vnder Clouis it was agreed that the goods of the Cleargie should be imployed for the mainteining of Priests for the reliefe of the poore for the deliuerance of prisoners and for the repairing of Churches In the Councell of Tarrascon in Spaine Church-men were enioyned not to buye good cheape with intent to sell the same thing dearer for then they should be deposed Meane cares occupied the assemblies of Bishoppes Anastatius the Emperour called Dicorus for the chaunge of colours which appeared in his eye-browes succeeded Zeno and raigned 27. yeares he commaunded straightly to worship a quaternitie that is to say foure persons in the Diuinitie which pernitious heresie was by him maintained Gelatius of Affricke gouerned the Romaine Church fiue yeares his Father was a Bishop named Valericus Naucler The distinction of Autentike and Apocrypha bookes of the scripture are attributed vnto him Hee declared many bookes Apocryphaes as the booke called the Assumption of the Virgine Mary Item the Canons of the Apostles such like In the 1 volume of the Councels The Manicheans againe are condemned and exiled and their bookes burnt He shewed how Anastatius the Emperor might be excommunicated Hee is numbred amongst them which chiefly ordained the Canon Te igitur clementissime c. Some attribute to him the ordinance of Bigamies that is of such as haue bin twise married that they should not be promoted to orders vnles it were by ordinance of the Apostolike sea That orders should be made foure times a yeare and on the Saterday only He made Hymnes Collects Responds Graduels Prefaces of the Masse and brought all into order He
added to the Masse Vere dignum iustum est The Canons then was made at diuers times in diuers times It is then no maruell if it be euil sowed and patched with rags and tatters without any certaine Authour He made 5. bookes against Nestorius Eutiches Item two against the Arrians and a Treatise of excommunicatiō He restored Messenus Bishop after the knowledge of his penance He excommunicated the Emperour Anastatius because hee fauoured Acarius and other heretikes He excōmunicated the king of Vandals all his people which thē in Affrike afflicted the true faithfull in fauour of the Arrias He commanded Priests that they should not communicate but in both kindes and not vnder one alone The Cleargie greatly loued waxed rich in this time and increased Gelatius in full Councell at Rome declared that in the Eucharist neither the substance of the bread and wine nor their natures are chaunged but that in them as in an Image the flesh and bloud of the Lord are represented and that in the Sacrament both are exhibited to the faithfull Hee also declared them to be excommunicated which gaue not nor tooke the Sacrament of the Eucharist whole In the first volume of the Councels Gennaduis at this time was Bishop of Marceil Anastatius a Romane second of that name Pope gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares This is the second Pope noted of heresie whose beginning was reasonably good and excommunicated the Emperor Anastatitius an Eutechian heretike but afterward he himselfe did all he could to reuoke Acetius from exile and stucke vnto him He prooued also very fauourable vnto the Nestorians and communicated with Photin a Deacon of Thessalonica wherfore many Clarks Priests and Bishops refused to communicate with him See the Chap. Anastatius distinct 9. In the moneth of September he created 12. Priests and 16. Bishops Hee died very miserably as it is saide beeing vpon the priuie where he voyded all his bowels as did Arrius Naucler Acatius Bishop of Constantinople an heretike was at this time murthered Sigeb Simmachus borne in the I le of Sardiue ruled in Rome 16. yeares The first schisme in the Romane Church The election of Popes consecrated with bloud When Simmachus was chosen an other likewise called Lawrence was ordained Simmachus in the Temple of S. Iohn de Latran and Lawrence in the Church of S. Mary the greater for which election there was great diuision in the Church In so much as the people and the Romane Senate were diuided Wherefore a Councell was held at Rauenna the King Theodoric being present wherin the election of Symmachus was confirmed Laurence was recompenced with the Bishopricke of Nycerre by Symmachus but by some of the Cleargie of Rome this same sedition began againe about foure yeares after In so much that Theodoric being grieued thereat sent to Rome one Peter Altin Bishop of Rauenna to be Pope the other two reiected But Symmachus assembled the Councell and there in the presence of all 102. Bishops made his Oration and therin so purged himselfe of all vices and crimes laid against him that he was againe elected and approoued of all and Laurence and Peter Altin were reiected yet the noise at Rome was greater and the sedition more enflamed then before For at euery faction there was bloud-shead As well Priests as Lay-men slew one an other in the streetes Finally Faustin the Consul appeased the sedition laying hand to Armes against such as were chiefe Captaines of so many euils See the fruites of the riches of the Romane Church Symmachus ordained that on Sundayes and solemne daies of Martirs they should sing Gloria in excelsis Deo adding to the Cantic the rest which are more then the words of the Angell Item that whilest the Pope liueth none should holde talke of chusing a new Pope vpon paine of excommunication He caused certaine houses to be builded nigh the Church of S. Peter for the ease of the poore and prouided them of all things necessary for liuing Vnder Trasimundus King of Vandals many Bishops of Affrike were put to exile and sent into the I le of Sardine to the number of 202. Amongst the which was Fulgentius which this Symmachus helped with siluer and redeemed many Captiues Olimpius Bishop of Carthage an Arrian beeing at the Bathes and blaspheming the Trinitie was suddenly burnt Naucler Boetius a Poet of this time whose wife was named Elphe was sent into exile by Theodorice King of the Ostrogothes and after sent to prison where he made his bookes De Consolatione Philosophiae In this time Abbies and Temples began to be founded in Fraunce and to be dedicated to the honour of Saints and called by their names The King Clouis vowed to build a Church if he obtained victorie against Allaricus King of Visegothes Hee caused to bee builded the Church of S. Geneurefue at Paris then called Saint Peter and Pauls where hee was buried He founded the great Temple of Strasbourge Gerard Bishop of Laon was married and of his wife had a sonne who succeeded him in the Bishoppricke Symmachus cast out of Rome the Manecheans and caused publikely their bookes to be burnt And made a booke Intituled The excesse of Clarkes He created 92. Priests and 107. Bishops Many Sinodes were held at Rome and one Councell at Valence in Spaine whereby they sought to force Ecclesiasticall persons to leaue their wiues Childebert the sixt King of France a cruell man raigned 45. yeares He founded the Abbay of S. Germain des prees nigh Paris where he was buried and the Abbay Du Mont at S. Michaels the Church of S. Germain del Auxerrois at Paris But the booke called Le mer des histoires sayth otherwise Hormisda Pope borne at Fresselon a Citie of Campania gouerned the Romane Church 9. yeares Hee ordained that Priests should addresse no Aultars without the licence of their Bishop That marriages should be made publikely and solemnly Suppl Chron. That no Lay-man should be chosen to be Bishop A Councell was at Rome against the Eutechians wherein it was ordained that he that had done his penance and made an honourable amends should not be admitted into any Ecclesiasticall estate Supp Chro. Many Monkes corrupted with the Nestorian heresie not leauing it by the exhortations of Hormisda but rather sowing diffametory speeches against him were banished from Rome against the hipocrisie also of which he writ He sollicited by Letters and messengers Iohn Bishop of Constantinople companion of Acarius and euen the Emperour himselfe to leaue the Eutechian heresie but not onely Anastatius despised his admonitions but iniuried his foure Embassadors saying that it belonged to an Emperour to command and not to a Pope Paulus Diaconus addeth that the Emperour Anastatius besides all this caused them to mount on the Sea to goe into Italy in a light and worne ship forbidding them to take no land in Greece but quickly passe away without taking any Porte
obserued as the Gospell which is a sacriledge to compare humane ordinances with the eternall word of the liuing God It was there also ordained that no Bigamus should be ordained Priest and that Priestes accused of the people should haue this authoritie that by oath they might purge thēselues and approue their innocencie By this meanes they would be all innocent Monkes were forbidden to carry any to baptise and women that they should not enter into anye Monasterie of Monkes In Italie after a great drought there came an innumerable multitude of Grashoppers which consumed all the graine and fruite whereof came a great famine in Italie which endured two yeares Chro. Euseb The Legends of Saintes were forged at this time of such liues as these Fathers writ Many Relikes were found out by the subtilties of Sathan As Christes Coate vppon which the souldiers cast Lottes is said to be found in a Coffer of Marble in the Towne of Zapha and frō thence carried into the towne of Ierusalem Abb. Vrsperge and Naucler Such foule absurdities merit no recitall but that the greatest of the world haue bene deceiued with these inuentions of Relikes Argentuel nigh Paris made a Banner of this Coat Agilulsphus king of the Lombards was 2. yeares before Rome and the Arrabian Sarrasins entered into Sicilie and by fire wasted it Mauricius otherwise a good Prince who had many victories especially against the Persians in the end became odious to his souldiers because of his infinit couetousnesse which is a very detestable vice in a Prince He by his auarice dissembled rapines and murthers and payed not his souldiers but not them especially which serued vpon the Frontiers of Sarmatia to resist the fiercenesse of the Scithians They remained in barraine places enduring great necessities For this cause the souldiers conspired against him and Phocas was designed Emperour Who caused his M. Maurice his head to be cut off in Chalcedone the heads also of his wife three Children Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine the rehearsall thereof is worthy memorie that Maurice seeing his children murthered by Phocas and that hee himselfe straightway must be put to death he often cryed in this voice which is in 145. Psalme and verse 12. Lord thou art iust and thy iudgements are also And so dyed of the age of 63. yeares and the 20. yeare of his Empire We may learne by the example of the Emperour who was not of the worst in great cruell temptations in such sort to bridle our thoughts that the iustice of God may alwayes haue his praise and be vnto vs a buckler against all temptations Colomban of Scotland a very renowmed Bishop dyed the yeare 598. Abb. Trit The Lombards were conuerted to the Faith by S. Gregorie who writ his Dialogues and presented them to Theodelinde the wife of Agilulphus their King Supplem Chron. Eutropius a Bishop at this time Abb. Trit Phocas 42. in number and the 19. of the Grecian Emperours of Constantinople which ruled in the East from a Gouernour of Scythia after he had wickedly slaine his maister was chosen by the vnlucky Armie whereof he had charge a verie slaue of couetousnesse who handled secret matters with Courtiers after the manner of the Persians and solde the Offices of Magistrates Iudgements and dearly loued such as tormented the people by rapine and extortion This is hee who first ordeined that Rome should first be the chiefe of all Churches yea though it were Constantinople Gregorie the first besides so many ceremonies and superstitions made certaine ordinances and gaue permissions and lycences Amongst others he suffered diuorces for the long disease of a woman which cannot yeeld her dutie to her husband if he cannot conteine vpon condition notwithstanding that he helpe and succour his said wife in her disease This is in the second Epistle to Augustine the English man And in the second volume of Councells But why then did he not rather vse moderation towardes men and women which were cast into Monasteries when they cannot conteine wherefore constraine they them not to marry See the same Epistle Hee made many bookes amongst many others the Dialogues of the miracles of Saints in foure bookes which are full of Fables whereby he pretendeth to prooue that the soules of the dead returne againe and that we must pray for them These Fables inuented to pray for the dead gaue great authoritie to Masses which after came in great credit Sauinian Pope a Tuscane after Gregorie gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares He is accounted the third Pope noted of abhominable infamie an insatiable man and a sworne enemie of his predecessor Gregorie euen to cause his bookes to be burnt He being once admonished to follow the liberallitie of the said Gregorie towards the poore he answered that he dissipated and wasted the goods of the Church to get a good report and the fauour of the people Hee passed not his Popedome without inuenting and ordaining something namely that there should bee burning Lampes kept continually in the Temple and the houres of the day should be distinguished and rung in Churches The sea of Histories Boniface Pope the third of that name a Romane after Naucler ruled in the Church of Rome one yeare fiue moneths In a Sinode at Rome of 72. Bishops 30. Priests and some Deacons it was ordained vnder paine of excommunication that none should be elected Pope or Bishop but three daies after the death of his predecessour and by the consent of the Prince or of the Lord of the place It was also ordained that all such as by gifts fauour came to any Episcopall dignitie should be excommunicated Then it followeth that all their Bishops at this day are excommunicated This Pope ordained that the Aultar should be couered with cleane cloathes That the corporall of the Aultar should be kept cleane This Phocas as is said the murtherer of his M. the Emperour ordeined Boniface Bishop of Rome the soueraigne Bishop of all Chistianitie and the Romane Church chiefe of all the Churches of the world Abb. Vrsp. The primacie then of the Romane Church was established by an homicide and a traytor who died miserably Cosroes King of the Persian vnderstanding his Father in lawe Maurice was put to death by the ambushes of Phocas detested so that treason that he rebelled against the Empire In such sort that he wasted Siria and tooke Ierusalem where there were nintie thousand men slaine And the Chronicles adde that the wood of the holy Crosse was then taken and carried into Persia and the Bishop Zacharie was also prisoner The East Empire beganne to decline The Hans likewise reuolted against the Empire and with their great multitude they ouerranne the Romane Prouinces The Persians occupied Mesopotamia and Assiria and from Ierusalem ranne euen to Cappadocia and Gallatia and succoured all the Country euen to Chalcedone On the other side the Sarrazins wasted Egipt Boniface Pope 4. of that
Romane ruled at Rome 10 moneths He was humble and soft Naucler He restored at his great charges the Churches of S. Peter and S. Laurence of S. Valentin and S. Marie aux Martyrs Supp Chron. and gaue to the said Churches many Vessels of Golde and Siluer and many vestments and ornaments The election of the Pope taken from the Emperour The Emperour Constantine mooued with the Popes sanctetie ordained that the election of the Pope from thence forward made of the Cleargie and Romane people should bee stable and sure without any more attending the authoritie of the Emperour or of his Lief-tenant Exarche of Italie without whose authoritie before it was not ratified Naucl. and Supp Chron. Iohn Pope fift of that name of Antioche in Siria gouerned the Romane Church a yeare a man moderate and subiect to diseases He was consecrated as also was Leo the second by three Bishops of Ostia Portensis and Veliterus And this maner was alwaies after obserued The Bishop of Ostia as hee sung Masse put the Crowne on his head Before hee was onely ledde to the Chaire of S. Peter and beeing there set he was holden the true Pope without other ceremonie The Emperour Constantine died at Constantinople hauing raigned 17. yeares Conon Pope borne at Rome gouerned the Church of Rome one yeare Fasci temp After the death of Pope Iohn the fift there was great contention about the Popes election for the people or the Cleargie elected one called Peter Archbishoppe The Romane Gendarmie corrupted by siluer did chuse Theodorus a Priest a pernitious man After long strife betwixt these two Conon by all their agreements was confirmed He fell sicke incontinently after his election wherevpon he died Some said he would neuer occupie himselfe in secular matters Iustinian or Iustin Emperour second of that name sonne of Constantine the fourth began to raigne of the age of 16. yeares Hee gouerned himselfe so ill that after tenne yeares of his raigne hee was banished See the Sea of Histories Quilian an holy Scottishman preached in Franconia He conuerted Gosbertaine Duke of the same Countrey who kept Ceilam Sillam or Gelana his brothers wife And for that he preached that he ought to leaue her she made him secretly be slaine Fasci temp and Sigeb Beda the Venerable in this time made many bookes and wrote the liues of many Saints Abb. Trit Sergius Pope a Sirian ruled at Rome tenne yeares after Chron. Euseb a noble restorer of Churches There was a great contention and debate for the election of the Pope after the death of Conon Some had chosen Theodorus a very rich man Others Pascall Arch-deacon who had promised a great summe of money to Iohn Platina Exarche if hee were chosen Each of them maintained his election ambitiously But the Cleargie and Romane people seeing that this sedition would cause effusion of bloud tooke counsell to remedie it Wherefore they chose Sergius reiecting the two others The said Sergius was carried into the Church of Laterane and hauing broken the gates they cast out the factious and constrained Theodorus and Pascall to salute Sergius Pope and approoue his election Pascal accused and conuicted of Art Magicke was sent to a Monasterie and there died obstinate Naucler It is attributed vnto him to haue founded a good part of the holy Crosse which euery yeare they worship at Rome Nauclerus Beleeue this who list For in the time of Heraclius the Emperour it was carried to Constantinople The Church of Aquilea not wholly approouing the first after Naucler Chron. Segeb. Paul Diac. or sixt after Fasci Temp. Councell of Constantinople was reduced by Sergius In this time the Saxons yet Painims receiued the Christian Faith by the meanes of this Sergius After Suppl Chron. The yeare 688. Ebroine a French Tyrant was slaine in his bedde Theodoricke the King of Franc was buried in the Abbey of S. Vaast of Arras whereof hee was founded with his wife called in her Epitaph Doda Clouis third of that name King of France 16. raigned 14. yeares Sergius sent Vmbred to the Frisons to conuert them to the faith Rabed their Duke would not accord thereunto alleadging that it were more meete to followe many then fewe But afterward beeing vanquished in warre by Pippin Grand-maister of Fraunce the Frisons receiued the Faith beeing instructed by Willibrot Bishoppe or Clement after some The Emperour Iustinian broke his faith giuen to the Sarrasins and fought against them wherein he was not happie And after without necessitie brake the peace which his father hadde made with the Bulgarians and entered into the one and the other Misia where hee put all to fire and sword but the Bulgarians ceazed vppon the passages and straights and shut them in so well that they constrained them to doo what they would Hee beeing returned to Constantinople did so many euils to the Christians that euerie one hated him so that they conspired against him and chased him away Leontius vsurped the Empire tooke Iustinian and cut his nosthrills and sent him into exile into Pontus and raigned three yeares Some call him Leond second Emperour 68. The Sarrasins seeing such troubles among the Christians came into Affrica Childebert second of that name 17. King of France raigned 18. yeares Hee founded the Abbey of S. Albane in Angiers Lambert Bishop of Liege was reuoked from exile but because hee reprehended the adulterie of Pippin hee was cruelly slaine by Dodon brother of the Adulteresse The saide Dodon and his complices perished miserably within a yeare Hubert succeeded the Bishop of Liege The Histories of France Absimarus otherwise called Tiberius borne at Constantinople was chosen Emperour by the Souldiours for the negligence which they sawe in Leontius that no aide was sent vnto them for the guard of Affrike which they had recouered of the Sarrasins Absimarus then came from Constantinople and tooke Leontius and cut off his nose and imprisoned him in a Monasterie He raigned seuen yeares Naucler Abb. Vrsp. Iohn Pope sixt of that name a Grecian ruled at Rome 3. yeares After the maner of other Popes he was very curious to repaire Churches to adorne Aultars and redeeme captiues with the papall treasure Some write him a Martyr vnder the kings of Lombardie for defending the rights of the church Fasci temp The Venetians at this time beganne to haue a Duke to hinder quarells and disorders of such as gouerned and the enuie which the Lombards bare to their libertie but after as it were repenting themselues they caused many of their first Dukes to die Moreouer the Dukes ornaments differed not from those of a King and all the Senates Letters the publication of them were in the Dukes name yet he had not the bridle loose for a full authoritie Westfalia after some was conuerted to the faith about this time Iohn Pope 7. of that name ruled at Rome two or three yeares diligent to adorne and repaire Churches
Laie person By which answere Charlemaigne being appeased after also that Leo had affirmed by an oath that he was not culpable he declared him absolued and innocent The Pope for these benefites willing to yeelde some pleasure on Christmas day assoone as the King was come from the Church he put the Crowne on his head and pronounced Charlemaigne Emperour of the Romanes without that he had aspired to receiue the Imperiall Crowne And all the Romane people cryed saying Life and victorie be to the thrice Christian Charles alwaies August Crowned of God great and peaceable Emperour And whereas before they vsed to call him by the name of Patrician he was called Emperour the yeare of his raigned 23. and of our saluation eight hundreth and three Hirene Empresse of Constantinople hearing what had beene done at Rome sent three Embassadors towards Charlemaigne to confirme the peace Charlemaigne on his side also sent his Embassadors towards the Empresse for a greater confirmation of peace demaunding her in marriage wherevnto she had consented but for the hinderance by ambushes laid against it as if she would haue solde the Empire by her marriage to strangers Nicephorus then was crowned Emperour and Hirene chased away who passed the rest of her life in exile Nicephorus sent his Embassadors to Charlemaine to renew the alliance vpon those conditions That both should be called Augustes and bretheren together the one of the East and the other of the West That in Italie which is on the side beyond Naples and on the other side beyond Sipont namely all that which stretcheth towards the Sea should belong vnto the Greeke Emperour and the rest to the French Emperour That Venice should be in the middest and as the limitte and border betwixt those two Empires and acknowledge the Maiestie of them both That the Venetians should be subiect neither to the one nor the other but should vse their owne lawes and be the friend of both whether in peace or warre Some say that the Emperour after his Coronation said that if he had knowne the Popes enterprise he would not that day haue entred into the Church Aduertisement Although successiuely there were alwaies Emperors of Constantinople which kept the Romane Empire vntill the Towne was occupied by the Turkes yet because the true brightnesse and Maiestie of the name and of the tuition of the Empire and of Italie was in Charlemaine and his successors we leaue in Nicephorus the Greeke Emperours because they haue not bene like these Therefore leauing the East namely that of Constantinople we will set downe in order the Emperours of the West namely of Rome Charlemaigne then deliuered the Romane seate from all molestations of forraine Princes and atchieued that for which principally hee came into Italie that is to say at the siege of Pauie hauing constrained Didier the last King of the Lombards to yeeld himselfe hee got possession of all Lombardie And to the ende they should no more molest Italie hee droue them away as seditious persons and sent Didier Captiue with his wife and children into the Towne of Liege Paul Diaconus an Historiographer and Secretarie to the said Didier was ledde with him and from that time Charlemaigne made his the Kingdome of Lombardie leauing all the Townes of Italie in theyr accustomed libertie to the ende hee might giue no occasion of trouble vnto the Greeke Emperour About this time Acayus the 65. King of Scots made the first alliance with King Charlemaigne and with Fraunce which hath endured euer since and yet at this present is maintained betwixt these two Nations Tassilo Duke of Bauiere moouing warre against Charlelemaigne lost his Countrey and was put in a Monasterie with his sonne and although hee was Charlemaignes kinsman yet for his faith before violated hee vsed this seueritie towardes him Nicephorus raigned at Constantinople eight or nine yeares whom the Romanes would not acknowledge for Emperour wherevpon there rose great enuie and hatred betwixt them of the East and of the West A Schisme betwixt them of the East and of the West Whatsoeuer agreement was made there was stil enuie and enmitie betwixt the East and the West Emperours and they could not suffer one an other yet this dissention hapned not onely betwixt them but also betwixt the East and the West Churches wherof altogether the Pope was cause in intent to withdrawe and exempt himselfe from the obedience of him of whom he held all his good Charlemaigne inriched many Churches Abbeys and Bishoppricks especially in Almaine the Bishoppricks of Magunce Strasbourge Colongne and Treuers giuing them great priuileges Briefly there were fewe renowmed Churches in Germanie nor in all the two Frances which hee endowed not with some goods and reuenewes Iohannes Scotus a Monke of S. Benet a Disciple of Beda and a companion of Albin or Alcuin Charlemaignes maister wrote vpon S. Mathewe three bookes and other things Abb. Trit Hinmarus Bishop of Rhemes before Monke of S. Deuis wrote two bookes of the life of S. Remy Bishop Tritem Charlemaigne at the last got the vpper hand of the Hungarians and tooke great riches from them for it had bene two hundreth yeares that they did no other thing but pill and spoile all other Nations without beeing pilled themselues After he tamed the Bohemians hauing ouercome their King called Lechon And so in the ende Charlemaigne was peaceable of Italie France Almaine Hungarie and Bohemia So oftentimes the Lord sends puissant Monarkes to repaire things confused as also to represse the insolencie and disordinate dealings of great persons dispersed on the earth Charlemaigne of the age of 72. yeares died at Aix in Almaine of a Feauer and a Plurisie the yeare of his raigne 46. of his Empire 14. and the yeare of Christ 814. hauing instituted the Vniuersitie of Paris and Pauie Lewis Charlemaignes sonne by his wife Hildegarde surnamed Le Debonaire because he was of a soft and gracious spirit was after the death of his father pronounced Emperour by the chiefs of the Kingdome Stephen fourth of that name a Romane being substituted in the place of Leo three monethes after went into Fraunce towards Lewis Debonaire the Emperours to the ende to purge himselfe concerning his election for that against the decrees of Adrian and Leo his predecessors hee had beene chosen and confirmed Pope by the Cleargie and the people of Rome without the counsell and authoritie of the Emperour Wherein we see that the Romane seate is so faithfull an obseruer of her owne lawes and ordinances that the first that succeeds him which made them breakes and transgresseth them But to the end that this flatterer vsing hipocrisie might the rather for a time abuse Lewis hee set on his head a faire Crowne which hee brought with him and an other on the head of the Queene Hirmingarde calling her Auguste or Empresse But the subtil Foxe being recompenced by the Emperour returning and the
neither only abandoned and destituted him of his succours and helpe but vnder colour of the Church and the publike good assaulted him by armes besieged him by circumvention tooke him traiterously despoyled him of his Imperiall dignitie and made him die a poore miserable man in great captiuitie and heauinesse And all this he did saith Rodolphe Galterus not by the commaundement of any barbarous tyrant not at the instigation of some Phalaris but by the Councell of the holy Father of Rome Reioyce saith he you Caligula Nero and you all which haue bene renowned for crueltie for you haue now found one that shall take away the memorie of your name so cruell because he goes much before you that is to say the Pope of Rome who commaunds the sonne to drawe his sword against the Father Henry then the fourth was dispoyled of his Imperiall dignitie and finally his sonne Henry the fift by treason tooke him prisoner the fiftie yeare of his Empire as hee went vnto an assembly held at Magunce he died after he had bene miserably handled in the Citie of Liege Anno. 1108. after the Chron. of Euseb or 1116. after others But the enmitie of this Papall Monster was not yet appeased by this death for in an inraged manner hee did exercise his crueltie against him after his death commaunding by Letters that his body shuld be vnburied cast out of the church and transported from Liege to Spire and to be depriued by the space of fiue yeares of Sepulchre Behold how this proud Antichrist obeyeth Magistrates ordeined of God! But see what God did in the meane time At Spire blood ranne out of Loaues of bread as Vrspergensis faith in his Cronographie The yeare of the Lorde 1106. hee made an assembly of many Princes and Bishops at Guardascall in Lombardie with whom he handled matters appertaining to the Faith that is to say cōcerning the Popes kitchin as of homages of fealties of oaths that Bishops had before made vnto Laie persons He despoiled also the Arch-bishop of Rauenna of his lands applying them vnto his owne profit And this Pope not content with such crueltie caused the body of Guibert Archbishop of the said place of Rauenna to be taken vp who had bin chosen Pope by the Emperour Henry the 4. in the time of Gregore 7. sixe yeares after he was laide in the Sepulchre Now as for Henry the 4. he was an excellent Emperor meete for an Empire of a noble race and an incomparable spirit O that other Princes had possessed such hearts and had not attributed so much vnto that Romane harlot He was affable and benigne towards all liberall to wards the poore It is said that during his life hee fought with Ensigne displaied threescore and two times After many Histories Henry the fift of that name sonne of Henry the fourth and of Berthe Marquesse of Italie was chosen at Magunce by the Gouernours and chiefe of the Empire and raigned twentie yeares Chron. Palm Lewis le Gros otherwise called the good Lewis 39. King of Fraunce raigned 28. yeares and was crowned at Orleance and annointed by the Archbishop of Sens. It is said of him that he often disguised himselfe in the habit of a poore man or of a woman or seruant the better to knowe the truth of some secret matters of his kingdome He was founder of the Abbey of S. Victor in Paris The yeare of Christ one thousand one hundreth and eleuen Henry the fift went to Rome to appease seditions stirred since Gregorie the seuenth and continued in Victor Vrbane and Paschal the second The Emperour and other Princes would vse the authoritie right priuiledges of auncient Emperours For Charlemaigne and others which had obteined the Empire since three hundreth yeares and more vnder threescore and three Popes bestowed Bishopprickes Abbaies and other Benefices Against this authoritie and custome the Pope following by Sinodall decrees mainteined that Ecclesiasticall Benefices ought not to be giuen by Laie-persons and excommunicated as Simoniackes as well such as receiued them as them that gaue them This Emperour then being at Rome after he had kissed the feete of the holy Father prayed him to confirme and to like of such as had ordeined Bishops But as he refused to confirme them he was taken by the Emperour and imprisoned and came not out vntill hee had confirmed them all and yeelded him the right of Inuesture giuen vnto Charlemaigne and therevpon making Letters and Seales and also confirmed the said Emperour Yet after the Pope had said Masse was in his Chaire saith Masseus behold the souldiers came suddenly in crying Yeeld vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and assailed as well him as all the Cleargie carrying them all out from thence and spoyled them without leauing them any thing then put they them in prison in the Mountaine of Soracte Finally after debates and discentions were appeased and the Emperour Henry crowned Paschal renewed the priuiledge of Inuesture of Bishops and pronounced before all the assembly that whosoeuer made of no force the saide priuiledge was excommunicated There was also sung Gloria in exelsis because the peace was made betwixt the Emperour and the Pope But so soone as the Emperour was returned into Almaigne this periured Traitor reuoked all hee had promised with solemne oathes affirming that he accorded with the Emperour not of his good wil but by force and constraint After this hee condemned that priuiledge and excommunicated the Emperour and stirred maruellous Tragedies which incontinently were published throughout all the wide world Hee assembled a Councell at Troyes in Champaigne in Fraunce wherein againe hee forbadde marriage vnto the Priestes of Fraunce as Hildebrand had before forbidden the Priests of Almaigne euen to the chasing of some Prelates out of their Seates because they were marryed Desiring to encrease the Papall authoritie hee renewed the quarrell of giuing Bishopprickes which had caused great calamities throughout the Regions of Europe Ancelme an Arch-bishop of Englande and a Monke augmented the Impudencies of this Pope by such Sophisticke perswasions as he had before done them of Vrbaine For he was their Councellor at Rome and their Vicar in England This Ancelme tirannously depriued Henry the first of that name King of England of the right that Kings haue to prouide officers vsed by the Kings of Israel Dauid Salomon Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias others likewise against the saying of Iesus Christ The Kings of Nations haue rule ouer them c. But so it is not with you He also perpetually condemned the lawfull marriage of Priests in England as hath bene said against the holy lawes as well of the olde as of the new Testament and the manifest examples of the Primitiue Church to the and by the suggestion of Sathan the Cleargie might serue there in all Sodomie to the Dragon called the diuell and to Antichrist his Vicar Bertol Duke of Zeringuen and of Souabe founded the Citie of
depriued both of his wife and of his Principalitie and dyed without children Naucler and Corno Abb. Calixtus prepared an Armie against Roger but the Popes death came betwixt and Innocent the second pursued the enterprise One called Iohn a Patriarke of the Indians came vnto Rome and rehearsed to the Pope and Cardinalls in a Councell that by a myracle S. Thomas the Apostle came euery yeare to giue the Eucharist vnto the good and refused the wicked Naucler Miracles and apparitions are on all sides forged The Emperour Henry the fift bearing a long time an hatred vnto the King of France assembled a great Armie to runne vpon him taking occasion that hee was at the Councell which the Pope Calixt held at Rheimes wherein he was excommunicated and vaunted that he would destroy the Citie of Rheims where the said Councell was held but when he perceiued the Kings power which met him with the precious standard called the Auriflame he desisted from his enterprise and returned into his Country Iohn le Maire Pomerania receiued the Christian Faith Nancler Honorius Pope second of that name borne at Imola in Italie a man of base condition yet learned gouerned the Romane Church 5. yeares 2. moneths Before he was called Lambert Bishop of Ostia and was promoted rather by the ambition of some then by the consent of the good Supp Chron. He inuested Roger of the Duchy of Pouille after the said Roger had done vnto him homage who also was King of Sicilie The same Robert author of the order of Premonstre went to Rome vnto the Pope obteined what he desired cōcerning y e order Nauc Arnulphe Arch-bishop of Lion had at this time a singular grace in preaching who after he had preached in Fraunce and Italie came vnto Rome But because in his Sermons he rebuked too sharply the vices the delights and pompes of Church-men he was slaine Honorius feined to be grieued therat yet he made no search for the murderers Plat. and Sabel Bonifa Simo. say that hee did this in fauour both of the Nobilitie and of the common people The yeare of Christ 1125. Henry the 5. died in the Citie of Vtreict without heire male Lothaire in the Almaine tongue Luder the sonne of Count Gebhard who was slaine in the warre by Henry the fourth as hath bene said being created Duke of Saxonie was chosen Emperour a man of great industry and prudence and persecuted the race of the Emperour Henry whereof arose many troubles For Frederic and Conrade Dukes of Souanbie were a long time Rebels vnto him Finally S. Barnard Abbot of Cleruax reconciled these two brethren with Lothaire Hugo a Saxon by Nation and surnamed of Victor a Theologian of Paris was at this time in Paris Amongst his writings are found many complaints against the disordinate life of Clarkes in this time It is he whom some say that at Masse as he lifted vp the body of our Lord there appeared a litle childe which said vnto him Eate me And he abhorring it said hee could not eate him vnlesse he hid himselfe againe vnder the bread and straight it came so to passe and he eate him Who sees not that this is a fable inuented to proue the new doctrine of Pascasius and Lanfrancus And yet this is against their doctrine and especially against that of Thomas Aquine in the third part question 76. Charles Count of Flaunders Nephew of Lewis King of France was traiterously murthered as hee was on his knees in the Church of S. Donatus in Brugis in Flaunders The murtherers were certaine villaines of the Countrey which were grieuously punished in sundry maners Sigeb Baudwin the second who was the third King of Ierusalem died in a Monkes habit whom Fulco succeeded Naucl. Chron. Sigeb Innocent Pope 2. of that name a Roman gouerned 14. yeares After his coronation he attempted mortall warre against Roger the Norman Who first named himselfe King of Naples but in the end Innocent was ouerthrowne in battaile and ledde away prisoner Whilest he was in prison the Romanes elected Peter Leon the sonne of a puissant Romane Citizen But Innocent after he had agreed with the said Roger was constrained to goe into France for succour towards King Lewis le Gros of whom hee was honourably receiued Being come into France he held two Councells one at Auerne and an other at Rhemes in Campaigne From France he retired towards the Countrey of Liege where he found the Emperour Lothaire who also promised all the assistance he could by meanes of which hee returned into Italie Anacletus the Antepope stole away all the treasures and Reliques of the Church to wage them which were of his band he died with griefe and his Cardinals craued pardon In the Councell held at Rheimes Subdeacons were commaunded to liue without marriage vnder paine to loose theyr Benefices There became a contention betwixt the Pope the king of France because that after the death of Alberic Archbishop of Bourges the Pope sent one called Peter by him consecrated Archbishop of the said place to reside and rule there but the King reiected him neither was be receiued into the Towne because he was created without his knowledge Sigeb Innocent agreed set a peace betwixt the towne of Pise and the towne of Genues and raised them vp vnto Archbishops A Sinode at Rome at this time ordained that no Lay-man should presume to lay hand vpon a Clarke vnder paine of excommunication from which none could absolue him but the Pope vnlesse he were at the poynt of death for then his Bishop might absolue him 17. Quest 4. Chap. Si quis suadente diabolo In this time was Richardus de sancto victore and Hugo a Monke of Corbie in Saxonie who wrote the booke de clanstro animae Peter de Balard an hereticke of this time said that the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ was onely giuen vs for an example of patience of vertue and of loue he shewed vnto vs. Wherefore he was condemned with all his writings by the Pope Innocent S. Barnard writ against him Writers say that one called Iohn of Time if it be a thing worthy the credite liued 361. yeares that is to say from the time of Charlemaigne whose Councellor he was and died in this time Naucler and Suppl Chron. The Emperour Lothaire went to Rome to restore Innocnt according to his promise The faction of the Guelphes for the Pope and of the Gibellins for the Emperour began in this time Naucler Lothaire returning from Italie the second time after hee had deiected Roger of Pouille and Calabria died of the pestilence nigh Trent amongst the Mountaines in a poore lodging saith Naucler But Palin saith that he died at Verona the 13. yeare of his Kingdome and the 7. of his Empire leauing one daughter called Gertrude Conrade 3. of that name Duke of Souabe sonne of Frederike of Haulte Staufen and of Agnes daughter of Henry the fourth obtained the Empire
of a Regular Chanon he was made Bishop Cardinall and after Pope ruled at Rome fiue yeares and sixe monethes He was sent vnto Norway by Eugenius the third Pope to preach the faith and when he had instructed the people of the said Countrey he was chosen Pope Beeing receiued the Romanes prayed him to leaue the administration of the towne free to Consuls and Magistrates after their auncient maner which be refused wherat the Romanes grieued did many euils vnto a Cardinall In so much that Adrian set all the Citie of Rome vnder an Interdict or excommunication After his election he would by no meanes go to the Church of Laterane to be consecrated vntill first Arnold bishop of Brixe were cast out of the Towne who opposed himselfe against the Administration of ciuill things and of the temporall sword which the Cleargie had vsurped And therefore he called him an heretike solliciting the Romane people to maintain their libertie Magistracie and other offices R. Barns Of this same time was Peter de Blois who in his writings touched the wickednesse of the Cleargie-men In a certaine Epistle which he writeth to a Bishops Officiall he admonisheth him to come out of Babilon detesting the tirannie of Bishops and their Officials calling them infernall harpies which do but powle and sheere the Church of Iesus Christ He often calleth the Cleargie Siria Edom Calues of Bethel Idols of Egipt the fatte of Samaria Priests of Baal and Iudges which forge vniust lawes and many such like names he giueth them This saith he of Rome At Rome all is subuerted by gifts Monkes may do all things by siluer and redeeme by annuall pentions all wickednesse of the flesh There filthinesse began to be sung in the Tabernacle of Geth in the streets of Ascalon So was he made the Prince of Sodome and his Disciples after him are set in the chaire of pestilence Such writing should be noted for their excellencie and raritie The yeare of Christ 1155. Frederic went into Italy Adrian met him euen at Sutry hoping by the Emperours meanes to reuenge himselfe vpon his enemies And as hee arriued at the Emperours lodging the Emperour hasted to meete him and as he lighted he held the left stirrope of his horse and taking him by the hand ledde him into his Castle The Pope greatly disdaining held as a mockery that the Emperour at his lighting held his left stirrope and not his right Insomuch that he departed from his Castle much offended discontent The next morning the Emperour dissembling all like a wise man calling the Pope as hee met him againe held his right stirrope at his lighting For hee had not forgotten his lesson of the day before After they went to Rome and there Frederic was crowned by Adrian at S. Peters and returned into Almaigne Ri. Barnes Iohn of Salisbury Bishop of Chartres was in this time who sharply opposed himselfe against the wickednes of Popes and Cleargie He writ a booke Intituled Obiurgatorium Cleri In his booke Intituled Policraticus he saith thus In the Romane Church are set Scribes and Pharisies loading mens shoulders with insupportable burthens The great Bishop is heauy vnto all yea importable His Legates cast themselues so into the fields as if Sathan were come from the Lorde to torment the Church Iudgement amongst them is no other thing but a true marchandise They esteeme of gaine as of pietie it selfe They iustifie the wicked by gold and siluer and reioyce in wickednes They eate the sinnes of the people They are apparelled nourished in all luxurie whilest the true worshippers worship the Lord in spirit He that sticketh not vnto their doctrine either is he iudged an hereticke or a schismaticke c. Often were there such Doctors in the Church but they durst not speake nor write of all that was needfull In a booke Intituled Speculum that is to say the Glasse It is said that that good Bishop Iohn amongst other complaints hath bene sometimes heard say to the Pope Adrian the fourth his very familiar friend these words The Pope indeed is truly the seruant of seruants because he serueth the Romanes seruants of couetousnesse The same Pope Adrian was heard say to the said Bishop Iohn That there were many Popes which rather succeeded Romulus in murders paracides then S. Peter in feeding of sheep Romulus the first founder of the Citte of Rome slewe his owne brother Remus and so the walls were dedicated in that Parricide Adrian excommunicated William the sonne of Rogier king of Sicily and Pouille and absolued his subiects of their oathes towards him but seeing he profited nothing by that meanes he incited Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople Emanuel promised the Pope to deposed the said William Onely he demanded three Maritime or Sea Townes if he came to his purpose These conuentions made in the meane while the Grecians occupied Pouille and wasted it William vnderstanding these practises prayed the Pope to be reconciled vnto him and that hee would onely graunt him the title of king of the two Sicilies and he would restore him whatsoeuer he demanded yea he would giue of his owne The Pope was content but the Cardinalls kept him from it William then went into battaile against the Grecians and obtained the victorie droue the Grecians out of Pouille and recouered it The Captaine prisoners were bound with chaines Afterward he went against Beneuent and besieged it The Pope and his Cardinalls which by chance were there are prisoners and constrained to demaund peace and to agree wiih him The Pope first absolueth him of his excommunication and pronounceth and declareth him King after hauing done him homage to hold his Land Seignory of the holy Father Adrian returned to Rome and straight fel vnto cōtention For the Consuls would maintaine their franchise ancient libertie Wherfore fearing because the Interdict endured yet he got himselfe Anagnia or Arignianum R. Barns Frederic was not content that the Pope without his knowledge had graunted the title and right of Sicilia because he was thereby defrauded of the Inuestures also for that the Popes Legates pilled so the Countries subiect vnto his Empire Because the Pope began secretly through all the Empire to sowe reasons to retire his subiects from his subiection Wherefore he demaunded homage of the Bishops of the Germaine Nation and oath of fidelitie hee forbad that any should appeale vnto the Romane Sea He commaunded the Popes Legates which appealed not to him to get them out of his Countries The Pope very much grieued at all those things as also that the Emperour set his owne name before the Popes in his Letters missiues which he sent writ Letters vnto him rebuking him for those foresaid things admonishing him to amēd The Emperor answered them frō point to point First that iustly by good right he set his name before his seeing the Pope oweth all humilitie to the Emperour as Christ hath taught And if Popes haue
had slaine his naturall Lord in battaile And the said Boniface holding a Crowne vpon his head and a Sworde at his side answered I am Caesar The yeare 1298. Boniface published the sixt booke of Decretalls and sent them to the Students of Bolongne and to other Vniuersities commanding them to vse them in all iudgements and schooles This proud and arrogant Pope ordained that all king of the earth which would not hold their Kingdomes of his sanctetie or rather tirannie should bee excommunicated and deposed He excommunicated Phillip king of France because he would not suffer his money to be carried out of his kingdome and cursed both him and all his euen to the fourth generation yea with his reliques and crosses He would not confirme the Emperour Albert whom hee had alreadie reiected twise or thrise but vpon this condition that he would occupie the kingdome of France and depose Phillip He declared Alphonsus king of Arragon absolued and gaue him the kingdome of Sardeigne vnder certaine conditions Iohn Duns surnamed the Scot a Frier called the subtil Doctor was in this time He died of an Apoplexie Some say hee was buried aliue Supp Chron. Dinus the Legist Petrus de bella pertica Iacobus de arena Iohannes de sancto Geminiano Iacobin Ihones Andrea and Dante 's Aliger Florentin were in this time The yeare of Christ 1300. this Pope instituted a Iubile giuing full remission of all sinnes to such as from an hundreth to an hundreth yeares would visit by vow of Pilgrimage the Churches of S. Peter and S. Paul in the Citie of Rome He then celebrated the first Iubile and opened the Faire for indulgences and made them serue euen for such as were in purgatorie Agrip. de vanita scien Such as they called in Italie Fratricelli are condemned and persecuted Historiographers say that they vsed carnall pleasure contrarie to the honestie of marriage and this they did in the night time after they had celebrated their misteries Supp Chron. One called Aerman chiefe amongst them was vnburied 20. yeares after his death at Ferrare although before hee was accounted as a Saint and his bones were burnt A woman called Guillaume which was very renowned and her husband Andre were also vnburied and their bones burnt The Chroniclers rehearse how those of this Sect were disclosed namely by a Marchant of Millain called Conrad whose wife in the night time haunted these assemblies and that the candles being put out they abused one an other brutally and such or like which haue rather an appearance of affable then of a true narration This Pope nourished discords the dissentions which were amongst the factions of Italie and sought alwaies to maintaine them He prohibited that the Cleargie should pay no tribute to Princes without his leaue licence He gloried in his pride to be the key-keeper of heauen and published that hee ought not to be iudged of any person no not though he led an infinit number of soules into hell with him because it is lawfull for him to do all things O Infernall Decree and execrable blasphemie He eleuated his parents into dignities two of his Nephewes very young he made Cardinalls also his Vncle Hee made some Counts or Earles and left them great treasures by meanes of which after they would auenge his death Naucler He depriued two Cardinalls Colonnois Peter and Iames of their Benefices yea and of their fathers goods because that during Celestins life they had written that he was no lawful Pope but that Celestine was he He imputed also vnto them that they had pilled the treasure of the former Popes In a full Councell he excommunicated Sarra the said Cardinalls Vncle and honourable Prince with all the Collonois Supp Chron. He exercised such enmitie against the Gibellins that vnderstanding that some of them were retired to Genes he himself went thither also to the end to ouerthrowe them altogether And as one day vpon an Ashwednesday hee gaue Ashes vnto the people according to the custome Porchat Archbishop of the town presented himselfe before him but he vnderstood of many that he was of the faction of the Gibellins falling on his knees with his head vncouered which when Boniface marked without hauing any regard to the day or to the place or to the people present or to religion became angry against the Archbishop casting a great sort of Ashes in his eies said Remember that thou art a Gibellin and that with the Gibellins thou shalt bee brought to ashes and straight depriued the Archbishop of his dignitie although afterwards he remitted him into his former estate Plat. Cor. Abb. But being ingratefull for the good saith Iohn Marie that his predecessors had receiued of France he rose vp in such pride against the King Phillip that it were an hard thing to beleeue He sent to signifie vnto the king in maner of a commaundement by the Bishop of Appaine his Legate that incontinently and without delay he should prepare himselfe to go beyond the sea Vnto which thing then the King could not well harken for the great warres hee had against the Flemmings The Legate seeing that he could not obtaine an answere according to his appetite he began to vse great menaces saying that if he did not obey the Pope he would depriue him of his kingdome by which two rigorous words the King beeing much grieued caused the said Legate to be detained a prisoner But when these things came to the notice of the proud Pope hee dispatched the Archdeacon of Narbone with Letters of commaund forbidding the King that in no case he should entermeddle to take any subsidie vpon the lands and reuenewes of the Church which thing King Phillip le bel had bene constrained to doo because of great warres that he sustained for the good and defence of the Kingdome and moreouer that for the Kings contumacie and for that he had detained prisoner his Embassador against the common right of all Nations the kingdome of France was deuolued fallen to the Romane church And if he did not obey the commaundements and defences of the Pope he should bee held in the number of heretikes with all his fauourers and adherents This Archdeacon cyted many Bishops Abbots Theologians and Decretists at a certaine day named to be before the Pope at Rome and annihilated all the indulgences and priuiledges giuen to the French men by the Pope of Rome his predecessors This rigour perceiued the king in the presence of his Barons and of all his Councell commaunded vpon good deliberation of the Assembly that the first Legate who had outraged the King should bee deliuered and that they both without delay should voyd his kingdome Soone after he caused to assemble a Councell of all the Prelates and Barrons of France in the Citie of Paris In the saide Councell the King did sit and reciting the outrages and iniuries which he had receiued of the Pope Boniface he vttered how
warring delighted in nothing but a dastardly idlenesse ful of sloath which brought with it nothing but diuers concupiscences fraudes pleasures pompes gourmandizes dissolutions pailliardizes and Idolatries He erected a new Colledge of Secretaries for his owne profit augmenting the number of them which were there before He builded a new Pallace and an house of pleasure of a new fashion He was the first of all the Popes which in an invsuall maner aduanced his bastards vnto honour and riches For hee gaue certaine Townes nigh Rome vnto his bastard Francis and greatly inriched his daughter called Theodorine which he married vnto a very rich man of Genoa Charles eight of that name King of France succeeded his father Lewis the 11. being of the age of 14. yeares The three Estates were solemnly assembled at Tours for the Kings person Hee was very conscionable yeelding vnto the King of Spaine the Countes of Roussillon and Parpignant Hee conquered the kingdome of Naples and the Princes and Gentlemen went thither of their owne charge At Rome the Pope declared him Emperour of Constantinople The King Alphonsus and his sonne Ferdinand for feare retired into Sicilie and Charles entred triumphantly into Naples Then the Lords and Townes in Italie banded themselues against the King to enclose him at his returne yet he got through with a great victorie ouer them at Fonnone for he had fewe people against many and as vanquisher returned into France But at the end of the yeare Naples reuolted vnto the said Ferdinand King Lewis the 11. would not that his sonne Charles should learne any part of the Italian tongue but onely this Prouerbe Qui nessit dissimulare nescit regnare that is hee that cannot faigne and dissemble knowes not how to raigne A poore lesson better beseeming a Tyrant then a King M. Iohn an English man a Priest in this time was burnt at Paris in the place called the Swine Market because in the morning of the day then called Corpus Christi in the great Church of our Lady in the Chappel dedicated vnto S. Crispin and Crispinian he tooke from a Priest that sung Masse his Host and cast it on the ground The Pope Innocent absolued the Venetians which had bene excommunicated by Sixtus for acts before recited and solde pardons and Indulgences as well for the liuing as for the dead He inriched with great presents many Temples through Italie He gaue vnto the Augustins of Bergoine a Church of siluer of an exquisite and maruelous worke He by his Bulles permitted to them of Norway that they ought to sing Masse without wine Moreouer seeing that Pardons nor the Iubile nor the warre against the Turkes serued him any thing to gather siluer hee inuented a new maner of gathering siluer For he found inclosed in an old wall the title which was set vpon the Crosse of Iesus Christ written in three languages Iesus of Nazareth c. with the Iron of the Launce wherwith Christ his side was pearsed Being hindred by a long disease he could not accomplish that which he purposed in his courage But the yeare of our Lord 1492. he deceased out of this world There was a Poet called Marcellus who made an Epitaph in Latin Verses whose sence is this What needest thou seeke witnesses to know whether Cibe be male or female Behold onely the great troupe of his children they will yeeld a certaine testimonie thereof He begot eight sonnes and as many daughters It is not without cause that Rome calls him Father c. The Towne of Arras was againe taken by the Flemmings in the nigh time The keyes of one of the Towne gates was counterfeited and giuen to foure of the conspiracie poore Mechanikes the one of which was called Grisard who had an ordinarie garde of the gate and vsed customably vpon the wall to sing with an high voyce What houre is it It is not time What houre is it It is not day This was to aduertise the enemies when they should approach And when they were nigh hee sung an other Song Marchez la duron duraine marchez la duron durean So the Towne of Arras was by him deliuered into the Emperours hand without any effusion of bloud Horrible things of Roderic Borgia To shewe the horrour of that abhominable seat of Rome it shal not be impertinent to declare how and by what meanes a Spaniard came thither In the time of Innocent the 8. after that Borgia was placed in the number of the Cardinalls and Fathers of the Romane Church his affection was incessantly set to mount higher and to that ende hee inuented each day all the meanes hee thought good and meete to enioy the accomplishment of his desires Finally he gaue himselfe to the diuellish Art of Necromancie to the end that by the helpe of diuells and euill spirits he might enter into the way whch he sawe shut to him as well by the riches as the great credit and prerogatiue of his companions After hee had certaine time employed his studie and diligently watched about the cursed and dammable Art of Necromancie he began to inquire of his diuels wherewith he prooued very familiar if they would not sauour him so much as in the pursuite of the Papall dignitie they would giue him support and helpe Wherevnto they readily agreed but yet vnder this especiall rescription and couenant that by certaine words he should deliuer an oath to shewe himselfe in all things a faithfull protector of Sathan To which this Cardinall of a wicked minde consented onely he required that when hee should come to do his homage and take his oath the diuell would not appeare vnto him in any hideous and fearefull forme but rather vnder some humane forme namely vnder the person of a Protonotaire which hauing graunted him at the time assigned and established on a Sommers day the Cardinall beeing retired into a place called Montcauallus being alone in a chamber the saide Protonotaire presented himselfe vnto him like a man of meane age honourably apparelled who after certaine talke helde betwixt them hee assured the Cardinall that hee should bee Pope Then Roderic Borgia beeing very ioyous began to inquire of him how long hee should raigne This Protonotaire deliuered him a very ambiguous answere namely that hee should raigne the space of eleuen and eight the Cardinall foolishly promised himself the time of 19. yeares in his Papall dignitie although Sathans meaning was but 11. yeares and 8. monethes After Pope Innocent was dead by pluralitie of voyces hee was established Pope And because there should be no want at the solemnities he named himselfe Alexander the sixt before named Roderic Borgia borne at Valence in Spaine the Nephewe of Calixtus late Pope third of that name As one that long time had had the handling of the office of Vice-chauncellor hee knew all the estate of the Court of Rome and knew all the councels and enterprises of the Princes and Communalties of Italie Being then placed
imposed vpon him lawes of extreame rigour Amongst others that hee should subiect himselfe to that which the Pope would ordaine vpon him touching Religion The Duke wished rather to die whereat the Emperor maruelling remitted that condition but yet he tooke from him all his goods sauing 50000. Crownes which the Duke Maurice vnto whom that spoyle came should giue him yearely The 21. of May Wittemberge yeelded it selfe by that Dukes commaundement after hee had acquited to his sonne and his subiects the oath of fidelitie they ought him and Maurice tooke season thereof An example of magnanimitie and constancie more then Heroicke that is Christiā which God giueth to his in the middest of the greatest afflictions of this world The estates of the Empire assembled at Vlme There the Emperours Embassadors purposed to make a league frō thenceforward to appease all troubles if any such arise like this last But the pestilence dissipated this conspiration against the Gospell and the estates retired to Ausbourge The Lantgraue of Hesse to obey the conditions of peace proposed vnto him came vnto the Emperour at Hale and after supper as he would haue departed he was stayed He complained that hee was betrayed and promises not performed vnto him The Emperour before the estates at Ausbourge declared the cause wherefore he set him not at libertie to be this That hee exhibited not the Letters and secrets of the League of Smalcalde And taketh witnesse vnto Maurice and Brandebourge that he neuer meant him lesse then a perpetuall prisoner The doctrine of the Papists dispenseth herein namly that vnto Heretickes men should keepe no faith Peter Lewis the Popes sonne was shine at Plaisance in his Castle by a Band of 36. which had cōspired against him They hanged his body in a chaine on the toppe of the Castle walls a thing much pleasing the people He was slaine the 10. of September on the same day wherevpon his Father Pope Paul being cunning in Negromancie had warned him to take heed The end of tyrants are miserable and horrible and should put vs in mind of Gods iudgement Certaine time after he had beene cast into the graues the Plaisantines themselues massacred him with the stabs of Daggers After Dom Ferdinand de Gonsague strengthned the towne with a Garrison The Masse was abolished in England by a decree iudgement of the publike Councell of all the Realme The Venetians after the Emperours fashion made a very rigorous Edict against such as are called Lutherans One called Francis Spiera of the Citadelle a Towne of the Territories of Venice for that in the said Venice before Iohn Cuse the Popes Legate he had renounced the truth of the Gospell which hee knew fell into dispaire and of a vehement and great apprehension thereof got a great malladie and sicknesse wherein hee could no way be comforted and whatsoeuer any alleadged of Gods promises of his mercie he would still answere that they nothing appertained vnto him because he said hee had sinned against the holy Ghost And in that dispaire finished he pitiously his dayes This is a great good example worthy to be earnestly thought on Maximilian the eldest sonne of Ferdinand from Trent arriued in Spaine and in great magnificence espowsed Mary the Emperours eldest daughter his Cousin-germaine Iane the onely daughter of the king of Nauarre who before was promised vnto the Duke of Cleues was giuen in marriage vnto the Duke of Vendosme The Emperour giueth charge to certaine traytors of the truth namely Iulles Pflug Michael Sidonius and Iohn Islebe Agricula with a Secretarie of Grauiele to build a booke of Religion and called it Interim This booke shooke Almaine more then all the grieuous persecutions that had bin before It was called the Emperours booke Ellenor the dead king Francis widowe left France and retired into her brothers lowe Countries The Bourdelois in Guienne mutined against the King because of a subsidie or taxation and slew the kings Lieftenant there whereof they were by the Constable chastised He constrained themselues to make the fire and to burne all their priuiledges He caused a great number of the chiefe of the towne to be put to death They were constrained to follow the Funeralls of the said Lieftenant slaine in the habit of Criminalls carrying Torches in their hands and demaunding mercie Ambrose Blaurer Minister of Constance and with him a great number of the Bourgesses left the Towne because of Religion The Princes and Townes of Almain are sollicited and forced by the Emperour to giue answere vnto the approbation of his booke The Emperor also caused to be set out a forme of Ecclesiasticall reformation for an outward shew which after they had heard recited they approoued and promised to cause them to be obserued in their Churches with the Popes good pleasure The Duke of Wirtemberge at the alone commandement of the Emperour straightway caused the booke to be read vnto the people forbidding them to do any thing to the contrary The Duke of Saxonie being prisoner was much sollicited to receiue the Emperours booke of reformation but he still remained constant without bowing or yeelding either by threatnings or promises which was cause that his gardes began to handle him more roughly and rudely The Preacher which he alwaies till then had with him fearing danger found meanes to escape A great diuersitie of courage betwixt the two Dukes The Duke Maurice returning into his Countrey proposed the Emperours decree caused the Diuines of Leipsic and of Wirtemberge to assemble and determine therevpon Which after they had two or three times assembled they ordained of things indifferent commonly called Adiaphores In the end they set out in writing at Leipsic a forme of Religion which all Duke Maurice subiects should follow The Bishop of Strasbourge summoned the Ministers and Regents of the schoole which held the Colledge of S. Thomas to receiue the Emperours decree Bucer and Phagius with the Senates leaue departed the first day of April to goe into England whither they were called by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Thus the Lord prouideth for his After he hath taken his truth from one place he sendeth them into an other to doe his worke there The King of Fesse in Affricke being chased by a certaine Zepziphe king his neighbour who from low estate was growne vnto that greatnesse implored helpe of the Emperour at Auspourge Whilst Religion was thus troubled in Almaine the Pope thought it good to make his profit thereof Therefore he sent their Legates into Almaine with an Indult by which power was giuen vnto them to receiue all such as they would into the bosome of the Church and to permit by the Popes authoritie to communicate the Supper of the Lord vnder both kinds and to eate all kinde of meates at all times The Ministers of the Lantgraues Country refused the Indult Phillip of Austrich made his entry into Bruxelles where his Father was and is receiued in great magnificence and pompe the
Dauid George knew well that by litle and litle hee should be discouered His Secretaries and disciples were maruellously astonished at his death because they were of opinion he should neuer haue died Although their hope was something maintained by that he had said as after was reported he would againe take life by the space of three yeares and bring to passe excellent things Hee held in his house a state almost royall And for the gouernment of his house and Castle it was well ruled euery one had his estate and office in that family and the labours were so distributed that he had no need in any thing to employ others then his owne In the gouernment of their common good they very strictly obserued three things to the end they might more and more conceale their so pernitious a Sect. First that none amongst them should publish the name of Dauid George Secondly that none should reueale of what state and condition hee had bene wherevpon many thought hee came of some great nobilitie others that he was some great Marchant hauing many factors both by sea and land Thirdly that they should not discouer any one article of their doctrine to any of Basill no not to any Switzer neither should they seeke to drawe any to their doctrine The summe of his accursed doctrine was That whatsoeuer had hitherto bene giuen of God by Moyses by the Prophets by Iesus Chirst himselfe by his Apostles and Disciples is imperfect and vnprofitable to make vs obtaine the true and perfect felicitie and was onely giuen to this vse that hitherto their doctrine might represse men and keepe them vnder as young men and children and so containe them in their offices But the Religion of Dauid George is perfect and hath in it sufficient efficacie and strength to make happie him that receiueth it he being the true Christ and Messias the we beloued of the Father in whom the Father taketh great pleasure borne not of the flesh but of the holy spirit of the spirit of Iesus Christ hauing hitherto beene kept in an vnknowne place for all his Saints to restore in spirit the house of Israel not by the Crosse or tribulations or death as the other Christ but for the loue and grace of the holy spirit of Christ O execrable monster or horrible efficacie of error deception or plasphemies drawne out of the deepe pit of hell In the yeare 1557. many good men mooued with affection to amplifie the kingdome of the Lord through many trauels and perills hauing passed the torride Zone and long time soiourned in the way they fell to inhabit in a Region on the South coast vnknowne vnto our fore elders full of Brasill which before in the yeare 1500. had bene discouered by the Portugales and it was called America of the name of their Captaine and cōducter Americ Vespucius The Inhabitants the eare very sauage and wilde without any forme of Religion or ciuilitie There it pleased the Lord in this time to erect a Church of certaine French men which one Villegagnon had sollicited and gathered together He receiued thē also at the beginning with good countenance and outward ioy seeing his enterprise commended by many notable persons But in the yeare 1557. and 1558. the said Villegagnon gaue sufficiently to know that he was neuer touched with any true zeale or feare of God For after he had persecuted both the Ministers and poore flocke of that Church by many tyrannies and impudent writings with seditious practises he hindred as much as in him lay the aduancement of the Lords glory who after raised vp the Portugales to take the Fortresse which he had builded in the I le by him called Collignyen Valois finding no resistance within because the said Villegagnon being retired into France taken with an apprehensiō that the sauage people would eate him had ordained no such company of people as were necessary for the defence of such a place And although in that number there were some valiant and wel experimented in Armes yet for as much as they were accompanied with such as had no knowledge therein and were ill maintained yea pined away with famine and diseases before they would abide the enemies furie they withdrew themselues with the sauage people Therefore was it easie for the enemies to enioy that Castle which had beene builded at the charges of the king of France and with the sweat and trauel of many good people and the Artillery marked with the Armes of France with certaine munitions of warre transported to Lisbone the principall Towne of Portugall in a trophee and triumph of the victorie The French retiring to land receiued the cruel yoake of that sauage people liuing without any forme of Religion a sad and lamentable thing to rehearse By all Histories as well auncient as moderne we my be instructed that Hypocrites and Apostates haue in all times hindred the course of the Gospell Charles the 5. Emperour after he had resigned by expresse Embassage into the hāds of the Princes Electors the Romane Empire hauing held it about 37. yeares died in his Country of Spaine the 21. of Septēber 1558. in a Monastery of S. Iust of the order of the Hieronymies nigh to Plascencia a Towne scituated betwixt the kingdomes of Castile and Andalonsia Ferdinand 1. of that name succeeded him was cōsecrated Emperor in the towne of Francfort vpon Mein by the Electors and Princes of Almiane with the accustomed solemnities After great and continuall warres by the space of 9. yeares at the instigation and by the practises and meanes of Popes Iohn Maria de Monte surnamed Iulius the third and his successors and adherents as well in Italie Piemont Almaine and France as in the lowe Countries of Flaunders Artois and Lorraine by the Spaniards and French Finally there happening great victories and prises one vpon an other to the ouerthrow and totall oppression of people and subects the third of Aprill 1559. after Easter at a Castle in Cambresis there was a peace concluded betwixt Henry the second of that name King of France and Phillip King of Spaine wherein they promised to yeeld one to an other the landes that were lately conquered They also compounded and agreed of all other controuersies and differances in regard of the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicilie and of the Duchie of Millaine vpon condition of the marriage of the said Phillip with the eldest daughter of Henry which lands should appertaine to the children comming of that marriage By the same treatie of peace there was yeelded vnto Emanuel Philibert Duchie of Sauoy and the principalitie of Piemont which the French had held from his father him more then 24. yeares by the meanes of a marriage betwixt him and Dame Margarite daughter of king Francis the first of that name and the alone sister of Henry reseruing certaine strong places in the said Piemont for a certaine time The yeare 1559. the fift of March the sonnes the sonnes in lawe and
and the Prince vnto the court after stared them prisoners and handled the prince very rigorously On the other side their forces assembled on all sides to ouerrun the realme The king of Spain should enter into Bearne to ruinate destroy the queen of Nauarre and to solemnise the entry of the Estates the prince should haue bene publikely beheaded afterward straigt vpon the conclusion of the Estates the Armies marched to sacke and spoyle such as were suspected and the people were suffered and countenanced to runne vpon all such as were religious to dispatch them with out other Inquisition And to the end to leaue none aliue the King should cause all the Princes Lords and Knights of the order to sweare and seale all the articles of Sorbone sending to the fire without longer proces all such as denied it The Chancelor did the like with such as were of the order d'la longe robe about the court The Parliaments Prelates had charge to do the like with such as belonged to Iustice and to the Cleargie Likewise Ladies honorable womē were not forgotten This being done the Inquisition of Spain entred into France to begin new tragidies But as all things were vpon the point to be executed God cut the strings thereof striking the king Francis with an Apostume in his eare wherewith after he had languished certain dayes he was finally stifled and dyed the fift day of December 1560. hauing only raigned 17. moneths This death ouerthrew the disseines and purposes of the Duke of Guise and constrained the aduersaries of the reformed Church to yeeld some reliefe vnto the faithfull who had that yeare giuen them in mockery the Huguenots because of their night assemblies to muse deuise new subtilties and persecutions whereof we will God willing speake briefly in the years following but yet the Churches in that yeare prospered in all Prouinces with infinite witnesses of God his fauour towards his and of his iudgements vpon his enemies of all estates Some of the Religion were publikely executed in diuers places but for one which died there came a thousand to the doctrine of the Gospell In so much that it was incredible the great number of persons which this yeare and that following forsooke the Romane Religion to come vnto the Christian This yeare Scotland was troubled with a ciuill war by the practises of some which would needs commaund all ouer vnder the colour of maintaining the Romane Religion but they frustrated of their hope and the reformed religion began then to set foote in that kingdome by the fauour and assistance of Elizabeth Queene of England The Queene widowe of Iames the fift died in the moneth of Iune Martin Bucer and Paul Phagius whose bodies had bene buried and burned foure yeares before in England by the sollicitations of Cardinal Poole were established in their first honor and their memorie publikely celebrated the 30. of Iuly The 10. day of Aprill before died that very learned and modest person Phillip Melancton an excellent ornament of all Almaine after whose decease many wicked spirits troubled the Almain Churches which during his life they durst not haue enterprised Ioachim Camerarius a man very learned and his great friend hath described his life The moneth of Ianuary before tooke also from this world Iohn Alasco a Gentleman of Polonia one very affectionate to the aduancement of the kingdome of Chist whose memory is precious in all Churches About the end of the same yeare Emanuel Philebert Duke of Sauoy warred vpon them of the vale of Angrogne and their neighbours professing the doctrine of the Gospell which after assaying all meanes of peace to conserue it offering their Prince all that good subiects should do defended themselues though fewe in number so couragiously and were assisted of God that after many combats they were left in peace which at this present they enioy the fauour of Margarite of France Duchesse of Sauoy amongst other humane meanes seruing them greatly both then and afterwards In the same Countrey of Piemont were seene many prodigious wonders the like in France Austrich Pologne Almain At the begginning and vntill the end of this yeare 1561. the French Churches encreased openly shewed themselues Katherine de Medices Queene mother hauing all affaires in her hand was counselled by the Princes of the house of Bourbon by the Admirall and other great Lords of the Religion by meanes whereof the greatest of the Romane Religion entred into league with them and so made priuie preparation for great troubles and vexations after hapning In the moneth of Ianuary the Princes and great Lords being assembled at S. Germaine in Laye an Edict was made the seuenteenth of the said moneth which on the one side gaue some release and libertie vnto them of the Religion and on an other side curbed and brideled them After the Councell assigned on the ninth day of September following was a conference and disputation at Poissy betwixt the Doctors of the Romane and reformed Churches In that same moneth the Electors and Princes of Almaine being assembled at Neubourge in Turinge to take Councell for maintaining the confession of Ausbourge by them presented vnto the Emperour Charles the 5. Anno 1530. gaue audience about the beginning of February the Popes Embassadors which commaunded them to send their Embassadors vnto the Councel assigned at Trent to effect which they offred for the Pope their M. such safe conduct as was possible to desire The 7. of February the Electors and Princes made answer that they found it strange that the Pope being the cause of all the cōfusions then in the Church should go about to assemble a Councel to assigne it vnto them whom he had nothing to doo to command that they did not neither euer would acknowledge any soueraigntie to belong vnto the Romane seate yea they were assured that it appertained not vnto the Pope to conuocate or call a Councell And after they had shewed the orders and filthinesse of the Romane Church and that it were good to regard and looke vnto the meanes to procure a generall and free Councel they sent away their Embassadors and after they writ vnto the Emperour Ferdinand that they all with a commō aduise agreed vnto the confessiō of Ausbourge afterward they published in an Imprinted writing their causes of reculation against the Councell of Trent These Embassadors went into diuers other places to the same effect but they receiued no good answere o any King Prince or great Lord making profession of the Gospell but especially the Queene of England would not giue leaue to the Abbot Martinengue who was sent by the Pope vnto her to passe the sea to come into England The 5. day of March the Pope caused to bee strangled in the night time in the S. Angelo the Cardinall Charles Caraffe he beheaded also in an other prison the Counte of Palliane and certaine other Cardinalls the next day shewing all their bodies
vnto the people The 18. day of May Charles the ninth of that name sonne of Henry de Valois and of Catherine de Medicis was sacred king at Reimes in Campagne and soone after crowned at S. Denis in France The Churches of his kingdome to the eye-sight flourished to the preiudice whereof was made an Edict called of Iuly notwithstanding which they maintained themselues with great testimonies of the blessings of God In the meane while the king of Nauarre the first Prince of the bloud next vnto the kings brethren sent for Peter Martyr and Theodore de Beza to be at the disputation of Poissy which were sent thither by the Lords of Zurich and Geneua The 24. of August the Prince of Conde was recōciled by the King and his Councell with the Duke of Guise who vpon the Princes words which he spake on high I hold him and them for villaines which haue caused my imprisonment answered I beleeue so it nothing toucheth me Soone after the gouernmēt of the kingdome during the kings minoritie who was then but ten yeares old an halfe was cōfirmed to the queene mother In the meane while the deputies of the Churches and certaine other Ministries with safe conduit arriued at Poissy presented vnto the king a request for the order of the disputation and also the confession of their faith who with good countenance receiued thē promising to communicate their requests vnto his Councell make them an answere by his Chancelor In the beginning of September many requests were presented to set forward that which was begun and finally the 9. of the said moneth in the presence of the King Prince Lords and notable persons of the kingdome of France as wel of y e one as the other religion Theodore de Beza in the name of all the French Churches after publike inuocatiō of the name of God made long oration cōprehending a summary of all the Christian doctrine held preached by the Ministers of the reformed Churches and his oration finished he presented their cōfession of faith which was receiued deliuered into the hands of the prelates to prepare themselues to answer it But they opposed themselues only against two Articles of that oratiō The one of the Supper and the other of the Church and pronounced their answere by Charles Cardinal of Lorraine who had for his maister Claude Despence a Doctor of Sorbone who once shewed some seed of religion This answere hauing bene made certain daies after the oration the Ministers prayed that they might reply straight way but it was deferred to an other day and audience was giuen them but not so notable as the first thē fel there out a sharp disputation which began an other time after a third oration Then entred into conference fiue of the Romane Churches side with fiue of the reformed Churches who after a long disputation vpon the matter of the Supper retired without according any thing assuredly Frō the end of this moneth vntil the end of this yeare diuers leagues factions were made against the Churches seditiōs were stirred at Paris and in other places against the Christians assembling to heare the word of God the kings councel being occupied to prouide by some Edict against the mischief to come to procure rest for the kingdome About this yeare died Shuvenckfeld a very pernitious heretike who by his wicked doctrine greatly endamaged the Churches of Almaine The summe of his principall errours was to reuiue and renew againe the heresie of Eutiches For hee maintained that the humaine nature of Iesus Christ ought no more to be called a creature but we must think that it is at this day swallowed vp by the diuine nature by that meanes cōfounding the two natures Vpon this foundation so badly placed he established other mōstrous opinions the fault was in not wel cōsidering the vniō of the two natures in Christ and the communicatiō of the properties But these opinions are not dead with him but contrary haue bene renued promoted by such who will needes at this day haue the the humaine nature of Christ infinit In the moneth of Ianuary which was then 1591. because they then began the yeare at Easter and at this present we begin it the first of Ianuary an assembly was made of the most notable persons of all the Parliaments and other renowmed people besides the priuie Councellors which decreed and set foorth that notable Edict named of Ianuary which permitted free exercise to them of the Religō through all the kingdome of France prouiding good securitie for all people and rest for the Common-wealth Many thought that hereby the Churches should haue rest when soone after newes arriued of the massacre of Vassi committed by Francis the Duke of Guise who in his owne presence caused 42. persons of the Religion to be slaine and a great number others to be wounded being all assembled to heare the word of God This was the beginning of the ciuil warres of France For the Duke of Guise and his partakers tooke Armes on the one side The Prince of Conde the Admirall and others meaning to maintaine the Royall authoauthoritie the Edict of Ianuary and the Churches that were vnder the protection and defence thereof opposed themselues against them by Armes also and the war began through all the kingdome where infinit cruelties were exercised in diuers places against them of the Religion as the history of our time maketh mention Many Townes Fortresses were besieged carried away by assaults sacked spoiled more cruelly thē by the most barbarous people in the world diuers encounters bloodie battailes namely that of Dreux wherein the two chiefe Captaines of both partes remained prisoners many of the Nobilitie and souldiers as well Straungers as French were slaine Churches dissipated and dispersed in most part of the Prouinces and a maruellous desolation in infinite Families Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinands sonne was declared king of the Romanes the 14. day of Nouember and sixe daies after he was crowned two moneths before he was crowned king of Boheme Peter Martyr borne at Florence an excellent Theologian and professor of Theologie at Zurich where he writ bookes full of great and sound doctrine died the 12. day of Nouember being then of the age of 63. yeares The ciuill warre continued in France notwithstanding the taking of the Prince of Conde and the Constable The Duke of Guise hauing laid siege before the Towne of Orleance being kept by them of the Religion was wounded in the shoulder with a Pistoll shot the 18. day of February and died certaine dayes after in great torments By this meanes Orleance was deliuered a peace concluded the moneth following the Edict of Ianuary abolished in the most part of the Articles to the great disaduantage of them of the Religion which notwithstanding tooke hart and in the quarters maintained themselues in their accustomed order In the moneth of Iuly
themselues Iane d' Albert Queene of Nauarre an excellent Princesse came thither to find her brother in lawe the Prince of Conde brought with her her son Henry then very young From that time that campe of the Religion was called the Army of the Princesse They presented and published many Remonstrances which serued for nothing and Churches were dissipated and dispersed in the most part of Prouinces and very rigorous Edicts published against them of the Religion Henry Duke of Aniou and brother of King Charles the ninth being then chiefe of the Army of the Catholicke Romanes The Chauncelor d'l'Hospitall perswading to peace was sent to his house and his Seales giuen to an other The Almaines and other Straungers were sollicited on both sides to come to their succours The Emperour behaued himselfe very wisely in this behalfe The 21. day of October sixe Theologians of the part of Augustus Elector of Saxonie and as many on the side of Iohn William Duke of Saxonie were assembled at Aldenbourge to agree the controuersies hapning amongst these Theologians vpon certaine points of Christian doctrine The Duke Iohn William assisted there personally that conference and disputation continued vntill the beginning of March in the yeare following and there was at large disputed vpon Iustification and many Articles depending thereon As the acts of the disputation do shewe The 25. of this moneth Paul de Ridnend sieur de Mouuans a braue and valiant souldier amongst the French Captaines much affectioned towards Religiō was ouerthrowne with his footmen of Prouence and Daulphine by the companies of horsemen of the Duke Montpensier of the Count de Brissa◠and other Catholicke Romanes were slaine in the field with a great number of souldiers and losse of many Ensigne Such as escaped ioyned themselues to the Princes Army The 12. of Nouember the Captaine la Coche a Gentleman of Dauphine was ouerthrowne with his troupes by the Duke d' Aumale betwixt Metz and Sauerne He was taken and after put to death About the ende of Nouember the Prince of Orange not beeing able to take order in the affaires of the lowe Countries withdrew into Almaine with certaine warriours attending the departure of the Duke de Deux Ponts who prepared to giue succours to the Princes In the meane while the French Armies besieged and tooke diuers places remaining in the field notwithstanding the rigour of winter which killed a great number of souldiers Christopher Duke of Wittemberge and Count de Montbelliard died the 28. of December About the same time 5500. Reisters conducted by Philibert Marquesse de Bade and other great Lords of Almain passed Rhene and soone after they entred The Queene of England about the 23. of Nouember tooke three Spanish ships laden with great riches The sixt of Ianuary she made a reason of her action in an Imprinted writing Wherein she shewed how litle the Duke of Alua his menaces astonished her During the moneths of Ianuary and February the next Countrie to Strasbourge was seene full of people of warre Almaines readie to enter France The Prince of Orange was in great distresse about pleasing of the Reistres but in the end he appeased them and ioyned himselfe to the Duke de Deux Ponts who before he departed wrote largely vnto the King the reasons that mooued him to succour the Princes and them of the Religion and the next morning mounted on horsback and the 12. of March he mustered where there were found seuen thousand and sixe hundreth Reistres well mounted besides the troupes of the Prince of Orange and of certaine French Lords and Gentlemen and certaine Lansquenets footemen The last day of February the Duke of Alua adiourned by publike Edict all fugitiues of the lowe Countries to appeare in person within six weekes after vpon paine of confiscation of their goods They doubting his crueltie thought it better to loose the sleeue then the arme In so much that no person returned therfore the Duke fatted himselfe with confiscations and continued also to feede himselfe with the bloud of such faithfull as he could catch The thirteenth day of March Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conde fighting valerously in the battaile fought nigh to Coignac in Poictu amongst the troupes and Army of the Catholickes was ouerthrowne from his horse to the ground taken prisoner vpon his faith and against all right diuine and humane slaine with a Pistoll behinde on his head by one called Montesquian The Catholicke Romanes made great reioycings at that death thinking to haue gained as much as if they of the Religion had now no helpe at all There were also great triumphes made at Rome Many Gentlemen and valiant Captaines were slaine with the Prince The Admirall de Chastillon hauing gathered together his troupes vnder the authoritie of Henry de Bourbon Prince of Nauarre and of Henry de Bourbon Prince of Conde sonne and successor of Lewis both of them as yet very young hartned so euery one that the Catholicke Romanes willing to pursue their victory with an inconsiderate boldnesse were beaten downe before Coignac had other notable great losses after that The Princes the Admirall the Lords Gentlemen Captaines and souldiers of the Army renewed their former oath to do their duties in opposing themselues against the violence of the enemies to procure a good peace to the glory of God to the rest of the churches of al the kingdome The Queene of Nauarre brought the Prince her sonne into the Armie and after hauing made many good remonstrances and reasons to encourage and stirre him to the performance of his dutie towards God and his Country she retired into Rochell Then waxed the warre hotter then before with diuers exploits and chaunces on both sides The estates of the Empire were assembled at Francford the 14. day of Aprill to prouide for the affaires of Almaine In the same moneth the Pope sent vnto the Duke of Alua as a recompence of so great paines as he had taken to maintaine the Popedome an helme and a paire of gloues blessed with great ceremonies on Christmas day Paul the third sent the like present vnto the Emperour Charles the fift after he ouercame the Protestant Princes The seuenth day of May Francis de Colligni Sieur d' Andelot Colonell of the French footemen very affectionate towards the maintaining of the true Religion a Knight without all feare and greatly dreaded of the Gospells enemies died of poison in the Towne of Saintes Many other great Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion died in the same manner before and after by the cunning art of certaine poysoners sent through Fraunce and better recompenced for such execrable acts then the wisest valiantest and faithfullest seruants of the Crowne The Duke de dreux Ponts being entred into France maugre the hinderance of Claude d'Lorraine Duke d' Aumale besieged and tooke Charite a Towne placed vpō the Riuer of Loire and passing forward to ioyne himselfe
to the Princes Army arriued vpon the marches of Limosin where an hotte feauer tooke him and carried him out of the world the 11. day of Iune leauing for Commander of his troupes Wolrad Count de Masfeld who brought his Army nigh to the Princes foure daies after this accident and performed greatly his due with the other Lords that accompanied him in all the rest of this warre hereof is a witnesse that which happened in the encounter which was the 25. of that moneth at what time if a great ruine had not come the Army of the Catholicke Romanes had bene ouerthrowne yet they loft a great number of their auantgard and afterward the Princes got many places in Poictou Although the Princes were strong yet they neuer ceased to demaund peace but their Herauld was not suffred to carrie their request vnto the king so warre was continued and the Princes besieged Poiters where they lost time and many people by diseases happening in their Campe. Whilest things were thus confused in Fraunce and Flaunders the Emperour Maximilian the 18. day of August suffered the Lords and Gentlemen of the Archduche of Austrich to enioy a free exercise of Religion in their Townes Villages and Castles after the doctrine of the confession of Ausbourge The 27. of the same moneth Cosme de Medices Duke of Florence was created and after solemnly proclaimed at Rome great Duke of Thuscane by the declaration of the Pope Pius the fift The Parliament of Paris condemned the Admirall as guiltie of treason who notwithstanding was of great authoritie in the Princes Army couragiously acquiting himselfe of the charge he carried without any apprehension of the daungers wherevnto he was still subiect by murderers and poisoners which were daily sent to sley him One of which who had once bene his chamberlaine was put to death for the like attempt by the sentence of the Princes Lords and Captains of the Army the 21. of September After the one Army had long time sought the other finally they encountred in the plaine of Montcontour the third of October and there was a generall battaile wherein after great losse of both sides but more of the Princes especially of their Lansquenets and a part of their French footemen the field remained vnto the Catholicke Romanes which made great triumphes thereof through Europe But in lieu of following their victory they stayed vpon the siege of the Towne of S. Iohn d' Angeli which was yeelded to them by composition at the end of certaine weekes during which time the besieged occupied themselues so well that the Catholickes lost many thousands of men and that of the most resolute of their troupes by meanes whereof the Princes had meanes to reassure theyr people to gather in their forces and to prouide for the affaires of warre so that the Catholickes found themselues againe to begin The sixteenth of Nouember the Duke of Alua caused to bee published in the lowe Countries certaine Letters of absolution and pardon of the king of Spaine for such as were absent and would returne into their houses but this deceit serued for nothing but to bring in birdes too much alreadie tamed with the too much violence of so bloudie a Fowler The 24. there was discouered in England a coniuration or rebellion of certaine Earles which would haue planted Poperie in that Kingdome But the Queene prouided there so well for all things that their forces remained wholy vnprofitable The third of December S. Iohn d' Angeli was yeelded by composition Sansac other Catholick Romanes were shamefully chased from before the Towne of Vezelay in Bourgongne after great losse of his brauest souldiers to the number of 150. The rest of the yeare passed in diuers exployts of warre heere and there to the great hurt of both parts and to the ruine of the kingdome In the beginning of the yeare 1570. the Princes and Lords of the Religiō of the kingdome of France desiring peace had diuers negotiations about it but at that time nothing was concluded but warre continued the Churches then being very desolate The Theologians of the Countrey of Saxony being then in great contention for the intelligence of certaine Articles of Christian doctrine namely of Iustification of free will of good workes of things indifferent and of the presence of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ in the Supper By occasion whereof they assembled themselues in a Towne of the Duchie d' Aumale called Zeruest where by the stepping in of a certaine Doctor of Tubingue called Iames Andrew a man then very renowmed in all Almaine through the Prouinces whereof hee had not ceased certain yeares to runne to cause that monstrous opinion of the vbiquitie of Christs body to be receiued by the meanes whereof the errors of Nestorius and of Eutiches auntient heretikes and their complices are againe renewed there was made a certaine agreement which after was reiected and controwled by diuers Theologians Heerevpon afterward happened greater troubles which euen at this day doo endure by the practises and slaunders of that vbiquitarie Doctor Whilest the Christians contended with their voyces with their writings and blowes of sworde in diuers places of Europe and that the Westerne Antichrist sought by all meanes to maintaine his tyrannie the Antichrist of the East did what hee could by meanes of Selim Soliman his successor the Turke to encrease his domination For Selim sent his Embassador who arriued the 27. of March at Venice and denounced warre against the Venetians if they refused to yeeld him the I le of Cyprus Which they refusing there was preparation for warre on both sides The 4. of Aprill the Ministers of the Churches of Lithuania and Sathogitia comprehended in the kingdome of Polongne held a Sinode in the Towne of Sendomire where they agreed vpon certaine Articles touching the Mediatorship of Iesus Christ and the holy Supper to the end they might all agree in one concordance of doctrine During this time the troubles of France continued The Electors Palatin and of Saxonie assembled at Heidelberge with certaine Princes and great Lords of Almaine for to honour the marriage of Duke Cassimere who espowsed Elizabeth daughter of the Duke of Saxonie sent large Letters to the king to exhort and induce him to enter into a pacification About the end of Iune the king of Polongne and the Muscouite made a truce for three yeares The Muscouite was then sore troubled with extreame famine In the moneth of Iuly the estates of the Empire were assembled at Spire to prouide for the affaires quietnesse of Almaine The Emperor was there in person with his two daughters Marie and Elizabeth which were affianced vnto the kings of Spaine and France vnto which they were sent In the moneth of August the Duke of Alua put to death in the Towne of Antwerpe a great number of souldiers of the garrison of Valenciennes for a mutinie against
which the Elector sent away safe forbidding them to maintain opiniōs or teach in his countries The 25. of May the Pope the King of Spaine and the Venetians made a league against the Turke The fourth day of Iune it rayned great abundance of Turnep-rootes Peas and other kinde of corne at Goldtberge Lemberge and Lauben in Solesia whereof the peisants and poore Countrey people made bread and were nourished in a great famine which afflicted the Countrey On the other side in base Saxonie in a litle Towne called Leubourge nie to Lunebourge and Hambourge two Vsurers and sellers of corne were destroyed through a maruellous iudgement of God The one fell dead suddenly as he opened his barne doore the corne whereof also was eaten and carried away with vermine And the other Corne-seller as he was going to drowne himself was taken and carried to prison where he hanged himselfe the night following About the same time the Muscouites made courses and strange forragings vppon the frontiers of the Kingdome of Snede and meaning to enter further they were constrained to retire to goe to defend their owne countrie which the Tartarians put to fire and sword The first day of August Famagoste a capitall Towne in the I le of Cyprus hauing sustained a long siege and diuers furious assaults was yeelded by composition to Mahomet Bassa who in the place to keepe his promise caused to be slaine all the Christian Captains and souldiers which came towards him and certaine daies after caused one Mark Anthony Bragandin a Venetian Gentleman Gouernour of Famagoste to bee scorched and broyled aliue and so got all the whole I le for Selim whose successors are at this day peaceable possessors thereof The 29. of September almost through all Almaine the Sun was seene of the colour of bloud The same day the Towne of Reuel the chiefe Towne of Liuonia was sucked and spoyled by the Muscouites The seuenth of October the memorable Nauall battaille in the gulfe of Lepante in the Mediterrane Sea betwixt the Army of the League and that of the Turkes Selim lost there 15. thousand men and the most part of his Vessels The Christians tooke a great number of prisoners This victorie greatly abated the pride of the Turkes yet the Venetians certain time after perceiuing the estate of their affaires required peace they sought and obtained it of Selim. The tenth day of October the Theologians and Ministers of the Electorship of Saxonie assembled at Dresde to prouide for troubles alreadie come for matters of Religion and they agreed to publish a confession of the person and incarnation of Iesus Christ of his maiestie ascention and sitting on the right hand of God also of the Supper of the Lord. The other Theologians of Saxonie opposed themselues by writings Imprinted against the said confession wherevpon many debates followed A coniuration against the Queene of England was miraculously discouered and the Duke of Northfolke Captaine of that coniuration arrested and condemned vpon Letters and after executed to death Almaine was greatly afflicted in many places with daungerous diseases and with extreame famine in Snabie and in Bauiere The Churches of France were a good quietnesse because of the good countenance that the King shewed vnto them of the Religion The sixt day of Ianuary The Riuer of Vistule passing in the Duchie of Pruse nigh vnto Thorne was conuerted into bloud the space of three dayes to the great feare of all the people hauing againe taken his ordinary colour about nine of the clocke at night there was a straunge Earth-quake two cloudes rent and let fal their waters with so great a force that fortie houses were carried away by the furie of the Riuer sixe Arches of Thornebridge ouerthrowne and 300. persons drowned There fell also from heauen stones of ten pound waight wherewith many people were slaine The 22. of the same moneth the Towne of Inspruck was troubled with so terrible an Earthquake which endured three dayes that the most part of the houses the Pallace of the Arch-duke of Austriche the Church and the Printing-house went downe by meanes wherof the Arch-duke was constrained to retire into a great Parke where were nourished diuers sorts of sauage and wilde beastes euery man iudging the world should haue ended Munchen in Bauiere and Ausbourge had their part of this feare The Castle of Wirtzbourge was burnt the 29. of that moneth so suddenly that the Bishop had no leisure to carrie any thing away but his shert He lost by that fire all his Registers titles and papers The winter hauing bene very sharpe this moneth continued all Ianuarie and Februarie exceeding sharpe and extraordinarie In the moneth of February the Duke of Alua thinking to haue come to the vpper hand of all his purposes laid vpon the Flemmings great exactions and amongst other the tenth penney perpetual And notwithstanding remonstrances vnto him of the impossibilitie thereof and that without the aduise of the Estates of the country he could not charge nor taxe them yet resolued he to put it in execution But the people especially of Bruxelles sought all means to exempt themselues from it Such as were absent beholding this ouerture thus made gathered in companies here and there to busie the Spaniard as they did soone after For the first day of Aprill the Count de la Marche sieur de Lumey arriuing secretly frō England surprised the Ile the Towne of Brielle in Holland straight Flusshing a notable hauen of Zeland and Emchuse forsooke the Duke of Alua his part who to remedie it sent the Count de Bossu with an Army of Spaniards into Holland who the ninth of the same moneth sacked Roterdam and slew a great number of the Burgesses The Count Lodowick the Prince of Orange his brother hauing obtained a new Army in France with certain Lords of the Religion by the Kings consent suprised Monts in Hainaut the 24. of May where shortly after hee was enclosed by the Duke of Alua his troupes houering thereabouts and stopping the passages Valenciennes was also take but straight againe recouered by the Spaniards Then also it seemed that France should haue bin peaceable for a long time that the reformed Churches should no more be disquieted in time to come namely in regard of a marriage concluded of Henry Prince of Nauarre with Margarite the kings sister as also that then the Admirall seemed in great credit in the Court by means wherof the most part of men especially they of the Religion imagined already a Gospell without the Crosse and a worldly Christ Pope Pius the fift died the first day of May and the 13. after his obsequies ended the Cardinalls elected for Pope a Boulognois Doctor of the Canon lawe called Iaques Boncompagne against the purpose of diuers competitors He called himselfe Gregorie 13. and for his entry gaue order for warre against the Turkes confirmed the decrees of the Councell of
encreated the rage of the people against them of the Religion And although the Priests in the meane while filled well their powches by such an inuention making the people beleeue that the Catholicke Romane Religion began now to flourish againe in Fraunce yet their deuise was soone after discouered and the tree remained destroyed but euen then when it flourished some said that God had shewed to all mens eyes the innocencie of such as were slaine and that by such a token hee assured his Church that it should not perish as the persecutors pretended but that it should florish vnder the crosse against all hope of men as that Tree florished extraordinarily Moreouer certain weekes after le Sieurs de Briquemald de Caragues excellent men which had done great seruices to the Crowne the one by Armes and the other in affaires of iustice were in hatred of the Admirall and of Religion hanged strangled within Paris in the presence of the king himself his mother his brethren They maintained euen to the last sigh the innocency of the dead Admiral and of them of the religiō shewing a singular cōstancy in their deaths Certaine yeares after they were iustified by the Edict of Henry the third the next king and their names declared honorable as also the before mentioned massacre was cōdemned disavowed But men cōtented not themselues thus to haue imbrued the towne of Paris with blood but in like sort were all of the Religion handled at Meaux in Brie at Troys in Champagne at Rouen at Orleans at le Charite at Burges at Lyons at Romains in Dauphine at Thoulouse at Bourdeaux with so barbarous disloyalties and cruelties that scarce our posteritie will beleeue it In few dayes with them of Paris were slain more then thirty thousand persons olde and yong of all quallities men women and children as bookes in Print do shewe euery day The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were constrained to abiure Religion The Parliament of Paris published a diffamatorie arrest and iudgement against the Admirall whose bodie was taken from the gibet and so secretly buried that his enemies could not finde it out Many persons forsooke Religion some vpon infirmitie others vpon despight so that so hard a proofe discerned the false from the true Christians Rochell Sancerre Nismes in Languedoc Montaubon in Querci and a fewe other Townes in the kingdome after diuers consultations maintained themselues and kept the exercise of Religion which put the authors of the murthers and confusions into a new paine as shall be touched hereafter Amongst so many troubles commencements of greater sorrowes a new Starre appeared in heauen as great as the day Starre nigh the Starre Cassiopec of the figure of a Lozenge This beganne the ninth day of Nouember at night It stirred not from the place the space of three weekes It was thought to be like the Starre which appeared to the wise men which came from the East to worship Iesus Christ in Bethlehem straight after his birth This Starre appeared in seuen the space of nine moneths or thereabouts Hereof were many discourses made by diuers learned men Concerning the lowe Countries after the Princes retrait aboue mentioned the waight of the warre fell vpon Holland and Zeland whither the Duke of Alua sent the Captaine Montdragon with twentie Ensignes of Wallons which to the great astonishment of euery one got the I le of Suitbeuerland and constrained the Princes troupes to leuie the siege before a Towne called Tergoes In the meane while the Duke marched with his Armie and the 21. of Nouember tooke and spoyled Zutphen a Towne in Holland And to feare others and drawe them to yeeld the sooner without delay all manner of cruelties were executed by the Spaniards and Wallons in that Towne Frideric de Toledo the Dukes sonne and Lieutenant marched from Zutphen to Narden which is an other litle Towne wherof the Inhabitants at the yeelding of themselues the 30. day of Nouember were so cruelly handled against the rights of reddition and of war amongst people of any humanitie that men might iudge that this sacking and spoyle with that of Roterdam were the onely motiue and cause of the rising of other Townes which then were vpon the point to returne vnder the yoake After the taking of this Towne the Army drew straight to Harlem the Inhabitants whereof determined to defend it rather then submit it selfe vnto the mercy of people without mercy Indeed they bore themselues valiantly and sustained diuers assaultes with the aide of certaine souldiers which were sent them by the Prince and kept good defence vntill the 13. of Iuly the yeare following In the yeare 1573. the Townes of Rochel Sancerre were cruelly handled assailed and bearen by the Catholick Romans but with a diuerse issue As for Rochel being well garded and defended the newes also of the report that the Duke of Anion should be king of Polongne were cause that Rochel was deliuered and obtained peace yea and remained with her priuiledges They of Sancerre hauing beene troubled with an horrible and grieuous famine the space of certaine moneths receiued some fauourable dealing by the comming of the Polonian Embassadors which then came into Fraunce to conduct away their new king These things ended in the moneth of Iuly to the confusion of the Catholicke Romanes which lost more then twentie thousand men before Rochel Some Churches then began to respire and many tooke againe good courage to redresse some portion of so many ruines Warre was also kindled in Holland especially at the siege of Harlem where the besieged men and women executed maruellously their duties but not being able to be succoured oppressed also with famine finally they yeelded themselues the 13. of Iuly at the discretion of Frederick de Toledo who drowned hanged beheaded more then two thousand souldiers The Burgesses escaped death by the payment of a great summe of money which they straight disbursed In the moneth of April before they of Flushing obtained a memorable victory ouer the Army of the Duke of Alua and cast into the sea a great number of Spaniards After the taking of Harlem Frederic besieged Alemar a Towne nigh therevnto resoluing with himselfe to make a goodly butchery of the Burgesses if they could obtaine it But he was constrained to leaue his siege after great losse The Prince on the other side found meanes to obtaine the strong Castle of Rameken and the Towne of S. Gertrudenberghe They of Linchuse ouercame the Nauall Army of the Count de Bossu and tooke him prisoner the 12. day of October whilest Leiden was besieged of the Spaniards The second day of September the Duke of Alua forsooke the lowe Countries making his iourney through the Franche Counte Sauoy and Piemont to embarke himselfe at Genes and so to saile into Spaine carrying with him an infinit bootie from the lowe Countries which he left in great heate of warre betwixt the hands
of Brabant In Cyonia a Citie of Muschouie within a pleasant valley the tombe of P. Ouidius Naso was found with this Epitaphe Hic situs est vates quem viui Caesaris ira Augusti Latio cedere iussit humo Saepe miser voluit patrijs succumbere tectis Sed frustra hunc illi fatadedere locum Genebrardus The 18. day of March the Prince of Orange being in Antwerpe quiet and in the greatest fortune that hee was euer was shot in his house as he was rising from the table in the middest of all his seruants with a Pistoll by one Iohn Scarigni a Biscaine mooued therevnto by zeale of Religion as hee pretended the bullet hitting him vnder his right Iawe passed forth through the windowe and although hee was supposed dead yet was he cured and liued and the offender was presently slaine by his guard and all such as were found accessary were executed Cardinall Albert Arch-duke of Austria was made gouernour of Portugall Ieronimo Conestaggio Don Antonio departed for France from the Terceres leauing Emanuel de Sylua in his place with 500. Frenchmen vnder the charge of Baptist Florentine and Charles a French man their Captaine In the moneth of August the Forces of Don Antonio king of Portugall skirmishing with Phillip king of Spaine in a battaile at Sea at S. Michaels Mount were discomfited Heere Strossius the Generall of the Forces of France with the losse almost of all his Army was in the ende discomfited Genebrardus There was one thing worthy of obseruation in the fight at Sea Within the Gallion of S. Mathew a Priest called Iohn de Iaem Chaplaine vnto the Marshall of the field a man which had seene the warres during the fight being vnder lowest deck of the Gallion when hee sawe so much wilde fier cast by the French heauing their shot and seeing the hurt which the Cannon did he died onely of feare and amazement hauing receiued no wound Phillip after the death of Diego his eldest sonne who was sworne Prince of Portugall at Tomar hee would likewise that the same oath should bee made in the person of Phillip his second sonne being then sicke and for the swearing of him hee assembled the estates at Lisbone resolute to accomplish this ceremonie before his departure At that time the Duke of Alua consumed with a continuall feauer died in the Pallace at Lisbone in the Kings owne quarter being of the age of three score and fourteen yeares During his sicknesse hee was greatly fauoured of the king who did visit him a litle before his death but after it the next day the Portugalls obserued that he went publikely to Masse without any shewe of discontentment in him contrary to the custome of their Kings who vpon the death of one of lesse qualitie hauing done many notable seruices to the Crowne relied themselues for a time the which seemed the more straunge for that King Emanuel vpon the death of a noble Pilot withdrew himselfe three dayes Ieronimo Conestaggio He arrogating too much to himselfe caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Citadell of Antwerpe which the king willed afterwards to be beaten downe Charles Borgia Duke of Candia a man of greater vertue then experience succeeded in his place Vpon the 28. of Iune Peregrin Bartu Lord Willougbie was sent Embassador to Frederick the second with the Garter The Prince of Orange hauing recouered his hurt came abroad His wife Carola lineally discended from the right noble house of Montpensier with ouermuch ioy of his recouerie within three daies after died of a plurisie D. Chytreus In this yeare of our Lord 1582. this Pope by anticipating tenne daies in the yeare gaue himselfe to correct the Calender and to eternize his name this Calender he called Gregorianum and by his decree all Christian Princes obeying the Romish Sea gaue commandement to cut of tenne daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write fifteene the which was done to fitte the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other Feasts vpon their proper dayes The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the Sunne which makes the yeare being certaine minutes of an houre lesse the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeare It seemed that in the course of so many yeares so small a difference had mounted vnto tenne dayes so as by this equallitie it was made cōformable to the time past Ieron Con. D. Chytreus Phillip caused the bones of Sebastian late king of Portugall to be brought out of Affricke the which with king Henries that were at Almerin he would before his departure see solemnly interred in the Church of Belem neare to the other Kings of Portugall At this time were revnited all the kingdomes of Spaine which from the entrance of the Moores into Spaine 860. and so many yeares fithence haue bene diuided M. Cyprian Valera D. Saunders the Popes Nuntio and Legate who came from Rome with Iames Fitzmoris in Iuly in the yeare 1599. to beare Armes in Ireland against her maiestie after that hee had wandred vp downe three yeares together with the Earle of Desmond and Syr Iohn his brother hee fell sicke of an Irish Ague and a Flixe and lay in the wood Clennetisse which wood is full of withies bryers thornes and through which is no passage where partly through his sicknesse but chiefly through famine and want dyed Hollenshed The Earle of Desmond was taken by one Kollie an Irishman in an old house alone and there slain whose head was sent into England and set vpon London bridge Amias D. of Leneux so created in the yeare 1579. was now in this yeare vpon displeasure banished Scotland and enforced to returne into France in whose exile was performed an olde prophecie That a man of fiue shillings should buy all the Dukes of England Scotland For when this Duke was out of the Scottish kingdome there was neither Duke in that Countrey nor in England Idem Henry King of Nauarre when hee vnderstood that the Archbishop of Cullen was in great distresse and the many traiterous practises of the Pope against him hee sent his Embassador to the Electors Princes of Germanie who professed the true doctrine of the Gospell First for the establishing of a generall concord by a generall Synode of the Churches in Germanie France England and other Countries imbracing the true Religion Then that these Princes of the reformed Church should by oath all ioyne their powers against the Pope his adherents which that hee might the better perswade hee set downe in his Letters the imminent daungers ouer the principall kingdomes in Europe which professed the true Faith As many as in Spaine or Italie were suspected for the truth were put into the Inquisition and so martyred In France
the promulgation of the Councell of Trent and the constitution of the Inquisition was vrged by the Popes Legate against the intercession of the Senate and the liberties of the Church of France That in England by the treacherous practises of the Iesuites the hearts of her maiesties subiects were drawne from their alleagiance As for the Scots such matters were set abroach euen in the Court that those of the better sort and such as studied for the common good and peace of the realme by the dissention of some Nobles and the Kings youth were banished which vnlesse it were presently remoued it would hazard the estate of their Church and raise warre betweene England and Scotland The miseries of Belgia it being so ouerpressed by the Spanish powers and they euery day encreasing promise no good successe to their Church In Heluetia by the Popes contributions subtilties and the most turbulent preachings of the Iesuites these two yeares haue bene ciuil warres Insomuch that the Bernates imbracers of the reformed Religion should be oppressed by the power of the D. of Sauoy The Churches of Suecia stand wauering whilest the Popish ceremonies are there kept and Iesuites frequent the Court and feare least their perswasions should alienate their King And for Germanie in the which by the care sinceritie of the most mightie Princes the surest and safest harbours are giuen to the Churches the Pope doth what in him lyeth to confound and ouerthrow In Coloine he hath stirred vp such tragedies against that Princely Elector the ende whereof vnlesse it be brought vpon his owne head he hopeth wil be the confusion of all Germanie This Embassage although it was beningly receiued of all the Princes to whom it came yet new disputations troubles arising in France about the death of Alanson the dangers encreased D. Chytreus Georgius Ernestus the last Prince of Henneberge died this present yeare Idem Elias Thacker was hanged at S. Edmonds-Bury in Suffolke and Iohn Copping for spreading certain bookes seditiously penned by one Robert Browne against the booke of commō praier established by the lawes of the realme their bookes as many a could be found were burnt before them I. S. Iohn Lewis who named himselfe Abdiot an obstinate heretike denying the Godhead of Christ and holding diuers other detestable heresies much like to his predecessor Mathew Hamond was burned at Norwich Albertus Alasco free Baron of Lasco Vaiuode or Palatine of Syradia in Poland arriued at Harwiche in Essex and on the last of April came by water to Winchester house in Southwarke where he remained for the most part of his abode Frances of Valois Duke of Alanson attempted diuers exployts in the lowe Countries the issue whereof fell out to his misfortune wherefore feeling himselfe sicke he retyred from Dunkerke towards Fraunce where hee fell into so straunge a iudgement that euen the Phisitians beganne to doubt him for a flixe of blood issued so continually out of his nose and mouth that they were still forced to hold him a Basen whereinto hee voyded the cleare and pure blood whereof he dyed Some say this happend either by his riotousnesse in the lowe Countries or for griefe of the hard successe of his affaires there or by Salcedas meanes that was executed His death weakened the most drowsie heads it brake all the bonds that staied the proceedings of the League and caused it presently to waine at Chalouns Rhemes Troy Dyon and Mezeiuel Historie of France The tenth of Iuly William Nassau Prince of Orange in the one and fiftie yeare of his age was slaine with a Bullet by Balthazar Gerardus otherwise called Serach See Genebrardus This villaine beeing taken aliue confessed that hee was neither set on by the French nor Spanish but did it of his owne minde thinking that thereby hee did God good seruice foorthwith hee was punished with such a death as the qualitie of so hainous a fact deserued Yet a certaine writer of Coloine setteth him downe for a Martyr See Dauid Chytraeus H. Earle of Darbie by the Queenes maiestie was sent Embassador to Henry the third the French King the 30. of Ianuary to inuest him with the order of the Garter Hyperas the eight day of April and Briges which next to Gaunt is the chiefe Citie of Flaunders a little before the Prince of Orange his death in the moneth of May was recouered by the Prince of Parma all former offences forgotten so that they would restore the Catholicke religion of Rome and performe true allegiance to the king of Spaine Assoone as the League perceiued that diuers Townes had made great fiers for ioy of her byrth it was presented to the Pope that he might giue it his blessing auouch it for his and declare it to be for the Catholicke Apostolicke and Romish Church But Gregorie the 13. desiring to shewe himselfe the Father of all Christians and a Pastor and not a dispearser of his flocke considering that the raising of Armes against a most Christian Catholicke king was wholy contrary to the doctrine of the Gospell the examples of Christ and his Apostles and the lawes of policie and state certified the Leagues Deputies that he could not approue their inuentions and to conclude sent them back againe without an answer And not long before he dyed hee said to the Cardinall Est that the League should neuer haue Bull Letter nor Commission from him for hee knew not what they meant and that hee would not serue for a fire-brand to kindle a warre which he could by no means quench In the prime of this yeare the first of April S. Walter Raleigh tooke his voyage for the discouery of that land which lieth between Norembega and Florida in the West Indies and returned in August following preparing afterwards for a second voiage S. H. Gilbert attempted to discouer with intention this country of Norembega to settle an English Colonie there in the yeare 1578. accompanied with a company of Gentlemen of good calling and ten sailes of all sorts of shipping but the iourney tooke no successe for all their ships inforced by some occasion or mischance made their present returne that only excepted where his brother S. W. R. was Captaine who tooke his course to the West Indies but for want of vittailes other necessaries when he had sailed as farre as the Ilands of Cape de Verde vpō the coast of Affrica he was cōstrained to set saile and returne for England But S. H. G. enterprised the voyage the second time and set to sea with three shippes and pinnases this yeare 1584. in which iourney he lost his life This yeare also S. W.R. encouraged by the reports of his men of the goodnes of the soile and the fertillitie of the country which they had discouered the last yeare past and now by her maiestie called Virginia furnished with 8. sailes of all sorts set them to the sea appointing S. Richard Greenfeeld his Lieutenant enioyning him either to
entertain hold the people in a vain hope of deliueraÌ„ce but all this while famine made warre against the Parisians Gregorie 14. before called Nicholas was borne at Millaine his fathers name was Frances Sfondrate of an auncient wealthy family He was elected Pope in the place of Vrbane The 8. day of Ianuary he instituted a Iubily and commaunded it to be published Anth. Cicca After this he made Gcnerall of the Churches army Count Sfondrate his nephew and sent him with an army into France to the maintenance of which warre he contributed fiue hundred thousand ducats besides other 40000. poundes of his owne He created his nephew Duke of Mount Marian the which state for that the great D. of Florence for his conspiracies and rebellioÌ„ against the church was put to death was now void by confiscation and therfore the Pope said he might bestow it where he thought good A great dangerous tumult hapned at Cracouia the king himself being there vnder the name of religion chiefly by certaine schollers who egged on by their maisters the Iesuites assaulted violently such houses where the exercise of religion different from the Popes were celebrated This was soone appeased by the magistrates but the third night when they thought all had beene quiet they gathered their companies together and set fire on the house D. Chytraeus The Princes Romane Catholicke Lords which were the Kings partakers perswaded with him to frame himselfe to the exterior profession of the religioÌ„ and by the D. of Luxembourg who had before made a voyage vnto Rome in their name they practised with the Pope to that end On the contrary side the Protestant Lords beseeched the king to haue them in remembrance who were so faithfully imployed for him Other of his Councel pressed vpoÌ„ him to prouide for his peaceable subiects as wel of the one as of the other religioÌ„ Also that he wold preuent the new attempts of the Pope and his adhaerents against France And these sollicitations begat an Edict for the vpholding of the two religions in his kingdome D. Chytraeus An act was made by the high Court of Parliament at Chalouns and at Tours against the Popes Bulls his Nuntio and his Legate in France This likewise was proclaimed We haue proclaimed and do proclaime Pope Gregorie the 14. of that name an enemy to the common peace to the vnion of the Romane Catholike Church to the King and to his roial state adhearent to the conspiracie of Spaine a fauourer of rebels guiltie of the most cruell most inhumane and most detestable parracide traiterously committed on the person of Henry the 3. of most famous most Christian and most Catholike memorie Christian Duke of Saxonie Prince Elector died of the age 31. yeares D. Chytraeus Gregorie the 14. fell now sicke of a quotidian Feuer hee was also troubled with a continuall flix and the stone whereof he dyed and was buried in the Chappell of the Gregories in S. Peters Church Hee sate in the seate ten moneths and as many dayes and it was vacant 15. dayes Anth. Cicca In this time there was a great dearth through the most part of Italie and other Christian Prouinces after which followed a great plague There dyed in Rome from August 1590. vnto the end of August the yeare following 1591. threescore thousand Idem Innocent the 9. before called Antonius Fachiuertus Cardinall of the 4. holy Crownes He was borne at Bononia and before hee was Cardinall by Pope Gregorie made Patriarke of Ierusalem Fredericus Wilelmus Duke of Saxonie and Iohannes Georgius Elector and Marquesse of Brandebourge had the Protectorship of Christians sonne these no further vrged his mandates concerning Religion and recalled home many Ministers of the Church and Superindents who had not obeyed them and therefore banished by him a litle before his death D. Chytraeus The Duke of Guise by a cord which was giuen him wherwith sliding downe out of a window escaped out of prison and fled to the Lord de la Chastre The great Chancelor of Poland Zamoscius rebelled against his leige Lord with an Armie of 30000. men Pope Innocent the 9. being 70. yeares of age and hauing ruled two moneths odde dayes dyed So that in the space of fourteene moneths 4. Popes dyed Sixtus Vrban Gregorie and Innocent and it is to be thought the most or all of them dyed of poyson For Brazuto is not dead that giueth them poyson This Brazuto killed 6. Popes with poyson as it is to be read in the life of Damasus The seate was vacant one moneth and a day Edmond Coppinger and H. Arthington conferring with one of their sect called William Hacket they offered to annoint him king but Hacket taking Coppinger by the hand said You shall not need to annoint me for I haue bene already annoynted in heauen by the holy Ghost himselfe then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Goe your way both said he and tell them in the Citie that Christ Iesus is come with his Fanne in his hand to iudge the earth Which they did in diuers streets crying also repent England repent and in Cheapeside got vp into a Cart and preached how this Hacket represented Christ that they were two Prophets the one of mercy the other of iudgement sent and extraordinarily called by God to assist him in this great worke and were witnesses of these things For these misdemeanors and spreading of false prophecies as also for his traiterous words against the Queenes Maiestie Hacket was hanged But Coppinger dyed in Bridewell and Arthington long after was reserued in the Counter in Woodstreete in hope of repentance I. Stowe Hippolitus Aldobrandinus Cardinall was elected Pope by the name of Clement the eight When Sebastian King of Portugall went with his Armie into Affrica hee requested hostage of Muhameth to whom hee deliuered his sonne Mulei Xeques him Sebastian sent Magaza but they both being slaine in the battaile of Alcazar 1578. Xeques was sent into Spaine and brought vp vnder King Phillip At the last this yeare hauing before by degrees perswaded to become a Christian was baptised with his kinsman other of his Nobles in the most famous Monastery of S. Laurence and vowed euer after to continue true Christians Genebrardus The 16. of Ianuary Cassimere Duke Palatine to the great sorrow and discomfort of the Church of Geneua departed this life Ladislaus King of Hungarie and Boheme died of the age of 18 yeares This yeare Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes prepared for warre against the Christians The cause was this The truce taken was yet kept betweene the Emperour and the Turke to the great quietnesse of both their subiects But in the meane season a peace was concluded betweene the Turke the Persian Wherefore many of the Turkish Bassâ—es perswaded their Emperour to make war vpon the Christian and so forthwith he dispatched a puissant Army into the confines of Hungary The Emperour
maiestie And euen as he was receiuing them for his farwell a yong stripling named Iohn Castil of 18. yeares of age a Drapers sonne of Paris who was got into the Chamber amongst the preace drew neare vnto the King before he was almost perceiued of any bodie and suddenly would haue stabd him into the bodie with a knife but by reason that his maiestie was very readie to take vp the Lordes which were on theyr knees before him in his stooping hee strooke him on the face on the vpper iaw on the right side therewithall cutting out one of his teeth Wherevpon hee was apprehended by the Captaine of the Garde to whom the King commanded after hee had throwne his knife to the ground to let him goe saying that he freely forgaue him But afterwards vnderstanding that he was a Scholler to the Iesuites hee sayd and must it needs be that the Iesuites should be confounded by my mouth This villaine being brought vnto the Bishops prison freely declared the circumstance of his trayterous intent and that he was perswaded thereto by his maister a Iesuite who said that it was lawfull to kill him that hee was excommunicate of the Church that hee was not to be obeyed nor to be taken for the King vntill such time as he was allowed by the Pope For this he was executed and the Iesuites of Claremount with whom this fellow was brought vp and all other throughout the whole Realme of France were commaunded within three dayes to depart their Colledges and after 15. dayes to leaue the realme D. Chytraeus In the beginning of this yeare Amurathes the third Emperour of the Turkes the sonne of Selim in the 48. yeare of his age ended his life and Empire with much blasphemie and impatience Whom Mahomet the third beeing thirtie yeares of age succeeded who before hee performed his Father Funeralls hee caused eighteene of his brethren borne of diuers Concubines to bee strangeled and most honourably to be buried with his father in the same monument He suffered his 27. sisters to liue in Teragliuun And that no more might bee borne hee comaunded tenne of his fathers wiues to be throwne into the Sea and hauing richly furnished his owne mother he sent her to dwell in a farre Countrie Genebrardus This Mahomet is the thirteenth Emperour from Othoman Ferdinand Arch-duke of Austria the sonne of Ferdinand the Emperor and brother of Maximilian the second departed this life The one and twentieth of February likewise dyed Ernestus his brothers sonne Archduke of Austria Gouernor of the Prouinces in the lowe Countries being 42. yeares of age Idem Some of the Deputies of the Court which were sent to search Cleremount Colledge which belonged to the Iesuites hauing seized vpon many papers found among them certain written bookes made by a Iesuite Priest named Iohn Guiguard since the generall pardon giuen by the king at Paris there was written in these bookes many vile matters as well against H. the 3. as against H. the 4. now liuing containing nothing but traitorous practises for the which the Iesuite being sent for auouched by meanes whereof he was found guiltie and therefore executed The K. of France proclaimed open warres against Spaine and the Spanish Army is ouerthrowne by the Marshall of Bouillon in the Duchie of Luxembourge The King after two yeares suppliant intreaties to the Pope at the length was absolued by the Pope at Rome and receiued into the lappe of the mother Church and declared the most Christian king of France The conditions propounded were these That the king should receiue the Councell of Trent and giue commaundement that it should be kept throughout all his Realme but and if in some of his Prouinces he could not do it without danger of new seditions he should aske leaue of the Pope That hee should within the compasse of one yeare remooue the young Prince of Conde being 9. yeares of age from the company of heretikes and to bring him vp in the Catholicke Apostolicke Romane religion That he should restore all the reuenewes and goods which he had taken from his Bishops and Abbies Lastly that he should by his Letters certifie all Catholicke Princes of his conuersion and detestation of all heresies After this the Church of S. Peter which before was shut was now opened Then the Pope said to the Orators of France that as hee now opened againe to their King the doore of the Church Militant vppon earth so should his Maiestie endeuour likewise by a liuely faith and good workes to make his way into the triumphant Church of heauen D. Chytraeus Vpon the Church doore were placed the armes of the K. of France with this inscription Henricus 4. Galliae Nauarrae Rex Christianissimus Whilst Camerac is besieged by the Spaniards Phillip king of Spaine created Albertus Arch-duke of Austria and Cardinall of Toledo Generall of all his Forces in Belgia Hee was the sonne of Max. 2. Emperour and Mary the sister of Phillip King of Spaine the fift in order after Rodolphus the Emperour that now is borne in Nouember the yeare 1559. Genebrardus The D. de Maine seeing the Spaniards take other course then was accustomed his Forces slaine his credit crackt his destruction at the doore though late yet at last he sought by mediators the kings fauour which he obtained vpon this receiued grace the D. wrought the yeelding vp of Soisson Pierfont and other places to the King The Duke of Aumale who onely remained among all the chiefe Leaguers lawe being prosecuted against him in the Parliament of Paris he was found guiltie of treason in the highest degree so that his Image of likenes being made it was drawne in peeces with foure horses and his goods and lands confiscate to the King The most famous Poet and Orator of all Italy Torguatus Tassus died this yeare at Rome The Garrisons of Peronne Amiens and other places that he held for the king began againe in Ianuary their former courses against the enemies Countrie still killing and sleying certaine Spaniards and Wallons Marseill is brought to the kings subiection George Lantgraue of Hesse the sonne of Phillip a vertuous wise and religious Prince departed out of this world leauing his sonne Lodowicke to succeed him Albert Arch-duke of Austria and Gouernour of the lowe Countries entered Bruxelles with great pompe accompanied with the Dukes of Fere and Aumale and Philippus Wilihelmus the Prince of Orange his sonne Before his comming there was great hope of peace but after his arriuall he made no mention of peace for that he foresawe there would be none graunted D. Chytreus In the beginning of March the Cardinal gaue such order that the besieged within the Towne of Fere were succoured with some munition and for his first exployt against France in the beginning of Aprill did so dispose of his Armie at that time most mightie so pollitikely and secretly that in fewe dayes hee besieged assailed and