the ennemy of Christe whiche neuerthelesse should speake like a Dragon like an euill spirite and should rage as vnmercifully as the firste beast did whiche destroyed Peter and Paule and great companies of fainctes whiche with her charmes should so bewitche the worlde and with monstrous workes should growe into suche admiration that none might by or sell but such as had the seale or the name of the beaste in his forehead But as touching the name of the beaste he shewes it mistically by these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch X St reciteth it to be discussed This saith Iohn is wysedome let him that hath vnderstanding accompt the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his nuÌ„ber is this 666. Apocal. 13. What meane thefe markes but that wee should searche the time wherein this beaste should arise from the earth and the bottomlesse pitte and should destroye the Christian common wealth But howe shall a man apply it if he haue not the certaine time when Pompeie toke the scepter from the Iewes according to the notable prophecie of Iacob entring the temple prophaned the Sanctum sanctorum But that was done as Iosephus wryteth in the time of Tullius consulship the 60. yeare before Christe was borne To these three score yeares adde six hundred vntill after the death of the sayd Gregorie the great who prophecied that he should be Antechriste whiche would be compted vniuersall bishop or head of all churches Therefore marke well what kinde of times happened in the 666. yeare after Hierusalem was taken by the Romaines Pompeie being their general and you shall se straunge matters fal out at the time that this Phocas was Emperour of whome VVilliam Stantphurdius wryteth as foloweth The Empier Phocas chokes and doth the Popedome first aduaunce By wicked writts about his Empier sent for to enhaunce And to confirme moste sure foray vnto the after age The premacy of Rome and of the dragon that doth rage Against Gods power Furthermore applie this misticall number of 666. containing highe wisedom in iâ— froÌ„ the time of Christes birth or from the tyme of his passion or from the xv yere of Domician at whiche time the reuelation was written and stil ye shal finde some moÌ„sterous thing wrought in the church But to returne to the matter of Englande In the yeare of Christe 593. Colman Harding and Fabian saye that the raigne of the seuen kinges at one time began whereby 173â— yeares after Brutus their first king the royall estate of the Brytishe king ceased For as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his fourth booke the Britaines founde tâ—at the Saxons were in steade of succourers suppressours and cruell ennemies vntrusty warring rigorously vpon them who had entertained them for ayde Anno 596. the foresaid Augustine sent from Gregorie came into Englande who at his comming did not reproue but maintaine and vpholde the wicked treasons the horrible robberies the slaughters more cruell then were Neroes whiche the Saxons coÌ„mitted Anno â–ª 600. Gregorie gaue to Augustine his byshops pall Thereby as was sayde London was spoyled of her right without all order to the destruction bothe of the commonwealth and of religion and finally the vndoing of the Brytishe kingdome and thereupon are sumptuous teÌ„ples builded Before that time the Britains had their churches dedicated to eternall God the father and to our sauiour his sonne Iesus Christe But afterwarde the SaxoÌ„s did coÌ„secrate their temples to Images and dead sainctes â–ª Anno. 604. the ChristiaÌ„ Emperour Maurice being slaine Phocas an adulterer and a murtherer obtayned the seate imperiall and in him the maiestie of the Caesars and the moste noble Empire of the Grekes decayed together As for the Romaine Empire that was weakened and empaired yea and at length brought to nothing by meanes of the Popedome whiche he had graunted and established Anno 606. in Nouember and December as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his 18. booke euen at the rising and beginning of the Popedome there appeared a wonderfull great blasing starre There were straunge sightes and monsters of the Sea shewed them selues to the terrour of many Thus in the time of this Phocas murderer of the Emperour whiche is to be noted as a misterie concerning the Popes Papistrie and Mahumets religion began bothe together at one time which corrupted darkened and weakened the doctrine of the sonne of God in many regions For in another yeare of the same Phocas as Bibliander writeth Mahumet recited the Alcoran so that saieth hee the Egles three heades awaked all at ones according to the heauenly vision in the fourth booke of Esdras that is to saye Phocas him selfe Pope Boniface Mahumet the Arabian now followeth the thirde troupe of Romishe Popes whiche is deuided into fiue partes The firste parte of this thirde troupes of the Popes or Romaine Antechristes prophecied of by the names of Sodome or Egypt Apocal. 11. vntill the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1. Boniface the thirde ABout this time the bishoppers of Constantinople endeuoured to obstaine the title of vniuersall bishop and to haue their Church called the head of all Churches vsing these fonde reasons that because the Emperour beinge chiefe of all Princes kepte at Constantinople therefore that shoulde be the chiefest Church and there the chiefe bishop This ambitioÌ„ enflamed many to speake and wryte against it but especiallye the late Gregorye who in this wyse reproued Iohn bishop of Constantinople for the same Sayinge None of my predecessors although the Emperours began first in Rome and were wont to byde there onelye and yet do keepe the title thereof durste take vppon them this title of vniuersall bishop And againe Gregorye sayd plainlye that such a one was the forerunner of Antichrist Yet notwithstanding that the Church of Constantinople with great infamye preuailed not herein because that Antichrist or the whore of Babilon according to the 13. of the Reuelation should be in the Citty builded on seuen hilles that is Rome it selfe For so diuers auctors testifye that onelye Rome is knowen to be builded on vii hils and certaine it is that when this Reuelation was written Rome was then the greatest Cittye being built on seuen hils as Mantuan testifyeth in the life of Syluester speaking of S. Blaze at the ende of the first booke And the fulnesse of that time prophecied of now drawing nighe this Boniface the thirde Anno 607. by the meanes of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer traytour and murtherer of his Lorde and soueraine Maurice the Emperour with his wife and children was aduaunced to be bishop of Rome with much hurley burley and greate tumulte and in despite of manye bishops and Churches standinge against it he is extolled confirmed and worshipped as Lorde and Prince of all bishoppes By great sute but greater bribery he obtayned of the sayde bloudye Emperour that Rome should be called the head of all Churches partlye by the same reasons that Constantinople vsed as Platina sayth that where the heade
decrees and to coÌ„firme that auctoritye which the Church had gotten Amonge many other enormities he coÌ„cluded that no priests sonne shoulde be capable of orders He made the archbishop of Toledo primate of Spaine vppon condition that he should sweare fealtye to the Pope so by that meanes he broughte Spaine vnder his winge He cursed the kinge of Fraunce for imprisoning a bishop He caused all that should take order to sweare with this clause So God helpe me and the holye Euangelistes finally he standing in awe of one Iohn Pagan a Romaine did hide himselfe for two yeares in the house of one Peter Lion where he dyed Anno 1099. And his bodye was conueyed by nighte ouer Tiber for feare of his foes the same yeare also dyed Clement the thirde who had seene in his time the death of three Popes Of the former Hildebrand and this Vrban his scholler Theodor Bibliander writeth thus to Princes of al estates Hildebrand sayth he by sturringe vp the Greeke Emperour against the Turkes did sowe the seede of the voiage of Gog Magog vppon-whom the bloude of the Church cryeth vengeaunce that was shed wyth the sworde of his tongue But this Vrban by causinge Christians to goe warre vppon Pagans with vaine colour of fighting for the holye Lande for Christes Sepulcher hath caused more Christian bloud to be shedde of all Nations then can be esteemed and did it onelye to oppresse Clement the second and his faction the while to restore himselfe to be Pope In the time of this VrbaÌ„ VVilliam Rufus kinge of England was sore combred with the proude prelate Anselmus archbishop of Canterbury who wheÌ„ he was commaunded to aunsweare to his misbehauiour did auoide it in appealinge to the Courte of Rome both against the liking of al the bishops in Englande and in spite of the kinges harte went to complaine to the Pope 101. Paschal the second PAschal the seconde was an Italian called before Rainerus hee was made Cardinall of S. Clements by Hildebrande his Scholemaister succeded Vrban He when he sawe he shoulde be chosen woulde not take the place vppon him vntil the people had cryed thre times S. Peter choseth thee worthie man Raynarde Then hauinge a purple roabe vppon him and a Miter on his head he was brought vppon a white horse vnto Lateran where hee receyued the Popes Scepter and had the gyrdle put about him wheron are hanged seuen keyes and as manye Seales All the time he raigned he was continually busyed in warres and â—editioâ—s attemptinge by all meanes possible to aduaunce yet hier the estate of the Popedome He draue out furiouslye from their places all those bishops and abbots that were established by the Emperour At this time there was a certaine prelate called Fluentinus who seinge the greate enormityes that presently choaked the Christian Church held opinion that Antichrist was incarnate and borne and that he was reuealed herein And therefore sayth Sabellicus the Pope held a councel against him with the bishops of Italy and Fraunce in Rome amonge other canons he concluded it heresye to denye obedience to the Pope and made a canon for paying of tenthes to priestes concluding it siane against the holye Ghoste to sell the tenthes He renued and published the excommunication against the Emperour and caused the bishop of Mentz of Collen and of VVormes to thrust him froÌ„ his estate taking his Crowne from him with al princelye title dignitye and honour Yea and which is horrible to be heard not content with this he did prouoke and arme his onelye sonne Henry the fifte to rebell against him being his naturall father A lamentable and pitifull case to see the onelye child of so good noble a father not beinge prouoked by any iniurye on the fathers part not onely to despise to forsake and reuolt from his father denying to ayde him but also to assault hym by force of armes to enclose him with his armye as he did and toke him entrapped by treason spoyled robbed him of his royal estate and forced the wretched and miserable man captiue to his owne child to dye a double and dolefull death Thus could the Pope put the sworde in the sonnes hand forsing him to sheath it in his fathers bowels Neither could this vnnaturall death of the good olde man cause the vnnaturall rancour to dye in the Popes breast but for further reuenge he coÌ„maunded that the Emperours carkasse should not be buryed but first be cast out of the Church and be caryed from Leodos to Spira where it rotted fiue yeares without any Christian burial But lo what a wonder God wrought in the meane time To testify sayth Abbas Vspergensis the Popes tyrannye it rayned bloud at Spira It were a lamentable thing to tell at large the maner of the Popes vnmerciful dealing with this good Emperour For first the forenamed bishops comminge to him to Hilgeshem they coÌ„maunded him to deliuer vp his Diademe his Purple roabes his Signet and other like ornaments belonging to the Empyre WheÌ„ he required a reason thereof they aunsweared partly for sellinge spirituall liuinges but chiefely for the Popes pleasure Wyth that the good Emperour sighing saide Ye know you receyued your bishoprickes at my hande that I gaue them freelye and am giltye of no suche cryme and yet do you thus quite my curtesye But the vnthankful prelates moued neither with allegeaunce oath nor benefite prosecuted their purpose and first yelding him no reuerence they plucked froÌ„ him sitting in his place of estate his Crowne Emperial and his Purple roabe and his Scepter He beinge thus stripped out of his royaltye and forsaken sayde pacientlye Let God see and iudge They leauing him bestowed these things vppon the sonne creating him causing him forthwith to pursue his father forcing him to flye but wyth ix parsons to the Dukedome of Limborough where the duke beinge his deadly ennemye did also make speede to apprehende him The Emperour perceyuing himselfe thus entrapped and fearing death submitted himselfe to the duke beseaching him rather to shewe mercye then vengeaunce Herevpon the noble harted duke thoughe the Emperour had whilom displaced him of his Dukedome yet pityinge his miserye he both forgaue him entertayned him curteously in his Castel and w t an armye conducted him to Collen where he was well receyued But the sonne hearinge thereof besieged the Citye but the father fled by night to Leodium where so manye louinge hartes resorted to him that he bad his sonne a battaile and ouerthrewe him and still desyred that if his sonne were taken he should be saued harmelesse Yet the sonne ceased not but renuinge the battaile preuayled and so dispossessed his father whoe in the ende was brougth to such penurye that he craued of the bishop of Spire to giue him but a prebende to liue vppon in the Church But the earle forgetting the benefites receyued of him in his prosperitye denyed him flatlye and said by ladye ye get none here Thus after he
very learnedly and fully entreating hereof wherin as wel the allegacions of the Papistes for Peters being at Rome substantially confuted as reasons brought to improue the same And therefore had it not bene so necessarely appertinent to the argument of this booke I would rather haue referred the reader to their doynges then haue spoken any thing thereof Nowe it remayneth to leaue Peter and to come to the bishops of Rome The order of this history requirth that euerye byshop should be here placed as eche succeded other But there is suche confusion amonge them that wryte of them that no man can certainly tell whome to place first second thirde nor fourth And least it be thought to be spoken rather of affection then otherwyse I thought good to shewe out of Vspergensis their owne authour what wrangling and disagreement there is for those that succeded Peter which though it be somwhat loÌ„g yet is it necessary to be shewed that it may appeare what certaintie they haue of Peter those to whome he committed this vniuersall Popedome The wordes of VspergeÌ„sis in the life of Claudius be these Touching the succession of the Romaine byshops their order â—and the tymes wherein they raigned from the beginning diuerse men thinke diuersly whose opinions I wil here briefly set downe c. Some wryte whereunto the ecclesiasticall history agreeth that after the death of Peter sitting at Rome chiefe of the Churche xxv yeares Linus did next take the gouernement vpon him And when he had ruled xii yeares in the second yeare of Titus he lefte it to Anacletus who also after other xii yeares gaue it to Clement whiche semeth to be in the xiii yeare of Domician Clement after nine yeares suffered vnder Traian After him in the fourth place came Euaristus the nexte was Alexander and then Sixtus and so forth But other wryte that Linus and Cletus were both vnder Peter as his vicars or curates and that Peter as soone as he had taken the Papacy vpon him did appointe Linus in his steade to gouerne the churche whereby he him selfe might the better folowe his function of preaching and that he departing after twelue yeres Peter did substitute Cletus in his place who also dying after twelue yeres euen the same yere that Peter suffered vnder Nero. Then Peter committed his seate to ClemeÌ„t giuing to him and his successours power to bynde and loose whome Anacletus succeded in the tyme of Domician then folowed Euaristus c. But because these accomptes do not agree let vs consider wherein they differ and so trie whiche semeth more credible Therefore if Linus left Anacletus and he Clemens then is Clement thrust out of the beadroll of Popes whose reuerence is so great among all Churches that he is not only mentioned among martyrs but also in the Canon of the masse and in the Letany or procession is placed betwene Linus and Clemens But if after Linus Cletus be placed and then Clemens then Euaristus then Alexander c there is no place for Anacletus to get in And Beda in his Martyrtologie that Anacletus was the fourthe after Peter and suffered vnder Domician making Linus first Cletus second Clemens thirde and Anacletus fourth But if Anacletus be placed after Clement and as Beda sayeth died vnder Domician then cannot it holde that his predecessour Clemens should suffer vnder Traian because it may euideÌ„tly be proued that he suffered vnder Domician if his successour Anacletus bee not denied to suffer vnder the same Emperoure Furthermore if Linus and Anacletus as some saye or Linus and Cletus as other saye did bothe rule twelue yeares a peece after the death of Peter dyinge the xiiii yeare of Nero then it arysing to 24. yeares it falleth out that the latter of them should suffer in the xii of Domician so Clemens could not receaue power to binde and loose neither the seate of Peter Whiche opinion also is coÌ„firmed of diuerse and to this is added that Dionysius Areopagita hasting from Athens to Rome againste the martyrdome of the Apostles Peter and Paule but comming a little to late and sone after their deathes did there finde Clemens his scholefellowe bishop of Rome c. Who sent the same Dionysius into Fraunce to preache But it is saide that this Dionysius was martyred Anno domini 96 whiche is the xiiii yeare of Domician and before his death he had continued long had done very muche in FrauÌ„ce and yet it is sayde that Clemens who sent him thether was made byshop but the twelfth yeare of Domician Againe the booke of the passion of Pope Alexander saith that Clemens was the first after Peter for so it is there written In the fift place after Peter came Alexander But if it were the second from Peter then it foloweth that Cletus being before Clement and Anacletus after him be pushed out because Alexander must be the fifte Namely Peter first Linus seconde Clement thirde Euariste the fourth and Alexander the fifte For otherwyse Alexander cannot be the fift from Peter because if Linus be the seconde froÌ„ Peter and Cletus after Anacletus be placed before Clement Alexander shal be the sixt But if Cletus be before Clement and Anacletus after him then shall Alexander be the seuenth vnlesse Clement be the second after Peter Thus farre doth Vspergensis wander in this maze and thus it appeareth what certaintie the Churche of Rome hath of her beginning of Peters being there of bequeathing his supremacy to whome neither they nor any other for them can tell But ye se howe many bishops here wrestle for the first place and howe they are tossed from the first to the seconde and an other whyle hoisted to the third and fourth place yea and some time shoued cleane out of place So harde a thing it is to finde a sure man that for the beginning of this history a man may wel doubt with whome to beginne but we must be content in this hurly burly either to cast lottes to finde out the ring leader or els to take and set an order among them though perhap not the same wherein they liued yet as if it were the same And if any of the good byshops lese his place of senioritie we must desire him to take it paciently and to blame the negligence of their parishioners and successours of Rome who because nature vseth not to ascende but to discend so muche regarded them selues and their children with the tyme present that they forgat their forefathers if these were they and the tyme past ¶ The first face of the Romaine churche vnder Heathen Emperours FOr the first sorte of Romayne byshops that is from Linus to Syluester they liued continually vnder persecutions For as Eusebius sheweth from the yeare of our lord 67. till the time of Constantine being about thre hundred yeares were tenne persecutions The first by Nero with al rigour and crueltie that might be wherof Hierome in his epistle to Cramatius and Heliadorus
saith that there wer fiue thousand Christians martyred euery daye in the yeare sauing the first daye of Ianuary For they were persecuted by Nero his commaundement in all places with diuerse straunge kinde of tormeÌ„tes and reprochefull villanies not to be mencioned The seconde persecution was moued by the Emperoure Domician Anno. 96. who was a man so much delighted in killing murthering that as the prouerbe went of him he would not haue a flye aliue with him for being as he coueted moste solitary by him selfe in his pallaice he vsed to catche and kill all the flies that came in his waye Againe he was so hawty aboue measure that he woulde nedes be counted a God and therefore it may easely be iudged what rest the Christians had in his time The thirde persecution was raysed by Traianus Anno 100. so bloudely that euen the Heathen Pliny moued with pitie bewayled it vnto the Emperoure The fourth persecution was styrred Anno. 167. by the Emperour Marcus Antonius lasting long vnder sondrie Emperours vnmercifully The fift persecution was caused by Seuerus the Emperour with all seueritie forbidding that any more should be baptized purposing so to roote out the name of ChristiaÌ„s Anno. 205. The sixth persecutioÌ„ was enkindled by Maximinê° 237. The seuenth was enflamed by Decius the Emperoure Anno. 250. as terrible as the rest The eight was broched by diuerse parsones in diuerse places As by Galerius Maximus and Paternus proconsuls in Aphrica by Emilianus Liuetenaunt in Egypt beside diuers other great magistrates in Rome els where Anno. 259. The ninth by the Emperour Aurelianus Anno. 278. The tenth and last as the last acte of a tragedy was brought vpon the churche with all kinde of saueige cruelty without pity or compassion by the bloudy tyrant Dioclesian and continued by other till the comming of the noble Constantine And this was the state of the churche vnder the Emperours of Rome for these yeares Nowe let the reader iudge of what maiestie and countenaunce the prelates in this time were like to be of what wealth abilitie to maintaine a poÌ„pous estate Or what it was that might moue them to make any suche ambicious decrees as haue bene falsely forged on them And hereby discerne the after age in the Romaine churche to this daye howe farre they differ from this as shall appeare THE FIRST COMPANIE OF ROMAINE BISHOPS being in nomber to Syluester the first xxxij all whiche were godly and faithfull pastours farre from all wordly pompe and glory either in pride of attier as miter and pall or of hawty and ambicious title of Christes generall vicar but paynfull preachers of the Gospell with all humilitie and constant martyrs in the ende 1. Linus the first bishop of Rome as some thinke THe first bishop was one Linus a Thuscane borne a man of pure and godly life according to the example of the Apostles who for preaching the Gospell suffered martyrdome vnder Saturninus the Consull while Vespasian raigned Diuerse fansies are fathered vpon this man as that he decreed by the commaundement of Peter being dead that no woman should enter into the temple bareheaded whiche cannot be for there were no temples in Rome til the time of Constantine the Emperour for Christian Congregations And Manâ—uan Fastor 1. testifieth that they were fayne for feare of the tyrantes to forsake towne and City and to lyue in these dayes in desertes woodes and mountaynes whiche maye bewraye the dotage of Platina and other who charge these first godly martyrs with diuerse supersticions diuised by other long after 2. Anacletus the first ANacletus borne at Athens by Irenaeus is placed next after Linus He was of an excellent and feruent spirite and of great learning planted the churche of God with daily labour He was put to death by DomitiaÌ„ Anno. 94. Certaine epistles and decrees stuffed full of falsehoode and vntruthes ioyned with ambicion touching the ordering primacie of bishops are counterfaited in his name But Flaccus Illyricus in the first Centurie doth so rip the seames of them that euery man may perceiue what botched stuffe it is Beside Mantuan saith that he liued long not in any suche estate to haue occasion to wryte of suche matters but in caues and dennes among woodes 3. Clement the first THe next was Clement a Romaine who aduaunced the Gospell by continuall preaching and good dedes They forge of him that he did deuide Rome into parishe churches who had scant a lodging in it Againe they slaunder him that he made orders in Rome for confirmation of children for masses apparell vestures and popishe ceremonies and yet he sylly man was of so smale power and authoritie to establishe these thinges in Rome that he was a long tyme banished by the Emperour to hewe marble stones and at the length with an anchour about his necke was cast into the sea Anno. 102. so writeth Mantuan Fasto 11. 4. Euaristus the first EVaristus a Grecian was especially endewed with the grace of God whereby in the time of persecutioÌ„ he ceased not to encrease the churche of Christe by his diligent preaching till he was martyred vnder Traian An. 110. 5. Alexander the first ALexander a Romaine did trauayle painfully both to preache and baptize He suffered great tormentes till he died thereof vnder one Aurelianus president to the Emperoure Anno. 121. 6. Sixtus the first SIxtus a Romaine did both preache diligently and did many good workes He beautified the churche with godly deedes being euer vigilant and carefull for his flocke and died for it Anno. 129. These three good byshops are slaundered with certaine popishe decrees as touching consecrating of the Clergy holy water and holy vessels but olde verses made of these times do testifie that they were not at suche leasure to furnishe or rather disguise the churche with these supersticious ceremonies Thus do some wryte of these tymes Vrbibus antiqui patres fugiere relictis c. The tyrantes did our auncetours compell To flye to woodes and not in townes to dwell 7. Telesphorus the first TElesphorus a Grecian was a worthy man for learning and godly life He bare witnesse of Christe moste faythfully both by his wordes and death vnder the Emperoure Antoninus who executed him Anno. 140. He is slaundered to haue decreed that thre masses should be sayde on Christmas daye And yet at this time the masse was vnhatched yea the dame thereof except Sathan the bell sier was as a man maye saye not yet an egge in the neaste of that vncleane byrde Neyther was the superstitioÌ„ of making difference of dayes yet crepte into the churche being contrary to the doctrine of Paule Galath 4. But suche supersticious fasting as afterward choked the churches was not diuised by this bishop but rather by Montanus the heretike who beside this made it lawfull to breake wedlocke and to dissolue the band of matrimony 8. Higinus the first HIginus borne in Athens being of a Christian philosopher made a byshop discharged the dutie of
Idolatry in worshipping them then that the saluage people should harme the dead bodies Hee died ere he had raigned Pope two yeares Anno. 638. Platina reporteth that in this mans tyme a certaine priest robbed the tombe of Rothaeris in S. Iohn Baptistes churche for sayth he they were wonte to burie certayne precious thinges with kinges bodies The like thing happened of late tyme to Cardinall Allouisius Patriarke of Aquilia for his graue being burste vp he was robbed by those whome he from very base estate had aduaunced to the dignitie of priestes and better calling 8. Theodorus THeodorus the firste was a Grecian borne the sonne of Theodorus byshop of Hierusalem hee builded manye churches in Rome and golden shrines for sainctes He â—et vp the reliques of Sainctes in golde siluer in the church He forbad that mariage made after a single vowe shoulde be broken He depryued Pyrrus byshop of Constantinople for heresy He appointed that tapers should be halowed on Easter eue for Easter time He died Anno. 646. 9. Martin the first MArtin the first a Tuderdinian borne made lawes for keping holy dayes and decking of churches suche as the Idolatours before were woÌ„t to kepe He gaue straight charge that priestes should shaue their polles and that bishops should make euery yeare as they call it an holye Chrisme and sende it to euery churche in their Diocese He burthened the Clergie with vowe of single life and appointed that a couple being married ere they lay together the bridegrome bryde should haue the priestes blessing He commaunded also that priestes houses should be buylt next to the churche That Monkes shoud not go out of the abbies without the Abbots leaue in a Synode at Rome that bishops should not transpose the churche goodes to their owne priuate vse He died Anno. 656. VVicelius sayth he was very vehement against certaine sectes excoÌ„municating them whome he ought by the scripture to haue admonished He deposed Paule Patriarke of Constantinople not admonishing him first once or twise according to S. Paule rule for the whiche he was bounde in chaynes and so brought to Constantinople by the Emperour ConstaÌ„tinus wher in banishmeÌ„t he died in great miserie An. 653. 10. Eugenius the first EVgenius the firste was a Romaine commended for his manners But VVicelius saith this Pope did neuer any notable dede but decreed that bishops should haue prisons to punishe priestes Thus by little and little they encroched the power of temporall swearde certaine letters were sent vnto him from Constantinople contayning heresie whiche were so detested that saith Platina the Clergie it selfe toke vppon them to forbidde the Pope to saye masse in S. Maries churche vnlesse he would firste burne the letters then might the Clergie controll the Popes slackenes or errour in religion 11. Vitellianus VItellianus borne in Campania being an excellent musician wrote the ecclesiasticall Canon he broughte singing and organs into the churche He accused one Iohn minister in a certaine churche in Crete vnto the bishop of that place for hauing a wife He made the Latin howers songes masses idolatry and ceremonies adding and turning all into Latine about the yeare of Christes incarnation 666. which was the number of the name of the beast spoken of in the 13. of the Apocal. Here therefore is to be noted that the nuÌ„ber of the beast agreeth vnto this time secondly the number of the yeares conteined in the name of the beaste is founde out in this woorde λατεινοσ as who would saye that Antechriste shal be a Latin or in the Latin churche who shall come to his perfection in the yeare 666. Also the letters of his name shall amounte to this number and last of all is to be noted how that beside this Lateinos expressed the Latin bishop and the time of Antechriste it agreeth with the straunge doinges of this tyme that all thinges were turned into Latin in the churche And because that this mistery of sixe hundred sixty sixe spoken of in the Reuelation may appeare euen to the moste simple to agree vnto the churche of Rome as in this place is saide it is first to be considered that the auncient father Irenaeus being immediatly after the Apostles reading this place and considering of the woordes of S. Iohn saying Let him that hath wisedome counte the nuÌ„ber of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred sixty sixe Irenaeus I saye considering of these wordes did at the length finde out that this number agreed to this Greeke name λατεινοσ and therefore he sayde that surely Antechriste should be a Latin and in the Latin churche for the Grekes in whose tongue the Reuelation was written do expresse their numbers by their letters as we do by figures And in their numbringe this letter λ the firste letter of that name standeth for thirty the next letter α standeth for one the thirde letter Ï„ for three hundred the iiii letter ε for fiue the fift letter ι for tenne the sixte letter ν for fiftie the seuenth letter ο for threscore and tenne and the eight and last letter σ standeth for twoo hondred So that if these eight numbers that is thirty one three hundred fiue ten fifty seuenty and two hundred be added together they make sixe hundred sixty sixe â—umpe Againe nuÌ„ber so the letters in this worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ecclesia Italica that is the Italian churche and ye shall finde it also make iump six hundred sixty sixe For in the former worde of these two there are right letters whereof the firste is ε standing for fiue the second κ in value twenty and so the thirde is κ that is twenty the fourth λ that is thirty the fift η that is eight the sixt Ï‚ that is twoo hundred the seuenth is ι that is tenne the eight is α and that standeth for one All whiche numbers added together make 294. Nowe to coine to the latter woorde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Italica in it are seuen letters the firste is ι and is euer set in the Grecian numbers for ten the seconde Ï„ for three hundred the third α for one the fourth λ for thirty the fift ι for tenne the sixt κ for twenty the seuenth and last is α for one all whiche seuen numbers amounte to three hundred seuenty and two then vnto this adde the nuÌ„ber of the former word whiche was two huÌ„dred ninty foure and the whole somme is lumpe sixe hundred sixty sixe Furthermore in the same thirtene chapter and the firste verse thereof S. Iohn speaking of this beaste saith that the beaste had seuen heades And in the seuententh of the Reuelation the Angell doth expounde this mistery vnto Iohn saying the seuen heades were vii mountaines vpon which the woman meaninge the forenamed whore of Babilon doth sit and afterwarde againe he saith that the same woman whom Iohn saw sitting on the beast with seuen heades is that great Cittye which hath rule ouer the kinges of the earth At
which time it is manifest to all the world that Rome had the soueraignitye and Empyre of all the world and that it was then the great Cittie and none but it of whom this might be said neither is it knowen that anye other Cittye is or hath bene built vppon seuen hilles And that Rome is so it appeareth by diuers writers Romaines and other that report it as they haue seene it Amonge other Munster in his Topographie doth not only in the descriptioÌ„ of Rome testifie that there are seuen hilles but also sheweth the names of them euerye one which are these Auentinus Capitolinus Palatinus Caelâ—us Exquilinus Viminalis and Quirinalis hill Properâ—ius the Poet confirmeth it briefely in a verse saying thus of Rome Septem vrbs alta iugis toti quae presidet orbi the like hath Virgil in hys Georgicks Septem quae vno sibi muro circundedit arces speakinge it of Rome Mantuan in his Fast. li. 2. doth in like maner describe Rome calling it RomuleaÌ„ septem cuÌ„ Collibus vrbem So of the Grekes it is called Heptalophos wherin Hepâ—a signifieth 7. and lophoâ— an hil head or top This Vitellianus commaunded shauings and annointings of the clergye to be vsed geuing vnder these markes liceâ—s to buy and sell pardons in the Churche as was prophesyed of Antichrist after he had choaked the Church with much palcry he dyed At this time at the fulnesse of Antichrist moÌ„kery grew into superstitious estimation At this time also these two straunge thinges were wrought Abbeis were first founded for monkes kinges were shaued and made monkes 12. Theodatus the second THeodatus the second a Romaine borne was made Pope beinge but a monke He bestowed great cost to make a sumptuous abbey of that from whence he came He gaue licence to moÌ„kes to transport Benedict Nursin patriarcke of his own order with a scholesister of theirs from Cassim mount into Fraunce At this time were manye straunge thinges as a blasinge starre appearing 3. monethes continually with great raine often thonders with a strauÌ„ge Rainbowe and earthquakes suche as the like were neuer heard of And some say that the corne being beaten downe with these strauÌ„ge tempests of raine did spring vp againe and grew to ripenesse For these thinges Theodatus caused prayers often to be said and dyed Anno 675. 13. Donus the first DOnus the firste was made Pope in a miserable tyme when the fieldes and the corne were burnt vp with thoÌ„der lightninges and showers He as Popes vse beautified S. Peters porche with pillers And after he had punished certaine Nestoria heretikes he scattered theÌ„ in diuers abbeis in Italy He restored certayne olde churches he deuided the Clergie into diuers orders and aduaunced them with seuerall kindes of honour and dignitie After muche controuersie he made subiect to Rome Rauennas churche Theodorus the Archebishop therof agreing to it through the Popes flattery whiche churche before was called Alliocephalis After he had done many â—uche dedes he died Anno. 679. 14. Agathon the first AGathon the first as Gratian writeth Distinct. 19. being a Monke of Sicill coÌ„maunded that the Popes decrees should be taken for as canonicall and authenticall as the Apostles wrytings So he gaue as great auctoritie to the masse whiche was clouted together by sondry Popes But wickedly he coÌ„demned the mariage of ministers of the Latine churche He sent one Iohn a Monke and Archedeacon of Rome into Englande Anno 679. to teache them here the manner of their reading singing ceremonies in their churches And the better to vtter his knackes of celebrations and sacrifices as Beda wryteth in his fourth booke 18. chapter de Gestis Anglorum He â—ent his Oratours Iohn bishop of Portua and Iohn Deacon of the Romaine churche to the sixt Sinode of Constantinople and against the Monothelites he sent one Agathus In the whiche Sinode the Clergie of the Greke churche were allowed mariage and the Latin churche forbidden it Also among other thinges then done the eight daye after Easter Anno 681. the said Iohn of Portua did first of al say the Latin masse openly before the Prince and the Patriarke and people of Constantinople all men allowing it for nouelties sake as a newe founde thing whiche taking roote hereupon was receiued in all churches whiche helde vpon the Pope In this Popes time after straunge Eclipses both of Sunne and Moone was a Pestilence so contagious in Rome that the Pope him selfe died thereof The seate then was vâ—yde a yeare and a halfe 15. Leo the second LEo the seconde was a Monke very learned as well in Greke as in Latin and so skilfull in Musick that hee brought the notes of the Psalmes and Hymnes to better harmonie He coÌ„firmed the sixt Synode partly to establishe the masse partly because by it also the Clergie of the West churche were forbidden mariage He translated into Latin the ordinaunce of mariage He appointed that the Pax shoulde be borne aboute and be kissed of the people while masse was saying Also that if neede did require there shoulde be Christening euery daye He would haue for their sake of Rauenna no election of any bishop to stande in force vnlesse hee were first confirmed by the bishop of Rome But sayth VVicelius without payinge for his pall or anye other money which saith Platina I would it were kept still in Rome for out of this bribing at this day many mischieues aryse For as yet they durst not enterprise wholly such polling as they did afterwarde aboute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeares after Christe for in time past the vi Princes of Italye did confirme the bishops of Italy yea and the Pope him selfe Afterwarde the Emperour Constantine the fourth agreing thereunto the election was againe ratified in the handes of the Clergie and the Laitie But the Prelates of Rauenna being emboldened because that the court of the sixe states was among theÌ„ would not obey the churche of Rome but auouched that they were egall in dignitie And thus Foelix being their bishop after Theodorus went about to shake of the Popes yoke and to recouer their lost libertie But the Emperour that was then Iustinian sonne of the sayde Constantinus being set on by Leo with standeth the purpose of Foelix and after he had by assaulte wonne the towne he boared out the byshops eyes with a whot burning iron Leo before the ende of his tenne monethes died Anno. 685. in which time the moone was in a moÌ„sterous and straunge Eclipse appearing as redde as bloud all the night long diuers nightes together 16 Benedictus the second BEnedict the second whose holinesse they said moued the Emperour Constantine the fourth if they father not a falsehode on him after his death to decree that henceforth the Pope of Rome should haue authoritie ouer the people without the licence of the Emperoure or the sixe states of Italy whiche lasted not long He reedified diuers temples enriching them with vessels of golde syluer and guilt with coapes of
Italy hee began to consider howe he might aduaunce the dignitie of the Popedome whiche before that the Emperour might counte him holy he refused He put downe Iohn Archebishop of Rauenna for maintaining the olde libertie of his byshoprike and brought that churche into perpetuall bondage Among many decrees he concluded that no seculer prince no not the Emperour him selfe should be so hardye as to come in among the Prelates in their counsayle onlesse they were debaiting matters of beliefe then the Emperour should execute those whome the Pope iudged to be heretikes Also he decreed that the layetie should not take vpon them to iudge the life of the Clergie neither to dispute of the Popes auctoritie power Also he decreed that Christian magistrates should haue no auctoritie ouer a prelate because saith he the pope is called God Auton Tit. 16. He coÌ„maunded that the Clergie should not be warriours but study howe to talke and perswade He commaunded agayne that diuine seruice should be sayde in Latin But yet graunted the Sclauonian and Polonians to haue it in their owne tongue by dispensation He added the Sequencias to the masse He added Gloria in excelsis to be songe to the masse on Maundy thursday He added the terme of Apostolicall auctoritie to the Popes decrees He commauÌ„ded mariage to be openly soleÌ„nised he allowed that the sacramentes might be receiued of euill ministers He firste bounde the Clergie to single life But Huldericus bishop of Augusta controlled his wickednesse herein by a sharpe epistle he died Anno. 867. 43 Hadrian the second HAdrian the seconde the sonne of Talaris a bishop was by the people and the Clergie made Pope before the Emperours Embassadours could come thether For then the Romaines did by force take vpon them the election of the Pope whiche when the Embassadours tooke in euill part they were thus aunswered that the wyll of the multitude could not be brideled in such a tumult But yet they had done happely because they had appointed such a good man The Embassadours euen of compulsion seing there was no remedie to abrogate the election did against their willes pronounce him Pope being confirmed he bestowed muche on the poore He sent three Legates bishops all Leopart Syluester and Dominicus that were bredde and brought vp in his kitchin to kepe the Bulgarians and Dalmacians within his dominion whom Nicolas had brought to the yoke before But the Bulgarians hauing had proofe of his tyranny draue out the Italian priestes and receiued the priestes of the Greke churche This enkindled hotte coales betwene the Latins and the Grecians Hadrian died Anno 873. Before whose death it rayned bloud three dayes at Brixia and all Fraunce was miserably troubled with Locusts Alfredus king of England toke his crowne of this Pope and was anoynted whiche neuer any king of Englande did before But afterwarde he was called the Popes adopted sonne 44 Iohn the ninth IOhn the ninth was excellently learned bothe in Latine and in Greke He in his soueraintie crowned three Emperours Charle the baald Charles Balbus and Charles Crassus Carolus Caluus vnderstanding that the Emperour was dead hied him to Rome to Pope Iohn whome with his bribes he allured to satisfie his desire and so was made Emperour by him and receiued the crowne Emperiall But about a yeare after he was poysoned at Mantua by one Sedechias a Iewishe phisition an enchauÌ„ter Iohn hearing of his death beÌ„t al his force to make Charles Balbus to succede his father but the Romaine Lordes withstoode him and made Charles Crassus Emperour The Pope standing obstinatly in his frowarde purpose was taken of the citezens put in prison because he would not relent but being released by his friendes helpe he fled into Fraunce And bestowing the imperiall crowne on Balbus saluteth him Emperour In the meane time Crassus hauing gotten the citie of Rome causeth Iohn with terrour to retourne from Fraunce Who returning to Rome willeth the Emperour to let him returne in safetie maketh him Emperour and setteth the crowne on his head Iohn at his being in Fraunce sommoned a counsell at Treca wherein he condemned certaine contentious persones and made many lawes to the aduauncement of Popery Afterwarde he wrote to Lewis Balbus that the priuiledges of the Church of Rome could not be abrogate without a prescription of an hundreth yeares Also he made it sacrilege to take any holy thing of any vnholy persone or any vnholy thing of an holy persone He excommunicated these that were gilty of sacrilege but in suche sorte that for money they might be dispensed withall Hee gaue to many men sainctes reliques for great iewels He confyrmed the liberties belonging to ecclesiastical persones cloysters church goodes monasteries and clarkes He prepared an army against the Saracenes and droue theÌ„ out of Italy and Sicil. He died Anno. 883. At this time the Empier was translated from the Frenchemen to the Germaines by Carolus Crassus 45 Martin the second MArtin the second was a Frencheman whose father was a Necromancier and coniuring prieste he gate to be Pope not by honest meanes but by crafte ill artes They saye that by this mans subtell enticement the foresayde Iohn was apprehended and layde in pryson and so constrayned by his frendes ayde to flye into Fraunce to saue his life At the electioÌ„ of this Martin the Emperours auctoritie was not loked for nor demaunded to his admission Thus proudly by little and little the Popes shooke of the Emperours power whereby they might the better treade them vnder their feete But he raigned not longe about a yeare and certaine monethes he died Anno. 884. 46 Hadrian the third HAdriaÌ„ the third was of such a proude stomake hawty courage that as sone as he had gotten into the Popedome he made a decree that the Emperours auctoritie should no more take place in creating of Popes but that the voyces of the people and Clergie of Rome should be euer free to do it The Emperour at that time warred against the Normans Thus saith Cranzius these Prelates and the lewdenesse of the Romaines durst contemne their Empier vntill the force and strengthe thereof decayed Whereby this one Pope was now deliuered and brought to bedde of that monster at ones trauelling wherof so many of his auncetours had traueled that is to cut cleane of the Emperours auctoritie For Nicolas the fâ—irst had attempted it but brought it not to effecte Lo here good reader howe by this decree all the Emperours right and title whiche they had ouer the Pope and citie of Rome is wrest from them whereby the Pope with great triumphe hath gotten the victory and vpperhande Thou shalt se him yet creepe hier and attempte greater matters ceasing not vntill he haue aduaunced him selfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped 2. Tit. 2. Whereby his flatterers may saye Who is like the beaste or who is able to fight with it Apoc. 13. But after this he lyued not longe he died
sommoned a councell into his Pallaice in Viciana sylua where the whole assemblye subscribed against the Popes heresye and therefore the kinge sent to Pope Iohn willinge him both to reforme his heresye and also to deliuer the prysoner so the said Thomas was set at libertye This Pope reformed and transposed the orders decrees of the Church at his owne pleasure made Colledges of Scribes according to the nomber of the Apostles who receyuing their fee should write such letters as he should appoint He cōdemned Iohn Poliacus a deuine because he taught that mē should not trust the begging fryers He cōpelled certaine Nonnes called Biginae to marrye and detested pictures He helde it for a grounded article that Christ gaue none other rule of godlinesse to his Apostles then to other Christians and that the Apostles neuer vowed pouertye Iohn Mandeuil in his first booke and seuenth Chapter sheweth that this Pope wrote at large to the Greekes that there is but onely one Christian Church and that he was head thereof and vicar of Christ to whō the Greekes aunswered briefely VVee do assuredlye acknowledge your highe power ouer your subiectes but wee cannot abide your high pride wee cannot stanch your greedye couetousnes the deuill is with you but God is with vs. Thus briefely in a worde they reuealed the Popes estate This Pope condemned Lewis Bauare a noble Emperour to be a rebell to the Church a scismaticke and hereticke because he toke vpon him by the Electours choyse the gouernment of the Empyre not vowing anye fealtye to the Pope Thus wryteth Iohn Marius of this Emperour Lewis Pope Iohn sayth he hated vnto death Lewis Bauare partly because he beinge chosen by the estates of Germanye kinge of the Romaynes did disdaine to receyue at the Popes hand according to the Canon of Pope Clement the fifte the name and title Emperiall partly againe because he defended from the Popes power certaine monkes whom he had condemned for heretickes therefore Pope Iohn auouched Lewis to be an hereticke Lewis comminge into Italye appointed his deputies in euery Cittye and came to Millen and because he desired to qualifye the Popes displeasure he sent Embassadours to him kepinge his courte then at Auenio in Fraunce to require of him the ornamentes belonging to the estate imperiall with freindlye affection as his auncestours had done the Pope did not onelye denye the sute but sent awaye the Embassadours with great reproche and cited the Emperour him selfe peremptory wyse as they terme it to come to Auenio submit himselfe to the Canons of the Church The Emperour knowinge the Popes tyrannye vsed in his Church vnderstanding that he had his estate giuen him from God desired to keepe and defende the same holye and vndefiled and therefore woulde not submit himselfe like a slaue vnto Popes and so denyed to come to Auenio And yet being desirous of peace he besought the Pope by Embassadours once againe to bestowe on him with curtesye the ornamentes of the Empyre the Pope stoode peuishlye in his wilfulnes vaunting and boasting in his wrytings that he had power to playe make marre w t Princes and that at his pleasure he might set vp and depose whom he listed and that the Empyre being voyde the Pope is ful Emperour And for malice against Lewis he excōmunicated the Uicounts whom the Emperour had appointed to gouerne Millen The Emperour perceyuinge the Popes obstinate minde taking with him many Princes of Italye came to Rome and was honourablye receyued of al the people and required according to the custome to receiue the solemnityes of the Empyre The Romaine peeres and all the people sent Embassadours to Pope Iohn in Fraunce and humbly besought him to come to visit his City Rome to bestowe vpon the king of the Romaynes the imperiall rites which if he would not do they said plainly that they them selues would keepe the ould law priuiledge of the Romaynes Iohn hauing heard the Embassadours vsing great threates and terrours draue them away with foule rebuke frō him The Romaynes seing this decreed to yeld to the noble Lewis his lawfull request and so by the commaundement of the clergy and people both he and his wyfe together were crowned by Steuē Nicolas being Senatours in the meane time the nobilitye shouted oute saying God saue Lewis Augustus Emperour of the Romaynes The Pope hearing this though the Emperour did nothing but that was lawful and godly did accuse him for a traytour and an heretick he published sore processe against him put him frō his estate imperial depriued him of his kingdome condemned him by vile and cruel curse of excōmunication as a rebell and Captaine heretick againste the Church of Rome by meanes whereof he enflamed all Christendome with such discord deadly warres as could not afterward be quenched in thirty yeres Thus farre wryteth Marius Thus the Pope had nothing to defende his forged supremacye and auctoritye but the dreadfull boultes of his excommunication But there were certaine at this time as well deuines as lawyers which preached that Christe and his Apostles did possesse nothinge properlye and that the Emperour in temporall cases was not subiect to the Pope Amonge these men were Michael Coesenus VVilliam Occam minorites Marsilius of Padua Iohn of Iandane lawyers with diuers other Lewis the Emperour was so comforted by these that he did stoutly withstand the Popes ententes and published this his appellation about the coastes of his Empyre ¶ The Emperours letters WE Lewis kinge of the Romaynes doe pronounce against Iohn who saith that hee is Pope that he doth naughtelye execute the testament and will of Christe cōcerning peace troubling the cōmon tranquility of Christendome neither is he mindfull that what honour soeuer he nowe doth enioye was first giuen by the holye Emperour Constantine to Syluester euen when he forfeare lurked in forrestes Thus doth he shewe himselfe vnthankful to the Romaine Empire from whence hee reaped all the roialty which now he abuseth c. Thus when Lewis and the peeres of Rome perceyued well the iniquitye of Pope Iohn and the people of Rome from the hyest to the lowest did take it in euill part that the Embassadours whō they had sent were so mocked of him they all agreed together that the ould custome of chosing the Pope should be brought into the Church that is that he being chosen by the people of Rome should be admitted and allowed by the Emperour Therefore one Peter of Corbaria a minorite was made Pope and was called Nicolas the fifte and as for Iohn they cōcluded of him that he was an heretick and a tyrant of the Church not a pastour but a breaker of the common peace of Christians In the meane time Pope Iohn Anno 1335. in the fourscore x. yeres of his age dyed at Auenio About the yeare of our Lord 1326. in the time of this Pope Iohn the prelats of Englād played a stout prancke for the bishop of Hertford
dominicans he left to the Church great store of treasure he kept diuers concubines he dyed of an ague while he was hyring one Zotus a conning painter to porâ—rature the storyes of martyrs in his newe buildinges Anno 1342. Of whom these Uerses were made Iste fuit vero laicis mors vipera clero Deuius a vero turba repleta mero About this time Iohn Stratford beinge bishop of Canterbury did greatly abuse king Edward the thirde both in defraudinge him of his treasure when he needed it most in his warres in Fraunce and refusing obstinatly afterward to come at the kinges commaundement to aunsweare vntill time place serued according to his owne pleasure Benedicts coÌ„mon sayings were these to be noted Be thou such a sonne as thou desirest to haue cosens The euil maâ— dreadeth death but the good man feareth him more Those thinges that thou hast learned keepe by reading and get by learning those thinges that thou wantest It is as great shame to haue no freindes as to chaunge them oft It is more dishonour to a Prince to be ouercome with benefits then by force of armes 139. Clement the sixt CLement the sixt borne in Lemonia by professioÌ„ a Benedictine called before Peter Rogers being abbot of Phisca succeded Benedict at Auenio This maÌ„ with his faction troubled the Romaine Empire aboue measure for he excommunicated sayth Naucler all the Princes lordes and bishops that consented to the doings of Lewis To deface the Emperour he created Uicountes and made them Uicares of the Empyre Lewis on the other side appointed other Uicares to gouerne the Church Ierom Marius in his booke called Eusebius Captiuus doth thus set out the rigour of Pope Clement Clement the sixt sayth he much giuen to women honour and auctoritye prouoked with diuelishe furye set vp bills in wrytinge vpon Church doares wherein he threatned the Emperour to be punished w t more cruell tormentes vnlesse he woulde obey the Popes minde and that within three dayes and would giue vp his right of the estate imperiall Great was the cruelty of this Clement voyde of clemency The Emperour commeth to Frankeforde and preparing with all diligence to do all that was commaunded besought the Pope by his Embassadours to pardon him and to receiue him to fauour But the Pope aunswered the Embassadours that he would neuer pardon Lewis vnlesse he would first confesse all his errours and heresyes and yelde vp the Empire and put into the Popes hand both himselfe his children goodes possessions to dispose them at his pleasure would promise that he would neuer more enioy any part thereof without the fauour of the Pope deliuered a certaine fourme of of these articles in wryting to the Embassadours coÌ„mauÌ„ding them to carye the same to Lewis The good Emperour least if he did not thus submit himselfe it mighte bee cause of slaughter and sedition receiued the order taken by the Pope and looking vpon it was content in such wyfe to saue Christian bloud and therefore he did not onely set his seale to it but gaue his oath to performe all Which when the Pope heard he waxed angrye But note whether hee toke the Emperour to fauoure and whether he shewed anye token of good will by that which followeth Lewis shewed that order to the Princes electours and oratours The Princes detested and abhorred certaine of the articles because they were deuised by the Pope to the confusion of the Empyre and therfore they promised sufficient ayde to the Emperour if as he did before he would maintaine the libertye and honour of the Empyre They sence Embassadours desiringe the Pope not to exact those articles that tended to the vtter subuersion of the Empyre and the oratours crauinge and doing nothing els came awaye againe But Clement blaming Lewis onelye for all did purpose the destruction of him and his children he cursed him cruelly euen at consecrating the Sacrament He renued all the extreame processes which Pope Iohn had giuen out against him he pronounced him to be an heretick and scismatick He charged the Princes electours to choose another Emperour He deposed the Archbishop of Mens both of his bishoprick and auctoritye of electorship because he knowing the Emperours innocencye and vngiltiues woulde not abuse his maiestye But the other electours being brybed with money by Iohn king of Bohemia as the bishop of Colen who toke viii Thousande markes the duke of Saxonye two Thousande markes did appoint his sonne Charles to be king of the Romaynes whoÌ„ this vncurteous Clement did allowe afterward in open consistorye But who is able to report the horrible bloudshed and warre that arose in the Empire by meanes of this mischiefe wroughte by Clement for kinge Edward the thirde of England slue xx Thousande Frenchmen and Iohn king of Bohemia father to Charles was slaine with many nobles But Lewis yet takinge thought because of the Popes processes not medling with the gouernment of the Empyre was by the Popes procurement poysoned in a cuppe whereof he dyed Thus wryteth Marius Lo by these kinde of treacheryes haue the prelates of Rome brought the Empyre to the low ebbe and poore estate that it is at this daye for the sayde Charles whom they against all lawe created to make his sonne to succede him did so corrupt the electours wyth bribes and fayre promises that he morgaged to them the coÌ„mon reuenues of the Empyre which they enioye to this daye and therefore the Romaine Empyre cannot aduauÌ„ce it selfe againe For then the Electours coÌ„pelled Charles to take an oath that these pledges should neuer be reclaymed whereby at length it came to passe that the Empyre being thus decayed the Turke inuaded the Church of Christ destroyed it wonderfullye and it is by the especial grace of God that Mahomets blasphemye doth not wyth fyre and sworde rage ouer all Christendome c. This Pope Clement now at the fiftye yeare renued the Iubelie beinge absent caused it to be celebrated at Rome Anno 1350. for his aduauntage and sayth PremonstrateÌ„sis there were fiue Thousande straungers comming in going out at Rome as might wel be counted dailye within the said yeare He made at seuerall times xii Cardinals whereof some were monkes some his nephewes and kinsemen beside he promoted diuers other to dignityes bestowed cost on diuers buildinges He gaue licence to the bishop of Bamberge to absolue those that toke parte wyth Lewis but vppon these conditions first that they shoulde sweare fealty to him as to the Uicar of Christe secondly that they should beleue that the Emperour hath no power neither to make nor marre the Pope thirdlye that they should acknowledge none to be Emperour whoÌ„ the Pope had not confirmed While his companioÌ„s and seruaunts went to dinner leauing onely his chamberlayne with him he fel downe sodeinly dyed of an impostume Anno 1352. This Clement sayth Marius toke vpoÌ„ him so prodigally in his Popedome that he gaue to his Cardinals in
yeare after our redemptiō Peter went not to Rome but cōtinued about Hierusalē sauing once that hee went to Samaria for a season till the conuersion of Paule as appeareth by all the discours of the Actes of the Apostles till ye come to the ninth chapter thereof whiche because it is easie there to finde tedious to be set downe at large and nothing doubted of I leaue it to the diligence of the reader who shall plainely perceaue that Peter was still in Iudea to the conuersion of Paule which was in the seconde yeare after the death of Christe the yeare of thincarnatiō 35. for Niceph. saith that he preached 35. yeares lib. 2. cap. 34. and he died in the last yeare of Nero being the 70. yeare of thincarnacion from whiche take 35. and the remayne is as muche so that in the 35. yeare of Christe Paule was conuerted ¶ Peter not at Rome from the yeare of the incarnation 35. to the yeare 38. ANno Domini 37. Pilate as Eusebius lib. 2. cap. 2. and Vspergensis testifie wrote his letter to Tiberius concerning Christe his doctrine diuine miracles death resurrection whereupon the Emperour commaunded that Christe should be placed among the Gods of Rome If Peter nowe had bene bishop at Rome or a yeare before this had not bene so straunge newes to the Emperour Neither had Pilates letter preuayled so muche with the Emperour touching Christ as the doctrine and miracles whiche Peter would for confirming of the faithe haue done in the name of Iesus The yeare folowing being the 38. was the thirde yeare from the conuersion of Paule in whiche yeare Paule returned to Hierusalē founde Peter there as is testified in the first to the Galathians which comming of Paule is specefied in the ninth of the Actes ¶ From the yeare 38. to the yeare 46. AFter Paule had bene a whyle in Hierusalem he was sent awaye to Tarsus And at that time S. Luke sayth that the churche had peace throughout all Iudea Galilye and Samaria And that Peter did walke ouer all those coūtreies where they proceaded in the feare of God the beleuing multiplied Howe many yeares Peter spent in these countreies it is not euident but immediatly from thence he did ascende to Lydda and ther healed Aeneas who had bene lame eight yeares the fame of whiche miracle drew thether all the inhabitours of Lydda and Sarona who by Peters preaching were all conuerted to the lorde These thinges do argue that Peter made some abode in Lydda also Immediatly from thence he went to Ioppa where he reuiued Tabitha and taried at Ioppa with Simon the Tanner a long season From thence he went forthwith to Cornelius the Centurion at Cesarea where he preached and baptized those that were conuerted and there also he was entreated to tary for a time From thence he came to Hierusalem where he continued till he being imprisoned by Herode was deliuered by Gods Angell and being set at libertie shewed him selfe secretly to the congregacion at the house of Mary and then conueyed hym selfe awaye And thys was done as appeareth by Luke the same yeare that Herode or Agrippa hauing raigned 7. yeares died afterwarde at Cesarea stricken by Gods Angell who being as Iosephus saith released out of pryson and made king there by Caligula raigned in all seuen yeares Caligula would haue restored this Agrippa to his libertie as sone as he him self came to the Empier euen the same daye that the solemnitie was kept for the buriall of his predecessour Tiberius But saith Iosephus Antonia the wyfe of Caligula gaue him counsell that he should noe do so but pause a while longer not because she was loth that Agrippa should be at libertie but because the Emperour by deliuering of him so spedely should be thought that he did it in despite of Tiberius who had committed him to pryson and therefore it was deferred for a season at length he was deliuered then the next yeare Agrippa craued leaue of Caligula to go into Iudaea to his kingdom whiche was graunted him So that by this computation it may easely appeare that whereas Agrippa as Ioseph sayth died in the seuenth yeare of his raigne this seuenth yeare doth arise to the fourth yeare of Claudius who did next succede Caligula Thus it is apparent that Herode or Agrippa as Ioseph calleth him died in the 46. yeare of the incarnation and that the same yeare Peter was prisoner at Hierusalem as is saide before and not byshop at Rome Another reason to proue that it should be this yere may be this S. Luke in the xii chapter of the Actes saith that this Herode had conceiued displeasure against the Tirians and Sidonians whiche was the cause that after the same Easter that Peter was imprisoned he went downe from Hierusalem to Caesarea whether the Tirians and Sidonians came vnto him and by the intercession of Blastus the kinges chamberlaine they sued for peace at his hande because saith Luke in the 20. verse of the 12. chapter of the Actes their contrey was nourished by the kinges contrey signifiyng that the prouision of king Agrippa ayded their necessitie in the time of the famine being then This dearth famin is that wherof Agabus the prophet did prophecy at Antioch which saith Luke Actes the xi came to passe in the raigne of Claudius and as other authours haue noted it was in the fourth yere of Claudius so saith Vsper gensis Thus we se that yet to this fourth yere of Claudius by whiche time at the vttermost Peter should not only be at Rome but begin his regiment ouer the churche he is yet at Hierusalem which is 1600. miles from Rome But because that Luke saith after that he was deliuered by the Angell out of pryson and after that he had signified his deliuery to Mary he conuayed him selfe away from thence I will procede to examine whether he went not now from Hierusalem to Rome and therfore go to the twoo yeares that ensued next ¶ Anno 48 and 49. ANno domini 49. Peter was at Hierusalem for this yeare the counsell was held at Hierusalem mencioned in the xv of the Actes At whiche synode Peter was present and made an oration as is shewed in the vii verse of the said chapter But nowe it remaineth to be proued that this Synode was at this tyme for proofe hereof Saint Paule speaking of his comming to this counsell in the seconde chapiter to the Galathians saythe Then after 14. yeares I came agayne vp to Hierusalem and Barnabas with me c. by the reste that foloweth it is euident that Paule signified his comming to this counsell and not any other time of his repairing to Hierusalem and so also doth S. Hierome vnderstande it which being xiiii yeares after the conuersion of Paule falleth out to be in the yeare of our Lord 49. the seuenth yere of the raigne of Claudius as may appeare by the former table And yet is Peter
stil in his Apostelship at Hierusalem and not in his pontificall dignitie at Rome But here it may be fayde that S. Hierome and diuers other whiche followe him do recken that this synode was helde Anno domini 51. and do grounde it vpō the foresaid wordes of Paule ▪ for where as Paule speaking of his conuersion at Damasco sayth that after three yeares he came to Hierusalem and then after fourtene yeres he retourned agayne to Hierusalem this is to be vnderstoode not xiiii yeares from his conuersion but from his former being at Hierusalem and so cōsequently in the xvii yere of his conuersion whiche should be also the ix yeare of the raigne of Claudius This is the computation of Hierome but this is easely disproued for in the ninth yeare of Claudius the Iewes were all banished from Rome because saith Suetonius they made tumultes Impulsore Christo by meanes of Christe And at this time Paule was at Athens as Vspergensis writeth and it appeareth like wyse by the history of the Actes for Paule departing from Athens went to Corinth where he met with Aquila and Priscilla who saith the text were lately come frō Italy because Claudius had commaunded that all Iewes should depart from Rome This being euident that Paule was at this time at Athens it is further to be considered whether he might not be at Hierusalem the same yeare at the counsell or no. Moste certaine it is that Paule was at the counsell and that it was held before his comming to Athens and that so long time that the onely consideration thereof might be sufficient to proue that the same synode was not helde the same yeare For those questiōs being discussed about which they were assembled Paule and Barnaba with certaine other returned with letters from Hierusalem to Antioche where they stayed and taried preaching and teaching for a tyme till at the length Paule agreed with Barnabas to go visite the brethren in those cities wher they had taught the gospell So that Paule passed from Antioche to Syria Cilicia confirming the churches Afterwarde he came to Derba and Lystra where he founde Timothie and hauing circumcized him he toke him with him and as they passed forth saith Luke from citie to citie they gaue vnto them the institutions of the Apostles and Elders of of Hierusalem that they should obserue them so that the churches were confirmed in faith and encreased daily Also they walked throughout Phrygia and Galacia and being forbiddē by the spirite to preache in Asia they went to Nysia from thence to Troada from thence to Samothracia then to Neaples and so to Philippis and stayed there certayne daies from thence to Thessalonica where Paule preached three wekes from thence he went to Beraea and there preached with great fruite till the Iewes came thether from Thessalonica to disquiet him and from this Berea Paule was conueied to Athens Nowe let the diligent reader cōsider all these iourneies with other circumstances as continuance of time and distance of place and Paules abiding in euery place to preache diligently and then iudge whether the forsayde synode could be held this same yeare that Paule came to Athens Waying also that many more notable cities are in these coūtreies Galacia Mysia Phrigia and the rest visited by Paule but not spokē of in the Actes Againe considering that the Apostle traueled by lande all moste altogether that by leasurable iourneyes on foote he could not finishe thousandes of miles in short time but that it were very harde for him to come to Athens the same yere Beside al this if it were to be vnderstode as Hierome maketh it then if ye accompt it in the table ye shall finde it to be one yeare further that is the yeare 52. and it is plaine to be more vntrue for then by this time Paule had continued a yeare in Corinthe and so had not bene in Hierusalē in two yeares before The conclusion therefore is that the said counsell could not be holdē according to the accompte made by Hierome ▪ and therfore S. Paules wordes must be vnderstoode as I sayde before namely of fourtene yeares after his conuersion and then it is euident that Peter was yet in Hierusalem in the yeare 49. But to procede it may be demaūded where Peter was from the time of his deliuery out of pryson at Hierusalem to the time of this synode that is from the fourth yeare of Claudius to the seuenth yere of his raigne Perhaps Peter went to Rome at some time betwene those yeares Nicephorus sayth that in the fifth yere of Claudius Peter was at Hierusalem at the death of the virgin Mary But if we weigh diligently the history of the scripture conferring one place with an other it shall appeare that although it be not specified in the actes yet Peter was at Antioche in this time For Paule in the secōd to the Gallathians saith that Peter came to Antioche whiche could not be at anye time before this time of his deliuery out of pryson as may appeare by the former part of this discourse Againe diuerse reasons there are whiche moue me to thinke that it was before the tyme of this counsell for first Peter being at Antioche Paule sayth of him self that he reproued Peter euen to his face because that he did eate with the Gentils till certaine came from Iames from Hierusalem and then Peter being afrayde to offende those circumcised did shrinke away from the Gentils And the rest of the Iewes yea and Barnabas also fell into the same dissimulation with them This dissembling of Peter is one reason to proue that it was before the counsell for it semed to Peter a doubtfull matter whether he might be conuersaunt with the Gentils whiche if it had bene as it was afterwarde by the counsell determined that circumcision was not necessary then had Peter bene out of doubt what to do therein and would haue delt plainely according to the truth which he had knowen manifestly Agayne if it had bene after the counsell the matter being discussed and agreed vpon Peter should not haue had any cause to dissemble for feare of offending them in that point that came from Iames neyther neded he to haue mistrusted that they would mislike of that whiche should haue bene allowed by the churche neither would Peter haue regarded more their vniust offēce then the decre of the counsell Last of all in the beginning of the 15. of the Actes Luke maketh mencion of suche that came from Hierusalem and troubled the churche at Antioche about circumcision and howe Paule and Barnabas stoode against them and hereupon ensued the said counsell And thus it appeareth that Peter was at Antioch at this time and hetherto therfore to the yeare of the incarnacion 49 he came not within a thousand miles of Rome ¶ Anno Domini 50. and 51. IN the latter yeare of these twayne being the ninth yeare of Claudius al the Iewes as is proued
a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest and at length was put to death cruelly Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue where he hid him selfe an Epistle touching God and the incarnation of the sonne of God 9. Pius of Aquilia PIus borne in Aquilia is reported to haue done many godly dedes in the church vnder Antonius Verus And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 159. 10. Anicetus ANicetus a Sirian was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred Anno. 169. 11. Sother SOther borne in Campania as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus serued vnder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe both by doctrine and example of life And in the ende confirmed the Gospell whiche he had faithfully preached with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 177. 12. Eleutherius ELeutherius a Grecian was also a carefull and vigilant pastour in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe yet Masseus saythe he was beheaded Anno. 191. 13. Victor VIctor borne in Aphrica did succeade Eleutherius This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed vsurping authoritie vpon straungers sought to haue an oar in an other mans boate In the former byshops saith Vincelius the spirite abounded but in these that folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled Policrates bishop of Ephesus and Iraeneus bishop of Lions did bouldly reproue this Victor for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō because in keping Easter day they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome So that the churche was then rent in twayne by meanes of his obstinacy He died Anno. 203. 14. Zepherinus ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne a man as writers do testifie more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God then to the cure of any worldly affayres Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode he first did alter that and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse And yet he did not this vpon any supersticion as thinking woode to be vnlawefull or glasse to be more holy for that vse but because the one is more comly and semely as by experience it appeareth then the other And yet some wooden doultes do dreame that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him because that part of the wine or as they thought the royall bloud of Christe did soake into the woode and so it can not be in glasse Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads that thus both deceiue them selues and slaunder this Godly martyr Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnder Aurelius In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into curious and subtile questions 15. Calixtus the first CAlixtus borne at Rauenna when persecution began to wexe hotte againe did like a constant Christian hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina al thinges were kept close and hidden because the persecution was so great euery where yea their churches and places of assembly were in corners and caues for the moste parte But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus and was beaten with coodgiels pent in prison afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte 16. Vrbanus VRbanus a Romaine liued vnder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure and with his sinceritie of life and excellencie in learning he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull he was martyred by cōmaundement of Seuerus Anno. 233. 17. Pontianus POntianus a Romaine in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus being one of Christes ministers and a distributer of Gods misteries suffered both banishement punishement for the Gospell and the churche sake For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache the worde by the princes commaundement being set on by the Idolatrous priestes he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia where after many miseries and sore tormētes he was put to death Anno. 239. 18. Antheros ANtheros was borne in Grece a man of God if any wer He preached Christe stoutely euen vnder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche whiche with his woorde he had fed before 19. Fabian AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne who as Eusebius witnesseth as he was returning home out of the fielde and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop there was a pygeon sene standing on his head and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche whiche he loked not for While he liued he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written and that burying places should be prepared for them who afterwarde vnder Decius that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren ended his life with most glorious death Anno. 150. 20. Cornelius COrnelius a Romaine being in the time of Decius accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe his church had a Godly care ouer the safetie of his neighbours He entertayned curteously and restored to the churche as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes did yet repent thē of their deede afterward O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop O worthy minister of the Gospel for although this mā of God Cornelius was caried away into banishemēt yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth did yelde his necke vnto the sworde of Decius 21. Lucius LVcius a Romain being a faithful seruant in the lordes house and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus the persecutour of Christianitie was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters And at the lengthe after Gallus death euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome enriched the churche with healthful doctrine and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud he pearced the heauenly paradise
being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of the Gētiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the groūd and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching ▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the Christiās gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstād The ioyful dayes of
and doting dreames and listeneth not to lyes c. This Syluester died a confessour Anno domini 334. Mantuan in his thirde booke of the life of S. Blase bringeth in an Angell talking with the sayde Blase among other martyrs of the Empyre of the foresayde Constantine and of the estate of the churche for the time folowyng of the wickednes that should raigne both among the Clergie and the people and finally of the vengeance that should ensue His wordes are these ¶ The woordes of the Angell to Blase concerning Constantine THe tyraÌ„tes being daunted now a gracious prince shal raigne In Romain empier vnder whoÌ„ the world shal peace obtaine And worship Idols olde no more the mighty Constantine Shall kepe his court in Thracia and to the Lorde diuine Christe Iesus Italy he leaues and Rome with mountaines seueÌ„ Then shal the crosse despised earst aduaunced be to heauen And far excel the Romain mace the â—cepter the crown c. ¶ Of the euels to come vpon the churche But euen vpon this gentle calme there shal alas ensewe Destruction such as wel thou mayst with woful wepings rewe And poyson ranke shall surely from the hony swete pâ—ocede The sound of ease the name of peace are plesant words in dede But out alas more wretchednes more villany and vice More greuous wouÌ„ds more shame wo shal to the church arise Euen of this peace then did of all the bloudy broiles and warre For auncient vertue shal decline and pleasure vaine shal marre â–ª And spoile the bodies chast of meÌ„ through waÌ„tonesse welth The lazy mide shal quayle droupe neglecting heaueÌ„ly helth O leude delightes O wicked guise O cursed time I se The people of their Lord and Christ forgetful quite to be I se their vnbeleuing hartes doth treade down and defie The faith hedlong into sinne by thousandes thick they flie I se how men are beastes become and Rome is now transport Into a stable c. ¶ Of the plagues that folowe Then shal we heaueÌ„ly gostes at length most wrathfully be bent And God shal frowne against those laÌ„des wheÌ„ vp to him is sent The shew of this their wicked age heaueÌ„ shal shut vp his grace And al reliefe froÌ„ earth whom hell with horrour doth deface At wrath of God the noysome starres shal altogether conspire And fling down fearcely froÌ„ aboue most fearful flakes of fire And heaueÌ„ shal make his wrath away to daunt driue to dust This saluage kinde of faithlesse folke and people most vniust And meÌ„ with grim grisely lookes with stern gastly mind To rise vp from the Northren poale shal be by God assind The Hunnes the Gothes the Vandals Turkes rude creatures lacking lawe Of God and maÌ„ to guide and kepe their saluage hartes in awe The ChristiaÌ„s eke amoÌ„g theÌ„selues shal wrangle braule iarre And as mad dogges one eate anothers hart through ciuil warre The Romaynes shal destroy the Greekes the Almaynes waste the Frenche VVith more then deadly hate that one the others power may quenche They shall forbeare the Saracens and Turkes And thus muche concerning this matter Nowe let the reader consider that whiche foloweth whether it agree not to this that Mantuan hath written If it be true as Mantuan saithe that Blase had this reuelacioÌ„ then the estate of Rome folowing this time was condemned as detestable by the Angell But if it be but fayned by Mantuan and other then we se howe they noting howe farre this latter churche of Rome in her pompe and royaltie swarued from the former in persecution iudged of it and yet was Mantuan an Italian Carmelite or whyte Fryar Thus hath it pleased God that some of the braunches shoulde both discerne and bewray the loathsomnesse of this wicked tree But it shall not be amisse here to adde the saying of Sleidan talking of this time of Syluester in his seconde booke of the iiii Monarches Then sayth he the byshops of Rome began first to be in safetie for hetherto they were almoste all put to death From Peter whom they will haue to be the first to this time they accompt xxxiii Their decrees are set downe among the generall counsels but the moste of them are suche trifles suche toyes and so diuers from the scripture that it is credible that they were deuised by other that came long after But if it were true that they came from these former prelates saint Paules wordes may be well applied hereunto being veryfied saying in prophecy That lost childe and maÌ„ of sinne did euen then beginne to worke the mystery of iniquitie Coloss. 2. Anacletus as some saye the fourth froÌ„ Peter hath this decree extant in his name That the Churche of Rome should by the commaundemeÌ„t and institution of Christ be the head of other Churches Also to Alexander is attributed that he commaunded that water should be hallowed with salte to purge the people of sinne and to dryue awaye the snares of the deuill But howe muche do these banities differ from the maiestie of the Apostles doctrine from the wryting of Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist who liued almost till the time of these bishops These two decrees may suffise for wyse men to iudge of the reste being euen of the self same mould for the moste part bearing with them an open shewe of ambition But to returne to the purpose this CoÌ„stantine for the loue and zeeale whiche he bare vnto the Churche did endewe the pastors thereof with many large benefites ryches and possessions that they might with better oportunitie addicte them selues to preache the Gospel But where as he gaue them an inche some haue since stollen an elle fathering vpon him the forged donacion for their supremacy But of his liberalitie toward the church Eusebius wryteth at large He sommoned the first generall counsell at Nicea wherein the detestable heresie of Arrius was condemned though it could not be with all so vtterly quenched but that it did yet afterward enflame again so that some of the sparcles therof did alight euen in the pontificall seate of Rome sone after as shall appeare by some of these that follow Finis libri primi THE SECONDE SORTE OF ROMAINE BIshops from Syluester to Boniface the thirde ¶ These bishops persecution being ceased began to take estate more vpon them then the former for Constantine and other Christian princes began of deuocioÌ„ and zeale to aduaunce the prelates to wealth and therupon they liuing in wealth and ease began also to aduaunce theÌ„selues in dignitie aboue the former estate putting riche mytâ—rs on their heades taking vpon them the name of Archebishops Also they began by litle and litle to adde their own deuices to Gods seruice to alter chop and chauÌ„ge and make Canons as liked euery ones fantasie and so pecemeale began to plante and sowe in Rome the seade of Antichriste which afterwarde grewe vp to so great pride and abhomination Thus at the firste in the churche deuotion bredde wealth but the
doughter choaked the mother and engendred the mōster ambition who also like the cursed impe of the bastard her morher did in the ende deuoure her grandmother Religion THE PRELATES or Archebishops of Rome 1. Marcus MArcus a Romaine bestowed a pall vpon the bishop of Hostia who had consecrate the bishop of Rome before other He also cōmaunded that the people and the clergie should on Sondayes after the Gospell were redde singe the Nicean Crede He builded churches and gaue many giftes vnto them died a confessour in the yere 335. 2. Iulius the first IVlius the first a Romaine appointed that a priest shoulde as they forge of him not aunswer his cause any where but before an ecclesiasticall iudge and he reprehended the bishops of the east onlesse they slaunder him because they had helde counsels without his authoritie but they scorned him for his pride he caused churcheyardes to be made and at the lenghth died a confessour in peace Anno. 351. Platina sayth that this Pope appointed certaine notaries to wryte the actes of other men the whiche office sayth he is yet about the Pope remaining But these notaries of our time saith he are such doultes for the moste parte that for wante of learning they can not wryte their owne name in Latin of their maners I will not speake because these offices are bestowed on bawdes and flatterers vnmete to wryte the actes of other men 3. Liberius LIberius a Romaine for ambition as Hierome witnesseth falling into the Arrian heresie forsooke the trew faith and subscribed to Arrius articles And yet this man died a confessour also Anno. 366. though in dede taynted with damnable heresie 4. Foelix the seconde Foelix the seconde a Romaine was preferred by the Arrians who thrust out Liberius and aduaunced him because they hoped he agreed with them in opinion But in the seconde yeare after he was driuen from his seate and Liberius restored And in the yeare of our Lorde 359. He with other spirituall persones was slayne in a tumulte This man sayth Isidorus made lawes for the defense of the Clergie Also Sozomenus lib. 4. ca. 10. Eccle. histor saith that he being bishop did both admitte Arrian heretikes to the ministery and also vsed their communiō though els he yelded to the counsell of Nice 5. Damasus DAmasus a Spanyarde being made Pope in a certaine faction and vehemently accused of adultery did condemne Liberius his dedes he builded temples and beawtified them with iewels he gaue landes and bathes to the Clergie he encreased strange seruice in the churche he added Confiteor to the seruice he appointed the singing of the Psalmes and allowed Hieroms translation of the Bible For then the myndes of the Prelates began to bee more puft vp with ambition Afterward ▪ Damasus as they saye being a diligent gatherer of thinges doone in times past wrote the lyues and decrees of his predecessours the byshops of Rome enterlacing them with many open and manifest vntruthes And in the yere 384. died a confessour Socrates in the eight booke of his ecclesiasticall history and the 24. chapter sayth that when this Damasus was chosen bishop one Vrsinus a Deacon of the same churche did stande in suite against Damasus but whē he sawe that Damasus was preferred for anger he began by all endeuour to gather congregations to him selfe seuered from the churche Also he perswaded certaine obscure and abiect byshops to chose him bishop secretly in a corner And so he was created not in the churche but in a close place of the pallaice called Sicona Whiche being done the people began to wrangle And hereof arose a bitter contention and deadly sedicion not touching religion ▪ but whether of these two Prelates should be bishop Of this grewe so many assemblies and so often brawlinges that in the end the tumulte was so great that many were slayne about it And therfore Maximinus then liuetenant of the citie did punishe sharpely a great numbre both the Clergie and layetie so suppressed Vrsinus and his faction Thus it appeareth that bloudy ambition is not a newe thing in Rome 6. Siricius SIricius a Romaine medling and making decrees in many matters remoued those from saying seruice that had bene twyse maried was the firste that admitted monkes into orders for pretence of single life who before were neuer reckened to be as clarkes He mingled y Antiphones with the Psalmes and appointed that orders should be geuen some at one time some at an other he died a confessour Anno 399. 7. Anastasius ANastasius a Romaine appointed that whyle the Gospel was reading they should stand not sitte He exempted from the ministery those that were lame impotēt or diseased persons and slept with his forefathers in peace being a confessour Anno. 404. 8. Innocentius INnocentius borne in Albania aduaūced the sea of Rome aboue all other and would haue it to be iudged by none He commaunded the faithfull to faste on the Saturday to bewayle with Mary Magdalene our sauiour Christe that was buried ▪ euen as on that daye He deuised that at masse time the Pax should be geuen about in the church and cōmaunded that the church a wayghty matter being ones consecrate should neuer be consecrate any more He made certayne decrees concerning Iewes Pagans Monkes and made the anoyling of the sick to be a sacrament And is counted among the dead confessours Anno. 416. The yeare before being the yeare 415. Alaricus king of Gothes ouerranne Italy wan Rome wasted spoyled and burnt it miserably And sone after him his cosen Athoulfus came thether againe and spoyled all that he had left 9. Sozymus SOzymus a Greke appointed that tapers should be blessed on the holydaye and that the Deacons in saying seruice should haue their lefthandes couered He forbad that clarkes should vse tipling in opē place or haunte tauernes and that no bondmen should be admitted to be of the Clergie And died a confessour Anno. 420. Also this Sozymus suppressed the Nouacian heretikes whiche in time past had borne great swaye in Rome But nowe they were kept vnder for sayth Isocrates the byshop of Rome as well as the byshop of Alexandria had stretched his power beyond the limittes of priesthood stepping into temporall authoritie Socrat. histor eccle lib. 7. cap. 11. 10. Bonifacius BOnifacius a Romaine the sonne of one Iucundus a priest was chosen Pope at suche time as there was great sedition among the Clergie He made decrees that were very necessary God graunte they proue so as that a woman yet though she were a hoodded noonne should not openly touche the altar cloth nor the holy vessels nor smell to the incense And that none should be made priest till he were thirty yeres olde After he had decreed that sainctes eueninges should be kept he died a confessour Anno. 426. 11. Coelestinus Caelestinus borne in Campania patched the Popishe masse vp with these thinges Introitum Graduale Responsorium Tractum Offertorium as his owne deuices And gaue
the Popedome it selfe and what crafte the deuill wrought in them before the great Antechriste came and was reuealed to the full So that as ye see the bishops of Rome Here againe altered their name the seconde tyme to title of greater dignitie that is froÌ„ Archbishops to Patriarkes and so the rest folowing for a season were called 21. Iohn the first IOhn the firste a Thuscane whome Theodoricus kyng of Italy sent for then they were subiect to Princes as his oratour with certaine other vnto Iustinus the Emperoure This bishop being the worthiest man of all this latter company gaue a testimonie of his pure life by suftring paciently vndeserued death He decreed and that very godly that if any man were robbed of any thing he should haue all restored againe But I take it to be false that he should restore three churcheyardes enriched the churches with giftes or decked the altars with golde syluer or precious stones as Platina and other wryte least he should seeme nothing to haue encreased the kingdome of Antichriste There is to be seene comfortable Epistles of his to the byshops of Italy whereby he warneth them that they should not shrinke from their purpose but stande to it stoutly although that the said king Theodoricus fowly tainted with the Arrian heresy had threatened to destroye them and all Italy For the whiche at the tyrannous commaundement of Theodoricus Anno 527. hee perished at Rauenna through famine stinke noysomnes in the pryson As touching Arrius thus Mantuan writeth of him This Arrius euen the deadly bayne infecting mankinde And borne to breake Gods lawe and quenche the faithe of Christian minde Had venomd sondry nacions infecting all the world 22. Foelix the fourth Foelix the fourth was borne in Samia being not verye carefull in his pastorall charge and casting of the office of preaching builded the churche of Cosma and Damianus he restored Saturninus temple and repaired other temples of the dead He commaunded that masse should be said only in halowed places He made a partition betwene the Clergie and the people in the churche He excommunicated the Patriarke of Constantinople misdemed of heresy he commaunded that if a priest died another should succeade him twoo dayes after and commaunded precisely that they that lye a bying should be annoynted with hallowed oyle and died a confessour Anno. 530. 23. Boniface the seconde BOniface the seconde a Romaine was made bishop wheÌ„ the Clergie were at great iarre ready to go together by the eares He made canons especially this one that within three dayes after one bishop were dead another should be appointed in his rowme He following Foelix did seuer the Clergie froÌ„ the layetie by making the quier in the church and that for double pollicie the one was that by this meanes he might at length take froÌ„ the people both their place and their voyce whiche they had in chusing the bishops that it might not be lawefull for any of them to sewe a byshop or any of the Clergie in any cause ciuill or criminall before a temporall magistrate But marke what happened these wretches through their pryde as I thinke Whyle euen like the Pharisies they wil be counted holier then other with their shauen heades their annoynted fingers seuered chauncelles deuiding them selues from the faythfull that were redemed with the bloud of Christe It is to be feared least hereby they become the Goates that in the last day shal be deuided froÌ„ the lambes Math. 25 as not pertaining to the misticall body of Christe It is easy to iudge howe muche these men swarue from Peter the Apostle of whome they boaste so muche to whome it was not lawefull in the tenth of the Actes to decree of Cornelius that he should be either a layeman or a prophane persone Boniface died a confessour Anno. 532. 24. Iohn the seconde IOhn the seconde was a Romaine who otherwyse for his eloquencie was called Mercurie or Iuppiter his embassadour Iustinianus the Emperoure sent vnto this man a cup of gold of sixe pound waighte beset with precious stones and two syluer cuppes of seuen pounde weight and twoo syluer chalices waying fiftene poundes for a present from Constantinople after he had condemned Athenius the Patriarke of heresie and the sayde Emperoure commaunded his bishops as Crantzius witnesseth to talke with the byshop in his name moste friendly vnder benediction this byshop died a confessour Anno. 534. And as VVicelius saith he did nothing of any valewe 25. Agapetus the firste AGapetus the first a Romaine sonne of a priest called Cardinall Gordian was sent by Theodatus kyng of the Gothes as his Embassadour to pacifie Iustinianus the Emperour for the cruell murther of Amalasimitha a noble queene and an excellent learned woman whose worthy vertues the same Emperour reuerenced highly who also procured his peace with spending saint Peters treasure He decreed that on the sonday they should go in procession in the churches And died a confessour Anno. 535. 26. Syluerius SYluerius borne in CaÌ„pania sonne of Hormisda a bishop of Rome when Agapetus was dead as he went on his voyage to the Emperoure this man by the commaundement of Theodatus kyng of Gothes was placed in his steade without the Emperours consent Therefore by the prouocation of Vigilius a Dâ—acon who also did accuse him that he would betraye Rome to the Gothes he was banished into the Isle Pontus by Theodora the Empresse and Antonina the wife of duke Bellisarius So that it appeareth the Popedome at that time was a thing but of small countenaunce when they were sent as Embassadours at the commaundement of inferiour princes could be depriued of their authoritie put from their seate by women At length Syluerius died miserably in his banyshement being an hooded confessour Anno. 537. 27. Vigilius VIgilius a Romaine the crafty accuser of the sayd Syluerius compassing the bishoprike by subtiltie was aduaunced into the sayde place by the forenamed women Whereby Rome had then twoo bishops one made by the Gothes another by the Grekes or rather by those Grekishe dames And were vsed vngently but not vnworthely of them for either of them receiued the reward of his rashnesse for the one attayned the Popedome by crafte the other by might and yet the Papistes will haue them bothe reckened among martyrs Theodora did sue Vigilius because he brake promisse with her and caused him first to be brought to Constantinople there to be reuiled and beaten and afterwarde with an halter about his necke to be draweÌ„ through the streate and last of all bee driuen into banishement This man made certaine lessons of his owne for the holydayes to be redde in the churche He woulde haue the church of Rome to be taken for the mother of other churches He appointed Candelmas daye to be kept holy daye and that the masse should be sayde the priest standing with his face into the East He died a confessour in the yere 554. in Cicilia In these dayes was one Maurus who
preached and taught the hipocriticall life of moÌ„kes Also in his time Anno. 542. there was a terrible earthquake ouer all the world as Vspergensis sayth 28. Pelagius PElagius a Romaine aspired to the pontificall dignitie in that time when the tyrant Totila called Gods scourge to the great comfort of the Goathes being their king inuaded Italy as Procopius wryteth This Pelagius to please Totila and his companie made a publique decree that it was nedeful to haue the authoritie of the prince and consent of the people in creation of byshops He in the middest of troubles of that time hauing more regarde to aduaunce the Popedome then Christianitie decreed that the Clergie should momble euery daye seuentimes the canonicall howers Abbots should be chosen by order one magistrate should be sufficient to punishe an hereticke that in Lent priestes might say masse at nine of the clocke and that euery Prouince should contayne twelue or tenne cities at the least This man first auouched that the premacie of the churche of Rome was fette from Christe himselfe and not from men nor geneâ—all councels He buried together the bones of the firste Martyr Stephen and S. Laurences carkasse He allowed solemnities in remeÌ„braunce of the dead and for loue of gaynes he mingled them with the masse And because he sometime him selfe was accused in a libell that he had geuen occasion why Vigilius his predecessour was troubled and depriued therfore he prouided that such libelles should not be harde But it is reported that he purged him selfe from the infamy of that libell by takinge an oathe and kissing the crosse He liued in the extreame tyme when Rome was besieged died a confessour Anno. 566. About the yeare of our Lorde 557. Totila king of Gothes besieged Rome whiche being miserably oppressed with extreame famine was compelled to yelde it self to the slauery of the saluage people vnder whiche it continued tenne yeares In the time of this Pope a Pestilence raigned ouer all Italy beginning in Liguria so contagiously that the contreye was almoste destroyed of the inhabitours thereby Vrspergensis 29. Iohn the third IOhn the thirde a Romaine was an especiall friende to Narsetes the Eunuche gouernour of Italy when the Gothes were ouercome for he recouered his fauour towarde Rome when it was in displeasure and obtayned that hee was made consull for then the bishop had almoste all the swaâ—e in Rome This man decreed contrary to his predecessour that none ought to be called chiefe prieste or vniuersall bishop Distinctione 99. Nullus Furthermore taking away from the bishops chauncelours the laying on of handes graunted it only to bishops as Isidorus writeth Afterwarde turning his minde and taking delight in building he finished Philip and Iacobs churche whiche Vigilius had begonne and restored the Sainctes tombes in the citie Finally being a very olde maÌ„ taking great thought vpon occasion of straunge tempestes he died at Rome Anno 577. In his time the Armenians became Christians 30. Benedict the first BEnedict the first a Romain was bishop when the Lombarde spoyled Italy And wâ—s a good bishop because he did nothing worthy memorie as Barnus and Functius write of him But yet whiche is to be noted for the worthinesse of the dede he forbad that meÌ„ should treade on crosses made of marble stone or woode And when there was great dearth in Rome he or at the least wise Tiberius Augustuâ— in his steade brought corne out of Egypt to succour them withall He died for sorowe to se so many miseries in the citie Anno. 582. 31. Pelagius the second PElagius the seconde while the citie was besieged without the Princes coÌ„maundement coÌ„trary to the custome was made bishop Therefore to pacifie the Emperoure he sent one Gregory a monke to Constantinople afterwarde he made the cloyster of Hermes a martyr and builded vp S. Laurence pallaice from the foundacion He renewed the Canon for saying the howers and commaunded Subdeacons either to forsake their wiues or els their ecclesiasticall functions and appointed nyne prefaces to be song in the masse before the Canon Pestis inguinaria arising of great tempestes and the contagiousnes of the aire tooke awaye this bishop among many other This pestilence was cause of many supersticions for then they firste began to thinke that Gods wrath was to be pleased and the Letany of seuen partes was made by Gregorie The occasion hereof saith Vspergensis was that a great part of Italy was drowned with great flouddes 32. Gregorie the great GRegorie the great a Romaine was made byshop being before but a Monke and a Deacon He was the best maÌ„ of all these Romaine Patriarkes for learning and good life He succeded Pelagius vnwillingly refusing it and in the ende coÌ„pelled thereunto he though otherwyse he was learned and Godly yet because he was a Monke burthened the churche and religion of God aboue all other with more ceremonies then had the Iewes He turned his parentes houses into Monasteries and dedicated the firste of them to S Andrewe the Apostle He made Scholes of quiresters and made certaine songes for the church according to Ambrose maner which we call Anthemes He appointed one to be chaunter for the daye another for the night He gathered together the lawes of the holy fathers He did deuise the order of masses linked the Cannons therof together he caused the masses to be begonne with peces of Psalmes He commaunded to saye Kyriaeleison nine tymes and to chaunt Alleluia after the Graduall hee ioyned the same Alleluia for Easter tyme to the Offertories Hee added three peticions to the Cannons of the masse That is Dies nostros in tua pace c. He coÌ„maunded that the Lordes prayer should be either song or sayde with a loude voyce ouer the communion bread He commauned that masse shoulde be saide ouer the dead carkases of sainctes And added to the Canonicall howers Deus in adiutorium with Gloria patri He deuised Letanies and processions deuided theÌ„ into these seuen orders Clarkes Monkes Nonnes Boyes Laymen Widowes and maried wyues He suffered the Image of the blessed virgin Mary to be caried about withall But not to be worshipped Furthermore this Gregorie as they shamefully imagine compelled an Angeli to put vp his terrible swerde into his sheathe By his indulgences he established certaine stacioâ—s and pilgrimages vnto Images in the citie according to the peoples deuocion He solemnized the feast of the Purification of our Lady with wex candels whereof it is called Candelmas daye and appointed the solemnitie of Palme Sondaye to be kept with processions He added iiii dayes to Lent faste and hallowed the beginning thereof with Ashwednisdaye He forbad those that should faste to eate fleshe milke butter chese or egges because they seme to beare a taste of fleshe and suffered them only to eate fishe excepting also the greater sorte of fishes whereof Mantuan sayth Fastor 2. Yet was it not against the lawe to fede on fishes small For Gregorie forbad the great but time
the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph the churches of Asia But to thrust vpon them the Romain religion patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe syncere doctrine and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement They had Christian churches whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus In the contrey of the Britaines Christianitie florished hetherto which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among theÌ„ that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine as was Dionotus Anonius and his fellowes who in conteÌ„pt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace but with the banner of his Aposticship with his syluer crosse his Letanie his procession images painted puppettes reliques canticles and bookes of ceremonies But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him Anno. 602. They going to the synode did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man that liued solitarely whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement and forsake those tradiâ—ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers to whome hee aunswered If he be a maÌ„ of God followe him They further asked howe they should proue that Ye knowe quoth he that the Lord commaunded saying Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one it is credible that he also beareth Christes burtheÌ„ and offereth it to you to beare but if he be proude and cruell it is euideÌ„t tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke And howe shall we knowe that quoth they Let Augustine quoth he and his company goe firste to the Synode And if when ye come he ryse vp to salute you knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt and obey ye him But if he disdayne you or make smale accompt of you and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce seing ye are the greater number doe ye likewyse contemne him Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship they by and by conceiuing displeasure noting him to be a proude persone did forthwith ouerthwart euery thing that he put forth For he charged them that they did many thinges coÌ„trary to the custome of the catholicke churche especially in keping their Easter in ministring of baptisme and in their preaching and that they regarded not mans tradicioÌ„s and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome But they aunswered that they would do none of these neither take him for their Archebishop Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death whiche immediatly ensued Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande the seconde booke and the second chapter and likewyse the sayde Godfrey But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine For Gregorie before had so discussed it and wrote vnto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to haue the same order of ceremonies but that euery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites whereof Mantuan saythe The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise And make them fondly force the Britains bend vnto the guise Of Romish church against al right with foolish hardines They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease â–ª As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre To kepemans lawe so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe And to speake in fewe wordes the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde from whome the heauen departed Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse vnto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth and to murther to and fro whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God and constant faith were starres abiding in Christe his right hande so in this second sort vnder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes by the neglecting of the same woorde and their earthly affections they were starres falling to the earth Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke whiche shall followe vnder the name of Popes and Antichristes for their absolute reuolting from Christe and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe Apoc. 9. THE THIRDE Booke ¶ Nowe ensueth the thirde sorte of Romaine bishops coming from euill to worse For as the former company in the seconde booke shewed declining from pure Christianitie and enclining to Antichriste so now appeareth in these that the seede sowed by the forainer is groweÌ„ vp Antichrist as it were appearing aboue the grounde who grewe still forwarde froÌ„ grenenesse to ripenesse as shall appeare by these that followe and so from ripenesse to rottennesse which is to be hoped for in that already he is wexed so mellowe that if he be not plucked from the tree if it please God to sende a smale blaste of winde he will fall of him selfe Note therfore diligently gentil Reader what fruite ensueth and springeth of the former grayne Reade conferre and then iudge whether these men shewe them selues to be the vicars of Christe or deceitful and mischeuous Antechristes for bye their fruites ye shall knowe them whether they are suche as they would be accompted Abadon or the Latin Antichriste IN the yeare of our Lorde sixe hundreth and foure Phocas the tyrant murthered his soueraigne lord Mauricius the Emperoure with his wife his brother his children and many nobles From this yere adding to it two yeres to the beginning of the Popedome established by Phocas are sixe hundred sixty sixe yeares from the coÌ„sulship of M. T. Cicero and Antonius as Bibliander Funccius and other do euidently recken it at whiche time the Iewes while their bishops iarred for supremacie lost their libertie For Christe as Bibliander gathers in his reuelation whiche by his dearely beloued Apostle Iohn he deliuered to the church foare tolde that a certaine tyrannicall Empier should afflicte the true church as Nero and Domician with others did And calleth the beaste hauing two hornes like a lambe
the Pope From this time being in the yeare 801. the honour of the Romayne Empire was first translated froÌ„ the Grekes to the French men by the Pope and after at his good pleasure from theÌ„ to the Germaines This Pope also pronounced Pipin of Fraunce sonne to the saâ—e Charles king of the same parte of Italy whiche neither he nor any of his predecessours could euer sudduâ— whiche he did for this pollicie that the kinges of Fraunce hauing the title Emperial should neuer suffer him to lose his maiestie For this cause saith Hieronymus Marius the Pope wrought perpetual dissentions betwene the Emperours of the West and of the East to the great spoyle of Christian bloud Thus vpon condiâ—ion that Charles and his should sweare perpetuall homage and fealtie to the churche of Rome he made him Emperour He first appointed to hallowe the altar with frankinsense He made the Popes decrees to be of greater auctoritie then al the writinges of the doctours Also he caused that a certain counterfeit bloud made by a conueiaunce to ronne from a wodden roode should be taken to be the very true bloud of Christe And caryed it to Mantua where to this daye it is preserued reuerenced and worshipped He by his auctoritie allowed it to be so appointing for it yearely a solemne holydaye Such was the dotage of the time wherof Mantuan bewitched with this enchauntement writeth to the Emperour Charles of the Popes iourney VVhyle Leo hearing of the brute of counterfaited blood VVhiche founde was lately streaming from a crucifixe of wood He hieth him to Mantua where he perceiuing well The wonderous woorkes wherein this bloud so straungely did excell He thought wee should it as the bloud of Iesus Christeesteme That earst was shed vpon the crosse our soules for to redeme An abhominable elusion and blasphemy to say teache that the glorified bloud of Christe should shead it selfe in a rotten idoll whiche as the Apostle saith was ones shed for all that out of his precious body But the Popes auctoritie in this matter caused this to be beleued almoste of all men But so Paule prophecied the coÌ„ming of Antechrist to bee in false signes to deceiue the vnbeleuing Leo died Anno. 816. Vspergensis saith that in this time of Leo the Sunne was darkened and lost his light for eightene days so that the shippes ofte on the sea wandred to and fro Also that in an other yeare it was twyse in the Eclipse firste in Iune secondly in December Likewise the same yere the Moone was twyse in the Eclipse in Iuly and in Ianuary 33. Steuen the fourth STeuen the fourth the thirde moneth after he had taken the Popeship vpon him made a voiage into Fraunce to Lewis the Emperour to purge him selfe of election wherby he was made Pope because he was chosen and confirmed by the Clergie and the people contrary to the decree made by Hadrian and Leo. And thus their owne decrees whiche the former predecessour made the next successour broke But to flatter and dally with the Emperoure for a while he brought with him a fayre crowne of Remis and put it on the Emperours head put another on the Empresse head naming her Augusta When he had receiued his rewarde of the Emperour should returne the churche of Reata wanted a bishop and yet Steuen very subtelly would electe none onlesse he might firste knowe whether the Emperour would allowe his doing but note the sequele As sone as he was returned safe to Rome he began to consider that the prerogatiue which was geuen to Charles and his successours might be a bridelling to the sea of Rome being embouldened the more because Lewis was a gentle persone and a tractable man he disanulled al that â–ª auctoritie and right and affirmed that it ought to belonge to the Clergie the people the senate to electe the Pope But to auoyde the Emperours displeasure he vsed this interpretation that it was lawefull for them to chuse him without the Emperours auctoritie but not to consecrate him but in the presence of him or his embassadours And thus the Emperours were a litle shouldered out from the election of these prelates And beside this because he raigned but eight monethes he coulde not any further enhance the pompe of his seate dying Anno. 817. 34. Paschal the first PAschal the first a Romishe monke was chosen withoute the consent of the Emperour according to the glose deuised by Steuen but when the Emperour complayned that he found himselfe agreeued with the election Paschall verye craftelye wrote vnto him purging himselfe therof In processe of time when he perceyued y the Emperour vpoÌ„ blinde zeale to religion was a greate maintayner of the Church of Rome he thinking that it were daungerous if he shoulde delaye the enlarging of his auctoritye did so craftelye charme and enuegle the Emperour that he yelded whollye to the Romaynes all his auctoritye touching the election of the Pope which was giuen to Charles and he confirmed by wrytinge hys auncetours presentacions which they had wrongfully purloyned This did the Emperour confirme with hande and seale not knowing theyr crafte But after that when this Emperour Lewes minding to haue his sonne Lotharius ioyned w t him in the Empyre and for the more coÌ„uenieÌ„t doing therof sent him to Rome to be crowned there by the Pope king of Italy which after that the Pope had done whiile Lothariê° because of a certaine tumulte and sedition there arysing fled to his father for ayde to suppresse it leauing behind him one Theodorus and Leo chiefe officers aboute him who stoode stoutlye in theyr maisters quarrel the Pope secretly and trayterouslye caused certaine seditious persons to pul out theyr eyes and afterward to strike of their heades And when he was accused to the Emperour both of the sedition and of this murther he picking out for his purpose a counsell of Prelates purged himselfe by his othe notwithstaÌ„ding he absolued and pardoned those that were giltye and knowen offenders he accused them that were slaine to be giltye of treason against the Emperour and finallye auouched that they were lawfully put to death This Paschall they say if they ouer reach not in the nomber did take vp ii thousand saincts karkases that were buryed in Churchyards and bestowed more honourable tombes vppon them in other places He commaunded to worship and reuerence the reliques of Saincts He was beneficiall to stone walles as Churches and altars diuersly Last of all he gaue coÌ„maundement to the clergye that they should not take any benefice or Ecclesiasticall lyuinge at the handes of a layeman He dyed Anno. 824. 35. Eugenius the second EVgenius gat the Popedome with much brablinge and strife among the fathers of the election for first one Zizimus had it graunted him but the discorde beinge ended Eugenius gat it both for his curtesye eloquence as they say who as Premonstratensis sayth that while he was Cardinal of S. Sabines bestowed on the Church a siluer
sodainly Anno. 886. 47. Steuen the fift STeuen the fift gat to be Pope at such time as Fraunce was inuaded by the Normans England by the Danes Pannonye by the Hunnes and Italy by the Sarracens He liued in much trouble and anguish of the mind all the time of his being Pope because Italy was so vexed with warre and the Romaines were not at his commaundemente enoughe yet he employed himselfe to the most of his endeuour daily to encrease their Babilonical trumperye and that none of his decrees might be defaced for as Gratian writeth Distinct. 6. Enimuero he decreed that all the Cānons of the Church of Rome ought of necessity to be kept The same Pope sayth he forbad anye Christians to condemne any to be put to death with hot iron or scalding water which was thē vsed Cau. 2. quest 4. He caused a lawe to be made howe to order such parents as do either ignorantly smother their children in theyr beddes with thē or els do choake them or murther them He dyed Anno 892. 48. Formosus the first FOrmosus the first being bishoppe of Portua fearing the crueltye of Iohn the ix forsoke Rome because hee was thought to be giltye of Iohns imprisonmente this name Formosus signifying beutifull whiche beinge made Pope he choose and toke vppon him sheweth sayth Cranzius that he was a proude parson This Formosus for those former causes vowed and sware an oath that he would neuer returne to his bishopricke nor to Rome both which he had forsaken so he gaue ouer his orders forsoke priestcraft and became a layeman but the nexte that succeded did absolue him frō the oath which he had sworn to Pope Iohn and for moneye did restore him After the death of Steuen this Formosus so monied the matter that hee purchased Peters chayre but as not with out bribes so not without great brauling by meanes that one Sergius a deacon wrestled for the same place For the appeasing wherof he calling Arnulphus sonne of Carolomannus into Rome made him Emperour who to gratify him for his curtesy stroke of the heades of them that were his chiefest aduersaries He raigned vi yeres did almost nothing he died Anno 896. And at the length for these quarrels cōtinuing amōg his successors his bodye and bones were taken vp by Sergius the third the ninthe Pope after him and throwne into the riuer Tiber. After this Formosus the Popes did so dispatch one another that within nine yeares there were xi Popes 49. Boniface the sixt BOniface the sixte was Pope but a while after Formosus and therefore he could not shew of whether faction he was in such great debate among the Cardinalles the people He liued but 25. dayes Pope as Anselmus saith to be remembred for nothinge but for his quiet election happye in nothing but in raigning but a while 50. Steuen the sixt STeuen the sixt succedinge Boniface was so enflamed against Formosus that at the first hee disanulled his decrees cancelled his actes And althoughe Formosus had beene beneficiall vnto him before in making him bishop of Agnina yet this curtesye could not cause this vnthankful prelate to forbeare his malicious purpose but because that this Formosus had before preuēted him in the Popedome and by getting it disapointed him would not suffer him to keepe concubines he conceyued such deadly rancour against him euen after his death that to reuenge his quarrel vppon the dead bodye he sommoninge a counsaile first toke the karkasse of Formosus out of his graue then put al the Popes pontificall robes and attyre vppon it and plucked it of againe and so as it were spitefullye to disgrade him put on layemans apparell vppon him finallye cutting of those two fingers of the right hande wherwith hee vsed to hold the Sacrament and throwinge them into Tiber he commaunded to burye his bodye againe but not among spiritual mens bodyes but among laye men Thus after one yeares raigne he dyed Anno. 897. 51. Romanus the first ROmanus a Romaine by name and byrth though some thincke he were a Spaniard did nothinge worthye of remembrance but whereas he fauoured Formosus he allowed his doinges and did abrogate the decrees actes of Steuen But because he liued not longe hee coulde not proceede farre in his factious doinges which tainted the Romaine prelates shamefully at this time especiallye He dyed the third month of his Popeship Anno. 898. 52. Theodorus the second THeodorus the second euen at his entraūce followed the examples that Romanus had set to him But there is no notorious thing mentioned of him because he liued but a while sauinge that as Stella Venetus sayth he also walked in the seditious pathes of his forefathers He had no regarde of Gods cause but was a maintayner and vpholder of Formosus quarell and cherished those that were of that faction but his shorte time preuented his farther doinge He dyed the xx daye of his Popeship Anno. 899. 53. Iohn the tenth IOhn the tenth succeded Theodorus as well in manners as in place for wheras these seditions were almost buryed he in his time renued the scab againe and made it sorer then before Iohn sayth Barnus mindinge to restore Formosus doinges whollye he sturred a great tumult because the people did resist and withstande it and when hee sawe that it woulde brast into open warre he gotte him to Rauenna and sommoning thither a conuocation of 74. bishops he restored all Formosus his decrees euen to the vttermost and did openlye condemne the actes made by Steuen because he had done so reprochfullye against the dead carcasse Also he burnt al the writings that were to be gotten of that Synode against Formosus but he proceeded no further in these broyles for wante of breath Hee dyed Anno. 901. 54. Benedict the fourth BEnedict the fourth is reported to haue done no notable thinge in these iarres and braules In this age sayth Stella it happened that as wel through the hedds meaning the Popes set all on sedition as by the bodye addicted to slouth al vertue withered away Likewyse sayth Platina when the Church through her wealth wexed wanton and riotous and none of the head of the clergye cōtrolled vice then forthwith wickednes hauing gotten liberty brought forth and yelded vs these Popes being as it were mōsters and mongrels which encroche Peters place by ambition and briberye Benedict dyed Anno. 904. 55 Leo the fift LEo the fift being made Pope euen in his dignitie was taken by strong hande and cast into prison violently by one Christopher seking to make him selfe Pope being but a prieste and chapleine to Leo one whom he had brought vp in his owne house Whiche thing sayth Platina coulde not be done without great seditiō and the slaughter of many And of what auctoritie the place was now it may wel appeare when as firste harlottes bare sway and ruled the Popes then a priuate persone durst and could thus within so shorte a
space as fourty dayes driue out the other and kepe the place him selfe Leo seing him selfe reft of the renowne and thus defaced euen by his owne familiar frend on whome he had heaped so many benefites conceiued so great thought that immediatly he died thereof 56 Christopher the first CHristopher the first was of so base linage that neither his countrie nor his fathers name was knowen Hee hauing shoued out Leo and his concubines ayding him thereto wan the Popeship by strong hande But as he gate it naughtely so was he shamefully thrust out again by one Sergius the peramour of one Marozia a notable harlotte and beawtifull concubine who sought to place him selfe in it So Christopher was put downe the vii moneth of his Popeship And as Platina sayth compelled to be a Mōke whiche thing was then become the refuge of all caytiffes And afterwarde he was againe pulled out of the Monasterie by the same Sergius and caste into a straight pryson where at length in muche misery and sorowe he died Anno 905. 57 Sergius the third SErgius the thirde when as he was but a Deacon gaue a proude attempt to aspire to the Popedome and was in dede chosen thereto with great tumult among the people when Formosus was chosen But taking the foyle he fled into Fraunce but nowe espying his oportunitie by the aide of Charles Simplex king of Fraunce and Adelbert Marques of Thuscia he returned by stelth into Rome And as it is sayde he deposed Christopher apprehended him and clapte him in pryson inuaded violently the Popes place Being setled and remembring his ranke mallice againste Formosus not withstanding the long time that had since passed and eight Popes betwene Formosus and him yet freshly to reuenge his olde grudge Hee the seconde tyme toke vp the karkasse of the sayd Formosus out of his graue after it had lyen thus long setting it in y Popes chaire did drawe him from thence agayne and as if he had bene a liue strake of his head And where as since his laste mangling he had but three fingers remaining on his right hād Sergius chopped of those also After all this he caused his body and all these peeces therof to be hurled into the riuer Tiber as if he had not bene worthy to lye amōg Christiās And yet not satisfied with this reuenge hee defaced condemned and disanulled al his actes so that it was then nedefull to admitte them a newe to their orders whome he being aliue thought mete to make priestes He compelled the Romaines to subscribe to this for feare of the Frenche king This Sergius among other newe ceremonies appointed that the people should beare candels on the daye of the purification of the Uirgin Mary whereupon it is yet called Candelmasse daye to geue their bodies vnnecessary light at noone daye because their soules wanted their necessary light at all times This lasciuious Pope begat a bastarde which was afterwarde Pope Iohn the twelfth whome he had by the moste shamelesse harlotte Marozia So Luthprandus testifieth in the thirde booke and xii chapter De gestis Imperat. This and other like prankes among harlottes and bawdes he practised euen in his Popeship At the time of whose death Anno. 913. there were sene in the element great flakes of fier running to and fro 58 Anastasius the third ANastasius the thirde after Sergius all their vnclenlye ceremonies being obserued was elected Pope But some write of him that he did neither good nor euill in his time and therefore is he more commendable They wryte that in his time the bodye of Pope Formosus was founde by certaine fyshers in the ryuer Tiber and so taken vp and with great worship buried in S Peters pallaice and as some are not a shamed to fayne the Images of the church did salute it whyle it was burying A notorius vntruthe and grosse blasphemie against God although in the tyme of suche blindnesse God might suffer Sathan to moue and sturre the Idols before these idolatours as in times past the diuel◠hath doone when he spake and gaue oracles and prophecies out of Idols Anastasius died Anno. 915. 59 Laudo the first LAudo the firste being a fruytfull Prelate in begetting children as Petrus Premonstratensis sayth hee begat Pope Iohn the xi in detestable adultrye This Popes life sayth Platina was so obscure that some do not recken him among the Popes especially Vincentius This Laudo as it appeareth spent the more parte of his chast life as chastitie went then among harlottes till at the length he was destroyed among them For one Theodora the Lady that gouerned Rome a shamelesse curtezane could not longer forbeare the company of her louer Iohn Archbishop of Rauenna who was apparent sonne to this Pope Laudo Rauenna sayth Luthprandus was two hundred myles from Rome whereby Theodora could not so often enioye the byshop her louer and therefore she caused him to giue ouer Rauenna and to vsurpe the Popes place in despite of the auncientes of Rome Here sayth Funcius a man might demaūde which of al these Popes did erre from the truth seing they were all called holy fathers and heads of the vniuersall churche Let the Popes partakers aunswere if they can 60 Iohn the eleuenth IOhn the eleuenth borne at Rauenna the bastard and adulterous sonne of his forefather Laudo as saythe Praemontratensis he obtained the Popedome by right of inheritaunce though whoredome were his ayde For thus wryteth Luthprandus in his seconde booke and thirtene chapter of Emperours Theodora an impudent harlot and the Lady of Rome burning in fleshly lust was so enflamed with the comlye countenaunce of this Iohn comming to Rome that she did not only request him but compelle him to satisfie her carnall desire For the whiche afterwarde she made him byshop firste of Bononia secondly Archebishop of Rauenna and thirdly to obtaine her filthy pleasure more conueniently she made him Pope of Rome Thus at this tyme was the holy mother churche subiect to an harlot ruled only by her and is made an whore according to the xvii chapter of the Apocalips This Iohn hauing a warlike courage played rather the warriour then the byshop For when the Sarasins wasted Calabria Apulia and Italy he putting him selfe in armour stew a number of them in these countries draue them cleane out As cōcerning the ende of this man thus wryteth Luthprandus in his thirde booke and xii chapter In the meane time Guido Marques of Thuscia began to conferre earnestly and diuise with his wife Marozia the doughter of the saide Theodora howe he might depose this Iohn Guido had many souldiours gathered together at Rome the which apprehending Pope Iohn in Lateran pallayce Anno. 928 cast him in prison and holding a pillowe to his mouthe did smother him to death very miserably After his death they set vp Iohn the twelth the bastard sonne of this Marozia whome she had by Pope Sergius Thus the young harlot Marozia for the aduauncement of her
Romaynes that he coulde do nothinge worthy remembraunce for hee was so shamefullye wounded and foulye mangled and defaced amid the broyles that for shame of his foule disfigurings he durst neuer shewe his face abroade So litle reuerence had the Popes at that time for their litle holinesse Steuen dyed Anno 944. 66. Martin the third MArtin the thirde being Pope gaue himselfe onelye to repayre the Church not in Religion but in building not in reforminge ceremonyes but encreasinge the dignitye and pompe of the Church He was very beneficial to the poore bestowed plentifully on their bellyes He was diligent in reformation of outward manners In the first yeare of this Pope a great blasing starre was seene in Italye after which saith Vspergensis followed an extreame famine and againe saith Masseus the Sunne appeared verye terrible threatninge the sequeale of Gods vengeance Martin dyed Anno 947. 67. Agapetus the second AGapetus the seconde being Pope ruled Popelike in the time of one Berengarius a Marques of Italy who was the last of that name that had that dignitye after Hughe This Berengarius is reported to haue dryuen many Monkes oute of their cloysters whiche liued idellye and gaue them selues to the pleasures of the worlde The Pope perceiuing howe he could not rule Berengarius in these and such other spiritual matters that he would not restraine his soueraignitie according to the wil of him and his Hee sent for Otho the first king of the Germaines to come into Italy promising him the kingdome of the Romaines to fight with Berengarius and so saith Sabellicus troubled the estate of that countrey And except it were the settinge of these princes together by the eares he did nothing worthy memory till his death being Anno. 954. In his time was a counsell holden at Ingelhaim but suche was the negligence of the time that no man can tell what was done there or wherefore it was 68 Iohn the thirtene IOhn the thirtene being the sonne of the foresayde Albericus sonne to Marozia obtained to be Pope partly by the bribery partly by the threatning of his father Albericus being Prince He being Pope liued not like a bishop but altogether like a ranke ruffianly roister geuing him selfe wholly to all kinde of pleasure as to whoredome adultery incest masking momming hunting maygames playes robberies fyring of houses periury dyce cardes blaâ—ing robbing of churches and other villanies euen froÌ„ his youth he misused his cardinalles in cropping their noses thrusting out their eyes chopping of their fingers and handes cutting out their tongues gelding them and vsing diuers diuersly For before the Emperour Otho in an opeÌ„ Sinode it was layde to his charge as Luthprandus wryteth in his sixt booke that he neuer sayde Mattins that in celebrating the masse he him selfe had not communicated that he made Deacons in his stable among his horses that he had committed incest with two harlots being his owne sisters That hee played at dice prayed to the diuell to sende him good lucke that for money he admitted boyes to be bishops He had rauished virgines and straunge womeÌ„ He had made the holy pallaice of Lateran a stewes brothell house That he had defloured Stephana his fathers concubine and one Rainera a wydowe besyde one Anna an other wydowe and her niece that he had put out the eyes of Benedict his ghostly father vsed common hunts that he woare armour and set houses on fyre brast open dores and wyndowes by night that he tooke a cup of wyne dranke to the diuell and neuer blessed him selfe with the signe of the crosse these and many more odious articles were layde to his charge Whereupon the Emperour by the consent of the Prelates deposed him And Leo the eight was set vp in his steade But as sone as the Emperour was gone those harlottes that had bene his companioÌ„s inueigled the nobles of Rome promising theÌ„ the treasures of the church to depose Leo and place Iohn againe whiche they did out of hande and so Leo whom the Emperour appointed was deposed and Iohn established againe Who in his Popeship decreed that the Emperour should euer be crowned at Rome by the Pope But as he was solacing him self with out Rome on a certaine night with the wyfe of one that was a valiaunt man he was taken by him euen in his adultery and so sore and depely wouÌ„ded with a dagger that he died thereof within eight dayes in the tenth yeare of his Popedome as Mantuan witnesseth Of this Pope Iohn S. Dunstane a Nicromancier and a coniuring MoÌ„ke archbishop of Caunterbury in Englande receiued at Rome coÌ„firmation and pall to be metropolitan Anno. 960. This Dunstane did shamefully snaffle king Edgar For the king had deflowred a certaine Noonne for the which cause DuÌ„stane did so taunte and rate him that the king fell downe flatte before him offering to submitte him selfe to any satisfaction and obayed this that was commaunded him by Dunstane first because he was yet vncrowned he charged him that he should not take the crowne vpon him for seuen yeares and that during this time he should fast twyse in the weke distribute his treasure to the nedy builde a Noonnery at Shaftesbury and last of al that he should driue out all maried ministers calling them adulterous priestes Cronicon SaxonicuÌ„ ecclesiae VVigorniensis But as other stories testifie they were shortly after restored againe the moÌ„ks who had encroched their places were depriued Also he purchased of him for a great somme of money a coÌ„mission to disanulle and coÌ„demne the mariage of the Clergie and to constrayne them to single life or els to depriue them of ecclesiasticall benefites So writeth Iohn Capgraue and Polidor Virgil. in his sixt booke of the history of Englande Hereupon he being emboldened by the auctoritie of king Edgar ioyning to him selfe in the same commission Oswalde bishop of Yorke Ethelwalde bishop of Winchester and Monkes of the like disposition did violently thrust out of the cathedrall churches the Curates and Ministers whiche would not forsake their wiues and planted in them Monkes with their counterfaited chastitie whiche they kept vntill the time of the moste renowmed Prince kyng Henry the eight But many there were that stoutly stoode in defiance of this wicked doing especially a certayne Scot did bitterly speake against it Of this Pope Iohn came this prouerbe As mery as Pope Iohn 69 Benedict the fift BEnedict the fift after the departure of Otho the Emperour with his armye and depriuing of Leo being but a Deacon and Cardinall was made Pope by Iohns frends in a tumultuous time But Otho would not suffer Leo whome he had appointed to take this iniurye and therefore returning to Rome with his armie hee plonged the Romaines diuers wayes to make them yelde this Benedict into his handes and to restore Leo. Therefore after they had kept the gates lockt twoo monethes they yelded Benedict vnto the Emperour and receiued Leo and established him solemly in the
and vniust dealinge which the Popes haue vsed seing that seate of Rome hath sustaind within so fevve yeares so manye leude persons tyrantes theues filchers robbers rebels adulterers and open purloyners of Church goodes And who in Gods name vvill reuerence that as holye which receiueth so many plagues but as yet the nomber of the wicked ones is not fulfilled as shal follow immediatlye c. The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTE BOOKE contayninge the thirde diuision of the thirde order of Popes or Romaine Antichristes in the kingdome of the greate Dragon which is the deuill and sathan Apocalips 20. vnto the time of Innocentius the fourth FRoÌ„ Ioan the eighte who was an harlot for the space of 146. yeares to this yeare being the thousand yere from Christe his incarnation Antichrist raigned like an harlot in the Churche of Rome pretending chastity in the meanetime Yet we see howe here the prophecye in Daniel 11. concerninge Antichriste was fulfilled contayned in these words And Antichrist shal be in the coÌ„cupiscence of women We see in these former historyes howe these Popes haue liued in wantonesse royat whoredome and worse theÌ„ whoredome incest pride ambition robbinge and riflinge Churches coniuringe treason rebellion discention murders poysoninges such other detestable enormities So that according to the saying of Esaie they deserue rather to be called the Princes of Sodom theÌ„ the elders of the Church Consequentlye after the thousande yeare after Christes byrth it was prophesyed that the deuil should be let loose and this shal be called the kingdome of the great Dragon wherin the actes of the Popes do wonderfully aunsweare vnto it both in Syluester the second who wyth his Necromancye raysed the deuill from hell and hauinge coniured him vp did compounde wyth him for the Popedome And againe in Benedict the ix who made sacrifyce vnto the deuill in woodes and vppon mountayne toppes In Hildebrand or Gregorie the seuenth who toke counsaile of euill spirites and vsed other diuelish charmes beside other 81. Syluester the second SYluester the seconde was a Frenchman in profession a monke and called Gilbert before he was Pope He was of S. Benedicts order in an abbey at Florence where he being a yonge man and addicted whollye to deuilishe artes betoke himselfe to the deuill both bodye and soule Afterward forsaking that abbey he went into Spaine delightiÌ„g much in prophane sciences came to Hispalis vnto a certaine Philosopher being a Sarracen and expert in Magick of whom he learned much both sorcerye and ambitioÌ„ and began to deuise howe he might attaine to greate honour riches and thought in deede that coniuringe and Necromancye were the meetest wayes to come by hys purpose He had espyed before in the house of his host a certaine coÌ„iuring booke and did his endeuour to steale it awaye but the Magician kept it so deuoutlye that Gilbert coulde not come by it therfore he inueigled the MagiciaÌ„s doughter wyth whom beinge in the house he had good acquaintance â—o steale her fathers booke and let him haue a sight thereof the mayde fulfilled his request so he obtayned his purpose He hauing the booke went about to depart by stealth but fearing least this might endaunger his life for stealing the booke he gaue himselfe to the deuill vppon this condition that he should warrant him to passe safelye into FrauÌ„ce and to obtayne great dignityes He came into Fraunce taught the liberal Sciences so as many had him in admiration wherby he had a nomber of scholers and auditors some of great calling that learned the former artes of him as CoÌ„stantine abbot of Maximin Lotharius Archbishop of Seuen Otho the Emperours sonne Roberte kinge of Fraunce wyth sondrye other bishops prelats priestes of Rome By the procurement of these parsons he was made first bishop of Remen afterward by his leude artes he obtayned to be Archbishop of Rauenna Last of all he obtayned to be Pope of Rome by the helpe of the deuill whom he w t coniuration raysed out of hell according to the xx of the Apocalips For Peter Praemonstratensis other wryters saye that he was made Pope in the Thousande yeare of our Lords Incarnation In the which yere sayth Masfeus was a great and terrible earthquake and a blasinge starre horrible to loke vppon the xiiii day of December In his Popedome he concealed his coniuring and dissembled that familiarity which he had with the deuill but yet he kepte in a certaine secrete place a brasen heade of which when he demaunded anye thinge hee receyued aunsweare of an euil spirit At the length in his pontificality he would needes demauÌ„de of the deuil how longe he should be Pope the deuill aunswered doubtfullye and misticallye sayinge he should not dye vntill he sayd Masse in Hierusalem He therfore conceyuing good hope of longe life began to ware carelesse thinking to take heede enoughe of comminge in Hierusalem But the vse was that on a certaine day of stations in the Lent time the Popes should say masse at Rome in the Pallayce of the holy Crosse which was called Hierusalem wherevppon Syluester not fearinge his life nor heedefull enoughe to forecast the deuils despite accordinge to custome said masse in the same Chappel And by by a terrible shyueringe and quakinge came vppon him wyth a great feuer and by the rumbling noyse of deuils as Peter PraemoÌ„stratensis Platina say he perceyued his death was at hand and that he must paye the deuill his fee. And thus bewayling lamenting openly the abuse of his charmes he confessed his fault til he perished miserablye And sayth Benno he commaunded his tongue and his handes to be cut of wherewith he had blasphemed God in sacrifisinge vnto deuils thus he dyed Anno 1003. The reporte is that the tombe of this Syluester doth euer since prognosticate the death of the Pope by the ratlinge of the bones and the gushing out of water that ryseth out of the grouÌ„d about it as also sayth Platina is testifyed by the Epitaphe written on his graue 82. Iohn the 19. IOhn the 19. an Italian did likewise succeede Syluester and gat to be Pope by the deuils ayde for sayth Benno the scholers of the sayde Syluester being coniurers euerye one gaped for the Popedome This Iohn did take from the people the election of the Pope sayinge in behalfe of his doing that the clergye must teache the people but not followe them And againe the lawe which is ruled by Gods spirite is more worthye then that which is mans lawe He allowed commaunded to establishe in all Churches the feast of al soules at the motioÌ„ of one Odiloe abbot of Clunie whoe dreamed that soules were deliuered oute of Purgatorye by vertue of the masse and sayd that he harde the deuils houle and roare while the soules were takeÌ„ froÌ„ them through dirges trentalles After he had raigned 5. monthes he was poysoned by his owne frendes In his time the name of Cardinals began to grow
sayth Benno the Emperour made Theophilact to flye he put Gregorie in prison and afterward he banished him wyth Hildebrād into Germanye and cōpelled the bishop of Saba to returne to his bishopricke So Gregorie dyed in Germanye of whose falsehod and money together sayth Benno Hildebrand was made heyre who after his death returned to Rome 90. Clement the second CLement the seconde was made Pope in a Synode at Rome by the Emperours commaundement while the other three Popes were yet liuinge Hee caused the Romaynes to giue ouer to the Emperour theyr title in electing the Pope for the auoydinge of those broyles which arose there vppon But some saye that it was the Emperour who made the Romaynes sweare that they shoulde neuer name anye to be Pope But the Emperour beinge gone into Germanye they forgettinge theyr oath did poyson this Pope Clement because he was chosen wythoute theyr consente the ninth monthe after his creation which poyson was tampered by Steuen who succeded him called Damasus the second or as some thincke that Brazutus being commonlye practised in these thinges and companion to Theophilact and Hildebrand was auctor therof At this time were great and straunge contencions about the Sacramente of the alter and by the deuils doinge manye wonders and myracles were wroughte but the Pope forbad manye to vtter their conscience hereof least it shoulde be preiudiciall to the masse And therefore manye of the doctours as appeareth by theyr wrytings wrote doubtfully 91. Damasus the seconde DAmasus the second otherwise called Steuen Bagniarie gate the Popeship by force at the Emperours cōmaundement with consent of the clergye and laitye for sayth Platina it was now a common thinge for euery ambitious parson to prease into Peters seate violentlye but he kepte it not long for the thirtenth day after he was poysoned by the sayde Brazutus Anno 1049. This Damasus beinge chaūcelar to Clemēt his predecessour did poyson his maister and therefore dranke worthely of the same cuppe After this sayth Benno Theophilact who before was fled returned to Rome and there wyth his olde acquaintaunce Laurence wroughte much mischiefe and by the letters of his scholer Hildebrande beinge then in the Emperours Court and a traytour about him he knewe all the Emperours secretes While he thus did greatlye vexe the Romaynes they by the counsell of Cardinals sent Embassadours to the Emperour desiringe him to assigne one to be Pope And therefore one Bruno afterwarde called Leo the ninthe was made Pope and perforce againste his wyll brought to Rome In whose company through ouermuch gentlenes of the Emperour Hildebrand was suffered to returne to Rome who afterward wrought such mischiefe in the worlde as neuer was harde of both againste Emperour Church clergye and common wealth vnder colour of religion meaninge not to keepe his oath longe sworne to the Emperour So sayth Benno of him 92. Leo the ninth LEo the ninth a Germaine borne of the countrey of Dasburg being also himselfe countye Etistheim and bishop of Tulledo he became Pope in this maner Because the Romaynes not for the loue of the Emperour but beinge wearyed wyth those ambitious and seditious prelates that straue for the Popeship desyred him to appointe one to be Pope he sent them this Bruno bishop of Tulledo a man of a simple witte for none of the other Germaine bishoppes durste aduenture to come amonge the poysoned cuppes of Rome He goinge on forwarde in his pontificall roabes had wyth him in companye the abbot of Clunace Hildebrand the monke the clergye of Rome meetinge him seing him come on this manner altered his Popes vesture did most dispitefullye charge him wyth apostasye because he had receyued his auctoritye from the Emperour therefore they perswaded him to put of his pōtificals and to returne to Rome in his wonted apparell Saying the election of the Pope was not graūted to the Emperours but to the clergye and people of Rome Bruno obeyed theyr commaundement and came to Rome in his owne priuate apparel And through the counsaile of Hildebrand did cōfesse openly before the auncients that he had offended and therefore because he ascribed the auctoritye to them they chose him Pope more willinglye and for this deede called him Leo or Liō whose courage argued him rather to be a sheepe Afterward he made Hildebrand a Cardinall and partner of his Popeship with him committing to him the charge of S. Peters Churche whereof Benno wryteth thus As sone as he came to Rome meaning Hildebrād he obtayned of Leo to be made one of the keepers of the alter of S. Peters Church and within a while he filled his cofers and to the end he might put out his money to some man for dailye enterest he became familiarlye acquainted with the sonne of a certaine Iewe who though he were latelye become a Christian yet he left not his Iewishe trade of vsurye And before this hee had well acquainted himselfe wyth the famous worker of mischiefe Brazutus frende to Theophilact who is reported to haue poysoned by his cūning these Popes wythin xiii yeares Clement the second Damasus the second Leo the ix Victor the second and Nicholas the seconde Pope Leo held a counsell at Vercella wherin he condemned the doctrine of Berengarius who helde opinion against transubstantiacion and the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament Likewise he held a nother counsell at Maguntia wherein was concluded that priests should not keepe hounds nor haukes neither medle with any such profane things Also the mariage of the clergye was vtterlye condemned by the procurement of Hildebrād And it was decreed to be simonye for a priest to be preferred to an ecclesiastical lyuing by a layman By the enticement of Hildebrand and Theophilact this Leo not knowinge their disposition moued warre against the Normans whose power was thē great in Apulia But Theophilact meaning to worke the Pope mischiefe secretelye because he durst not openly do it bewrayed first al his secrete coūsell and finallye with Hildebrands aduise betrayed the Pope himselfe to the Normans from whom his men beinge slaine he himselfe escaped narrowly who yet returninge to Rome was poysoned by Brazutus the fift yeare of his Popedome 93. Victor the second VIctor the second a Germaine borne in Bauaria was made Pope not by free election but because the Romaynes did so much stande in awe of Henry the Emperour that they durste do nothinge against the oath made to the sayde Henry in the time of Clement the seconde And therefore to gratify the Emperour they sent Hildebrād as Embassadour to him to know his pleasure in the election and by this meanes this Victor beinge a Germaine came to be Pope In this Embassage Hildebrande toke vppon him by vertue thereof to make Henry the Emperours sonne heyre to the Empire This Victor helde a great Synode at Florence wherin he condemned all those priestes of Symonie who had bene presented to their spiritual liuinges by any temporall parsons Immediatly after the establishmente of
this Victor Brazutus repayred to Rome at the procurement of Hildebrande to poyson him or anye other sayth Benno that should steppe into the Popeship before Hildebrand and so Victor sone after he had raigned two yeare was poysoned by the same Brazutus Anno 1057. 94. Steuen the ninth STeuen the ninth borne in Loraine the duke of Loraines brother was made Pope after Victor with generall consent of all but withoute the Emperours agreemente This Steuē caused the Church of Millain which almost 2. hundreth yeares had defied the supremacye of Rome to become subiecte vnto it He also before he came to be Pope had accused the Emperour Henry of heresye because hee somewhat abridged the vsurped auctoritye of Rome Also he helde a counsell in Florence against mariage of priestes countinge it fornication and therein concluded many thinges against dualities pluralityes and totquots But at the length in the tenth yeare of his raigne Hildebrand caused his olde companion Brazutus to giue him such a drinke that the Pope dyed thereof Anno. 1058. At his death Hildebrand was not at Rome but returned in all hast vppon it and at his comming he commaunded all the clergye to appeare before him and bounde them wyth an oath to suffer none to be Pope but such a one as obtayned it with the cōsent of euerye one 95. Benedict the tenth BEnedict the x. borne in Campania was first called Mincius while the Romaynes were in an vprore and cryed oute to haue one of their owne countreymen to be made Pope this Benedict had the name generally and so was made Pope contrary to the oath which the clergye had made to Hildebrand at his departure lately Hildebrād therefore taking it despitefully thus to be deluded in his absēce deposing Benedict was very importune with the clergye to make one Gerhard bishop of Florence that came wyth him Pope in his presence as they promised him at his departure The clergye because they coulde not with safetye chose another in Rome went therefore to Senas and there they chose this Gerhard Pope naminge him Nicolas the seconde Gerhard beinge Pope held a Synode at Sutrius against Pope Benedict who vnderstanding of this conspiracye wroughte by Hildebrand was content for quietnes sake to forsake Rome and to liue like an outlawe priuatly in Veltra after he had bene Pope ix monthes Christian Masseus reporteth that this yeare a great company of snakes about Tornaie fought cruelly together vntill the people beset them with fier and burned them 96. Nicolas the second NIcolas the seconde was made Pope as is mentioned in Benedict After he had helde the councell of Spire against Benedict hee returned to Rome and sommoned a councell at Lateran by the craft of Hildebrand for his owne purpose wherein was decreed that he should be condemned for an apostata that should be Pope eyther by fauour or money without the whole consent of the Cardinals Also he gaue the Cardinals the priestes and laitye power to excommunicate any such Pope to hold Synode against him any where and to driue him out In this Synode Berengarius was forced to recant his opiniō against the real presence for he had long maintayned that in the breade wyne was neyther the body and bloud of Christ really nor naturally but a signe and figure thereof as Platina Mūclerus and other write of him This Pope Nicolas established and strēgthened the Popedome wyth sondrye and diuers straūge forgeryes fables and vntruthes terrible vizards and gastlye countenaunces of excommunication and dreadfull threates of cursings The wordes of the excommunication and curse are these in the 23. distinction as Barnes testifyeth In the name of God Amen If anye man do breake this oure sacred decretal sentence and presumptuously attempt to hurt or disquiet against this statute the Church of Rome let him be accursed for euer damned by excōmunication Let him be reputed amōge the vvicked that shall not rise againe to iudgement Let him feele the wrath of the Almightye against him Let him feele the rage of Peter and Paule vppon hym in the life to come that spurneth against their Churche in this life Let his dwelling be in the wildernes let his house be left desolate for none to dwell therin Let his children be orphanes and his wife be a widowe In his trouble let him be troubled Let his childrē beg their bread and be cast out and be vagabounds driuē out of their owne houses Let the vsurer rifle all his goodes and let straungers spoile the labour of his handes Let the whole world fight against him and let all the Elementes be contrarye vnto him Let the merits of all saincts confound him Let him spende this life prisoner fettered in chaines and let the saincts powre their open vengeaunce on him But our grace defende them that keepe this c. Such thonderbolts did the Pope shoote abrode to terrifye the world which yet wroughte so in mens hartes that for feare there of they yelded themselues subiecte to the Pope against their owne natiue and Christian Princes But to returne to the historye concerninge the sturre that Hildebrand kepte at this time in Rome Thus wryteth Benno Nicolas beinge Pope Hildebrand perceyuing he could not yet gette to be Pope deuised to get an archdeacōshippe by hooke or by crooke At the length he set vppe one Mancius archedeacon of Rome whom he tossed and disquieted with diuers iniuries who beinge ouerlayed wyth the reprochful dealing and craft of Hildebrand and beguiled w t his moneye at the length graunted him to surrender vnto him his archedeacōship This being graunted Hildebrād commeth to Pope Nicholas ere he were aduised and very impudentlye partly by vnreasonable request partlye by the threatnings of armed souldiers hired for the purpose who gaue him watchworde to yelde or to dye hee made Hildebrād archdeacon This being done euen immediatlye after Brazutus ministred the same cuppe to Nicolas that he had done to the other Popes Nicolas beinge thus poysoned the Cardinals being so well acquainted with the ambition of Hildebrand besoughte the Emperour earnestlye to assist them in the behalfe of Cadolus his bishop of Parma whō they had chosen Pope which thing so strake Hildebrand to the hart that from thence forward he professed himselfe an vtter ennemye to the Emperour He brake his oath of fealtye and allegeance And makinge a conspiracy wyth the Emperours ennemyes and with the Normans he beguiled Anselmus bishop of Lucia causinge certaine Romaynes to chuse him bishop and call him Alexander the secōd as one whom hee would set vp against Cadolus chosen by the Cardinals And thus Hildebrand brought trouble as much as he could both to Anselmus and Cadolus who in deede wayted to succede them both c. 97. Alexander the second ALexander the seconde was as yee reade made Pope by Hildebrands craft for his owne purpose against the Emperours minde and therfore the Lombards by the Emperours consent did set vp another against him called Cadolus
had raigned 50 yeare in his life he lacked lyuinge and after death he wanted a graue throughe malice of the Pope Pope Paschal held a councell of Princes and bishoppes about matter of gaynes as homages and fealtyes due vnto him also he spoiled the bishop of Rauenna of his lands and toke them into his owne handes But afterwarde because he refused to confirme certaine bishops appointed by the Emperour Henry the fift the Emperour though laâ—e before he had kissed the Popes feete appreheÌ„ded him and cast him into prison where he continued vntill he had coÌ„firmed them all and should by his Seale restore the priuiledge of ratifying a bishop which was graunted to Charles the great and confirme him to be Emperour While sayth Masseus the Pope sate in his chayre after Masse beholde the souldiours cryed vnto him and his clergye Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and forthwith apprehended both him and all his clergye and caryed them out and stripped them out of their apparell so naked that they lefte them not theyr breeches on and ledde them thus haÌ„dled to Soractis mount wher they put them in prison c. This broyle being ceased and Henry being crowned Emperour Paschal renued vnto him the auctoritye of appointing bishops and pronounced openlye in the Church that they were all held accursed who soeuer would disanul the preuiledge which he had graunted Then thy sange Gloria in excelsis because of this peace betwene the Emperour and the Pope But as sone as the Emperour this being done was departed into Germanye the Pope brake al his oathes and went from his word in euerye thinge saying that hee did it not freelye and of his owne accorde but that for feare hee yelded to the Emperours desire Then was the priuiledge condemned and the Emperour excommunicated and terrible tragedyes sturred which were all blazed throughe diuers countryes Also hee by a councell diuorsed the clergye of Fraunce from their wyues as Gregorie had done in Germanye and draue diuers bishops froÌ„ their Seas because they would not leaue theyr wyues Againe to encrease the regiment of Rome he reuiued the strife for the bestowiÌ„g of bishoprickes which wrought great slaughter and bloudshed in all countreyes of Europe Anselmê° archbishop of Canterbury wyth sophistrye and cauillinge vphelde this Popes doing as he did Pope Vâ—banus being both their couÌ„celour at Rome their Uicar here in Englande This Anselmus did depriue kinge Henry the first of all auctoritye in Ecclesiastical causes and denyed to do homage to the kinge thinking and auouching it to be vnlawfall because it was due in the clergye vnto the successours of S. Peter Also he condemned in England the mariage of ministers Pope Paschal dyed Anno 1118. Matthaeus Paâ—siensis wryteth in his Chronicle that when Anselmus accused his soueraigne kinge Henry the first of England before the Pope at Rome for medling with the appointing of bishops and ministers VVilliam VVarelwarst the kinges Proctour did aunsweare stoutlye in hys Princes behalfe and amonge other thinges sayd that the kinge would not for the losse of his kingdome lese his auctoritye in appointing of prelates â–ª Whereto the Pope said If as thou sayest thy kinge to hazarde his crowne wil not forgoe his giuing of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges knowe thou preciselye I speake it before God that I will not suffer him without punishmeÌ„t no not for the price of his head Which beinge heard Anselmus besought the Pope to laye hands in despite of the kinge on those whom he had disgraded so sayth Mattheus the holye seate readye to yelde fauour to all restored them to their former dignities by the intercession of White and red But kinge Henry did depriue Anselmus of all his goodes and confiscated his Archbishopricke and defyed the Popes auctoritye Anno 1110. the Moone was darkened as if she had lost her lighte the yeare following it rayned bloud at Rauenna in Italy at Parma in the month of Iulye Anno 1114. in December the Heauen appeared sodenlye of a very fierye and ruddye colour as if it had burned and the Moone suffered an Eclipse The same yeare the riuer of Thames was drye for two dayes Anno 1 â–ª 17. there were thonders hayle great windes horrible dreadful and houge earthquakes that ouerthrewe Churches Towers walles buildinges and destroyed men 102. Gelasius the second GElasius the second called before Iohn Caietanus of a noble house was sometime a monke he succeded Paschal but not without great discention For because he was chosen withoute the consente of the Emperour one Cincius a maÌ„ of great power in Rome would not suffer this iniurye but went with a troupe of souldiours to PalladiaÌ„ minster where the Cardinals were gathered together and breakinge the gates open he rushed in vppon them and stroke at euerye one that he mette And as for the Pope with his necke wrongde awrye he threwe him on the ground stamped on him wyth his feete and cast him into prison and as the Cardinals were ruÌ„ning away he hoysed them of their Mules and horses to the grounde and vsed all the despite he could toward them But the Romaynes would not suffer this and therfore by the ayde of the Normans they deliuered the Pope made his ennemyes to submit themselues and to aske pardon wyth kissinge his feete The Emperour hearing this sent a great arâ—â—ye out of Germanye to Rome which Gelasius fearing fled by shippe wyth his companye to Caieta and there was made a priest for he was made Pope before beinge but a deacon Henry the Emperour comming to Rome in the absence of Gelasius created Maurice Burdinus archbishop of Bracharie Pope and called him Gregorie the eight and theÌ„ he returned froÌ„ Rome Gelasius hearinge thereof returneth priuilye to Rome and takinge harte to him he commeth into Praxis Church to saye masse where he was so hindred by the contrarye syde that he scant saued himselfe by running away From thence he fled into Fraunce where at the length he was entertayned by an abbot in whose house hee dyed of a pleuresye in the seconde yeare of his raigne In his life by a Legat that he sent he held a councell in Collen where he excommunicated the Emperour and decreed that the Popes of Rome should be iudged by none 103. Calixtus the seconde CAlixtus the second being before called Guido of Burgundy came of the kinges of Fraunce and Englande he succeded Gelasius And after he was coÌ„firmed at Rome he sent a messenger to the said Conon in Germanye to coÌ„tinue the excommunication of his predecessour against the Emperour Hereupon the Emperour was coÌ„pelled to summon a councell of Princes and bishops at Tybur to make peace betweene him the Pope and least the Popes part shoulde haue spoyled his dominions he toke peace vppon vnequall conditions He confirmed to his great dishonour the electioÌ„ of this Calixtus who was chosen Pope at Cluny in Fraunce by a fewe Cardinals whom Gelasius had brought wyth him and yet was the other
Pope Gregorie aliue whom the Emperour himselfe had first created And when the Popes Legates demaunded of the Emperour to giue ouer his auctoritye in Ecclesiasticall causes and bestowing spirituall liuinges he desired respit to deliberate thereon with the Princes of Germanye who councelled him to seeke for the fauour of the Pope to such puissancye was the Pope then start vp ouer the mightie Monarches Finallye Embassadours meetinge at VVormes in Germanye for eyther parte to debate the matter after greate controuersyes and sharpe reasoninges on eyther syde the Pope bare awaye the victorye for the Emperours Proctours were the bishop of Spire and the abbot of Fulda by theyr callinge bounde to fauour the Popes part who perswaded the Emperour to yelde ouer his righte for feare of the excomunication which would cause his subiects to reuolt from him And so he obeyed This beinge done the Popes Legates did absolue him and gaue him licence to repayre to seruice in the Church which Gelasius had denyed him These compositions were drawne in wrighting for both sydes and therfore the Popes part euen to triūph of their victorye and shewe how the Emperour was vanquished caused theirs to be read with open Proclamation and hanged them vp at Lateran to be seene openlye Calixtus after he had thus maistred the Emperour persecuted Pope Gregorie his aduersarye that stoode against him for the Popedome by the Emperours meanes Gregorie hearing of this fled from Rome to Sturium where Calixtus caught him and to make him a laughing game euen to the Emperours reproche he caused Gregorie to be set vppon a Camel with his face toward the Camels tayle so to be brought to Rome afterward he caused his heade to be shauen so sente him into a Monasterye Amonge manye Canons that Calixtus made one was that it should be adulterye if a man in his life time shoulde forsake his bishopricke or Church wresting this place of Paule vnto it The wyfe is bound to the lawe of her husbande while he liueth c.. He appointed to fast foure times in the yeare whereas before it was but thrise and said it was not lawfull to fast anye otherwise then accordinge as the Church of Rome did addinge this reason For sayth hee as the sonne came to do the will of his father so muste Christians do the will of their mother the Church of Rome He dyed of a feuer which he toke by the trauell of a greate iorneye Anno 1125. One Simeon an Englishman borne in Duresme in the 2. booke of his historye of the Kinges of Englande wryteth that this Calixtus held a generall councell in Fraunce wherin he forbad priestes deacons or subdeacons to haue wyues and first to leese their benefices secondlye the Communion if they woulde not yeilde herein Wherevppon one in Englande wrote a sharpe Epigram against him thus in effect O bone Calixte nunc omnis clerus odit te Quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti Hoc destruxisti postquam tu Papa fuisti Ergo tuùm meritò nomen habent odiò O good Calixtus now the clergye doth the hate In former tyme the Churchmen might enioy their spousal mate But thou bast takē this away to Popeship since thou came Therefore as thou deserued hast they do detest thy name 104. Honorius the seconde HOnorius the second before called Lambert being but of base byrth was first made bishop of Hostia for his learninge and so came to be Pope But sayth Platina his entraunce into Peters place is not to be commēded because he came in rather by the ambition of a few then the cōsent of good men for he was made Pope with great debate by the pollicy of one Leo Frangepain the chiefest Citizen who perswaded that they should not chose the Pope before they knewe all the Canons concerning the electiō While they stayed about this Leo practised to serue this Popes turne by such fetches as he could deuise but the Cardinals perceyuinge his policye did create one Theobaldus a Cardinall Pope callinge him Celestine but the people stoode earnestlye vrginge for another Cardinall that was a Saxō which Leo seemed to like of onelye to defeate the election of the Cardinals and when by this meanes he had the people somwhat indifferent to be ruled by him he brought to passe by them to make Lambert Pope and called him Honorius This Honorius sayth Mattheus Parisiensis sent out a Legat one Iohn Cremensis a riotous Cardinal to fil the Popes bagges He cōming into England Anno 1125. wyth the kinges fauour passed from one Religious house to another still fillinge his pouches with moneye and hys panche with delicate cheare And when he had euen loaden himselfe meetely wel he held a Synode in London where he cōdemned all the clergye of adultery which had wyues and euen the selfe same daye at night my Lord Legat himselfe euen his owne parson was taken in adultery And yet Pope Honorius wrote in his behalfe to the clergye of Englande thus Wee desire you charge you and commaunde you that ye receyue this Iohn as the Uicar of S. Peter w t reuerence heare him with humilitye and at his commaūdement be assistant at his Synodes c. The like for him wrote Honorius to Dauid kinge of Scottes There is a certaine statute made by the same Iohn in the said Synode helde at London to this effecte Wee by our Apostolicall auctoritye commaunde that priestes deacons subdeacons and canonists shall not come in companye wyth theyr wyues concubines yea or any other women except theyr mother sister or aunte or such womē as may altogether giue no suspition and who so shall breake this shall forfaite his orders Wee commaunde that no mariage shal be made betweene kindred or affinitye to the seuenth degree Honorius dyed Anno 1130. Platina sayth that in the time of this Honorius one Arnulphus an Englishmā and a noble preacher of the Christen Religion was murthered at Rome by the treacherye of the clergye because he did sharpelye reproue theyr royat and wantonnesse and rebuked theyr pompe and greedinesse in gatheringe riches Manye of the nobles of Rome did followe this man as a true disciple Prophete of Christe and onelye preacher of the truth 105. Innocentius the second INnocentius the second after he was made Pope coulde deuise no more charitable deede then to suppresse Roger Duke of Sicilia for sayinge that he was kinge of Italye The Pope broughte oute his armye and marched forward stoutlye and manfullye ouerthrew his ennemye but the dukes sonne comminge vppon his backe with an army toke the Pope and his Cardinals and so Roger obtayned all besyde the title of Sicilia In the meane time the Romaynes created one Peter Leo his sonne Pope and called him Anacletus which being heard Innocentius desired to be set at libertye and obtayned it and purposed to returne to Rome but because he saw al was in an vprore at Rome he turned frō thence trauayling till he came into Fraūce In the meane
time Anacletus sought wyth spendinge and brybinge to winne and confirme all mens good wills towarde him that anye way seemed to fauour him He made Roger kinge of both Sicils to be his freinde Innocentius was busye on the other syde to recouer the Popedome therefore held a councell in Fraunce and condemned Anacletus for an ennemye of the Church Afterward he went to Philip kinge of Fraunce and crowned his sonne Lewes then he wente to Carnotus where he met with Henry the first kinge of Englande perswading with him to send an armye against the Sarracens that kept the holye lande but his purpose was to haue vsed that army for the recouering of his Popedome From him he went to Lotharius kinge of Germanye desyringe him to see him restored Lotharius gyuinge his oath to the Pope prepared an armye to conducte Innocent safe to Rome So Lotharius entred into Italye wyth a puissante armye to restore Innocent to hys place and comminge to Rome deuided his hoast and entred into the Citye ouerthrewe Anacletus with duke Roger and set Innocētius safe in Lateran Innocentius therefore to shew himselfe thanckfull crowned Lotharius Emperour and gaue to Reginold his chiefest Captayne the Dukedome of Apulia that was none of his owne to bestow and all that Roger possessed in Italy ▪ But Reginold dyed soone after and then Roger claymed his right againe and because the Pope withstoode him he toke him againe his Cardinals sodenly ere that they wist would neuer let them depart vntill they had graunted him his whole desire yea to make him kinge of both Sicils and so since that time the kingdome of Sicill is called S. Peters patrimonye But sayth Nauclerus much mischiefe arose vp hereof because the Pope woulde thus take vppon him the bestowinge of Princelye titles robbinge the Emperours of that righte which they had gotten by the sworde Innocentius made a lawe that whosoeuer should strike an annointed priest or shauen clarke shoulde be excommunicated to be absolued onelye by the Pope after this hee dyed Anno 1143. In this Popes time Steuen Kinge of Englande Anno 1136. kept to himselfe and vsed in his owne power the inuesture of prelates And Lotharius the Emperour would haue reclaymed that to himselfe which the Pope toke from Henry the Emperour but that S. Bernard being then of great credite disswaded him About this time was VVilliam bishop of Yorke called S. VVilliam of Yorke who was poysoned in his challice by his Chapleynes 106. Celestine the second CElestine the second a Thuscan succeded Innocent by the commaundement of Conradus his life was so shorte that he could not play the Pope like other At this tyme was a great contagious plague through out al Italy Celestine dyed in the sixt month of his Popeship In his time the bishop of VVinchester in Englande helde a councell where was concluded that if any man abused eyther Church or Churchyard or layde hand on an Ecclesiasticall person he shoulde be excommunicate to be absolued onelye by the Pope 107. Lucius the second LVcius the second borne in Bononia succeded Celestine He was the cause auctor of much discension in Rome for deposing and disanullinge a kinde of office called Patricianship which the Romaynes being weary of the Popes yoke had made in the time of Innocentius because the Popes toke vppon them all swaye within the Citye abroade likewise But this Pope Lucius because he was not able to depose the Patrician alone craued ayde of the Emperour Conradus whoe beinge otherwise busied coulde not assiste him Lucius therefore soughte to attaine his purpose another waye for when the Patrician the Senatours were all gathered together close in the Capitol Lucius toke his oportunitye and came thither with a bande of souldiours in armour meaninge either to destroye the Capitoll or to driue them out The Cityzēs hearing hereof armed them selues forthwith and ranne to succour theyr officer whervppon roose a very bloudye fraye Pope Lucius beinge in the middest of the broyle was so pelted with stones and other lumpes that sone after he dyed therof Anno 1145 ere he had raigned a yeare 108. Eugenius the third EVgenius the thirde sometime an abbot was made Pope by this meanes w t the consente of the Cardinals This Eugenius was scholer to S. Barnard who for his learning was then in great reuerence and cōsidering the time how the Romaynes wrangled to haue auctoritye in the electiō of the Pope they thoughte it safest and surest for the maintenaunce of the Popes auctoritye to chose none of the Colledge of Cardinals but this Eugenius that it mighte be a cause why his scholemaister Barnarde shoulde aduaunce the Sea of Rome in his wrytinges and so it fell out as it appeareth in his 2. booke of Considerations Eugenius at his first creation perceyued the Romaynes woulde be importunate to haue the election of theyr Senatours ratifyed and therefore hee fled wyth his Cardinals from Rome by night to Viterbium where he excommunicated all the Romaynes which caused the Citizens to obeye Iordan chosen Patrician then he ioyned his armye with the hoast of the Tiburtines olde ennemyes to Rome so compelled the Romaynes to sue for peace which he graunted at length vppon condition that they should fullye abolish the principalitye of the Patrician and shoulde restore his deputye to his former place and for hereafter shoulde be contente to take suche Senatours as hee by his Papall auctoritye would assigne them Peace beinge thus concluded he returned into Rome but perceyuing afterwarde that falsehoode was mente towarde him he slipt againe to Tiburie the Romaynes pursued him forthwith with bowes and bils and draue him from Tiburie into Fraunce And at length he returned to Rome and there dyed Anno 1152. 109. Anastasius the fourth ANastasius of a Cardinall became Pope wherein hee did nothinge worthye memorye but that hee bestowed vppon Lateran a riche and massye Chalice and bestowed cost in repayringe S. Maries Churche and so dyed the seconde yeare of his Popeship Anno 1154. This Anastasius after the death of one Henry Mordachus a proud mōke whom Pope Eugenius intruded restored S. Williā archbishop of Yorke which William was afterward poysoned in the Challice comminge to receiue the Communion as Mattheus Parisius sayth In this Popes time y Thames at London was so frozen the cartes and waynes passed ouer the I se and a litle before were two Eclipses one of the Sunne and the other of the Moone after which followed terrible tempestes stormes thonder lightninges raine and winde 110. Hadrian the fourth HAdrian the fourth was an Englishmā borne called Nicolas Breakespeare the sonne of one Dan Robert a mōke of S. Albanes he was first a reguler priest afterwarde a bishop then a Cardinall and finallye Pope of Rome He being chosen by the clergye at Rome would not ascende take the place vntill they had consented vnto him that one Arnold bishop of Brixia whom he counted an hereticke should be banished
troublesome dealings was nicknamed Turbanus was borne in Millen He as sone as he was made Pope was carefull at the first to set the Christian Princes at concord least while they were deuided the PagaÌ„s should destroy them but lo how it fel out for sayth Crantzius because the Emperour woulde not in all pointes followe his minde hee purposed forthwith to drawe out his blade of excommunication against the Emperour wherby he made the matter worse but death toke him away in time and preuented him As some thincke he dyed for griefe because he heard dailye encrease of the miserye amonge the Christians how Saladinus triumphed in victorye against them with their great slaughters Hierusalem beinge taken againe and kinge Guido also as he was going to Venice to repayre his armye In this Popes time on MidsoÌ„mer daye at vi of the clocke in the morninge was an Eclipse of the Sunne after which ensued a greate pestilence in Polonia Russia and other countryes By the bolstring vp of this Pope the monkes of Canterbury did in matter of coÌ„trouersye out swaye both the archbishop and king theyr Prince Henry the second who were glad to yeld to the monks their desire for feare of the Popes threatning 114 Gregorie the eight GRegorie the viii borne in Apulia succeded Vrban At this time the Popes seemed very carefull for the recouery of the holy land Iudea and Hierusalem beinge but a vaine and false colour of them to weaken the Princes of ChristeÌ„dome wherby they might the better maister them one by one and by this meanes also being so holy a shewe they so occupied the mindes of Christian Princes that they coulde entende to haue no regarde to the Popes doinges whoe in the meane time while they had no eye vnto him wrought his feates to the great enriching aduauncinge of his owne dignitye For so this Pope Gregorie euen at his first entraunce did send letters to the Princes of Christendome to rayse their armyes to go to recouer Hierusalem and to spend their bloude in a vaine quarel but as he was going to stir vp the Pisans Genuans in this matter he was poysoned and so dyed before hee had raigned two monthes 115. Clemens the third CLemens the third a Romaine sonne of one Iohn Scholar He at his first entraunce sent out commaundement to make warre vppoÌ„ the Sarracens wheruppon the Princes raysed theyr armyes the chiefe wherof are these Frederick the Emperour Philip king of Fraunce Richarde king of Englande and Otho duke of Burgundye and diuers bishops and archbishops with sondry people of Denmarke Fryzeland and Flaunders but yet they did almost nothing at all King Richard of England comming nigh to Rome in his iourneye met with one Octamanus bishop of Hostia to whom he complayned much of the vnsaciable and shamefull simony vsed by the Pope and his courte for taking vii huÌ„dred markes for consecrating the bishop Cenomanensis also fifteene hundred markes of VVilliam byshop of Elye for his office of Legatship beside an houge somme of money of the bishop of Burdeaux for absoluinge him wheÌ„ he should haue bene deposed for a crime vrged against him by his clergye Anno 1188. VVilliam king of Sicil dyed and left no heyre and therefore the Pope by and by would needes claime it to be tributarye to the Church of Rome and belonginge to it But the peeres of the Isle chose Tancred bastard to king VVilliaÌ„ The Pope therefore determined to chalenge and try his right by the dinte of the sword whereby he filled the world full of â—poylings and slaughter and yet he obtayned not his purpose and so left of He made diuers Canons and amoÌ„g other this one that none but the Pope might remoue a bishop from one sea to another or to an hyer dignitye Also he decreed that bishops should be preferred in dignitye aboue Princes He commaunded to celebrate the Masse with vnleuened bread and wyne mingled with water with many other ceremonyes He sent a Cardinal into Poland to reforme the clergy who among other matters in a Synode there held forbad them to haue wyues and because the Danes decreed mariage lawful to their clergye they were excomunicated by the Pope who dyed Anno 1191. 116. Celestine the thirde CElestine the third was borne in Rome he being an old man at Easter time after the death of Clement was made Pope by the bishops and Cardinals the next day he crowned Henry the sixt Emperour This Celestine grudging that Tancred did enioye the kingdome of Sicilia maryed vnto the sayd Emperour a Nonne out of PanormitaÌ„ Nonnery called Constance the doughter of Roger vppon this condition that he shoulde chalenge the kingdome of both Sicils for a dowrye and should driue out Tancred and possesse it himselfe alwayes prouided that the Pope should haue his yearelye tribute oute of it And thus the Sueuian Captaynes became Lordes of Sicill but thereuppon ensued bloudy warres After the death of this Henry through the greate diuision in the Empire there arose such debate through all Germany while the Pope was at defiaunce w t the Sueuians for the soueraignitye of Sicill which he sought ambitiouslye so that one parishe was not at amitye with another whereby the Popes purse was excessiuely fed to appease the sciesme amonge those spirituall men Such were the practises of these holye fathers while they set the Princes of the world on worke to conquer the holye land Of the attonement of this strife Abbas Vspergensis wryteth thus which is worthy to be noted therby to discerne the holines of Rome and how it grew to this riche estate There was scaÌ„t sayth he one bishopricke or Ecclesiasticall dignity or parishe Church which was not at a braul the matter was brought to Rome to be determined but not w t emptye hands Reioyce O mother Rome because the conduites of al treasures on the earth are opened the mouÌ„taines and whole riuers of money might flowe into thy handes Reioyce vpon the iniquitie of the sonnes of men because thou art rewarded for so many mischiefes Reioyce vpon thine assistante companion Ladye Discention who hath burst loose froÌ„ the pit of bottomlesse hell that she might heape vppon thee many gubs of goulde Thou hast that which thou doest thirst after because thou hast daunted the vvorld by the malice of maÌ„kinde not by holy religioÌ„ Men are haled and drawne vnto thee not by deuocion or pure coÌ„science but by treachery and working mischiefes manifolde and the deciding of controuersies gotten with bloud Thus sayth that abbot euen in those times when wher the Popes pride flourished ranckly euen in his ruffe Pope Celestine perceyuing the aduauntage hereof for his estate was still vrgent to sende out the Christian Princes to fighte for the holye lande while he at home with theyr treasures builded for his ease pleasure as Platina mentioneth diuers stately Pallacies and Temples Amonge many decrees he made that an oath made by feare and coÌ„pulsion should be
of none effecte It is sayd before that this Pope Celestine did crowne the Emperour Henry the sixte which because it was done after so straunge a sort as hath not beene hearde it shall not be amisse briefely to declare the maner of it as it is reported by Rogerus Houedenus Ranulphus Rogerus Cestrensis and other of whom the first liued at that time reportinge it as followeth The Pope was going froÌ„ Lateran to S. Peters Church where the Emperour and his wyfe Constantia mette him in the way but the Romaynes did shut the gates against the Emperour Empresse comming with a great troupe of armed souldiours And Celestine standinge vppon the stayres of S. Peters Church toke an oath of the Emperour his armye being shut out that he should defend and restore the libertyes and patrimonye of the Church to the vttermost yeldinge to Rome the Citye Tuscalanum After this he did annoynte him Emperour and her Empresse in the Church while he sitting in his pontificall chayre and holding the Emperiall crowne betweene his feete caused the Emperour to stoupe and bowe downe his heade to his feete so put the crowne on And it being thus put on he caused the Emperour stil to hould downe his head while he with his foote did spurne the Crowne of his head againe sayinge I haue power to make and vnmake Emperours at my pleasure Then the Cardinals toke it vp and sette it vppon the Emperours head And in like maner the Empresse was both crowned and vncrowned with the Popes foote Celestine dyed Anno. 1198. In his time one Cyrill an Hermite had a strange vision reuealed vnto him as hee was at masse as MantuaÌ„ writeth Fastorum lib. 5. if a man will beleeue euery vaine fantasye As Cyrill in his holye weede was earlye saying masse Beholde a child with glorious shape before him present was And houering in the ayre on hye with siluer plate in hand Which he vppon the alter layde where Cyrill still did stand And sayd vnto him holye sâ—er God doth to the disclose These secretes and do thou reueale vnto the Romaynes those The written verses out of Greeke he turnes to latine tongue Which straite were set in scholes and yet are cited vs amonge But touching the truth of this fantasticall dreame it shall folow in Gregorie the ix for that age toke into credit three straunge monstrous myracles so that then the worlde did greatlye esteeme of the secte of begginge fryers while Sathan wrought in Antichrist the full mistery of his iniquitye The myracles are these first the vpholding of Lateran Church reuealed in a vision to a Dominicke Fryer at Rome the fiue Seraphical woundes of S. Fraunces in a certaine hill of Lauernia and the Oracle of this Cyrill 117. Innocentius the thirde AFter Celestine was InnoceÌ„tius the third who so boyled in anger agaiÌ„st Philip the Emperour because he was made Emperour by the Germaynes contrary to his will that he brast out into these wordes Eyther shall the Pope spoile Philip of his Crowne and Empyre or els shal Philip take froÌ„ the Pope his Apostolical dignitye After this hee sturred vp against the Emperour one Otho a duke both boulde and rashe so that by this holye fathers helpe there grewe cruell bloudshed and foule slaughter infinite vntill that this Philip the Emperour was traytecouslye and vilanously slaine by another Otho and this Otho whom the Pope had set on against Philip poasted to Rome and of him was made Emperour But this bloudy league did not last long betwene them for as sone as Otho began to reclaime recouer such thinges as of right beloÌ„ged to the Empyre which the Popes by subtil practises had purloyned many yeres he was excoÌ„municated by the Pope himselfe and spoyled of all his royall estate furthermore he discharged al his Princes of theyr alledgeaunce which by oath they ought to Otho and commauÌ„ded vppon payne of his cruell curse that no man should take Otho to be Emperour nor call him so and caused the Princes to make Fredericke king of Sicill Emperour Also this Innocent Anno 1212. sought to compasse three harde matters that is the deposing of Otho a voyage to Hierusalem and a general councel Also the same yeare sayth Vlricus Mutius certaine noble men of Alsatia did condemne this Pope of impietye because he would not suffer the clergye to keepe their wyues the bishops burned an hundred in one daye because they taught that Christians might lawfullye eate fleshe and marrye at any time This mischeuous Innocent did mischeuouslye contriue many cruell tragedyes against king Iohn of Englande he euen in despite and defiance of the kinge did thrust an enemye to the Realme called Steuen Langton a Cardinall into the bishopricke of Canterbury and encouraged threescore and foure monkes to worke seueral treasons against him Because the king would not suffer these treacheryes he condemned him to be an ennemy of the Church excommunicated him from the company of all Christians interdited his kingdome vi yeres and three monethes deposed him from gouernment toke from him the Crowne and the Scepter discharged his subiectes of their allegeaunce gaue his Realme to Lewes the French kinges sonne commaunded to spoile him both of goodes and life with diuers other tyrannous dealinges Kinge Iohn beinge dismayed with these stormes being otherwise a noble and valiant Prince yet because he was forsaken of his nobilitye his bishops and commonaltye submitted himselfe full sore against his hart to the Popes obeysaunce compelled to acknowledge the Pope to be supreame heade ouer all Christendome and God vppon earth and bound himselfe with a solempne oath to stande to the Popes arbitrement and that his posteritye should do the like to acknowledge themselues perpetuall tributaryes to the Popes of Rome Also he kneeling vppon his knees to Pandulphus yelded vp his Crowne in the presence of all his nobilitye sayinge Here I resigne vp the Crowne of Englande to Pope Innocent the thirde c. Which Pandulphus kept for fiue dayes during which time the king was as a priuate person then being bound to paye the Pope for his Crowne a thousande markes a yeare with other shamefull conditions he receiued his Crowne at the handes of Pandulphus pardoning and restoring to full estate all those that had rebelled conspired and wroughte treason against him And yet by the procuremente of Steuen Langton Archbishop of Yorke other of the clergye and priestes of Englande he was myserablye vexed with treasons and rebellions continuallye for certaine of the nobilitye and priestes had chosen Lodowicke to be their kinge sonne to Lewes kinge of Fraunce who entred the Realme and toke the estate vppon him by theyr maintenaunce against kinge Iohn to the great hart breaking of the noble Prince the spoyling of the Realme and oppression of themselues while this forren Prince bestowed all thinges vppon his owne countreymen accomptinge the Englishe nobles that assisted him to be but traytours In the ende after much miserye and
FINIS 118. Honorius the thirde HOnorius the thirde a Romaine borne was made Pope at Prusium at what time the Cardinals distressed for want of foode did there dispatch the election of him Who byinge to Rome as fast as he coulde toke order about the warre in Asia to maintaine it stil knowiÌ„g how auaylable it was to their matters wroughte heare at home in Christendome forth with Iohn Columna a Cardinal of Rome was appointed to proceede as ambassadour with that armye which Innocentius had prouided for that purpose He crowned Frederick the seconde sonne of Constance the Nonne Emperour against Otho the fourth whom notwithstanding afterward for vsinge his owne right in the coastes of Sicil Apulia the Pope excommunicated Yea this Honorius sayth Marius was so enflamed against this Emperour Frederick that hee did trayterouslye maintaine Thomas and Mathewe Earles of Thuscia with other rebels that put themselues in armoure against the Emperours maiestye whereby the Emperour coulde not punishe them as they deserued which sayth Vspergensis caused him much to complaine that the Sea of Rome did euer maintaine traytours and rebels which presumed vpon that refuge Also he discharged his barons of their fealty to their Lorde which mischiefe was yet for a while stayed by the meanes of Hermannus maister of the flemings of Zeland He coÌ„firmed the orders of Dominican Franciscan friers deuised in the time of Innocentius He maintayned the white fryers and Augustinian fryers that they should vphould transubstantiation against the Valdenses who then began to defye the Church of Rome in many matters for the Dominicans forged that Pope Innocentius a little before his death had a vision wherin was reuealed vnto him that Lateran Church should fall vnlesse their patron Dominicus shoulde bolster it vppon his shoulders whereof Mantuan deluded with such fansyes maketh mention Al. so he wryteth of another dreame for the Franciscan fryers of which though they dreamed as necessarye yet I omitte as vaine and fonde In this Popes time while these thinges were doing there were seene in the ayre strauÌ„g sights testifying the horror of Antichrist encreasing in his members as shall appeare by the Popes following While the ChristiaÌ„ estates were turmoyled abrode fighting for Hierusalem the Pope in pompe and ease at home was at leasure to build sondrye sumptuous Pallaces and gorgeous Temples dedicating them to diuers Saincts He published Epistles decretall and decreed that vnlearned parsons should not be made priestes He commaunded that when the singinge cake was heaued and lifted vp the people should fal downe on their knees and that it should be caryed in comlye order to the sicke with a burning Taper before it He grauÌ„ted Archbishops power to giue pardons faculties dispensations dualities pluralities wtin their diocesse Anno 1223 one Adam CathaneÌ„sis a bishop in Scotlande as Boethius wryteth was burned of his own neighbours in his owne kitchin because he had excoÌ„municated certaine of them for with holding theyr tythes the Pope knowing of this murther neuer ceased till to reuenge the same foure hundred of these men were hanged and their children gelded by king Alexander A sufficient reueÌ„ge for the death of one man Furthermore this Pope warred vppon the Emperour in Apulia and condemned the Earle of Tholos for an hereticke geuinge his landes to the French kinge and finallye would not suffer his bodye to be buryed like a Christian. At length the Pope died Anno 1227. of whom Mattheus Parisius in the 8. booke of his Chronicle wryteth thus Pope Honorius sent his Legate Otho to require to haue Prebendes giuen vnto him throughe all England For sayth the Pope the naturall children must assist their mother in pouertye Therefore he required ij prebends of euery Cathedrall Church one of the bishops stipende and the other from the charter And so he â—raued diuers porcioÌ„s out of the religious houses At this time the Pope was sicke of the spiritual dropsye so that by his Legat he drancke vp the treasures of the clergye and cloystermongers and vsed straunge tyrannye amonge them for Hugh VVells bishop of Lincolne to recouer his bishopricke paide an hundred markes to the Popes Legat and a thousande markes to the Pope At this time it rayned bloude for the space of three dayes in Rome whereuppon one wrote these two Verses O pater Honori multorum nate dolori Est tibi dedecori viuere vade mori O Pope Honorius borne thou werst to mischiefe many men Thou liuest with shame conuaie with speede thy boones to deadly den 119. Gregorie the ninth GRegorie the ninth borne in Campania was nephew to Innocentius the thirde He maintayned the quarell of his predecessour Honorius against the Emperour This Gregorie as Marius wryteth was more maliciouslye disposed toward the sayd Frederick for he accused him because he woulde not fulfill that vaine promise to the needelesse sheddinge of Christian bloud which he made to Honorius for the vnprofitable recoueringe of Hierusalem And therefore this Gregorie did excommunicate him before the Emperour coulde be hearde to speake or were conuicted by reason neither woulde hee suffer the Emperours Embassadours to come to his presence nor heare them in the councell which came to alleadge good and reasonable excuses in the Emperours behalfe as his owne sickenes at his settinge forward caused him to staye besides the death of the Lautgraue Therfore sayth Vspergensis this Pope like a proude man began in his first yeare to excoÌ„municat and curse the Emperour for certaine foolish and false causes neglectinge all order of iudgement as the Emperour sheweth in excusinge himselfe in his epistle to the Princes of Almanye openinge to them because the Pope refused to heare it his innocencye and vpright dealing And therfore certaine noblemen in Rome namely of the house called Frangentes panem when the Pope did the second time excommunicate Frederick they caused the Pope to be driuen oute of the Citye with foule shame so that he ranne awaye byding at Peruse al that yeare the yeare folowing Yet no meanes could asswage his furye but he prouoked Iohn kinge of Hierusalem the foresaid Earles of Thuscia rebels to the Emperour and manye other Princes to trouble him The Emperour appointed a day of assembly for diuers Christian Princes at Rauenna and the Princes were making speede thether to obeye him but by the Popes commauÌ„dement they went backe againe and certaine souldiours wearing the Crosse by the Emperours appointment for the voyage to Hierusalem were robbed and spoiled of all their prouisioÌ„ The Emperour seing this sought to appease the Popes furye and to get his goodwil prepared his iourney according to his promise to Hierusalem he tooke shippe and sayled into Cyprus and afterward to Acon and striued much against the Soldan for the Christian fayth with great paine and trauell In the meane time the Pope seing the Emperours absence seruinge his turne gat Apulia to be vnder his obeisance and forbad that the souldiours wearing
S. Anthony of Padua and others thereby to aduaunce the credite of the begging fryers of their holinesse He decreed that the white fryers should possesse nothing but male Asses and such foode as coms of certaine birdes and beastes as egges milke and all other thinges they should begge from doore to doore as Paleonydorus sayth He graunted the Iewes to be enfranchised for money in spite of all Christian Princes He forbad any man to haue aboue one benefice He commaunded out of Englande the fift part out of lowe Germany the twenteth part of all Church reuenewes He appointed that to Aue Maria should be songe Salue regina and the sacringe bell to be ronge then and at eleuation time He decreed that no lay man should preach and that no custome should take place which leadeth to â—inne And finallye he dyed for thought because the Emperours power preuayled so mightely against him An. 1241. In his time Tiber in Rome braste out so hye that manye were destroyed by it after which ensued such a pestilence that sayth Platina the tenth parson was scant left aliue In his time also a certaine hill in Burgundy cleaued in twaine and swallowed vp an houge multitude of people and a litle before the Pope dyed was such an Eclipse of the Sunne as hath not beene seene before Of the Oracle of Cyrill at Masse IN the time of this Gregorie Anno 1234. Cyrillê° a Grecian the thirde president general of the white fryers dyed by report They say that this man accordinge as Moses Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist did receyued Anno domini 1192. a reuelation from heauen written in Tables of syluer with Gods owne finger in Greeke concerninge the estate of the Church to come and with this new delusion certaine caytifes went about to put awaye and whollye to destroye the Reuelation of S Iohn in that time of deepe darkenes Because at that time in Italy Germanye England Fraunce many through the doctrine of the VValdeÌ„ses and the preachers of Frederick themperour prouinge it out of the ReuelatioÌ„ of Iohn beleeued that Rome was Babilon that great strompet and that the Pope was Antichrist himselfe which opinion the vncle of Petrus Veronensis held as his LegeÌ„d and Fasciculus temporuÌ„ testifye To such shiftes was the totteringe estate of the Pope then driuen as to abrogate the olde Scripture and to forge new for then Princes began to plucke from the Church their temporalities which maintayned theyr excessiue pride and pompe Also they began to defye their transubstantiacion in the masse and to worke diuers thinges that pinched the bellyes of the clergy and made them keepe leaner kitchins In moste thinges this reuelation of Cyrill is cleane contrarye to the Reuelation of Iohn many monkes and fryers haue written great coÌ„mentaryes and fantasticall interpretacions vppon it as Ioachimus Abbas Guilihelmus Cisterciensis Iohn de rupe scissa But who so euer preacheth anye other Gospell c let him be accursed Gallathians 1. 120. Celestine the fourth CElestine the fourth borne of the house of Castilians being a learned aged and crasyed maÌ„ succeded Gregorie who likewyse purposed to pursue the quarell against Frederick but that he was disappointed by a cuppe of poyson whereof it is reported he dyed the xviii daye of his raigne One Thomas Egleston in his booke of the entraunce of the Minorits into England wryteth of an EnglishmaÌ„ called Robert Somerton Cardinall of Rome who likewyse was poysoned hard before the election of this Celestine least he should haue succeded Gregorie of the same Robert Somerton and his death wryteth Mattheus Parisius coÌ„mending him as a man who for the loue he had of all was worthy to be Pope The same Mattheus wryteth of the behauiour of Legates at the same time saying two of the Popes messeÌ„gers remayned in EnglaÌ„d to gather vp his money whose extorsion was so odious shamefull that it is better saith he to let it passe not to offende mens eares then to defyle the ayre wyth the filthye reporte thereof This Celestine vsed this sayinge commonlye It is harder to keepe moderation in prosperity then in aduersitye After his death the Popedome was voyde xxi weekes till the Emperour at the request of Baldwine Emperour of Constantinople and Raimond Erle of Tholos deliuered those Cardinals which he had in captiuitye FINIS THE SIXTE BOOKE and according to maister Baales order the fourth diuision of the third sort of Popes vnto Iulius the seconde contayninge 260. yeares which he calleth the raigne of the Locusts vnder Abadon the destroyer accordinge to the 9. Chapter of the Apocalips For that in this time the Locusts which he enterpreteth the new found orders of begging fryers inuented and ratifyed by the foure last Popes deuoure spoyle waste and destroye all with their sophisticall and cauilling doctrine As did Thomas Aquinas Ioannes Scotus Occam Gerardus Bonomensis Aegidius Romanus Magister SententiaruÌ„ vvith other like subtill schoolemen and Sorbonistes vvho with their gloses allegories and distinctions corrupted the true sence of the Scripture and in maner toke it cleane awaye 121 Innocentius the fourth AFter the Cardinals had long wrangled beinge reproued for it sharpelye by the Emperour they agreed to chose this maÌ„ callinge him Innocent the fourth borne in Genua whose name before was Cynebaldus of the house of Flisci and the countyes of Lauauy who beinge in time paste the Emperours especiall freinde became forth with his deadlye ennemye and did more annoye the noble Prince then any other before had doone Marius reporteth thus of him this Pope sayth he for hate he bare to Frederick did forth with summon a councell at Lions whither hee cited Frederick purposinge himselfe to haue preached there but the Embassadour of Frederick desired he might haue a reasonable daye graunted him that he mighte conuenientlye come to Lions which the Pope did not onlye denye to graunt but forthwith enflamed with wrath and rage did curse themperour depriue him of his estate Emperial release al his Princes of their alleageance and fayth to him and doth moue them to choose another to be Emperour He charged the godly Emperour with diuers false matters as periurye sacriledge emprisoninge certaine of the clergye and such like whereof though the Emperour had by wryting sent to the Princes very honourablye purged himselfe yet this malitious man continued so importunate w t the Princes with great promises that they choose the Landsgraue of Thuringe and rewarded all men with crosses and pardons giuen by Proclamation against the Emperour as againe a Turke or infidell Furthermore he commaunded all bishops and archbishops to publish euery where how he had cursed excommunicated and depriued the Emperour which was boldly doone in England Fraunce and Denmarke but the bishops of Germany fearing the Emperours displeasure besoughte the Pope it mighte not be done Which the Emperour hearinge did valiantlye set himselfe against the Pope and all his tyrannous rebels til he coulde not escape the Popes snares in Apulia For the
addition to Vspergensis sayth After the Pope had depriued and excommunicated both Frederick his sonne Cōradus Frederick did so shake and worrye the Pope and the Church of Rome that some marked w t crosses set themselues in battaile againste him when hee came to batter downe the gates and walles of Rome where he encountred with a mightye armye of these crossed fellowes But ouer comminge them and takinge them prisoners some of them he hewed a fonder w t foure square woundes in forme of a Crosse of some he cleft their sculs a crosse in 4. parts some he marked on the forhed with a crosse cut and as for the clergye hee caused their shaued crownes to be pared a crosse When the said Henry Landsgraue of Thuringe was chosen kinge of the Romaynes and Frederick deposed by this fourth excommunication then the bishoppe of Strosborough like a peaceable prelate of that time to gratifye the Pope tooke part with the Landsgraue and assisted him with such power strength as he coulde both against the father and Conradus the sonne for he assaulted wan diuers townes some he sacked and razed to the grounde some he burnt with fier which townes and Cityes themperour had recouered to the Empyre in Alsatia On the other syde Conradus the sonne of Frederick gathered an armye against Henry but was easely ouerthrowne and manye of his armye being slaine diuers of his nobilitye were taken prisoners But soone after this Henry beinge thus foysted into the Empire by the clergy grew into cōtempt with them that liked not his election whereupon he was in mockadge termed King of clarkes Prince of priestes but the Pope did straitly charge by his Legates al the Almaine Princes to obeye Henry as their soueraigne and to defye Frederick his sonne In the meane time this Hēry dyed and yet the Pope ceased not but sent a Legate into Germanye one Peter Caputius a Cardinall who summoninge the Princes at Collen caused them to electe one VVilliam Earle of Holland a readye man to maintaine any quarell by the sworde In the ende the Emperour beinge in Apulia one hired by the Pope gaue him poyson by meanes whereof he was daungerouslye sicke but seemed to recouer it but was smothered to death with a pillowe by Manfredus his bastard sonne who as some thinke was allured by bryberye and fayre promises of the Pope to do it The truth hereof is written in sixe bookes of Epistles written by Peter of the Uine Anno 1250. Frederick dyed and as some write in his last will and testamente he gaue a summe of moneye for satisfaction to the Church of Rome and bequeathed his estate and the order of all thinges to his sonne Conradus This Will was brought to the Pope to be approued but the Pope did whollye disanull and frustrate the Will sayinge that the Prince whom he had deposed could make no Wil and so it was voide Within a while after a yonge Prince to whom the Emperour by his sonne Kinge Henry was graūdfather was murthered but by whō no mā could tell About this time before the death of Frederick there were certaine preachers in Sweueland who stoutlye and openly preached against the Pope and his Cardinals iustifyed the doinge of Frederick and his sonne Conradus sayinge bouldly that the Pope his bishops and Cardinals had no auctoritye because they were al stayned with that one blot of simony and that their power depended not vppon Christ that a priest committing deadly sinne coulde neither binde nor loose nor consecrate that no man in the world might forbid a Christian to execute diuine functions that they should be hearde celebrated without any difference And in the ende of their Sermons this pardon quoth they which we do pronounce vnto you wee do not declare it to you as forged by the Pope and his prelates but procedinge from Almightye God These preachers were maintayned by Conradus and therfore he incurred almost danger of his life In the former councell helde at Lions it was decreed that the Cardinals should ryde on their trapped Gennets throughe the streates and weare red hattes and crimsen roabes to signifye sayth Parisius that they are readye to spend their bloud for the Catholicke fayth and the safetye of the people but as Platina sayth for the honour of their estate Also in that councell Innocentius decreed amonge manye matters that the Pope mighte depose the Emperour He did greatly fauoure the order of begging fryers and bestowed on them manye priuiledges and benefittes He preferred the Dominicans to dignityes Ecclesiastical and aduaūced the Franciscās to be the Popes confessours He adopted the White fryers and Augustine friers to be his sonnes wher as they liued before in deserts he brought them into Cityes teachinge them to begge their breade w t idlenes By the helpe of the Dominicans he reformed the rule of the Whitefryers mitigated it and finallye with his blessinge confirmed it that as the sayd rule sheweth they should hope to be saued not onlye by Christ He graūted these the begging fryers lycence to preach to dispute and to shriue people Also he exempted them from all power iurisdiction of kinges and bishops whereupon they crammed the worlde ful and chaoked it with their gloses vpon Sentences decretals cannons wich their commentaries vpon Aristotle their Sophisms Repertories Sūmaries Tables Trinies Quatrinies Conclusions Questions Distinctions Quidities Quodlibets Myracles of the dead Legendaryes Saincts liues Martyrdoms Uisions Dreames Reuelatiōs Exorsisms Concordances Discordāces Marials perspectiues Aphorismes wyth a thousande vaine and combrous pamphlets full of grosse deceitful heresyes and then nothing was counted deuinitye nor lawe but their fansyes and canons And in these dayes the world was fallen into such grosse blindnesse ignorance and barbarousnesse that not onelye knowledge in diuinity but also other learning was almost decayed the knowledge of the tongues as Greeke and Hebrew buried in ignoraunce though some rubbishe of the latine tongue were left yet it was rustye corrupte and broken stuffe as appeareth yet by theyr wrytings that the like barbarousnesse is not in any tongue But to returne to Pope Innocent he canonized diuers makinge them saincts that for his aduauncemente had played the traytours and rebels against theyr owne Princes as one Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other of sondrye places Till the time of this Innocentius the 4. sayth Bibliander it was not an article of fayth nor a law of the Church that men should worship the breade and the wyne in the Sacrament therefore sayth he the Pope as a creator brought forth a newe God Mauzis by transubstantiation This Pope offred to sell to king Henry the third of England the kingdome of both Sicils to the vse of his sonne Prince Edmond and yet Conradus kinge thereof was lyuinge He vexed and polled the Churches of England with myserable exactions for money he maintayned and licensed anye wickednes amonge the clergye suffering worser matters in his bastards
whereof he had diuers especiallye one called VVilliam One Robert Capito bishop of Lincolne had a great controuersye with this Pope for he detested defyed both in preachinge and wrytinge the Popes couetousnes pride and tyrannye He would not admit one of the Popes bastardes because he was vnlearned and but a boye of yeares to a canonship of Lincolne but rebuked the Pope for it in a letter and withstoode the Popes pollinge â—obbinge the Realme and therefore the Pope receyuinge the sharpe letter from this Robert Grosted for anger rayled not onlye on the bishop but also brast into these arrogante wordes against his Prince king Henry the third sayinge as Mattheus Parisius testifyeth Is not the kinge of EnglaÌ„d our vassel our slaue our page who may at our pleasure to hamper him put him in prison to vtter shame And finallye because he coulde not tell howe otherwise to ease his rancke stomacke against the bishop hee excommunicated him but he constantlye defyed and despised his excommunication euen to the death He defended in disputation that the Pope could do nothinge against iustice truth and that he was worse then Lucifer and Antichrist at the length being cited to appeare in the court and condempned by the Pope wrongfullye he appealed to the iudgemente of Christe This good bishop after he had detected much of the Popes treachery before his death vttered these two Uerses applying them against the Pope Eius luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Eius auariciae totus non sufficit orbis One concubine could not suffice his burning lust to quenche Nor yet his honger after golde one world serude not to stenche Also this bishoppe by diligent searche tryed it that this Pope and his clarkes had in reuenewes out of Englande aboue iii. score and tenne thousande markes where as the reuenewes of the Crowne came not to 30. thousand Cestrensis in his seuenth booke wryteth that when this bishop of Lincolne dyed a voyce was heard in the Popes court sayinge Veni miser in iudiciuÌ„ dei that is Come thou vvretch to be iudged of God And that the Pope was found deade in his bedde the next daye and a blewe stroke in his bodye as if he had beene beaten wyth a staffe This was done Anno 1253. he being at Naples and loking soone after to haue enioyed the whole kingdome of Sicill where he lyeth buryed Thaddition to Vspergensis sheweth that the yeare before as the Pope was going from LioÌ„s to Millen these straunge tokens happened certaine bloudy cloudes were seene in the ayre streames of bloud gusshed out of breade as oute of wounded bodyes After his death the seate was voide two yeares 124 Alexander the fourth ALexander the fourth borne in Campania being Cardinall of Hostia succeded Innocent He persecuted Ecelinus of Runcan and Manfred king of Sicill because they had beene ennemyes to the former Popes thus he began his raigne And first he craftelye admonished them not to stande against the dignitye of the Church in anye point before he gaue them this charge he had prouided his army in a readinesse meaning to course them if they should seeke to preuent him and his Cardinals of the kingdome of Sicill yet these Princes very couragiouslye with an oast of Saracens and other fearinge not the Popes threates did set vppon his army at vnawares euen in a trench ere they wist and partly slue them partly toke them prisoners In the meane while Pope Alexander goinge to Anagnia excommunicated Manfred and sent a Cardinal called Octauian to Naples to make the Neapolitans to stand faithful to him against Manfred promysing speedely to bring ayde to all Campania and to the Neapolitans but Manfred not pacifyed with troubling Naples did also moue factions in Hetruria but chiefely in Florence where he brought in the Guelphis againe who euer were at deadly foode with the Gibelines Thus was al Italy in a myserable vprore torne in sonder with cruell and saluage warre But Manfred hauing poysoned Conrad king of Sicill was proclaymed kinge at Panorme and with an armye of hyred souldiours he ouerthrew the Popes Legat with great slaughter This Pope sent one Rustand Legate into Englande Anno 1255. to gather vp the tenthes in Englande Scotland IrelaÌ„d to warre against Manfred And saith Mattheus Parisius manye mischiefes detestable issued from the burning fountayne of Rome in those dayes to the destruction of manye for after the begginge fryers had preached the power of the Crosse he required infinite sommes of moneye the exaction of the Pope was such sayth he that the like hath not bene heard Whereupon Fulck bishop of LoÌ„don sayd with great griefe Ere I giue my consent to oppresse the Church vvith such iniurye seruitude and bondage surely I will first loose my head for although that Courte hath often in times past pinched euen to the bone the faithfull flocke of Christ yet it neuer wouÌ„ded in such deadlye sort all and euery one of Christes seruaunts as it did this yeare and the yeare following c. The money the was gathered for the holy land was transposed into Apulia against Christians and sayth Mattheus vnmeete meÌ„ are made gouernours of noble Churches the prelates are sould as oxen and asses this is the extreame point of seruitude c. About this time the said Rustand the Popes Legate being PrebeÌ„dary of Paules Church in LoÌ„don dyed beyond the sea king Henry the third hearing therof gaue the same prebend to one Iohn Crakehale his chaplein but after the sayde Crakehale had full possession thereof came one Iohn Grasse from Rome wyth the Popes embulled letter to chalenge the sayde lyuing Hereupon the matter being in controuersye it was brought before Boniface bishop of Canterbury who finding that the Popes gift was dated before the kinges dispossessed the Englishman and inuested the Popes man which was taken so in despite by certaine repyning to see the Pope and his Italian priestes in this and all such cases to beare more sway then the king and to reape all commodyties from the kinge and his subiects that the said ItaliaÌ„ and a coÌ„panion of his were murthered in a thronge by whom no man knewe Rustand in a conuocation at London alleaged that all Churches were the Popes to whom one Leonard an Englishman answeared modestly yea sir in tuition not in fruition to defend not to expende Seuell bishop of Yorke by the example of the former bishop of Lincolne did likewyse wtstande this Pope Alexander and desyred him by letter to leaue of his wonted polling according to Peters example to feede the sheepe not to flece them not to flea them not vnbowel them neither as a wolfe deuoure them Further it followeth in the sayd Mattheus that the Pope sente yet other Legates into England namelye Arlot Mansuet minorite fryers who had power to pardon for money eyther lyers forswearerers vowbreakers adulterers and Sodomits traytors poysoners murtherers and all suche Whereuppon a certaine woman
this Clemens one Octobonê° a Legate of his comminge into England enrolled to perpetuall memorye the valuation of all Churches in the Realme so narrowly as he could possiblye gather the certaintye Clemens dyed at Viterbium Anno 1270. was buryed amonge the Dominickes and the seate was voyde two yeares 127. Gregorie the tenth GRegorie the tenth borne in Placentia in Lombardye of the house of the countesse of Millen was first called Theobaldus He being an archdeacoÌ„ after the Cardinals discention which had lasted almost two yeres was ended was chosen Pope of whose election Iohn Cardinall of Portua wrote these Verses Papatus munus tulit archidiaconus vnus Quem patrem patrum fecit discordia fratrum One archdeacon against his hope by chaunce obtayned to be Pope The iarringe of brethren caused the rather that he was created of them the father This Pope amonge other thinges made peace betwene the Genewaies and Venetians He excommunicated the Florentines for inuadinge such townes as belonged to the Popeship Afterward he held a couÌ„cel at Lions in FrauÌ„ce to the which came Michael Palaeologus Emperour of Greece to reason of the opinions of the Church of Rome for xii of his auncetours had in times past conferred with them and euer departed dissentinge from them In this councell was decreed that the Pope beinge dead the Cardinals should be shut vp in a certaine closet without meate or drincke till with one consente they should agree vppon choyse of another He made many decrees for the helping of the Holy land and the maintayninge of Religious meÌ„ Many noble and great parsonages both kinges Earles made themselues apparell with the Crosse on it to go the voyage to Hierusalem to whom the Pope verye craftely to further their purpose promised to come visit them there He aduaunced diuers of the begging fryers to greate Ecclesiasticall dignityes as to bishoprickes archbishoprickes and Cardinalships After the Empyre had beene voyde a long time at the length he made Rodolph Earle of Hamboroughe Emperour because he shoulde maintaine ciuill discention and after that Alphonsus kinge of Castile had bestowed houge summes of money in hope to be Emperour especially the duke of Cornewall being dead the Pope appeased him with wordes enoughe but no recompence in money toward his charges This Rodolph after he was chosen was charged by the electours that he shoulde go to Rome within a yeare to receiue the Crowne of the Pope yet he neuer did it excusing himselfe with pretence of priuate affayres vsed to saye oftentimes amonge his frendes that the footinge of the Emperours goinge into Italye seemed glorious triuÌ„phant but in their returne out of Italye wretched myserable ful of sorrow Alluding to the fable of the Foxe who being sent for to come to visit the sicke Lion made aunsweare that he perceyued the footesteps of many beastes goinge into the Lions denne but he could finde fewe or none comming from it But Rodolph sente his vicegerent into Italye whom the Cities for the most part receyued but the Pope returning to Rome iourneying hard by the Florentines would not yet absolue them of their excommunication which had lasted almost 3. yeares At length he came to Aretium Anno 1275. dyed in his iourney in the fift yeare of his Popeship is buried there and neuer came to Rome nor sawe it 128. Innocentius the fifte INnocentius the fift borne in Burgundie a dominican in profession was choâ—en by the Cardinals at AretiuÌ„ who beinge chosen Pope and crowned in S. Peters Church went about to establish peace in Italye Therefore he sent great Embassadours who should compell the Heâ—rurians entendinge to destroye the Pisans to take peace also the Venetians and Genewaies being at deadly enmitye to fall to vnitye vpon perill of his curse Also he procured the Embassadours of Charles king of Sicill to be present at the peace makinge the better to countenaunce his doinges the Hetrurians obeyed and especially the Florentines and therefore the Pope did absolue them from the excommuniâ—atioÌ„ of Gregorie But the Genewaies and Venetians coÌ„tinued notwithstanding the slaughter of each other whom yet Innocentius had broughte to his purpose if he had liued he purposed it so earnestly He dyed the same yeare that Gregorie dyed in the second daye after he had raigned vi monthes This Pope sayth Platina did not a litle offende seculer priestes because at Viterbium he did determine the dominicaÌ„s should enioye the tombe of Clemens the fourth for which they and the secular priestes had longe beene at sharpe debate 129. Hadrian the fifte HAdrian the fifte a Genewaie borne before called Othobonus was made Pope in Lateran porche this maÌ„ was nephewe to Innocentius the fourth and made Cardinall of S. Hadrian by him and sent into England as Legate to gather vp the Popes money But while he wente about to appease strife betweene the kinge his barons thereby to worke his owne matters more quietly he was put into prison by the Citizens of London and at length deliuered againe Anno 1266. w t a great trayne of bishops and priestes he helde one councell at Northampton and another at London where after he had dispatched his matters touchinge papistrye according to his owne minde he made lawes whereby England did longe after maintaine Papistrye Also he denounced all those bishops to be wicked who had taken parte with the Princes against kinge Henry the third and yet those same bishops were partlye absolued by him for money partlye compelled to go for absolution to the Pope This Hadrian as sone as he was made Pope went forthwith to Viterbium sente for Rodolphe the Emperour into Italye to breake the power of Charles kinge of Sicill this Charles is he whom againste lawe and righte he had aduaunced before who then ruled all at Rome according to his luste But Rodolph beinge troubled with the Bohemian warre could not satisfye the Popes desire but Charles meaning to eschue the mallice transported all the power of his armye into Achaia purposinge to make a waye to attaine to the Empyre of Constantinople Hadrian sayth Platina purposed to make the gouernemente of the Church to be safer from oppressours to alter the constitutioÌ„ of Gregory his predecessor touchinge the restraint of the Cardinals for the election of the Pope He dyed at Viterbium ere he were consecrate Pope 40. dayes after his election 130. Iohn the xxij IOhn the xxii a Portingale borne a Phisition by profession called before Peter Portingale was made Pope beinge first bishop of Tusculan This man although he were counted very well learned yet for want of skill in gouernment infirmitye in his maners sayth Platina did more hurt and dishonour to the Popeship then good For he did many thinges that seemed to be both of a foolish and light minde and was to be praysed in this thinge onelye that he â—uccoured with money and Ecclesiasticall lyuinges yonge men that were toward in learninge especiallye the
his childe if he shoulde haue anye by her might not be like a beare he commaunded all beares which were painted in his Pallaice by a Pope that was of Vrsine house to be taken awaye or blotted oute to auoyde in his concubine the sight thereof which he thoughte wrought great effecte in conception 131. Honorius the fourth HOnorius the fourth a Romaine of a noble familye was afore called Iacob was next made Pope He had a brother called Pandulphus a worthye man who at that time was Senatour in Rome who did sharpely execute lawes against fensers theeues and murtherers Honorius excommunicated Peter king of Aragon because he helde at that time the kingdome of Sicill against Charles confirmed the curses and edict of Pope Martin because for the Popes lucre he woulde not leaue the kingdome Also he raysed terrible warre against Gui Feltro who helde the towne Flaminia and ouercomminge him against all law and righte by tyrannye subdued the towne to Rome Also he confirmed the sect of Augustine fryers which was refused at Paris but withstoode by manye Also he appointed to the Carmelites that puttinge of their riche roabes they shoulde weare white weedes and commaunded they should be called our Ladyes brethren After which he died quicklye Anno 1288. in the second yeare of his Popeship The seat after this was voyde x. monthes for pestilences and earthquakes This Pope was much troubled wyth the goute both in his handes and his feete so that he was fayne to make certaine instruments fit for the purpose to saye masse The Grecians in his time forsakinge papistrye returned to their old fayth 132. Nicolas the fourth NIcolas the fourth a Franciscane fryer borne in Picene after tenne monthes was chosen Pope at which time the Cardinals did not yet agree vppon one This Pope sayth Platina loued all men a like and thoughte that he ought no more dutye to his kindred then to other He did nothinge of any great waight but busyed himselfe in erectinge superstitious buildinges and making newe ceremonyes aboute fryers and monkes which are not worth the mencioning finallye he seing Rome sore tormoyled in his time with ciuill discentions burninges slaughters spoylinges dyed for very griefe and sorrow thereof Anno 1291. He beinge deade the Cardinals wente to Peruse that they might vse the more libertye in choosing a newe Pope and yet they iarred so bitterly among them selues two yeares and 3. monthes that they could neuer agree in that election 133. Celestine the fift CElestine the fifte borne at Esernia beside Sulmo by profession an Anchore called before Peter Moronens after the Cardinals had scoulded two yeares he by the procurement of Charles the seconde kinge of Naples and the latine Cardinals was chosen Pope who as sone as he was created went to Apulia callinge all the Cardinals thether he created xii newe Cardinals wherof two were Eremites Ptolomeus Lucensis wryteth that at his Coronation were two hundred Thousande men because sayth Massaeus at the first time he sate in Consistory he went about exactly to reforme the Church of Rome y the clergy mighte be an example to other he purchased such hatred that he doated was a foole Thereupon one of the clergye called Benedict hyred one to set throughe an hoole in the wall of the Popes chamber a greate hollow troncke and throughe the same shoulde make an hydeous noyse manye nightes together as if it had beene the voyce of an Angell froÌ„ heauen saying in the night time Celestine Celestine giue ouer thy charge for it is aboue thy habilitye Beside this diuers perswaded him to giue ouer for his owne safetye Kinge Charles vnderstanding of this spake with the Pope desiringe him as earnestlye as he could not to forsake that dignity which came to him by the grace of God But he gaue this answeare I will do as it pleaseth Godâ— And returning from Naples from the kinge perceyuing he coulde not be quiet hee gaue ouer the Popeship on S. Lukes eue and made haste to go liue an Eremites life in the desert sayth Massaeus but first of all he made a decree with the consent of al that the Pope might yeld vp his dignity But Boniface who had thus beguiled the simple man and now gat to be his successour fearing least the people woulde followe the same Celestine as Pope defye him he therefore put Celestine in close prison till he dyed Anno 1292. the x. daye of Maye after he had raigned one yeare and fiue monthes Of this Celestine sprange a secte of monkes called Celestinians 134. Boniface the eight BOniface the eight borne in Campania called before Benedict Caietan beinge chiefe councellour to Celestine was set vp in his steade by a straunge kinde of treason at Naples This Boniface while he was Cardinall of S. Martines in the mounte did so honger after the Popeship that he spared no falsehood nor ambicious meanes that might further his desire He was so proude that he did almost disdaine all men And boyling thus wyth heate of ambition he suborned as is sayd before certaine who should come in the night time and wyth a still and straunge voyce in the Chamber of Celestine as it were from heauen perswade him beinge a very simple man of himselfe to yelde vp the Popeship if hee woulde be saued which in the ende was brought to passe But Boniface vsurping by craft against all right the Popeship apprehending the sillye man Celestine who was departing from Rome to some wildernes there to ende his life put him in perpetuall prison and yet as Marius witnesseth he professed he did it not for hatred against Celestine but leaâ—t the auctours of sedition shold make him their head to trouble disquiet the peace of the Church And thus this vnthanckeful Boniface was not contented onelye to delude poore Celestine and to beguile him of his dignity but furthermore to cause the simple soule as if he had bene a malefactor to dye for thought in prison After this Boniface began to exercise such crueltye he seemed to be another Nero he sente for certaine Cardinals to come vnto him but they beinge terrifyed w t his falsehod and rigour durst not come to him and therevppon they were proclaymed scismatickes by him and depryued not onelye of their benefices and such dignityes as they had receyued of Popes but also were berefte of all their landes townes and goodes which they had by inheritaunce Furthermore he gathered an armye and pursued them with the Columnians and as many of the Gibelines as he met withall in any place He destroyed spoiled all mens places whether soeuer they fled whereupon many of them seing they might be safe in no place fled into woodes â—nd forestes and taryed there other some of the most noble houses of Italye after they had euen in maner of wild beastes ranged longe aboute the Sea shore did at length depart from Italye wyth saluage Pyrates and rouers for they trusted more the
barbarous Pyrates then this churlishe Boniface He hated the Gibelines with such rancour that in persecuting them he heard saye that some of them were fled to the Genewaies therupon he poasted thether to destroy them vtterly to roote out the very name of them vpon earth And when vpon Ash wednesdaye he should according to the superstitious vse crosse al commeâ—s on the forheade with ashes and saye vnto them thus Remember man that thou art ashes and to ashes thou shalte returne Upon the same day for the same cause the archbishop of Porchet who was a Gibeline came vnto him kneelinge downe vnto the Pope put of his cappe to haue the ashes put on his head whoÌ„ when Boniface had espyed beinge neither ashamed for the time nor the place nor the people present vttered his rancour towarde the bishoppe most shamefullye For takinge vp an handfull of ashes he threwe them spitefullye in the eyes of the bishop sayinge reprochfullye wyth malicious chaunge of woordes Remember man thou arte a Gibeline and to the Gibelines thou shalt returne And beside this depriued him of his archbishopricke though in the ende he restored it In his time were great and cruell warres betwene the Sicilians and Robert duke of Calabria which wroughte much mischiefe to all Italye and yet the Pope being ofteÌ„times requested thereunto would neuer with his auctoritye steppe in betwene them to pacifye the matter But by the prouidence of God they that before fled out of Italye with the rouers arriued in Italye againe and gathering together a fewe who fled and lurked here there for feare of the rage of Boniface came to Anagnia ere the Pope mistrusted any such matter they brast open the gates vpoÌ„ him apprehended him and brought him to Rome where frettinge and raginge in a great agonye most desperatlye for the space of xxx dayes throughe the extremitye of his malady he dyed myserablye Anno 1304. This Pope sent a commaundement to the king of England charging him not to molest Scotland as he did then anye longer because the Scottes were a priuiledged people belonging to his Chappell but the kinge stoode stoutlye in the defence of his righte and quarrell and claymed it as his right not the Popes After this the Pope moued kinge Edwarde to warre vppon the Frenche kinge because he had offended the Pope but the kinge would not be so abused by him After this when the kinge had bestowed the bishopricke of Canterbury vpon Robert Burnel bishop of Bathe the Pope in spite of his teeth did not onlye place another called Iohn Peccam but also sent downe his Bull to the spirituall men of England for their discharge not to paye one penye tribute to the kinge in any case to his no small trouble for vpon this the most of them were at defiaunce with the kinge and his Parliamente especiallye the bishop of Canterburye This is that Pope of whom it was coÌ„monlye said He entred like a foxe he raigned like a Lion he died like a dogge He thinking that kingdomes and Empires were all in his owne hande did vsurpe the aucthority of both swordes woulde be counted the Lord of all the world He gaue sentence the vnlesse kinges woulde receiue their kingdomes at his hand they should be accursed and oughte to be deposed He excommunicated Philip kinge of Fraunce because he would not suffer the treasure of his Realme to be transported oute to Rome he cursed both him and his to the fourth generation Also he would not confirme Albertus to be Emperour whom before he had three or foure times reiected vntill he woulde inuade Fraunce and depose king Philip. He maintayned the discorde that was in Italye and purposed to nourishe them continuallye He forbad that the clergye should paye anye tribute to their Princes without his commaundement He boasted that he bare the keyes of heaueÌ„ and published this Canon that he oughte to be iudged of none althoughe hee shoulde drawe thousandes of soules to hell with him He was the first that deuised the Iubelye according to the Iewishe tradition He gaue full remission of sinnes and pardons to all that shoulde come on pilgrimage to Rome At the first daye of Iubelei hee prancked himselfe gorgeouslye in his pontificalibus The seconde daye he being arrayed most royallye with Emperiall insignes commaunded a naked sword to be caryed before him and said with a loude voice Ecce potestatem vtriusque gladij Lo here is the power of both swordes Finallye he being as is said apprehended and offeringe rather his head to be cut of then he would yelde vp his Papacye those conditions beinge put to him his house was first spoyled of so much treasure that as it is reported all the kinges of the earth together were not able to make so much oute of theyr treasurye as was caryed oute of his Pallaice and from three Cardinals and a Marquesse that were with him Then afterward he was set vpon an vnbroken coult with his face to the horse tayle and so caused to ride a gallop iaunted til he were breathlesse and then was he imprisoned and there almost pined by kinge Philips souldiours of Fraunce till the people of the towne of Aragon where he was did releue him and yet neuerthelesse for thought of this misery and losse he dyed He bestowed on S. Peters Pallaice a chayme of belles making a sweete and pleasaunt noyse and encreased the reuennues therof he yet encreased very much that priuiledges of the begginge fryers He doubled the idolatrous honour of the Apostles the 4 Euangelistes and the foure doctours of the Church He gaue auctoritye to the Ecclesiastical parsons generally in England to excommunicate the people twise in the yeare He caused one Hermanus of Ferraria to be taken oute of his graue and burned xxx yeares after he had beene buryed He said that to be subiect to the Church of Rome is of the necessitye to saluatioÌ„ He deposed diuers Cardinals he deuested diuers kinges of their estate he fostered harlots â—e begat diuers bastardes beside sondrye other lâ—ude pranckes He sommoned kinge Edwarde the first to Rome vpon the coÌ„plaint of Robarte VVinchelsey bishop of Canterbury after the death of Iohn Peccam both which Archbishops troubled the kinge as almost all their auncetours from the time of Hildebrand had done to the Princes in their time for so VVilliam Rufus and Henry the first were troubled wyth Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury Henry the second also with Thomas Becket King Richard and all England with VVilliam bishop of Elye the Popes Legate King Iohn with Steuen LangtoÌ„ bishop of Canterburye Henry the thirde with Edmonde Archbishop and now this kinge Edwarde wyth these two The kinge beinge cited to Rome was there suspended till he had purchased full dearely his absolution but of the said Peccam this one thing is to be noted that he caused to be ordayned that no spirituall mynister should haue any more benefices theÌ„ one which was also
Rome bishoprickes and benefices being then voyde in Englande wherewith the king was offended and vndid all the prouisions of the Pope within his Realme commauÌ„ding vpon paine of imprisonmente and life that no man shoulde be so hardy as to bring in any such prouisions of the Pope within his Realme any more and vnder the same punishmente charged the 2. Cardinals forthwith to auoide the Realme Anno 1343. ¶ Certaine blasphemyes gathered out of the Bull which the said Pope published for the yeare of Iubelie WHosoeuer purposeth for trauel sake to come to Rome maye choose that daye whereon he setteth forvvarde a confessour or confessours or els in his iourneye by the waye or in any other place Vnto the which confessours or ghostlye fathers wee giue ful power to giue absolution in all cases that concerne the Popes owne prerogatiue in as ample maner as if our owne parson were present Item we graunt that if anye being confessed dye by the waye that he shal be free and discharged froÌ„ all his sinnes And furthermore we commaunde the Angels of Paradise that his soule beinge fullye deliuered from purgatorye they receaue it into Paradise ¶ And in an other Bull he wrote thus WE will not that anye man be tormented in him selfe with the paine of hell and also vve graunte to all those that weare the Crosse 3. or 4. soules at their owne pleasure whom soeuer they will to deliuer them oute of Purgatorye Against these hereticall blasphemyes the Uniuersitye of Paris did then openlye detest and reproue There were an hundred Thousand poore men of the clergye in that yeare resorted to Auenio to obtaine pardons out of all countryes and to be hyred confessours 140. Innocent the sixt INnocent the sixte borne in Lenomia called Steuen doctour of both lawes being of an aduocate made bishop of Claromont and of the Cardinall of Hostia and chiefe penitenciary to the Pope was made Pope him selfe He was a man that in his Popedome was a cunning lawyer but of hauty courage wilfull minde very rigorous and one that fraÌ„ckly bestowed benefices on such as would pay for them After he was established hee did wisely abrogate certaine reseruatioÌ„s made by Pope Clement because it made more for his coÌ„moditye in time to come so to do And forthw t he decreed that al Ecclesiastical parsons as many as had any benefices should go forthw t to their charge for he sayd that the flocke ought to be kept by their owne sheapeheard and not â—y an hyrelinge He like a couetous niggarde diminished his house keping reducing stinting the parsons of his family to a certin but as Petrarcha sayth not an honest noÌ„ber Neither would he haue any to waite on him at home but such as shoulde in al pointes feede his owne humour he gaue straite charge to the Cardinals so to do saying ytâ—e all other Ecclesiastical parsons ought to be an example of life to other And for the more sparing he made cellars in his house for his auditour clarkes of the kitchin to locke vp all thinges For his table diet the wryters report of him that he was a great pincher but for the maintenaunce of warres verye prodigall He sente one Giles a Spaniarde Cardinal of Saba from his side into Italye to persecute certaine robbers and theeues and to assure the better to the Pope Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction By Peter Thomas of Aquine a white fryer this Popes Legat Bononia became subiecte to the Pope which Peter did first plante there the doctrine of the Sorbonits therefore the Pope bestowed on him the bishopricks of Pacte Mileto Coranie the archbishoprick of Crete and at length the patriarckship of Constantinople At the commaundement of this Innocent Charles the fourth was crowned Emperour by two Cardinals at Rome but vpon this condition that he should staye no longer neither in Rome nor in Italy he notwithstanding as soone as he returned home warned the archbishop of Mens to reforme the clergy in their apparel shooes hayre and all the order of their life vpon penaltye of forfeytinge all his benefices Richard archbishop of Armachane in Irelande did publishe before this Pope ix articles against the begging fryers In the first yeare of his raigne this Pope commaunded that Iohn Rochdal a franciscan fryer should be burned for speaking certaine wordes against the clergye The sayde Iohn sayth Premonstratensis did prophecye many things to come of Antechrist and of the Popes and therfore was suspected of heresye for he begaÌ„ to prophecye Anno 1354. in the time of Clement the sixte and manye of his prophecyes were found to come to passe A certaine priest hauing had a bull of this Pope the space of three yeares came in the ende and did caste it downe at the Popes feete sayinge Lo take your bull vnto you for it doth me no good for the which cause the Pope commauÌ„ded him to be apprehended and whipped and afterward committed to prison This Pope made an holye daye for the speare and hammers wherewith Christ was pearced and nayled He builded walles about Auenio and fouÌ„ded an house of Carthusian monkes without the Citye While he was preparing an army against the Turkes Anno 1362. he dyed for griefe vnderstanding that the Romaines were at ciuill discentioÌ„ There appeared so greate an Eclipse of the Sunne before the death of this Pope as hath not bene seene In his time also sayth Masseus a certain flame brandishing in the ayre after the going downe of the Sunne gaue a terrible light in the skie afterward houge swarmes of Locusts destroying and eating vp the fruites of the earth did also feede vpon the very stalkes 141. Vrban the fifte VRban the fift was also borne in Lemonia called before Grymold Grison sonne of one VVilliam a Phisition and an Englishman in profession hee was a Benedictine monke and in the ende he being absente in an Embassage was chosen Pope Being therefore called to Auenio and saluted Pope he did forthwith addict his minde to maintaine the prerogatiue of the Church in couetousnes ryot pompe with great diligence vsinge herein the assistaunce of such as were proane to this purpose especially one Giles a Spaniard whom he sent Legate in the behalfe thereof who scoured Italye and oppressed the Uicountes and other gouernours with great calamityes and slaughters and compelled them al to submitte themselues for feare to the Church of Rome Pope Vrban himselfe in the fourth yeare of his raigne coÌ„ming to Rome with his Cardinals bestowed superstitious cost vpoÌ„ idols ruinous Churches He couered the sculs of the Apostles as he thought which they had long sought for ere they could finde them and yee missed of them also in the ende in cofers of gould siluer valued at xxx Thousand Florences set them in the place where they are yet seene He repayred diuers houses of the Popes he commaunded to preach the Crosse against the Turkes he commaunded that the Nicene crede should be songe on S. Iohn Baptistes daye
he yelded soueraignity to the sea of Rome he builded scholes for those that should studye Phisicke and the Decretals Briget a woman of Sweaueland came to him to Rome because of a vowe that she had made and procured that there should be Religious parsons both men women of the order of S. Briget Afterward be returning into Fraunce made one Iohn Hawcuth an Englishmā liefetenaunt of his army in the steade of Giles that was dead that he might still defende the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction vntil he should returne for he purposed not to returne to Italye But while he wente into Fraunce hopinge to returne to his court in Rome Anno 1371. he dyed at Massilia poysoned as it is thought Sabellicus wryteth that he made great warre in Italye yea euē with the Princes that his auncetours had set vp against the Emperour he slue manye of them In this Popes time sayth Premonstratensis the archbishop of Collen had a wyfe In his time also the order of the Iesuits Scopetines orders first began as Iohn Palionedorus testifyeth in the third booke and second Chapter of his tripartite historye 142. Gregorie the xi GRegorie the eleuenth borne in Lenomony called before Peter Belfortius was Cardinall of newe S. Maryes and nephewe to Pope Clement he succeded Vrban This Gregorie sayth Platina was made Cardinall when hee was scante xvii yeares old by his vncle Clement and least he should seeme to haue more regard to his kindred then to the Church he sent him to the best learned doctours in Italye to be brought vp in learning especiallye to one Baldus whoe then read the Popes decretals at Peruse where he profited in all kinde of such learninge as Baldus coulde teache him so much that the sayd Baldus for the assurance of his owne affayres being in daunger vsed his auctoritye for his owne safetye Gregorie being Pope sent a Cardinall into Italye to ouersee according to custome the estate of the Church But because as Volaterain sayth almost all the Cityes reuolted frō him by the councell of Katherine a Nonne of Scene which afterward became a saint of Baldus his scholemaster he returned from Fraunce vnto Rome with xii galleyes Or as Sabellicus saith because that he reprouing a certaine bishop for being nonresident was by the same bishop reproued againe that he being the chiefe bishop did yet lye so farre and so long from the place of his Church Anno 1376. he excommunicated out of the Church the Florentines who were the auctours of the reuolting and had taken to their vse al the Popes townes lying about them and because they despised and defyed the terrour and vaine boults of his excommunication he warred vpon them Some other saye he returned into Italye for other causes Masseus sayth that one Briget a woman returned from Hierusalem to Rome wrote to Pope Gregorie that it was the Lords pleasure that the Popes court should returne to Rome Crantzius saith it was because a certaine bishop did sharpelye rebuke him that he woulde leaue his Church and followe the Courte Of whom the Pope receyued this aunsweare And thou quoth he beinge Pope of Rome that ought to be an example to other doest not returne to this bishopricke And therefore he did againe translate his seate from Fraunce to Rome by the perswasion of two women and one bishop in the 70. yeare after the translation thereof This Gregorie demaunded tenthes throughout the whole Empyre and repayred the walles of the City and old buildings with great pompous cost He added the eue to the holye daye of the byrth of the blessed virgin Mary In the time of this Pope king Edwarde the third of Englande made many profitable lawes abridginge the Popes pilladge vsurpation and ambition within the Realme Also certaine souldiours of this Pope Gregorie lyinge in a Citye called Cesenata did not onelye take thinges as victuals and other necessaryes refusinge to paye for it but also did beate like slaues the Citizens vpon further sturre they murthered them pityfully◠sparing neyther man woman nor child though they were sucking babes so that they filled all pittes in the Citye wyth dead karcasses for in a fewe houres vpon one daye they slue in the Citye of all ages viii Thousande and then robbed spoyled the towne and so left it desolate emptye Theodoricus lib. 3. Cap. 2. At the length Anno 1378. he dyed of extreame paine of the bladder Euen at the houre of the Popes death the report is that the Pallaice of Auenio was set on fyer coulde not be quenched till the greater part thereof were burnt Afterwarde ensued the greatest sciesme and deuision that euer happened in the Popedome Then sayth Massaeus the clergye and people of Rome complayning to the Cardinals besought them to choose an Italian not a French man Pope that the Courte mighte not go into Fraunce againe But when they began to make an election sodenlye a controuersy began for the Italians were but foure and the French Cardinals were xiii who mighte easelye haue preuayled but they durst not for the Romaynes stoode readye in armour and made a tumult Therefore on Saturdaye being the ix day of Aprill they choose Vrban the sixt to be Pope who was Crowned on Easter daye being the xviii daye of the sayde moneth Praemonstratensis sayth that in the time of this Vrban the sixte began a newe and straung sect of bedlams both of men and womē who vsed to skip and daunce against all modestye who Anno 1375. came sayth he from Aquisgran into Hannonia and so into Fraunce which might prognosticate the returne of Pope Gregorie and his Cardinals to Rome This sect of Daūcers imagined with themselues that they daūced in riuers of bloud but they that stoode by could perceiue no such thing The people thought that these dauncers were euill baptized by priestes keepinge harlots and therefore the people thoughte to haue risen against the clergye to slaye them to spoyle them of their goods vnlesse God had withstoode it sayth he by certaine coniurations 143. Vrban the vi VRban the sixt being but a poore man and very obscure borne in Naples called otherwyse Barthelmew and at length archbishop of Bare but neuer Cardinal and absent the Romaynes vrging it very sore was chosen Pope He being chosen Pope Iane Queene of Sicill bestowed great cost in tryumphing for ioye and sente to him for presentes fourty thousand dukates in gould siluer besides wynes victuals and other thinges yelding also to him her kingdome and all that she had to be at his commaundemente Likewise her husband the noble Otto duke of Brunswick and Prince of Tarentum offered him the like curtesy But sayth Theodoricus of Nyem lib. 1. cap. 7. sone after Otto after dinner amonge many great estates and Cardinals drancke to the Pope but Vrban was so proud that he suffered the noble Prince to kneele before him a great while ere he would take the cup out of his hande in so much that
to his charge to plong the Cardinal the mere But as for me sayth Theodoricus I could abide this wofull sight no longer and therefore dissembling my selfe to be sicke I gat leaue to departe And in like maner was the other Cardinals vsed afterward Finally VrbaÌ„ remouing from Naples commauÌ„ded that these Cardinals and their fellow prisoner the bishop of Aquilo should followe him and ride next after him assigninge to euerye one his garde to keepe them that they should not escape by the waye But the bishop partly because he roade vpon a iade partly because his bodye was yet after his racking so sore and feeble that he was not able to endure faste riding but as the Pope galloped he came lagging after as fast as he might And yet the Pope thinking that helingred to haue stollen awaye in a greate rage commaunded his villaines to kil him and so they slew him mangling him with many woundes and left his dead carkasse vnburied in the waye Afterward at the sute of king Richard of England Pope Vrban did partly release to the custody of a certaine priest one of the Cardinals called Adam Cardinal of Sicil but he toke from him all that euer he had and left him in case of a vagabounde till Boniface his successour restored him But as for the other fiue he kept miserablye in prison in an abbey in a towne of Ianua being next to the Church where he laye and if that he saw any man resort to that Church at extraordinary howers he thought that he resorted thether to deliuer the Cardinals by stealth and therefore he committed to prison tormeÌ„ted many of his owne Court onlye vpon suspition therof And notwithstaÌ„ding the duke citizeÌ„s of Ianua sued for those prisoners yet he wold neuer shew them any mercy but in the end caused them to be put to death as some saye beheaded other saye drowned but how so euer it were sure it is they perished Furthermore Charles king of Sicil being at variaunce with Vrban and hauing his nephew FrauÌ„cis prisoner dyed at length Then came Margaret the wyfe of the said Charles humbly suing to Vrban to be gracious to her and to her children and to graunt that her husbands body might be buryed in which sute manye nobles of Florence and other Cityes ioyned w t her and yet his hard hart woulde nothing pittye her sute nor grauÌ„t her so much as a graue for the king her husbaÌ„d thoughe she had freely released his nephewe to him yet he added processe to processe and heaped condemnation vpon condemnation against her and her poore children because he did from his harte detest the name of the saide Charles Thus reporteth Theodoricus word for word as he is alledged whoe beinge Secretarye to Pope Vrban wrote that which he sawe with a sorrowfull hart The cause whye that the Pope did dispatche those Cardinals was this he was sodenlye forced to remoue from one place to another and therefore thinking that those Cardinals if he shoulde carye them with him would hinder and comber him on the one side on the other side he was loath to leaue them behind least they should escape and therfore flying from Nuceria to Ienua as is sayd it is thought that by the way he tyed them fast to the rockes so lefâ— them to be drowned It is sayd that this yeare one Bertholdus Swart or otherwise Schuuartz an Alchymist and a monke in the North parte of Germanye deuised first and contryued Gunnes to the spoyle of mankinde 144. Clement the 7. CLement the seuenth was a Frenchman and by byrth Earle of Gebenny called in time past Robert he being first a Cardinal was made Pope by the Cardinals These Cardinals after the third month of the election of Vrban perceyuinge bowe he was giuen to tyrannye and that he would not returne into Fraunce they stale away fledde from Rome to Fundus But first they besoughte him to giue them lycence with his fauoure to go to Anagnia to chaunge the ayre for the Sommer time but they fearinge his melancholy mode and franticke fits went away These Cardinals were gotten together Iohn Preuestin VVilliam of S. Steuens in Coeli hill Bertrandus of S. Cicill Robert aforesaide Hugh of the 4. holye Crownes Gui of the holye Crosse in Hierusalem Iohn of S. Marcellus Peter of S. Laurencis in Lucine Gerard of S. Clements Peter of S. Eustace VVilliam of S. Angell Peter of S. Maryes immaculate and Peter of S. Maryes of Cosmidin These sayth Platina did pilfer out the treasure of the Church at the death of the Pope and did euerye thinge as liked them best Who as sone as they fled to Fundus rayled vpon Vrban as an vsurper of the Popedome saying that he was creat perforce and perforce receyued the Crowne of the Pope ship because that election was made for feare in a place of great daunger in the which men ought to haue had libertye to do and speake their minds francke free and yet they were compelled by the people contrarywise to chuse rather an Italian then a Frenchman For these causes they saide the seate being voyde and Iane Queene of Sicill fauouring their purpose they choose the foresaid Robert to be Pope and called him Clement the seuenth Because sayth Theodoricus they knew him to be ambitious nedye and yet very prodigall of a large coÌ„science but of noble birth well be frended and of great power hauing a strong troupe wayting vpon him whereby sayth he lib. 1. cap. 10. it may be iudged that this election proceded not of the holye ghost nor of good consciences Herevpon arose a greate discorde amonge Christian Churches while some Princes fauoured Pope Vrban some fauoured Pope Clement and some there were that medled with neyther of them and they were called neuters Clement goinge to Auenio was worshipped of the Spaniards Frenchmen who did welcom him thether He continued fiftene yeares making diuers lawes whom beside the French king the kinge of Aragon of Castile Nauar obeyed In the meane time a councell was held at Paris to take vp the strife for the Popedome which councell yelded to Clement as Tillius wryteth In his time aboute the yeare 1387. arose a controuersy betweene the students of Paris and the dominick fryers concerning the conception of the virgin Mary Pope Clement dyed Anno 1392. being buried at Auenio These two Popes scattered about the world in diuers quarters their terrible and fearefull bulles and spread abrode rayling bookes full of infamye and defacing backbytinge and excommunicating one another callinge each other w t sharpe despite and bitter reproche Antichriste scismatick heretick tyrant theefe traytour vniust wicâ—ed sower of darnel in Gods Haruest and the cursed sonne of Beliall Iohn of Lignia doctour of both Lawes set out a booke in the behalfe of Vrban and the abbot of S. Vedast councellour to the French kinge did publishe another for ClemeÌ„t against Vrban Amonge other broyles wrought betweene these 2. fyrebrands
it shal be sufficient to declare but some of the least Theodoricus lib 1. cap. 14. sayth that Clement with his Cardinals beinge in Campania sente for their Captayne Bernard de Cazala with other men of warre oute of Gascony and Britany who should passe ouer a certaine bridge vpon Tiber nighe Rome but they that kept the bridge wtstoode them whereupon all the Citye was in an vprore many ran out disordered to defend the bridge against Bernard and his Brytaines who entred perforce and in this conflict there were slaine as some thincke 8. hundred Romaynes and the rest beaten backe into the Cittye wherof arose great howling crying lamenting through Rome But the Romaynes to reuenge themselues fel vpon al such as mighte seeme in the Citye to fauour Pope Clement as al those that were borne beyonde the Alpes both Frenchmen and Spaniards that were weake and vnweaponed in the Citye they spared neither man womaÌ„ nor childe parson nor degree some they murthered some they chained in prison the women they vsed vilanouslye without al shame bishops and noble men they spoyled robbed and long imprysoned with great misery This hurly burly continued long Yea I saw then sayth Theodoricus certaine matrones of Rome desirous to enflame the Romaine CitizeÌ„s against the courtiers strangers to iastle them ruffiantly in the streates and without al honestye to spit and slauer in the faces of the courtiers both of men and women But while the freinds of Pope Vrban did thus within the Citye molest the freindes of Clement a certaine Frenchman being Captaine of Angel Castel and keeping it to the vse of his countryman Clement and his Cardinals did leuel a certaine engine out of the Castle against the Citye discharging and shooting arrowes pellets violently into Rome amonge the Romaines and courtiers and with this shotte he ouerthrew shooke downe and fyred many houses Thus was the Citye in a myserable broyle and in these tumults were slaine diuers noble men Iohn Vrsine Rainolde his brother and one Honoratus with Angelus lieuetenant of Rome diuers other estates stept vp in armes in the quarell of Clement assaulting the Citye round about Rainold layde siege against it at S. Agnes gate a whole month so that the Romaynes were robbed of their cattell and durst not peepe out of the Citye to followe their husbandrye during this storme Whereupon Charles the Emperour and Lewis kinge of Hungary at the humble sute of Pope Vrban sent to Clement their Embassadours desiring him to yeld vp his Papacy for the ending of these sturres tending to the ruine of the Church and Christian estate but Pope Clement and his Cardinals in steede of reasonable answeares vsed the Legates vilanously keeping some of them in pryson some they racked cruelly and by this meanes all christeÌ„dome was deuided some as Almany Bohemia Thuscia Lombardy England Polony Denmarke Sweueland Norwaie Prusia Frizland with diuers other countryes toke part with Vrban and likewise many countryes with Clement Vrban made Charles king of Sicil and ClemeÌ„t set vp Lewes of Andegana against him for it to the spoyle of much bloud Manye other notable historyes are written of this Clement which for tediousnesse are ouerpassed onely I note that which Theodoricus sayth that he being Cardinall vnder Gregorie the xi was cause of the destruction and lameÌ„table spoyling of the Citye Cesanate hauing charge of the souldiours that did it as is shewed in the said Gregorie Also at the same time he sould the Citye Vercels vnto a couple of tyrants to the great confusion of the same Citye in like maner but those tyrants Caleatius and Barnabonis hauing ful possession thereof robbed this Cardinal againe of all the treasure which they had payde him But when he sate in the Papacye he was so prodigall in spendinge the Church goodes that he graunted to euerye man especiallye noble men large pentions farmes landes at an easye rent 145. Boniface the ix BOniface the ix borne in Naples was first called Peter Thomacell being but a yonker scant xx yeares old but a toughe and sturdy fellow he was made Pope by consent of those Cardinals that remayned in Rome Theodoricus sayth that he could neyther write nor singe and that when he was chosen he knewe not what belonged to the greate charge of the Papacye and when supplications were offered him he handled them so vntowardly as if he had neuer beene brought vp in the Court of Rome neyther could he vnderstand the contentes thereof When any aduocates during his gouernment moued any matter debated in his consistorye he neuer vnderstoode them but woulde bolte out an vndiscrete aunsweare to their demaundes At the first during the liues of certaine good Cardinals he durste not openlye commit simonye thoughe priuilye he vsed his brokers therein but they being dead after vii yeares he vsed it openly First he toke the first fruictes of all abbeyes and great Churches voyde and ere the lyuing were bestowed the money must be payed yea often he was heard to wishe that the money being payed the party might not enioy it that he might be payd new first fruictes againe by another This was the chiefest of those xxvi Neapolitans whoÌ„ beinge of his alleance Pope Vrban made Cardinals at Nuceria who as Crantzius sayth beinge confirmed established did forthwith confirme those things which Vrban had decreed touching the Iubely to be kept euery xiii yeare the feast of the visitation of the virgin Mary and indulgences pardons for the worshipping of Christes bodye But by his couetousnes and simonye because al benefices were sould for moneye vsurye waxed so rancke in Rome that it was counted no sinne sayth Theodoricus in his time yea oftentimes vsurye was required openlye euen in the presence of the iudges and officials And againe there was no sute made to the Pope for anye matter but that brybes must be giuen for speakinge The fifte daye of Nouember in the first yeare of his raigne hee his Secretaryes and his chamberlaynes set benefices to sale so impudently offering and trying who would giue most so that al men laughed it to scorne At which time he gaue vnder seale any benefice where soeuer were it in his disposition or no his gift to take place vpoÌ„ the death of the incumbente and this kinde of sale lasted longe in the Courte of Rome so that many poachers ran vp and downe the countrye to espye where were any olde or sicke prelate therevpon poasâ—ed to Rome to purchase a graunt of his lyuing so that sometime the Pope sould one benefice to diuers parties and vsed to set downe in the dating of it that the secoÌ„d third or the fourth graunt should stande aboue and before the rest and therefore after diuers grauntes of one benefice yet some purchased one after al with this clause to defeate the rest notwithstanding al former or after graunts and for more assurance the last should be antedated Thus the Pope played pollage so long till all men being
councels auctority should be takeÌ„ to be aboue the Popes he made this decree concerning councels that none shoulde be sommoned againe till fiue yeares were expired and then from that time it should be continued for ten yeares and so from ten yeares to ten yeares the generall councell should be kept Therfore Pope Martin hauing speÌ„t in his iourneing as is said two yeares after he had beene much desired longed for he came to Rome and repayred the Citye in outwarde buildinges and Popishe traditions He demauÌ„ded the Church inheritaunce w t cruell warre He established Lewis sonne to Alouicius in the kingdome of Naples deposed AlphoÌ„sus Arrogan he appeased certaine sciesmes in the Church he caused the Germaynes to warre vpon the Bohemians for heresye as they call it He hyred VValdenus an Englishe Cardinall to write against those that defended the doctrine of Husse VVickliffe He made more Cardinals and coÌ„demned all those decrees which the Popes had made in the time of the sciesme He had a nephewe as they call theyr sonnes called Prosperus Columna and caused him to succede him in his Cardinalship of S. George He published a certaine forme for bargeninge byinge and selling He heaped vp store of treasure he entring into Rome and finding it all ruinous did repayre not onely the houses streates and Churches but the walles also with greate sumptuous cost and gorgeous worke diuerslye Beside he bestowed much cost vpon Churches and cloysters and repayred olde ruinous houses dedicated to the xii Apostles He held two Sinodes one at Sene and another at Papia confirmed by his decree that the next councel after ten yeares should be held at Basill Finallye he dyed of the falling sicknes at Rome Anno 1431. and was buryed in a brasâ—n tombe in Lateran 152. Eugenius the fourth EVgenius the fourth was a Venetian borne and a Coelestinian canon called before Gabriel Condelmerius his fathers name was Angel He being a Cardinal gatte the Popedome by this meanes as Platina sayth For wheÌ„ Gregorie the xii a Venetian was made Pope his nephew Antony Corrarius a canon of the order of Coelestines goinge to Rome toke this Gabriel with him being of the same profession Whom Gregorie lyking wel did first make his treasurer and afterward bishop of Sene and made Antonye prelate to the Bononians Afterward he mistrustinge his estate and departing from Rome to Luca minding to augmente the nomber of Cardinals he made both his nephewes Cardinals For first Pope Gregorie and afterwarde Pope Martin were much ruled by the councell of Gabriel especially in embassages whereby he succedinge them did trouble al the world Certaine cauiling parsoÌ„s were very busye about him to put into his head that Pope Martin his predecessour being a great hourder vp of treasure had lefte greate aboundance thereof whereby they brought him to this point that he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his kinsmen frendes and vicechauncelour shoulde be taken and their goodes be confiscat Hereupon the Romaines mindfull of their libertyes raysed a maine crye and put themselues in armour and dryuing oute all the magistrates of Eugenius and taking Frauncis Candelmerius his nephew prisoner they choose newe officers whereof vii were Citizens of Rome whom they called gouernours who had power of life and death In the meane time Eugenius amazed in this sturre deuised to runne awaye And therefore disguising himselfe in his apparell and puttinge on a monkes weede he entring into a fisher boote with one Arcenius a certaine monke beguiled his keepers and was transported to Hostia But the Romaynes vnderstanding therof did pursue him with arrowes and stoanes But he gat from thence to Pisa and from thence to Florence hauinge his galleyes readye for the purpose where he dwellinge for the space of certaine yeares made xvi Cardinals Afterwarde he wente to Bononia and there builded certaine sumptuous houses He refused to come to the councell at Basil Anno. 1432. because it was sayd that a councell was aboue the Pope and againe because he being cited should haue bene called to aunsweare such faultes as were layed against him And therefore he was deposed and condemned for an heretick and Amadeus Duke of Sabaudia and an heremite was placed in his steede In this councell were condemned they that kept concubines and walkers in the Church in seruice time Also the communion was allowed vnder both kindes in the xxx session They that were cosins to the Pope or Cardinals were depryued from being Cardinals The feast of our Ladyes coÌ„ception as they terme it was then decreed But Pope Eugenius to ouerthrowe this councell of Basill did summon another at Ferrara and afterward at Florence There were at Florence the Embassadours of the Gretians Aethiopians Asians Armenians Indians Danes other Legates oute of the East who did there giue their coÌ„sent to many thinges of the Popes religion because they were as Stella saith al maintayned vpon the Popes charge But the Legates being returned home especiallye the Danes were not allowed of their countrye for that wherein they had yelded to the Pope as the chronicles of Polonia do testifye It is worthye here to be mentioned what a myserable destruction fell vpon Ladislaus kinge of Hungary Pope Eugenius compelled this king being a yong maÌ„ to breake his oath and not kepe the league which he had sworne vnto Amurithes the great Turke But while this yonge Prince Ladislaus beinge xxii yeares old doth vnwarelye seeke to obeye the Pope as his most holye father hee was worthelye plagued by Amurithes For while Amurithes bringing an houge host warred vpoÌ„ him he hauing his armye slaine at the length being beguiled by Eugenius was also slaine They saye that this Pope Eugenius was maruelouslye delighted in warres and that he being moued with great grudge did sturre vp Lewis the Dolphin of FrauÌ„ce sonne to Charles the vii against the Basilians Whereof greate mischiefe ensued And afterward wheÌ„ he came to Rome he bestowed many thinges on the Citye as buildings and reparations with diuers superstitious woorkes to the enriching and pleasuring of monkes fryers and such like He first tormented cruellye Thomas Redonensis VVilliam Estonteuill and afterward did burne them most terriblye for Thomas said that there were many abhominations in Rome and that the Church had neede of great reformation Furthermore he sayd that the Popes curse for the quarel of Christe is not to be feared This Eugenius canonized one Cyril that wrote many fantasticall visions vnder the name of Reuelations Touching the foresaide Thomas Ilâ—iricus sayth thus in his Catalog Thomas Redonius a white fryer borne in Fraunce in the Dukedome of Britaine was a famous preacher flourishing sayth Antonius Anno 1430. He in his preaching tought through FrauÌ„ce Italy that great abhominatioÌ„s was vsed in Rome that the Church wanted greate reformation and that the prelates forsakinge their pompe and royat oughte to liue more modestlye according to the example of Christe and his Apostles and that the Popes vniust curses are
not to be feared For these opinions Pope Eugenius caused him to be burned at Rome Anno 1436. This Thomas also thoughte reuerentlye of the mariage of the clergye for he wrote that it was against the safetye of manye soules if they were not suffered to marrye accordinge to the maner of the Greeke Church who haâ— not the gift of coÌ„tinencye Because at that time they were dishonest and blotted with vnlawful coniunction Of this Thomas Mantuan saith thus A certaine Frenchman called Thomas who as yet fostred in harte the zeale of old fayth went into Italye accompanied with a fewe For so it pleased God that the same countreye which in all thinges excelleth other should also enioye this parson being a mirror amonge men But God prouided not onelye for Italye but also for this holy man for he gaue to Italye such an one whose life it mighte follow and to the said man he gaue a crimsen crowne of martyrdome For while he liued well and in godlye order he was accused vnto the Pope of haynous treacherye by certaine spiteful fellowes and after he had suffred prison tormentes vexation at the length when they coulde finde nothinge in him worthye of death they sifted him more narrowlye and armed themselues stoutlye with iniquitye to fulfill that which by equitye they coulde not do And so committed him to the cursed fyre Of this man were manye Uerses and Epitaphes written to his greate prayse bewayling of the tyrannye vsed toward his innocent body Furthermore Eugenius ere he were Pope did repayre S. Agnes Church at Ancon and the gate of the Citye and in his Popedome he Crowned Sigismond Emperour at Rome He also after Boniface confirmed the annuities of all benefices At length he dyed at Rome Anno 1446. and was buryed at S. Peters He caryed the Miter of S. Syluester being brought from Auenion to Rome out of Vatican to Lateran with great worship and a procession He punished certaine priestes that had pilfred certaine precious stones oute of Peters and Paules head One Lewis Cardinall of Aquilegia was the first of his order that began first to maintaine houndes and horses in steede of the poore 153. Foelix the fift Foelix the fifte borne in Fraunce was an heremite called Amadeus before his Popeship He being first Duke of Sauoy hauinge a wyfe and two children Pope Eugenius being deposed was aduaunced to the seate by the voyces of xxvi Electours And notwithstandinge he were chosen by the auctoritye of Basil Synode confirmed in the Papall chayre yet he being hindred by the faction of the said Eugenius could neuer set foote in the Romaine seate which they call Peters chayre A sciesme rose hereupon that lasted â— yeares and many tumultes sprange in the kingdomes of Christendome because some would obeye Eugenius some Foelix and other some would be counted neuters And in this sciesme it made much controuersye because some held opinion that the Pope was vnder the iurisdiction of the general couÌ„cell and othersome maintayned the contrarye And of this arose another waightye and bitter controuersye whether the Pope were head of the Church or no which continueth to this day This Foelix being an aged man ere he came to be Pope liued to see the day that the sonnes of his sonnes matched in mariage with kings doughters And in the end geuing ouer all worldly charge â—e purposed to go into a wildernes to lead an heremites life with 6. knightes But as sone as he vnderstoode that he was chosen Pope by the auctoritye of the general couÌ„cell he shaued himselfe both crowne and chinne and came thether wyth a trayne of noble men and being consecrate Pope toke the function vppon him and did all thinges that belonged to the Pope to do to giue orders minister SacrameÌ„ts excoÌ„municate c. and played the Pope x. yeares He was so bountifull to the poore that being demaunded whether he kept any houndes and to shew them he aunswered that he would shew them another day But when they that asked this question were with him the next day he shewed them a great company of poore needye people that sate downe together at dinner saying these are my houndes which I feede dailye with the which I hope to hunte for the glorye of heauen It liked this maÌ„ at the length for vnitye sake Anno 1447. to vnpope himselfe and giue place to Nicolas the fift whoÌ„ he therefore made Legate of all Germanye and Fraunce and also Cardinall of Sabin but he dyed sone after 154. Nicolas the fift NIcolas the fifte was a Genewaie borne of a base stocke his father was a Chirurgeon called Barthelmew Sarzan and so this Nicolas was first called Thomas Sarzan In this one yeare he gatte to be bishop of Bononia Cardinall Pope of Rome This Nicolas being made Pope after the death of Eugenius did hange vp on the walles of Angell Casteli Steuen Porcarius a Romaine knighte w t other conspiratours raysing a tumult for the libertye of the Citye He celebrated the Iubâ—lie for lucre sake Anno 1450. At the time of this Iubelie while they chaunced once w t the crucifixe to returne from Vatican to the Citye it is very certaine to be true that the preace of people followinge was so great that the Mule of one Peter Bardus a Cardinall could not passe by because of those that came to fro so that the people also were so thronged that there was no passage but in the ende they fell vpon the Mule first one then another til the beast was euen perforce borne downe with the crowde and ere it was ceased two hundred parsons were troden to death and smothered vppon Adrian bridge manye fallinge beside the bridge were drowned which were about 136. men The Pope whose pompous superstitious idolatrous Iubelie had caused this miserye to fall vpon the fonde people did in this maner redresse the case He was sorye sayth Platina for the death of them that were slaine and therfore he remoued certaine cotages that made the waye to be straite and narrowe entringe to the bridge For the enryching of his cofers he spent all that whole yeare in this kinde of solemnitye he himselfe with his troupe of Cardinals did vewe the stages He prouided both by curse and wayters that roages and vagaboundes comminge to the Citye shoulde not misuse straungers and robbe them of their money In this Popes time the Turke wanne Constantinople to the great griefe of all Europe This Pope crowned Frederick the third Emperour and his wife Leonor He builded a sumptuous librarie in Vatican And reuiued with great dilligeÌ„ce learning and knowledge which was then almost drowned with grossenes barbarous sophistrye He appointed stipendes for learned men But amonge these his vertuous doinges and good affection towardes learning he had his vices withall and those notorious namely he was greatly giuen to dronkennes and so muche delighted therein that he soughte for all kinde of wynes from euery
which was saide to be S. Andrewes head beside he wroughte diuers other Popishe pranckes He powred out riches vpon diuers vaine sumptuous and prodigall buildinges He made Corsian the towne wher he was borne to be a Citye calling it after his owne name Pientia buildinge a statelye Churche of wrought stone in it In the ende he dyed of an agew at Ancona goinge thether aboute his warres He was muche troubled with diseases while he liued as with the coughe the stone and the goute Volateranus sayth that ambition did ouerwhelme manye vertues in him for he was euer greedye of promocion and therefore he toke great paynes and sought the fauour of Princes This Epitaphe was founde written of him in an olde booke Frigida membra Pij retinet lapis iste loquacis Qui pacem moriens attulit Italiae Summe Deus quantum mortalibus alme dedisti Fulmine cum tetigit hoc caput aequa manus Vendiderat precio gentes crimina multa Virtutis â—pecie gesserat ille Pius Impius hic fuerat quamuis sub nomine pulchro Crediderit falsis posse iuuare fidem Nunc fidi comites scelerataque turba clientum Ingemuere Pium nam scelus orbis erat CONCLVSIO Impius hic situs est crudelis raptor iniquus Aeneas fatue quem genuere Senae Platina and Sabellicus do testifye that among other his prouerbiall sentences he lefte this in writinge There is a great cause why the clergie shoulde be depriued of mariage but greater cause why they should be suffered to marrye He hath the same sayinge also in his seconde booke of CouÌ„saile Perhaps sayth he it should not be worse if most priestes were wedded because that in maryed priesthoode manye shoulde be saued that in vnwedded priesthoode are dampned This Pius the second saith Coelius secundus did breake vp diuers nooneryes coÌ„mauÌ„ding them to come out of their cloister and to burne no longer in coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce and not to play the strompets secretelye vnder pretence of Religion Iohn Maria Polutianus sayth that in these dayes the Minorites and Bullistes in Italye fell out bitterlye stryuing whether of them should visite keepe and rule the nunnes 157. Paule the second PAule the second was borne in Venice called first Peter Baâ—bus nephewe to Eugenius the fourth he beinge Cardinall of S. Marke succeded Pope Pius He before his Papacye purposed to fall to the trade of marchandize but when hee heard that his â—nckle Gabriel was created Pope he began to applye his minde to his booke and so arose from one degree to another till in the end he gat the Papacye He was a man of a goodlye parsonage but of a hautye minde he was verye couetous and bestowed benefices for rewardes Touchinge his pontifâ—call pompe ye neede not doubte sayth Platina that he furnished it in such sort as he excelled all his predecessours especiallye in his royall kingdome Touching his Miter he bestowed infinite treasure thereon procurinâ—e to haue broughte to him froÌ„ euery place of great price Diamants Saphyrs Carbuncles Chrysolits Iasperstones Pearles and all other kinde of precious stones He being thus royallye attyred like Aaron with Iewels shewed himselfe abrode in such a maiestye as neuer did anye earthlye creature Then his desire was to be gazed on to be worshipped and for this cause he stayed straungers often in the Citye shewinge his handkerchiffe in the streate that the greater companye might behold him He commaunded also that none shoulde presume to weare a scarlet hat but the Cardinals on whom hee bestowed much cloth of the same colour in the first yeare of his Popeship to make them trappinges for their horses and Mules saith Platina He practisinge both by worde by sworde to aduaunce the maiestye of his seate did nothing all his life time but moue warre in Italye sodenlye when he spyed his aduauÌ„tage Amonge diuers others Cityes hee assaulted Arminium and caused both Suburbes and Citye to be myserablye shaken rente and torne with force of gunneshotte and other engins He abhorred euen from his harte the decrees and deedes of his predecessour Pius He restored the regular Canons whom Calixtus had expulsed out of Lateran abbey and bestowed greate buildinges at S. Markes at Vatican He condemned all chose to be heretickes that should make any mention of vniuersityes for he was a very doult and of grosse capacitye and therfore he loued neither learning nor vertue He being whollye addicted to ambition royotousnes and pleasure spent the whole daye eyther in feasting as Volateranus sayth or in takinge vp his money or els in searching oute and vewing of olde coynes images or Iewels His greatest care was that the Citye shoulde neuer lacke victuals Finallye after he had created tenne Cardinals whereof Frauncis Ruerius was one and assured himselfe to liue longe Anno 1470. he dyed of an Apoplexie sodenly by him selfe alone after he had supped meerelye After his death his cosins the Cardinals bestowed on him a woÌ„derfull riche and costlye tombe From this time forward the estate of the Papacye begaÌ„ to impaire and decay Stanislaus Ruthenus reporteth this one notable thinge of this Pope Paule in these wordes VVhen Pope Paule had seene certaine latine Verses written against him and his daughter it is reported that he wept and cryed out against the hardnes of the lawe of single life amonge his frends Because that he who ought to be not onlye the head of the Church but also of chastlife shoulde see his doughter liue in the face and countenaunce of the Citye with great shame and disdaine who although she were verye beutifull yet it greued his harte that it should be said he begat her in whoredome because he knewe that there was a law of God whereby she mighte haue beene borne in wedlocke vnlesse this lawe of single life had disanulled it They saye therefore that he toke councell how he mighte restore againe the mariage of the clergie but beinge preuented by death he coulde not attaine to his purpose 158. Sixtus the fourth SIxtus the fourth was borne at Sauona in Liguria called Frauncis Ruerius before and generall minister of the Franciscans succeded Pope Paule He being at a time of solemnitye caryed in an horselitter to Lateran there arose a sodein tumult so that the Pope was in great daunger of loosing his life being so pelted with stones so that the dryuers did almost forsake him in the Litter This Pope vsed to graunte one benefice to diuers and sondry parsons He loued his frendes so well that to gratifye them he did manye things against all law and equitye He promoted his companion Peter Ruerius both of his owne order and couÌ„trye whom with his brother Hierome he broughte vp for purpose to be a Cardinall a man otherwise borne to wast riches for within the space of two yeres after then which time he liued not longer he spent of himselfe alone by his royotous lyuing â–ª two hundreth thousand Crownes beside this he endebted himselfe three score Thousand and spent
in siluer three hundred poundes He dyed beinge wasted through his incontinent life when he was but xxviii yeares old Anno 1474. His death was most hinderaunce to handicraft men for he euer filled their shoppes with store of knackes Iohn Textor in his officine sayth thus Peter a priest and Cardinal in the time of Sixtus the fourth wasted about vanityes luxuriousnes three hundred Thousand Crownes within the space of two yeares Againe Iohn Riueus in his booke De erroribus pontisiciorum sayth the Fulgosus reporteth of the incredible prodigality of the said partye It were to longe to rehearse all his woordes for breuitye sake these fewe may suffice which I thinke is the least to be spoken of namely that he ware goulden roabes at home in his house that he had his couerlets of gould for his beds his Chamber stooles and pottes of siluer Also he prouided for his concubine Tyresia shoes couered wyth Pearles By this a man maye gesse the rest of his vnmeasurable pompe and prodigalitye But Hierome brother to the saide Peter beinge made chiefe of Liuius court and Cornelius court after him did rule and order the matters of the Church being a man of more seuere nature and lesse lasciuious sauinge one waye not to be named After these Sixtus aduaunced the childrē of his bretherne and sisterne amonge whom he made one Iulian Cardinall and his brother Iohn Presidēt of the Citye and Prince of Sora Seuogallia He loued sayth Platina his kindred aboue measure bestowing and lauisshing on them that which belōged both to man and God against all iustice And by the iudgement of manye he plonged all Italye with bloudye broyles that without cause Therefore sayth Volateranus when he was driuen to necessitye hauing wasted his wealth vpon these tumults he was the first that began to practise this shifte He deuised to picke oute certaine Colledges Againe Agrippa sayth of him thus amonge the bawdes of late yeares that set vppe and builded stewes Pope Sixtus the fourth was most famous who builded a notable stewes at Rome and as he sayth in his declamatiō to the Louanians he sheweth at large not onlye for harlots but otherwise horrible to be thought vpon He following the example of Heliogabalus did maintayne his traine of harlots and bestowed them on his frendes and seruauntes Beside he had his fee comming into his treasure of that moneye which the harlots earned by their misdemeanour to the enrychinge of his cofers for the strompets of Rome do yet paye theyr Iuly tribute as it is termed euery weeke to the Pope which in yearely reuenues hath oftentimes amounted to xx Thousand ducates and now by report ariseth to fourtye Thousande And so the treasurers of the Church are bound to make accompte as well of harlots tribute as of the Church landes VVesselus Groningensis called the light of the world in the discourse of the Popes indulgences wryteth of this Pope Sixtus that at the sute of the foresaid Peter then Cardinall of S. Sixtus and Patriarke of Constantinople and of his brother Hierome he graunted the whole familye of the Cardinall of S. Lucia who in his former yonge yeares had in like maner yelded himselfe to the detestable lust of Pope Paule the second to file theyr bodyes lawfullye in most vnlawfull vnnaturall and vnspeakable maner for 3. hot monthes Iune Iulye and August which he graunted with this clause Fiat vt petitur Doe accordinge to your requeste O horrible and monstrons men more saluage then brute beastes weare it not but that malice of Antichrist and the deuill sparing no blasphemye to slaunder the Church of Christe dryueth me to detecte their loathsome treacherye and nakednesse I would rather helpe to burye these villanyes in silence then to vtter these their filthines which I cānot but with blushing remember Loath were I to plucke of the sheete of theyr shame to reueale their ribaldrye but that vnder such roabes lurketh hiddē so manye foule soares enfecting Christian soules and deceauing their simplicitye with an outward visard of innocencye And yet while I for beare euen for honesty ciuilitye sake to discouer their filthye commedyes and stewishe pranckes at large as they themselues are not ashamed to doe sportinge thereat with ballades songes and sonets and other vnhoneste wayes Mantuan and other haue spoken and vttered thereof enoughe to much wryting of this Pope Sixtus and his nephew of Alphonsus But as touching Sixtus sayth Volateran he being disposed to exercise him selfe in warrefare wherunto he was of nature more enclined then to religiō moued quarrels of warre as he might right or wronge He inuaded without any cause Vitelius Tiphernates the Florentines the Venetians the Columnians Ferdinand king of Sicilia the duke of Calabria and other nations and Princes It was his chiefe delighte to haue Christian Princes at commaundemēt whom at his pleasure he did both set vp and put downe He set his confederates the Heluetians with fyre and sworde vpon the Lombardes whom he had cursed and gaue the Heluetians a pardon and an ensigne to encourage them to the slaughter of the Lombardes He aduaūced his cosins bastardes to the shame of the Church to all that he mighte for he made two of his nephewes Leonarde Iohn to be Presidents of the Citye by course one after another beside other dignities diuers and many that he bestowed on sondrye of his kindred among other one Raphael his sisters sonne was made Cardinal But one Laurence Medices honge vp the saide Raphael and Saluatus Pisanus and diuers other because they had murthered his brother He was verye beneficiall to the begging sect of religious roages graūting them reuenues in this life and heauen in the life to come He is counted as it were a newe builder of Rome He bestowed cost of pauinge the streates repayring the wayes appointing skauingers to loke to the streates beside diuers other lesse necessary more vaine and superstitious deedes about Churches Chappels and Pallaces In the xv yeare he celebrated the Iubelie for the encrease of his lucre and gaynes and to pleasure his frendes He diuised many polling bribing offices of scribes abridgers sollicitours waighters and notaryes of the escheaker to enriche hys cofers which offices are to be bought of the Pope He made diuers newe holly dayes and diuers Saintes and manye decrees to enriche the clergye He excommunicated and cursed to hell Laurence Medices of Florence for hanging his nephew Raphael In the ende he being sicke of the goute dyed throughe rancour and malice the soner because the duke of Ferraria had takē peace with the Venetians against his will Anno 1484. And therefore diuers men made these Epitaphes of him ¶ Of his death Non potuit Seuum vis vlla extinguere Sixtum Audito tandem domine pacis obit No force was forceable enoughe to make Pope Sixtus dye But when the name of peace was heard it kild him by and by Of the peace that ensued