palace of Canterbury After the death of Langton fell strife betwixt the King and the Monks of Canterburie for the election of their Archbishop the Monkes choose one of their owne societie named Walter Heuesham the King preferred Richard Chauncellour of Lincolne and articulated against the other that hée was the sonne of a Felon conuicted and hanged also that hée had lyen with a Nunne and had children by her c. The matter beyng presented before the Pope and like to go hard on the Kings part the Kings proctors promised and graunted in his name The tenth of al the goods of England and Scotland to be geuen to the Pope to be giuen to the Pope the tenth part of all the goods of the Realme of England and Scotland moueable to sustaine his warres agaynst the Emperour so that hée would encline fauourably to the Kings suit whereat the Pope boyling as saith Parisiensis with vnmeasurable desire of subduing his enemy the Emperour and cherished with so great promises graunted vnto them This was doone An. 1229. These things thus finished at Rome the Pope sendeth his owne chaplain Stephen legate into England to require the tithes of all moueable goods of England Ireland and Wales which were promised vnto him Wherevpon the king called a Councell at Westminster to common of the matter where in fine notwithstāding the dislike of the most part yet for feare of curse and of interdiction the summe was gathered so that the Prelates hauing no other remedy The prelates driuen to sell there chalices and copes were driuen to sell their chalices cruets copes iewels and other Church plate and some to lay to morgage such things as they had some also to borrow vpon vsury to make the mony which was required Moreouer the said Stephen as saith Parisiensis brought with him into England for the same purpose Vsurers brought into England by the Popes Legate bankers and vsurers who lending out their monie vpon great interest did vnreasonably pinch the English people which Merchant vsurers were then called Caursini and such exactions were then vpon the poore Englishmen that not only their present goods were valued and taxed The corne growing against the next haruest tithes to pay the Pope but also the corne yet growing against the next haruest was tithed c. Onely the Earle of Chester named Radulphus stood stoutly against the pope suffering none within his dominion either lay men or clarks to yéeld any tēths to the Popes proctors Parisiensis pag. 74. This yéere 1229. was finished the New church of Couentrie by Alexander bishop of the same citie and partly by the helpe of the king which Church Richard his predecessor bishop of Couentry had begon The French men againe about this time assayled Raymundus Earle of Tholouse The Earle of Tholouse assailed againe but preuailed not the Earle hauing in the conflict taken 500. and many slaine of their seruitours to the number of two thousand were taken with their armour Yet thrise the same Summer did they assault the godly Earle and were put to flight and discomfited Parisiensis pag. 96. Richard Archb. of Canterbury beyng now confirmed in his seat came to the king complaining of Hubert lord chiefe Iustice for withholding the Castle and towne of Tumbridge from him with the appertenance thereto belōging other lands of the Earle of Clare lately deceassed which lands pertained to the right of that sea and to the Church of Canterbury for the which the said Earle his auncestors were bound to doe homage to him and his predecessors and therefore required the kéeping of the foresaid castle with the demeanes to be restored vnto him The king misliking the demand answered not to the appetite of the Archb. wherby he was so moued that he brast forth into excommunication of al such as held those possessions or tooke their part the K. onely excepted which done he prosecuteth his matter before the Pope The K. hearing thereof sendeth vp M. Roger Contelu with certain other against the Archb. The Archb. among other the articles complaineth to the Pope of certaine Bishops his suffragans who neglecting their pastoral functiō did sitte on checker matters belonging to the king and exercised sessions and iudgements of blood Bishops set on checker matters exercised sessions and iudgements The pope neglecteth the K. and satisfieth the Archb. he complained also of beneficed parsons and Clearks within orders for hauing many benefices ioyned with the cure of soules and that they also taking example of Bishops did intermeddle in secular matters and in iudgements of Lay men The Pope neglecteth the kings allegations fauoureth altogether the Archbishop and sent him away satisfied in his requests who in his returning homward within 3. daies of his setting forth died in the house of the gray Friers at Saint Gemmes Parisiensis After the death of Richard the monkes did choose Randulph Neuell Randulph Neuell Bishop of Chester and the Kings Chauncellour a man faithful vpright and constant The King approued of the election and onely the Popes confirmation was wanting Wherevpon the monks addressed thē to Rome to haue the popes liking and first requiring help for the expences of the iourney of the new Archbish hee denied the same he should séeme in any sort ambitiously to séeke after it A good bishop and holding vp his handes to heauen thus prayed O Lorde God if I shall be thought woorthy to bée called although indéed vnworthy to the seat and office of this Church so be it as thou hast disposed But if otherwise in this troublesom office of Chauncery and this my inferiour ministery whervnto I haue béene assigned I shall séeme more necessary for this thy kingdom people I refuse not my labour thy will be done The monkes notwithstanding procéeded on their iourney shewed the matter to the pope the popes holinesse inquired of the qualities of the man of Simon Langthon brother of Stephen Langthon Archbish before mentioned who did so depraue Radulph Neuell to the Pope that hée charged the monkes to procéed to a new election who agréed vpon Iohn their prior to be Metropolitane but he no other fault being found notwithstanding he had bin examined in 3. daies together of the Cardinals was repulsed for that he was too aged though he were able to take a iourney to Rome and home againe Anno 1231. the exactions of the pope were so grieuous in the land that it was deuised of some of the nobles that certaine letters vnder the pretensed colour of the kings authority should be sent abroad commanding that such corne and graine other reuenewes as were taken vp for the Pope should be staied forth cōming by a certain day in the said letters appointed These letters wer thought to procéed chiefly from Hubert L. chief iustice Hubert Lord chiefe Iustice of England who then next vnder the K ruled the most affaires of the realme This done they sent these letters by
his wife children and other men and women to the number of 42. and with them also another noble Senator named Simplicius Simplicius all which together in one day had their heads smitten of their hands hanged vp in diuerse gates of the citie Vnder him also suffered Quiritius Quiritius a noble man of Rome with his mother Iulia Iulia. with a great number besides also Tiberius Tiberius and Valerianus Valerianus citizens of Rome and brethren suffered the same time being first beaten with bats and after beheaded Also one Martina Martina a virgin suffered at the same time but these martyrs are rather to be thought to suffer vnder Maximinus or Decius The sixt Persecution Maximinus MAximinus succéeded Alexander as is aforesaid the yéere of our Lord 237. Who for the hatred he had to Alexander raised the sixth persecution especially against the teachers of the Church he raigned but thrée yéeres In the time of this persecution Origen wrote his booke De Martyrio After him succéeded Gordian Gordian who was milde towards the Christians raigned six yéeres and was slaine of Phillip Phillip who succéeded him In the dayes of these Emperours aboue recited was Pontianus Pontianus bishop of Rome who succéeded next after Vrbanus about the yéere 236. in the twelfth yéere of Alexander according to Eusebius declaring him to sit six yéeres Damasus and Platius write that hée was Bishop nine yéeres and a halfe and with Phillip his priest was banished into Sardinia and there died But it séemeth he was rather banished vnder Maximinus and died in the beginning of the raigne of Gordianus In these times notable men were raised vp to the church as Philetus Philetus Bishop of Antioch who succéeded Asclepiades aboue mentioned anno 220. and after him Zebenus Zebenus bishop of the same place anno 231. To these may be added Ammonius Ammonius the Scholemaster of Origen and kinsman of Porphiry the enemy of Christ In the same times was also Iulius Aphricanus Iulius Aphricanus the scholer of Origen To these may be ioined Natalius Natalius who had suffered for the truth and was seduced by Asclepiodotus and Theodotus who were the disciples of Theodorus to take vpon him to be the Bishop of their sect promising him euery moneth 150. pieces of siluer wherto he yéelded But the Lord in a vision admonished him whereto he taking no héed was in a night scourged with Angels and so confessed his fault and declared that which had happened vnto him to Zephirinus the Bishop who with the rest of the congregation admitted him againe After Pontianus succéeded Anterius Anterius Cōcerning his time writers doe greatly vary Eusebius and Marianus Scotus affirm that he was Bishop but a moneth Damasus twelue yeeres and one moneth Volateranus Bergomensis Henricus Erford thrée yéeres one moneth Nauclerus one yere and one moneth Next to this Bishop was Fabianus Hippolitus Hippolitus was a martyr and as Gelasius saith was bishop of an head Citie in Arabia Nicephorus that he was Bishop of Ostia a port towne néere to Rome He was a great writer and was about the yéere 230. Prudentius in his Peristephanon maketh mention of great heapes of martyrs buried by thréescore together and saith that Hippolitus was drawne with wild horses through fields dales and bushes After Gordianus succéeded Philippus who with Philip his sonne gouerned about the space of sixe yéeres ann 246. These Emperours with their families were christened and conuerted by Fabianus and Origen He with his sonne was slaine of Decius one of the Captaines by hatred as it is thought because the Emperours had committed their treasures vnto Fabianus then Bishop of Rome The seuenth Persecution DEcius hauing slayn the former Emperours inuaded the crowne the yéere 250. by whom through enuie hatred as is aboue said was moued a terrible persecution against the Christians Fabian Fabian aboue mentioned was made Bishoppe of Rome after Anterius by the flying and lighting of a Doue vpon his head in the congregation which was minded to elect some noble personage of Rome He sate 13. yeres or as other say 14. was put to death by Decius who also caused to bée proclaimed in al quarters the destruction of Christians To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightnesse of his faith he continued two and fifty yéeres in great labours of teaching and writing and sustained diuers gieuous persecutions but especially vnder Decius vnder whom hauing suffred bands torments rackings with bars of yron dungeons besides terrible threats of death and burning at length was brought to an altar where a foule filthy Ethiope was appointed to be and there this choise was offered him whether he would sacrifice to the Idoll or haue his body polluted with that foule and ougly Ethyope Origen made choyse rather to doe sacrifice Origen sacrificeth for the which impietie hée was after excommunicated by the Church Epiphanius writeth that he being vrged to sacrifice to Idols and taking the bones in his hand wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their goddes called vpon the Christians to carrie them in honour of Christ which fact the Churche of Alexandria misliking remooued him from their communion Origen excommunicated Wherevpon Origen driuen away with shame went into Iurie where being in Hierusalem among the congregation and there requested of the ministers to make some exhortation in the Church refused a great while so to doe but at length through importunitie he turned the booke as though hée woulde haue expounded some place of Scripture and read the verse of the 49. Psalme But God saide to the sinner why doest thou preach my iustifications and why doest thou take my testament in thy mouth c. Which verse hauing read hée shut the booke and sate downe wéeping and wayling the whole congregation also wéeping and lamenting with him Origen repenteth Suidas saith Origen was buried at Tirus Eusebius saith he died vnder the Emperor Gallus about the yéere two hundred fiftie and fiue and the thrée score and ten yeares of his age in great miserie and pouertie In the time of Antoninus Carocalla Origen had a notable man Heracleas Heracleas his vsher in the schoole of Alexandria who after in the tenth yeare of Alexander Origen departing vnto Cesaria succéeded him in the gouernment of the schoole of Alexandria This Heracleas also succéeded after the death of Demetrius to be Bishop of Alexandria in the tyme of the Emperour Gordianus in which function he continued sixtéene yéeres After Heracleas succéeded Dyonisius Alexandrinus Heracleas was no martyr but died thrée yéeres before Decius anno 250. vnder whom Dionysius Alexandrinus Dionysius Alexandrinus suffered much The persecutions vnder Decius were so cruel that Niceph. faith it were as possible to number the sand of the sea as to recite their names that suffred Cruel persecution Of the which persecution vnder the Emperor
the chief doers were Optimus the vnderconsul Secundianus Verianus Marcellinus c. In the time of Decius Alexander Alexander was B. of Hierusalem where he continued a very aged man about the terme of xl yeres till the 1. yere of Decius At what time being brought from Ierusalem to Cesarea he died in prison After whom succéeded Mezananes Mezananes the xxxvj Bishop of that citie after Iames the Apostle Vnder this Decius Babylas B. of Antioch who succéeded zebinus died in prison which followed after Philetus an 232. and sate xij yeres Which Philetus succéeded Asclepiades after Serapion an 214 and sate vij yeres Babilas because he resisted a certaine Emperour who had most cruelly slaine against his promis a kinges sonne whom he receiued in Hostage and woulde not suffer him to enter the tēple of the christians was by him put to death In the raigne of Constantinus afterward Gallus then made ouerseer of the East parts caused the body of Babylas to be translated into the suburbes of Antioch called Daphnes where was an oracle of Apollo which after the bringing in of the body of Babylas ceassed to giue answere alleging his body to be the cause and so it continued til the time of Iulianus who therefore caused it to be remoued away by the Christians which was no sooner departed the temple but the temple was consumed with fire This Babylas is mentioned of Chrysostom who is like to be another diuerse from him that died In Decius time Nicephorus in his fifth booke maketh mention of an other Babylas besides this that was Bishoppe of Nicomedia and suffered vnder Decius In these times in the Citie of Antioch suffered fourtie Virgins xl Virgins in the daies of Decius In Phrigia suffered one Peter Peter in the Towne of Lampsur vnder Optimus the Proconsul In Troada also other martyrs suffered whose names were Andrew Andrew Paul Paul Nichomachus Nichomach and Dionisia Dionysia a Virgin Also in Babylonia diuers Christian Confessors were founde by Decius and were ledde away into Spaine there to be executed In the Countrie of Cappadocia at the citie of Cesarea Germanus Germanus Theophilus Theophilus Cesarius Cesarius Vitalis Vitalis suffered martirdome Likewise Polichronius Polychronius Bishop of Babylon and Nestor Nestor in Pāphilia Bishop of the same place At Persida in the Towne of Cardala suffered Olimpiades Olympiades and Maximus Maximus In Tyrus Anatolia Anatolia a Virgin and Audax Audax gaue their liues for the faith In these times diuers suffered diuersly in Alexandria a whole yeare before any Proclamation by reason of a Soothsayer Soothsayers which stirred vp the people Who first flying vpon a Priest called Metra Metra apprehended him and layde vpon him with staues and clubbes and with sharpe réedes pricked his face and eyes and afterwarde in the Suburbes stoned him to death Then tooke they Quinta a faithfull woman and bound her féete and drew her through the stréetes vpon the harde stones And so dashing her against the milstones and scourging her with whips slue her in the Suburbes of the Citie This done they spoyled all the Christians who auoided the City and tooke the losse patiently Among other that were taken there was one Apollonia Apollonia an auncient Virgin whom they brought forth and dashing al her téeth out of her iawes made a great fire before the Citie threatning to cast her into the same except she would denie Christ Whereat she staying a while as one that would take a pause sodainly leapt into the middest of the fire and so was burned They also tooke one Serapion Serapion in his owne house whō hauing broken almost all the ioyntes of his bodie they cast him downe from an vpper lofte and so he died Thus raging against the Christians at last they fell at debate among themselues and so for a time the furie staied which was so great that no place could hide the Christians from the rage of the heathen Shortly after this came the Edict of the Emperour against the Christians whereupon the persecution grew in all places more grieuous thā before In so much that some reuolted voluntarilie Reuolt some by imprisonment tormēt Other continued constant to the death of whom one was Iulianus Iulianus a man diseased with the gout not able to go but was caried by two men of whom the one quickly denied the other Cronion Cronion surnamed Eunus Eunus with Iulianus the olde man were laide vpon Camels and there scourged at length cast into the fire for the testimonie of Iesus When the aforesaide were going to martirdom there was a souldier A souldier tooke parte with them and so was presentlie apprehended beheaded Likewise was one Macer Macer a Lybian burned aliue for his confessing of Christ After these suffered Epymachus Epimachus and Alexander Alexander which hauing suffered bonds torments with rasors and scourges were burned with iiij other womē Likewise Ammonarion Ammonarion a holy virgin and an aged matrone named Mercuria Mercuria with another called Dyonisia Dionysia being a mother of many faire children after many tormēts were slaine by the sword Ammonarion suffered before the rest after Heron Heron. and Isidorus Isodorus Egyptians and with them Dioscorus Dioscorus of the age of xv yeres With whom the Iudge first began and could not preuaile either by perswasions or torments The rest after grieuous torments he caused to bée burned and respited Dioscorus for his tender age being astonied at his graue answeres and constancie Nemesian Nemesian also an Egyptian was first accused to be a cōpaniō of theues but being purged thereof before the Cēturion was thē accused of christianity Wherfore being more gréeuously scourged thā the other théeues he was burned with them There were standing before the Tribunall seat certaine warriors or knights whose names were Ammon Ammon Zenon Zenon Ptolomeus Ptolomeus Ingenius Ingenius and with them a certaine aged man called Theophilus Theophilus who séeing a certain Christian fainting and fearful to confesse his faith emboldned him by signes gaue him courage Which being noted the stāders by readie to lay hands on them they preased vp of their own accord professing themselues to be Christians Wherat the Iudge and his assistants were greatly amazed and the Christians emboldened to suffer So they departed glad for the testimonie they had geuen of their faith Also one Ischrion Ischrion being oftentimes moued by his master to do sacrifice and he refusing was of him run through with a pike and slaine In these times infinite numbers wādred in wildernesses suffering hunger colde danger of wilde beastes in the number of whom was Cheremon Cheremon Bishop of a towne called Nilus an aged man who with his wife flying to the mountain of Arabia could neuer
him martyred in the way of Appius first beyng beaten with plumbats Eusebius saith he sat two yéeres in another place he saith thrée yéeres Damasus giueth him onely two yéeres Vnder this tyrant suffered as Cyprian reporteth two yoong men the one Aurelius Aurelius who was twise tormented the other Mappalicus Mappalicus who in the middest of his torments sayd to the Proconsull to morrow you shall sée the running for a wager meaning his martyrdome which he constantly did suffer Decius death This Decius raigned but two yéeres and with his sonne was slaine of the Barbarians Pomponius affirming that he warring against the Gothians to auoid their hands ran into an whyrlepit where hée was drowned and his body neuer found Immediatly after the death of Decius God sent a plague tenne yéeres together A plague of ten yeeres which made diuerse places of the world desolate especially where the persecution most raged Where might appeare great difference betwéene the Christians and Gentils one comforting and ministring to the necessities of their brethren the other forsaking their neighbours and friends left them destitute Cyprian de mortalitate and voyd of succour Vpon this plague Cypr. wrote his book de mortalitate After the death of Decius succeded Vibias Vibias Gallus Gallus Volusian Volusianus his son both by treasō about the yéere 255. cōtinued 2. yéers Gallus at the first was quiet The teachers of Christianity banished but anon after published edicts against the Christians which was chiefly of banishmēt of the guides of the church In whose time Cyprian B. of Carthage was banished Other were condemned to the mynes as Nemesianus Nemesianus Felix Felix Lucius Lucius with their bish priests deacons to whom Cyprian wrote cōsolatory epistles He wrote also consolatory Epistles to Seagrius Seagrius Rogatianus Rogatianus being then in bonds for the trueth In the time of this Gallus was Lucius B. of Rome sent into banishment who next succéeded Cornelius in the yéere 256. wherin he continued but a while and returned to his Church Lucius sate but 8. moneths as saith Eusebius Damasus Marianus Scotus and Nauclerus say he sate 3. yéeres and was beheaded the second yéere of Valerian and Galienus After Lucius came Stephanus Stephanus sate 7. yéers 5. months died a martir as saith Damasus Platina Sabellicus Eusebius Volateranus giue him which is more likely but 2. yeres Betwixt this Stephanus and Cyprian fell a contention Contention about rebaptising of heretikes Next to the former Emperors succéeded Emilianus Emilianus who slue the former and succéeded himself After that he had reigned but thrée moneths he also was slaine Next Valerianus and Galienus Valerianus Galienus his sonne were aduaunced to the Empire and succéeded Emilianus Valerianus thrée or foure yéeres was so curteous and gentle to the Christians as no Emperour before him no not such as professed Christ so that his Court was full of Christians But being seduced by an Egyptian magician Valerianus seduced who was hindred by the Christians from practising his charms he fell to idols and sacrificed young infantes and raised the eight persecution The eight Persecution THe chief ministers of this persecution were Emilianus President of Egypt Paternus and Galerius maximus Proconsuls in Africa Paternus Vicegerent in Rome Perennius Nicetus and Claudius Presidents Disordered life of Christians The cause of this persecution besides the Egyptian aboue mentioned was the dissention and disordered life of Christians euen of those that had béen confessors as Cyprian in his fourth booke and fourth Epistle doeth declare to whom it was shewed in a vision of the Lord before it came There was a certaine aged man sitting A Vision at whose right hande sate a young man very sadde and pensiue as one with an indignation sorowfull holding his hande vppon his breast his countenance heauie and vnchéerefull On the left hand sate another person hauing in his hand a nette which hee threatned to lay to catche the people that stoode about and saide vnto him the young man whom thou séest sad sorowful is for that his precepts bee not obserued but he on the left hand daunceth and is merrie for that occasion is giuen him to haue power of the aged father to afflict men Cyprians Apologie for Christians Cyprian doth defend the Christians and confute the false accusations laid against them as among the rest to be the causes of all calamities that happened of warre or plague whatsoeuer writing contra Demetrium as Tertullian had before writing contra Capulam Cyprian was an African borne in Carthage and first was an idolater Cyprian once a Magician altogether giuen to the practise of magical artes and a worthie Rhetorician He was conuerted to the saith by Cecil a priest whose name after hee bare through occasion of hearing the history of the Prophet Ionas Cecilius conuerteth Cypr. And immediatly vpon his conuersion he distributed all his substance to the poore and being ordayned a Priest was not long after made Bishop of Carthage But whether hée succéeded Agrippinus Agrippinus which was the first author of rebaptization it is vncertaine Such were his giftes and vertues that he had the gouernment of the whole East Church and Church of Spaine and was called the Bishop of Christian men He was much geuen to reade Tertullian and called him his master In the time of Decius and Gallus he was first banished Cyprian banished and after returning againe out of exile in the time of Valerianus he was also the second time banished by Paternus the Proconsull of Africke into the Citie of Thurbin or into a Citie called Furabilitana or Curabilitana But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead Galienus Maximus succéeded him who finding Cyprian in a Garden caused him to be apprehended and after many raging words his head to be stricken of Xistus being then Bishop of Rome Cyprian beheaded in the yere 259. It is to be noted that there were more Cyprians Diuers Cyprians one of whom Nazianzen writeth to be a Citizen of Antioch and afterward Bishop of that Citie and martired vnder Dioclesian There was also a third Cyprian in the time of Iulianus Apostata long after both the former About this time vnder the same Valerianus suffered Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name Bishop of Rome who with vi of his Deacons Sixtus with six of his deacons Nemesius being one was beheaded At which time also one Laurence a Deacon séeing the Bishop led to execution cried out vnto him saying O deare father whither goest thou without the companie of thy deare sonne meaning himselfe To whom he answered with a fatherly discourse that within thrée dayes hee should suffer after a more painfull manner which in déede followed according as he had said for Laurence hauing distributed of the goods of the poore by the
Constantius contented only with the title satisfied himselfe with Fraunce Spaine and Britanie Wherefore Galerius chose to him his two sonnes Maximinus and Seuerus Likewise Constantius tooke Constantinus vnder him Constantinus In the meane time while Maximinus with his two Cesars were in Asia the Romā souldiers set vp for their Emperor Maxentius the sonne of Maximinian who had deposed himself against whom Seuerus being sent by his father was slaine of Maxentius in whose place Maximinus tooke Licinius and these Emperours prosecuted the persecution seuen or eight yéeres which was till the yéere 318. Sauing that Constantius and his son Constantinus rather fauoured the Christians Constantius trieth his court who were Christians and minding to trie at a certaine time what good Christians hée had in his court fayned as though hée would doo sacrifice to Diuels and commaunded all his houshold so to doo to the end he might discerne the one from the other which hauing doone and finding a number to remaine constant cherished them and refused the backsliders admitting the other to the chiefe places about him Maximinus in the East churches vsed great crueltie and had executioners of the same Pentius Quintianus Theotechnus besides other but his rage was stayed by the hand of God who sent him such a botch Gods iudgement vpon Maximinus that it putrified and eate his entrailes from whence swarmed an innumerable multitude of lyce wherevpon he caused persecution to cease and required the Christians to pray for him and published edicts of peace vnto them throughout all his Empyre Wherat one Maxentius was not pleased to haue such edicts published where he had to doo in Asia other prouinces But Sabinus who had among them the chief office wrote the Emperours pleasure to the substitutes of euery country whervpon grew a maruellous sudden alteration in the Church But scarse suffered Maximinus the tyrant the same six moneths vnuiolated but set out contrary edicts caused them to be engraued in brasse and hanged in euery citie So that persecution rose againe as great as before At Emysa in Phenicia they condemned thrée christians with whom Syluanus Syluanus the bishop a very old man being 40. yéeres in ecclesiasticall function was condemned to death In Nicomedia Lucianus the Elder of Antioch after he had giuen his Apologie to the Emperour was put to death In Amasia a citie of Cappadocia Bringes the lieftenant of Maximinus had the executing of that persecution At Alexandria Petrus Petrus a most worthy bishop was beheaded with many other Egyptian bishops Quirinus Quirinus the Bishop of Scescanius was throwne into the flood hauing an handmill hanged about his necke and drowned At Rome died Marcellus Marcellus and Timotheus Timotheus the elder with many other Bishops and priests and in many other places diuerse were martyred as Victorianus Symphorianus Castorius with his wife Castulus Cesarius Mennas Nobilis Dorotheus Gorgamus Petrus and other innumerable martyrs more Iuliana Cosmus Damanus Basilenus with 7. other Dorothea Theophilus Theodosia Vitalis Agricola Acha Philemon Hireneus Ianuarius Festus Desiderius Gregorius Spolitanus Agapes Chronia Hirenea Theodora 270. martyred and 270. other Florianus Primus and Felicianus Vitus and Modestus Crescentia Albinus Rogatianus Donatianus Pancratius Catharina Margareta Lucia the virgin and Antheus the king with 37000. martyrs Antheus a king with 37000. martyrs Simplicius Faustinus Beatrix Panthaleon Gregorius Iustus Leocandia Anthonia with an infinite number more Also Felix Victor with his parents Lucia the widdow 79. martyrs Germinianus with 79. others Sabinus Anastacia Chrisogonus Felix and Audactus Adrianus Nathalia Eugenia Agnes of thirtéene yeares old The kind of cruelties were straunge and the persecution more gréeuous vnder Maximinus the tyrant then vnder Maximinianus the Prince Now the Emperour in his edict had declared what plentie they enioyed what times their Idols were adored but immediatly vpon this renewing of persecution fell out most miserable famine and pestilence Famine and pestilence in the which the christians shewed their kindnes vnto the Gentils reléeuing to their power such as they thought to stand in néed Herevpon grew againe some peace Maximinian vnderstanding that the Pretorian souldiers had chosen his sonne Emperour at Rome intended to take vnto him againe his empire and perswaded Dioclesian so to do but was repulsed and prouided to fly to Constantinus in Frāce for aide but indéed purposed to kil him which was detected by Fausta the daughter of Maximinian whō Constantinus had married So that taking no place he retired in the way was apprehended and put to death Certaine companions of Maxentius solliciting a Christian Gentlewoman of Rome whose husband first they had killed to satisfie the filthie desire of the Emperour rather then she would so doe killed her selfe In the beginning of his reigne he fained himself a Christian to the end he might serue his wicked purpose but afterward shewed himself both towards them and in al other behauiour most abhominable giuing himselfe to magicke and pollution of his body with all kinde of cruelty against his owne citizens and nobles He banished a certain noblewoman of Rome because she gaue her goods to the Church The people of Rome being wearied with the villany of Maxentius The villany of Maxentius required ayd of Constantin who first admonished him by letters which nothing preuailing he gathered an armie in Fraunce and Britanny to represse the rage of the of the tyrant To whō he approched and fearing his charms wherewith hée had vanquished Seuerus sent by Galerius stoode in doubt and whilest he was in doubting and casting vp his eies manie times to heauen on the South part about the going downe of the sunne he saw a brightnesse in heauen appearing in the similitude of a crosse A vision of the crosse with certain starres of equall bignesse giuing this inscription like latine letters In hoc vince that is in this ouercome Eusebius Pamphilus made report that he heard Constantinus himselfe often report the same Now he being astonied hereat and consulting vpon the meaning thereof in the night in his sléepe Christ appeared vnto him with the signe of the same crosse which he had séene before bidding him to make the figuratiō thereof and to carrie it in his warres before him and so should he haue victorie Wherevpon he marched towards Maxentius hauing done as the vision commanded who being constrained to issue out of the citie to méete him commanded Pons Milonius to be beaten down a false bridge to be made thinking thereby to take Constantinus But hée himselfe being not able to sustaine Constantinus force Maxentius drowned The last persecution ended and retiring in hope to get the Citie was ouerthrowen of his horse into the flood and drowned and so ended the last Persecution The first attempt of Constantinus against Maxentius was Ann. 318. So that thrée hundred yeres was the ful time of the persecution from Christ Constantinus for this
him with patience Likewise suffered Menas an Egyptian souldier after that in like sort with Gordius hée had declared himselfe to be a Christian in the citie of Cotis where after diuerse torments by the commaundement of Pirrhus the President he suffered the losse of his head Basilius mentioneth of 40. martyrs 40 martyrs in a Sermon which were gentlemen yoong all that professed themselues christians and went boldly vnto the Marshall declared vnto him their names wherat he was first astonied not preuailing with flattering words faire promises deuised a new torment and caused them to stand all night in the winter in a great pond which was in the midst of the citie and lay full vpon the cold Northwind In the morning they were found starke and stiffe yet hauing breath were brought to the fire to be burned Now one of them more liuely then the rest was pitied of the tormentors who said to his mother standing by that they would saue him aliue but shée with her owne handes brought him to the pile of wood where the rest lay A notable mother admonishing him to accomplish the blessed iourney he had taken in hand The like story reporteth Nicephorus of fortie martyrs Fortie martyrs that were maried men which were killed in a ponde at Sebestia a towne of Armenia In this persecution suffered also Cyrus Cyrus a Physition borne in Alexandria who flying into Egipt in the persecution of Dioclesianus and Maximinianus led a solitary life in Arabia vnto him resorted one Ioannes Ioannes borne in the citie of Edessa beyond Euphrates leauing his souldiers life which before time he had exercised Now these twaine hearing of the inprisonment of Athanasia with her thrée daughters Theoctiste Theodota and Eudoxa at the persecution of Canope a citie in Egipt came to confirme them at which time Sirianus was the chiefe Captaine and Lieftenant of Egipt who was very cruell especially against women and maydens whereof they being accused and in no sort yéelding to doo sacrifice were put to death by the sword with Athanasia and her thrée daughters Athanasia and her three daughters Sebastian Sebastian beyng borne in that part of France which is called Gallia Narbonensis was Lieftenant generall of the vauward of Dioclesian the Emperour and encouraged many martyrs of Christ by his exhortations whereof beyng accused to the Emperour was commaunded to bée brought into the opē field where of his owne souldiers he was shot through with innumerable arrowes and after his body was throwne into a Iakes With him suffered others as Nicostratus with Zoe his wife Tranquillinus with Martia his wife Traglianus Claudius Castor Tiburtius Castullus Marcus and Marcellinus with other moe Barlan Barlan a noble man mentioned in a sermon of Basilius hauing abode all torments was laid vpon the altar where they vsed to offer vp sacrifice and fire and frankincense put into his right hand wherin he had yet some strength thinking he would haue scattered the incense vpon the altar and haue sacrificed but the flame eate round about his hand and the the same endured as though it had bin couered with hot embers he saying the Psalme Blessed is the Lord my God who teacheth my hands to fight c. Vnder Dioclesian Maximinian suffered Agricola Agricola and Vitalis his seruant Vitalis Vitalis died in extremity of torments Agricola was fastned to the crosse and so died But most lamentable was the martyrdome of Vincentius a Spaniard Vincentius lamentable martyrdome who suffered martirdom at Valence vnder Darianus the President of whom he was so racked that all the ioynts of his body cracked then was his body indented with many deadly wounds and thirdly his flesh was torne with yron combes sharply fyled and that the tormentors should be the more egar they were also scourged Tormentors scourged This done they laid his body vpon a grate of yron and hauing opened it with hookes they seared it with fiery plates sprinckling the same with hotte salt And last of all they drew him into a dungeon sprinckled with sharpshelles and locked his feet in the stockes At Alexandria Philoromus hauing great possessions forsooke all for Christ and was beaded and could not be moued with respect of friends wife or children Also Procopius Procopius in Palestine after his conuersion brake his siluer images and gaue them to the poore and after most grieuous torments had his head smitten off hauing first his body dismembred both of hands and feete In like manner suffered Gregorius a young man of Cappadocia besides a number of others as Sergius and Bacchius c. Panthaleon Panthaleon a Phisition in Nicomedia Theodorus in the citie of Amasia in Hellespontus Gerion with 318. fellow martirs 318. martyrs which suffered about Colon. Hermogenes President of Athens being conuerted by the constancie and patience of one Menas and Eugraphus Item Samonas Gurias and Abilus Hieron also with certaine his confessors vnder Maximinus Indes and Dominas at Nicomedia with 2000. martyrs 2000. martirs Enelasius and Maximinius whom Fausta the virgin conuerted in her torments Also Thirsus Lucius Callinicus Apollonius Philemon Asilas Leonides with Arrianus president of Thebaide Cyprian Bishop of Antioch before his profession being a filthy magician suffred with Iustina a virgin Item Glicerius at Nicomedia Felix a minister Fortunatus Achilleus deacons in the citie of Valent Arthemius of Rome Ciriacus deacon to Marcellus the Bishop Caryophorus Priest at Thuscia with Abundus his deacon Item Claudius Cyrinus Antonius which suffered with the Bishop Marcellinus Cucusatus in the citie Barcimona Felix Bishop of Apulia with Audactus and Ianuarius his priests Fortunatus and Septimus his readers who suffered in the citie Venusia vnder Dioclesian Cassianus Cassianus was stabbed in of his schollers with bodkins or yron pennes wherewith they did vse to write Now the constancie of the womē Constancy of women was also marueilous especially of a virgin named Eulalia Eulalia of the towne of Emerita in Portugal who beeing shut vp of her Christian Parents that for desire of martirdome feared least shée should be cause of her own death brake out in the night came before the Gouernor of the town of Emerita being distant frō the village where she was kept confessed her selfe to be a Christiā reproued the cruelty of the iudge the vanity of Maximinius the worshipped Idols throwed the idols down which shée was brought to worship scattered the incense Wherfore after many vain perswasiōs she had one ioynt of her body pulled from an other and her flesh and sides scratched with talents of wilde beastes to the bones shée in the meane time reioysing and praysing God They seared her brests with torches which when they had caught her hayre which hanged downe to her féete couered her shame shée swallowed the flame opening her mouth and so died Like was the constancy of Agnes of Rome of
be set on fire that he broke open houses that he dranke to the Diuell that hée neuer crossed himselfe c. For the which causes he was deposed by the consent of the Emperour and the Prelates and Pope Leo placed in his roome But after thorough the harlots of Rome Pope restored by harlots and their great promises hée was restored againe and Leo put out At length about the tenth yéere of this Pope he being found without the citie with another mans wife was so wounded of her husband that within eight dayes after he died Pope killed in adultery After him the Romans elected Pope Benedictus the fift without the consent of the emperor whervppon Otho besieged Rome and set vp Pope Leo againe the eight of that name Which Leo to gratifie him again crowned Otho for Emperor and entituled him Augustus also the power which Carolus magnus gaue to the Cleargy and people of Rome touching the election of the B. of Rome this Leo by a synodall decrée gaue to the Emperour and his successors The election of the Pope giuen to the Emperour by the Pope The Emperour againe restored to the Sea of Rome al such possessions which Carolus magnus tooke from the Lombards and gaue to them After Pope Leo had raigned a yéere and thrée moneths succéeded Pope Iohn the 14. Against whom for holding with the Emperor Petrus the head captain of the citie with two Consuls and twelue Aldermen diuers other nobles gathering their power together laid handes vppon him in the Church of Laterane and clapt the pope in prison eleuen moneths The Pope put in prison Whereof the Emperour hearing sped him to Rome and did execution vpon the offenders and committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement The cruell reuenge of the Pope whom he caused first to be stript naked then his beard being shauen to be hanged by the haire a whole day together after that to be set vpon an Asse his face turned backward and his handes bounde vnder the Asses tayle to be led through the Citie that done to be scourged with roddes and so banished the citie And thus the holy father loued his enemy according to the rule of the Gospel From this Pope procéeded first the christening of bels The christning of belles 971. After him followed Pope Benedictus the 6 who was in like maner apprehended by Cinthius a captain of Rome and cast in prison where he was strangled The Pope strangled or as some say famished for lacke of meat Then came Pope Donus the 2 after whom Bonifacius the 7. was pope who was constrained to hide himselfe for feare of the Citizens conspiracie séeing no place for his safety tooke the treasure of Saint Peters Church so priuily stole to Constantinople in whose stéed the people set vp Pope Iohn the fiftéenth Not long after Boniface returning againe from Constantinople by his money procured a garrison to take his part by whose meanes Pope Iohn was taken his eies put out and so throwen in prison The popes eies put out he famished in prisō where he was as some say famished some say he was slaine by Feruchus Neither did Boniface liue many daies after but sodainly died whose carkas after his death was drawne by the féete through the stréetes of Rome The dead body of the Pope drawn through the streets the people shriking and exclaiming against him An. 276. Next Pope after him was Benedictus the seuenth by the consent of the Emperour Otho the second and raigned 19. yéeres In the time of this Pope Hugh Cappet the French king tooke Charles the right heire to the crowne by treason of the Bishop of Laon and when he had imprisoned him hée also imprisoned Arnoldus Archbishoppe of Rames and placed in his roome Gilbertus a Necromancer who was Schoolemaister to D. Robert the kings sonne but Pope Benedictus calling a councel at Rhemes restored Arnoldus againe and displaced Gilbertus After Benedictus succéeded in the sea of Rome Pope Iohn the 16. and died the 8. moneth of his papacie next to whom came Iohn the seuentéenth and after him Gregory the fift ann 995. This Gregory called before Bruno was a Germaine borne and therefore more maliced the Cleargie and people of Rome Whervpon Crescentius with the people and cleargy agréeing against the same Gregory set vp pope Iohn the 18. wherevpon Gregory went to Otho the third who vpon his complaint came to Rome tooke in the city of Rome both Crescentius the consul Iohn the pope Which Iohn hauing his eies put out The popes eies put out was after depriued of his life Crescentius the Consul was set vppon a wilde horse hauing his nose and eares cut of Crueltie and so was ledde through the Cittie his face turned to the horse tayle and after hauing his Members cutte off was hanged vpon a Gibbet Pope Gregorie being thus restored to his former state raigned foure yeres in his Papacie although some say but two yeares During which time he assembled a Councell at Rome A Councell at Rome wherein to establish the Empire in his owne coūtrey by the consent and councell of Otho he ordeyned seuen Princes of Germanie to be Electors of the Emperor The seuen Electors of the Empire thrée Bishoppes and thrée Princes the Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marques Brandenbourge vnto whome was added the king of Boheme to geue a casting voice if néede so required The Bishoppes were of Magunce of Treuers and of Colone This constitution being first begun in the yere of our Lord nine hundred ninetie seuen was afterward established in Germanie by Otho the Emperor an 1002. Now concerning king Egelred or Elred the sonne of Alfrith He raigned 38. yeres Our English Cronicles report his raigne to be vngracious in the beginning A strāge reign of a king wretched in the middle and hatefull in the end There fell a variance betwixt this king and the Bishop of Rochester so that he made warre against him besieged the Citie till the Bishop offered him an C.l. of golde which he receiued and so departed The Danes in the time of this king did much molest the Lande in so much that the King was gladde to graunt vnto them great summes of money for peace Peace bought for money of the Danes For the assurance of which peace Analeffe the Captaine of the Danes became a Christian and so departed the Countrey About the xi or as some say the ix yere of this kings reign died Dunstan after whome succeeded Ethelgarus or as Iornalensis saith Stilgarus After him Elfricus as sayeth Guilielmus lib. 1. de Pontif. But as Polidorus saith Sirifius After him Elfricus came but after the minde of Williā lib. 1. Siricius But Polidorus saith Aluritius then Elphegus c. About the same time Anno 995. Aldwinus Bishoppe translated the bodie of Saint Cutbert from Chester which first was in a Northerne Iland then
hand and it fell from his bodie but he continuyng in prayer without moouing On Wednesday the xxj of Aprill the yéere 1529. Iohn Tewksburie who was conuerted by reading of Tindals testament the wicked Mammon he had also the bible written was brought into the cōsistorie at London before Cutbert bishop of London and his assistants Henry bishop of S. Asse Iohn abbot of Westminster was examined of diuerse errors as they called them in the booke of the wicked Mammon The booke of the wicked Mammon Which Iohn Teuksbury iustified for truth thrée sessions he appéered manfully stood to the truth being examined of articles touching Antechrist iustificatiō by works saints almes other mens praiers for vs c. The examination of which articles being doone the B. of London did exhort him againe to recant and appointed him to determine with himselfe against the next session in whiche session he submitted himselfe and abiured Iohn Teuksbury recanteth and was appointed penāce the eight of Maie Anno 1529. Two yéeres after hauing receiued more grace and strength at Gods hands moued by the example of Bayfield that had before done the like he returned to the cōstant professiō of the truth Iohn Teuksbury repenteth being apprehended was brought before sir T. Moore and the B. of London where certaine articles were obiected against him touching faith kéeping of forbidden bookes purgatorie sacraments of the altar c. confessing his articles the bishop pronounced sentence and deliuered him to the Shiriffes of London Richard Gresham and Edward Altam Teuksbury burnt who burned him in Smithfield vpon S. Thomas euen the xx of December This yéere Edward Frese Edward Frese first apprentice to a painter in the city of York who for his pregnancie of wit his yers were redéemed by the Abbot of Bersie Abbey and became a nouice but after long space not liking that trade he ran away and came to Colchester in Essex where he followed his vocation married a wife and liued honestly After he had béen there a good time he was hyred to paint certaine clothes for the new Inne which is in the middle of the market place in the border of which cloathes he wrote certaine sentences of scripture for which he was apprehēded in the same Inne and brought to Fulham to the B. house where he was cruelly imprisoned with one Iohnson and his wife of Colchester Wyly with his wife and sonne Bread made of sawdust and father Bate of Rowshedge they were fed with manchet made with the greater part of sawdust and were so straightly kept that their wiues and friends might not come at them After the painter had béen there a long space by much suit he was remoued to Lollards towre his wife in the meane time of his suit whiles he was yet at Fulham béeing desirous to sée her husband pressing to come in at the gate then big with child the porter lift vp his foote Crueltie and stroke her on the belly that at length she died of the same but the childe was destroyed immediatly After that they were al stocked for a long time afterward they were let loose in their prisons agayn This paynter because he wold alwaies be writing on the walles with chalk to their discontentment was manacled by the wrists til the flesh of his armes was grown higher thē his yrons wherby he could not keame his head that his haire was folded together After the death of his wife by suit of his brethrē to the king he was brought out into the consistorie of Paules and as his brethren reported they kept him iij. daies without meate before he came to his answere so that with imprisonment and hunger the man grew out of his wittes which when they had procured by crueltie they sent him againe to Bersie Abbie but he would not tarrie among them and so continued out of his wits till his dying day His brother Valentine Freese and his wife Valentine Freese and his wife gaue their liues at one stake in Yorke for the testimonie of the truth Father Bate gate out of the pryson in a darke night and was caught no more but died shortly after In this yéere Frier Roice Frier Roice was burned in Portingall for the truth In the beginning of this yéere the Bishops who had burned Tindals testaments The Bishops commaunded to make a trāslation of the Bible were inioyned by the King to cause a new Translation to be made notwithstanding which commaundement they did nothing at all But contrary in the moneth of Maie the Bishoppe of London caused all the translations of Tindall and many other Bookes whiche hée had bought to bée burned in Paules Churchyarde Iames Baynam Iames Baynā who married the wife of Simon Fish a Gentleman of the middle Temple was accused to sir Thomas Moore lord Chancellour and arested of a sergeant at armes and carried to the Chancellours house at Chelsey where he continued in frée prison vntill sir Thomas Moore perceyued he could doo no good of him Then he put him in prison in his owne house and whipped him at a trée in his garden called the trée of Truth and after sent him to the Tower to bée racked and so he was Sir Thomas beyng present himselfe till in a manner he had lamed him because he would not accuse the Gentlemen of the Temple of his acquaintaunce nor shew where his bookes laie And because his wife denied them to be in his house she was sent to the Fléete their goods confiscate After they had thus practised against him by torments then was be brought before I. Stokesley B. of London the xv of December An. 1531. in the towne of Chelsey there examined touching purgatorie Intercession of Saints Confession vowes concerning Luthers marriage the Sacrament of anneyling of Baptisme whether matrimonie were a Sacrament for his bookes of Scripture and what he iudged of Tindall c. to which articles he subscribed according to the truth The next day following he appeared in the same place as before Iames Baynam submitteth after much persuasion he submitted himself the B. notwithstanding committed him to one of the Counters for further triall And the yéere 1532. In the moneth of Februarie he was called for againe and although he was yet abiured not yet séemed he to satisfie the Chancellor so he was for that present returned to his prison againe and the viij day of February appeared as before and made a full abiuration and subscribed it Which doone the Chancellour put him to his fine to pay twentie pound to the king and inioyned him penance to go before the Crosse in Procession at Paules and to stand before the Preacher at Paules crosse during the Sermon with a fagot on his shoulder and so to returne with the Summer againe to prison there to abide the Bishops determination Iames Baynā repenteth And so the 17. of Februarie he was dismissed
home where he had scarce abode a moneth but he bewayled his fact and was neuer quiet in conscience til he had asked God and the world forgeuenesse before the congregation in those dayes in a warehouse in Bowe lane And immediatly the next Sunday after he came to S. Austines with the new Testament in his hand in English and the obedience of a Christian man in his bosome and stoode vp there before the people in his pewe and there declared which wéeping teares that he had denied God and prayed the people to forgeue and to beware of his weakenes Besides hée wrote certaine letters to the Bishop to his brother and to others so that shortly after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London and after thrée appearanrances the 19. of April the 20. and the 26. of the same moneth before Master Iohn Foxforde Vicar generall of the Bishoppe of London in the presence of Mathew Grifton Register Nicholas Wilson and William Phillips c hée was condemned to be burned and so was hée deliuered to sir R. Gresham shiriffe then being present who caused him by his officers to be carried to Newgate Iames Baynā burned was burned in Smithfield the last day of Aprill at iij. of the clocke in the afternoone After he had indured great torments stockes and irons in prison before as he was in the middest of the flaming fire and his armes and legges halfe consumed therewith The courage of a worthy martyr he spake these wordes Oh ye papists behold ye looke for myracles here now may yée sée a myracle for in this fire I féele no more paine then if I were in a bed of downe but it is as swéete to mée as a bedde of roses About this present time or not long before Iohn Benet Iohn Benet a tailor dwelling in a village called Vrchuant was burned in the towne of Deuies within the Countie of Wiltshire for the denying of the Sacrament of the Altar And much about the same time was one Traxnell burned in a towne called Brodford within the same County The same yéere 1532. Robert King Nicholas Marsh and Robert Garner men of Dedham Robert Debnam of Estbergholt had ouerthrowne and burned the roode of Douercourt The Idoll of Douercourt ten miles of Dedhā of which Idoll a brute was blowne that no man had power to shut the doore where hée stood wherefore the doore was alwaies kept open for which fact halfe a yéere after they were hanged in chaines Kinge in Dedham at Burchet Debnam at Cattawaie Cawsie Marshe at Douercourt Gardiner escaped and fledde The same yéere and yéere before many Images were caste downe and destroyed in many places Many images cast downe as the Crucifixe by Cogshall in the highwaie Saint Petronell in the Church of great Horksleigh S. Christopher by Sudbury S. Petronell in a Chappell by Ipswich also Iohn Seward of Dedham ouerthrew a crosse in Stoke parke and tooke two Images out of a chappell in the same parke and cast them into the water An. 1533. Iohn Frith was first a student in Cambridge and after one of those whome Cardinall Wolsey gathered together of the choise learned men to furnish his Colledge which he gaue the name of Saint Frideswide nowe called Christes Colledge He that yere the xx day of Iune Christes Colledge in Oxford was condemned by the Bishop of London to be burned and the sentence read he was deliuered to Sir Steeuen Peacock Mayor of London and the Sheriffes of the same Citie and the fourth day of Iulie was burned in Smithfield who at the stake chearefully embraced the Fagottes and fire which was put vnto him and seemed to reioyce for his fellowe that was burned with him Iohn Frith burned rather than to bee carefull for himselfe though by reason the winde bare awaye the flame from him hee was somewhat long in burning After the death of certaine whom the Cardinall had before imprisoned in the caue of his Colledge where Saltfish was vsed to be layde Frith with other were dismissed vppon condition not to passe aboue tenne miles out of Oxforde But Frith after the hearing of the examination of Dalaber and Garret which bare the fagottes went ouer Sea and after two yeres came againe for exhibition of the Prior of Reading as is thought and had the Prior ouer with him Being at Reading he was there taken for a vagabonde and was set in the stockes and through the meanes of one Leonarde Coxe Scholemaster of the Towne who woondered at his excellent learning was againe set at libertie but his safetie continued not long Sir Thomas Moore Sir T. Moore pursueth Frith then Lorde Chauncellour did so deadly pursue him both by Lande and Sea And at last being traiterouslie taken he was sent to the Tower of London Where he had many conflictes with the Bishops but especially in writing with Sir T. Moore The occasion wherof was a Treatise which he made and communicated it with W. Holte a Taylor of Londō that caried it to Moore the chācellor who endeuoured to confute it The pointes of Frithes treatise Frithes treatise were First that the controuersie of the Sacrament is no necessarie Article of fayth vnder paine of damnation 2. That Christ is not in two places at once 3. that Christes woordes in the institution of the Sacrament are to bee vnderstoode according to the phrase of speech comparing phrase with phrase according to the analogie of Scripture 4. That the order and institution of Christ is to be reteined although the order of the priestes doe neuer so much differ from it The copie of which answere Frith got by meanes of friends and answered A treatise of these poyntes Frith did write and it was carried by Holt vnto Moore which hee answered him againe out of prison omitting nothing belonging to the perfect handling of the matter Hée wrote also a Treatise of Purgatorie in which quarrell hee withstood the violence of the moste obstinate enemies Rochester Moore and Rastall and conuerted Rastall to his part who was Moores sonne in lawe After he had sufficiently contended in writing with those men he was at last carried to Lambith first before the Bishop of Canterburie and after vnto Croydon before Winchester and last of all before a common assembly of Byshoppes at London where continuing constant in his righteous cause was condemned With Frith Frith condemned was Andrewe Hewet Andrew Hewet burned hee was borne at Feuersham in the Countie of Kent of the age of foure and twentie yeeres and was apprentice with one Maister Warren Taylor in Watlingstréet he was betraied by the false Iudas William Holt and cast into prison in the Bishoppes house from whence hauing fyled off his yrons hée escaped but was bewrayed againe by one Withers a false hypocrite as Holt was and with him were taken Iohn Tibauld who was banished from his owne house by an iniunction and had béene foure times in prison for
put downe in England In this Parlament also the decrées and prouinciall constitutions were committed to be examined of 32. persons chosen by the king out of the higher and lower house and at their discretions to be abrogated or to stande in strength Also it was decréed that the Cleargie of this Realme submitting themselues to the king should and did promise in verbo Sacerdotij neuer to assemble their Conuocations without the kings writte No Conuocations without the kings writ nor to enact or to execute such constitutions without his Royall assent Moreouer that no person should appeale prouoke or sue to the Court of Rome vnder paine of prouisures prouisure or premunire Item that no Annuales and first fruites of Bishops and Archbishops should be paid to Rome for any Bulles Bréeues Palles c. Item that the king should nominate the person to be elected into any Ecclesiasticall dignitie and so the Prior and Couent Deanrie Chapter of those Cathedrall Churches where the Seate was vacant by the vertue of the kings letters missiues shoulde within 12. dayes choose that person nominated by the king c. Moreouer it was decréed against all intollerable exactions of the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peterpence procurations fruites c. And finally in this Parlament it was consulted concerning the lawfull succession of the Crowne in ratifying it to the heires of the kings body and Q. Anne In which Parlament also the degrées of marriage were plainly set out according to the word of God Not long after the king required an oath of the Spiritualty to be made vnto him abolished that which they were woont to make to the Pope In which only they acknowledged the king to be Supreme head Which oath Sir Thomas Moore misliking was enforced to resigne vp his Chauncellorship The oath of the Cleargie to the Pope abolished Moore resignth the Chauncellourship and to deliuer vp the great Seale of England into the K. hands After whom succéeded Sir Th. Awdley knight who fauourably inclined to the doctrine of the Gospell Not long after the king procéeded to marrie the Ladie Anne Bulleine who was a speciall fauourer of the gospell The K. renoūceth the Pope and so was diuorced both from the Lady Dowager and the Pope together The Princesse Dowager after the diuorce procured from the Pope an interdictment of the king and the whole Realme Anno 1533. 1533. Lady Elizabeth borne Quéene Anne was crowned and not long after her coronation the 7 of September she was brought a bed and deliuered of a faire Ladie named at the Font Elizabeth the Archbishop of Caunterburie being Godfather and the olde Dutches of Norfolke and the olde Marchionesse of Dorcet widowes Godmothers After this the Monkes and Friers and other euill disposed persons feigned that God had reueyled to a Nunne Elizabeth Barton whom they called the holy maid of Kent The holy maid of Kent that if the king procéeded in that diuorce he should not be K. of this Realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one day nor houre This dissimulation was found out by the diligence of the Archbishoppe of Caunterburie the Lord Cromwell and Master Hugh Latimer and she condemned and put to death with certaine of her counsell in the moneth of Aprill anno 1533. as Henrie Golde Bacheler of diuinitie Richard Master Parson of Aldington Edwarde Bocking Monke of Caunterburie Iohn Dearing Monke of Caunterburie Hugh Ritch Frier Warden of the Graye friers of Caunterburie Richarde Risbie attaint of treason by acte of Parlament and so put to death Others of the same conspiracie as Fisher bishop of Rochester Thomas Golde Thomas Laurence Edward Thwates Iohn Adeson and Thomas Abell being conuicte and attainted of mesprision were condemned to prison and forfeyted their goods and possessions to the king This yere 1533. one Pauier or Pauie Towneclarke of the Citie of London a notorious enemy of Gods trueth and a verie busie fellow about the burning of Rich. Bayneham hanged himselfe Gods iudgement he saide rather than he woulde sée the scripture in English to be read of the people he would cutte his owne throate but hee made his choise rather of an halter About this time also died Doctor Foxforde Chauncellour to the B. of London a common butcher of Gods saints who was the condemner of all those which were put to death troubled or abiured vnder Stokesley throughout all the Dioces of London He died sitting in his chaire sodainlie his belly being burst his guttes falling out before him About the same time also died Wil. Warham Archbishop of Canterburie whom succeeded Th. Cranmer Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie This yere at Dunkirke in Flaunders a writte of Excommunication was set vp against the king for the diuorce which beeing knowen vnto the king hee caused to be discharged a great sort of the princesse Dowagers seruaunts and they that remained still were sworne to serue her as a Princesse onely and not as Quéene and because she refused to be serued of such she remained with a very few liuing after this sort the space of two yéeres An. 1534. Vpon the iij. of February the parliament was assembled againe wherein was made an act of succession whereto euery person should be sworne Preaching against the popes supremacie During this parlament time euery Sunday preached at Paules crosse a bishop which declared the pope not to be head of the Church Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Nicholas Wilson parson of S. Thomas Apostles in London refused the oath to the Act of succession made then wherfore they were sent to the Tower In the end the Doctor was content to dissemble the matter and so escaped but the other two remained obstinate The third of Nouember this parliament was again assembled in which the Pope and Cardinals with his pardons and indulgences were wholly abolished The Popes pardons wholly abolished to the abolishing whereof and to the ratifying of the kings title of supreme head Stephen Gardiner gaue his othe so did Iohn Stokesley B. of London likewise Edward Lee Archbishop of Yorke Cuthbert B. of Duresme and all the rest of the Bishops in like sort to this title agréed also the sentence of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Also Ed. Bonner then Archdeacon of Leicester Gardiners booke de obedientia with Bonners notes was of the same iudgemēt and prefixed his preface to Steuen Winchesters booke de obedientia of the same argument To this also agreed the whole Cleargie of the Church of England and subscribed with the handes of the Bishoppes and other learned men to the number of 46. doctors of diuinitie and of both lawes Anno 1535. Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore were executed for refusing the oath of supremacie which all the other Bishoppes and Cleargie yéelded vnto one was executed the xxij of Iune the other the vj. of Iulie The ruine of Religious houses
together The xxj of Nouember being Wednesday Cardinall Poole landeth Cardinall Poole landed at Douer and the xxviij day he made an Oration in the Parlement house exhorting them to returne to the Sea Apostolicke and to abrogate such lawes as had disioyned them from the same The next day after the Lordes and Commons exhibited a Supplication wherein they desired pardon and absolution for that which had passed against the Apostolik Sea Vpon this Supplication Cardinall Poole in the name of Pope Iulius the third geueth them absolution Absolution geuen to the Lords and Commūs Wherof the king and the Cardinall sent spéedie report to Rome to the great ioy of the Pope and his c. About the second of December a Poste was sent from the whole Parlement to the Pope to desire him to confirme the sale of Abbey landes Purchases of Abbey lands to be confirmed by the Pope and Chaunterie landes For the Lordes and the Parlement would not graunt any thing in the Popes behalfe before their Purchases were fully confirmed The vj. day of December all the whole Conuocation with Bishops and other were sent for to Lambeth to the Cardinall who the same day forgaue them all their periurations schismes heresies and all they knéeled downe and receiued his absolution Vpon New yeres day at night certaine honest men and women of the Citie to the number of thirtie and a minister with them named Master Rose were taken as they were in a house in Bowchurchyarde at the Communion and the same night were committed to prison and on the Thursday following being the thirde of Ianuarie M. Rose M. Rose sent to the Tower was before the Bishoppe of Winchester being Lord Chauncellor and thence the same day he was by him committed to the Tower The Act of the Popes Supremacie Queen Marie with childe The same day the Act of Supremacie passed in the Parlement house About this time there was a certaine opinion that the Quéen was great with childe many prayers were made in diuers places for her and for the childe that it might be a male childe wel fauoured and wittie And the xix of Ianuarie the lower House of the Parlement with the Speaker came to White hall to the king and there offered vnto him the gouernement of the Realme and of the issue if the in the Quéene should faile which was confirmed by act of Parlement within ix daies after In this Parlement among other thinges the Bishop of Rome was established and all such Lawes as were made against him since the twentith yéere of King Henry the viij were repealed and also Cardinall Poole Bishop Pates Lilly and other were restored to their blood Also in this Parlement thrée statutes were reuiued for triall of Heresie One made in the fifth yéere of Richard the second and another in the second yéere of Henry the fourth the thirde in the second yéere of Henry the fifth Also the doings of Maister Rose and the other that were with him was communed of in this Parlement and vpon that occasion an act was made that certaine euill prayers should bée treason The prayers of these men were these Certaine euill praiers to be treason God turne the heart of Quéene Mary from Idolatrie or else shorten her dayes The two and twentith of Ianuary all the preachers that were in pryson were called before the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor and certaine other at his house in S. Mary Oueries from whence after they had refused to conforme themselues they were committed to straighter pryson then before with charge that no man should speake with them amongst whom one Iames George died in prison Iames George and was buried in the field The eight and twentith of Ianuary the bishop of Winchester by vertue of Commission from the Cardinall in S. Mary Oueries church called before him and certaine of the Counsell Maister Hooper Maister Rogers and Maister Cardmaker of which Cardmaker Cardmaker submitteth that day submitted himselfe the other were returned to pryson till the next day The xxx of Ianuarie Doctor Taylor Doctor Crome M. Bradford M. Saunders and Doctor Farrar sometime bishop of S. Dauies were before Winchester of which number Taylor Saunders and Bradford were excommunicated and sentence pronounced against them Sentence pronounced against Taylor Saunders and Bradford and so committed to the Shiriffes Doctor Crome according to his desire had two moneths respite and M. Farrar was againe committed to prison till another time After examination and condemnation of these good men Commissioners and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all partes of the Realme to the afflicting of a great number of godly persones especially in Kent Essex Northfolke and Suffolke The preachers before had put vp a supplication to the king and parlement requiring indifferencie in their cause but all in vaine The end of the tenth Booke The eleuenth Booke THe fourth day of February suffered maister Iohn Rogers M. Iohn Rogers martyr he was of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge from whence at length hee was chosen to bee Chaplaine to the marchantes at Antwerpe in Brabant where hée fell in companie with maister William Tindall and with Miles Couerdale by conference with whom he came to great knowledge in the Gospel and cast off poperie and ioyned himself with them as in the translating of the Bible intituled the translation of Thomas Mathew After he was married hée went to Wittenberge in Saxonie where he so profited in knowledge and in the Duitch tongue that the charge of a Congregation was committed vnto him In which ministerie he faithfully serued till the time of king Edwarde And béeyng orderly called he returned into Englande againe without certayntie of any condition of liuing where he preached diligently Then Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London gaue him a Prebend in Paules M. Rogers diuinity reader in Paules Church and the Deane and Chapter therechose him to reade the diuinity Lecture In which place hée remayned till the time of Quéene Marie After the Quéen was come to the Tower of London he being orderly called therevnto made a vehement sermon at Paules crosse confirming the doctrine taught in king Edwardes time and exhorting the people to constancie For which he was called into question and made such answere as for that time he was cléerly dismissed But after the proclamation which prohibited true preaching the Counsell quarrelled with him concerning his doctrine and commanded him as prisoner to keepe his owne house where he remained a long time and might haue escaped if hee would At length by Boners procurement hée was put among the théeues and murtherers in Newgate for a great space He was first examined the 22. of Ianuary by Winchester Rogers condemned with the rest of the cōmissioners Then again the 28. 29. of the same moneth in the end they read the sentence of condemnation against him mentioning there but 2. articles First that he affirmed the church of Rome
thousand besides a great number Vespasian slue in subduing Galile seuentéene thousands mo that were sold for slaues Stephen Stephen the Deacon was the first martyr put to death at Ierusalem and stoned by the Iewes After Stephen suffered Iames Iames. the brother of Iohn whom Herod Herod slew with the sword and with him the partie that was cause of his persecution who beyng moued in conscience as Iames went to execution confessed himselfe to be a Christian also and were both beheaded together The same day that Stephen suffered Nicanor Nicanor one of the 7. deacons with 2000. 2000. other christians suffered for the faith Simon Simon one of the deacons and afterward bishop of Bosrum in Arabia was there burned and Parmenas Parmenas also an other of the Deacons suffered for the faith Thomas Thomas who preached to the Parthians Medes Persians Germans Heraconies Bactries and Magies suffered in Calamina a citie in Iudea beyng slaine with a dart Simon Zelotes Simon Zelotes who preached in Mauritania and in the countrie of Aphrike and in Britaine was crucified Iudas Iudas brother of Iames called Thaddeus and Lebeus who preached to the Edissens and to al Mesopotamia was slaine vnder Augarus Augarus king of the Edissens in Berito Simon Simon brother to Iude and Iames the yoonger which were sonnes of Mary Cleopha and of Alpheus called Cananeus bishop of Ierusalem after Iames as Dorotheus recordeth was crucified in a citie of Egipt in the time of Traianus Traianus Emperour but as Abdias writeth he was slaine with his brother Iude by a tumult of the people of Suanir a citie of Persidis Marke the Euangelist first B. of Alexandria preached the Gospel in Egypt and there being drawn with ropes to the fire was burned and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus vnder the reigne of Traianus the Emperor Bartholomeus Bartholomeus is said to haue preached to the Indians and to haue conuerted the Gospel of S. Mathew into their tongue where he continued a great space doing many miracles At last in Albania a citie of great Armenia after diuers persecutions he was beaten downe with staues then crucified and after being excoriate hee was at length beheaded Iohan. de monte regali Andrew Andrew the Apostle and brother of Peter was crucified at Patris a citie in Achaia by the Gouernour Egeas Egeas embracing the crosse and ioying therein the day before the Kalends of December Matthew Matthew otherwise called Leui first a publicane then an Apostle after that he had conuerted to the faith Ethiopia and all Egypt Hircanus Hircanus their king sent one to runne him through with a speare Iohan. de monte regali Matthias Matthias also after that he had preached to the Iewes was stoned and beheaded by them Philip the Apostle Philip and his daughters after he had much laboured among the barbarous nations was crucified and stoned to death in Hierapolis a citie of Phrygia where he was buried and his daughters with him Isodor Iames Iames. being required of the Iewes to disswade the people from the faith of Christ Other and that he should stand speak from the battlements of the temple that he might more conueniently be heard The Iewes he contrary to their expectation preaching Christ was throwne downe from the battlementes headlong and stoned and one being present tooke a Fullers instrument wherewith they beate cloth and smote him on the head whereof he died and was buried in that place At which time also other were put to death among the Iewes for the testimony of Christ The first Persecution THe first was stirred vp by Nero Domitius Nero Domit. the 6. Emperour about the yere 67. Whose cruelty was such against Christians that he had neither regarde of sexe condition of life or age so that open stréetes were spread with the dead carkases of Christians He caused persecution throughout al the prouinces of the Romaine empire and endeuoured vtterly to abolish the name of Christians In that persecution Peter Peter was crucified his head downward himselfe requiring it should be so as vnworthy to be in all manner executed like Christ Iesus The cause was thought to be the reuenge of the death of Simon Magus Simon Magus who pretending to the people of Rome to flée from the mount Capitolinus vp into heauē by the praier of Peter was brought headlong downe wherwith his legges ioynts being broken he died At that time also Peters wife Peters wife suffered béeing much encouraged by the words of her husband Peter whiles he hanged vpon the crosse Vnder the same Nero Paul Paul was beheaded in the 14. yéere of Nero the same day that Peter was crucified and was buried in the way of Ostia But others as Prudentius in his Peristephano writeth that they were put to death in one day but Paule a yeere after Peter The second Persecution THe Church hauing had some rest vnder Vespasian Domitian Domitian brother to Titus moued not long after the 2. persecution He put to death al the nephews of Iuda Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brother and caused to be sought out and slain al that could be found of the stock of Dauid as Vespasian also did before him least yet he were to come of the stocke of Dauid that should enioy the kingdome In the time of this tirant Simeon Simeon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified to death whom Iustus Iustus afterward succéeded in that bishoprick This Tyrant exiled Iohn Iohn the Apostle and Euāgelist into Pathmos an 97. And vnder Pertinax he was released and came to Ephesus anno 100. where he continued vntill the time of Traianus and there gouerned the Church in Asia where also he wrote his gospel And so liued til the yere 68. which was the yere of his age 99. Euseb Flauia Flauia daughter to Flauius Clemens one of the Roman Consuls suffered for the name of the Lord Iesus and was with many other banished out of Rome into the I le Pontia Euseb lib. 3 A remnant of the flock of Dauid as yet remayned who being brought to Domitian to be slaine and hee percyuing them to be poore and vnderstanding from them that the kingdome of Christ should not be a worldly but an heauenuenlie kingdome let them goe and staied the persecution They being dismissed had afterwarde the gouernment of Churches and so continued in peace till the time of Traianus Egesip Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. In these persecutions no kind of torment was omitted that could be deuised against the Christians The 2. persecution and no kinde of slaunder kept back that might empaire their credite their bodies after death not being suffered to be buried and yet the Church did dayly more and more encrease Euaristus Euaristus Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the
although they were sought for be heard of And many other taken of the barbarous Arabiās could scarcely be ransomed for money At the same time Dionisius Alexandrinus Dionisius Alexandrinus out of whose Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch Eusebius recordeth these persecutions suffered much afflicton and had straunge deliuerance Once the messenger was stroken blind and could not find his house beyng a Farmer of Sabinus at length after thrée dayes he was commaunded of God to fly and so did but afterward comming to Ierusalem he was taken and brought by soldiours to Taposixis where Timotheus Timotheus being from home and returning finding Dionisius and others taken and all the rest fled he fled away also and méeting a neighbour of his and asked whether he went declared all the matter simply Which doone the man went on as he was purposed to a marriage and tolde the company what was done which they hearing burst out of the house in the night season as the manner of marriages was in that time making toward the prisoners with great showting whereat they that apprehended the prisoners being afraid left them ran away Then the cōpany willed them to depart which they did tooke Dionysius by the hands féet caried him out led him away There followed him Gaius Gaius Faustus Faustus Petrus Petrus Paulus Paulus who brought him out of the city and setting him vpon a bare Asse conueyed him away Vnder Decius suffered one Christophorus Christophorus a Chanaanite being 12. cubits hie Vnder him also suffered Meniatus Meniatus a Florentine Agatha Agatha an holy virgin in Sicily who suffered imprisonment with beatings racking famine rayling vpon sharpe shelles and hote coales Hauing moreouer her brestes cut from her bodie by the crueltie of Quintinianus the Proconsul About the same time suffered also amōg others xl virgins by diuers kindes of death Vnder this tyrant also suffered by the sword after diuers torments Tryphon Tryphon a man of great holines and constancie in the Citie of Nice by Aquilius At what time Decius had erected a tēple in the midst of Ephesus cōpelling al in the citie to do sacrifice there were found vij souldiers that refused their names were Maximianus Malchus Martialis Dionisius Iohannes Serapion and Constantinus Who when respite was giuen them to consider of the matter till the Emperours returne from the warre hid themselues in mount Celius in caues which the Emperour at his returne caused to be rammed vp with stones and so they were martyred There was as Hieronymus writeth in the life of Paulus the Heremite a godly souldier who could by no meanes be brought from his faith by the Pretor and was brought into a pleasant garden and laid on a soft bedde and an harlot sent to allure him who when she offered to kisse he bit of hir tongue and spit it in the harlots face The like is reported of Ambrose de virginibus of Theodora Theodora who was commanded to the stewes which a young man a Christian vnderstanding pressed in as though he had béene one of the lewde wantons and tolde Theodora what he was and councelled her to chaunge garments and to conuey her self away Which she did he offering himselfe to their violence and being found a man confessed himself a Christian was presently condemned to suffer Which Theodora vnderstanding of offered her selfe to the Iudge as the party guiltie and required the other might be discharged But the cruell iudge commanded them to be both beheaded and after cast into the fire At what time this befel it doth not appeare Agathon Agathon a man of Termes in the citie of Alexādria for rebuking those that derided the dead bodies of the Christians was condemned to lose his head The Proconsull of Troada gaue Paulus Paulus and Andreas Andreas being first scourged and after drawen through the Citie to be troden to death vnder the féete of the people In this time also of Decius suffered one Iustinus Iustinus a priest of Rome and Nicostratus a Deacon also Portius Portius a priest of Rome who is reported to haue conuerted the Emperour Philip aboue mentioned In that time there was also one Secundianus Secundianus who was accused to Valerian a captaine of Decius to be a Christian who as he was led by the souldiers to the gaile Verianus Verianus Marcellinus Marcellinus cried to the souldiers and asked whether they led the innocent Wherevpon they were also brought to a place named Contumcellas and there after torments beatings with wasters they were hanged on a gibbet with fire put to their sides but the tormentors some fell suddenly dead other were taken with euill spirites and the martyrs at length were beheaded with the sword Besides an infinite number that suffered vnder Decius Sore persecution these are registred Hippolitus and Concordia Hiereneus Abundus Victoria a virgin beyng noble personages of Antioch Bellias bishop of the citie of Apollonia Leacus Tyrsus and Galmetus Nazanzo Triphon in the citie of Egipt called Tanais Phildas bishop of Philocomus with many other in Perside Philochronius bishop of Babilon Thesiphon bishop of Pamphilia Nestor bishop in Corduba Parmenius a priest with diuerse other In the prouince called Colonia Circensis Marianus and Iacobus In Africa Nemesianus Felix Rogatianus priest Felicissimus at Rome Iouinius Basilius Ruffina Secunda virgins Tertullianus Valerianus Nemesius Sempromanus Olympius in Spaine Teragone at Verone Zeno bishop at Cesarea Marinus and Archenius in the towne of Milaine Priuatus bishop Theodorus surnamed Gregorius bishop of Pontus Haec Beda Also in the same persecution suffered certaine children Children persecuteth in a citie of Tuscia called Aretum their names are thought to be Pergentius Pergentius and Laurentius Laurentius The heat of this persecution was so sore that some reuolted Reuolt as Serapion an aged mā Nichomachus in the midst of his torments in the citie of Troada Euaristus bishop in Africa Nicostratus a Deacon whereof diuerse were punished by the hand of God some with euill spirites some with straunge diseases In this time rose vp the quarrell and Heresie of Nouatus Nouatus who disturbed Cyprian Cyprian bishop of Carthage afterward disturbed Cornelius Cornelius Bishop of Rome and beyng assisted with Maximus Vrbanus Sydonius and Celerinus allured vnto him thrée simple Bishoppes in the coastes of Italie by whose laying on of hands making them drunke before he made himselfe Bishop of Rome with Cornelius whom he went about by all meanes to defeat and caused the people that came to receiue the Eucharist at his hands to sweare they would stand with him But Maximus Vrbanus Sydonius and Celerinus perceiuing themselues abused forsooke him afterward Cornelius remained B. of Rome after the death of Decius to the time of Gallus but other affirme as Damasus that he was exiled vnder Decius and by
his Apologie before the Emperour Hermannus caused Serena the wife of Dioclesian Serena the wife of the emperor martired to bée martired There were also other Martirs in Nicomedia as Eulampia Agapen Irenea Chronia and Anastachia who vnder Illyricus chiefe Officer were burned Maximinus burned 2000. Two thousand together in a Temple burned Christians together in one Temple men women and children In Arabia many Martirs were slaine with axes In Phrygia there was a whole Citie of Christians compassed set on fire and burned A whole citie of Christians burned In Melitina a Region of Armenia the Bishops and Elders were cast into prison In Arabrate a Region nigh Armenia Eustachius that Countreyman borne and Sheriffe vnder the Emperor at Lycia in the East hauing there done execution on the christians was conuerted and confessed himselfe a Christian after diuers strange tormentes was carried to Sebastia with the rest of his companions and there burned At that time also suffered Eugenius Auxentius Eustachius Marderius And in no lesse manner raged this persecution in Egypt where Peleus and Nilus Peleus and Nilus Bishops were martyred But especially in Alexandria the rage was great where Peter the Bishop of Alexandria suffered with the Elders of the same church Faustus Didius Ammonius Phildas The B. with the Elders martired A legion of Christians martired Hesichius Pachiminus and Theodorus beside many other The whole legion of Christian Souldiers which to the number of 6660. lay at Thebes in Egypt vnder the Christian Captaine Mauritius refusing to worshippe Images were tithed to death once and then againe and last through the exhortation of Mauritius Mauritius died al together constant in faith Likewise at Anteno diuers Christian Martirs suffered death together Among whom were Ascla Philemon and Apollonius And in other parts of Africa and Mauritania was great persecution Also in Samnium Scilia where 79. 79. martired were put to death Now in Europe at Nicopolis in Thracia the Martirs were miserably handled by Lysia In Chalcedon suffered Euphenia vnder Priscus the Proconsul Great persecution in Italy At Rome Iohannes and Crispus being Priestes had the execution of Martirs At Bohemia Agricola Vitalis and at Aquileia the Emperor commanded euery man to kil the Christians Among those Felices and Fortunatus are recorded In other places also of Italie the persecutiō was great as at Florentia Pergamus Naples Cāpania Beneuentus at Venusa in Apulia in Thussia and at Verona In Fraunce Rectorianus was a cruell persecutor At Mediolanum suffered Victor Victor At Massilia Maximianus setteth out his decrée that all the refused to doe sacrifice should with diuers tormentes be slaine In Beluacus suffered Lucian Lucian In Spayne likewise was great persecution as at Emerita where suffered Eulalia and Adula where also suffered Vincentia Sabina and Christiana 18. martired At Toletum suffered Leucadia the virgin At Cesarea Augusta Where were put to death xviij beside a great nūber of Martirs which suffered vnder Decianus the Gouernor who afflicted with persecutiō all the coasts of Spain And the foresaide Rectorianus made such Persecution at Treuers Persecution in Spaine néere the riuer of Mosella that the bloud of christian men that were slaine Riuers died with bloud of Christians ran like a litle brooke and coloured many riuers And round about all quarters he commāded horsemen to ride and charge the people to kill the Christians as they found them Moreouer at Colonia was great persecutiō where Agrippina and Augusta were martyred as also in the prouince of Rhetia In Britanny great persetion And in Brytannie all the Christians were destroyed The deaths that this tyrant vsed were diuerse and the torments so gréeuous as no tongue can vtter as the hanging vp of them by one hand Straunge torments that they might féele the waight of the rest of their bodies the scorching and broylyng them with coales not vnto death but euery day new with which kind of death the martyrs of Antioch were afflicted as more at large it appeareth by a letter of Phildas to the congregation of Thunitans where hée was Bishop before hée receiued the sentence of death beyng yet in handes In Thebaid Eusebius saith that he himselfe beheld the persecution which was so great The persecutors wearied with slaughter that the very swords of the hangmen and persecutors being blunt with the great and often slaughter they themselues for wearinesse sate down to rest them and other were faine to take their places But the martyrs nothing dismayed bare all with patience for his sake In this persecution one Miletus gaue backe and the Bishoppe of Lycus a citie in litle Egypt Reuolt whom Peter the Bishop of Alexandria did therfore excommunicate So did Marcellinus Bishop of Rome being perswaded thereto by Dioclesian wherefore he was excommunicated but afterward repented and was also martired So cruel was the persecution that there were slaine of Martirs in xxx dayes xvij thousand 17000. slain in 30. dayes 300. at Alexandria 300. at Colen besides another great multitude that were condemned to the mettall mines and Quarries At Alexandria with Peter their B. were slaine 300. with axes Geriō was beheaded at Colonia Agrippina with 300 of his felowes Victor in the citie of Troye now called Xanthus with his felowes 360. Reginus reciteth many other martirs to the number of 120. Mauritius came out of Syria into France and Italy being Captain of the bande of the Theban souldiers in nūber 6660. Theban souldiers 6660. sent for of Maximinianus to go against the rebellious Bangandes These Thebans were at Rome confirmed by Marcellus the bishop in the faith Now at Ottodon Maximinianus offered sacrifice to the Diuels and commaunded all his army so to doo which Mauritius and his company refused wherefore they were all tythed to death once and persisting constantly were tythed againe and at the last by the commaundement of Maximinianus his whole army set vpon them and slue them all making no resistance Victor at that time was not of that bande but beyng dismissed for his age came suddenly to sée what had béene doone and finding them making mery and banketting hauing knowne the cause detested their fact Whervpon confessing also him selfe to be a Christian he was slaine This persecution endured till the seuenth yéere of Constantinus as Beda saith but as Eusebius till the tenth yere which at the length ceassed from slaughter the tyrants being out of hope to extinguish them yet slew they many and put out the eies of diuers and condemned other to the mettall mines When Dioclesianus and Maximinianus had reigned together one and twentie or two and twentie yéers they gaue ouer their empire and liued a priuate life Dioclesian at Salona the other at Mediolanum Ann. 309. after Christ so that the Emperiall dignitie remayned now with Constantius Galerius Maximinus Maximinus gouerning the east and Constantius the West partes But
the time of Licinius till Iohn Wickliffe was bound vp Sathan bound vp til Wicliffe Constantine deferred baptisme till his old age because he determined a iourney into Persia and thought in Iordan to haue béene baptized He entered into the Empire Anno 311. and raigned 30. yéeres as Letus saith 32. lacking two moneths Constantine borne in England Helena daughter of king Coilus Constantines mother He was borne in Brytaine His mothers name was Helena daughter of king Coilus He greatly trauelled for the peace of Christians and before hée had conquered Licinius wrote to his subiects inhabiting the East in their fauour He set also peace among the Bishops in the Church who were at dissention and made prouision for ministers and teachers of the people and caused all to be restored vnto the Christians that had béene taken from them in the persecutions Constantine a father of the Church writing to Syluius his chiefe Captaine to that end and commaunded him that in Affrica where he had to doo and where Cecilianus was bishop that Clarkes and ministers should be freed from all manner publike duties burthens He was greatly studious in taking vp causes among the bishops and wrote to that end to diuers as to Miltiades bishop of Rome to Crescēs bishop of Siracusa to Cecilianus bishop of Carthage also to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches And after he had gathered the Nicene Councell Nicene councell for the vnitie of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arrius to the same entent He prescribed a certaine prayer for euery one of his souldiers in stead of a brief Catechisme caused them to learne the same Constantine teacheth his souldiers a prayer which is this Wée acknowledge thée onely to be our God we confesse thée onely to be our king we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thée we vanquish our enemies to thée we attribute whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy and by thée we hope for good things to come vnto thée we direct all our suits and peticions most humbly beséeching thée to kéepe Constantine our Emperour and his noble children to continew in long life and to giue them victory ouer all their enimies through Christ our Lord. Amen He graunted great immunities to the ministers that they might appeale from the ciuil iudge to their bishop Appeale granted by Constantine whose sētence was of as great value in such cases as if the Emperour himselfe had pronounced it He prouided also maintenance for liberall artes and sciences for the professors Prouision for learning their wiues and children and gaue thē great immunities He wrote also to Eusebius the B. of Nicomedia to procure 50. volumes of parchment wel boūd and cause to be written out of the scripture therein in a legeable hand The scriptures written for the vse of the church such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church and allowed him two ministers for the businesse Finally he was a father to the Church and enforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospel and euery good thing and endeuoured to suppresse the contrary Constantine baptised a little before his death He was baptised at Nicomedia of Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in the 31. yéere of his raigne a little before his death The end of the ten persecutions The rest of this history concerneth chiefly the affaires of the Church of England and Scotland The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England and Scotland England receiued the Gospel in Tyberius time GIldas affirmeth that Britain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffred and that Ioseph of Arimathea after the dispersiō of the Iews was sent of Philip the apostle out of France into Britain ann 63. And here remained al his time and laid the foundation of the Gospel Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church The Gospel came into Enland from the Cast and not from Rome In the time of Bede almost a thousand yeeres after Christ as he testifieth Easter was kept after the manner of the East Church in the full moone what day of the wéeke soeuer it fell and not on the sunday as we doe now Wherby it may appeare that the preaching of the Gospell came into this land from the East and not from Rome About the yéere 180. King Lucius sonne of Coilus king of Britains which now are called English men hearing of the miracles done by Christians in diuers places K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England Fugatius and Damianus at that time wrote to Eleutherius B. of Rome to receiue of him the Christian faith who sent him therevpon certain preachers Fugatius or by some Faganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the king and the people of Britain and baptized them and subuerted the temples and monuments of idolatrie And the 28 Flamines they turned to bishops and thrée Achflamines to thrée Archbishops hauing their seates in thrée head cities London Yorke and Glamorgantia by Wales This king also sent to him for the Romane lawes to frame his people therafter who answered that the lawes of God was to be his direction for lawes and not the Romanes that might be reproued the other being without exception Thus was the Christian faith confirmed in this lande by the meanes of Eleutherius Eleutherius and therein it continued two hundred and sixtéene yeres till the comming of the Pagane Saxons King Lucius raigned 77. yeres and died without issue the yere of our Lord 201. the xiiij yere after his baptisme some say the iiij and some the tenth and was buried at Glocester By reason that the king died without issue the Lande was spoyled and the Romanes inuaded and became sometimes masters When they raigned Gentilisme was aduaunced and when the Britaines the Gospell Albeit no persecution touched the Britaines that is read of Almost all Christianitie destroyed in England before the last persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinianus Herculeus At which time all Christianitie was almost in the whole land destroyed Now the Britanes being greatly distressed and brought to miserie the Archbishop of London called Gnetelinus procured helpe out of lesse Britanie and brought ouer Constantinus the kings brother by whose meanes the state of Religion and Common-wealth was in some quiet all the time of Constantine and the Archbishop till Vortiger cruellie caused his Prince to be slaine and inuaded the Crown Gnetelinus Archb. of London And fearing the other two brethren of Constantine his Prince Aurelius and Vter in litle Britaine he caused aide to be sent for to the Saxons being then Infidels and married him selfe also with Rowen an Infidel the daughter of Hengist Which Hengist depriued him and his people and droue the Britaines out of their Countrey after that the Saxons had slaine of their Nobles two hundred thrée score and eleuen some say foure
hundred and thréescore 271. of the Nobilitie of England slaine by the Saxons Which miserie fell vpon them for couetousnes and oppression in their Princes wickednes in the Iudges slouthfulnes of the Bishops in neglecting their dueties of preaching and ryot and wantonnes of the people as saith Gildas in his chronicle This fell out in anno 469. The Captaines of the Saxons were Hengistus and Horsus Now the first persecution in this Lande began vnder Dioclesian an 210. The first persecution in England by Dioclesian The second by Gnauius and Melga The second was by the inuading of Gnauius Melga whereof the first was Captaine of the Hunnes and the other of the Pictes Which two Tyrants after the slaughter of Vrsula Vrsula and 11000. noble Virgins 11000. Virgins made their rode into Britaine At what time they made a miserable murther of Christians spoyling and rasing Churches without regarde either of women or children The third by Hengist The third by Hengest and the Saxons who destroyed like raging wolues the silie shéepe till Aurelius Ambrosius came Aurelius Ambrosius restoreth the churches and restored againe the Churches destroyed The fourth was by Gurmundus Gurmundus a pagā king of the Affricans who ioyning with the Saxons wrought much mischiefe against the Christians In so much that Theonus B. of London and Thaodiceus of Yorke with the rest of the people did pack away some into Cornewall some into the mountaines of Wales an 550. and remayned till the time of Ethelbert Ethelbert king of Kent an 589. In whose reigne the faith was first receiued of the Englishmen Gospell receiued of the Englishmen Austen sent into England by Gregory B. of Rome by meanes of Gregorie bishop of Rome who in the yere 598. sent Austen into England and with him about xl Preachers to instruct and conuert the people The occasion was offered by séeing certain children of the land to be sold at Rome where considering their beautie he had compassion on them thereupon when the Bishorick of Rome fell vnto him next after Pelagius he sent Austen with the other Preachers Who passing on their iourney were greatly afraid and discouraged considering the barbarousnes of the people But being comforted by Gregorie and perswaded they went on their iorney and came to the I le of Tenet I le of Tenet on the Eastside of Kent Néere vnto which lāding place was the Palace of the K. not farre from Sandwich which the Inhabitants of the I le thē called Richburgh whereof some part of the ruinous walles is yet to sée The king that raigned at that time was Ethelbert the fifth king of that prouince who at that time had married a Frenchwoman Christened whose name was Berda Berda whom hée had of that condition that shée should with her bishop Lebardus Lebardus inioy the faith By meanes whereof he was the more flexible to embrace the preachyng of the faith of Christ Now the king hearing of Austines arriuall within few dayes after and hauing receaued message from Austine of the cause of his comming commeth to the place where hée was to speake with him To whom Austine preached the word of God The king at the first was not perswaded yet for so much as he came for his benefit he both ministred vnto him necessaries and gaue him libertie to preach and conuert his people which hée did in Canterbury where the king gaue him a mansion place and baptized people on the Eastside of the cittie in the old Church of Saint Martine where the Quéene was woont to resort till time that the king himselfe was conuerted to the faith which he was at length by the godly conuersation of Christians myracles Godly conuersation and miracles that were wrought He was conuerted an 586. and the 36. yéere of his raigne who beyng conuerted the number grew innumerable whom he specially embraced None compelled to beleeue The Abbey of S. Peter and S. Paule in Canterbury but compelled none Then he gaue to Austin a place for his bishops sea at Christ church in Canterbury and builded the Abbey of S. Peter and Paule in the Eastside of the citie where after Austin and all the kings of Kent were buried and that place is now called S. Austin In this while Austin sailed into Fraunce to the bishop of Arelatensis called Ethereus by him to be consecrated archbishop by the commandement of Gregory and so was He sent moreouer to Rome one of his company Laurentius to shew Gregory how they had sped and also to be resolued concerning nine or ten questions The first how the B. should vse himselfe towards his clarke Questions resolued from Rome and of oblations what diuidens were to be made For the first Gregory referreth him to the Epistle of Paule to Timothie touching the second he telleth him the order of the church of Rome is to make foure parts Bishops liuings how to be bestowed the one for the B. hospitalitie in receauing commers in the other to the Clergie the third to the poore the fourth to repairing of churches And because he saith Austine could not liue from his clarkes he would haue in their societie all common The second whether Clarkes that can not containe may marry and then marrying whether they are to returne to their secular estate againe or no Clarkes may marrie to whom hée answereth they might marry and also obtaine their stipends The third seing the faith is but one how commeth it to passe Diuerse ceremonies that the ceremonies and customes be so diuerse as one manner of Masse at Rome and an other in France To which he answered that without respect of place he should chose out of many churches the best orders The fourth what punishment should be laid on him that pilfereth out of the church This he referreth to his discretiō consideration being had of the necessitie of the stealer the abilitie to make recompence without any gaine Whether two brethren may marry two sisters being far of from any part of kindred To this he answereth affirmatiuely to what degrée of kindred matrimony may extend and whether it is lawfull to marry with the stepmother Degrees for marriage her kinsfolkes The answere he referreth to the law of God and denieth the lawfulnesse of such marriages or with the kinsfolke but in the third degrée Whether such as be coupled in such vnlawfull mariage ought to be separated and denied the Communion to which he answereth that such as haue béene so maried in time of their ignorance should not therefore be separated from the Communion but admonished to do so no more and such as professe the faith and so couple themselues he willeth they should be denied the Lords body After what manner he should deale with the Bishops of France and Britain To these he answereth that the Bish in Fraunce are not to submit to him but onely his iurisdiction
thou doe after his counsell that shall deliuer thée and follow him if hee shewe thée a better way of life to whom he promised faithfully so he would Then he laying his hand vppon his head when saith hée this token happeneth vnto thée A vision then remember this time of thy tribulation and the promise which thou hast made and sodainly he vanished out of sight Now Paulinus séeing the king to hard to beléeue praied for him and God reuealed vnto him the vision aboue mentioned Wherevppon Paulinus comming vnto the king vpon a time and laying his hand vpon the Kings head asked him if hee knew that token the king hearing this and remembring the token was readie to fall downe at his féete But Paulinus would not suffer that and declared vnto him the victories he obtained by Christ and put him in minde of his former promise Whereupon the king conferring with his Nobles was by him baptized in Yorke with many of his Subiects In so much that Coysi the chiefe of the Idolatrous prelates with others of that kinde Edwine baptized destroyed the Idoles with their Temples which was at Godmunham not farre from York And this was the eleuenth yere of his Reigne This Edwine after he had first brought in the Faith into the North partes continued after his baptisme vi yeres At length he was slaine in battaile by Ced walla king of the Britaines and by wicked Penda king of the Mercians with his sonne and Offricus in the field called Hatfield This Paulinus was the first Archbishoppe of Yorke and ordeyned by Iustus Archbishoppe of Canterburie After whose decease he ordeyned Honorius Archbishop of Canterburie Paulinus after the death of Edwin fled from the vnmercifull Cedwalla and the wicked and Idolatrous Penda who had neither regarde of Sexe nor age by water into Kent with Edelberge the Quéene and Eufled her daughter Where he remayned Bishop of Rochester the space of xix yeres And so the Church of Northumberland lacked a Bishop the space of xxx yeres Notwithstanding he left one Iames a Deacon in those quarters Paulinus the first archbishop of York who continued there preaching til peace was recouered and the Church brought againe to a stay By the meanes of this Edwine Erpwaldus king of the East-angles sonne to Redwaldus aboue mentined was brought to the faith After Edwin and his sonne reigned Osricus and Eaufridus the one in Deira who were first christened in Scotlād but after they were kings reuolted to Idolatrie and in the yeres following were slaine one after another by Cedwalla and wicked Penda After whom succéeded in Northumberland the second sonne of Ethelfrede named Oswaldus hauing rule ouer both the prouinces as wel Deira as Bernicia He by prayer made vnto God ouercame Cedwalla or Cadwallo the Britaine king which sent Penda with an armie against him that was ouerthrowen after hee had reigned ouer the Britaines 22. yeres leauing after him a sonne wohm Gaufridus called Cadwalladius Oswald a notable king the last K. of Britans This Oswald was very religiously disposed and sent for a certain bishop out of Scotland named Aidanus to preach to his people And as he preached in Scottish so the K. did interprete it hauing learned the Scottish tongue in his banishment there By the meanes of Oswald Kinigilsus K. of the Westsaxons was conuerted to Christs faith especially through the godly labor of Berinus who was sent by P. Honorius to preach in England then made Bishop of Dorcester Kinigilsus conuerted To whom Quincelinus brother to the foresaid Kinigilsus after he had receiued baptisme of Berinus Bernius gaue to him the said citie therein to make his Sea and gaue after to the B. of Winchester The Sea of Winchester 7. miles compasse of land to buyld there the bishops Sea which was accomplished finished by Kenwalcus his sonne This Bernius was driuen by the weather to the Coast of the West-saxons where Kinigilsus and his brother Quincelinus did raigne and were baptized with their people It so fell out that Oswaldus King of Northumberlande was there present and the same day married Kinigilsus his daughter and was also Godfather to the king Oswald after he had raigned ix yeres was at the length slaine in the field called Maxfield by wicked Penda king of Mercians Which Penda likewise was ouercome slaine by Oswy brother to Oswald the next king of Northumberland after Oswald not withstanding hee had himselfe as many people as Oswy had Penda had iij. sonnes Wolferus Weda and Egfridus The second sonne Weda Oswy had before time maried his daughter Weda conuerted by consent of Penda his father Who also by the helpe of Oswy was made king of Southmercia and promised when he married his daughter he would become a christian which thing he perfourmed after the death of Penda And within thrée yeres following by reason of his wife he was slaine Wolferus conuerted After him the kingdome fell to Wolferus the other brother who being wedded to Armenilda daughter to Ercombert K. of Kent was afterward christened so that he is accounted the first christian king of Mercia This Wolferus conquered Kenwalcus K. of Kent and gat the I le of Wight which after he gaue to Sigbert king of the East-angels vpon condition he would be christened Sigbert baptized And thus the East-angles which before had expulsed Mellitus their B recouered againe the christian faith vnder Sigbert their king who was baptized by Finanus Finanus the bishop Now to Oswy was ioyned Oswinus his cosin ouer the prouince of Deira there raigned with Oswy seuen yéere a Prince gentill liberall and deuout but not long after Oswy the king of Bernicia disdaining at him caused him traiterously to be slaine and so Oswy with his sonne Egfride raigned in Northumberland alone In that time and also in the house of Oswy and his sonne Egfride was Butolphus the abbot who builded in the East part of Lincoln an abbey Also Aidanus Finianus and Colmannus with 3. scottish Bishops of Northumberland holy men that held with the Brittains against the Romish order for kéeping of Easter Moreouer Cuthbertus Iarmuannus Cedda and Wilfridus liued at the same time About this time or not much before vnder the raigne of Oswy and Oswine the question of Easter The questions of Easter and hauing of other ceremonies was debated in the Abbey called Sternehalt Of which Hilda Hilda a deuout woman was abbesse to the which place came both the kings the father and the sonne Bishop Colman with his Cleargy of Scotland Aigelbert with Agathon and Wilfride Priestes Iames and Roman were on their sides Hilda the Abbesse was on the Scottish part with her companie And the reuerend Bishop Cedda Cedda was appointed Prolocutor for both partes in that parlemēt Now there was much debating of the matter on both partes one standing to the custome of Iohn the Euangeliste to be kept according to the
Egfretus his sonne who raigned but foure monethes next Egfret succéeded Kenulphus in the kingdom of Mercia who made warre against the Cantuarites and tooke Egbert their king called Wren whom he bound and led prisoner to Mercia but vpon the dedication of a Church which hee builded he released him out of prison Next to Pope Zacharie followed Pope Stephen the second to whom Pipinus the French king to gratifie the Pope gaue to the sea of Rome the princedome of Rauenna the kingdome of the Lombards and manie other great possessions of Italie The donation of Pipine the traitor and murtherer Inuention of Organs with all the cities thereto adioyning vnto the borders of Venice and this is like to the donation which they say was giuen of Constantine To this Pipinus was sent into France the inuention of Organs out of Gréece by Costantine Emperour of Constantinople Anno 757. Next to Stephen the second succéeded Paul the first in the Papacie who thundered against Constantine the emperor of Constantinople for abrogating of images but hee continued constant in his purpose notwithstanding to the end of his life These came to bee Popes Constantinus the seconde a Laie man Pope deposed his eies out and brother to Desiderius the king of Lombardie for the which cause hée was shortly deposed and thrust into a Monasterie hauing his eyes put out In whose steade succeeded Stephen the third who condemned the seuenth Councell of Constantinople for hereticall because in that Councell the woorshipping of Images was condemned Pope striueth for images and contrarily caused them to be worshipped and incensed At this time Charles the great beganne to raigne by whom the Pope caused Desiderius the Lombard king to bee depriued Next vnto Stephen succeeded Hadrianus the first who gaue more veneration to images then any before him writing a booke in commendation and vtilitie of their adoration Images laie mens kalender commaunding them to be taken for lay mens kalenders holding a synode at Rome against Felix and al other that spake against images and as Paul the first before him had made much of the body of Petronella S. Peters daughter So this Hadrian clothed the body of S. Peter all in siluer Cost vpon Images and couered the altar of S. Paul with a pall of gold This Hadrian did confirme the order of Saint Gregories Masse before the order of S. Ambrose for vnto the time 800. Strife for Gregories masse the Liturge of S. Ambrose was more vsed in the Italian Churches but this Bishop burnt the bookes of Ambrose seruice into ashes and threwe into prison many priests that would not consent vnto him Now Eugenius cōming 3. daies after the councell ended perswaded the pope to call the councell againe agréed that both the bookes of Gregory and Ambrose should be laied vpon the altar of Peter and Paule and the Church dores shut and sealed they should all the night giue themselues to prayer that God might giue a token whether were more to be allowed Now on the morning A miracle falsly interpreted they found Gregories masse booke plucked one péece from another and scattered ouer all the Church and onely Ambroses booke open vpon the altar where they had laide it This miracle Pope Adrian did interprete on his owne side side that as the leaues were scattered ouer the Church so should Gregories booke bée vsed through the worlde and Ambrose his book should onely be kept at his owne Church at Mediolanum where hee sometime was Bishop Carolus magnus did confirme his fathers gift and deuotion to the Pope adding moreouer therevnto the Citie and dominion of Venice Histria the Dukedome of Foroiuliense the Dukedome Spoletanū and Beneuentanum and other possessions mo to the patrimonie of saint Peter and the Pope to requite him made him Patricium Romanum and ordeined him onely to be taken for Emperour of Rome Carolus being proclaymed Emperour the Empire was translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen an 801. The Empire translated to the French A B C Monasteries and continued so 102. yeres or thereabout till the comming of Conradus and his Neuew Otho which were Germās This Charles builded so many Monasteries as there bée letters in the A.B.C. He helde a Councell at Franckforde wherein was condemned the Councell of Nice and Irene for setting vp and worshipping of Images Anno 784. Irene Empresse of the Gréekes through the meanes of Pope Hadrian tooke vp the body of Constantine Emperour of Constantinople Irene the Greeke Empresse a maintainer of Images her owne husbandes father and when she had burned the same she caused the ashes to be cast into the Sea because he disanulled Images Afterward she raigned with her sonne Constantine the sixt sonne to Leo the fourth The cruell Irene who was also excommunicated for taking away Images and being at dissention with him she caused him to be taken and laid in prison and afterward through power of fréends being restored was at the last againe cast into prison The Emp. eies pulled out by his mother and had his eyes pulled out so cruelly that within short space he died After this the Empresse by the counsel of Therasius Bishop of Constantinople held a Counsell at Nicea wherin it was decreed that Images again should be restored to the Church which Charles afterward repealed at Frankford At length shée was deposed by Nicephorus who succeeded her and ended her life in much penurie Monasteries erected and founded in England In the space of 200 yéeres these monasteries following began to be founded in the land Paules Churche at London was founded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert king of Essex about the yéere 604. The first Crosse Altar was set vp in the North parts in Heuenfield vpon occasion of Oswalde King of Northūberlandes fighting against Cadwall where he in the same place set vp the signe of the Crosse knéeling praying there for victorie an 635. The Church of Winchester was first begun and founded by Kinigilsus king of Mercia hauing nine myles about it And afterwarde finished by his Sonne Kewalcus where Owen of Englishmen was the first Bishop Anno 636. The Church of Lincolne was first founded by Paulinus Bishop an 629. The Church of Westminster began first by a certaine citizen of London through the instigation of Ethelbert king of Kent which before was an Ile full of Thornes anno 614. The common Schooles were first erected at Cambridge Common schooles at Cambridge by Sigebert king of East-angles an 636. The Abbey of Knonisburie buylded by Furceus the Eremite an 637 The Monasterie of Malmsburie by one Meldulsus a Scot an 640. And after enlarged by Agilbert Bishop of Winchester The Abbey of Glocester first buylded by Offricus king of Mercia as Cestrensis saith But as William Malmsburie wryteth by Vlferus and Etheldred brethren to Kineburga Abbesse of the same house in the yere of our Lord 679 The Monasterie of Maylerose
custody and stinted at xx d. a day The P. stinted at xx pence a day Hildebrand in the meane time encroching to himselfe the treasure of the Church Hildebrand encrocheth the Church treasure The names and order of the Archbishops of Canterburie from the time of king Egbert to William the Conquerour 18 ETheredus 18. 19. Pleimundus 29.20 Athelmus 12. 21. Vlfelmus 13.22 Odo 20. 23. Elfius or Elfinus 1. 24. Dunstane 20. Polydorus maketh Dunstane the 23.25 Ethelgarus 1.26 Elfricus 11.27 Siricius 5.28 Elphegus 6. 29. Liuingus 7. 30. Egelnodus 17.31 Edsius 11. 32. Robertus 2.33 Stigandus 17.34 Lanfrancus 19. The Printer to the Reader NOte gentle Reade that whereas by means our written copie had not obserued the same we vnawares haue omitted certaine distinctions that wee purposed to haue made betweene each of the 3. parts or bookes of this former volume abridged according as in the first volume of acts monuments at large is distinguished thou shalt vnderstand that the first of those former bookes conteyneth the 300. yeres next after Christ vntil Lucius his daies The 2. booke beginneth pag. 68. and conteineth the next 300. yeeres viz. from Lucius to king Egbert The 3. must be reckoned from pag. 85. containing the next 300. yeeres viz. to the time of William the Conqueror which here followeth The fourth booke ANno 1067. William Conqueror was crowned king W. Conqueror by the handes of Aldredus Bishop of Yorke for so much as Stigandus Archbishop of Canterburie was thē absent on Christmas day William exercised great crueltie Crueltie of the Conqueror vpon the English Nation and abrogated Edwards lawes and established his own for his profite He placed his people in all offices Spirituall and Tēporall And such was the reproch of English men An Englishmā a name of reproch that it was a name of shame And thus now the fift time the land was by diuers Nations afflicted First by the Romans in the time of Iulius Cesar Then by Scots and Pictes After England fiue times ouerrun by Saxons and then by Danes which continued from the reign of Ethelwolfe 230. yeres till K. Edward And fiftly by the Normans In the fourth yere of K. William betwéene Easter and Whitsontide was helde a Councell at Winchester of the Cleargie of England In which were present two Cardinals sent from pope Alexander the second Peter and Iohn In that Councell the king being present were deposed many Prelates of the English Nation without any euidēt cause that the kings Normans might be placed Normans placed Srigandus Archbishop deposed Among whom Stigandus the Archbishop was put downe for thrée causes The first for that he had wrongfullie holden the bishoprick while Robert the Archbishop was liuing The second for that he receiued the Pall of Benedict who was deposed The third for that he occupied the Pall without lawfull authoritie of the Court of Rome So Stigandus was deposed and kept in Winchester as a prisoner during his life At the same time was preferred to the Archbishoprick of York Thomas a Norman and Chanon of Bayon at which time also Lanfrancus Abbot of Cadomonencie a Lombard and Italian borne was sent for and made Archbishoppe of Canterburie Lanfrāk archbishop of Canterburie Contention of primacie Betwixt him and the Archb. of Yorke there grew great contention for the oath of obedience But in the end through the king Thomas was contented to subscribe obedience to the other After the Archb. went to Rome for their Palles with Remigius B. of Dorcester wtout which no Archb. nor B. could be confirmed And to Lanf Alexāder for the estimatiō of his learning gaue ij palles 2. palles geuen to Lanfrank one of honor the other of loue he obteined also for the other ij their cōfirmation Now againe began the controuersie of Primacie to be renued before the P. who sent thē home to end the matter to haue it determined So returned they to Englād an 1070 and the 6. yere of this W. the matter was brought befor the K. clergie at Windsor where after much debating on both sides Th. gaue ouer condiscending that the first of his prouince should beginne at Humber Whereupon it was decréed that Yorke for that time should be subiect to Cant. York subiect to Cant. in matters appertaining to the Church So that wheresoeuer within England Canterburie would hold his Councel the Bishops of Yorke should resort thether with their bishops and be obedient to his decrées Canonicall Prouided moreouer that when the Archb. of Canterburie should decease Yorke should depart to Douer there to consecrate with other the B. that should be elect and if Yorke should decease his successor should resort to Canterburie or els where the Bishop of Cant. should appoint there to receiue his cōsecratiō making his profession there with an oath of canonical obedience In the daies of this Lanfrancus Archb. of Canterburie anno 1076. diuers bishops seates were altered from townships to great cities Bishops seates altered from from townes to great cities as of Sealesey to Chichester out of Cornwall to Exceter from Welles to Bath from Shireburne to Salisburie from Dorcester to Lincolne frō Lichfield to Chester Which bishoprike of Chester Robert then B. reduced from Chester to Couentrie Likely it is also that the sea of the archbishop was translated from Douer to Canterbury or that Canterbury in old time had the name of Dorobernia as doth by diuerse testimonies appéere In the 9. yéere of this kings raigne by the procurement of Lanfrancus was a councel holden at London where among other things it was first enacted Ecclesiasticall decrees that the Archb. of Yorke shold sit on the right hand the B. of Lōdon on the left or in the absence of Yorke London on the right hand Winchester on the left hand of the archbishop in councell 2. That bishops should translate their seas from villages to cities 3. That monkes should haue nothing in proper and if they had died vncōfessed they should not be buried in churchyard 4. That no Clarke or Monke of another Dioces should be admitted to orders or retained without letters cōmendatorie 5. That none should speake in the Councell except Bishops Abbots without the leaue of the Archmetropolitane 6. That none should marie within the seuenth degree with anie of his owne kindred or of his wiues departed 8. That no sorcerie should be vsed in the Church 9. That none of the clergy should be present at the iudgement of anie mans death or dismembring neither should be anie fautor of the said iudicants In the daies of this Lanfrancus Waltelmus B. of Wintō had placed about fortie Canons in sted of Monks so that the part of Priests was taken againe against Monkes Priests yet against Monks But it held not Lanfrancus opposing himselfe against the same He wrote a booke against Berengarius called Opus scintillarū His owne church of
in one day by the P. did holde that euery day was frée for eating of flesh so it be done soberly Also that they did wickedly which restrayned Ministers from their lawfull wiues For which cause this Pope and his Bishops caused an hundred of them to be burned in one day Nauclerus reporteth that at the same time many were in the Citie of Millan of the said doctrine which vsed to sende Collects vnto the foresaid Saints of Alsatia The Rablement of Religious Orders in the Popish Church AVstinians Ambrosians two sortes 490 Antonians heremites 324 Austines heremites 498 Austines obseruants 490 Armenians sect Ammonites and Moabites Basilius order 384 Benets order 324 Bernardes order 1120 Barefooted friers 1222 Brigets order 1370 Beghart or white Spirites 1399 Brethren of Ierusalem 1103 Brethren of S. Iohn de ciuitate black friers 1220 Brethren of wilful pouertie Cluniacensis order 913 Canons of S. Augustine 7080 Charterhouse order 1086 Cistercian order 1098 Crossebearers or Crossed friers 1216 Carmelites or white friers 1212 Clares order 1225 Celestines order 1297 Camaldulensis order 950 Crostarred brethren Constantino politanish order Crosse-bearers Chapter monkes Duch order 1216 Dominick black friers 1220 Franciscans 1224 Grandmontensis order 1076 Gregorian order 594 Georges order 1407 Guilhelmites 1246 Gerundinesis order Galileans Heremites Helenes brethren Humiliati 1166 Hospitall brethren Holy Ghost order Ieroms order two sorts 1412 Iohns heremites Iustines order 1432 Iohannites or knights of the Rhodes 380 Iniesuati 1308 Ieromes heremites 1365 Iosephs order 490 Iacobites sect Iames brethrens order Iames brethren with the sword Indians order Katherin of Senes order 1455 Keyed mōks K. of the Rhodes Lazarites or Marimagdalins or our Ladies brethren 1034 Lords of Vngarie Minorires which be deuided into Conuentuales Obseruants Reformate Collectane De Capucio De Euangelio Amedes Clarini c. Minorites 1224 Maries seruants 1304 Monks of mount Oliuet 1046 Marouinies sect Monorites sect Monache Monachi Morbonei Merestei Menalaish Iasonish sect New chanons of S. Austin 1430 Nestorini Nalhart brethren New order of our Ladie Nazarei Paules heremites 345 Premonstratensis order 1119 Preachers order or black friers Peter the Apostles order 1009 Purgatorie brethren Rechabites Sarrabites Sambanites 1199 Scourgers the first sect 1266 Souldiers of Iesus Christ 1323 Scopenites or saint Saluators order 1367 Specularii or Glasse order Sepulchres order Shere order Swerds order Starrid monkes Starrid friers Sclauonie order Scourgers the second secte called Niniuites Stoole brethren Scotland brethren order Sicarii S. Sophis order Templars order 1110 Templar knights 1120 The vale of Iosaphats order Vallis Vmbrosae 1400 Waldensis sect Wentzelaus order Wilhelmes order White monkes of mount Oliuet 1406 Zelotes order IN the daies of pope Innocent the 3. began the two sects of Friers one called the Preachers order Dominicks Minorits friers or blacke friers of S. Dominicks the other called the Minorits of S. Francis The Preachers order began of one Dominicke a Spaniard about the partes of Tholouse who after he had laboured 10. yéeres in preaching against the Albingenses afterward comming vp to the Councell with Fulco B. of Tholouse desired the pope to haue his order of preaching cōfirmed which the pope a great while refused till at length thorough a dreame he dreamed he perswadeth the Pope His dreame was that Laterane Church was ready to fall he with his shoulders was faine to hold it wherevpon Dominick had his petitition granted The rule which they folow séemeth to be taken out of S. August Their profession stādeth vpō 3. special point 1. Hauing charity 2 Holding humility 3. Possessing wilful pouerty their habit clothing is blacke The minorities descend from one Francis an Italian of the citie of Assissium who hearing that Christ sent forth his disciples to preach thought to imitate the same in himselfe his disciples and so left of shoes had but one coate The perfection of the Gospel and that of a coorse cloth in stéed of a latchet to his shoe and a girdle tooke a Hempen cord and apparrelled his disciples teaching them as he said the perfection of the Gospel to apprehend pouerty and to walke in the way of holy simplicity He left in wryting to his Disciples and followers his rule which he called the Rule of the Gospell He was very seuere in outward chastising of him selfe so that in Winter he couered his bodie with I se and snowe He called pouertie his Ladie He kept nothing ouer night So desirous he was of martirdome that he went into Siria to the Souldan who receiued him honorablie for he tolde him not the trueth as Iohn Baptist did to Herod Many sectes of Franciscans The Franciscans be deuided into many Sectes some goe in tréene shooes or pattins some barefooted some regular Frāciscās or obseruāts some minors some minimi other of the gospel other de caputio About the same time sprang vp the Crooched friers Crooched friers taking their originall of Innocent the 3. who raised vp an army signed with the crosse on their brest to fight against the Albingenses whom the Pope and his sect accompted for heretiks about the part of Tholouse The Albingenses denied the Popes authoritie and his traditions they were against Images pardons purgatorie and chiefly they were abhorred of the Pope because they set vp a contrary pope against him in the coastes of Burgarorum Of these Albingenses were slaine at times and burned a great multitude by the meanes of the Pope and Simon de monte forti with other more About this season or not not much before died Pope Innocent the third in the 19. yéere of his Popedome to whose custody Fredericus the nephew of Fredericke Barbarossa being yong was committed by the empresse his mother After this Innocent succéeded Honorius 3. and after Honorius when he had gouerned ten yéeres followed Gregorius 9. which popes were in the raigne of Henry 3. About the yéere 1218. Becket 50. yeeres after his death was taken vp and shrined for a new Saint made of an olde rebel Becket shrined after his death to whose shrining came such resort of people of England and France that the countrey of Kent was not sufficient to sustaine them About the yeare 1220. the young king was the seconde time crowned againe at Westminster About which time was begun the new building of our Lady Church at Westminster By reason the Realme through king Iohn was made tributarie to the Pope the exactions vpon all estates from the Sea of Rome especiallie vpon beneficed men Incredible exactions from Rome and such as held any thing of the church were incredible so that certaine of the Nobles assented with the king to make a restraint of such rents and exactions The Pope required by Cardinall Otho of all the churches two prebends one for the bishops part one for the chapter also of the monasteries where be diuerse portions The Popes request in England one for the Abbot another for
the vttermost and wasteth all the countrie about Rome The pope dieth for anger wherewith the Pope was so dismaide that beyng in dispaire to obtaine his purpose hée died for very anger and thought This Gregory brought into the Church much horrible impietie blasphemy wickednes among others brought in that most detestable Canticle Salue Regina brought into the Church Salue Regina in which hée attributeth the honour and worshippe onely due to Iesus Christ vnto the virgin his mother This is hée in whose name the booke of the Decretals The decretals was set out a sinke of folly and impietie Pope Celestine Pope dieth After this Gregory was placed Celestine borne in Mediolanum among the Castellians who as Blondus declared by fained promises offered a league with Fredericke and the 18. day after he was created he died Now Fredericke thinking himselfe void of feare lenieth an army against the Tartarians An army against the Tartarians for the reliefe of the Christians who hearing of the comming of the Emperour returned another way by the riuer Danubius to Tanricia and so through the fennes of Meotida and by the riuer Tanaum into Sarmatia Asiatica After Celestine the cardinals made choyse of Simbaldus a Genouais for pope whom they called Innocentius the 4. Innocentius 4. which election Fredericke was well pleased with as hée signified by letters and Legates gratulatorie to the pope The legats of Frederick with the furtherance of Baldronius Emperour of Constantinople laboured very diligently for conclusion of promised peace but all in vaine for while the Emperours legats attended for answer of peace Ramerus the Cardinall went secretly and tooke Viterbium which was on the Emperours part The Emperour notwithstanding there séemed no hope of peace doubted not but if he might himselfe speake with the Pope he vpon reasonable conditions should well inough accord with him wherefore he desired him by his legats to appoint a place where the Emperour might speake with him The Emperour seeketh peace The Pope will none The Pope séemed to be content therewith but on a sudden went to Lyons and called a councell and with a lowd voice sommoneth Frederick and appointing him a day commaunded him there personally to appeare to pleade his cause The Emperour agréed but required conuenient time to trauaile thether The pope would not so much as graunt 3. dayes but being both iudge and accuser Pope iudge accuser condemneth him before he could come thether without proofe of any crime or his cause suffered to be pleaded But Gods iudgement failed him not for the writers of the annals accord that when Frederick the Emperour and Conradus his sonne were dead and the pope gaping for the inheritance of Naples and Sicil and thinking by force to subdue the same coming to Naples with a great armie of men there was heard manifestly in the Popes court a voice pronouncing these wordes Thou wretch come to receiue thy iudgemēt A voice heard Thou wretch come and receiue thy iudgement And the next day the pope was found dead all blacke and blew as though he had bin beaten with battes When the Emperour had vnderstanding of this cruell sentence he signified the iniurie to all Christian Princes by his letters and prouided euery way to withstand the P. and his confederats and after diuers aduenturs variablenes of thinges The Emp. dieth hee came into a certaine castle of his in Apulia called Florentinum where hee fell sicke of an ague and died Hauing had purpose as Pandolphus Colonuthius writeth of some maruellous exploite great attempt Frederike died willingly and gladly in the yéere 1240. the 13. day of December the 57. yéere of his age and 37. of his raigne and was buried at Panorium The pope counted him an enemie of the Church and so both Innocentius the fourth pronounced him and the same sentence haue other Popes registred in their 6. Booke of decretals and established the same for a law that he ought to bee taken for no lesse In the Countrey of Sueuia about the time of Frederike the second anno 1240. or néere about the same were manie preachers Preachers bold against Pope which preached fréely against the Pope preached that he was an heretike and that his bishops Prelats were Simoniakes and heretikes and that the inferiour priestes had no authoritie to binde and loose but were seducers and that such cities and countries as were then vnder the popes curse might notwithstanding lawfully resort to the receiuing of the sacrament as wel as before Item that Friers Dominick Franciscan did subuert the church with their preaching c. And not long after these rose vp Arnoldus de noua villa Arnoldus de noua villa was condemned a Spaniard a man famously learned a great writer ann 1250. whom the pope condemned amōg heretikes for holding and writing against the corrupt errors of the popish church His teaching was that christiā people are led by the pope into hel Item that cloisterers are voyd of charitie and denyed that masses are not to be celebrated that they ought not to do sacrifice for the dead c. And as this Arnoldus was condemned so likewise the same time Iohannes Seneca Iohannes Seneca appealeth from the pope to a Councell the glosewriter of the popes decrées and prouost of Halberster was excommunicated and depriued of of his prouostship for resisting Pope Clement the fourth gathering certaine exactions in Germanie and therefore hée appealed from the Pope to a generall Councell and had manie great fauourers on his side till at last both the Pope and he died After this folowed Guilielmus de sancto amore G. de sancto amore against the Pope a Master of Paris and a chiefe Ruler then of that Vniuersitie Al testimonies of Scripture that make against Antichrist he applyeth them against the cleargie of Prelates and against the popes spiritualtie The same Guilielmus is thought to be the author of the Booke which is attributed to the Schoole of Paris and intituled De periculis ecclesiae De periculis Ecclesiae where he proueth by thirtie and nine arguments that friers be false Apostles 39. arguments that Friers be false Apostles Hee was by Antichrist and his rablement condemned for an heretike exiled and his bookes burned In the dayes of this Guilielmus there was a most detestable and blasphemous booke set foorth by the Friers mētioned also in Matthias Parisiensis which they called Euangelium aeternum Spiritus sancti Euangelium aeternum spiritus sancti the euerlasting Gospell or the Gospell of the holie Ghost In which booke many abhominable errors of the Papistes were conteyned so that the Gospel of Iesus Christ was vtterly defaced Which sayde booke was not to be compared to this euerlasting Gospel no more then the shell was to be compared to the kernel The shell to the kernell or the darkenesse to light c.
Doctors answered againe with a long and tedious processe the scope whereof principally tended to the defence of the principality of the pope Thus then maister Ioh. Husse being driuē out of Prage and moreouer being excommunicated that no masse might be said where he was present the people began mightely to grudge and crie out against the Prelates laying great and horrible vices to their charges The K. seing the inclination of the people The people against the Prelates being also not ignorant of the vices of the cleargie began to require great exactions of such as were knowen to be wicked liuers Whereupon such as fauoured Iohn Husse begā to accuse many In so much that by this meanes None controleth Husse Husse began to take vnto him more libertie and to preach in his church at Bethlehem and none to controll him Now Steuen Paletz and Andreas de Broda chiefe doers against Husse wrote vnto him sharpe and cruell letters The Pope also writeth letters to Vinceslaus the King for suppressing of Iohn Husse and his doctrine which was in the last yéere of his Popedome An. 1414. This yéere Sigismund the Emperour and Pope Iohn 23. Councell of Constance To pacifie the Schisme of three Popes called a sinod for the pacifying of the Schisme at Constance which was betwéene the thrée popes The first wherof was Iohn whom the Italians set vp the second Gregory whom the Frenchmen set vp the third Benedict whom the Spaniards placed This councell endured foure yéeres and had in it 45. A Councell that lasteth foure yeeres and had 45. Sessions Sessions In this councell all the matters were decided chiefly by foure nations English Germaine French and Italian out of which foure nations were appointed and chosen foure presidents to iudge and determine all matters of the Councelles the names of which foure were these Iohn the patriarch of Antioch for France Anthonie Archb of Rygen for Italy Nicholas Archb. of Genesuensis for Germany and Nicholas Bishop of Bath for England In this Councel nothing was decréed worthy of memorie but this onely that the Popes authority is vnder the Councell The Councell ought to iudge the Pope and that the councel ought to iudge the Pope and as touching the Communion in both kindes although the Councell did not denie it yet by the same Counsell it was decréed to the contrarie In this Councell Iohn did resigne his Papacie for the quiet of the schisme and the Emperor geuing him thanks kissed his féete Afterward the same Iohn repenting him that he had so done sought meanes to flie whereunto Frederike Duke of Austrich did assist him and when hee was nowe comming to Schafezonse P. repenteth of wel doing to goe into Italie the Emperour pursuing tooke him and proclaymed Frederike traytor and for that cause tooke away Cities from him but was at last reconciled againe The Pope being thus deposed was committed vnto the County Palantine and by him caried to the castle of Manheim where hée was kept prisoner by the space of 3. yéeres and afterward he was againe by Pope Martin admitted to the number of the Cardinals This pope Iohn was deposed by the decrée of the councel more then 40. most grieuous crimes proued against him 40. articles against Pope Iohn as that he had hired Marsilius Parmensis a physicion to poison Alexander his predecessor that he was an heretike a simoniake a lier an hipocrite a murtherer an inchanter a dice-player an adulterer a sodomite finally what crime was it wherewith he was not infected c. In the 14. Session came in the resignatiō of P. Gregory 12. The 37. Session did publish definitiue sentence against the 3. pope Benedict in the 39. they procéeded to elect a new pope on S. Martins éeuen they chose one Pope Martin therfore named him Martin who according to the custome was honorably brought by the Councell and the Emper. into the church of Constance vnto the monastery of S. Austine to be crowned The Emperor leadeth the popes horse the Emp. on foot leading his horse by the bridle on the right hand the marques of Brandēburgh prince elector also leading his horse on the left hand the P. himselfe riding in the midst on his palfrey The Councell being dissolued a cardinall was sent by the P. named Anthony to declare his Indulgēce vnto them who granted to euery point in that coūcel ful absolution once in their life so that euery one within 2. moneths after the hearing of this Indulgence should procure the same in forme of writing Also an other Indulgēce was graunted of full remission at the houre of death that was aswel vnderstood of the houshold as the Maisters thēselues but vnder this condition that from the time of notification of the same The popes Indulgence they should fast euery Friday for the space of one whole yéere for absolutiō in their life time And for absolution in the howre of death that they should fast an other yéere in like sort except some lawfull impediment so that after the second yéere they should fast out their liues end or els do some other good worke This beyng proclaimed the Synode brake vp and euery man departed 3940. Prelats at the Councell The nūber of prelates at this councell was 3940. wherof the number of B. Archb. was 346. Abbots doctors 564. Secular mē princes dukes erles knights esquires 16000. Common women belonging to the councell Common women belonging to the councell 450. 450. Barbers 600. Minstrels cookes iesters 329. So that the whole multitude which were viewed to be in the towne of Constance betwéene Easter Whitsontide where nūbred to be 60500. Now although this councell was thought principally to be called to appease the schisme yet a great part of the cause was the Bohemians and especially for Iohn Husse For before the Councell began the Emperour Sigismund sent certaine gentlemen Bohemians which were of his owne houshold giuing them in charge to bring Iohn Husse bacheler of Diuinitie to the Councell and that vnder his safeconduct to the entent he should purge himselfe of that which they had to lay against him Iohn Husse trusting vpon the Emperours safecōduct sent word to the Emperour that he would come to the Councell and with all caused certaine bils to be written in Latine Bohemian and Almaine language that if any one had to obiect ought against him hée should come to the councell and there he would answere him The same time also Iohn Husse sent his Procurators to the lord Bishop of Nazareth ordained by the Apostolicke sea inquisitour of heresie in the cities and dioces of Prage requiring that if he found any errour in him he would declare it openly The Bishop giueth good testimony of Husse But the Bishop gaue good testimonie of Iohn Husse and signified the same by his letters Iohn Husse also required of the Archbishop of Prage that if he knew any errour
he ought not to obey for any commandement of power to the contrarie because it is a worke not of indifferency but of expresse commandement The next article was almost one with this That the ecclesiasticall censures are antichristiā which Husse denied to be vttred in that form That there ought no interditement or curse to be appointed vnto the people And these were the articles both alleadged out of his booke of the Church and by himselfe auouched before them Besides these there were other articles brought against him among which were 19. that brought him into prison That Paul according to present iustice was a blasphemer but the childe of God by predestination That Christ more loueth a predestinate man being sinful then a reprobate in what grace soeuer he be for the time That al sinful according to presēt iustice are not faithful That the words of Christ touching binding and losing except they bee well vnderstood bring much feare or much presumption That the binding and loosing by God is simply and plainly the principall That priests doe onely heap vp those things out of the scriptures which serue for their bellies That the Popes power when he doth wickedly is not to be feared That an euil Pope is not the successor of Peter but of Iudas That the Pope is the beast spoken of in the Apocalipse This he denied to haue béen vttered by him That it is lawfull to preach notwithstanding the Popes inhibition That the Popes commandement béeing not agréeable to the Gospel is not to be obeyed That the Cleargy and Laitie may iudge of the works of prelats That God himselfe doth suspend euery wicked priest from his ministery That the Cleargie supplanteth the Laye people c. To these Articles aboue mentioned were other also annexed which the Parisiens had set downe against him to the number of 19. The chiefe author wherof was one Gerson Chancellour of the Vniuersitie of Paris wherevnto hée had no time to answere Now when the foresaid articles were read with their testimonies the cardinal of Cambray with the rest exhorted Ioh. Husse to submit himself to the councel to suffer patiently that they would determine which was that he shold confesse himselfe to haue erred in the articles promise by oath neither to teach nor mainteine them moreouer openly recant all of them To this the Emp. moued him also with the rest to whom he answered that whatsoeuer were repugnāt to the scriptures being so proued vnto him he would recāt renounce otherwise durst he not do against his conscience after much debating Husse will not recant many false accusations Iohn Husse was caried to prison again Ioh. de Clum following cōforting him who after he was carried away the Emp. mightily inueyed against him The Emperor against Husse incited the Councel against him and his scholer Hierom of Prage to all seuerity as also against his friends and fauourers and so they departed out of the cloister and brake vp the assembly for that time The day before his condemnation which was the sixt of Iuly the Emperour Sigismund sent vnto him foure Bishops with M. Vincelat de Duba and Iohn de Clum to vnderstand of him what he would doo and when he was brought out to them and his minde demaunded he deliuered his resolution that he was ready to be reformed if it could be prooued by the scriptures that he had erred Which the Bishops counted an arrogant answere and commaunded him to be carried to prison againe The next day the Emperour with all the spirituall and temporall Lords held a generall Session in the head church of the city of Constance in which Iohn Husse was disgraded condemned deliuered to the ciuil power Husse disgraded condemned and deliuered to the seculars When Ioh. Husse was brought thither he fell downe vpon his knees prayed a long time In the meane while the B. of Lundy went vp and made a sermon when his sermon was ended the Procurer of the Councell rising vp named Henricus de Pyro required that the processe of the cause of Iohn Husse might be continued so procéed vnto the definitiue sentence then they alleadged other articles against him And last of all that he should say there should be a fourth person in the diuinitie whereto Iohn Husse saide O miserable and wretched man which am forced and compelled to feare such blasphemie slander Afterward the article was read how he appealed to Christ and that by name was called hereticall Whereunto Iohn Husse answered O Lord Iesu Christ whose word is openly condemned in this Councell vnto thée againe I make my appeale who H. appealeth to Christ when thou wast euill intreated of thine enemies diddest make thine appeale vnto God thy father committing thy cause to a most iust Iudge that by thy example we also being oppressed with manifold wrōgs iniuries should flie vnto thée Last of al was read the article touching the contempt of his excommunicatiō wherto after he had yelded a reasonable lawful answere one of the iudges read the definitiue sentence against him When the sentence and iudgement against him was ended Husse prayeth for his enemies is derided knéeling downe vpon his knées he said O Lord Iesu Christ forgiue mine enemies by whom thou knowest that I am falsly accused and that they haue vsed false witnesse and slanders against mée forgiue them I say for thy great mercies sake This his praier the greater part especially of the Priests derided At the last the 7. bishops disgraded him euery one taking a péece from him when they came to the rasing of his shauen crowne before the Bishops would go in hand with it there fell a great contentiō among them with what instrument it should be done with a razor or a paire of shieres The courage of Husse In the meane season Iohn Husse turning toward the Emperour said I maruel much that they being all of like cruell mind Cruelty of the bishops against Husse and stomake yet they cannot agrée of their kind of crueltie Notwithstanding at the last they agreed to cut of the skin of his head with a paire of shieres which being done they caused to be made a certaine crowne of paper almost a cubite high in the which were painted 3. ougly diuels of a wonderfull ougly shape and this title set ouer their heads Heresiarcha The which when he saw he saide My Lord Iesu Christ for my sake did weare a crown of thorns why should not I then for his sake againe weare this light crowne be it neuer so ignominious Truely I will doe it and that willingly When it was set vpon his head the Bishops said now we committe thy soule to the deuill But I said Ioh. Husse lifting his eyes toward the heauens doe committe my spirite vnto thy handes O Lord Iesu Christ to thée I commēd my soule which thou hast redéemed So after hee was committed to
come the next day to the Session When the 16. day of May was come all they whom the Session pleased assembled at the houre the Ambassadors also of the princes were come together into the Church quire to attempt further what they could doe and sending the Bishops of Lubeck and Concense and the Deane of Turnon an excellent learned learned man they offered themselues to be present at the Session if the deposition of Eugenius might be deferred yet 4. moneths who when they had receiued a gētle answere of Arelatensis and the other principals returning againe the Ambassadours would haue onely the first conclusion decréed and therevpon sent againe vnto Arelatensis vnto whom answere was made that the chiefe force did consist in the two other conclusions and that the Councell would specially determine vpon them with which answere they departed and the Session began to be celebrated and Arelatensis caused prayers and lamentations to be made Praiers with teares with lamentations and teares that God would direct them Although there were not many Bishops yet all the seates were filled with Bishops Proctors Archdeacōs Presidents Priors c. to the number of 400. or more all in great peace exhorting one another to the profession of the faith The B. of Massilia a Noble man read the decrée which was attentiuely hearkened vnto and not one worde interrupted when it was ended Te Deum laudamus was song with great ioy and gladnes and so the session dissolued which was the 33. Session and amongst all the rest most quiet and peaceable The 33. session most quiet The day following béeing the 22. of May the Princes Ambassadours The Princes Ambassadours yeelded without al mens expectatiōs it was thought béeing touched with remorse of conscience euen now to detest and abhorre that which they had done before came vnto the generall congregation and excused themselues of their absence namely the Bishoppe of Lubecke and the Bishop of Turnon who after he had made an end Cardinall Arelatensis gaue thankes to God that had so defended his Church c. Eugenius deposed Hauing declared the necessitie of the decrée he rose vp and the Congregation was dissolued Now after that Gabriel Condulmarius called Eugenius the fourth was deposed from the Bishopricke of Rome by the aduise of Iohn Segonius they stayed two monethes before they procéeded to elect another Pope In the meane time Letters were sent to the Princes to declare the deposing of Eugenius by the Sinode to publish it abroade During this time many died of the pestilence Death of the pestilence at the Councel at the coūcell as Ludouicus the Prothonotarie Ludouicus the Patriarch of Aquileia the Abbot of Doxa About the same time died also the K. of Arragons Almosiner in Switzerland the Abbot of Virgilia at Spire and Iohn the B. of Lubeck betwéene Vienna and Buda Yet Arelatensis would not depart but kept constant and helde out the Councel And after that the time of the decrée was passed and Gabriel deposed the Fathers procéeded to the election of another P. And first of all they nominated those that together with the Cardinals should elect the Pope The first and principall of the Electors was Cardinal Arelatensis the rest of the Electors were chosen out of the Italian French Germaine and Spanish Nations The next day after there was a Session holden wherein Marcus a famous Diuine made an Oration and reckoned vp the manifolde vices of Gabriel and described what kinde of man he ought to be that should succéede euen one quite contrarie vnto him in all respects The Electors receaued the Communion together and afterwarde tooke their oath Thoe ath that the Electors of the Pope take and the Cardinall Arelatensis opening the booke of Decrées read the forme of the oath in the audience of all men and first of all tooke the oath himselfe which was that hee woulde onely haue respect to the saluation of Christes people and profite of the vniuersal church and after him in like manner all the other Electors did take their oath then they went with great solemnitie vnto their conclaue where they remayned seuen dayes The manner of their election was on this sort Before the Cardinals seate was set a deske wherein there stoode a Bason of siluer The manner of electing the pope Into the which Bason all the Electors did cast their Schedules which the Cardinall receiuing read one by one and foure other of the Electors wrote as he did reade them The tenure of the Schedule was in this manner I George Bishoppe of Vienna doe choose such a one or such a one for Bishoppe of Rome and peraduenture named two Euery one of the Electors subscribed his name vnto the Schedule that he might thereby know his owne and say nay if it were contrarie to that which was spoken whereby all deceit was vtterly excluded The first scrutinie thus ended 17. of diuers nations were nominated notwithstanding Amideus D. of Sauoy who had béene married a man of singular vertue surmounted them all for in the first scrutinie he had the voice of 16. Electors In the next scrutinie which was holden in the nones of Nouember he had 21. voices and so likewise in the 3. and 4. scrutinies And forasmuch as there was none in all the scrutinie found to haue two partes all the other Schedules were burnt And because there lacked but one voice to the election of the high B. they fell to prayer desiring God that he would direct their mindes to the vnitie of the Church Amideus duke of Sauoy The next scrutinie the matter was ended and when the scrutiny was opened it was found that Amideus the most deuout Duke of Sauoy was chosen Pope Then the Cardinall Arelatensis published vnto them the name of the elect Bishop After this they gaue thanks in the great Church and declared the election again to the people and hauing song an himne departed Amideus thus being elected about Nouember was called Felix v. and was crowned in the citie of Basil the moneth of Iuly And thus much hetherto touching the councell of Basill which endured 17. yéeres About the 6. yéere of the councell Sigismund the Emp. died Emp. Sigismund dieth after him succéeded his son in law Albert second duke of Austrich a sore aduersary of the Bohemiās he was made Emp. an 1438. and raigned Emperour but 2. yéeres After whom succéeded his brother Frederick 3. duke of Austrich Now to returne to the Embassadors of the Bohemians who came to the councell of Basill the ninth of Ianuary to whom when cardinall Iulian had made an vnpleasant oration Rochezanus one of the Bohemians made also an oration and required to haue a day appoynted to be heard which was appointed the sixtenth day of the same moneth Vpon which day Iohn Rochezanus Rochezanus hauing made his Preface began to propound the first Article touching the Communion to be ministred in both kindes Disputation
1527. deuers persons were compeleld to abiure for denying to worship the Crucifix for transubstantiation holy daies pilgrimages Abiuration adoration of images speaking against the immoderate riches of Churchmen the reading of English bookes for denying a priest to haue two benefices c. Ann. 1511. the 18. of October William Sweeting Iohn Banister who before had recanted receiuing farther strēgth from God William Sweeting and Iohn Banister martyrs were burned in Smithfield for the testimony of the trueth which was concerning the reall presence Ann. 1517. one Ioh. Brown who had born a fagot before in the daies of K. Henry 7. was burned at Ashford for the profession of the truth Iohn Browne martyr condemned by Archb. Warrham first hauing had his féet burned to the bones by Warrham Fisher bishops to compell him to deny the trueth Ann. 1514. one Richard Hunn merchant tailor in the city of London was priuily made away and hanged in the Lollards tower Rich. Hunn for the trueth and after his death to make him more odious they picked certaine articles against him out of the preface of his English Bible This was done by one Doct. Hedd The 20. of Decemb. the dead corps of Richard Hunn was burned in Smithfield first hauing condēned it of heresy after they had hanged him in prison secretly is bodie was burned 16. daies after his murdering But the matter hauing bin fully examined by the councel iudges and iustices of the realme it was found by good proofe and sufficient euidence that D. Horsey the Chancelor D. Horsey the Chancelor Charles Ioseph the Summer and Iohn Spalding the hel-ringer had committed the murther But by the suited of the Bishop of London vnto the Carinall Woolsey at the gaole deliuery the next Sessions the kings attourney pronoūced the iudgement against Horsey to be fales and him not to be guilty of the murther An. 1518. the 24. of September Iohn Stilman who had before recanted 11. yéeres past was apprehended brought before Richard Fitz-Iames B. of London and the 25. Iohn Stilman burned of October was condemned for a relapse and burned in Smithfield Doctor Hedd vicar generall reading the sentence It was obiected that he spake against pilgrimages that he vsed to read bookes of Wickliffe at his wicket c. That he called the Pope Antichrist c. and that the inferiour were the synagogue of Sathan c. The same yéere the 29. of March Thomas Man martyr Tho. Man was burned in Smithfield who had before abiured ann 1511. the 14. of August against auricular confessiō the sacramē of extreme vnction against worshipping of images that the popish church was not the church of God c. Doct. Hedd pronoūced likewise sentence against him deliuered him to the sheriffe of London to be presently burned Pilate washeth his hands with this protestatiō made before that he might not consent to the death of any therfore he desired the sheriffe not to punish him with rigour This yere was the great abiuration at Amersham The great abiuration at Amecsham 700. conuerted by T. Man Knowne men Iustfast men Tho-Man confessed of himself as it appeareth by the register that he had conuerted 700. from popery to the trueth In those dayes those that were professors of the trueth were called knowne men and Iustfast men After T. Man was Robert Cosin also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against pilgrimages confession to priests and worshipping of Images c. Anno 1511. William Sweeting alias Clerke was condemned and burned for a relapse He was taken at Chelsith where he kept the Towne beasts and was their Netheard His articles were against Pilgrimages reall presence worshipping of Images He had dwelt 16. yeres and more with the prior of Saint Osich named George Lawne where hée so turned the Prior that hée was afterward compelled abiure which also William himselfe through frialtie had doone before Hée beyng asked what cause hée had why he should not be iudged as relapse said he had nothing else but onely that hée committed himselfe to the mercie of God With William Sweeting was also condemned the same time Iames Brewster of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Colchester Anno 1505. He had béene abiured by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury They were burned togither in Smithfield at one fire the 18. of October his Articles were against images pilgrimages worshipping of Images the sacrament of the altar c. Anno 1518. Christopher Shoomaker Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery for like articles afore For then the Churche of Rome was chiefely withstoode for Pilgrimages adoration of Saintes the Scripture in English and real presence William Smith Bishop of Lincolne died an 1515. who builded the Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford after whō succéeded Iohn Longland a Frier and cruell vexer of poore Christians who propounded such captions interrogatories that he forced one brother to detect another One brother detecteth another the husband the wife c. the husband the wife the brother the sister the son the father Yet notwithstanding all crueltie the number did so encrease that the B. séeing the matter almost paste his power was faine to require ayde of the king for the suppressing of them Whereto the king graunted and sent downe his letters to the Sheriffes Baylifes Officers c. to ayde the Bishop in that behalfe Whereupon a great number abiured anno 1521. in the Dioces of Lincolne and did sharpe panaunce Among which there were certain A great number abiure who because they had abiured vnder Bishop Smith were now condemned for relapse and were burned T. Bernard burned whose names are these Thomas Bernarde Iames Morden Robert Raw Iohn Scriuener Ione Norman and Thomas Holmes which had detected many of the brethren yet escaped hee not the relapese Iohn Scriueners owne children were compelled to set fire to their Father Vnnaturall crueltie as Ione Clarke was before compelled to doe to her Father William Tilsworth About this time D. Collet D. Collet was troubled of B. Fitziames Bricot and Standish but found fauor with the king Paules schole builded He erected the Schoole of Paules The firste Schoolemaster of his Schoole was W. Lilius This Collet was very lerned He died anno 1519. After Pope Iulius 2. succéeded Leo 10. who vnder pretēce of warring against the Turkes sent a Iubile with his pardons through all Christian Regions Dominions whereby he gathered innumerable riches and treasures The gatherers whereof perswaded the people that whosoeuer would geue x. s̄ should at his pleasure deliuer one soule out of purgatorie but if it were one iotte then then shillings Pardonous sold they preached that it would profit them nothing Ex Christ Mess li. 20. Chro. This filthie marchandise was brought into Germanie by a Dominike Frier called Tecellius whereupon Tecellius Frier Luther a Frier Augustine then
at hand then in that assembly to be handled notwithstanding Zuinglius vrged that if he or any had ought to say against his doctrine they would then declare it but when no man would appéere to dispute the assembly was discharged Wherevpon the Senate of Zuricke caused to be proclaimed thorough their dominion that the traditions of men should be abandoned Traditions of men abādoned in Zuricke 1523 Decree at Lucerna and the Gospell of Christ purely taught out of the old and new Testament Anno 1523. Sleid. lib. 3. The next yéere after there was an other decrée made at Lucerna of the contrarie part to the maintenaunce of Popish religion and against Luthers doctrine After this cōclusiō at Lucerna the Cantons of Heluetia directed their letters to the men of Zuricke lamenting their estate and blaming the new doctrine of Zuinglius and Leo Iuda Leo Iuda Cantons deuided and shewing to them the daunger that might follow Wherevnto the Tigurins and men of Zuricke made their answere againe the same yéere the one twentith of March purging themselues and iustifying the doctrine of the Gospell preached by Luther Zuinglius c. and offered themselues to be reformed if they were in errour by the Scriptures and that they would attend therefore till toward the end of May next ensuing as also from the Bishop of Constance and vniuersitie of Basill The moneth of May being come the B. of Constance answereth to the mē of Zuricke in a booke wherin he defendeth images and popish masse This booke they answered proued his doctrine by the scriptures to be false before they sent their answere pulled downe all the images in their dominion about the 13. of Iune And a few moneths after Images pulled downe an order was taken in the citie of Zuricke betweene the Canons of the church and citie for disposing the lands and possessions of the Colledge This profession of the Tigurins of the 13. pages The Cantons that misliked Zuinglius sixe did chiefly mislike to witte Lucernates Vrani Suicenses Vnterualdii Tugiani Fiburgenses These in no case would bee reconciled but layde diuers slaunderous matters to their charge whereof the Tigurins diligently purged themselues Anno 1525. in the moneth of Aprill next following the citie of Zuricke banished the masse in all their dominion Masse banished and placed in stéede thereof the supper of the Lorde the reading of the Scriptures praying Also a Law was made against whoredome adulterie and Iudges ordained to heare the causes of matrimony an 1525. Sleid. lib. 4. The other seuen pages appointed among themselues cōcerning a méeting disputation to be had at Baden where were present among other Diuines Iohannes Faber Eckius and Murnerus The Bishops also of Lucerna Basill Suriake and Lawsanna sent thither their Legats the conclusions propounded were that the body and blood of Christ are present in the Sacrament That the masse is a sacrifice for quicke dead That the blessed virgin and other saintes are to be inuocated as mediators intercessors That images ought not to be abolished That there is a Purgatorie Which conclusions Eckius took vpon him stoutly to defend Against him reasoned Oecolāpadius who was then chiefe preacher at Basill with other mo Zwinglius was not permitted of the Senate to be heard The conclusion of the disputation was that al should remaine as it was This was done in the moneth of Iune 1527 A disputation at Berne Anno 1527. in the moneth of December the people of Bern appointed a disputation at Bern and sending forth writings thereof called all the Bishops about them thither as of Constance Seduno Lansanna warning them both to come themselues and to bring their Diuines with them or els to loose such possessions as they had lying within the precinct of their territorie After this they appointed ecclesiasticall persons of their owne iurisdiction to dispute Scriptures only to decide controuersies determining the whole disputation to be decided onely by the authoritie of the olde and new Testament And to the intent men might come thither better prepared they propoūded in writing ten conclusions Ten conclusions to bée defended of their ministers by the scriptures which ministers were Franciscus Colbus and Berthaldus Hallerus The themes were these 1. The true church heareth only the word of God 2 It maketh no laws without it 3. That traditions ordained by the Church onely bind as they agrée with the word of God 4. That Christ only hath made satisfaction for our sins 5. That Christes body is not really in the sacrament 6. That the sacrifice of the masse is cōtumelious to Christ his sacrifice 7. That Christ is only to be inuocated as mediator 8. That there is no purgatory 9. Against images 10. Against single life of priests To these letters articles the Lucernats Vranites Scinthians Vnterualdians Tugians Glareans Soliturnians they of Freiburg answered again by cōtrary letters exhorting them of Bern to desist from their purpose concluding that they would neither send nor suffer any learned man to come thither nor graunt safeconduct for any to passe through their countrey The Bishops refuse disputation Al this notwithstanding the Lords of Bern the 7. of Ianuary procéeded in their disputatiō Of the bishops before assigned nor one came neuertheles the city of Basil Zuricke and Schafuse and Abbecelle Sangallium Mallusia with the neighbours of Rhetia also they of Strasborough Vlmes Ausburgh Lyndane Constance and Isne sent thether their Embassadours The Doctors of Berne began their disputation there were present Zuinglius Oecolampadius Bucerus Capito Blaurerus with other mo which defended the affirmatiue On the contrary part the chiefe was Conradus Tregerius a frier Augustine who shifting from the Scriptures to the Doctors not being permitted so to doo by the moderators of the disputatiō would dispute no more This disputation endured 19. daies The dispute lasted 19. daies and in the end it was agréed that the conclusions were agréeable to the word of God and should be ratified not only in Berne but also in certaine other cities néere adioyning Furthermore that masses altars and images should be in al places abolished At the city of Constance certain things begā to be altred before in which citie the preacher Ambrosius Blanreus was a notable man had bin a monke before in the monastery of Alperspacke in the Duchy of Wittemberg After this disputation thus concluded at Berne Berne reformed the Images and altars with ceremonies and masses were abolished at Constance Geneua reformed they likewise of Geneua followed the example of Bern by reason whereof the Bishops and Cleargy departed the citie The Bernates after they had redressed with them the state of religion The Bernates refuse the league of the french K they renounced the league made before with the French king refusing the warly stipend folowing the example of the Tigurins which before had done the like
partie good against him tooke his Bible with the notes in the Margine and burned it At the last disputation Duke Anthony himselfe was sayd to be there disguised who although hee vnderstood not the speach of Wolgangus beyng in Latine yet perceyuing him to be bold and constant Courage and constancie departing from the disputation pronounced he should be burned because he denied the Church and sacrifice of the Masse Wolgangus hearing the sentence of his condemnation began to sing the 122. Psalme I reioyced when they said vnto me we will go into the house of the Lord and at the execution sang the 51. Psalme till the smoke and flame tooke from him his voyce and life Shortly after his death the Commendator of Saint Anthonie of Vienna who sate as spiritual iudge ouer him and gaue sentence of his condemnation fell sodainly downe and died Also his felow which was abbot of Clarilocus Gods vengeance and suffragane of the Bishop of Mentz sodainly at the comming in of the Duches of Denmarke into the citie of Nancie stricken with a feare at the cracke of guns fell downe and died Ex Lud. Rab. Pant Ann. 1526. Ioh. Huglein 1526 Ioh. Huglein priest was burned at Mespurgh by the Bish of Constance for that he did not hold with the B. of Rome his doctrine in all points This yéere the Ladie Katherine the olde Emperours yong sister was promised in marriage with Iohn Fredericke sonne and heire to the Prince electour of Saxonie but thorough the alteration of religion they swarued from their couenants and Hawnart No promise to be kept with heretikes the Emperours Ambassadour in Germany said plainly that there was no promise to be kept with heretikes Anno 1527. George Carpenter 1527 George Carpenter of Emering was burned in the towne of Munchen in Bauaria 1. Because hée did not beléeue that a priest could forgiue sins 2. He beleued not a man could call God out of heauen 3. He beleued not that God was in the bread 4. He beléeued not that the element in Baptisme giueth grace The same yere Leonard Keyser Leonard Keysar of the countrey of Bauaria was put to death for the testimonie of the truth he was of the town of Raw 4. miles frō Passaw of a famous house He being at his study in Wittēberg was sent for by his brethrē who certified him that if he wold sée his father aliue he shold come with speed he was scarse come thither whē as by the cōmandmēt of the B. of Passaw he was takē by his mother brethrē The mother brethren against children and brethren The articles with he was accused of were the faith only iustifieth 2. Works are the fruites of faith 3. The masse is no sacrifice nor oblation also hée denied confession satisfaction vowe of single life Purgatorie difference of dayes inuocation of Saintes and for holding onelie two Sacraments c. They that sate in iudgement of him were the Bishop of Passaw the suffraganes of Ratisbone and Passaw and with them Eckius béeyng garded with armed men He suffered the 16. of August Ex 6. tomo operum Lutheri Wendelimuta Anno 1527. a vertuous widowe named Wendelmuta was first strangled and after burned at Hage in Holland the twentieth of Nouember for the profession of the trueth ex Pantal. Anno 1529. Peter Filsteden and Adolph Clareback 1529 Peter Filsteden Adolph Clarebacke Germanes by the commaundement of the Archb. and Senate of Collen were burned there for the trueth especially of the supper of the Lord after that they had endured imprisonment a yéere and a halfe At that time certaine popish Preachers perswaded the people that the putting to death of certaine wicked persons meaning the Gospellers shoulde pacifie the wrath of God who then plagued Germany with the sweating sicknes Sleid. Nicholas Ann. 1524. one Nicholas of Antwerp was apprehended preaching without the towne by two butchers seruantes and put into a sack and drowned by the Craue at Antwerp Persecutor Charles the Emperour Iohan. Pictor At the same time Iohannes Pictorius a learned man of Holland A couragious martyr and partly of kin to Erasmus Roterodamus was first strangled and then burned pronouncing at his death O death where is thy victory The Persecutors Margaret aughter of Maximilian princesse of Holland M. Montane M. Rosemund Inquisitors M. Iodocus Louering Vicar of Mechling He was condemned for speaking against masse and pardons and subtile abuses of priests Anno 1525. Mathias Weibel 1525 M. Weibell Schoolemaster was hanged by Campadonium in Sweuia for saying somewhat agoinst the Abbots first Masse and against carrying about of relikes The persecutor was Sebastian Baitesteni The same yere a good priest being cōmanded to geue good councell to 16. Countreymen that should be beheaded A Priest martir was afterward himselfe bidden knéele downe and had his head cut off onely for méere hatred against the Gospel The persecutors were certaine noble men after the commotion of Countreymen in Germanie Ex Gastia Anno 1528. G. Sherrer 1528 G. Sherrer a Preacher was put to death at Rastat frō Saltzburgh x. miles He was condemned to bée burned aliue but meanes was made that he was first beheaded Going towards his death he saide That you may know I die a Christian I will geue you a signe and so hée did for when the head was stricken from his shoulders the bodie falling vpon the bellie A signe so continued the space that one might well eate an egge after that it softly turned it selfe vpon the backe and crossed the right foote and likewise the right hand ouer the left At the fight whereof the Magistrates would not burne his bodie but buried it with other Christian mens bodies Mat. Flat Illiric An. 1522. At Dornick Henrie Flemming 1522 H. Fleming was burned by Balthasar Officiall He was sometimes a Frier and being offered life by Balthasar if he would confesse his wife to be an harlot denyed so to doe and was thereupon burned at Dornicke Anno 1539. A good priest dwelling not farre from Basill was slaine of his guest another wicked drunken priest for the which fact the wicked priest was both dismissed of his B. and had also a greater benefice geuē him for his worthie at Ex Ioh. Gast Pantal. Anno 1543. At Louaine 28. men and women were taken that professed the trueth and tormented seuerally Among whom there was one Paulus a Priest of sixtie yeres who staggering in his confession for feare of death was had out of Louan and condemned to perpetuall prison which was a stinking dungeon where he was suffered neither to reade nor write and was fedde onely with bread and water Other two there were who beecause they had reuoked before were burned which they endured cherefullie There was also an old man and two aged women brought foorth of which the one was called Antonia Antonia of an auncient stock in
least he should come in danger for his sake required W. Hunter to depart from him which he did and came to Burntwood where his Father dwelt with whom he remained about the space of half a quarter of a yéere till being suspected for reading the vj. of Iohn in the chappell of Burntwood One Father Otwell a sumner and one Thomas Wood vicar of Southweild with whom also he disagréed in reasoning of points of the sacrament he was cōplained of by the vicar to iustice Browne but Hunter being afraid of the vicars threats fled Browne sent for Hūters father with the Constable threatned him punishment except he would bring vnto him his son The father to satisfie the expectation of Browne road ij or iij. daies iourneis in the high way William met with his Father who after he had with many teares declared what charge Browne had giuen him the sonne said he would go home with him to saue him harmeles whatsoeuer came of it The father cōpelled against the sonne So he was brought to iustice Browne who after he had reasoned with him out of the sixt of Iohn and could not peruert him made a letter immediatly and sent William Hunter with a Constable to the bishop of London who not able to alter Hunters minde neither by threates nor flatteries commaunded his men to put him in the stockes in his gatehouse where hée sat two dayes and nightes onely with a crust of brownebread and a cup of water After two daies the B. assaied him againe and finding him constant sent him to the conuict prison and commaundeth the kéeper to lay irons enough on him So hée continued in prison thrée quarters of a yéere in the whiche time hée had béene before the Bishop fiue times besides the time when he was condemned the ix day of February in the consistory of Paules with fiue other mo After sentence of condemnation of them all the Bishop called for William Hunter and perswaded with him saying if thou wilt yet recant I will make thée a frée man in the Citie and giue thée fortie pounds in good mony to set vp thine occupation withall or I will make thée Stewarde of my house and I will preferre thée c. Whereto after William had said he counted all wordly thinges but losse and dunge in respect of the loue of Christe with the rest hée was ledde to Newgate where they remayned aboute a moneth and afterwarde were sent downe William to Burntwood and the other to other places in the Countrie Now when William was come downe into the Countrie to Burntwood whiche was the Saturday before the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary that followed on the Munday after William remained till the Tuesday because they would not put him to death then for the holynes of the day In the meane time his father mother came and comforted him Hunters mother encourageth him to be constant and encouraged him his mother saying that shée was glad that euer shée was so happie to beare suche a sonne who coulde finde in his heart to loose his lyfe for Christes names sake Then William aunswered for my little payne whiche I shall suffer whiche is but short Christ hath promised me said he a crowne of ioy may you not be glad of that mother with other such words of ioy and comfort on both partes Thus passing away saterday Sunday and munday on Tuesday morning when it was morning the Sheriffe maister Brocket called on to set forward to the burning of William Hunter Whose sonne yet did imbrace and comfort William At the place of his martyrdom there was a Popish priest that endeuoured to peruert him at the stake and saide vnto him as thou burnest here so shalt thou burne in hell To whom William answered thou lyest false prophet away thou false prophet away His brother béeyng by saide vnto him William Hunters brother encourageth him thinke on the passion of Christ and bée not afrayde of death To whom hée aunswered I am not afrayde then lift hée vp his handes to heauen and saide Lorde Lorde Lorde receiue my spirite And casting downe his head againe into the smothering smoke hée yéelded vp his life for the trueth The eight of August Anno 1553. William Sarton William Sarton weauer of Bristow was brought before Dalbie Chancellour of Bristow and by him condemned for holding against the sacrament of the altar He was burned the 18. of September Anno 1556. At Bedaile a market towne in Yorkeshire were two men persecuted for the trueth of the Gospell in the latter dayes of Quéene Marie the one named Iohn Suell and the other Richarde Suell their imprisonment was so sore that their toes rotted off In the ende the one of them at length yeelded to heare masse and within thrée or foure dayes after his libertye hée drowned himselfe in a riuer running by Richmonde called Swaile the other endured to the ende béeyng condemned by Doctour Dakins Who after sentence giuen against the martyr came home to his house and neuer ioyed after but died Anno 1555. the xxvi of March Maister Higbed and Maister Canston Gentlemen of Essex were put to death for the testimonie of the Gospel the one at Hornden of the hill and the other at the parish of Thundrest Boner perceiuing these two Gentlemen to bée of woorshipfull estate least anie tumult shoulde thereby arise came downe himselfe accompanied with Fecknam and certaine other and laboured with faire promises and threatninges Which when they saw would not preuaile the B. carried them both with him to London and with them certaine other prisoners also which about the same time were in those quarters apprehended Not long after this these prisoners were committed to straight prison and there attempted sundry waies by the B. and his chaplains to reuoke their opinions At length when no perswasion would serue they were brought to open examination at the Consistory at Paules the 17. day of February Anno 1555. Where being demaunded whether they would recant and they denying so to do were assigned the next day to appeare againe the 18. of Februarie On which day among many other things the Bishop read vnto them seuerall Articles and gaue them respite till the next day to answere and so committed them to prison againe The articles did touch the reall presence and that the godly martyrs who were burned were heretikes with other to this effect These béeyng giuen them in writing the next daie was assigned to them to giue their answere Vpon which day béeyng the first of Marche they did exhibite their aunsweres contrarie to the determination of the Romish Churche and denying to recant they were againe dismissed and commaunded to appeare the Wednesday nexte after at twoo of the clocke at after noone there to receyue definitiue sentence The next Friday they were called for agayne and no hope being had of their recantation were againe dismissed to pryson and commaunded to appeare the nexte day in the consistorie of
age of foure and fiftie yéeres dwelling in the Dioces of Exceter not farre from Lawceston burned at Exceter for the testimonie of the truth Shée was persecuted of her husband and children The wife was persecuted of husband and children and condemned by the Bishop whose name was Troubleuile Among other communication when the Bishop had said let this mad woman bée put downe to prison till we send for her husband she answered him no I haue but one husband which is here already in this cittie meaning Christ and in prison with me from whom I will neuer depart Christ the martyrs husband After that saying they thought good to giue her a moneths libertie to prooue if she might thereby be chaunged during which time of her libertie it happened that shée entring into Saint Peters church beheld there a cunning Dutchman how he made new noses to certaine fine Images which were disfigured in King Edwards daies What a mad man art thou said she to make them new noses which within a few dayes shall also loose their heads The Dutchman accused her and layd it to her charge And moreouer she sayd vnto him thou art accursed and so are thine Images He called her whore Nay sayd shée thine Images are whores A worthy martyr and thou art a whore hunter for dooth not God say You go a whoring after straunge Gods figures of your owne making and thou art one of them Then was shée sent for and clapt fast At the last when they perceiued her to bée past remedie and had withstood all their threatnings and flattery shée was deliuered to the temporall power Of whom shée was exhorted yet to call for grace and to leaue her fond opinions and go home to thine husband sayd they thou art an vnlearned Woman thou art not able to answere to such high matters Note I am not sayd shée yet with my death I am content to be a witnesse to Christes death and I pray you make no longer delay with mée my heart is fixed I will neuer otherwise say nor turne to your superstitious dooings Then the Byshop did say the Diuell did lead her No my Lord sayd shée it is the Spirit of God which leadeth mée and which called mée in my bedde and at midnight opened his truth vnto mée for once especially at midnight praying to God for strength and assistaunce shée found it plentifully In the end after shée had receyued sentence of death shée lifted vp her voyce and thanked God saying I thanke thée my Lord God this day haue I found that I haue long sought After iudgement giuen agaynst her they promised to spare her life if shée would yet recant Nay that will I not said shée God forbid that I should loose the life eternall Note for this carnall and short life I will neuer turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the fellowship of Angels to mortall children And if my husband and children bée faithfull then am I theirs God is my Father God is my mother God is my sister my brother my kinsman God is my friend most faithful so being brought to the place of slaughter she méekly suffered calling vpon the name of God saying God be merciful to me a sinner God be me mercifull to me a sinner The 7. of May were burned at Bristow being condemned by M. Dalbney the Chancelour Richad Sharp Weauer of Bristow and Thomas Hall Tho. Hall Shoemaker of the same towne Sharpe Ioh. Sharpe by the perswasion of the Chancelor had recanted and afterward felt such anguish of minde and conscience that shortly after comming to his parish Churche called Temple he came to the quire doore and said with a loude voyce Neighbors beare me record that yonder Idoll pointing to the altar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied the Lorde my God Wherupon he was apprehended and burned with the other at one stake which they chéerefully suffered embracing the flame The 27. of the same moneth Tho. Benion Tho. Benion was burned at Bristow being condemned by the same Chauncellour Dalbney The 10. of Nouember suffered fiue of Gods children at Canterburie being hastened to the fire by the bloody Archdeacon notwithstanding he had heard in what danger Q. Mary was Their names were Ioh. Cornford Ioh. Cornford of Worthā Christoph Brown Christopher Browne of Maidstone Iohn Herst Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Alice Snoth Katherin Knight Kath. Knight aliâs Tilney an aged woman Against these when sentence should be read and they excommunicated one of them Iohn Cornford stirred with a vehement spirite of the zeale of God procéeding in a more true excommunication against the Papists in the name of them all pronounced sentence against them in these words following In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ The martyr excommunicateth the Papists the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite and the authority of his Apostolike church c. proceding with his excōmunication against all mainteiners of the false church Which sentence tooke such effect against the enemy that within sixe daies after Quéene Mary died and the tyranny of all English Papists with her Note Alice Snoth or Agnes Snoth who was burnt before being at the stake called for her Godfather and Godmothers whom when the maide saw she asked them what they had promised for her and so immediatly rehearsed her faith and the commaundements of God and required if there were anie more that they had promised in her behalfe and they said no. Then said she I die a Christian woman beare witnes of me And so was she with fire consumed These godly martyrs in their praiers which they made before their martirdome desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and so it was There were diuers of Gods children in prison which by the death of Quéene Marie escaped some after sentence of death pronounced Of which sort were Iohn Hunt and Richarde VVhite who after two yéeres captiuitie were condemned by Doctour Geffery the Bishops Chancellour The Sheriffe béeing vrged very vehemently to burne them refused because they had no writ Which comming down not long after one M. Michael Syr Anthony Hungerfords vndersheriffe a godly man took it burnt it saying I will not be guiltie of these mens blood Within foure daies after the Chauncellour dieth and the confessors of the Gospel remained in prison till the happie daies of Queene Elizabeth There was a godly man named Iohn Fette a Tailor of 42. yéeres dwelling in the parish of Clarkenwell accused by his owne wife The husband accused by his wife imprisoned by the B. in Lollards tower where he suffered great extremity hanging in the stocks This poore man had a childe of 8. or 9. yéeres olde that came to visite his father to whom a Priest of the Bishops house said why thy
to say to the first probation This varying of theirs from the first order was permitted without any great refusing because they excused themselues with mistaking the order and agréed again that they would not faile but put it in writing according to the former order and deliuer it to the other part So the B. of Winchester his Colleagues appointed D. Cole Deane of Paules to be the vtterer of their mindes Who partly by spéech only and partly by reading authorities written at certaine times informed by his colleagues what to say made a declaration of their meanings and their reasons to their first propositions Which being ended they were asked by the priuy Counsaile if any of them had any more to say and they saide no. So the other were licensed to shew their mindes which they did according to their first order exhibiting all that which they ment to propound in a booke written which after prayer made most humbly to God for the endewing of them with his holy spirit a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the Catholike church builded vpon the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles was distinctly read by one Robert Horne batcheler of Diuinitie after B. of Winchester Which whē he had doone with some likelihood it séemed that the same was much allowable to the audience certayne of the B. began contrary to their former answere to say that they now had much to say to this matter So it was ordered agréed vpon on both parts in full audience that vpon munday following the Bishops should bring their minds and reasons in writing to the second assertion and the last also if they could and first reade the same And that done the other part should bring likewise theirs to the same being read each of them should deliuer to other the same writings and in the meane time the Bishoppes should put in writing not onely that which Doctor Cole had that day vttered but all such other matters as they any otherwise coulde thinke of for the same And assoone as they might possible to send the same booke touching that first assertion to the other part and they should receiue of thē the writing which Master Horne had read there that day And vpon Munday it should be agréed what day they should exhibite their answers touching the first proposition This both parties assented vnto and so the assemblie was quietly dismissed On Munday the assemblie being mette by the Lordes of the Counsell and other of the Nobilitie c. the Popish Bishops brake againe their order agréed vpon Papists break order againe and refused to deale in the second Question according as it was agréed vpon but would néedes reade that which they had written of the first proposition Moreouer they refused to beginne but would haue the other part to beginne first and beyng glad to auoyd altogether the cause for which they were assembled began to cauill with Maister Horne of what Church hée was of his fellowes my Lord Kéeper perceiuing their digressiō from the purpose admonished them thereof In the end they would not be brought to begin So the assembly was faine to breake vp nothing being doone for which their wilfulnesse and contempt Wilfulnes contempt in the popish bishops the Bishops of Winchester Lincolne were committed to the Tower the rest sauing the Abbot of Westminster who was willing to begin stood bound to make dayly their appearance before the Counsaile and not to depart the citie of London Westminster vntil further order were taken with them for their disobedience contempt About the time that the B. aforesaid were committed to the Tower Boner was committed to the Marshalsea In this Parlement Doctor Storie vaunted himselfe opēlie of his crueltie in Quéene Maries daies as indéed he was one of the cruellest lamenting that he had not laide to the roote as his intent was but rather shrubbed off the twigs Storie vaunteth of his crueltie saying he was once at the burning of an heretike for so hée tearmed the Martirs at Vxbridge where he tost a fagot at his face as he was singing Psalmes and set a whinbush of thornes vnder his féete a little to prick him With many other wordes to like effect In this Parlement the Pope lost his supremacie Popes Supremacie repealed The Gospell aduaunced and the bloudie Actes of Q. Marie were repealed the Gospel aduāced and the olde Bishops deposed for refusing to subscribe to the Quéenes lawfull Title In whose roomes and places succéeded first to Cardinall Poole D. Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterburie In the place of Heath succéeded Doctor Yong In the stead of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishoppe of London Popish Bishops displaced and Protestāts placed For Hopton Thurlebie Tonstall Pates Christopherson Peto Coates Morgan Feasie White Oglethorpe c. were placed D. Parkhurst in Norwich D. Cox in Ely Iewel in Salisburie Pilkenton in Duresme D. Sandes in Worcester M. Downam in Westchester Bentame in Couētrée Lichfield Dauid in Saint Dauids Allie in Exceter Horne in Winchester Scorie in Hereford Best in Carlil Bullingham in Lincolne Scambler in Peterborow Bartlette in Bath Ghest in Rochester Bailie in Chichester c. About the moneth of Iune anno 1581. one Richard Atkins and englishmā borne in Hartfordshire came to Rome and hauing found the English Colledge knocked at the dore and after other spéech declareth vnto his Countreimen that he came louingly to rebuke the great disorder of their liues and to let the proud Pope vnderstande that he offendeth the heauenlie Maiestie committing Idolatrie c. When they heard these wordes one Hugh Gryffon a welchman caused him to be put into the Inquisition From whence vpon what condition it is not knowen within few dayes he was set at libertie againe And one day going in the stréete he met a Priest carrying the Sacrament which offending his conscience to sée the people so worship it hée caught at it to haue throwen it downe but missing of his purpose being iudged by the people to haue caught at the holinesse which they say commeth from the Sacrament of méere deuotion he was let passe R. Atkins ouerthroweth the Chalice at Rome Within fewe dayes after he came to S. Peters Church where the Priest was at the Eleuation and shewing no reuerence stepped among the people to the Altar and threwe downe the Chalice with the wine striuing also to haue pulled the Cake out of the Priestes handes For this fact he was caried to prison and being condemned within a while after was set vpon an Asse without any Saddle he being from the middle vpwarde naked and all the way as he went to execution foure did nothing els but thrust at his naked bodie with burning Torches Whereat he neuer moued nor shrunke any iote but with a chéerefull countenance laboured to perswade the people oft bending his bodie to méete the Torches as they were thrust at
Stealing aboue xii d. ead Monkery commeth into Enland eadem Oswaldus a great patron of monkerie eadem Saint Edmonds-bury 109 Dunstane suspendeth the K. for adulterie eadem Priests displaced monks placed 111 New Monks differ from old eadem K. Edgar mainteined learning 112 48. monast foūded by Edg. The K. enioined penance by Dunstan eadem Saboth frō saterday 9. of the clock til munday 113 Strife betweene priestes and Monks ead A monstrous euil pope 114 P. restored by harlots ead P. killed in adulterie ead Pope geueth his election to the Emperor 115 Pope put in prison ead Cruel reuēge of the P. ead Christning of belles ead Pope strangled ead Popes eyes put out he famished in prison 116 The popes dead body drawn through the streetes ead popes eies put out ead Crueltie ead A councel at Rome 117 7 Electors of the empire ead The strange reign of a K. ea Peace bought of the Danes for money ead Sea of Durham began 118 Danegelt ead Danes slaine ead Turkillus a Dane ead Vexation of the Danes ead Treason of a Deacon ead Monks tithed by the Danes 119 Elphegus stoned by the Danes eadem The K. chased by the Danes ead Fasting praier ead The crown of Englande offered to S. Edm. shrine 120 A false Iudge deposed ead Edmund slaine ead Promise wel performed 121 Reward of traytors ead King Edgars lawes ead Hardeknoutus dieth 122 The last K. of the Danes ead Alfred cruelly murdred ead Romescot ead S. Edmonds burie turned frō priests to monkes 123 A Roode crowned king of England ead A good law against adulterie ead The land vexed by the Danes 255. yeres ead M. Scotus ead Duke of Normandy made heire of the Crowne 124 Harold sweareth to duke W. ead Abbey of Couentrie ead King Edward dieth ead K.E. begā the cōmō law 125 The law at this day ead D. Wil. contrary to his oath ouerthroweth lawes ead Conditions of peace offered to Harold ead Saxons rule endeth 126 Archb. of Cant. ead Siluest agreeth with the deuill for the popedome ead The deuil deceiued Sil. ead Ratling of Silu. bones 127 Feast of all Souls ead The popedome sold ead Petra dedit c ead 3 popes at one time ead No P. without the Emp. ead One P. poysoneth 6 ead Hildebrand 128 Councel at Versellis ead Councel at Laterane ead Priests may not marry ead The pope and archbishop fal out at Masse eadem Brazutus the poisoner ead The terrible sentence of excommunication 130 The pope elected onely by the Cardinall eadem Berengarius recanteth ead Transubstantiation hatched eadem Toctius threatneth the P. ea Two popes fight eadem Hildebrand pummeled the pope 131 The pope stinted at twentie pence the day eadem Hildebrand encrocheth the treasure of the church ead William Conqueror 133 Crueltie of the cōqueror ea Englishman a name of reproch eadem England fiue times ouerrun eadem Normans placed eadem Stigandus archbishop deposed eadem Lanfranke Archb. of Canterbury 134 Contentiō for primacie ead Two palles geuē to Lanfrank eadem Yorke subiect to Cāterb ea Bishops seates altered from townes to citties 135 Ecclesiasticall decrees ead Priests against monks ead Lanfranke dieth for sorrow eadem P. Hildebrād a sorcerer ead Hildebrand cōtemneth the Emperour 136 Both the swords eadem Pope cannot erre eadem Presbiteresse eadem Councell against mariage of priests eadem Decree against marriage resisted eadem A schisme eadem Hildebrād a villanous pope eadem None chosen pope vnder 3. daies after his predecessors buriall 137 The pope excommunicateth the Emperour ead The P. practiseth to kill the Emp. at praier eadem Hildebrand asked counsell of the host and casteth it into the fire because it would not answer ead The Emperour goeth barefoote to the Pope ead A popish interpretatiō of simonie 138 A terrible pope eadem The Emper. forced to yeeld to the Pope eadem The Emper. brought vnder the Popes foote eadem The Emperour yeeldeth his crowne to the Pope ead Hard conditions eadem Henricus 4. deposed 140 Petra dedit Petro eadem Rodolph chosen Emp. ead Rodolph woūded to death eadem Crimes against the P. 141 Hildebrand deposed dieth in banishment ead Williā cōqueror dieth ead The Cōqueror giuē to make peace in his land 142 Great slaughter of Englishmen eadem The first B. of Salisbury ead Secundū vsum Sarum ead The vse of Gregory ead The Abbot killeth his mōks eadem A bishop eatē with mise 143 Rats tower eadem William Rufus eadem Lanfranke dieth eadem Nothing of the king but for mony eadem Victor 3. Pope eadem Victor poysoned in his chalice 144 Charterhouse monkes ead Vrbanus pope eadem Two popes at once ead White monkes eadem Viage against the Saracens eadem Peter the heremite 145 Ierusalem wonne from the Saracens eadem Prohibition of goyng to Rome eadem Canonicall houres eadem Lawful for subiects to break their oath of allegeance eadem The citie of Canterbury geuen to the archb ead Anselme the Archbishop against the king eadem Vrbane and Clement popes at strife 146 The king faine to relent to the archbishop eadem A Councell eadem Archb. of Cāterb called the pope of England ead 29. Articles of controuersie betweene the Churche of Rome and the Greeke Church 147 The Latines holden for excommunicates eadem The Romanes euery yeare solemnly excōmunicated of the Greekes eadem The Pope excommunicated the Greekes 148 The pope commandeth the king of England ead The king slaine pag. 149 Kings of Wales cease eadem King Beauclarke eadē King Edwards lawes restored eadem Little saint Bartholomewes founded by means of a minstrell eadem Priests sequestred from their wiues eadem Anselme restored ead Priestes woulde not forsake their wiues 150 Anselm insolent against the king ead For the price of his head eadem A proud pope ead The king reconciled to Anselme 151 Priests pay money to the K. for their wiues ead Anselme yeelded to in all poynts eadem Pope Paschalis 152 The popes ornaments eadē Popes seuen folde power eadem That Antichrist was borne edem Married priests condemned for Nicholaitans ead The Emperour deposed by the pope eadem Let God see and iudge ead The pope setteth the Emperours sonne against his father 153 The Emperour craueth to be a prebend but could not obtaine it ead The Emperour dieth for sorow ead No Emperour to haue to doe with the election of the pope ead The Emperour like to bee slaine at Rome ead The pope faine to agree to the Emperour ead The pope breaketh couenant 154 The Germanes rebell ead The Emperour giueth ouer to the pope ead Bernardine monks ead Gelasius ead Gregory 8. ead Calixtus ead The Emperor faine to yeeld ead A shameful vsage of the pope ead Imber dayes 155 Premonstratensis ead Canterbury fiue yeeres voyd to the Kinges vse eadem Ely made a bishopricke eadem A councel of 434. prelates eadem The pope excommunicateth the Emperour 156 The king of England sueth to the pope eadem Submit to Canterbury eadē
third yere of Traianus and suffered the xij yere of his Raigne Alexander Alexander who succéeded Euaristus conuerted a great part of the Senators of Rome to the faith Among whom one Hermes Hermes a great man in Rome whose sonne being dead he raised to life and restored sight to his maide being blinde Which Adrianus the Emperor hearing of sent word to Aurelianus Gouernor of Rome to apprehend Alexander with Euentus Euentus and Theodulus Theodulus otherwise called Theodorus his two Deacons and Hermes Hermes to committe them to Warde with Quirinus the Tribune whose daughter named Albina Albina he cured which mooued Quirinus Quirinus with all his house to be baptized and suffred also for the faith of Christ In the second yere of Hadrian Aurelianus tooke Alexander with Hermes his wife children and whole housholde 1250. and threw them into prison and not long after burnt them all in a Furnace Whose crueltie being rebuked by Theodulus another Deacon of Alexander caused also vnto himselfe the same martirdome Quirinus the same time as saith Antoninus hauing first his tongue cut out then his handes and féete afterwarde was beheaded and cast to the dogges The thirde Persecution The third persecution BEtwixt the second persecution and the third was but one yere vnder the Emperor Nerua Nerua After whom succéeded Traianus Traianus who raysed the thirde persecution which was so grieuous that Plinius Secundus Plinius Secundus moued with compassion being himselfe an Infidel wrote to the Emperour and certified him that so many thousandes were put to death without cause sauing that they vsed to gather themselues together before day to sing hymnes to a certaine God whom they worshipped called Christ Whereupon the persecutions were greatly alaied The summe of Plinies letters to the Emperor Plinies letter for mitigation of the persecution THe summe of the Epistle was that the Emperour would resolue how long to inflicte the punishment with respecte of Age Sexe or Degrée Whether any Pardon might be graunted vnto such as would denie the faith or whether that offēce alone should so grieuously be punished or if other offences did aggrauate the fault who their Religion and excepted their worshipping of Christ els cōmitted they nothing against the lawes as euē such that had renoūced their faith confessed as he had made proofe by laying 2. christian maids on the racke to proue if they could haue extorted confession of further crime And that for asmuch as some although many of them encreased gaue their names to doo sacrifice with incēse vnto the image of the Emperor and sacrifices were more then before brought to be sold if space were granted they might be amended which else by great multitudes might run into daunger of condemnation To whom the Emperor made answere The Emperours answere that he would not haue the christiās sought for but if any were brought cōuicted such should suffer executiō such as vnfainedly denied the faith would do sacrifice in opē place should be receiued to mercy Certaine Sectaries there were of the Iewes that accused Simeon Simeon then B. of Ierusalem sonne of Cleophas to come of the stocke of Dauid and that he was a Christian Wherevpon he was scourged by Attalus Attalus commaundement then Proconsull during the space of many daies together being of the age of 120. and with great admiration giuen of his constancie he ended his course vpon the crosse Vnder this Traiane which next followed Nerua amōg others Phocas Phocas B. of Pōtus suffered whō Traianus because he refused to do sacrifice to Neptune cast into a hot furnace and after into a scalding bath Anton. Eginl fascic temporum In the same persecutiō suffered also Sulpitius Sulpitius Seruilianus Seruilianus two Romanes whose wiues are said to be Emphrosina Emphrosina Theodora Theodora whom Salma Salma did conuert to the faith and afterward were also martyred This Salma was beheaded of C. Lepidus the gouernour in the mount Auentine in the daies of Hadrian vnder whom also suffered Seraphia Seraphia a virgin of Antioch Moreouer in this time of Traiane suffered Nereus Nereus and Achilleus Achilleus at Rome about which time also one Sagaris Sagaris suffered martyrdome in Asia Seruius Paulus beyng then Proconsull in that prouince In this time suffered Ignatius Ignatius Some say that he being sent from Syria to Rome was giuē to wild beasts to be deuoured passing through Asia he confirmed the churches and cōming to Smirna where Polycarpus Polycarpus was he wrot diuerse epistles one to Ephesus an other to Magnesia Magnesia being at Meander another to Trallis He now being iudged to the beasts hearing the Lions roare I am the wheat or graine said he of Christ I shall be ground with the téeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread He suffered the 11. yéere of the raigne of Traianus Euseb Hieronimus About this time many thousands died for the faith among them one Publius Publius bishop of Athens Next to Traianus succéeded Hadrian Hadrian vnder whom suffered Alexander bishop of Rome with his two Deacons Euentius Euentius and Theodorus Theodorus also Hermes Hermes and Quirinus Quirinus with their families In this time of Hadrian Zenon Zenon a noble man of Rome with 10023 were slaine for Christ Henricus de Erfodia Bergomensis lib. 8. make mention of 10000. in the daies of this Hadrian to be crucified in the mount Ararat crowned with crownes of thorne thrust into the sides with sharpe darts after the example of the Lords passiō whose captains were Achaicus Achaicus c. Heliades Theodorus and Carcerius c. Vnder Hadrian suffered also Eustachius Eustachius a captaine whō Traianus had sent in times past against the Barbarians hauing now subdued them was honorably met in his iorney of Hadrian the Emperor himselfe who first by the way would do sacrifice to Apollo for the victory willing Eustachius to do also Which he refusing not withstanding all meanes to draw him to it was brought to Rome where with his wife children he suffered martyrdome vnder the same Hadrian Faustinus Faustinus Iobita Iobita citizens of the citie of Brixia suffered martyrdome with gréeuous torments At the sight whereof one Caelocerius Caelocerius seing their so great patiēce in such tormēts cried out with these words Verè magnus Deus christianorum Verily great is the God of the Christians Wherevpon he was presently apprehended and suffred with them Ex Ant. Equi One Anthia a godly woman who committed her sonne Eleutherius to Anicetus Bishop of Rome to be brought vp in the faith who was afterward B. of Apulia was there beheaded with her sonne Eleutherius Nicephorus Vnder this Hadrian suffered also Iustus Iustus and Pastor Pastor twoo
brethren in a Citie of Spaine called Complutum Likewise Symphronissa the wife of Getulus the martyr with her seuen children Symphronissa and her seuen children is said about the same time to suffer who first was much and often beaten and scourged afterward hanged vp by the haire of the head At last hauing an huge stone fastned about her necke was cast into the riuer And after that her seuen children with sundrye and diuers kindes of punishments were martyred by the Tyrants Getulus or Getulius was a minister or teacher in the Citie of Tibur who with Cerdelis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adrian were condemned to the fire The names of the seuen sonnes of Symphronissa were Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateus and Eugenius who by the commaundement of Adrian were tied to seuen stakes and so racked with a pulley and last of all thrust through Crescens in the neck Iulianus in the breast Nemesius in the heart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynt of his body Stateus runne through with speares Eugenius cut asunder from the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a déepe pit hauing the name by their idolatrous Priests entituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the death of whom Symphronissa the mother did likewise suffer Getulus The children of Symphorosa Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateas Eugenius Cerdelis Amantius Primitiuus Sophia and her two children Sophia with her two children Serapia and Salma did suffer vnder some tyrant about the the yéere 130. While Hadrian the Emperour was at Athens he purposed to visite the citie of Elewsina which he did where he sacrificing to the Gentiles gods gaue frée libertie to kill the Christians whosoeuer would Wherevpon Quadratus Quadratus Bishoppe of Athens and Aristides Aristides a philosopher of Athens and another Serenus Gramus Serenus a man of great nobilitie wrote Apologies for the Christians vnto the Emperour with such eloquence and learning laying out their innocencie that he directed his letters to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Persecution asswaged in Asia willing him from hencefoorth to exercise no more crueltie vpon the Christians nor to condemne them for that cause Thus the Christians had some quiet for a time After Hadrian succéeded Antoninus Pius Anton. Pius who although he moued no persecution against the Christians yet the tumultuous rage of the heathen did not ceasse to disquiet the people of God The Emperours affection might appeare by a letter or edict of his to the Commons of Asia to stay their rage against Christians except they had committed anie thing against the lawes of the Empire willing them to consider the Christians patience in their tormentes and boldnesse in times of Earthquakes Persecution ceasseth and tempestes when as other tremble and quake for feare This edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the publike assemblie of all Asia So by this meanes the tempest of persecution in those dayes began to be appeased After Antoninus Pius M. Antoninus Verus M. Antoninus verus succéeded with his brother Lucius Lucius about the yéere 162. These were sharp and fierse against the Christians and after Nero moued the fourth persecution The fourth Persecution IN Antoninus Verus time suffered many Christians with diuerse kinds of torments namely at Smyrna some of thē were whipped that the inward arteries veines appeared euen their very intrailes and bowels were séene after that were set vpon sharpe shels taken out of the sea edged sharp and certain nailes thorns laid for the martirs to go vpō sharpned pointed called obelisci And lastly were they thrown to beasts to be deuoured Among whō one Germanicus Germanicus very cōstantly suffred to the admiration of the enimies But most famous aboue the rest was the martirdom of Polycarpus Polycarpus disciple to the Apostles and 86. yéeres of age who had serued in the ministery about the space of 70. yéeres and was placed of S. Iohn in Smirna whose disciple he was He suffered about the yéere of our Lord 170. and in the 7. yéere of Antoninus Verus The manner of his death and martyrdome was thus These persecutions being begun in Smyrna Polycarpus was perswaded by certaine that were about him to conuey himselfe away and to hide him in a Village not farre from the Citie which hee did and there abiding with a fewe more of his companie was night and day in supplication for the peace of the Congregation Three daies before his apprehension hee sawe in a vision by night the bed set on fire vnder him and sodainly to be consumed And when he waked he interpreted it that he should suffer martirdome by fire At the last being found by the pursuers vnderstanding that they were armed he came frō the chamber where he was entertained thē with chéerful countenaunce and made them dine and required that hée might haue one houres respite to make his prayers which being grāted him he did it in such sort as they which heard him were astonied His prayers being ended they brought him to the citie vpon an Asse on a solemne feast day there met him Irenarchus Irenarchus Herodes Herodes and his father Nicetes Nicetes which causing him to come vp into the chariot where they sat perswaded him to do sacrifice Which when he refused with rough wordes they molested him and thrust him going downe the chariot that he might hurt or breake his legs but he went merily on to the place appointed To whome there came a voice from heauen that comforted him bad him be of good chéere as he was going to the place of iudgement Whither when hee came the Proconsul disswaded him from the faith and willed him to say with him and the rest Destroy these naughty men Then Polycarpus beholding with constant countenance the whole multitude and giuing a great sigh looked vp to heauen and said Thou thou it is that wilt destroy these wicked men meaning the Lord. Then the proconsul thus being earnest with him said vnto him take thine oath and I will discharge thée Deste Christ Polycarpus answered 86. yéeres haue I béen his seruant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speake euil of my soueraign Lord and king which hath thus preserued me Then the Proconsul vsed al maner of threatnings against him which when they could not preuaile Policarpus still denying with great constancie Philip the Gouernor of Asia was commaunded to let lose the Lion to Policarpus who made answere that he might not so doe because he had his pray alredy Then the people required with one voice that he would burn Policarpus aliue Which was perfourmed And hauing made himselfe readie to the stake they would haue nayled him thereto with Iron hoopes but he said let me alone as I am for hee that hath geuen mee strength to suffer and
Canterburie he pulled down builded a new He sate ninetéene yéeres and being not so fauoured of William Rufus he died for sorrow Lanfranke dieth for sorow After Pope Alexander followed Pope Hildebrand surnamed Gregorie the 7. an 1074. He was a sorcerer Pope Hildebrand a sorcerer first began to spurne against the Emperours who before time confirmed the Popes and called Councels but this Pope trusting vpon the Normans that then ruffled in Apulia Calabria and Campania trusting also vpon the power of Machtilda a stout woman there about Rome and partly bearing himselfe bold for the discord that then was among the Germanes Hildebrand contemneth the Emperour Both the swordes Pope can not erre first contemned the authoritie of the Emp. vanted he had both swords committed vnto him of Christ Wherevpon he chalenged the dominion both of the East West churches boasted he could not erre and that he had receiued of Christ Peter power to bind loose he decréed against married priestes whose wiues in these daies were called Presbiteresse Presbiteresse forbidding men to salute them to talke with them or to kéepe cōpany with them and to this end among others he wrote letters to Otho B. of Constance cōcerning this matter who resisted the pope herein The coūcell of Hildebrand against maried priests was holdē at Rome Councell against marriage of priests The clergy of Fraunce also withstood it alledging that decrée to be against Gods lawes The decree against marriage resisted and the law of nature The Germain ministers did also mightily withstand the same so that the archb of Mentz in a councell vrging the matter with the popes legate called Curiensis hardly escaped with their liues so the councell brake vp By this schisme A schisme it folowed that the churches after that in choosing their priests would not send them to the bishops to be confirmed but did elect thē within themselues so put them in their office without all knowledge of the bishops who were determined to admit no priests but such as were to take an oth of perpetuall singlenes and so first came vp the profession of single priesthood Hildebrand a villanous pope This Hildebrand was a most wicked reprobate monster a sorcerer a necromancer an old cōpanion of Siluester Theophilactus Laurentius coniurers Benno cardinall of Rome setteth out many of his villanous acts Assoone as pope Alexāder was dead who died somewhat before night the same day contrary to the canons he was chosen pope of the Laymen but the Cardinals subscribed not to his electiō For by the Canons vnder paine of cursing none should bée chosen vnder 3. daies after the burial of his predecess None chosen Pope vnder 3. daies after his predecessors buriall He also put the Cardinals from his councel and society so that none could beare witnes of his life faith and doctrine wheras the Canons command that in euery place where the Pope is should be with him 3. Cardinals being priests and 2. deacons because of his ecclesiastical testimony He excommunicated the Emperor The Pope excōmunicateth the Emperour being in no synode solemnly accused before whereto none of the cardinals would subscribe Assoon as he had rose out of his papal seate to excommunicate the Emperor it being made a little before with bigge timber sodainly rent and shiuered in pieces He appointed one to lay great stones ouer the Church roofe of S. Maries in the mount Auentine whether the Emperor was wont to go to prayer to the end by throwing thē downe the vault he might slay the Emperour at his praiers The pope practiseth to kill the Emperour while he prayeth Which while the hireling was doing by remouing a stone it broke the plank wheron it lay and the hireling standing thereon both fell downe together and so he was with the same stone dashed in pieces Also enquiring of the Sacrament of the altar an answere as an oracle against the Emperor because it wold giue no answer Hildebrand asketh counsell of the host and casteth it in the fire because it would not answere he threw it into the fire and burned it contrarie to the perswasion of the Cardinals His villanies were infinite in so much that diuers of the colledges of the Church of Rome refused to communicate with him He perswaded the Emperour to depose those Bishoppes that came in by Simony which he did without delay after Hildebrand restored the same againe to procure their friendships vnto himselfe and to make the Emperour odious vnto them and after much vexing of him caused him by force and violence to accuse himselfe at Canusium in his presence who had excommunicated him The Emperour comming on his bare féete The Emperor barefoot to the Pope clothed in thinne garments in the sharpe Winter was there thrée daies made a spectacle to the world and a iest to Hildebrand Too long it were to declare all the detestable acts of this Hildebrand About what time Hildebrand was made Pope Henricus 4. the Emperor was encombred with warres in Germany by Otho duke of Saxons Now vpon the point hereof Hildebr cursed al those that being lay mē gaue any spiritual promotiōs or receiued any at their hands her by thinking to wring al authority frō temporal men and to take it to the spiritualty and sent for the Emperor now busie in warres to appeare at the Councel of Laterane in Rome Where the emperor could not being busie in his warres appeare The Pope threatneth he would excommunicate him A popish interpretation of symony except he would abiure simonie as they called it do penance he called symonie giuing taking spiritual liuings at lay mens hāds he would also depose him from his regal dignity The Emp. being moued with the arrogancy of the Pope called a councel at Wormes in which al the Bish of the whole empire of Germany cōcluded vpon the deposing of Hildebrād A terrible pope and sent Roulandus a priest of Parmen with the sentence who there denounced the same Hildebrand tickled with the sentence first condemneth it in his Councell of Laterane with excommunication Secondly depriueth Sigfridus archbishop of Mentz of all his dignities with all the prelates priests that tooke the Emperours part Thirdly he accuseth Henricus the Emperor himselfe depriuing him of his kingdome and regall possession and releaseth his subiectes of their oath made vnto him The Emp. fain to yeeld to the Pope The Princes of Germany tooke this occasion to rebell againe and concluded to elect another Emperour and to fall from Henrie vnlesse the Pope would come into Germany he there content to submit himselfe so obtain his pardon Wherto the Emp. seing no other way with an oath agréed whervpon the Bishop of Triers was sent Ambassadour to intreate the Pope to come into Germany whereto he yéelded and in his way when he came to Vercellos the bishop of that
citie bearing a grudge to the Emperor perswaded the pope that he was cōming against him with a mighty power willing him to prouide for himselfe wherevpon the pope beyng afraid returned to Canusium or Canusus a citie subiect to Matilda a Countesse in Italie Whereof the Emperour vnderstanding incontinent comming out of Spires with his wife his yoong sonne in the déepe and sharpe winter resorted to Canusus without any company for they were al afraid of the popes curse and laying apart his regall ornaments came barefooted with his wife and child to the gate of Canusus The Emperor brought vnder the Popes foote where he from morning to night all the day fasting most humbly desired absolution crauing to be let in to the speach of the Pope which could not be graunted of thrée daies At last it was aunswered that the Pope had no leasure to speake with him yet notwithstanding through his importunate sute and intreatie of Matilda the Popes paramour and of Aleranus Earle of Sebaudia and the Abbot of Cluniacke it was graunted that hée should be admitted to the Popes spéech On the fourth day being let in for token of true repentance he yéelded to the Popes handes his crowne and all his imperiall ornaments The Emp. yeldeth his crown to the Pope and confessed himselfe vnworthy of the empire if euer he doe so againe against the Pope and humbly required absolution The pope answered hée would not release him but vpon conditions First that hée shal be content to stand to his arbitremēt in the Couecel to take such penance as he should appoint him that he should be readie to appeare in such place and time as the P. should appoint him Moreouer being content to take the P. as Iudge should answere in the said Councel to all accusations laide against him that he should neuer seeke any reuēge hereafter Also though he were quit cléered therein should stād to the P. minde whether to haue his kingdome restored or to lose it Hard conditions Finally that before the triall of his cause he should vse no ornamēts of his crown or empire nor to gouerne or exact any oath of his subiects These things being promised of the Emperour by oth He onely released him of excommunication afterward fearing least the Emperor should hereafter Henricus 4. deposed when he had obtained peace among his people make reuenge they concluded to deriue the Empire to Rodolphus a great state of Germanie and sent into France to declare the Emperour to be rightly excommunicated and to require the consents of the French men to elect Rodolphus to whom the pope sent a crowne with this sentence The Rock gaue this crowne to Peter Petra dedit Petro. Peter giueth it to Rodolph and gaue in commaundement to the archbishop of Mentz and Collen to elect this Rodolphus for Emperour Which newes being brought to Henricus the Emperour he mustereth his men to defend his right and trusting vpō the league betwéene him and the Pope sendeth to Rome requiring him to procéed with his sentence against Rodolphus for the rebellious inuasion of his empire The pope refused to denounce Rodolphus Rodolph chosē emperor and after they had tried twise with the sword much bloodshed he sendeth downe a commission by Otho Archbishop of Treuers Bernardus deacon and Bernardus Abbot of Massilia to whom he gaue charge to call a Councell in Germanie and there to define whether should be Emperour promising that he would ratifie him whome they should choose but the Emperour would not permit the Legates to holde any councel in Germany except they wold first depriue Rodolphus of his kingdome Whereupon the Legates returned againe without their purpose which moued the Pope once againe to thunder out his excommunication against him thinking thereby to further Rodolphus Also he enditeth and deposeth Gimbertus Archb. of Rauenna for taking the Emp. part and sendeth to Rauenna an other Archb. with ful authority Vpon this they fought againe where Rodolphus Rod. wounded to death hauing his deaths wound was carried to Hyperbolis where he commaunded the Bishops and chiefe doers of his conspiracie to be brought vnto him who when they came he lifted vp his right hand in which he had taken his deadly woūd and said this is the hand that gaue the oath and Sacrament to Henricus my Prince and which through your instigation hath so oft fought against him in vaine Now go and performe your first oath to your K. for I must goe to my fathers and so died After this the Emperor hauing subdued his enemie called a Councell of diuers Bishops of Italie Lombardie and Germanie at Bryxia an 1083. Where hee purged himselfe and accused the Pope of diuers crimes Crimes against the P. as to be an vsurper periured a Negromancer a sorcerer and sower of discord c. When notwithstāding he swore with others in the the time of his father Henricus the third that during his time and his sonnes they would suffer none to aspire nor they themselues to the seate of Papacie without the consent of the Emperours Wherefore that Councell condemned this Gregorie to be deposed and sent the tenor to Rome and elected Gimbertus Archbishop of Rauenna named Clemens the thirde whom the Emperor by force of armes placed in that Sea Not long after this Hildebrand died in exile Hildebrand deposed dieth in banishment and as Antoninus wryteth lying on his death bed he bewayled his faults and sent a Cardinall to the Emp. desiring forgeuenes absoluing also him his part-takers quicke dead from the sentence of excommunication About the death of Pope Hildebrand or not long after followed the death of K. William Conqueror W. Conqueror dieth anno 1090. after that he had reigned xxvij yeres x. moneths who setting on fire the Citie of Meaux in Fraunce and being busie thereabout ouer heat himselfe fell sick and died He was so hard to Englishmen that as there was no English Bishop remayning but onely Wolstane of Worcester who being commanded of the K. and Lanfrank to resigne vp his staffe partly for inhabilitie partly for lack of the French tongue refused otherwise to resigne it but only to him that gaue it and so went to the tombe of K. Edw. where he thought to resigne it but was permitted to enioy it stil so likewise there was almost no Englishmā that bare office of honor or rule In so much that it was halfe a shame at that time to be called an Englishman Yet was he somewhat fauorable to the Citie of London and graunted them the first charter that euer they had written in the Saxon tongue and sealed with gréene waxe He was much geuen to maintain peace in his land The conqueror geuen to make peace in his land so that a mayden loded with gold might haue traueled safely through the same He builded two monasteries one at Batel in Sussex where he wan the field