And thus at one time three Sunnes for so the Pope calleth himselfe the Sunne of the world did shine at one time in the Popedome and yet none of them all shoane in heauen Gregory after the degree of the councell was curteouslye entertayned by Charles Malatest Prince of Arminus And while he stayed at Luca by the consent of the Cardinals that hetherto forsaked him not he created Gabriel Condelmerius his sisters sonne Cardinall He drew by the eares one Nicolas of Luca a white fryer doctour of diuinitye oute of the pulpit because in his Sermon he moued and perswaded him to seeke for peace and vnitye to the profite of all Christendome beside that he vsed him so violently in the Church he afterward also sent him to prison to terrifye other that they should not talke of this matter In the ende the fathers of the generall councell of Constance sent vnto him that eyther he should come thether or send his messenger and thereupon he sent Charles Malatest to be his proctour who seinge them thus to be minded to put him from the Popedome he stept vp into the Popes trone being there for the purpose prepared and comming downe from it againe francklye gaue ouer the fourth day of Iulye Anno 1415. for the which free yelding the whole assemble made him Legate of Picene which as soone as Gregory vnderstoode within a fewe dayes for anger griefe and anguish of minde he dyed sodenlye But Peter Moone stoode stiffely in his dignitye of whom Iohn Gerson doctour of diuinitye of Paris did being present in the said Synode speake of that lunaticke Pope Peter Moone saying the Church shall neuer be at peace vntil the Moone be quite eclipsed But he woulde not yeld neyther for entreating perswasion nor threatning of any man Thomas VValden doth make larger discourse hereof in his Sermon preached before king Henry the fift of England Because that the doinges of these two Popes raigning both at ons that is Gregory the ix Peter of the Moone are so notorious that it were worthye to be knowen but so longe that it were tedious here to be shewed onelye this may suffice to signifye their treacheryes which Theodoricus hath written as a preface to the rest of their storye coÌ„piled by him at large I come now sayth Theodoricus to Gregory who succeded the former Pope Innocentius A man should scante finde incke and paper sufficiente and shoulde be tediouslye occupyed to declare by what crafte guile deceite iugling caueling hypocrysies subtilties this Gregory was chosen by the Colledge of Cardinals with whom he and Peter Moone afterwarde delayed to agree for the quietnesse of the vniuersall Churche promisinge and not performing and excused themselues for not agreeing mocking and deluding with naughtye pranckes all Christendome vsing shiftes excuses false forgeryes frumpinges on both partes by theyr messengers to fro But it is euidente that they haue their consciences seared sayinge that they are plaine and simple men when as they are in deede full fraughte with diuelishe delusions And because it shoulde be a godlye deede they haue saide and do say that they would yeild to vnitye which yet in their malicious hartes they neither do nor euer did purpose as by their deedes shall appeare as I will reueale to the worlde for euer not onelye in this booke but also in my other worke called Nemus vnionis Although alas there be manye kinges princes and many inferiour secular powers Cityes boroughes townes villages and castels and the most part of Ecclesiastical prelates of al sortes beside clarkes and Ecclesiasticall parsons both secular and regular in sondrye countryes natâ—ons and landes walkinge wandering in desertes of darcknes and many of them not desiringe the common profite of the catholicke fayth but beinge deuided into sondrye factions for theyr sondry affections do yet cleaue to the said Gregory Peter vpholdinge and cherishing them most dampnably in their obstinacye sciesme and heresye and lifting them vp as their idols like the foolishe Egiptians c. What ende therefore is like to come of this lamentable sciesme which they foster which are Lords of this world not to procure peace but greater discorde and to be feared if God helpe not to the destructioÌ„ of lower powers who being perilouslye bewitched charmed with the vaine promises sleightes of these two Popes their adherents do vphold them in the pride of their ranckour mischiefe and errour as if there were no God in heauen but that the saluation of soules and bodyes did onelye depende vpon these two priestes of Babilon from whom more mischiefe hath spronge and flowed ouer al the face of the earth then euer proceeded from any that fought for the Papacye from the beginning to this oure time And out alas these biles and soares are so brast out in the eyes of al the world that there is no shift to denye or couer the same whereupon the Catholicke fayth is darkened w t cloudes of ignorance al religion hath suffered shipwracke Christians being at iarre amonge themselues do deuoure one another Gonnes and other instruments of mischiefe and murther are put in practise feare of God honesty and vertue haue departed farre from kinges and gouernours and from the people of all sortes and vice hath stepte into their places and finallye the whole vniuersall Church is sicke froÌ„ the Crowne of the heade to the sole of the foote c. Much more to the like effecte complayneth Theodoricus being then Secretarye to the said Gregory when these vprores were thus raysed by these prelates whose particuler doinges as they are manye and diuers so are they strauÌ„ge monstrous horrible and to be wondred at that anye man though he did but suspect that there were a God would so delude both the world him but that the spirite of God hath saide that they shoulde be blinded in their sinnes And thus was all the worlde troubled with this Gregory on the one side the Sunne of darcknes and with Petrus Luna the maÌ„ of the Moone on the other side 149. Alexander the fift ALexander the fift was borne in Crete a franciscan fryer in profession called Peter Philargus or of Candy He succeded the foresaid Gregorie in his Popeship for the former prelates Gregorie and Benedict being deposed in the couÌ„cel of Pice as is said this Alexander was chosen Pope by general consent of all that were there present Which dignitye being bestowed vpon him sayth Platina he was worthelye called Alexander because he being before but a beggerly and begging fryer might now be matched with the proudest Prince in Europe for excessiue prodigalitye hautye courage Wherupon he vsed to ieast merelye oftentimes saying I am a rich bishop a poore Cardinall and a beggerly Pope This Pope was of so stout a stomacke that he cast oute of his kingdome Ladislaus then most mightye king of Naples Apulia who did conuert to his vse more conuenientlye the lordships of the Church being
cloth of tissue and cloth of gold and other iewels according to the Iewishe ceremonies and this Pope was the firste that toke vpon him to be called Christes vicar on earth Out of Vesunius hyll in Campania suche aboundaunce of fier spouted that it burnt vp all the countries men and cattell rounde about after whiche it is euident that there ensued Anno 686. bloudshed burning spoyling and the death of Princes and especially of this Benedict a Pope of tenne monethes 17. Iohn the fift IOhn the fifte was borne in Siria he first of all toke consecration of three bishops of the bishop of Hostia Portua Veliterne whiche custome he appointed to be kepte of his successours And his posteritie do kepe this vse euen vnto this daye in our Sauiours church at Lateran In his Popedome he fell sicke in the whiche time he wrote a vayne and vnlearned booke touching the dignitie of the pall of an Archebyshop 18. Conon COnon a Thracian was made Pope after much wrangling betwene the Romaines who would haue elected one Peter an Archebishop and the host preferring one Iohn a priest This Conon being established fell sicke and died Anno 689. He made one Kilianus being before a Scottishe Monke a bishop and sent him with other into Germanie to winne the East part of Fraunce to the church of Rome But this Kilian his company were at the first â—layne of their Auditours and buried at Herbipolis One Paschal an ArchedeacoÌ„ and Treasurer to the said Conon in this Popes life bribed Iohn Platina one of the sixe princes of Italy to make him Pope after the death of Conon Platina tooke the mony but he perfourmed not the couenaunt neyther restored the money 19. Sergius the first AT this time was great hurlie burly about the election of the Pope Some chose Theodorus a prieste some Paschal an Archedeacon And whyle euery one did ambitiouslye maintaine his owne faction either partie with the men of his owne side kept possessioÌ„ in some part of Lateâ—an pallaice But when the chiefe of the clergye the Romaines the army sawe that this sedition would wexe bloudye they agreed to appease this tumult reiecting both the other they chose Sergius an Assyrian borne brought him to Lateran Church and brasting vp the doores they driue oute the seditious electors and compelled Theodor Paschal to salute Sergius as Pope He bestowed great cost in trimming the temples with guilding images golden caÌ„delsticks and curious masons worke riche clothes such stuffe He they say founde a peece of Christ his Crosse in a brasen cofer He repayred the images of the Apostles being worne out with continuance He set a new patche vpoÌ„ the masse commaunding that Agnus Dei should be songe thrise wheÌ„ the priest is breaking the bread And on the day of the annuntiation of the virgin to sing procession He reclaymed the Church of Aquilia which began to decline from Papistrye He also by his monks allured the Saxons Frisians to the same superstition While Aldhelmus an Englishman waited at Rome to be admitted to a bishopricke he hard the Pope accused of adulterye the childe being new borne which was fathered vppon him Aldhelmê° therefore did secretlye admonishe the Pope of this wickednes Sergius dyed Anno. 701. 20. Iohn the sixt IOhn the sixt a Grecian borne beinge much delighted in vanityes as his predecessors were was very curious in decking the temples In the time of famine and warre he nourished a great nomber of poore men with the treasures of the Church being in deede the worthiest of al Popes for such almes deedes also he redeemed diuers prisoners oute of bondage And with threatninge caused Gisulphus captaine of Beneuent who then wasted Campania to returne home This man as it appeareth was because of Sergius adultery elected only Pope and not confirmed Sergius being restorde againe and therfore he is not reckened amoÌ„g the Popes Peter Premonstratensis sayth that Iohn was thrust out againe because of his vnlawful entrance therfore he is not enrolled among the Popes 21. Iohn the seuenth IOhn the seuenth a Grecian was delighted in nothinge but superstitious garnishinge Churches and images of Saincts for which he is muche commended but not one worde spoken of him touching preaching the Gospell Hee dyed Anno. 707. 22. Sisinius the second SIsinius or Sozymus after great conteÌ„tion with Dioscorus about the Popedome at lengthe obtayned it Hee was so sore sicke of the goute that hee liued Pope but xx dayes being neither able to sturre nor to eatâ— any thinge Nauclerus wryteth that he was poisoned by the said Dioscorus in the same yeare that Iohn the seuenth dyed 23 Constantine the first COnstantine the first being sent for by Iustitian the Emperour to come to Constantinople was the first that euer offered his soueraigne to kisse his feete At his returne home he condemned Philip Burdan of impiety because he could not abide the abhominations of Idols and toke the Images out of the Churche Furthermore he commaunded that the picture of the Emperour counting the godly Prince a wicked heretike should not be receiued thoughe it were engrauen in golde or siluer he cursed all the Emperours coyne And holdinge a counsell at Rome he decreed that Images should be had in the Church shoulde be worshipped with great reuerence contrary to al Scripture After this hee moued one Anastasius a mainteyner of images against the said Philippicus who appreheÌ„ding him reft him of his kingdome and put out his eyes when the bishop of Ticinum rebelled against his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Mediolan the Pope would not recoÌ„cile him but falselye made him tributary by stelth to the Sea of Rome whereby that bishopricke hath brought it selfe to perpetual bondage Kinredus and Offa two kings of the Englishe Saxons for their pleasures made a voyage to Rome and when they were there the Pope made theym forsake their kingdomes turned them into monkes hee dyed Anno 715. He was the first that gaue his feete to be kissed of Emperours 24. Gregory the seconde GRegory the second bestowed his time in repayring and building spiritual houses Churches with great coste Hee forbad a nonne a nouesse an abbesse a deaconesse or a spirituall Godmother to marrye He ordained that masse should be said euery friday in Lent and caused prayers often to be said because of strauÌ„g sights in the ayre He would haue masse said no where but in an hallowed place He persecuted euen to death those that woulde not worship images By his authority he compelled Luith Prandus king of Italye at the first withstanding it to ratifye Arithpertus donations beinge vniuste onely to maintaine the roâ—at of the clergye He moued the subiectes of the Emperour Leo to breake into opeÌ„ rebellioÌ„ because their images were taken away He caused Spaine Aemilia Luguria Italye and other countreys to reuolt and defye their obeysance to the Emperour The Emperour would haue no worshipping of images in the Church and therefore the
of their inheritaunce the yonge Princes Ladislaus Iohn being but a child the sonnes of Charles This Vrban graunted to the sect of begging fryers that they might chaunge theyr vowes to commit another vnhonest act and challenge as it were to restore to righte vnlawfull goodes being in controuersy He dyed in Rome Anno 1390. poysoned as some thincke after he had misgouerned the Popedome x. yeares and fewe or none were sorye of his death The yeare before his death his Mule fel vnder him as he was rydinge where withall he was soore hurt and brosed so as he did neuer recouer it til his death he being dead his nephewe Frauncis was thrust from all his lyuing and came to Rome poore and despised no man shewing him good countenance according to the old saying Cum moritur praeful cognatio tota fit exul When as a prelate goes awaye then all the kindred do decaye And so this Francis with sorrowe and anguishe forsooke Rome at length and went to Sicill This same yeare sayth Funcius this couetous miser Vrban brought vp the yeare of Iubelye because he sawe it would proue gaineful to him and to the Romaynes He also appointed annuities to be payed out of priestes landes vnder pretence of waginge an armye against the Paganes the Englishmen withstanding this constitution calling a Parliamente did decree that the Pope should haue no iurisdiction beyonde the limits of the Ocian Sea but the bishops prelats like traytours to their countrey did take vpon them afterward to paye y pention It would aske a great volume to touche euery vilanous practise of this Pope Vrban Certaine comming to meete him on a time did first kisse the ground three times then his feete with al humility He had giuen him by a certaine Ladye a precious Miter and certaine garments valued at more then xx Thousand Florences He caused a Cardinal in one daye to depose to racke to tormente to spoile imprison all the prelates of Sicilia because they did not mauger their Prince assist him against Clement and made in their steede 32. newe bishops and archbishops and sayth Theodoricus there was not a clarke in al Naples so deltishe and beggerly but that he was made eyther a bishop archbishop abbot prior or some prelate if he woulde take it vppon him to take part with Vrban He vsed the seruice of Charles king of Sicill on a time going before him as his vssher and bearinge the Popes target following with his armye into a towne called Auersa He put sixe Cardinals in a dongion with their feete set in the stockes and caused them to be myserably tormented and racked onlye for suspition of falsehoode against him and so kept them in prisoÌ„ where they pined through famine thirst and cold hauinge also wormes and life breedinge in their bodyes yet they stoode stoutly in their innocencye But no humble and importunate sute neither of them nor anye other coulde euer moue the stonye hart of Vrban to pitye their cases but saith Theodoricus the more he was entreated the more wrathfull he was so that his eyes would sparkle his face burne and glow his throte waxe dry for anger And after sondry examinations he sent vnto them againe Theodoricus the writer of this historye other to examine them in a vaute of the castle where they laye then sayth Theodoricus the Cardinall of Sanger was first broughte vp vnto vs with a paire of iron shakles on his feete and a short mantel about him because it was a colde and windy prison Who when he came to the ende of the cellar and sawe aboue him the roapes hanging wherewith he should be racked and was by y wayters striped out of his apparell leauing him scarcelye his shirt on and bound very hard to the racke Frauncis the Popes nephewe stoode by and laughed at this miserable sight without all measure but I that loued this Cardinal of ould was sore greeued thereat but I could not departe the place But to be short the said Cardinall was an aged man of a corpulent bodye comlye and taule of stature and being bounde he was thrise lifted from the grounde by the stronge pulling of those that racked him so that he waxed verye feble which when I behelde when hee was let go to the grounde againe I said to him softly O deare father do you not see how your bloud is sought for I beseech you for Gods cause confesse something to deliuer your selues for this time from these tormentours He aunswered I cannot tell what I shal say And when they would haue â—acked him againe I bad them cease for he hath satisfyed mee as I wil certifye the Pope in wrytinge so they loseâ— him caryed him out to take ayre who comming to himselfe said vnto vs heauilye Behould my brethren the time hath beene as ye know that I liued in the pompe and royaltye of this world but now I am become a moste myserable caytife and despised wretch And I woulde to God this were graunted to me as a singuler benefite that I hauing nothinge might begge my breade from place to place but out alas this trouble sorrow are iustly by Gods iudgemeÌ„t fallen vpon me because euen in this kingdom of Sicil I was so cruel an executor of the Popes coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in deposing without fauour the archbishops bishops abbots and other of the clergye without respect of age or degree hoping herein to haue pleased his minde The next daye after this Pope Vrban called vnto him one Basilius to be chiefe tormentour of these Cardinals which liked him verye well for hee was a malicious man and hated the clergye naturallye and was a persecutour of God and his seruauntes a notable pirate and a plaguer of Christians whom he vsed to take captiue from his youth at the first he lyued by theft and robbery but when that fayled and he became a begger he sought succour of Pope Vrban who not for deuotion but to obtaine a priorship of an hospital in Tinacria made him a fryer To this fellowe Vrban gaue charge to torment on the next day the Cardinal of Venice and to continue rackinge him vntill such time as Vrban himselfe might heare him crye for paine So when Basilius and we came to the prison wher the Cardinal of Venice was Basilius taking him out bringing him to a certaine hall in the Castle did stripe of his apparell and hauinge the roapes fastened aloft hanging downe to the ground he tyed him hard to them And although the Cardinall were an ould man brokeÌ„ and diseased and weake of complexioÌ„ yet he tormented him vppon the racke most cruellye from morninge till dinner time continuallye but the sillye man euer as he was haled vp cryed stil saide Christ hath suffered for vs c. In the meane time Pope Vrban walked in a garden belowe and read on a booke so loude that wee mighte heare him which he did to this ende that Basilius might the better loke
succede Boniface the ix While this InnoceÌ„t was but Cardinal as Plat. sayth he purposed to reproue the dastardlines negligence of the former Popes saying that theyr sâ—oath was the cause that the sciesme of xl yeares in the Church of Rome and the destructioÌ„ of the common wealth was not redressed But he hauing gotten the Popedome and following the fashions of Boniface Vrban in diuers things which beinge but a Cardinall he had reproued he did not onelye that which in other hee had so much condemned but also would be highly offended if anye man should haue mentioned it vnto him He gouerned all thinges so disorderly that when the Romaynes requyred to haue the Capitoll theyr libertye kight bridge and Adrian castel to be restorde vnto them and were verye earnest that he should take awaye this daungerous deuision in the Church pacify the warres and qualify the seditions whereunto the French king promised his ayde Peter Moone denyed not to take peace then the Pope sente the Romaynes to Lewis his nephewe dwelling in the hospital called the holy ghostes hospital as to an hangmaÌ„ for the purpose who forthwith murthered xi of the Citizens which came to procure redresse for theyr countrye which by the maliciousnes and negligence of the Pope was broughte almost to confusion The saide Lewis first stripped them naked then he murthered them and last of all threw them gasping for breath out at a windowe sayinge We cannot cast out sedition by anye other meanes then this Where their bodies lay mangled in the streates till it was night By the which crueltye the Romaynes being much enraged seeking assistance of Ladislaus king of Apulia they range a larum bell and put themselues in armour to reuenge the villany vpon Lewis But the Pope to shonne the furye of the people fledde in all post hast with his nephew the murtherer to Viterbium in the extreame heate of the daye so that he and some Cardinals that fled wyth him being sore heated were almost choaked and dead for wante of drincke but xxx of his companye perished out right Also one of the pezantes killed the abbot of Peruse by the way hard beside the Pope another pezant killed one of the court for greedines of a pot of drincke before the Popes face and all theyr bodies that dyed by that waye were left vnburyed Also after the Pope was come to Viterbium many of his court dyed with drinkinge sodenlye cold wyne Then the people for anger that they could not ease theyr stomackes vpon the woorkers of this treacherye turned their rage vppon the courtiers whose goodes for the most part was spoyled and taken away but some courtiers by report were saued in Cardinals houses Afterwarde they hauinge taken the Capitoll and wonne Right bridge attempting in vaine to assault AdriaÌ„ castel In this broyle Iohn Columna Earle of Troye and other noble Captaynes of great bands wyth Ladislaus his furtheraunce ioyned wyth the Romaynes And hereof arose a bloudy conflict ioyned wyth much villanye sayth Theodoricus betweene the Guelphes and Gibelines these fightinge for the Citye the other ioyned wyth the Vrsines for the Clergye lasted many dayes in the Citye w t murther rauishing of womeÌ„ robbing spoyling wtout coÌ„trolmeÌ„t Many Cardinals were vsed vnreuerently taken led to the Capitoll and there beaten w t coodgels some prelates had their garments torne of their backes and lay long in cruel prison the Popes treasury was robbed and pilfred many of his bulls and pardons with other such wrytinges were rente and torne And sayth Theodoricus who can tell all the vile touches vsed in the Citye The pictures of Pope Innocent were in al places daubed with durt and greater despites doone against him But in the ende all thinges being appeased because it was thought that Innocentius much misliked this murther done by his nephew as he dissembled it the Pope returned to Rome and choose more Cardinals among whom were Angel Corrarius a Venetian Peter Philargus borne in Candy and Otho Columna a noble Romaine He hauing thus fortifyed his Popeship created his bloudye nephewe Lewis Marques of Picene and also appointed him afterward Prince of Firma He commaunding the halfe of Ecclesiastical liuinges both in Fraunce and England toke the foyle in this matter for it was denyed him sayth Gaguinus after the which hee liued not longe but dyed Anno 1407. at Rome Theoricus sheweth how that wheÌ„ these sturres were hot in Rome on a nighte in Auguste such tempestes happened that two Nunnes standinge together were slaine wyth a flashe of lightninge and diuers houses walles and towers were beaten downe Also he reporteth that this Innocentius refusing contrary to his oath at his election to come to agreement with Peter Moone the other Pope that stoode against him was straungelye touched by the hand of God the same time for hauing hyred his freindes to be a meanes that he shoulde neuer be more moued to giue vp his estate he was sodeinly taken wyth a straunge Palsey in the face all men saying it was Gods iudgement for his dissembling But he was recouered of this ere he returned to Rome 148. Gregorie the xij GRegorie the xii a Venetian borne was first called Angel Corrarius he being Patriarke of Constantinople and S. Markes Cardinall was chosen to succeede Innocent But hee was chosen at Rome vpon this condition that if it should be needeful for the behoofe of the Church he should depose himselfe of his Popeship because that Benedict the xiii â–ª called Peter Moone who at Auenio was choseÌ„ to succeede Clement the vii Gregorie beinge enstalled Pope did confirme his promise by wrytinge before notaryes and witnesses vpon condition that the other who also claymed the Popedome should do in like maner and yelde vp his estate But when Benedict woulde not but stoode stiflye to clayme his right and fled from Auenio into Spayne this Gregorie likewise woulde not giue place But in the beginning they notwithstanding exhorting ech other by Legates offeringe on either side to yeld vp their titles appointed to meete in Sauona to make peace But by their conference vsed by Legates they so mocked and disapointed one another which caused many Christians to speake euill of them they sturred a greater strife and therefore a greate councell was helde at Pise Anno 1410. wherein these dalyers and deluders were both broughte before the Cardinals of either faction who with one consente depriued them both of the Popedome In this Sinode were 124. deuines almost 300. Lawyers which deposed them both choose forthwith one Alexander borne in Candy This deede was allowed by al Nations sauing the Spaniards the Scots the Earle of Armenia who whollye claue to Peter Moone neuerthelesse Gregorie Benedict defying this councell toke vpon them stil the estate as they did both before But fearing least they should be appreheÌ„ded the one of them fled to Ariminus with Leonarde Aretine Secretarye the other with his companions fled into Catalony
not to be feared For these opinions Pope Eugenius caused him to be burned at Rome Anno 1436. This Thomas also thoughte reuerentlye of the mariage of the clergye for he wrote that it was against the safetye of manye soules if they were not suffered to marrye accordinge to the maner of the Greeke Church who haâ— not the gift of coÌ„tinencye Because at that time they were dishonest and blotted with vnlawful coniunction Of this Thomas Mantuan saith thus A certaine Frenchman called Thomas who as yet fostred in harte the zeale of old fayth went into Italye accompanied with a fewe For so it pleased God that the same countreye which in all thinges excelleth other should also enioye this parson being a mirror amonge men But God prouided not onelye for Italye but also for this holy man for he gaue to Italye such an one whose life it mighte follow and to the said man he gaue a crimsen crowne of martyrdome For while he liued well and in godlye order he was accused vnto the Pope of haynous treacherye by certaine spiteful fellowes and after he had suffred prison tormentes vexation at the length when they coulde finde nothinge in him worthye of death they sifted him more narrowlye and armed themselues stoutlye with iniquitye to fulfill that which by equitye they coulde not do And so committed him to the cursed fyre Of this man were manye Uerses and Epitaphes written to his greate prayse bewayling of the tyrannye vsed toward his innocent body Furthermore Eugenius ere he were Pope did repayre S. Agnes Church at Ancon and the gate of the Citye and in his Popedome he Crowned Sigismond Emperour at Rome He also after Boniface confirmed the annuities of all benefices At length he dyed at Rome Anno 1446. and was buryed at S. Peters He caryed the Miter of S. Syluester being brought from Auenion to Rome out of Vatican to Lateran with great worship and a procession He punished certaine priestes that had pilfred certaine precious stones oute of Peters and Paules head One Lewis Cardinall of Aquilegia was the first of his order that began first to maintaine houndes and horses in steede of the poore 153. Foelix the fift Foelix the fifte borne in Fraunce was an heremite called Amadeus before his Popeship He being first Duke of Sauoy hauinge a wyfe and two children Pope Eugenius being deposed was aduaunced to the seate by the voyces of xxvi Electours And notwithstandinge he were chosen by the auctoritye of Basil Synode confirmed in the Papall chayre yet he being hindred by the faction of the said Eugenius could neuer set foote in the Romaine seate which they call Peters chayre A sciesme rose hereupon that lasted â— yeares and many tumultes sprange in the kingdomes of Christendome because some would obeye Eugenius some Foelix and other some would be counted neuters And in this sciesme it made much controuersye because some held opinion that the Pope was vnder the iurisdiction of the general couÌ„cell and othersome maintayned the contrarye And of this arose another waightye and bitter controuersye whether the Pope were head of the Church or no which continueth to this day This Foelix being an aged man ere he came to be Pope liued to see the day that the sonnes of his sonnes matched in mariage with kings doughters And in the end geuing ouer all worldly charge â—e purposed to go into a wildernes to lead an heremites life with 6. knightes But as sone as he vnderstoode that he was chosen Pope by the auctoritye of the general couÌ„cell he shaued himselfe both crowne and chinne and came thether wyth a trayne of noble men and being consecrate Pope toke the function vppon him and did all thinges that belonged to the Pope to do to giue orders minister SacrameÌ„ts excoÌ„municate c. and played the Pope x. yeares He was so bountifull to the poore that being demaunded whether he kept any houndes and to shew them he aunswered that he would shew them another day But when they that asked this question were with him the next day he shewed them a great company of poore needye people that sate downe together at dinner saying these are my houndes which I feede dailye with the which I hope to hunte for the glorye of heauen It liked this maÌ„ at the length for vnitye sake Anno 1447. to vnpope himselfe and giue place to Nicolas the fift whoÌ„ he therefore made Legate of all Germanye and Fraunce and also Cardinall of Sabin but he dyed sone after 154. Nicolas the fift NIcolas the fifte was a Genewaie borne of a base stocke his father was a Chirurgeon called Barthelmew Sarzan and so this Nicolas was first called Thomas Sarzan In this one yeare he gatte to be bishop of Bononia Cardinall Pope of Rome This Nicolas being made Pope after the death of Eugenius did hange vp on the walles of Angell Casteli Steuen Porcarius a Romaine knighte w t other conspiratours raysing a tumult for the libertye of the Citye He celebrated the Iubâ—lie for lucre sake Anno 1450. At the time of this Iubelie while they chaunced once w t the crucifixe to returne from Vatican to the Citye it is very certaine to be true that the preace of people followinge was so great that the Mule of one Peter Bardus a Cardinall could not passe by because of those that came to fro so that the people also were so thronged that there was no passage but in the ende they fell vpon the Mule first one then another til the beast was euen perforce borne downe with the crowde and ere it was ceased two hundred parsons were troden to death and smothered vppon Adrian bridge manye fallinge beside the bridge were drowned which were about 136. men The Pope whose pompous superstitious idolatrous Iubelie had caused this miserye to fall vpon the fonde people did in this maner redresse the case He was sorye sayth Platina for the death of them that were slaine and therfore he remoued certaine cotages that made the waye to be straite and narrowe entringe to the bridge For the enryching of his cofers he spent all that whole yeare in this kinde of solemnitye he himselfe with his troupe of Cardinals did vewe the stages He prouided both by curse and wayters that roages and vagaboundes comminge to the Citye shoulde not misuse straungers and robbe them of their money In this Popes time the Turke wanne Constantinople to the great griefe of all Europe This Pope crowned Frederick the third Emperour and his wife Leonor He builded a sumptuous librarie in Vatican And reuiued with great dilligeÌ„ce learning and knowledge which was then almost drowned with grossenes barbarous sophistrye He appointed stipendes for learned men But amonge these his vertuous doinges and good affection towardes learning he had his vices withall and those notorious namely he was greatly giuen to dronkennes and so muche delighted therein that he soughte for all kinde of wynes from euery
the conditioÌ„s though the Pope sente thether his stoute champion Peter Vincent to challenge them and his Secretarye with him Also he deposed George Boebracius kinge of Bohemia from his kingdome for fauouring Iohn Husse bestowed it vpon Mathias but because the Emperour Frederick woulde not plant this Mathias therein great warre ensued thereof to the subuersion almost of the said Emperour After this Innocentius being wearyed with warres gaue him selfe to pretensed peace and applyed him selfe whollye to ease and idlenesse which breedeth al wickednesse He following the example of Sixtus did erect a Colledge of sâ—cretaryes for his greater gaine encreasing the nomber of them He beutifyed the Papacye with a newe Pallaice He did openlye lauishe out reâ—hes and treasures vpon his bastards giuing them honours without all shame for he bestowed vpon one FrauÌ„cis his bastard certaine townes adioyning to the Citye gaue a great dowrye w t his bastard daughter Theodorina maryed to an exceeding wealthye Genewaie He made his base begotten children his chamberlaynes his companions Cardinals He sould pardons for the quick and the dead He bestowed great treasures superstitiously on diuers Churches in Italy and on religious houses He grauÌ„ted leue by his bul to those of Norway to say masse wtoute wyne He diuising a new trade to fishe for money because that neither the aduauÌ„tages of his pardoÌ„s nor of his Iubelie nor the taxe against the Turke coulde suffice him he found out the title that was set vp ouer the Crosse of Christe by Pilate written in three tongues Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum which was hidden within a wall also he found out the iron head of the speare where withal the side of our Sauiour was wounded and ere a man mighte see or kisse these Iewels he must paye well for it But after long sicknesse this Pope dyed Anno 1492. Of whom this Epitaph was made Quid quaeris testes sit mas aut foemina Cibo Respice natorum pignora certa gregem Octo recens pueros genuit totidemque puellas Hunc meritò poterit dicere Roma patrem Spurcities gula auaritia atque ignauia deses Hoc Octaue iacent quo tegeris tumulo About the yeare of our Lord 1464. Baptist Mantuan being then xviii yeres old wrote his ix Eglog calling it Post religionis ingressum entreating of the corrupt maners of the court of Rome his tenth Eglog of the controuersye of the fryers Obseruants and not Obseruants Also he wrote a Diolog in prayse of the blessed life In his ix Eglog he painteth out the treacheryes of Rome saying that all kinde of naughtye parsons are had in honour and are promoted at Rome and that none are there aduaunced but such villaines as deserue rather to be imprisoned and driuen out His sayinges are partlye thus Quo magis approprias tanto magis omnia sordent ¶ And after he addeth Fama est Aegyptum coluisse animalia quaedam Et pro numinibus multas habuisse ferarum Ista superstitio minor est quám nostra ferarum Hic aras habet omne genus contraria certè Naturae res atque Deo qui dicitur olim Preposuisse hominem cunctis animaÌ„tibus vnum c. 160. Alexander the sixt ALexander the sixt was a Spaniard borne in Valentia called first Rodericus Borgia succeeded Innocentius his deedes were so opprobrious and wicked as hath beene sildome heard He was a very royotous tyrauÌ„t in league with the deuil to obtaine the Papacye He being long vice-chauncelour in his Cardinalship did search and boult out all the estate and trade of the Court of Rome and all the councelles and secretes of all the Princes and encorporations of Italye And therefore being Pope by the helpe of of his bastarde Valentinus whom of a Cardinall he made captaine calling him Caesarius he did almost destroy them all and rooted out and banished the most mightye and honourable houses of Rome so that afterward he stoode not in awe of anye of them Iuâ—the which bickeringe sayth Valerius the garrison of Frenchmen and Heluetians being murthered both man and woman this proud Captaine Caesarius beinge by meanes of his wyfe duke of Valentia purposing to get a bootye of money gaue to certaine Cardinals a pocioÌ„ of Aconita wherof his father also drancke so that he fell a sleepe with the rest and then the sonne with the stroke of a weapon quenched the vndeserued honour of both This AlexaÌ„der held the Iubelie at Rome Anno 1500. whither infinite multitudes of people resorted but for those that either would not or could not come the Pope by his bull imparted to them the blessing and benefite of the Iubelie if they woulde giue moneye for it He spared no shamefull shifte to make money withall and therefore he did found yet another newe colledge for clarkes of briefes for so were they called that write the abridgements of all matters these were in nomber foure score of the which euery one payd for his place vii huÌ„dred crownes He cited al Princes by auctoritye of his bull to come to the Iubelie and appointed standings in euery countrye in the streates whither the people should resorte to send their money thether By his Legate Iohn Borgia he crowned Alphonsus king of Naples and sayth Platina made him sweare to be true to Rome in paying his yearely tribute faithfullye He bestowed infinite riches in repayringe and garnishing Churches Castels towers hyewayes and houses in Rome Volateranus sayth that he murthered manye vertues by his notorious vices which are not to be named onlye sayth he I will touche those that were knowen in the eyes of the people If he were at anye time at leasure he had no regarde what kinde of recreation he vsed withoute respecte of his estate He flitted often to Adrian castell because he might the better come out openlye to behold such shewes and delightes as maskers mommers daunters harlots and strompets and other worse kinde of people vsing these braueryes vpon hollydayes and other times he delighted much to see the lasciuious coÌ„medyes of Plautus and other like enterludes played At the mariage of one of his doughters he procured extraordinarily to haue it solemnized with running at the tilt and hunting Fensers roisters were neuer so suffered in Rome neither the Citizens so bridled as in his time Beside the Citye was much encombred with vagaboundes so that men coulde neither walke safe in the Citye by night nor without the Citye by daye Now was Rome become a slaughterhouse which hath somtime beene a refuge and defence for men All these sayth Volateran he suffered for his bastards sake to whoÌ„ he graunted all thinges at pleasure c. But as ye haue heard before he dyed in the ende of the same poyson which he caused his sonne to prouide for other farther of his doiÌ„ges and of his sonnes warres by him procured maintayned Volateran wryteth at large Platina sayth howe that when Charles the eight king of Fraunce should passe