to him Baleus Baleus subdued many Nations extending his dominions euen vnto Iudea and was therefore sirnamed Xerxes that is a conquerour and triumpher or warriour Armatrites the ninth Armatrites was altogether giuen ouer to pleasure and idlenesse There is nothing written of Belochus the tenth Belochus but that hee applied himselfe to the studie of soothsaying and diuining Baleus the eleuenth paralleld Semiramis in renown for his prowes and militarie industrie and hath the fame to haue beene highly extolled in sundry learned mens workes Altadas Altadas the twelfth of him it is recorded that he followed his ease and tranquilitie of life accounting it a point of folly to be wearied with multiplicitie of labours and fettered with varietie of cares about inlarging the bounds of his kingdome because it tended not to the weale and commoditie of any men but rather to their endammagement seruitude His successour Mamitus the thirteenth Mamitus stirred vp his subiects on fresh againe to diligence and industry in military affaires and his puisance gaue cause of suspition to the Syrians and Egyptians For Mancaleus the fourteenth Mancaleus his actions afford not argument worth the discourse Spharus Sphaerus the fifteenth is commended for his great vertue and wisedome There is no mention in writing of any memorable act performed by Mamelus the sixteenth Mamelus Sparetus In Sparetus the seuenteenth his raigne histories report that woÌ„drous accidents hapned euery where Ascatades Ascatades the eighteenth brought all Syria vnder his subiection And thus farre the suppos'd Berosus of whose writings almost all men make a doubt thinke them counterfeit but because we haue no other records extant they follow this order o See their names at the end of the Booke Others reckon 20 Kings more together with Sardanapalus making him the eight and thirtieth King of the Assyrians This King as without all compare the most effeminate of men continually sitting amongst harlots spining and carding with them and so totally plunged in voluptuousnesse that he would scarce euer shew himselfe in publike For this cause two of his Rulers Belochus of Babylon Arbaces of the Medes alienating their affection from him after they had emblazon'd his filthinesse and lasciuiousnesse vp and downe amongst the vulgar made warre against him Hee with his womanish troopes hauing scarce ioyn'd battell such was his bad successe fled to his palace and â—here causing a great fire to be made threw himselfe and all his goods into it In this deed only The Monarchy diuided as a certaine writer saith shewing himselfe a man Afterwards these two rulers diuided the Monarchy betwixt them Belochus was made King of Babylon and Arbaces of the Medes After is had stood 1300 years Thus Sardanapalus was the last king in that course when that Monarchy had stood 1300. yeares for almost all their Kings liued exceeding long Belochus the nine thirtieth Belochus 2 King 15. 1 Chron. 5. or if it seeme better the first King of the Assyrians in the new Monarchy compelled Manasses King of Israel to pay him Tribute the Scripture calls him not Belochus but Phul. Phul Assur 2 King 15. 2 Chro. 28. Phul Assur surnamed Tiglath Pileser succeeded him He tooke some certaine Cities in Iudea and caried away the people captiue into Assyria Achas King of Iuda in whose time the Prophet Isaias liued desir'd aid from this Tiglath against the King of Syria Salmanassar and sent him presents After Tiglath followed Salmanassar who after three yeares siege tooke the Citie of Samaria and caried away captiue Hosea King of Israel and his people and allowed them a dwelling place in his owne Dominions euen amongst the Medes as the Scripture saith 2 King 18. whereupon some gather that hee rul'd also ouer the Medes His successor Senacherib kept his Court in the City of Niniuie Senacherib 2 King 18. Hee made Ezekiah King of Iuda tributary to him and soone after besieged Ierusalem with a mighty Army and by his Ambassadors exhorting the people to make a reuolt 2 King 19. and scoffed at their King who hoped for helpe from his God But he escaped not vnpunisht for God by his Angell in one night slew 185000. of his men as a little before he had confirmed it to Ezekias by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 37. After his returne home hee was slaine by his owne sonnes Tob. 1. Till this time the Babylonians after Sardanapalus his ouerthrow were in subiection to the Assyrians Senacherib as we said before hauing receiu'd such a destruction at Ierusalem and not long after slaine by his owne sons there folowed a great change in the State of the Kingdome which was then diuided For the two brothers Adramalech and Sarazar who had committed the parricide fled Notwithstanding they leuied forces and prepared Armes against their brother Assaradon Assaradon 2 King 19. who after his fathers death had seized vpon the Kingdome hauing formerly gouern'd the Common-wealth in his fathers p Isa 37. Merodach absence Merodach Gouernour of Babylon taking hold on this faire occasion 2 Kings 20. 2 Chro. 32. for his own good successe reuolted proclaiming warre and hauing by degrees partly by fauour partly by force drawne in the neighbouring countries round about him to his party and ouercome Assaradon in the 12. year of his raigne annexed the whole Empire of the Assyrians to the Babylonians and raigned q Isai 39. 50. Beâ—â—nerodach Nabuchodonozor 1. forty yeares after Many reckon next after him Benmerodach and Nabuchodonozor the first of that name but seeing the holy Scripture discouers nothing hereabouts nor can we rashly giue credit to others wee le rancke that Nabuchodonozor whom the Scripture makes much mention of Nabuchodonozor the Great next in order after Merodach Hee therefore within few yeeres after his entrance made warre with the r Kings 24. Ierem. 46. Aegyptians and tooke from them the whole Countrey therefrom Euphrates to Å¿ Suidas cals this Peleusiuns the Key of Egypt It is now called Damietta Peleusium made tributary to him t 2 Kâ—n. 24. Ioachim King of Iuda and in the eight yeare of his raigne caried away captiue to Babylon his sonne Iechonias together with his chiefe men and artificers not onely of the City of Ierusalem but also of the whole Countrey In the eighteenth yeare of his raigne he tooke * Kings 15. 2 Chro. 36 Ierusalem after two yeares siege within a while after u Ierem. 52 sackt burnt it broke downe the walls caried away most part of the people putting out king Zedekias his eies and killing his sons and Noblemen Ierem. 25. The Prophet Ieremy had foretold this calamity in the first yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne and from this time we must reckon the 70. yeares captiuity of Babylon Nabuchodonozor about the foure and twentieth yeare of his raigne hauing ouercome the kings of the x Ier. 46.
words which hee then vs'd Horace sets them downe in that Ode Horace l. 4. Ode 4. wherein he celebrates the fame of Drusus and his house which being most learned elegant worthily amongst other matters deserues commemoration by all of the yonger sort Thus the Romanes being at peace with the Carthaginians besides those warres wherein they were employed in Italy Istria and Lusitania The Roman warre with Philip King of Macedonia 3770. made sharpe warre against Philip King of Macedonia who infested the Countrey of Greece In this warre Titus Quintus Flaminius was Generall who at length getting the vpper hand of the Enemy did by decree of the Senate restore Greece to its former liberty and amongst other iniunctions prohibited King Philip from making war in any place out of his owne Territories without decree of the Senate The Roman wars with Antiochus King of Syria 3777. To this warre another succeeded against Antiochus King of Syria who passing ouer into Europe was ouerthrowne and expelled Greece by Mannius Glabrio Philip King of Macedon aiding the Romanes in that warre Those before recited Kings of Asia Syria and Macedonia descended from their posterity who as wee haue aboue related diuided the prouinces amongst them after Alexander the Great his death For Carthage being pacified and all Italy brought vnder subiection the Romanes hauing subdued their neighbouring Countries of Europe both by sea and land were now grown to that height that Kings and people farre remote implored their patronage After this manner the Egyptians whose King Ptolomy Epiphanes was a very young Prince and not of ability by reason of his non-age to gouerne them being brought into imminent danger by Antiochus the Great sent ouer their Ambassadors to Rome petitioning the Senate to vndertake the tuition of their young King Hereupon the Senate enioyned Antiochus to forbeare Egypt Hee hereat incensed but more especially when Hannibal who was fled to him and remained his guest very earnestly perswaded him to the warre strucke ouer with a Nauie into Greece and there as wee reported before was put to flight Whereupon the Romans setting forth with an Armado pursue him and striking ouer into Asia ouerthrew in a maine battell and beat him backe beyond the Mountaine Taurus Cicero relates how after this ouerthrow he was wont to say that the Romans had done him a very good turne for now being freed from too exceeding great gouernment hee would conteine himselfe within the moderate bounds of a Kingdome Lucius Cornelius Scipio Publius Scipio Africanus his brother was Captaine Generall in this warre thereupon surnamed Asiaticus After this Marcus Fuluius Nobilior vanquished the l A certaine people of Greece Aetolians and triumphed ouer them And Publius Scipio Africanus after his returne home out of Asia whither he was sent in Ambassage to his brother in time of this warre being crost by the m Officers appointed for protection of the Commons against the Nobles Tribunes of the Commons withdrew himselfe into his village of Liternum and there this man of transcendent worth ended his life being as many write 52. yeares old of the same age with Marcus Portius Cato In that Dialogue Sleidan as Meibomius notes mistakes Africanus for Quintus Fabius Cunctator whom Cicero speaks of which Cicero writ of old age hee brings in Cato speaking very affectionately and honorably both of his age and studies but most especially extolling his magnanimity howbeit Liuie writes that Cato was his enemy and was wont much to disquiet himselfe with the odious enuie that he bore against him for his fortitude Cicero commends him for his dexterous celeritie in dispatch of businesse At this time flourisht those Poets Ennius Plautus and Neuius After Antiochur his ouerthrow Hannibal fled to Prusias King of Bythinia and when the Romanes desired to haue him deliuered into their hand by a draught of poison finished his life Hannibal poisoneth himselfe An. 3786. To Antiochus his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded who likewise practised by treachery to haue seized vpon the Kingdome of Egypt for that he was vncle to Ptolomie Philometer King of Egypt who succeeded after his fathers death hereupon professing himselfe to be the yong Kings Tutor purposed to dispatch him and so transferre the sway of gouernement into his own hands but his plot being discouered the Romans whom the Egyptians had againe solicited for aide sent ouer to him in Ambassage Caius Popilius Laenas who comming to conference with Antiochus commanded him in the name of the Romans to depart from Alexandria which hee then besieged who desiring time to deliberate vpon it Laenas with a little rod drew a circle round about him in the place where hee stood and in flat termes charged him to giue his answer what he would doe before hee stirred out of that Ring Hee hereat dismaid and not being ignorant of the puisance of the Romans promised peace Those passages are onely for this purpose mentioned that it may appeare how the Romans from these small beginnings gathered ground step by step and climbed vp to the highest branch of gouernment For now their puissance hauing outstript the bounds of Italy made an impression into seuerall Quarters of the world but a great part of their labour yet remained towards the keeping in together the ponderous burthen of this their Empire whose circuit contained the chiefest part of the whole world as hereafter though briefly I le declare in order Philip King of Macedon he whom I formerly spoke of taking it very hainously that the Romanes had put him to such a straight was aminded to renew the warre but being preuented by death his sonne and successor Perseus hauing beene long before that incensed against the Romanes vndertooke this warre as it were a part of his inheritage but Lucius Aemilius Paulus the second time Consull Perseus K. of Macedonia with his wife mother Children led in triumph at Rome by Aemilius Paulus 3802. at length ouerthrew him in battell tooke him together with his wife mother and Children and led them in triumph for this cause surnamed Macedonicus and from that time Macedonia became one of the Prouinces of the Romanes The yeare next before this dyed Ennius aged 70. yeares as Cicero hath it Within a few yeares following Publius Cornelius Nasica subdued Dalmatia and not long after the third Punicke or Carthaginian warre begunne The third Punick or Carthiginian warre 3819. For the Carthaginians being impatient of peace and ease offer violence and hostility to the rest of their neighbours but more especially to Massinissa King of Numidia a confederate and friend of the Romanes The Romans being requested for their aid decreed to make warre in the 604. yeere of Rome built but herein they differed in their opinions whether it were better to raze the Citie or preserue it safe some were of opinion that it should not bee destroyed for that said they Carthage being taken away they should fall into ciuill warres and dissentions
the Bishops of the East are yet extant in which he often presses it that to Him alone as Bishop saith he of the chiefe See by a certaine singular priuiledge and diuine ordinance belongeth the right of conuocating Generall Councells But it may seeme wonderfull with what face hee could write thus or they so boast of it when as before him Constantinâ— had cal'd the Councell of Nice and after him a hundred yeares full Martianus the Emperor called the Councell of Chalcedon To Him also alone as Primate of that City saith hee appertaines the cognizance of Episcopall causes and other matters of that kinde of more weighty importance This his arrogancy the Bishops could not endure But assembling at Antiech boldly reply That it was not fit that the sentence by them passed should bee repealed by him for that they were possessed of the same degree of dignity whereof hee was and the doctrine of Christ came from their Countries to Rome * Tandem at the second hand by the paines and ministery of the Apostles Wherefore in case he should proceed and make new decrees they would not obey them neither haue communion with him but would take such a course as the matter it selfe should require And in another Councell in the same City of greater concourse then the former amongst other decrees They limit the office of a Bishop as also of a Metropolitane about discussing matters of more weighty importance For they decreed that in case the Bishops concurre not the Metropalitane of the next adioyning prouince shall delegate certaine Iudges to determine the cause But if any Bishop bee condemned for an offence by common decree of the rest of the Bishops they ordaine that their sentence shall stand firme and not bee repealed by another They further establish that the Bishop shall faithfully dispence the * Bona sacra goods of the Church and distribute them to the vse of the poore and that hee himselfe if need require may take from thence as much as shall bee necessary for naturall sustentation For St. Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 We ought to bee content with food and â—raiment Which goods if the Bishop say they shall perchance conuert into his owne or his friends priuate commodity or commit the administration thereof to his kindred he is to be restrained by a Councell At length Ioninianus the enemy being at his backe concluded a dishonourable peace redeliuering those fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris wonne by Galerius as aboue mentioned as also part of Mesopotamia and afterwards couenanted that the Romanes should lend no ayde to the King of Armenia their friend and confederate Marching forth with his Army as hee was returning home dyed vpon the borders of Bythinia The soldiers forthwith create Valentinianus Emperour who soone after his comming to Constantinople Valentinianus 364. An. 11. m. 8. d. 32. together with his brother Valens tooke his brother Valens to be his Collegue in the Empire and commending those m Of the East Countries to his care marched into Germanie where hee subdued the Saxons bordering vpon the Ocean and soone after he had beene in Gallia n In Pannonia falling into a feuer by an excessiue straining of his voice in an angry reply against some offenders dyed as it is written vpon a vehement passion of anger By this time his brother Valens was arriued in Asia to represse the Parthians forraging the Country of Armenia and the King of Persia who breaking the league was falne into open hostility But after the Hunnes or Tartars and Scythians had ouer-runne Pannonia Epirus and Thessaly he returnes into Europe where in pitcht battell being ouerthrowne and as he fled wounded and carried into a little cottage which the Enemy setting on fire hee there dyed That Edict of Valentinianus the Emperor and of Valens is yet extant wherein it is prouided That those who betake themselues to a monasticall life and solitarinesse and in that regard escape warfare and publike impositions shall bee drawne out of their cells and either serue for their Country or else forfeit all those benefits afterwards conferred vpon them that vndergoe both paines and perill for the Common-wealth The Enemies not long after appeased by the Emperours gift and mony departed from Constantinople which they then besiged Saxony being at peace Valentinian the Emperour chose his sonne Gratianus for his Collegue Gratian 375. an 7. m. 9. d 9. With his son Valenâ—iâ—tan the Iâ— who after his father and vncle Valens their decease succeeded them both both But he the Common-wealth being tossed with diuers billowes of troubles assumed Theodosius a worthy Commander in warre and sent him into the Easterne Countries There at Constantinople he vaÌ„quished the Huns and Gothes and chased them out of the Coasts of Thrace After this Gratianus was treacherously slaine in Gallia by Maximus one of his Coronels who affected the Empire Ausonius of Burdeaux certaine of whose Poems are yetextaÌ„t was his Tutor for literature whom afterwards he aduanced to the dignity of a Consull His son Valentinianus also died in manner of the same death by the treachery of his familiar friend Arbogastus But the murtherers escapt not scot-free for both of them were slaine by Theodosius the Emperour Maximus was taken and put to death at Aquileia and the other acted that part himselfe Those Tyrants thus cut off Theodosius 378. an 16. d. 12. Theodosius possest of the Empire ordaines his two sons Honorius and Arcadius his Collegues to whom by reason of their nonage hee appointed Protectors or as it were Gouernors to Arcadius he assigned Ruffinus and to Honorius Siilico sand not long after departed hi life The second Councell of Constantinople An. 381. By his command a Councell was held at Constantinople wherein the heresie of Macedonius who derogated from the Diuinity of the holy Ghost was condemned The Fathers there assembled being as it is recorded 150 in number ordained Bishops both there as also at Antiochia which they stile the elder and truely Catholike Church at Ierusalem which they call the Mother of all Churches They transmitted those their proceedings to Darsasus Bishop of Rome who endeauoured to call them to Rome Saint Hierom when he was yong was familiar with this Damasus Hee was the Author of that memorable saying Wheresoeuer the Bishop is be it at Rome EngubiuÌ„ Constantinople Rhegium or Alexandria he is of the same demerit and Priesthood Theodosius hath the fame for a very godly Prince who being reprehended by St. Ambrose Bishop of Millane and prohibited entrance into the church tooke it patiently Arcadius gouerned in the East at Constantinople Arcad us 395 aâ— 13. m. 3 d. 15. Together with Honorius who raigned about 15. yeares after the death of Arcadius and Honorius at Rome But Ruffinus with intent to translate the Empire to himself vnderhand incited the King of the Gothes to make warre against Arcadius whose treachery being disclosed he was slaine by the souldiers
Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
Empire I passe ouer in silence those neighbouring Kings and other Princes that day by day catch snatch away as much as they can from this feeble and saplesse little body which scarce cleaues to the bones striuing to bring that into their owne dominions which belonged to the Common-wealth But to come to an end in some time let vs lend our attention to Daniels prophecie concerning all that is spoken We haue treated of the Image that Nabuchodonozar saw in his dreame whereto wee will returne againe but in the interim take a view of some other places In his VII Chap. he describes the foure beasts which in a dream he saw cōming out of the Sea A Lyon a Beare a Leopard and the fourth and last he saies was terrible and dreadfull to behold The Lyon signifies the kingdome of Assyria the two wings which he had are as it were the two members of that Empire Babylon and Assyria By the Beare is vnderstood the kingdome of Persia by which Babylon was conquered the three ribs which hee saies were in his mouth betwixt his teeth are the three chiefe Kings of that Monarchie Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes who were more famous then the rest and eate much flesh as he speakes that is brought many nations into their subiection The Leopard is Alexander the Great or the Greeke Empire his foure wings heads are the foure kingdomes which rise out of that Monarchy after Alexanders death The fourth and last Beast is the Romane Empire the tenne hornes are his members or Prouinces such as were Syria Aegypt Asia Greece Affricke Spaine Gallia Italie Germanie Brittaine for all those they held Now a certaine little horne grew vp and shot forth amongst the tenne hornes which pluckt away three hornes from those ten This notifies the kingdome of Mahomet or the Turke which from a small beginning budding forth of the Romane Monarchy seized vpon three of the chiefest parts thereof Egypt Asia and Greece Further this little horne hath eyes and was reproachfull against God For Mahomet vented a new kinde of doctrine which was well liked of by his followers as carrying some shew of wisedome in it Those are the eyes but indeed hee blasphemes God For hee abolishes the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles and acknowledges no benefit by Christ but reproachfully railes against all doctrine concerning Christ Further that little horne saith he shall make warre with the Saints and sore afflict them till the Ancient of daies shall come to iudgement who hath neither beginning nor end whereby it clearely appeares that within the time of this Empire the tearme of this world shall haue an end and shall neuer be againe but after the dissolution of all earthly Principalities then shall follow that perpetual kingdome whereof Christ shall be Prince and Head In his eight chapter the Prophet Daniel describes the Ramme and the Goat which the Angell afterwards plainely interprets saying the Ram with two hornes betokens the Kings of the Medes and Persians and the Goat the Greeke Empire and the great horne in his forehead the first king of that Empire and that foure hornes succeeded after that horne was broken it signifies saith he that foure kingdomes shall rise out of that Empire but not to bee compared to that first King for strength and puissance Here we may see how properly and infallibly the Prophet Daniel portraies Alexander the Great two hundred yeeres and more before his raigne For it shall so fall out saith hee that the Goat shall not touch the earth that is he should runne ouer his warres with exceeding celeritie and no man should be able to deliuer the Ramme out of his hand for Alexander raigned onely twelue yeeres in which little inch of time hee almost subdued all Asia as wee haue aboue shewed And though the Medes and Persians were of incredible strength yet in three set battels Darius was ouerthrowne and lost his life and his Empire both at once Many write that when Alexander came to Ierusalem the High-Priest read that place of Daniel to him which exceedingly reioyced him Againe that another horne should rise from amongst those foure hornes at first but small but afterwards very powerfull which should grieuously oppresse the Sanctuary herely saith hee hee foretells those most bitter persecutions which the Iewes should suffer vnder Alexander the Great his successors the Kings of Egypt and Syria betwixt whom the Country of Iudea lies For the Iewes haue felt that horne which rose out of the foure hornes in Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria that most cruell destroier Hither also we must apply the eleuenth chapter wherein he speakes againe of Alexander the Great and so copiously and properly that it may rather seeme an Historie then a Prophecie But now again let vs return to Nabuchodonozors Image whereof vpon occasion wee spoke in our first booke as for the interpretation thereof concerning the three first Monarchies I will not repeat it because it is both perspicuous as also made good by the times themselues onely we will speake something of the fourth because it both properly appertaines vnto vs who liue in it and is more exactly described by Daniel It shall be of iron saith he which shall breake in pieces and bring all the rest of the Monarchies in subiection to it there needs not many words in explanation hereof for the matter it selfe speakes and it manifestly appeares out of the historie of those Monarchs which wee haue reckoned vp But the Images feet and the toes of the feet are part of iron part of potters clay As the foot of a mans body is diuided into toes so the Romane Empire after it hath for a while continued strong being supported by iron legges and incircled the whole world in its circumference shall fall into toes and that massie body shall be dissolued This also is plainely effected and needs no explication for at this day what is more diuided then the body of that most spacious Empire And though the case thus stand yet because the sole of the foot is of iron the foundation shall remaine and shall neuer bee extinguished but the reliques title and dignitie thereof shall endere till Christ at his comming shall set a period to all humane things but it is cleare as noone day and beyond all doubt that it is now at the lowest ebbe That goodly tree is fallen but the root stickes fast and remaines yet not hauing any sappe and therefore vnable to grow vp and increase againe but quite dead and withered yet no force of man shall bee able vtterly to extirpate this roote and foot-soale of iron nature but it shall sticke fast grounded in the earth till the whole world shall be destroied Hereof also wee haue had experience for many haue often attempted the subuersion of this small and slender parcel of the Empire as the Popes of Rome and lastly the Turkes who though they haue done great matters and it may bee promise greater to themselues yet
astonishment think we were they strucken that beheld this lamentable example of Gods Maiestie and furie Therefore I haue briefly runne ouer the Assyrian or Babylonian Monarchie because it must be wholly bounded within the compasse of holy Scriptures but the other three that follow are very famous by many Authors workes especially the Greek and Roman Amongst which writers those of the Greeks challenge the first rank Herodotus Thucidides Zenophon and Polybius for those other that Cicero mentions Pherecides Hellanicus Acufilas Phyllistus Agathoclis Theopompus Ephorus Calisthenes Timaeus Clitarchus Silenus are lost as also those Latines that wrote the ancient Romane historie whom the same Cicero nominates viz. the Pontifies Annals Fabius Pictor Marcus Portius Cato Lucius Piso Caelius Antipater Caius Vannius Vennonius Clodius Asiso Accius Lucius Sisenna And those indeed were the Authors out of whom Titus Liuius who is better halfe dismembred and before him Salust imperfect also collected their workes Cicero indeed vsed not this kind of writing but was most studiously verst in it as his Bookes witnesse which are euery where besprinkled and inameled with remembrances of all antiquitie but hee was a most diligent obseruer of the course of times so as by him one may attaine to the orderly knowledge both of persons ages and the times of accidents For otherwise all writings are obscure and because hee was wont to say that the writings of histories especially after the Greek fashion was very much Oratoricall therefore Pomponius Atticus counsailed him to this kinde of writing complaining that historie stood in need of the Latine tongue and alledging that hee was able to effect that which euen in this kinde of writing also would make Rome not inferiour to Greece So hee writ a Commentarie of his Consulship in Greeke and begunne another in Latine as he saith himselfe For hee was very desirous to haue that yeare wherein hee was Consull celebrated by other mens pennes insomuch that he professed that if they forbare him he would not forbeare himselfe but would write concerning himselfe Caius Caesar onely writes of his own exploits and borrowed nothing from any of those before him Then also flourisht Diodorus of Sicilia and a little after Dionysius of Halicarnassus then Plutarch Suetonius Cornelius Tacitus Appianus Herodianus Trogus Pompeius Aelianus Quintus Curtius but many of those are either wholly or the greater part of them lost After those many more followed who each one continuing the historie of his time or of his Country held on euen till within our memorie And we must be seene in all those or at least a good part of them to furnish our selues with that abilitie which is required Some also we must read for the matter it selfe others for the matter together with the stile and form of speech In which ranke Caius Caesar alone iustly challenges precedency among the Latines for none are more pure none more elegant then his who for a delectable style farre excelled not only those that came not long after him but also all of his time Besides those before mentioned we must likewise turne ouer such Ecclesiasticall Authors as treat of the conuersion of Religion the afflictions of the godly or the lawes and decrees of Councels and Bishops And because the holy Scriptures foreshew the Papall kingdome wee must search out the beginning together with the progresse and increase thereof thereby to inable our selues to compare it with those marks and signs which the Scripture hath chalkt out But because this large argument which wee haue propounded is various manifold and combersome and this field so exceeding spacious not to bee gone ouer in any short time some nearer way must be taken by a methodicall course for the help of yonger Students as for those of deeper experience they may well enough by themselues as they say swim ouer the whole streame of Writers And for this end haue I vndertaken this task that the Neoterie may haue a tract and path-way leading to their further learning by which in the meane time they may trace as by a line till they bee growne riper schollers and come to that proficiency as to bee able to cast away and despise those rudiments For I haue not writ this that they should be content with or confine themselues to these bounds but to giue them a tast of their future reading when being inuited by variety of matter they may bee more spurred on hereafter to perlustrate the Authors and Bookes themselues from whence these are culled But this kinde of studie properly appertaining to those that are appointed to the gouernment of a people as I said before I suppose most Noble Duke I shall not misapply to your age and condition in offring vp those my small watch workâ—s to your Highnesse so that by you and through your hands as I may so say the residue of yonger Students may receiue some fruit thereof if any may redound from thence And albeit those most worthy men your Tutors Iohn Sigismund and Sebastian Cox vse their best diligence about your instruction and erudition yet as in the culture of a little garden plot which we desire to haue exquisite and arraied with all kind of flowers we scorne not any little plants herbs brought vs from another ground so likewise I hope this small present of mine sent to the manuring of the seed-plot of your learning will not be inacceptable being but onely offred vp for a time tilyou your self hauing gotten strength as I said before be able to walke abroad and course vp down these open fields flowrie meads For which course you haue that most renowned Prince your Fathers vertue for a resplendent patterne who by his elegant learning added no small ornament and lustre to his Noble birth and that which is all in all hee made right vse of this his facultie to wit that the name of God should bee celebrated Churches Schools well ordered godly teachers prouided for and a competencie allowed for maintenance of Schollers For this dutie God chiefly requires at the hands of you Princes and as he seuerely punisheth the neglect thereof so also he remunerates those with most bountiful rewards that shew themselues faithfull Stewards herein Those examples of your illustrious Fathers pietie constancie and fortitude might bee mentioned by name but you will read them in good time hereafter imblazoned at large shall know the proper ornaments of Nobilitie For hee that is benigne to good wits how can it be that hee should not at one time or other be repaied by them with the descrued fruits of gratitude and bee celebrated to posteritie Therefore vnderstanding both the dignitie of his place and the charge laid vpon him by God hee made it his chiefe care to haue your minde trained vp to godlinesse and learning euen from your young and tender yeeres And that which is the feeling pulse of a Fathers loue nothing euer ioyd him more then to see his expectation bettered by your industrie
fortunate sea-fight in Sicilie against Hanno Publius Duillius Consul Cicero rankes this Duillius Mannius Curius and Caius Fabritius as also Attilius Calatinus Cneius and Publius both Scipioes Aphricanus Marcellus and Fabius Maximus within the list of the most renowned Consuls of Rome The yeere following Lucius Cornelius Scipio Consull took the Ilands of Corsiea and Sardinia The Carthaginian warre after it had lasted three and twenty yeeres Held 23. yeeres was at last appeased Quintus Luctatius Catulus Cercus and Aulus Manlius Consulls Two yeeres before this was Ennius borne Hee was elder then Marcus Portius Cato who cals him his familiar consort by fiue yeeres And Rome was now againe intrapt with new wars against the a Of Tuscame Faliscians b Of Tuscame vpon the Sea-coast Lygurians c Sclauonians Illyrians d Of Gallia now France Galles e Bohemians Boies f Of now Lumbardie The second warre which the Carthaginians begun Anno Mundi 3751. Insubrians whom hauing at length ouercome the second Punicke or Carthaginian warre burst forth in the twenty fourth yeere after the conclusion of peace Publius Cornelius Scipio and Titus Sempronius Longus then Consuls Hannibal was Captaine Generall in this warre who sack't the Citie of Saguntum and bending his course through Spaine towards Gallia and from thence to Italie in three seuerall battels at g Now Pauie Ticinum the Riuer Trebia and the Lake Thrasimine ouercame the Romanes But Quintus Fabius Maximus being created Dictator and marching forth against the enemie by subtle and dilatorie withdrawing from him weakened and tooke off the edge of his force and furie This was that very Fabius whose fame Ennius celebrating saith thus of him One mans delay our safety hath regained Cicero accounts him a great Politician and saies that hee could conceale keepe silence dissemble insnare and preuent his enemies in their consultations But after this the Romans receiued a very great ouerthrow at h A towne of Apulia in Italie Canna which strucke such an horrid feare in the Citie that many of the abler sort purposed to flie and forsake the Citie but were re-animated and withdrawne from their intents by Publius Cornelius Scipio Publius his sonne a magnanimous yong Gentleman and then scarce foure and twenty complete The fourth yeere following Claudius Marcellus tooke Syracusa after a long continuing siege In the sacking of which Citie the famous Mathematitian Archimides was slaine who was drawing certaine Astronomicall figures in dust not dreaming of the conquest of his country Marcellus hauing notice hereof tooke his death wonderfull heauily and commanded his body to bee buried not onely suffering the conquered Citie to remaine in safetie as Cicero writes but also left it so furnished that it should stand for a Monument of victorie humanitie and clemency Moreouer as he speakes vpon Verres the i Much like our Lord chiefe Iustices at this day Praetors arriuall there in this victory of Marcellus there were fewer men then gods slaine but Liuie reports that many abhominable examples of wrath enuy and auarice were then and there shewed Cicero when he was k Much like our office of Lord Treasurer Questor of Sicilia hauing by some description found out the place of Archimedes buriall shewed his tomb to the Senate of Syracusa 137 y. afterwards though it was quite worne out of memory grown ouer with bryars and brambles and vnknowne to the very Citizens themselues He further reports that this City of Syracusa was the greatest most beautifull city in Greece and that it was compact of foure very great Cities the Island where was the fountaine of Arethusa hauing great store of fish Acradania where the market place * Porticus The publike walking place for pleasure recreation or exercise Prado and * Curia Senatehouse stood Tyche where the Temple of Fortune stood Neapolis built last of all where the most spacious Theater was erected Moreouer this of any forraigne Nation was the first that entred into amity and allegiance with the Romans and was their first prouince as the same Cicero testifies Annibal soone after his victory compelled all Campania to bee yeelded vp to him but his Army wintering at Capua with superfluity of victualls and riot became wholy disjoynted and broken The third yeare after the ouerthow of Syracusa Capua was surrendred into the hands of the Romans and it was long and much demurred vpon whether or no they should quite destroy the City at length they agreed to preserue it yet lest it should at any time afterwards bee able to raise any rebellion their fields were quite taken away all manner of authority both of Magistrates and Senatours abrogated as also the Councell of Estate no image of a Common-wealth left but was appointed to bee a storehouse for fruit the plowmens rendezuous the Countreymens market town and the common Garner and Cornhouse for the countrey of Campania Within two yeares after this Asdrubal brought ouer new Auxiliary Forces into Italy but was slain at the riuer of Metaurum by Marcus Liuius Salinator Caius Claudius Nero Consulls In the meane while Publius Cornesius Scipio had good successe in Spaine after his father his vncle had lost their liues there He hauing recouered the whole prouince returnes to Rome and being made Consull desired to be authorized ouer Africa that he might make war there But Quintus Fabius Maximus an aged graue Senator withstood him very earnestly and vrged that it was not fit to passe into Africa but to ioyne battell with Hannibal Scipio contrariwise that if warre were made with the Carthaginians within their own Quarters they must of necessity be constrained to call home Hannibal out of Italy in whō they setled their chiefe hopes and helpes After much dispute the Senate grants Scipio the Prouince of Sicilie and permits him if it might be commodious to the Common-wealth to passe ouer into Africa He therefore at length sets forward out of Sicilie into Africa where what hee had foretold the Senate by word he confirmed by deed For the Carthiginians hauing receiued some ouerthrowes by him and being much endammaged call backe Hannibal Thus he who for sixteene yeeres together had raged vp and downe Italy and pickt out a place vnder the verie walles of Rome where to pitch his Tents was compelled to returne home though sore against his will and to his great griefe where at length in his owne country quarrell Hannibal vanquished An. mund 3797. hee was vanquished by Scipio who soone after by decree of the Senate concluded a peace with the Enemie Hereupon came his surname of Africanus But here we must consider after what manner the Romans creptout of these most intricate straights for all their fortune now hung by a most slender threed yet so it was destined that they should ouersway all force and trouble and become Lords of the whole earth Some report that Hannibal foresaw this when hee heard of his brother Asdrubals ouerthrow The
was afterward by his consent confirmed Then dispatching his Legates into Germanie to certaine Bishops willed them to assemble in Councell but they refused it alledging that it was contrary to the custome and priuiledge of their Nation This designe miscarying He in some certaine Councels held in Italy decrees That Massing Priests shall haue no wiues but shall dismisse them or else leaue their places sending this his decree to the Bishops in Germanie vrges earnestly vnder a penalty denounced to haue it established but the Clergy as they call them and whole streame of Massing-Priests stiffely reclaime calling him an heritike that propounds such doctrine sithence Christs words are That all should not receiue this word Mat. 20. And Paul saith They that cannot containe let them marrie 1 Cor. 7. But this Pope not regarding Christs word and contemning Pauls authority would constraine men to reiect the vse of mariage which is lawfull and ordained by God and to burne in most filthy flames of lust and rush into manifest lewdnesse but they would rather leaue their Ministery then matrimony He neuerthelesse as before sending his agents pressing it on and standing stiffely vpon it the Archbishop of Mentz began to hearken to him who at first gently admonishes those in his inrisdiction and afterwards assembling a Councell at Erphord would flatly inioyne them but an vproare arising he escaped death very narrowly The Emperour in the mean time to reuenge the ignominie receiâ—ed the precedent yeare when besieged by the Saxons hee wrought out his safety by flight in the night time makes readie for warre and violating the league which he had made the yeere before musters vp all the forces hee could possibly make and in the moneth of Iuly setting vpon the Saxons who by their frequent Ambassadours had but in vaine solicited him for peace discomfits them in many battels not without great lâ—sse of his owne men no small number of the prime Nobilitie being then slaine Pursuing his victorie hee harrazes their country faire and wide and by his Ambassadors exhorts them to yeeld willing them to hope for all fauour from his benignitie but that failed though a certaine few obeied Bucco Bishop of Halberstadt and Otho Duke of Bauaria banished by the Emperour had the chiefe mannaging of this warre The Archbishop of Mentz againe solicited by Gregory the VII assembles another Councell and makes a new proposall about the Clergies not marrying but was entertained in like manner as before and stood in great hazard of his life whereupon he thought it his best course vtterly to lay off this designe The Saxons thus put to flight the Emperour dismisses his forces and the auxiliarie Princes but vpon condition that they should againe present themselues in armes before him on the two and twentieth day of October following When that day came a great many appeared and amongst them many Bishops but not so many in number as before There againe the Saxons send their Ambassadours for peace in camping themselues at Northausen The Emperour sends them answer that one way to peace was to yeeld themselues so they though seeming rather to doe any thing then this yet certaine Princes which were sent as Intercessors and Ambassadors from the Emperour promising them very largely that they should not thereby incurre any indammagement either of liberty or goods at length assented and the Bishop of Maidenburgh and Halberstadt Otho Duke of Bauaria Magnus Duke of Saxony and Fredericke Count Palatine yeelded themselues into his hands and likewise soone after many of the rest of the Nobilitie The Emperour at first commits them to custodie not without fauour but afterwards flying from his promise caused them to be carried into seuerall places how bee it not long after hee set Duke Otho not onely at liberty but also intreated him very familiarly but for the rest both kept them prisoners and gaue their goods for a prey to others Then raising new Castles and Forts wholly bends himselfe against the safetie and libertie of the Saxons and in his absence committed the whole charge of gouernement to Otho Duke of Bauaria by parentage descended from the Saxons After this hee conftituted a Bishop at Bambergh as also at Cullen and an Abbot at Fulden Now a little before this hee was accused to the Pope and most especially for selling Ecclesiasticall promotions Whereupon the Pope by his Legate cites him to make his appearance at Rome within a certaine time and to giue his answer in the cause But he cals a Synod of Bishops and Abbots at Wormbs there it is decreed that the Pope for that he came to the Papacie by sinister meanes should bee depriued of his place forthwith publishes this at Rome by his Ambassadors Henry the IIII. excommunicated by Gregory the VII alias Hildebrand an 1076. But the Pope not a whit moued hereat both excommunicates him and also more especially the Bishops of Mentz Vtrecht and Bambergh hauing formerly excommunicated certaine of his familiar friends by whose counsell hee supposed him to haue beene drawne on to this practise Furthermore the Princes of Germany decpely offended at the Emperours demeanour and disposition especially for that contrary to his promise hee persecuted the Saxons with so obstinate hatred conspire against him and so much the rather because he was interdicted the Church Whereupon they dismisse the surrendred prisoners the custodie whereof was committed to them by the Emperour iudging them not to bee tied to him in any bond of allegiance At the same time certaine Nobles in Saxonie stirring vp and drawing on others into their partie surprise those Castles euery where raised some by force and command other some by dedition and dismisse the Garisons in safetie first binding them by oath neuer after to beare Armes against Saxonie The Emperour vpon notice hereof in subtle policie sets at libertie the rest of the imprisoned Princes to the end that they returning into Saxonie might doe him faithfull seruice in punishing the Rebels for hee saw there was no other meanes to bring about his wished successe with more facilitie then by kindling factions amongst them and renting one from another but the euent was not correspondent for they after their returne home well acquainted with his qualities with ioynt mindes might resolued to fight for the common liehrtie and Duke Otho also forsaking him did the like yet the Emperour was full fraught with good hope hauing broken through Bohemia into the Country of Campania aided with Bohemian forces but when he was certified of the Saxons coniunction and their Armie in readinesse despairing victory retires Then at length the Princes of Germanie appointing the day met together in great abundance thither also repaires the Popes Legate who vnfolding the causes of the Emperours excommunication exhorted them to create another which otherwise they were about to doe of their owne accord for making a rehearsall of his life euen from his tender yeeres they pronounced him to be the blemish dishonour and
was crowned by some of the Cardinals because Pope Clement the V. hauing left the Citie was remoued into France and kept his Court at Auinion When the Cardinals required the oath of him which they said was to bee giuen to the Pope hee refused it and would not haue any such kind of oath to be thereby bound to the Pope vpon notice hereof the Pope to inlarge his owne power expounded that generall forme of the oath at large and annexed it to the rest of his decrees now extant For he himselfe also preferred many lawes which retaine their name from him and are called the Clementines The knights of the Temple supprest about 1308. Now also those Knights called the Templars being very puissant were by the same violence put to death and made away in diuers places Philip the Faire King of France by the Popes permission seized vpon a great part of their Reuenues Soone after the name and memorie of them was condemned and by the French nationall Synod at Vienna their lands were giuen to those called the Knights of the Rhodes At this time also the Vniuersitie of Orleans was founded by King Philip and Pope Clements authoritie After the Emperour Henries t He was poisoned by a Monk with a cup of Wine in the Communion decease and buriall at Pisa being poisoned as it was strongly suspected there followed most bitter contentions about the election for Fredericke Archduke of Austria the Emperour Alberts sonne Lewis 1314 an 32. m. 11. d. 24. Fredericke of Austria opposeth him and is elected Emperour also and Lewis Duke of Bauaria were competitors for the Empire The Archbishop of Mentz crowned Lewis at Aix and the Archbishop of Cullen Fredericke at Bena and Pope Iohn the XXIII proclaimed them both Emperours but of the two was more inclined to Fredericke which proclamation increased the flame of discord Forces being mustered vpon both sides a sharpe battell was fought at Esling a towne in Sueuia but in a manner with equall fortune and soone after another in Bauaria with stronger forces Fredericke the other Emperour taken prisoner 1323. in which the Archduke Fredericke was taken prisoner losing a good part of his Armie afterwards he was see at libertie and returning home died within a few yeeres after Lewis the Emperour hauing thus compast the Empire marches downe into Italie in despight of the Pope constitutes Gouernors ouer al the Cities free-burroughes and is crowned at Millaine by the Archbishop there from whence hauing sent his Ambassadours to the Pope at Auinion againe and againe about his solemne inauguration and there failing he goes to Rome after he had setled the affaires of Millaine At Rome hee was entertained with exceeding great ioy and crowned by one or two of the Cardinals but the Pope ingeminating his excommunication he by the aduise of his Nobles creates another Pope and after this fashion continued these most deadly flames of hatred betwixt them not without most scandalous criminations cast forth on both sides The French Annall-writers report that Charles the Faire King Philips sonne was the first that granted Pope Iohn Tenths of Ecclesiasticall goods in France and shared the prey betwixt themselues but the Popes chiefe aime in procuring this was to furnish himselfe with money against the Emperour After the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope dies and his successor Benedict the XII both excommunicated and depriued him of his dignitie Whereupon the Emperour conuening the Princes at Franckeford in a solemne speech complaines of the Popes iniuries explaines the reasons of his allegiance produces and declares the ancient lawes of the Empire withall shewing that the Bishop of Rome had nothing to doe with the Common-wealth of the Empire For he who is elected by the Princes consent is truely Emperour without any assent consent or consecration from the Pope all that being but a ceremonie which by little and little crept vp and now is growne too high to the great dishonour and indammagement of the Empire After this Pope Benedict dying Clement the VI. succeeded one farre more violent then any before him who in vehement manner propounded certaine ignominious conditions vpon refusall whereof hee grew a great deale more furious sharpely admonishing the Princes to choose another Emperour within a certaine time by him limited which if they would not dae hee would take care that the Church should not want a Patrone and Aduocate any longer Whilest the Common-wealth was thus tossed the Emperour Lewis departed this life and Charles King Iohn his sonne Henry the VII his Nephew was elected King of Bohemia A little before this began the occasion of that cruell war betwixt the French and English When Charles the Faire King of France dying without issue male which was in the yeere 1327. Edward king of England of that name the III. being sonne to Isabel King Charles his sister challenged the Kingdome as due to him but the Estates of France which are called the Peeres set the crowne vpon Philip of Valeis cozen germane to the deceased King Charles excluding not onely King Edward the sisters sonne but also King Charles his posthume daughter alledging that the inheritance of that kingdom did in no wise appertaine to daughters hereupon insued that bloody warre scarce yet quenched The beginning of the Emperour Charles the IIII. Charles the IIII. 1346. an 32. m. 7. d. 14. his raigne was troublesome and the Imperiall dignitie was offred to Edward the third King of England but hee as it was reported refused it being hindered by the French wars After the quenching of sundry combustions in Germany the Emperour Charles goes downe into Italie and by consent of Pope Innocent the VI. then being in France is crowned at Rome by some Cardinals vpon condition not to stay any longer either at Rome or in Italie Hee returnes to Millaine and granted the office of perpetuall Vice-Emperour for Lombardie to the house of the Viscounts who then bore great sway in Millaine in respect of which honour they gaue him an huge masse of money and not they onely but others also vpon whom hee had bestowed any thing which act much extenuated the Emperours authority in that Country After his returne out of Italie he summoned a Diet of the Princes and there preferred that decree of the Empire called the t Containing the lawes and rites to be obserued in the election of the Emp as also the dignitie and office of each Elector and other Princes and Nobles Golden bull lastly he assignes his sonne Wenceslaus his successor in the Empire which as it is wriâ—ten he procured with great difficultie though with large rewards and not long after died In his raigne Iohn King of France Philip of Valois his sonne together with his yongest sonne Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundie sirnamed the Stout or the Bold was in pitcht field neere Poictiers taken prisoner by the English who were then in possession of a good part of Aquitaine and the