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
Persians and receiued a mortall wound and casting a full handfull of bloud into the ayre hee vttered this blasphemie against Iesus Christ Thou hast ouercome ô Gallelean In the end thou art vanquisher and as hee had lost much bloud being in a burning Feuer hee called for water about midnight and dranke it colde and expired the yeare of his age 31. hauing gouerned the Empire the space of a yeare and seuen moneths Of the publike ioy they of Antioche made for his death see the Tripartite historie lib. 6. chap. 48. Iouinian or Iuuian borne in Hungarie was created Emperour with great ioy of the Armie the next morning after the death of Iulian. He was a Prince naturally liberall and who vnder Iulian had shewed well that he loued better to loose all dignities then to obey one wicked commaundement and against Christian religion Beeing importuned by the souldiers to accept the election he said hee was a Christian and that hee would not bee the Emperour of Ethnicks and Idollatrous people Hee accepted not the Empire vntill all with a common voyce had protested they would bee Christians Eutropius Lib. 10. Socrat. Lib. 3. Chap. 22. One called Lucius an Arrian whom George Bishop of Alexandria had promoted accusing Athanasius when he returned from exile Iouinian would not heare him but knowing Athanasius commaunded silence to Lucius Sozomen li. 6. cap. 5. He customably said to flatterers that they rather worshipped purple then God The Church had rest vnder him and he restored whatsoeuer Iulian had taken away There was a Councell held at Antioche vnder him to establish the faith of the Councell of Nice Sozom. lib. 6. chap. 4. He made peace with the Persians to his great dishonour and to their great aduantage yeelding them fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris also he promised to giue no succours vnto the King Arsaces allied with the Romanes He died soone after of an euill of the stomacke as he was in his chamber wherein for cold he caused to be made a great fire of coles all the night He liued 23. yeares and raigned seuen moneths The originall of Monkes and Monasteries The Monastike life began first in Aegypt Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life which incontinent was disperced into Palestine Armenia and Paphlagonia Sozomen li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at how this world which in it had so many excellent Doctors did straight admit this manner of life which was neuer instituted of God and not onely allowed it but euen themselues instituted it and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes some in sollititude and others in Cities and companies Sozom. li. 3. ch 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life namely that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing to be peaceable that hee ought to haue an honest habit a moderate voice words well disposed to take his refection peaceably and with silence and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation humilitie and simplicitie of heart watchings teares in prayers sobrietie in his speech and eating Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith that Monasteries were shops of vertue abstinence fasting patience and labour Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these vertues Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monasteries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some labour or worke And this was their rule and as it were their Simbole Hee that trauelleth not ought not to eate The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium speaketh of three sort of Monkes in Egypt The first were called Cenobites Sansos in that countrey language as we might say liuing in common The second Anacharites because they dwelt alone in the Desarts far from mē The third they called Remoboth these dwelt two with two or three with three at the most and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for they nourished themselues in common but often had they debates amongst them Before the time of Hierome it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe but that Ambrose in whose time began persecutions of virgins makes often mention of companies of sacred virgins otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found Certaine it is that Sozomen lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies Valentinian borne also in Hungarie was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian borne in Hungarie of a meane place and in fauour of him Valentinian was chosen to the Empire which hee refused but after accepted and made his brother Valens pertaker with him who had the Countrey of the East and made his sonne Gratian Augustus In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire was by them discomfited After Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles was set at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodosius Valens then being chosen a consort of the Empire was at first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian but after hee was infected with the Arrian heresie at the perswasion of his wife and of Eudoxius Bishop of Constantinople an Arrian of whom he was baptised During the life of Valentinian the westerne Church was peaceable and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme against such as were called Homousiastes that is to say the true Catholiques and stirred great horrible persecutions and aboue all in Antioche and Laodicea his brother Valentinian reprehended him and admonished him by Letters to desist as Zonoras writeth but hereby was he stirred so much the more and determined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxius but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne who knowing it be Gods vengeance turned him from his euill will and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares and sustained many persecutions in great constancie and patience died about this time After his death persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Valens Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7. Damasus a Spaniard some write him to bee of Rome the sonne of one called Antonius succeeded Liberius his election was turbulent and bloudie because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church and of the pretended donation
Bishop of Constantinople tirannized ouer the faithful by imprisonment exile and other torments Naucl. Chron. Abb. Vrsp and Fascic temp At this time were Vincent Bishop of Beanuais and Foursy the King of Ireland his sonne who came into France with two of his brethren Aubert Bishop of Cambray Gertrude others all which after their deathes were called Saints Clouis the 12. King of France raigned 17. yeares This King in a time of famine tooke all the gold and siluer wherwith his father Dagobert had adorned the Chappels of Martyrs yea and one of the Armes of S. Denis to giue to the poore to relieue them For that cause the Monkes deuised that he became a foole and out of his wittes in the ende of his dayes Chron. de Regib Fr. Martin Pope first of that name an Italian ruled at Rome sixe yeares and more At the beginning of his Popedome he sent Messengers to Constantinople to Paul the Patriarke to reduce him from his heresie but so much wanted therein his amendment that euen abusing the authority of the Emperor an heretike like himselfe hee caused the saide messengers to bee throwne out whereat the Pope Martin being mooued assembled a Councell at Rome of 150. Bishops and condemned Paul the heretike agreeing with the condemnation of Pyrrhus Cyrus Sergius and others Then the Emperour Constance sent Olimpus Exarke into Italie and commaunded him to make haste either to sley Pope Martin or to take him and bring him Againe Constance sent to Rome Theodorus Calliopa who by subtiltie tooke the Pope and hauing bound him in chaines brought him to Constantinople and from thence was hee banished and sent into a Citie of Pontus where he finished his daies after many and great miseries and the seat was vacant three moneths Supp Chron. In this time were held the Councell of Toledo 8.9 and 10. In the 10. there was an ordinance against Bishops which gaue Monasteries and benefices Ecclesiastical to their parents which was now made of no valewe In the 4. Chap. it was ordained that Nunnes should make a profession and vow of chastitie and that they should be apparelled in an other sort from others to be knowne Ierusalem was taken by the Mahometists Some as Nauclerus say that it was in the time of Agathon Pope and of the Emperour Constantine the sonne of this Constance Rhodes taken by the Sarrasins The Iles Ciclades were wasted by them and Sicile forraged Naucl. At Rome there appeared great signes fire fel from heauen and great thunder lightnings and invndations of waters whereof great pestilence followed Fasci Temp. and Nauclerus Eugenius Pope the first of that name a Romane ruled at Rome about three yeares He ordained that Bishops should haue prisons to punish crimes and faults of Clarkes That Priests houses should be scituate and builded nigh Churches Supp Chron. That none bee kept in Monasteries against their wills One named Peter succeeded Paul the heretike at Constantinople and was of the same heresie His Letters were recited at Rome and the Pope was hindered by the people from celebrating vntil he had cast them away because they denied two natures in Christ Naucler Claudus Arch-bishop of Besancon afterward Abbot of the Abbey of S. Eugenius was renowmed about this time through Burgoine Fasci temp And after his death they made that abhominable Idoll which is at S. Claud. in the Countie of Burgoine The children of Arikert King of the Lombards whilest they stroue one with an other the one was slain and the other a fugitiue first into Bauiere after into France Naucl. At the Councell of Calibone in the Prouince of Narbone held in this time Theodoric Bishop of Arles was accused to haue done somewhat against the Ecclesiasticall statutes and Canons and because he appeared not hee was suspended out of his Bishoppricke vntill the next Councell Vitalian Pope an Italian ruled at Rome 14. yeares and more It was he who first ordained singing in the Romane Church and agreed it with Organes by the consent of Rodoaldus King of the Lombards who beeing taken in adulterie with a wife of Lombardie was slaine by her husband It is not found that hitherto the Romane Church had full domination in the Towne of Rome other goodly things it pretendeth since the death of Constantine the great vnlesse it were vnder certaine too soft Emperours and yet then not much But to this Vitalian the Emperour by singular grace confirmed the priuiledges of the Church which notwithstanding he after brake and made them of no force Fasci temp and Naucler Constant the Emperor caused to be assembled a Sinode and abiured his heresie and after came to Rome with a great company with Cierges in their hands and so entred into the Temple but he shewed well it was not vpon deuotion but to see where the Treasures were to take and carrie them away Hee was there to visit it fiue dayes Afterward hee tooke away all that was delicate in his eyes He tooke away more ornaments and riches he alone in 7. dayes then the Barbarians had done in 258. yeares Naucl. and Supp Chron. He was greatly hated at Constantinople for his cruelties and for causing to die in exile Pope Martin in such miserie and for cutting the tongue and hand from Maximin Wherefore he sought againe to bring the Emperiall seate to Rome and kept his Court sixe yeares in Sicilie Abb. Vrsperg where hee did many great euills as is recited by Paulus Diaconus He was slaine in Sicilie being in the Bathes this yeare 669. and of his Empire 27. Mizizius otherwise called Mitius or Missessius was constituted Emperour and raigned about sixe moneths Constantine the fourth sonne of Constant commonly called Le Barbu the bearded came against him and caused him to die and all such as had bene of the conspiracie against his father After these things were done he raigned from the beginning with his brethren Tiberius and Heraclius Abb. Vrsp. But after according to Naucler alleadging Blundus and Pius his abbreuiator he caused their noses to be cut off least they should after come to the Empire so that his sonne Iustinian might raigne The Councell of Toledo 11. in this time Dado Bishop of Ruoan writ three bookes of the life of S. Eloy Bishop of Noyon Abb. Trit Clotaire the third of that name and the 13 king of France raigned foure yeares Note Reader touching the Kings of France which follow that from this Clotaire vntill Pipin and Charlemaine they did nothing worthy of any great memorie but became vnprofitable and full of cowardise so that they had not like authoritie as either their predecessors or successors They had as it were nothing but the bare names and titles of Kings For the Maiors or Prouostes of the Pallace which then were as it were the Constables or great Maisters had the administration of all matters of the Kingdome as well those of warre as of peace and all was
Church of Reate in Italie euen then falling vacant he would not consecrate the Bishop who was chosen there vnlesse hee would first acknowledge that the Emperour should approoue his election But see what followed after As soone as he was come to Rome he beganne to thinke that the right and preheminence giuen to Charlemagine and his successers might bring with it many mischiefes therefore taking the greater hardinesse by the softnesse and benignitie of Lewis thought it good to abolish such a right and there vpon pronounced that the Popes election ought to be in the power of the Cleargie of the Senate and of the Romane people yet fearing to prouoke the Emperours anger against him he added this Interpretation namely that it should be very lawfull for them to elect the Bishop of Rome without the authoritie of the Emperour but that it should not be lawfull to consecrate him without the Emperours presence or his Embassadors So by this meanes for a certaine time were the Emperours kept from the election of the Pope Yet because Stephen occupied not the seate past eight moneths hee could do litle of that hee forethought to encrease his authoritie But he died in his accustomed superstition Anno domini 817. Pascal first of that name a Romane Monke following the traine of Stephen his predecessor was chosen Pope by the Cleargie and people of Rome without the consent of the Emperour And as the Emperour complained of this election Pascal subtilly purged himselfe by his Embassadors sent thither By tract of time this subtill and malitious Pope seeing there was daunger if he longer deferred to augment his authoritie so straungely enchaunted the Emperour Lewis insomuch as he bare great honour to the Romane Church that he consented to remit into the hands of the Cleargie and the people the right of electing of the Pope which had beene giuen before to Charlemaigne and also that hee should by his Letters confirme all Donations made by his predecessors although they were made of things acquired by vniust vnlawfull violence This hee did as one ignorant of their cautelous and deceitfull dealings and sealed them with his seales But after he had Crowned at Rome Lotharie his sonne Emperour to the end that by that meanes he might more easily compasse that which he sought he did so much by treason and secretly that Theodorus and Leon officers of the Emperours house which faithfully held their maisters part had their eyes put out and after their heads cut off by the meanes of certaine mutinous and seditious people And although he were accused to the Emperour as well for the sedition which had bene stirred as for the murder against their persons committed after he had assembled a Sinode of a certaine number of Bishops he purged himselfe by oath Notwithstanding he accused of treason them which were slaine and pronounced that by good right they had bene slaine declaring them to be absolued which murthered them Behold the holinesse of these holy Fathers in their kingdome of perdition Pascal honoured with a most magnificall Sepulchre in the Towne two thousand bodies if he faile not in his account of Saints before dead which were buried in Church yardes He builded all new the Temple of S. Praxides and set in it the bodies of S. Cecilie Tiburcius Valerian Maximian and other Martyrs also of S. Vrbain and other Bishops He reedified some Churches which were like to fall with great age Lewis vpon great deuotion he had to the Apostolike Sea bestowed vpon the people and Cleargie of Rome the power to choose the Pope and the Bishops which authoritie belonged to the Emperours But hee reserued this prerogatiue that the Pope beeing chosen hee should alwaies send to the Emperours to confirme amitie Naucler The Emperour also ratified the donation made to the Pope of Rome by his predecessors and signed it with his owne hand and his three children tenne Bishops eight Abbots and fifteene Earles The Copie of these Letters are in Volateran in the third booke of his Geographie Pascal then tarried not long after to commaund vnder paine of excommunication that none should presume to receiue an Ecclesiasticall Benefice of a Lay-man whosoeuer hee be Supp Chro. Great signes and maruells happened in this time In Saxe a great Earthquake so that many villages as Vrsp saith perished by fire In diuers places it raigned stones amongst haile which slew men and beasts Naucler Eugenius Pope second of that name borne at Rome ruled three yeares A Schisme rose vp in the Church and there was great discord amongst the Cardinalls some choosing Sozimus but finally Eugenius obtained the Papacie for he had in him great appearance of holinesse At this time a Peace was confirmed betwixt Leo Emperour of Constantinople and Lewis the Romane Emperour Naucler The King of Denmarke named Hariolus cast out of his Kingdome by the children of Godfrey came for succours to the Emperour Lewis and obtained helpe to be restored into his Kingdome Chron. Sigeb Translation of holy bodies Now was translation of the bodies of many Saints from Italie into Almaine France and England Fascic temp This was all the Religion of this time Michael Emperour of Constantinople sent Embassadors towards Lewis Debonaire to vnderstand his opinion towching the Images of Saints namely whether they should keepe them or reiect them Lewis sent them to Pope Eugenius to heare his opinion Bonif. Simoneta This Emperour Michael sent to Lewis the bookes of the Hierarchie of S. Denis Chro. Sigeb Lotharie King of Italie came to Rome and was royally receiued of Pope Eugenius hee reformed the estate of the Towne and all Italie and ceased all partialities and appointed at Rome Magistrates to do right to the people Naucler Blond Valentine second of that name Cardinall and Deacon a Romane gouerned at Rome onely fortie dayes an eloquent man Bonif. Simoneta Organes became first in vse in France about this time by a Priest called Gregorie who learned his cunning therein in Greece See the Hist of France Gregorie Pope fourth of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 16. yeares This Pope would neuer accept the Popeship vnlesse first the Emperour would approoue his election and therof he was certified by an Embassage which the Emperour sent to Rome to examine the said election Naucl. and Abb. Vrsp The Sarrasins with the Souldan of Babilon came into Rome and of the Church of S. Peter made a stable for horses and wasted Pouille Calabria and Sicilie and pilled and spoiled all where they went Chron. Euseb and Naucler Naucler saith that in the Councell held at Aixle Chapele vnder this Pope the yeare of Christ 830. there was ordained a meane and rule for Monkes Nunnes Canons and others to liue in There was also ordained that euery Church should possesse rents and reuenewes that so Priests might haue whereon to liue and so to keepe them from applying themselues to any prophane thing or dishonest gaine Prebendes were ordained
from the Sonne as the Father They agreed also to Purgatorie and the Romane Pope to be the primate of the Catholicke Church which they had neuer done before now but euer were of contrarie opinions But as soone as they were come to their Countrey againe at the perswasion of Marcus Bishop of Ephesus they againe denied the two last Articles Plat. Vola and Naucler It is straunge that the Grecians which haue beene so slowe to acknowledge and confesse so true a doctrine of the holy Ghost are now so quick and light to accord so friuolous and false a thing that is to receiue and beleeue against all holy scripture that there is a Purgatorie and Romane Pope to be Primate of the Catholicke and Vniuersall Church wherevnto the first generall Councell had openly resisted in the time of Constantine the great In the said Councell of Florence the Armenians and Indians were also brought into the vnion of the Romane Church and promised to keepe and maintaine the Sacrament of Confirmation Naucler This Pope Eugenius confirmed Annates vpon all Benefices Hee Canonized S. Nicholas Tolentin of the order of the Hermits of S. Augustine Bessarion Cardinall flourished and his house at Rome was open to euery man of knowledge like a Colledge Vadian Sigismond of the age of 70 yeares died and was buried in Hungarie in the citie called Albe His wife Barbara was without all religion and without God insatiable in all paliardize and whoredome Shee mocked her damzels because they fasted and prayed saying they must liue iocondly and merily and take all their pleasures during this life for after death the soule perisheth with the bodie The Councell of Basill continued still and proceeded against Eugenius the fourth who after many times cyting and not appearing was publikely deposed by the authoritie of the Councell the tenth of Iuly Eugenius mooued herewith incited the Dolphin of France who after was called king Lewis the 11. to lead a great Armie in to the Countrey of Ferrara and Alsarce and to come to Basill Wherefore the said Councell brake vp and herevpon came many mischiefes See Naucler Albert the fift of that name Duke of Austrich and second king of the Romanes of that name sonne of Albert the fourth Duke of Austrich was scant 10. yeares olde when his father died of poyson fighting against Iosse Marquesse of Morauia but being yer vnder Tutors which were his vncles there was great strife betwixt them for his tutelage Therefore Vienna and all the Countrey of Austrich endured great calamities till Albert came to age and was dispatched of his tutelage and planted a peace in Austrich which was before full of theeues and of Intestine warres After the yeare 1422. he espowsed Elizabeth the doughter of Sigismond and had with her in marriage the noble Townes of Maruia But after the death of Sigismond he was chosen king of Hungaria by the consent of all the principall of the Countrey and Crowned the yeare of grace 1438. After this he was also made king of Bohemia and that came because there was a great alliance betwixt the Kings of Boheme and the Dukes of Austrich whereby they had ordained betwixt them that whensoeuer one of the houses remained without heire-male of the other they should create a king He was also chosen king of the Romanes by the common accord of all the Princes Electors The yeare 1459. the 17. day of Nouember in the Councell of Basill after the deposition of Eupenius the Cardinalls elected Amedeus of Ayme Duke of Sauoy and called him Felix the fift so came into the Church the 23. schisme and diuision which endured the space of sixteene yeares Some followed Eugenius others Felix some said they were newters and so obeyed neither one nor the other The Kings of France England Spaine Scotland obeyed the Pope Eugenius For although he was deposed yet held he good during his life This Councell of Basill assembled with great authoritie was notwithstanding dissipated and broken by one onely Pope That of Constance deposed three and ordained the fourth This could not bring about to depose one Fasci Temp. In the Councell of Basill it was forbidden that secular Princes Councellors and Communalties vpon paine of excommunication should not bee so hardie to greete and submit the Churchmen with tallies and common collection Fasci temp Augustine of Rome was condemned an heretike in the said Councell and there was confirmed the Conception of the Virgin Marie to bee kept as a solemne Feast But to the contrarie see Epiphanius in his 3 Booke and 12. Tome 68. and 69. heresie See also S. Bernard in the Epist 154. to the Canons of Lions The said Councell then confirmed that the Virgin Marie was conceiued without originall sinne it also confirmed her visitation In this time was a Councell held of the French Church at Bourges in Berry and there was published the pragmatike sanction which is all the marrow and substance of the Canons of the Councell of Basill to bee expresly obserued for euer Iohn le Maire The Duke Aime of Sauoy after the death of his wife Margarite of Bourgongne had left his Ducall estate and withdrew himselfe into an hermitage pleasant and delightfull called Ripaille vpon the Lake of Lansanne which he had caused to bee sumptuously builded and so left the gouernment of his signiories to his eldest sonne Lewis father of Duke Phillebert of Sauoy Beeing then in his said place of Ripaille the said Duke Anne with tenne knights all hermits wearing great beardes and simple cloathing and writhen staues full of knottes in great renowne of sanctetie of life was by the said Councell elected to be Pope as is said the 17. of Nouember the yeare 1439. and the 17. day of December the election was denounced vnto him and he went vnto Basill and was there solemnly crowned in the presence of two of his eldest sonnes Before this ceremonie his Beard was taken from him and in a small time he learned the Romane office He created some Cardinalls of great estimation and vertue Iohn le Maire The Emperour being called to goe into Hungarie sound himselfe greatly tormented in the moneth of August with an intollerable heate which hee thought to haue taken away by colde viands which brought to him a fluxe of the belley euen to bloud whereof he died the yeare 1439. nigh Strigoma after hee had beene Emperour almost two yeares Hee left two daughters and his wife with childe who soone after brought forth Ladislaus Frederic Duke of Austrich after Albert was Emperour of Rome He loued peace and rest restrained and brideled easily them of Austrich which stirred strifes and commotions So extinguished he the warre alreadie commenced by Matthias king of Hungarie by agreement with him Likewise this Frederic making warre against the Flemmings to haue his sonne Maximilian whom they detained prisoner appeased and contented them by the punishment of some and so taking and receiuing his
Historie lib. 9. chap. 43. and others make mention that S. Iohn Baptist reuealed his head to two Monkes which were hid nigh an house and after that the said head was transported into Edissa a Citie in Phinitia where he was honoured Monkes beare witnesse in their owne cause But how came this head from thence vnto Amiens in Picardie where hee is adored See Iohn Caluin in his booke of Relikes Leo made many Epistles euen 66. in number Saint Germaine Bishop of Anxerre Seuerus Bishop of Treners Lupus Bishop of Troy were againe sent into England against the Pelagian heresie Many Councels were held at this time after that of Chalcedone The first at Auranges a Towne in the Prouince of Narbone The second at Valens The third Councell of Carpentras The fourth at Arles The fift at Venice The sixt at Tours In the Councell of Tours the censure Ecclesiastical against Priests marriages was moderated which was to be excommunicated and depriued of the Communion which was permitted them only vpon condition they should not come to higher degree or dignitie and that they should abstaine from celebrating and administring to the people Archephali heretikes in this time which cast off the Councell of Chalcedone Eucherius Bishop of Lions in this time sent a booke conteining the praise of Hermits liues to S. Hilarie Bishop of Arles who went into an Hermitage as is said Item an other booke De contemptu mundi In this time the wisest gaue themselues to write the praises of virginitie and of a contemplatiue and monastike life The bookes of the Manicheans were burnt in Rome Theodosius dyed of the pestilence at Constantinople Earthquakes Comets and other tokens were seene in heauen Anian Bishop of Orleans Lupus Bishop of Troy Nicasius Bishop of Rhemes were martyred Valentinian the Emperour slaine at Rome of his people by the fraud of Argobastus Martian chosen Emperour raigned 7. yeares he made alliance with the Vandales It was he which was wont to say that a Prince ought not to take armes as long as it is lawfull to liue in peace Rome was taken againe by Gensericke towardes whom also went Leo and entreated of him that the Towne might not be put to fire and sword Some say hee intreated nothing at this time Orleans was besieged by Attila about this time after he had wasted Almaine and a great part of France but before Orleans his people were discomfited by Merouee King of France and there was slaine 180000. men That which is said of Geneuiesue virgin at Paris is reported of this time This is now the great Diana of the Parisians Martian the Emperour was slaine at Constanstinople by the conspiracie of his owne men Childeric the fourth King of France a Panim raigned 26. yeares a man subiect to leachery which to maintaine hee laide great taxes vpon the people wherevppon hee was reiected from the kingdome A Gouernor of Soisson and Meion of called Giles a Romane succeeded in his place and raigned eight yeares but after Childeric was restored After Childeric was called againe hee gouernerned wisely vertuoufly and valiantly hee put to flight his enemy Giles and sacked the Townes of Treuers and Coloigne and hee retyred to Treuers After also he conquered Orleans and all the Countrey along the Riuer of Loire vntill Angiers and then brought all the Countrey of Angiou vnder his subiection He tooke also the Cittie of Trect and all the Countrey along the Riuer of Rhene and greatly encreased the Kingdome of France He vsed great ingratitude towardes Basin King of Lorraine called Thoringe who had kindly entertained and maintained him all the time hee was depriued of his kingdome For hee receiued the wife of the saide Basin and tooke her for his owne wife Leo Emperour first of that name a Grecian left for his successor Leo who was of Ariadne his daughter and of Zenon He sent Basalike a warriour against Gensericke King of the Vandales Constantinople and a great part of Italie was as it were in perpetuall trouble vnder this Emperour who raigned about 17. yeares Hilarie borne at Sardes Bishop of Rome ruled 7. yeares His time was full of troubles These ordinances are attributed vnto him That no Romane Bishop should chuse him a successour And this constitution stretched to all Ecclesiasticall dignitie Naucler and Suppl Chronic. That a Clarke should receiue no Inuesture of a Laie person That none should be admitted vnto orders if he were not learned and hauing all his members In a Sinode at Rome of fiftie Bishoppes it was ordained that the Decrees of the Apostolike seate should be receiued and published vniuersally There also it was ordained that the Bishop might correct that which his predecessor had euil ordeined This Pope confirmed the domination and principalitie of the Apostolike seate He made three Epistles He depriued a Bishop of his dignitie called Ireneus because by ambition he had left his Church to goe into an other which was by Canons forbidden Remy Bishop of Rhemes and Patricius his brother was Bishop of Soissons Simplicius Tiburtin succeeded Hilarie and gouerned the Romane Church 15. yeares and more after some He declared as his predecessor that the Romane Church was the chiefe and principall He builded many Temples and dedicated them Hee instituted that in the Church of Peter and Paul there should be seuen Priestes to heare the penitents and to Baptise them In the first volume of Councells Leo the younger was left a childe successor of the Empire by his Grand-father on the mothers side and hauing gouerned a yeare he was content that his Father Zeno should raigne for him In so much that with his owne hands he placed the Diademe vpon his Fathers head That which is said of king Arthur is of this time Zenon Isaurike Emperour raigned 16. or 17. yeares He was an Arrian a cruell man He was buried aliue being drunke by his wife Arriadne The English men came farre into France The Arrians exercised great cruelties Honorius an Arrian king of Vandals persecuted greatly the Christians in Affrike more then 4976. were exiled in diuers places without sparing sexe or age afterward at diuers times and with diuers punishments were put to death Some had their hands cut off some their tongues Certain times after vnder the shadow of a Councell hee made assemble all Bishops Doctors and other Catholikes to the number of 324. after Paulus Diaconus but after others 444. he sent into exile caused the Tēples to be shut vp against Catholikes gaue them to the Arrians One Bishop called Laetus was burnt to the end to feare others The Bishop of Carthage Eugenius with more thē 500. of the Cleargy were banished But 2. yeres after Honorius died miserably of vermine And Gonthamundus succeeded him He reuoked Eugenius from exile At the request also of whom all the others were called home and the Churches opened An horrible famine in Affrike Naucler It is a
to keepe all the aforesaid things And if any had not inough each day to spend eight pence and if he promised not to be confessed and to haue good contrition and to forgiue all iniuries his enemies had done vnto him Moreouer his wife must consent vnto him Finally the Emperour forced them to leaue off these toyes and bables and the Pope forbad them vpon paine of excōmunication from thenceforth not to whip themselues Yet in repentant maner they might whip themselues secretly Imbert Daulphin of Vienne renouncing the glory of the world as they speake tooke the habit of a Iacobin in the Couent of Lyons vppon Rhosne solde the Countrey of Dolphine to the king of France vnder conditiō that the kings of France should not aliene it and that their eldest children should beare the title thereof And this did he in despight of such as should haue bin his heires which had done a thing contrary to his will See the French Histories Bartholus the Legist or Lawyer was in this time and Petrus Bercorij who translated Titus Liutus into French at the King Iohn his commaundement and made the Breuiarie vpon the Bible and the Morall Reportorie Phillip de Valois 49. king of France the Coozin-germain of the three former kings hauing raigned 22. yeares died at Noogent le Roy of the age of 57. yeares Iohn his sonne Duke of Normandie was crowned at Reims the fiftieth king of France and raigned 14. yeares The brotherhood of the order of the starre began in the house of S. Oyon nigh Paris at the instance of King Iohn The knights of this order carried a starre in theyr hattes or on their coates About this time the Iewes were sent out of Almaine because they had infected and poysoned the Fountaines and Pits of water Fasci Temp. Clement the sixt died suddenly being stroken with an Aposteme the yeare 1353. Innocent Pope sixt of that name succeeded borne of Limoges first called Stephen Aubert hee was an aduocate Doctor in the Lawes and the Decrees after he was Bishop of Cleremont and Cardinall of Ostia After he had taken possession of the Popedome looking prudently for his profit in time to come he suspended certaine reseruations made by Clement his predecessor and straight ordained that all Prelates and beneficed men should retire vnto their Churches not to the end to preach the Gospell but to magnifie and maintaine all abuses and Papish rights And that they might gather the fruites thereof to liue in all Idlenesse and dissolution He said well that Sheepe ought to be kept by their owne Sheepheard and not by an hireling This Pope would needs gather a tenthe of all the rents and reuenewes of the Cleargie but the Prelates of France would not consent therevnto therefore it was not leuied yet hee did what he could in Almaine in the Dioces of Spice See Nauclerus The dearenes of victualls was extreame in France for the warres of the Englishmen the quarter of good wheat was at eighteene pounds at Paris He diminished his ordinarie expences which was great in reducing his familie to a certaine number yet not very honest as may be seene in Petrarke He would haue no person in his house but such as should serue either his profit or affections and he very straightly by Edict enioyned all his Cardinalls that they should do the like And said that his life and that of all Ecclesiasticall persons ought to serue for an example to others so that all Christian people may take heed to follow our examples Moreouer hee ordained a certaine sallary or stipend for the Auditors of his Pallace to the end they should steale nothing He was sparing in his diet and liuing say some authors but in expences of warre very large The Vniuersitie of Prage in Bohemia is instituted and endowed with priuiledges by Innocent at the request of the Emperour Charles the 4. Naucler Charles the 4. going to Rome to be crowned his wife was taken at Pise and carried with her Damzels into a Stewes to despite the Emperour but shee escaped from thence in great danger and then appeared the vertue of the Almaines Nauclerus The yeare 1355. Charles the 4. was crowned at Millaine and after at Rome on Easter day vpon condition straight to depart out of Italie Naucler What pride was this to commaund the Romane Emperour to retire out of his owne countrey Franc. Petrarke The Iourney of Poitiers was to the great dammage and confusion of all France and victorie of the English There were slaine the Duke of Bourbon and the Constable of Fraunce the Marshall and others to the number of eight hundreth knights The King of France was a prisoner Phillip his fourth sonne and others as well Counts as knights and men of armes at least 17. hundreth See the Histories of France The yeare of Christ 1359. was held an Imperiall Iourney at Magunce whether the Pope Innocent sent his Legate for the subsidies of the Apostolike Chamber and the said Legate had power to dispence with all Ecclesiasticall persons touching Benefices which they had obtained otherwise then the holy Canons permitted In this assembly were the Archbishop of Magunce Treuers and of Colongne the Dukes of Saxe Bauiere and others The Emperor then called the Legate vnto him said The Pope hath sent you into Almaine to exact a great summe of siluer without reforming the Cleargie After hee said to a Canon of Magunce deliuer mee your hatte and gaue him his which was much worse Then said he to the Princes which were there Locke not I with this hatte more like a warriour then a man of the Church Then turned hee againe to the Archbishop of Magunce and said Wee commaund that you reforme your Cleargie and take away the superfluitie in their garments shooes hattes and other things The Popes Legate hearing this went away all confounded and as it were flying tooke a boate and got him to Cologne Naucler This Pope a true Tyrant of Babilon commaunded that Iohn de Roquetaillaid should be burnt in Auignon because he said something against the Cleargie This man saith Peter de Premonstre prophecied many things should come to passe touching Antichrist and the Popes and therefore was he held suspected of heresie For he began to prophecie the yeare of our Lord 1345. in the time of Clement the sixt and many things were seene come to passe of that he had foretold This Pope ordained the Feast of Iesus Christs Launce and nailes to the end those dead Idolls might bee adored by the Christians Hee Inuironed Auignon with walles and ditches and without the towne founded the Monasterie of Chartreux Before this Popes death there was a great Ecclips of the Sunne such as was neuer seene the like to shewe that that very time was so full of darknesse that scant was there any remainder of the light of truth in the Church There was also seene in his time a a flame after the
sunne-setting as Masseus witnesseth which endured a long time and shewed what a great fire should after come Moreouer there was great numbers of Grashoppers which after they had destroyed the corne euen all trees were burned As the said Pope was preparing an Armie by sea against the Turkes because the Romanes were in troubles and seditions he was so vexed in his minde that he died with griefe the yeare 1362. and was buried in the said Monasterie of Chartreux without the Towne of Auignon Vrbain fift of Limosin called before Grinnald Grisant the sonne of an English Phisitian called William Monke of S. Benet first Abbot of Auxerre and after of S. Victor nigh to Marseillis being absent in a certaine Embassage was created Pope He was a great Doctor of the Canon Lawe and an exceeding arrogant Maister He straight applied himselfe to defend the libertie of the Papall Church by couetousnesse dissolutions and pompes and chiefly serued himselfe therein with such as affectioned him most in such affaires But aboue all he sent one called Gilles a Spaniard Cardinall of S. Sabin as a Legate into Italie with full power Who as a true Executor of all his bloudie commaundements rode through all Italie and so repressed the Vicounts and other gouernours of Townes bringing vppon them great losses and hurts if they would not submit themselues vnder the obedience of the Romane Church Yues a Brittaine Priest solde his goods and gaue them to the poore and was Canonized after his death Sabell Armacan some call him Richard and qualifie him an Archbishop a learned man published conclusions against Friars teaching that it was a villainous thing for a Christian to begge without constraint Volater Baldus a Lawyer of Peruse was renowned in this time The Monasticke order of Iesuites began by Iohn Colomban and Francis Vincent of Bourgongne Volat. and Sabell They were afterward by the Popes priuiledge called the Apostolike Clarkes Brigide Princesse of Sauabe had foure sonnes and foure daughters a litle before Pope Vrbain died she went to Rome to erect the order which after she instituted Valat lib. 21. She then to accomplish her vow procured that the order of Monkes named with her name as well men as women might be confirmed The Emperour Charles merited great praise by the Bull of gold wherein he gathered many things very necessarie to maintaine publike peace Iohn king of France went into England for the deliuerance of his brother Duke of Orleance and of his sonne Iohn Duke of Berry and of many others which he left in hostage and being there died in London after was carried to S. Denis in France See Emili. lib. 8. 9. Charles fift of that name 51. king of France was surnamed le Sage Hee caused many Latin bookes to be translated into French yea bookes of holy scripture Amurathes the third Emperour of the Turkes raigned 23. yeares and was the first that entred into Europe For hee aided the Emperour of Constantinople and sent him 12. thousand men which passed into Greece This was after cause of the taking of the Couuntrey of Asia the yeare of Christ 1363. Wickliffe beganne as a breake of day the preaching of the Gospell Iohn Wickliffe an English man a man of great spirit flourished in this time and began as from a deepe night to draw out the truth of the doctrine of the sonne of God He studied in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and came to such degree of erudition that hee was thought the most excellenrest amongst the Theologians In his readings with the puritie of the doctrine which hee taught hee also liuely touched the abuses of the Popedome In so much that the Locusts that is to say the begging Monkes lifted themselues vp against him But the Lord gaue him for a Protector the King Edward during whose raigne he had great libertie in his profession Richard the said Edwards successour persecuted and banished him but as a true Champion of the Lord he remained alwaies constant euen to his death His conclusions his bookes and his doctrine shew sufficiently the gifts and graces which God had bestowed vpon him Whosoeuer will more largely know those things let him looke in the booke of Martyrs brought by vs into light since the said Wickliffe Vrbane went to Rome to pacifie Italie where hee builded many things at Viterbe and at Montlacon minding to returne into Italie And as he returned into France in hope to bring againe the Court to Rome he deceased at Marcellis not without great suspition of poysoning Sabel An Vniuersitie founded at Vienna in Austriche by Albert Duke of Austriche Planudes a Greeke Monke liued in this time hee translated Cato and other bookes out of Greeke into Latin Charles King of France often held his seate of Iustice and was altogether a man of peace neither was euer Armed Only walking nigh Paris he made his warres and other his affaires of importance by his brothers and other Committees by whom he recouered as it were all that which the English men had taken from his Father To helpe the charges of the warre he laid a Taxe vpon Salt Wine that men sold He had fiue Armies at once against the English men Gregorie Pope 11. of that name of Limosin ruled in Auignon 7. yeares 5. moneths before he was called Rogier sonne of the Earle of Benfort and Nephew of Pope Clement the sixt hee was the Disciple of Baldus the Legist who then read at Peruse Returne of the Papaltie to Rome Most of the Townes of Italie withdrawing themselues from his obedience as Volateranus saith at the perswasion of Caterine de Siene a Nunne of the order of Iacobins of Baldus his late maister parting frō France with 12. Gallies with 3. ranks of Ores returned to Rome the yeare of the Lord 1376. He pronounced sentence of Interdict against the Florentines which were the first authors of the reuolt and had seized all the Popes Townes which were about them Vpon whom finally he made strong and sharpe warre because they made no account of the thunder of his excommunications which the Legists said were of no validitie because they proceeded of hatred and enmitie Naucler Some set downe certaine causes of his returne into Italie A woman called Brigide saith Masseus returning from Ierusalem writ to Gregorie that the Lord would that the Romane Court should be turned into her house Cranzius addeth that as he reprehended a Bishop that he left his Church and followed the Court he answered him And thou saith he which art Pope of Rome and which ought to giue example to others why goest not thou to thy Bishoppricke Then transported he his seate to Rome at the perswasion of two women and of a Bishop the seuenth yeare after he was departed This Pope demaunded a tenth of all Church goods in Almaigne to gather it sent his Legate But many resisted formed appellations against the Pope saying that they could not pay it
King accorded them whilest the Prince of Conde leuied people in Suifferland and the Armie of Almaine whereof was the Captaine the Duke Cassimere marched composed of ten thousand horsemen sixe thousand Suissers two thousande Lansquenets three thousand French men and Wallons sixe great battering peeces and sixteene field peeces The 22. of December the Prince of Conde published in writing the causes wherefore hee brought that Armie into France in diuers places whereof in the meane while were courses and taking of Townes with notable happes and chaunges reserued vnto the generall Historie of our time To be briefe the confusion was extreame throughout all the kingdome and so much the more as almost all were blinded the Churches became very desolate and such as feared God and were of some iudgement did foresee nothing but new calamities Thus in fewe words was the estate of France this yeare 1575. The estate also of the low Countries was as followeth In the moneth of February by the aduise of the King of Spaine the Emperour sent into Brabant towards the Commaunder and from thence towards the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland the Count Schuartembourg to cōsider of the meanes for peace The said Count tooke so much paines therein that hostages were sent to the Prince for suerties of the Hollanders because assembly was made at Brede in Brabant where the Counte remained But because the Prince and the Hollanders persisted in their exercise of Religion the Commaunder vnwilling to consent therevnto the said negotiation came to no effect Incontinently that Towne and Castle de Bure appertaining to the Princes sonne being besieged by the Spaniards was yeelded by the cowardise of the Gouernour In the moneth of August following the Towne of Onde Water was besieged by the Spaniards by meanes wherof the Prince transported himself to Gonde to cause the dikes to be cut out wherof the Spaniards aduertised furiously beat the Towne and after a breach made gaue two assaults but receiued liuely repulses so that they returned the third time and then becomming maisters thereof they slew all the souldiers and Burgesses and burnt the most part of the Towne Amongst those souldiers there were two companies of Scots which not beeing able any more to stand vpon the breach because of the Canon and the violence of the assailants retyred into the Towne nigh the great Church where they fought the space of certaine houres very couragiously and they all dyed their weapons in their hands and neuer would yeeld themselues Foure dayes after the Spaniards besieged an other Towne called Schoonhouē The Prince quickly sent thither le Sieur de la Garde Colonell of the French companies in Holland who so wisely behaued himselfe that by capitulation he was licenced to go out with all his and their Armes and Iewels saued In the meane while the Commander practised so with certain Hollanders that he drew some to his part so that to the great astonishment of all he passed his Army through the straites of the Iles of S. Anne Phillip Lanat and Bunenlant got by assault the Fortresse of Bommene the twentie eight of September after incontinently besieged Ziriczeo one of the principallest Townes in Zeland The King of France was sommoned and required by the Estates of Poland to appeare in the Towne of Steczise the 12. day of May which he not performing they caused to be published that he was falne from his kingdome and from that time was there adiudged an interreigne as in the case of death which was published the 15. day of Iuly following at Cracouia and after in the principal Townes of the kingdome and an other day appointed for the Estates to prouide for a new election Henry Bullenger Minister in the Church of Zurich a learned Theologian of our time who with his writings hath greatly serued the Church of God hauing attained the age of 76. yeares dyed the 17. of September Rodolphe the eldest soone of the Emperour Maximilian hauing beene a yeare before crowned King of Hungarie was crowned King of Boheme in the great Church of Prage the 22. of September By the consent also of the Princes of the Empire he was elected King of Romanes and crowned at Ratisbone the first day of Nouember being then of the age of 24. yeares The estate of France in the yeare 1576. was such as followeth The 9. day of Ianuary the Duke of Alenson wrote vnto the Parliament of Paris the causes wherefore an army of Almanes for him entered into France and by them mightily threatned his enemies They ment to astonish the Parisians to the ende more easily to emptie their purses In the meane time there was sent messages vppon messages to the Prince of Conde and the Duke Cassimere to keep them from further entrance with their troupes but they aduanced into the kingdom tooke certain litle things of small importance The K. of Nuarre withdrew from the Court the 8. of February which the more augmented the hope of many touching the repose of the affaires of France But all things was so confused mingled together as it was no maruell if yet at this present things so wrinckled and knottedtogether bee impossible in regard of men to bee vntied and loosed The men of Warre were greatly outrayed Therefore they of Vuerettes by a common accorde leagued themselues notwithstāding the diuersitie of their religion to hold their Prouince in peace against all such as would enter with Armes The Duke of Alenson seeing nigh him the Almaine Armie demaunded siluer of the Churches in Languedoc but they were sucked by other horsleaches so that hee obtained nothing there nor other where but that he was aided by the King his brother Vpon these stirres the deputies of the Churches assembled at Paris vnder safe conduct to aduise vpon meanes of pacification And on the other side the Duke of Alenson ioyned himselfe vnto the Armie that Cassimere the Prince put in his hands the thirteenth day of March. Incontinently a peace was a making to cause to vanish in the aire all the strengths of them of the Religion and after many goings and commings it was accorded and so was made the fift Edict of pacification in the beginning of May agreeing vpō many things to the aduantage of them of the Religiō but they gained nothing therby but rather found themselues new to begin again The Almain Army retired without any memorable exployt The Duke of Alenson obteined much for himself Others were contented with promises and the Reisters in some sort were satisfied One of the principall articles of the Edict concerned the assembly of the States of the kingdome to take order for all affaires But it came otherwise to passe For that was the meanes which the enemies of the publike state vsed to make their leagues to breake the Edict for a newe commencement of warres and so to leaue the kingdome in more confusion then euer it was as appeared by the yeare following