Cleophas and Bishop of Jerusalem was crucified in the hundred and twentieth year of his Age. These things which we have spoken were acted in the time of this Bishop and not of Cletus as Eusebius in the third book of his History would have it for Damasus makes out that Cletus and Anacletus differed both as to their Countrey and manner of Death Cletus being a Roman and suffering under Domitian but Anacletus and Athenian and suffering under Trajan Our Anacletus having erected an Oratory to St. Peter and assigned places of burial for the Martyrs distinct from those of other men and at one Decembrian Ordination made five Presbyters three Deacons and six Bishops upon his Martyrdom the See was vacant thirteen days after he had sat in it nine years two months and ten days S. EUARISTUS EUARISTUS by birth a Grecian his Father a Jew named Juda of the City of Bethleem lived in the time of Trajan A Prince whom I take delight to mention because of his singular Justice and Humanity Who behav'd himself so acceptably towards all men that as far as the times of Justinian the usual acclamation of the People at the Creation of an Emperour was this Let him be more prosperous than Augustus and better than Trajan He was of a temper so courteous and condescending in visiting the Sick in saluting his Friends in keeping Festivals and being present at Collations to which he was invited that the fault which some found with him for that very reason gave the occasion of that worthy noble saying of his That a Prince ought to be such to his Subjects as he desires they should be to him He impartially distributed Honours Riches and Rewards to all that deserved well never oppress'd any man to fill his own Exchequer granted advantageous immunities to poor Cities repaired the High-ways and made the passages of Rivers secure made a high large Mole at the Haven of Ancona to break the violence of the Waves and indeed neither acted nor designed any thing in his whole life but what tended to the publick Good Having gain'd such Renown both in War and in Peace he died of a Flux at Seleucia a City of Isauria in the eighteenth year and sixth month of his Reign His bones were afterward convey'd to Rome and there buried in an Urn of Gold in the Forum which himself had built under the winding Pillar of an hundred forty foot high which is yet to beseen But we return to Euaristus who as Damasus tells us divided the City of Rome among the Presbyters into Parishes ordained that seven Deacons should attend the Bishop when ever he preached to be witnesses of the truth of his Doctrine and moreover that the accusation of a Lay-man should not be admitted against a Bishop He held Decembrian Ordinations at which he made six Presbyters two Deacons and five Bishops In his time lived Papias Bishop of Hierapolis an Auditor of John a person who took not so much delight in the Records of the ancient Disciples of our Lord as in the living Conversation of Aristion and John the Elder And it is manifest from the order he observes in setting down the names of these two after the mention of almost all the Apostles that the John whom he places among the Apostles was a distinct Person from this John the Aged whom hereckons after Aristion He was certainly a very learned man and followed by many as particularly Irenaeus Apollinarius Tertullian Victorinus Pictaviensis and Lactantius Firmianus Now also Quadratus a Disciple of the Apostles did by his Industry and Courage support the Church of God as much as might be in such dangerous times For when Adrian who now passed the Winter at Athens and was admitted a Priest to the Goddess Eleusina began to persecute the Christians Quadratus with his own hand presented to him a very honest and rational Book of the Excellency of the Christian Religion The like did Aristides and Athenian Philosopher converted to Christianity who at the same time with Quadratus presented to Adrian a Treatise containing an account of our Religion The effect of which Apologeticks was that Adrian being convinc'd of the injustice of putting the Christians to death without their being heard wrote to Minutius Fundanus the Proconsul of Asia ordering that no Christian should be executed unless his guilt were proved by a credible Witness As for our Euaristus some tell us that he was martyr'd in the last year of Trajan but they are more in the right who are of opinion that he suffered under Adrian before his being reconciled to the Christians For he was in the Chair nine years ten months two days and was buried in the Vatican near the body of S. Peter October the twenty seventh The See was then vacant nineteen days S. ALEXANDER I. ALEXANDER a Roman Son of Alexander a Person of Wisdom and Gravity far exceeding his years held the Pontificate in the time of Aelius Adrianus This Adrian who was Son to Trajan's Cosin-German at his first coming to the Empire proved an Enemy to the Christians but afterwards as shall be said anon upon knowledg of their Religion and Devotion became very kind and propitious to them From the great benefits which the Roman State receiv'd by his Government he was called the Father of his Countrey and his Wife had the Title of Augusta He was excellently well skil'd both in the Roman and Greek Languages made many Laws created a goodly Library at Athens being mightily pleased with the Learning and Conversation of Plutarch Sixtus Agathocles and Oenomaus the Philosopher and at the request of the Athenians compiled Laws for them according to the Model of Draco and Solen Being admitted to the Eleusinian Mysteries he was very bountiful to the Citizens of Athens and repair'd their bridg broken down by an Innundation of the River Cephysus He built also a Bridg at Rome called by his own name remaining to this day and a stately Sepulchre in the Vatican near the River Tyber which the Popes now make use of for a Citadel Moreover he made that most sumptuous and stately Villa now called Old Tiber to the several parts of which he gave the names of Provinces and the most celebrated parts of the World Coming to Pelusium he was at great expence in adorning Pompey's Tomb and in Britain he built a Wall of sixty miles to sever the Romans from the Natives And because Septicius Clarus the Captain of his Guards and Suetonius Tranquillus his Secretary with several others had without his leave conversed somewhat more familiarly with his Empress Sabina than the Reverence of a Court admitted of he remov'd them all and put others into their Offices But to return to our Alexander He was the first who for the remembrance of Christs Passion at the Communion added those words Qui pridie quam pateretur to the Clause Hoc est corpus meum He ordained likewise that the Holy Water as it is called
mix'd with Salt and consecrated by Prayer should be kept in Churches and in private Houses as a guard against evil Spirits Moreover he instituted that Water should be mingled with the Wine at the consecration of the Elements to signifie the Union of Christ with his Church and that the Host should not be of leavened bread as was formerly used but of unleavened only as being the more pure and by which all occasion of cavilling would be taken away from the Ebionite Hereticks who were very much addicted to Judaism In his time lived Agrippa Castor who learnedly and effectually confuted the books which Basilides the Heretick wrote against the Holy Gospel exposing to derision his Prophets Barcabas and Barthecab and his great God Abraxas names invented by him to amuse and terrifie the ignorant This Basilides died at that time when the Christians were very much perfecuted and tormented by Cochebas the Head of the Jewish Faction But Adrian soon repress'd the pertinacy of this Rebel and the whole Nation of the Jews by an almost incredible slaughter of them and then commanded that no Jew should be suffered to enter Jerusalem permitting only Christians to inhabit that City and having repaired the Walls and buildings of it he called it after his own name Aelia Marcus being after the expulsion of the Jews chosen the first Gentile Bishop of it In the time of this Bishop also Sapphira of Antioch and Sabina a Roman Lady suffer'd martyrdom for the faith of Christ and Favorinus Palaemon Herodes Atheniensis and Marcus Byzantius were famous Rhetoricians Our Alexander having at three Decembrian Ordinations made five Presbyters three Deacons five Bishops was together with his Deacons Euentius and Theodulus crowned with Martyrdom on the third day of May and buried in the Via Nomentana where he suffered seven miles from the City He was in the Chair ten years seven months two days After his Death the See was vacant twenty five days S. SIXTUS I. SIXTUS a Roman the Son of Pastor or as others will have it of Helvidius held the Pontificate in the time of Adrian to the Consulship of Verus and Anniculus Which Adrian is reckoned in the number of the good Emperours upon the account of his Liberality Splendour Magnificence and Clemency an eminent instance of the last of which good qualities was this That when a Servant run madly upon him with his Sword he took no farther notice of the Action than to order him a Physician to cure his Phrenzy He visited the Sick twice or thrice in a day at his own charge he repair'd Alexandria when it had been ruined by the Romans he rebuilt the Pantheon in Rome and made Aromatick Presents to the People Being at the point of Death he is said to have uttered these Verses Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis jocos He died of a Dropsy in the two and twentieth year of his Reign and was buried at Puteoli in Cicero's Villa Sixtus out of his care of the Church ordained that the Elements and Vessels of the Altar should not be touched by any but the Ministers but especially not by Women and that the Corporal as it is called should be made of Linnen-cloth only and that of the finest sort That no Bishop who had been cited to appear before the Apostolick See should at his return be received by his Flock unless he brought with him Letters Communicatory to the People At the Celebration he instituted the Hymn Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth Anciently the Office of the Communion was performed in a plain manner and unclog'd with humane mixtures St. Peter after Consecration used the Paternoster James Bishop of Jerusalem added some Rites Bazil more and others more still For Celestine brought in the Introitus of the Mass Gregory the Kyrie Eleyson Telesphorus The Glory be to God on High Gelasius the first the Collects and Hierom the Epistle and Gospel The Alelujah was taken from the Church of Jerusalem the Creed was instituted by the Council of Nice Pelagius introduced the Commemoration of the Dead Leo the third the Incense Innocent the first the Kiss of Peace and Sergius ordered the Agnus Dei to be sung During the time of Sixtus the Persecution being so sharp that few had courage enough to own the Profession of Christianity and the Christian Gauls desiring a Bishop to them he sends Peregrine a Citizen of Rome who having confirmed them in the Faith at his return suffered Martyrdom in the Via Appia at the place where Christ appeared to Peter as he was leaving the City His body was by the faithful carried into the Vatican and buried near S. Peter Aquila also by birth a Jew of Pontus who with his Wife Priscilla had been banish'd by the Edict of Claudius is said by some to have lived till this time he was the second Translatour of the Old Testament after the Seventy who lived in the time of Ptolomey Philadelphus As for Sixtus having at three Decembrian Ordinations made eleven Presbyters eleven Deacons and four Bishops he was crowned with Martyrdom and buried in the Vatican near St. Peter having been in the Chair ten years three months and one and twenty days Upon his Death the See was vacant only two days S. TELESPHORUS TELEPHORUS a Grecian the Son of an Anchorete lived in the time of Antoninus Pius This Emperour was by his Fathers side a Cisalpine Gaul and together with his Sons Aurelius and Verus he ruled twenty two years and three months with so much moderation and Clemency that he deservedly gain'd the name of Pius and Father of his Countrey He was never severe or rigorous towards any man in the recovery of his own private Debts or the exaction of publick Taxes but would sometimes wholly remit them by burning the Bonds of his Debtors What shall I need say more of this Prince who in the opinion of all good men was for Religion Devotion Humanity Clemency Justice and Modesty equal to Numa Pompilius himself When the River Tiber had by an inundation much impaired many private and publick buildings he was at vast expence to assist the Citizens in restoring the City to its former state again Moreover it was he who carried on those prodigious Works which appear to this day for improving the Havens of Tarracina and Cajeta and I believe that the famous winding Pillar from which the principal Ward of the City is denominated was built at his charge As for our Telesphorus he ordained that a Quadragesimal Fast should be observed before Easter and that on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord there should be three Masses one at Midnight at which time Christ was born in Bethelehem another at break of Day when he was discovered to the Shepherds the third at that hour wherein the light of Truth and our Redemption shone in the World i. e. when
so much smartness in the Translation how much more shall we judg to be in the Original As for 〈◊〉 having at three Decembrian Ordinations made twelve Presbyters eight Deacons fifteen Bishops he died and was buried near S. Peter in the Vatican May 26. He was in the Chair fifteen years three months two days and the See was vacant five days S. VICTOR I. VICTOR an Asian Son of Felix was as I believe in the time of Aelius Pertinax Which Aelius being seventy years of Age was from the Office of City-praefect created Emperour by a Decree of the Senate Being afterwards desired to declare his Lady Augusta and his Son Coesar he refused both saying it was enough that he himself was Emperour against his Will But undergoing the reproach of that unprincely Vice Covetousnes being so sordid as to cause the half of a Lettuce or Artichoke to be served up to his Table he was without any opposition slain in the Palace by Didius Julianus the Lawyer in the sixth month of his Reign This is that Julian who made the perpetual Edict and who in the seventh month after his coming to the Empire was vanquished and slain in a Civil War by Severus at Pons Milvius Victor out of his care of the Affairs of the Church decreed that according to a former constitution of Eleutherius as Damasus tells us Easter should be kept upon the Sunday which fell between the fourteenth and twenty first day after the Phasis or appearance of the Moon in the first Month. Theophilus Bishop of Coesarea Palestinoe was obedient to this Decree and wrote against those who observed that Feast as the Jews did their 〈◊〉 always upon the fourteenth day of the Moon whatever day of the Week it happened to be But Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus very hotly declaimed against this Constitution stifly contending that according to ancient Custom it ought to be celebrated precisely on that day on which the Jews kept their 〈◊〉 For he maintain'd that herein he 〈◊〉 the Example of S. 〈◊〉 the Apostle and others the Ancients We says he observe the exact day neither anticipating nor protracting it Thus did Philip who died at Hierapolis thus did John who leaned on our Lords bosom thus did Polycarp Thraseas Melito and Narcissus Bishop of Hierusalem 〈◊〉 some tell us that a Council was held in Palestine at which were present 〈◊〉 Irenoeus Narcissus Polycarp Bacchylus all Bishops of great Note in Asia But the whole matter was afterwards refer'd to the Council of Nice in which it was decreed that Easter should be kept on the Sunday following the fourteenth day of the Moon to avoid all appearance of Judaizing 〈◊〉 also ordained that in cases of necessity Proselytes might at their 〈◊〉 be baptized in any kind of Water or at any time of the year 〈◊〉 his Pontificate there flourished many learned men As for instance Appion who wrote the Hexaëmeron or account of the six days work of Creation 〈◊〉 Samosatenus who together with Theodotus held our Saviour to have been a meer man Sixtus who wrote of the 〈◊〉 and Arabianus who published several Treatises of Christian Doctrine Now also one Judas wrote a Cronology to the tenth year of Severus the Emperor wherein yet he is guilty of a mistake in asserting that Antichrist would come in his time an Errour into which I suppose him to have fallen from the observation he had made of the Cruelty and other Vices of the Age which he saw now grown to such an heighth that he thought Almighty God could not bear with mankind any longer By which very thing Lactantius and S. Austin themselves were after deceived Our Victor having first written some books concerning Religion died and was buried near S. 〈◊〉 in the Vatican whose Feast we observe on the twenty eighth of July He was in the Chair ten years three months ten days And the See was vacant twelve days S. ZEPHYRINUS ZEPHERINUS a Roman Son of Habundius lived in the time of Severus the Emperour Who being by birth an Asrican of the Town of Leptis upon the death of Julian succeeded in the Empire and took the Surname of Pertinax He was first an Officer of the Exchequer then a Colonel in the Army till by several steps he advanced himself to the Dignity of Imperator He was of a very frugal temper the cruelty of his nature was heightened by the many Wars he had been engaged in and he exercised great Valour in defending and great care in governing his Subjects He was eminent not only for his skill in Arms but in Letters too taking very much delight in the study of Philosophy He conquer'd the Parthians and Adiabeni and made Arabia Interior a Province of the Roman Empire For this Atchievement he triumphed and upon the Arch erected to him in the Capitol he was styled Parthicus Arabicus and Adiabenicus Moreover he adorned the City with publick buildings For he made those 〈◊〉 from his own name are called the Severian Baths and erected the famous Septizonium that part of which noble Pile that is now remaining hardly 〈◊〉 being pull'd down some years ago by order of Pope Paul the second to make the best of the stones But Bishop Zephyrinus 〈◊〉 more intent upon Ecclesiastical than secular Affairs decreed that every Deacon and Priest should be ordained in the presence of the Faithful both Clergy and Laity which was afterwards 〈◊〉 in the Council of Chalcedon He decreed likewise that the 〈◊〉 at the Communion should not be consecrated as had been 〈◊〉 used in a wooden Chalice but in Glass Though this 〈◊〉 was altered in following times wherein order was given that it should 〈◊〉 be in Wood because of its spunginess whereby some of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might soak into it nor of Glass because of its brittleness and the 〈◊〉 of its being broken nor of any ordinary course mettal by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ill taste it might contract from it but only in 〈◊〉 of Gold or Silver or at least of Pewter as appears in the Canons of 〈◊〉 Councils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Reims He also ordained that all 〈◊〉 of fourteen years of Age should communicate every year upon Easter-day which in after-times Innocent the third extended not only to Communion but Confession too He commanded likewise that no Bishop being 〈◊〉 by his Patriarch or Primate or Metropolitan should have sentence pass'd against him but by the Authority of the See 〈◊〉 Lastly he ordained that when the Bishop celebrated all his Presbyters should be present In his time flourished Heraclius who wrote a Comment upon the Apostle Maximus who in a large book 〈◊〉 the great Controversie of this Age viz. concerning the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Original of Matter Candidus who com posed an 〈◊〉 and Origen who in the tenth year of Severus 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being rais'd against the Christians and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 put to death for his Religion whom he himself being yet a Youth did very much confirm in
Philosophers acknowledging 〈◊〉 he was prosoundly skill'd in Platonism and finding no fault in him but his 〈◊〉 a Christian. S. Hierom himself says that he wrote six thousand Volumes though that Father and S. Austin too tell us that he was erroneous in most 〈◊〉 them and particularly in his book of Government entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet Pamphilus the Martyr and Eusebius and Russinus a Priest of Aquileia appear very much in his Praise and Defence As for Calistus having at five Decembrian Ordinations made sixteen Presbyters four Deacons eight Bishops he was crown'd with Martyrdom and was buried in the Coemetery of Calepodius in the Via Aurelia three miles distant from the City October 14th He was in the Chair six years ten months ten days The See was then vacant six days S. URBANUS I. VRBANUS a Roman Son of Pontianus was Bishop of Rome in the time of the Emperour M. Aurelius Antoninus Anno Dom. 226. U. C. 970. This Antoninus supposed to be the base Son of 〈◊〉 coming to Rome and being advanced to the Empire not without an universal expectation of good from him took the name of Heliogabalus from the Sun so called by the Phoenicians to which he built a Temple and was himself a Priest of it But he led a life so contrary to the hopes and opinion men had entertain'd of him that he has left no other memory of himself than that of his exorbitant Villanies and all kinds of debauchery For he violated the chastity of the Vestal Virgins made his Palace no better than a Stews and in a rage commanded Sabinus a man of consular dignity and to whom Ulpian the famous Civilian wrote to be immediately put to death He conferred all places of trust and honour upon the vilest of men with whom he was wont sometimes to make himself sport after this manner he would make them lie down with him at Supper but it should be upon large bellows which being raised and distended they would all of a sudden tumble down under the Table He had such a loud and undecent way of laughing that in a full Theatre his Voice might be heard above all the Company He was the first among the Romans who wore Velvet and used Tables and other Utensils of Silver When some of his Friends advised him to beware that by his luxury he did not reduce himself to want Can I do better says he than to make my self my own and my Wives Heir He was once so extravagantly freakish as to cause a Collection to be made of ten thousand pound weight of Spiders from whence he pretended an estimate might be taken of the bigness of the City of Rome and to get together ten thousand Mice and as many Weazels and Rats These mad pranks by degrees rendred him so contemptible in the eyes of all men that himself and his Mother were both slain in a Military Tumult 'T is said that some Syrian Priests having told him that he should undergo a violent death he 〈◊〉 fairly provided himself of a decent Scarlet Silken Halter to do his own work withal He died in the fourth year of his Reign at the same time when the City of Nicopolis in Palestine formerly called Emmaus was built Africanus the Historian and Chronologer undertaking an Embassie to promote that Affair Urban who lived in the time of this Monster not of Dioclesian as some would have it by his eminent Piety and Learning proselyted multitudes to the Christian Faith and among others particularly Valerianus an excelient Person and contracted to S. Cecilia with his Brother Tiburtius both which afterwards suffered Martyrdom with great constancy of mind as did also the espoused Virgin her self in her Fathers house which was at her request consecrated and made a Church by Urban The same Urban also ordained that the Church might receive Estates in Land or Houses given and bequeathed to her by any of the Faithful but that the Revenues of them should not be any ones property but for the common good be distributed among the whole Clergy to every one his share a Constitution long since antiquated through the coverousness and rapacity of following Ages Some attribute to him the distinction of the four stated annual Times of Fasting or Ember-weeks which through mens ignorance were before kept very confusedly In his time lived Tryphon one of Origen's Disciples remarkable markable for the book he composed concerning the red Heiser in Deuteronomy Minutius Felix also a famous Pleader at Rome wrote a Dialogue in which he introduces a Christian and an Heathen disputing besides another book against the Mathematicians of which Lactantius makes mention Moreover Alexander Bishop of Hierusalem at this time founded the famous Library there by which he has gained so great a reputation As for Urban himself having at five Decembrian Ordinations made nine Presbyters five Deacons nine Bishops he received a Crown of Martyrdom and was buried in the Coemetery of Pretexatus in the Via Tiburtina having been in the Chair four years ten months twelve days And the See was vacant thirty days S. PONTIANUS PONTIANUS a Roman Son of Calphurnius lived in the time of the Emperour Alexander in the Year nine hundred seventy four from the building of Rome and the Year of our Lord two hundred forty five But between the Reign of Heliogabalus and Alexander there are reckoned three other Emperours Macrinus Diadumenus and Albinus whose Names I intended to have left out not only because they governed but a very little while but chiefly because they did nothing memorable only Albinus became notorious to Posterity for his Gluttony eating if we may believe the Authority of Cordus an hundred large Peaches ten choice Melons five hundred dryed Figs and four hundred Oysters at one Meal But to pass by these Monsters of men I come to Alexander a singular pattern of Virtue who being created Emperour by the favour of the Senate and the Army immediately applyed himself to the setling of the Commonwealth which had been very much impaired by the miscarriages of former Princes To which end he made use of Julius Frontinus a vert learned Man and Ulpian and Paul two excellent Civilians as Assistants and Coadjutors in that Affair He was so upright in all his dealings that no man could ever complain of any Injury receiv'd from him and so far removed from any kind of Vanity or Ostentation that he appear'd but once in the costly Robes belonging to his Office while he was Consul All those who in their Addresses to him were sneakingly obsequious in their carriage or affectedly complaisant in their words he would reject as fawning Fellows for he was so wise and discerning that no man could impose upon him one instance of which was his proceeding with Turinus to whom for his taking Bribes upon the appearance of his being the Emperours mighty Favourite he allotted this remarkable punishment that being bound to a Stake in the Transitory
Forum a place of greatest Concourse and the most publick thorow-fare he should be suffocated with smoak the common Cryer in the mean time proclaiming these words He that sold smoak is punish'd with smoak Though his Mother Mammoea as she was a Woman had a great love for Money yet he was altogether above it and for Jewels he slighted them as feminine Trifles being often wont to say that in Virgil whom he called the Plato of the Poets there were more and more precious Gems to be found The Revenue which arose from Bawds and Whores and Catamites he forbad to be laid up in the sacred Treasury and judg'd it more fit to be assign'd to the defraying some publick Charge as the repairing of the Theatre the Cirque the Amphitheatre and the Stadium Having after great search gotten a Collection of the Images of Famous Men he caus'd them to be set up in the Transitory Forum and likewise finish'd and beautified those which are at this time call'd the Antonian Baths having been begun by Antoninus Caracalla He had it in his design to acknowledg our Saviour to be a God and build a Temple to him and did actually set up the Effigies of Christ and Abraham and Orpheus in his Domestick Chappel Being renowned for so many excellent qualities and created Emperour while he was very young he immediately engag'd in a War against the Persians and bravely vanquish'd their King Xerxes In reforming the Military Discipline he was so strict that he cashier'd some whole Legions at once which severity of his was the occasion of his being slain in a tumult of the Soldiers at Mentz Pontianus being now Bishop of Rome at the instigation of the Idol-Priests both he and Philip a Presbyter were at the Emperours Command transported from the City of Rome to the Island Sardinia much about that time when Germanus a Presbyter of Antioch and Beryllus a Bishop of Arabia were converted to the Truth by Origen The Heresie of Beryllus was his denial that Christ had any Being before his Incarnation He wrote some small Pieces and particularly certain Epistles in which he returns thanks to Origen for his sound Doctrine There is extant likewise a Dialogue between them wherein Origen convicts Beryllus of Heresie As for Origen himself he was a Person of so great Wit and Learning that seven Amanuenses taking their turns were scarce sufficient for him He had also as many Transcribers and young Women well-skill'd in Writing all which he wearied out with the copiousness and fertility of his Inventions Being sent for from Antioch to Rome by Mammoea the pious Emperours Mother he was in great esteem with her and having fully instructed her in the Christian Faith he returned to Antioch But Pontianus having suffered divers calamities and severe Torments for the Faith of Christ at length died in Sardinia his body being afterward at the request of the whole Clergy brought back with great Veneration to Rome by Bishop Fabian and interred in the Via Appia in the Coemetery of Calistus At the Ordinations which he held twice in the Month of December he made six Presbyters five Deacons and six Bishops He was in the Chair nine years five months two days and from his Martyrdom the See was vacant ten days S. ANTERUS ANTERUS a Grecian the Son of Romulus was made Bishop of Rome in the time of Maximine who Anno U. C. 987. having fortunately managed the War in Germany was elected 〈◊〉 by the Army without any Authority of the Senate He was a Man of a mighty Stature being above eight foot high and had a Foot of such a magnitude that it is since become Proverbial when men speak of a tall Silly Fellow to say he needs Maximine's Hose His Wives Bracelet served him only for a Ring and his Appetite was so large that he would drink a Rundlet of nine Gallons of Wine at a Sitting He raised the sixth Persecution against the Christians but in the third year of his Reign himself together with his Son Maximine was slain by Pupienus at Aquileia a City which he besieged and so an end was put to his Life and that Persecution together by which means Mammea a Christian Lady and the famous Origene the blood of both which he very much thirsted for escaped his Cruelty 'T is reported that during this Siege of Aquileia when their bowstrings failed the Women of the City supplied that want with their hair for which reason in honour to those Matrons the Senate dedicated a Temple to Venus the Bald. Anterus was the first who for the sake of one Maximus a Martyr ordained that the Acts of the Martyrs diligently search'd after should be committed to Writing by certain Notaries appointed to that purpose and being written should be reposited in the Treasury of the Church that so the memory of good men might not perish with their Lives He ordered likewise that no Bishop should be translated from his first Bishoprick to another for his private Need or Benefit but only for the sake of the Flock committed to him and by the leave of the Supreme Bishop A Constitution which at this day is made void by common Practice for now the Prelates being intent upon their own Profit and Pleasure are always looking out for a fatter Not that they are at all inquisitive how they may feed a larger Flock but the great Enquiry is how much any See may be made worth yearly There is very little discourse among them concerning the care of Souls but very much concerning the encrease of their Revenues that thereby they may be able to keep more Horses and have a greater Retinue of useless lubberly Servants In his time flourished Julius Africanus an eminent Writer who as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tells us founded a famous Library at Coesarea This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Reign of M. Aurelius Antoninus undertook an Embassie for the rebuilding the City of Emmaus which as I have already said was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicopolis He wrote also an Epistle to Origen shewing that the story of Susanna was not received among the Jews against whom Origen afterwards penn'd a large Epistle upon that Argument At this time likewise flourished Geminus a Presbyter of the Church of Antioch and Heraclas Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria As for Anterus himself having consecrated only one Bishop he suffered Martyrdom and was interr'd in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia on the third of January He was in the Chair eleven years one month twelve days and the See was then vacant thirteen days S. FABIANUS FABIANUS a Roman the Son of Fabius continued from the Reign of Gordianus and Philip to that of the Emperour Decius Gordianus getting the Empire and having given a mighty Defeat to the Parthians that made head against him in his return home to Triumph was slain by the two Philips His chief commendation was that he is reported to have had sixty two thousand books in his Library Philip Anno U.
as they were leading him to Punishment disposed of what he had to Stephen the Arch-deacon and afterwards upon the fifth of May was beheaded Lucina with some of the Clergy buried his body by night in a Grotto of hers in the Via Appia nor far from the Coemetery of Calistus There are some who write that the Bishop suffered under Gallus and Volusianus but I rather give credit to Damasus who affirms Decius to have been the Author of his Martyrdom Cornelius held two Ordinations in the Month of December in which he made four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He sat in the Chair two years three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. LUCIUS I. LUCIUS by birth a Roman his Father's Name Porphyrius was chosen Bishop when Gallus Hostilianus was Emperour Gallus associated to himself in the Government his Son Volusianus in whose times there arose so great a Plague to revenge the cause of Christianity that there were few Families much less Cities and Provinces which had not their share in the publick Calamity But while Gallus and Volusianus were engaging in a Civil War against Aemilianus who had attempted an alteration of the Government they were both kill'd at 〈◊〉 before they had compleated the second year of their Empire Aemilianus a person of obscure birth was slain e're he had possess'd his usurped Power three months and soon after Valerianus and Gallienus were chosen Emperours the former by the Army in Rhetia and Noricum the latter at Rome by the Senate Their Government proved very pernicious to the Roman State by the means of their own Pusillanimity and the 〈◊〉 they exercised against the Christians For both the Germans had marched forward as far as Ravenna laying all 〈◊〉 where ever they came with Fire and Sword and also Valerianus himself making War in Mesopotamia was taken Prisoner by the Parthians and forced to live in the most ignominious servitude for Sapores King of Persia made use of him for a Footstool when he got up on Horseback A Punishment which justly 〈◊〉 him for this reason that as soon as he was seiz'd of the Empire he was the eighth from Nero who commanded that the Christians should be put to Tortures be made to worship Idols or upon their refusal be put to death Gallienus being terrisied by this manifest Judgment of God suffered the Christians to live quietly But it was now too late for by the Divine Permission the Barbarians had already made Inroads upon the Roman borders and certain pernicious Tyrants arose who overthrew at home what was left undestroyed by the forein Enemy 〈◊〉 hereupon leaves the care of the Publick and spending his time very dissolutely at 〈◊〉 was there slain Lucius upon the death of Volusianus being released from banishment at his return to Rome ordained that every Bishop 〈◊〉 be accompanied where-ever he went with two Presbyters and three Deacons as witnesses of his Life and Actions In his time suffered Saint Cyprian who was first a Professor of Rhetorick and afterward as St. Hierem tells us at the persuasion of Coecilius the Presbyter from whom he took his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 becoming a Christian he gave his Estate to the Poor Having 〈◊〉 first ordained a Presbyter and then Bishop of Carthage he was 〈◊〉 to death under 〈◊〉 and Volusianus His Life and Martyrdom were 〈◊〉 well written by Pontius a Presbyter and his Companion in 〈◊〉 And it ought not to be forgotten that Cyprian before he 〈◊〉 was reconciled to the Opinion of the Church of Rome that 〈◊〉 were not to be re-baptized but to be receiv'd without any further Ceremony than that of Imposition of Hands a matter about which there had been formerly a great Controversie between him and Cornelius But to return to Lucius before his Martyrdom which he suffered at the command of Valerianus he delivered up his Ecclesiastical Power to 〈◊〉 the Arch-deacon He conferred holy Orders thrice in the month of December ordaining four Presbyters four Deacons seven Bishops He was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia Aug. the 25th He was in the Chair three years three months three days and by his death the See was vacant thirty five days S. STEPHANUS I. STEPHANUS a Roman the Son of Julius was chosen Bishop when the Roman Empire seem'd to be utterly ruin'd and particularly at the time when Posthumus 〈◊〉 his Usurped Power in Gallia though not without great advantage to the Publick For he governed very well ten years together freed the Countrey from Hostility and restored that Province to its ancient Form But being afterwards kill'd at Mentz in a tumult of the Soldiers Victorinus succeeded him who was indeed an excellent Soldier but being exces ssively incontinent and adulterous was slain at Cologne Stephanus applying himself to the Regulation of the Church ordained that the Priests and other Ministers should not use their sacred Vestments any where but in the Church and during the performance of Divine Offices lest otherwise they should incur the Punishment of Belshazzar King of Babylon for touching the holy Vessels with prophane hands Concerning the Re-baptization of those who returned to the Faith he was of the same Judgment with Cornelius his Predecessor and thought it by no means lawful to communicate with those who re-baptized them Whereupon Dionysius who had formerly concurred in opinion about the matter with those of Carthage and the East both his and their Sentiments of it being now altered writes to Stephen and encourages him from the assurance that both the Asian and African Churches were now reconciled to the Judgment of the Roman See concerning it About the same time Malchion a Presbyter of Antioch a person of extraordinary Eloquence became very useful to the Church of God in writing against Paulus Samosatenus the Bishop of that place who endeavoured to revive the Opinion of Artemon affirming Christ to have been a meer man and that he had no Existence till he was conceived by the Virgin Mary An Opinion which being afterwards condemned in the Council of Antioch by general consent this Malchion in the name of the Synod wrote a large Epistle to the Christians concerning it As for Stephanus when he had by his Example and Persuasion converted a multitude of Gentiles to Christianity being seized by Gallienus as some say or else by those who upon the Edict of Decius were appointed to persecute the Christians he himself together with many others his Proselytes was hurried away to Martyrdom and having suffered he was interred in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia August the 2d after that he had at two Decembrian Ordinations made six Presbyters five Deacons three Bishops He was in the Chair seven years five months two days and the See was vacant two and twenty days S. SIXTUS II. SIXTUS an Athenian of a Philosopher became a Christian the Decian and Valerian Persecution yet continuing But it
will not be foreign to our present purpose to go on as we have begun to give some account of the other Tyrants till we come to the true Successour Victorinus therefore being slain in Gallia Tetricus a Senator being at that time Governour of Aquitain was in his absence chosen Emperour by the Soldiers But while these things were transacting in Gallia Odenatus overcomes the the Persians defends Syria and 〈◊〉 Mesopotamia as far as Ctesiphon At this time in Ptolemais anciently called Barce a City of Pentapolis there was broach'd a Doctrine full of blasphemies against God the Father and against Christ whom it denied to be the Son of the most high God and the first-born of every Creature and against the Holy Ghost whose being it disowned The Assertors of it were called 〈◊〉 from Sabellius the author of this perverse Sect. What shall I say of that carnal opinion of Cerinthus who affirmed that Christ should personally Reign upon the earth a thousand years from whence by the Greeks he was called a Chiliast Being himself a man of unbounded Lust and Luxury he feigned a great plenty of delicious Viands and a great variety of beautiful Women to be the principal Ingredients of the happiness of that Kingdom Of the same opinion likewise was Nepos a Bishop in some parts of Egypt who affirmed that the Saints were to Reign with Christ on the Earth in the highest enjoyment of all sensual delights and pleasures from whom his brutish followers were called Nepotiani Sixtus had it some time in his mind to baffle and suppress these opinions but being accused for preaching the faith of Christ contrary to the Emperours Edict he was taken and led to the Temple of Mars where he must either offer sacrifice to the Idol or upon his 〈◊〉 be put to death As he was going forth to punishment Laurence his Arch-deacon thus bespake him Whither art thou going O my Father without thy Son Whither O best of Bishops art thou hastning without thy Attendants To whom Sixtus answered I do not forsake thee O my Son there are yet greater conflicts behind which thou art to undergo for the faith of Christ within three days thou as a dutiful Deacon shalt follow me thy Bishop in the mean time if thou hast any stock lying by thee distribute it all to the Poor On the same day with Sixtus which was the eighth of August there were executed six Deacons viz. Felicissimus Agapetus Januarius Magus Innocentius Stephanus And on the third day after August the tenth the same Lawrence with Claudius the Sub-deacon and Seuerus the Presbyter and Crescentius the Reader and Romanus the Door-keeper were all put to death together though with several kinds of Tortures among which it is said that Laurence was broiled upon a Gridiron Vincentius who had been Scholar to Sixtus being gone into Spain could not be present at this Martyrdom Sixtus during his Pontificate having at two Decembrian Ordinations made four Presbyters seven Deacons two Bishops his body was interr'd in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia The other Martyrs lye in the Coemetery of Proetextatus in the Via Tiburtina Sixtus sat in the Chair two years ten months twenty three days And the See was vacant thirty five days S. DIONYSIUS DIONYSIUS whose original Damasus could not trace being of a Monk advanced to the Pontifical Dignity forthwith allotted to the several Presbyters in the City of Rome their several Churches and Coemeteries and to others elsewhere 〈◊〉 their respective Parishes and Dioceses that so every one might be confined within his own bounds and limits His contemporary Emperour I take to have been Claudius who when by consent of the Senate he had undertaken the Government made War upon and with incredible slaughter defeated the Goths who had for fifteen years together wasted Illyricum and Macedonia Hereupon it was decreed by the Senate that in the Council-house a golden Shicld in the Capital a golden Statue should be erected to his Honour But falling sick at Sirmium he died before the second year of his Empire was compleated Upon his death Quintillus his Brother was straightway chosen Emperour by the Army a person of singular moderation and the only man who deserved to succeed his Brother but he also governed a very little time being slain in the seventeenth day of his Reign During the Pontificate of Dionysius Paulus Samosatenus deserting the Orthodox Faith revived the Heresie of Artemon This Paul being made Bishop of Antioch in the room of Demetrianus behaved himself with excessive haughtiness and affectation for as he passed along he affected to read and dictate Letters a great throng of Attendants going before and following him so that for the sake of his Arrogance multitudes were very strongly prejudiced against the Christian Religion But had they lived in our times wherein Pride and Pomp not to say Luxury it self are at their heighth what would they think to see Prelates led on by so many young Sparks and brought up by a crowd of Presbyters all mounted upon high-fed and gay-trapped Horses Certain I am they would abhor and execrate them and say that they were false and hypocritical pretenders to the Religion of the blessed Jesus But I return to Paul whom I may more securely reprove He was highly self-opinionated and ambitious and denied our Saviours eternal Generation or that he had a being till his conception of the blessed Virgin For this reason at the Council of 〈◊〉 he was publickly condemned by the consent of all the Bishops that were present but especially by the sentence of Gregory Bishop of Coesarea a most holy man who was present at the Council and afterwards suffered Martyrdom for the faith of Christ. Malchion also a Presbyter of Antioch disputed and wrote much against this Paul for the reason that I have already mentioned Dionysius himself could not be at this Council because of his great Age but of all the transactions there he had full intelligence given him by Maximus Bishop of Alexandria Dionysius dying was buried in the Coemetery of Calistus after that at two Decembrian Ordinations he had made twelve Presbyters six Deacons seven Bishops He sat in the Chair six years two months four days and the See was vacant six days S. FELIX I. FELIX a Roman Son of Constantinus lived in the time of Aurelianus Who came to the Empire A.U.C. 1027 and being an excellent Soldier gain'd a great Victory over the Goths at the River Danow From thence passing into Asia at a place not far from Antioch by the terrour of his name rather than by fighting he overcame Zenobia who from the time that her Husband Odenatus had been slain was possess'd of the Eastern Empire Her he led in Triumph together with Tetricus by his defeating of whom at Chaalons Gallia was again recovered Yet by the Humanity and Clemency of Aurelianus Zenobia lived all her time very honourably in the City from
with Martyrdom and buried in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia 〈◊〉 the 22d Some write that Lucia Agatha and Agnes became Martyrs not long 〈◊〉 Caius sat in the Chair eleven years four months twelve days in which time at four several Decembrian Ordinations he made twenty five Presbyters eight Deacons five Bishops and by his death the See was vacant eleven days S. MARCELLINUS MARCELLINUS a Roman the Son of Projectus was in the times of Diocletian a Dalmatian of obscure birth and Maximian Diocletian A. U. C. 1041. being elected Emperour by the Army slew that Aper who had murdered Numerianus But a Commotion arising in Gallia which was a Sedition rather than a War thither Diocletian sent Maximianus Herculeus by whom the Peasants were soon quell'd But Wars breaking out on every side Diocletian not being able singly to bear the 〈◊〉 of so many dangers associates Maximian by the name of Augustus and Constantius and Maximian Galerius by the name of Coesars Maximian Herculeus after that Carausius was kill'd by the treachery of Alectus in ten years time makes himself Master of Britain And Constantius after one unsuccessful Engagement in Gallia renewing the Fight a second time flew several thousand Germans who were Mercenaries there and thereby restored peace to that Province In the mean time Diocletian took Alexandria which being bravely defended by Achilleus held out a Siege of eight months and gratified his Soldiers with the plunder of it But Maximian Galerius having behaved himself gallantly in two Fights against Narseus was at length routed between Galietium and Carroe and his Forces being 〈◊〉 and lost in that unfortunate Battel he is forced to fly to Diocletian who received him with such disdain that it is said he suffered him in his Imperial Habit to run on Foot several miles before his Charriot Maximian being nettled at so foul a disgrace undertakes the War afresh and in the end becomes Victorious Affairs being thus setled Diocletian in the East and Maximian Herculeus in the West commanded that the Churches should be destroyed and the Christians tortured and put to death and so raised the tenth Persecution which lasted longer and was more vehement and bloody than any before For now Bibles were publickly burnt all Christians who were in any Office ignominiously cashier'd Servants who continued constant to their Profession cut off of all hope of being ever made Free and the Christian Soldiers compell'd either to offer up sacrifice to Idols or else to lay down their Arms and their Lives together by an Imperial Edict publickly affix'd in the Forum This Edict a certain person being so hardy as to pull down and tear in pieces he was thereupon ordered to be fley'd and to have Vinegar mix'd with Salt poured upon his raw flesh till he died which he patienty endured being confirmed and encouraged in his sufferings by Dorotheus and Gorgonius two very eminent men At the same time the Royal Palace at Nicomedia happening to be on fire the Emperour groundesly suspecting it to be caus'd by the Christians commanded multitudes of them to be put to the sword and several others to be thrown alive into the flames The same severity was exercised against them in Mitylene Syria Africa Thebais and Egypt by the several Governours of those Provinces and in Palestine and Tyre great numbers of them were expos'd to be devoured by wild beasts Indeed there was no kind of Torment could be invented which the Christians did not undergo Some had their flesh scraped and torn off with Potsherds to others sharp Reeds were thrust under their Nails and to the Women run up into their privities A certain City in Phrygia was set on fire and burnt to the ground because the Citizens who were kept constant to the Faith by Adauctus a pious Roman refused to offer sacrifice to Idols In the end their inhuman Tormentors came to such a height of Cruelty that they would first burn out their Eyes with searing Irons and then wreak the remainder of their fury and rage against them At this time were also put to death for the profession of Christianity Anthimus Bishop of Nicomedia and Lucianus the Learned Presbyter of Antioch and Pamphilus of Coesarea and Philoeas an Aegyptian and Bishop of Thmyis this last being beheaded because he had written a Book in praise of the Martyrs and had courage enough to tell his unjust Judges their own I need not enumerate more Instances since Damasus affirms that there were no less than seventeen thousand persons of both Sexes who suffered Martyrdom through the several Provinces in the space of thirty days I shall not mention those who were banish'd to the Islands or condemn'd to work in the the Mines or melting-Houses or to dig Sand or to hew Stones or to other the like kinds of Servitude whose numbers were almost infinite But our Marcellinus being carried to the Heathen Sacrifices and his Tormentors with menaces urging him to offer he being overcome with fear submitted to their importunities and joyn'd with them in their Idolatries But not long after a Council of an hundred and eighty Bishops being held at Sinuessa a City of Campania thither goes Marcellinus cloth'd in Sackcloth with all the marks of an humble penitent and beseeches them to inflict upon him the just punishment of his Cowardize and inconstancy Yet in so numerous a Council there was not a man who would pass any Sentence against him they all agreeing that he had laps'd only after the same manner that S. Peter himself did and that by his tears and sorrows he had already sufficiently suffered for his Fault To Rome returns Marcellinus full of Resentment hastens to Diocletian and boldly reproves him for causing him to sacrifice to false Gods Hereupon by Diocletian's order he was forthwith led to Execution together with Claudius Cyrinus and Antoninus three other assertors of Christianity As he went along he admonished Marcellus his Presbyter not to submit to the command of Diocletian in matters appertaining to Religion and forbad him to suffer his Body to be buried saying that since he had denied his Saviour he was unworthy of the least acts of Humanity Though indeed by Diocletians order the bodies of all these four Martyrs lay unburied in the High-way the space of thirty six days Afterwards at the Command of S. Peter the Apostle who appeared to Marcellus in a Dream they were buried in the Via 〈◊〉 in the Coemetery of Priscilla near the body of S. Crescention May the 27. After so long a series of miseries God at length as Eusebius words it opened his Eyes and to free the Christians from such a Plague so wrought upon Diocletian's mind that he voluntarily resign'd the Empire and retired to a private Life The same did also Maximian his Partner in the Government and as violent a Persecutor as himself who some years after being 〈◊〉 with divers diseases and after incessant Torment being smitten with distraction and haunted with the
reflections on his guilt at last laid violent hands on himself It is the judgment of 〈◊〉 that this Calamity befell the Christians by Gods permission as a just punishment for the great corruption of manners which the liberty and indulgence which they before enjoy'd had occasion'd among them all in general but especially among the Clergy to the hypocrisie of whose Looks the fraud of their Words and the deceit of their Hearts the divine Justice design'd to give a check by this Persecution Indeed the Envy Pride Animosity and Hatred with which they strove among themselves was grown to 〈◊〉 an heighth that it seemed rather a Centention between haughty Tyrants than humble Churchmen and having forgotten all true Christian Piety they did not so much perform as prophane the Divine Offices But what Calamity shall our presaging minds prompt us to expect in our Age in which our Vices have encreas'd to such a magnitude that they have 〈◊〉 left us any room for Gods mercy It would be to no purpose for me to mention the great Covetousness of the Clergy especially of those who are in Authority their Lust their Ambition their Pomp their Pride their Idleness their Ignorance of themselves and of the Doctrine of Christianity their little Piety and that rather seign'd than true and their great Debauchery so great that it would be abominable even in the prophane for so they superciliously call the Laicks this I say it would be to no purpose for me to tell since they themselves do avow their sins so openly that one would think they judg'd Vice to be a laudable quality and expected to gain Reputation by it The Turk believe me though I wish I may prove a false Prophet the Turk is coming whom we shall find a more violent Enemy to Christianity than Diocletian or Maximian He is already at the gates of Italy while we idly and supinely wait the common ruin every one consulting rather his one private pleasure than the publick Defence I come now again to Marcellinus whom I would to God we might at last imitate and return to a better mind For he as I said before finding his Errour in falling away from his Profession came to himself and did with great constancy sufter Martyrdom for the Faith of Christ after that at two Decembrian Ordinations he had made four Presbyters two Deacons five Bishops He was in the Chair nine years two months sixteen days and by his death the See was vacant twenty five days S. MARCELLUS MARCELLUS a Roman of the Region called Via lata the Son of Benedict was in the Chair from the time of Constantius and Galerius to Maxentius For Diocletian and Maximian having laid down their Authority Constantius and Galerius undertake the Government and divide the Provinces between them Illyricum Asia and the East fell to the share of Galerius but Constantius being a person of very moderate desires was contented with only Gallia and Spain though Italy also was his by Lot Hereupon Galerius created two Coesars Maximinus whom he made Governour of the 〈◊〉 and Severus to whom he intrusted Italy he himself holding Illyricum as apprehending that the most formidable Enemies of the Roman State would attempt their passage that way Constantius a man of singular meekness and clemency soon gain'd the universal love of the Gauls and the rather for that now they had escaped the danger they had been in before from the craft of Diocletian and the cruelty of Maximian But in the thirteenth year of his Reign he died at 〈◊〉 in England and by general consent of all men was placed in the number of the Gods Marcellus being intent upon the affairs of the Church and having persuaded Priscilla a Roman Matron to build at her own charge a Coemetery in the Via Salaria constituted twenty five Titles or Parishes in the City of Rome for the more advantageous and convenient administration of Baptism to those Gentiles who daily in great numbers were converted to the Faith having a regard likewise to the better provision which was thereby made for the Sepultures of the Martyrs But Maxentius understanding that Lucina a Roman Lady had made the Church her Heir was so incensed thereat that he banished her for a time and seizing Marcellus endeavoured by menaces to prevail with him to lay aside his Episcopal Dignity and renounce Christianity but finding his Commands despis'd and slighted by the good man he ordered him to be confined to a Stable and made to look after the Emperours Camels and Horses Yet this ignominious usage did not so discourage the good Bishop but that he kept constantly to stated times of Prayer and Fasting and though he was now disabled in person yet he neglected not by Epistle to take due care for the regulating of the Churches But before he had been there nine months his Clergy by night rescued him from this loathsom restraint whereupon Maxentius being yet more enraged secured him the second time and condemned him to the same filthy drudgery again the stench and nastiness of which at length occasioned his death His body was buried by Lucina in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria on the sixteenth of January In time following when Christianity flourished a Church was built upon the ground where this Stable stood and dedicated to S. Marcellus which is to be seen at this day We read moreover that Mauritius together with his whole Legion of Christian Soldiers suffered themselves to be tamely cut off near the River Rhone to whom may be added Marcus Sergius 〈◊〉 Damianus with multitudes more who were slain in all places Marcellus being in the Chair five years six months twenty one days at several Decembrian Ordinations made twenty six Presbyters two Deacons twenty one Bishops and by his death the See was vacant twenty days S. EUSEBIUS EUSEBIUS a Grecian Son of a Physician entred upon the Pontisicate when Constantinus and Maxentius were Emperours For Constantius Grandson to Claudius dying Constantine his Son by Helena whom yet he afterwards divorced to gratifie Herculeus was with universal consent made Emperour of the West But in the mean time the Praetorian Guards at Rome in a tumultuary manner declare for Maxentius Son to Maximian Herculeus and give him the Title of Augustus Hereupon Maximian himself being raised to some hopes of recovering the Empire leaves his Retirement in Lucania and comes to Rome having by Letter endeavoured to persuade Diocletian to do the same To suppress these Tumults Galerius sends Severus with his Army who besieged the City but being deserted by the treachery of some of his Soldiers who favoured Maxentius his pretensions was forced to sly to Ravenna and there slain And indeed Maximian himself did very narrowly escape the revenge of his Son Maxentius who eagerly sought his Fathers life for endeavouring by promises and bribes to gain the good will of the Soldiers for himself But going into Gallia to his Son-in-law Constantine he there laid a
design to ensnare and circumvent him too till his Plot being discovered by his Daughter Fausta who revealed the whole matter to her Husband he betook himself to flight but was taken and put to death at 〈◊〉 thereby suffering the just punishment of his Villanies or as others tell us his condition being desperate he laid violent hands upon himself During the Pontificate of Eusebius on the third of May the Cross of our Saviour was found and very much adorn'd and had in great 〈◊〉 by Helena Constantine's Mother Judas also who found it was baptized and his name being thereupon changed was afterwards called Cyriacus This Bishop admitted Hereticks to the Communion of the Church upon their retractation by the imposition of Hands only Moreover he ordained that no Laick should commence a Suit against a Bishop In his time lived Lactantius Firmianus a Scholar of Arnobius Who being a Professor of Rhetorick at Nicomedia and discontented that he had so few Scholars in a City of Greece he thereupon betook himself to Writing wherein he became so excellent that he gain'd a Reputation next to that of Cicero himself He wrote many things but his works that are 〈◊〉 extant are those against the Gentiles concerning the Creation of Man and the Anger of God In his old Age he was Tutor to Constantine's Son Coesar Crispus in Gallia Eusebius also Bishop of Coesarea in Palestine a Partner with Pamphilus in the diligent search after divine Learning wrote a vast number of Books particularly those de Proepar Evangelicâ an Ecclesiastical History against Porphyry a violent opposer of the Christians six Apologies for Origen and three Books of the Life of Pamphilus the Martyr whose name he added to his own for a surname as a testimony of the strict friendship there had been between them But our Eusebius the Bishop of Rome having at one Decembrian Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons fourteen Bishops died at Rone and was buried in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia October the second He sat in the Chair six years one month three days and by his death the See was vacant one day S. MILTIADES MILTIADES an African was Co-temporary with Maxentius Maximine and Licinius a Dacian who for his being an Excellent Soldier was admitted by Galerius to a partnership in the Empire These being sensible that Constantine was well belov'd and highly esteem'd by all men did for that reason seem less enraged against the Christians Yet Maxentius sent his Soldiers about with private Instructions to massacre all they could secretly meet with and taking delight in Magick at the performance of the hellish Rites belonging to that black Art he would send for great-bellied Women especially Christians and rip them up for the sake of their unborn Infants whose ashes he made use of in his Sorceries thereby shewing that Tyranny might be supported and kept up even by Villany Maximine also exercis'd the like rage and cruelty in the East giving Rewards and Preferments to the Professours and Teachers of Witchcraft and Sorcery and being himself very much enclin'd to give credit to Auguries and Divinations became the more bitterly incens'd against the Christians because they despis'd such superstitions He commanded likewise that the decayed Idolatrous Temples should be repaired and Sacrifices offered to the Gods in them after the ancient manner Against them Constantine advancing with his Army gain'd so perfect a Victory over Maxentius at Pons Milvius that his grief to be so shamefully defeated caused him to forget the snares which himself had laid and so passing over a Bridg which he had deceitfully contriv'd to entrap his Enemies he himself with the greatest part of his Guards were drown'd in the River Having also both by Sea and Land overcome his Sisters Husband Licinius he forced him at Nicomedia to yield himself and to live privately at Thessalonica a confinement which he justly deserved because having apostatiz'd from the Faith meerly through Envy he had been a grievous Persecutor of the Christians for the good will they bare to Constantine As for Maximine he became manifestly the object of Divine Vengeance his bowels and entrails being on a sudden so swoln and putrefied that there appeared no difference between him and a putrid carcass Worms in great abundance breeding in his flesh and rottenness with intolerable stench overspreading his body This dreadful punishment had been long 〈◊〉 for by his wicked practises for he had forbidden the Christians to assemble at the Sepulchres of the Martyrs and had given out that at Antioch an Image had spoke and proclaim'd aloud that the Christians must be banish'd out of the Cities when indeed they were certain knavish Priests whom himself had suborn'd who from their adjoyning private recesses had uttered these words and moreover he had distributed Rewards through the several Provinces to the Idol-priests who were active against the Christians But at length the Physician plainly telling him the danger of his condition the Tyrant began to relent and by a publict Edict forbad all persons to molest or injure the Christians and suffered them to enjoy their liberty But this forced Repentance slood him in no stead for having been a long time 〈◊〉 with grievous pain and disease at last died this cruel and inconstant man who had been sometimes an Encourager sometimes a Persecutor of the Christians During these Calamities multitudes of Christians were put to death and particularly Dorothea a most virtuous and Beautiful Virgin who chose rather to die than to yield to the Tyrants Lust. Sophronia also having been oftentimes sollicited by Maxentius like the Noble Lucretia slew her self to avoid the danger her Chastity was in from him Miltiades ordained that no Christian should keep a Fast upon a Sunday or Thursday because those days were observed and kept holy by the Pagans and the Manichoean Heresie being at that time very prevalent in the City of Rome he made several Constitutions concerning Oblations These things being setled he was by Maximine's order crowned with Martyrdom as were also Peter Bishop of Alexandria Lucianus a a Presbyter of 〈◊〉 a man eminent for Piety and Learning Timothy a Presbyter of Rome and divers others both Bishops and Priests Miltiades was buried in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia December the tenth During his Pontificate he did at one Ordination make seven Presbyters six Deacons twelve Bishops He sat in the Chair four years seven months nine days and by his death the See was vacant seventeen days S. SYLVESTER SYLVESTER a Roman the Son of Ruffinus was Bishop in the time of Constantine A. V C. 1091. Anno Dom. 339. Under this Prince the Christians who had been continually harrassed by Tyrants began to have some respite For Constantine was equal to the best of Princes in all endowments of Body and Mind very desirous of Military Glory successful in War and yet freely granting Peace to them who asked it
a remote People were brought to the knowledg and Belief Christianity a certain Captive Woman through the Assistance and Persuasion of their King Bacurius At this time likewise the Authority of Antony the holy Hermite did much towards the Reformation of Mankind Helena did oftentimes both by Letter and Messengers recommend her self and her Sons to his Prayers he was by Countrey an Egyptian his manner of living severe and abstemious eating only Bread and drinking nothing but Water and never making any Meal but about Sun-set a man wholly rapt up in Contemplation His Life was written at large by Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria As for Sylvester himself having at seven Decembrian Ordinations made forty two Presbyters thirty six Deacons sixty five Bishops he dyed and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria three miles distant from the City on the last day of December He was in the Chair twenty three years ten months eleven days and by his death the See was vacant fifteen days MARCUS I. MARCUS a Roman Son of Priscus lived also in the Reign of Constantine the Great concerning whom Historians differ in their Writings For some affirm that Constantine towards the latter end of his Reign recalled Arius from banishment and became a favourer of his Heresy through the persuasion of his Sister who always insisted that it was nothing but Envy that had caused his Condemnation These I believe to be deceiv'd by the nearness of their names and so to ascribe that to the Father which was the act of the Son For it is not probable that that wise Prince who had all along before disapprov'd of the Arian opinion should now begin to incline to it in that part of his Age wherein men are usually most judicious and discerning They write moreover that Constantine was baptized by Eusebius an Arian Bishop of Nicomedia But that this is a mistake appears both from the Emperours great bounty towards the Orthodox and also from that stately Font upon that occasion erected with wonderful Magnificence at Rome at which after he had been successful in expelling the Tyrants he with his Son Crispus were instructed in the Faith and baptized by Sylvester They who are of the other opinion tell us that Constantine deferred so great an Affair till the time that he might come to the River Jordan in which he had a great desire to be baptized in imitation of our Saviour but that in an Expedition against the Parthians making Inroads upon Mesopotamia in the thirty first year of his Reign and of his Age the sixty sixth he died on the way at Nicomedia before he could reach the River Jordan for the purpose he design'd and was there baptized at the point of Death But let these men confound and perplex the matter as they please we have reason to believe according to the general opinion that Constantine who had so often overcome his Enemies under the Standard of the Cross who had built so many Churches to the honour of God who had been present at holy Councils and who had so often joyned in Devotion with the holy Fathers would desire to be fortified against the Enemy of mankind by the Character of Baptism as soon as ever he came to understand the excellency of our Religion I am not ignorant what Socrates and Zozomen and most other Writers say concerning it but I follow the Truth and that which is most agreeable to the Religion and Piety of this excellent Prince The vulgar story of his having been overspread with Leprosie and cured of it by Baptism with a previous fiction concerning a Bath of the blood of Infants before prescribed for his Cure I can by no means give credit to having herein the Authority of Socrates on my side who affirms that Constantine being now sixty five years of Age fell sick and left the City of Constantinople to go to the hot Baths for the recovery of his health but speaks not a word concerning any Leprosie Besides there is no mention made of it by any Writer either Heathen or Christian and certainly had there been any such thing Orosius Eutropius and others who have most accurately written the Memoirs of Constantine would not have omitted it One thing more concerning this great Prince is certain viz. That a Blazing Star or Comet of extraordinary magnitude appear'd some time before his Death Marcus applying himself to the care of Religion ordained that the Bishop of Ostia whose place it is to consecrate the Bishop of Rome might use a Pall. He appointed likewise that upon solemn days immediately after the Gospel the Nicene Creed should be rehears'd with a loud voice both by the Clergy and People He built also two Churches at Rome one in the Via Ardeatina in which he was buried the other within the City these Churches Constantine presented and endowed very liberally In the time of this Emperour and Bishop lived Juvencus a Spaniard of Noble birth and a Presbyter who in four Books translated almost verbatim into hexametre Verse the four Gospels he wrote also something concerning the Sacraments in the same kind of Metre Our Marcus having at two Decembrian Ordinations made twenty five Presbyters six Deacons twenty eight Bishops died and was buried in the Coemetery of Balbina in the Via Ardeatina Octob. the fifth He was in the Chair two years eight months twenty days and by his death the See was vacant twenty days IULIUS I. IULIUS a Roman the Son of Rusticus lived in the time of Constantius who sharing the Empire with his two Brethren Constantine and Constans reigned twenty four years Among the Successours of Constantine the Great is sometimes reckoned Delmatius Caesar his Nephew who was certainly a very hopeful young Gentleman but was soon cut off in a Tumult of the Soldiers though by the Permission rather than at the Command of Constantius In the mean time the Arian Heresie mightily prevailed being abetted by Constantius who compelled the Orthodox to receive Arius In the second year of his Reign therefore a Council was called at Laodicea a City of Syria or as others have it at Tyre Thither resort both the Catholicks and Arians and their daily debate was whether Christ should be styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance with the Father or no. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria asserted it and press'd hard upon them with his Reasons and Arguments for it which when Arius found himself not able to answer he betook himself to Reproach and Calumny accusing the holy Man of Sorcery and to procure credit to his Charge producing out of a Box the pretended Arm of Arsenius whom he falsly asserted that Athanasius had kill'd and was wont to make use of that dead Arm in his Incantations Hereupon Athanasius was violently run down and condemned by the Emperour but making his escape he lay concealed in a dry Cistern for six years together without seeing the Sun but being at length
discovered by a certain Servant 〈◊〉 when his Enemies were just ready to seize him by Divine Admonition he 〈◊〉 to the Emperour Constans who by Menaces compelled his Brother Constantius to receive him again In the mean time Arius as he was going along in the streets attended with several Bishops and multitudes of people stepping aside to a place of Easement he voided his Entrails into the Privy and immediately died undergoing a Death agreeable to the filthiness of his Life Our Bishop Iulius having been very uneasie amidst this confusion of things at length after ten months banishment returns to Rome especially having receiv'd the news of the death of Constantine the younger who making War upon his Brother Constans and fighting unwarily near Aquileia was there slain But notwithstanding the present face of things Iulius desisted not from censuring the Oriental Bishops and especially the 〈◊〉 for calling a Council at Antioch without the command of the Bishop of Rome pretending it ought not to have been done without his Authority for the preheminence of the Roman above all other Churches To which they of the East returned this Ironical Answer That since the Christian Princes came from them to the West for this reason their Church ought to have the preference as being the fountain and spring from whence so great a blessing flowed But Iulius laying aside that Controversie built two Churches one near the Forum Romanum the other in that part of the City beyond Tyber He erected also three Coemeteries one in the Via Flaminia another in the Via Aurelia the third in the Via Portuensis He constituted likewise that no Clergyman should plead before any but an Ecclesiastical Judg. He appointed likewise that all matters belonging to the Church should be penned by the Notaries or the Protonotary whose Office it was to commit to writing all memorable Occurrences But in our age most of them not to say all are so ignorant that they are scarce able to write their own Names in Latin much less to transmit the actions of others Concerning their Morals I am ashamed to say any thing since Pandars and Parasites have been sometimes preferr'd to that Office During the Reign of Constantine and Constantius Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra was a man of considerable Note and wrote several things particularly against the Arians Asterius and Apollinarius wrote against him and accused him of the Sabellian Heresie as did likewise Hilarius whom while Marcellus is confuting his very Defence shews him to be of a different Opinion from Iulius and Athanasius He was opposed likewise by Basilius Bishop of Ancyra in his Book de Virginitate which Basilius together with Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia were the principal men of the Macedonian Party About this time also Theodorus Bishop of Heraclea in Thrace a person of terse and copious Elequence was a considerable Writer as particularly appears by his Commentaries upon S. Matthew S. John the Psalms and Epistles As for Iulius himself having at three Decembrian Ordinations made eighteen Presbyters three Deacons nine Bishops he died and was buried in the Via Aurelia in the Coemetery of Calepodius three miles from the City Aug. the 12th He sat in the Chair fifteen years two months six days and by his death the See was vacant twenty five days LIBERIUS I. LIBERIUS a Roman the Son of Augustus lived in the times of Constantius and Constans For Constantine as I said before engaging unadvisedly in a War against his Brother Constans was therein slain And Constans himself having fought with various success against the Persians being forced by a Tumult in the Army to joyn Battel at midnight was at last routed and designing afterwards to make an example of his seditious Soldiers he was by the fraud and treachery of Magnentius slain at a Town called Helena in the seventeenth year of his Reign and the thirtieth of his Age. Constans being dead the old Boutefeaus of the Arian Heresie began afresh to make head against Athanasius For in a Council held at Milain all those that favoured Athanasius were banish'd Moreover at the Council of Ariminum because the subtil 〈◊〉 Eastern Prelates were too hard at Argument and 〈◊〉 for the honest well-meaning Bishops of the West it was thought good to let fall the Debate for a time the Orientalist denied Christ to be of the same substance with the Father This because Bishop Liberius did at first oppose and because he refused to condemn Athanasius at the Emperours Command he was banish'd by the Arians and forced to absent from the City for the space of three years In which time the Clergy being assembled in a Synod in the place of Liberius made choice of Felix a Presbyter an excellent person and who immediately after his choice did in a Convention of forty eight Bishops excommunicate Ursatius and Valens two Presbyters for being of the Emperours opinion in Religion Hereupon at their request and importunity Constans recalls Liberius from Exile who being wrought upon by the kindness of the Emperour though he became as some tell us in all other things heretical yet in this particular Tenent he was on the Orthodox side that Hereticks returning to the Church ought not to be re-baptized 'T is said that Liberius did for some time live in the Coemetery of S. Agnes with Constantia the Emperour's Sister that so through her assistance and intercession he might procure a safe return to the City but she being a Catholick and apprehending he might have some ill design utterly refused to engage in it At length Constantius at the Instance of Usatius and Valens deposed Felix and restor'd Liberius Upon which there arose so fierce a Persecution that the 〈◊〉 and other Clergy were in many places murthered in their very Churches Some tell us that they were the Roman Ladies at a Cirque-shew who by their intreaties obtained of the Emperour this Restauration of Liberius Who though he were of the Arian opinion yet was very diligent in beautifying consecrated places and particularly the Coemetery of S. Agnes and the Church which he built and called by his own Name near the Market place of Livia During these calamitous times lived Eusebius Bishop of Emissa who wrote very learnedly and elegantly against the Jews Gentiles and Novatians Triphyllius also Bishop of Ledra or Leutheon in Cyprus wrote a large and exact Commentary upon the Canticles Moreover Donatus an African from whom the Sect of the Donatists are denominated was so industrious in writing against the Catholick Doctrine that he infected almost all Africa and 〈◊〉 with his false Opinions He affirmed the Son to be inferiour to the Father and the holy Spirit inferiour to the Son and rebaptized all those whom he could pervert to his own Sect. Several of his heretical Writings were extant in the time of S. Hierom and particularly one Book of the Holy Spirit agreeing exactly with the Arian Doctrine And that the Arians might neglect no ill Arts of promoting their
Opinions Asterius a Philosopher of that Faction at the Command of Constantius compiled divers Commentaries upon the Epistle to the Romans the Gospels and the Psalms which were diligently read by those of that Party to confirm them in their Persuasion Moreover Luciser Bishop of Cagliari together with Pancratius the Presbyter and 〈◊〉 the Deacon were sent in an Embassie from the Bishop to the Emperour and being by him banished for refusing to renounce the Nicene under the name of the Athanasian Faith he wrote a Book against Constantius and sent it to him to read But notwithstanding this provocation he lived till the time of Valentinian 'T is said also that Fortunatus Bishop of Aquileia had been tampering with Liberius just before his 〈◊〉 and endeavouring to bring him over to the Arian Heresie 〈◊〉 likewise who for his great parts had 〈◊〉 given him the Surname of Scholasticus compiled an excellent Book against 〈◊〉 nor could all the menaces of the Emperour make him desist from the open Confession of the Truth but on the contrary hoping to have rendred Constantius more favourable to Athanasius the Great so called from the constant and unwearied Opposition which he always kept up against Pagans and Hereticks into his presence he boldly goes nor did the Threats of so great a Prince cause him to stir one step backward from his Constancy and Resolution As for Liberius having at two Ordinations held in the City of Rome made eighteen Presbyters five 〈◊〉 nineteen Bishops he died and was buried in the Coemetery of 〈◊〉 in the Via Salaria April the 23d He sat in the Chair six years three months four days and by his death the See was vacant six days FELIX II. FELIX the Second a Roman the Son of Anastasius was Bishop of 〈◊〉 in the Reign of Constantius Who by the death of Constans slain by Magnentius becoming now sole Emperour sent into Gallia to suppress a Sedition arisen there his Cosin German Julian whom he had created 〈◊〉 who in a short time by his great Valour and Conduct reduc'd both the Gauls and Germans whereby he gained so much the Affections of the Army that by universal 〈◊〉 they made him Emperour At the News of this Constantius who was engaged in a War with the Parthians suddenly strikes up a Truce with them and forthwith marches forward to oppose Julian but in his March being feiz'd with an Apoplexy he died between Cilicia and Cappadocia at a Town called Mopsocrene in the 24th year of his Reign and of his Age the 45th The Physicians were of Opinion that the excessive grief and anxiety of mind which the Rebellion of Julian had brought upon him was the occasion of that fatal distemper to him He was excepting always the Case of the Christians against whom he was unjust and cruel a Person of so great moderation and clemency that according to the Ancient custom he deserv'd an Apotheosis Upon his first undertaking the Government at his entring triumphantly by the Via Flaminia into the City of Rome in his golden Chariot he did with wonderful condescention take notice of and Salute the Citizens that went out to meet him affirming that of Cyneas the Ambassadour of Pyrrhus to be true that he saw at Rome as many Kings as there were Citizens In one thing only he was the occasion of laughter to the people viz. that as he passed through the lofty gates of the City and the stately Triumphal Arches though he were a man of a very little Stature yet as though he feared to hit his head against the tops of them he bow'd it-down low like a Goose stooping as she goes in at a Barn-door Being conducted to view the Rarities of the City and beholding with admiration the Campus Martius the Sepulchre of Augustus Coesar adorned with so many Statues of Marble and Brass the Forum Romanum the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus the Baths the Porticoes enlarged like so many Provinces the Amphitheatre built with Tiburtine stone of so vast a height that a mans Eye could scarce reach to the top of it the Pantheon built with stately Arches of a wonderful Altitude the Temple of Peace Pompey's Theatre the great Cirque the Septizonium of Severus so many Triumphal Arches so many Aquaeducts so many statues erected here and there throughout the City for Ornament beholding all this I say he at first stood astonished and at length declared that certainly Nature had laid out all her stock upon one City At the sight of the famous Horse of Brass set up by Trajan he desired of Hormisda an excellent Workman whom he had brought along with him that he would make such another for him at Constantinople to whom Hormisda replyed that the Emperour ought then to build such another Stable meaning the City of Rome The same Hormisda being asked by Constantius what he thought of the City of Rome returned an Answer becoming a Philosopher That all which pleased him in it was That he understood that there also men were wont to die Felix who as we have said was put into the place of Liberius by the Orthodox though Eusebius and S. Hierom which I much wonder at affirm it to have been done by the Hereticks presently after his entrance upon the Pontificate pronounces Constantius the Son of Constantine the Great a Heretick and re-baptized by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia in a little Town called Aquilo not far from Nicomedia And hereby may be discovered the Errour of those who accuse Constantine the Great himself of this Heresie an Imputation which certainly as appears by History neither ought nor can be fastned upon that Great Prince and great favourer of the Christian Religion While this great Contention which we have spoken 〈◊〉 between Liberius and Felix lasted the Arian Heresie branched it self into two Factions For on the one side Eunomius from whom they were called Eunomians a man Leprous both in body and mind and who had a Falling 〈◊〉 as well within as without affirmed that in all things the Son was unequal to the Father and that the Holy Spirit had no Community of Essence with the Father or the Son On the other side Macedonius whom the Orthodox had made Bishop of Constantinople before he became erroneous in his Opinions was renounced by the Arians for holding the Son to be equal with the Father though he uttered the same blasphemies against the Holy Spirit that themselves did 'T is said that Felix held a Council of forty eight Bishops in which it was decreed that all Bishops should attend in person at every General Council or else by Letter give a good account why they could not which Decree was afterwards renewed in the Council of Carthage In his time lived Acacius for his having but one Eye called Monophthalmus Bishop of Coesarea in Palestine who wrote largely upon Ecclesiastes and who by his fair Speech and swimming carriage had gained such an Ascendant over Constantius that he himself
soon rivall'd in that Dignity by Ursicinus a Deacon whose Party having assembled themselves in a Church thither also Damasus's Friends resorted where the Competition being manag'd not only by Vote but by force and Arms several persons on both sides were slain in the very Church But not long after the matter was compromis'd and by the consent both of the Clergy and People Damasus was confirmed in the Bishoprick of Rome and Ursicinus was made Bishop of Naples But Damasus being afterwards accused of Adultery he made his Defence in a publick Council wherein he was acquitted and pronounced innocent and Concordius and Calistus two Deacons his false Accusers were condemn'd and excommunicated Upon which a Law was made That if any man did bear false Witness against another he was to undergo the same punishment that the person accused should have done if he had been guilty The affairs of the Church being at length setled Damasus taking great delight in study wrote the Lives of all the Bishops of Rome that had been before him and sent them to S. Hierom. Notwithstanding which he neglected not to encrease the number of Churches and to add to the Ornaments of Divine Worship For he built two Churches one near Pompey's Theatre the other at the Tombs in the 〈◊〉 Ardeatina and in elegant Verse wrote the Epitaphs of those Martyrs whose Bodies had been there buried to perpetuate their names to Posterity He also dedicated a Marble Table with an Inscription to the Memory of S. Peter and S. Paul at the place where their Bodies had once lain Moreover he enriched the Church which he had built in honour to S. Laurence not far from Pompeys Theatre with very large donations He ordained likewise that the Psalms should be sung alternately in the Church and that at the end of every Psalm the Gloria Patri should be added And whereas formerly the Septuagint only had been in vogue Damasus first gave Authority to 〈◊〉 Translation of the Bible which began to be read publickly as also his Psalter faithfully rendred from the Hebrew which before especially among the Gauls had been very much depraved He commanded also that at the beginning of the Mass the Confession should be used as it is at this day But having at sive Ordinations made thirty one Presbyters eleven Deacons sixty two Bishops he died and was buried with his Mother and Sister in the Via Ardeatina in the Church built by himself December the 11th He sat in the Chair nineteen years three months eleven days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days SIRICIUS I. SIRICIUS a Roman Son of Tiburtius lived in the time of Valentinian Who for his being a Christian had been very unjustly dealt withall and cashier'd from a considerable Command in the Army by Julian But upon the Death of Jovinian being by the universal consent of the Soldiers elected Emperour he admitted his Brother Valens his Collegue in the Empire and assign'd to him the Government of the East Afterwards in the third year of his Reign at the persuasion of his 〈◊〉 and her Mother he created his young Son Gratian Augustus And whereas one 〈◊〉 had rais'd a 〈◊〉 and set up for himself at Constantinople him with his Adherents the Emperour very suddenly overthrew and put to death But Valens having been baptized by Eudoxius an Arian Bishop and becoming a bigotted 〈◊〉 presently fell to persecuting and banishing the Orthodox especially after the death of Athanasius who while he lived was a mighty support to the Christian State for forty six years to gether Lucius also another Heretical Bishop was extreamly violent and outragious against the Orthodox Christians nor did he spare so much as the Anchorets and Eremites but sent parties of Soldiers to invade their Solitudes who either put them to death or else sent them into Exile Amongst this sort of men they who at that time had the greatest esteem and authority were the two Macarii in Syria the Disciples of Anthony one of which lived in the upper the other in the lower Desert as also 〈◊〉 Panucius Pambus Moses Benjamin Paulus 〈◊〉 Paulus Phocensis and Joseph in Egypt While Lucius was intent upon the banishment of these men a certain inspired Woman went about crying aloud that those good Men those Men of God ought by no means to be sent into the Islands Moreover Mauvia Queen of the Saracens having by frequent Battels very much impaired the Roman Forces and harrassed their Towns on the borders of Palestine and Arabia refused to grant the Peace which they desired at her hands unless Moses a man of most exemplary Piety were consecrated and appointed Bishop to her People This Lucius willingly assented to but when Moses was brought to him he plainly told him that the multitudes of Christians condemn'd to the Mines banish'd to the Islands and imprison'd through his cruelty did cry 〈◊〉 against him 〈◊〉 that therefore he would never 〈◊〉 the imposition of his polluted hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to consecrate him he was presented to the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 concluded But 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 still to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 against the Orthodox though 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more favourable towards 〈◊〉 by the Letters of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his people which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by his Valour 〈◊〉 Conduct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 But while he was making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a War 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 who had spread 〈◊〉 through the two 〈◊〉 he died at a little Town called 〈◊〉 through a sudden 〈◊〉 of Blood At this time the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 themselves of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Monks and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Army 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An overthrow which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dignity it 〈◊〉 That the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not be conferred at once but at certain distances 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 in the City the 〈◊〉 of the faithful but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and return to the Orthodox Faith they should be 〈◊〉 into the Church upon condition they would undertake a 〈◊〉 course of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 themselves to Fasting and Prayer all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 that their Conversion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 approach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a Bishop should have power to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whosoever married a Widow or second 〈◊〉 should be degraded from his Office in the Church and that 〈◊〉 upon their Repentance should be received with only the Imposition of Hands
In his time lived 〈◊〉 Bishop of 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 twelve Books 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and one against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not long 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also an 〈◊〉 who had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 old Age so great a Proficient in those Arts which most require the assistance of sight particularly in Logick and Geometry that he wrote some excellent Treatises in the Mathematicks He published also Commentaries on the Psalms and the Gospels of Matthew and John and was a great opposer of the Arians Moreover Optatus an African Bishop of Mela compiled six Books against the 〈◊〉 and Severus Aquilius a Spaniard who was kinsman to that Severus to whom Lactantius penn'd two Books of Epistles wrote one Volume called 〈◊〉 As for our Siricius having setled the Affairs of the Church and at five Ordinations made twenty six Presbyters sixteen Deacons thirty two Bishops he died and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria Febr. 22. He was in the Chair fifteen years eleven months twenty days and by his death the See was vacant twenty days ANASTASIUS I. ANASTASIUS a Roman the Son of Maximus was made Bishop of Rome in the time of Gratian. This Gratian was a young Prince of eminent Piety and so good a Soldier that in an Expedition against the Germans that were now harrassing the Roman Borders he did in one Battel at Argentaria cut off thirty thousand of them with very little loss on his own side Returning from thence to Italy he expelled all those of the Arian Faction and admitted none but the Orthodox to the execution of any Ecclesiastical Office But apprehending the Publick-weal to be in great danger from the attempts of the Goths he associated to himself as a Partner in the Government Theodosius a Spaniard a person eminent for his Valour and Conduct who vanquishing the Alans Hunns and Goths re-establish'd the Empire of the East and entred into a League with Athanaricus King of the Goths after whose Death and magnificent Burial at Constantinople his whole Army repaired to Theodosius and declared they would serve under no other Commander but that good Emperour In the mean time Maximus usurped the Empire in Britain and passing over into Gaul slew Gratian at Lions whose death so 〈◊〉 his younger Brother Valentinian that he forthwith fled for refuge to Theodosius in the East Some are of opinion that those two Brethren owed the Calamities which befell them to their Mother Justina whose great Zeal for the Arian Heresie made her a fierce Persecutor of the Orthodox and especially of S. Ambrose whom against his will the people of Milain had at this time chosen their Bishop For Auxentius an Arian their late Bishop being dead a great Sedition arose in the City about chusing his Successour Now Ambrose who was a man of Consular dignity and their Governour endeavouring all he could to quell that disorder and to that end going into the Church where the people were in a tumultuary manner assembled he there makes an excellent Speech tending to persuade them to Peace and Unity among themselves which so wrought upon them that they all with one consent cryed out that they would have no other Bishop but Ambrose himself And the event answered their desires for being as yet but a Catechumen he was forthwith baptized and then admitted into holy Orders and constituted Bishop 〈◊〉 Milain That he was a person of great Learning and extraordinary Sanctity the account which we have of his Life and the many excellent Books which he wrote do abundantly testifie Our Anastasius decreed that the Clergy should by no means sit at the singing or reading of the holy Gospel in the Church but stand bowed and in a posture of 〈◊〉 and that no Strangers especially those that came from the parts beyond the Seas should be receiv'd into holy Orders unless they could produce Testimonials under the hands of five Bishops Which latter Ordinance is suppos'd to have been occasioned by the practice of the Manichees who having gained a great esteem and Authority in Africa were wont to send their Missionaries abroad into all parts to corrupt the Orthodox Doctrine by the infusion of their Errours He ordained likewise that no person 〈◊〉 of body or maimed or defective of any Limb or Member should be admitted into holy Orders Moreover he dedicated the Crescentian Church which stands in the second Region of the City in the Via Marurtina The Pontificate of this Anastasius as also that of Damasus and Siricius his Predecessors were signaliz'd not only by those excellent Emperours Jovinian 〈◊〉 Gratian and Theodosius but also by those many holy and worthy Doctors both Greek and Latin that were famous in all kinds of Learning Cappadocia as Eusebius tells us brought forth 〈◊〉 Nazianzen and Bazil the Great both extraordinary Persons and both brought up at Athens Basil was a Bishop of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 a City formerly called Mazaca He wrote divers excellent Books against Eunomius one concerning the Holy Ghost and the Orders of a Monastick life He had two Brethren Gregory and Peter both very learned Men of the former of which some Books were extant in the time of Eusebius Gregory Nazianzen who was Master to S. Hierom wrote also many things particularly in praise of Cyprian Athanasius and Maximus the Philosopher two Books against Eunomius and one against the Emperour Julian besides an Encomium of Marriage and single Life in Hexameter Verse By the strength of his reasoning and the power of his Rhetorick in which he was an imitatour of Polemon a man of admirable Eloquence he brought off the Citizens of Constantinople from the Errours with which they had been infected At length being very aged he chose his own Successour and led a private life in the Countrey Basil died in the Reign of Gratian Gregory of Theodosius About the same time 〈◊〉 Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus a strenuous oppugner of all kinds of Heresies as did also Ephrem a Deacon of the Church of Edessa who composed divers Treatises in the 〈◊〉 Language which gained him so great a Veneration that in some Churches his Books were publickly read after the Holy Scriptures 〈◊〉 having at two Decembrian Ordinations made eight Presbyters five Deacons ten Bishops died and was buried April 28. He was in the Chair three years ten days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days INNOCENTIUS I. INNOCENTIUS an Alban Son of Innocentius was Bishop in part of the Reign of Theodosius Who with great Conduct and singular Dispatch overcame the Usurper Maximus and at Aquileia whither he had fled retaliated upon him the Death of Gratian. A
followers to inhabit had disturbance given him by one Saul an Hebrew by birth and Religion whom Stilico to the foul breach of Articles had sent with a Party for that purpose It was an easie matter to surprize and disorder the Goths who little suspected any such Practices and were peaceably celebrating the Feast of Easter But the day following Alaricus engaging with them slew Saul and made an universal slaughter of his men and then changing his former course towards Gaul moves against Stilico and the Roman Army These he overcame and then after a long and grievous Siege takes the City of Rome it self Anno U. C. MCLXIIII A. C. CCCCXII Notwithstanding this Success Alaricus exercised so much Moderation and Clemency that he commanded his Soldiers to put as few to the Sword as might be and particularly to spare all that should fly for refuge to the Churches of S. Peter and S. Paul After three days Plunder he leaves the City which had suffered less damage than was thought for very little of it being burnt and marches against the Lucani and Bruti and having taken and sacked Cosenza he there dies Whereupon the Goths with one consent made his kinsman Athaulphus his Successour who returning to Rome with his Army was so wrought upon by the Emperour Honorius's Sister Galla Placidia whom he had married that he restrained his Soldiers from committing any farther outrages and left the City to its own Government He had it certainly once in his purpose to have razed to the ground the then City of Rome and to have built a new one which he would have called Gotthia and have left to the ensuing Emperours his own Name so that they should not any longer have had the Title of Augusti but Athaulphi But Placidia not only brought his mind off from that project but also prevailed with him to enter into a League with Honorius and Theodosius the second the Son of Arcadius deceased Zosimus notwithstanding all these disturbances made several Ecclesiastical Constitutions allowed the blessing of Wax-Tapers on the Saturday before Easter in the several Parishes forbad the Clergy to frequent publick Drinking-houses though allowing them all innocent liberty among themselves or any Servant to be made a Clergy-man because that Order ought to consist of none but free and ingenuous persons Whereas now not only Servants and Bastards but the vile off-spring of the most flagitious Parents are admitted to that Dignity whose Enormities will certainly at long-run prove fatal to the Church 'T is said that Zosimus at this time sent Faustinus a Bishop and two Presbyters of the City to the Council of Carthage by them declaring that no Debates concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs ought to be managed any where without permission of the Church of Rome During his Pontificate lived Lucius a Bishop of the Arian Faction who wrote certain Books upon several Subjects Diodorus also Bishop of Tarsus during his being a Presbyter of Antioch was a great Writer following the sense of Eusebius but not able to reach his style for want of skill in secular Learning Tiberianus likewise who had been accused together with Priscillian wrote an Apology to free himself from the suspicion of Heresie Euagrius a man of smart and brisk parts translated into Latin the Life of S. Anthony written in Greek by Athanasius Ambrosius of Alexandria a Scholar of Didymus wrote a large Volume against Apollinarius At this time flourished those two famous Bishops Theophilus of Alexandria and John of Constantinople for the greatness of his Eloquence deservedly surnamed Chrysostom who so far prevailed upon Theodorus and Maximus two Condisciples of his that they left their Masters Libanius the Rhetorician and Andragatius the Philosopher and became Proselytes to Christianity This Libanius lying now at the point of death being asked whom he would leave sucsessour in his School made answer that he desired no other than Chrysosiom were he not a Christian. At this time the Decrees of the Council of Carthage being sent to Zosimus were by him confirmed and thereby the Pelagian Heresie condemned throughout the World Some tell us that Petronius Bishop of Bononia and Possidonius an African Bishop had now gain'd a mighty reputation for Sanctity that Primasius wrote largely against the Heresies to Bishop Fortunatus and that Proba Wife to Adelphus the Proconsul composed an Historical Poem of our Saviours Life consisting wholly of Virgilian Verse though others attribute the honour of this performance to Eudocia Empress of Theodosius the younger But certainly the most learned person of the Age he lived in was Augustinus Saint Ambrose his Convert Bishop of Hippo in Africa a most strenuous Defender of the Christian Faith both in Discourse and Writing As for Zosimus having ordained ten Presbyters three Deacons eight Bishops he died and was buried in the Via Tiburtina near the body of Saint Laurence the Martyr December 26th He sat in the Chair one year three months twelve days and by his death the See was vacant eleven days BONIFACIUS I. BONIFACE a Roman Son of Jucundus a Presbyter was Bishop in the time of Honorius At this time a great dissention 〈◊〉 among the Clergy for though Boniface was chosen Bishop in one Church of the City 〈◊〉 one Party yet Eulalius was elected and set up against him by a contrary Faction in another This when Honorius who was now at Milain came to understand at the Solicitation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Placidia and her Son Valentiman they were both banish'd the City But about seven months after 〈◊〉 was re-call'd and confirmed in the Pontifical Dignity In the mean time Athaulphus dying Vallias was made King of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being terrified by the Judgments inflicted on his People restored Placidia whom he had always used very honourably to her Brother 〈◊〉 and entred into a League with him giving very good Hostages for the confirmation of it as did also the Alanes Vandals and 〈◊〉 This I lacidia Henorius gave in marriage to Constantius whom he had declared 〈◊〉 who had by her a Son named Valentinian but she being afterwards banish'd by her Brother went into the East with her Sons 〈◊〉 and Valentinian Our Bonisace ordained that no Woman though a Nun should touch the consecrated Pall or Incense and that no Servant or Debtor should be admitted into the Clergy Moreover he built an Oratory upon the ground where S. Felicitas the Martyr was buried and very much adorned her Tomb. During his Pontificate flourished divers famous men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Presbyter Son of Eusebius born at a Town called 〈◊〉 seated in the Confines of Dalmatia and Hungaria but demolished by the Goths It is not to my purpose to rehearse how great benefit the Church of God reaped from his Life and Writings since he is known to have been a person of extraordinary 〈◊〉 and his Works are had in so great honour and esteem that no Author is more read by learned Men than he He died at Bethlehem on the last day of
September in the ninety first year of his Age. Besides him there were also Gelasius Successour to Euzoius in the Bishoprick of Caesarea Palestinae a man of excellent Parts Dexter Son of Pacianus who compiled an History inscribed to S. Hierem Amphilochius who wrote concerning the Holy Ghost in an 〈◊〉 style and 〈◊〉 commended by S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his learned Book of the Destruction of 〈◊〉 'T is said also that at this time Lucianus a Preshyter directed by a divine Revelation found out the Sepulchres of S. Stephen the Protomartyr and Gamaliel S. Paul's Master of which he gave an account to all the Churches by an Epistle in Greek which was afterwards translated into Latin by 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and sent to Orosius Some likewise tell us that John Cassianus and Maximine two very learned Men lived in this Age but though it be doubtful of them it is not so concerning Eutropius S. Austin's Scholar who in a handsom style Epitomised the Roman History from the building of the City to his own times and who moreover wrote to his two Sisters Recluses concerning Chastity and the Love of Religion to whom we may add Juvenal the Bishop of Constantinople and Heros a Disciple of S. Martin the wrongfully deposed Bishop of Arles both men of great reputation for Sanctity As for Boniface himself having at one Ordination made thirteen Presbyters three Deacons thirty six Bishops he died October the 25th and was buried in the Via Salaria near the body of S. Felicitas the Martyr He fat in the Chair three years eight months sevendays Boniface being dead some of the Clergy recall'd Eulalius but he either through indignation at his former repulse or from contempt of Worldly greatness disdained the revocation and died the year following The See was then vacant nine days CAELESTINUS I. CAELESTINE a Campanian lived in the times of Theodosius the younger This Theodosius upon the death of that excellent Prince Honorius creates the Son of his Aunt Placidia Valentinian Coesar and commits to his charge the Western Empire Who being immediately by the universal consent of all Italy acknowledged their Emperour and actually entring upon the Government at Ravenna was wonderfully prosperous in subduing the Enemies of the Roman State and particularly John the Usurper In the mean time the Vandals Alemans and Goths a barbarous and salvage people passing over out of Spain into Africa under the conduct of their King Gensericus not only miserably depopulated and harrassed that Province with Fire and Sword but also corrupted the Catholick Faith there with the mixture of Arianism and banish'd some Orthodox Bishops during which Troubles S. Augustine Bishop of Hippo died in the third month of the Siege of that City August 28. in the seventy seventh year of his Age. The Vandals having taken Carthage fail'd to Sicily and made the like havock in that Island as also did the Picts and Scots in the Island of Britain In this Extremity the Britains implored the Aid of Aetius a Patrician and a famous Soldier but he not only denied them his assistance but having other ambitious Designs to carry on solicited the Huns to invade Italy The Britains being thus deserted by Aetius call over the Saxons or English to their help whom they soon found more their Enemies than Assistants for being in a little time over run by them they lost both their Countrey and their Name While these things were transacting Theodosius dying at Constantinople in the twenty seventh year of his and his Uncle Honorius's Reign Bleda and Attila two Brothers Kings of the Hunns invading Illyricum lay'd waste and burn'd all places to which they came Notwithstanding our Coelestine ordained several Rites appertaining to divine Worship as that besides the Epistle and Gospel before the Mass the Psalms of David should be sung by all alternately Martinus Cassinas tells us that the Psalm Judica me Deus Give sentence with me O God and defend my cause c. which is used at the beginning of the Sacrifice was introduced by him as likewise the Gradual is ascribed to him Many other Ecclesiastical Constitutions he made to be seen in the Archives of the Church He also dedicated and enriched the Julian Church At this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople endeavoured to sow a new Errour in the Church asserting that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary a meer Man and that the Divinity was conferred upon him of Merit To this impious Doctrine Cyril Bishop of Alexandria and our Coelestine opposed themselves very strenuously For in a Synod of two hundred Bishops held at Ephesus Nestorius himself and the Heresie denominated from him together with the Pelagians who were great favourers of the Nestorian Party were by universal consent condemned in thirteen Canons level'd against their foolish Opinions Moreover Coelestine sent Germanus Bishop of Auxerre into England to oppose the Pelagian Heresie and reduce the Inhabitants to the Orthodox Faith and Palladius whom he had made a Bishop to the Scots who desired to be instructed in the Christian Religion And indeed it cannot be denied but that by his endeavours and the industry of those whom he employed to that purpose a great part of the West were converted to Christianity 'T is said that at this time the Devil assumed humane shape and pretended himself to be Moses and imposed upon a multitude of Jews by undertaking to conduct them out of the Island of Crete into the Land of Promise through the Sea as upon dry Land in imitation of the ancient Miracle wrought for that People at the red Sea Many of them follow'd this false Moses and perished in the Waters those only being reported to have been saved who presently own'd Christ to be the true God Our Coelestine having at three Decembrian Ordinations made thirty two Presbyters twelve Deacons sixty two Bishops died and was buried in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Via Salaria April the 6th He sat in the Chair eight years ten months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant twenty one days SIXTUS III. SIXTUS the third a Roman Son of Sixtus lived in the time of Valentinian Who being Governour of the Western Empire entred into a League with Gensericus King of the Vandals whom he permitted to inhabit part of Africa confining themselves within certain Boundaries agreed upon between them Genseric being afterwards instigated by the Arians became very zealous in propagating their Errours and violently persecuted the Orthodox Bishops And Valentinian going to Constantinople and there marrying Theodosius's Daughter the Vandals in the mean time under Genseric's Conduct re-took and sack'd Carthage in the five hundred eighty fourth year since its first being in the hands of the Romans While these things weret ransacting in Afric Attila King of the Huns not contented to have invaded the two Hungaries miserably harasses Macedonia Mysia Achaia and the Thraces and then that he might have no sharer in the Kingdom puts to death his Brother Bleda
Manichees were condemned Moreover the Books of the Manichees were publickly burnt and the pride and heretical Opinions of Dioscorus discountenanced and suppress'd In the mean time Valentinian being treacherously murdered Maximus usurps the Empire and against her will marries Eudoxia the Widow of Valentinian Upon this occasion the Vandals being called out of Afric Genseric being their Leader force their entrance into the City of Rome throw the Body of Maximus who had been kill'd in the Tumult by one Ursus a Roman Soldier into the River Tyber plunder and burn the City pillage the Churches and refuse to hearken to Bishop Leo begging them what ever spoils they carried away only to spare the City it self and the Temples However on the fourteenth day from their entrance into Rome they left it and taking away with them Eudoxia and her Daughter with a great number of other Captives they return'd into Africa Leo being now very intent upon making good the damages sustain'd from this People prevailed upon Demetria a pious Virgin to build upon her own ground in the Via Latina three miles from the City a Church to S. Stephen and did the same himself in the Via Appia in honour to S. Cornelius The Churches which had been in any part ruined he repaired and those of the sacred Vessels belonging to them which had been bruised and broken he caused to be mended and those which had been taken away to be made anew Moreover he built three Apartments in the Churches of S. John S. Peter and S. Paul appointed certain of the Roman Clergy whom he called Cubicularii to keep and take charge of the Sepulchres of the Apostles built a Monastery near S. Peters introduced into the Canon of the Mass the Clause Hoc sanctum sacrificium this holy Sacrifice c. and ordained that no Recluse should be capable of receiving the Consecrated Veils unless it did appear that she had preserv'd her Chastity spotless for the space of forty years But while the good man was employed in these things there started up of a sudden the Heresie of the Acephali so called because they were a company of foolish undisciplin'd Schismaticks or if it be not a quibble because they wanted both Brains and Head These men decried the Council of Chalcedon denied the propriety of two Substances in Christ and asserted that there could be but one Nature in one Person But our Leo abundantly confuted their absurd Doctrines in his elegant and learned Epistles written to the Faithful upon that Argument Men of Note in his time were Paulinus Bishop of Nola Prosper of Aquitain a learned man and Mamercus Bishop of Vienne who as 't is said was the first that appointed processionary Supplications or Litanies upon the occasion of the frequent Earthquakes with which Gaul was at that time very much afflicted To conclude Leo having ordained eighty one Presbyters thirty one Deacons and eighty one Bishops died and was buried in the Vatican near S. Peter April the 10th He sat in the Chair twenty one years one month thirteen days and by his death the See was vacant eight days HILARIUS I. HILARIUS a Sardinian the Son of Crispinus continued in the Chair till the time of the Emperour Leo Who being chosen Emperour upon the death of Marcianus creates his Son of his own name Augustus During his Reign the Roman State suffered very much by reason of certain Ambitious men who endeavoured to get the Government into their own hands And Genseric the Vandal King being tempted with so fair an opportunity sails out of Afrique into Italy with design to gain the Empire for himself Leo having intelligence hereof sends Basilicus a Patrician with a mighty Fleet to the Assistance of Anthemius the Emperour of the West These two with joint force and courage meet Genseric near Populonia and force him to an Engagement at Sea in which being routed with a great slaughter of his men he was glad to make an inglorious flight into Africa again In the mean time Ricimer a Patrician having on the Mountains of Trent conquer'd Biorgus King of the Alanes and being puff'd up with that Victory was purposed to attempt the City of Rome had not 〈◊〉 Bishop of Pavia made him and Anthemius Friends Hilary notwithstanding this confused state of things did not neglect the care of Ecclesiastical Affairs For he ordained that no Bishop should chuse his own Successour a Constitution which belongs as well to all other Ecclesiastical Degrees as that of Episcopacy he also made a Decretal which he dispersed throughout Christendom and wrote certain Epistles concerning the Catholick Faith by which the three Synods of Nice Ephesus and Chalcedon were confirmed and the Hereticks Eutyches Nestorius and Dioscorus with their Adherents condemned In the Baptistery of the Lateran Church he built three Oratories which were adorned with Gold and precious Stones their Gates of Brass covered with wrought Silver those he dedicated to S. John Baptist S. John Evangelist and S. Cross. In the last of these was reposited some of the wood of the Cross nclosed in Gold and set with Jewels and a Golden Agnus upon a Pillar of Onyx He added moreover the Oratory of S. Stephen built two Libraries adjoyning and founded a Monastery I shall not here recite the almost numberless Donations which he made to several Churches of Gold Silver Marble and Jewels Some tell us that Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes lived in his time both great supporters of the Christian cause which was now very much undermined by the endeavours of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pelagians Gennadius also Bishop of Constantinople did great service to the Church by the integrity of his Life and the excellency of his Parts and Learning During the Pontificate of our Hilary Victorinus of Aquitain a famous Arithmetician reduced the Easter account to the course of the Moon far out-doing Eusebius and Theophilus who had attempted it before him And among those that flourished at this time by some is reckoned Merline the famous English Bard concerning whom we are told more than enough As for Hilary himself having performed the duty of a good Bishop both in building and adorning of Churches and also in Teaching Admonishing Censuring and giving Alms where need required and having also ordained twenty five Presbyters five Deacons twenty two Bishops he died and was buried in the Sepulchre of S. Laurence near the body of Bishop Sixtus He sat in the Chair seven years three months ten days and by his death the See was vacant ten days SIMPICIUS I. SIMPLICIUS Son of Castinus born at Tivoli was Bishop during the Reigns of Leo the second and Zeno. For Leo the first falling sick makes choice of Leo the second Son of Zeno Isauricus and his own Nephew by Ariadne his Sister to be his Successour who not long after being seiz'd by a violent Distemper and apprehending himself to be at the point of death leaves the Empire to his
Father Zeno. In the mean time Odoacer invading Italy with a great Army of his Heruli and Turingians conquers and takes Prisoner Orestes a Noble Roman near Pavia and then causes him to be put to death in the sight of his whole Army at Placentia Hereupon Zeno pitying the calamitous state of Italy speedily sends Theodoric King of the Goths a man whom he had before very much esteem'd with a mighty force to oppose him who having in a pitch'd Battel not far from Aquileia near the River Sontio overcome Odoacer's Captains and having oftentimes the like success against Odoacer himself at length he besieg'd him three years together in Ravenna and reduc'd him to that extremity that with the advice of John the Bishop of that City he consented to admit Theodoric as his Partner in the Empire But the day following both Odoacer and his Son were contrary to promise and agreement slain by which means Theodorick possess'd himself of the Government of all Italy without any opposition In the mean time Simplicius dedicated the Churches of S. Stephen the Protomartyr on Mons Caolius and that of S. Andrew the Apostle not far from S. Maries the Great in which there appear to this day some footsteps of Antiquity which I have many a time beheld with sorrow for their neglect to whose charge such noble piles of building now ready to fall are committed That this Church was of his founding appears by certain Verses wrought in Mosaick work which I have seen in it He dedicated also another Church to S. Stephen near the Licinian Palace where the Virgins body had been buried He also appointed the Weekly-waitings of the Presbyters in their turns at the Churches of S. Peter S. Paul and S. Laurence the Martyr for the receiving of Penitents and baptizing of Proselytes Moreover he divided the City among the Presbyters into five Precincts or Regions the first of S. Peter 2. S. Paul 3. S. Laurence 4. S. John Lateran 5. S. Maria Maggiore He also ordained that no Clergy-man should hold a Benefice of any Lay-man a Constitution which was afterwards confirm'd by Gregory and other Popes At this time the Bishop of Rome's Primacy was countenanced by the Letters of Acacius Bishop of Constantinople and Timothy a learned man in which they beg him to censure Peter Mog Bishop of Alexandria an assertour of the Eutychian Heresie Which was accordingly done but with Proviso that he should be receiv'd into the Communion of the Church again if within a certain time prefix'd he retracted his Errours Some say that during his Pontificate lived Remigius Bishop of Reims who as History tells us baptized Clodoveus the French King Now also Theodorus Bishop 〈◊〉 Syria wrote largely against Eutyches and compiled ten Books of 〈◊〉 History in imitation of Eusebius Coesariensis At this time almost all Egypt was infected with the heretical Doctrine of Dioscorus concerning whom we have already spoken and Huneric King of the Vandals a Zealot 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Faction raised a Persecution against the Orthodox Christians in Afrique Upon this Eudocia Niece to Theodosius a Catholick Lady and Wife to Huneric left her heretical Husband upon pretence of a Pilgrimage to Hierusalem to perform a Vow which she had made but upon so long a Journey the effect of which prov'd intolerable to the tenderness of her sex she there soon died 'T is said that at this time were found the bones of the Prophet Elisha which were carried into Alexandria as also the body of S. Barnabas the Apostle together with the Gospel of S. Matthew written with his own hand As for Simplicius himself having by his Constitutions and Donations very muchpromoted the interest of the Church of Rome and having at several Ordinations made fifty eight Presbyters eleven Deacons eighty six Bishops he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church on the second day of March He was inthe Chair fifteen years one month seven days and by his death the See was vacant twenty six days FELIX III. FELIX by birth a Roman Son of Felix a Presbyter was Bishop from the time of Odoacer whose power in Italy lasted fourteen years till the Reign of Theodoric Who though he made Ravenna the seat of the Empire yet the City of Rome was much indebted to his Bounty For he re-built the Sepulchre of Octavius exhibited shews to the people according to ancient custom repaired the publick Buildings and Churches and indeed neglected nothing that became a good and generous Prince And to confirm and establish the Empire he married Andefleda Daughter of Clodoveus King of France and gave in marriage his Sister to Huneric King of the Vandals and one of his Daughters to Alaric King of the Visigoths and the other to King Gondibate Felix now fully understanding that Peter Mog the Eutychian who had been banished for his heretical Opinions upon the complaint and at the desire of Acacius was by the same Acacius recall'd from Exile suspected that there was a private Agreement between them and therefore excommunicated them both by the authority of the Apostolick See which was confirm'd in a Synod of the Orthodox But three years after the Emperour Zeno testifying that they were penitent Felix sends two Bishops Messenus and Vitalis with full power upon enquiry into the truth of their repentance to absolve them These Legates arriving at the City Heraclea were soon corrupted with bribes and neglected to act according to their Commission Whereupon Felix out of a just indignation having first called a Council upon that occasion excommunicates them too as Simoniacks and betrayers of the trust reposed in them Though Messenus who confess'd his fault and begg'd time to evince the sincerity of his repentance had it accordingly granted him The same Felix also built the Church of S. Agapetus near that of S. Laurence and ordained that Churches should be consecrated by none but Bishops 'T is said that at this time Theodorus a Greek Presbyter wrote against the Hereticks a Book of the Harmony of the Old and new Testament and some reckon among the men of Note in this Age the Learned and famous Divine John Damascene who wrote the Book of Sentences imitating therein Gregory Nazianzene Gregory Nyssene and Didymus of Alexandria and compiled also certain Treatises of Medicin in which he gives an account of the Causes and Cure of Diseases Our Felix having at two Decembrian Ordinations made twenty eight Presbyters five Deacons thirty Bishops died and was buried in the Church of S. Paul He sat in the Chair eight years eleven months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant five days GELASIUS I. GELASIUS an African Son of Valerius was Bishop of Rome at the time when Theodoric made War upon his Wives Father Clodoveus the French King for that he had slain his Daughter's Husband Alaric King of the Visigoths and seiz'd Gascoigne They were both allied to him by marriage but the cause of Alaric seem'd to him the more just
and therefore he preferr'd his Son-in-law before his Father-in-law And gaining the Victory over the French in a very important Battel he recovers Gascoigne and undertakes the present Government of it till Almaric the son of Alaric should come to Age. The same Theodoric to his Conquest of Italy added that of Sicily Dalmatia Liburnia Illyricum Gallia Narbonensis and Burgundy He also walled round the City of Trent and to secure Italy from a forein Invasion upon the Frontiers of it near Aost placed the Heruli whose King being yet a Minor he made his adopted Son Gelasius in the mean time condemns to banishment all the Manichees that should be found in the City and causes their books to be publickly burnt near S. Mary's Church And being satisfied of the repentance of Messenus who had given in his Retractation in Writing at the request of the Synod he absolved him and restored him to his Bishoprick But having intelligence that several murthers and other notorious outrages were committed in the Greek Churches by the factious followers of Peter Mog and Acacius he forthwith sends his Legates thither with Commission to Excommunicate for ever all those who did not immediately recant their Errours a new and unusual severity whereas the Primitive Church was wont to wait long in hopes that Separatists would at length return to her Bosom At this time John Bishop of Alexandria an Orthodox Prelate and who had been very much persecuted by these seditious people fled for resuge to the Bishop of Rome who very kindly and courteously received him The Churches which Gelasius consecrated were that of S. Euphemia the Martyr in Tivoli that of S. Nicander and Eleutherius in the Via Labicana and that of S. Mary in the Via Laurentina twenty miles from Rome He had a great love and honour for the Clergy and was very liberal and charitable to the poor He delivered the City of Rome from many dangers and particularly from that of dearth and scarcity He composed Hymns in imitation of S. Ambrose published five Books against Eutyches and Nestorius and two against Arius made very elegant and grave Orations and wrote weighty and learned Epistles to his Friends of the houshold of Faith all which Works of his are at this time to be seen in the publick Libraries Some tell us that he Excommunicated Anastasius successour to Zeno in the Eastern Empire for favouring Acacius and other Hereticks which is an argument as clear as the Sun that the Bishop of Rome has power to Excommunicate any Prince who is erroneous in the Faith if he continue refractary after Admonition The same course likewise he took with the Vandals and their King who being infected with the Arian Heresie proved now very cruel and barbarous persecutours of the Orthodox At the beginning of his Pontificate lived Germanus and Epiphanius the latter Bishop of Pavia the former of Capua men who by the authority which the Sanctity of their Lives had gain'd them and by their humble and obliging deportment wrought so much upon the minds of the barbarous Invadors that afflicted Italy fared the better for their sakes At the same time also Lannociatus Abbat of Chartres with Aurelianus and Mezentius of Poictiers persons of great Piety and Learning gain'd so much ground in Gaul that they persuaded Clodoveus the French King and his Queen Crocildis to become Christians and to undertake the protection of the Catholick Faith throughout their Dominions though some attribute this honour to Remigius as hath been already said Gelasius having ordained thirty two Presbyters two Deacons sixty seven Bishops died and was buried in S. Peter's Church November 21. He was in the Chair four years eight months seventeen days and by his death the See was vacant seven days ANASTASIUS II. ANASTASIUS the second a Roman Son of Fortunatus was Contemporary with the Emperour Anastasius At which time Transamund King of the Vandals shut up the Churches of the Orthodox Clergy and banished one hundred and twenty Bishops into the Island of Sardinia 'T is reported also that one Olympius an Arian Bishop having publickly in the Baths at Carthage declared his detestation of the Doctrine of the Trinity was immediately smitten and his body burnt with three flashes of Lightning And when Barbas another Bishop of the same Faction was going to baptize a certain person in this form of words Barbas baptizeth thee in the name of the Father by the Son and in the Holy Ghost 't is said the Water disappeared which Miracle so wrought upon the man who was to be baptized that he immediately came over to the Orthodox It was this Bishop Anastasius as some Writers tell us who Excommunicated the Emperour Anastasius for favouring Acacius though afterwards being himself seduced by the same Heretick and endeavouring privately to recall him from Exile he thereby very much alienated the minds of his Clergy who for that reason and also because without the consent of the Catholicks he communicated with Photinus a Deacon of Thessalonica and an assertour of the Acacian 〈◊〉 withdrew themselves from him 'T is generally reported that the divine vengeance pursuing him for this Apostacy he died suddenly and some say that the particular manner of his death was that going to ease Nature he purg'd out his Bowels into the Privy In his time Fulgentius an African Bishop of Ruspoe though he were among the other Orthodox Bishops of Africa banish'd into Sardinia by Transamund yet neglected nothing that might contribute to the propagating of the Catholick Faith whether by Exhortation Preaching or Admonition He likewise published several Books of the Trinity of Free-will and the Rule of Faith and besides the several elegant and grave Homilies he made to the people he wrote against the Pelagian Heresie The Learned Egesippus also who composed Monastical Constitutions and in an elegant style wrote the Life of S. Severinus the Abbat was at this time very serviceable to the Church Moreover Faustus a Gallican Bishop was now a considerable Writer but among all his Works the most in esteem was his Tract against Arius wherein he maintains the persons in the Trinity to be Co-essential He wrote also against those who asserted any created Being to be incorporeal demonstrating both by the Judgment of the Fathers and from the Testimonies of holy Writ that God only is purely and properly incorporeal But I shall here conclude the Pontificate of Anastasius who at one Decembrian Ordination having made twelve Presbyters and sixteen Bishops was buried in S. Peter's Church November 19. He sat in the Chair one year ten months twenty four days and by his death the See was vacant four days SYMMACHUS I. SYMMACHUS a Sardinian Son of Fortunatus succeeded Anastasius though not without great Controversie and after a long bandying of two contrary Factions For while one part of the Clergy chuse Symmachus in the Church of S. John 〈◊〉 another part of them in S. Maria Maggiore make choice of one Laurence
died and was buried in S. Peter's Church October the 12th He was in the Chair four years two months thirteen days and by his death the See was vacant three days BONIFACE II. BONIFACE the second a Roman Son of Sigismund was also in the time of Justinian A Prince whose vast Parts and Learning qualified him for that great Work which for the publick Good he undertook of collecting and methodizing the scattered Roman Laws and retrenching those which were useless and superfluous Yet herein he made use of the Advice and assistance of John a Patrician Trebonianus Theophilus and Dorotheus men of great Learning and Authority With their help an immense number of near two thousand Volumes of Decrees made from the building of the City to this time confusedly heaped together were digested under their respective Titles into fifty Books which are sometimes called Digests and sometimes Pandects because they contain the whole Civil Law He made also an Epitome of the Laws in four Books which go under the name of Institutes or Justinian's Code Moreover some tell us that Justinian wrote certain Books concerning the Incarnation of our Lord and that at his own charge he built the Temple of S. Sophia than which there is not a more noble and magnificent Pile of Buildings in the World In his Reign 〈◊〉 was made Bishop of Rome though not without some opposition for the Clergy being divided one Party of them chose Dioscorus into the place of Felix deceased The Contention about this matter lasted twenty eight days but the death of Dioscorus put an end to the Controversie Things being quiet Boniface applyed himself to the setling of the Church and decreed that no Bishop should appoint his own successour which was afterwards confirm'd by several following Bishops of Rome He decreed also that upon the decease of any Bishop of Rome another should be chosen to succeed him if it might be within three days to prevent any bandying or dissention which might be occasioned by delay He ordained likewise that the Clergy should be seperated and placed distinct from the Laity at the time of Celebration At the same time many of the Roman Nobility were so wrought upon by the Sanctity of Benedict that they retired to Mount Cassino and became Monks there among whom the more eminent were Maurus and Placidius Other men of Note and esteem were Dionysius the Abbat famous for the extraordinary Skill and Judgment which he shewed in his Paschal Cycle Famundus whose writings against certain Eutychians then springing up were very much commended and Martin who by his Preaching and Writings converted the People of Soissons from the Arian Heresie to the Truth But Boniface having sat in the Pontifical Chair two years two days died and was buried in S. Peter's Church The See was then vacant two months JOHN II. 〈◊〉 the second a Roman Son of Projectus lived in the time of Justinian and soon after his entrance upon the Pontificate condemned Anthemius an Arian Bishop some say that he had been Bishop of Constantinople Justinian to shew his 〈◊〉 to the Roman See sent Hypatius and Demetrius two Bishops to 〈◊〉 both to complement John in his name and to make to S. Peter's Church several rich Presents During this Embassie Mundus Justinian's General took the strong City of Salona and gain'd a Victory over the Goths though not without great loss on the Conquering side For Mundus himself together with his Son a Valiant and brave young Gentleman was slain in that Engagement the news of which misforfortune was extreamly laid to heart by Justinian he having always had a great value for that Leaders Courage and Fidelity Our Bishop John of whom Historians say very little having at one Ordination made 〈◊〉 Presbyters twenty one Bishops died and was buried in S. Peter's Church May 27. He sat in the Chair two years four months and by his death the See was vacant six days AGAPETUS I. AGAPETUS a Roman Son of Gordianus a Presbyter of the Church of S. John and S. Paul being created Bishop by Theodatus who was by him forthwith sent to the Emperour Justinian was highly incens'd against that King for his having first banish'd Amalasuntha the Mother of Athalaric into the Island of the Lake of Bolsena and afterwards caused her to be put to death there For she was a Woman so well acquainted with Greek and Latin Learning that she durst engage in Disputation with any profess'd Scholar Moreover she was so throughly skilled in the Languages of all the barbarous Invadors of the Roman Empire that she could discourse any of them without an Interpreter Her Death Justinian so highly resented that he threatned to make War upon Theodatus for that reason Hereupon Agapetus was sent to him who being receiv'd with great honour and affection and having obtain'd the peace he was sent to sue for he was then practis'd with to confirm the Eutychian Opinions But Justinian finding that the good man utterly detested any such proposal from desiring and 〈◊〉 he fell to Threats and Menaces Upon which Agapetus told him that he should have been glad to be sent to Justinian a Christian Prince but that he found a Diocletian an Enemy and Persecutor of Christians By this boldness of Speech and Gods appointment Justinian was so wrought upon that he embraced the Catholick Faith and having despos'd Anthemius Bishop of Constantinople who patroniz'd the Eutychian Heresie put into his place Menas one of the Orthodox who was consecrated by Agapetus himself But not long after Agapetus died at Constantinople and his body being wrap'd up in Lead was convey'd to Rome and buried in S. Peter's Church He sat in the Chair eleven months twenty one days and by his death the See was vacant one month twenty nine days SYLVERIUS SYLVERIUS a Campanian Son of Bishop Hormisda was chosen Bishop of Rome at the command of Theodatus though till this time the Emperours only not the Kings had interposed their Authority in that matter But the Menaces of Theodatus prevailed who had threatned to put to death every man of the Clergy who would not subscribe his name to the choice of Sylverius For this reason and that he might also revenge the death of Amala suntha Justinian sends Belisarius a Patrician with an Army into Italy In his passage thither he first put in at Sicily and brought that Island to the Emperours devotion In the mean time Theodatus dying and the Goths having chosen themselves a King against the will of Justinian Belisarius quits Sicily that he might deliver Italy from the Tyranny of the Goths Coming into Campania and the City of Naples refusing to obey the Emperours Summons he took it by Storm and plundered it putting to the Sword all the Goths that were in Garrison there and a great part of the Citizens carrying away their Children and what other spoil they could lay their hands on The Soldiers pillaged the very Churches violated the chastity of Cloystered Virgins
and committed all the outrages which are wont to be acted by an enraged victorious Enemy Marching hastily from thence with his Army to Rome and entring the City by night he struck such a terrour into the Goths who defended it that they all left the Gates and the Walls and fled to Ravenna But Belisarius apprehending that Vitiges might surprize him with a mighty Force which he should not be able to fight in open Field with all possible dispatch fortified the City with Trenches and Bulwarks where occasion was for them Soon after Vitiges according to his expectation coming towards him with a mighty Army for it consisted of an hundred thousand men Belisarius who had not above five thousand thought it best to keep within the City Vitiges encamped between two Aqueducts the one of which ran towards the Via Latina the other towards the Via Proenestina and both met five miles from the City And that the City might not be supplied with Water he cut off all the Conduits and conveyances which were fourteen Moreover he sent part of his Army who possessed themselves of the Port and thereby reduced the Romans to the double Calamity of War and Famine In the mean time at the motion of Vigilius a Deacon and Surrogate of Rome the Empress Theodora laid her Commands joined with Threatnings upon Sylverius to banish Menas from Constantinople and to restore Anthemius who as we have said had been depos'd for patronizing the Eutychian Heresie Which when he refus'd to do she writes to Belisarius ordering him to depose Sylverius and to put Vigilius into his place But Belisarius being wholly taken up with the defence of the City left that affair to the management of his Wife Antonina who upon the depositions of certain Witnesses suborn'd by Vigilius attesting that Sylverius had a design to betray the City into the hands of the Goths not only compell'd him to quit the Pontificate and to enter into a Monastick life but also banish'd him to the Island Pontia where he died not without the reputation of having been a very holy man T is said that at this time the Gauls dispatch'd Messengers to Benedict desiring him to send to them any one of his Disciples to instruct them in the Rules of the Monastick life Upon which Benedict sent Maurus who by his own Example instructed them in a good and happy course of living and also set up several Monasteries among them Vigilius at the desire of the Roman Clergy in pursuance of Antonina's determination was created Bishop of Rome Sylverius after his possession of the Chair one year five months and twelve days died as we have already said in Pontia and was buried June the 20th Upon his death the See was vacant six days VIGILIUS I. VIGILIUS a Roman his Father a man of consular Dignity was likewise in Justinian's Reign created Bishop of Rome in whose time a fifth Synod was held at Constantinople against Theodorus and other Hereticks who held that the Blessed Virgin brought forth Man only not God-man in this Synod therefore it was decreed that the Blessed Virgin should be styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Mother of God Belisarius had now defended the City one whole year and nine days and having in this time received fresh supplies of Men he resolved to march out and to engage the Enemy in a pitch'd Battel But Vitiges distrusting his own Force sets fire to his Tents and hastens by great Marches to Ravenna Belisarius with all possible speed follows him and entring the City takes Vitiges himself Prisoner with all his Family and a great part of his Nobles and having recovered almost all Italy in the fifth year from his arrival there he carries them with him to Constantinople The same Belisarius with incredible expedition quell'd the Moors who were harassing Africa and out of the spoils of that Victory he made two very rich Presents to S. Peter's Church in Rome He built also two Hospitals for Strangers at his own charge one in the Via Lata the other in the Via Flaminia and founded the Monastery of S. Juvenalis at a Town called Orta endowing it with an Estate in Land for the maintenance of the Monks in it At this time Theodora was earnest with Vigilius to come to Constantinople and according to his Promise to restore Anthemius But Vigilius denies the doing it for that unjust Promises are not to be performed and he was of Opinion that the proceedings of Agapetus and Sylverius against that Heretick were legal and that therefore their Acts were by no means to be made void by him Theodora being hereat enraged with the assistance of some of her Creatures at Rome causes Vigilius to be impleaded upon two Accusations one that he had fraudulently procur'd the banishment of Sylverius the other that by his Order a certain Youth had been beaten to death by his Nephew Vigilius Son of Asterius the Consul And that he might not escape with impunity she sends one Anthemius to Rome with instructions to bring Vigilius by force to her if he refused to make his appearance He coming to Rome in pursuance of his Commission feiz'd the Bishop in the Church of S. 〈◊〉 as he was according to custom distributing Gifts to the People upon his Birth-day and being assisted by some Romans conveys him to Constantinople 'T is said that at Vigilius his passage down the River Tyber the People followed him with Curses pelting him with sticks and stones and particularly using this exprobration Mischievous hast thou been to the City of Rome and may mischief go along with thee Being arrived at Sicily by the permission of those who had him in custody he ordained several Persons and among them Ampliatus a Priest and Valentinus a Bishop who were to have the inspection of the Clergy and Church of Rome in his absence Coming near Constantinople Justinian with a great Retinue went out to meet him and they both entred the City together the Clergy going before them as far as the Temple of S. Sophia Theodora had now opportunity to tamper with Vigilius and persuade him to the performance of his Promise But he told her that he had rather suffer the greatest punishment in the World than change his Resolution in the Case She therefore and her Attendants beginning to menace him and he saying that he was come to a Diocletian not as he thought to Justinian he was thereupon so roughly handled and beaten that it almost cost him his life And flying from their rage to the Church of S. Euphemia not far distant he was from thence drag'd by certain rude People who put an Halter about his Neck and led him like a common Rogue publickly through the City till the Evening After this he was imprison'd and forc'd for some time to live upon nothing but Bread and Water which yet he bore with so much patience and temper that he would often say that he had deserved worse than all this
and was not yet punish'd according to his Demerits Those of the Clergy who had accompanied him from Rome were some of them banish'd others condemn'd to dig in the Mines But at the request of the Romans who had now a better Opinion of him and upon the importunity of Narses whom Justinian had sent to Rome to oppose the Goths Vigilius and all the others who were confin'd had liberty granted them to return into Italy But in their passage thither being come as far as Syracuse in 〈◊〉 Vigilius who had out-liv'd so many Calamities and Troubles died there of the Stone and his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Church of S. Marcellus in the Via Salaria He lived in the Pontificate at Rome and elsewhere seventeen years six months twenty six days and by his death the See was vacant three months five days PELAGIUS I. PELAGIUS a Roman lived in the time when Totilas King of the Goths advancing with a great Army from Treviso over-run and spoiled Italy in such a manner that from his salvage Cruelty he was called God's Scourge Coming as far as Mount Cassino in his way to Campania though he were in the habit of a common Soldier yet he was discovered by S. Benedict who spared not by threatning of divine Vengeance to terrifie him from raging so furiously against the Christians Moving thence towards Abruzzo he dismantled 〈◊〉 besieged Naples took Cumoe where yet he exercised an extraordinary Respect and Civility towards the Roman Women whom he found in it permitting them to go to Rome to their Friends without any violence or rudeness offered to them After this having taken Naples and made himself Master of all that part of Italy which lies towards Sicily he marches to Rome and having first seized the Port by which 〈◊〉 should come to the City he reduced them to such extremity for want of Provisions that some were forced to feed upon Mans-flesh At length forcing his entrance at the Gate which leads to Ostia he possessed himself of the City which having plundered he set on fire Some tell us that Totilas designed to save the Buildings of the City and sent Messengers about by Night to publish his pleasure in that particular but his Orders therein were not obeyed Justinian having Intelligence of these proceedings speedily dispatches Narses the Eunuch with a great Army into Italy 'T is said that this Narses was at first a Bookseller but being advanced to an Office near the Emperour's Person Justinian finding him to be a man of great merit raised him to the Dignity of a Patrician And indeed in all the accomplishments of Religion and Vertue and Clemency and Generosity and sweetness of temper he was a most exemplary and extraordinary Person Narses with the addition of some Auxiliary Forces from Alboinus King of the Lombards advances against the Goths routs them and makes a great slaughter in the pursuit of them Totilas lost his life ingloriously at Brissello and Theias who was chosen King in his stead though he behaved himself bravely yet was slain by Narses not far from Nocera And thus both the Name and Power of the Goths were extinct together in the seventy second year after that their King Theodoric first entred Italy Not long after died Justinian in the fortieth year of his Reign a Prince worthy to have his memory perpetuated to all Posterity and who according to the custom of preceding Emperours deserves the additional Titles of Alemanicus Gotthicus Wandalicus Persicus Africanus though he only advised but did not act in the successful Expeditions made against those Nations Pelagius in the midst of these disturbances not neglecting the Affairs of the Church ordained that Hereticks and Schismaticks might be suppressed by the Secular Power when they would not be reclaim'd by Reason and Argument Being accused that he was the occasion of the Calamities that befell Vigilius as having a greater interest with Justinian than Vigilius had in the sight of the Clergy and People he laid his hand upon the Cross and the Gospel and by a solemn Oath purged himself from that Charge Narses coming to Rome made a Procession from the Church of S. Pancras to S. Peter's with Thanksgiving for his late success and set himself with all possible application to repair the Damage which the City had receiv'd by the Goths In conjunction with Pelagius he ordained that no Person should be admitted to any holy Orders or Ecclesiastical Dignity by the way of canvassing or Birbery Pelagius making his Notary Valentinus a very religious person Treasurer of the Church begins the building of the Church of SS Philip and James Some tell us that the learned Monk Cassiodorus who had been first Consul then a Senator and afterwards renouncing all human Greatness embraced a Monastick life lived to this time and that Victor Bishop of Capua now wrote a Book concerning Easter in which he particularly discovered the mistakes of Dionysius the Roman Abbat who had with little care and skill composed a Paschal Cycle Moreover Sabinus Bishop of Canosa and Gregory Bishop of Langres and Vedastus a Scholar of S. Remigius and Bishop of Arras were Ornaments to the Pontificate of Pelagius and Herculanus Bishop of Perugia who had been put to Death by Totylas was Canonized Pelagius having at two Decembrian Ordinations made twenty six Presbyters eleven Deacons thirty nine Bishops died and was buried in S. Peter's He was in the Chair eleven years ten months twenty eight days The See was then vacant twenty six days JOHN III. JOHN the third the Son of Anastasius descended of a Noble Family lived in the time of Justine who succeeded Justinian but was in nothing like him For he was Covetous lewd rapacious a contemner of God and Men to such a degree that his Vices made him srantick so that his Wife Sophia managed all affairs till the time of Tiberius the second This Woman being prompted thereto by some envious persons who hated Narses recalls him out of Italy in these reproachful words That she would have the Eunuch come home and spin This he very highly resenting as well he might returns answer That he would spin such a Web as none of his Enemies should ever be able to unweave And he was as good as word For he presently sends and invites Alboinus King of the Lombards with all his people then possessed of Pannonia to come and seat themselves in the more plentiful Countrey of Italy Alboinus complying with the proposal of Narses and entring Italy with a vast number of men with their Wives and Children first possesses himself of Friuli and Marca Trivigiana thence passing into Insubria he takes and sacks Milain and at length makes himself Master of Pavia after it had held out a Siege of three years Being thus slush'd with Victory he goes to Verona which he constitutes the the Capital City of his Kingdom where being once at an Entertainment over-heated with Wine he compelled his Wife
Rosimund to drink out of a Cup which he had made of her own Fathers Skull whom he himself had slain Now there was in Alboinus's Army one Helmechild a very handsom young Gentleman and an excellent Soldier and who was Rosimund's particular Favourite Him she discourses privately and by proposing to him the hopes of succeeding in the Kingdom prevailed with him to murder Alboinus But they were both so hated for the Fact by the Lombards that they not only failed of their hopes but were glad to fly for protection to Longinus the Exarch of Ravenna where not long after they poisoned each other and died together At this time Italy by reason of the Incursions which the barbarous Nations made into it was in a very calamitous state which had been portended by Prodigies and Apparitions of flaming Armies in the Air and also by an extraordinary inundation of the River Tyber which had very much damaged the City of Rome In the mean time our John repaired the Coemeteries of the Saints and finished the Church of SS Philip and James which had been begun by Vigilius and drew Narses who had been an avowed Enemy to the Romans for their ill opinion of him and their misrepresenting him to the Empress Sophia from Naples to Rome where he not long after died and his Body was conveyed in a Coffin of Lead to Constantinople In such a consusion of things the State of Italy must needs certainly have been utterly ruined if some eminently holy men had not supported and prop'd up the tottering Nation Among others Paul Patriarch of Aquileia and Felix Bishop of Treviso interceded successfully with Alboinus when he first entred Italy in the behalf of the Inhabitants Moreover Fortunatus a person of extraordinary Learning and Eloquence very much civiliz'd and polish'd the Gauls by his Books and Example compiling a Treatise of Government inscribed to their King Sigebert and writing in an elegant style the Life of S. Martin Some write that at this time lived Germanus Bishop of Paris a person of wonderful Piety who kept the Kings of France within the bounds of their duty to such a Degree that each strove to excel the other in Religion and Piety in Goodness and Clemency So prevalent is the Example of a good Pastour such an one as Germanus was in whom they saw nothing but what was worthy of their imitation After this one farther Remark that in our John's time the Armenians were converted to Christianity I shall say no more of him but that having been in the Chair twelve years eleven months twenty six days he died and was 〈◊〉 in S. Peters Upon his death the See was vacant ten months three days BENEDICT I. BENEDICT a Roman the Son of Boniface lived in the time of Tiberius the Second whom Justine had adopted and appointed his Heir to the Empire An Honour which he well deserved as being a Person adorn'd with all the Princely Accomplishments of Clemency Justice Piety Religion Wisdom Resolution and unshaken Fortitude Among his other Vertues he was eminent for his Bounty and Liberality towards all especially the poor and God supplied him in an extraordinary manner for it For walking once hastily in his Palace and spying the figure of the Cross upon one of the Marble stones in the Pavement that it might not be trampled under foot he devoutly caused it to be removed from thence and laid up in a more decent and honourable place At it's taking up there was found under it another stone with the same figure on it and then a third under which he discovered such a vast heap of Gold and Silver as was requisite to furnish and maintain his large Bounty a great part of which Treasure he distributed to the poor 'T is said also that he had brought to him out of Italy a great Estate which Narses had got there which in like manner he employed in Liberality and Munificence To Sigebert the French King who had sent Embassadours to him besides the other Presents that he made which were very considerable he sent certain Medals of Gold of very great weight on the one side of which was the Effigies of the Emperour with this Inscription Tiberii Constantini perpetuo Augusti on the other side was a Charriot with its Driver and this Inscription Romanorum Gloria And to complete his Successes the Army which he had sent against the Persians returning victoriously brought away with twenty Elephants so vast a Booty as no Army had ever done in any Expedition before Thus signally was he rewarded for his good services to mankind in general for his Religion towards God our Saviour and for his Beneficence particularly to the people of Rome whom he not only protected and desended from their Enemies as much as could be by his Arms but also at the Prayers and Intercession of our Bishop Benedict whom he had a wonderful Love and Esteem for he delivered them from Dearth and Famine by sending a supply of Corn out of Egypt For the Lombards by a long and tedious War had so harrassed Italy far and wide that from their devastations there arose a great want and 〈◊〉 of all things While things went thus in Italy John Bishop 〈◊〉 Constan inople by Reading Disputing Writing Admonishing and Teaching kept the Oriental Church as much as might be right in the Faith though he met with many opposers therein The same did also the equally Learned and Eloquent Leander Bishop of Toledo or as others think of Sevil who wrote several Treatises both to confirm the Orthodox Doctrine and to confute the Arian Heresie which like a contagious Pestilence the Vandals driven out of Africa by Belisarius had brought with them into Spain As for Benedict some write that he laying sadly to heart the 〈◊〉 which now befell Rome and all Italy died of grief after he had been in the Chair four years one month twenty eight days The See was then vacant two months ten days PELAGIUS II. PELAGIUS a Roman Son of Vinigildus was from the time of Tiberius to that of his Son-in-law the Emperour Mauritius To whom though he were a Cappadocian yet the Empire was committed upon the account of his great Courage and Ability in the management of Affairs At this time the Lombards having after the Death of Alboinus for twenty years 〈◊〉 govern'd by Dukes make Autharis their King whom they also called 〈◊〉 a Name which was afterwards used by all the Kings of Lombardy But Mauritius endeavouring to drive the Lombards out of Italy hires Sigebert the French King to engage in a War against them who forthwith raising a great Army of Gauls and Germans fights Autharis but with great loss is discomfited The Lombards being flush'd and heightened by this Victory march'd on as far as to the Streights of Sicily possessing themselves all along of the Cities of Italy and at length besieging for a long time Rome it self of which certainly they had made themselves Masters had they
not been driven from its Walls by the great Rains which sell so violently and incessantly and made such an Inundation that men look'd upon it as a second Noah's Floud This was the only cause why Pelagius was made Bishop of Rome without the consent of the Emperour the City being so closely besieged that none could pass to know his pleasure therein For at this time the Roman Clergie's Election of a Bishop was not valid unless they had the Emperour's Approbation Hereupon Gregory a Deacon a man of great Piety and Learning was sent to Constantinople to appease the Emperour where having effected what he came for he neglected not to employ his time and parts but both wrote Books of Morals upon Job and also at a Disputation in the presence of the Emperour himself he so basfled Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople that he was forced to retract what he had written in a Book of his concerning the Resurrection in which he asserted that our Bodies in that glory of the Resurrection should become more thin and subtile than the Wind or Air and so not tangible Which is contrary to that of our Saviour Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have As for Pelagius having at the request of the Citizens of Rome recalled Gregory turned his Fathers House into an Hospital for poor old men and entirely built the Coemetery of Hermes the Martyr and the Church of Laurence the Martyr he died of the Pestilence which at that time was very epidemical throughout Europe after he had been in the Chair ten years two months ten days and was buried in S. Peter's in the 〈◊〉 The See was then vacant six months twenty eight days GREGORY I. GREGORT a Roman Son of Gordianus one of the Senato rian Order was against his will unanimously chosen Bishop of Rome Anno Dom. 590. Now because as I have already said the consent of the Emperour was required herein he dispatches Messengers with Letters 〈◊〉 Mauritius that he would not suffer this Election of the Clergy and People of Rome to stand good These Letters were intercepted and torn by the 〈◊〉 and others written by which the Emperour was requested to confirm him who was by universal suffrage thus chosen There could nothing be more pleasing and acceptable to the Emperour than the News of this Choice for the conversation of Gregory while he was at Constantinople had been very grateful to him and moreover he had Christned his Son Mauritius therefore speedily sends word back to Rome that he did confirm the Election of Gregory and that in such a 〈◊〉 state of things they should compel that holy man to undertake the Government of the Church He therefore not consulting his own inclination but the 〈◊〉 of Mankind and the honour of God which as he was a most devout and religious man he had ever preferred before all other things without any regard to Riches or Pleasures or Ambition or Power takes the burden of the Pontificate upon him And he behaved himself so well in it that no one of his Successours down to our times has been his Equal much less Superiour either for Sanctity of Life or for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in managing Affairs or for his Learning and Writings He composed a Book of the Sacraments wrote Commentaries upon 〈◊〉 and as I have already said upon Job and Homilies upon the Gospels four Books in Dialogue and that which he called the Pastoral to 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ravenna concerning the way of governing the Church Moreover he introduced several Rites and made several Additions to the Offices of the Roman Church and particularly he first instituted the greater Litanies or 〈◊〉 and appointed a great part of the Stations And that the good man might not in any thing be wanting to the Church he held in S. Peter's a Synod of twenty four Bishops wherein he took away many things which might prove pernicious and added many which might be beneficial to Religion He also 〈◊〉 into England Auguscine Melitus and John and with these divers other Monks all persons of approved lives by whose Preaching the 〈◊〉 were then first entirely converted to Christianity By his means likewise the Goths returned to the Union of the Catholick Church We are told by some Writers that Gregory sent his Dialogues concerning Morals to Theudelinda Queen of the Lombards by the reading of which she might smooth and polish the rugged temper of her Husband 〈◊〉 and bring him to a better sense of Religion and Morality She was an excellent Lady and a zealous Christian and not only built the Church of S. John Baptist at Monza a Town ten miles distant from Milain but also furnished it with Vessels of Gold and liberally endowed it T is said that at the time when 〈◊〉 was put to death by his Father Levigild King of the Goths because he professed the Catholick Faith the 〈◊〉 Coat of Christ which fell by Lot to one of the Soldiers was found in the City Zaphat laid up in a Marble Chest there Thomas being then Bishop of Jerusalem John Bishop of Constantinople and Gregory Bishop of Antioch In the mean time Mauritius having in 〈◊〉 and Terra di Lavoro by his General Romanus the Exarch gain'd the better of the Lombards who from a confidence grounded upon their former successes were now degenerated into all manner of Vice makes a Law that no person who had listed himself in the Roman Army should be at liberty to withdraw and take upon him a Religious life till either the War were ended or the man himself 〈◊〉 or disabled Gregory being moved hereat admonishes him not to oppose the Religion of that God by whose bounty he had been raised from a very mean condition to the highest Degree of Dignity Moreover John Bishop of Constantinople having in a Synod which he held procured himself to be styled the Oecumenical i. e. Universal Bishop and Mauritius hereupon requiring Gregory to yield obedience to John He being a person of great Courage and Constancy returns answer That the Power of binding and loosing was committed to Peter and his Successours not to the Bishops of Constantinople and therefore warns him to desist from provoking the wrath of God against himself by being too 〈◊〉 in sowing Dissention in the Church But Mauritius not content with the mischief he had done already re-calls his Soldiers which were in Italy and encourages the Lombards to assault the Romans without any regard to the League they had entred into with them Hereupon Agilulphus moving from Lombardy and laying waste all Tuscany through which he passed invests and very much annoys the City of Rome one whole year in which time Severus Bishop of Aquileia becoming Heretical was the occasion of many Evils For after his Death the Patriarchate of Aquileia was divided into two Agilulphus King of the Lombards constituting John of Aquileia and our Gregory Candianus of Grado Bishops to the people of Friuli But Agilulphus
quitting all hopes of gaining the City 〈◊〉 the Siege and returns to Milain Mauritius now began to treat Gregory more respectfully but it proceeded not from a voluntary but forc'd Repentance he having heard that a certain person in the habit of a Monk with a drawn Sword in his hand had proclaim'd aloud in the Market-place of Constantinople that the Emperour should in a short time die by the Sword The same was confirmed to him by a Dream of his own in which he saw himself his Empress and their Children murdered And accordingly not long after the Soldiers being discontented for want of Pay create Phocas who was a Centurion in the Army Emperour and Assassine Mauritius in the nineteenth year of his Reign But Gregory having added what Ornaments he could to the Churches in Rome and dedicated by the name of S. Agatha the Martyr the Church of the Goths in Suburra built by 〈◊〉 Ricimerius a man of Consular Dignity converted his Father's House into a Monastery wherein he received and entertained Strangers and supplyed with meat and drink the poor which from all parts slocked to it He was certainly a person every way praise-worthy whether we regard his Life and Conversation or his Learning or his Abilities in things both Divine and Humane Nor ought we to suffer him to be censured by a few ignorant men as if the ancient 〈◊〉 Buildings were demolish'd by his Order upon this pretence which they make for him lest Strangers coming out of Devotion to Rome should less regard the consecrated places and spend all their Gaze upon Triumphal Arches and Monuments of Antiquity No such reproach can justly be fastned upon this great Bishop especially considering that he was a Native of the City and one to whom next after God his Countrey was most dear even above his Life 'T is certain that many of those ruin'd Structures were devour'd by Time and many might as we daily see be pull'd down to build new Houses and for the rest 't is probable that for the sake of the Brass used in the concavity of the Arches and the conjunctures of the Marble or other square stones they might be battered and defaced not only by the barbarous Nations but by the Romans too if Epirotes Dalmatians Pannonians and other sorry people who from all parts of the World resorted hither may be called Romans Now Gregory having used all means to establish the Church of God died in the second year of the Emperour Phocas having been in the Chair thirteen years six months ten days and the loss of him being lamented by all men was buried in S. Peter's March 12. By his Death the See was vacant five months nineteen days SABINIANUS I. SABINIAN Gregorie's Successour deserv'd not to have the place of his Nativity remembred being a person of mean Birth and meaner Reputation and one who violently opposed the great things which his Predecessour had done Particularly there being a great 〈◊〉 during his Pontificate and the poor pressing him hard to imitate the pious Charity of Gregory he made them no other Answer but this That Gregory was a man who design'd to make himself popular and to that end had profusely wasted the Revenues of the Church Nay the ill-natured wretch arrived to such a degree of Rage and Envy against Gregory that he was within a very little of causing his Books to be burn'd Some tell us that Sabinian was at the instigation of some Romans thus highly incensed against Gregory because he had mutilated and thrown down the Statues of the Antients which had been set up throughout the City but this is a Charge as dissonant from truth as that of his demolishing the old Fabricks concerning which we have spoken in his Life and considering the Antiquity of these Statues and the casualties which might 〈◊〉 them and the designs which mens Covetousness or Curiosity might have upon them 't is fairly probable that they might be mangled or lost without Gregorie's being at all concern'd therein But to go on with Sabinian it was he who instituted the 〈◊〉 of Canonical hours for Prayer in the Church and who ordained that Tapers should be kept continually burning especially in the Church of S. Peter Some tell us that with the consent of Phocas a Peace was now made with the Lombards and their King Agilulphus's Daughter who had been taken Captive in the War restored to him At this time appeared divers Prodigies portending the Calamities which ensued A bright Comet was seen in the Air at Constantinople a Child was born with four feet and at the Island 〈◊〉 were seen two Sea-monsters in humane shape Some write that in the Pontificate of Sabinian John Patriarch of Alexandria and 〈◊〉 Bishop of Carthage both persons famous for Piety and Learning did wonderfully improve the Dignity of those Churches Moreover 〈◊〉 a very learned man and an intimate Friend of 〈◊〉 wrote very much against Vincent Bishop of Saragoza who had sallen off to the Arian Heresie he also wrote to his Sister a Book concerning Virginity entituled Aureolus But Sabinian having been in the Chair one year five months nine days died and was buried in the Church of S Peter By his Death the See was vacant eleven months twenty six days BONIFACE III. BONIFACE the third a Roman with much ado obtained of the Emperour Phocas that the See of S. Peter the Apostle should by all be acknowledged and styled the Head of all the Churches A Title which had been stickled for by the Church of Constantinople through the encouragement of some former Princes who asserted that the Supremacy ought to reside there where the Seat of the Empire was But the Roman Bishops alledged that Rome of which Constantinople was but a Colony ought to be accounted the chief City of the Empire since the Greeks themselves in their Writings styled their Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Emperour of the Romans and the Constantinopolitans even in that Age were called Romans not Greeks Not to mention that Peter the Chief of the Apostles bequeathed the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven to his Successours the Bishops of Rome and left the Power which God had given him not to Constantinople but to Rome This only I say that several Princes and particularly Constantine had granted to the Roman See only the priviledg of calling and dissolving Councils and of rejecting or confirming their Decrees And does not a Church which has with so much integrity and constancy bastled and 〈◊〉 all manner of Heresies as the Roman See hath done deserve think you the preference of others The same Boniface in a Synod of 〈◊〉 two Bishops thirty Presbyters and three Deacons ordained that upon pain of Excommunication no person should succeed in the place of any deceased Pope or other Bishop till at least the third day after the death of his Predecessour and that whoever should by Bribes or by making of Parties and Interests endeavour to raise themselves to the
Popedom or any other Bishoprick should undergo the same Penalty He decreed likewise that the choice of any Bishop should be by the Clergy and People and that the Election should then stand good when it were approved by the Civil Magistrate and when the Pope had interposed his Authority in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Command An Institution in part very necessary for our times especially so many corruptions daily creeping in For it is probable that the Election being free the Clergy and People will chuse and the Magistrate approve of no other than such an one as deserves and is fit to be Governour in the Church Though if I may speak it without offence to any that are good the truth is multitudes do now aspire to the Dignity of Bishops not as they ought to do for the sake of the publick good but that they may satisfie their own Covetousness and Ambition For the great Question is what any Bishoprick is worth not how great a Flock there is to take the charge of But enough of this I return to Boniface whose Decrees as it appears were extinct with his Life He died in the ninth month of his Pontificate and was buried in the Church of S. Peter The See was then vacant one month six days BONIFACE IV. BONIFACE the fourth born in Valeria a City of the Marsi the Son of John a Physician obtained of the Emperour Phocas the Pantheon a Temple so called because it was dedicated to Cybele and all the Gods and having cast out all the Heathen Images that were in it he consecrated it on May the 12th in honour to the Blessed Virgin and all the Martyrs 〈◊〉 it was afterwards called S. Maria Rotunda and Virgo ad Martyres At this time the Persians under the Conduct of their King 〈◊〉 making an irruption into the Roman Provinces and having routed Phocas's Army possess themselves of Jerusalem prophane and pillage the Churches of the Christians carry away the Wood of our Saviour's Cross and take Captive Zacharias the holy Patriarch of that City Hereupon Phocas falling into contempt with all men but especially the Senate was deprived of his Empire and Life by Heraclius General of the Forces and Governour of the Province of Afrique Now also Caganus King of the Avares forcing his entrance through Pannonia and Illyricum into Italy was so much too hard for the Lombards that he was very near making himself Master of the Province it self and through the treachery of Romilda who was enamour'd of him he did actually take Friuli and sack'd it in such a manner that scarce any footsteps of it were left remaining While things went thus in Italy John Bishop of Girone proved a great Defence to Christianity both by his Preaching and Writings He being a Goth born in Portugal so soon as he came to the years of discretion travelled to Constantinople and parted thence so well skill'd in Greek and Latin Learning that at his return into Portugal he was able easily to 〈◊〉 the Arian Heresie which very much prevailed there For this reason he was by the Hereticks confined in Barcellona But afterwards upon the death of King Lemungildus who countenanced those Hereticks he came back into his own Countrey and both wrote very much concerning the Christian Religioon and also founded a Monastery and prescribed Rules of living which the Monks thereof were to guide themselves by Eutropius also Bishop of Valentia was now by his Learning and Example very instrumental to keep the Spaniards sound in the Faith Moreover Columbanus an Abbat a very holy man by descent a Goth coming first out of Scotland into Burgundy built there the stately Monastery of Luxevil and thence passing into Italy built another fair one at Bobio Pope Boniface that he might not be behind-hand in this matter with either of them converted his Father's House into a Monastery and gave his Estate for the maintenance of the Monks in it But not long after he died having been in the Chair six years eight months seventeen days and was buried in the Church of S. Peter in a time of Dearth Pestilence and great Innundation of Waters By his Death the See was vacant seven months twenty 〈◊〉 days DEUS-DEDIT I. DEUS-DEDIT a Roman Son of Stephen a Sub-deacon being unanimously chosen to the Pontificate proved a great Lover and Encourager of the Clergy 'T is reported that he was a person of so great Sanctity that meeting with a man who had a Leprosie he cured him of that Disease with a Kiss He ordained that the Son should not marry any Woman to whom his Father had been Godfather At this time Heraclius with a great Army recovered several Provinces which the Persians had possess'd themselves of dismounted and slew their General in a single Combat vanquish'd their King Chosdroës and took his Son Prisoner whom having first Christned he released and sent home again Entring Persia he took a strong Tower in which 〈◊〉 's Treasure lay part of which he distributed among his Soldiers and assign'd another part for the repairing of the Churches which the Persians had pillaged and spoil'd Returning to Jerusalem with seven Elephants loaded with other great Booty he brought along with him the Cross of our Blessed Saviour which the Persians had taken away and laid it up in the place where it was before Those of the Persians whom he had taken Prisoners he suffered to return into their own Countrey After this being arrived at Constantinople and taking delight in study he applied himself to Astrology But yet this great Emperour against all Law both Divine and Humane married his own Sister's Daughter and to add one Crime to another as is usual when men once become guilty he falls off to the Eutychian Heresie This happened at the time when Anastasius a Persian being converted to Christianity and having entred upon a Monastick Life was seized by his own Countrey-men and suffered Martyrdom for the sake of his Religion whose body was afterwards conveyed to Rome and reposited in the Monastery of S. Paul 'T is said that at this time Sisebute King of the Goths reduced several Cities of Spain which had revolted to the Romans and that by Torment he forced all the Jews which he discovered in his Kingdom to profess the belief of Christianity This it is reported he did at the request of Heraclius who had been fore-warn'd to beware of the Circumcised but yet afterwards he being not sufficiently careful to prevent his Fate was crush'd by the Saracens who observed Circumcision Thus things went in the East nor did the West want it's Assertours of the Christian Faith For Arnulphus Bishop of Metz by his Piety and Prudence kept Dagobert the French King within the bounds of his Duty being therein assisted by Amandus an excellent person and a vigorous defender of the Christian Religion Among the Spaniards Isidore Bishop of Sevil successour to Leander wrote several things very beneficial to the State of Christianity particularly of the
only in Christ. But these Seducers at the Instance of Honorius who was very diligent to reclaim Heraclius were afterwards banished And Honorius having now some respite from other cares by his Learning and Example proved a great Reformer of the Clergy The Church of S. Peter he covered with Brass taken out of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus repaired that of S. Agnes in the Via Nomentana as appears by an Inscription in Verse therein and likewise that of S. Pancras in the Via Aurelia built those of S. Anastasius S. Cyriacus seven miles from Rome in the Via Ostiensis and S. Severinus in Tivoli all which he made very stately and adorn'd with Gold Silver Porphyry Marble and all manner of Ornamental workmanship He repaired also the Coemetery of SS Marcellinus and Peter in the Via Labicana and was at the charge of building other Churches besides those before-mentioned Moreover he ordained that every Saturday a Procession with Litanies should be made from S. Apollinaris to S. Peter's But having been in the Chair twelve years eleven months seventeen days he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter October the 12th By his death the See was vacant one year seven months eighteen days SEVERINUS I. SEVERINUS a Roman Son of Labienus being chosen in the place of Honorius deceased was confirmed therein by Isaacius Exarch of Italy the Election of the Clergy and People being at this time reckoned null and void without the Assent of the Emperours or their Exarchs Now Isaacius having made a Journey to Rome upon the occasion of confirming this Pope that he might not lose his labour fairly sets himself to plunder the Lateran Treasury being assisted in that attempt by several Citizens though he were resisted for a time but in vain by the Clergy of that Church the principal of which he afterwards banished The ground of this Action was Isaacius's Resentment that the Clergy alone should grow rich without contributing to the Charge of the Wars especially at a time when the Soldiers were reduc'd to the greatest want and extremity Part of the spoil he distributed among the Soldiers part he carried away with him to Ravenna and of the rest he made a Present to the Emperour Those of the Saracens who had been listed by Heraclius being discontented for want of Pay march'd into Syria and made themselves Masters of Damascus a City subject to the Empire Then joyning with the other Arabians and being furnished with Provisions and Arms and heated by Mahomet's Zeal they over-run Phoenicia and Egypt and put to the Sword all those who refused to subscribe to their Government and Mahomet's Religion Advancing thence against the Persians and having slain Hormisda the Persian King they ceased not to commit all manner of outrages upon that People till they had entirely reduced them to subjection But Heraclius having intelligence of what work these Saracens made especially upon their taking of Antioch and searing that they might possess themselves of Jerusalem it self which they not long after did took care to have the Cross of our Saviour conveyed to Constantinople that it might not again come into the hands of the Agarens for so the Greeks in contempt call the Arabians as descending from Agar Abraham's Servant But Mahomet as we are told dying at Mecha was succeeded in the Command by Calipha and he by Hali who being laid aside for his being too superstitious the Egyptians make another Calipha their Commander 'T is said also that to complete the Calamities of the Roman Empire Sisebute King of the Goths did at this time recover out of the hands of the Romans all the Cities of Spain and so a period was put to the Roman Government in that Countrey As for 〈◊〉 who was a person of extraordinary Piety and Religion a Lover of the Poor kind to those in affliction liberal to all and in adorning of Churches very munificent having been in the Chair one year two months he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church August the 2d The See was then vacant four months twenty days JOHN IV. JOHN the fourth a Dalmatian Son of Venantius entring upon the Pontificate forthwith expressed a wonderful Compassion in employing the remainder of the Treasury of the Church which Isaacius had left behind him for the redemption of a multitude of Istrians and Dalmatians who had been taken Captive In the mean time Rhotaris who succeeded Arioaldus in the Kingdom of Lombardy though he were a person eminent for Justice and Piety yet became a Favourer of the Arians and permitted that in every City of his Kingdom there should be at the same time two Bishops of equal Authority the one a Catholick and the other an Arian He was a Prince of great Parts and reduc'd the Laws which Memory and Use alone had before retain'd methodically into a Book which he ordered to be called the Edict His Excellency in Military Skill appear'd in that he made himself Master of all Tuscany and Liguria with the Sea-coast as far as Marseille But in the sixth year of his Reign he died and 〈◊〉 the Kingdom to his Son Rhodoaldus 'T is reported that a certain Priest entring by night into the Church of S. John Baptist and there opening the Tomb in which the Body of Rhotaris lay rob'd it of all the things of value with which the Bodies of Kings are wont to be interred Hereupon John Baptist a Saint to whom Rhotaris had been in his life-time very much devoted appear'd to the Priest and threatned him with Death if he ever entred his Church again The like happened even in our times to Cardinal Luigi Patriarch of Aquileia whose Sepulchre was broke open and pillaged by those very men whom he himself had enriched and raised from a mean condition to the Sacerdotal Dignity Rhodoaldus entring upon the Government of the Kingdom marries Gundiberga the Daughter of Queen Theudelinda who imitating her Mother's Devotion built and richly adorned a Church in Honour to S. John Baptist at Terracina in like manner as Theudelinda had done at Monza But Rhodoaldus being taken in Adultery was slain by the Husband of the Adulteress Successour to him was Aripertus Son of Gudualdus and Brother of Queen Theudelinda he built our Saviour's Chappel at Pavia and very much beautified and plentifully endowed it Pope John fearing now lest the Bodies of Vincentius and Anastasius might sometime or other be violated by the barbarous Nations took care to have them safely conveyed to Rome and with great Solemnity reposited them in the Oratory of S. John Baptist near the Baptistery of the Lateran We are told that in his Pontificate Vincentius Bishop of Beauvais and Muardus Arch-bishop of Reims were in great esteem for their Learning and Sanctity Moreover Reginulpha a French Lady was very eminent for Piety and Renaldus Bishop of Trajetto famous for his Life and Miracles Jodocus also was not inferiour to any of these who though he were the Son of a King of the
Chair six years one month twenty six days And because it was long before there came certain intelligence of his Death the See was vacant fourteen months EUGENIUS I. EUGENIUS a Roman Son of Ruffinianus succeeded Martine about the time that in the place of Paul the Heretick Peter was made Patriarch of Constantinople Who though he were a little more Orthodox than Paul yet did not in all things agree in Doctrine with the Roman Church His Letters sent to Rome in which he denied two Operations and Wills in Christ were so exploded that the Clergy took upon them to interdict the Pope's celebrating Mass in S. Maria Maggiore till he had first publickly declared his dislike of them In the mean time Grimoaldus Duke of Beneventum leaving his Son to govern at home and marching with a great Army into Lombardy forced Pertheri and Gundibert the two Sons of Aripertus to quit Pavia and Milain Of which Clodoveus the French King having intelligence he out of compassion to the young Princes immediately sends a considerable Force into Italy to recover their Right for them Beyond the Po Battel is joyn'd and the Dispute managed very briskly on both sides the young Princes being eager to retrieve their paternal possessions and he endeavouring as much to keep what he had gain'd by War At length Fortune inclin'd to Grimoaldus his side and the French were routed and driven out of Italy We are told by some that the French were out-witted by the Enemy after this manner The Lombards dissembled a Flight leaving their Tents furnished with plenty of all manner of Provisions and especially of Wine but not far off they made a halt watching their opportunity the French entring their Tents and thinking they had been really fled fall to feasting and eat and drink to such excess that the Enemy coming upon them and finding them dead asleep and lying about like beasts they made such a slaughter of them that there was scarce one left alive to carry the News to Clodoveus Grimoaldus growing confident upon this Victory quickly makes himself Master of the whole Province As for Pope Eugenius who was a person of very great Piety Religion Meekness Humanity and Munificence having been in the Chair two years nine months he died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter June the 2d The See was then vacant one month twenty eight days VITALIANUS I. VITALIANUS born at Segna a Town of the Volsci the Son of Anastasius entred upon the Pontificate at the time when Caesarea the Persian Queen attended only with a few of her Confidents and without the knowledg of her Husband came to Constantinople in the year 683. She was very honourably received by the Emperour and not long after baptized for the sake of which it was that she came thither The Persian King having intelligence hereof forthwith sends Ambassadours to Constantinople to demand his Wife of the Emperour To them the Emperour answered That it was in the Queen's choice to stay or go and therefore they should enquire of her pleasure The Queen being ask'd made Answer That she would never return into her Countrey unless the King would become a Christian Who being acquainted herewith comes forthwith in a peaceable manner with forty thousand men to Constantinople where being received by the Emperour with all expressions of kindness he together with his Soldiers were baptized and then he returned with his Queen into his own Kingdom After this Constantius having associated to himself in the Government his Son Constantine and prepared a great Fleet setting sail from Constantinople arrives at Tarentum bringing with him in Ships of burden a great Force of Land-Soldiers From thence he advanced by Land into Abruzzo with design to besiege Beneventum But understanding that that City was very strongly Garison'd and plentifully furnished with Provisions by the care of Rhomoaldus he marched to Lucera which he took and plundered and then levell'd with the ground Passing from hence to Acherontia and not being not able to make himself Master of so well fortified a place he again attempts the Siege of Beneventum but soon raises it upon intelligence that Grimoaldus would suddenly be there with a great Army to assist his Son Rhomoaldus Hereupon Constantius moving first towards Naples though very much incommoded in his passage and having left 〈◊〉 a Roman Citizen with twenty thousand men at Formiae to oppose the Enemy at length he comes to Rome the Pope and Clergy and People in honour to him going six miles out of the City to meet him And being conducted through the City with great Acclamations to the Church of S. Peter he there made a very rich Present In the mean time Rhomoaldus presuming upon the Supplies he receiv'd from his Father joins Battel with Saburrus conquers him and puts to the Sword a great number of the Greeks Constantius being enraged and growing almost desperate upon this misfortune on the fifth day after his entrance into the City falls a plundering takes away all the Statues of Brass and Marble set up in the principal parts of the City and the rich Ornaments of the Churches and lades his Ships with them and in seven days did more damage to Rome than the barbarous Nations had done before in two hundred and fifty eight years so that ill men ignorant of History have no reason to say that the Statues and Monuments of Antiquity were demolished by Pope Gregorie's Order On the twelfth day the vile and perfidious paultry Greek 〈◊〉 Rome with a vengeance to him goes towards Naples thence to Sicily being so severe in his exaction of Tribute wherever he came as to take away Children out of the embraces of their Parents who could not pay him But the covetous wretch staying some time in Sicily as he was bathing for pleasure at Syracuse was slain and Mezentius who is thought to have been the contriver of his Death was by the Soldiers made Emperour in his stead This Constantius was a person of a strange 〈◊〉 and inconstancy of Mind For at first hearing that Vitalianus was chosen Pope he sent his Ambassadours to congratulate him and to make a Present of the Gospels written in letters of Gold and set with Jewels to S. Peter Whereas afterwards his mind being changed he cast off all regard to God and Man and turned all things both divine and humane topsy-turvy But Vitalianus being intent upon sacred things composed Ecclesiastical Canons and regulated singing in the Church introducing Organs to be used with the Vocal Musick He also sent with ample Power of binding and loosing Theodorus an Arch-bishop and Adrian an Abbat two very learned and pious men into England that by their Preaching and Example they might keep that people stedfast in the Faith which the good men did what they could to perform This Theodorus also wrote a Book shewing by what Pennance every sin may be wash'd off though some ascribe that Work to Pope Theodorus Now Vitalianus having govern'd the Church
as well as lay in his power fourteen years six months died and was buried in S. Peter's January the 27th The See was then vacant four months fifteen days ADEODATUS I. ADEODATUS a Roman Son of Jovinian was of a Monk created Pope at the time when Lupus Duke of Friuli endeavoured to posses himself of the Kingdom of Italy For Grimoaldus being as we have said called by his Son Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum to aid him against Constantius the Emperour at his departure commended his People to the care of Lupus and so according to the Proverb left the Sheep to the keeping of the Wolf For Lupus taking the advantage of Grimoaldus his absence involves all Tuscany Romandiola and a great part of Lombardy in tumult and confusion Hereupon Grimoaldus by gifts and promises prevails with Caganus to advance with his Avares against Lupus which he did and in the first Engagement had the worst of it But the next day renewing the Fight he overcame and slew Lupus and then sack'd and laid waste all Friuli Grimoaldus upon Constantius his leaving Italy returns into Lombardy and in his way on the Saturday before Easter takes Forlimpopoli puts all the Inhabitants of it to the sword plunders it and then levels it to the ground upon the score of an injury which he had received there from the people of Ravenna in his passage to the Aid of his Son Now Arnefites the Son of Lupus being assisted by the Dalmatians endeavoured to recover his Father's Dukedom but near the River Natisone he was vanquish'd and slain by the Lombards The Inhabitants of Vderzo had a share in his Misfortune being forced to quit their Countrey for having countenanced him in his pretensions At this time Sicily also was in a bad condition for Soldiers were sent thither out of all the Provinces of Italy to make head against Mezentius by whose treachery Constantius had been murdered Who being overcome and slain and the Soldiers again dispersed the Saracens arriving with a great Fleet surprize Syracuse and possess themselves of the whole Island After some time they return to Alexandria loaded with spoil and carry away with them those Ornaments of the City of Rome which Constantius had brought to Syracuse with design to transmit them to Constantinople These miseries and Calamities had been portended by a Comet which appeared three months together by great Rains and frequent Thunders such as had not been at any time known before But such is the blindness of Mankind that though they be warn'd of future Evils yet they do not as they ought provide against them 'T is reported that all the standing Corn which had been lodg'd by the continued Rains grew yet up again and came to maturity especially in Lombardy In the mean time Adeodatus being a person of great Piety and Humanity merciful towards Offenders bountiful to the poor hospitable towards strangers and compassionate towards all in Calamity repaired and dedicated the Church of S. Peter in the Via Portuensis He also added to the Building and Revenues of the Monastery of S. Erasmus on Mons Coelius wherein himself had been a Monk Moreover he appointed frequent Litanies upon the account of those Prodigies which we have said appear'd at that time At length having been in the Chair four years two months five days he died and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's June the 26th The See was then vacant four months twenty days DONUS I. DONUS a Roman Son of Mauritius was made Pope at the time when Grimoaldus King of the Lombards drawing a Bow high to shoot at a Pigeon and thereby straining his Nerves and Veins though it were nine days after he had been let Blood in the Arm yet thereupon it fell a bleeding afresh and could not be stanch'd till he died There were in this King several excellent Endowments both of Body and Mind He was a person of great Wisdom and Prudence in all Affairs and added several things very useful to Rhotaris his Edict which afterwards receiv'd the Form of a Law He was of a middle Stature strong Constitution had a bald head and long beard and was every way fitted for Action He was buried at Pavia in the Church of S. Ambrose which he had built at his own charge Pertharis Son of King Aripertus who as we have said had been deprived of his Right by Grimoaldus passing now during his Exile out of France into Britain was prompted by a Voice which he knew not from whence it came that Grimoaldus being dead he should seek to recover his paternal Inheritance Encouraged by this Voice though the Author of it were uncertain he returned into Italy and within three months after Grimoaldus's Death became repossess'd of his Father's Kingdom without any opposition About the same time died Dagobert the French King a subtil and crafty Prince and who was equally fitted for Counsel and Action whose Soul when it had been carried by Devils almost as far as the Island of Lipara is reported to have been delivered out of their Clutches by Dennis and Maurice the Martyrs and Martin the Confessour Saints for whom as his Patrons he had all his life-time a great veneration and had been very liberal in beautifying and enriching their Churches Now Pope Donus consulting the honour of the Church paved the Porch of S. Peter's called Paradise with Marble which he took as I suppose from the Pyramide over against Castel S. Angelo Moreover he repaired and dedicated in the Via Ostiensis the Church of the Apostles and in the Via Appia that of S. Euphemia He also appointed the several degrees of honour and distance to be yielded to the several Orders of the Clergy And discovering in the Boethian Monastery a Company of Syrian Monks who were of the Nestorian Heresie them he censured and dispersed into divers other Monasteries assigning their own to Roman Monks By his eminent Learning and Piety and through the submission of Theodorus Bishop of 〈◊〉 he reduced to Obedience to the Apostolick See the Church of Ravenna which had for a considerable time separated it self from that of Rome and upon that account had got the name of Allocephalis Some tell us that in his time Projectus a Bishop underwent the torment and acquired the glory of Martyrdom for the cause of Christianity and that Mezelindis a Woman of incomparable Chastity being solicited by her Lover Ardenius and upon her not yielding to his desires put to divers Torments by him yet prayed so fervently even for her Persecutor whom God for this Crime had struck with blindness that upon her Prayers his Sight was restored to him Our Donus having been in the Chair five years ten days died and was buried in S. Peter's April the 10th The See was then vacant two months sixteen days AGATHO I. AGATHO a Sicilian was Anno Dom. 702. of a Monk made Pope a person of great Piety and who cured a Leper whom he chanced to meet with only by a
discoursed of several Affairs between themselves and Justinian having confirmed the Popes Decrees Constantine at his taking leave advises him not to proceed too severely against Philippicus then an Exile in Pontus apprehending some mischief might arise thereupon because he understood that Philippicus was a Person of great Fortitude and Prudence But Justinian not following the Popes good Counsel sends a Fleet to Pontus with design to dispatch Philippicus who upon a Revolt of the Soldiers to him with the same Fleet makes towards Constantinople and at twelve miles distance from the City engaging with Justinian and Tiberius got the Victory and slew them and with universal Acclamation was declared Emperour This Philippicus afterwards banishing Cyrus the Patriarch into Pontus for his consenting in belief with the Pope puts one John a Monk and an Arch-Heretick into his place whose Opinions he forthwith sent in writing to Rome requiring all to subscribe their Assent to them But Constantine holding a Synod not only condemned the Opinions of Philippicus and John the Monk but also appointed the Images of those holy Fathers who had been present at the Councils universally approved of to be painted in the Portico of S. Peter's upon Intelligence that in a way of Contempt they had been rub'd off from the Walls of S. Sophia by Philippicus his Order Moreover the same Pope ordained That the name of no Heretical Emperour should be inserted in any Publick or Private Writings or impress'd upon Brass or Silver or Lead But Anastasius surnamed Arthemius by force of Arms deposes Philippicus in the first year and sixth month of his Empire and seizing him puts out his Eyes This 〈◊〉 sends Letters to Pope Constantine in which he promises to be a zealous Defendour of the Catholick Faith and the sixth Synod But he also within three years being flighted by the Soldiers was deposed and compelled by Theodosius who succeeded him to take Holy Orders that so he might never afterwards pretend or aspire to the Empire Theodosius a Catholick Emperour forthwith gave order for the restoring of the Images of the Holy Fathers which as we have said had been destroyed by Philippicus And Felix who had been banished into Pontus quitting his former Obstinacy returned home and was restored to his See of which he had been deprived At this time also it was declared that the Bishop of Pavia was subject only to the See of Rome and not to the Arch-Bishop of Milain concerning which matter there had been a great and long Controversie between the two Prelates Some write that two Kings of the Saxons under the Obligation of a religious Vow came now to Rome and that they there died as I think of the Pestilence Not long after them died Constantine having been in the Chair seven years twenty days and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th The See was then vacant one month eleven days GREGORY II. GREGORY the Second a Roman Son of Marcellus entring into Holy Orders in the time of Sergius was upon the Reputation of his great Fidelity and Integrity made the Popes Almoner and Library-keeper Being afterwards ordained Deacon he attended Pope Constantine to Constantinople where there being a warm Debate concerning some Articles of Religion he disputed so smartly that all men admired his Learning Wit and Eloquence by which he easily confuted those who held any erroneous Opinions Soon after his being created Pope he re-built the Walls of the City which in several places were fallen down through age and repaired the decayed Churches of S. Peter and S. Laurence without the Walls laying in the Water anew by mending the battered and disjoyned Pipes which formerly had conveyed it into them He repaired also and enriched with Presents of Gold and Silver divers other Churches which it would be tedious to enumerate Yet I will not pass by in Silence his reviving a Monastery in the Via Ostiensis not far from S. Paul's whose Ruines are yet to be seen and also that of S. Andrew setling Monks therein who were to be continually employed in the exercise of Devotion Moreover it was the peculiar Commendation of this Pope that through his means the Germans were converted to Christianity he having sent among them Boniface a Monk to bring them out of darkness by setting up the light of the Truth Of these Germans a great number came to Rome and were baptized with the Popes own Hands He also by his Authority compelled Luithprandus who at first resused it to confirm the Donation of Arithpertus of which we have spoken before which Luithprandus did at the beginning of his Reign both possess himself of a great part of Boiaria and also besiege and take 〈◊〉 In the time of this Pope there was such an Inundation of the River Tiber which flowed into the City through the Porta del popolo that in the Via Lata the Water was almost a mans height and from Ponte Molle to the Steps of S. Peter's men rowed about in large Boats This Inundation continued seven days to the great Loss and Damage of the Citizens it having born down Houses and rooted up Trees Corn Plants and Herbs The Moon also being now in an Ecclipse appeared of a bloody colour till midnight and there was seen a Comet with its Tail extending towards the North betokening some future Calamity Whereupon Gregory that he might avert the displeasure of Almighty God from the Christians ordered frequent Litanies in Procession through the whole City While the Pope was thus employed at Rome there came Advice that the Lombards under the Duke of Beneventum had surpriz'd the Fort of Cuma at which Gregory being very much disturbed sends to admonish them to restore this Fort which contrary to the Articles of Peace they had unjustly possess'd themselves of or otherwise they would soon feel the Indignation of Almighty God upon them But after several Messages of the like nature they not quitting it he encourages the Neapolitans upon the promise of a sum of Money and the sending some Roman Soldiers for their assistance to recover it by Force Theodunus the Arch-Deacon having the management of this Affair the Neapolitans set briskly to the Work and re-take the Fort killing three hundred of those who were in Garrison therein and taking five hundred Prisoners whom they carried to Naples where the Soldiers forthwith received the reward which had been promised them Gregory now enjoying Peace applyed himself to Church-work For he repaired the Church of S. Cross in Jerusalem which had long lain neglected and newarch'd and roof'd the Porches on every side of it he built from the foundations the Oratory of S. Susanna on Mount Coelius and after the Death of his Mother dedicated his Fathers House to the honour of S. Agatha building it into a Monastery which he plentifully endowed for the maintenance of the Monks therein The Saracens now encouraged by the Discord they observed among the Christians setting sail from Septa in Afrique and
had decreed But not long after Sergius Arch-bishop of Ravenna dying Michael Register of that Church with the Assistance of King Desiderius and Maurice Duke of Rimini whom he had corrupted with Bribes though a meer Laick possesses himself of the See in opposition to Leo the Arch-deacon whom the Clergy were very desirous to chuse Yea these Abettours of his presumed so far as to send Ambassadours to Pope Stephen to bribe him into the Consirmation of this Michael But Stephen not only resused their offers of Money but also published an Excommunication against him if he resigned not the See which he had against all Right usurped However he forcibly kept possession of it so long as he had any thing 〈◊〉 either of his own or belonging to the Church whereof to make a 〈◊〉 to greedy 〈◊〉 Upon which the Pope sending his Nun-tio's and King Charles his Ambassadours to Ravenna about that Affair who declared the Popes pleasure therein Michael was forthwith deposed and Leo chosen and confirmed by the Pope Who being for that Reason secretly despited and mischief'd by Desiderius begs Charles to oblige Desiderius to cease injuring him any farther This Charles performed with great diligence though he were not in a condition to restrain the Lombard by Force because upon the Death of his Brother who had reign'd jointly and amicably with him for two years he was necessarily engaged in several Wars at once The Aquitains against whom his Father had begun a War he brought into subjection and subdued the Gascons inhabiting part of Aquitain Then passing the Pyrenean Hills he routed the Saracens pursuing them to the River Betis as far as Granada the part of Spain wherein the Saracens are now seated In the mean time Stephen a most vigilant Pastor and true successour of Peter and imitatour of Christ having been in the Chair three years five months twenty seven days died and was buried in S. Peter's The See was then vacant nine days ADRIAN I. ADRIAN the first a Roman Son of Theodorus one of the prime Nobility entring upon the Pontificate degenerated not at all from his Ancestours being a Person who for his greatness of Mind Prudence Learning and Sanctity may be compared with the best of Popes and of whose Interest and Authority Desiderius King of the 〈◊〉 had such Apprehensions that he presently sent Ambassadours to treat of a Peace and Alliance with him But Adrian being acquainted with the extream Perfidiousness of that King deferred the concluding any thing therein to another time Now after the Death of Caroloman his Relict Bertha out of Envy towards the Grandeur of Hildegarda the Great Charles's Consort by the Advice of one Adoarius flies with her Sons into Italy to King Desiderius who received her very kindly and honourably both because he thought he should by this means be less in danger from the Power of France and also reckoned that the French upon setting up Caroloman's Sons would the sooner appear in Arms against King Charles if he should give him any Disturbance But not being able by Intreaties to prevail with Adrian to anoint these sons of Caroloman Kings he applies himself to forcible means and invading the State of Ravenna which was under the Popes Jurisdiction he takes Faenza and Comacchio Ravenna was at this time under the Government of its Arch-bishop and three Tribunes who forthwith desired Aid of Adrian The Pope at first sends to Desiderius admonishing him to contain himself within his own Territories and not to invade the Rights of the Church But understanding afterwards that this King had also possess'd himself of Urbin Senigaglia and Eugubio he then began to threaten him with the Approach of Divine Vengeance towards him for the Violation of Peace To which the Lombard made no other Reply than that Adrian ought to quit the Interest of the French King and to be of His side For it was his great Design to make a Breach between Chorles and the Pope which when he could not obtain by Solicitations and Promises he threatned to besiege Rome it self within a little time He was already come to Spoleto with Aldagasius Caroloman's Son but intended to march from thence to Rome though in a peaceable manner and as he pretended out of Devotion But Adrian having caused the Reliques of all the Churches without the Walls to be brought into the City sends three Bishops to Desiderius to forbid him entring the Confines of Rome upon pain of Excommunication who thereupon fearing lest he might incurr the divine Displeasure presently returned into Lombardy In the mean time Charles receiving from Adrian Intelligence of the injury which had been done him sends Ambassadours to Desiderius to persuade him to restore what he had wrongfully taken from the Pope or otherwise to let him know that he would soon visit him with such an Army as should oblige him to it Desiderius notwithstanding all this refuses it and so on both sides great Armies are prepared But Charles having sent some part of his Forces before to 〈◊〉 the Passes of the Alpes with wonderful Expedition leads the main Body of his Army over Monte Cenisio into Itely where encountring Desiderius he vanquishes and puts him to flight and then takes and spoils his whole Countrey Desiderius after so great an Overthrow despairing to get the better in a pitch'd Battel retreats to Pavia having sent his Wife and Children to Verona And the people of Spoleto Ricti and all the Lombards inhabiting those Parts hearing his Misfortune betake themfelves to Rome and commit their Persons and Estates to the Popes Protection taking an Oath of Fidelity to him and shavfng their Heads and Beards which among that People was the greatest sign and Token of a perfect Submission to his Power and Jurisdiction By their Example those of Ancona Osimo and 〈◊〉 did the like Now to such of these Lombards as were unwilling to return into their own Countrey the Vatican Hill was granted them to inhabit and seat themselves in whither afterwards there was from all parts a great concourse of other their Countrey-men who chose to live there But Charles leaving his Cousin-German Bernardus at the Siege of 〈◊〉 marches with part of his Army to Verona which City upon the inclination of Bertha and Caroloman's Sons to the French side in a little time after surrendred to him though Aldegisius Desiderius his Son escaping thence fled to the Emperour of Constantinople Almost all the Cities of Lombardy beyond the Po having in like manner yielded to Charles he goes towards Rome that he might there celebrate the Feast of Easter with the Pope At his Approach to the City he was in Complement met by three thousand Judges as 〈◊〉 tells us calling them Judges who were not Handycrafts-men or did not exercise any mean Trades Adrian with his Clergy expected him at the Steps of S Peter and at his coming embraced him with all imaginable Affection but could not restrain the humble King from kissing his Feet The usual
necessary he should oppose the Enemy in Person For both the Gascons had revolted whom in a short time he reduc'd and those of Bretaigne began to endeavour a change of Government whom in like manner by his Arms he kept in Obedience and moreover at an Assembly held at Aken he granted Peace to the Ambassadours sent from the Saracens inhabiting Saragosa Stephen being now upon his departure in Imitation of our Saviour who spared even his Enemies obtained of Louis that all those whom Charles had punished with Banishment or Imprisonment for their Conspiracy against Leo might have their Liberty He also carried with him a Cross of great Weight and Value made at the Charge of Louis and by him dedicated to S. Peter But returning to Rome he died in the seventh month of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's and by his Death the See was vacant eleven days PASCHAL I. PASCHAL a Roman Son of Bonosus was created Pope without any Interposition of the Emperours Authority Whereupon at his first Investiture in that Office he forthwith sends Nuntio's to Louis excusing himself and laying all the blame upon the Clergy and People of Rome who had forcibly compell'd him to undertake it Louis accepting this for Satisfaction from Paschal sends to the Clergy and People admonishing them to observe the ancient Constitution and to beware how they presum'd for time to come to infringe the Rights of the Emperour Also in the Assembly held at Aken he associated to himself in the Empire his eldest Son Lotharius and declared Pipin his second Son King of Aquitain and Louis his third Son King of Bavaria But Bernardus King of Italy having upon the Instigation of certain Bishops and seditious Citizens revolted from the Empire and compelled some Cities and States to swear Allegiance to himself Louis being hereat incensed sends a strong Army into Italy whose Passage over the Alpes Bernardus endeavouring to oppose he was vanquished The Heads of the Rebellion being taken were presently cut off and Bernardus himself though he very submissively begg'd forgiveness was put to Death at Aken Those Bishops who had been Authors of the mischief were by a Decree of Synod confined into several Monasteries This Tumult for so it was rather than a War being thus composed Louis moves with his Army against the Saxons rebelling now afresh and overcomes and slays Viromarchus their hardy Chief who aspired to the Kingdom After this he sends his Son Lotharius whom he had declared King of Italy to the Pope by whom he was anointed in the Church of S. Peter's with the Title of Augustus But there arising great Commotions in Italy and Lotharius seeing himself unable to withstand them he goes to his Father in order to provide greater Force Upon which Theodorus the Primicerius and Leo the Nomenclator having had their Eyes first pull'd out were murdered in a Tumult in the Lateran Palace There was some who laid the blame of this Disorder upon Paschal himself but he in a Synod of thirty Bishops did both by Conjectures and by Reasons and by his Oath purge himself of it Louis rested himself satisfied herewith and as Anastasius tells us that no future Disturbance might arise from uncertain Pretensions writing to Paschal he declared in his Letters what Cities of Tuscany were subject to the Empire viz. Arezzo Volterra Chiusi Florence which had been repaired and enlarged by his Father Charles the Great Pistoia Luca Pisa Peragia and Orvieto the others he allowed to be under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome He added moreover Todi in Umbria and Romagna beyond the Appennine with the Exarchate of Ravenna The same Anastasius says that Louis granted to Paschal a free Power the same which he also tells us was given by Charles to Pope Adrian of chusing Bishops whereas before the Emperours were wont to be advised and their consent and Confirmation desired in the Case Our Paschal who for his Piety and Learning had been by Pope Stephen made Prior of the Monastery of S. Stephen in the Vatican being now in the Chair both caused the Bodies of several Saints which before lay neglectedly to be conveyed into the City with great Solemnity and honourably interred and also by paying their Creditors procured the Release of divers poor Prisoners He also built from the ground the Church of S. Praxedes the B. Martyr not far from the old one which through Age and the Clergy's neglect was run to Ruin This Church having consecrated he oftentimes celebrated Mass in it and also reposited therein the Bodies of many Saints which lay about unregarded in the Coemeteries In the same Church was an Oratory dedicated to S. Agnes which he made very stately and ornamental Moreover he built the Church of S. Cecily as appears still by an Inscription on the Nave of it in which he in like manner reposited the Bodies of that Virgin her self and her affianced Husband Valerianus as also of Tiburtius and Maximus Martyrs and Urban and Lucius Bishops of Rome adorning it with all kinds of Marble and enriching it with Presents of Gold and Silver He also repaired the Church of S. Mary ad Praesepe that had been decayed by Age and alter'd the Nave of it to advantage In fine having been very exemplary for Religion and Piety Good Nature and Bounty after he had been in the Chair seven years two months seven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's The See was then vacant only four days EUGENIUS II. EUGENIUS the second a Roman Son of Boemundus was for his Sanctity Learning Humanity and Eloquence unanimously chosen into the Pontificate at that time particularly when Lotharius coming into Italy made choice of a Magistrate for the Administration of Justice and Execution of the Laws among the People of Rome who after a long and heavy Servitude had enjoyed some Liberty under the Emperour Charles and his Sons In the mean time Louis after he had for forty days been spoiling and laying waste the Countrey of Bretagne with Fire and Sword having received Hostages he goes to Roan and there gives Audience to the Ambassadours of 〈◊〉 Emperour of Constantinople who came to consult what his Opinion was concerning the Images of the Saints whether they were to be utterly abolished and destroyed or kept up and restored again But 〈◊〉 referred them to the Pope who was principally concerned to determine in the Matter After this he marched against the Bulgarians who were now making Inrodes into the Pannonia's and at first repelled them but Haydo Governour of Aquitain upon confidence of 〈◊〉 Forces from Abderamann King of the Saracens having rebelled he was obliged to quit this War and so the Bulgarians in an hostile manner march'd without controll through the middle of the hostile manner march'd without controll through the 〈◊〉 of the Pannonia's into Dalmatia But before Louis advanced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great part of Spain had revolted to Haydo who sent out a 〈◊〉 which annoyed the Sea-port Towns all
her self like a Man whereas she was a Woman she went when young with her Paramour a learned man to Athens and made such progress in Learning under the Professors there that coming to Rome she met with few that could equal much less go beyond her even in the knowledge of Scriptures and by her learned and ingenious readings and disputations she acquir'd so great respect and authority that upon the death of Leo as Martin says by common consent she was chosen Pope in his room But suffering afterward one of her Domesticks to lie with her she hid her big-belly a while till as she was going to the Lateran Church between the Colossean Theatre so call'd from Nero's Coloss and S. Clement's her travail came upon her and she died upon the place having sat two years one month and four days and was buried there without any pomp Some say the Pope for shame of the thing does purposely decline going through that street when he goes to the Lateran and that to avoid the like Error when any Pope is first plac'd in the Porphyry Chair which has a hole made for the purpose his Genitals are handled by the youngest Deacon As for the first I deny it not but for the second I take the reason of it to be that he who is plac'd in so great authority may be minded that he is not a God but a man and obnoxious to necessities of Nature as of easing his body whence that Seat hath the name of Sedes stercoraria This story is vulgarly told but by very uncertain and obscure Authors and therefore I have related it barely and in short lest I should seem obstinate and pertinacious if I had omitted what is so generally talk'd I had better mistake with the rest of the World though it be certain that what I have related may be thought not altogether incredible Some say that at this time the Body of S. Vincent was brought by a Monk from Valentia in Spain to a Village in Albigeois in France They say too that Lotharius being now aged taking on him a Monastic habit 〈◊〉 the Empire to his Son Lewis who passing into Germany by his presence composed matters there which otherwise threatned a War BENEDICT III. BENEDICT the third by birth a Roman Son of Peter he was deservedly called Benedictus for the Sanctity of his Life and his knowledg in Divinity For while he lived under Gregory he was made by him Sub-Deacon and thenceforward led so exemplary a life that upon the death of Leo he onely was thought worthy to succeed so great a Pope To him therefore they address themselves as to a kind Angel by God sent down to them and presently declare him Pope He weeping and calling God and his holy Saints to witness profess'd himself utterly unworthy of so high a dignity But the Election being universally lik'd and applauded he at last unwillingly accepted of the Office was brought to the Lateran and plac'd in S. Peter's Chair whence he was led upon a white Horse to the Church of S. Mary maggiore where he spent three days in Fasting and Prayer begging God to grant that he might govern his Church with integrity and holiness The third day past the People came thither again and according to custom kissed his feet especially those of the faction of Rhodoardus Bishop of Porto who the day before had attempted to set up instead of Benedict one Anastasius an obscure man who had been turned out of his Bishoprick by Leo but now finding their error they asked pardon and becoming of the right opinion they also made the usual adoration to this holy man As likewise did the Embassadours sent to Rome by the Emperor Lewis to confirm the Election of the Clergy and Laity The next day he was attended by the People to S. Peter's Church where being according to custom and ancient tradition publickly consecrated he received the insignia of his Office with unanimous shouts and acclamations For he was a man of so sweet a temper and so great modesty both in his mind and aspect that as well in his publick managements as in his private station he gain'd the love and respect of all men And now setting his mind on the service of God he repair'd many Churches almost tottering with age and increased their Treasures He ordain'd that the Pope and Clergy should accompany the funerals of Bishops Priests and Deacons as well to honour their Corps as to pray for their Souls and that the Clergy should in like manner attend the Funerals of Popes and what he had thus ordain'd himself observ'd punctually as long as he liv'd for he was always present at the burials of the Priests He was a frequent visiter of the sick a nursing Father to the poor a comforter of the miserable and hopeless a zealous patron of the Widow and Fatherless And in thus doing having spent a most holy life late enough for himself but too soon for the people of Rome he died having sate two years six months and nine days and was buried before S. Peter's Church-doors The Sea then was vacant fifteen days NICOLAS I. NICOLAS the first a Roman born Son of Theodosius was ingenuously and religiously educated from his Childhood and made first Sub-deacon by Sergius then Deacon by Leo. In which Order he stood when with great piety and many tears he laid the body of Benedict in the Grave whose Exequies being perform'd it was necessary to think of a Successor and the People hereupon press'd the Divine Majesty with prayers watchings and fastings that he would vouchsafe them as good a Pope as him they had lost After a long consultation in the Church of S. Denys Pope and Confessor where they convened for this purpose they chose this Nicolas Pope but he was absent and upon hearing the news fled into the Vatican and there hid himself to avoid the Dignity where at length they found him brought him to the Lateran and plac'd him however unwilling in the Apostolical Chair Being consecrated in S. Peter's Church and agreeably to custom having put on the Pontifical Mitre he concerted several affairs with the Emperor Lewis relating to the Popedom and to the Empire Lewis afterwards leaving Rome staid at a place the Romans call Quinto whether 't is said Nicolas went attended by the great men of the City and was honourably received for the Emperor came a mile to meet him and alighting took his Horse-bridle in his hand and led him into the Camp And indeed he was a man of so great veneration and majesty and of so much learning and eloquence that like the Deity he 〈◊〉 respect from all men After some repast they held a long and private Conference and then having kiss'd each other the Pope return'd to Rome which he found so overflow'd by an extraordinary rise of the Tiber that there was no passing from street to street but in boats S. Laurence's Church and the Monastery of S. Sylvester
with all the low part between Via lata Campidoglio and the Aventine was so much under water that another deluge was feared many houses were born down by it Trees forc'd up by the roots and Corn that was sown was quite wash'd away and the same happened again the same year in December To make up these losses or to make them more tolerable the Pope omitted no manner of good Office or kindness to the Citizens At this time Michael Son of Theophilus Emperor of Constantinople sent Embassadors with Presents to Rome to visit the Apostolick Sea and his Holiness The Presents were a large Paten and Chalice of Gold with precious stones of great value This was that Michael who having taken Basilius to be his Partner in the Empire was murdered by him that he might reign alone His Embassadors were kindly received and sent home with Presents Nicolas being earnestly intent upon the Conservation of the Pontifical Dignity deprived John Arch Bishop of 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 to obey a Citation from the Apostolic Chair to answer some accusations Whereupon he goes to Pavia and procures of the Emperor Lewis commendatory Letters to the Pope and to his Embassadors that they should get leave that Arch-bishop John should have a safe conduct to come to Rome and plead his own Cause which the Pope readily granted And John in a great Convention of Prelates being allow'd liberty of Speech onely confess'd himself guilty and beg'd pardon of the Pope and of all that were present By which Confession and the Intercession of the Auditors the Pope was persuaded to receive him into favour upon these Conditions That he should 〈◊〉 his Error before the Synod that he should promise to come to Rome once a year if possible that he should not be capable of consecrating any Bishop in Romagna however canonically elected without leave first obtain'd from the Sea Apostolick and that he should not hinder any of those Bishops from coming to Rome as often as they pleased that he should not introduce any exaction custom or usage contrary to the sacred Canons and lastly that under the penalty of Anathema he should not alter or meddle with the treasure of holy Church without the consent of the Pope nor should without the same allowance receive any thing secular These holy Institutions were so highly approved by the whole Synod that thrice they all shouted Righteous is the judgment of the supreme Prelate just is the decree of the Universal Bishop All Christians agree to this wholsom Institution We all say think and judg the same thing Then John in the sight of them all took his Oath and gave it under his hand that he would observe the Articles Thus the Convocation was dissolved and John return'd to Ravenna The Pope having overcome this trouble rebuilt the Church of our Lady then call'd the Old afterwards the New Church and adorned it with excellent Paintings He by Letters and good Admonitions converted the King of Bulgaria to the Christian Faith with all his Realm to whom he sent Bishops and Priests to confirm the young 〈◊〉 driving out Photinus who had craftily disseminated erroneous Opinions among them He procured a Peace between Lewis the Emperor and Andalisio Duke of Benevent and repelled the Saracens who had made an Incursion as far as the same Benevent Lastly with the consent of the Emperor he decreed that no Emperor or other Lay-man should thrust himself into any Convocation of the Clergy except the debate was concerning matters of Faith and then his Opinion was that they might reasonably be present 'T is said that at this time S. Cyril brought the body of S. Clement from the Chersonese in Pontus to Rome and plac'd it in the Church now called S. Clement's where a little while after himself also was buried Nicolas now who was a great exemplar of all the Virtues one man could be endued with died the seventh year ninth month and thirteenth day of his 〈◊〉 and was buried according to his last Will in S. Peter's Church porch Some Authors say that the Sea was then vacant eight years seven months and nine days HADRIAN II. HADRIAN the second a Roman Son of Talarus a Bishop was a familiar friend of Pope Sergius who having once given him forty Julio's when he came home he gave them to his Steward to give to the Beggers and poor strangers that were at his door which the Steward going to do saw the number was so great that 't would not serve a quarter of them and so he return'd and told Hadrian Who hereupon takes the money and coming to the poor folks gave every one three Julio's and reserv'd to himself as many for his own use at which Miracle the Steward being astonish'd Dost thou see says Hadrian how good and bountiful the Lord is to those that are liberal and charitable to the Poor By this and other Virtues he grew into so high estimation with all men that when the Consultation was held for making a new Pope they unanimously elected him and brought him against his will from the Church of S. Mary ad Proesepe to the Lateran and immediately created him Pope nor regarding the consent of any person in a proceeding so tumultuary which gave great offence to the Embassadors of the Emperor who came on purpose upon this occasion but could not as they ought interpose the Imperial Authority in this Election But satisfaction was made to them by remonstrating that it was impossible in so great a tumult to moderate the violent inclinations of the multitude they were desired therefore to concur with the Clergy and People and according to custom to congratulate as Pope this excellent man whom they had chosen This at last the Embassadors did though they saw plainly that the Clergy and People did arrogate to themselves the full power of creating a Pope without expecting the consent of any Temporal Prince and this perhaps in order to enlarge the Liberties of holy Church by making it a Custom Soon after arriv'd Letters from Lewis highly applauding this action of the Romans and commending them that they had proceeded so religiously and sincerely in this Affair without waiting for the approbation of any one whose ignorance of the fitness of the Canditates might render them incompetent Judges in the case For how said he can it be that one that is a Foreiner and a Stranger should be able in another Countrey to distinguish who is most worthy To the Citizens therefore does it properly belong and to those who have had familiarity with and knowledg of the Competitors Hadrian then being made Pope took diligent care of all matters relating to Religion and by word example and authority both of himself and his Predecessors exhorted all men to good and holy lives particularly he shew'd himself a strenuous desender of those that had been oppressed by Injustice and the power of great men He caused a Council to be called at Constantinople where Photius a seditious
of Writers For the sake of Posterity we would not be so superstitious as to disbelieve that which various Authors have here or there thought good to record To the times of this Pope may justly also be ascribed S. Ugibert a Nobleman of Lorain who in a short time at his own charge built the Monastery of Gemblours after a magnificent manner At this time also 't is said that Spireneus Duke of Bohemia first received the Christian faith Those that were then call'd Dukes being now upon the encrease of their wealth and strength entitled Kings of Bohemia But Stephen having led a peaceable and a religious life died in the second year first month and twelfth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church JOHN XII JOHN the twelfth a Roman Son as some say of Pope Sergius came to be Pope when a Fountain at Genoa streamed blood in great quantities as Vincentius and Martinus relate a sure presage of the ensuing Calamities for soon after Genoa was taken and sack'd by the Saracens who came from Afric and the Hungarians entring Italy utterly destroy'd all things far and near but as they passed laden with Prey by the Confines of Sulmona the people of Tagliacozzo on a sudden taking Arms they were routed by them and lost their lives and plunder together Racherius who of a Monk had been made Bishop of Verona was now a great Writer but was banish'd to Pavia by King Hugh because he inveigh'd against his manner of living with too great freedom John died after he had been Pope four years ten months and fifteen days The Sea was vacant twelve days LEO VII LEO the seventh a Roman was created Pope during the reigns of Hugh and Lotharius in Italy but did nothing worthy 〈◊〉 mentioning But his time was made famous by the Lives of Spireneus according to Martinus Duke of Bohemia a man of signal Devotion and Justice and of his Son Wenceslaus who degenerated not at all from his Father killed by his Brother 〈◊〉 who desired to reign This Wenceslaus was afterwards justly canonized for a Saint upon proof made of the holiness of his Life and of Miracles wrought by him both while he liv'd and after his death Leo after he had sate three years six months and ten days died and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant 3 days STEPHEN VIII STEPHEN the eighth a German coming to the Papacy was so molested by the Romans with Factions that he could do nothing remarkable nay as Martinus relates they wounded him so foully in one Tumult that he was asham'd to appear abroad King Hugh prepared to avenge his quarrel but died in the mean time to whom succeeded his Son Lotharius but he made no mention of the matter either because he had a kindness for the Citizens of Rome or because his Reign was short for he out-liv'd his Father but two years Otho King of Germany did now undertake to revenge the murther of Winceslaus King of Bohemia upon Boleslaus his Brother who had killed him and marching against him after several Battels won and lost at last took him Captive Stephen died when he had been Pope three years four months and twelve days The Sea was vacant ten days MARTIN III. MARTIN the third a Roman imitated the meekness and peaceable carriage of Stephen for being made Pope he laid aside thoughts of War and employ'd his mind in religious matters repairing Churches that were ready to fall with age and relieving the poor with his Charity Not but that in his time Europe was very much torn with cruel Wars For Otho attempting to enter Italy against the will of Lotharius much blood was spilt on both sides but Pope Martin persuaded them to lay down their Arms because among other reasons there was a great famine in the Land by reason the Trees were felled the standing Corn trodden down and even the Husbandmen with their Cattel were in this grievous War taken away At Constantinople also were great Tumults the Citizens making their Emperor a Prisoner and shaving his head banish'd him to a certain Island but soon after Constantine Son of Leo getting the Empire punish'd these sactious Citizens after the same shameful manner and banish'd them to the same Island Martin died in the third year sixth month and tenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church the Roman Sea was vacant twelve days AGAPETUS II. AGAPETUS the second a Roman was created Pope at a time when Italy was full of Warlike hurly-burly for the Hungarians having invaded Italy with a 〈◊〉 Force had over-run all the Countrey beyond the River Po Henry Duke of Bavaria takes up Arms immediately and getting an Army together marches against them and in two fierce Battels routs them though not without great damage to the Inhabitants thereabouts and seizes all the Country from Aquileia to Pavia from whence yet he soon departed into Austria when he heard that Berengarius was coming against him with a great Army Berengarius being therefore now Master of Italy takes to himself the name of Emperor and calls his Son Albertus King of Italy casting into Prison Alunda Lotharius's Brothers Daughter lest she should lay claim to the City of Pavia which was her Dowry Pope Agapetus and the great men of Italy observing the arrogance of Berengarius and that he made pretensions to every thing without regard to right and justice sent for Otho King of Germany into Italy who entring by the way of Friuli with fifty thousand men quickly dethron'd Berengarius and Albertus and taking Alunda out of Prison married her of whom he had a Son afterwards succeeding him by the name of Otho II. And now Otho leaving Italy shew'd a great deal of moderation by permitting to Berengarius and his Son the Government of a Province and making Peace between him and the Pope This Otho assisted Lewis King of France with a great Army against Hugh Earl of Paris though his Brother-in-law who with the help of some of the great men of that Countrey had well-nigh outed him of his Kingdom But Albertus Son of Berengarius who then was Governour of Ravenna aided with some Forces and Ships from Comachio pirated upon the Merchants of Venice much against the mind of Pope Agapetus at which the Venetians were so enraged that they immediately rigg'd out a Navy and took Comachio and burnt it Whilst these things were doing Pope Agapetus a harmless man and a great lover of the Church died in the ninth year seventh month and tenth day of his Pontificate about the same time that Otho Abbot of Clugny also slept in the Lord whose Disciple Do maielus is supposed to be that wonderfully holy man and great restorer of Monastic Discipline JOHN XIII JOHN the thirteenth a Roman by the power of his Father Albericus of the Via lata gets into the Chair His name was before Octavian he was one that from his youth up had been debauch'd with
all manner of Vice and wickedness and if he had any time to spare from his lusts he spent it in Hunting and not in Prayer The Romans had at this time two Consuls annually and one Prefect who was a Judg among the Citizens Out of the People were created twelve Decarchons who were instead of the Senate neither were the Romans without some kind of Dominions for the neighbouring Towns of Tuscany between Orvieto and Todi and all that lies between the City and Benevent Naples Tagliacozzo and Riete were subject to the City of Rome What lies beyond was possessed partly by the Greeks and partly by the Saracens It is not altogether certain who then held Marca di Ancona and the Dutchy of Spoleto In the City thus free Octavian favour'd by the power of his Father assumes the Papal Dignity a weight for which his shoulders were very unfit which gave so great offence that two Cardinals who were nettled at it sent to Otho beseeching him to come and deliver the Clergy and the People of Rome out of the hands of Berengarius and this Pope John otherwise telling him that the Christian Religion and the Empire too would both be ruin'd Otho was at that time great in the estimation of all people having as we said before conquered Boleslaus King of Bohemia and routed the Hungarians that 〈◊〉 Germany in three fierce Battels taking three of their Princes who were hanged up by the Germans against the mind of the Emperor While Otho was expected the whole design was betray'd to John who took both the Cardinals and cut off the Nose of the one and the hand of the other This mov'd Otho to hasten his march into Italy where first he took Berengarius and his Son Albertus Prisoners and banish'd one to Constantinople the other into Austria and soon after entring Rome he was splendidly received even of John himself and Crown'd as some write Emperor of Germany and Hungary the Empire being now first translated to the Germans There are Authors yet that place this to the times of Leo VIII of whom we shall speak hereafter whose Opinion is follow'd by Gratian in his Decree though Ricardus and Cuseulinus disallow not the former but the Lateran Library-keeper writes that Otho came to Rome in John's time but says not a word of his Coronation so perplex'd and confused are the Affairs of those times by the carelesness and neglect of their Writers Otho however having somewhat setled the State of the City had some conference in private with John dissuading him kindly from his naughty way of life and exhorting him to reform but when he found fair words would not avail he made use of threats and declar'd for a General Council convening all the Bishops of Italy to judg of the way of life of this wicked Fellow The Censures of these good Men he apprehended would be heavy and therefore fled to Anagni sculking up and down in by-places like a wild Beast So that Otho by the persuasion of the Clergy creates Leo a Roman a keeper of the Archives in the Lateran Pope But upon the departure of the Emperor the Kinsmen and Friends of John turn out Leo and recall him who within few days after was struck dead as was thought from Heaven lest the Church of God should be ruin'd by so pernicious a Sedition as was then growing on Some indeed write that this wicked Wretch or Monster rather was taken in Adultery and there stabb'd However this put not an end to the Schism for the Romans upon the death of John put up Benedict in his room and were earnest with the Emperor who was then at Spalato to confirm their choice But the Emperor was highly displeased and not onely denied their request as unjust but as shall hereafter be told compelled them by force of Arms to abrogate Benedict and receive Leo. Many Prodigies are said to have been seen at this present time in Italy for in a mighty tempest of wind and rain there fell a stone of a wonderful 〈◊〉 from the Sky and in the garments of many persons the figure of a bloody Cross appeared miraculously which portents were look'd upon to 〈◊〉 great Slaughters and calamities to the Church This John who was certainly the most pernicious profligate Fellow of any that preceded him in the Pontifical Chair died in the ninth year third month and fifth day of his Popedom upon whose death during the Sedition the Sea was vacant twelve days BENEDICT V. BENEDICT the Fifth a Roman in the Sedition was of a Deacon made Pope chiefly by the assistance of the kinred and Dependents of John to whom the Preferment of Leo by Otho gave great disgust But the Emperor disapproving this Election flatly the confirmation of it to the Romans who earnestly sought it and wasting the territories of the City with fire and sword forced them not onely to turn out but to yield up Benedict and submit to Leo with an Oath not to attempt any alteration in what the Emperor had establish'd in the affair of the Popedom Matters thus composed in Italy Otho goes back for Germany taking Benedict with him who soon after died at Hapspurg whither he was banish'd He held the Papacy six months and five days The Sea was after vacant thirty days LEO VIII LEO the Eighth the Proloscriniary as I said before upon the expulsion of John was created Pope by the Clergy and People of Rome For when John led such an abominable and exorbitant life that the Romans urg'd the Emperor to depose him and set up another Pope he answered that the Election belong'd to the Clergy and People and let them chuse a Man they took to be most fit he would confirm him immediately Hereupon when they had chosen Leo and the Emperor had confirm'd him soon after altering their minds they deposed him and put up Benedict which so angred Otho that he compelled them by force of Arms to yield up Benedict and accept of Leo again who was so teiz'd with the mutinous humour of the Romans that he transferred the whole power of electing of Popes from the Clergy and People to the Emperor But he liv'd not long after dying in the sixteenth month of his Popedom JOHN XIV JOHN the Fourteenth Bishop of Narni a Roman Son of John a Bishop succeeded Leo. But the Romans having got the trick of expelling their Popes vex'd this Man also with seditions for having call'd to their assistance Geffrey Lord of Terra de Lavoro they broke into the Lateran Palace and feiz'd upon John whom they first cast into the Prison of Castle S. Angelo and soon after banish'd to Capua but Geffrey with his onely Son being slain by John Prince of Capua the Pope return'd straight to Rome in the eleventh month of his Exile Otho also upon notice of the Pope's distress together with his Son Otho and a good Army by long journeys came to Rome and immediately threw the Consuls the Praetor and the Decarchons
into Prison in order to a Trial for their Treason who being by torture forced to confess the Consuls were banish'd into Germany the Decarchons were hang'd up and Peter the Praetor the cause and Ring-leader of all the mischief was several times drag'd most ignominiously and whipt with Rods through the most publick places of the City and then sent Prisoner to Germany Others say his Punishment was thus Being delivered to suffer at the will of the Pope his Beard was first shav'd off then he was hang'd by his hair upon the head of the Statue of Constantine's Horse for the terror of all such ill Men from whence being taken he was set upon an Ass with his face backward and his hands tied under his tail and so led through the City being as he went whipt almost to death with Rods and then banish'd into Germany The like severity for examples sake was used by the Emperor against Count Geffrey and his Son who were kill'd as I said before by John Prince of Capua their carcasses being drag'd out of their Graves and denied Christian burial At this time the Selavi who when Hadrian III. was Pope under Sueropylus Prince of Dalmatia had received the Christian Faith cross'd the Sea into Italy gave the Saracens a great rout at Monte Gargano and drove them thence and the Hungarians by their example so broke their remaining force by recovering Cosenza out of their hands that it became easie for Otho Son of the great Otho who came for that purpose with his Army to make a perfect Conquest of them nor was he content to have vanquish'd the Saracens but he subdued too the Greeks who had made a League with the Moors and drove them out of almost all Apulia and Calabria Some say indeed that 〈◊〉 made this War upon the Greeks because Nicephorus Emperor of Constantinople had denied to give him to Wife his Daughter who had been espoused to him before This is certain that Otho who was a generous young Man deposed Nicephorus and made his Son John Emperor himself marrying his Sister Theophania who together with her Husband were crown'd by this Pope in the Lateran Church with an Imperial Diadem by the consent of Otho the Father who had made his Son his Partner in the Empire During the great and universal rejoycing upon this occasion Pope John raised the Church of Capua to a Metropolitan Sea But Otho 〈◊〉 worn with old Age returning into Germany died at Vienna whom John also follow'd not long after he dying after he had sate six years eleven months and five days after which the Sea was vacant thirteen days BENEDICT VI. BENEDICT the Sixth a Roman succeeded John in his Office and in his troubles for being taken Prisoner by Cincio a potent Citizen he was put into Castle S. Angelo a Jail for Malefactors or rather for innocent persons where in a little while he was strangled or as Cusentinus says famish'd I cannot but admire that the actors of so great an outrage were never punish'd neither by the Citizens of the adverse Party nor by the Emperor Otho who was reputed an excellent Man and a stout defender of the Church of Rome But I am afraid Cincius did not worse by him than he deserv'd not but that how faulty soever Benedict might be it was ill done of Cincius to lay violent hands upon the Pope since the censure of him did not belong to a private Man But see the turn of humane affairs The Popes of our times make nothing to clap up Citizens into the same place and there starve 'em whether they deserve it or are onely a little too powerful than they desire I believe Otho was too much taken up with other business so that he could not help him He died when he had been Pope one year and six months DONUS II. DONUS the Second a Roman a Man of great moderation and though there were nothing done by him worthy of high commendation yet he was never charg'd with any injustice or dishonourable action There were however many memorable actions of great of holy Men which render his times not altogether obscure For in his time Baianus a great Magician Prince of the Bulgarians so harrass'd with War Basilius and his Son Constantine Emperor of Constantinople that he narrowly miss'd of taking the Town which by the negligence of the Greeks was left almost empty but at last upon hard terms a Peace was concluded between ' em Adalbertus also a Bohemian Bishop of Prague flourish'd now who was a Man of so great Sanctity that he by the impulse of the Divine Spirit travell'd into Hungary and baptiz'd the King thereof and by his good life and godly example taught the Bishops of the Country to seek the grace of God from whence passing into Prussia preaching the Gospel of Christ with great diligence he was there crown'd with Martyrdom At this time too S. Edward King of England was for his Sanctity in great honour but was murthered by the fraud and villany of his Stepmother Richardus the Historian adds to these S. Maiolus Abbot of Clugni who left a great Name behind him for his Miracles and holy life Donus died in the first year of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church whereupon the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VII BONIFACE the Seventh whose Family and Country I suppose because of their baseness Writers mention not got the Popedom by ill arts and lost it as ill for he was no sooner got into the Chair but the honest part of the Citizens confederating he was forc'd out of the City taking with him the most precious things out of the Church of S. Peter and fled to Constantinople where he onely tarried till by the sale of what he had so sacrilegiously got he had amass'd vast sums of Mony with which he returns to Rome not doubting but by the help of that to retrieve his dignity by bribing the Citizens He met yet with great opposition from all good Men but especially from John a Deacon Cardinal whom by the assistance of some wicked Bravo's he caught and put out his Eyes But his Enemies encreasing about him whether for fear or remorse for his great wickedness this Author of so many mischiefs miserably ended his life Observe I beseech you how these Popes did degenerate from their Predecessors who left the Church so ample and magnificent at the expence of their blood The Pope of Rome the Father and Protector of things sacred does himself steal 'em away and he that should punish sacriledg is the Author of it but thus it must needs fall out in any Government where the Pride and Covetousness of ill Men shall prevail over the Virtue and Wisdom of the good To great benefices none of the Clergy ought to be chosen but such of whose Life and Learning there is a certainty not those who having nothing of Virtue or Religion seek by Ambition and Simony to get into places of Power
Boniface lived seven months and five days in his Pontificate and then the Sea was vacant twenty days BENEDICT VII BENEDICT the Seventh a Roman as soon as he was made Pope he call'd a Council in which he restored Arnulphus Bishop of Rhemes who had been expell'd in a Sedition At this time Otho II. having conquer'd Henry Duke of Bavaria who had endeavoured some Alterations in the State march'd against Lotharius who had possess'd himself of Lorain a Province of the Empire and laid waste the Territory of Aken and gaining a Victory over him he over-ran the Country of Soissons and set fire to the Suburbs of Paris but upon his retreat with his Forces he received some damage near the River Aisne After this raising a greater Army he brought it into Italy against Basilius and Constantine the Greek Emperors who had seiz'd Calabria and that part of Italy that lies toward Sicily but receiving a defeat at Basanello he was forced to make his escape by Sea where he was by chance taken by Pirates and carried into Sicily The Sicilians paid his Ransom and sent him to Rome and soon after caught the Pirates and put them to death Otho now gets his Army together again and design'd to chastise severely the Romans and Beneventans because they occasion'd the loss of the Battel at Basanello by flying first but it was not thought safe to begin with the Romans and therefore he turns against Benevent which he takes and consumes with fire translating from thence the body of S. Bartholomew and placing it at Rome in an Island of the Tiber formerly called Hostia Jovis Lycaonia which was of the shape of the poop of a Galley Nay even to this day as you view it from Tivertino the Island resembles a Galley so made I suppose to represent that which brought Aesculapius to Rome there is also to be seen engraven in stone the Serpent in the form whereof that God is said to have arriv'd and the Ribs of the Galley so studious were the excellent Men of those times to bring Nature to Art as well as Art to Nature But to return to Otho he soon after the aforesaid translation of the Body of S. Bartholomew died at Rome and was honourably buried in a Porphyry Tomb still to be seen on the left hand as you go in in the Portico of S. Peter's Church call'd Paradise Whilst Consultations were held about chusing a new Emperor some insisting upon Otho III. Son of Otho II. Others standing up for Henry Duke of Bavaria Otho's Nephew by his Brother the Italians being earnest for one Crescentius of Lamentana an eminent Man the Germans on the sudden of whom there were many then at Rome chose Otho III. The Pope good man all the while urging them that in their Election they would have a regard to the Church of Christ which needed a Governour of great ability and diligence but at last to prevent tumults he approv'd of what the Germans had done He died after he had been Pope eight years and six months upon which the Sea was vacant five days In his time Valdericus Bishop of Hamburg was famous for his great Learning and Sanctity JOHN XV. JOHN the Fifteenth a Roman or as some will have it a Pavian had not been Pope three months but he was taken by the Romans and put into the publick Jail of Castle S. Angelo where he pin'd away so long with the stink of the Prison want of necessaries and trouble of mind that he died Some write that he was made away by Ferruccio Father of Boniface VII a Man of great Power because he had been an Enemy to his Son in his Pontificate However that be 't is certain he died in Prison and was buried in S. Peter's Church Whether he was deposed for his Tyranny and Arrogance or by the malice and envy of seditious people is not certain so confused are the Accounts we have of those times In his time lived Odo Abbot of Clugnis and Berengarius of Tours Men famous for Learning and holy Lives though 't is said of Berengarius that through his confidence in his vast Learning he err'd in the Faith holding a wrong Opinion of the Eucharist which in a General Council holden at Rome he afterward recanted and leaving off his study of controversial matters though he were Arch-Deacon of Anjou he gave all that he had to the poor and got his living by the labour of his hands JOHN XVI JOHN the Sixteenth a Roman Son of Leo a Priest born in the Ward of Gallina bianca being got into the Popedom hated the Clergy strangely and was deservedly for the same mutually hated of them and more especially because whatever he could get either of things sacred or profane he gave to his Kinred and Relations without any regard to the glory of God or the honour of the Church and this evil humour has descended to his Successors even to our own times than which naughty custom nothing can be more pernicious when our Clergy seem not to seek the Popedom for the sake of Religion and the Worship of God but that they may with the profits of it satisfie the luxury and avarice of their Brethren Nephews or Domesticks They write that a Comet appeared about this time portending the coming Calamity for there follow'd a long Pestilence and Famine and both Benevent and Capua suffered much by an Earth quake and these were generally look'd upon as judgments for the Pride and rapacious temper of the Pope and his contempt of God and Man But it pleased God that after a Pontificate of eight months he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church JOHN XVII JOHN the Seventeenth a Roman succeeded when Otho was Emperor but had not yet been Crown'd He was a Man of great Learning and as Martinus Writes was the Author of several elegant things He was so teiz'd with Seditions by Crescentius the Consul of Rome who claim'd to himself an absolute Power in the City that he gave place to the Mans Ambition and withdrew into Tuscany But Crescentius understanding that John was so extreamly enrag'd that he had sent for Otho and his Army into Italy he dispatch'd all the Pope's Kinsmen and Friends that were left in Rome to him to desire him to lay by all thoughts of bringing Otho to his assistance but to come to the City there to exercise his most ample Power promising perfect obedience in all matters John being mov'd with the intreaties of his Friends and partly fearing lest if Otho should enter Italy with his Army he might do more hurt than good went to Rome where Crescentius with all the Magistrates and a multitude of Citizens meeting him he was brought to the Palace of Lateran in the Porch whereof Crescentius and all the heads of the Faction kiss'd his feet and begg'd his Pardon and thus matters being composed they afterward lived quietly together At this time Henry Abbat of Loby in Lorain Adolfus Bishop of Utrecht who
wrote much in praise of the Blessed Virgin and of the Holy Cross and Albo Abbat of Fleury who afterward in Gascoign suffer'd Martyrdom for the faith of Christ Men famous for Learning Religion and Sanctity are said to have flourish'd This John died after he had been Pope ten years six months and ten days and the Sea was vacant six days GREGORY V. GREGORY the Fifth a Saxon Son of Otho before call'd Bruno by the Authority of Otho III. for Kinred sake was made Pope But upon the return of Otho into Germany being vex'd by the Roman factions he fled first into Tuscany and thence into Germany to the Emperor Mean while the Romans vest Crescentius with an absolute Consular Power who immediately creates Pope John a Greek Bishop of Piacenza not more wealthy than learned whose name I confess is by some left out of the Catalogue of Popes as not regularly created but others make him John XVII because he was chosen by the Clergy and People of Rome to whom of right the Election belongeth Crescentius upon the news of Otho's approach with his Army fortifies the Walls and Gates of the City with all diligence he fortifies too the Castle S. Angelo and places strong Guards in every Post that required so that for some time after it was called Crescentius's Castle taking the name of him that fortified it instead of that of the Builder At length the Emperor arriv'd and investing the City when the Romans perceived themselves unable to withstand so great Forces trusting to the clemency of Otho they opened their Gates to the Germans And now Crescentius and John being without Friends and at their wits end fled into Castle S. Angelo and defended themselves well till upon hopes of Pardon coming forth to address themselves to the Emperor Crescentius receiving many wounds from the Multitude was kill'd but John having his Eyes first put out lost both his Popedom and life together and Gregory after he had been expell'd nine months was restored He taking notice of the weakness of the Empire and the uncertainties of Chance and being willing to preserve the Empire among the Germans and that he should be preferred before other who excell'd in worth and Virtue with the consent of Otho he made a Decree concerning the Election of an Emperor An. Dom. 1002. which has continued in force to this day To wit that it should belong to the Germans alone to chuse a Prince who should be Coesar and King of the Romans till the Pope should have confirm'd him and then to have the Titles of Emperor and Augustus Ptolemy writes that at first the power of Election of Emperor was in the Arch-bishop of Mentz for Germany the Arch-bishop of Triers for France and the Arch-bishop of Cologn for Italy To these were added four Secular Princes the Marquess of Brandenburgh who after the Election is Chamberlain to the Emperor the Count Palatine who is chief Sewer the Duke of Saxony who is Sword-bearer and the King of Bohemia the seventh Elector and Cup bearer was added they say to prevent discord between parties for if the rest were equally divided his Vote turned the Scale This 't is said gave distaste to the French but because the Line of Charles the Great being extinct in Lewis the Son of Lotharius that Realm was fallen into the hands of Hugh Capet the chief Minister at that time the great affairs of that Kingdom for some time not being manag'd by Kings they wav'd all thoughts of retrieving the Empire but the main reason was that the new Possessors were well enough yet satisfied with their fortune and dar'd not attempt any thing further 'till they were certain that their late acquir'd Regal Power stood upon a good foundation Robert the Son and Successor of the Great Hugh is much and deservedly praised for his Courage Justice Modesty and Religion for though he exercised himself very much in the Art Military yet he found time so often to frequent the Churches of God and to celebrate the Divine Service as if he had been in holy Orders He is said to have made the Hymn Sancti spiritûs assit 〈◊〉 gratia and by these Arts not less powerful than his Arms he gain'd the hearts of the People and drew those honourable respects to his Family which they had before given to that of Charles the Great Robert a certain Bishop of Chartres is about this time said to have been in great repute for Learning and Sanctity he having written much and reduced the singing in Churches to a better method Gregory died after he had been Pope two years and five months The Sea was vacant fifteen days JOHN XVIII JOHN the Eighteenth Bishop of Piacenza by the power of Crescentius the Consul as we said whom he had corrupted with his Money in the time of Gregory V. was made Pope by a Faction for he brought so much Money with him from Constantinople that even the good Men might be brib'd to serve his ill ends much less might he prevail with the Covetousness and Ambition of Crescentius I wonder that Historians place this John in the number of the Popes he having got into the Chair while Gregory was alive unless that in writing the Lives of Popes it may be thought fit as in a continued History to set down the outrages of Usurpers and Tyrants as well as the worthy Actions of good and lawful Princes that Readers may observe the difference between good and bad and upon the sight of examples of both be deterred from vitious and encouraged to virtuous practices and lead a blessed and happy life in the Earth Which blessedness and felicity John wanted for being a Robber and a Thief in his Pontificate and coming not in as he ought by the Door He died with ignominy enough in the tenth month of his Usurpation The Sea was vacant twenty days SYLVESTER II. SYLVESTER the Second before called Gilbert a French Man got the Popedom as they say by ill Arts. When he was young he was entred and sworn a Monk of Fleury in the Diocese of Orleans but he left the Monastery to follow the Devil to whom he had wholly delivered himself up and went to Sevil in Spain to study humane Sciences being extreamly greedy of Knowledg and Learning in which he made such progress that of a Scholar he soon became an excellent Master Martinus writes that the Emperor Otho King Robert of France and Lotharius a Man of noble birth and great learning afterward Arch bishop of Sens were his Scholars Gilbertus therefore full of Ambition and push'd on with the diabolical desire of Rule by Simony first gets the Arch-bishoprick of Rhemes and then of Ravenna at last the Devil helping him with an extraordinary lift he got the Popedom upon this Condition that after his death he should be wholly the Devils by whose assistance he had arriv'd at so great a Dignity Being greedy of Rule he ask'd the Devil once how long he should enjoy the
had by intervals held S. Peter's Chair ten years four months and nine days he died upon which the Sea cannot be said to have been vacant at all because he sold it Historians write that at this time Gerard a Venetian Bishop of the Hungarians an excellent Man and of great Learning chearfully suffer'd Martyrdom by the Enemies to the name of Christ being bound to a Cart and from a high Hill let down upon a Precipice and torn to pieces SYLVESTER III. SYLVESTER the Third a Roman Son of one Laurence was substituted into the room of Benedict when he was expell'd but held it not long for after nine and forty days Benedict was restor'd by his own Faction The Popedom was now brought to that pass that he who was most ambitious and would give most for it not he who was most religious and learned surely obtain'd this high Office to the great oppression and discouragement of all good Men a naughty custom which I wish were laid by even in our own times and yet this mischief is not so great but that I fear except God avert we shall see much worse I return to Sylvester who being Cardinal of Sabina was made Pope not by the College of Cardinals for that had been tolerable but meerly by Simony as some write and soon after justly deposed having entred like a Thief and a Robber not by the Gate but by the back door Benedict indeed was restor'd but the City continued in a hubbub sometimes desiring this Man and then another to be put up which uses to be the case of a Mobile who wanting a Governour to steer their giddy humours generally prefer the worse to the better Men. GREGORY VI. GREGORY the Sixth Arch-deacon of S. John at Port-Latin receiv'd as we said the Chair of Benedict But the Emperor Henry II. hearing of these miscarriages with a great Army enters Italy and calling a Council causes Benedict IX Sylvester III. and Gregory VI. all to be deposed for so many wretched Monsters and creates Syndegerus Bishop of Bamberg Pope by the name of Clement II. Yet Gilbertus the Historian affirms this Gregory to have deserv'd very well of the Church having by his Authority and great Spirit in a short time reasserted the dignity of the Sea Apostolick which had been much weakned in its Powers by the negligence of some of his Predecessors for he recovered the Patrimony of the Church and first with Excommunications and Curses and when they avail'd not with downright force of Arms he destroy'd the Banditi who lurking near the City would cruelly murther Pilgrims as they came to Rome for devotion sake For this reason some wicked Rogues slander'd him commonly with the names of Murtherer Simoniac and Blood-thirsty nay even some Cardinals would say so too which so mov'd Gregory that whilst he lay ill of that sickness of which afterward he died he sent for those Cardinals and rebuk'd them sharply for finding fault with that which was done with so much justice and honesty And that you may know says he whether I have done that which is right or no when I am dead carry my Corps to the Church-doors which first let be lock'd up and if they do miraculously open then think that I am an honest Man and worthy of Christian burial if not that both Soul and Body is damn'd and you may cast out my Corps where you please The Cardinals did accordingly and the doors were thrown open by a strong Wind that rose on a sudden and the Body brought in to the admiration of all Men and to the great reputation of his Sanctity This is the substance of what various Authors write of Gregory who sate in the Chair two years and seven months during the Schism CLEMENT II. CLEMENT the Second before call'd Syndegerus Bishop of Bamberg was made Pope in the Council by the consent or rather Authority and Command of Henry II. who having received at this Popes hands the Imperial Crown caused the Romans to take an Oath after a form he prescribed not to meddle in the Election of any Pope except by a command from him for the Emperor saw things to be come to such a height of Licentiousness that any factious and potent fellow however ignoble could arrive at that Dignity by purchasing the suffrages of the Electors which ought not to be conferr'd but by the Spirit of God upon those that excell'd in Learning and a holy life From hence he went to 〈◊〉 where he settled all things and having listed those Soldiers who had so stoutly resisted the Saracens he return'd by Rome for Germany He was no sooner gone as some write but the Romans contriv'd to poison the Pope because made so without their assent in the ninth month of his Popedom nay some Authors say the venemous Potion was prepared for him by that Stephen who by the name of Damasus II. succeeded him at the time when Odo Abbat of Clugny a Man of extraordinary holiness dying Hugo was made Abbat after him a noble Personage pious devout affable and learned Henry II. at this time reigning in France Alphonsos in Spain and Michael with his Son Constantine being Emperors of Constantinople which Empire was now in great weakness and distress DAMASUS II. DAMASUS the Second a Bavarian surnam'd Bagnario or Pepone as some say seiz'd the Papal Chair by force without any consent of the Clergy and People So deep root had this licentious custom taken that any ambitious fellow durst invade the Seat of S. Peter But the just God avenged himself upon this Villain that he might be an example to the rest who should seek by ambition and Simony that which ought to be the reward of Virtue for on the 29th day of his Pontificate he died Some would not have this Man put in the Catalogue of Popes because he came not regularly to that Dignity and admire that the Romans were not mov'd with the villany of the action contrary to their Oath to Henry to compel him to lay down his Office but because he liv'd so short a time that the Citizens could not so soon bethink themselves what to do I think they are not to be blam'd We shall then pass to Leo. LEO IX LEO the Ninth a German An. Dom. 1049. was made Pope after this manner The Romans having sent Embassadours to the 〈◊〉 to intreat him to send them a good Pope he immediately nominated to them Baunon Bishop of Toul a good Man and of great integrity Who taking his journey towards Rome in his Pontifical habit was met by the Abbat of 〈◊〉 and Hildebrand a Monk born at Soana who persuaded him to lay by his Pontifical habit and to enter Rome for that Henry had no power from God to create a Pope but it belonged of right to the Clergy and People of Rome With these words Leo was so mov'd and because as he came along he had heard a Voice saying Ego cogito pacis cogitationes non afflictionis that he
no time to dally but perceiving the People were displeased at that choice declares Lambert aforesaid for Pope with great acclamations of the Citizens the Clergy also approving it and that the People might not have time to change their minds he immediately clothes him with the Pontifical Vestments in the Scinie a place near S. Sylvester's Church He though it was not without slight that he got the Popedom yet was afterward universally saluted and own'd as such As soon as he was made Pope he created several worthy Persons Cardinals of whose assistance he constantly made use in all his difficult affairs being very much delighted with the conversation of excellent Men which was the reason that he detain'd at Rome with him Pontius Abbat of Clugni a very diligent person and shew'd great respect to the extraordinary parts of Hildebert Bishop of Mans whom for the sake of his skill at Heroic or Elegiac Verse he promoted afterward to the Archbishoprick of Tours This age was rendred also more illustrious by Hugo de Sancto Victore a famous Doctor of Paris who then flourish'd who lest behind him several lasting Monuments of his admirable Learning as his Book concerning the Sacraments his Book of Sentences another written by way of Dialogue entitled Didascalus another of care of the Soul and a Book entitled of Arts and Sciences All these learned Men Pope Honorius lov'd to that degree that he neglected no opportunity of preferring them One foul deed yet was acted in his time much to be abhorred for one Arnulphus an excellent Preacher of the Religion of Christ was murdered at Rome by the procurement of the Priests because he inveighed bitterly against their incontinence and sensuality and reprov'd their pompous living and insatiable appetite after Wealth proposing the Poverty and pure Integrity of our Saviour for their Imitation This Man the Roman Nobility and Gentry look'd upon as a true Prophet and Disciple of Christ and extoll'd him to the Skies which begat 〈◊〉 much envy and rage as cost the good Man his life Whether this holy Man was a Priest a Monk or a Hermit is not certain Historians write that Honorius was very much troubled at the fact but could never find the Authors of it He aster having reign'd well in S. Peter's Chair five years two months and a day died to the general grief and was buried with the greatest solemnity in the Lateran Church and the Sea was thereupon vacant one day His name is in an Inscription in Marble 〈◊〉 the Church of Praxede but I know not what it means INNOCENT II. INNOCENT the Second a Roman born in Trastevere being made Pope raises an Army and marches against Roger Son and heir of the former Roger Lord of Sicily who endeavour'd to possess himsess of Puglia upon the death of William the Duke thereof in whom the whole Family of Robert Guiscard was extinct In this expedition the Romans shew'd so much courage and fortitude that at the first onset they overthrew the Enemy then encamp'd at S. Germans and taking the Town they follow'd Roger to 〈◊〉 and there besieg'd him But in the mean time 〈◊〉 Duke of Calabria his Son with a good Army comes upon them and in one Battel defeats them not only delivering his Father from the Siege but taking the Pope Prisoner with all the Cardinals that then attended him all whom yet soon after Roger using wonderful moderation freely released For which reason the Pope afterwards was easily persuaded to grant any thing he desired except the Title of King which he earnestly solicited with great expence and large Promises During these actions one Peter Son of Peter Leone a potent Citizen of Rome by some seditious Fellows was set up for an Anti-Pope by the name of Anacletus who by spoiling several Churches in the City and rifling their Treasures particularly breaking into S. Peter's Church whence he took a Cross of Gold with its appendent Ornaments had rak'd together so much wealth that he was able with it to corrupt to his side any of the Citizens who were desirous of change So that Innocent upon his return to the City finding all places full of uproars and that these must needs end in the slaughter of many men he retir'd of his own accord and first sailing to Pisa from thence he went to Genoa and at last to France Anacletus then being rid of so considerable an Adversary endeavour'd as much as he could by liberal Pensions to bring over those who were for Innocent to his side and that he might more firmly oblige Roger then inclining to his party to his interest he created him King of both Sicilies Innocent in the mean while holds 〈◊〉 Council at Clermont in which the Anti-Pope and his followers were condemned from whence he went to Orleans and having visited King Philip by whom he was kindly receiv'd he pass'd into la Beausse where at Chartres he discours'd with Henry King of England who came to meet him whom he endeavour'd with many arguments to persuade to undertake an expedition against the Saracens Hence he took a turn into Lorain and finding Lotharius newly made King of the Germans at Liege who made him many large Promises of assistance towards his Restauration he made him take an Oath that he would make such sufficient preparations for the enterprise as that he should return to Rome with security After this having held another Council at Rhemes and upon his return into Italy one other at Piacenza he came to Pisa where he composed the animosities that had long been between the Pisans and Genoeses He also raised the Bishoprick of Genoa which before was in the Province of the Archbishop of Milan to an Arch-hishops Sea to which he subjected three Bishops of Corsica and the Bishop of Bebio The same he did by that of Pisa making it an Arch-Bishoprick with Jurisdiction over the other three Bishops of 〈◊〉 and the Bishop of Populonia Lotharius by this time was come into Italy with a great Army which having by the Pope's advice divided with two distinct Bodies he march'd to the City where making himself Master of Janicolo he entred that way while Innocent with another party by another way crossing the River Anien over Ponte Mamolo gets into the Lateran the Anti-Pope not appearing at all So that Lotharius with marvellously good fortune quash'd that Faction and as much as in him lay took care that Innocent should not thereafter be 〈◊〉 by them The Pope was so extreamly obliged by these great services of Lotharius that Henry being now dead he created him Emperour of the Romans and crown'd him with an Imperial Diadem Which done Lotharius return'd into Germany to reduce the Leutici then in Rebellion but while the Pope called a Council at Pisa to consider of the State of Christendom and of the preservation of Religion the Anti-Pope who was condemn'd in this Council also with the assistance of Roger and some factious People again bestirs himself against
in any thing whatsoever unless it were towards maintenance of a War for recovery of the Holy Land In the third year also of his Pontificate he laid up another million to the same end and purpose swearing himself never to make use of the same but for that War or for some other War in defence of the Church against Infidels or Hereticks and this Oath of his he would have all Popes obliged to conserve and keep inviolate And that he might the better accumulate Wealth in this nature as he was sparing in his Diet so he was also in his Clothing causing his very Shirts to be patched before he would give them to his Servants and besides these two millions he laid up three other in the same Castle so that at his death five millions were found of his hoard and heaps And yet notwithstanding all this Riches which he had spared he had been most profuse in his publick Buildings and magnificent in Noble Structures Aqueducts and other things of common use and benefit and besides all this he employed a stock of two hundred thousand Crowns to maintain plenty in Rome during the times of scarcity and famine in other parts of Italy He ordained that the number of Cardinals should not exceed seventy in all amongst which four at least ought to be Doctors in Divinity chosen out of the several Orders of Friers as well Mendicants as Regulars and that Cardinals should never be ordained but in the Ember Week of December as had been observed from the time of Clement I. though in the promotions of Cardinal Allen and Morosini he himself transgressed that Rule and created in his time thirty three Cardinals For more speedy decision of matters of Law and that Suits might not spin out into many years he erected a Court of Conscience composed of wise and godly Men and such as feared God He enacted that Adultery should be punished with Death and prohibited judicial Astrology About four Months before his death he began to find himself indisposed and complained of an illness in his Head of which distemper and of the nature of his Disease he often discoursed with much reason according to the Rules of Galen and Hippocrates howsoever during the time of this indisposition he omitted nothing of his business and ate and drank of such Meats and Liquors as are usual for Men of the best health having often in his Mouth the saying of Flavius Vespatian the Emperor That a Prince ought to die on his feet and in action signifying that a Prince ought to die in the work of his Vocation But being more grievously feised by a malignant Fever on the twentieth of August 1590. on the thirtieth of the same Month in the Evening he died being in the seventieth year of his Age having governed the Papal Sea five years four months and three days The Night after his Body was carried in a Hearse to the Church of St. Peter near the Vatican for he died at his Palace of Monte Cavallo from whence Cardinal Montalto caused it to be transported with solemn and Princely equipage to a Chappel which Sixtus had built adjoyning to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore After whose death the Sea was vacant eighteen days VRBAN VII URBAN the Seventh called John Baptista Castagna was born at Rome his Family came from Genoua being descended from the Antient Nobility of that City but his Mother was a Roman of the house of the Ricci He was educated in all the usual Methods of good Literature and applying himself chiefly to the Studies of the Canon and Civil Law he became so good a Proficient therein that he attained the degree of Doctor in the University of Belogna In the time of Julius III. he accompanied his Uncle Veralli into France who was employed in that Court in quality of Legat and acting there under his Uncle he gave clear demonstrations of quickness of parts and vivacity of Spirit fit for great and important undertakings returning afterwards to Rome he dwelt in the House of the Arch-bishop of Rosano Paul IV. made him Governour of Perusa and Pius IV. who immediately succeeded him sent him with the Character of his Legat into Spain in which employment he was continued by Pius V. for the space of seven years Gregory XIII recalled him out of Spain to Rome and bestowed on him the Arch-bishoprick of Rosano without reservation to himself of any quit-rent thereupon and afterwards delegated him his Nuntio to Venice and with that Character gave him a Commission to treat a Peace in the Low Countries between King Philip and those States At his return to Rome he was made Counsellour of the Ecclesiastical State and assumed into the number of Prelats of the Office of the Inquisition in which Employments he continued until the year 1583. when he was created Cardinal by the said Gregory with the Title of Saint Marcellus at a promotion of nineteen Cardinals and soon after he was sent Legat to Bologna He was also held in great esteem by Sixtus V. and entrusted by him in the management of the most important Affairs both in Church and State and by him judged the most probable person to succeed him in the Papal Chair the which he expressed one day when contriving in what manner to enlarge the Street from Santa Croce to Santa Maria Maggiore and thence how it might be continued in a direct line to Santa Maria del popolo he turned about to Cardinal Saint Marcellus and told him That to finish that work would belong to him meaning that the succession being his it would appertain to him to compleat what he had happily begun Nor was it onely the Opinion of Sixtus that Cardinal Marcellus was to be his Successour but the common Voice and rumour of the people fixed the Papal Dignity upon him the which accordingly succeeded for so soon as Sixtus was dead and the usual Obsequies of his Interment solemnized the Cardinals to the number of fifty four on the 7th of September 1590. entred the Conclave where a very great party laboured much for the election of Cardinal Colonna who though he were a person of merit and worth yet he was so highly opposed by a contrary faction that both parties being intrigued in difficulties did as it were by mutual consent concur in their suffrages for Cardinal St. Marcellus who was a person without exception and grateful both to Princes Cardinals and People for no sooner was the Scrutiny begun than all things so appeared in his favour that on the 14th of September at Night the Cardinals were assured of the person on whom the Election should fall more Votes appearing for him than the Complement required howsoever though the Election was deferred until the next day at Noon yet so unanimous and constant was every person to his Vote that the delay of time produced no alteration so that on Saturday the 15th he was with common consent declared Pope And then clothing himself in his Pontifical
sent the Library antiently belonging to the Princes Palatines to Rome which by this Pope was transmitted into the Vatican with this Inscription Sum De Bibliotheca Quam Heidelberga Capta Spolium Fecit Et Pont. Max. Greg. XV. Trophaeum Misit Maximilianus Vtriusque Bavariae Dux S.R. Imperii Archi-Dapifer Et Princeps Elector Anno M.DCXXIII Besides which several Standards taken at the Battel of Prague were sent to Rome and there by the Pope's order hanged up in the Church of Sancta Maria de Victoria The success of the Catholick Princes being to the great comfort of the Pope thus fortunate he encouraged the Duke of Savoy to make War upon Geneva and render himself Master of that place whereby he would not only do justice to his own Right and Title but also overthrow the capital Seat of Heresie and Calvinism With the like zeal did the Pope require of the four Venetian Ambassadours sent according to custom to congratulate his promotion to the Papal Chair that the Republick would again admit into their State those Religious People of the Society of Jesus which had been banished from thence in the time of his Predecessor Paul V. But this request being repugnant to many Laws and formalities and the indissoluble bonds of Government could not be obtained though it was pressed more home by the Marquis de Coevre who passed from Rome to Venice in the name of his Master King Lewis III. and seconded with earnest importunity by the Bishop of Monte Fiascorie the Pope's Nuntio and the powerful Letters of the Cardinal Ludovisio For the Senate declared that they could not depart from their first resolution which being founded on Decrees and solid considerations could in no wise be altered and therefore Princes in Amity with them ought not to press them unto that which was neither permitted to them to grant nor could they deny without doing a displeasure to themselves In this year Osman the Emperour of the Turks invaded Poland with a powerful Army but King Sigismond III. being assisted with Mony from the Pope made a vigorous resistance and gained a signal Victory against the Enemy In this year also Antonius de Dominis who was Arch-bishop of Spalato in Dalmatia deserting his Bishoprick and all his Ecclesiastical Preferments for the sake of the Gospel and the true Protestant Religion went into England where he wrote a Book against the Ecclesiastical State but being unconstant and wavering in his Principles he returned to Rome where he renounced all the Principles of the Protestant Faith and yet afterwards in the year 1624. in the time of Vrban VIII being troubled in Conscience for his Apostacy and reassuming again the Profession he made in opposition to the Roman Church he was imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo where he died after which his Body was burn'd together with his Writings The Congregation de Propaganda Fide was first instituted by this Gregory V. as appears by his Letters Patents for the same dated the 10th of July 1622. and for maintenance thereof he setled a certain Revenue to support such as employed themselves in that important work In the same year also he canonized Ignatius Loyola first Founder of the Jesuits who was formerly beatified likewise Philip Neri Founder of the Oratorians called in French les Peres d' Oratoire with Isidore a Spaniard who had been a Husbandman Teresia a Nun that reformed the Order of the Carmelites and Francis Xaverius a Jesuit whom they call Apostle of the Indies Moreover this Pope at the instance and desire of King Lewis XIII advanced the Bishoprick of Paris to be an Arch-bishoprick But what is more observable in his time was a Diploma which he made for the more orderly and easie Election of Popes by way of secret Suffrages which divers had attempted to perform but could never be perfected until this Pope wrote and published the same the which Rule was afterwards practised at the Election of Vrban VIII the succeeding Pope This Pope had created eleven Cardinals during the time of his Reign which lasted only two years five months and twenty nine days he departing this life on the 8th of July 1623. after which the Sea was vacant twenty eight days his Body was carried to the Church of S. Peter where it was deposited only for some time and afterwards translated to the Roman College of Jesuits where it was buried in a most magnificent Chappel erected by his Nephew Cardinal Ludovisio with this Epitaph inscribed thereupon Gregorius XV. Pontifex Ter Maximus Terrarum Orbis bene-merentissimus Multa brevi jaculatus Imperio Quot Mensium tot Lustrorum aequavit Annos Immortali dignus Nomine Rebus praeclare Gestis Romae pro Româ Pietatem auxit novo Cultu Religionis Religioni Aras extruxit Nova Sanctorum Apotheosi Inter quos Ignatium Societatis Jesu Fundatorem Franciscum Xaverium Antesignanum Gemellum Numen Coeli Albo Vtriusque Orbis gemellum veluti Castorem Festa Omnium Acclamatione intulit Fecisset plura ni Eato abreptus praepropero Objisset Lugendus semper quod imperasset parum An. Sal. MDCXXIII VRBAN VIII GREGORY XV. being dead and his Funeral Rites according to Custom being performed on the 19th of July early in the morning the Cardinals to the number of fifty four entered the Conclave It was the common Opinion of most people that the Election would be long and take up much time before it were determined because that as the Rules and Methods prescribed by the Bull of Gregory V. for Election of Popes which as yet had not been put in practice might increase the difficulty so also it was observed that the Cardinals were much divided in their Opinions and Votes there being many persons at that time who for their Age Vertues and Services formerly rendered to the Ecclesiastical State stood Candidates and esteemed themselves worthy of the Papal Dignity namely four Princes viz. Farnese Este Savoy and Medici and four Nephews of Popes Bourghese Ludovisio Buoncompagno and Aldobrandino howsoever contrary to common Opinion and beyond expectation of all the Cardinals agreed and on the 6th of August being Sunday and the day of the Festival observed in remembrance of the Transfiguration of Christ they all concurred with common Voice in the Election of Maffeo Barberini who was the fourth Pope which the City of Florence had given to the Church namely three of the House of Medicis Aldobrandino and this Barberini who was the fifth This Pope was of the age of fifty six years when he was chosen much to the wonder of the Electors themselves who were amazed to have deceived their own hopes by promoting a Person who for his complexion and vigour might out live the greater part of them This Family of Barberini had flourished for the space of five hundred years in the little Republick of Simi-Fontana which was situated between Florence and Siena and not above two miles distant from the Town of Barberini but this Republick being afterwards
of the Feast of Unleavened Bread when they came from all parts of Judoea to Jerusalem as into a publick Prison and especially on the day of the Passeover upon which they crucified Christ being now to undergo the deserved punishment both of their frequent revolts from the Roman Government and also of their villany and perfidiousness in putting to death the innocent Jesus Upon this Victory over the Jews the Father and Son were honoured with a Triumph both riding in the same Chariot and Domitian upon a white Horse following them The Monuments of this Triumph remain still in the Via Nova where are to be seen engraven the Candesticks and the Tables of the old Law that were taken out of the Temple and triumphantly brought away Yet Vespasian exercised so much humanity towards the Jews even when they were conquered that for all those whom he found among them remaining of the House of David as being of Royal descent he had a very good esteem And indeed he always used his Power with great Moderation being of so mild and merciful a Temper as to discharge even Traytors with no other than a verbal Correction and to slight the Discourses of insolent and talkative people and in general to be forgetful of Faults and Injuries He was look'd upon as too much enclin'd to Avarice and yet he used no oppression for the getting of Money and what he had he employed in Bounty and Magnificence For he both finish'd the Temple of Peace adjoyning to the Forum that had been begun by Claudius and began that Amphitheatre a part of which is yet to be seen with admiration He had so great an opinion of the Bravery and Merit of his Son Titus that upon occasion of certain tumults rais'd by some ambitious men who aspir'd to the Empire he said publickly That either his Son or no man would be his Successor in the Empire And good ground he had to say so for that Titus both for his Courage and Integrity was accounted the Darling and Delight of Mankind He was endued with an Eloquence excellency suited to the times of Peace and with a Courage to those of War he was very merciful to Offenders and so kind and bountiful to all that he never denied any man any thing Upon which occasion when some of his Friends took the liberty to find fault with him as too profuse he told them It was not fit that any man should depart sad out of the presence of a Prince And remembring at a certain time that he had not conferr'd any benefit in a whole day he thereupon cried out to those about him My Friends I have lost a Day Never any Emperour was superiour to him in Magnificence the Amphitheatre together with the Baths near adjoyning being perfectly compleated and dedicated and an Hunting of five thousand wild Beasts exhibited by him He recall'd from Exile Mursonius Rufus a famous Philosopher and was much pleased with the conversation of Asconius Poedianus a most learned man He died in the second year of his Empire and was carried to his Sepulchre with so great and universal a lamentation as if every man had lost a Father There are some who write that Cletus succeeded Linus in the second year of Vespasian who held the Empire ten years Whether that were so or no 't is certain that Cletus was a most holy and good man and that he left nothing undone that might contribute to the enlargement and increase of the Church of God In his time lived Luke a Physitian of Antioch one extraordinarily well skilled in the Greek Language a follower of S. Paul the Apostle and his constant attendant and Companion in his Travels He pen'd the Gospel which is commended by S. Paul and which S. Paul for a good reason calls his Gospel He wrote also the Acts of the Apostles being himself an Eye-witness of them He lived eighty four years was married in Bithynia and buried at Constantinople whither his bones together with those of Andrew the Apostle were in the tenth year of Constantius conveyed out of Achaia At the same time likewise Philip returning out of Scythia which by his Example and Preaching he had kept stedfast in the faith for twenty years together into Asia died at Jerusalem As for Cletus himself having setled the Church as well as the Times would bear and ordain'd according to St. Peter's command twenty five Presbyters he was crown'd with Martyrdom in the Reign of Domitian and buried near the body of S. Peter in the Vatican April 27. There were many other Martyrs about the same time among whom is reckoned Flavia Domicilla Sisters Daughter to Flavius Clemens the Consul who was banish'd into the Island Pontia for the profession of Christianity Cletus sate in the Chair twelve years one month eleven days and by his Death the See was vacant twenty days S. CLEMENS CLEMENS born in Rome in the Region of Mons Coelius his Fathers name Faustinus lived in the time of Titus his Successor Domitian Who was more like to Nero or Caligula than to his Father Vespasian or his Brother yet at the beginning of his Empire he kept within some tolerable bounds but soon after he broke out into very great enormities of Lust Idleness Rage and Cruelty crimes which brought upon him so great an Odium as almost quite defac'd the Memory and Renown of his Father and his Brother Many of the Nobility he put to death whereof most were by his order assassined in the places whither he had banish'd them He was so industriously idle as to spend the time of his privacy and retirement in killing Flies with a Bodkin for which reason when a certain person coming out of his Presence was asked whether any one were with Coesar he answer'd merrily No not so much as a Fly He arriv'd to such an heighth of Folly and arrogance as to expect divine Honours and command that in all Discourses and Writings concerning him the Title of Lord and God should be given him He was the second from Nero that rais'd a Persecution against the Christians Moreover he gave order that all those of the Linage of David among the Jews should by Interrogatories and racking them to Confession be diligently search'd after and being found utterly destroy'd and extin guish'd In the end the divine Vengeance overtaking him he was in the fifteenth year of his Empire stab'd to death in the Palace by his own servants His Body was carried out by the common Bearers and ingloriously buried by Philix at her Countrey-house in the Via Latina Clemens was now as I have said the fourth Bishop of Rome from S. Peter Linus being accounted the second and Cletus the third though the Latins generally reckon Clemens next after Peter and that he was design'd so appears from his own Letter to James Bishop of Jerusalem wherein he gives him the following account of that matter Simon Peter being apprehensive of his approaching Death in the
presence of several Brethren taking hold of my hand This says he is the person whom having been my assistant in all affairs since I came to Rome I constitute Bishop of that City and when I shewed my willingness eo decline so great a Burden he exposulated with me in this manner Wilt thou consult only thine own convenience and deny thy assistance to the poor fluctuating Church of God when it is in thy power to steer it But he being a person of wonderful modesty did freely prefer Linus and Cletus to that dignity before himself undertook it He wrote in the name of the Roman Church a very useful Epistle to the Corinthians not differing in style from that of the Hebrews which is said to be St. Pauls This Epistle was formerly read publickly in several Churches there is another bearing his name which the Ancients did not thing authentick and Eufebius in the third Book of his History does find fault with a long Disputation between St. Peter and Appion said to be written by our Clement 'T is certain that John the Apostle son of Zebedee and Brother of James lived till this time who was the last Penman of the Gospel and confirmed what had been before written by Matthew Mark and Luke The reason why he wrote last is said to be that he might confront and defeat the Heresie of the Ebionites who impudently denied Christ to have had a being before his Birth of the Blessed Virgin and accordingly we find him very particular in demonstrating the Divinity of our Saviour He wrote several other things and among the rest his Revelation during his banishment into the Island Patmos by Domitian who being afterwards slain and his Acts for their excessive severity rescinded by the Senate he returned to Ephesus in the time of Nerva where he continued till the Reign of Trajan supporting the Churches of Asia by his Counsel and Writings till at last being worn out with Age he rested in the Lord the sixty eighth year after the Passion of Christ. Our Clemens by his Piety Religion and Learning made daily many Proselytes to Christianity whereupon P. Tarquinius the High Priest and Mamertinus the City Praefect stir'd up the Emperour against the Christians at whose command Clement was banish'd to an Island where he found near two thousand Christians condemn'd to hew Marble in the Quarries In this Island there being at that time a great scarcity of water which they were forced to fetch at six miles distance Clement going going to the top of a little Hill hard by sees there a Lamb under whose right foot flowed miraculously a plentiful Spring with which all the Islanders were refresh'd and many of them thereupon converted to the Christian faith At which Trajan being enraged sent some of his Guards who threw Clement into the Sea with an Anchor tied about his neck But his blessed Body was not long after cast on the shore and being buried at the place where this miraculous fountain had sprung up a Temple was built over it This is said to have happened September the fourteenth in the third year of the Emperor Trajan He was in the Chair nine years two months and ten days he divided the Wards of the City among seven Notaries who were to register the Acts of the Martyrs and at the Ordinations which he held according to Custom in the Month of December he made ten Presbyters two Deacons and fifteen Bishops By his death the See was vacant two and twenty days S. ANACLETUS ANACLETUS an Athenian son of Antiochus was successor to Clement in the time of Trajanus This Trajans Predecessor Nerva Cocceius was an excellent person both in his private and publick capacity just and equal in all his proceedings and one whose Government was very advantageous to the Republick Through his procurement the Acts of Domitian being repeal'd by Decree of the Senate multitudes thereupon return'd from banishment and several by his bounty had the Goods of which they had before been plundered restor'd to them But being now very old and drawing near to the time of his Death out of his care of the Publick Weal he adopted Trajan and then died in the sixteenth Month of his Reign and of his Age the seventy second year Trajan himself a Spaniard surnamed Ulpius Crinitus coming to the Empire surpassed the best of Princes in in the glory of his Arms the the Goodness of his Temper and the moderation of his Government He extended the bounds of the Empire far and wide reduced that part of Getmany beyond the Rhine to its former state subdued Dacia and several other Nations beyond the Danow recovered Parthia gave a King to the Albanians made Provinces beyond Euphrates and Tygris overcame and kept Armenia Assyria Mesopotamia Seleucia Ctesiphon and Babylon and proceeded as far as the borders of India and the Red Sea where he left a Fleet to infest those Borders The Ecclesiastical Laws and Constitutions of Anacletus were as followeth viz. That no Prelate or other Clerk should suffer his beard or hair to grow long that no Bishop should be ordained by less than three other Bishops that the Clergy should be admitted into holy Orders in publick only and that all the faithful should after Consecration communicate or be put out of the Church By this means the Christian interest encreas'd that Trajan fearing lest the Roman State might be impaired thereby gave allowance to a third Persecution of the Christians in which multitudes were put to Death and particularly Ignatius the third Bishop of the Church of Antioch after St. Peter Who being taken and condemn'd to suffer by wild beasts as he was carried to Rome by his Guards whom he called his Ten Leopards he all along in his passage encourag'd and confirm'd the Christians by Discourse with some and by Epistle to others declaring his readiness to suffer in this manner Come Cross come Beasts come Wrack come the torture of my whole body and the torments of the Devil upon me so I may enjoy Christ. And upon the occasion of his hearing the Lions roar Corn says he I am let me be ground by the teeth of these beasts that I may be found fine bread He died in Trajan's eleventh year and his bones were afterwards buried in the Suburbs of Antioch But Plinius Secundus who was then Governour of that Province being moved with compassion to see so many executed wrote to the Emperour Trajan informing him that incredible numbers of men were daily put to Death who were persons of an unblameable life and who in no point transgressed the Roman Laws save only that before day-break they would sing Hymns to Christ their God but that Adulteries and the like Crimes were disallowed and abominated by them Hereupon Trajan gave order that the Magistrates should not make search after the Christians but only punish those who voluntarily offered themselves During this Persecution Simeon the kinsman of our Lord son of
our Saviour was crucified whereas at other times the celebration of the Mass was forbidden till the third hour or between the hours of nine and twelve a Clock the time when as St. Mark tells us he was fastned to the Cross. He also appointed that the Hymn Glory be to God on High should be sung before the Sacrifice In his time Justinus a Philosopher of Neapolis a City of Palestine labour'd successfully in the defending Christianity presented to Antoninus and his Sons a book which he had written against the Gentiles and held a Dialogue with Tryphon a principal Jew He wrote also very warmly against Marcion who adhering to the Heresie of Cerdo affirmed that there were two Gods the one good the other just as two contrary principles of Creation and Goodness He opposed likewise Crescens the Cynick as a person gluttonous fearful of Death given over to Luxury and lust and a blasphemer of Christ. But being at length by this mans treacherous practices betray'd he suffered in the cause of Christianity Eusebius writing of this Cynick allows him only to have been a vain-glorious Pretender but not a Philosopher At the same time the Valentinian Hereticks prevail'd who were the followers of one Valentinus a Platonist and held that Christ took nothing of the body of the Virgin but passed clean through her as through a Pipe Now also Photinus Bishop of Lyons a man of singular Learning and Piety as Isidore tells us suffered Martyrdom with great resolution being ninety years old Telesphorus having at four Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters eight Deacons thirteen Bishops died a Martyr and was buried in the Vatican near Saint Peter He was in the Chair eleven years three months twenty two days By his Death the See was vacant seven days S. HYGINUS HYGINUS an Athenian Son of a Philosopher succeeded Telesphorus during the Empire of Antoninus Pius Wâ—â—â—se extraordinary merit compels me to add something farther in his praise 〈…〉 I come to give an account of Hyginus He was so far from the vanity of valuing himself upon the glory of his Arms that he made it his business rather to defend the Provinces of the Empire than to encrease them and had often that saying of Scipio in his mouth that he had rather save one Citizen than destroy a thousand Enemies being herein of a quite contrary temper to that of Domitian who from a consciousness of his own cruelty did so hate and fear a multitude that he would expose the Roman Army to the fury of its Enemies on purpose that it might return home thinner and less formidable Moreover Pius was so famous for his Justice that several Princes and Nations did at his Command cease their Hostilities making him the Arbitratour of their differences and standing to his determination as to the Justice of their Pretensions For these admirable qualities the Romans after his much lamented death in honor to his memory appointed Cirque-shews built a Temple and 〈…〉 a Flamen with an Order called by his name At this time Hyginus prudently setled and confirm'd the several Orders and Degrees of the Clergy and ordain'd the Solemn Consecration of Churches the number of which he would not have encreas'd or diminish'd without leave of the Metropolitan or Bishop He forbad also that the Timber or other Materials prepared for the building any Church should be converted to prophane uses yet allowing that with the Bishop's consent they might be made use of towards the erecting any other Church or Religious House He likewise ordained that at least one Godfather or one Godmother should be present at Baptism and that no Metropolitan should condemn or censure any Bishop of his Province until the cause were first heard and discussed by the other Bishops of the Province though some make this latter an Institution of Pelagius not Hyginus In his time lived Polycarp a Disciple of St. John the Apostle and by him made Bishop of Smyrna the most celebrated man for Religion and learning in all Asia He coming to Rome reduc'd to the Orthodox Faith multitudes who had been seduc'd into the Errours of Marcion and Valentinus the former of which by chance meeting him and asking whether he knew him Polycarp answered that he knew him to be the first-born of the Devil For this Heretick denied the Father of our blessed Saviour to be God the Creatour who by his Son made the World But afterwards in the time of M. Antoninus and L. Aurclius Commodus who raised the fourth Persecution Polycarp was burnt at Smyrna by order of the Proconsul Melito also an Asian Bishop of Sardis and a Disciple of Fronto the Oratour presented to M. Antoninus a book written in desence of the Christian Doctrine Tertullian highly extols his Parts and says that most of the Christians look'd upon him as a Prophet Moreover Theophilus Bishop of Antioch wrote a book against the Heresie of Hermogenes who asserted an uncreated eternal matter co-eval to God himself As for Hyginus himself having deserved well of the Church and at three Decembrian Ordinations made fifteen Presbyters five Deacons six Bishops he died and was buried in the Vatican by S. Peter January 11. He was in the Chair four years three months four days The See was then vacant four days S. PIUS I. PIUS an Italian of Aquileia son of Ruffinus lived to the time of M. Antoninus Verus who together with his Brother L. Aurelius Commodus jointly exercis'd the Government nineteen years These two Princes undertook a War against the Parthians and manag'd it with such admirable courage and success that they had the honour of a Triumph decreed to them But not long after Commodus dying of an Apoplexy Antoninus was sole Emperour a person who so excell'd in all good qualities that it is more easie to admire than to describe him for both because from his very youth no change of his Fortune made any alteration in his mind or his countenance and because it is hard to determine whether the sweetness of his natural temper or the knowledg he learnt from Cornelius Fronto were more conspicuous in him he deservedly gain'd the surname of Philosopher And indeed as Capitolinus tells us he was often wont to use that saying of Plato That then the World would be happy when either Philosophers were Princes or Princes would be Philosophers He was so great a lover of Learning that even when he was Emperour he would be present at the Lectures of Apollonius the Philosopher and Sextus Plutarch's Nephew and he set up the Statue of his Tutour Fronto in the Senate-house as a Testimony of the Honour he had for him At this time Pius maintain'd a strict friendship and familiarity with Hermes who wrote the book called Pastor in which book he introduces an Angel in the form of a Shepherd who commanded him to persuade all Christians to keep the Feast of Easter on a Sunday which Pius accordingly did Moreover he ordained that every
Convert from the Cerinthian Heresie should at his reception into the Church be baptized At the request of Praxedes a devout Woman he dedicated a Church at the Baths of Novatus to her Sister S. Pudentiana to which himself made several donations oftentimes celebrated Mass in it and built a Font which he blessed and consecrated and at which he baptized a great number of Proselytes He also appointed a punishment upon those who were negligent in handling the body and blood of Christ. If through the Priests carelesness any of the Cup had fallen upon the ground he was to undergo a Penance of forty days if it fell upon the Altar of three days if upon the Altar-cloth of four days it upon any other Cloth of nine days Whithersoever it fell he was to lick it up if he could if not the board or stone to be wash'd or scraped and what of it could be recovered thereby either burnt or laid up in the Sacrary In his time Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia was much esteem'd who wrote an excellent Apology for Christianity and presented it to Antoninus the second He wrote also against the Montanists who with their two fanatick Prophetesses Priscillia and Maximilla pretended that the descent of the Holy Ghost was not upon the Apostles but themselves an opinion which they had learn'd from their Leader Montanus At this time also the learned Tatianus was in good reputation so long as he swerved not from the Doctrine of his Master Justin Martyr but afterwards being puff'd up with a great conceit of himself he became the Author of a new Heresie which being propagated by one Severus the followers of it were from him called Severians They drank no Wine ate no Flesh rejected the Old Testament and believed not the Resurrection Moreover Philip Bishop of Crete now published an excellent book against Marcion and his followers whose Errours were the same with those of Cerdo Musanus also wrote a book against the Hereticks called Encratitoe or the Abstemious who agreed in opinion with the Severians looking upon all carnal copulation as filthy and unclean and condemning those Meats which God hath given for the use of mankind But to return to Pius having at five Decembrian Ordinations made nineteen Presbyters twenty one Deacons ten Bishops he died and was buried in the Vatican near S. Peter July 11. He was in the Chair eleven years four months three days and by his death the See was vacant thirteen days S. ANICETUS ANICETUS a Syrian the son of one John de Vicomurco lived in the time of Antoninus Verus concerning whom we have spoken in the Life of Pius Which Antoninus though he were a great Phisopher yet neglected not the pursuit of Military glory For together with his Son Commodus Antoninus he did with great courage and success gain a Victory and a Triumph over the Germans Marcomanni Quadi and Sarmatoe At his first enterprizing this War his Exchequer being so low that he had not money to pay his Soldiers he expos'd to publick sale in the Forum Trajani all the furniture of his Palace and all the Jewels of his Empress But afterwards returning home victoriously to those who were willing to restore the Goods they had bought he refunded what they paid for them but used no force against those who refus'd to relinquish their bargains Upon this Victory he was very liberal to all who had done any good service to the publick to some Provinces he remitted their accustomed Tribute he caused to be publickly burnt in the Forum the Writings by which any man was made a Debtor to the Exchequer and by new Constitutions moderated the severity of the old Laws By this means he became so much the darling of the People that any man had a particular brand of infamy set upon him who had not Antoninus his Effigies in his House Anicetus that the reputation of the Church might not suffer by the extravagancy of a few men ordained that no Clergyman should upon any pretence wear long hair and that no Bishop should be consecrated by fewer than three of the same Order a Constitution which was afterwards confirmed by the Council of Nice and that at the Consecration of a Metropolitan all the Bishops of the Province should be present Moreover he ordained as Ptolomy tells us that no Bishop should implead his Metropolitan but before the Primate or the See Apostolick this being also a Constitution which was afterwards confirm'd by the Council of Nice and several succeeding Bishops of Rome and that all Arch-bishops should not be called Primates but only those of them who have a particular title to that denomination the Primates having also the 〈…〉 of Patriarchs whereas the others are simply Arch-bishops or Metropolitans In his time Egestippus was a great propugner of the Christian 〈…〉 who as an imitator of their manner of speaking of whose lives he had been a diligent observer in a very plain unaffected style wrote a History of Ecclesiastical affairs from the Passion of our Lord to the Age in which he lived He says of himself that he came to Rome in the time of Anicetus whom he calls the tenth Bishop from St. Peter and that he staid there to the time of Ele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who had been Deacon to Anicetus He inveighed much against Idolators for building sumptuous Monuments and Temples to the Dead as particularly Adrian the Emperour who in honour to his darling Antinous had instituted solemn Games and Prizes at the City which he built and called by his name Antinoe and also erected a Temple and appointed priests for his Worship Some say that Dionysius lived in the Pontificat of Anicetus but Writers are in this place very confused in their Chronology some placing Pius first others Anicetus and so they are in their 〈…〉 too However in an History of things so remote and of which through the negligence of the Ancients we have so slender an account it will be better to say something of the matters themselves though it be some time before or after they were transacted than altogether to pass them by in silence As for Anicetus having at five Decembrian Ordinations made nineteen Presbyters four Deacons nine Bishops he received a Crown of Martyrdom and was buried in the Sepulchre of 〈◊〉 in the Via Appia April the seventeenth He was in the Chair eleven years four months and three days and by his Death the See was vacant seventeen days S. SOTER SOTER a Campanian of Fundi Son of Concordius lived in the time of L. Antoninus Commodus This Commodus was as Lampridius plays upon his name very 〈◊〉 and hurtful to all his Subjects being in nothing like his Father save that he also thanks to the Christian Soldiers for it fought successfully against the Germans In that War when the Army of Commodus was in great straits for want of Water 't is said that at the Prayers of the Christian Legion God supplied and refreshed
the Romans with rain from Heaven and at the same time destroyed the Germans with Thundershot The truth of which the Emperour himself testified by his Letters But at his return to Rome he utterly renounced all Virtue and goodness and shamefully gave himself up to all manner of Luxury and uncleanness He used in imitation of Nero to combat with the Gladiators and oftentimes encountred with wild beasts in the Amphitheatre many of the Senatours he put to death and those especially whom he observed to be more conspicuous for extraction or merit Soter diverting his mind from the contemplation of this wretched Scene of things to the care of Ecclesiastical affairs decreed That no Deaconess should touch the Altar-cloth or put the Incense upon the Censer at the time of celebration There is extant an Epistle of his concerning that matter written to the Bishops of Italy He ordained likewise that no Woman should be accounted a lawful Wife but she whom the Priest had formally blessed and whom her Parents had with the usual Christian solemnities given to her Husband This Constitution he made to remove the danger and scandal that was incident to new-married persons from the jugling Magical tricks of lewd Fellows Indeed Gratian ascribes this Decree to Euaristus but whose due it is I leave the Reader to judg for it matters not much whether it be attributed to the one or the other During the Pontificat of Soter as Eusebius tells us lived Dionysius Bishop of Corinth a person of so great parts and Industry that he instructed not only the people of his own City and Province but also by his Epistles the Bishops of other Cities and Provinces For being throughly acquainted with the Writings of St. Paul he could the more easily keep others within the bounds of their duty by the Authority which his Learning and Sanctity had gained him 〈◊〉 also an Asian Scholar to Tatianus wrote several things in defence of our Religion and in particular he very handsomly exposed Apelles the Heretick for worshipping a God whom he professed he did not know for he denied Christ to be truly a God and affirmed him to be only in appearance a Man Some say that the Cataphrygian Heresie was at this time set on foot by Montanus Moreover Clemens a Presbyter of Alexandria and Master to Origen was now a great Writer among other things he was Author of Strom. lib. 9. 〈◊〉 lib. 8. and one book against the Gentiles There are some who make Pinytus a person of admirable Eloquence 〈◊〉 a famous Poet who wrote the Halieutics or books concerning Fishes and Herodian the Grammarian Contemporaries to our Bishop Soter who having at five Decembrian Ordinations made eight Presbyters nine Deacons eleven Bishops he died and was buried in the Via Appia in the Sepulchre of Calistus He was in the Chair nine years three months twenty one days And the See was vacant twenty one days S. ELEUTHERIUS ELEUTHERIUS a Grecian of Nicopolis Son of Habundius lived also in the Reign of L. Antoninus Commodus For whose flagitious Life the City of Rome smarted sorely for in his time the Capitol being fired with Lightning together with the famous Library which had cost the Ancients so much care in collecting were consumed nor did the Neighbouring Houses escape the same calamity Not long after another Fire brake forth in which the Temple of Vesta the Palace and a good part of the City were burnt to the ground He was of so rash and freakish a humour that he caused the Head of a vast Colosse to be taken off and that of his own Statue to be placed in the room of it and in imitation of Augustus he would needs have a month of his own name ordering December to be called Commodus But these things were soon changed after his Death and himself adjudged an Enemy to mankind such an hatred and detestation did all men entertain of his Villanies He was strangled in the twelfth year and seventh month of his Reign Eleutherius soon after his entrance upon the Pontificate received a Message from Lucius King of Britain wherein he expressed a desire that 〈◊〉 and his Subjects might become Christians Hereupon Eleutherius sends Fugatius and Damianus two very religious men to that Island to baptize the King and his People there were at that time in Britain twenty five Heathen Priests called Flamens and among them three styled Arch-flamens in the place of which as Ptolomy says were constituted three Arch-bishops the ancient Church being wont to fix Patriarchs there where in the time of Gentilism Proto-flamens had been seated Furthermore Eleutherius ordained that no person should superstitiously abstain from any sort of meat which was commonly eaten and that no Clergy-man should be degraded before he were legally found guilty of the Crime laid to his Charge following herein the Example of our Saviour who so patiently bore the fault of Judas being not yet convicted though really guilty that whatsoever he acted in the mean time by virtue of his Apostleship remained firm and valid He also prohibited the passing sentence against any person accused unless he were present to make his defence which was afterwards confirmed by Damasus and the Pontifical Laws In his Pontificate the Church enjoy'd peace and tranquility and Christianity was wonderfully propagated in the World but especially at Rome where many of the best quality with their Wives and Children received the Faith and were baptized Only Apollonius a great Oratour was now a Martyr having first in the Senate made an excellent Speech in favour of Christianity the doing of which was then a capital Crime Apollonius being dead several Heresies very much prevailed For the Sect of the Marcionites was divided into several Parties some of them owning but one Principle or God others two others three thereby utterly undermining the credit of the Prophets and other discoverers of revealed Religion Moreover Florinus and Blastus set up new Figments against the Truth asserting God to be the Author of all kinds of evil in contradiction to that Text that every thing which God made was good Opposite to these were the Quotiliani who denied God to be the author of any kind of evil in equal contradiction to that other Text I the Lord create evil Some are of Opinion that Galen of Pergamus the famous Physician and Julian the great Lawyer and Fronto the Rhetorician lived at this time though whether they did or no in so great a confusion of time and Story I shall neither affirm nor deny But I dare be confident concerning Modestus and Bardesanes the former of which wrote against Marcion the latter against Valentinus being now as strenuous an opposer as he had been formerly a zealous follower of that Heretick S. 〈◊〉 upon the perusal of his books translated out of the Syriack language into Greek affirms this Bardesanes to have been a wonderfully brisk ingenious Writer And if says he there be
his constancy and Resolution was left with his Mother a Widow and six Brethren in a very low condition all his Fathers Estate being confiscated because they owned Christ to be the true God Hereupon he was forced to teach a Grammar-School to get a livelihood for himself and his Relations and among others he had for his Scholar Plutarchus who afterwards became a Martyr Not long after applying himself wholly to Religion he undertook the Office of a Catechist or Preacher He was a person of very great parts and skil'd in all Languages and kinds of Learning He was wonderfully temperate and abstemious as to meat and drink and all other things imitating the poverty of Christ and for many years walking bare-foot and moreover in his younger days he made himself an Example of that passage in the Gospel there be Eunuchs which have made themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heavens sake Many were so encouraged in Religion by his Pattern that they did with great 〈◊〉 lay down their lives for Christianity and particularly a Woman named 〈◊〉 who was put to death by pouring scalding Pitch upon her Head As for Zephyrinus having at four Decembrian Ordinations made thirteen Presbyters seven Deacons thirteen Bishops he died in the time of Severus and was buried in the Via Appia not 〈◊〉 from the Sepulchre of Calistus August the 26th He was in the Chair eight years seven months ten days and the See was vacant six days S. CALISTUS I. CALISTUS an Italian of 〈◊〉 Son of Domitius lived in the time of Severus an Emperour whose fortune changed with his mind For no sooner did he raise the fifth Persecution against the Christians but he was presently exposed to a multitude of dangers and engaged in several Wars on the one side by Piscennius Niger who was the cause of great Commotions in Syria on the other by Clodius Albinus whom yet he vanquish'd with great slaughter in Gaul But passing over from thence into Britain being deserted of his Friends and accompanied only with calamities he died at 〈◊〉 in the fifth year of his Empire leaving behind him two Sons Bassianus and Geta the latter of which was look'd upon and put to death as a publick Enemy both because of his abominably dissolute 〈◊〉 but especially because he had with his own hand slain Papinian the great Asylum of the Civil Law But Bassianus receiving from the 〈◊〉 the name of Antoninus became possess'd of the Empire and took the 〈◊〉 of Caracalla from a kind of long Vests which he bestow'd by way of largess among the 〈◊〉 He was of a nature more cruel than his Father and so impotently vicious thatthere was no kind of Villany which he was not guilty of He is said to have slain his Brother Geta and to have married his own Step-mother He left behind him nothing great and magnificent to perpetuate his memory save only the Antoninian Baths which bore his name as being begun by him but were indeed finish'd by the Emperour Alexander Severus and the Causey he made in the Via Nova He made it Capital for any to wear Amulets about their necks for the cure of Quartan or Tertian Agues But at length undertaking a War against the Parthians he was surprized by his Enemies between Edessa and Charroe and stab'd in the seventh year of his Reign as he was alighting off his Horse to ease Nature But during the most confused state of things and 〈◊〉 the Government of the most dissolute Emperours Calistus was not at all diverted from his purpose of Establishing a solemn Fast three times in the year to be observed on the Sabbath or Saturday particularly to implore a blessing upon the fruits of the Earth Corn Wine and Oyl viz. in the fourth month the seventh and the tenth beginning the year according to the custom of the Jews Though afterwards he changed his opinion and appointed it at the four seasons of the year viz. Spring Summer Autumn and Winter at which times in succeeding Ages holy Orders were 〈◊〉 which before was used to be only in the month of December He also ordained that Accusations against Clergymen should not be admitted of in any Court if the informers were either infamous or liable to just suspicion or avowed Enemies of the accused Moreover he adjudged those to be Hereticks who maintained that Priests after they 〈◊〉 once convicted of any notorious Crime were not to be restored to their former Dignity though they shewed never so great signs of their repentance Damasus tells us that he built Saint Maries Church in Trastevere but I cannot imagine that of his founding to be the magnificent vast one which continues there at this time since in those days of frequent Persecution all things were carried secretly and the Christians had only small Chappels and those private and hidden and for the most part under-ground He likewise built a Burial-place 〈◊〉 by his own name in the Via Appia at the very place where the ashes of a multitude of Martyrs had been formerly reposited so that 〈◊〉 Reader must not think it strange that we have already said of several that they were 〈◊〉 in the Coemetery of 〈◊〉 though it had not that name till now I 〈◊〉 self with some of my Friends have religiously went to view it 〈◊〉 the ashes and bones of the Martyrs are 〈◊〉 to be seen and 〈◊〉 and Chappels in which the Christians privately communicated when through the Edicts of some Emperours they could not do it publickly In his time lived Tertullian an African the Son of a Proconsular Centurion whom S. Hierom reckoneth next to 〈◊〉 and Apollonius the principal of the Latin Writers He was a man of excellent Parts and wrote a multitude of books I have 〈◊〉 saith 〈◊〉 at Concordia a little Town in Italy one Paul who said that when he was very young he was at Rome acquainted with S. Cyprian's Amanuensis who assured him that S. Cyprian never passed a day without the reading of Tertullian But having continued half his life-time a Presbyter at Rome through the Envy and Reproaches of the Roman Clergy he afterwards 〈◊〉 Montanist and wrote several Pieces against the Orthodox Doctrine particularly those de Pudicitiâ de Monogamiâ and de 〈◊〉 He also composed six Books against Apollonius At the same time likewise Origen flourished and did great service for the Church For he opposed the Heresie of the Ebionites who asserted our 〈◊〉 to be a 〈◊〉 Man the Son of Joseph and Mary and press'd the observation of Mosaical Rites both which Errours were 〈◊〉 by Symmachus Moreover by his Learning he brought over to the Orthodox faith one Ambrosius who had been as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 or as Hierom will have it a Marcionite to whom with 〈◊〉 a Presbyter he dedicated his book de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that violent opposer of Christianity and who was Origen's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot yet sometimes 〈◊〉 commending him calling him 〈◊〉 most learned and Prince of
C. 997. having brought home his Army out of Syria into Italy reigned together with his Son whom he joyned to him as a Partner in the Empire five years He was the first Christian Emperour and 't is said of him that he never presumed to go to the holy Mysteries before he had confessed After the third year of his Reign the thousandth year from the building of the City being compleated he caused to be celebrated the Secular Games which were wont to be repeated every hundredth year They were first instituted by Valerius 〈◊〉 after the expulsion of the Kings and had their name from the Latin word seculum which signifies the space of an hundred years But by the fraud of Decius both the Philips were slain though in divers places the Father being put to death at Verona the Son at Rome Fabianus distributed the several Regions of the City among the seven Deacons by whom the Acts of the Martyrs written by the Notaries were to be collected and digested for the example of others who professed the Faith of Christ. He also built Monuments in the Coemeteries for the honour of the Martyrs Further he ordained that every year at some Sacrament the Chrism or holy Oyl should be new consecrated and the old burnt in the Church In his time sprang up the Novatian Heresie For Novatianus a Presbyter of the City of Rome out of an eager desire of being Bishop put all things into a great disorder that the Pontificate might not come into the hands of Cornelius who was Successor to Fabianus Having separated himself from the Church he gave to himself and his Followers the Denomination of the Pure and denied that Apostates though truly penitent ought to be received into the Church Upon this occasion a Council of sixty Bishops as many Presbyters and several Deacons was held at Rome in which the opinion of Novatianus was condemned as false for that according to the example of our Saviour Pardon is to be denied to no man that repents At the same time Origen opposed the heretical Doctrine of certain persons who affirmed that the Souls of men died with their bodies and were both together to be raised again at the Resurrection as also that of the Helchesaites who altogether rejected the Apostle S. Paul and asserted that though a man in his Torments should outwardly deny Christ yet he might be free from Guilt provided his heart were upright The same Author wrote against Celsus an Epicurean who opposed the Christians and sent Letters concerning Religion to the Emperour Philip and his Wife Severa and wrote also many things concerning the order of Faith to Fabianus Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia having from a desire to see the holy Places made a Journey to Jerusalem was there compell'd by Narcissus Bishop of that City and now grown old to be his Assistant in the Administration of that Bishoprick But the Persecution under Decius growing hot at the same that Babylas suffered Martyrdom at Antioch he being carried to Coesarea was there put to death for the faith of Christ. As for Fabianus concerning whom it is commonly believed that when enquiry was made for a Successour to Anterus a Dove lighted upon his head in the same shape with that which descended upon the head of Jesus at Jordan he received a Crown of Martyrdom after that at five Ordinations which he held in the month of December he had ordained twenty two Presbyters seven Deacons eleven Bishops and was interr'd in the Coemetery of Calistus in the Via Appia Jan. the 19th He was in the Chair fourteen years eleven months eleven days and by his death the See was vacant six days S. CORNELIUS CORNELIUS a Romam the Son of Castinus lived in the times of the Emperour Decius Who being born at Buda in Hungary upon the death of the two Philips assumed the Empire proving a bitter Enemy to the Christians because those Philips had been favourers of their Religion But having with his Son Caesar reigned only two years he was so suddenly cut off by the Goths that not so much as his dead body was ever found A just Judgment upon him who raising the seventh Persecution had put to death a multitude of most holy Men. During the Pontificate of Cornelius whose Judgment was that Apostates upon their Repentance ought to be received Novatus irregularly ordained Novatianus and Nicostratus upon which occasion the Confessour's who had fallen off from Cornelius being of the same opinion with Maximus the Presbyter and Moyses reconciled themselves to the Church again and thereby gained the name of Confessours indeed But not long after these Hereticks pressing hard upon him Cornelius is banished to Centumcelioe to him Cyprian Bishop of Carthage being himself imprison'd wrote Letters by which he came to understand both the calamity of his Friend and the confirmation of his own Exile There are extant 〈◊〉 other Epistles of Cyprian to Cornelius full of Religion and Piety but the choicest of them is accounted to be that wherein he accuses and condemns Novatus a certain Disciple of his Concerning the same Heresie Dionysius B. of Alexandria who had once been Scholar to Origen wrote to Cornelius and in another Epislle reproves Novatianus for having deserted the Communion of the Roman Church and pretending that he was forced against his will to take the 〈◊〉 upon him to whom he thus replies That thou wert says he O Novatian chosen to that Dignity against thy Will will appear when thou dost voluntarily leave it Cornelius before he went into banishment at the Instance of Lucina a holy 〈◊〉 by night removed the bodies of S. 〈◊〉 and S. 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 the publick burial places where they seemed to be less secure that of S. Paul was by Lucina her self reposited in ground of her own in the 〈◊〉 Oxiensis near the place where he suffer'd and that of Peter was by 〈◊〉 laid near the place where he also was Martyr'd not far 〈◊〉 the Temple of Apollo But when Decius came to understand that 〈◊〉 had received Leters from Cyprian he caused him to be brought from Ceutumcelioe to Rome and in the Temple of Tellus the 〈◊〉 Praefect being 〈◊〉 he thus 〈◊〉 with him Are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 thus 〈◊〉 that neither regarding the gods nor fearing the commands and threatning of Princes you keep a 〈◊〉 tending to endanger the publick Weal To whom Cornelius replied That the Letters which he receiv'd and return'd were only concerning the Praises of Christ and the Design of the Redemption of Souls lut contain'd nothing in them tending to the Diminution of the Empire At this Decius being enraged gave order that the holy man should first be scourged with a kind of Whips that had small globes of Lead 〈◊〉 to the end of them that afterwards he should be carried to the Temple of Mars to pay Adoration to his Image and upon his refusal so to do that he should be put to death The good man
whom the Zenobian Family in Rome derives its Original and Tetricus being saved was afterwards made Governour of the Lucani The Emperour now applying himself to works of peace repaired the Temple of Apollo and the Walls of the City with great Magnificence But not long after raising the ninth Persecution against the Christians the divine Vengeance meeting with him he was slain at a small Fort between Constantinople and Heraclea called Zenophrurium Felix out of the great regard he had to the honour of the Martyrs ordained that upon their account Masses should be celebrated yearly and that the Sacrifice of the Mass should be celebrated by no other persons but such as were in holy Orders and in no places but such as were consecrated cases of necessity being always excepted But if through the age or loss of Records it were doubtsul concerning any Church whether it had been consecrated or no he commanded that it should be consecrated anew saying that nothing could properly be said to be repeated of which it is uncertain whether ever it were once done at all During his Pontificate one Manes a Persian had the Impudence to profess himself to be the Christ and that he might gain the greater credit to his Imposture he associated to himself twelve Disciples But as that Manes was detested and abhorred for his pride and blasphemy so Anatolius the Bishop of Laodicoea was as much extolled and magnified for his Religion and Learning At the same time also Saturninus relying upon the assistance of his Army enterpriz'd the building of a new Antioch but when it appeared that he designed to invade the Empire too he was slain at Apemoea Felix after that at several Decembrian Ordinations he had made nine Presbyters seven Deacons five Bishops suffered Martyrdom and was buried in the Via Aurelia May the 30th in a Church which he had built two miles distant from the City He sat in the Chair four years three months 〈◊〉 days and the See was vacant seven days S. EUTYCHIANUS EUTYCHIANUS a Tuscan his Fathers name Maximus was in the time of the Emperour Aurelianus Who being slain was succeeded by Tacitus a man who both for his Valour and Justice was certainly very fit for Government but he was slain in Pontus in the sixth month after he came to the Empire as was also his Successour Florianus in Tarsus before he had reigned three months Eutychianus ordained that the fruits of the Earth as Beans and Grapes c. should be blessed upon the Altar and also that no persons should bury the Martyrs in any but Purple Vestments unless with his knowledg and leave Some write that in his time Dorotheus the Eunuch flourished a man questionless of very great skill in the Greek and Hebrew Language and with whose Learning 't is said the Emperour Aurelianus was wonderfully delighted For in the beginning of his Reign he was such a Favourer of the Christians that he severely censured the Sect of Paulus Samosatenus But being afterwards corrupted by evil Counsels and as hath been said raising a Persecution against the Christians having sent Dispatches concerning that Affair to the several Governours of Provinces he was cut off by the Divine Hand Eusebius when he was young was an Auditor of Dorotheus at his Expositions of Scripture At this time also Anatolius an Alexandrian Bishop of Laodicea a man of great Learning wrote several excellent things in Mathematicks and Divinity and was very severe against the Manichoean Heresie which then very much prevailed These Manichees to their other Errours brought in two Substances the one good the other evil and held that Souls flowed from God as from a Fountain The Old Testament they all together disown'd and receiv'd but some parts of the New Eutychianus after that at several Ordinations he had consecrated fourteen Presbyters five Deacons nine Bishops was crowned with Martyrdom and buried in the Coemetery of Calistus July the 25th He sat in the Chair one year one month one day and by his death theSee was vacant eight days There are some who say he lived in the Pontificate eight years ten months but I rather give credit to Damasus who is the author of the former Assertion S. CAIUS CAIUS a Dalmatian the Son of Caius a kinsman of the Emperour Diocletian lived in the times of Probus Carus and Carinus 〈◊〉 a person renowned for Military skill having undertaken the Government was very successful in recovering 〈◊〉 that had been possess'd by the Barbarians He also vanquish'd Saturninus who was attempting to usurp the Empire in the East and Proculus and Bonosus at 〈◊〉 But this Valiant and Just man was notwithstanding slain in a Tumult of the Soldiers at 〈◊〉 in the sixth year of his Reign After whom Carus Narbonensis entred upon the Empire and held it two years He having admitted his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus to a thare in the Government and having in the Parthian War taken 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 two famous Cities was in the Camp slain by a Thunderbolt Numerianus who was returning with his Father was murthered by the fraud of his Father-in-law Arrius Aper But Carinus a person most dissolutely lewd was overcome after a sharp and doubtful Engagement by 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 and at length suffered the just punishment of his Villanies Caius stated the several Orders in the Church by which as by certain steps and degrees the Clergy were to rise to the Episcopal Dignity These were the Door-keeper the Reader the Exorcist the Acolythus the Sub-deacon the Deacon the Presbyter and the Bishop He also as 〈◊〉 had done before him allotted several Regions to the Deacons who were to Register and compile the Acts of the Martyrs He ordained likewise that no Laick should commence a Suit of Law against a 〈◊〉 man and that no Pagan or Heretick should have power to accuse a Christian. In his time lived Victorinus Bishop of Poictiers who 〈◊〉 divers Commentaries on the Scriptures and was very sharp and severe against the Heresies then prevailing though he had greater skill in the Latin than the Greek Tongue as Hierom will have it who tells us that the sense of his Writings was great but the style mean Pamphilus also a Presbyter and the intimate Friend of Eusebius Bishop of Coesarea was so eagerly greedy of divine Learning that with his own hand he transcribed a great part of Origen's Books which Books Eusebius affirms himself to have seen in the Library of Coesarea with as great satisfaction as if he had gained the Riches of Croesus The same Pamphilus wrote the Defence of Origen as Eusebius himself also did not long after But in the Reign of Diocletian there arising against the Christians a Persecution sharper than ever was before Caius lay a long time concealed in certain Grotts and Vaults underground but being at length discovered and taken from thence by the Persecutors together with his Brother Gabinius and his Niece Susanna he was crowned
fate which the good Bishop 〈◊〉 had foretold to Maximus himself when he was going against all Right and Justice to invade Italy having dreined Britain of its Military Forces and left it an easie prey to the Scots and Picts Moreover Theodosius relying wholly upon the Divine aid in a very short time defeated not only Andragatius Maximus's General and Victor his Son but Argobastus and Eugenius two other Vsurpers which was the occasion of that strain of the Poet Claudian upon this Emperours success O nimium dilecte Deo tibi militat Aether Et conjurati veniunt ad classica Venti Englished Darling of Heaven with whom the Skies combine And the confederate Winds in Battel joyn He was not only a great Soldier but a very pious and devout man as appears by his carriage upon the repulse he found at the Church of Milain for being forbidden entrance by Ambrose the Bishop of it till he should have repented of a certain Crime committed by him he so well resented the Bishop's plain dealing with him that he frankly gave him thanks for it and completed his course of Pennance for the Fact that had been the occasion of it By his Empress 〈◊〉 he had two Sons Arcadius and Honorius Being once in a great transport of rage against the Citizens of Thessalonica for their having kill'd a Soldier or as others say a Magistrate of his all the Clergy of Italy were scarce able to keep him from destroying the whole City upon that provocation But afterwards coming to himself and understanding the matter better being convinced of his Errour he both bewailed the Fact which he had only willed but not executed and also made a Law that the punitive Decrees of Princes should be deferr'd for three days that so they might have space left for compassion or retractation It is reported of him that when at any time he was in a sudden heat of Anger he would force himself to repeat over distinctly all the Letters of the Alphabet that so in the mean time his Anger might evaporate 'T is said also that he contracted a great Friendship with one John an Anchorete whose advice he always used both in War and Peace But in the fiftieth year of his Age he died at Milain Innocentius improving the opportunity of such a peaceable state of Affairs and so propitious a Prince made several Constitutions concerning matters of the Church He appointed that every Saturday should be a Fast because our Blessed Saviour lay in the Grave and his Disciples 〈◊〉 on that day He made certain Laws concerning the Jews and Pagans and for the regulation of Monks By the consent of Theodosius he banish'd from the City and confin'd to a Monastick life the Cataphrygian Hereticks of the gang of Montanus Priscilla and Maximilia Moreover he condemned the Heresie of Pelagius and Coelestinus who preferred Free-will before the Divine Grace and asserted that men by their own natural strength were able to perform the Laws of God against whom S. Austin wrote largely But Pelagius persisting obstinately in his opinions against all Conviction went into Britain and infected the whole Island with his Errours being assisted by Julian his Companion and Confederate in that wicked Design He also consecrated the Church of Gervasius and Protasius erected and beautified at the Cost of a Lady named Vestina whose Goods and Jewels bequeathed by Will were sold according to a just appraisement and employed to that purpose This Church was endowed with several Estates both in Houses and Land within and without the City and the Cure of it and that of S. Agnes given to Leopardus and Paulinus two Presbyters In his time lived Apollinarius Bishop of Laodicea from whom the Apollinarians had their name and original a man vehement and subtil at Disputation who maintained that our Saviour at his Incarnation took only a Body not a Soul but being press'd hard with Arguments to the contrary he at length granted that he had indeed an animal Soul but not a rational one that being supplied by his Divinity An Opinion which had been before exploded by Damasus and Peter Bishop of Alexandria But Martianus Bishop of Barcellona a man eminent for his Chastity and Eloquence was very Orthodox in matters of Faith and a great opposer of the Novatian Heresie Cyril also Bishop of Hierusalem who before had been several times deposed and as often restored at length under Theodosius the Emperour held his Episcopal Dignity peaceably and without interruption eight years together and became a great Writer Euzoius who in his youth had been Condisciple to Gregory Nazianzen at Coesarea under Thespesius the Rhetorician took a vast deal of pains in amending and rectifying the corrupted Copies of the Works of Origen and Pamphilus and was himself a considerable Author At the same time Hieronymus a Presbyter living in Bethlehem was a very successful propagator of Christianity as appears by his Writings Now also the Synod of Bourdeaux condemned the Doctrine of Priscillian an Heresie patch'd up out of the Tenets of the Gnosticks and Manichees of whom we have spoken above Our Innocentius having at four Ordinations made thirty Presbyters twelve Deacons fifty four Bishops died and was buried July the 28th He sat in the Chair fifteen years two months twenty five days and by his death the See was vacant twenty two days ZOSIMUS ZOSIMUS a Grecian his Fathers name Abraham lived during the Reign of Arcadius and Honorius who succeeded their Father Theodosius in the Empire These divided the Government between them Arcadius ruling in the East and Honorius in the West Though Theodosius had left them to the Tuition of three of his Generals who as their Guardians and Protectours were to manage Affairs in their Minority Russinus in the East Stilico in the West and Gildo in Africa But they moved with Ambition and a thirst after greatness and not doubting to get the advantage of the young Princes set up every one for himself Against Gildo who was engag'd in a Rebellion in Afrique his injured and incensed Brother Mascezel is sent with an Army and soon defeats and puts him to flight who not long after dieth either through grief or by poyson And Mascezel himself being so puffed up with this success that he falls into a great contempt of God and cruelty towards men is killed by his own Soldiers Russinus also who endeavoured to possess himself of the Empire of the East is surprized and punish'd by Arcadius At this time Rhadaguisus King of the Goths invaded Italy and lay'd all waste with fire and Sword where ever he came but by the Roman Army under the Command of Stilico he was vanquish'd and slain on the Mountains of Fiesoli Him Alaricus succeeded whom Stilico to work his own ambitious designs very much countenanced and assisted when he might have conquer'd him But in the end Alaricus being now at Polentia on his way to Gaul part of which Honorius had granted to him and his
whereupon the Senate and people of Rome being divided into two Parties the dissention rose to such an heighth that to compromise the business a Council was by mutual consent called at Ravenna where the whole matter being discuss'd in the presence of Theodoric he at length determined on the side of Symmachus and confirmed him in the Pontificate who by a singular act of Grace made his very Competitour Laurence Bishop of Nocera Yet about four years after some busie and factious Clergy-men being countenanced and assisted by Festus and Probinus two of the Senatorian Order set up for Laurence again upon which King Theodoric was so highly displeas'd that he sends Peter Bishop of 〈◊〉 to Rome to depose them both and possess himself of the Chair But Symmachus called a Synod of an hundred and twenty Bishops wherein with great presence of mind he purg'd himself of all things 〈◊〉 to his Charge and by a general suffrage obtained the banishment of Laurence and Peter who had occasion'd all this mischief Hereupon so great a 〈◊〉 arose in the City that multitudes both of the Clergy and Laity were slain in all parts not so much as the Monastick Virgins escaping In this Tumult Gordianus a Presbyter and a very good man was kill'd in the Church of S. Peter ad Vincula nor had an end been put to slaughter here had not Faustus the Consul in compassion to the Clergy appear'd in Arms against Probinus the Author of so great a Calamity After this the Christians having some small respite Clodoveus banishing the Arian Hereticks restores the Orthodox and Constitutes Paris the Capital City of his Kingdom Symmachus at this time expell'd the Manichees out of the City and caused their Books to be burn'd before the Gates of S. John Lateran Several Churches he built from the ground and several others he repair'd and beautifi'd That of S. Andrew the Apostle near S. Peters he entirely built enriching it with divers Ornaments of Silver and Gold and he adorn'd S. Peters it self and its Portico with chequer'd Marble making the steps of Ascent into it more and larger than they were before Moreover he erected Episcopal Palaces He built also the Church of S. Agatha the Martyr in the Via Aurelia and that of S. Pancrace He repaired and adorn'd with painting the Cupola of S. Pauls and built from the foundations the Church of SS Silvester and Martin the Altars of which he very richly adorned He made also the steps that lead into the Church of S. John and S. Paul and enlarged S. Michaels He built from the ground the Oratories of Cosmus and Damianus being assisted in that work by Albinus and Glaphyras two men of principal Note Besides this near the Churches of S. Peter and S. Paul he builded two Hospitals making provision of all things necessary for the poor who should dwell in them For he was in all respects very charitable and sent supplies of Money and Cloaths to the Bishops and other Clergy in Africa and Sardinia who had suffered banishment for the profession of the true Religion He repaired the Church of S. Felicitas and the Cupola of that of S. Agnes which was decay'd and almost ready to fall He also at his own charge redeemed multitudes of Captives in several Provinces He ordained that on Sundays and the Birth-days of the Martyrs the Hymn Glory be to God on High should be sung and indeed left nothing undone which he thought might tend to the Glory of Almighty God In his time Gennadius Bishop of Marseille a great imitatour of S. Augustine did good service to the Church He wrote one Book against Heresies wherein he shews what is necessary to every man in order to his Salvation and another de viris illustribus in imitation of S. Hierom. As for Symmachus having at several Ordinations made ninety Presbyters sixteen Deacons one hundred twenty two Bishops he died and was buried in S. Peters Church July the 19th He sat in the Chair fifteen years six months twenty two days and by his death the See was vacant seven days HORMISDA I. HORMISDA the Son of Justus born at 〈◊〉 lived in the time of Theodoric and Anastasius as far as to the Consulship of Boethius and Symmachus These two upon suspicion of designing against his Government were by Theodoric at first banish'd and afterwards imprisoned Boethius during his confinement wrote several things extant to this day and translated and made Commentaries upon the greatest part of Aristotles Works He was throughly skill'd in the Mathematicks as his Books of Musick and Arithmetick clearly demonstrate But at length both he and Symmachus were put to death by the order of Theodoric Some tell us that the cause of Boethius his sufferings was the zeal he shewed in opposing the Arians who were favoured by Theodoric but I think the former Opinion to be more probable Hormisda with the advice of Theodoric held now a Provincial Synod at Rome in which the Eutychians were again condemn'd by universal consent He also sent Letters and Messengers to John Bishop of Constantinople admonishing him to renounce that Heresie and to believe there are two Natures in Christ the Divine and Humane But John continued refractory trusting to the interest he had with the Emperour Anastasius who not long after was struck dead by a Thunderbolt which was believ'd to be a just Judgment upon him both for his patronizing so pernicious an Heresie and especially for his ill usage of the Legates sent to him by Hormisda whom contrary to the Law of Nations he treated very contumeliously and sent them home in a shattered leaky Vessel ordering them to return directly into Italy without touching at any shore in Greece 'T is said that he bid them tell the Bishop that he must know it to be the part of an Emperour to Command not to obey the Dictates of the Bishop of Rome or any other These Legates were Euodius Bishop of Pavia Fortunatus Bishop of Catina Venantius a Presbyter of Rome and Vitalis a Deacon Anastasius dying in the twenty seventh year of his Reign Justine a Patron of the Catholick Faith succeeds him who forthwith sends Ambassadours to the Bishop of Rome to acknowledge the Authority of the Apostolick See and to desire the Bishop to interpose his Ecclesiastical Power for the setling the peace of the Church Whereupon Hormisda with the consent of Theodoric sends Germanus Bishop of Capua John and Blandus Presbyters and Felix and 〈◊〉 Deacons his Legates to Justine by whom they were receiv'd with all imaginable expressions and testimonies of Honour 〈◊〉 Respect John the Bishop of Constantinople with multitudes of the Orthodox Clergy and other Persons of principal Note going forth in Complement to meet them and congratulate their Arrival But the followers of Acacius dreading their coming had shut themselves up in a very strong Church and upon Consultation what to do sent Messengers to the Emperour declaring that they would by no means subscribe to
the determination of the Apostolick See unless an account were first given them why Acacius was Excommunicated But Justine soon forc'd them out of the Church and City too and Hormisda dealt in the same manner with the Manichees who began to spring up afresh in Rome whose Books he caused to be burn'd before the Gates of S. John Lateran About this time Transamund King of the Vandals dying in Afric his Son 〈◊〉 whom he had by the Captive Daughter of Valentinian succeeded him in the Kingdom He inherited none of his Fathers Errours but following the Counsel of his religious Mother re-call'd all the Catholicks whom Transamund had banish'd and permitted them the free exercise of their Religion At this time also several rich Presents were sent to Rome for the Ornament of the Churches there by Clodoveus King of France and Justine the Emperour King Theodoric also richly adorn'd the Church of S. Peter nor was Hormisda himself behind these Princes in bounty and munificence to the Church Having setled things according to his mind and ordained twenty one Presbyters fifty five Bishops he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church August the 6th in the Consulship of Maximus He sat in the Chair nine years eighteen days and by his death the See was vacant six days JOHN I. IOHN by birth a Tuscan Son of Constantius was in the Chair from the Consulship of Maximus to that of Olybrius in the time of King Theodoric and the Emperour Justine Who out of his great zeal for the Orthodox Faith and that he might utterly extinguish the name of Hereticks banish'd the Arians and gave their Churches to the Catholicks This was so highly resented by Theodoric that he sends John himself with Theodorus and the two Agapeti his Ambassadours to Justine to advise him to restore the Arians or upon his refusal to let him know that he would pull down all the Catholick Churches in Italy These Ambassadours were at first very kindly and honourably received But having given an account of their Embassie and finding Justine wholly averse to grant what they desired they betook themselves to Tears and Prayers humbly beseeching him to prevent the ruin of Italy and all the Orthodox Christians in it by which means the good Prince was prevailed upon to recall the Arians and to grant them a Toleration Some write that it was in this Bishops time that Symmachus and Boethius were brought back from Exile imprison'd and slain by the cruelty and rage of Theodoric However certain it is that they were put to death by Theodoric's order and it matters not much whether it were in the Pontificate of Hormisda or John Which John returning from Constantinople Theodoric was so highly incens'd against him for his agreement with the Emperour Justine both in Faith and manners that it was a chance that he had not taken away his life immediately but throw him into Prison he did at Ravenna where through stench and nastiness and want of necessary provision the good man at length died A Cruelty for which the divine Vengeance sorely punished Theodoric not long after for he died suddenly of a fit of an Apoplexy and his Soul if you will take the word of a devout Hermit who reported it was cast into the flames of the Island Lipara Theodoric was succeeded in the Kingdom by his Daughter Amalasuntha with her Son Athalaric whom she had by her Husband Eucherius A Woman who with a prudence above her Sex rectified her Fathers ill Decrees restored the confiscated Estates of Boethius and Symmachus to their Children and caused her Son to be instructed in all kinds of good Literature though she were herein opposed by the Goths who cried out that their King was not to be bred a Scholar but a Soldier Much about this time died Justine being very Aged leaving the Empire to his Sisters Son Justinian and Clodoveus King of France leaving four Sons his Successors in that Kingdon Persons of Note and esteem at this time were Benedict of Nursia who setled among the Italians the Rules and Canons of the Monastick life and Bridget a devout Virgin of Scotland and John Presbyter of Antioch who wrote much against those that held that Christ should be worshipped in one Nature only To these Isidore adds one Cyprignius a Spanish Bishop who wrote elegantly upon the Apocalypse Our John before he went to Constantinople had repaired three Coemeteries namely that of Nereus and Achilleus in the Via Ardeatina that of the Martyrs SS Felix and Adauctus and that of Priscilla He also adorn'd the Altar of S. Peters with Gold and Jewels He likewise brought with him from Constantinople a Paten of Gold and a Chalice of Gold set with precious stones the Presents of the Emperour Justine but these I suppose to have been lost together with his life At several Ordinations he consecrated fifteen Bishops 'T is said that his Body was brought from Ravenna to Rome and buried in S. Peter's Church July the 27th Olybrius being then Consul He sat in the Chair two years eight months and by his death the Seewas vacant fifty eight days FELIX IV. FELIX the fourth a Sammite the Son of Costorius lived in the time of the Emperour Justinian Whose General Belisarius was victorious over the Persians and passing into Afric by his singular courage and conduct subdued and almost quite rooted out the Vandals whose King Gilimer he took Prisoner and brought him home with him in Triumph About this time Amalasuntha having a long time lived very uneasily with her malecontented Goths and having buried her wayward and unruly Son Athalaric associates her kinsman Theodatus in the Government This Theodatus was so great a Proficient in Greek and Latin Learning that he wrote an elegant History of his own times and was throughly skilled in the Platonick Philosophy And though he were not naturally of an active Martial temper yet at the desire of Amalasuntha he undertook a War against the Burgundians and Alemanni and manag'd it very succcesfully Felix in the mean while being careful of the affairs of the Church excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople for Heresie and built in the Via Sacra near the Forum Romanum the Church of S. Cosmus and Damianus as appears from the Verses yet remaining wrought in Mosaick work He also re-built the Church of S. Saturninus in the Via Salaria which had been consumed by fire Some write that in this Age lived Cassiodorus who while he was a Senator wrote several things in Politicks and when he became a Monk composed a Comment upon the Psalms 'T is said also that Priscian of Caesarea the famous Grammarian now wrote his Book of Grammar Arator likewise a Sub-Deacon of Rome translated the Gospels into Hexameter Verse and Justinian Bishop of Valence was had in great esteem for what he preach'd and wrote concerning the Christian Faith As for Felix himself having ordained fifty five Presbyters four Deacons twenty nine Bishops he
Chief Good of Famous Men of Grammar and Etymology an History from Adam to the times of Heraclius the Lives of several Saints the History of the Lombards and a short Cosmography Some say that this Isidore was a German though the Spaniards lay claim to him but whatever Countrey-man he were 't is certain that he was a most excellent person both for his great Learning and his greater Sanctity As for Deus-dedit the time of whose Pontificate besides what we have already mentioned was rendred remarkable by an Earthquake and a Scab so near approaching to a Leprosie that it deformed men beyond each others knowledg he died in the third year and twenty third day of his being in the Chair and was buried in the Church of S. Peter November the 8th By his Death the See was vacant one month sixteen days BONIFACE V. BONIFACE the fifth a Campanian his Father's name John was chosen Pope at the time when Eleutherius a Patrician being sent by Heraclius to Rome and having reveng'd the Death of John the late Exarch of Ravenna usurped the Kingdom of Italy But in his way to Rome he was put to Death by his own Soldiers and his Head sent to Constantinople Upon which Isaacius of Constantinople another Patrician was made Exarch in his stead Theudelinda now after the Death of her Husband Adoaldus governing together with her Son the Kingdom of the Lombards very prudently and justly maintained a Peace between her People and the Italians for ten years together made several Presents and Donations to several Churches and endowed them with Lands for the better maintenance of the Clergy belonging to them In the twelfth year of Heraclius Mahomet an Arabian as some will have him or as others a Persian descended of a Noble Family his Father a Gentile his Mother a Jewess was the Author of so much mischief to the Christian State that I am afraid lest his Sect should utterly extinguish the Remains of Christianity especially in our Age wherein we are grown listless and unactive and stand still tamely exspecting our own Ruin His Sect prevails and encreases now more than ever All Asia and Africa and a great part of Europe is subject to Mahometan Princes the Turks press bard upon us by Sea and Land that they may ferret us like Coneys out of these Burrows in Europe In the mean time we sit idly looking upon one another as if the whole State of Christianity were not at all in danger The Clergy expect that so important and necessary a War should be undertaken by the Laity The Laity expect that the Clergy should expend their Money to bear the Charge of a War for the Defence of Religion and not put it to worse Uses as most of them are wont to do laying out their Stock gotten by Alms and Martyr's Bloud upon huge large Vessels of massy Gold and Silver while themselves in the mean time carry it arrogantly towards Men are contemners of God whom they serve only for Gain and are not at all solicitous for the time to come But I return to Mahomet a man of so wily a Temper and so sharp a Wit that having long conversed among the Christians and acquainted himself with all the Sects that had been before him he introduced a new kind of Superstition which has as we see almost rooted out Christianity Moreover having got together a great Army of Arabians he was so hardy as to encroach upon the Borders of the Roman Empire but Heraclius soon put a stop to his Motion having by Promises and Bribes prevailed with his Soldiers to make a Revolt from him As for Pope Boniface he was a person of singular Humanity Clemency and obliging Deportment towards all men and neglected no part of the Duty of a good Bishop He ordained that Criminals who fled for Refuge to Churches should not be taken thence by force that the Acolythi should not meddle with the Reliques of the Martyrs that belonging to Presbyters and Sub-deacons and that in every place those who were guilty of sacriledg should be Excommunicated He built and dedicated the Coemetery of S. Nicomedes and was in an extraordinary manner liberal and munificent towards those of the Clergy who led exemplary Lives At this time Gallus a Scholar of S. Columbanus lived so devoutly that he deserved to be canonized a Saint even in his life-time Eustachius the Abbat followed his Example and so did S. Aurea in honour to whom Eligius built a Nunnery 'T is said also that at this time one Basilius was very famous for his Life and Learning and in both equal to Isidore himself Our Boniface having been in the Chair five years ten days died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter By his death See was vacant thirteen days HONORIUS I. HONORIUS a Campanian Son of Petronius a man of Consular Dignity entred upon the Pontificate at the time when Theudelinda died and her Son Adoaldus was deposed Arioaldus being made King in his stead At which time Heraclius who had been victorious over the Persians was very urgent to have all the Jews who were Subjects to the Empire baptized Hereupon the Saracens and Arabians taking up Arms Anno Dom. 623. gain'd such a Victory over Heraclius's Army that they rendred that successful Man the most unfortunate This was done under the Conduct of Mahomet who pretending himself to be the great Prophet of God and deluding the Asians and Africans by Magical Arts put such vigour into the people who embraced his new Religion that he was very near to have ruin'd the Empire having taken Alexandria and several important Cities of Syria and Cilicia He had for his followers the Saracens so called from Sarah Abraham's lawful Wife as if they were the only legitimate Successours and Heirs of the divine Promise The crafty man herein followed the Example of Jeroboam who prescrib'd distinct Rules of Worship to his Tribes that they might not be subject to the Jewish Government The same also afterwards did the Greeks who dissented from the Catholicks not only for the sake of Religion but Empire upon the score of which they followed the Errours of the Nestorians Jacobites and Ebionites But in the end their pertinacy reduc'd them to that pass that their Religion and Government were dissolved together and they brought into the vilest servitude But Mahomet as we see in the Alcoran that he might separate his Disciples as far as possible from Christianity in composing his Laws followed the Example of several Hereticks and especially the Nestorians collecting here and there and reducing into one Body many things repugnant to the Law of Moses and the Gospel 'T is said that at this time Heraclius distrusting his own strength struck up an inglorious Peace with the Saracens and that being impos'd upon by the Arts of Pyrrhus Patriarch of Constantinople and Cyrus Bishop of Alexandria he fell off to the Heresie of the Monothelites a Sect so called from their asserting one Will
Britains yet despising worldly Greatness he became for some time an Hermit and died at length in an obscure Village Pope John having been in the Chair one year nine months nine days died and was buried in the Church of S. Peter October the 12th The See was then vacant one month thirteen days THEODORUS I. THEODORUS a Grecian Son of Theodorus a Bishop born at Jerusalem was no sooner in the Chair but he applyed himself like a good Bishop to all those things which he thought might tend to the advancement of the Christian Religion being a person obliging to all men but extraordinarily bountiful to the poor At this time Heraclius died of a Dropsie in the thirtieth year of his Reign having a little before made Theodorus surnamed Calliopa his Exarch in Italy in the place of Isaacius deceased Heraclius was succeeded by his Son Constantine who in the fourth month after his coming to the Empire was poisoned by the procurement of his Step-mother Martina and her Son Heracleon whom it is said Pyrrhus the Patriarch prompted to commit that Villany Heracleon upon the Death of his Brother takes upon him the Government at that time particularly when Cyrus Sergius and Pyrrhus reviving the Heresie of the Acephali maintained the Opinion of one only Nature in Christ one Operation and one Will. Among these Pyrrhus hearing of the Death of Heraclius and being very desirous to return out of Asrica whither he had been banished into his own Countrey coming to Rome and making an hypocritical Retractation of his Errours was restored by Theodorus and received from him a Form of Belief But he lost his Life before he could accomplish the end which he sought to compass by such ill means For the Senate and people of Constantinople being acquainted with the cause of Constantine's Death first seize Martina and Heracleon and having cut off his Nose and cut out her Tongue banish them both then apprehending Pyrrhus who endeavoured to make his escape they put him to Death Constantius the Son of Constantine who had been thus treacherously murdered they create Emperour and instead of Pyrrhus make Paul their Bishop whom yet Theodorus deprived for being in the like kind Heretical his pertinacy therein being favoured by Constantius who was unadvisedly fallen into the same Heresie But the Pope laying aside this Controversie and applying himself to other cares caused the bones of the Martyrs Primus and Felicianus to be removed out of a sandy Grotto in the Via Nomentana to Rome where he reposited them in the Church of S. Stephen the Proto-martyr sparing no cost in Ornaments both of Silver and Gold upon their Tomb. He also built and adorn'd a Church in the Via Flaminia as likewise two Oratories one near the Lateran Church dedicated to S. Sebastian the other in the Via Ostiensis to Eupolus the Martyr Having finished these things and been in the Chair six years five months eighteen days he died and was buried in S. Peter's May the 14th The See was then vacant fifty two days MARTINUS I. MARTINUS the first born at Todi Son of Fabricius succeeding Theodorus forthwith dispatches his Legates to Constantinople to admonish Paul to quit his Errours and at length to return into the way of Truth But he not only disobeyed the Popes Commands but also being countenanced therein by Constantius offered great indignities to these Legates and then banish'd them into several Islands Martinus highly resenting this usage calls a Synod of an hundred and fifty Bishops at Rome wherein he renews the Condemnation of Cyrus of Alexandria Sergius and Pyrrhus and excommunicates and deprives Paul the Patriarch with the bitterest Anathemas imaginable While these things were transacting the Peace of Italy which had lasted between the Romans and the Lombards thirty years began now to be disturbed For the Lombards took mightily upon them and imposed such unjust conditions upon the Romans as they could not submit to particularly Rhotaris being himself an Arian had scarce any City over which he did not set up an Arian as well as a Catholick Bishop This was an Evil which both Theodorus and Martine had often endeavoured to remedy but in vain For this reason and also at the instance of Theodorus the Exarch a War was proclaimed with the Lombards whereupon they take up Arms and near Scultenna a River of Modena a sharp Engagement there was on both sides But in the end Theodorus was vanquish'd and routed and lost in the fight near seven thousand of his Men. Rhotaris being flush'd with this Victory in a short time easily made himself Master of all Liguria Now Constantius hoping that the change of his General might change his Fortune too recalls Theodorus and sends Olympuis his Exarch into Italy with Instructions both to propagate the Sect of the Monothelites throughout Italy and also either to put Pope Martine to Death or else to take care to have him sent Prisoner to Constantinople Olympius coming to Rome where there had been already a Synod held against this and other the Errours of the Oriental Church and finding that he could not disperse the Contagion as he thought to do sends one of his Officers to seize Martine in the Church of S. Maria Maggiore and either to bring him to him or else to kill him if he refus'd and made resistance The Officer being just ready to execute this Order was by Miracle suddenly struck with blindness and so by divine Providence Martine escaped the danger The Saracens taking heart upon this great dissention between the Eastern and Western Church set sail from Alexandria with a great Fleet and arriving at Rhodes and taking the City they destroyed the famous and celebrated Coloss there with the Brass of which it 's said they loaded nine hundred Camels this Coloss being seventy foot high the Workmanship of Chares the Scholar of Lysippus Afterwards having possessed themselves of several Islands in the Archipelago and thence sailing to Sicily they very much infested the Inhabitants of that Island Hereupon Olympius at the entreaty of Pope Martine makes an Expedition and forces them thence though not without the loss of many of his Ships and Men and even that of his own Life too for he fell sick in Sicily and died there But Constantius who was not in the least bettered by all these Calamities commands Theodorus Calliopa again into Italy with express Order that he should forthwith send Pope Martine bound to him and to assist him in that Affair he joins Paulus Pellarius with him who was to take care to see it done Theodorus having been honourably received by the Romans and going upon pretence of making a Visit to the Pope seizes and puts him in Fetters and so sends him to Constantinople from whence he was afterwards banish'd to the Chersonese the place where Clemens Romanus had formerly been an Exile Now Martine being thus compassed with Calamities and pinch'd with extreme want at length dies in Banishment after he had been in the
kiss He was a man of so obliging a temper that no person went away sad out of his Presence And being so happy as to have a Contemporary Emperour like himself he designed to hold a Council vpon the account of the Monothelites Only he waited the time till Constantine should return from the War who had vanquish'd the Saracens and made them tributary to the Roman Empire But the Bulgarians advancing out of Scythia into Thrace and the Emperour endeavouring to put a check to their motion he was with great loss routed between Hungary and Moesia Hereupon he found himself obliged to strike up a peace with them upon disadvantageous terms permitting them to inhabit Hungary and Moesia though that Concession in the event proved a great benefit to the State of Christianity For these are the men who for this seven hundred and seventy years since have maintained a continual War and been the Bulwark of Christendom against the Turks Well a Peace being upon these Conditions concluded Pope Agatho sends to Constantinople his Legates John Bishop of Porto and John a Deacon of Rome Them Constantine receiv'd with all expressions of respect and very affectionately advised them to lay aside all Cavils and sophistical wranglings and Controversies and sincerely to endeavour the uniting the two Churches There were present at this Synod two hundred and eighty nine Bishops and by the Command of the Emperour there were brought out of the Library of Constantinople those Books from whence the Opinions and Determinations of the Ancients might be collected Gregory Patriarch of Constantinople and Macarius Bishop of Antioch perverting the sense of the Fathers maintain'd only one Will and Operation in Christ. But the Orthodox pressing hard with their Reasons and Authorities they thereby reclaimed Gregory and Macarius adhering obstinately to his Opinion they 〈◊〉 him and his Followers and made Theophanes an Orthodox Abbat Bishop of Antioch in his stead This Affair being thus successfully managed that thanks might be return'd to God for this Union of the two Churches in heart and mind John Bishop of Porto on the Octave of Easter in the presence of the Emperour Patriarch and the People of Constantinople in the Church of S. Sophia celebrates the Mass in Latin all that were present approving that way and condemning those that thought otherwise This was the sixth General Council consisting of two hundred and eighty nine Bishops held at Constantinople wherein upon the Authority of Cyril Athanasius Basil Gregory Dionysius Hilary Ambrose Augustine and Hierom it was concluded that there were two Wills and Operations in Christ and their pertinacy was exploded who asserted one Will only from whence they were called Monothelites The first General Council of three hundred and eighteen Bishops was as we have already said held at Nice in the Pontificate of Julius and the Reign of Constantine against Arius who asserted several Substances in the Trinity The second at Constantinople of an hundred and fifty Bishops in the Reign of Gratian and the Pontificate of Damasus against Macedonius and Eudoxus who denied the Holy Ghost to be God The third in Ephesus of two hundred Bishops in the Reign of Theodosius the second and the Pontificate of 〈◊〉 against Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople who denied the Blessed Virgin to be the Mother of God and made Christs Humanity and Divinity two Persons asserting separately one to be the Son of God the other the son of Man The fourth at Chalcedon a City over against Constantinople of six hundred and thirty Prelates in the Pontificate of Leo and the Reign of Martian against Eutyches Abbat of Constantinople who durst affirm that our Saviour after his Incarnation had but one Nature The fifth at Constantinople against Theodorus and all other Hereticks who asserted the Virgin Mary to have brought forth Man only not God-man in which Synod it was concluded that the Blessed Virgin should be styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Mother of God Concerning the sixth Synod we have spoken already in which the Letters of Damianus Bishop of Pavia and Mansuetus Arch-bishop of Milain were very prevalent the principal Contents of them these viz. The true Faith concerning Christ God and Man is that we believe two Wills and two Operations in him Our Saviour says with respect to his Divinity I and my Father are one but with relation to his Humanity My Father is greater than I. Moreover as Man he was found asleep in the Ship as God he commanded the Winds and the Sea As for our Agatho in whose time after two Ecclipses one of the Moon another of the Sun there followed a grievous Pestilence having been in the Chair two years six months sifteen days he died and was buried in S. Peter's January the 10th The See was then vacant one year five months LEO II. LEO the second a Sicilian Son of Paul was as appears by his Writings a person throughly learned in the Latin and Greek Languages Having also good skill in Musick he composed Notes upon the Psalms and very much improved all Church Musick He ordained likewise that at the Celebration of the Mass the Pax should be given to the people Moreover he so vigorously maintained and asserted the sixth Synod of which we have spoken in the Life of Agatho that he Excommunicated all those whom in the presence of Constantine that Synod had condemned He also repress'd the pride of the Bishops of Ravenna a matter before attempted by Pope Agatho and ordained that the Election of the Clergy of Ravenna should be invalid unless it were confirmed by the Authority of the Roman See whereas before they presuming upon the power of their Exarchs managed all things arbitrarily owning no subjection to any but mating even the Popes themselves He likewise solemnly decreed that no person promoted to the dignity of an Archbishop should pay any thing for the use of the Pall or upon any other score a Decree which I could wish it were observed at this day seeing how many Evils have arisen through Bribery While Leo was busied in these matters Rhomoaldus Duke of Beneventum having raised a great Army possess'd himself of Taranto Brindisi and all Puglia and his Wife Theodata a devout Lady out of the spoils of the War built a Church in honour to S. Peter not far from Beneventum and a Nunnery Rhomoaldus dying was succeeded by his Son Grimoaldus who deceasing without Issue male left the Dukedom to his Brother Gisulphus Our Leo who besides his great Learning and Eloquence was also an extraordinary person for Devotion and Charity and by his Doctrine and Example very much promoted Justice Fortitude Clemency and Good Will among all men having been in the Chair only ten months died and June the 28th was accompanied to his burial in the Church of S. Peter with the tears of all men who deplored the loss of him as of a Common Father After his Death the See was vacant eleven months twenty one days The time
of his Pontificate was short but the Reputation he gain'd therein so great that one would think he had lived longer than he did by the celebrated Name which he had deservedly acquired in so little time BENEDICT II. BENEDICT the second a Roman his Father's Name John being from his Youth brought up to the Clergy was so intent upon the study of Holy Writ that he became an extraordinary Proficient in Divinity He was likewise a person of great Compassion Charity and good Will towards all espcially the Poor Virtues by which he so won the Hearts of men that he was pitch'd upon as the only person who by general consent was fit to succeed in the Place of Leo deceased The Emperour Constantine out of the Veneration he had for this mans Sanctity sent him a Decree in which it was established that for the time to come He whom the Clergy and People of Rome should chuse Pope should be forthwith acknowledged Christ's true Vicar without expecting the Authority of the Emperour or his Exarchs according to former usage when the confirmation of the Emperour or his Vicegerent in Italy was necessary to the creation of a Pope Pertheris now King of the Lombards in imitation of the Religion and Charity of Benedict built a Monastery in honour to S. Agatha at Pavia and his Wife Rhodelinda prompted by the Example of her Husband built the Church of S. Mary ad Perticas without the Walls of Pavia This they did out of a Principle of Emulation understanding that Pope Benedict had with vast expence repaired beautified and enriched the Churches of S. Peter at Rome that of S. Laurence in Lucina that of S. Valentine in the Via Flaminia and that of S. Mary ad Martyres Pertheris had designed greater things of this Nature but he was diverted by Alalchis Duke of Trent who being pust'd up by a great Victory which he had gain'd over the Bavarians turns his Arms against his King But Pertheris raising an Army at the first Engagement routs him besieges Trent whither he had fled for Refuge and though Alalchis had first made his escape thence by night takes the City However Pertheris was a Prince of so great Clemency as to receive him again into favour upon his submission and to make him Duke of Brescia Some tell us that in Benedict's time an extraordinary Star was seen near the Vergiliae several Nights together in a clear Sky between Christmas and Epiphany I deny not but that a Comet then appeared and portended something but it 's Neighbourhood to this Constellation is incoherent unless we make that prodigious too For the Vergiliae rise at the Vernal Equinox when the Sun enters the Sign Aries about the twenty fourth of March and begin to set at the Autumnal Equinox But that out of Vesuvius a Mountain in Campania so great a 〈◊〉 did at this time burst forth that it burnt up all the places round about it may seem less wonderful considering that Pliny the Natural Historian leaving the Ships which he commanded under Trajan and approaching too near it out of curiosity to find out the causes of it's burning lost his life by that means However 't is certain that not long after these things there followed Slaughters Rapines Fires the Death of great Men and particularly of Pope Benedict who as he was universally beloved in his life-time so after his Death he was famous for his Piety and the good Offices he had done to mankind He was in the Chair only ten months twelve days and was buried in S Peter's May the 15th By his Death the See was vacant two months fifteen days JOHN V. JOHN the fifth by Nation a Syrian born at Antioch his Father's Name Cyriacus was created Pope about the time when the Emperour Constantine died in the seventeenth year of his Reign and left the Empire to his Son Justinian the second The Saracens now invaded Lybia and Africa and possess'd themselves easily of all the places that lay towards the Sea But Justinian having in some measure setled the affairs of his Empire and raised a competent Army advancing against these Saracens struck such a terrour into Abimelech their Chief that without engaging he sued for a Peace and was glad to restore all his Acquests in Africa And a Peace it is said by some was granted them for ten years but upon Condition that they should pay a thousand pieces of Gold and a Slave of their own Nation on Horseback every day to the Emperour At this time John a person of great Piety and Goodness being by general suffrage chosen Pope in the Constantinian Church was consecrated in the same manner with Leo the second by the three Bishops of Ostia Porto and Veletri a Precedent which so obtained that it was afterwards constantly practised His Pontificate was rendred remarkable by two extraordinary persons Felix the Uncle of Flavianus and John Bishop of Bergamo men of such eminent Learning and Sanctity that they received from Princes themselves marks of the highest respect and Veneration Pope John who both before and during his Pontificate was a sickly man having written a Book concerning the Dignity of the Pall died in the first year after his coming to the Chair and was buried in S. Peter's August the 2d By his Death the See was vacant two months nineteen days CONON I. CONON by birth a Thracian educated in Sicily and thence entring into Orders at Rome was of a Presbyter made Pope For there happening a Controversie about the Election the Citizens being for Peter an Arch-bishop and the Soldiers for one Theodorus a Priest at length after a long Contention both Parties agreed in the Choice of Conon And indeed he did every way deserve so great a Dignity being a man of great Learning and very good Life pious and devout of a comely Person and most Venerable or as some called it Angelical Aspect of wonderful Simplicity and Sincerity Modesty and Justice Resolution and Prudence For these excellent Endowments of his all persons concern'd with mighty acclamations of Applause immediately confirm'd his Election as did also Theodorus Exarch of Ravenna who being deceased was not long after succeeded in the Exarchate by John Platina whom I believe to have given the name to the place of my Nativity called Platina within the Territory of Cremona For there being frequent Wars between the Exarchs and the Kings of Lombardy it is not improbable considering that that place was scituated almost in the mid-way between Ravenna and Pavia one of which was the Seat of the Lombard Kings the other of the Exarchs there might at some time be a Battel fought or a Camp pitched there from whence we know that names are oftentimes given to places as particularly in the same Countrey there is Vitelliana a Town so called from Vitellius his encamping there and Bebrignano not far from Bebriacum famous for the defeat which Otho there received I return to Conon who presently after his entrance upon
the Pontificate falling sick Paschal an Arch-deacon and manager of the Church-stock endeavours to bribe John the Exarch to procure him to be chosen Pope upon the Death of Conon The Exarch took the Money though he afterwards performed none of the promises he had made upon that account And indeed such a covetous and ambitious wretch deserv'd to be frustrated in his designs who made a Bribe of that Treasure of the Church which according to Conon's Will should have been laid out in relieving the poor and repairing of Churches A Crime to be abhorred in all men but most detestable in an Ecclesiastick Such a breach of trust would not have been committed by Hubert who was now a Bishop in Bretagne of great Note for his Learning and Piety nor Leodegarius the Martyr Bishop of Autun who was put to Death by Theodoric King of France for his frequent and free reproofs nor by Audoenus Bishop of Roan a man who was second to none for Knowledg and Sanctity These were men remov'd from Ambition and Avarice fixing all their trust in God and Religion and gaining thereby Reputation among men in this World and eternal happiness from God in the other As for Conon having been in the Chair only eleven months and three days he died and was buried in S. Peter's September the 21st The See was then vacant two months twenty three days SERGIUS I. SERGIUS a Syrian born at Antioch son of Tiberius coming to Rome in the time of Pope Adeodatus was admitted into the number of the Reman Clergy Afterwards through his Industry and Improvements in divine Knowledg advancing gradually he was ordained Parish-Priest of the Church of S. Susanna He thereupon beginning more and more to frequent the Coemeteries and there to perform sacred Offices by this means he gain'd so great a reputation that upon the Decease of Conon he was chosen his Successour though indeed after a long debate For the People being divided into two Parties one stood up for Theodorus and the other for Paschal the Arch deacon Theodorus with his Party had forced his entrance into the inner part of the Lateran Palace the outer from the Oratory of S. Sylvester to the Church of the house of Julia was possessed by Paschal But the Contention and debate growing so high that every one thought they would come to blows each Party resolving not to give place to the other unless by force compelled thereunto the principal of the Citizens Clergy and Soldiery assembled together to consult what were best to be done to lay this Tumult At length having duly considered the whole matter and judging it not fit to commit the Popedom to either of those who to 〈◊〉 their own ambition had been the cause of so great disorders by divine direction they make choice of Sergius without the least opposition and taking him out of the midst of the croud upon their shoulders they carry him first into the Oratory of S. Caesarius the Martyr then into the Lateran Palace breaking open the doors by force and driving out those who were in it before Theodorus seeing how all agreed in the choice salutes Sergius by the name of Pope and kisses him Paschal the other Competitour did the same though sorely against his Will and being only aw'd thereinto by the armed multitude For secretly and under-hand he did by Letters Messengers and Promises so strongly sollicite John Exarch of Ravenna to perform at length what he had promis'd him for his Money that the said John comes forthwith to Rome without sending any advice before that so he might have the advantage of coming upon them unprovided and while they were off their guard But when he understood that Sergius was by universal consent declared Pope and urg'd the performance of what Paschal had promis'd him upon Sergius's expressing a high dislike and detestation of any such bribery he violently seizes and carries away several things of value from the Church of S. Peter As for Paschal the occasion of this mischief he being accused and convicted of Sorcery was deprived of his Arch-Deaconry and for Pennance was confined to a Monastery whereing after his having continued obstinate for five years he died In the mean time Justinian being strangely inconstant towards God and Men both attaques the Saracens and Bulgarians contrary to the Articles of Peace he had concluded with them from whom yet it is certain he receiv'd more damage than he did to them and also returning to Constantinople being generally hated by the Citizens for his not restraining the cruelty of the City-prefect he held a Synod wherein some Decrees pass'd not agreeing with the Orthodox Faith which also Sergius his Apocrisiary or Nuntio then residing at Constantinople very foolishly confirmed by his Subscription But these Decrees being afterwards brought to Rome and there exploded by Sergius who held that there were two Natures in Christ and that the Blessed Virgin was the Mother of God Justinian enraged thereat sends Zacharias Protospatharius which we may render the Captain of the Guards to Rome to bring Sergius bound to him Which when the Soldiers of the Exarchate of Italy understood they immediately took up their Arms and not only defended the Pope from violence but were very near having slain Zachary had he not saved himself by flying for refuge to the Pope who kept him for some time in his Bed-chamber and afterwards sent him back privately to the Emperour While these things were transacted at Rome Leontius encouraged by 〈◊〉 the Patriarch having excited the People of Constantinople to take up Arms and broke open all the Prisons of the City whereby multitudes of Prisoners were set at liberty deposes Justinian and cutting off his Nose banishes him to the Chersonese of Pontus Abimelech Admiral of the Saracens having intelligence hereof and hoping to make his advantage of these Tumults presently invades Africa whither Leontius with all expedition sends his Army to check their motion But not long after a mutiny arising among the Soldiers they create one Tiberius a Citizen of Constantinople Emperour who immediately returning with the Army to Constantinople seizes Leontius and having retaliated upon him what we have said he did to Justinian throws him into Prison reserving him there for future greater ignominy Moreover he banished Philip the son of Nicephorus a Patrician and one who had been assistant to him in getting the Empire only because he had told his Companions how he dreamt that he saw an Eagle covering his head with her Wings which Tiberius fear'd might be a presage of the young man's coming to the Empire While things went thus at Constantinople Pipin Duke of Austrasia laid the foundation of gaining the Kingdom of France For understanding that one Bertarius a mean fellow whom King Theodoric made use of as his chief Minister was generally hated by all People he marches with a vast Army into France and being encountred in his passage by Theodoric and Bertarius he engages in Battel with them
and defeats them Bertarius saved himself by flight but Theodoric retreating by agreement upon a Truce constitutes the victorious Pipin Mayre of the Palace and principal Administratour of his Kingdom After this Pipin returned to Austrasia upon intelligence that the Germans and Sueves infested his People and having quell'd them he sets forward towards France again upon the News that Theodoric being dead the Kingdom had fallen to his Brother Childepert Arriving there and being very kindly received by the King after he had put his son into the place of Mayre of the Palace he again returns enraged at the Sueves and Germans who were now the second time in Arms. At this time Sergius having 〈◊〉 the banishment of Justinian enjoyed Peace and Tranquility repaired the Church of S. Peter and restored to it its antient beauty The Front of it he adorn'd with Mosaick work made the Candlesticks and other Ornaments of it of Gold and Silver found a part of our Saviours Cross in a little brass Coffer and because the body of S. Leo had hitherto lain less regarded than his merits required he reposited it in a more honourable and celebrated place The Statues of the Apostles defaced with Age he renew'd and either repaired or made wholly new the Ornaments of many Churches which it would be tedious to enumerate Moreover he ordained that at the breaking of the body of our Lord should be sung O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the World have mercy upon us and that on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and of S. Simon there should be yearly a Procession with Litanies through the City setting out at S. Hadrian He made Damianus Arch-Bishop of Ravenna and Berslauardus Arch-Bishop of Britain By his Learning and Authority he brought over to the Truth the Church of Aquileia which before consented not wholly to the fifth Synod Some tell us that at this time Lambertus a Person of great Sanctity suffered Martyrdom at Liege because he was so hardy as to reprove Pipin for slighting his Wive's Bed and keeping Alpais a Whore The author of his Death is said to have been her own Brother who afterwards died of the lousy Disease 'T is written also that by the exemplary Sanctity of Sergius the Saxons were now first wrought upon to embrace Christianity The good man having by these means gained a great reputation and having been in the Chair thirteen years eight months twenty three days he died and was with the lamentation of all men who wept as at the loss of a common Father with great Solemnity buried in the Church of S. Peter September the 8th The See was then vacant one month twenty days JOHN VI. JOHN the sixth a Grecian was elected Pope at the time when Theophylact the Exarch in his passage to Italy arrived first at Sicily Which being known to the Italian Soldiers who having of late times usually sided more with the Popes than the Emperours were afraid that his coming might betoken some ill they resolved to kill him at his entrance into Rome But by the Authority of Pope John who made himself Umpire between them Theophylact was protected and all things being made up and accommodated he goes for Ravenna In the mean time Gisulphus Duke of Beneventum taking heart upon this disagreement of the Exarch and Soldiers invades Terra di Lavoro possesses himself of Sora and Arpino burns Villages makes the Villagers his Prisoners and drives away their Cattel The Pope being deeply sensible of this Calamity sends his Ambassadours to Gisulphus to admonish him to quit those places which he had no Right to and to return into Abruzzo which if he refus'd to do he should soon feel the vengeance of Almighty God upon him Gisulphus being terrified hereby restores the Towns he had taken and returns to Beneventum Of those which were carried away Captive Pope John redeemed all he could sind out as 〈◊〉 as the Treasure of the Church would reach for their ransom At this time 〈◊〉 who as we have said had been banish'd by Leontius to the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 making his escape thence comes to Cacanus King of the Avares who at first treated him with the greatest respect and kindness and promised him his Daughter in marriage but afterwards being corrupted with bribes by Tiberius he design'd to betray his Guest and Son-in-law into his hands Justinian having notice hereof flees to Trebellius Prince of the Bulgarians by whose aid he was in a little time after restored to the Empire While 〈◊〉 things were transacted in Europe the 〈◊〉 being possessed of Libya and Africa set sail from Septa and passing over into Spain made themselves Masters of it all except that part inhabited by the Asturians and Biscains who as they had been the last People of Spain who were subdued to the Roman Empire and the last who revolted from it and the only People who shook off the Yoke of the Visigoths so now having received the Christian Faith they were the men who continued stedfastly with the greatest resolution to defend themselves by Arms against the perfidious Saracens So then Africa which being recovered by Belisarius General to Justinian the first had been subject to the Roman Empire an hundred and seventy years and also Granada in Hispania 〈◊〉 being at this time seiz'd by the Saracens have been obedient to their Laws and Customs now this seven hundred and forty years to the great reproach of Christianity the Spaniards who are wont to boast of their Wit and Valour not being able to drive them out of Europe Some tell us that Bede who lived in these times by Letters written to several Christian Princes did very much bewail this Calamity that thereby he might excite them to enter into a War against these Enemies of God and Men. This 〈◊〉 was not only extraordinarily well skill'd in the Greek and Latin Tongues but also for his eminent Piety and Modesty gain'd the surname of 〈◊〉 He wrote many things upon the Acts of the Apostles and upon S. Luke he published a Book of Chronology and several Homilies which are much used by the Gallican 〈◊〉 Moreover of Strabo and Haymo two very learned men said to be Bede's Brethren one composed divers elegant Homilies and the other commented upon Genesis As for Pope John having repaired the Church of S. Andrew in the Vatican and the roof of that of S. Mark and adorn'd with Pillars on each hand the Altar of S. Peter's in the third year and third month of his Pontificate he died as some think a Martyr but by whom he suffered Martyrdom does not sufficiently appear 'T is said he was buried in the Coemetery of S. Sebastian in the Via Appia By his Death the See was vacant one month nineteen days JOHN VII JOHN the seventh a Grecian Son of Plato enter'd upon the Pontificate at the time when Justinian being return'd to 〈◊〉 caused Tiberius and Leontius by whom he had been deposed to be
publickly put to Death Many of his Enemies he cut off by sundry kinds of Death and many he imprison'd some one or other of which he would every day order to be kill'd when the wiping of his Nose put him in mind of the injury that had been done him Moreover having caused the eyes of Callinicus the Patriarch of Constantinople to be put out he banish'd him to Rome and made Cyrus an Abbat who had maintain'd him in Pontus Patriarch in his stead Being acted by the same foolish humour as he had been before his loss of the Empire in the time of Pope Sergius he sends to Rome two Metropolitans to persuade Pope John to hold a Synod wherein they of the Western Church might confirm the truth of what those of the East believed concerning the Consubstantiality of the Son with the Father sending to him the Articles to which he would have him Subscribe The Pope sends the Men back again to the Emperour without doing any thing in the matter but yet he did not by his Censures and Interdicts correct the erroneous 〈◊〉 concerning God as it was fit he should and as it would have become a steady and resolute Pope to have done Some write though without good authority that Arithpertus King of the Lombards from a religious Principle gave the Cottian Alpes and all the Tract that reaches from Piedmont to the Coast of Genoa to the Church of Rome Others say that this Donation was only confirmed by Arithpertus But since there is no certainty concerning the Donation it self and the Lawyers call it the Chaff because it yields no Corn and it appears in no respect to have been the Gift of Constantine how can there be any evidence of its Confirmation I return to Pope John a Person who spake and lived very well and who built an Oratory in the Church of S. Peter in honour to the Blessed Virgin upon the Walls of which on each hand were wrought in Mosaick Work the 〈◊〉 of several of the holy Fathers Moreover he repaired the Church of S. Eugenia which had long before been decayed through Age. He adorn'd also the Coemeteries of the Martyrs Marcellinus and Marcus and Pope Damasus Finally he beautified divers other Churches with the Pictures and Statues of the Saints wherein the Painters and Statuaries had so well imitated the Gravity and Majesty of his own aspect that whosoever looked upon them thought they saw the Pope himself Having been in the Chair two years seven months seventeen days he died and was buried October the 18th in the Church of S. Peter before the Altar of the Blessed Virgin which himself had built The See was then vacant three months SISINNIUS SISINNIUS or as others call him Sozimus a Syrian his Fathers name John lived in the Pontificate no more than twenty days in which time 't is said the body of S. Benedict was by stealth conveyed away from Mount Cassino by reason of the solitude of the place and carried into France Now Sisinnius though he were so afflicted with the Gout both in his Hands and Feet that he could neither walk nor feed himself yet he took such 〈◊〉 both of the City and Church of Rome as to leave nothing undone which became a good Pope He had already prepared all materials for the raising the decayed Walls of the City and the repairing and beautifying of the old ruined Churches but he died suddenly and was buried in S. Peter's February the 6th The See was then vacant one month eighteen days CONSTANTINE I. CONSTANTINE another 〈◊〉 his Father's name likewise John was created Pope at the time when there happened to be a Famine at Rome which lasted three years in which exigence he was so charitable to all but especially the poorer sort that men thought him to have been sent down from Heaven for their relief In the mean time 〈◊〉 out of the hatred he bore to the name of Pontus sends Mauritius one of the Patrician Order and Helias one of his Guards with a Fleet to the Chersonese where he had been in Exile with Commission to put all above the age of fourteen to the Sword which to glut the Emperours Rage they accordingly put in execution And that we may not think that Cruelty was his only Vice he became guilty of so great Ingratitude as in an hostile manner to surprize King Trebellius by the Aid of whose Forces he had been restored to the Empire at a time when he was engaged in a War with the Thracians But Trebellius not only bore the Choque but also forced him to retreat with Loss There was no alteration from his former course of Life wrought in him by the Calamities he had underwent in any thing save in this that he now venerated and defended the Apostolick See contrary to 〈◊〉 he had formerly used to do For when Felix having been consecrated Arch-Bishop of Ravenna by the Pope was required according to custom to send in writing his ackowledgment of the Papal Authority and Money to Rome which he stifly refused to do Justinian upon knowledg of the matter presently sends order to Theodorus a Patrician his Admiral with the first opportunity to leave Sicily and go against the Ravennates He obeying the Emperours Order and having in 〈◊〉 gain'd a Victory over them exercises the greatest cruelty towards them and sends Felix bound in Chains to Constantinople whom Justinian afterwards banish'd into Pontus having first deprived him of his sight after this Manner He caused him to fix his Eyes long upon a red-hot Concave-vessel of Brass out of which there issued a firey Pyramid which easiy overcame his Eyes and blinded him Yet Constantine did by no means approve of this Cruelty being more desirous of his 〈◊〉 than his Punishment While the Pope and Emperour were thus employed Aisprandus endeavouring with the Aid of the Bavarians to recover the Kingdom of his Ancestours comes into Italy and engaging in a pitch'd Battel with Arithpertus vanquishes him and gains the Kingdom of the Lombards Arithpertus himself by a too fearful and hasty flight being drown'd in a swift River But Aisprandus not long after dying did with general approbation leave his Son Luithprandus Successour to his Kingdom Justinian being now very desirous to see Pope Constantine having sent Ships to convey him safely makes it his request that he would come to him Constantine yielding thereunto and approaching now near to Constant inople Tiberius Justinian's Son with a Princely Retinue and Cyrus the Patriarch with all the Clergy in honour to him go out eight miles to meet him and being dress'd in his Pontificalibus they conduct him with solemn Pomp into the City and lead him into the Palace Going from thence to Nicomedia whither also the Emperour was to come from Nice he was received there after the same manner as at Constantinople Justinian entring the City soon after 〈◊〉 only embraced the Pope but also kiss'd his Feet in sign of honour Having on the days following
arriving in Spain ravage all the Countrey except Granada which was inhabited by those of their own Nation already and at length with their Wives and Children pass as far as Aquitain designing to possess themselves of that Province also Charles Martell the Son of Pipin was at this time famous throughout the World This Pipin after the Death of Grimoald had two other Sons left Caroloman and Charles Martell which Charles this Brother also dying gain'd afterwards to himself the Kingdom of France though not without great opposition especially of Eudo Duke of Aquitain and Chilperic whom some of the French upon the Death of Theodoric had set up to be their King But Martell having passed the River Seine and advanced to Orleans at the first Attaque puts them to flight and becomes sole Possessour of the Kingdom of France After this he passed the Rhine and conquered the Saxons Alemans Sueves and Boiarians But having Intelligence that the Saracens had been invited by Eudo into France by great Marches he comes forth against them and obliging them to fight gains a mighty Victory not far from Tours Historians write that in this Battel there were slain of the Saracens three hundred and sixty thousand but of the French only one thousand one hundred and fifty and 't is said that Eudo hereupon came over to Martel's side The Saracens being by this means through Martel's Valour diverted from any farther Attempts upon the Spaniards and French turn all the Rage and Indignation which upon so great an Overthrow had been raised in them upon the Constantinopolitans whose City they besieged by Sea and Land the space of three years But suffering all the extremities of War being pinched with Hunger and Cold and a Pestilence moreover raging among them they raised the Siege and return'd home 'T is said that of this Plague there died in Constantinople three hundred thousand As for the Affairs of Italy the Lombards now under the Conduct of Luithprandus after a long Siege took and sack'd Ravenna carrying away from thence to Pavia all things of considerable value and amongst the rest as I believe the famous Statue on Horseback in Brass Thus according to the usual Vicissitude of humane Affairs it so fell out that what Theodoric and other Kings of the Goths and after them the Exarchs had taken from Rome and carried to Ravenna was by others afterwards scattered about and dispersed into several places In the mean time there was at Rome a Plot laid by some seditious people against the Pope the Heads of the Conspiracy being Basilius Jordanus a Notary John a Sub-deacon surnamed Lurion and Marinus an Officer of the Guards who at this time was Governour of Rome under the Emperour But upon the Emperour 's recalling Marinus the business was deferred to another time The Conspiratours tampered also with Paul the Exarch being willing in a matter of so great importance to have him to head them The whole Design being at length discovered by the people of Rome they appear in Arms kill John Lurion and dissipate the other Conspiratours Basilius was confined to a Monastery where he died The forementioned Paul being highly enraged at the Pope for prohibiting his levying new Taxes did by the Emperour's Order seek all ways both secret and open of taking away the good mans life but the Romans and Lombards taking up Arms defended him The Emperour Leo hereupon publishes an Edict commanding all those who were Subjects of the Roman Empire to rase out and take away all the Pictures and Images of Saints Martyrs and Angels out of their Churches with design as he ptofessed thereby to prevent Idolatry and declaring that whosoever refused so to do should be accounted a publick Enemy But Gregory not only not obeyed this Order but also encouraged all Catholicks to stand up stoutly against it Whereupon the people of Italy were so animated that they were near chusing another Emperour had not Gregory by his authority interposed to prevent it Notwithstanding which there arose such a Dissention at Ravenna some pleading for Obedience to the Emperour others to the Pope that Paul the Exarch together with his Son was slam in the Tumult To succeed in whose place the Emperour sends Eutychius an Eunuch who by Gifts and Promises was to endeavour to break the Friendship and Alliance between the Lombards and the Pope But that Attempt having been often made in vain was drop'd for a time and the Pope being freed of this trouble began to visit the Hospitals and Churches and to repair those of them which through age or neglect had fallen to decay Moreover he made a Peace between the King of the Lombards and the Dukes of Spoleto and Beneventum which that King had intended to crush but having marched in a peaceable manner as far as Rome to confer with the Pope about the matter Gregory by his Christian Counsel so mollified his mind that laying aside all thoughts of War he offered up his Sword and other Arms in the Church of S. Peter The Emperour Leo now in another wild humour commanded all the Images either of Wood Brass or Marble to be brought to him which he forthwith caused to be burnt and seiz'd upon and put to Death those who refused to bring them Germanus the Patriarch who vigorously opposed it he banished and put into his place Anastasius an Heretick whom Gregory afterwards in a Synod deprived and interdicted the Exercise of sacred Offices if he refused to return to the Catholick Faith Furthermore as became a pious Prelate he oftentimes by Letters admonished the Emperour to quit the erroneous Opinions into which some ill men had seduced him and at length to embrace the Truth and to cease the destroying of the Images of the Saints by whose Example and Memory men might be excited to the Imitation of their Virtues Some write that in this Popes time Boniface came out of Britain to Rome and for his sanctity was of a Monk made a Bishop and sent into Germany that by his Preaching and Example he might confirm that People in the Faith which he performed so well that he was deservedly made Bishop of Mentz but passing thence into Africa he was for his preaching the Word of God put to Death by the Enemies of Christianity 'T is said also that S. Aegidius a Grecian was now famous for the holy Life he led and the miracles he wrought and that Petronax a Citizen of Brescia did by Vow repair at his own Charge the Monastery of S. Benedict which was almost quite left desolate As for Gregory who by his good Example excited all men to the practice of Piety and Virtue having been in the Chair sixteen years nine months eleven days he died and was buried in S. Peter's February the 11th By his Death the See was vacant thirty five days He is said to have consecrated during his Pontificate one hundred forty eight Bishops GREGORY III. GREGORT the third a Syrian his Fathers
Gregory having well discharged his Duty towards God and Men died in the tenth year eighth Month and twenty fourth day of his Pontificate and was with general lamentation buried in S. Peter's November the 28th The See was then vacant only eight days ZACHARIAS I. ZACHARIAS a Grecian the Son of Polychronius is reckoned in the number of the best Popes For he was a Person of a very mild Disposition and wonderfully sweet Conversation every way deserving a Lover of the Clergy and People of Rome slow to Anger but very forward to exercise Mercy and Clemency rendring to no man evil for evil but in Imitation of our Saviour overcoming evil with good and that to such a degree that after his arriving to the Papal Dignity he preferred and enriched those who had envied and hated him At the beginning of his Pontificate finding Italy enflamed in War in order to procure a Peace he forthwith sends Legates to Luithprandus King of the Lombards who now made War upon Transamundus Duke of Spoleto But these Legates not effecting the Design he himself goes in person accompanied with the Roman Clergy into Sabina and 't is said that in sign of honour the King met him eight miles from Narni and alighting off his Horse accompanied him on Foot into the City The day following while they were at Mass the Pope made publickly an Elegant Oration wherein he set forth the Duty of a Christian King both in the time of Peace and War and 't is reported that the King was so wrought upon by it that he presently put the sole Power of accommodating matters into the Pope's hands The King had already deposed Transamund and invested Agrandus his Nephew in the Dukedom Yet at the Pope's Intercession Transamund was received into favour but he quitting all Pretensions to the Dukedom entred into holy Orders All the Towns which had been taken in Sabina were restored as also Narni and Ancona and whatever places the Lombards had for thirty years past made themselves Masters of in Tuscany Moreover all who had been made Prisoners during the War were set at Liberty Luithprandus having been treated by the Pope with all imaginable expressions of Indearment and Respect marched thence peaceably with his Army and not long after died in the thirty second year of his Reign He was a person who deserved that Kingdom both for his extraordinary Wisdom and Prudence and also for his Valour and warlike Temper in which no man excell'd him so eminent also for Justice and Clemency that it is hard to judg whether of these two Vertues were more conspicuous in him His Nephew Aldeprandus succeeded him in the Kingdom which having held only six months he also died and Duke Rachis a Prince whose Piety and Integrity deserve the highest praise was unanimously chosen in his stead By him also a League was renewed with the Pope to whose Legates the devout and religious King graciously granted whatever they desired But having reigned four years he quitted his Government and betook himself to a Monastick Life encouraging his Wife and his Sons to do the like His Brother Aistulphus succeeded him whose crafty and fierce Temper threatned disturbance to all Italy but especially to the Pope and the Romans whom he designed by Force to bring under his Jurisdiction In the mean time Charles Martel being seiz'd with a violent sickness at the persuasion of his Friends divided his Acquests between his two Sons of whom Caroloman the elder had Austrasia and Suevia and 〈◊〉 Burgundy and part of France And so that valiant and wise man died at Cressey sur Serre in the thirty fifth year of his Office of Mayre of the Palace and was buried at Paris in the Church of S. Dennis He had had by a former Wife another Son named Grypho whose rapacious Temper suited with his Name he prevailed with the warlike Saxons to assist him in making War upon his Brethren But 〈◊〉 and Pipin entring Saxony with an Army force their Prince Theodoric to submission After this Expedition Caroloman comes to Rome and there renouncing the Pomp and Glory of Empire he goes to Mount Cassino and takes the habit of a Monk of S. Benedict But Pipin being of an aspiring Mind sends Ambassadours to the Pope desiring that by his Authority he would confirm to him the Kingdom of France The Pope upon the score of former good Services performed by his Family and the ancient Friendship which had been between them and the Popes his Predecessours yields to his Request and accordingly confirms him An. Dom. 753. and so from Mayre of the Palace who was the first Officer of the Kingdom Pipin was advanc'd to the Kingdom of France it self from whom the succeeding Kings derive their Original 'T is reported that Caroloman who as we have said had taken the habit of a Monk came now with others of the same Order from Mount Cassino to Pope Zachary desiring that by his mediation they might gain leave to remove the Body of S. Benedict which had by 〈◊〉 been carried away to the Abbey of Fleury in the Kingdom of France The Pope granted their Desire and thereupon sent a Message to King Pipin who upon Information in the matter freely gave way to it Zachary now enjoying Peace on every side set himself to the repairing of several decayed Churches The Tower and Portico before the Lateran Church he built from the ground made the Windows and Gates of Brass and upon the Frontispiece of the Portico caused a Map of the World to be delineated He renewed the defaced Images of the Saints enlarged and beautified the Lateran Palace repaired the Palatine Library and assigned to every Church a Revenue for the maintenance of Oyl for their Lamps He gave to S. Peter's an Altar-Cloth embroidered with Gold and set with Jewels having the Essigies of our Blessed Saviour wrought upon it He built the Church of S. George in Velabro and reposited the head of that Saint therein as also the Church of S. Coecilia in the Via Tiburtina six miles from the City and in it an Oratory in honour to S. Cyrus the Abbat setling a maintenance for the Priests that ministred in it He re-built the Roof of the Church of S. Eusebius which happened in his time to tumble down He also gave order that his Servants should daily distribute and give out at the Lateran Palace Alms to the Poor of all sorts Moreover he forbad the Venetians upon pain of Excommunication the selling of Christian Slaves to Saracens and Heathens which those Merchants were before wont to do Finally that we may not think that his Advancement to so great a Dignity made him neglect his Studies he translated out of Latin into Greek four Books of Gregory in Dialogue that so the Grecians might be instructed in the Rules of good living But having with such Integrity to the Satisfaction of all men governed the Church ten years three months he died and was buried in S. Peter's March the
about Only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Barcelona though he had disturbance given him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Land yet continued firm to the Emperour Our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Gifts of Body and Mind and despising the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortune applyed himself to Works of Bounty and 〈◊〉 and particularly took so much care in the matter of Provision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sorts of it and especially Grain was no where cheaper than at 〈◊〉 Moreover he supported the Lives and defended the Cause of the Poor the Fatherless and Widow in such a manner that he deservedly gain'd the name of the Father of the Poor The same course 〈◊〉 living he also took before his Pontificate both while he was a 〈◊〉 of S. Sabina in the Aventine which Church when he came to be Pope he beautified and also while he was Arch-Priest of the Lateran Church from which place he was afterwards for his great Merit by an unanimous Choice advanced to the Papal Chair By his Procurement and Intercession likewise all the Prisoners and Exiles in France returned at 〈◊〉 to Rome who being strip'd of all they 〈◊〉 were relieved and supported by his Charity Nor was it his fault that Sico Duke of Benevent did not quit the Siege of 〈◊〉 which he at this time reduced to great Straits and carried from thence the Body of S. Ianuarius to Benevent where he honourably 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Great Church with Desiderius and 〈◊〉 For the Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voured to persuade Sico to undertake an Expedition against the Sara cens who had already possess'd themselves of Palermo in Sicily 〈◊〉 good Man having after this manner continued four years in the 〈◊〉 died lamented of all who grieved for themselves rather 〈◊〉 for him to whom Death was a welcom Passage into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was buried in S. Peter's VALENTINE I. VALENTINE a Roman son of Leontius being only a Deacon not a Priest was yet for his extraordinary Sanctity deservedly preferred to the Pontificate Nor will it appear strange if we consider that having from his Youth upwards been instructed in Learning and Piety by chose good Popes Paschal and 〈◊〉 he did not give his Mind to Pleasures and Sports as most young men are wont to do but applied himself to the acquiring of knowledg by the reading of the Antients and the Rule of good living from the Example of holy Bishops He was moreover a Person of such ready Parts and prevailing Eloquence that he had a great Facility in persuading to or against what he pleased without offering any thing that was not found learned and decent Finally both in his private Station and while he was Pope he came 〈◊〉 none of his Predecessours in Devotion Mercy and Charity For these Reasons he was unanimously elected to the Chair but 〈◊〉 as a punishment upon the sins of that Age he died on the fortieth day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's all People lamenting that they were bereft of such a Man who if he had lived would have been an almost impregnable Support to the Roman Liberty and the Christian Religion While the See was vacant Sicardus Duke of 〈◊〉 who after his Father's Death ruled tyrannically for the want of a Bride which he expected cast Deus-dedit Abbot of Monte Cassino into Prison where he died with the Reputation of being a Holy Man GREGORY IV. GREGORY the fourth a Roman Son of John and Cardinal of S. Mark entred upon the Pontificate at the time when the Saracens possess'd of Asia shut up the Passage to the Holy Land from the Christians and the Moors passing with their Fleet into 〈◊〉 wasted a great part of that Island having as is already said made themselves Masters of Palermo Nor could the Venetians though at the Desire of Michael Emperour of Constantinople they sailed thither check their Proceedings the Moors having more Ships and Men than they The State of Venice was now in its Increase having had it 's Original from the Veneti at the time when Attila with his 〈◊〉 took and destroyed Aquileia Concordia Altino with other Cities of the Province anciently called Venetia that People having no other 〈◊〉 against the Cruelty of the 〈◊〉 but only the Fens and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patricius was now Duke of Venice whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chuse to mention because in his time the Body of S. Mark was by some Venetian Merchants brought from Alexandria to Venice where that Saint is now had in great Veneration a most magnificent Church being in the principal part of the City built and dedicated to him and adorned and enriched with very great Donations And srom hence it was that the Venetians first bore upon their Standards and Banners the Picture of S. Mark as the Patron of their City But Gregory understanding that the Venetians were not able to expel these Barbarians out of the Island sends to Louis and Lotharius desiring them to send Aid to the Sicilians at the first Opportunity They were very shy of the Business allcdging that that War belonged to Michael Emperour of Constantinople but yet declared themselves ready to 〈◊〉 their share of Men and Moneys for the undertaking of it But in the mean time while Ambassadours were sent srom one to the other about that Assair Boniface Earl of Corsica with his Brother Bertarius and the Assistance of some of the People of Tuscany sailing into Asrica engaged four times with the Enemy between Vtica and Carthage where he made so great a Slaughter that the Moors were forced as formerly in Scipio's time to re-call their Forces from Sicily to the Succour of their own Countrey in Distress and by this means Sicily was delivered from them Boniface then returns with his victorious Fleet laden with vast Spoils from Africa into Corsica Some there are that write that during this 〈◊〉 in Italy the Emperour Lotharius envying the preference that his 〈◊〉 Louis did in all matters give to his youngest Brother Charles afterwards surnam'd the Bald he put him in Prison but soon after set him sree and that the Barbarians taking hold of the opportunity embark'd in a great Fleet from Asrica for Italy and arriv'd at Centum Celloe which City since call'd Civilavecchia some will have to be demolish'd by 'em and that from 〈◊〉 marching to Rome they took that City but this is not probable What is said concerning Centum-Celloe I shall not deny and I doubt not but that they attempted the taking of Rome it self but Guy Marquess of Lombardy defended it so stoutly that having burnt the Suburbs and the Churches of SS Peter and Paul in the Via Latina they withdrew to Monte-Cassino where they destroy'd the Town of S. German and the Monastery of S. Benet which slood on the Hill and going down to the Sea-side near the River Garigliano whither their Fleet was brought from Ostia they invaded Tarentum and Sicily and as I said before were recalled home by their own Countrey-men at that time broken in War by the Valour of Boniface I take it to be
done without great slaughter of his own men he granted them that part of Prance to live in which lies beyond the River Seine and is still call'd from the name of the people Normandy They were bound to pay a yearly tribute to the Crown of France to mind them that they stood possess'd of the Countrey not by their own power but by the bounty of the Emperor Charles At this time William surnam'd the Godly Duke of Aquitain and Earl of Auvergne not having any Heirs male began magnificently to build the Monastery of Clugny in his Fathers Mannor in a Village of Burgundy and made Berno Abbot of the place having set out an Income for the maintenance of the Monks But he dying left it unfinish'd having constituted Ebbo Earl of Poictou his Heir who should take care according to his Last Will of the whole matter And now Hadrian of whom for his courage and haughty Spirit the Clergy and People of Rome had conceived so great hopes died in the first year and second month of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church with the general lamentation of the People for the unseasonable loss of such a Father STEPHEN V. STEPHEN the fifth a Roman Son of one Hadrian of the Via lata was made Pope at the time when the Normans assisted by the Danes contrary to their Treaties had well-nigh over-run all France For fear of these Invaders the body of S. Martin was carried from Tours to Auxerre and plac'd in the Church of S. German which begot a feud among the Monks who could not agree by the name of which of the two Saints the Church should be call'd to solve this doubt they took this way They set a Leper in the midst between the two Saints Bodies who grew whole onely on that side which was towards S. Martin and then turning the other side towards him he was quite healed This Miracle determin'd the Controversie which S. German is thought to have suffered his new Guest to perform 〈◊〉 it should be thought that the Body had lost any of its Sanctity by being translated Authors say that during this Popes time Charles the Gross who had been Emperor twelve years was deposed by his Nobles for his sloth and dulness and Arnulphus his Nephew was set up in his stead who was the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great This troublesom state of things tempted the Huns a Scythian Nation according to Vincentius and Martinus to make a descent into Tannonia where joyning their Brother-Tribe the Hungari they possess'd themselves of the Countrey driving thence the Gepidi and Avares and from hence marching with their forces into Germany they pierc'd as far as Burgundy destroying all with fire and sword Stephen in this confusion of Affairs was yet not a little comforted with the sanctity of Luithprandus Deacon of Pavia Waldrad of Bavaria and Bernard of Picardy by whose lives and conversation the Christian Religion got so great Reverence that many Monasteries and Churches were sumptuously built throughout France In the sixth year and eleventh day of his Papacy he died and the Sea was vacant five days FORMOSUS FORMOSUS Bishop of Porto succeeded Stephen and in the beginning of his Pontificate adorned S. Peter's Church with some slight Paintings This Formosus had formerly for fear of Pope John left his Bishoprick and fled to France and denying to return when he was recall'd he was anathematized and then coming to Rome he was depriv'd of all his Preferments Ecclesiastical and put on profane manners with his secular habit Some think the reason that Formosus was thus persecuted was for that he was a Party if not Ring-leader of the Faction that put John into Prison However Formosus was so enraged at this hard usage that he swore he would never return either to Rome or to his Bishoprick but Pope Martin who succeeded John absolv'd him from his Oath and restor'd him to his Countrey and to his former Dignity whence not long after he came to the Popedom rather by bribery than for the sake of any good that was in him many men opposing his Election Arnulphus now the seventh Emperor from Charles the Great as we said before marching valiantly against the still rebellious Normans gave them several Overthrows but was too much puffed up with his success and became so intolerably imperious to all men especially to the Clergy that it pleased God he died soon after of the lousie Disease In whose room Lewis was put up for Emperor but we read not that he was ever Crowned for as Martinus writes Berengarius Duke of Friuli descended of the old Kings of Lombardy renewing his claim to the Kingdom of his Ancestors and bringing his pretensions to the decision of War though at first he was overcome by Lewis yet giving him Battel again at Verona Lewis was vanquished and with great slaughter of his men being taken Prisoner had his eyes put out And thus the Empire which the Franks had enjoy'd almost 100 years was transferred to the Lombards Constantine the Son of Leo being Emperor of the East I know not how it fell out that at this same time that the Emperors shewed so little Courage the Popes too were as greatly wanting in Virtue and Integrity which render'd those times very miserable Subjects being very apt as Plato says to follow the Examples of their Princes I return to Formosus whose times left they should have been the most unhappy that ever were were honour'd with the Learning and good Life of Remigius of Auxerre who wrote divers Commentaries especially upon the Gospel of S. Matthew and S. Paul's Epistles Some say indeed that Author was not the person of whom I speak but Remigius of Rhemes however that be 't is certain they were both very learned men Formosus died in the fifth year and sixth month of his Pontificate and the Sea was vacant two days BONIFACE VI. BONIFACE the sixth a Tuscan was created Pope in the room of the deceased Formosus but how long he continued in the Papacy is a great question for some Writers say longer others say shorter I am of opinion with the most that he sate but twenty six days and that which makes me think so is that Historians make little or no mention at all of him and how can it be that as some say he should sit twelve years in the Chair of S. Peter and yet his Reign be past over unregarded I have plac'd him therefore in the Catalogue of Popes not for any thing done by him for he did nothing indeed what could be expected to be done in so short a time but because he was regularly and canonically elected Pope He died as I said before in the 26. day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church STEPHEN VI. STEPHEN the sixth a Roman Bishop of Anagni being made Pope persecuted the memory of Formosus with so much spite that he abrogated his Decrees and rescinded all he had done
Pontificate the Enemy of mankind answer'd as he is wont ambiguously that he should live long if he came not near Jerusalem So that when in the fourth year first month and tenth day of his Papacy he was at Rome at Mass in the Church of Holy Cross in Jerusalem it came into his mind that now he must die where he heartily repenting confess'd his fault before the people exhorting them all to lay aside Ambition and to withstand the Stratagems of the Devil betaking themselves to a holy and pious life then he desired them that after his death they would lay the trunk of his Body however torn and dismembred as it deserved to be in a Cart and there to bury it where the Horses should of their own accord carry it and then as 't is said that wicked Men might see that yet there was some room for pardon left with God for them if they at any time repent by the Divinc Will and Providence the Horses of their own accord went to the Church of the Lateran where his body was buried Martinus writes beside that as well from the clattering of this Pope's bones as from the Sweat or rather moisture of his Tomb People are wont to gather Presages and those most manifest of the approaching death of any Pope and that this is hinted in the Epitaph on his Tomb. Whether it be true or no let the Pope's whom it concerns look to 't JOHN XIX JOHN the Nineteenth whose Surname and Family because of their baseness are not recorded died four months and twenty days after he was made Pope So that because of the shortness of his Pontificate there was nothing memorable done either by himself or any other in the time unless that many Prodigies Apparitions and Comets were seen and many Towns ruin'd by Earth-quakes foreshewing the Calamities that were to come Some ease in which yet was given by Hugh the Viceroy of Italy under Otho and Governour of Tuscany for he manag'd his Province with so great Justice and Integrity that no one complain'd for want of an excellent Prince Who afterward dying at Pistoia the Tuscans universally bewailed him as a publick Parent not suffering any manner of Respect to be wanting to his Funeral In this place I therefore thought good to mention the deserv'd praises of Hugo that Governours of Countries may know that it is much better by a just and generous administration to acquire glory and honour than by unjust ways to heap up Riches with everlasting shame and ignominy JOHN XX. JOHN the Twentieth a Roman of the Ward of Port-Metropolitan being made Pope indulg'd himself in an easie way of living and did nothing worth mentioning But Robert King of France deserv'd the highest commendations who at this time led a Life as devout as Kingly excelling all the cotemporary Christian Kings in Knowledg and religious living and being himself excell'd by no Man in controversial Learning he not owning that Opinion which the Princes of our times have embrac'd that it is not worth a Potentates while to be learned but that it behoves them that are to rule the Nations to take their rules of Government from the precepts of others which yet cannot be done without reading and study What else indeed is an illiterate Prince but the Image of a Lion commanding the other beasts 'T is necessary they should be able to moderate their own passions as well as the peoples who would be thought fit to govern others With great reason therefore it is that we speak well of Robert whose devotion was such that as ost as he had leisure from his warlike Employments he would sing the canonical hours with the Priests and so great were his merits in this way that once when he had beleaguer'd a Town of his Enemies and neglected the Siege to attend the canonical hours the Walls miraculously sell down and his Men immediately rushing in took the place But John according to some Authors having sate in the Chair four years and four months died and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant nineteen days SERGIUS IV. SERGIUS the Fourth a Roman Son of Martin succeeded a Man of a most holy life and sweet conversation both before and in his Pontificate He was charitable to the poor chearful among his Friends and Acquaintants merciful to those who were faulty and mild even with the perverse Beside he was so prudent that in all the time he sate in the Chair nothing was committed which could reflect any charge of negligence upon his Government For placing all his thoughts in Heaven which all Popes ought to do and having a mind imbued with much natural goodness he brought about all things to his mind By his counsel and advice the Princes of Italy entred into a League for driving the Saracens out of Sicily and accordingly made equal preparations of Men. There were then in Italy most of the Sons of Tancred the great Duke of Normandy among whom was William surnam'd Ferrebach a Man of so great courage that taking for his Companion in the Expedition Malochus General of the Forces of Michael Catalaicus Emperor of Constantinople he in a short time clear'd that Island of Saracens the Princes of Capoua and Salerno lending some assistance Afterward Malochus using injustice in the division of the Spoil William thought good to dissemble for the time but returning into Italy with forty thousand Normans who were just come from the Holy War he seizes upon all Apulia which was subject to the Greeks and at Melfi meets Malochus with his Army fights and defeats him and thus by the valour of William the Kingdom of Apulia was transferred from the Greeks to the Normans for he dying without Heirs his Brother Drogo succeeded him and to him succeeded Humfrey a younger Brother from whom descended Robert Guiscardi and his Brother Roger. While this past in Apulia Italy and almost all the World too labouring under a Famine and Pestilence the holy Man Sergius died in the second year and fifteenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then vacant eight days BENEDICT VIII BENEDICT the Eighth born at Frascato his Father's name was Gregory as soon as he was made Pope Crown'd Henry I. of Bavaria Emperor in the room of Otho III. deceased according to the Decree of Gregory V. Some say that Otho died at Rome and that his body was carried into Germany others say 't was buried in S. Peter's Church However that may be 't is certain that Henry Duke of Bavaria who was an excellent and a most holy person was now created Emperor and that he had an Empress equally praise-worthy for Charity Devotion and Affability But whilst he was employed in composing the affairs of Germany the Saracens entred Italy took Capua and besieg'd Bari the Inhabitants whereof being reduced to extremity for want of Provisions the Venetians with their Fleet reliev'd them and with the assistance of the Greeks set upon
the Saracens who sate before it and with great slaughter of them raised the Siege An. Dom. 1008. at the same time that Jerusalem was taken by the Turks without any violation of the Holy Sepulchre the Church of Mount Sion or Bethlehem The Venetians had a design to have reliev'd Jerusalem too but that they were with held by their Enemies of Zara to whom yet at Loreto they gave so total a rout that they durst never after by War molest any of their Neighbours But Henry having setled the state of Germany coming to Rome received the Imperial Crown and then marching to Capua drove the Saracens out of it and carried on the War against Bubagano a General of the Greeks who favour'd the Moors with so much vigour that he dispossess'd him of Troy a City he had built in the confines of Apulia in a place where Hannibal was said heretofore to have encamp'd The Emperor Henry and his Wife Cunigunda are reported to have led such chast and holy lives that they grew famous for working Miracles omitting no action which might contribute to the glory of God He founded the Bishoprick of Bamberg and married his Daughter to the King of Hungary by whose means that King and all his Subjects received the Christian Faith but Henry died in the eighth year of his Empire to the great loss of his Subjects He being dead of whom in all exigencies Benedict made use as his Protector he was expell'd by a Faction and another Pope chosen in his room though he soon after agreed the matter with his Adversaries who turn'd out again the Pseudo-Pope and restor'd Benedict with honour He died in the eleventh year first month and thirteenth day of his Popedom and was buried in S. Peter's Church 'T is said that a certain Bishop walking in a solitary place Benedict appear'd to him sitting upon a black Horse whereupon the Bishop ask'd him the reason of his appearance in that manner he answer'd that his business was to desire him to take some Money which he had hid in a certain place to which he directed him and to give it to the poor as from him for that the Money had been of no profit to him it consisting of what had been given of Alms or gotten by Rapine The Bishop executed his request and immediately surrendred his Bishoprick and led a Monastic life Vincentius writes that Gerard Bishop of Canobio was in great account about this time for his Learning and exemplary Life as also was Gutherus Bishop of Prague who for his great abilities and holiness suffered Martyrdom from the Enemies of the Christian Religion At this time also so great a Pestilence raged in the World that 't was thought fewer surviv'd it than died of it which Calamity was fore-shew'd by a Well of wholesom Water in Lorain being turn'd into blood JOHN XXI JOHN the twenty first a Roman Son of Gregory was as some will have it Bishop of Porto though others say he never was in holy Orders at all he was made Pope at the same time that Conrade of Schwaben was by a just suffrage elected Emperor in the room of Henry who had been dead three years In this Interregnum I suppose it was that several Cities of Italy revolted from the Empire and stood up for their liberty wherefore Conrade who was a great Soldier and had been for many years in great Command in the Wars under Henry raising an Army speedily enters Italy and marching first against the Milaneses the chief Authors of this defection he sits down before the Town burns the Suburbs and breaths forth nothing but utter ruin to the City but quickly raises his Siege by the persuasion of the Arch-bishop of Cologn who assured him that as he was at Mass S. Ambrose appear'd to him and threaten'd destruction to them all except they departed from the City of which himself was Patron Conrade therefore holds on his Journey to Rome where at the hands of Pope John he receiv'd the Imperial Crown and then march'd against the Hungarians and Sclavonians who had assisted the rebellious Italians and soon subdu'd them Rodolphus also Duke of Burgundy being vex'd by the Seditions of his Subjects put himself under the protection of Conrade and therefore Burgundy has been ever since 〈◊〉 for a good part of it a Province of the Empire It is said of Conrade that he made several very useful Laws among which one was that it should be death for any Prince of the Empire to disturb the peace of it and upon that account he was a fierce Persecutor of Leopold a German Count who was a Ring-leader of some disturbances in his Country He sent Ambassadours to charge the Greeks and Normans who were quarrelling about the Kingdom of Apulia to lay down their Arms and threaten'd ruine to the Romans if they persisted as they had begun to teize their Pope with Seditions In his time Religion was adorn'd in France by the strict life and holiness of several Abbats and Himericus Son of S. Stephen King of Hungary had great reputation for his Miracles But John who is very much to be praised for his life died after he had been Pope eleven years and nine days The Sea was then vacant eight days BENEDICT IX BENEDICT the Ninth as some say the Nephew of John born at Frascati Son of Albericus came to the Pontificate when Canutus a King of England out of devotion and for performance of a Vow came to Rome which having done as he return'd home he married his Daughter to Henry the Son of Conrade Soon after Conrade dying his Son Henry II. succeeded his Father and raising an Army gives battel to Uldericus King of Bohemia but the Victory being doubtful he renew'd the fight overcame him and took him Prisoner but setting him under Tribute he discharg'd him from his imprisonment then marching against the Hungarians who were contending about the Crown he restor'd Peter to his Throne who had been driven out by Alboinus In the mean time the Romans deposed Benedict who was a sluggish Fellow and good for nothing and set up in his room John Bishop of Sabina by the name of Sylvester III. who also after a Popedom of nine and forty days was turn'd out and Benedict restor'd and he finding himself still liable to the same danger again of his own accord resign'd the Chair to John Arch-deacon of S. John at Port Latin afterward called Gregory VI. though some affirm that he sold it to him Wherefore Benedict was ill spoken of by all Men deservedly and condemn'd by the divine judgment for 't is certain that after his death he was seen in a most monstrous likeness and being ask'd why having been Pope he appear'd in such a horrid shape Because says he I led my life without Law or Reason it is the will of God and S. Peter whose Seat I defiled with all manner of wickedness that I bear the shape rather of a Monster than of a Man After he
laid by his habit and entred Rome as a private Man accusing himself that he had chosen to obey the Emperor rather than God The Roman Clergy then by the persuasion of Hildebrand elected Baunon Pope and so much the more readily because he had prosess'd the right of electing Popes ought not to be in the Emperor but in the Clergy And yet the Vices of several Popes were as we have said so great that it seem'd to be done by the judgment of God that this Power should be taken from the Clergy that they might amend their flagitious lives and sinful inclinations and that the Church of Christ might not suffer ruin in the hands of such evil Prelates Thus Baunon having got the Papacy and having chang'd his name to Leo IX he immediately created Hildebrand a Cardinal-Deacon and gave him the Government of S. Paul's Church so that it seem'd as if they had divided the Pontifical charge between them one ruling the Church of S. Peter the other that of S. Paul In the mean time Drogo Chieftain of the Normans in Apulia dying his Brother Gisulphus succeeded him and possess'd himself by force of the City of Benevent which was the Popes by surrender for when the Emperor Henry having built a Church at Bamberg to the honour of S. George and had a great mind it should be made a Cathedral Benedict VIII consented upon condition the said Church should pay yearly as a kind of Tribute a hundred Marks of Silver and a white Horse with his caparisons which yearly payment Leo IX remitted to the Church of Bamberg receiving of the Emperor in lieu thereof the City of Benevent Leo therefore strengthened with the justice of his Title and the Emperor's Forces marches against Gisulphus with an undisciplin'd Army and is by him defeated and taken Prisoner but was soon remitted to Rome with an honourable retinue T is storied that in his time Robert Guiscardi bringing an Army out of France into Italy and driving the Greeks and Saracens before him possess'd himself of Apulia where he chanc'd to find a Statue with these words engraven in a brass Circle round the head The first day of May at Sun-rising I shall have a golden head which words being well considered by a certain Saracen who was Robert's Prisoner a skilful Magician he mark'd how far the shadow of the Statue extended and on the first day of May at Sun-rise having dug up the place he found a great Treasure with which he bought his liberty of Robert But to return to Leo who was certainly a Man of great devotion innocence benignity and religion particularly so eminent sor hospitality that his Palace was always free for Pilgrims and poor People nay once when he found a poor Leper at his door he with pity ordered him to be taken in and laid in his own bed but in the Morning when the Door-keeper opened the door the Leper being not to be found it was thought that it was Christ himself that lay there as a poor Man In matters relating to the Faith he used great diligence and industry for in a Council holden at Vercelli he condemned Berengarius for a Heretick and by his Monitories put the Emperor of Constantinople upon repairing the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem which had been spoil'd by the Barbarians At this same time lived Theobald a noble French-man famous for his holy life at Vicenza and Vincentius Bishop of Liege a person remarkable for Learning and Piety wrote many things skilfully and acutely concerning the Quadrature of the Circle to Hermannus a Man of an excellent Wit Leo died when he had been Pope five years two months and six days VICTOR II. VICTOR the Second before called Glaberdus a Bavarian succeeded Leo rather by the favour of the Emperor Henry than by a free Election For the Clergy and People of Rome stood in great fear of the Power of Henry whom they had before offended by putting up new Popes and therefore lest contrary to their Oath they should seem to make any Innovations they propose this Victor and by Hildebrand their Embassadour to Henry all things were managed to both their satisfactions Victor being by universal consent plac'd in the Chair with the approbation of the Emperour he called a Council at Florence where he depriv'd a multitude of Bishops of their Bishopricks for Simony and for Fornication and admonish'd the Clergy of their duty threatning severity against those that should transgress the Canons Some write that Victor made a Visit to Henry and that he was splendidly entertain'd by him but I am of opinion that Hildebrand onely went thither who by vertue of his Legantine power created Henry III. the Son of Henry Coesar Capua was now besieg'd by the Saracens which strook terror into all the neighbouring Cities but Robert Guiscardi taking up Arms set upon the Saracens and defeated them thereby delivering at once Capua from a Siege and their Neighbours from their fears Of what extraction this Robert was is not certain some accounting him a French-man others a Norman however it be 't is sure he was a person of a noble Spirit and an excellent understanding so that he deserv'd the Crown he held of Apulia Pope Victor whose life we are upon died in the second year third month and fourteenth day of his Pontificate after which the Sea was vacant eleven days STEPHEN IX STEPHEN the Ninth before nam'd Frederick a Lorainer Abbat of Monte-Cassino was no sooner made Pope but he took care that the Church of Milan which for almost two hundred years had withdrawn its subjection to that of Rome was now at length reduc'd to obedience thereto as to the Mother and Nurse of all Churches which obedience she has since persevered in as becomes true Daughters to do to a pious Mother Near about this time Henry III. succeeded his Father deceased and Alexius succeeded Nicephorus Emperor of Constantinople Robert Guiscardi also in a mighty Battel overthrew the Greeks and drove them out of Calabria leaving none but Greek Priests who even to our times kept their own Language and Customs Indeed the Constantinopolitan Empire was now so broken by the Saracens that they had much ado to preserve Thrace Galatia Pontus Thessaly Macedon and Achaia and even out of these either the Turks or Saracens every day cantled out one place or other But Stephen when he had been Pope seven months and eight days died at Florence where he was honourably buried as Martinus writes Some say that Pope Stephen accused the Emperor Henry of Heresie for endeavouring to diminish the Papal Authority without regard to Religion and the immortal God BENEDICT X. BENEDICT the Tenth a Capuan before named Nuntius Bishop of Veletri was by a faction of Noblemen created Pope at the same time that Agnes Mother of Henry III. constituted Gilbert of Parma a Man of great abilities Viceroy of Italy There was then in Italy also Godfrey the Husband of the Countess Mathild a most noble Lady who was
very powerful for Beatrix the Mother of Mathild had been Sister to the Emperor Henry II. and had married one Boniface a potent Man and of an honourable Family of the City of Lucca in Tuscany upon whose death all his Estates fell first to Beatrix and after her decease were devolv'd upon Mathild and her Husband Godfrey so that they stood possess'd of Lucca Parma Reggio Mantua and that part of Tuscany now call'd S. Peter's Patrimony But to return to Benedict he was deposed by Hildebrand because he came not in by the right way but by force and Simony for the generality of the Clergy had pass'd their words to Arch-deacon Hildebrand when he went to Florence that they would not proceed upon any Election of a new Pope till his return to the City When he was come back therefore together with Gerard Bishop of Florence he inveigh'd most bitterly against them all especially against those who had promised to stay till his return But there arising great contention upon this matter many approving of Benedict as a very good and prudent Man though they disallow'd that Election of him with great clamours that it was irregularly and illegally done yet at last by the persuasion of Hildebrand Gerard a Man worthy indeed of so high a Dignity was by a majority of Votes created Pope and Benedict turn'd out Some will have this Election to have been made at Siena because a free choice could not be had at Rome by reason of the partialities of some Men in Power there Benedict was deposed after he had sate nine months and twenty days and then was confined to Veletri NICOLAS II. NICOLAS the Second a Provençal at first nam'd Gerard Bishop of Florence for his Virtue and excellent spirit upon the expulsion of Benedict who was not regularly so created was made Pope at Sienna and immediately thereupon withdrew to Sutri where An. Dom. 1059. he called a Council whither came not onely the Bishops but many of the Noblemen of Italy where he forc'd Benedict to resign the Office and Habit of Pope and to retire to Veletri from hence he went to Rome where in the second Lateran Council he procur'd a Law to be enacted very wholesom for the Church of Rome which is to be seen among the 〈◊〉 to this purpose That if any one either by Simony or by the favour of any powerful Man or by any tumult either of the People or Soldiery shall be placed in S. Peter's Chair he shall be reputed not Apostolical but an Apostate one that transgresses the rules even of common Reason and that it shall be lawful for the Cardinals Clergy and devout Laity with Weapons both spiritual and material by Anathema's and by any humane aid him to drive out and depose and that Catholicks may assemble for this end in any place whatsoever if they cannot do it in the City In the same Council Berengarius Deacon of the Church of Anjou was reclaim'd from his Error concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Bread and Wine whereof he affirm'd the true and intire Body and Blood of Christ was not present but onely by a sign figure or mystery which Error at the instance and persuasion of Nicolas and Albericus a Deacon a very learned Man he recanted affirming the Eucharist to be the true and intire Body and Blood of Christ. We have said that this Error was condemned by Leo IX but never amended the praise of which belongs wholly to Nicolas as Lanfranc writes a Man at that time very learned who in an excellent Work of his confuted the Tenets of Berengarius While these things were acted at Rome by Pope Nicolas Godfrey the Norman who succeeded his Brother Drogo in the Earldom of Apulia and Calabria dying left his Son Bagelardus his Heir which Robert Guiscardi his Brother as some will have it not liking he drove out his Nephew and seiz'd upon the Earldom taking in Troia also which had long been Subject to the Sea of Rome At this the Pope was not a little enraged at Robert till by his invitation taking a journey into Apulia whatsoever the Church had lost was return'd again and then he not onely took Robert into favour but making him a feudatary of the Church he was constituted Duke of Calabria and Apulia After this receiving of him a great assistance of Forces and returning to the City he subdued the Prenestines Tusculans and Nomentans who had revolted from the Church and crossing the Tiber he sacked Galese and took in other Castles of Count Gerard as far as Sutri rendring the territories of Rome hereby much more secure T is written also that Henry III. was crown'd by Nicolas with the Imperial Diadem and out of gratitude for it all his time never attempted any thing against holy Church But Nicolas having concluded this life with great praise of all Men died when he had been Pope three years six months and twenty six days The Sea was then vacant twelve days ALEXANDER II. ALEXANDER the Second whose name at first was Anselm a Milanese Bishop of Lucca upon the death of Nicolas though absent was for his good temper affability and Learning elected Pope But the Bishops of Lombardy thinking for the honour of their Country that it was just a Pope should be chosen out of their number Gilbert of Parma at that 〈◊〉 very powerful taking their parts vigorously they obtain'd of the Emperor Henry against the mind of his Wife Agnes that they might set up an other Pope Whereupon the Bishops holding a consult made one Cadolus Pope who was Bishop of Parma to whom all Lombardy straightway submitted except Mathild a noble Lady who had great reverence for the Roman Sea Cadolus being soon after called to Rome by the Adversaries of Alexander both Parties engag'd in Battel in the Prati di Nerone at the foot of the Hill Montorio in which fight many were slain on both sides Alexander and Godfrey the Husband of Mathild staid in the Lateran Palace not knowing where to trust themselves all places were so full of treachery though some say that Alexander to avoid the bloody sight did before the Battel retire to Lucca and lived there securely for some time which kind Protection from the Luccheses he gratefully acknowledged by granting both to their Church and City very notable Priviledges Cadolus was repulsed at Rome but rested not long at quiet in his Country being invited again by some Citizens who found that to satisfie their Avarice it was their Interest that the City should be kept in confusion and getting together a greater Army than before he comes to Rome and by force seizes the Citta Leonina and S. Peter's Church But the Romans with the Forces of Godfrey falling forth strook such a sudden terror into the Enemy that they betook themselves to their heels and Cadolus narrowly miss'd being taken having been forsaken by his Friends but Cincius Son to the Prefect of Rome with a strong Squadron carried him
of Sicily in the absence of Count William had seiz'd upon Calabria and Puglia the charge of both which Countries William going to Constantinople to espouse the Daughter of Alexius the Emperour had committed to the care of the Pope Upon this therefore the Pope left Rome and went to Benevento from whence he sent Cardinal Hugo to Roger as he was besieging the Rocca di Niceforo to persuade him to lay down his Arms and quit the Siege but he little regarded the Pope's Order rather pursuing the War more vigorously fearing lest if his Cosen William should arrive before he had possest himself of those two Countries it might render his design unfeasible The Pope then began to raise an Army when on a sudden both himself and many of the Cardinals were taken ill of Fevers which forc'd him to return to Rome without performing any thing so that Roger not meeting any resistance easily made himself Master of Calabria and Puglia Thus was William 〈◊〉 of his Country and of the Wife he expected and being forc'd to betake himself to live in the Court of the Prince of Salerno he died a little while after without Heirs and Roger having lost so considerable an Enemy arrogates to himself the Title of King of Italy Calistus as soon as he recover'd his health held a Council in the Lateran of nine hundred Fathers where it was consulted how with the first opportunity they might send Recruits to the Christian Army in Asia then much weakned the news whereof gave such courage to Baldwin King of Jerusalem that he set upon Gazis a King of the Turks that inhabited Asia minor who was coming against him with a great Army vanquish'd him and took him Prisoner and with like success he encountred the King of Damascus who was marching against Jerusalem whom he defeated having kill'd two thousand of the Enemy and taken a thousand But Balahac King of the Persians coming on with numerous sorces and Baldwin not staying till the Auxiliaries could arrive he rashly adventur'd to fight him and was totally routed and himself and many of his Nobles made Captives This made Pope Calistus hasten their assistance lest the remainder of the Christians should be destroy'd having no King and by the mediation of Veramundus Patriarch of Jerusalem a learned and a good Mam he animated the Venetians with hopes of glory and reward to man out a stout Fleet upon the service in the year 1121. Dominico Michiele being Duke which arriving at Joppa then streightly besieged both by Sea and Land by the Saracens they overcame them with great slaughter and raised the Siege Hence they went to Tyre which after a long and bloody Siege they took having first made it their bargain that half Ascalon and Tyre should be theirs if by their means they happened to be taken But Emanuel Emperour of the Greeks Successour to Calo-Joannes enving these great successes to the Latines or those of the Roman Communion commanded the Venetians to recall their Admiral which they did and he obey'd but he was so inrag'd that in his return he sack'd Rhodes Chios from whence he translated to Venice the body of S. Theodore the Martyr Samos Mitilene and Andros Islands belonging to the Emperour He took Modone and 〈◊〉 it and subjected the Island Trau before in the hands of the Hungarians to the Venetian Commonwealth He brought also along with him to Venice the Stone upon which at Tyre Christ is said to have sate In the mean time Baldwin who we said was taken Prisoner being ransom'd return'd to Jerusalem and for a while kept up the Christian Cause so that Calistus having now a little leisure from forein troubles creates twelve Cardinals rebuilds several Churches that were ruin'd with age repairs the City Walls makes Conduits 〈◊〉 Castles belonging to the Church and distributes great Donaries of Silver and Gold to several Churches purchases several pieces of ground to augment S. Peter's Revenue and within the Court builds the Church of S. Nicolas But so great felicity cannot long be enjoy'd on Earth without interruption for Gregory the Anti-Pope before nam'd Bordino attempting to usurp the Papacy kept at Sutri where with the assistance of some Roytelets thereabout he did great damage to the Romans by his incursions and plunder'd all the Strangers he could meet with that travel'd to Rome either out of devotion or about business Calistus therefore gets together an Army on a sudden and sending before John de Crema Cardinal of S Chrysogon with the most expedite part of Soldiery himself follows and defeating the Enemy takes Sutri and sets Bordino upon a Camel leading him so in triumph to Rome and then forgave him his life but thrust him into the Monastery of Cave At last Calistus having deserv'd well both of God and Man died in the Lord after he had been Pope five years ten months and six days The Sea was then vacant eight days HONORIUS II. HONORIUS the Second at first named Lambert born in the Country of Imola was made Pope about the time that Baldwin being ransom'd from his imprisonment added the Principality of Antioch to the Kingdom of Jerusalem all the Heirs being dead to whom of right it belong'd But so great a Province not being to be govern'd without a Lieutenant he made Raymund Son to William Duke of Austria their Governour whose Wife was the Daughter of Boemund the elder and having thus setled matters he went against the King of Ascalon who being assisted with forces from Aegypt infested the 〈◊〉 of Jerusalem and him he utterly routed in one Battel Afterward Baldequan a petit King of Damascus attempting the same thing but with greater forces he overthrew him in three fierce Battels his men in their flight being kill'd up and down like sheep To return to Honorius though his Parentage was mean yet for his excellent Learning and conversation he was every way worthy of so high a Dignity not but that the methods by which he obtain'd it were not altogether commendable the Election having been procur'd rather by the ambition of some private Men than by unanimous consent For when upon the death of Calistus the Consultation was held about chusing a new Pope Leo Frangipane imposed upon the Conclave that the Election should be deferred for three days under pretence of more mature deliberation and a stricter search into the Ecclesiastical Canons though neither of these were part of his design but it was craftily and politickly done by him to gain time in which Votes might be procur'd for the choice of Lambert The People were extreamly desirous to have had the Cardinal of S. Stephen which Frangipane also pretended that so he might by this trick draw over the People and the unwary Fathers which some of the Cardinals observing because they would not have a Pope according to his mind they set aside the Cardinal of S. Stephen and chose Theobald Cardinal of S. Anastasio Pope by the name of Coelestine Leo now thought it
long for they soon altered their minds and clap'd him in Prison This affront gave great offence to the Bononians who seizing several Romans protested they would never release them but upon the delivery of their Brancaleon which so wrought upon the cautious Romans that they not onely released him but restor'd him to his former dignity setting up also another Court of men chosen out of every Ward in the City whom they called Banderese to whom they committed the Power of life and death The Pope plainly found the reason of this insolence of the Romans to be that they observ'd how Manfredus had plagu'd him and that he was not able to help himself That he might therefore at last free the Church from the tyranny of these men he sent Legates to Lewis King of France to exhort him that he would assoon as possible send his Cousin and Son-in-law Charles Earl of Provence and Anjou with an Army into Italy he intending upon the expulsion of Manfredus to create him King of both Sicilies And this no doubt he had done so high were his resentments of the Ingratitude of Manfredus if sickness had not taken him off from business Which yet was brought to pass as is supposed by the following Pope To the times of this Pope is ascribed Albertus a High German of the Order of Friers Predicant who for the vastness of his learning got the Surname of Magnus He Commented upon all the Works of Aristotle and explain'd the Christian Religion with great acuteness beside he wrought very accurately concerning the secrets of Nature He also put forth a Book de Coaequaevis wherein he endeavours to shew the little difference that is between Theology and Natural Philosophy He expounded a great part of the Holy Bible and illustrated the Gospels and S. Paul's Epistles with excellent Notes He began also a Body of Divinity but liv'd not to perfect it He was a man so modest and so much given to Study that he refused the Bishoprick of Ratisbon because it could not be manag'd without trouble and force of Arms sometimes as the Bishops of Germany are wont to do He liv'd therefore in private at Cologn reading onely some publick Lectures At length he died there in the eightieth year of his age leaving behind him many Scholars for the good of Posterity especially Thomas Aquinas who leaving his Countrey and his noble kinred for he deriv'd his pedigree from the Counts of Apulia and going to Cologn he made such progress in learning that after a few years he was made Professor at Paris where he published four Books upon the Sentences and wrote a Book against William de St. Amour a pernicious Fellow Beside he put forth two Books one de qualitate essentiis the other de principiis naturae At last he was sent for to Rome by Vrban but refusing those promotions that were offered him he gave himself wholly to Reading and Writing He set up a School at Rome and at the desire of Vrban he wrote several Pieces and ran through almost all Natural and Moral Philosophy with Commentaries and set forth a Book contra Gentiles He expounded the Book of Job and compiled the Catena aurea He composed also an Office for the Sacrament in which most of the Types of the old Testament are explained But to return to Vrban he died at Perugia in the third year first month and fourth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Cathedral Church The Sea then was vacant five months CLEMENT IV. CLEMENT the fourth formerly called Guidodi Fulcodio a Narbonnese of S. Giles's deserv'd to be made Pope upon the account of his Holiness and Learning For he being without question the best Lawyer in France and pleading with great integrity in the Kings Court was created after the death of his Wife by whom he had several Children first of all Bishop of Pois and then of Harbonne and last of all a Cardinal by universal consent and afterward was chosen out as the onely Person whose sincerity and Authority had qualified him to compose the Differences between Henry King of England and Simon Earl of Montford As soon as he was chosen Pope some say he put on the Habit of a Religious Mendicant and went incognito to Perugia Thither immediately went the Cardinals who having chosen him Pope though in his absence attended upon him pompously to Viterbo In the mean time Charles whom we said Pope Vrban sent for to bestow a Kingdom upon him set out from Marseilles with thirty Ships and coming up the Tiber arriv'd at Rome Where he lived as a Senator so long by the Popes order till certain Cardinals sent from his Holiness came and declared him King of Jerusalem and Sicily in the Palace of St. Giovanni Laterano upon this condition that Charles should take an Oath to pay the Sea of Rome a yearly acknowledgment of forty thousand Crowns and should not accept of the Roman Empire though it were freely offer'd to him For there was at that time a great contest for the Empire between Alphonsus King of Castile who sought to procure it by Power and bribery too and the Earl of Corâ—wall the King of Englands Brother whom the Electors had no great thoughts of Therefore lest Manfred should hope to make use of any quarrels between Alphonsus and Charles to whom many people said the Empire was justly due though he could not challenge it the Pope animated Charles against Manfred as one that stood in Contempt of the Roman Church For Charles's Army was already gotten over the Alpes into Italy and marching through Romagnia had brought all the Soldiers of the Guelphs Party as far as Rome From whence Charles removed and took not onely Ceperane having beaten out Manfred's men but posted himself in a Forest near Cassino which Manfred himself had undertaken to defend although his mind was soon alter'd and he resolv'd to march for Benevento to expect the Enemy in plain and spacious places because his forces consisted most of Cavalry Thither also did Charles move and assoon as he had an opportunity to fight did not decline it though his Soldiers were very weary with travelling Each of them encouraged their men to engage But Charles coming to relieve a Troop of his Soldiers that were like to be worsted more eagerly than usually as in such cases Military Men will do he was knock'd down from his Horse at which the Enemy was so transported that Manfred fought carelesly out of rank and file and was kill'd which when Charles appeared again straight turn'd the fortune of the Day For many of his men that ran away were kill'd and a great many others taken Prisoners Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory removes to Benevento and marches into it upon a voluntary surrender of the Citizens From thence he went to storm Nocera de Pagani where both the modern and the ancient Saracens lived but sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with five hundred Horse to restore
manner in Lombardy the Emperor went through Piacenza to Genoa along with Amadeus of Savoy attended by the Agents from Pisa and Genoa Thither came Embassadors from Robert of Naples and Frederick King of Sicily not long after the former to make a shew of friendship and the latter to assure him of the real love which they had for him For Robert had sent his Mareschal into Tuscany with two thousand Horse to assist the Floretines and those of Lucca if need were against the Emperor But Henry went by Sea to Pisa and having sent his Land-forces before him did the men of Lucca a great deal of damage Hitherto I thought fit to relate all the inconveniences which were brought upon the Italians which some impute wholly to Clement who solicited Henry to come with an Army into Italy Whilst others tell us that Clement did it for the advantage of the Country because of the civil Discords among 'em which were the cause of much blood-shed in every City nay in every little Castle The Citizens were slain old men murther'd young Children dash'd against the ground with a boundless cruelty Whereupon Clement used that saying of Homer Let there be but one chief Lord one Judg of all matters Henry went on toward Rome and sent Lewis of Savoy Son to Amadeus with five hundred Horse before who taking up his quarters at one Stephen Columna's House near the Lateran put the Vrsin Faction in a terrible fear But Henry came first to Viterbo and thence to Rome where he was very kindly received not onely by all the Nobility but by the Citizens in general After that being Crown'd by three Cardinals he made the Romans swear Allegiance to him as the custom is and made a great Feast to which he invited all the Noblemen of the City except the Vrsins But lest in such a concourse of people there should arise any tumult through the animosities of some men he planted his Soldiers in the Theatres Baths and other fortified places in the strength of which Guards he was so confident that he had the courage to demand of the people a Tribute which they never used to pay Hereupon all the Citizens of both Factions fled to the Vrsins who had set good Guards about their House which stood near the Tiber and hard by Hadrians Bridg. At that the Emperor was so enraged that he summoned the Sea-Archers whom the men of Pisa had sent him to march into the City against the Romans but they were surprised and soon routed by John the Brother of King Robert who had placed his Sea-forces under the Mount di S. Sabina He also let in the Horse who quarter'd not far off and by the aid of the Roman people forced the Emperour himself to retreat as far as Tivoli After him John Robert's Brother went away by Command from the Cardinals and left the City quiet But Henry going from Perugia arrived at Arezzo where he accused Robert the King of Treason and because he did not appear upon Summons deprived him of his Kingdom against the mind of Clement who thought he had done a thing of such consequence in a very improper place besides that it was none of his Prerogative For he said It was Popes peculiar Province to dispose of the Kingdom of Sicily on both sides the Pharo The Emperor marching from Arezzo led his Army toward Florence and Lucca who were Allies to Robert But seeing he was not able to storm a Town he possess'd himself of Poggibonci which when he had fortified he declared War against the Seneses because they were so niggardly and sparing in supplying him with Provisions But falling sick he went to the Bath at Macerata from whence he came back to Bonconvento much weaker than he was before There after some days he died but it was suspected he was poison'd by a Monk at Florence who was induced by large Rewards and Promises to give him the Eucharist dipped in Poison The State of Pisa now that the Emperor was dead feared the power of the Florentines and therefore chose Vgutio Fagiolano their Captain and sole Governor who not long after reduced those of Lucca and took away their Lands from 'em by the assistance of the Cavalry that had served under Henry In the mean time Clement was very much troubled not onely at all the other evils that Italy underwent but that S. Constantines Church should be burnt down Wherefore he sent Money to the Clergy and people of Rome toward the repair of that Church though there was such scarcity and Dearth in his Country at that time that he could hardly buy himself Victuals and Drink Which miseries were foretold by frequent Eclipses of the Sun several Comets and the Plague which was almost Epidemical But Clement apply'd himself to settle the State of the Church and therefore he exercised his Episcopal Function three times not onely in making several Cardinals who were excellent Men but in three Councils which he called in several places and at several times he did many things with prudence and deliberation For he suppress'd Dulcinus's Sect as I told you that opposed the Churchmen and took off the Templers who were fallen into very great Errors as denying Christ c. and gave their goods to the Knights of Jerusalem He likewise withstood the King of France at Poictou when he made unreasonable and unhandsom Demands for the King would have had Boniface censur'd and Nogaretius and Sarra absolv'd The first request he never obtein'd but the second he at last had granted to him upon Nogaretius's Promise that he would go against the Saracens for Penance Which expedition Clement himself had a great mind to as appears by his Councils Afterwards he canonized Caelestin the fifth by the name of Peter the Confessor because approved by Miracles and set forth the Clementines which he composed during the Council at Vienna But in succeeding time he was afflicted with divers Diseases for he was troubled sometimes with a Dysentery sometimes with a pain in his Stomach or his Sides of which he dy'd in the eighth year tenth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate The Sea was then vacant two years three months and seventeen days whilst the Cardinals were at a stand whom they should choose Nor was there less Discord among the Electors of the Empire upon the Death of Henry some proposing Lewis of Bavaria others Frederick Duke of Austria And these two engaging in War one against the other Frederick was Conquer'd at which Lewis grew so proud that he not onely called himself Emperor without Authority from Rome but favour'd the Viconti in Lombardy so far that they got into Millain And this he did to make his own passage more easie toward Rome where he was to receive a golden Crown according to the usual Custom Then began the people of Tuscany and all the Guelphs to tremble when they saw Lewis Emperor and that he was likely to recover all the rights of the Empire in
of Riches At any time of vacation from business he gave himself up wholly to delights and pleasures especially to Women whom he loved in excess but the Mistriss of his Affection was the fair Vanoccia a Roman Lady whom in the time of his private fortune and condition he kept and owned as a lawful Wife He was a great lover of Plays and Comedies and would be always a spectator of Shows and pleasant divertisements In his time he created 43 Cardinals of which 18 were Spaniards In the year 1500. he celebrated the Jubilee according to ancient customs giving Bulls and Indulgences for Sins to all those who personally visited the Church of Rome and to such also who being hindered by their occasions were made partakers of his bountiful remissions Thus he who could so easily pardon the sins of others must expect the final Sentence of him who is the just Judg and renders to every one according to his demerit PIVS III. ALEXANDER the Sixth being now deceased the Duke Valentino seized on all his Plate and Jewels and whatsoever was of value and fortified himself in the Vatican and Castle of S. Angelo with 12000 men supposing that he might be able by such a force to over-awe the Cardinals in their Suffrages and force them to elect such a person as was most acceptable to himself The Cardinals to avoid the awe of such a force assembled themselves in the Minerva which is a Convent in Rome but that place also was presently surrounded by a Band of Soldiers commanded by one Captain Coreglia by order of Borgia who himself at that time lay sick in bed The news of this restraint on the Cardinals put all Rome into an alarm and great confusion so that the Citizens shut their Shops chained up their Streets and took Arms in their hands all things seeming in that fear and dread as if Hannibal had been at the Gates of the City so that Coreglia finding himself in some danger gave way to the present necessity and setting fire to the Palace of the Orsini retired without doing other damage In the mean time the Cardinals having gathered a force of 4000 Foot resolved contrary to custom to suspend the Election until such time as the Cardinals resident in foreign parts beyond the Alps could convene in some other place where they might be more secure and free in their Voices Prospero Colonna coming then to Rome with Fabius Orsino the Son of him whom Borgia had put to death were by order of the Cardinals sent to Borgia to intreat him that he would be pleased to remain quiet and suffer the Election to proceed free and without disturbance The like request also the Embassadors of France and Spain made to him with which suffering himself to be persuaded he withdrew his force from Rome and departed thence in a Horse-litter being in a weak state and condition of health Howsoever his own Soldiers kept the Castle tho the Governor of it at the instance of Cardinal Bernardino Carvagiale promised to act every thing by the order and direction of the College In this manner the Vatican being cleared the Cardinals employed themselves nine days in performing the solemn Obsequies of the Pope during which time the French Army was persuaded also to quit the Town at the instance of the Cardinal of Rouen who had great interest with that Party So that all things being left free without appearance of any Commotion or Disorders during the Election the Cardinals entered into the Conclave to the number of 38 where the disagreement which at other times kept things in delay was now the cause that matters were put to a speedy issue and a new Pope created in a few days Cardinal Amboise the Arch-Bishop of Rouen being supported by the interest of France and the power of Borgia seemed to stand the fairest of any for the Election but the French Forces being withdrawn to engage the Spaniards in the Campagna of Rome the greatest tho not the best number of the Cardinals agreed in the Election and on the 21. day of September 1503. chose Francis Piccolomini Cardinal of Siena for their Pope who to renew the memory of Pius the Second his Uncle took upon him the name of Pius the Third and was solemnly Crowned on the 8th of October following the Sea having been vacant six months and three days Cesar Borgia who had during this Election remained with his Army at Nepe so soon as he received intelligence that the Pope was Created returned to Rome attended with 150 men at Arms with the like number of Horsemen and 800 Foot and having paid his Reverence and Obeysance to the Pope he returned his thanks to the College of Cardinals for having Elected a person so wise so religious and good and so worthy of the Papal Chair Borgia having performed this Ceremony took up his Lodgings in the Vatican where the Vrsini thirsty of Revenge assaulted him with armed force and he as valiantly defending himself many were killed on both sides and at length Borgia by order of the Pope was for his better security sent to the Castle of S. Angelo whence without license from the Pope he had not liberty to go abroad all his people forsaking him and lying where their fear or fortune led them These troubles to a person aged and sick as this Pope was hastned the accomplishment of his days so that he expired his last breath on the 18th of October 1503. being the 26th day after his Election not without some suspicion of Poison for having a sore Leg it was imagined that by the suggestion and contrivance of Pandolfo Petrucci the Tyrant of Siena some Poison being injected to the Wound he was thereby greatly afflicted and more speedily brought to his end being aged 74 years 5 months and 10 days He was afterwards buried in the Chappel of S. Andrew belonging to S. Peter's Church under a fair Monument of Marble near to the Sepulchre of his Uncle After which the Sea was vacant 14 days only JVLIVS II. THE Funeral Obsequies of Pope Pius being performed the very first night that the Cardinals entered into the Conclave being the 9th day of October Julian de la Rovere Bishop Cardinal of Ostia was Elected Pope with the common consent of 37 Suffrages all of them so unanimously concurring together that before his choice all reports fixed and concentred upon him and afterwards he gave himself the name of Julius the Second He was born in Savona within the Dominions of Genoua his Fathers name was Raphael the Brother of Sixtus the Fourth whose Pedigree we have already mentioned he had two Brothers Bartholomew who was a Frier of the Order of S. Francis Bishop of Ferrara and Patriarch of Antioch and John who was Prefect of Rome and Duke of Sora and Senegaglia and he himself from Bishop of Carpentras was at the same time with Peter Riario created Cardinal of S. Peter ad Vincula by the said Sixtus the Fourth Having obtained
judgment of the Pope for tho the Emperor did most strictly forbid and inhibit any person to oppugn the Doctrins contained in this Book of Interim either by Practice Writings or Preaching yet notwithstanding the Protestants on one side did not forbear to refute this Confession of Ausbourg by their publick Writings and Disputations and on the other Francis Romeo General of the Dominican Friers did by command from the Pope appoint several Learned men of that Order to refute that Formulary of the Interim In France also many wrote against it and in a short time great numbers both of Catholicks and Protestants oppugned it with heat of argument it having hapned in this matter as in others of the like nature that where middle terms or moderate expedients have been proposed between the extremes of opposite Factions for accommodating or reconciling their differences there the event hath been no other than that the contrary parties have impugned the expedients and both have been hardned and confirmed in their own Tenents and Opinions These debates and troubles gave a stop to the proceedings of the Council at Bologna for the space of two years and until almost the end of the year 1549. when at the beginning of November news came to the Pope then at Rome that the Duke Ottavio Farnese his Nephew who having against his own inclinations been detained by the Pope at Rome out of tenderness to his life lest he should incur the same fate as Pier-luigi had done was privately escaped out of the City and was then actually dealing with Ferdinand Gonzaga the Governor of Milan to instate him in Parma in despight of Camillo Orsino who was to keep and defend the Town in right of the Ecclesiastical State The which news so surprised the mind of the Pope with sensible grief and commotion of spirit who was not as yet recovered of the sorrow he had conceived for the fate of his Son Pierluigi that he presently fell into a swound or Leipothymie from which being revived was seized by so violent a Fever that in three days he died thereof being the 10th of November at his Palace of Monte Cavallo where he usually resided because it was esteemed a place of the best Air in Rome He had held the Papal Sea 15 years and 28 days and was arrived to the age of 81 years eight months and 10 days He was buried in S. Peter's Church without any great pomp or State and afterwards the Sea was vacant two months and 29 days JVLIVS III. THE Cardinals having as accustomary celebrated the Funeral Obsequies of the Pope deceased for the space of nine days did on the tenth enter into the Conclave but then considering the small appearance of Cardinals few being then present the formal recess and retirement into the Conclave was deferred for some time And here it is to be observed that the Cardinals were divided into three Factions the first favoured the Emperor the second was inclined to the French King and a third consisted of such Cardinals as had been the creatures of the late Pope deceased and by him promoted to several Benefices and Dignities the Cape or chief of which was Cardinal Farnese Nephew to Paul the Third who tho young was yet active subtil and of a judgment solid and of as good experience in the Court as could be expected in a person of his years This last party as it was numerous so it was composed of ancient Cardinals men of great authority and knowledg in the world and such as were able to bear down the ballance in favour of any person to which they inclined for which reason great courtship was made to Cardinal Farnese both by the Imperial and French Ministers whose arguments on both sides were so forcible to draw him to their party that being doubtful unto which he should incline resolved on a neutrality as the safest course whereby to steer tho in reality he seemed on occasions to lean most to the French party This was the state of affairs at Rome when about the beginning of the month of December 1549. the Cardinals entered into the Conclave Farnese in the first place proposed to his own Party the choice of Cardinal Poole an English man a person against whom for the nobility of his extraction his godliness and exemplary life nothing could be objected and being also acceptable to the Imperialists and displeasing to no party he found many friends ready to give their Votes for him amongst which the most considerable were the Cardinals of Trent Sforza and Crescentio who had drawn also Morone and Maffei to their Party who being all men of considerable interest did agree immediately to present him in the Conclave and assume him to the Papal Dignity But some of the old Cardinals who seemingly assented thereunto yet being inwardly envious to see a younger man preferred over their heads did advise to delay the time for a while lest the Election which ought to be mature and grave should seem to have been over-hasty and precipitate tho in reality this delay was caused by that hopes which every one entertained of being himself the person that should be elected by which means the choice of Poole being until the next day suspended the contrary party such as Monti Cesis and Gaddi who were all Pretenders and Candidates had time to make their Parties Cardinal Salviati labouring all the night for the exclusion of Poole The next day the Cardinals being assembled in the Chappel to the number of 49. Cardinal Fortone one of the French Faction publickly accused Poole of Heresie and for that reason protested against his choice Howsoever his Friends esteeming his report false and scandalous pressed forward the scrutiny in pursuance of which the Votes being put into a Chalice 26 were found in favour of Poole but in regard that 33 at least out of 49 were required to make the Election legitimate Poole was excluded to the great disappointment of himself and the Imperial Party who esteemed the choice to have been secure and certain In relation hereof I have been the more large because it concerned one of our Country-men and may have reference to some particulars which are to follow After which several other Cardinals experienced their fortunes but to no effect the Factions being every day more heated and embroiled so that they could not come to any agreement at length they resolved to nominate nine persons out of which the Imperialists might choose one that was most acceptable to them The persons proposed were three French men viz. Lorene Tornon and Bellai three Italians Salviati Ridolfi and Trani and three Imperialists Theatino Monti and San Marcello against whom nothing was objected excepting Monti whom Cardinal Ghisa accused of a wicked life publishing many Vices of which he was guilty and rendering him unworthy of the Priesthood and Holy Orders into which he was entered Howsoever at length the Cardinals growing weary with so long a continuation of the Conclave resolved
quiet of Christendom availed little resolved to enjoy and give himself up to Buildings and other divertisements so that placing all his thoughts on a Country-house Gardens and Vineyards which he had erected and made without the Porta del popolo at Rome he was so enamoured of his new Paradise where he continually made Feasts and Banquets that he seemed wholly to have cast off all care of the Church and sense of the miseries of Christendom and what was most undecent and misbecoming a Person of above seventy years of age and of his gravity and function he immersed himself in pleasures as if there had been no other Life to the great scandal of the World and damage and greater danger of Rome In this year 1554. Edward the Sixth King of England died and the Queen Mary succeeding immediately sent her Ambassadours to Rome to signifie to the Pope the conversion of her whole Kingdom from Heresie to the Catholick Church and to acknowledg and Vow all Obedience to the Papal Sea desiring to have the Excommunication taken off and a general Pardon and Absolution given to her Catholick Subjects on which grateful Message the Ambassadours coming were recieved with great kindness and solemn Processions of Thanksgiving celebrated at which the Pope assisted in Person The same year Philip Son of the Emperor Charles the Fifth was married to Queen Mary the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples being setled upon him together with Milan Flanders and some other of the United Provinces with which news Philip dispatched his Ambassadour the Marquis de Pescara to the Pope to acquaint him therewith and according to the custom of former Kings to do homage for the Kingdom of Naples which he held in Fee from the Pope And now Pope Julius the Third being by reason of his great age and the torment of the Gout which miserably afflicted him become very infirm was persuaded by the Physitians to change his Diet and his usual regimen of living the which ill agreeing with his habit of Body brought him to a Fever with which taking his Bed in the month of February 1555. he lingred therewith until the 23d of March and then died at his Palace being aged seventy seven years six months and fourteen days he was afterwards carried without any great Pomp or State to the Church of S. Peter where his Corps having been publickly exposed for three days to the view of the People he was afterwards buried in an ordinary Sepulcre of Bricks near the Altar of S. Andrew After which the Sea was vacant seventeen days This Julius was tall of Stature of a plain Country Visage his Nose great his Eyes shewed him to be Cholerick and hasty but soon pleased his Diet was gross and plain being much pleased with a sort of large Onions which were sent him from Gaeta the alteration of which Diet hastned his Death When he was first Pope he so strangely favoured a young Boy whom he called Innocentius that without any apparent motive for it he bestowed upon him a Cardinals Hat which when the reason was asked He replied What reason had you to choose me Pope Fortune favours whom she pleases He was very facetious in his Discourse but more familiar in his Conversation than was decent for without respect to the Majesty of his Office and gravity of his Function He would often shoot such Bolts and use such Expressions as were unseemly and which those that heard pitied and blushed for him MARCELLVS II. JULIVS the Third dying on the 23d of March and his Funeral Obsequies being performed after the accustomed manner the Cardinals to the number of thirty seven entred the Conclave and without much faction or dispute chose Marcellus Cervinus Cardinal of St. Cross at Jerusalem to be Pope of which publication was made with the usual Ceremonies on the 9th of April 1555. the Sea having been vacant for the space onely of eighteen days His Father was Robert or as some call him Richard Treasurer of the Marquisat of Ancona and the place of his birth was Montfano his Father pretended to great Skill or knowledg in Astrology by which Art calculating the Nativity of his Son at the time of his birth it appeared that the Stars under which he was born would be very propitious to him in his promotion to Ecclesiastical preferments for which reason Marcellus being first sent to have his Education in the University of Siena he came from thence to Rome where he dwelt with Felix the Datary of Clement the 7th afterwards he obtained the Office of Secretary to Paul the Third and by him created Cardinal of St. Cross of Jerusalem and lastly as we have said elected Pope on the 9th of April The day following he was consecrated Bishop by the Cardinal of Naples and the very same day without much Pomp or Solemnity was Crowned with the Pontifical Miter by the Cardinal of Pisa who was Arch-Deacon And as he refused to change his Name calling himself no other than Marcellus the Second in imitation of Adrian the Sixth so he survived a much less time than he having possessed the Papal Chair not above twenty one days after his Election so that there remains little more observable of him than that after his Choice he would give no invitation or encouragement to his Kindred or Relations of coming to Rome in hopes of benefit and preferment by his greatness howsoever his intentions were good and his Designs great having drawn a Scheme and method whereby to restore Peace and Unity in the Church and the Papal Power to its antient lustre This Design of his he communicated to the Cardinal of Mantoua maintaining that there was no other way to reconcile differences in Religion but onely by a General Council and that the reason why hitherto that means had been ineffectual was no other than because they began at the wrong end and proceeded not with the due method for that first they should begin with an entire reformation of Manners which would supersede and quiet all superficial Debates and disputations about words and reduce Controversies to such a substantial issue as would be easily determinable by a Council That for want hereof his five immediate Predecessors had much erred for that they abhorred the name of Reformation not out of a dislike to that desirable State but from a belief that it would be a means to abate and diminish the Papal Authority whereas on the contrary he was really persuaded that a Reformation was the onely means to render it more Glorious and powerful as most plainly appeared and was proved by the Histories of past-times in which those Popes onely were famous and renowned who had supported their Papal Chair by an exactness in Manners and purity of Life that Reformation respected the entrinsecal and circumstantial appendages of Religion and served onely to retrench the luxury and superfluous pomp of the Clergy which made the Prelats envied and contemptible when as a modest train and decent comportment
Authority and would be the chief Basis and Pillar of the Papal Dignity But so soon as it was noised abroad that the Pope drew towards his end the People arose in a tumult and without Counsel or Rule running through the City cursed the name and actions of Paul IV. damning all the Family and Party of Caraffa and having opened all the doors of the common Prisons they ran to the House of the Inquisition of which having opened the Gates and released the Prisoners they set fire to the Building which consumed the Prison and the place of Judicature together with all the Processes Papers and Records of that Court and had proceeded to have offered the like to the Minerva where several of the Judges of the Inquisition were lodged but that the Rhetorick and persuasions of some who had power with the Rabble diverted their fury In fine this Pope died the 18th of August 1559. being aged eighty three years one month and twenty two days and having governed four years two months and twenty seven days and his Body was carried with little Pomp and buried in a Sepulcre of Brick in the Church of St. Peter after which the Sea was vacant four months and seven days but no sooner was the breath out of his Body than the furious and mad Rabble ran to the Capitol where he had a Statue of Marble erected by an excellent Artist and placed amongst the Conservators of Rome the Head and right Hand of which they having taken off drew them for three days together through all the filth and ordure of the City and afterwards wearied with the sport they threw them into the Tyber and finally by publick Decree of the People of Rome it was commanded that in what place soever of the City the Arms of Caraffa were found either painted or engraven they should be defaced or broken the which was executed with so much readiness that in one days time there were no signals or memorials of the Caraffian Family remaining in the whole City By all which it appears that this Paul IV. had been happier and more reverenced had he died with the Title onely of Cardinal Caraffa and with the Opinion of being worthy to govern though he had never reigned Dignus fuisset Imperii si non regnasset PIVS IV. PAVL the Fourth being dead and his Funerals performed the Cardinals after the Accustomed manner entered the Conclave to the number of forty four for Election of a new Pope the Contests on which were so many and so obstinately maintained by the interest of powerful Cardinals whose equal Authority and grandeur of Families were in such an even ballance that after a thousand shufflings and alterations of Suffrages which happened in the space of four months and seven days all the Votes came at length on the 24th of December 1559. being the Eve of the Feast of Christmas to terminate in the choice of John Angelo de Medicis Cardinal of Santa Prisca On the Feast of Epiphany or Twelfth-day 1560 he was Crowned to the common joy and satisfaction of the whole City of Rome which conceived great expectations of good Government from the testimonies of Piety and Virtue which he had given by many instances of his past Life in conformity whereunto he took on himself the name of Pius IV. This Pope was of the Illustrious Family of the Medicis born at Milan to which place his Father amidst the turbulencies and intestine Discords of Florence was constrained to sly for refuge he was in his youth educated and trained up in all the Methods of good Literature in which having run through all the Studies and Exercises of Philosophy and Physick and then studying the Civil Law he took his degree of Doctor applying himself afterward to the practice of the Law In the time of Clement VII he was made one of the Protonotaries which they call Partecipanti under Paul III. He exercised many considerable Charges and Offices amongst which he was made Commissary of the Army of the Church then Arch-Bishop of Ragusa and lastly before his preferment to the Popedom he was by Paul IV. made Priest and Cardinal of Santa Prisca Du Chesne and others who write of the election of this Pope report that the Debates thereupon having been long and intricate the Choice came at length to be decided by the Holy Ghost which in the form of a Dove entering the Chappel of Sixtus after many flights round came at length to pierch on the Cell or Seat of Cardinal Santa Prisca which being observed was agreed to be the Holy Omen by which the Holy Ghost pointed out the Person to be Elected concluding all Controversies by a Miracle but other more judicious Authors are silent in such a foppery and particularly Onufrius Panvinius who writing the life of this Pope mentions nothing of this nature though he prosesses to have known him and to have frequented his Table when he was Cardinal which was always incompassed with Men of Learning and parts who conversing one with another with much ingenuity and Candour seemed to form a College of wise and virtuous Persons and he farther declares that having been present at the solemnities of his Election and Inauguration he had seen and observed all the passages of it He moreover pretends to have had a personal acquaintance with him and that he was in his own nature generous and compassionate having by many and great Charities he had performed obtained the Title of Father of the Poor and thus having acquired a general esteem amongst the Cardinals of a meek gentle and pious temper he found a more easie access to the Papal Chair which had lately been possessed by gall and bitterness and from whence nothing but Thunder and Lightning and terrours had proceeded But this Pope being desirous to rectifie this harsh humour of the Chair gave himself the name of Pius IV. And for instances thereof his first care and incumbence was to pass an Act or Decree of General Pardon to all such who during the vacancy of the Sea had committed any enormous Crimes and in common to all the people who had with insolent despight broken the Statue and defaced the Arms of Paul IV. Then his next business was to enquire into and redress the Oppressions and agrievances imposed by his Predecessour referring the examination of those matters to a Committee of wise and sober Men who rectifying that which was amiss all things might at length return to their due and accustomed Channel upon revision of which cases many Decrees passed by Paul IV. in point of Simony were repealed or at least moderated many Friers who had with too much severity been expelled their Monasteries were restored the punishments and cruelties of the Inquisition were regulated with more moderation and in fine many of those who under colour of Heresie though in reality out of malice or other design had been committed to that Prison were by Order of the new Inquisitors released and set at
hung with Tapistry and other Ornaments and thronged with people to receive his Benediction at which great honours though he was observe d to smile and carry a countenance not becoming the gravity of a Pope yet he would often praise God and say Lord I thank thee that with all these honours and worship thou hast not suffered the heart of thy servant to be puffed up or transported with worldly glory And for the greater solemnity of this Procession the People of Rome erected a triumphal Arch with this Inscription Gregory XIV ob Egregia Felicia Pontificatus auspicia pristina Munera Beneficia Capitolio restituta Civitatem egestate atque annonâ laborantem opportunâ liberalitate sublevatam insignibus ejus virtutibus SPQ.R. On the other side were Inscribed Optimo Principi Gregorio XIV Pont. Max. ab ineunte aetate per gradus verae Sapientiae Pietatis Beneficentiae caeterarumque virtutum ad Apostolici Fastigii gloriam Majestatem evecto ob fausta Sacri Augustique Principatus initia non dubiam spem rerum Maximarum Reipub. Christianae oblatam S.P.Q.R. Fornigem Triumphalem pro tempore excitavit On the other sides were divers Verses Inscribed out of Holy Scripture signifying the great hopes and expectations they had from the administration and good Government of Gregory On the 19th of this Month of December he held the first Consistory commonly called the Consistory of peace because as is usual the Popes do with fair words harangue the Cardinals and endeavour an amicable correspondence with them after which he at this Consistory created his Nephew Cardinal On the 18th of January he published a form of Jubily whereby he ordained That all Christians should offer up their Prayers unto God in his behalf that he might have grace faithfully to feed the Flock of Christ and wisely and successfully to administer the Affairs of the Universal Church On the 6th of March following he created six Cardinals and a short time afterwards he made his Nephew Count Sfrondati Duke of Mont-Marcian and General of the Forces of the Church sending him into France with an Army for assistance of the League in which War he spent five hundred thousand Crowns of Gold At Whitsunday which happened that year on the 9th of May he bestowed on the Cardinal Friers a License and priviledg to wear red Hats for until that time their Hats were of the same colour with the habit of their Order the which favour of wearing red Hats and Caps was demanded in the time of Pius V. Gregory XIII and Sixtus V. but it was refused and those Cardinals confined to their own colour In the Month of August the Duke of Ferrara came to Rome to receive his Investiture into the Dukedom from the hands of the Pope where he was received with great pomp and honour and his Table and other Charges defrayed at the expence of the Pope On the 22th of September he began to find himself indisposed of a Fever the which encreasing daily caused by the Stone and retention of his Urin he expired his last on the 15th day of October 1591. with excessive pains Being dead his Bladder was opened a stone taken from thence weighing two ounces and a quarter His Body was carried that Night to St. Peters where it was buried in the Chappel of Gregory He had been Pope ten months and ten days after which the Sea was vacant fifteen days INNOCENT IX IF ever any Person was elected to the Popedom with the common and general consent of the whole Conclave and without those factions and parties which usually arise at those Meetings it was certainly this Innocent IX who in the Conclave which chose his Predecessour Gregory XIV had so fair a prospect of this promotion that he missed of it then but by some few rubs onely which he had time afterwards to remove and so probable was the Papal Diadem to be his that the Mitre of Gregory fell on his Head when he came in an humble manner to pay his Respects and obedience at the feet of the Pope the which accident seemed to foretel and be prophetick of that fortune which afterwards ensued In this manner on the 29th of October 1591. the Papal Chair was again supplied by John Anthony Fachinetti commonly called Cardinal of Santi Quattro taking on himself the name of Innocent IX but his time was short for he reigned onely two Months his Father and Mother were Natives of Gravegni a City in Navarre but he was born at Bologna and there educated in good Learning until the year 1544. when he took the degree of Doctor Afterwards coming to Rome he was entertained in the Family of Cardinal Farnese who sent him for his Vicar to Avignon and afterwards to Parma Pius IV. created him Bishop of Nicastro a City in Calabria and in the year 1561. employed him at the Council of Trent In the year 1566. Pius V. delegated him his Nuntio at Venice where he was a successful Instrument in making a League and confederacy between the Pope the King of Spain and the Venetians against the Turk Gregory XIII created him Patriarch of Jerusalem President of the Court of Inquisition and Cardinal with the Title of Santa Quattro by which appellation he was commonly known And lastly after the decease of Gregory he was unanimously elected on the day before-mentioned The first thing he did after his Election and which he was so ready to perform without loss of time that even then when he was vesting himself in his Pontifical Habit he signed the Bolle De non alienandis bonis Ecclesiae and then declared with words proceeding from the depth of his heart that he was resolved to provide for the afflicted people of Rome and contrive some effectual means to relieve the necessities of the City which laboured almost under a Famine or scarcity of Bread To which end he summoned a Congregation and commanded that the Barons of Rome should bring their Corn into the City and made Vitelli Overseer of the Provisions or Praefectus Annonae On Sunday the second of November he was Crowned but not on the stairs ascending to St. Peters but in a little Apartment which looks towards those stairs by which means a thousand Crowns were saved of the expence the next day he held the first Consistory at which he returned his hearty thanks to the Cardinals for favouring his Election proposing several things which he esteemed convenient for conservation of the Ecclesiastical State amongst which he gave them to understand how necessary it was to keep always a considerable sum of Money in the Treasury as a reserve at all times to supply the necessities and emergencies of the Church the which had been an antient practice in the Republick of Rome where as Tacitus saith they ever reserved a secret Treasure distinct from their running Cash never to be used but then only when the ultimate exigencies of State required it In the next place he wrote
Epistles to all Patriarchs Arch-bishops and Primates giving them advice of his promotion to the Papal Dignity exhorting them within their respective Jurisdictions to make Prayers for him that God would inspire him in such manner with his heavenly grace as might enable him to support the great and important burthen of Ecclesiastical Government The 29th of this Month of November the Duke of Mantoua arrived at Rome to do him homage and was received with a chearful welcome being lodged in the Pope's Palace in the Apartment belonging to his Nephews On the 11th of November he issued forth a regulation of the prices of all Provisions which were mounted to an excessive rate On the 18th he created two Cardinals namely Segas Bishop of Piacenza and Anthony Fachinetti his great Nephew whom he also constituted Referendary of both the Seals On the 21th he began to find himself indisposed in his health which encreasing to a high degree did on the 23th give indications of a malignant Fever which in eight days time put an end to his life and dying on the 29th of December 1591 his Body was buried in the Church of St. Peter having reigned only two Months and the Sea was vacant a month and a day And now to shew the frailty of humane condition and the uncertainty of great Places one year four months and three days made an end of four Popes CLEMENT VIII IN the place of Innocent Cardinal Hippolito Aldebrandino was elected Pope and possessed the Chair thirteen years or thereabouts He was descended from an antient Family of Florence which had continued from the Langobards for the space of a thousand years originally called Hildebrando or Hildebrandino and so by corruption Aldebrandino his Ancestours had held the chief Offices and Dignities in that City having the honour to have had the chief and supreme Magistracy of Gonfaloniere twenty three times in their Family of which great promotions and Dignities in that City none can boast so much as this unless the House of the Medici who in this Age are Dukes of that City and Country This Hippolito was the Son of Silvester Aldobrandino born at Florence where and at Pisa having studied the Law he gained considerable knowledg therein to which having added an excellency in the gift of Eloquence and a just and upright mind he became fit and qualified for Government and for management of the most important Trusts and charges of State After many honours and Places which he had obtained as well at Florence as with the Dukes of Ferrara and Vrbin he was at Rome made Auditor of the Rota and Datary under Sixtus V. who afterwards created him Cardinal and sent him under Character of his Legat into Poland He afterwards was employed in matters of great importance under Vrban VII Gregory XIV and Innocent IX in all which acquitting himself with singular Justice and Wisdom he prepared his way to the attainment of that supreme Dignity after which the Cardinals so much thirst and languish The Funeral Obsequies of Innocent being performed the Cardinals having celebrated the Mass of the Holy Ghost and heard an Oration pronounced by the Bishop of Traw de eligendo Summo Pontifice they entered the Conclave on the 10th of January to the number of fifty two singing the Hymn of Veni Creator Spiritus Many and various were the endeavours and practices amongst the Cardinals during the time of this Conclave Montalto who was the great stickler and promoter of Elections designed the choice for Cardinal Santa Severina being a person much esteemed for his Vertues and Learning but such opposition appearing against him as could not be withstood divers others were put into the predicament as Como Paleotto and others Colonna had a fair prospect of success and so also had Madruccio but were all excluded by contrary factions so at length Montalto proposed Cardinal Aldobrandino who being nominated was generally acceptable and esteemed for his rare qualities and the excellency of his Vertue and Piety and disquisition or trial of Votes being made there soon appeared a unanimous consent and concurrence to create him Pope which was accordingly effected on the 30th of January 1592. and publication made in the Conclave that Aldobrandino was chosen whereupon Madruccio Montalto and others assembling together went in company to his Cell to congratulate his Election which he received without any alteration or change of countenance and being conducted thence to the Chappel Paolina he was there by publick Scrutiny of all the Cardinals and with their common and unanimous Vote Elected Pope It is said that after his Choice he kneeled down before the Altar and instead of shewing that joy which Sixtus V. and others had betrayed he let full abundance of tears seeming to be filled with great fear and confusion and when according to the usual formality it was inquired of him by the Masters of the Ceremonies whether he accepted of his Election to the Popedom he remained silent without returning any Answer so that the Cardinals who were standing near his Person made Answer for him that he did accept it but the Masters not accepting this assent from the mouth of others told him That his consent could not be recorded from the words of others but onely from his own wherefore being thus urged he with abundance of tears expressed himself in this manner O Lord God who seest the hearts of all Men and from whom no secrets are hid and knowest what is present and what is to come if this Election which thou hast made of me to be thy Vicar on Earth shall not be to thy glory and service and good of thy faithful people Grant I beseech Thee that my Tongue may cleave to the root of my Mouth Vt lingua mea adhaereat faucibus meis but if thou by thy Providence dost foresee that I shall be useful and serviceable to thy Holy Church then do I in vertue of thy Divine Assistance accept of this Office and be it unto thy Servant according to thy Will And thus being as accustomary vested in his Habit and placed in the Chair he was with great joy of all the Cardinals adored by them calling himself by the name of Clement VIII he was afterwards conducted to St. Peters where he was met by the Canons singing the usual Antiphona Ecce Sacerdos Magnus qui in diebus suis placuit Deo Inventus est Justus All the Ceremonies of his Election and Inauguration being compleated he immediately applyed his mind to the Affairs of Government And in the first place after the Example of Sixtus V. he resolved to destroy and extirpate that vile and abominable sort of Men called Banditi who were Vagabonds and Robbers and committed most execrable Murthers and spoils in all parts of the Roman Territories to effect which he sent several Troops of armed Men against them who cut them in pieces and destroyed them without any remorse or compassion as the Enemies and pest of humane Society But
Son of one of his Nephews being a Youth of about fourteen or fifteen years of age and suffering himself to be prevailed with by the passion of Princes he created in this very year at least eighteen Cardinals amongst which there were not above two French and two Spaniards The first which was found in this List was Serafim Olivari Patriarch of Alexandria who was originally of Italian extract but born at Lions and proved to be a Prelat of Incomparable parts and Learning being always educated amongst Men and business the Bishop of Eureux was an other promoted to this Dignity which were the two French-Men who received this honour by the recommendations of their King all the others were Italians unless the Bishop of Cracovia who was a Polander and Madrutio Bishop of Trent who was a German and two Spaniards Cardinal Aldobrandino preferred also his Secretary Erminio to this honour and the Pope himself forced Anselme Marzat a Capucin to accept the red Hat which he had often refused protesting that such preferments were against the Rules and a violation to the Orders of St. Francis but the express commandment of the Pope prevailing he unwillingly or at least seemed so from the mere consideration of obedience submitted to the promotion About this time three Questions were moved and discussed at Rome the first was managed by a notable Disputant and a great Sophister his position was this That it was not an essential or a fundamental point of Faith to believe that Clement VIII was the true and lawful Successor of St. Peter it was a bold Thesis for that time and place for he was imprisoned for his impertinence and it had cost him dearer had not the Spanish Ambassadour interceded for him An other published an Opinion That Confessions wrote in Letters and sent by the Post were as available as those which were whispered into the Ear of the Priest A third was about Grace and Free-will in such manner as held and maintained by Pelagius which latter was debated in the presence of the Pope and Cardinals but remained without determination by reason of more important matters which at that time lay before the Consistory For then the Canonizing of Ignatius Loyola for a Saint was first propounded and also the Deputies of the Clergy of the City of Milan presented themselves before the Pope and Cardinals desiring that their antient Arch-bishop Charles Borromeo might be canonized Upon these two motions the Pope constituted a certain Committee of Cardinals to enquire into the sanctity of the Lives and of the Miracles which were done at the Invocation of the Names and at the Sepulcres of these Saints After which an Ambassadour was introduced into the Consistory from the Emperor representing the many occasions of advantage which were lost in Hungary for want of Money to carry on the War to which the Pope gave Answer That his Coffers at the present were empty but howsoever he would lay a Tax of decimation on the Clergy whereby to supply the urgencies of the Emperor against the common Enemy Thus did this Pope who in reality merited the name of a good Man employ his whole time in the Consistory either designing to make peace between Christian Princes or to carrry on a War against the Turk who is the common Enemy of Christians and in these good works of Piety he incessantly laboured being frequently in consultation concerning the temporal and spiritual Affairs in the Church in discharge of which his fortune was to be assisted with many wise and able Cardinals such as Joyeuse Serafim Olivari and Perron and other Counsellours who amongst several other matters advised him to take a Guard of Corsi or Men of the Isle of Corsica who being quartered in several parts of the City might be ready to suppress the Banditi who began again to be troublesom and to infest Rome as well as other parts of Italy from which time until the reign of Alexander VII this Guard was maintained when upon some Affronts and violences offered to the French Ambassadour they were disbanded and dismissed never afterwards to appear in Rome The Arch-bishoprick of Ravenna in this year 1605. becoming vacant the Pope bestowed it on his Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandino who was no sooner received into that City with such pomp and solemnity as became the dignity of that Episcopal Sea than news arrived of the Pope's indisposition which speedily posted the Cardinal back to Rome for the Pope falling ill on the 10th of February his sickness still increased notwithstanding all the Remedies and care which Aldobrandino and his Physitians could use for after he had sat in the Papal Chair for the space of thirteen years one month and three days he expired his last breath on the third of March in the sixty ninth year of his Age and was interred in St. Peter's Church and the Sea was vacant twenty nine days LEO XI CLEMENT the Eighth having departed this Life and his Funeral Obsequies being performed the Cardinals to the number of sixty one entered the Conclave on the 14th of March and having according to the accustomed manner sung the Hymn of Veni Creator and celebrated the Mass of Spiritus Sanctus and every Cardinal having received the Sacrament from the hand of the Dean of the Conclave they immediately made the first Scrutiny whereby it might appear unto whom the plurality of Votes was most probable to incline but at first the Conclave was so divided that no person had any considerable number of Votes bestowed on him for Bellarmine who had the most accounted but eleven and Baronius but eight and all others an inferiour number at length after several other Scrutinies Baronius by the assistance of Cardinal Aldobrandino arrived to thirty thirty one and thirty two and thirty seven but still wanting some few more to make the number arise unto two thirds of the Conclave the Election was imperfect nor could he arise higher by reason that the Spanish faction opposed him out of a pique and exception they had taken against him for what he had wrote in the 11th Tome of his Ecclesiastical Annals disproving the title of the King of Spain to the Kingdom of Sicily Whereupon Cardinal Joyeuse concurring with Aldobrandino without whom nothing was to be done in the Conclave nominated Alexander de Medicis who was no sooner proposed than a strange concurrence and union appeared in the minds of all the Cardinals towards him so that he was as it were elected by an unanimous consent and saluted Pope on the first of April 1605. calling himself by the name of Leo XI He was then of the age of seventy years or thereabouts of a chearful and sanguine Aspect grave in his Speech and deportment and of a strong and vigorous Complexion only he sometimes was subject to pains of the Cholick he was a great lover of the virtuosi and Learned Men and zealous for the interest of the Church After his Election he seemed not in the least
in such manner as they are set down by Ciacconius in vitâ Innocentii X. Primam praedictarum Propositionum scilicet Aliqua Dei praecepta hominibus justis volentibus conantibus secundum praesentes quas habent vires sunt impossibilia deest quoque illis gratia quâ possibilia fiant Temerariam impiam blasphemam Anathemate damnatam haereticam declaramus uti talem damnamus Secundam Interiori gratiae in statu naturae lapsae nunquam resistitur Haereticam declaramus uti talem damnamus Tertiam Ad merendum demerendum in statu naturae lapsae non requiritur in homine libertas à necessitate sed sufficit libertas à coactione Haereticam declaramus uti talem damnamus Quartam Semipelagiani admittebant praevenientis gratiae interioris necessitatem ad singulos actus etiam ad initium fidei in hoc erant haeretici quod vellent eam gratiam talem esse cui posset humana voluntas resistere vel obtemperare Falsam Haereticam declaramus uti talem damnamus Quintam Semipelagianum est dicere Christum pro omnibus omnino mortuum esse aut sanguinem fudisse Falsam temerariam scandalosam intellectam eo sensu ut Christus pro salute duntaxat Praedestinatorum mortuus sit impiam blasphemam contumeliosam Divinae pietati derogantem Haereticam declaramus uti talem damnamus But notwithstanding this infallible determination the Jansenists keep up their Party in France and will not be run down unless confuted by more convincing Arguments Towards the end of this Pope's Reign Francis Piccolomini General of the Jesuits Order signified to Innocent the intentions of Christina Queen of Sweden to relinquish her Kingdom and embrace the Roman Catholick Faith which that she might profess in greater liberty and more to her Christian Edification she resolved to make the Holy City of Rome the place of her habitation where she resolved to spend the remainder of her days This news was received with great joy at Rome but more especially by the Pope who finding his strength decaying and languishing was much troubled that his life would not last until he could see the Queen of Sweden and a general peace restored amongst Christian Princes This Pope at ten promotions created thirty nine Cardinals according to Livello but Ciconius enumerates forty of which two of them were afterwards Popes namely Fabio Ghigi who was Alexander VII and Benedetto Odescalchi who is Innocent XI now at present reigning After the month of September 1654. the Pope began to decline past all hopes of recovery and though he were nursed by Donna Olympia with all tenderness and care yet old age was such an incurable Disease that there was no Herb or Medicine in Nature to cure it and yet this good Lady did what she could to prolong his life she kept him from the disturbances of Business not admitting any Person to discourse at his Bed-side unless in her presence and then she would mind them of the Pope's weakness and interrupt Ambassadours in the midst of their Audience desiring them to defer their Business until a time that he might be in a more strong and able disposition of health It is said that the Pope continued ten days without any use of Reason in which time Donna Olympia got at least half a Million for she made use of her time setting every thing at low and mean Rates so that she did not want Chapmen for all vacant Benefices and Ecclesiastical preferments At length on the 7th of January 1655. Innocent died at his Palace of Monte Cavallo which is Mons Quirinalis after he had governed ten years and three months and twenty three days being aged eighty years and eight months His Body was interred for some time in St. Peter's Church but was afterwards removed by Prince Pamfilio to the Church of St. Agnes where he erected a stately Monument in memory of his Uncle Innocent X. The death of the Pope was no sooner divulged through the City but all People began to rejoice the Cardinals were pleased in expectation and hope of their own promotions the Clergy were pleased because the Church was freed from the Simony and scandal of Donna Olympia and the Commonalty rejoiced for the enjoyment of that liberty which is commonly indulged at the vacancy of the Sea and every one expected that Donna Olympia would be torn in pieces by the multitude who had long since threatned her being the person whom they perfectly hated Howsoever nothing happened for as they say in Rome When the Dog is dead all the malice dies with him And so it fared with Donna Olympia who being allied to many great Families was protected by them none daring to offer her any injury lest it should be revenged by her more powerful Relations ALEXANDER VII INNOCENT X. being dead and the eight or nine days past which are according to custom appointed for the solemn celebration of the Funeral Rites of the deceased Pope The Cardinals after having sung the Mass which they call de Spiritu Sancto or the Mass invoking the Divine Inspiration of the Holy Ghost to assist them in the election of the Pope and having heard a Sermon to that purpose preached by Abbat Rospigliosi they entered the Conclave on the 18th of January 1655. It would require much time to set down all the passages of this Conclave for indeed the Intrigues were so many and so various that they daily twisted and streightned the knot of difficulties in such manner that little less than three months time was required to unty it and then also it was rather cut than unloosed when the Cardinals were wearied with their own divisions factions and contrivances For besides the usual factions of Spain and France there arose a third called the Flying Squadron which consisted of the new Colledg of such Cardinals as had been created by Innocent X. and consequently the friends of Donna Olympia who resolved if possible to continue an Oar in the Boat of St. Peter stickled very hard to have the Election fall on some of the new Colledg under whom she hoped to find good quarter and to enjoy the ill-gotten Goods and Riches she had amassed by Simony and other Villanies to effect this and to manage this Party to best advantage she proposed to put this Flying Squadron under one Head which she nominated to be John Carlo de Medicis who for his Noble Birth and Seniority having been the first Cardinal that was created by the late Pope might deserve to be the Chief Directour of that Interest but the Squadron refused that formality saying That each of them had a Head of his own and feet to walk upon nor would Maldachini who was Nephew to Donna Olympia be persuaded into this Combination but rather declared himself openly to be her Enemy howsoever his Power was little in the Conclave though he made more noise than all the rest which his Aunt termed the braying of an Ass whose
Popedom at the same time that Michael Emperour of Constantinople died This Sergius 't is said was surnamed Bocca di Porco or Hog's Snout which for shame he changed into Sergius Anno 843. and from thence came the custom down to our times that when any one is made Pope he laid by his own Name and took one of some of his Predecessours though all have not observed it Thus far are the words of Platina And since that time the Popes have commonly out of gratitude taken the Name of that Pope by whose favour he was first created Cardinal In all Histories we read of great Divisions and Factions in the Elections of Popes even in the first times when the popular tumults proceeded to the heighth of Rage and Sedition causing sometimes such difficulties in the Elections that after the decease of Nicolas the First Platina reports that some Authors say that the See of Rome was vacant eight years seven months and nine days and then Hadrian the 2d was chosen in the year 868. Afterwards in the year 1051. when Nicolas the Second had cured these riotous courses by transferring the whole power of Election into the hands of the Cardinals the Elections were then carried more smoothly indeed and with less noise but the Factions were not abated but oftentimes kept up with such Art and Interest that after the decease of Clement the 4th the differences held for the space of two years before the election of Gregory X. who was the next Successour came to be determined And now even in these days many Intrigues are managed in the Conclave before an Election can be perfected for the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain must first be consulted and every Cardinal hath some Patron or Friend or Interest of his own to advance every one takes his measures of the person that may best suit and agree with his designs And now of late years since the Monarchy of France hath over-topped all the other Sovereignties of Christendom which depend on the Papal See that King must first be consulted and his assent taken before the Pope can be created as appears by the election of this present Pope Innocent XI In some convenient time after the Election or upon the first great Festival ensuing a day is appointed for the Pope's Coronation It would perhaps be very long and tedious in a Preface of this nature to describe distinctly all the Ceremonies thereof the particulars of which take up the space of a whole day from Morning until Night so that in the midst of them the Pope and Cardinals are constrained to take a short repose and refreshment to support the labour of the day For in the Morning early the Pope goes from his Bed-chamber into the Chamber called Papagalli where he is clothed by the Cardinal-Deacons Sub-deacons and other Officers belonging to that Chamber with a white Cassock girt about with a long Girdle over it he wears his Stole and Pluvial or Robe of a Scarlet colour with a rich Mitre on his Head set with many pretious Stones And in this Habit having the train of his Robes carried up by the Emperour or some King then present or in their absence by one of the chiefest Princes then attending at that Ceremony and a Canopy of State over his Head supported by eight Ambassadours or Nobles and the Cardinals in their Habits walking before with a Cross for their Banner they orderly proceed to St. Peter's Church where being entered and having laid aside his Mitre and prayed a while he arises and goes in the Chappel of St. Gregory otherwise called the Chappel of St. Andrew where being sate in a Chair placed there for that purpose he receives all the Cardinals with their Caps on their Heads to kiss his Hand and other Prelates to kiss his Feet then the Pope arising stands up and blesses the people after which the Sub-deacon reads the Epistle and all the rest of the Office for the Coronation which being performed the Pope vests himself with the Pontifical Habit according to the Method prescribed for those Rites According to the antient constitution it belonged only to the Bishop of Hostia to consecrate the Pope but of late years the first Cardinal Bishop performs that function when the Pope is consecrated he is anointed with Oil on his Head and on the palms of his Hands but the day of his Consecration is not always the day of his Coronation All the Ceremonies as we have said being finished and the Pope himself having celebrated the Mass they proceed then to the solemnities of the Coronation And in the first place the Pope goes to the stairs ascending to the Altar of St. Peter and St. Paul where a Throne is erected for him on which being seated he is encompassed by his Prelats and the people commanded to withdraw at some distance then the Dean-Cardinal takes off the Mitre from the Head of the Pope and places it on the left hand and having the Triara ready or the Triple Crown he sets it on his Head the people making a loud Acclamation with a Kyrie Eleison or Lord have mercy upon us Then the Dean publishes the Indulgences which the Pope is pleased to 〈…〉 and when he proclaims them on the right hand he recites them in Latin and on the left in the vulgar Language After which a Dinner is prepared for the Pope and Cardinals at the Palace of the Arch-Presbyter of St. Peter's and for the other Prelats at the Houses of the Canons and having taken their repast the Cardinals mount on their Mules and the Pope on his Horse and with a Noble train of all the Officers and Nobles in their due rank and order they march in solemn procession to the Lateran where the Pope alighting from his Horse is met by the chief Canon of the Church who offers the Cross to be kissed by him which the Dean-Cardinal taking from his hands puts it to the mouth of the Pope Then the triple Crown being taken from off his Head is delivered to the custody of the Auditor of the Rota who is one of the chief Justices and the Mitre is again planted on the Pope's head for the burden of the Triple Crown is so heavy with the Gold and Jewels that it is not born on the head without much trouble Platina saith That Paul the Second so delighted to see his Triple Crown studded with precious Stones that he exhausted the Treasury of the Church to purchase Jewels at any rate which being fixed in his Crown and Mitre he looked like the picture of a Cybele with Turrets on her Head and were so weighty and so burdensom on his Brow that they put his gross body into a violent heat and sweat which produced an Apoplexy of which soon after he died But to proceed The Pope wearing his Mitre is conducted to the Sedes stercoraria on which he seems rather to lye than to sit from whence being raised with honour by
LINUS LINUS by Nation a Tuscan his Father's name Herculeanus was in the Chair from the last year of Nero to the times of Vespasian and from the Consulship of Saturninus and Scipio to that of Capito and Rufus In this space of time there were no less than three Emperours Galba Otho and Vitellius each of them reigning but a very little while Galba a Person descended of the most ancient Nobility being created Emperour by the Soldiers in Spain assoon as he heard of the death of Nero came immediatey to Rome But rendring himself obnoxious to all men by his Avarice and Sloth through the treachery of Otho he was slain at Rome near Curtius's Lake in the seventh month of his Reign together with Piso a Noble Youth whom he had adopted for his Son He was doubtless a man who before he came to the Empire was very eminent in the management both of Military and Civil affairs being often Consul often Proconsul and several times General in the most important Wars That which makes me speak this in his praise is the Learning of M. Fabius Quintilianus whom Galba brought with him out of Spain to Rome Otho a man of better extraction by his Mother 's than by his Father's side who while he led a private life was very loose and effeminate as being a great and intimate Friend of Nero's in the midst of tumults and slaughters as I hinted before invaded the Empire But being ingaged in a Civil War against Vitellius who had been created Emperour in Germany though he got the better in three small Skirmishes one at the Alps another at Placentia the third at Castor yet losing the day in the last and most considerable which was at Bebriacum he thereupon fell into so deep a melancholly that in the third month of his Empire he stab'd himself Vitellius concerning whose Extraction there are different Opinions coming to Rome and obtaining the Empire soon degenerated into all manner of lewdness cruelty and gluttony being used to make several Meals in a day and some of them to such an height of Luxury that there have been at one Supper no less than two thousand Fishes and seven thousand Fowl serv'd up to his Table But having intelligence that Vespasian who had been created Emperour by the Army in Judoea was advancing with his Legions he at first determin'd to quit the Empire yet being afterwards encouraged by those about him he took up Arms and forc'd Sabinus Vespasian's Brother with his Flavian Soldiers into the Capitol which being set on fire they were all burnt Hereupon being surpriz'd by Vespasian and having no hope of pardon left him he hid himself in a private Chamber in the Palace from whence he was most ignominiously drag'd and carried naked through the Via Sacra to the Scaloe Gemonioe where being quartered he was thrown into the River Tyber During this time Linus was Successor to St. Peter though there are some who place Clemens here and wholly leave out Linus and Cletus who yet are sufficiently confuted not only by History but also by the authority of S. Hierom who tells us that Clemens was the fourth Bishop of Rome after Peter for Linus was accounted the second and Cletus the third notwithstanding that most of the Romans immediately after Peter reckon Clemens To whom though St. Peter had as it were by Will bequeath'd the Right of Succession yet his modesty was so great that he compelled Linus and Cletus to take upon them the Pontifical Dignity before him lest any ambition of preheminence might be of ill example to after Ages This Linus by Commission from St. Peter ordained that no Woman should enter the Church but with her Head veiled Moreover at two Ordinations which he held in the City he made eighteen Presbyters and eleven Bishops He wrote also the Memoirs of St. Peter and particularly the Contention he had with Sinion Magus In his time lived Philo a Jew by Nation of Alexandria in whose Writings there is so much Wit and Judgment that from the likeness there appears between them he deserv'd to have it proverbially said Either Plato does Philonize or Philo does Platonize By his Learning and Eloquence he corrected the rashness of Appion who had been sent Ambassadour from the Alexandrians with Complaints against the Jews While he was at Rome in Claudius his time he contracted an acquaintance with St. Peter and thereupon wrote several things in praise of the Christians Josephus also the son of Matathias a Priest at Hierusalem being taken Prisoner by Vespasian and committed to the custody of his son Titus till that City was taken coming to Rome during the Pontificate of Linus presented to the Father and the Son seven Books of the Jewish War which were laid up in the publick Library and the Author himself as a reward for that performance had most deservedly a Statue erected to him He wrote likewise twenty four other Books of Antiquities from the beginning of the World to the fourteenth year of the Emperour Domitian As for Linus himself though he had gain'd a mighty reputation by the sanctity of his Life by his Power of casting out Devils and raising the Dead yet was he put to Death by Saturninus the Consul whose very Daughter he had dispossess'd and was buried in the Vatican near the Body of St. Peter on the twenty first day of September when he had sat in the Pontifical See eleven years three months and twelve days There are some who affirm that Gregory Bishop of Ostia did according to a Vow which he had made remove the Body of this holy Bishop to that place and solemnly interr it in the Church of St. Laurence S. CLETUS CLETUS born in Rome in the Vicopatrician Region Son of Aemilianus through the persuasion of Clemens unwillingly took upon him the burden of the Pontificate though for his Learning Life and Quality he was a Person of very great esteem and Authority among all that knew him He lived in the time of Vespasian and Titus from the seventh Consulship of Vespasian and the fifth of Domitian to Domitian and Rufus Coss according to Damasus Vespasian as I said before succeeding Vitellius committed the management of the Jewish War which had been carrying on two years before to his Son Titus which he within two years after with great resolution finished For all Judoea being conquer'd the City Hierusalem destroyed and the Temple levelled to the ground it is reported that no less than six hundred thousand Jews were slain nay Josephus a Jew who was a Captive in that War and had his life given him because he foretold the death of Nero and that Vespasian should in a short time be Emperor relates that eleven hundred thousand perished therein by sword and famine and that a hundred thousand were taken Prisoners and publickly exposed to sale Nor will it seem improbable if we consider that he tells us this happened at the time
undertook to appoint Felix an Arian to be 〈◊〉 in the room of Liberius this S. Hierom tells us though I much marvel at it since as we have already said it is evident that Felix was a Catholick and a constant Opposer of the Arians At length after Felix had done all that in him lay for the propagation and defence of the true Faith he was seized by his Enemies and together with many other Orthodox Believers was slain and buried in a Church which himself had built in the Via Aurelia two miles from the City November the 20th He was in the Chair only one year four months two days through the means of a Sedition raised by Liberius whom I have inserted into the number of Bishops more upon the Authority of Damasus than for any deserts of his own DAMASUS I. DAMASUS a Spaniard Son of Antonius lived in the Reign of Julian Who was certainly an extraordinary person if we regard his fitness either for Civil or Military affairs He had his Education under Eubulus the Sophist and Libanius the 〈◊〉 and made such proficiency in the liberal Arts that no Prince was his Superiour in them He had a capacious Memory and a happy Eloquence was bountiful towards his Friends just to Foreiners and very desirous of Fame But all these qualities were at last sullied by his Persecution of the Christians which yet he managed more craftily than others had done for he did not persecute at first with Force and Torture but by Rewards and Honours and Caresses and Persuasions he seduc'd greater numbers of them than if he had exercised any manner of Cruelties against them He forbad the Christians the study of Heathen Authors and denied access to the publick Schools to any but those who worship'd the Gentile Gods Indeed he granted a Dispensation to one person named 〈◊〉 a most learned man to teach the Christians publickly but he with disdain refused to accept of that Indulgence He prohibited the conferring Military 〈◊〉 upon any but Heathens and ordered that no Christians should be admitted to the Government or Jurisdiction of Provinces upon pretence that the Laws of their Religion forbad them the use of their own Swords He openly opposed and banished Athanasius at the instigation of his 〈◊〉 and South-sayers with whose Arts he was wonderfully pleased they complaining to him that Athanasius was the cause why their Profession was in no greater esteem At a certain time as he was sacrificing to Apollo at Daphne in the Suburbs of Antioch near the Castalian Fountain and no Answers were given him to those things concerning which he enquired expostulating with the Priests about the cause of that silence the Devils replyed that the Sepulchre of Babylas the Martyr was too near and therefore no responses could be given Hereupon Julian commanded the Galileans for so he called the Christians to remove the Martyrs Tomb farther off This they applyed themselves to with wondrous exultation and chearfulness but rehearsing at the same time that of the Psalmist 〈◊〉 be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idols They hereby so 〈◊〉 the rage of Julian that he forthwith commanded multitudes of them to be put to death which he did not before intend I much wonder that Julian should act after this manner having had before experience of the vanity of diabolical Arts. For entring once into a Cave in company with a Magician and being sorely 〈◊〉 when he heard the Demons howl in the surprize he used the sign of the Cross at which the Demons immediately 〈◊〉 Upon this telling his Companion that certainly there must needs be something miraculous in the Sign of the Cross the Sorcerer made him this Answer That indeed the Demons themselves did dread that kind of punishment By this slight account of the matter Julian became more 〈◊〉 than before so strangely was he addicted to Magical delusions though he had formerly to decline the displeasure of Constantius seignedly embraced the Christian Religion publickly read the holy Scriptures and built a Church in honour to the Martyrs Moreover this Emperour on pur pose to spite the Christians permitted the Jews to rebuild their Temple at 〈◊〉 upon their declaring that they could not sacrifice in any other place By which concession they were so mightily 〈◊〉 up that they used all their endeavours to raise it more magnificent than the former But while they were carrying on the Work the new Fabrick fell down in an Earthquake by the fall of which multitudes of the Jews were crush'd to death and the Prophesie a second time verified That there should not be left one stone upon another On the following day the very Iron Tools with which the Workmen wrought were consumed by fire from Heaven a Miracle by which many of the Jews were so wrought upon that they became Proselytes to Christianity After this Julian undertakes an Expedition against the Persians of whom he had Intelligence that they were endeavouring a Change in the Government but before he set forth he spared not to threaten what havock he would make among the 〈◊〉 at his return But having vanquished the Enemy and returning Conquerour with his Army though in some disorder he died of a Wound given him near 〈◊〉 Whether he received it from any of his own men or from the Enemy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us that he was pierced through with an Arrow sent no 〈◊〉 knew from whence as also that when he was just expiring with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lift up to 〈◊〉 he cried out Thou 〈◊〉 overcome me O 〈◊〉 for so in contempt he was wont to call our Saviour the 〈◊〉 or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon which was grounded that Answer of a young 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the Sophist asking him by way of derision What he thought the Carpenters Son was doing To whom the youth replyed That he was making a Coffin for Julian a witty and Prophetick Reply for soon after his saying so Julians dead body was coffin'd up and brought away We are told that this Emperour had once been in holy Orders but that afterwards he fell away from the Faith for which reason he is commonly call'd the Apostate He died in the 〈◊〉 month of his Reign and in the thirty second year of his Age. Him Jovinian succeeded who being voted Emperor by the Army refused to own that Title till they should all with a loud Voice confess themselves to be Christians This they having done and he having commended them for it he took the Government upon him and freed his Army out of the hands of the barbarous with no other composition but that of leaving Nisibis and part of Mesopotamia free to Sapores the 〈◊〉 King But in the eighth month of his Reign whether from some crudity upon his stomach as some will have it or from the faint and suffocating steam of burning Coals as others or by what means soever certain it is that he died suddenly Damasus being chosen to the Pontificate was
Soon after his growing ambition prompts him to endeavour the gaining of the Western Empire and therefore getting together in a very little time a great Army he begins his March upon that Design This Aetius having intelligence of forthwith sends Ambassadours to Tholouse to King Theodorick to strike up a Peace with whom so strict a League was concluded that they both jointly engage in the War against Attila at a common charge and with equal Forces The Romans and Theodorick had for their Auxiliaries the Alanes Burgundians Franks Saxons and indeed almost all the people of the West At length Attila comes upon them in the Fields of Catalaunia and Battel is joyn'd with great Valour and Resolution on either side The Fight was long and sharp a Voice being over-heard none knowing from whence it came was the occasion of putting an end to the Dispute In this Engagement were slain on both sides eighteen thousand men neither Army flying or giving ground And yet 't is said that Theodorick Father of King Thurismond was killed in this Action Sixtus had not long enjoyed the Pontificate before he was publickly accused by one Bassus but in a Synod of fifty seven Bishops he made such a Defence of himself that he was by them all with one consent acquitted Bassus his false Accuser was with the consent of Valentinian and his Mother Placidia excommunicated and condemn'd to banishment but with this compassionate provision that at the point of death the Viaticum of the Blessed Sacrament should be denied him the forfeiture of his Estate was adjudged not to the Emperour but the Church 'T is said that in the third month of his Exile he died and that our Bishop Sixtus did with his own hands wrap up and embalm his Corps and then bury it in S. Peters Church Moreover Sixtus repaired and enlarged the Church of the Blessed Virgin which was anciently called by the name of Liberius near the Market place of Livia then had the name of S. Mary at the Manger and last of all was called S. Maries the Geeat That Sixtus did very much beautifie and make great additions to it appears from the Inscription on the front of the first Arch in these words Xystus Episcopus Plebi Dei for according to the Greek Orthography the name begins with X and y though by Custom it is now written Sixtus with S and i. To this Church that Bishop was very liberal and munificent among other instances adorning with Porphyry stone the Ambo or Desk where the Gospel and Epistles are read Besides what he did himself at his persuasion the Emperour Valentinian also was very liberal in works of this nature For over the Confessory of S. Peter which he richly adorned he placed the Image of 〈◊〉 Saviour of Gold set with Jewels and renewed those Silver Ornaments in the Cupola of the Lateran Church which the Goths had taken away Some are of an Opinion that in his time one Peter a Roman Presbyter by Nation a Sclavonian built the Church of S. Sabina upon the Aventine not far from the Monastery of S. Boniface where S. Alexius is interred 〈◊〉 I rather think this to have been done in the Pontificate of Coelestine the first as appears from an Inscription in Heroick Verse yet remaining which expresses as much 'T is said also that at this time 〈◊〉 Eusebius of Cremona and Philip two Scholars of S. Hierom both very elegant Writers as also Eucherius Bishop of Lyons a man of great Learning and Eloquence and Hilarius Bishop of Arles a pious Man and of no mean parts Our Sixtus having employed all his Estate in the building and adorning of Churches and relieving the poor and having made twenty eight Presbyters twelve Deacons fifty two Bishops died and was buried in a Vault in the Via Tiburtina near the body of S. Laurence He was in the Chair eight years nine days and by his death the See was vacant twenty two days LEO I. LEO a Tuscan Son of Quintianus lived at the time when Attila having return'd into Hungary from the Fight of Catalonia and there recruited his Army invaded Italy and first set down before Aquileia a Frontier City of that Province which held out a Siege 〈◊〉 three years Despairing hereupon of success he was just about to raise the Leaguer when observing the Storks to carry their young ones out of the City into the Fields being encouraged by this Omen he renews his Batteries and making a fierce assault at length takes the miserable City sacks and burns it sparing neither Age nor Sex but acting agreeably to the Title he assum'd to himself of being God's Scourge The Huns having hereby gain'd an Inlet into Italy over-run all the Countrey about Venice possessing themselves of the Cities and demolishing Milain and Pavia From hence Attila marching towards Rome and being come to the place where the Menzo runs into the Po ready to pass the River the holy Bishop Leo out of a tender sense of the calamitous state of Italy and of the City of Rome and with the advice of Valentinian goes forth and meets him persuading him not to proceed any farther but to take warning by Alaricus who soon after his taking that City was by the Judgment of God removed out of the World Attila takes the good Bishops Counsel being moved thereunto by a Vision which he saw while they were discoursing together of two men supposed to be S. Peter and S. Paul brandishing their naked swords over his head and threatning him with death if he were refractory Desisting therefore from his design he returns into Hungary where not long after he was choaked with his own bloud violently breaking out at his Nostrils through excess of drinking Leo returning to the City applyes himself wholly to the defence of the 〈◊〉 Faith which was now violently opposed by several kinds of Hereticks but especially by the Nestorians and Eutychians Nestorius 〈◊〉 of Constantinople affirmed the Blessed Virgin to be Mother not of God but of Man only that so he might make the Humanity and Divinity of Christ to be two distinct persons one the Son of God the other the Son of Man But Eutyches Abbot of Constantinople that he might broach an Heresie in contradiction to the former utterly confounded the divine and humane Nature of Christ asserting them to be one and not at all to be distinguished This Heresie being condemned by Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople with the consent of Theodosius a Synod is called at Ephesus in which Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria being President Eutyches was restored and Flavianus censured But Theodosius dying and his successour Marcianus proving a Friend to the Orthodox Doctrine Leo calls a Council at Chalcedon wherein by the authority of six hundred and thirty Bishops it was decreed as an Article of Faith that there are two Natures in Christ and that one and the same Christ is God and Man by which consequently both Nestorius and Eutyches the pestilent Patron of the
Brother who had before as we have already said taken the habit of a Monk and indeed the Lombards generally except those of Tuscany were on his side But Desiderius by making large Promises to the Pope and the Romans wrought them into a favour of his Pretensions and accordingly they with all speed sent Ambassadours and among them Holcadus the Abbat to Rachis to require him to lay down his Arms and submit to Desiderius And so Faenza and Ferrara were at last delivered to the Pope and the name of the Exarchate which had continued from the time of Narses to the taking of Ravenna by Aistulphus an hundred and seventy years was extinguished Things being now peaceably setled and the Jurisdiction of the Church greatly encreased Stephen holding a Synod takes an account of his several Flocks and their Pastors gently chastises those who had offended directs such as had gone astray teaches and instructs the ignorant and finally sets before them the Duty of a Bishop of a Presbyter and of all Orders in the Clergy Moreover he appointed Litanies for the appeasing of the Divine Anger the Procession on the first Saturday to be to S. Marie's ad Proesepe on the second to S. Peter's in the Vatican on the third to S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis He also repaired several Churches which had been damaged by Aistulphus while he layed Siege to the City yet he did not recover the Reliques of the Saints which that King had carried with him to Pavia and there reposited not dishonourably in divers Churches The good man having by these means proved serviceable to God his Countrey and the Church died in the fifth year and first month of his Pontificate and was buried April the 26th with general lamentation as for the loss of a Common Father The See was then vacant thirty two days PAUL I. PAUL a Roman son of 〈◊〉 Brother of Stephen the second became well skill'd and practiced in all things belonging to a Churchman by his having been educated in the Lateran Palace under Pope Gregory the second and Pope Zachay by which latter he was together with his Brother ordained Deacon and when upon the Vacancy of the Popedom by the Death of Stephen some persons proposed Theophylact the Arch-Deacon for his Successour yet others stood for Paul as one who both for the Integrity of his Life and great Learning deserved to succeed his Brother in that Dignity After a long Dispute therefore Theophylact was rejected and Paul by general suffrage chosen in the time of Constantine and Leo. This Paul was a person of an extraordinary meek and merciful Temper and who in Imitation of our Saviour never returned to any man evil for evil but on the contrary by doing good to them he overcame those ill men that had oftentimes injur'd him He was of so kind and compassionate a Nature as that he would go about by night with only two or three Attendants to the Houses of poor sick people assisting them with his Counsel and relieving them with his Alms. He also frequently visited the Prisons and paying their Creditors discharged thence multitudes of poor Debtours The Fatherless and Widows that were over-reach'd by the tricks of Lawyers he defended by his Authority and supported by his Charity Moreover having assembled the Clergy and People of Rome he did with great solemnity translate the Body of S. Petronilla S. Peter's Daughter with her Tomb of Marble upon which was this Inscription Petronilloe Filioe dulcissimoe from the Via Appia into the Vatican and placed it at the upper end of the Church dedicated to her Father At this time the Emperour Constantine having in all places plucked down the Images and put to death Constantine Patriarch of Constantinople for opposing him therein and made Nicetas an Eunuch his Abettour in the Sacriledg Patriach in his stead the Pope consulting by all means the Interest of Religion sends Nuntios to Constantinople to advise the Emperour to restore and set up again the Images he had taken away or upon his refusal so to do to threaten him with the Censure of Excommunication But Constantine persisting obstinately in what he had done not only despised this good Counsel but also granted Peace to Sabinus King of the Bulgarians because he also made the like havock of Images with himself though he were before engaged in a War against him Having also associated to himself into part of the Empire his Son Leo the fourth whom he had married to the most beautiful Athenian Lady Irene he enters into a League with the Saracens thereby to despite and provoke the Orthodox Christians In the mean time Pipin entirely subdues Taxillo Duke of the Bojarians and admits of a League with the Saxons but upon this Condition that they should be obliged to send three hundred Horsemen to his Assistance as often as he should have occasion to make an Expedition Against the Aquitains he maintained a tedious War which at length he committed to the management of his young Son Charles himself being so worn out with Age that he could not be present at it This War being ended Charles takes by Storm Bourbon Clermont and several other Towns of Auvergne But Pipin who as we have said was now very old not long after dies leaving in the Kingdom his two Sons Charles and Caroloman Some tell us that Aistulphus King of the Lombards who as is above declared had carried away the Bodies of divers Saints from Rome to Pavia died at this time and that he had built Chappels to those Saints aud also a Cloister for Virgins in which his own Daughters became Nuns He was an extraordinary Lover of the Monks and died in their Arms in the sixth year and fifth month of his Reign At the beginning of his Government he was fierce and rash in the end moderate and a person of such Learning that he reduc'd and form'd the Edicts of the Lombards into Laws He was as has been said succeeded by Duke Desiderius the Valour of the Lombards beginning now to dissolve and lose it self in Luxury Our Paul having repaired some old decayed Churches died in S. Paul's in the Via Ostiensis in the tenth year and first month of his Pontificate and his Body was with very great Solemnity carried into the Vatican The See was then vacant one year one month STEPHEN III. STEPHEN the third a Sicilian Son of Olibrius entred upon the Pontificate A. D. 768. a learned man and in the management of Affairs especially those belonging to the Church very active and steddy Coming to Rome very young by appointment of Pope Gregory III. he took Orders and became a Monk in the Monastery of S. Chrysogonus where he was inured to the stricter way of living and instructed in Ecclesiastical Learning Being afterwards called by Pope Zachary into the Lateran Palace and his Life and Learning generally approved of he was constituted Parish-Priest of S. Caetilia and for his great Integrity and readiness in Business both
of the Christian name He re-edified the City-Walls and Gates that had suffer'd by Age and raised from the Ground fifteen Forts 〈◊〉 the defence of the City of which two were very necessary one 〈◊〉 the right 〈◊〉 other on the left hand of the Tiber below the Hills Janiculus and Aventinus to hinder the Ships of any Enemy from entring the Town He by his diligence found out the Bodies of the Sancti quatuor coronati and built a Church to them after a magnificent manner and reposited their bodies under the Altar viz. Sempronianus Claudius Nicostratus Castorius to which he added those of Severus Severianus Carpophorus Victorinus Marius Felicissimus Agapetus Hippolytus Aquila Priscus Aquinus Narcissus Marcellinus Felix Apollos Benedict Venantius Diogenes Liberalis Festus Marcellus the head of S. Protus Cecilia Alexander Sixtus Sebastian Praxedes But while he was diligently intent upon these Affairs as became so holy a man news was brought that the Saracens were coming with a huge Fleet to sack the City and that the Neapolitans and the Inhabitants upon that shore would come to his assistance whereupon with what forces he could raise he march'd to Ostia and summon'd thither the Auxiliaries designing upon the first opportunity to fight the Enemy But first this holy Pope exhorted his Souldiers to receive the Sacrament which being devoutly perform'd he prayed to God thus O God whose right hand did support the blessed Peter when he walk'd upon the Waves and sav'd him from drowning and delivered from the deep his fellow-Apostle Paul when he was thrice shipwrack'd hear us mercifully and grant that for their merits the hands of these thy faithful ones fighting against the Enemies of thy holy Church may by thy almighty arm be confirm'd and strengthened that thy holy Name may appear glorious before all Nations in the Victory that shall be gained Having pronounc'd this by making the sign of the Cross he gave the signal for Battel and the onset was made by his Souldiers with great briskness as if they had been sure of Victory which after a tedious Dispute was theirs the Enemies being put to flight many of them perish'd in the fight but most were taken alive and brought to Rome where the Citizens would have some of them hang'd without the City for a 〈◊〉 to the rest very much against the mind of Leo who was very remarkable for Gentleness and Clemency but it was not for him to oppose the rage of a multitude Those that were taken alive Leo made use of in 〈◊〉 those Churches which the Saracens had heretofore ruin'd and burnt and in building the Wall about the Vatican which from his own name he call'd 〈◊〉 Leonina This he did lest the Enemy should with one slight assault take and sack the Church of S. Peter as heretofore they were wont The Gates also had his Prayers for upon that which leads to S. Peregrin this was graven in Marble O God who by giving to thy Apostle S. Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven didst 〈◊〉 upon him the Pontifical Authority of binding and loosing grant that by the help of his intercession we may be delivered from all mischievous Attempts and that this City which now with thy assistance I have newly founded may be free or ever from thine anger and may have many and great Victories over those Enemies against whom it is built And on the second Gate near S. Angelo that leads into the fields were these words O God who from the beginning of the World didst vouchsafe to preserve and establish this holy Catholick and Apostolical Church of Rome mercifully blot 〈◊〉 the hand-writing of our iniquity and grant that this City which we assisted by the Intercession of the Apostles Peter and Paul have newly dedicated to thy holy name may remain secure from the evil machinations of its Enemies The third was on the front of the Gate by which we go to the Saxons School in these words Grant we beseech thee almighty and merciful God that crying to thee with our whole heart and the blessed Apostle Peter interceding for us we may obtain thy favour We continually beg of thy mercy that the City which I thy servant Leo IV. Bishop of Rome have dedicated anew and called Leonina from my own name may continue safe and prosperous This City he began in the first year of his Pontificate and finish'd in his sixth and gave it to be a habitation for the men of Corsica who had been driven out of that Island by the Saracens to each of whom also he assign'd a piece of ground for his maintenance But I wonder now that another Inscription is to be read on these Gates in dull Hexameter Verse which I cannot by any means think to be Leo's though it go under his name Of the Spoils of the Saracens he made several donations of Gold and Silver to the Churches of Rome Some write that 't was by his command that S. Mary's Church in the new street and the Tower in the Vatican next S. Peter's now to be seen were built Beside he restor'd the Silver-door of S. Peter which had been pillag'd by the Saracens He held a Synod of 47. Bishops wherein Anastasius Presbyter Cardinal of S. Marcellus was by the Papal Canons convict of several Crimes upon which he was condemned and excommunicate the chief allegation being that for five years he had not resided in his Parish Moreover he brought Colonies from Sardinia and Corsica which now upon the repulse of the 〈◊〉 had some respite and planted them in Hostia which partly by reason of the unhealthiness of the Air and partly by being so often 〈◊〉 was left without Inhabitants Lastly he fully satisfied Lotharius who having been inform'd that Leo was upon a design of translating the Empire to the Constantinopolitans came himself to Rome But the Informers being caught in Lies received condign punishment and the friendship was on both sides renewed 'T is said that Johannes Scotus a learned Divine liv'd at this time who coming into France by the command of K. Lewis translated S. Dionysius's Book de Hierarchia out of Greek into Latin but was soon after as they say stab'd with a Bodkin by some of his Scholars but the occasion of this villanous act is not any where recorded 'T is said too that now Ethelwolph K. of England out of devotion made his Countrey tributary to the Church of Rome by charging a penny yearly upon every house Our holy Pope Leo having deserv'd well of the Church of God of the City of Rome and of the whole Christian name for his Wisdom Gravity Diligence Learning and the Magnificence of his works died in the eighth year third month and sixth day of his Pontificate on the 17. day of July and was buried in S. Peter's Church The Sea was then void two months and fifteen days JOHN VIII JOHN of English Extraction but born at Mentz is said to have arriv'd at the Popedom by evil Arts for disguising
person was deposed and Ignatius restor'd who had been wrongfully turn'd out before In this Council a long debate was held whether the Bulgarians whose Embassadors were present should be subject to the Roman or Constantinopolitan Sea And by the favour of the Emperor Basilius they were adjudged to the Sea of Rome whereupon the Bulgarians making their 〈◊〉 to Hadrian that some man of good life and ability might be sent into their Countrey by whose authority and example they might be retain'd in the Christian Faith he sent three most religious men with plenary power to settle the Churches there as they should see fit They were Sylvester the Sub-deacon Leopardus of Ancona and Dominic of Trevisa who soon composed the whole Affair to the Popes mind though 't was not long ere the Bulgarians corrupted with gifts and promises by the Constantinopolitans expel'd the Latin Priests and receiv'd the Greeks and this Sedition gave occasion to many quarrels betwixt the Greeks and Latins Hadrian still opposing himself to all the Enemies of the Church as much as was possible when he was about to anoint Charles Emperor in the room of Lewis now deceased died himself in the fifth year ninth month and twelfth day of his Popedom A little before his death it rain'd bloud for three days together at Brescia and France was miserably wasted with Locusts both certain presages of his much lamented death JOHN IX JOHN the ninth a Roman Son of Gundo as soon as he was made Pope declared Charles surnamed the Bald who came to Rome for that purpose Emperor which so enraged the Sons of his elder Brother Lewis King of Germany Charles surnam'd the Gross and Caroloman that levying an Army they invade Italy resolving to deprive their Uncle of his Crown and Life Charles hereupon makes haste towards Verona with his forces intending to cut off the passage of his Nephews by Trent but was taken ill at Mantua and there poisoned as 't was thought by one Zedechias a Jew whom he made use of for a Physician Upon this news Pope John used his utmost endeavour that Charles his Son Lewis surnamed the Stammerer King of France might be made Emperor but the great men of Rome opposed it desiring rather that Charles III. King of Germany might succeed who with his Brother Caroloman had now over-run a great part of Italy So great was the Sedition that though many favour'd Lewis yet they took the Pope and clap'd him in prison But by the help of some Friends he soon made his escape into France to Lewis where he slaid a year anointed him King and ended some Controversies depending between the Ecclesiastics For Gibertus Bishop of Nismes had by force turn'd Leo an Abbot out of his Monastery This Monastery was dedicated to S. Peter and in it lay buried the body of S. Giles it is situate in a place call'd Flaviano from a Valley of that name given to S. Giles by a certain King nam'd Flavius and he built there a Monastery to the honour of SS Peter and Paul The Pope in the presence of many Bishops and Judges heard the Cause and adjudg'd the Monastery to Leo. This was done at Arles from whence John departing with the approbation of Lewis he held a Council at Troyes where he made several Decrees about religious affairs and appointed a Bishop for the Flemings who having left their Woods and fastnesses now betook themselves to an orderly way of living But Italy all this while being harrass'd by the Saracens who had taken and plundered the Monastery of Monte-Cassino John was call'd home to Rome and with the help of some Christian Princes drave the greatest part of them out of Italy and Sicily and at last that he might live the more quietly in the City he plac'd the Imperial Crown on the head of Charles III. who quickly after marching against the Normans then infesting the borders of France and Lorain defeated them so that their King Rothifredus was forc'd to sue for peace and to become a Christian the Emperour himself being his Godfather and taking him into favour This writes Anastasius the Roman Library-keeper who was then highly in vogue being so skilful in both Tongues that by the persuasion of the Emperor Charles he translated out of Greek into elegant Latin the seventh General Council and Dionysius the Areopagite's Book de Hierarchiâ with the lives of several Saints Some say that this Charles built many Monasteries and was liberal to the Church but 't is certain that it was his particular commendation that he put many learned men upon writing for Milo a Monk of S. Amand wrote the Life of that Saint very exactly and Joannes Scotus did very solidly and acutely handle many points of our Religion nor was our Pope John without desert in the same way having while he was Deacon excellently composed the Life of Gregory I. in four Books When he had sate ten years and two days he died and was buried in S. Peter's Church MARTIN II. MARTIN the second a Frenchman Son of Palumbus succeeded John Some perhaps deceiv'd by the likeness of the names call him Marinus This Martin the story of whose Life is so short because of the small time he held the Chair was Pope at the time when the Sons of Basilius Leo and Alexander were Emperors in the East and Charles III. in the West who we told you was crowned by John VIII and who broke the forces of the Normans infesting France in so many Battels that he forced them to submit to him and receive the Christian Faith Some write that 't was this Martin that with his tricks of which somewhat will be said in the Life of Formosus did so plague Pope John with Seditions as to get him thrown into prison and force him to fly But having by ill means gotten the Popedom he soon died having sate but one year and five days and in that time doing nothing remarkable either because his time was short or because no occasion offered it self from whence he could acquire repute except we may suppose it to be the Will of God that those who attain to Power by indirect means should lose that true glory which is the chief aim of every good Prince HADRIAN III. HADRIAN the third a Roman Son of Benedict was a man of so great a Spirit that immediately upon his entrance on the Popedom An. Dom. 895. he proposed to the Senate and People that a Law should pass that no regard should hereafter be given to the Authority of the Emperor in the creation of any Pope but that the Election of the Clergy and People should be free this Institution was rather attempted than begun before by Nicolas I. as was said but I believe Hadrian took now the opportunity when the Emperor Charles was march'd with his Army out of Italy against the Rebellious Normans He went with a design utterly to extirpate that unquiet people but perceiving that would be difficult and not to be
though 't is said that 't was Formosus that conferred the Bishoprick of Anagni upon him But this I take to be the effect of his Ambition the Clergy being come to that pass that they were so far from needing compulsion as formerly to take upon them the Pontificate that now they sought it with bribery and hence it was that Stephen because Formosus had hindred him before of this desired Dignity exercised his rage even upon his dead body for Martin the Historian says he hated him to that degree that in a Council which he held he ordered 〈◊〉 Body of 〈◊〉 to be drag'd out of the Grave to be strip'd of his Pontifical habit and put into that of a Lay-man and then to be 〈◊〉 among secular persons having first cut off those two Fingers of his right Hand which are principally used by Priests in Consecration and thrown them into the Tiber because contrary to his Oath as he said he had return'd to Rome and exercised his Sacerdotal Function from which Pope John had legally degraded him This prov'd a great Controversie and of very ill example for the succeeding Popes made it almost a constant Custom either to break or abrogate the Acts of their Predecessors which was certainly far different from the practice of any of those good Popes whose Lives we have written In our own time Paul II. a Venetian had like to have taken upon him the name of Formosus which would have been agreeable enough to him being a proper man and of a venerable aspect but that the Cardinals remembring this story dissuaded him lest that should happen to him after his Death which did to this Formosus but Paul was hardly wrought upon as thinking nothing but this Name to be wanting to his Felicity Mean time the Emperor of Constantinople taking occasion from the sloth of the Popes sends one Symbaticus a Nobleman his Sword-bearer with an Army into Italy who after a Siege of three months takes Beneventum after it had been in the possession of the Lombards 330 years but three years after Guy of Lombardy retook it and drove out the Greeks and so it fell to the Lombards again But to return to Stephen he died in the first year and third month of his 〈◊〉 and the Sea was vacant three days after his death ROMANUS ROMANUS a Roman as soon as he was got into the Pontificate disavowed and rescinded all the Acts and Decrees of Stephen And indeed these Popelings studied nothing else but to extinguish the memory and honour of their Predecessors than which nothing is more mischievous or a more certain sign of a narrow Soul for they that trust to such tricks as these are onely such as wanting all manner of Virtue endeavour to rob the well-deserving of that Fame which themselves can never attain to Indeed you shall never find any man envying the good name of another but one that being obnoxious to all manner of reproach is hopeless of rendring his own name honourable to Posterity Such men as these maliciously falsly and craftily backbite slander and find 〈◊〉 with those that have deserv'd well of Mankind like useless and cowardly Dogs that dare not seize a wild 〈◊〉 but will venture to snap at them when they are fast chain'd I was oblig'd however at least to mention this Pope Romanus because he obtain'd S. Peter's Chair after the ordinary manner in which after he had sate three months he died THEODORUS II. THEODORE the second a Roman follow'd the steps of these Mutineers for he restor'd the Decrees of Formosus and 〈◊〉 his Friends Arnulphus according to some Writers still rul'd in Italy and in France Charles the Simple Constantine the Son of Leo being Emperor of the East at which time the Saracens invading Apulia possess'd themselves of Mount S. Angelo and took abundance of Men and Cattel but the Italians hastily got together an Army set upon them and recovered all with 〈◊〉 slaughter of the Enemies While Affairs went thus in Italy William Earl of 〈◊〉 surnamed Sector-ferri of the linage of Charles the Bald ordered the Reliques which had been taken from the Chartreux Fryers at the time of the Norman Invasion to be restor'd for now that the Normans were quieted he 〈◊〉 there would be some uproar about them if they were not restor'd Who the Normans were is not on all hands agreed but they are said to have come into France from Norway Theodorus in the 20th day of his Papacy died leaving through the shortness of his time nothing memorable of himself JOHN X. JOHN the tenth a Roman was next created Pope and immediately reasserted the cause of Formosus a great part of the People of Rome being against it who raised such a tumult that it wanted little of a Battel He therefore remov'd to Ravenna where calling a Synod of seventy four Bishops he damns all that Stephen had done and restores the Decrees of Formosus declaring it irregularly done of Stephen to re-ordain those on whom Formosus had conferred Holy Orders These Popes by their constant inobservance of all Apostolical Practices were the occasions in my Opinion of these turmoils especially joyning with that the Cowardize and Negligence of the Princes of Christendom whose interest it was that the Ship of S. Peter should labour with Tempests that so the Master being unable to animadvert upon them might not throw them like naughty Mariners overboard Arnulphus was immers'd in pleasures and Charles King of France was truly worthy of his Surname of Simple or rather Blockhead So that the Hungari a fierce and wild people tempted by this prospect of things with a formidable Army invade first Italy then Germany and France without any considerable resistance consuming all with fire and sword and sparing no Sex or Age wherever they march'd The Moors too invaded Calabria of a great part whereof they possess'd themselves but whilst they besieg'd Cosenza their King was killed by Thunder from Heaven whereupon they were dispersed and return'd home Thus God himself punish'd with his own hand the Enemies of the name of Christ out of pity to his people who were miserably forsaken by the Princes of the Earth which if he had not done the name of Italy and the Holy Church had been no more Such sluggish and sorry fellows were the Potentates of those times John died after he had been Pope two years and fifteen days leaving nothing behind him worthy notice but that he renew'd some old quarrels which had been almost forgotten BENEDICT IV. BENEDICT the fourth a Roman for his good nature and mildness was made Pope but nothing was done in his time worthy of any great commendation In his Age it happen'd as to others it does sometimes that a strange negligence of all manner of 〈◊〉 had possess'd mankind no incitements being applied by which the minds of men should be stir'd up to Actions that are praise-worthy which yet are never wanting under good Princes or well constituted Governments At
this time as I said before Lewis the Son of Arnulphus endeavouring to recover his Fathers Empire was taken and kill'd at Verona by Berengarius and then the posterity of Charles the Great first lost their Titles to France and the Empire of Germany So true it is that which Salust says Every rising hath its setting and every increase its wane The Empire which had arrived to so great a height lost its splendor by the sluggishness of the great men and people of Rome when they once grew remiss in the exercises of Virtue and emasculated their bodies with Luxury and with studied softnesses And this we may say was the case of the Papacy for at first the Pontifical Dignity without Wealth and among Enemies and furious Persecutors of Christianity was illustrious with a holiness and learning not to be attain'd without great pains and a consummate Virtue but now the Church of God was grown wanton with its Riches and the Clergy quitted severity of manners for lasciviousness so that there being no Prince to punish their excesses such a Licentiousness of sinning obtain'd in the World as brought forth these Monsters these Prodigies of wickedness by whom the Chair of S. Peter was rather seiz'd than rightfully possess'd Yet this may be said for Benedict that in this debauch'd Age he carried himself with gravity and constancy and died in the third year and fourth month of his Pontificate after which the Sea was vacant six days LEO V. LEO the fifth whose native Countrey Historians mention not succeeded him but was soon taken and thrown into Prison by one Christopher a Chaplain of his own who aspir'd to the Popedom which was not done without great tumults and the loss of many mens lives How lightly the Papal Authority was now esteem'd by fault of former Popes may be seen in this that a private person should in a moment be able to seize so great a Dignity But that saying is certainly true that great places receive more honour than they confer upon the persons that supply them as appears in the Roman Censorship which at first was slighted as a mean Office but when several of the Nobility had once condescended to execute it the Office became so honourable that the Nobleman who had not once in his life been Censor was look'd upon as very unfortunate Leo had sate but forty days when Christopher got into the Chair which Indignity he laid so to heart that in a little while after he died for grief deeply resenting it that he should be rob'd of his Dignity by one that had eat of his bread according to that of Theocritus Nurse up a Wolf and he 'l devour you CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER whose Countrey and Family is because of the meanness of his extraction not known having got the Popedom by ill means lost it as ill for after seven months he was justly deposed and forc'd to take on him a Monastic life the onely refuge of men in trouble for at that time Clergy-men that had deserv'd ill were as it were banish'd into Monasteries by way of punishment There are those that say Christopher was deposed in the Reign of Lewis III. while others ascribe him to the times of Berengarius who we told you was from Duke of Friuli created Emperor as descending from the Longobardian Kings of Italy and as being the onely man in whom for his valour and nobility they could place any hopes of seeing the honour of the Empire retriev'd And that I should suppose Berengarius to have reign'd at this time I am persuaded by considering the short lives of the Popes before-going who as Monsters were soon snatch'd away by a divine Power and 〈◊〉 length of the Reign of that Emperor who having vanquish'd Guido Duke of Spoleto and slain Ambrose Count of Bergomo who were his first Adversaries was crown'd Emperor by Formosus and liv'd nine years after What became of Christopher after his being deposed shall be spoken in the Life of Sergius SERGIUS III. SERGIUS the third a Roman Son of Benedict entring upon the Pontificate re edified the Lateran Church which was then ruined and taking Christopher out of his Monastery put him in Prison and then setling his Affairs he took a Journey to France after his return from whence being now strengthen'd with the favour and friendship of the French King Lotharius he totally abolish'd all that Pope Formosus had done before so that Priests who had been by him admitted to Holy Orders were forc'd to take new Ordination Nor was he content with thus dishonouring the dead Pope but he drags his Carcase again out of the Grave beheads it as if it had been alive and then throws it into the Tiber as unworthy the honour of humane Burial 'T is said that some Fishermen finding his Body as they were fishing brought it to S. Peter's Church and while the Funeral Rites were performing the Images of the Saints which stood in the Church bow'd in veneration of his Body which gave them occasion to believe that Formosus was not justly prosecuted with so great ignominy But whether the Fishermen did thus or no is a great question especially it is not likely to have been done in Sergius's life-time who was a sierce Persecutor of the favourers of Formosus because he had hindered him before of obtaining the Pontificate And now Reader pray observe how very much these Popes had degenerated from their Predecessors they good men refused this dignity when it was freely offered them chusing rather to spend their time in Study and in Prayer these on the contrary sought the Papacy with ambition and bribery and when they were got in slighting the Worship of God 〈◊〉 animosities among themselves with the violence of the fiercest Tyrants to the end that when no one should be left to animadvert upon their Vices they might the more securely immerse themselves in pleasures 'T is my opinion that Sergius acted thus by the instigation of Lotharius 〈◊〉 't was by Formosus's means that the Empire was translated from the French to the Lombards Sergius leading his life after this rate died in the seventh year fourth month and sixteenth day of his Papacy several fiery Apparitions and blazing Stars with unusual motions having been seen in the Heavens a little before Soon after the Hungari invaded Italy with an Army and several defeats were on both sides given and taken ANASTASIUS III. ANASTASIUS the third a Roman came to the Chair at the time when Landulphus Prince of Benevent fought a fierce Battel with the Greeks and defeated them in Apulia For Patricius General of Leo Emperor of Constantinople had invaded Italy and threatned a general ruin if they did not immediately acknowledg Subjection to Leo but as was said by the valour of Landulphus his 〈◊〉 and his rage came to nothing though Berengarius also was bringing an Army together to meet him but they made rather a terrible shew than were truly of force But Anastasius not acting any thing
worth mention died after he had been Pope two years and was buried in S. Peter's Church This Pope we may commend in this one instance that he did not persecute with ignominy and scandal the memory of any of his Predecessors for he lived quietly and soberly and had nothing chargeable upon him that was blame-worthy LANDUS LANDUS a Roman succeeded Anastasius but his life was so obscure that some do not reckon him for a Pope especially Vincentius the Historian But Martin and Cusentinus are of another mind together with Gothifredus who writes that this Landus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Authority hindred a Battel between Berengarius and 〈◊〉 Son of Count Guido though others say that Rodulphus overcame Berengarius near Verona and enjoy'd the Empire three years There was indeed at this time a great contention for the Empire between the Italians Germans and French which was the cause of many cruel Wars which were not ended without great destruction of men and mischief to each Countrey The Romans and Italians labour'd might and main to preserve the Empire in their own Countrey against the Power of those barbarous people but they wanted some man that could lead them on in so great an Enterprise for those noble Spirits who had rendred the name of Italy famous through the World were now not onely extinct but even those virtuous Inclinations were quite stisled which gave life to such glorious actions Landus died in the sixth month and twenty first day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peters's Church JOHN XI JOHN the eleventh a Roman natural Son to Pope Sergius in the year 909. succeeded He was before Arch-bishop of Ravenna and had been deposed by the people in a Tumult but upon the death of Landus he obtain'd the Papal Chair and shew'd more of the Spirit of a Soldier than of a Clergy-man Indeed the Church and all Italy had then need of such a Pope For the Greeks as we said before being vanquish'd by Landulphus had call'd the Saracens into Italy who marching through Calabria and Apulia into Lucaia and Campania threaten'd sudden destruction to the City of Rome The nearness of the danger alarm'd Pope John who taking Albericus Marquess of Tuscany to his assistance musters up an Army fights the Saracens and gets the better and beats them out of the territories of the City but not looking upon his Victory as considerable except he follow'd the pursuit he attaques them at Minturnoe upon the shore of the River Garigliano and conquers them with so great a slaughter that they resolv'd to leave Italy onely burning first all those places on that shore which were in their hands But they alter'd their minds afterward and fortifying Mount Gargano they harass'd the Countrey thereabout with their Incursions Mean while John taking all the honour of this action to himself makes his entrance into Rome after the manner of a Triumph which gave so great distast to Albericus that a Tumult arose upon it in which Albericus was repulsed and flying to Orta fortified the Town and Castle and enticed the Hungari into Italy who brought more destruction and ruin upon the Countrey than the Saracens had done before for they carried away the Youth of both Sexes killing all that were stricken in years nor did they spare the very Tuscans for whose indemnity Albericus had agreed in the Treaty with them nay they were more cruel to them than to other Italians for they burnt and demolish'd all the Towns they had possess'd 'T is my Opinion that Berengarius who then held Lombardy onely gave them liberty of passage into Tuscany upon condition they march'd quietly through his Countrey without hurting his Subjects But the Hungari having once tasted the sweet Spoils of Italy did frequently visit it afterward which Calamities so much enraged the Romans that not being able to wreak their spite upon the Enemy who was too mighty and fierce for them they took Albericus and beheaded him John also in a Mutiny of the Soldiers was by the followers of Count Guido taken and put in Prison In his room another John was put up but because he seiz'd the Chair by force and was soon deposed he deserves not to be among the Popes LEO VI. LEO the sixth a Roman was canonically elected Pope acted nothing tyrannically in his whole life but liv'd soberly and modestly taking care of Religion as far as an Age of so corrupt manners would bear For he made it his endeavour to quiet the minds of the Citizens who through the rashness and folly of former Popes were inclining to Tumults to compose the Affairs of Italy to make Peace with forein Enemies and to drive the Barbarians from the skirts of his Countrey than which nothing could be done to better purpose or more commendably in so short a time for in the seventh month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate he died and was buried in S. Peters's Church to the great grief of the Citizens of Rome STEPHEN VII STEPHEN the seventh a Roman according to some Authors came to be Pope at the time when the Hungari who were over-running Germany and Saxony were by Henry King of Germany overcome with a great slaughter near Merspurg 'T is said also that at this time Rodulphus King of Burgundy made his descent into Italy with a great Army against Berengarius II. who by the treachery of his own men was driven out of his Kingdom and fled to the Hungarians for refuge who taking up Arms in his cause the third year after his expulsion under the conduct of one Salardus invade Italy with huge forces and take Pavia by storm destroying the greatest part of it with fire and sword The Italians hereupon finding Rodulphus to want strength and courage call in Hugh Count of Arles It was not without contention that Rodulphus gave place to him but his Enemies bearing hard upon him he retreated into Burgundy After this 〈◊〉 finding occasion to mistrust those Persons that call'd him in banish'd many of them who fled to Arnoldus Duke of Bavaria a man 〈◊〉 of Rule and persuade him to make War upon Italy He passes the Alpes and is immediately receiv'd within the Walls of Verona by the Citizens with great kindness and friendship but Hugh marching against him beats him in a pitch'd Battel and soon re-takes Verona Mean while Berengarius dies in Bavaria or as others say in 〈◊〉 and Berengarius III. Grand-son of Berengarius I. by his Daughter comes into Italy and in the year 935. gets the Empire Some there are that ascribe these Actions I have mention'd to the time of this Pope but I would rather assign them to some of those Popes that preceded and succeeded because though I have set them down in short yet they must needs require a long time to be brought about But in so great a diversity of opinions concerning times I chose rather to place them somewhere than utterly to omit things which were certainly once done for the uncertainty
had not the like fortune who retreated to the Sittizonio di Severo and wanting courage to defend it basely deliver'd it up But Henry hearing that Guiscard Duke of Puglia was coming to assist Gregory he thought it no time to dally and therefore contrived this stratagem He sent the Bishop of Clugny to Gregory in the Castle to offer him that if he would crown him in the Lateran he would return into Germany with his Army immediately and the Roman people requested him to do it too Gregory answer'd he would do it if Henry would amend his errors and beg pardon This he not only refused to do but hearing that Guiscard was near with his Army he crown'd Clement the Anti-Pope with the Pontifical Crown publickly in the Lateran the Bishops of Bologna of Cervia and Modena attending at the 〈◊〉 After which he went to Siena and took Clement along with him But Guiscard breaking in at the Porta del popolo burnt the City all along to Domitian's Triumphal Arch though the people did what they could to resist him The Citizens had fortified the Capitol and defended themselves briskly against Guiscard who had already taken the Lateran From whence there were a great many skirmishes and sallies made on both sides and that part of the City which lies between the Lateran and the Capitol was demolish'd and the Capitol it self at length taken by storm and laid almost even with the ground Having thus made himself Master of Rome and given the Citizens goods as plunder to his Soldiers he march'd to Castle St. Angelo where the Pope lay besieged and freeing the miserable man at last from all his foes he carried him along to Cassino and Salerno with him Where in a short time after he made a godly Exit after he had sate in S. Peter's Chair twelve years one month and three days He was a Man no question that God loved prudent just merciful a Patron of the poor the Widows and the fatherless and the only Champion of the Church against Hereticks and wicked Princes who strove to make themselves Masters of the Churches patrimony by Violence VICTOR III. VICTOR the Third before called Defiderius Abbat of Mount Cassino being chosen Pope immediately took example by Gregory And therefore I suppose it was that Henry and he were Enemies by whose contrivance he was taken off with Poison conveigh'd into the Chalice as he was administring the Eucharist as St. Martin writes though Vincentius says on the contrary that he died of a Dysentery which may possibly seem not altogether unlike poysoning since those that are poison'd do sometimes fall into a Dysentery by the corruption and relaxation of the Intestines But Guiscard would have revenged so great a Villany if he had not chanced to die too soon for when he had subdued the Greeks he went to Corfu and died to whom because Boemund was absent Roger his younger Son succeeded in the Dutchy of Puglia At that time there was a famine throughout most part of the World by means whereof the King of Gallitia took 〈◊〉 from the Saracens after he had besieged it many years and gave it to the Christians But Henry had ill success against the Saxons in Germany being defeated with the loss of four thousand Soldiers God permitting this calamity that he might at last desist from harassing the Church There are who say that there appeared a great many Prodigies at that time as that the domestick birds as Hens Geese Pigeons and Peacocks fled into the Mountains and grew wild that Fishes in general both in Rivers and in the Sea died and that some Cities were so shaken with Earth-quakes that the great Church at Syracuse fell down at Vespers and kill'd all those that were in it saving only the Deacon and Sub 〈◊〉 who were miraculously saved 'T is said the body of St Nicolas was translated to Bari by the Merchants about this time and there much honour'd as Martin Scotus a Man of great Learning and singular Morals tells us in his History But Victor by whose procurement Deusdedit reduced the book of Canons into method died in the first year and fourth month of his Pontificate not without suspicion of being poison'd URBAN II. URBAN the Second before called Otho or Oddo at first a Monk of Eboina and after that Cardinal of Ostia was at last deservedly made Pope about five months after Victor's death For he was a very learned and an holy Man and fit for any great Employment At that time Roger took his opportunity now Gregory was dead and a new Successor come into the place to take Capua and all places that belong'd to them betwixt that and Tiber from the Pope and the Romans Thereupon Urban who could hardly trust the Romans by reason of their former inclinations to Novelty went to Melfi Where being resolv'd to call a Synod it was convenient to secure all people in their passage to it and therefore he commanded Roger and Boemund who were at variance about the Dutchy of Puglia to quit their Arms upon this condition that Roger should let Boemund have part of Puglia and himself enjoy all the rest of his Father's Dominion And when he had thus settled the Italian affairs to his mind and put the Church in a good condition as far as was possible in such an hurry he went to Toia to enquire what the Clergy of that place did and to correct the errors of some ill-livers among ' em But in the mean time Boemund whilst his Brother Roger made War in Sicily against the Saracens took Melfi by surprise Whereupon Roger returning from Sicily besieged his Brother Boemund at Melfi with twenty thousand Saracens which he hired to come along with him though those within the City defended it very stoutly The Pope seeing he could have no quiet in Italy design'd a Journey into France but first held a Council at Piacenza in which he wonderfully curb'd the licentiousness of some Clergymen From thence he went into France and began a thing very memorable For he call'd a Council at Cleremont wherein he so far animated the Princes of France toward the retaking of Jerusalem which had been so long in the hands of the Sarazens that in the year 1484. three hundred thousand Men enrolled themselves as Soldiers under Christ's Banner After which he returned to Rome with an intention that when he had composed things in Italy he would excite the Italians also to the same end In the mean time King Henry wicked man ceased not to affront Robert Earl of Flanders and provoke him to Battel that he might divert him from the holy Expedition Notwithstanding many followed one Peter an Eremite who was a man of incomparable sanctity and travelling through Germany and Hungary arrived at Constantinople then the common Seat of War And they were not long after followed by Eustathius and Baldwin surnamed of Bulloign men famous for feats of Arms. But besides these there was the Bishop of Pois Raymund Earl
when he petition'd with all humility to send him a Pall he did it and restor'd him to his Authority in this form of words We are persuaded by thy Letter to send thy Brotherhood a Pall together with the Blessing of the Sea Apostolick which kind of Honour was never before conferr'd upon any person absent from us After that he gave a Pall and several priviledges to the Arch bishop of Toledo who came to Rome and swore fidelity to the Pope and made him Primate of all Spain But he laid a Curse upon the King of Portugal and all the Diocese of St. James because he had thrown the Bishop of that Province into Prison without hearing what he had to say for himself About the same time Henry Bishop of Soissons came to Urban at Rome and freely quitted his Bishoprick which he had received from the King of France without any hopes of Restitution Whereupon Urban lest his Diocese should suffer for want of a Bishop restored him to his Bishoprick though he were unwilling to take it but he was sworn in this manner I for the future will not communicate with any that are excommunicated by this Sea wittingly and willingly nor will I ever be present at the Consecrations of those that accept of Bishopricks or Abbies against Law and Reason from Laymen and so help me God and this holy Gospel I never intend to break my resolution So also they say he dealt with the Bishop of Bellay Nor can any one say he was pertinacious for doing so for he knew how and when to alter his mind upon occasion which every good Man should do For when he had admitted a Clerk whom Gibert the Anti-Pope had made a Sub deacon to second Orders he chang'd his mind because it was a thing of ill Example and like to be of very pernicious consequence He confirm'd the Order of Cistercians which was first set up in Burgundy and some say the Carthusians began their Order in his time though others say it was in the time of Victor III. But when Urban had settled the Church of God not onely by his pains and Example but by his Writings too which he set forth against the Hereticks he died near St. Nicolas's in the House of Peter Leo an eminent Citizen twelve years four months and nineteen days after he came to the Popedom upon the 28th of August His Body was carried over Tiber to avoid the contrivances of his Enemies who would have done him an injury if possible after death and buried very honourably in St. Peter's at the Vatican PASCHAL II. PASCHAL the Second before call'd Raynerius an Italian of Romagna whose Father's name was Crescentius and his Mother Alphacia was chosen Pope about that time when the Christians fought in Asia and took Antioch into which they were lett by Pyrrhus an eminent Citizen For he admired Böemunds valour so much that he promised to surrender the City to 'em if the rest of the Christians would let Böemund be Governour of it The Christians when they enter'd the City spared almost all but onely that they were severe upon the Saracens and Cassianus their King who fled to the Mountains was kill'd by the Armenians They had taken all but the Castle which whilest Böemund attaqued he was shot through the thigh with an Arrow which pained him so that he was fain to desist from the Siege for several days But when Corbanes the King of persia's General came up with Sensadolus Castianus's Son to retake Antioch Böemund was by that time well of his Wound met and would have engaged ' em But the Enemy kept up in the Mountains and could not be tempted to fight by any means Whereupon Böemund being necessitated for lack of Provisions was resolv'd to fight 'em though the place was much to his disadvantage So he order'd that Lance wherewith Longinus pierced Christ's side which they found in St. Andrew's Church at Antioch to be carry'd before 'em as the best Ensign they could have and marching up to 'em he defeated them with the slaughter of an hundred thousand though at first they made a brisk resistance Besides that they say there were fifteen thousand Camels taken in their Camp and so much plunder carry'd off that from the greatest extremity of want they were advanced to the greatest abundance of all things necessary The Governour of the Castle when he knew of it surrender'd the Castle to Böemund and embraced the Christian Faith and all that were in the Garrison if they would do the like were permitted to march off with Bag and Baggage whither they pleased After that there arose a great debate betwixt Böemund and Raymund when Böemund demanded Antioch and Raymund said it belong'd to the Emperour of Constantinople by the contract they had before freely made But the Priests to whom it was referr'd gave it to Böemund without any more ado In the mean time Hugo Magnus who was gone to Constantinople to compose things died and then the other Officers all but Raymund who besieged Caesarea in Cappadocia resolv'd to go to Jerusalem with their Army and rendezvouz'd in Lycia But by the way they attempted to take Tortosa and after they had spent three months in vain they raised the Siege and march'd to Tripoli the petit King of which place furnish'd 'em liberally with Mony Provisions and Arms and thereby obtain'd a Peace upon Condition that he if Jerusalem were taken should embrace the Christian Religion Hence they removed and passing by Coesarea in Palestine came at five encampings to Jerusalem which stands upon an high Hill and is divided also by several Dales so that it cannot be besieged but by a very great Army Beside there wants Fountains and River-waters which are necessary for an Army For there is no other rivolet but Siloe and that very little in the Summer time and sometimes nothing at all which runs down Mount Sion into the Valley of 〈◊〉 Yet there are a great many Cisterns in the City and the Countrey to furnish the Citizens with Water but cannot supply great Armies and Beasts of carriage Notwithstanding the Christians got what Provisions they could and attaqued the City in four places very fiercely whilest the Jerusalemites defended it as stoutly and upon the 13th of July they took it by storm the thirty ninth day after they began to besiege it in the year 1499. four hundred and ninety years after the Saracens took it under the Reign of Heraclius Godfrey was most to be commended in that action for that he first master'd that part of the Wall which was allotted for him and his Brother to storm and help'd Balion down into the City to open the Gates for the Christians at whose entrance there was such a slaughter both in the City and especially in the Temple that Men were above the ancles in bloud And the same day they had taken the Temple too if Night had not come upon ' em However the next day the Attaque was
Monuments of his Wit in writing especially his Commentaries upon the Canticles and his considerations of divine Contemplation dedicated to Eugenius the Pope from whence he might learn the duty of a Pope He likewise wrote many Epistles one above the rest to the Romans in which he much blames 'em as also an Apology and some Sermons upon solemn occasions But to return to Paschal who decreed in a Council held at Guardastallo that no Cities of Romagna as Piacenza Parma Reggio Modena nor Bologna should be any longer subject to Ravenna which had been formerly the Metropolis and Mother-Church because the Bishops of Ravenna had often exalted their horns against the Roman Sea But when the Pope came back to the City the People desired him that he would make Peter's Son Governour of the City upon the death of his Father who was so in his life time which the Pope denying to do by reason of his nonage for he was scarce ten years old there was such a tumult of a sudden that he was forced to leave the City for fear of some great mischief for there were many that said it was not fit that such a Boy should be intrusted with such a weighty Employment But that would not do for when he was at Alba and heard that Peter Leo a great friend to the Church was set upon in his own House by the adverse Faction he immediately sent Ptolomy from Ariccia with a good competent number of Men to assist him who drove the Enemy over the Tiber killing some and taking others whom he divided among the several Towns to be kept But there soon appeared great inconstancy in Ptolomy For those whom he had taken but a little before he set upon by surprise as they went through the Selva del Aglio by his Order to the several Towns and took 'em again and carry'd 'em with him to Ariccia among whom was also the dead Governour 's Son Nor was Ptolomy content to do so onely but he possess'd himself of Sarmoneta Nymphaeo Tiberia and the Sea-coasts In the mean time Henry came out of Germany into Italy with an Army which strook terrour into all that heard of it But when he was come to Rome in the Pope's absence who at that time held a Council in Puglia and thought himself deprived of his Imperial Dignity together with the Power of bestowing Bishopricks he was Crown'd a second time before St. Gregory's body by the Arch bishop of Braga who was banish'd by his own Country and so went home again But Paschal when the Council was dismiss'd came out of Puglia to Rome with an Army of Normans and retook many Towns from the Enemy and at 〈◊〉 gave willing Audience to the Ambassadours of Calo Johannes Emperour of Constantinople who succeeded his Father Alexius and bid 'em be sure to animate their Master against the Sarazens Then the Abbat of Farfa and Ptolomy whose ill actions were too great to be pardon'd sculk'd about a good while till at last Paschal who was a very mild Man took 'em into favour When things were thus settled and a Church dedicated to Agapetus built at Palestrina which he consecrated he returned from thence in Pomp to Rome where he was met by the whole City in which croud he fell sick and perceiving his approaching death he received the Sacrament exhorted the Clergy to Peace and Concord and dy'd after he had been Pope eighteen years six months and seven days upon the 14th of January and was honourably buried in the Lateran Church He in his Pontificate made fifty Priests thirty Deacons and an hundred Bishops He also consecrated fifteen Churches at Rome especially that of St. Adrian intrefori which had been prophaned by some of the factions and the Church of St. Mary in Monticello In fine he repaired and consecrated the Church of the Sancti quatuor Coronati which was defaced when Robert Guiscard Prince of Salerno set that part of the City on fire which goes from the Lateran to the Capitol as I have said in the life of Gregory the Seventh GELASIUS II. GELASIUS the Second before nam'd John born at Gaeta his Father's name was Crescentius of a noble Family from his youth up well educated and learned in Monte-Cassino under the religious Abbat Odrisio he learn'd the fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith For this Reason he was sent for to Rome by Urban II. who knew him to be trusty and virtuous and ever had a great esteem for him But his fidelity was then most conspicuous when Pope Urban was besieged by the Germans and sectators of Gilbert the Anti-Pope in the Isle of S. Batholomew between the two Bridges for he only and that noble Person Peter Leone never abandon'd him Urban therefore when he was in his prosperity again mindful of so great kindness and for his learning and fidelity made him his Secretary and because he had an elegant way of writing he committed to him the charge of reforming the style of the Court of Rome which by the ignorance and negligence of former Ages was very much corrupted And afterwards observing the great worth of the Man he resolv'd to make him a Cardinal and proposed it often in the Consistory with the good liking of all But Urban dying soon after Pope Paschal taking notice of his great deserts immediately made him Cardinal-Deacon and upon the death of Pascbal when the Consultation was held for the electing of a new Pope all the Cardinals being to that purpose assembled in the Monastery below the Palace of Leo and Cincio Frangipane by an universal consent John of Gaeta was chosen Pope by the name of Gelasius This Election put Cincio Frangipane into so great a rage because the College had rejected a Creature of his whom he had proposed to them to be Pope that accompanied with many armed Men he 〈◊〉 into the Monastery breaking down the doors and beating down whomsoever he met in his way and taking the Pope himself by the Collar he slung him upon the ground and kick'd him and then made him a Prisoner The Cardinals who endeavour'd to make their escape he threw 〈◊〉 their Horses and Mules not sparing any manner of contumely that could be put upon so venerable an Assembly But the People of Rome would not endure the assront but gathered together in Arms before 〈◊〉 House and threatned death and ruin to himself and his Family 〈◊〉 he did not immediately set 〈◊〉 safe and sound at liberty The Frangipani comply'd with all their demands and Leo in the sight of all falling at the Pope's feet kiss'd 〈◊〉 and most humbly beg'd his Pardon The Pope then mounted his white Horse and attended by the Clergy and People of Rome he rode to the Lateran and was there Crown'd according to custom At this time Baldwin who had been exhorted by the Pope both by Letters and Messengers to withstand 〈◊〉 the Barbarian Forces till some supplies could be sent into Asia to his assistance took Sobal a
the Pope Hereupon the Emperour Lotharius having repress'd his own Rebels once more advances towards Rome with his Army and the Pisans on the Pope's behalf fit out a powerful Fleet and with these Forces they not onely quell'd the Sedition at Rome but attack'd Roger so stoutly both by Sea and Land that they stripp'd him of all that he held in Italy and drove him to his own Sicily in a short time John Emperour of Constantinople who had no kindness for Roger hearing of these great successes sent Ambassadours to congratulate Lotharius upon that occasion one of which Embassie was a Sophister who would undertake to prove that the Latin Church profess'd a great Error in declaring contrary as he said to the opinion of the Nicene Council which was that the Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father that the said Holy Ghost did proceed from the Father and the Son But among those who manag'd the Controversie was one Peter a Deacon a learned Man and a great Disputant who replied thus If the Latins says he are to be condemn'd because they add that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son also why are not the Greeks much more to be condemn'd who say the H.G. proceeds from the Father alone whereas the Council said no more than that it proceeded from the Father The bold man was so gravel'd with this acute Answer that he laid down the Controversie and disputed no more The Emperour Lotharius being about to depart and Innocent fearing that when he was gone Roger would attempt to regain what he had lost in Italy he created Raino one of Lotharius's Commanders left by him to secure the Country with some Troops Duke of Puglia The Anti-Pope soon after died and was buried privately by his Friends and the Cardinals who had been his Sectators were reconcil'd to the Pope so that the Church seem'd to be in a likelihood of enjoying a little Tranquillity when on a sudden some Citizens of Rome seeking to enlarge their Power by tumults set up several Senators of their own to take into their hands the whole Government of the affairs and territories of the City Whilst the Pope withstood these attempts he holding a Council in the Lateran wherein it was ordain'd that no Lay-man should lay violent hands on a Clergy-man he died having been Pope fourteen years seven months and thirteen days A.D. 1114. At which time were in great esteem Gilbert an English Man a Person of so great knowledg that he was call'd the universal Scholar and Ambert Arch-bishop of Rhemes not inferiour to his Master Gilbert for parts and learning That piece of Mosaic work which is still to be seen in the Vault of S. Mary in Trastevere was done by this Pope CELESTINE II. CELESTINE the Second at first nam'd Guido Cardinal Priest of S. Mark a Tuscan born at Citta di Castello called by the Antients Tiphernum was by universal consent chosen Pope in the room of the deceased Innocent at the time when Baldwin King of Jerusalem dying Fulk Earl of Anjou his Son-in-law succeeded him in that Kingdom which with the help of his two valiant Sons he defended stoutly for some time For when the Turks who inhabited near the Persian Gulph had made incursions into the territories of Antioch he not onely defeated them but slew three thousand of their number and took as many Prisoners Which loss so enrag'd Alaph the Turk that with some Babylonian Auxiliaries he sate down before Edessa a City of Mesopotamia called by Jews Arach which we told you Baldwin had beg'd of his Brother Godfrey and took it the Barbarians plundering and spoiling all without mercy putting all those Christians to the sword who would not deny the Faith and ravishing the principal Women even upon S. John Baptist's Altar because they knew it was had in high reverence by the Christians But while an Army was raising King Fulk I know not by what ill luck fell from his Horse as he was riding too rashly after a Hare and died of his fall to whom Baldwin the third of that name succeeded in the Throne And Celestine after he had sate five months died and was buried in the Lateran He was happy in one thing that he was not pestered with any Seditions in his Pontificate which yet perhaps is to be attributed to the shortness of his time LVCIVS II. LVCIVS the Second a Bononian his Father's name was Albert came to the Popedom at that time when the news of the taking of Edessa was brought to Italy This Edessa was the City to which Holy Scripture says Tobias sent his Son and which the Apostle Thaddaeus converted to the faith of Christ being since honoured with the reliques of S. Thomas and hence it was that Agbarus King of the place sent a Letter to our Saviour to which he vouchsafed to write an Answer with his own hand Upon the tidings of this great loss Bernard Abbat of Clairvaux a personage famous for Sanctity and Learning as I have said before took to heart the defence of Christianity and by Letters and Messengers animated all Christian Princes to take upon them the Cross and Banner of Christ against the Saracens and prevailed upon Conrade of Schwaben who had succeeded Lotharius in the Empire to engage in the Expedition While provision was thus made for the defence of the Christian Religion in France and Germany Roger by the Pope's negligence returns into Italy and regains all that he had lost without meeting any resistance which success gave him so much courage and strength that passing with a Fleet into Africa he so plagu'd the King of Tunis that to buy his peace he made him promise him a yearly tribute which he paid for thirty years afterward Conrade having in the mean while got together a great Army under the Cross march'd to Constantinople where Emanuel II. Emperour of the Greeks over-persuaded him to take his journey straight on to Iconium without taking care of provision assuring him that himself would supply the Army with whatsoever should be necessary Whereupon that City well fortified both by Art and Nature was closely besieg'd a great while but the wicked Emperour shew'd them a Greek Trick and mix'd Lime with their Meal with which the bread was made for the whole Army of the Christians and this kill'd so many of the Soldiers that they were forc'd to raise the Siege and return into France without having done any thing Some advantage yet this Expedition may be said to have given the Christians because King Baldwin IV. of Jerusalem took such courage upon it as to besiege and take by storm the City of Ascalon having also a little before rebuilt the antient City Gaza then almost deserted by the Enemy giving it for a dwelling place to the Knights Templars Beside the same Baldwin gave a bold repulse to some Turkish Chieftains who infested the Inhabitants of Jericho of whom in one single Battel he is said to have kill'd five thousand Moreover Noradine Governour
of Damascus invading the territories of Jerusalem was met withal by Baldwin and totally routed so that in the pursuit the Christians were with much ado kept off from entring the City of Damascus pel-mel with the Enemy But to return to Pope Lucius he omitted no care nor pains in promoting that so considerable and necessary Expedition and I suppose he was much the more concern'd in his mind for it because before he was Pope he was Cardinal Priest of S. Cross in Jerusalem the Church whereof he almost wholly re-built By his approbation a national Council was held in France of several Bishops and Abbats against Peter Abelardus a Peripatetic Philosopher and a very learned Man who had maintain'd some heterodox Opinions but was in the presence of King Lewis so effectually convinc'd that he not only chang'd his mind but took upon him the life and order of a Monk and afterward together with some of his Scholars led a most holy life secluded from the World in a desert place Lucius after he had been Pope eleven months and four days died and was buried in the Lateran EVGENIVS III. EVGENIVS the Third a Pisan Abbat of S. Anastasius having been chosen a Monk by that holy Man Bernard was created Pope in the Church of S. Caesarius for when the Cardinals could not well agree whom to chuse out of their own number mov'd by an impulse from above they pitch'd upon this most religious Man Eugenius He finding the Romans would be urgent upon him with threats to procure his confirmation of their Senators he fled by night to Sabina accompanied by the College of Cardinals and was consecrated in the Monastery of Farfara and despising not onely the big words of the Romans but defying the worst they could do he drove those Senators to such a straight that he forc'd them to resign their Offices Hereupon he return'd to Rome but perceiving the Citizens were reconcil'd to him only out of design and not heartily and being afraid lest some trap should be laid for him he escap'd to Tivoli the Romans throwing at him Darts and other missile Weapons as he departed After this he went to Pisa and from thence by Sea to France where he persuaded King Lewis to engage in the holy War against the Turks and Saracens who arriving at Constantinople was no better used by the Emperour Emanuel than Conrade of Schwaben had been before him for Lewis taking his advice to pass through the deserts of Syria at a very unseasonable time was reduc'd to such extream necessity that he was compell'd to march his Army harrass'd with the bad way and want of all things to Antioch without entring upon any action This falsity of Emanuel procur'd him the enmity of Roger King of Sicily who mans out a Navy for Greece and seizes from him the Island of Corfu Corinth Thebes and Euboea and had gone up to Constantinople it self if the Venetians had not equipp'd a Fleet of sixty Gallies to hinder his design Roger therefore as God would have it turns to the coast of Asia where the Saracens Fleet had block'd up Lewis King of France then intending to set sail for Palestine from Porto di S. Simon and having got them at an advantage sets upon 'em and routs 'em delivering by this means this Christian King and his Army from destruction In the mean time the Venetian Fleet which was altogether on Emanuel's side retakes all those places which Roger had possest himself of but had been left by him unfortified and without Garisons Roger then leaving King Lewis at Joppa sets sail directly for Constantinople where he burnt the Suburbs in the very sight of the Emperour and carried his Victory so far that for some time he besieged even his Palace and with his own hand gather'd fruit out of his Garden But having got his Fleet together in order to return into Sicily he fell unawares upon the Venetian Navy which was ready prepar'd for a Battel and was by them defeated with the loss of twenty of his Gallies himself hardly escaping by flight While these things were doing Conrade Lewis and Baldwin with joint forces and courages attack'd Damascus which City was built by the Servants of Abraham in a Champain Country and naturally subject to drought but by Art rendred fertile and plentiful for the ground is watered by Channels and guts dug in the Earth and by that means made to abound with all things There is but one small River in that Country which running not far from the City Walls makes a little tongue of Land in which their Camp was pitch'd whereby they easily could hinder the Citizens from fetching Water but a certain Assyrian to whom in difficult matters Baldwin was wont to give great credit over-persuaded him to remove his Camp to the other side of the Town pretending that it might with more ease be there expugnable because the Walls were not so strong which was no sooner done but those of Damascus possess'd themselves of the place where our Men had encamp'd and having entrench'd themselves stop'd all the Water and Provisions that the Christians wanted So that being press'd with hunger and thirst they were forc'd dishonourably to raise the Siege from which Baldwin went to Jerusalem and Lewis and Conrade took their march to Europe whither they return'd An. Dom. 1152. with their Armies which by several accidents were very much shattered Eugenius after having as aforesaid stir'd up the Christians to this Expedition return'd to Rome where he was pompously and heartily entertain'd by the Citizens but having recover'd Terracina Sezza Norba and Rocca di Fumone places which had been seiz'd from the Church by several Lords of the adjacent Country he retir'd to Tivoli for his diversion where soon after he died having sate in the Papal Chair eight years four months and twenty days His body was carry'd to Rome and buried with great state as reason good in St. Peter's Church By his Order and at his charge the Portico of S. Mary Maggiore was built or rather re-edified as appears by the Inscription ANASTASIVS IV. ANASTASIVS the Fourth a Roman Son of Benedict was before Abbat of S. Ruffo in Velitro and now of a Cardinal was made Pope at that time when Alphonso K. of Spain died in his return from the Holy War to whom succeeded his Son Sanctius who soon after being slain in the Christian quarrel in a Battel in Arabia his Brother Ferdinand succeeded him in the Throne Anastasius having obtain'd the Popedom gave a Chalice of most excellent workmanship and vast price to the Lateran Church and in a short time raised a noble structure near the Pantheon now called S. Marca rotunda and many other things he design'd for the honour of the Church and the Ornament of the City if he had lived a little longer Great expectations Men had entertain'd concerning him and hopes that his goodness together with the learning of Richard de S. Victore his Cotemporary would
vindicate those times from obscurity and ignominy for Richard was then a famous Doctor and wrote many things gravely and copiously particularly a Book concerning the Trinity beside that he was an eloquent as well as profound Preacher At this time almost all Europe was afflicted with Famine which put our Pope upon acts of Charity which he perform'd liberally both openly and in secret but he died when he had been Pope one year four months and twenty four days and was buried in the Lateran in a Tomb of Porphyry HADRIAN IV. HADRIAN the Fourth an English man born near S. Albans in Hertfordshire having been sent into Norway to preach the Gospel he converted that Nation to the Christian faith and was therefore by Pope Eugenius made Bishop of Alba and Cardinal Upon the death of Anastasius being elected Pope he was applied to by the Romans both with Prayers and threats for an investiture of their Consuls in the absolute administration of the Government of the City but he positively refused and the Clergy of Rome desiring him to go to the Lateran to be consecrated he also denied so to do unless Arnold of Brescia who had been condemn'd for a Heretick by Eugenius were first expell'd the City This so enrag'd the People that they set upon the Cardinal of S. Pudentiana in the Via Sacra as he was going to the Pope and gave him a wound or two This the Pope took so ill that he set them under Excommunication till at last they chang'd their minds and both banish'd Arnold and forc'd their Consuls to lay down their Offices leaving to the Pope the absolute Power of governing the City Mean time William King of Sicily who succeeded Roger takes the Subburbs of Benevent and both Ceperano and Bauco from the Church which so enrag'd the Pope that he Anathematiz'd him and absolv'd all his Subjects of their Allegiance that so they might be at liberty to rebel But at this time the Emperour Frederick I. of Schwaben was entred into Lombardy with an Army and besieging Tortona which had revolted from the Empire he took it by force and thence with great speed he continued his march towards Rome The Pope was then at Viterbo from whence he went to visit Orvieto and Civita Castellana places belonging to the Church to confirm them in their Allegiance but finding himself unable to cope with the Imperial Army by his Nuntio's he struck up a Peace and met the Emperor near Sutri who alighting from his Horse address'd to him with all that Ceremony which was due to the true Vicar of Christ From hence they went to Rome where Frederick was to be Crown'd by the Pope in S. Peter's Church but the Gates being shut lest any tumult should happen between the Citizens and the Soldiers the Romans yet broke forth by Ponte S. Angelo and set upon the Germans whom they look'd upon as of the Pope's side and kill'd many This unsufferable riot angred the Emperour so that having brought his Army which was encamp'd in the prati di Nerone into the City he drove the Romans from the Vatican and slew and took Prisoners multitudes of them till being appeased by the intercession of the Pope he let those he had taken go free But when afterward according to custom the Pope and Emperour were to go together to the Lateran and found it would be unsafe because of the seditious humour of the Citizens they went first to Magliana and there crossing the River they pass'd by the way of Sabina and Ponte Lucano to the Lateran and perform'd the Coronation with the usual Solemnity While matters went thus at Rome those of Tivoli surrendred themselves to Frederick professing a perfect submission but when he understood that it was a part of S. Peter's Patrimony he restor'd it to Hadrian and without any long stay return'd into Germany The Pope also at the request of the great men of Puglia remov'd to Benevent where by his presence alone he regain'd from William to the Church a great part of his Kingdom In the mean time Paloeologus an illustrious personage came Ambassadour from Emanuel II. Emperour of Constantinople first by Sea to Ancona and then by Land to Benevent with an offer to the Pope of fifty thousand pounds in Gold and a Promise to chase William out of Sicily if upon the good success of the Expedition three maritime Cities of Puglia might be put into his possession which no sooner came to William's Ear but he sued for the Pope's mercy promising not onely to restore what he had taken from the Church but to add somewhat more and that he would employ his Force to constrain the rebellious Romans to their duty if he might be honour'd with the Title of King of both Sicilies The Pope could not grant this because several Cardinals opposed it Wherefore William getting a good Army together enters Puglia after an hostile manner destroying all with fire and sword and setting upon the Greeks and Apulians who were encamp'd near Brundusium he easily overcame them upon which those of Otranto and Puglia immediately made their submissions to him The Pope then was very angry with those Cardinals who had opposed the Peace before and took William into favour and gave him the Title of both Kingdoms he having first taken an Oath thereafter not to attempt to do any thing which might be a detriment to the Church of Rome Matters being thus composed to his mind the Pope taking his journey through the Countries of Cassino Marsi Reati Narin and Todi came at last to Orvieto which place he was the first Pope that made his habitation and beautified He was afterward by the earnest intreaties of the Romans persuaded to go to Rome but being here teiz'd by the Consuls who would be setting up for liberty he went to Arignano where not long after he died having been Pope four years and ten months leaving the Estates of the Church in a very good condition for he had built several Castles on the lake of S Christina and so fortified Radifano with a Wall and Citadel that it was almost inexpugnable The History of these times was written in an elegant style by Richard a Monk of Glugni much quoted by other Writers The body of Pope Hadrian being brought to Rome was buried in S. Peter's Church near the Sepulcre of Pope Eugenius ALEXANDER III. ALEXANDER the Third born at Siena his Father's name Ranuccio upon the death of Hadrian was by the suffrages of twenty two Cardinals chosen Pope though other three Cardinals set up Octavian a Roman Cardinal of S. Clement by the name of Victor which gave beginning to a Schism But Alexander lest the Church of Rome should suffer by the continuance thereof dispatch'd Legats to Frederick the Emperour then laying Siege to Cremona to desire him to interpose his Imperial Authority in extinguishing the Sedition He return'd for Answer that both Popes should betake themselves to Pavia whither he would come and hear their Case
came in good time for Frederick having promised Peace to the Romans was very urgent with them of the two Popes to chuse the more worthy and to depose and reject the other which when Alexander knew must be done as the Emperour should please he embark'd in the Gallies and escap'd first to Gaieta and from thence to Benevent Frederick afterward was driven from the City by a Plague of which both Citizens and Soldiers died like Sheep and as he march'd back through Lombardy the Army of the Confederate Cities met him and urg'd him to a Battel which he carefully declin'd and arriv'd in Germany When he was departed the Associates built a City at their common charge near Roueretto upon the River Taro which from the name of the Pope they call'd Alexandria to inhabit which from all the Cities they sent fifteen thousand Men dividing the ground equally among 'em and setting out the dimensions of their Streets and Houses The Romans yet regretted the slaughter made among 'em by the Tusculans and their Friends and therefore upon the departure of Frederick they took Alba and demolish'd it and had done the like by Tusculum if the Pope had not terrified them with Threats and Anathema's from doing so great a mischief At this time Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople sent other Ambassadours with greater Promises than before if the Pope could be brought to comply with his desire to whom Alexander gave this Answer that he was not willing to unite what his Predecessors had thought good industriously to disjoin In the mean time Guy the Anti-Pope died in S. Peter's Church which was still strongly garrison'd by Frederick in whose room the seditious substituted John a Hungarian Abbat of Sirmio who had before the repute of a Thief to him Raino who was afraid of the Romans upon account of the mischief he had formerly done them deliver'd up Tusculum upon condition that he should have Monte-fiascone in lieu of it but when Raino went to take possession of it the Inhabitants would not receive him neither would the Tusculans submit to the Anti-Pope upon which he return'd to Tusculum but was forbidden entrance From thence therefore he went to Alexius who was then at Veruli and surrendred to him all his Title to the place which when the Tusculans heard upon mature deliberation by a publick Decree they acknowledg'd their subjection to the Pope and receiv'd him Here it was that the Ambassadours of Henry King of England were heard when they came to clear their King of the false Accusation of having conspir'd the death of S. Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury But the Pope not easily giving credit to the King's Ambassadours sent two Cardinals into England with plenary Power to examine the matter to whom Henry paid so great respect that though he was engag'd in a War with Ireland yet he came as far as Normandy to meet ' em Upon debating the case it came to this end that Henry should by an Oath because the matter of fact was not clear purge himself and promise to do Penance for the murther of that holy Man of which though he were not guilty nor conscious yet it seem'd that the great spite and grudg he bore him in his life-time had given some occasion to the assassination and moreover that he should raise and maintain two hundred Soldiers for a year to assist the Christians in the Holy Land that he should within three years himself with what force he could raise undertake an Expedition to the same purpose that he should conserve the Ecclesiastical immunities in his Realm and not oppose any Appeals that might be made by his Subjects to the Court of Rome All these Conditions he having sworn to perform he had and he deserv'd it the right and Title to the Crown of England confer'd upon him and his Heirs with the Pope's consent Hence it may be observ'd that all the English Kings acknowledg themselves to have receiv'd the Title to their Realms of the Pope of Rome But Alexander having long strugled with the Romans offered them if they would admit him into the City to leave the whole Civil Government to their own managery and to intermeddle onely in religious matters but this would not be granted by them so he retir'd to Segna and there being inform'd by the English Ambassadours of the Miracles wrought by S. Thomas Becket he canoniz'd him Frederick now returning into Italy by Moncenisi took Seculia by treachery and demolish'd it he took also Asti which surrendered for fear and laid close Siege four months to Alexandria but receiv'd so much loss from the Sallies of the besieged that he grew weary of it and on Easter day rose up from before it and went to Pavia where a Treaty for the peace of Italy was carried on by the mediation of the Pope which the Venetians were willing to embrace who though they had been favourers of Emanuel before yet had receiv'd from him a horrid affront contrary to the Law of Nations for he had with red hot plates of Brass blinded their Ambassadour Henry Dandalo by holding them before his Eyes Mean time Almeric King of Jerusalem raised his Siege from before Cairo though he was not without hopes of carrying the place but was bought off with a great sum of Money and afterward march'd against Ascalon but was forc'd to quit that Expedition being in great want of provisions and finding his Soldiers to be very much tired and broken with the great and tedious toils of War they had undergone He did not long outlive his return but died and left his Kingdom to his Son Baldwin who though he labour'd with a dangerous Leprosie yet he manag'd his Government with great constancy and Wisdom Alexander thinking now to enjoy a perfect Peace made the new City of Alexandria a Bishops Sea An. Dom. 1177. but soon after Frederick re-enters Italy with great Forces and put all into confusion till the Milaneses with the joint forces of the Confederates so broke his Troops with frequent Onsets that in one of them Frederick's Horse was kill'd under him and he narrowly scap'd with life himself many of those of Pavia and Como being on his side were lost The Bishop of Pavia also because he took the Emperour's part was by the Pope deprived of his Pall and the honour of bearing the Cross Frederic's great Men thought these mischiefs happen'd to 'em because they persecuted the Church of God and openly threatned to return into their own Country and leave that wicked Warfare except he would be reconcil'd to the Pope speedily A Treaty then was begun for the Peace of Italy when Saladine a Person of great courage succeeded Noradine then deceased in the Empire of the Saracens who having taken and slain the King of Egypt added that Country and Syria to his Dominion not that his success was alike when he fought with the Christians being defeated by Baldwin in two Battels one at Ascalon and another at Tiberias but
soon after gathering his forces together he march'd into Cilicia to meet with Emanuel whose Army by a feigned flight he drew into narrow and difficult ways where he set upon 'em and vanquish'd 'em taking the Emperour Prisoner whom he set at large again upon condition that he should quit whatsoever he had taken in Asia At this time Alexander was met at Venice by Frederic there to treat of a Peace where in S. Mark 's Porch the Emperour kiss'd the Pope's feet and from thence they went together to the high Altar and having perform'd the mutual Ceremonies of Civility they discours'd a great while upon the Articles of the Peace which the next day was concluded Hence the Emperour with the good leave of the Pope departed first to Ravenna and then to Bertinoro which Town he design'd to keep in his hands because of the commodiousness of its situation but the Pope at last persuaded him to restore it to the Church Alexander also left Venice having first made several Presents and conferr'd many honours upon that State for the services they had done him and with thirteen Gallies of William King of Sicily and four of the Venetians he sail'd first to Siponto and from thence to Troia and Benevent and then passing S. Germano he went to Anagni where he staid not long but came to Tusculum to treat with the Romans about deposing the Consuls they had set up before a Peace should be concluded but because the Consuls had been so chosen for fifty years it was found to be a difficult thing to alter the custom wherefore they agreed that thereafter no one that was chosen Consul should enter upon his Office till he had taken an Oath to be dictated by the Pope that he would be true to the Church of Rome and never attempt any thing that should be a violation of the Pontifical Dignity Thus all matters being settled the Pope went the third time to Rome all the great Men of the City coming forth to attend and congratulate him soon after he held a Council in the Lateran partly to find a way to reform the great licentiousness of that Court but chiefly that it might be decreed that no Man under pain of an Anathema should furnish the Infidels with Iron Wood or any sort of Arms. At this time died Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople leaving his Son Alexius heir of his Empire under the Guardianship of Andronicus one of the blood Royal who for some years shew'd great prudence and fidelity in his publick Administrations and by his consent the young Emperour was married to Agnes Daughter to Philip King of France Baldwin IV. also King of Jerusalem to strengthen himself by the Alliance married his Sister Sibyl to William surnam'd Long-sword Marquess of Montferrat an excellent Soldier not doubting but that upon occasion William and other Princes of Christendom would come to his assistance if his affairs were in any danger Mean time Alexander after having undergone so many and continual labours when now he seem'd to be at rest from all his troubles died at Rome when he had been Pope twenty one years nineteen days having yet liv'd to see four Anti-Popes go before him who with their factions had almost destroy'd the Church of Rome LVCIVS III. LVCIVS the Third a Tuscan of a noble Family of the City of Lucca was made Pope by general consent at the time when Andronicus who we told you was Guardian to Alexius having driven out the Latins who favour'd the young Emperour and drown'd him in the Sea where he was wont for his recreation carelesly sometimes to venture in a little Bark usurp'd the Empire of Constantinople and to secure his Empire thus unjustly gotten he added another great wickedness for in a short time he cut off all the Nobility whose Virtue rendred them suspected to him Now also William surnamed Long-sword dying at Jerusalem King Baldwin taking care of his Nephew married his Sister Sibyl again to Guy of Lusignan a Picard upon condition that after his own decease Guy should enjoy the Kingdom during the nonage of his Nephew Baldwin after which he should resign it to him All which was confirm'd by the Pope's Authority who thought it very necessary for the Christian Cause that the Princes of Asia should be knit together with the strictest bonds of Amity and Friendship to enable them the better to resist the insults of the Turks and Saracens but he was quickly after expell'd the City of Rome while by the favour of some Citizens he attempted to abolish the Office of the Consuls and his Friends in that affair being taken had their Eyes put out Upon this horrid affront the Pope betook himself to Verona and call'd a Council where the exorbitant pride and licentiousness of the Romans was condemned and all Christian Princes were exhorted to afford assistance to the holy War especially because Saladine had entred and wasted the Territories of Jerusalem encouraged by the dissension among the Christian Commanders who had turn'd out Guy of Lusignan for his Arrogance from the Government and had substituted Bertrand Count of Tripoli Protector in his room so that all things seem'd to threaten a Civil War But the Pope incessantly persuaded them by Letters and Ambassadours to lay by their Animosities and with one heart and the same mind to oppose the common Enemy at least so long as till fresh Auxiliary forces could be sent to ' em For by the instance of Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem who came for that purpose first to Verona and thence went to Philip King of France upon the same Errand a good number of Soldiers under the Cross were listed and sent away But William King of Sicily in an ill time designing to revenge the wrongs offered to the Latins by Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople passing into Greece with his Army confounded all things for he took Thessalonica the chief City of Macedonia by storm and harassing many other of his Territories he took and plundered several Cities Adronicus not appearing against him being hated of God and Man for the many murthers and banishments he had been the Author of The Constantinopolitans were hereby reduc'd to necessity and forc'd to fetch from Pelopennesus and to set up for Emperour one Isaac who was of the blood Royal and he overthrew Andronicus in Battel took him and with various Tortures put him to death Upon which it became easie for Pope Lucius to persuade King William to make Peace with Isaac and with Promises and Rewards to prevail with him to turn his Arms against the Asians but while this matter was transacting by Internuntio's this excellent Pope died in the fourth year second month and eighteenth day of his Papacy at Verona and was buried with great Pomp before the Altar of the Cathedral Church This Pope had a great regard for his own Country and conser'd upon it many advantages both Civil and Spiritual before he died particularly he obtain'd of Frederick the Emperour with
whom he all his time kept a peaceable correspondence that the Mony of Lucca onely should be current in Tuscany as that of Pavia with the Imperial stamp went onely among the Lombards which People by the means of this Pope were reconcil'd to the Emperour Ptolomy of Lucca writes that there flourish'd at this time Peter Comestor who wrote the History of both Testaments and Joachim an Abbat of a Monastery which himself built at Calabria famous for his Learning and for his skill in Divination which he used to practise in doubtful and enigmatical terms VRBAN III. URBAN the Third a Milanese his Father's name was John of the Family of Crivellis was made Pope applied himself to compose the differences between the Christian Princes lest they should be destroy'd by the Infidels who would make use of that opportunity For Baldwin IV. dying of a Leprosie the Count of Tripoli who was made Guardian to Baldwin V. could not enter upon his charge because Sibyl the Child's Mother and Guy of Lusignan her second Husband opposed him The Child however did not long outlive his Uncle but died within eight months after him whose death his Mother kept secret so long as till what with gifts and what with good words she had brought over the Patriarch and the chief Men to her side to make Guy their King This Raimund Count of Tripoli highly resented and that he might the more easily work his revenge he made a Truce with Saladine by which means the Provinces of Tripoli Tiberias and Galilee were torn from the Christians for they were then subject to Raimund in right of his Wife whom he had newly married and lest a pretence for making War which Saladine earnestly sought should be wanting to him the Prince of Monreal a Christian in whose Dominion was a great part of the Country beyond Jordan and who was wont to supply in great abundance Jerusalem with Corn inconsiderately broke the Truce with him Saladine looking upon the time to be come at last which he had so long desired raised a great Army of Horse and Foot and stoutly assaulted Ptolemais then garison'd by the Templers In this Action the Templers got the better but with the loss of their choicest Men for their grand Master and many other of their most skilful and couragious Soldiers were slain Saladine hereupon reinforces his Army and taking courage from their distress presses more hardly upon them Raymund observing this and not thinking good to give too much credit to Saladine leaves his Wife at Tiberias and returning to Tripoli renews his friendship with King Guy slighting his Treaty before had with the Barbarians so that Saladine having a fair occasion to make War upon him draws off from Ptolemais and marches towards Tiberias All the Christians then but especially the Templers urging that their Army might march against Saladine King Guy accordingly sets upon him in his Camp which was pitch'd in a pleasant place and well-watered but was repulsed after which he encamping in an incommodious and extream dry ground where the Christians suffered much by thirst himself was forc'd to fight and was defeated with great slaughter In this unfortunate Battel most of the Christian Commanders were taken Prisoners as was also King Guy and the Master of the Templers many of whom were afterwards beheaded Saladine having gain'd this Victory marches to Acon which was immediately surrendred by the Christians who were permitted to depart onely with their Clothes and thence following his good fortune he takes Berylus Byblos and all the Towns upon the Sea-coast those of Ascalon onely trusting to the strength of their fortifications told him they would not yield to him except he were first possess'd of Jerusalem But the excellent temper and faithfulness of Saladine did the Christians much harm for he was so affable to every one that Subjection to him was a desireable condition He notwithstanding the big words of the Ascalonites invests the place and after a Siege of ten days had it deliver'd up to him upon condition that he would set at liberty King Guy and the Master of the Templers who were then his Prisoners That which made Saladine thus hasten the Surrender of this place was he heard that Conrade Marquess of Montferrat was arriv'd at Tyre with the Fleet of Isaac Emperor of Constantinople whose Sister he had lately married under his Command and that William King of Sicily was expected in a short time with forty Gallies The tidings of these glorious successes of Saladine against the Christians coming to the Turks in the lesser Asia so fill'd 'em with emulation that they march'd against Laodicea and took it and from thence they invaded the Territories of Antioch but they were there vanquish'd by the Christians with as great loss on their side as the Christians suffered from Saladine At this time Saladine had invested Jerusalem and carried on the Siege with so great diligence that those who were in Garison being out of hopes of succour after the taking of it by the Christians under Godfrey eighty eight years deliver'd it up on condition that whosoever should be minded to leave the City should go freely with so much and no more than they could carry on their shoulders The Christians who came forth of it went some to Tyre some to Antioch and some to Alexandria from whence many sail'd with the Sicilian Fleet into Italy Saladine having entred Jerusalem first threw down the Bells out of the Steeples and then profan'd all the Churches but Solomon's Temple which 't is said he caused to be washt with Rose-Water before he would enter it The Asiatic Syrian Armenian Jacobite Georgian and Greek Christians staid in Jerusalem by the permission of Saladine who leaving there a strong Garison took his way with great speed towards Tyre the defence whereof by common consent and with the joint Forces was entrusted with William who with the help of the Sicilian Fleet gave Saladine a repulse but when the news came that that valiant Prince was going to lay Siege to Antioch the Pope who had labour'd with his utmost might to hinder the loss of Jerusalem going to Venice to take care to get a Fleet together for the relief of it died in his Journey at Ferrara of grief for the calamity of the Christians having sate in S. Peter's Chair one year ten months and twenty five days GREGORY VIII GREGORY the Eight a Beneventan was created Pope by universal consent and immediately dispatch'd away Nuntio's and sent Letters to all Christian Princes exhorting them to join with him with their utmost Power to raise forces both by Sea and Land to attempt the recovery of Jerusalem out of the hands of the Enemy which great end the better to carry on he went to Pisa there to compose some differences between the Pisans and Genoeses with design to excite them both being powerful by Sea to that holy Expedition But whilst this good Man perplex'd himself with overmuch care in this
out freely every Man with his own Clothes but when they could not make good the agreement because the piece of the Cross was not to be found Richard put many of the Barbarians to death Saladine was so dismay'd at these losses that despairing of being able to defend them all he dismantled several Cities in that Region and was upon the point of delivering up Jerusalem itself if it had not been for a difference which arose between Philip and Richard concerning Precedency upon which Philip pretending himself sick departed home from Asia Richard then apply'd himself more vigorously to the War though at this time Conrade of Montferrat was assassinated in the Market-place of Tyre by two Saracen Ruffians who had bound themselves under an Oath and Vow to destroy all the Enemies of their Religion after the same manner but as they ran away they were caught and put to death with the most exquisite Torments and Henry Earl of Champagne taking Queen Isabel to Wife entred upon the Dominion of Tyre Richard giving some fair words to Guy of Lusignan persuaded him to pass over to him his Kingdom of Jerusalem which the Kings of England still put among their Titles and herewith taking courage he march'd his Army to beleaguer the City of Jerusalem but Saladine in his Journey falling in with his Rear forc'd him to a Battel in a very disadvantageous place in which though he at last came off Conqueror yet it was with great loss of men Saladine after this encamp'd not far from Bethlehem in a commodious place to intercept any manner of Provisions that might be sent from Egypt to the Christian Army as they should lie before Jerusalem wherefore and because the Winter was coming on Richard puts off his designs for this so necessary Siege the Pope yet urging him and continually supplying him with Money and retreats to Ascalon which as well as Gaza he fortifies again they having before been slighted by Saladine In the mean time the Sea-forces by degrees leave him and the Pisans sailing into the Adriatic seiz'd Pola with intent to Winter there but the Venetians reinforcing their own Fleet set upon 'em took the Place and sack'd it and drove out the Pisans and had pursued them to extremity if Celestine out of care for the good of Christendom had not mediated between them Spring now came on and Richard was preparing for the Siege of Jerusalem when on a sudden news was brought him that King Philip had invaded Normandy and intended to pass into England to procure that Kingdom for his Brother John Richard then laid by those thoughts and strook up a Peace with Saladine upon these Articles That Saladine should enjoy all but Tyre and Ptolemais to which with their Territories remaining in the hands of the Christians he should give no molestation Richard having thus settled Affairs there returning into Europe was taken by his Enemies from whom he was ransom'd with a vast sum of Money and at last arriving in England he had many a Battel with the King of France much against the Pope's mind who was griev'd that so fierce a War should be raised among Christians at so unseasonable a time when Saladine being now dead it was thought to have been a very fit time to have recovered Jerusalem It is reported of that illustrious Prince that one Ceremony at his Funeral was this His Shirt was hung upon the end of a Pike and carried before the Corps and one with a loud Voice cryed Behold Saladine the mighty Lord of Asia of all his Realms and of all his Wealth takes no more than this along with him A spectacle well befitting so great a Man to whom nothing was wanting but the Character of a Christian to have rendred him a most consummate Prince Upon the death of Saladine as was said before Celestine had fresh hopes that Jerusalem might be regain'd and so urg'd the Emperour Henry who Tancred being dead succeeded to the Kingdom of Sicily to undertake the Enterprize that though he could not go in person yet he sent thither with great speed a good Army under the Arch-bishop of Mentz and the Duke of Saxony The King of France would have gone too but that the Saracens who inhabited Mauritania now the Moors had cross'd the Streights and having taken the King of Castile Prisoner had possess'd themselves of that part of Spain now call'd Granado where the French fear'd they would hardly continue long quiet but go near to infest the neighbouring Nations and therefore would not draw their forces out of Europe The Germans however arriving in Asia fortified Berylus which had been deserted by the Saracens and rais'd their Siege from before Joppa from whence when they were about to go to Jerusalem Celestine this most holy Pope who never let slip any opportunity for the recovery of the Holy Land died upon which they desisted Notwithstanding all these troubles and these great charges of War our Pope built two Palaces one near S. Peter's the other near S. John in the Lateran fit for the reception of Popes The brasen Gates yet remaining in the Lateran over against the Sancta Sanctorum which were made by his Order and at his charge Moreover he made Viterbo a City raising the Church there to a Bishops Sea to which Diocese he added Toscanella and Centum-cellae Celestine died when he had been Pope six years seven months and eleven days to the great grief of all good Men and was buried in St. Peter's Church INNOCENT III. INNOCENT the Third born in Anagni Son of Trasimund of the Family of the Conti was for his great Learning and many Virtues made a Cardinal by Celestine and upon his death was by general consent chosen Pope Which he had no sooner arriv'd to but he applied his thoughts to the Holy War and by Letters Messengers large Promises and Largesses endeavour'd to contain the Germans within the bounds of their duty who after the decease of their Emperour Henry were all in a mutiny but 't was to no purpose for they disdaining any Commander left Asia and to the extream damage of the Christian Cause return'd to Europe whereby those of Joppa especially suffered most for being destitute of help the Turks and Saracens came upon 'em and while they were about to yield they took the City by force and cut them all off rasing it to the ground In Germany also all things seem'd to threaten confusion some of the Electors stickling hard for Otho Duke of Saxony others standing resolutely for Philip a German Duke of Tuscany who was left by Henry upon his death bed Guardian to his young Son And to improve this mischief to the height the King of France took part with Philip and the King of England was for Otho Innocent then to obviate the impending miseries that must follow upon such a state of Affairs confirms Otho in the Empire as duly elected by those who had just suffrage Philip notwithstanding would not lay down his
he had receiv'd so many benefits of the Holy Sea he gave the Country of Fondi to the Church of Rome and what had before been given and afterward usurp'd from it he restor'd But the Pope taking notice of the increase of the Saracens Power in Asia call'd a full Council in the Lateran where were present the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople seventy Arch-bishops four hundred Bishops twelve Abbats eight hundred Priors of Convents and the Ambassadors of the Greek and Roman Emperours with those of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus Many things here came under debate but nothing could be determin'd because the Pisans and Genoeses were then at War by Sea as those of Lombardy were among themselves at Land The Pope therefore took a journey thitherward to compose their differences but died in the way at Perugia when he had been Pope eighteen years seven months and sixteen days He was a Man most exact in his life a proof of which is that none of his Acts which approv'd or disanull'd any thing were by any of his Successors revers'd He decreed many things for the reformation of manners both in Clergy and Laity and wrote Books concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist the Sacrament of Baptism and the unhappiness of Mans condition beside that he was wont to make Sermons upon remarkable occasions and solemn days He disallow'd a Book written by Abbat Joachim which contain'd some Heterodox Opinions and condemn'd the Errors of Almericus a Heretic that with some of his followers was burnt at Paris who among other false Notions maintain'd that those Idea's which are in the divine Mind were created and did create others whereas according to S. Augustin there is nothing in the Mind of God but what is Eternal and unchangeable beside he said that to one who was in a state of Grace no Sin is charged Great satisfaction this Pope took in observing the Virtue and Learning of S. Dominic who was Founder of the Order of Preaching Friers and of S. Francis of Assisi who was Author of the Order of Friers Minors 'T is said that in his time liv'd Gratian who compil'd the Decrees and Papias the Lombard who collected a Latin Alphabetical Dictionary and indeed of Papias we have no reason to doubt but for Gratian some Authors place him in the times of Pope Alexander III. Now lest you should think that Innocent in so long a Popedom neglected works of Piety I must tell you that at his charge the Hospital of the Holy Ghost was built and endow'd with so fair an Income as it is for the relief of Pilgrims and sick People and for the Education of Fatherless Children and Foundlings He adorn'd S. Peter's Altar with Mosaic Work as the representation of him and his Cipher in the Arch do testifie Moreover he gave to each Church in Rome a Pound weight in Silver to make Chalices for Divine Service and he repair'd the Church of S. Sixtus then almost falling with age The Enemies of his good Name indeed say that he did this only for fear Men should say that he laid out all his Mony in building of the Torre de Conti which he erected for the honour of his Family However that be 't is certain he shew'd himself in all the parts of his life an excellent Man and one worthy to be reckon'd among the best Popes HONORIVS III. HONORIVS the Third a Roman Son of one Almeric was by a general suffrage chosen Pope to whom Peter Emperour of Constantinople coming with his Wife Jole he was Crown'd in the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls and immediately John Colonna a Cardinal was pitch'd upon to go into Asia with those forces which Pope Innocent in his life-time had got together for that end The Christian Princes by the persuasion of Honorius now went to Acon particularly Andrew King of Hungary who to that purpose borrow'd the Venetian Shipping and by way of requital passed over to 'em the right to all that part of Dalmatia which had been in the possession of the Duke of Austria With Andrew went Henry Count of Nevers and Walter Chamberlain to the King of France All these holding a Council of War together with John King of Jerusalem they resolv'd to lay Siege to Damiata in Egypt and thither they went in the month of May 1218. This City was once call'd Aeliopolis from Aelius Pertinax who environ'd it with a trebble Wall and deriving a little stream of the Nile about it made it stand in an Island The Suburbs hereof were large and full of Merchandize which the Christian Soldiers plunder'd but soon after upon a West-wind the Nile rose so high that their Provisions were spoil'd and they began to be in great want of necessaries especially because the Soldan who was encamp'd not far off had beset all the passages to hinder any supplies coming to ' em The Christians under this difficulty march their Army against the Soldan who in great fear streight leaves his Camp stor'd with plenty of all things and retreats leaving them free to besiege the Town which he at first came to relieve Cordirius also Son to the great Soldan despairing of being able to defend Jerusalem if the Christians took Damiata broke down the Walls of the City and left nothing standing but the Tower of David and the Temple of God only he did not violate the Holy Sepulcre mov'd as we may suppose by the intreaties of the Christians that inhabited those places While our men attack'd Damiata the Soldan returns with a much greater Army and pitches his Camp between Cairo and Damiata from which he could not be provok'd to Battel by either the challenges or reproaches of our Men which so enrag'd the French that without any Order they set upon him and receiv'd great loss Notwithstanding all this the Siege was still push'd on till after fifteen months lying before it it was taken by the Christians and sack'd so that the Soldiery was wonderfully enrich'd with the spoil In the mean time Honorius had at Rome confirm'd the Order of S. Dominic upon his request and had Anathematiz'd Frederic II. because after his Mother Constantia was dead who was wont to restrain him within his duty he came to Rome and without right or reason laid wast the Pope's Territories These differences between the Pope and the Emperour being discover'd to the Soldan mov'd him to take the opportunity and accordingly he raises a greater Army than ever he had before thinking the Christians would not now shew their heads but Cardinal John Colonna roused them with his persuasions so that they took up Arms and went to meet the Enemy at the Nile where when they were come the Soldan feign'd himself afraid to cope with 'em putting it off till the time of the Increase of Nile which follow'd a little while after and the Cataracts of that River opened and so overflow'd the whole Country that it was in no place less than a
Cubit in depth This so terrified the Christians that they were glad to accept of Peace upon condition that Damiata should be re deliver'd to the Egyptians the Prisoners on both sides be discharg'd and the piece of the Holy Cross then in the hands of those Barbarians should be restor'd to the Christians and they suffer'd to retire quietly to Acon and Tyre Thus was Damiata which was begun to be inhabited by the Christians upon the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin deliver'd up according to the Articles on the Birth-day of the same An. Dom. 1221. In which year the Tartars a Nation of Scythia or as others will have it of the mountainous parts of India leaving their own Country ravag'd through Parthia Media Persia Assyria and came as far as Sarmatia where not far from Palus Meotis driving out the old Inhabitants they seated themselves The Christian Commanders finding at this time that nothing was to be attempted in Asia the Enemy being too powerful they together with John Colonna return'd into Italy and were soon follow'd by John King of Jerusalem who came to Rome and was by the Pope kindly entertain'd and had large Presents made to him Afterward he gave his Daughter which he had by his Wife Jole in marriage to the Emperor Frederic though he was under the Pope's Anathema and pass'd over all the Title he had by hereditary right to the Kingdom of Jerusalem to him by way of Dowry Hence it is that all the succeeding Kings of Sicily and Naples use the Title of that Kingdom also though they make their claim to it with words only and not with Arms. John then took a Journey into France where he had better luck than he was wont to have for Philip King of France bequeath'd in his last Will forty thousand pounds in Silver to him and as much to the grand Master of the Templers and with the help of this Money he went into Spain to perform a Vow he had made to S. James of Compostella where he took to Wife Berengaria Sister to the King of Spain This year died S. Dominic that holy Man at Bononia and Frederic declar'd his Son Henry a Boy but of ten years old King of Germany Our Honorius being a little quiet from forein troubles repair'd the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls that is call'd Sancta Sanctorum and the Church of S. Vivian beside he built a Palace at Casa Marii and adorn'd the Cibory Altar-Canopy or Covering of S. Peter with excellent workmanship He also compil'd the Decretal Epistles and confirm'd the Order of S. Francis who within two years after was canoniz'd by Pope Gregory After this blessed manner did Honorius lead his life and as became a careful and a good Shepherd and dying when he had been Pope ten years seven months and thirteen days he was buried in the Church of S. Mary Maggiore After his death there happened so great Earthquakes that in the Monti Salvii five thousand persons were slain by the falls of Houses and by the Stones that were thrown into the Vales from the tops of the Mountains GREGORY IX GREGORY the Ninth born at Anagni a City of Campania of the Family of the Conti and Nephew to Innocent III. was created Pope at the Settizonio a place in Rome so call'd from seven rows of Pillars there plac'd by the Emperour Severus Which was no sooner done but he dispatch'd away monitory Letters to require Frederic the Emperour under pain of an Anathema that he should with the first opportunity march with his Army into Asia there to endeavour the recovery of the holy City Frederic receiv'd the Admonition and indeed promised so to do accordingly giving out Orders that all who had entred themselves of the Crusado should by a day appointed repair to Brundusium with their Arms. Great numbers met there from all Countries particularly from Germany came the Lantgrave of Hesse who waiting there for the arrival of Frederic out of Sicily where he staid and prolong'd the time feigning himself sick died himself and a great number of his Soldiers and as soon as the news of his death was brought to Frederic he then immediately set sail for Brundusium and seiz'd into his hands whatsoever the Lantgrave had left of value which act plainly detected the fraudulence of his pretence However he continued to make the World believe that he was really intent upon the holy Expedition and after the rapacious action aforesaid upon the goods of the Lantgrave he hoisted Sail and commanded the rest that were there to follow him but in a little while after return'd to Brundusium forc'd as he pretended by the tempestuous weather 1. The noise of this Expedition mov'd John King of Jerusalem and Berengaria his Wife knowing well that they did what would be very acceptable to the Pope to take a journey to Bononia meaning to make use of some Shipping of the Venetians to carry him to Asia but the Pope understood well enough the tricks of Ferdinand and what little credit was to be given him and lest John should quite lose his labour and come for nothing he confer'd upon him the Government of the Exarchate of Ravenna and ratified the Sentence of Excommunication which was pronounc'd by his Predecessor Honorius III. against the Emperour Frederic and had done worse things against him if himself had not been under some fearful apprehensions of an Invasion from the Moors who were then out at Sea with a powerful Fleet but were afterwards vanquish'd by Ferdinand of Aragon with so great loss on their side that in a short time he possess'd himself of Majorca one of the Islands call'd the Baleares and took the City Valentia driving out the Saracens and compelling the Inhabitants to receive the Christian Religion At last yet Frederic was what by the intreaties of his Friends and the threats of the Pope wrought upon to begin his Voyage sailing first to Cyprus which afforded some hopes to the Christian Soldiers that were in Asia whom he had so often deceiv'd But while he staid there sending out Spies to bring him an account of the strength of the Soldan's Forces his General Rainaldo whom he had left in Sicily invades the Pope's Territories and takes several Towns in the Marca di Ancona The Pope was then at Perugia designing to go to Assisi there in person to examine the truth of those reports which had been of Miracles wrought by that holy Man S. Francis and when he found what he had heard concerning him to be really true he canoniz'd him with great solemnity in the presence of great numbers of Christian People who came together for that end While these things were acting by the Pope another Commander of the Emperours by siding with a Faction seizes Fuligno but was quickly expell'd by the Power of some good Men who stood up for the holy Church By this time Frederic was got to Acon and from thence solicited the Pope earnestly by Letters
manner of filthiness The tidings of which mov'd Innocent to urge King Lewis to hasten his march towards Asia with those Forces he had already got together for that intent He complied and arriv'd at Cyprus but it was at so unseasonable a time of the year that he was forc'd to take up his Winter quarters there but as soon as Spring came on he sail'd to Damiata where he got the better of the Soldan's Navy and defeated his Land-forces who would have hindred his coming on Shore where he pitch'd his Camp for so long as till the rest of his Troops could arrive from Italy But these were very much retarded by the fury of Frederic who weaning himself after a while from the pleasures in which he had been immers'd takes up his Arms again and fills the whole Country with confusion and compells several Cities in which were many factious Persons to throw off their subjection to the Pope the chief of which were the Inhabitants of Forli Arimino Vrbin and all the Marca di Ancona In Vmbria none stood to their Allegiance but those of Todi Perugia and Assisi and in Tuscany onely the Florentines were on the Pope's side who therefore were so harass'd by the Army of Frederic that they were forc'd at last to banish so many of their fellow-Citizens as were of the Guelphs Faction The Bologneses had better luck for giving Battel to Henry one of Frederic's Generals they overthrew him and cut him to pieces Some write that 't was at this time that Frederic passing into Sicily died at Palermo while others affirm that he was taken desperately sick in Puglia and when he began to recover he was smother'd to death with a Pillow by one Manfred who was his natural Son begotten upon a Noble-Woman his Concubine Howsoever this was 't is certain that some time before his death he had made Manfred Prince of Tarento and had bestow'd upon him beside that Principality many other Towns and Territories He left Conrade whom he had by his Wife Jole Daughter to John King of Jerusalem Heir of all his Estates but he was afterwards taken off by Poison as was manifest by the means of Manfred having before seiz'd upon Naples and Aquino and sack'd them much against the mind of the Pope who vigorously opposed these proceedings though in vain in order to procure the peace of Italy that he might have liberty to transport the Italian Soldiers to recruit the Army of King Lewis then lying before Damiata But Damiata was now taken and Robert Earl of Poitiers coming with fresh supplies from France he marches from thence with his Army towards the City of Pharamia whither the Soldan apprehending his design was already come with great Forces There happen'd to be a River betwixt the two Armies by reason whereof they could not join Battel but they had frequent light Skirmishes both Generals keeping themselves within their Camps in one of which Robert rashly venturing too far was taken Prisoner by the Enemy By this time Innocent had almost extinguish'd those flames of War with which Italy had so long been consum'd and intended to have return'd to Rome having first canoniz'd Edmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury but when he came to Perugia he thought good to decline his journey to Rome understanding the Senate there arrogated to themselves more Power than stood with the dignity of the Pope and Court of Rome and there he canoniz'd and enroll'd among the holy Martyrs Peter of Verona a preaching Frier who had been murthered by some Hereticks between Milan and Como and the same honour he gave to S. Stanislaus Bishop of Cracow who in his life-time was very famous for working Miracles Hence he was invited by the Noblemen of the Kingdom of Sicily and immediately departed for Naples then newly repair'd where he died and was buried in S. Laurence's Church when he had been Pope fourteen years six months twelve days just in the nick of time when he had hopes to have brought into his possession all that Kingdom It was by the Decree of this excellent Pope Innocent that the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was commanded to be observ'd yearly in the Church of God as a Festival He with good advice fill'd up the places in the College of Cardinals which had long been vacant with very worthy personages and ordain'd that when they rode abroad they should always wear a red Hat for an honourable distinction of the degree they held Moreover this learned Pope though raised to the highest dignity in the Church compil'd and publish'd several things for he composed the Apparatus or Glosses to the Decretals which are of great use to the Canonists because they contain many nice disquisitions which render the Text wonderfully plain and he put forth another upon the Councils which Hostiensis in his Summa calls the Authenticks He wrote also a Book concerning the Jurisdiction of the Emperour and the Authority of the Pope in answer to one Peter surnam'd Vinea who asserted that the Empire and every person and thing thereunto belonging were absolutely subject to the Emperour to which Book Innocent afterwards gave the Title of his Apologetick He was extremely delighted with the conversation of learned Men whom also he remembred to prefer to dignities in the Church particularly one Hugo who wrote Comments and Concordances upon the holy Bible a Person famous for his learning and good life he advanc'd to be Cardinal of S. Sabina which great promotion yet did not make him leave his former course of life being a Frier of the Order of S. Dominic In this Pope's Reign and by his Order Alexander of the Order of Friers Minors who was well in years when he took upon him a religious Habit wrote a very copious sum of Theology by the procurement also of this Pope and enabled by his bounty Bernardus Parmensis and Compostellanus two very learned Men at this time made publick their Works upon the Decretals which they call'd Apparatus Innocent had not long been dead when he was follow'd by his Nephew William whose Tomb is yet to be seen in the Church of S. Laurence without the Walls ALEXANDER IV. ALEXANDER the Fourth a Campanian born at Anagni was chosen Pope in the room of Innocent and streight sends monitory Letters to Manfred that he should not at his peril attempt any thing that might be a diminution of the honour of holy Church for he calling to his aid the Saracens from Nocera had surprised the Church-Forces utterly unprepared that were in Foggia and either put 'em to the Sword or took 'em Prisoners and pretending that Conradine was dead and that himself was his rightful Heir he had taken upon him to rule as King In the mean while the Christians who we told you had encamp'd near the City of Pharamia were very much visited with sickness and press'd with want of Provisions that part of Nile being prepossess'd by the Enemy by which they were wont to be
their blow at the same time make themselves Masters of the Monastery of S. Saba which they demolish'd The Genoeses rather enrag'd than terrified at this disaster fit out another Fleet to encounter the Venetians at Tyre but they industriously avoiding a Battel sail towards the Euxine and take Selymbria from the Saracens and plunder it after which both Nations recruiting their Forces they steer for Tyre the common Seat of War The Pope fearful of the fatal consequences of this Contention sends for the Ambassadours of both Countries and makes himself a Mediator of Peace which was welnigh agreed to when news comes that the Venetians with their Allies the Pisans had between Tyre and Ptolemais routed the Genoeses taking and sinking twenty five of their Ships that thereupon the Victors were retreated to Ptolemais and the vanquish'd were sled to Tyre that all the Edifices of the Genoeses at Ptolemais were pull'd down all their Merchandizes seiz'd as spoil and the Citizens of that Nation expell'd the place This havock made by the Venetians so highly displeased the Pope that he would not admit their Ambassadour to Audience till they had set free all the Genoese Prisoners they had taken Neither did this Calamity come alone to be the subject of the Pope's care for Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople during whose prosperity there seem'd yet to be some hopes left of recovering the holy Land was about to quit that City for Michael Palaeologus who by the last Will of Theodore Lascari was left Guardian to his two Sons did the Latins all the mischief that lay in his power driving out of Achaia William a Frenchman and teizing Baldwin with Seditions at home and open War abroad who afterward going toward the Euxine Shore in order to secure it from the Enemy the Citizens of Constantinople in the mean time at midnight let Michael Palaeologus into the City upon news whereof Baldwin and the Patriarch Pantaleo retire from Pontus into Europe and lay by all thoughts of War Palaeologus having thus rid himself of his Competitor and Enemy murders his two Pupils and assumes the Empire which after having been possess'd by the Latins forty eight years now was transferred to the Greeks In the mean time Octavian Cardinal Vbaldino return'd to the Pope without having had any great luck in his negotiation at Naples and the Pope having first at Anagni canoniz'd S. Clara a Franciscan Nun went to Viterbo to endeavour a Peace between the Venetians and Genoeses in which Affair he met so much trouble and so many delays that he died for grief in the seventh year of his Pontificate and was honourably interred in St. Laurence's Church The Sea was then vacant three months and four days The life of this Pope is certainly much commended by all Writers he being said to have been bountiful and kind to all but especially to the poor Religious to whom the great love he bore caus'd him to comdemn by a perpetual Edict some Books written by William de sancto Amore against that sort of Poverty wherein the wicked Fellow asserted that those who took upon them religious Habits to live by the Alms of other Men were not capable of Salvation He also publickly burnt another abominable Book in which the Author affirm'd that a State of Grace was not to be obtain'd by the Law of the Gospel but by the Law of the Spirit which Opinion he said was taken out of the Writings of Abbat Joachim This Book was call'd by those of that Sect the Eternal Gospel It was Alexander's custom when he got leisure from publick Affairs to busie himself about somewhat that savour'd of Learning for he compil'd Decretal Epistles and gave such countenance to learned Men that he promoted several of them to Cardinalates particularly Henry Cardinal of Ostia a good Divine and an excellent Lawyer He was also very liberal and munificent to Bartholomew a Canonist of Brescia who wrote much upon the Decretals by which and by his extraordinary abilities and sanctity he got great renown By this means moreover the vaulted Church near that of S. Agnes which had in old time been dedicated to Bacchus was made capable of Divine Worship and the Inscription in the Porch of the Church of S. Constance shews that the Altar there was consecrated by him VRBAN IV. URBAN the fourth born at Troyes in France Patriarch of Jerusalem was made Pope and immediately listed French Soldiers to assist him against Manfredus who infested the Patrimony of S. Peter for fear of whom Jordanes General of Manfredus his forces in Tuscany against the Guelphs was recall'd to Naples which gave some breathing time to the Guelphs especially those of Florence and Lucca who had been by the Gibellines mark'd out for destruction Lombardy was also plagu'd with the like Seditions Hubert Pallavicino carrying on now the Interests of the Gibelline faction and persecuting the adverse party though before by his Policy and moderate behaviour to both sides he had got the Command of Brescia by an universal consent But the Citizens of Modena and Reggio instigated by those of Ferrara and Bononia fearing lest Pallavicino should over-pour them all at last revolted to the Popes side and turn'd the Gibellines out of their Cities giving their goods and effects to the Florentines who had been banish'd for Guelphism by this means adding great strength to their faction And thus went matters in Lombardy the Pope still earnestly endeavouring a Peace At Constantinople the Venetians attempted to dethrone Palaeologus and had done it but for his Friends and Associates the Genoese this gave him the greater Power so that having taken Malvasia he easily made resistance against the Venetians and William Prince of Achaia The Pope was now intent upon sending a Legate to procure a Peace betwixt the Venetians and Genoese when Manfredus with a new body of Saracens seizes la Marca the Inhabitants being before inclin'd to a Rebellion The Pope therefore sends the same Legate to France with order to make use of all manner of Promises and Intreaties to persuade those French who had taken upon them the Croisado who had been inform'd of the thing before-hand to hasten their march thither they presently under the conduct of Guy Bishop of Auxerre descend into Italy and vanquishing Pallavicino at Brescia without meeting any resistance they come to Viterbo from whence a little while after having first receiv'd the Popes blessing continuing their march through Vmbria and the Countrey of Tagliacozzo they beat the Saracens who had fled thither and pursu'd them as far as the Garigliano At the same time the Romans though they medled not with the Patrimony of the Church yet they threw off obedience to the Pope making what Magistrates they pleased particularly contrary to custom by which they were to chuse for Senator a Roman onely they elected one Brancaleon of Bononia a man of a great spirit and very politick to this high dignity and promised him great advantages but this humour held not
to their Countrey by Gregory as he went into France At which the Pope was so angry that he interdicted them from all benefit of the Law and was very near doing the same thing by the Bologneses who had ejected the Lambertescii and the Asinelli Gibellins of noble Families but they suffer'd for it not long after For when they went to fight against the Forleses that had kindly entertain'd some persons whom they had banish'd 't is said eight thousand of the Bologneses were slain at one Sally from the Town Upon which misfortune some Cities of Romagna grew confident and immediately revolted from the Bologneses themselves Especially Cervia from whence they received a great Revenue out of Salt But Gregory when he had dismissed the Council at Lyons in which many Decrees were made relating to the choice of Popes the expedition against the Saracens the union of the Greek and Latin Churches and the peace of Christendom as he was going into Italy he met Alphonso King of Castile at Bellocadoro complaining grievously that he had given the Empire to Rodulphus But when the Pope had satisfied him he resign'd all his right to Rodulphus The Pope was very kindly receiv'd by all the Italians as he travell'd through Tuscany but shunn'd the Florentines on purpose and went to Arezzo lest they should have prevailed with him to take off his Interdiction At Arezzo he died in the fourth year second month and tenth day of his Pontificate and there he was buried He was a Man of an extraordinary Reputation through his whole Life for Prudence in the conduct of his Affairs for Courage and greatness of Mind that made him contemn Money and all mean things for humanity clemency bounty to poor Christians and those especially that fled for refuge into the bosom of the Apostolick Sea INNOCENT V. INNOCENT the fifth formerly called Peter of Tarantaise a Burgundian a Dominican a man very learned in holy Writ was created Pope at Arezzo in the year of our Lord 1275. From thence not long after he went to Rome where he was crown'd in S. Peter's Church and from that time immediately apply'd himself to compose the Affairs of Italy To this end he sent Legats men of great Authority to command not onely the people of Tuscany who conspir'd the ruin of those of Pisa but also the Genoeses and Venetians who were mortal Enemies to quit their Arms. Assistant to them were the Embassadors of Charles the King by whose Awe over them he hoped to have his business done more to his mind The People of Tuscany did as he commanded them but especially the Florentines whom the Pope absolv'd from Gregory's Interdiction upon that very score But the Genoeses and Venetians whose hatred was more inveterate were still in Arms perpetually butchering each other and yet Innocent if he had lived a little longer had brought them over to his Opinion so zealous he was in that matter But he died in the sixth month and second day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Lateran Church Now the secular Priests had no great reason to lament his death by reason of a Sentence which he gave just before he dy'd For when there arose a Dispute between the Priests of the Cathedral Church and the Friers Preachers concerning the body of Clement the fourth for each Order desired to have the disposing of it he gave judgment that it ought to be committed to the Friers for he said his Holiness had order'd it so whilst he was alive Upon this account Innocent was a little maligned but was otherwise a very good Man and such a Person from whom those of his time might have expected all the good imaginable ADRIAN V. ADRIAN the fifth a Genoese of the Family of the Flisci before called Othobon was made Pope at Rome in the Court of the Lateran He was Innocent the fourth's Nephew by whom he was created Cardinal Deacon of S. Adrian and sent Legat into England with plenary Power to compose the differences between that King and his Barons Assoon as he was made Pope he presently went to Viterbo and invites Rodulphus the Emperor into Italy to lessen the Power of Charles who at that time did what he pleas'd at Rome But Rodulphus being ingaged in the Bohemian War could not comply with Adrian In the mean time Charles was very cautious to avoid the envy of the World and turn'd all the stress of the War upon Achaia so to make his way toward the Empire of Constantinople But Adrian dying in the fortieth day of his Pontificate he came back into Italy This Pope died at Viterbo before his consecration and was buried in a Convent of Freres Minors He had an intention not onely more and more to secure the Churches Patrimony from Tyrants but also to reduce Gregory's Decree for the Choice of a Pope into a better method not totally to abolish it But Death obstructed his endeavours and withstood the greatness of his Mind The Sea at that time was vacant twenty eight days JOHN XXII JOHN the Twenty-Second a Spaniard born at Lisbon and formerly call'd Peter was made Pope being then Bishop of Frascati Who though he were reckon'd a very learned man yet by his ignorance in business and the unevenness of his Conversation he did the Popedom more injury than Honour or kindness For he did many things that argued him to be guilty of Folly and Levity and does not deserve commendations unless it be for one thing and that was that he assisted young Scholars especially the poorer sort with money and preferments At that time the Venetians infested those of Ancona for Merchandizing in Dalmatia without paying any custom to the Venetians and yet the Pope himself to whom they were tributary did not protect them as he should have done but onely seemed ready with his Tongue to say what he was too much a Coward ever to do Nevertheless the Anconeses though the Pope would not aid them took courage and made a Sally so briskly that they rais'd the Siege and drave the Venetians from the Town a good way not without considerable damage to them By the advice of John Cajetan who govern'd all things at that time for that he was made Pope by his assistance and the Votes he procured he sent Legats to Paleologus and all the Western Kings to exhort 'em in his name that they would make Peace with one another and bend their Forces against the Saracens and other Enemies of Christianity The Man was a Fool to promise himself a long Life and to tell every body he should live a great while because every body knew his life and Conversation he was so immodest and so sottish But behold as he was betraying his Folly to all that were about him a certain new Apartment that he had built in the Palace at Viterbo fell down all of the sudden and he was found among the Wood and the stones seven days after the fall of it but he
appears in his Titles And yet he had his faults too amidst all these commendations For he is said to have lov'd his Relations to such a degree as that he would rob others to give to them For he took Castles from some Noble Romans and gave 'em to his own kindred particularly that at Soriano Where though he was a most temperate man yet he died suddenly in the third year eighth month and fifteenth day of his Pontificate Whose death they say some body foretold by a presage drawn from the swelling of the River Tiber. For it rose so high that it was four feet and more above the Altar in round S. Maries But his body was carried to Rome and buried in the Chappel of S. Nicolas which he built in S. Peter's in a Marble Tomb beautified with Fret-work still to be seen An. Dom. 1280. eight days after the Assumption This year Charles the King adorn'd and honour'd the Body of S. Magdalen which S. Maximin had buried in a Town of his own name with a more magnificent Tomb and a bigger Chappel and laid her head up in a Silver Case separate from her body Now they say that upon the death of Nicolas the Sea was vacant five months For whilst the Cardinals were about electing a new Pope at Viterbo and one Richard of the Family of the Hannibals which is the best in all Rome was Keeper of the Conclave two Cardinals of the Vrsini did what they could to hinder the Election unless Richard who was a bitter Enemy to the Vrsini would restore Vrsus Nephew to Nicolas lately deceased to his Government of Viterbo from which he had not long before deposed him For this reason the people of Viterbo sided with Richard went into the Conclave took the Cardinals and imprison'd them Which when it was known at Rome the same faction of the Hannibals drove the Vrsini out of the City who seeing they were forced to depart went all together and retir'd as far as Proeneste So that the French Cardinals when the Vrsini were gone out-voted the Italians and chose a French Pope about the end of the fifth month MARTIN IV. MARTIN the fourth formerly called Simon a Cardinal Priest of S. Caecilie and a French man of Tours being chosen Pope would not be crown'd at Viterbo because he thought that City ought not to be made use of in such a solemn occasion where the Cardinals had been so assaulted And therefore he went to Orvieto an ancient City and there performed all the Ceremonies upon the 23d day of March. And upon Easter day he created six Cardinals of which the Earl of Millain had the Title of S. Marcellin and Peter and Benedict Cajetanus had that of S. Nicolas in the Prison As for Charles the King he not onely receiv'd him kindly when he came to him but he gave him his former Senatorian Dignity whereof Nicolas had deprived him But this was not so very well approv'd on by all because it was like to cause great Tumults in the City the Vrsini being now restored and the Hannibali banish'd For Charles was a mighty Enemy to the Vrsini for Nicolas's sake whom he hated For this reason John to revenge the injuries done to his Brother Latinus and in defence of the Dignity conferr'd upon himself by the Romans got a good Army together and marching toward Viterbo spoiled all their Countrey far and near But Martin who was then in Montefiascone being concern'd at the misery of the Viterbeses sent Matthew a Cardinal of the Vrsine Family to Rome in all haste to compose the business who took John the Captain of the Roman People whom he met upon the Road along with him Thither came all the Heads of the Factions by command from the Legat especially Richard Hannibal to be absolved by the Legat from that Interdiction that he incurr'd at Viterbo for breaking into the Conclave and imprisoning the Cardinals Vrsini He therefore laid himself at the Cardinals feet with a Rope about his neck as the greatest sign of penitence and after he had beg'd pardon was absolv'd Peace being thus made between both the factions and the Roman Army called back from plundering the Viterboses the Pope immediately grants the Romans a Power to choose two Senators out of themselves that should govern the City Accordingly two were chosen Hannibal Son of Peter Hannibali and Pandulphus Savelli who ruled the City very well all the time they were in Office Especially at that time when Pope Martin at the request of Charles King of Sicily excommunicated Palaeologus for not keeping the Articles of Alliance made between them But then Palaeologus fearing Charles's Power made a private League with Peter King of Aragon who laid claim to the Kingdom of Sicily in right of his Wife Constantia Manfred's Daughter and Corradin's Niece Hereupon they prepared a great Navy at the common charge of 'em both which made the Pope send to Peter to know of him what he meant by all those preparations Peter told him that if he thought his Shirt could know what his intentions were he would tear it from his Body So the Legat went away without any satisfaction And Peter when he had gotten his Navy ready sails into Africa where he pillaged the Coast at Tunis extreamly and then returning into Sardinia expected to hear of some new commotions in Sicily by the contrivance of John Prochita according to an agreement they had made In the mean time new broils arose in Lombardy For the Viconti a noble Family there under the command of Luchino drave the Turriani another potent Family out of Millain Which Luchino was afterwards sent as Lieutenant to the Emperor into Tuscany where he resided at St. Miniato and plagued the Flâ—rentines and Luccases with grievous incursions not regarding the Popes interdictions with which he thought to have affrighted him from troubling these his Friends and Allies Those also of Perugia were now in Arms and did so press the Fuligneses that they took their City and demolish'd part of the Walls Thereupon the Pope excommunicated 'em but paying a good sum of money to him for penance they soon obtained his pardon In the mean time the Sicilians whose motions Peter attended in Sardinia could no longer endure the pride and licentiousness of the French and therefore were persuaded by John Prochita to enter into a Conspiracy against Charlâ—s that upon such a day in the Evening when they should hear such a Bell ring they should fall on and kill the French without respect to Sex or Age. In which action 't is said they were so true to their barbarous Promise that even those Sicilian Women were killed who were with Child by French men Hence comes it that the Sicilian Vespers is grown a By-word for any great Massacre At this time Guido Appius met with ill fortune when he was sent in the Popes name with eight hundred French Horse to recover Roâ—agna For as they sate before Forli and the Citizens would fain
return to Prison giving his two Sons for Hostages one of which was named Charles who was afterward created King of Hungary and called Marcellus and the other Lewis who when he had lived a good life in the Order of S. Francis was canoniz'd for a Saint Whilst these things were transacted in Europe the Great Turk made use of that occasion and whilst the Christians quarrell'd among themselves thought himself secure Wherefore he goes with fire and sword and razes Tripoli a famous City in Asia killing all the Christians that were there in Garison Said and Baruâ—i suffer'd the like Calamity having no body to assist ' em Aca of old called Ptolemaâ—s stood because they made a truce with the Sultan for two years And to defend it for time to come Nicolas the Pope did all he could to get Soldiers under Christ's Banner and paid them with his own money They were about one thousand five hundred but there were a great many more that follow'd 'em without being inrolled without Colours or any body to conduct ' em Who when they were come to Aca they did the Christians as much hurt as they did the Saracens But the Sultan demanded what was his due as he pretended which when the Christians refused to restore he threaten'd utter ruin to 'em all Then there arose a great question among the Christians who should have possession of Aca for the Patriarch of Constantinople the Templars of Germany the King of Cyprus and Charles King of Sicily did all lay claim to it Those also of Pisa had a mind to demand Aca and lawfully as they said themselves but that a War which brake out in Tuscany diverted them from such an ill design For they starv'd Earl Vgulinus in Prison where they kept him his two Sons and two Nieces and after that did so far animate the Gibellins against the Guelphs that they threaten'd equal destruction to 'em all They fell first upon those of Arezzo because the banish'd Gibellins desir'd it when William Petramala was Bishop of that place who was aided by Earl Feltri the Florentine But the Florentines did not think themselves strong enough and therefore they sent Charles the Second also thither with some forces as he was going through their Country to wait upon the Pope Their Camps were pitched near one another in the Country of Tipherno by which name they now call the City having alter'd the name of the Castle Immediately as the Battel was just begun there were a great many Florentines kill'd but not long after the case was alter'd and though William the Bishop and Earl Feltri were slain yet there fell of the Gibellini three thousand and two thousand were taken The Neighbours call the place where they fought Campaldino Charles having obtain'd so great a Victory goes straight to Nicolas and gets the favour to hold of him in Fee the Crown of both the Sicilies Which when James of Aragon understood he presently goes and attaques Cajetta But lest any thing should be wanting that might disturb the quiet of Christendom a fatal War broke out between Philip of France and Edward King of England which did not onely trouble the Christians in Asia very much but also gave our Enemies great confidence and hopes that they should totally obliterate the Christian Name throughout all Asia For the Sultan who at that time was sick had sent an hundred and fifty thousand men to Acra under the Command of his Son But the Siege continuing for two months the Father died in that time and the Son succeeded him who attaqued the Town with much greater resolution For he filled the Trenches and promised all the plunder to the Soldiers But when he had fought his way to the very Walls he was beaten back by the Christians who made a Sally upon him even to his Camp and had a great many of his men hurt in the Action Whilst they were thus employ'd in Asia Nicolas the Pope sends two Legats à Latere as they call 'em i. e. Benedictus Cajetanus and Gerard of Parma with all speed into France to make a Peace between the two Kings and animate 'em against the Saracens who then besieged Acra For he had made a Peace between James of Aragon and Charles who was a Captive upon those Conditions that I told you before that they might all be the more free to go against the common Enemy Nay he had begun to provide a Navy as thinking himself almost sure of a Peace but to no purpose For the Kings did not obey him when he gave 'em good advice nor did they that were in Garison at Ptolemais agree so well among themselves as to keep out the Enemy according to their power For having daily lost a great many of their men there were at that time but twelve thousand left who afterward made their escape in a Corsaire or a swift sailing Frigot kept for that purpose along with the Patriarch of Jerusalem And though at first they had good shipping yet at last they were Shipwreck'd near Cyprus But the Sultan enter'd the City when the Inhabitants had left it and destroy'd it immediately with fire and sword in the 196th year after Godfry had taken it But amidst so many Calamities the Island of Cyprus and Armenia the less formerly called Cilicia continued Christian At that time Nicolas was very urgent with Rodulphus the Emperor to send his Army into Asia for fear the Enemy should get the remaining part of it But Rodulphus soon after died and Adolphus Hasso was chosen to be his Successor who demanding the Rights of the Empire was kill'd in a fight at Spire by Albertus Son to Rodulphus He was indeed a brave Man but had neither men nor money enough and that was the reason that they said he was rather overpower'd by multitude than fairly Conquer'd But Nicolas the Pope through discontent as some suppose to see all things go cross to his expectation and being conscious that he had favour'd Parties more than became a Pope died at Rome in the fourth year first month and eighth day of his Pontificate near S. Maries the Great and is there buried at the upper end of the Church by Cardinal Columna as you may see upon the Pavement where his Picture is in Porphyry But after his death the Cardinals went to Perugia that they might choose a Pope with greater freedom but protracted the business by quarrels among themselves two years and three months In the mean while Michael Palaeologus Emperor of Constantinople dies but the Priests and the Monks would not suffer his body to be buried in an holy place because he joyned with the Western Church in the Council of Lions And indeed Andronicus Michael's Son would have declared himself of the same opinion as the Latins if he had been assisted by our Party But when the Sea was vacant Andronicus was destitute of Friends and so at last apostarized from the faith But Charles the Second King of Naples
Pope having long premeditated of his Expedition to Jerusalem he sends the Bishop of Apamea to Philip King of France to exhort him into the same Design He went but when he came thither and could do no good by fair words he was fain to make use of Menaces At which Philip was very angry and threw him into Prison Which when the Pope understood he sent the Arch-Deacon of Narbonne an excellent person thither immediately to command Philip in his name to set the Bishop of Apamea at Liberty If he would not do it he bid him declare publickly that the Kingdom of France was fallen to the Church by Philips contumacy and forasmuch as he had broken the Law of Nations and order'd him farther to lay a Curse upon him and absolve all the French from their Allegiance The Arch-Deacon did all this very chearfully and compelled the King to dismiss the Bishop But the King having a mind to take some part of a Revenge for the injuries offer'd to him by the Pope set forth an Edict that no man should go out of his Kingdom to Rome or send money thither The second year after the Jubilee Charles of Valois went to Charles the Second his Cousin At whose coming Frederick of Aragon was concern'd and desired a Peace which he obtained upon condition that he restoring what he had taken in Italy should keep Sicily as long as he lived But when Charles of Valois went out of Tuscany the Whites who were driven out of Florence went in great numbers to Forli among whom there was one Dante 's Aldegerius a very learned Man and an excellent Poet in his Mother-Tongue this Person endeavoured to return into his own Country several times but in vain although he were assisted by the Bolognians and Canegrandis Governour of Verona with whom he lived afterward for some time in all the freedom of conversation There are some Authors that tell us how Boniface about this time caused the body of one Hermanius that had been worship'd in Ferrara as a Saint for twenty years to be taken out of the ground and burnt because he had made a strict inquiry into his Heretical Opinions I suppose he was one of the Fratricelli or Holy-Brotherhood whose Sect at that time was very numerous In the mean time Philip King of France taking Boniface's Arrogance very ill called an Assembly at Paris of the Clergy and Nobility and recounting the injuries that Boniface had done to him his Ambition and Cheats which he had used to get the Popedom which he was unjustly possessed of he appealed to the Sea Apostolick which he said was then vacant and to the next Council At which Boniface being startled called a General Council wherein he declared Philip and his Kingdom subject to Albert the Emperor whom in the beginning of his Pontificate he had repulsed Then Philip thinking to tame his pride sent Sarra of Columna who was known and redeemed from the Pirates at Marseilles with Nogaretius a French Cavalier and a trusty Soul to Rome for no other end as he declared himself but to publish his Appeal But he had a quite different Design For Sarra putting on the disguise of a Slave went into Campagna di Roma where gathering to him as many friends as he could he sent Nogaretius with two hundred French Horse which he had listed out of Charles of Valois's Army before to Ferentino to assist him if need were But himself went into Anagni privately in the Night and by the assistance of the Gibellines whom Boniface had teazed extreamly for a long time he broke the Door open and took the Pope by surprise in the House where he was born and so brought him to Rome where thirty five days after he died for grief in the eighth year ninth month and seventeenth day of his Pontificate He was buried in S. Peter's in a Tomb that he built himself before he died which is yet to be seen in a Chappel which he made of Fret-work He likewise built the Pulpit and the Portico in the Lateran where Curses are pronounced upon the Sacrament and where he laid that Curse upon Philip King of France and the Columneses Thus died Boniface who made it his business rather to infuse terrour than Religion into Emperors Kings Princes Nations and States and would pretend to give and take away Kingdoms to banish and to recall men as he thought fitting to satisfie his pride and covetousness which was unspeakable Therefore let other Princes as well Religious as Secular learn by his Example to govern the Clergy and the Laity not proudly and disdainfully as this party of whom we speak but holyly and modestly as Christ our King and his Disciples and true Followers And let 'em desire rather to be beloved than feared which is usually the just bane of Tyrants Some say he cherish'd the Feuds among the Italians especially between the Genoeses and the Venetians who were two States very powerful at Sea BENEDICT XI BENEDICT the eleventh an Italian of Treviso formerly call'd Nicolas Cardinal of Ostia was made Pope the first of November at Rome For he enter'd himself into the Order of Preachers when he was but young and so far prevailed upon the Fraternity both by his Virtue and Learning that they preferr'd him gradually through all Offices till he was made General From which Station he was chosen Pope and in that place also gave great demonstration of his Virtue For he lived after such a manner that he may well be reckon'd among the number of those that are in Bliss But as soon as he got into the Apostolical Chair he cites Nogaretius and Sarra and all those of Anagni that conspired to take Boniface to come before him but they not appearing he laid an heavy Curse upon them He likewise heard King Philip's cause and absolv'd him from Boniface's Censures And after that he receiv'd John and James the two Cardinals of Columna into favour whom Boniface persecuted for being of the Guelphian Faction more than became a Pope to do Nay he gave 'em their goods again onely he enjoyn'd 'em to let the Red Hat that Boniface had taken from 'em lie by for some short time Having setled the Affairs of the City in this manner and made some Cardinals of whom Nicolas a Pratese of the Order of Preachers was one he immediately applies himself to procure a general Peace in Italy And because there were greater tumults in Tuscany than any where else he sent Nicolas Bishop of Ostia thither with full Commission who made new Officers in Florence and put 'em into the House which they had built for the reception of Magistrates now called the Palais of their Lords But at that time Nicolas thought he might do more than so and therefore spoke about recalling the persons that were banish'd Which Proposal not taking effect as he would have had it he declared a Curse upon them and went to Prato But not long after Benedict dying Tuscany was
again in an uproar for the banish'd of all places met near Bologna resolving immediately to enter Florence and thereupon in the Night getting over the Walls which were not then finish'd near the Gate that leads to Bologna they advanced as far as the Church of S. Separata that was begun to be built a little before But whilst they look'd too eagerly after the plunder and consulted their friends what they had best to do they gave their Enemies time to take courage and raise Arms insomuch that they quickly drave 'em out and killed a great many of their men Then they got Robert Duke of Calabria to be their General and were grown confident they had strength enough not onely to defend their own but to attaque their Neighbours too Hereupon they besiege Pistoia which those within it did so bravely defend that with one Sally they beat Robert and all his Army back to Prato Benedict who was a very good and holy Man resolv'd when he had quieted Italy to assist against the Tartars who were fallen into Syria and Palestine having been sollicited to it by frequent Messages But dying at Perugia where he and all the Court were in the eighth month and seventeenth day of his Pontificate he missed his Design He was buried with due pomp in the Church of the Freres Preachers the fifth of June in the year 1303. Now the Miracles which he did after his death shew him to have been an excellent holy Man for he cured the sick and cast out Devils The Sea was then vacant from the fifth of June to the seventh of July in the year ensuing although the Cardinals that were kept in the Conclave for that purpose were importun'd and sometimes threaten'd to make choice of a Pope CLEMENT V. CLEMENT the fifth a Gascon Bishop of Bourdeaux formerly called Bertrandus Gottho was made Pope in his absence at Perugia though the College of Cardinals had a long debate about the Election But he approving of their choice went from Bourdeaux to Lyons and called all the Cardinals thither to him who obey'd him without any scruple so that the Court of Rome was translated into France in the year 1305. And there it remained for seventy four years to the great damage of all Christendom but especially of Rome where the Churches great part of 'em fell to ruin for want of use whilst they were absent that ought to have taken care to repair ' em There were present at the Coronation of this Pope Philip King of France and his Brother Charles lately return'd from Italy John Duke of Britaigne who together with some others was kill'd by a Wall that fell upon him whilst the Coronation pomp was going as is usual through the City Philip also was a little hurt by the same accident But the Pope though he was in such a consternation that he fell from his Horse yet he lost nothing but one Carbuncle out of his Crown that some say was valued at 6000 l. When the Solemnity was over and all things in order Clement made a great many French Cardinals but none out of Italy though indeed he did restore John and James of Columna to their entire Dignity of Cardinalate which they formerly enjoy'd Besides that he sent three Cardinals to Rome with the character of Senators to govern not onely the City but all Italy by their Conduct But when he saw the Genoeses and those of Pisa involv'd in a bloody War one against the other and that Sardinia in the mean time was taken by the Saracens he gave that Island to Frederick King of Sicily upon condition that he should beat out the Enemy and recover it as soon as possible the Venetians making a League with Charles the Second against the Emperor of Constantinople induced King Rassianus to come and desire of the Pope to be instructed in the Orthodox Faith in the year 1307. But the Venetians and Charles falling out again they alter'd Rassianus's mind by their ill example In the mean time a new Heresie was broached at Novara by Dulcinus and Margaret which allowed Men and Women who lived together freely to exercise all acts of uncleanness and the professors of it were called the Brotherhood Clement endeavour'd to suppress them and immediately sent thither a party of Soldiers with a Legat Apostolical who partly with cold and hunger partly with force of Arms routed 'em from the Alps where they harbour'd But Dulcinus and Margaret were taken alive torn in pieces and their bones burnt and scattered into the Air. About that time Intelligence was brought that the Templers who were formerly Christ's Soldiers had revolted to the Saracens For this reason all of 'em that could be apprehended were kill'd and their goods given partly to the Rhodian Knights who had possess'd themselves of that Island a little before and partly to Religious uses Philip also King of France turn'd all the Jews out of his Territories confiscating their goods for their Rogueries and their covetousness Not long after Albert the Emperor being kill'd by his Nephew John almost all the Cities of Lombardy chose their Captains or Governors to be their Sovereign Lords as at Verona the Scaligeri at Mantua the Bonacossi at Padua the Carraresi The House of Este had been Masters of Ferrara a long time before but now they reduced Modena also Nor did Charles the Second King of Naples think it below him to marry his Daughter Beatrice to Azo Marquis d' Este But Friscus his Son seeing he had gotten a Step-mother put his Father in Prison and there murther'd him and then possessed himself of Ferrara by the assistance of the Venetians who lent him aid to storm a Castle called Thedaldo Then the Cardinal Pelagura was sent to Bologna from Clement to forbid the Venetians from medling with Ferrara under the pain of a Curse those of Ferrara desiring to be under the Church Wherefore the Venetians thinking it their best way to make haste attaqued the Castle Night and Day till at last they took it Which when they had done Friscus himself greedy of Revenge set fire on half Ferrara especially their Houses who seemed to desire a Change The Citizens now not able to endure so great an injury any longer taking up Arms turn'd Friscus out of his usurp'd Sovereignty and surrender'd themselves to the Venetians who in all probability might be able to defend them At which Pelagura was very much incensed and muster'd up all the Church forces immediately against the Venetians and those of Ferrara But Clement understanding how obstinate and how desirous of Dominion the Venetians were laid a Curse upon them with an Interdiction commanding all persons wherever to look upon them as no better than Slaves and to take away whatever they had from them by which that trading Nation suffer'd great damage both in England and France After this the Pope sent other Cardinals into Tuscany which was all one Scene of War to command Robert Duke of Calabria the
of Ravenna Yet still relying upon the assistance of the Scaligeri they attaqu'd the Castle of S. Felix in Modena till Charles the King of Bohemia's Son came upon them with Manfred surnamed Pius who was Lord of Carpo and by these two Confederates they were routed and beaten out of the Field 'T is certain that eight hundred of their Soldiers fell in that Battel and many of their Nobles were taken and among others of the greatest note one Nicolas d' Este Brother to Rainaldo the Marquess The Legat of Bologna took this occasion and getting a considerable Army together commanded by Galeot Malatesta of Rimini Francisco Ordelapo of Forli Richard Manfred of Faenza and Hostasio Polentano of Ravenna at that time Lords of their respective Cities he besieged Ferrara which was then sharply attaqued and the Suburbs of S. Antony taken when Auxiliary Forces sent by Philippino Gonzaga Mastino Scala and Vbertino of Carrara encouraged the Ferrarians to sally forth which they did with such success that they routed the Enemy and took most of their Captains But the Earl of Romagna who was taken was chang'd for Nicolas d' Este and the rest were sent safe home upon condition that they should take up Arms no more against the House of Este Rainaldo d' Este proud of such a Victory march'd into Bologna where he spoiled all the Country round about and had very near taken the Town They of Bologna well hoped that the King of Bohemia would have assisted the Legat and it was reported that he was on his way thither when on the sudden news was brought to him that Mastino Scala had taken Brescia and Bergamo by surrender and that Accio Viconti was got into Pavia and storming the Castle For this reason he desisted from any farther attempts and leaving his Son at Parma went himself with some Troops to Pavia where seeing he could not take in the Forts that the Viconti had raised he only plunder'd the Country about Millain and went back again to Parma without effecting his Design There he understood that Americk Son to Castruccio had gotten Lucca by means of some friends within but that the Castle held out still though the King for a sum of Money surrendred that too because he was to go shortly into Germany being weary of the Italian Factions For the Viconti having taken the Castle of Pavia made excursions far and near Wherefore placing a German Garison in Modena and Rheggio and committed the care of Parma to Marsilio and Piedro Rubeo he went into Germany but promised to come suddenly back again with a greater Army When the King was gone the Bologneses with the aid of the Florentines and the Marquess d' Este beat out the Legat and recover'd their Liberty killing all the Ecclesiastical forces both within and without the City So that the Legat growing helpless writ to Avignion in the year 1334. just when John the Pope died in the ninetieth year of his Age and in the nineteenth year and the fourth month of his Pontificate and left behind him in the Treasury such a mass of Gold as never any Pope did before him He was buried in the Cathedral in great State Some say that Petro Mutroneo once Pope was canonized by John and that Gentilis of Fuligno and Dyno of Florence two famous Physicians were at the same time rewarded by him with money and honour for he was reckon'd a great Lover of learned Men. BENEDICT XII BENEDICT the Twelfth of Tholouse a Cistercian formerly call'd James Cardinal Priest of S. Prisca was made Pope at Avignion the sixteenth day after John's death and presently confirm'd the Censures which John had laid upon the Bavarian as one that usurped the Empire By this means the Empire was vacant and every thing tended toward a War when every one though never such a petit Lord endeavour'd to encroach upon his Neighbour For the Scaligeri were not content to be sole Governours of Verona Brescia and Bergamo but strove to get Parma too from the Rubei Gonzaga had a mind to get Rheggio d' Este Modena and the Florentines Lucca But the Scaligeri seeing they could not take Parma because the Soldiers within especially the Germans who hated the Scaligeri defended it so briskly they march'd toward Vincenza But they could do no good upon it and therefore hearing that the Germans were gone from Parma they return'd thither and straight took it by surrender of the very Rubeans themselves Nicolas d' Este also took Modena by the assistance of his Father-in-law one Guido Gonziaco whose Daughter he had married And Philippino Gonzaza had Rheggio voluntarily yielded to him by the Citizens But at the same time the growing Power of Mastino Scala who had gotten into Parma Lucca and Padua by surrender from Vbertino Carrara made all the Princes and States almost in Italy conspire to ruin his Grandeur but the most zealous of 'em were the Venetians Gonzaga and d' Este besieged Verona whilst Lucino with another Army took Brescia and Bergamo But the Venetians fearing lest by their endeavours to lessen the power of one they might augment that of another they make a Peace with Mastino Scaliger upon Condition that if he would let the Carrareses have Padua and the Viscount Brescia and Bergamo as he formerly had he should keep Verona Vincenza Parma and Lucca This Peace was very offensive to the Florentines who were their friends and Allies and had a great mind to have Lucca yet they deferr'd their complaint till another time and at that present held their Tongues But the Pope sent a Legat into Italy who persuaded the Senate and People of Rome that they would exercise the Senatorian Office in the name of him and the Church though they had done it for a long time in the name of the King For this reason Stephano Columna was continu'd Senator for five years and Collegues or Partners in the Office were assigned him annually But when the Pope had sent for Stephano to Avignion Vrsus Earl of Anguillaria who was Stephano's Collegue made Francis Petrarcha a man very eloquent especially in his Mother-tongue and famous for the Poems he had publish'd Poet Laureat in the Capitol before all the Nobility and people of Rome in the year 1338. But the Pope fearing lest when the Empire was vacant Italy might be invaded by any forein Enemy he made Viscount Luchino and John his Brother Arch bishop of Millain Lieutenants of Millain and other Cities that were in their possession The same Power he delegated to Mastino Scala over Verona and Vincenza to Philippino Gonzaga in Mantua and Reggio to Albertino in Carrara and Padua and to Obicio d' Este in Ferrara Modena and Argentae and that very justly as he pretended for the Empire being vacant all the Power belonging to it devolves upon the Pope who is the sole Vicar of Jesus Christ upon the Earth But he set a Tribute upon Obicio d' Este that he should pay ten
thousand pounds every year to the Church of Rome This Pope in all his Reign made but six Cardinal-Presbyters and that at one time who were excellent Persons not of his own kindred as 't is usual now a days but men called forth to receive such a Dignity out of several Nations Yet I do not disapprove of them that are preferr'd to honour because they are related to the person who confers it if they are deserving Besides he was a Man of such constancy that he could not be induced to do an injury either by force by importunity or promises of gain For he loved good Men and on the contrary was an open Enemy to all evil and â—lagitious persons He likewise often attempted by his Legats to make Peace between Philip of France and Edward of England but to no purpose since they were such foes as to have fought many bloody Battels one with another For Edwards Navy engaged with the French above Selusas near Flanders so fiercely that he overcame them and kill'd they say full thirty three thousand French in that one fight But the Pope having tried to effect that business so often at last desisted and betook himself to building a Palace for succeeding Popes with several Towers and making of Orchards which he finished He also repaired the Roof of S. Peter's Church at his own charge as the Inscription under his Statute there shews He died in the seventh year third month and seventeenth day of his Pontificate and left a great quantity of Gold behind him not to his Relations but to the Church He had a Design to have Zoto a famous Painter of that Age to draw the Histories of the Martyrs in the House that he built but was prevented by Death At which every body was grieved he was so good and so learned a Man and shewed their sorrow by their Tears and Sighs whilst they attended at his Funeral CLEMENT VI. CLEMENT the sixth a Limousin formerly called Peter at first a Monk and then Arch-Bishop of Rouen was at last made Pope at Avignion He was a Man of great Learning and exact Eloquence liberal to all men affable and very humane elected Pope the seventh of May and Crowned the sixteenth of June in the year 1342. In the first year of his Pontificate and the Ember-week after his Coronation he created eight Cardinal-Priests and two Deacons that is to say his Brother who was a Monk of Tulle and William his Sisters Son Of those Priests also which he made one was his Relation by Marriage and the following year he made two more of which one was his Nephew by another Sister This Pope when the Romans petition'd and told him that whereas Boniface the eighth had formerly granted a full Remission of sins to all that visited the Shrines of the Apostles Peter and Paul every hundredth year which space of time the Romans anciently called Saeculum an Age and thence their Games once in an hundred years Ludi Saeculares they thought it more convenient the time should be contracted because men seldom lived so long he freely consented that the Jubilee should be kept every fiftieth year But when he sound that all Italy was in an uproar he confirmed onely Luchinus and John two Viscounts his Lieutenants in the Dutchy of Millain without mentioning the other Princes of Italy For he thought that they alone were able to resist the Bavarian who as he gave out himself was coming down into Italy and to requite the Pope confirm'd many Lieutenants in the Towns and places belonging to the Church by his Imperial Authority For he continued John of Vicourles at Viterbo Galeot Malatesia and his Brethren at Rimini Pesaro and Fano Antonio Feletrario at Vrbino Nâ—lphus and Gallasius two Brothers at Callio Allegretus Clavellus at Farriano Bulgarutius at Matelâ—ca Ismedutius at Sancto Severino Gentilis Varraneus at Camerino Michael at Mount Milon Pongonius at Cingoli Nicolas Boscaretus at Esio Guido Polentensis at Ravenna Francis and Synebald at Forli and Caesena John Manfred at Faenza though before some of these men had gotten the same places under them partly by force and partly by the good will of the Inhabitants as I said in the life of Benedict But in the mean time the Frescobaldi who were eminent Citizens of Florence were banish'd by their fellow-Citizens and would have instigated the Pisanes to War but it was at an ill time For the Florentines at that time were just upon buying Parma of the Scaligeri and to that end had sent some of their Sons to Ferrara as Hostages promising to give 'em for it 500000 l. For there were two Arbitrators one chosen by each party out of Ferrara But the Florentines having engaged in several bloody fights one upon the neck of another were extreamly weaken'd both by the Pisanes and their Allies and at last even forced to slip the opportunity of such a bargain Yet they did not neglect to send aids to the people of Lucca when they were besieged by the Pisanes besides that their Allies helped 'em too under the conduct of Malatesta of Rimini surnamed Vngarus who forced the Pisanes from Lucca At that time Robert who was an Ally of the Florentines being moved with the calamities of his Confederates sent one Gualter a French man that they called Governor of Athens with a small party of Horse into Tuscany who having by mere stratagem defeated Malatesta who was but an unskilful Captain he gain'd so cunningly upon the favour of the Florentines that in a short time he was both General of their Forces and Governour of their City and turn'd out all the other Officers in it Those of Arezzo also if Pisâ—oia and Volaterra promoted his success by surrendering themselves immediately to him But when Accio Corrigienses had deliver'd up Parma which he could not keep to Obicio d' Este Philippino Gonzaga provoked to War by Obicio got an Army together and near to Reggio engaged with him so furiously that he routed and pursu'd him as far as Ferrara Then Obicio finding his condition desperate put Parma which he could not defend under the protection of Luchino in the year 1366. But when the Florentines could no longer endure the Tyranny of Gualter and many were put to death every day for conspiring against him how to get their Liberty Angelo Acciaiolo Bishop of the City sends away for the Citizens ready armed into his Bishoprick with a resolution to recover the liberty of his Country At which the Tyrant seeing himself too weak for the Citizens made the Bishop himself Umpire concerning the Terms of Peace and so march'd off in safety with what he had in the tenth month of his Reign But the Rabble of the City shewed themselves ungrateful as indeed they always do and banish'd the Nobility by whose conduct and courage they had gain'd their Liberty spoiling their Goods and demolishing their Houses And lest any thing should be lacking that might disturb all Italy there were great
Rome and his own Nephew who after got the Papacy and was called Gregory the Eleventh Some say this Pope canonized Ivo a Britain Priest and Confessor He died in the â—enth year sixth month and twenty eight day of his Pontificate in the year 1352. and was decently buried at Avignion by the Cardinals that were then upon the place INNOCENT VI. INNOCENT the sixth a Limousin formerly called Stephen a man very well skill'd in the Canon and Civil Law first Procurator then Bishop of Cleremont and afterward Cardinal was at first made Pope in the year 1352. upon the fifteenth of December He was a Man of an exact Life of great constancy and severity and bestowed Ecclesiastical preferments upon none but men of good lives and Learning Immediately after his Coronation he suspended many Indulgences which Clement had granted commanding all Prelates and others that had Ecclesiastical Benefices to repair to their Churches under the pain of Anathema saying Flocks ought to be kept by their own Shepherds and not by Hirelings He also retrench'd his Houshold expences and reduced his Family to a convenient number and would have none but honest men about him He strictly commanded the Cardinals to do so too for he would often tell 'em that both his own life and that of all Church-Men ought to be an Example to the Laity in imitation of our Saviour whose whole life was a pattern to all mankind He likewise appointed certain Salaries for the Auâ—â—tors of the Holy Palais lest through want they should be tempted to give judgment for bribery For he would say that those who are ready to starve can hardly keep their hands from other peoples meat if they have any opportunity to get it He was sparing in his Dâ—et but in his Warlike preparations very expensive whilst he endeavour'd to recover that by Arms which formerly Usurpers had taken away from the Church For he sent Giles Carillo a Spaniard Cardinal of S. Sabina an excellent Person his Legate à latere into Italy to make War upon the Usurpers and secure the Church Patrimony At this time the Emperor of Constantinople the King of Aragon and the Venetians enter'd into a League against the Genoeses and having gotten a great Navy together superiour to the Genoeses both in the number of Ships and Men set upon them between Constantinople and Chalcedon in a place very disadvantageous for the Genoeses and when the Wind was against ' em They fought from Morning till Night till at length the Grecians ran away but the Venetians and Catalonians were most of 'em slain together with their Admiral under the command of Pagano Auria But the Venetians were so enrag'd at this Defeat and disgrace that they and the Catalonians recruited their Navy and under the conduct of Nicolas a Pisan routed the Genoeses the year following not far from the Island of Corsica and sunk forty of their Galleys with their Men. The Genoeses terrified at this overthrow deliver'd up their City and all they had to the Arch-Bishop of Millain who by attaquing the Venetians alarm'd the Lords of Padua Verona Ferrara Mantua and the Florentines too to oppose him they fearing lest when he had conquer'd the Venetians he would set upon them also The War was carried on by Land and Sea but the Genoeses Pagano Auria being their Admiral had wonderful fortune at Sea and at Sapientia a Promontory of Morea defeated the Venetians taking their Admiral Nicolas the Pisane with five thousand men whom they brought to Genoa in the year 1354. But the following year the Arch-Bishop of Millain died which freed the Venetians and their Allies from a great deal of care Bernabos and Galeatius his Brother Luchinus's Sons were his Heirs No place but Genoa relinquish'd them these two making a peace with the Venetians which had been first proposed by Bernabos and Galeatius at the instance of the Pope and Giles his Legate In the mean while Calo-Johannes Emperor of Constantinople was restor'd having vanquish'd Cahtacusenus who had usurped the Empire against all right and reason But that action was perform'd by means of Francis Catalusius a Genoese a great Seaman on whom he bestow'd Mitylen and all Lesbos for a Reward which the Turk afterwards took from the Gatalusii when he had gotten Constantinople and all Thrace in his power Nor was there less uproar at Rome than was then at Constantinople For Francisco Baroncello a Roman Citizen and a great man having degraded John Vrsin and Peter of Columna from the dignity of Senators usurp'd to himself the dignity of a Tribune with these Titles that is to say Francisco Baroncello Secretary to the Senate by the grace of God second Tribune of our Mother this City and Consul of Rome When the Pope heard of it he had a mind to rebate the audacious spirit of the Man and sent Nicolas de Gencio a person full as ambitious as he out of the Goal at Avignion to Rome to recover the Tribuneship He when he came into the City being assisted by the Nobility and great part of the Commons threw Boroncello out of the Capitol and kill'd him so that he enjoy'd the Tribuneship alone But not long after forgetting his former condition he persecuted the Nobility and especially the Columneses who were going out at the Exquiline Gate into Campagna di Roma with a Petition but was repelled so much to his disadvantage that he betook himself into the Capitol and from thence endeavour'd to escape but the Enemy follow'd him at the heels and though he were disguised yet the Citizens of Rome discover'd him and cut off his Head Then was Guido Jordan made sole Senator for a year by Apostolical Authority About that time the Emperor who was Son to the King of Bohemia was very kindly entertain'd by the Carrariens the Gonziacks and Viconti and receiv'd his Iron Crown as the custom is at Millain And going from thence to Pisa was met by Embassadors from the Sieneses from those of Volaterra and almost all Tuscany who told him they were ready to obey his Commands The Florentines would have done the same but that they had first bought themselves out of his Dominion with a great sum of money After that he went to Rome and was crowned by two Cardinals who were sent on purpose upon condition that he should not stay any longer either at Rome or in Italy This made him depart the sooner and when he was gone Giles the Legate quickly recover'd almost all the Towns which the Usurpers had gotten by the instigation of the Bavarian either in Romagna Marca d' Ancona or S. Peter's Patrimony But he confirm'd all those Lieutenans of Towns whom he saw obedient to the Church of Rome as Galiot Malatesta and Guido Poletanus in Romagna and the Vatraneses in the Dutchy of Millain But the Oâ—delaphi who were disobedient to the Church he persecuted with two years Wars and at length quite routed them out of Forli For impopili and Cesena These
indeed might have retein'd some part of their Dominion by the assistance of James the Cardinal of Columna a man who was a great friend to their Family but they chose rather to lose the whole like men than save any part of it sneakingly But Giles having quieted Romagna was so pleased at Forli that he laid up not onely the Treasure of the Church but also all the money which was sent from Avignion into Italy to build Castles in that Town and made some Ordinances which the Province uses to this Day But when Giles had setled Italy and built a great many very necessary Forts in the Church Dominions and reduced all the Italian Princes and States to Obedience he had a Successor in the fifth year of his Embassy called Arduinus a Burgundian Abbot of Cisteaux a man not at all fit for business Wherefore when Giles was gone all the Princes and States of Italy took up Arms. For the Pisans did so molest the Florentines that seeing no body durst oppose 'em they plunder'd all the Country of Florence and took Figino a Castle lying up the River Arno burning all the Villages which were built thereabout At that time Pandulphus Malatesta was Captain General of the Florentine Army whom the people forced to relinquish his civil Government because he had never shewn that he had courage enough to engage with an Enemy But the Pisans were then much higher than before not so much out of any hope they had of taking the City as that they should bring a scandal upon it and therefore after some light Skirmishes before the Gates they return'd home with great spoils about the beginning of Autumn And Bernabos also demolished many Castles in Bologna which was now harass'd with War though the Abbot of Clugny defended it stoutly Bologna as I told you before was subject to the Viconti but Aulegianus betray'd it to the Abbot of Clugny and was to have Fermo as the reward of his Treachery But whilst that Bernabos made War upon Bologna and Reggio the Apostolical Legate makes an Alliance with Philippino Gonzaga Canes of Verona and Nicolas d' Este to go against the Brescians Then Bernabos being concern'd for the danger which those of Brescia were in left Bologna and Reggio and march'd toward the Enemy but was so defeated at Montclere that afterwards he could hardly defend the very Walls of the City About the same time the Florentines overcame the Pisans under the command of Galeot Malatesta by corrupting their Soldiers to come over to their Party For this reason the Pisans laid all the fault upon the Cambacurti who were eminent Citizens there because they paid the Soldiers covetously and stingily and therefore recall'd John Agnellus who was banish'd as being a friend to Bernabos and against the Cambacurti and he in a little time reduced the City and made it acknowledg him for their Governour having removed all the friends of the adverse faction But when the Pope had made a Peace between the Pisans and the Florentines one John Haucut who had been used to fight under the Pisans got together all the Soldiers in Italy and gave all people occasion to fear especially since Rome was in such an uproar at the choosing of Senators But Innocent easily appeased their Discords by sending a forein Senator to 'em called Raimund Ptolomy a Citizen of Siena who bore that Office a whole year and that was in the year 1359. But though things were setled in this manner yet the Romans could not be quiet For they turn'd out their Senator and created seven Citizens with Sovereign Power whom they called the Reformers of the whole Republick Upon this account Innocent made Hugo Lusignaneus King of Cyprus who was going then to War against the Turks Senator and commanded totally to abolish that Society of Reformers But he at that time was very intent upon making an end of the War betwixt England and France that all might go against the Turk But when the English had overcome the French in Poictou and had taken their King with Philip his Son they were thought to have done a great exploit yet at the same time Edward out of his Princely generosity gives all the Captives their Liberty upon condition that they would never fight against him more But they soon after broke those terms of Peace and forced Edward to resume his Arms and besiege Paris Innocent design'd also to prepare a Navy against the Infidels when at the same time the Pisans who were excellent Seamen and the Venetiano that had a great Navy were at War the former with the Florentines and the latter with Lewis King of Hungary For that King did then besiege Treviso with a great Army besides that the Venetians were at variance among themselves For Marino their General being accused as if he aspired to Sovereignty was beheaded Innocent being thus discomposed in his mind he died in the ninth year eighth month and sixth day of his Pontificate just about the same time with Bartholus Saxoferratus the wisest man in all that Age. But before the Popes death there was such an Eclipse of the Sun as never was before wherefore all people thought that such a great Man could not die but even the Planets would give some presages of his departure VRBAN V. URBAN the fifth of Lymosin formery called Will. Grisant Abbot of S. Victor at Marseilles was made Pope in his absence by universal consent For at that time he was gone into Italy as Legate to the Viconti but being called to Avignion he enter'd upon the Popedom And no sooner was he got into the Chair but being a person of singular Virtue great Courage and very innocent in his Conversation he immediately apply'd himself to vindicate the Churches Liberty and made use of such Instruments as were zealous for the business For he sent Giles a Spaniard of whom we said something before into Italy with full Power and Authority who so far animated and engaged Lewis Gonzaga Nicolas d' Este and Francisco Carrario against Bernabos that he was overcome by them and lost his Son in the Battel and being wounded hardly escaped with his life Nor was that all but the Enemy took Andrew Pepulo a Bolognian Banditto Synebald Ordelaphus Paulus Mirandula Guido Foliano Azo of Corrigia William Cavalcabos the most Signal Commanders of the Army But the Kings of England France and Cyprus were concern'd at the misfortune of the Viconti and sent Embassadours to Giles to desire him that he would make Peace with them Which Embassadours were not sent in vain for a Peace was concluded though it were of no long continuance For John Hawkwood on the behalf of the Viconti having engaged the Florentines routed their Army at S. Miniato which caused Giles the Legate to send Thomas Obicio an excellent Commander with three thousand Horse and a competent number of Foot to help the Florentines They fought betwixt Arezzo and Cortona four hours together stoutly but at length
civil Animosities and have pursu'd that great Conquest by Land and Sea as Calixtus advis'd But the Turk recovering strength took Trabisond killing the Emperour and then Bossina where he took and slew the King All wise Men perceiving as from a Watch-Tower and advertising the Christians of the Calamities that were like to befal Calixtus especially never desisted from exhorting the Christian Princes by Letters and Messengers to open their eyes at last amidst such great dangers for that they would seek a remedy in vain when the Enemy was recruited But whilst the good Man was thinking and talking of these things James Picenninus revolted from the Venetians and march'd into the Territories of Siena with a numerous body of Horse and Foot to demand of the Sieneses some thousands of pounds which he said they ow'd him upon his Father Nicolas's account who had formerly fought under their Commission The Sieneses fearing the worst sent to the Princes of Italy to assist 'em as they were bound by Contract especially the Pope who first advised 'em not to give James one farthing and then sent his Forces against him and admonish'd the Princes of Italy to do the same lest a flame should break out in Italy which might be too fierce for them to quench The Italians fearing the Pope's words would prove too true sent speedy succours to the Sieneses onely Alphonso favoured James and sent for him to his House as being mindful of the Friendship he had formerly contracted with Nicolas Picenninus his Father nor would he assist the Sieneses as he ought to have done nay he so far animated Count Petilian against them that he seemed to be the chief cause of all the mischief But when the Auxiliaries came in not onely from Francis Sfortia but the Venetians also Picenninus was reduced to that pass in some few Battles that if he were not routed he was mightily weaken'd especially at Orbitello insomuch that he was fain to take shipping in Alphonso's Gallies that were sent to him in his distress and sail into his own Country without any success in that great Attempt Thus by the assistance of Calixtus and his Allies were the Sieneses freed from great danger though they were still troubled with intestine and domestick as well as forein broils by reason of some Citizens that contemn'd their present Liberty and follow'd Alphonso's Faction by whom also 't is thought that great War was first raised But the honest Citizens turn'd out or kill'd the rest and do to this day retain that Liberty which they purchased at so dear a rate Nor did they omit to punish the licentiousness of the Soldiers or those that fled from their Colours as Gilbert Corrigia whom they put to death and gave his Men for a common prey to the rest Sigismund Malatesta had like to have been serv'd in the same sauce who at that time fought under them for protracting the War and driving away their Cattel out of their grounds as if he had been an Enemy That year there happen'd such an Earthquake in the Kingdom of Naples upon the seventh of December that many Churches and Houses fell down to the great destruction of Man and Beast especially at Naples Capua Cajetta Aversa and other Cities in old Campania whose ruines I since have seen with great astonishment when I went thither to look after Antiquities Then also did Alphonso often repeat his Vow which he had made against the Turks and said he would shortly perform it but he could never be brought to the Holy War for all that so mightily was he taken with the delights of Naples But Calixtus when he had setled the Affairs of Italy created nine Cardinals of whom two were his Nephews by two Sisters of his to wit Roderick Borgia and John Miliano his Sisters Son He also made Aeneas Bishop of Siena a Cardinal and made use of him to procure the peace of Italy whilst the Sieneses were teazed with War The Earl Tagliacocius being dead whom the Pope had made Governour of the City the year before there rose a Controversie between Neapolio Vrsin and the Count Aversus for that the later had possession of Monticello not far from Tivoli he pretending it belong'd to his Daughter-in-law who was the Count's Daughter and Neapolio urg'd on the other side that it ought to be his himself being reckon'd to be of the Vrsine Family Whilst these two contended thus for their Patrimony and that with Arms too the Roman people suffer'd very greatly But when this Controversie also was over and both sides commanded to lay down their Arms Calixtus made his Nephew Borgia not onely Governour of the City in the room of the Count deceased but made him General of the Church-Forces that he might keep the great Men of the City the better in order Alphonso not long after dying without a lawful Heir Calixtus had the courage to demand that Kingdom and said it belong'd to the Sea Apostolick as an Escheat Whereupon Armies were raised on both sides and Ferdinand Alphonso's Heir fear'd Calixtus's resolution for he knew his nature and the greatness of his Soul But his death also put all things into confusion and freed Ferdinand from great consternation of mind Calixtus died in the third year the third month and sixteenth day of his Pontificate and was buried in the Vatican on the left hand of St. Peter's in the Round Church dedicated to St. Marie del Febri which was formerly repaired by Nicolas Borgia also his Nephew died not long after at Civita Vechia whither he had fled to save himself from the Vrsins whom he had disobliged by favouring the opposite Faction But to give you a short Character of Calixtus He was a very upright Man and is to be commended for one thing above all That when he was Bishop or Cardinal he would never keep any Benefice in Commendam but said he was content with one Wife and that a Virgin i.e. the Church of Valenza as the Canon Law ordains Besides he was very charitable to poor Christians both in publick and private and gave portions to several poor Virgins when they married kept indigent Noblemen at his own charge and when occasion was he was munificent to Princes especially those that could assist the Church of Christ He likewise sent Lewis of Bologna of the Order of St. Francis Vsun-Cassanus Prince of Persia and Armenia and to the King of the Tartars with many great Presents to animate them against the Turk and by his persuasion they did the Enemy great damage and sent their Embassadours that were design'd to come to Calixtus after he dy'd to Pope Pius which was an admirable Rarity to us not onely upon account of the distant Countries from whence they came but their habit which was unusual and very strange to our eyes They say that Vsun-Cassanus after many Victories over the Enemy wrote to the Pope that he had conquer'd the Foe by the Pope's prayers and that he would one day
the opposers of the Church of Rome both within and without Italy he canonized Catharine of Siena and abrogated the French Pragmatic Sanction He restored Ferdinand of Aragon to the Kingdom of Naples encreased the Churches Patrimony and made the first Allum Mines at Tolfa He was an Admirer of Justice and Religion and an excellent Orator But he died at Ancona as he was going to the War against the Turks where he had his Navy ready and the Duke and Senate of Venice for his fellow Soldiers in Christ He was brought thence into the City by order of the Cardinals and buried in the place where he commanded St. Andrew the Apostle's head which was brought hither to him from Morea to be laid He lived fifty eight years nine months and twenty seven days and when he dy'd left the College of Cardinals forty five thousand pound gather'd out of the Church Revenues to maintain the War against the Turks But the Cardinals committed all this Money and the Galleys that were then in the Port of Ancona to Christopher Maurus Duke of Venice who arrived there two days before Pius died upon condition that he should use the Ships according to their directions and should send the Money to Matthias King of Hungary who was continually at War with the Turk Thus died Pius who was a personage of such true courage and singular prudence as he seemed to be born not to ease or pleasure but to manage the most important Affairs He always endeavour'd to augment the Majesty and grandieur of the Pontifical Chair nor did he ever leave chastizing of Kings Dukes States Usurpers that wronged either himself or any other Church-Man till he made 'em acknowledg their Errour And therefore he was an Enemy to Lewis King of France because he endeavour'd to diminish the Liberties of the Church and extorted from him the Pragmatic Sanction which was most pernicious to the Sea of Rome He threaten'd Borsius Duke of Modena who being a Feudatary of the Church of Rome yet favour'd Sigismund Malatesta and the French who were no Friends to the Church But he censur'd Sigismund Duke of Austria most grievously for taking Nicolas Cusanus Cardinal of St. Peter ad vincula and keeping him some days in Prison He deprived Dieterus Isimbergensis Bishop of Mayence who hated the Church of Rome and put another in his place and so likewise he displaced the Arch-Bishop of Benevento who was upon new projects and endeavour'd to betray Benevento to the French He likewise deprived Francis Copinus who in his Embassady to England assumed more Power than the Sea Apostolick had given him to the destruction of many Men him he deprived of his Bishoprick of Teramo He also made Terracino Benevento Sora Arpino and a great part of Campagnia subject to the Church He never granted any thing to any King Duke or State for fear or covetousness and would reprove Men severely that ask'd what he could not grant without detriment to the Church and dishonour to himself and strook such terrour into some Lords of Italy especially that they continued very true to their Faith and Allegiance But as he always plagued his publick Enemies so likewise he Cherish'd his Friends as much He dearly loved Frederick the Emperour Matthias King of Hungary Ferdinand Son to Alphonso Philip of Burgundy Francis Sfortia and Lewis Gonzaga He added twelve Cardinals to the former number the Cardinal of Rieti Spoleto Trani Alexander Saxoferratensis Bartholomew Roverella James of Lucca Francis Son to his Sister Laodamia Francis Gonzaga Son to the Marquess Lewis all Italians But then there were others from beyond the Alps as Salseburgensis Lewis Libretus of Artois and Vergelensis Moreover he so ordered his method of living that he could never be accused of idleness or sloth He rose as soon as 't was day for his health sake and having said his Prayers very devoutly went about his worldly affairs When he had done his mornings work and walk'd about the Gardens for his recreation he went to Dinner in which he used an indifferent sort of Diet not curious and dainty For he seldom bid 'em get him this or that particular Dish but whatever they set before him he ate of He was very abstemious and when he did drink Wine it was always diluted with Water and pleasant rather than rough upon the Palate After Meals he either discoursed or disputed half an hour with his Chaplains and then going into his Bed-Chamber he took a nap after which he went to Prayers again and then wrote or read as long as his business would permit The same also he did after Supper for he both read and dictated till midnight as he lay in his Bed nor did he sleep above five or six hours He was a short Man gray-hair'd before his time and had a wrinkled Face before he was old In his aspect he bore severity tempered with good-nature and in his garb was neither finical nor negligent but so contrived it as to be consistent with the pains which he usually took He could patiently endure both hunger and thirst because he was naturally very strong and yet his long journeys frequent labour and Watchings had impair'd him His usual Diseases were the Cough the Stone and Gout wherewith he was often so tormented that no body could say he was alive but by his Voice And even in his sickness he was very accessible but sparing of Words and unwilling to deny any Man's Petition He laid out all the Money he got together and did neither love Gold nor contemn it but would never be by whilst it was told out or laid up He seemed not to cherish the Wits of his Age because three grievous Wars which he had undertook had so continually exhausted the Pontifical Treasury that he was oftentimes much in Debt and yet he preferred many learned Men to places both in the Court and Church He would willingly hear an Oration or a Poem and always submitted his own Writings to the judgment of the Learned He hated Lyars and Sycophants was soon angry and soon pleased again He pardon'd those that reviled or scoff'd at him unless they injur'd the Sea Apostolick the Dignity whereof he always had such a respect for as upon that account often to fall out with great Kings and Princes He was very kind to his Houshold Servants for those that he sound in an errour through folly or ignorance he admonish'd like a Father He never reproved any one for speaking or thinking ill of him because in a free City he desired every body should utter their minds And when one told him that he had an ill Report he reply'd go into the Campo di fiore and you 'l hear a great many talk against me If at any time he had a mind to change the Air of Rome for a better he went especially in the Summer to Tivoli or his own Country Siena But he was mightily pleased with the retirement of an Abby in Siena which is very
other dissenting and Schismatical Cardinals Things being in this manner debated before the Pope he remained doubtful what to conclude or resolve fear and hope striving within him But whilst he thus remained in suspense the course of fortune began to turn for Monsieur de Palissa who succeeded Gaston de Foix in the command of the French Army on a suddain departed from Romagna and drew all his Forces into the Dutchy of Milan being alarmed by descent of the Swissers into Lombardy leaving only 300 Lances 300 Light-Horsemen and 6000 Foot with eight pieces of Artillery behind under command of the Legate of the Council This news delivered the Pope from the fear of being forced to leave Rome and confirmed the state of his affairs in such manner that he resolved to continue the War with better hopes and expectations of success For the Pope's affairs having regained their reputation the new Council lately convened was on the first of May opened in the Church of S. John Lateran at Rome to this Assembly the dissenting Cardinals were cited to give their attendance but they not appearing were on the 8th day of the Sessions declared contumacious and Excommunicated and deprived of all their Temporal and Spiritual Degrees Honors and Offices and the people absolved from their Submission and Obedience to them It was farther also declared That their Council held at Pisa and afterwards removed to Milan was but a Conventicle and an unlawful and Schismatical Meeting and all their Acts rendered void null and of none effect In the mean time the Cities of Lombardy being encouraged by the Swissers who were now come into Italy in favour of the Pope revolted and re-assuming their ancient Liberty assailed the French with open force and overthrew them The Venetians also joyning with them prosecuted their Victory in such manner that in the space of 70 days after the Battel of Ravenna the French Army was almost wholly defeated and the remainder by order of King Lewis was recalled to his assistance against the Kings of England and Spain who at that time miserably infested his Country so that in a short time all Italy was freed from the slavery of the French The dissenting Cardinals having lost their protection at Milan fled from thence to Lions where they were kindly received and entertained at the charge of King Lewis The French being thus driven out of Italy all the Cities and Towns belonging to the Pope did by consequence return to the Ecclesiastical State Parma and Piacenza being dependencies on the Exarchat of Ravenna voluntarily yielded to the Pope all the other Towns of Romagna followed their example together with Bologna which casting off all respect to the Family of the Bentivogli expelled them from their Confines with which the Pope not being satisfied pursued them with the thunder of his Excommunications Genoua being also abandoned by the French was possessed by Fregoso The Venetians seized on Crema and Brescia such of the Family of the Medices as had followed the Popes Party were re-instated in Florence Peter Joderini who had been created perpetual Gonfaloniere being expelled thence The State of Milan was resigned to Maximilian Sforza as the true and lawful Prince all which benefits and happy successes being procured by the Arms of the Swissers they were in the Council of Lateran adjudged and declared to be the Restorers of the Liberties of Italy And now all things being restored to this happy state the Pope required the Venetians in virtue of the late Articles to deliver Verona and Vicenza to Maximilian which they obstinately refusing to perform he entered into a League with the Emperor against them The Venetians on the other side being well acquainted with the temper of the Pope confederated themselves in an Alliance with Lewis the French King hoping by his assistance and protection to defend themselves from that League to this interest likewise the dissenting Cardinals adhered who instigating Lewis every day against the Pope and raising tumults in several places gave out a report that the Abbot of Clugni was to be created Pope in the place of Julio the which extremely incensed and moved him with choler and disdain for he had a mind always unquiet not sooner ending one enterprize before he began another his Plots and designs always increasing He determined now at the beginning of the Spring to attempt Ferrara a design so much desired He had bought the City of Siena for thirty thousand Ducats He agreed to lend the Emperor forty thousand Ducats receiving Modena in pawn He threatned Luca for seizing Garsagnana He testified some anger against the Cardinal de Medicis because he seemed more inclining to the Party of the Catholick King than to his and studied new Plots and Practices to alter the Estate of Florence And in this manner having a thousand irons in the fire he was continually plotting how he might drive the Spanish Army out of Italy by the help of the Swissers whom he always extolled and embraced it being his great design as he often uttered to expel all Forein Force out of Italy He had also moved Henry VIII King of England to make War upon France and in detestation of Lewis he had transferred by a publick Decree of the Council of Lateran the Title of Most Christian to the King of England for which there was a Bull prepared and written containing also in the same a deprivation and deposing of the King of France from all his Power and Dignities giving that Kingdom for a prey to any who could conquer it With these great thoughts and perhaps many other more secret intrigues he fell sick of a violent Fever caused perhaps by the violent agitations of his mind and in a few days died in the Vatican on the 21. of February 1513. the Council of Lateran still sitting He was aged above 70 years and held the Papal Chair for the space of nine years three months and five and twenty days and was buried in S. Peter's Church in the Chappel of his Uncle Pope Sixtus This Julius the Second had a spirit more agreeable to a Soldier or Martial Governor than a Pastor of the Church He was a Prince of incredible constancy and courage but so violent and of such unmeasurable apprehensions that the Discord of Princes and the Reverence which some of them bore to the Church preserved him from ruine more than his own moderation or discretion And yet nevertheless he was lamented by such who knew not how to distinguish between the tempers which are decent and agreeable to difference a temporal from a spiritual Prince for certainly had he been a Secular his inclinanations his industry and zeal to enlarge and advance his Dominions might have been more commendable than in him who pretended to be Vicar to the Prince of Peace LEO X. POPE Julio being dead and his Funerals performed according to the accustomed Rites the Cardinals being four and twenty in number entered the Conclave in a peaceable manner
perpetual banishment Thus by the punishment and degradation of several Cardinals the College being wanting and unprovided of its due numbers the Pope with much liberality created one and thirty at one time all persons of quality belonging to several Countries of Christendom some of which were advanced for their Virtue and Merit and others by the Favour and Interest of great Personages This Pope created two and forty Cardinals in all during the time of his Reign besides the restauration of the four rebellious Cardinals deprived by Julio amongst these Cardinals which he had ordained Julio de Medici his Kinsman was one whom he made his Vice-Chancellor and was afterwards Pope under the name of Clement VII About this time Maximilian the Emperor dying Charles King of Spain Naples and Sicily was elected to the great regret and indignation of Francis King of France who with much envy and emulation was displeased to see the Imperial Dignity added to the many Kingdoms and Estates holden by the King of Spain And because according to the ancient Rule and Canon the King of Naples was excluded from all capacity of being Emperor a Dispensation was purchased from the Pope with expence of 7000 Ducats qualifying the King of Naples for the Election Afterwards the Pope having favoured the cause of Charles and he by his assistance being Elected Emperor an Alliance and League was agreed between them to drive the French out of Italy a design ever pleasing to the Popes and particularly to Leo who was impatient of the infamous loss of Parma and Piacenza which being gained with so much glory and trouble by Julio he hoped to regain and restore to the Possessions of the Church In pursuance of this enterprize a considerable Army of Germans and Switzers were sent by the Emperor into Italy and joyned with the Forces of the Pope Prospero Colonna was made Generalissimo and Frederico Gonzaga of Mantoua General of the Army of the Church and Julio de Medici Legate of the whole Army The success proved agreeable to the preparations for the French were droven out of Italy which had long groaned under their pride and tyranny after which Milan was according to Articles surrendred into the hands of Francis Sforza the true and natural Lord and Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church with the news of which the Pope conceived such extremity of joy that he died suddenly on the first of December 1521. at the Village of Magliana where he used often for recreation to retire himself from whence the next day his body was removed to Rome not without suspicion of having been poisoned by his Chamberlain Malâ—spina who thereupon being imprisoned was afterwards released by Cardinal De Medicis so soon as he came to Rome no farther proceedings being made thereupon lest the matter being examined should reflect too far in disgrace of the French King Thus died Leo X. at the age of 45 years 11 months and one day having held the Papal Chair for the space of eight years and twenty days having at the hour of his death testified the great satisfaction he received by the restitution of Parma and Piacenza to the Ecclesiastical State without the effusion of the least drop of blood This Pope was esteemed a great lover of Justice having been severe against Thieves and Robbers He was a great lover of his Recreation and Pleasures spending much time in Hunting and Banquets and was more delighted with Musick than became the gravity and severity of a Pope He was highly magnificent in his Buildings and munificent in his gifts with which and by his Wars he had consumed so profusely beyond his Revenue that for maintenance of this charge he was forced to exact mony for making Cardinals and to set several Offices of his Court to sale He was a great lover of Learning and learned men to whom he was very liberal in his gifts imitating therein the spirit of his Father Laurence de Medicis He enlarged the Power of the Potesta or Civil Magistracy of Rome and bestowed on them several Privileges and Immunities for which reason by a Solemn Decree they made Julian his Brother a Citizen of Rome and treated him at the Campidoglio with Feasting and other Entertainments where they also erected a Statue of Marble and dedicated it to Leo with this Inscription Optimo Principi Leoni X. Med. Joan. Pont. Max. ob restitutam instauratamque Vrbem aucta Sacra bonasque artes adscitos Patres sublatum vectigal datum congiarium S.P.Q.R. In fine the face of the City of Rome was never more pleasant nor chearful than in the time of Leo X. His body was buried for that present in a Sepulchre of Brick erected in S. Peter's Church and for afterwards by direction of Paul III. translated to the Minerva together with the body of Clement VII ADRIAN VI. POPE Leo being dead and his Obsequies solemnly performed the Cardinals on the 16th of December 1521. assembled in the Chappel of Sixtus Quartus in S. Peter's Church and thence adjourned to the Vatican where 29 Cardinals entered into the Conclave and having sang Veni Spiritus they for some days were employed in giving Audiences to Forein Ministers in ordering matters for the more orderly Government of the City and regulating the Conclave in relation to their choice so on the 20th they began seriously to proceed to an Election Cardinal De Medicis aspiring to that dignity seemed to stand the most fair for it because that by the reputation of his greatness and by the interest of his Revenues and his glory lately acquired in the Conquest of Milan he had obtained the Voices of 15 Cardinals howsoever many considerations crossed his desires for it seemed irregular and against the common Policy for one of the same Family to succeed in the place of the Pope deceased for that such Presidents might soon bring the Popedom to a state of being disposed by Succession for which cause all the ancient Cardinals who pretended to be of the French action and all those who were enemies to Leo and discontented by him stood in opposition against him Moreover all the Cardinals who were Competitors and lived in hopes of succeeding could not endure and suffer the Election of a person under the age of fifty years These difficulties occurring retarded the Election for several days at length as they made scrutiny according to the custom of the Conclave Cardinal Adrian a Hollander by Nation was proposed one who had been School-master to the Emperor and by his means made Cardinal under Pope Leo so soon as he was nominated the Cardinal S. Sixtus began to recount and amplifie his Virtues in a long Oration which so took that the Cardinals began to yield and give up their Voices for him the residue followed from one to another seeming guided rather by chance than Counsel so that by the common Suffrages of all the Cardinals Adrian was Elected and Created Pope on the 9th of January 1522. the parties themselves not being
manners into the world and bring Virtue into fashion and employed in perfecting the League and Confederacy between the Emperor and the Venetians and other Allies in order to the main design of expelling the French out of Italy It happened that he was seized by a Fever which affecting him at first in a gentle manner was lightly esteemed by the Physicians but the disease afterwards increasing he summoned the College of Cardinals to him recommending to them the care of the Church and the welfare of Christendom He bestowed his own Cardinals Hat with his Title on his great Friend and Confident Eikenwort in gratitude for his faithful services performed towards him After which he died in the Vatican on the 14th of September 1523 having held the Papal Dignity no longer than one year eight months and six days and having lived 64 years three months and 13 days he departed this life and was buried in the Church of S. Peter with this Epitaph Adrianus Papa VI. hic situs est Qui nihil sibi infelicius in vitâ Quam quod imperaret duxit But afterwards Cardinal Eikenwort in grateful remembrance of the benefits he had received from him erected a fair Monument of Alablaster over him with this Inscription Adrianus VI. Pont. Max. ex Trajecto insigni Inferioris Germaniae Vrbe Qui dum rerum humanarum Maxime aversatur splendorem ultrò à Proceribus ob Incomparabilem Sacrarum disciplinarum scientiam Ac prope divinam castissimi animi moderationem Carolo V. Caesari Augusto Praeceptor Ecclesiae Derthusensi Antistes Sacri Senatus Patrium Collega Hispaniarum Regnis Praeses Reipub. denique Christianae divinitus Pontifex absens adscitus Vixit annos 64 menses 6 dies 13 decessit 18 Cal. Octobris Anno à partu Virginis 1523. Pontificatus sui Anno secuna◠In this manner Pope Adrian died to the great disappointment of the Confederates to whom not only the benefit of the Papal Authority failed by his death but also the Contribution of that mony to which he had obliged himself by the capitulations of Confederacy He left behind him a mean esteem and opinion in the world of his Wisdom or abilities of mind either because in that short time of his Reign he was not able to give better proof or else because he wanted experience in Affairs howsoever he departed this life to the incredible joy of all the Court who desired to see an Italian in that Seat or one at least who had been trained up and practised in the Affairs of Italy CLEMENT VII POPE Adrian the sixth being dead and his Funeral Obsequies performed the Cardinals to the number of thirty entered into the Conclave for Election of a new Pope The two which were chiefly in nomination and which stood most fair for the Election were the Cardinals Medici and Colonna the first supported by the Faction of the Emperor and the other of France but that which made most against Colonna was the inveterate enmity which Cardinal Vrsino bore to him on account of that ancient hatred and quarrel which was hereditary between the two Families who therefore opposed him with all his power and interest And farther upon promise given by Medici to Vrsino to confer on him the Office of Vice-Chancellor the contest was no longer doubtful every one pressing to give his voice that he might not seem the last to appear in favour of Medici by which means two thirds giving their suffrages for him which is necessary to the Election of every Pope an end was put to this Controversie which had lasted two months and four days Thus Julio Medici being declared Pope was conducted by all the Cardinals together with great numbers of Prelates and Clergy-men to the Church of S. Peter where being seated upon the High-Altar ad limina Apostolorum he was there worshipped and reverenced by all the Clergy who presented themselves before him to pay him rheir respects and obedience and receive his blessing He there took upon himself the name of Clement VII and was afterwards conducted and attended with a numerous train to his Lodgings in the Vatican This Julio now Clement VII was the natural Son of Juliano de Medici who was murdered by the Pazzi and other Conspirators as before declared in the life of Sixtus IV. He was born a month after the death of his Father whom he greatly resembling in all the lineaments of his face and vivacity of his spirit was committed to the charge and care of his Uncle Lorenzo who educated him in all sorts of Liberal Sciences and elegancy of manners which might serve to render a person of his quality and condition accomplished His Family being afterwards expelled out of Florence by the power of Charles the Eighth King of France he continued in exile from his own Country for the space of 18 years during which time he was created Knight of Rhodes and Grand Prior of Capua and afterwards advanced by his Kinsman Leo X. to the Arch-Bishoprick of Florence and the year following was created Cardinal of S. Clement and then instituted Chancellor of the Roman Church which is the supreme Office in the Popes Court and lastly being ascended to the high dignity of Pope he was crowned on the 25th of November 1523. with the common joy and satisfaction of all in general who were pleased with the promotion of a person of his great Authority and Sobriety wholly addicted to business and counsel without mixtures of pleasures or divertisements for which reason the world expected great and extraordinary matters from him Howsoever all these excellencies in a person of his high condition could not hinder or prevent the evils of an insuing War nor could the Pope when the Emperor Charles the Fifth and Francis the French King sent their Embassadors to Rome to complement him upon his late Election please them both by keeping that even hand of moderation and temperance which became his Office when Christian Princes are at variance for the Emperor expected the same strictness of Alliance as was between him and Pope Leo his Predecessor and challenged his favour and partiality on his side for being assistant and instrumental in his promotion Howsoever the Election of a person of his Authority and Interest had a considerable Ascendant over the Affairs of the Church For the Duke of Ferrara who during the vacancy of the Sea had seized upon Reggia having understood that a Pope of so much reputation in the world was Elected desisted from prosecution of his design of taking Modena and so retired peaceably to Ferrara and John de Sassatello who had for some time vexed and harassed Romagna from whence he had been expulsed by the Gibelines under the Reign of Adrian did now retire with his contrary Faction of Guelfs being appeased by the Authority and influence of this new Pope But the spirits of mightier and more puissant Princes were not so easily allayed by the charms of mediation or the force of reason for tho Clement being
the Pope delegated to consult thereof and tho the Marriage was the main point which moved the Pope to undertake this Journey yet it was in the last place and as it were accidentally and by the by treated of The first thing assumed was the proposal about a General Council but that was soon rejected and executed with the same reasons and replies as were given to the Emperor In the next place the King of Englands case was warmly insisted upon by the Commissioners of the French King as it had been formerly agreed between the two Kings at Bulloin but those instances produced little effect for the Ministers of the King of England being in a huff were always to the diminution of the Popes Authority appealing to a Council with which the Pope referred their Cause to be farther debated at his return to Rome and the French King being desirous in all things to satisfie and comply with the Pope he told him that it would not be displeasing to him in case he proceeded against that King according to the Rule of Justice and the ancient Canons of Ecclesiastical Censure by which fair and friendly compliance the Pope would not refuse at the instance of the French King to create four Cardinals tho much against his own inclinations fearing thereby to have rendered the French Faction too strong which already was more prevalent in the Court of Rome than the Pope desired In the last place tho the first in design the Marriage between the Duke of Orleans and the Pope's Niece was treated and concluded and the parties married by the Pope himself by which a strict and firm Alliance and friendship being created between the French King and the Pope it seemed as if all those professions of amity and good will which had lately interceded at Bologna between the Emperor and the Pope had vanished or signified little and now amongst other Articles it being capitulated that the Duke of Orleans should be invested in the Dukedom of Milan it was with no less wonder considered that the interest of Francis Sforza the true and right Heir to that Dutchy and for which both this and other Popes had so earnestly contended could so easily be made void and transferred over to a Forein Prince who could pretend no other right thereunto than the might and power of his own Arms. With entertainment of these Affairs a months time being spent at Marseille the Pope returned to Rome where so soon as he arrived he foretold his own death acquainting his Friends and Domesticks about his person that he had not long to live and therefore in order to his Burial he commanded the Ring to be provided and the Vestments in which Popes were usually interred howsoever before his death he thundered out his Bulls of Excommunication against Henry VIII King of England and all the people of his Realm with which the King being highly incensed immediately withdrew his Obedience from the Papal Sea and declared himself Head under Jesus Christ of the Church of England forbidding mony to be transported out of England to Rome and commanded the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to renounce his Title of Legate from the Pope the which was the beginning of that blessed Reformation which hath purged the Church of England from Errors rendred it pure in its Doctrin introduced the true and glorious light of the Gospel which will with Gods assistance for ever remain sure and immovable in despight of all the contrivances either of the Fanatical irreligious malice or the power or policies of the Roman Church And moreover it was the beginning of that liberty which we now enjoy and the enrichment of this flourishing Nation which now keeps its Treasures and Acquisitions to its self which in former days were emptied into the Coffers of the Pope to make Foreiners opulent and its people poor But to return to Pope Clement being taken with a pain in his stomach a Fever ensued upon it of which according to his own prediction he departed this life the 25th day of September 1534. leaving behind him in the Castle of S. Angelo many Jewels in the Pontifical Chamber infinite Offices but a very small sum of mony he had at divers Ordinations created three and thirty Cardinals all which except Cardinal De Medicis were made to please others rather than himself He had been exalted to the Popedom with wonderful felicity and with the general applauses and grand expectations of the world but in a short time he fell strangely in their opinion for being of a temper naturally irresolute and diffident suffered himself to be divided by his two familiar friends men differing in their humors affections and interests which laid him low in the esteem of mankind and hated and detested by the Romans and yet he was sober abstemious and a greater conqueror of himself but accounted covetous of no fidelity or faithfulness to his word nor readily inclined to do any man a good office unless forced thereunto by some constraining necessity and yet he was grave and well advised in his actions if timorousness had not oftentimes corrupted his judgment He proved such diversity of fortunes that it is hard to determin whether his bad or his good fortune was greatest for what evil can be compared to the sacking of Rome which he beheld with his own eyes his own and the long imprisonment of the Cardinals the desolation of his own Country of which he was an instrument for the promotion only of the Family of the Medices He died in the 67th year of his age having held the Papal Chair ten years ten months and seven days His Corps were first interred in the Church of S. Peter but afterwards transported to the Minerva by his own Relations and laid by the Body of Pope Leo the tenth over which they erected a stately Monument of Marble PAVL III. THE Funeral Rites of Clement VII being performed with due solemnity the Cardinals entered the Conclave the 12th of October 1534. and the same day towards night agreed unanimously in their Election and published Alexander Farnese Dean of the College of Cardinals to be with general consent chosen Pope The motives which the Cardinals might have to hasten with such facility and unanimous assent this election might be various for his family was great and ancient He had been forty years a Cardinal and thereby acquired a competent knowledg of the Affairs of the world and of the practices of the Court of Rome and being 68 years of age and of a weak and tender constitution of body the more robust and ambitious Cardinals expected that his Reign could not be long before he made way for one of them And in regard that in all the actions and negotiations of his life he had ever shewed an indifferency not inclining either to the Imperial or French Faction the parties of neither side did make it their business or concernment to oppose him for tho the Family of Farnese were Guelfs and
or at least withdraw from any Meetings where such matters were Debated or Acts Decreed But notwithstanding these positive refusals the Emperor's Ambassadours endeavoured to induce the Pope's Party to admit the Dissenters to audience in the Council for that their very entrance to it did imply a tacite owning of the Pope's Authority though the usual Ceremonies and Compliments which were but superficial Points were pretermitted by them the which would be an act most religious and Christian for perhaps such charitable condescension would be a means to prevent a War which might endanger the safety of the whole Church to which the Cardinal of Toledo one of the Emperor's Party farther added That he had often heard in Sermons how that the salvation of one Soul was so dear and precious to Jesus Christ that for the saving thereof he would descend on Earth and be again crucified and then said he let us consider if we imitate this example in case for the saving of all Germany we should deny to recede from the least punctilio of our honour and prerogative At length to be short after many Debates and consultations in despight of the Legat and his Adherents the Authority of the three Electours and the Cardinal Madrutio promoted by the mediation of the Imperial Ambassadors prevailed But then another difficulty arose concerning the treatment of these Ambassadours when introduced to the Council with what place and precedency was to be granted to them and how and where the Divines were to be seated who expected a rank and freedom of Voice and suffrage equal with others which seemed very dangerous to be yielded to known Hereticks who by Antient Canons and Papal Decretals were never admitted to a Communion or Society with other Christians unless having first renounced their Errors they desired with humility to be taught and directed this Point though at first disputed with the same difficulties as the former yet at length it was concluded That the necessity ought to excuse the transgression of such Canons which after mature deliberation had been dispensed within all the Diets of Germany and that the like might be safely practised at this Council in case that in the Preamble to this Admission it were declared that such Indulgence was yielded out of charity and compassion to the end that Men who were gone astray and fallen into error might be reclaimed and reduced to the true Faith and Orthodox Doctrine of the Church And though the Legat would not yield to any of these means of Accommodation yet it was concluded against him that on the 24th of this month of January a General Convocation should be held at which the Ambassadours of Saxony should be received and heard and that in the mean time the Divines who remained at some distance from Trent might repair thither and that the 25th should be the day of Session which being agreed a Committee was chosen to draw up this Decree together with the Preamble to the Admission and the safe Conduct The Imperial Ministers having made this report to the Protestants and signified in an eloquent Speech the tenderness the Council had for them and willingness to condescend to their weak Consciences the Protestants retired a while and having considered the minutes of the safe Conduct made their exceptions to it being in four particulars different to that of Basil formerly granted to the Bohemians and on which they were obliged by their Instructions to insist As first That in Council they might have a Vote and free suffrage Secondly That the holy Scripture and practice of the Primitive Church Antient Councils and Fathers who were Expositors of the Scriptures might be the Judges of all Controversies Thirdly That all Ambassadours during the continuance of the Council might have the free Exercise of their Religion in their own Lodgings Fourthly That nothing should be said or acted which might tend to the defamation of their Religion or render it ridiculous These particulars being offered to the Council were generally concluded to be unreasonable and such as might ensnare their wisdom in inextricable difficulties and therefore it was resolved not to change or alter any thing in the Minutes of the Safe Conduct in expectation that the Protestants observing their resolution and constancy might with time be induced to condescend to their terms Matters being thus protracted till the 24th of January the General Convocation was held at the House of the Legat where the Electors all the Fathers and the Emperor's Ambassadours were present who having taken their Places the Ambassadours of Saxony were called in who having made their Reverence and Salutes to the Assembly one of them began his Speech with this Compellation Reverendissimi Amplissimi Patres Domini My Lord and Master Maurice Elector of Saxony after his hearty Wishes and Prayers that God would inspire all your Counsels with his Holy Spirit hath commanded me to let you know that he hath a long time desired to see a General Christian and free Council held and celebrated wherein all Errors might be refuted and abuses in the Church corrected and reformed and that the Holy Scriptures might be made the Rule of our faith and practice in which good work that he might be assistant he hath sent his Divines to represent their Confession to this Council being commanded to abide at some Leagues distant until a safe Conduct could be procured for them for having understood that according to a constitution of the Council of Constance it was not necessary to keep faith with Hereticks or those who were so reputed and that the Bohemians being sensible of such Tenants had with due caution armed themselves with assurance of safe Conduct under the Seal of the Council of Basil so in like manner his Master the Elector did desire and expect the security of safe Conduct for his Divines Counsellors and their domestick Servants in a more ample and large form than what appeared in that Draught and Copy which had lately been presented to him Which request being granted and admission given to the Divines to take their place in Council his next Proposition was to have them heard upon those Points and Articles which were in Controversie between the Protestants and the Catholicks and though the same had already been determined by the Council yet that they might again be revised and examined and determined by the Word of God and according to the common belief of all Christian Nations After these Ambassadours had finished their Oration those of Wirtemberg were introduced who having delivered their Message almost to the same intent and purpose with the former they were caused to retire and after a Debate whether any addition or alteration should be made in the form of Safe Conduct it was generally concluded in the Negative lest by giving the liberty proposed the Council should be intrigued in most inextricable Disputes of which Volumes had been wrote already without hopes of arriving at any definitive Sentence or Determination
adjoyned to a severity and mortified way of living rendered the Prelats awful and revered and such Men encompassing the Papal Chair made it appear more holy and Apostolical and above all so fortified it with the Divine Protection that nothing would be able to remove or shake the firmness of that Throne which was established on so sure a foundation These Designs being published and discoursed of in the Court of Rome were received with different Sentiments such as were of the Pope's Party applauded the intention as pious glorious and such as favoured of Peace Charity and zeal to Religion but those who were of a contrary Faction made an other interpretation construing all the actions of this Pope to be regulated by Astrological Schemes to which he gave much credence in regard that both his Father and himself had been much advanced by that Art Moreover amongst other things projected by this Pope he intended to have erected a new Order of Chivalry consisting of a hundred Knights of which the Pope was to be the Chief Commander all which were to enter into an Oath of Allegiance and fidelity to the Pope never to desert his Cause or Person but always to advance his Power and Interest and for maintenance of this Degree five hundred Crowns of yearly Pension were to be issued out of the Apostolical Chamber to every Person of them the which allowance was never to be augmented or enlarged nor could other Revenues be bequeathed or purchased for an additional maintenance only they were capable by their Virtues and merits of being created Cardinals without any impeachment of their Vow or rules of their Order Out of these he intended to chuse his Nuntios and Ministers for all Treaties and Negotiations his Governours of Towns and Legats and in short to extract all his Officers out of this Society and so far was this Project resolved that several wise Men and Persons of merit living at Rome were already nominated who were to be listed and admitted into this Order Thus did the Pope with subtle reasonings and refined Discourses draw his Methods and Schemes of Politicks which would have proved more rude and prickly in the handling But whilest the Court of Rome was filled with talk and Novelty unexpectedly and on a sudden the thred of all these Designs were cut off by the death of the Pope who having as is said wearied and tired himself with the many superfluous and painful Ceremonies which he sustained in the Holy Week before Easter and at his Inaugurations fell into a fit of an Apoplexy and died the last day of that month of April in which he was created having been Pope no longer than twenty one days which was a far shorter time than what the predictions he had made by his Art in Astrology had flattered his belief PAVL IV. THE Funeral Rites and Ceremonies of Marcellus being ended the Cardinals to the number of sixty four returned again to the Conclave where as preliminaries to the future Election the Cardinals of Augsbourg seconded by Cardinal Moron instantly pressed that to the other Articles which were accustomary and which Popes swear to maintain after their Election these two should be farther added namely That within the term of two years next following the Pope should oblige himself by Oath to convene a Council to finish the matters of Reformation already begun and to determine the Disputes and Controversies in Religion and endeavour by all means to induce Germany to accept the Doctrines of the Council of Trent Secondly That in regard the Colledg of Cardinals by the licentious munificence of former Popes was become very numerous That the succeeding Pope should not have Power to create above four in the space of two years next following The which being premised after some sharp though not long Contests John Caraffa commonly called Cardinal Chieti was by general consent elected Pope being then sixty nine years of age though there was a strong Party made against him yet by the powerful interests of the Cardinals Farnese and Ferrara prevailed who having formed a Party of forty four the dissenting number was obliged to condescend to a concurrence with the plurality of Votes This Pope who took on himself the name of Paul the 4th was the Son of Anthony Caraffa Count of Montorio he was first created Bishop of Chieti by Julius II. He afterwards received a Commission from Leo X. to gather the Peter-pence in England where he resided for the space of three years He was afterwards made of the Privy Council to Ferdinand King of Spain and therein confirmed by his Heir and Successour Charles V. By Hadrian VI. He was recalled to Rome to join with other Fathers whose incumbence it was to consider in what manner the lives and practices of the Clergy might be reformed and amended under Clement the 7th he not onely refused the Arch-bishoprick of Brundufium but quitted also his Bishoprick of Chieti and retiring to Mount Pincio from the noise and bustle of the World and almost from humane Society he there instituted a new Order of Regulars afterwards going to Venice he affected a Society and Communication with learned and religious Men renowned for Wisdom and Sanctity of life with whom he first instituted the Order of Theatini from the name of his Bishoprick called both Chieti and Theatina At length Paul III. in the year 1536. calling him to Rome made him reassume his Bishoprick creating him Cardinal of Santa Maria trans Tiberim and Arch-bishop of Naples and then under Julius III. He was made Bishop of Tusculum Ostia and Velitres and lastly being elected Pope in remembrance of his late Friend and chief Benefactor who had called him to all his promotions he caused himself to be named Paul IV. In all the course of his former Life being of a morose and Saturnine temper he shewed great severity and exactness of Life so that his Election strook a great fear and terrour to all such who were ill inclined to a Reformation imagining that his humour would transport him to such severe proceedings as would be terrible and inconsistent with those methods which gently lead Men to conversion and reformation of Manners a testimony of which he had given by being the first Author and Contriver of the Inquisition having advised and persuaded Paul III. to appoint and authorize a certain number of Cardinals to be Inquisitors of such who had embraced the new Doctrines of Luther and to proceed to Capital Punishments in such manner as is provided in the Canon de â—aeretico comburendo the which severity of Councils being by some interpreted for zeal towards God and by most to be a ferocity in his Nature his Election was entertained with fear and dread by all those who were dependants on the Court of Rome However he so palliated and disguised his humour at the beginning that he comported himself with an humble and affable behaviour towards all but especially towards Strangers whom he treated and caressed
arrived his hands and raised thereupon two millions and five hundred thousand Livres By this time the Cardinal of Lorain was returned and the eleventh of November came which was the day appointed for the Session after the usual ceremonies of which were performed the Article about Clandestine Marriages was read and after some Contests thereupon was passed by plurality of Voices but yet it did not pass the raillery of some witty Men who reflected on the words of the Canon which pronounces Anathema against those who deny Clandestine Marriage to be a true Sacrament and yet in the conclusion saith that the Church hath ever disapproved and detested it Afterwards the Decrees of General Reformation were read which are too long to be here inserted upon passing of which the Cardinal of Lorain declared that the French Nation did so far accept them as they were not prejudicial to the Priviledges Rights and antient Constitutions of the Kings of France Howsoever amongst all the Chapters of General Reformation there was not one Point of those many touched which the People of divers Nations required nothing being therein contained or resolved but what served to advance the Pope's Authority over the Clergy and warrant the Power of the Clergy in oppression of the People Amongst these Points of General Reformation there was one which made void all Titles or Rights to Benefices which were obtained by Simony which in the Opinion of some would have ruined the greatest part of the Pope's Annates or yearly Income had it been strictly observed but this was as duly obeyed as the Canon which prohibits Cardinals to enjoy plurality of benefices in both which time and experience have shewn us how little either the one or the other hath been regarded Another Chapter which ordained that those who had publickly sinned should do publick Penance seemed as if it designed to restore the Primitive Discipline but that was again spoiled by this clause Ni aliter Episcopo videatur with these and matters of the like nature this Session concluded And now the Scene of Affairs began much to change their face for every one growing weary of Disputes passed every thing almost without examination or contest The Pope was infinitely tired and fainted under the burthen of the Council The French who now expected no benefit from this Assembly followed the dictates of the Cardinal of Lorain who had intirely devoted himself to the Papal Interest The Germans had long since abandoned the Council despairing of any good or cure from it onely the Spaniards to whom delays have been always pleasing and to whom by force of gravity all fatigues of long continuance are rendered Ease were those who willingly would have protracted the longer course of the Council but not being able to stem the Torrent with which other Nations precipitated the Council to a conclusion they yielded to the same humour and concurred with the Cardinal of Lorain and others in their Design to put an end to the Council at the next Session The Points about Indulgences on which Luther had grounded his first quarrel with the Pope Adoration of Saints Purgatory Images and Fasts were all slubber'd over and passed in the space of fifteen days The greatest difficulty was that which related to the Reformation of Princes against which the Ambassadours of France had so seriously protested which being a knotty and insuperable Point it was resolved to leave it undecided and in lieu thereof to perform something for the better satisfaction of the Clergy allowing unto the Bishops some enlargement of Power over their respective Chapters But as to the Decree which was drawn up for reforming and moderating the Authority of Princes they thought fit in lieu thereof to renew the tenure of the Antient Canons not enforcing them with Menaces or Anathemas but onely with exhortations to Princes to conserve and maintain the Church in its priviledges concluding with gentle terms full of respect to the Sovereign Power The expressions of this Article being thus moderated to the satisfaction as the Cardinal of Lorain imagined of temporal Princes he endeavoured to persuade the French Ambassadours to return again from Venice to Trent which they absolutely refused to do for though the Article for reforming Princes ' was revoked yet several other Acts being pass'd to the prejudice of the Gallican Church the Ambassadours pretended that their return and presence would imply or argue a concurrence or an assent to all the Decrees of the Council Notwithstanding this refusal the Council proceeded forward to consider of the reformation of Friers Monks Abbots and other Religious in respect to whom few Rules were altered onely some additions were made according to the Proposals and desires of the Generals of the respective Orders All other things as we have said proceeded smoothly the Point of Indulgences being superficially touched for considering the many difficulties comprehended in that question which might if distinctly treated have taken up a long time in the examination of every Point it was thought fit to couch all in few words prohibiting the abuses thereof in general terms Thus did matters hasten towards an end but what did more eagerly precipitate a conclusion was the Pope's indisposition of health for it was feared in case the Pope should die during the Session that then the Council would by the example of that of Constance take upon themselves a Power of electing an other so that notwithstanding the opposition of the Spaniards who desired to proceed with gravity and phlegm until they could receive an answer of what they had wrote to Madrid the ultimate Session was appointed for the 9th of December but in regard that time seemed too long to Persons impatient of an end the day was shortned to the third of that month and to be continued on the day following in case the Affairs seemed too weighty and various to be ended at one sitting The Spanish Ambassadour with fourteen of his Bishops not being able to withstand this general Torrent promised to concur with the others on these two conditions First That the Pope should regulate all matters not determined by this Council And secondly That in the Chapters of Indulgences the word gratis should not be used lest it should prejudice the Indulgences granted by the Crusada of Spain All the difficulties being now overcome the Session was held on Friday the 3d. of December at which after the Sermon and usual Ceremonies all the Acts prepared according to form were read but being too long for the work of one day the remaining part was left until the day following at the conclusion of all fearing lest in any of the Decrees of Reformation some words should have escaped which might seem to entrench or diminish the Pope's Authority it was determined that the Interpretation of the Canons and the liberty to dispense with any of them should remain in the breast and at the free pleasure and will of the Pope in confirmation of which it was publickly declared
the Oar in the Gallies of the Turks Of the Christians after the fight was ended upon the numbers wanting in every Vessel the account of the slain amounted to seven thousand six hundred fifty six This signal Victory was attributed as much to the devout Prayers and Benediction of the Pope as to the valour of the Soldiers and conduct of the Captains the report of which as it filled all Europe with joy so it made way for the glories of Don John who was received into Messina with all the Triumphs and Festivals which that City could express also Antonio Colonna was with the like honour and triumph received at Rome Nor did the Venetian General want such encouragements and honours as that Republick commonly bestows in reward of Valour and Merit In memory of which signal Victory they stamped divers Medals with this Inscription Anno Magnae Navalis Victoriae Dei gratiâ contra Turcas This memorable Victory was obtained in the time of this Pius V. who was certainly one of the best of the Popes and therefore I know not why we may not say without offence to any that this happy success might be given in reward of the Devotion and Piety of this Pope for I am persuaded that God hath a particular care of godly Kings and Princes for whose sake as he often blesseth their people so he bestows some memorable blessings on them of signal Remark in their Reign On which persuasion I am apt to believe that as God bestowed this Victory on the Christians in the time of this Pius V. against that great Sultan Selim II. So now in these our days he hath given Victory and unexpected success to the Christians before the Walls of Vienna against Mahomet IV. in reward of the great Piety and Devotion of Leopold the Emperour whose Devotion and Prayers joyned to the Arms of the King of Poland and of other Princes have operated Miracles and delivered Germany in a wonderful manner from the power of the Turk And yet notwithstanding the religious temper of this Pope we find that he excommunicated Queen Elizabeth as far as his Bull would operate he deposed her from Royal Dignities and conferred her Crown on Mary Queen of Scots and persuaded Philip King of Spain to seize on the effects of the English Merchants at Antwerp and other parts of the Low-Countries and to assist the Catholick Subjects in England in their godly and religious Conspiracies as Gabutius calls them against the Queen their natural Sovereign Pius oblatam occasionem haud contemnendam esse ratus efflatigabat ab Rege ut Anglorum in Elizabetham pie conspirantium studia foveret Thus we see how far a mistaken zeal may transport good Men which though it may in some measure excuse from the aggravation of a Crime yet it cannot prove sufficient to set Men entirely upright at the great day of the just Ballance This Pope added also to his other Excellencies the Virtue of loving wife and learned Men and such as were endued with a vivacity and acuteness of parts for he scarce preferred any to considerable Dignity but such as were excellent in some degree or other and of the twenty one Cardinals which he created at three several times there were five of them at least who were Men of extraordinary Abilities and famous in their Generation He founded certain publick places for Learning and Piety amongst which he endowed a College in the University of Pavia for the Education of Youth and affixed over it the Arms of the Ghislers at Boschi the place of his Birth he built a Monastery for Dominican Friers and endowed it with a competent Revenue and to demonstrate his gratitude to his Antient Benefactors he created a Magnificent Sepulcre in memory of Paul V. by whom he was created Cardinal and in short he made many new Buildings and repaired several that were decayed in the Vatican and both within and without the City of Rome After all which about the middle of March 1572. he became indisposed by a stoppage of Urin of which he commonly had a fit in that Month the which illness encreasing upon him gave him notice that his end approached from which time converting all his thoughts to holy and pious meditations he spent the short remainder of his time in the preparation of his Soul for death which happened on the first of May following the same day he died his Body was embowel'd and three little stones found at the neck of his bladder which the Physitians declared to be the cause of his death He was generally lamented by all and especially by vertuous Men for considering his principles his Enemies had nothing worse to object than that he gave a Dispensation to Philip King of Spain to marry with the Daughter of his Sister and of Maximilian his near Kinsman and yet would never be induced to consent unto the Marriage of Margaret of Valois Sister of the King of France with Henry King of Navarre making the difference of Religion a greater bar to Marriage than the degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the Levitical Law The day after his death his Body being clothed in the habit of a Jacobin was carried into the Church of St. Peter where the people assembled in great numbers to render him Honour and Veneration every one touching their Beads and Rosaries at his Body in the same manner as was their practice at the Reliques of Saints and afterwards he was honourably buried in the same Church where his Body lay deposited until afterwards Sixtus V. in grateful remembrance of the benefits he had received from him transported it to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and erected a stately Monument over it in a Chappel built for that purpose with this Epitaph inscribed upon it Pio V. Pont. Max ex Ordine Praedicatorum Sixtus V. Pont. Max. ex Ordine Minorum grati animi monumentum posuit GREGORY XIII PIVS the Fifth being dead and his Funeral Rites after the accustomed manner being performed the Cardinals entred the Conclave and with common consent elected Hugo Buoncompagno who was Priest and Cardinal of S. Sixtus to the dignity of Pope he was born at Bologna of the antient Family of the Buoncompagni his Father was called Christopher and his Mother Agnola Marascalchi by whom he was at first educated in the Studies of the Civil Law in which having made great proficiency he took his degree of Doctor in the University of Bologna at the age of twenty eight years and in a short time was made Judg of the Court of Trade erected in that City for tryal of Mercantile Causes afterwards in hopes of better preferment he went to Rome where he was constituted an Assistant to the Senator who was Judg of the Court held in the Capitol and the year following he was made Clerk of the Signet for Dispensasations and other Beneficences In the time of Paul III. he was employed at the Council of Trent and made Vice-Auditor of the
Camera under Julius III. he was made Secretary Apostolical and sent Vice-Legat with Cardinal Cigalla into the Campaign of Rome Under Paul IV. he was ordained Priest and Bishop of Veste and in the year 1562. he was employed to the Council of Trent where he remained until the prorogation thereof Under Pius IV. he was constituted Assessor of the Papal Chappel and on St. Gregory's day was created Cardinal of St. Sixtus and employed by him for his Legat into Spain from whence returning again to Rome in the time of Pius V. he performed his several Offices with such Integrity and general satisfaction that having acquired a singular Fame and good esteem he was by the common consent of all the Cardinals and particular concurrence of Morone Granvel Farnese Altemps and Borromeo who were the Leading Men in the Conclave promoted to the Papal Chair and on the 13th of May 1572. declared Pope stiling himself by the Name of Gregory XIII out of the great devotion and respect he had to Saint Gregory Nazianzen on whose Festival he had been created Cardinal In which Election there was nothing more remarkable than that it was made in the space of four or five hours different to the Customs and former practices of Conclaves in which by Factions and Artifices of prevailing Cardinals Elections have been protracted for several Months On the day of Pentecost or Whitsunday Gregory XIII being Crowned and established in the Papal Chair his first Enterprise was in prosecution of the Design commenced by his Predecessour against the Turk in which the Spaniard and Venetians being already engaged the Pope for better strengthening of this League dispeeded Fulvio Cardinal of Vrsino into France unto Charles IX with Letters exhorting him to enter into the Alliance and sacred League which he with other Princes had formed against the Turk but that King being then engaged in a War with his Protestant Subjects had neither Men nor Mony to spare so that the Legat returned to Rome with fair words and professions only of Obedience to the Papal Sea Howsoever the Allies being encouraged by their late success proceeded in the War in order unto which Colonna was confirmed General of the Gallies by this Pope's Commission and with his Fleet joyned to that under the command of the Providitor General Soranzo and to 20. Gallies supplyed by Don John of Austria who promised to follow them with the main body of his Fleet unless he were diverted by the Wars in Flanders they sailed to the Rendezvouz at Corfu Towards the end of July 1572. they arrived at Corfu and there joyning with Foscarini General of the Venetians composed a considerable Fleet consisting of one hundred and thirty Gallies six Galleasses and ten Ships with which they esteemed themselves of sufficient strength to encounter the Turks whose force notwithstanding the late Defeat was reported to consist of two hundred and fifty Sail but they being for the most part Vessels built in haste and framed of green and unseasoned Timber were notwithstanding their numbers esteemed of inferiour force to the well-built and equipped Fleet of the Christians who on that confidence resolved to attaque the Turks then anchoring on the Coast of Mavoisia The Christians being come as near to them as Cerigo weighed their Anchors and had sight of the Turks about Capomalio upon which Vzun Hali Captain Pasha of the Turk's Armata not adventuring to stand a shock with so well composed and so well ordered a Force turned the stern of his Gallies to the Enemy and rowed to the Westward directing his course to the Isle of Cervi the Christians in the mean time toaing their heavier Vessels pursued them so slowly that the Night came on before they arrived within shot of the Enemy at which time Vzun Hali putting a good face on the business as if he intended to engage but with hopes that the Night would soon separate them he turned the Prow of his Gallies on the Enemy whom when he observed coming on with heat and valour he tacked about and basely put himself into flight and rowed away so hard that the Christians not being able to overtake him returned again to Cerigo where having remained for the space of two days they returned again in pursuit of the Turks and on the 10th of August they discovered them at an Anchor in the Port of Quailes under Cape Matagan The Turks on fight of the Christians not daring to engage with them fled and saved themselves in the Port of Coron from whence the Christians returned again to their Rendezvouz in Cerigo By this time advices came that Don John was arrived with his Fleet at Corfu and that he was highly displeased that the Confederates should endeavour to engage the Enemy without the conjunction of his Forces Colonna was sensibly touched at this displeasure of Don John as were all the other Commanders and therefore it was agreed to return unto Corfu to unite themselves with Don John which being accordingly performed and the Forces joyned the whole Fleet consisted there of one hundred and eighty light Gallies eighteen Ships and six Galleasses Upon this conjunction of Forces a Counsel of War being held it was resolved to surprise the Turks in Coron but they having Watches on the top of the Hills discovered the Christian Fleet at a distance by which means they had time to retire to the Port of Modon which being a secure and well guarded place they could not be provoked by all the insults and defiance the Christians could make to adventure a Battel with them for now not farther confiding in their Maritime Forces they applyed themselves to fortifie the Hills and Eminences about the Town with Canon for better defence and security of the Haven by which this Enterprise on Modon appearing difficult the Christians resolved to attempt the Castle of Navarine and to that end landed three thousand Italians and one thousand two hundred Spaniards under the command of Prince Alexander Farnese intending the next day to raise Batteries against the Castle but being advised by some fugitive Slaves which escaped from the Turks that great preparations were making and eight thousand Horse were already in a Body for the relief of the Castle the Design was given over and the Forces recalled again aboard the Fleet upon whose retreat a Body of ten thousand Horse appearing the Christians had been greatly worsted had they not embarked under the security of their own Cannon It being now about the 7th of October that the Winds were high the Rains falling in great abundance and the Seas unsafe for Gallies and no hopes appearing that the Enemy would be drawn to an Engagement it was resolved to conclude the Designs of this year And so the Christian Fleet sailing to the Westward Don John and Colonna directed their course to Messina and Foscarini to Corfu When the success of this year was told the Pope his Answer was That it was well it was no worse for if the
he commanded his Followers to revenge this affront with their Arms which they readily obeying immediately shot Rustici dead from his Horse and so mortally hurt Orsini and Savello that in two days after they died of their wounds This unhappy accident troubled all Rome but especially incensed the party and Creatures of Orsini to that degree that rising in a tumult they ran with Weapons in their hands to kill all the Sbiri or Bayliffs they could find and having way-laid all the Avenues where they could make an escape the confusion continued for the space of two days and rendered the City a sad spectacle of blood and massacre In the mean time the Pope and civil Government not being able to apply a Remedy gave way to the fury of the people which as it was believed would have been inflamed higher by opposition of the civil Magistrate The Head bayliff having hidden himself for some days was at length taken and beheaded at Rome But this evil ended not here for from this fatal accident another quarrel arose between Vitelli who was Deputy to Buoncompagno General of the Church and Lodwick Orsino Brother of Raimond who was lately killed in prosecution of which Orsino taking with him several persons in disguise and Masks assaulted Vitelli in his way from Monte Magnopoli to Rome and shot him dead with a Carbine in his Coach for which offence Orsino being condemned to banishment he departed from Rome and went to live at Padoua where having taken up his Lodgings he soon after committed a like murther on Vittoria the Wife of Paul Giordano and her Brother for which Crime being prosecuted by the Justice of Venice he fortified himself within his House resolving to preserve himself by force of Arms but not being long able to hold out against the Soldiers which were sent against it the House was almost levelled to the ground and the Defendants taken Prisoners which being all punished by death or other Sentences of Justice this fatal Tragedy was at length ended After these sorrowful Stories the Pope being willing to cheer and comfort the City created nineteen Cardinals amongst which his Nephew was made one with the title of St. Sixtus and John Anthony Fachinesti of Bologna who was afterwards made Pope by the name of Innocent IX After which he received no small contentment to see his Stately Structure of the Jesuits College finished at Rome over the Gate of which these words were Engraven Greg. XIII P.M. Religioni Bonis Artibus MDLXXXIII in memory and in gratitude for which the Jesuits at their own expence painted in their wide Court or Area all the Colleges and Foundations which this Pope had built and endowed in divers parts of the World and particularly in reference to their own College this Inscription was engraven in Capital Letters Gregorio XIII Pont. Max. Hujus Collegii Fundatori Societatis Jesu amplissimis ab eo Privelegiis Munita Ingentibus Aucta Beneficiis Vniversa in hoc totius Ordinis Seminario parentis Optimi Maximi Memoriam suique grati animi Monumentum P. Nor were these favours ill bestowed on the Jesuits who had always been so industrious and true Drudges to the Sea of Rome that they brought Proselytes from the most remote parts of the World and in the year 1585. after a long Navigation of three years conducted four Ambassadours to Rome from the Island of Japan in the East-Indies sent from some great Lords and from the Community of Christians converted in that Country to the Faith of the Gospel The arrival of such Strangers at Rome filled all the City with Discourse and Novelty and were entertained with free treatment at the expence of the Church being lodged in the Jesuits College who were the Authors or Apostles of their conversion though some years afterwards by the indiscreet management of the Jesuits who usurped too much on the civil Jurisdiction and temporal Power of that Kingdom Christianity was totally extirpated by the most cruel persecution that the most fierce Enemies to the Gospel of Christ had ever exercised against his People for the particulars whereof which are most doleful and Tragical to relate and not pertinent to this History we shall refer the Reader to the Writers of the Description of Japan But as to these four Ambassadours who were all young Men not much exceeding the age of twenty years they had remained but few days in Rome before Pope Gregory departed this life He was rather surprized with death than reduced thereunto by long sickness his indisposition being discovered by his countenance before he was really sensible thereof within himself his Distemper was esteemed by the Physitians to be a Quinsy with which he was suffocated and died the tenth day of April 1585. being aged eighty three years and three months He may be numbred amongst the good Popes having ended his days with a general good esteem of all and especially of the people of Rome who bewailed his death and in honour to his memory engraved these words under his Statue of Brass which he had in his life-time caused to be erected in the Capitol Gregorio XIII Opt. Max. ob farinae vectigal sublatum Vrbem Templis Operibus Magnificentis exornatam H.S. Octingenties Singulari beneficentiâ in egenos distributum Ob Seminaria Exterarum Nationum in urbe ac toto pene Terraram Orbe Religionis propagandae causa instituta Ob paternam in omnes gentes caritatem Qua ex ultimis Novi Orbis insulis Japoniorum Regum Legatos Triennii Navigatione Ad obedientiam Apostolicae Sedi Exhibendam Primum venientes Romam Pro Pontificia dignitate accepit S.P.Q.R. The Pope being dead his Corps were with funeral Pomp brought into St. Peter's Church and buried in a Chappel which he himself had erected which was afterwards richly adorned and beautified by his Kindred and Relations He was naturally of a cheerful Countenance and pleasing Aspect and being of a good habit of Body and sound temperament by temperance and sobriety he conserved that good constitution unto old Age he used much Exercise and delighted in Riding being so active that to his latter time he could mount on Horseback without the help of his Servants the place of his Recreation and retirement was Monte Dragone at Frescati about ten Miles distant from Rome where he frequently enjoyed the fresh Air which is accounted the most healthful of all Italy This Palace now belongs to the Prince Borghese and is situated in a most delightful prospect from one of the open Galleries of which I copied these Verses Thessala quid Tempe qui quaeris Adonidis hortos Haec tibi pro cunctis villa Dragonis erit Prospicis hinc Tybur colles rura Catonis Pulchrior aspectu quae tibi Scena subit The greatest care and trouble which this Pope susteined in the time of his Reign was to suppress the unruly numbers of the Banditi who were grown to that bold insolence that they commanded and
pillaged all the Cities round nor were the Lives nor Estates of honest Men safe nor secure within the Cities It is incredible to relate what numbers they murthered in divers places and what Robberies they committed and though this Gregory sent many Troops of armed Soldiers against them yet he was not able to extirpate those bands of villanous Men that work being reserved for Sixtus Quintus whose Life is the next which offers it self to our Pen. SIXTVS V. GREGORY being dead the Cardinals to the number of thirty nine entered the Conclave on Easter day being the eleventh of April which were all that were then present at Rome to which in a short time afterwards three more were added namely the Cardinals of Austria Madrucci and Vercelli The Conclave being divided into no less than six Factions prolonged the choice by the many Scrutinies that were made but at length all things seemed to favour Cardinal Montalto and the minds of the Conclave to encline towards him for he was considered as a Person learned peaceable pleasant in his Conversation and one who was free of dependancies or Relations for he had onely some Nephews by a Sister who were all so young and of that tender age that they were never likely to put him to expence or intrude into the management of Affairs besides he had been always obliging in his carriage and given demonstrations of due honour and respect to all the Cardinals he was also of a quiet behahaviour living in a modest retirement and having at any time entertained a Dispute or controversie with any Cardinal in the Consistory he would rather gently yield the question than seem obstinate in any impertinent adherence to his own Opinion When at any time he had been reviled as once he was in the Consistory where one of the Cardinals called him the Ass of la Marca he laughed and took it for a jest and as an effect of that intimacy and familiarity which was between them In short his plausible carriage made him acceptable to all and opened a way to his Election which happened the 24th day of April the Sea having been vacant fourteen days onely This Pope was named Felix or Felice born of poor and obscure Parents at Montalto in the Marches of Ancona at the age of fourteen years he took the habit of St. Francis and became a Cordelior Frier in a Convent at Ascoli not far distant from the place of his birth As he grew forward in years he became a good proficient in his Studies and so subtil a Disputant that he was always challenging and provoking his fellow Students to Disputations which moved them to that anger and envy against him as made them often to fly into passions and revile him with the meanness of his birth terming him with the reproach of being the Son of a Hog-driver or the Boy of a Swineherd all which he took very mildly and without displeasure to be accounted of mean Parentage for he would often in jest say that he was born of an Illustrious House which was so conspicuous that the very Sun-beams darted through it But when he had passed from his Sophistry to more substantial Learning he took his Degree of Doctor of Divinity in the City of Fermo and soon after in company with certain other learned Fathers he went to a publick Disputation held at Asciti where in presence of Cardinal Carpi who was then Protectour of the Franciscan Order he shewed so much subtlety and acuteness of Wit in defending certain conclusions that he acquired the esteem both of a learned Disputant and an elegant Oratour In the year 1551. he was ordained Preacher at Siena and the year following at Camerino and afterwards by order of his General he was appointed one of the Lent Preachers in the Church of the Holy Apostles at Rome and therein acquitted himself with great honour and applause Afterwards he was made one of the Council of the Inquisition and constituted by Pope Pius IV. Vicar General of his Order and together with Cardinal Buon-compagno made Legat Apostolical in Italy Pius V. created him Bishop of St. Agatha and Cardinal with title of St. Jerome And lastly as we have said he was on the 11th of April 1585. chosen Pope giving himself the name of Sixtus V. though desired by others to assume the name of Nicholas in honour to Nicholas IV. whose memory he was observed much to affect as appears by a stately Monument which he at his own charge when Cardinal erected over the Sepulcre of that Pope in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore at Rome But the name of Sixtus prevailed with him both in Complement to Cardinal St. Sixtus as also in honour to the memory of Sixtus IV. who was a Frier likewise of the same Order Sixtus being thus Elected he contrived to be crowned on Wednesday the first of May which day had often proved auspicious to him for on a Wednesday he was first initiated into the habit of St. Francis and on a Wednesday he was created Vicar General Cardinal and Pope on Sunday following he went to St. John of Lateran according to usual custom to take possession of his sublime Office But before we proceed to the particular Affairs which occurred in his Government it may not be unpleasant to the Reader to recite some delightful passages which happened upon his Election For when the Scrutiny was past and that Montalto thought himself secure of his Election he immediately began to cast off his disguise of Humility with which he had for above fifteen years cloaked his Ambition for no sooner were half the Votes recited in his favour by which he found himself secure of his Election but being impatient to enjoy the honours of the Papal Throne he arose on his Feet before the Scrutiny was wholly finished and placing himself in the middle of the Hall he threw away his little Staff which he usually carried for a support of his crooked old Age and then strutting and stretching himself bolt upright he seemed a foot higher than before that all wondered to see the Pope grown in a moment so much taller than when he was Cardinal and with that he began to hum and spit with as much force as any young Man of thirty years of Age and of sound Lungs was able to do At which the Cardinals looking one upon the other wondred at this strange Metamorphosis shewing some kind of dissatisfaction at their Choice and therewith the Cardinal Deacon cryed aloud Hold fair and softly here is an Errour in the Votes the Scrutiny is not good But Montalto would by no means be so put off but boldly replyed It is good it is good and began to sing Te Deum Laudamus with such a clear and Audible Voice that he made the whole Hall ring again though an hour or two before he did not speak a word without Coughing or spitting three or four times And therewith placing himself before the Altar with his Eyes
humbly to beseech his Holiness to pardon what was past and as a testimony and evidence of his reconciliation to send him his Blessing But Sixtus having neither by these reasons nor yet by the gentle and submissive terms of the Ambassadours abated the fury and anger which appeared in his countenance Replyed with a loud Voice That he was well assured that Gondi was dispatched on an other Errand than this and that by any thing they had said there was no judgment to be made of sorrow or repentance in the King for the Crimes he had committed or of such obedience which they professed to the Apostolical Sea so long as contrary to the priviledges thereof he detained the Prelates in Prison and that in case he expected absolution he was to seek it with tears and by a Person express and employed to no other purpose and that there ought to be a Session of Prelates thereupon to consider whether such repentance were real and unfeigned And at last concluded with these sharp words You said he think you have to do with some poor simple Frier that is unacquainted with Men and the World but you shall find that you have to do with Sixtus who is ready to expend blood in defence of the Dignity of the Holy See After which he dismissed the two Ambassadours and the next day called a Consistory in which he appeared with a countenance full of Choler which boiled in his breast and then began to exclaim against his Legat Morosini residing at Paris as if he had consented to the death of the Cardinal or at least might have prevented both that and the imprisonment of the Prelats in case he had vigorously appeared against such indirect Counsels In the next place he railed against some Cardinals who had the boldness to excuse the murther which the King had committed wondering that Cardinals should so little esteem their Dignity and degree as to expose the sanctity of their purple to be profaned by the unhallowed violences of an usurped jurisdiction As to us said he it concerns little what affronts are put on the Cardinals dignity but we are sure that it is of a high consequence to you for we cannot believe that you would readily consent to be dispoiled of their Authority your liberties prerogatives and other priviledges with which you are adorned of which you will certainly be if this murther of a Cardinal be connived at or passed by without any resentment We therefore are resolved to perform our duty and do that which God and his Laws require at Our hands and if from thence as you may possibly object ill consequences ensue to the Kingdom of France we shall remain acquitted in the sight of God for justice must be done though the World should be ruined and dissolved thereby The Cardinals remaining all silent none daring to make a Reply The Pope proceeded and said We shall depute a Congregation of Cardinals to examine this case and search farther into this matter and accordingly the persons nominated were Anthony Sorbellone the Arch bishop of Santa Severina Facchinetto Lancilotto Sastagna and others the which Deputation was now the common Discourse and filled all the World with high expectation of the success and issue thereof The King being informed of these proceedings redoubled his Guards and cautions in the Court of Rome to which place he dispatched the Bishop of Mans a person of singular probity and eloquence to make his defence and having received his Instructions and being fully informed of all the reasons and arguments which might be produced in behalf of the King he arrived at Rome where having first consulted the Ambassadours he was with them admitted unto Audience with the Pope to whom he began with most profound humility to argue and plead That the King had not incurred the punishment of any Ecclesiastical Censure having in no manner violated or infringed the Liberties or Immunities of the Church For that the Cardinal having been found guilty of high Treason against the King was by the fundamental Laws and constitutions of France subjected to the Secular Power and in regard he was a Peer of that Realm his Cause was more immediately triable in the Parliament of Paris and in a grand Assembly of all the Princes and Officers of the Crown so that if the King had trespassed against any Laws it was against the priviledges of his own Parliaments and not against the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical State In the next place he argued that a King of France according to the priviledges of the Gallican Church could not incur the Censure of Excommunication But these Arguments and ways of reasonings were in no wise pleasing to the humour of Sixtus being against the Idea and Scheme that he had figured to himself of the Power of the Church and Keys but rather served to inflame his passion and therefore setting aside all those Arguments as not worth an Answer he declared and sentenced That in case within a certain time limited the King did not free and set at liberty the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and that in case within the space of sixty days after such releasement the assurance thereof were not intimated to himself and the Apostolical See by writings under the King 's own hand and the Royal Signet That then in such case the King remained actually Excommunicated and incurred all the Ecclesiastical Censures as expressed in the Sacred Canons and Constitutions of the Church Farther The Pope cited the King to appear at Rome either in person or by his Proxy within the space of sixty days after intimation of these Summons should be given him to render an account and to give answer to the accusation charged upon him for having murthered the Cardinal of Guise and imprisoned the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Arch-bishop of Lions and for default of such appearance that then the King did actually incur the pain of Excommunication from which he could not be absolved by any other person whatsoever than onely by the Pope himself unless at the point of death nor then neither unless upon a confident and faithful assurance and Vows to act and obey all matters and Injunctions whatsoever which should be enjoyned and commanded by the Holy Church Two Months and some few days after the Pope had issued out this Excommunication it happened that the King being at the Head of a great Army near St. Clou about two Leagues from Paris was on the first day of August 1589. stabbed in the Belly by a Dominican Frier who was a youth of about twenty three years of age and with him ended his quarrel with the Pope Such being the fate of Henry III. the news thereof flew speedily to Rome where the Spaniards caused a report to be spread that the Affairs of the King of Navarre were reduced to a mean and a low condition and almost desperate and that not onely those of the League but also the whole Kingdom
Habit whilest he took the Rocket which is made of a fine sort of Tiffany he was observed to say these words Who would think that this light Habit should be of so weighty a Burden And now being seated in his Chair and adored after the accustomary manner by the Cardinals he was pleased to call himself by the name of Vrban VII signifying thereby the urbanity of his Disposition which was inclinable to use all Persons with an obliging and gentle treatment The same Evening that he was created Pope he presented two thousand Ducats to Cardinal Sans and a thousand to Cardinal Alano in consideration of the want and poverty of their condition and when Cardinal Albano desired him onely two days forbearance of the payment of three thousand three hundred Crowns which were lent him by Sixtus V. he freely forgave him the Debt as he did several other great sums of Mony which he had lent when he was Cardinal The second day after he was chosen Pope not finding himself well disposed in his health he determined to remove from the Vatican to Montecavallo as being a more wholesom and pleasant Air but being put in mind that it was not the custom for Popes to remove or pass the streets of Rome without an Equipage and attendance of Cardinals Prelats and other Lords which was never done until his Coronation was solemnized in compliance with such admonition he deferred his removal until that function was performed when the day following his indisposition turning to a malignant Fever he grew worse and worse and on the 27th of September he expired his last breath dying on the thirteenth day of his Papacy and in the seventieth year of his Age and was buried in St. Peter's Church Some do alledg that having not been Crowned he ought not to be numbred amongst the Popes but this matter is otherwise determined by an Antient Canon which says Vt is qui electus est in Apostolatum si juxta consuetudinem inthronizari non valeat electus tamen sicut verus Papa obtinet auctoritatem regendi R. Ecclesiae disponendi omnes facultates illius guod B. Gregorium ante suam coronationem cognovimus fecisse c. Vrban being dead the Sea was vacant two months and nine days GREGORY XIV GREGORY the Fourteenth called Nicholas Sfrondati of a Rich and antient Family in Milan was on the 5th of December of this year elected Pope his Father was Francis Sfrondati a Senatour of Milan and by Charles V. was constituted Governour of Siena Pope Paul III. who was always inquisitive after wise and able Men whom he might raise and prefer unto places of Trust made him Bishop of Cremona after the death of his Wife and Cardinal with the same Title This Nicholas being descended from Francis a wise and excellent Parent was educated in all manner of Learning and good literature agreeable to his rank and quality he first studied at Perusa afterwards at Pavia where he took his degree of Doctor of the Civil Law Pius IV. created him Bishop of Cremona with which Title he resided at Trent three years during which Council the affability he used in his Conversation was very pleasing to the other Fathers and the knowledg he had in the Law made him useful in the service of the Pope though he was one of those Prelats who contended much that Risidences were Jure Divino Gregory XIII promoted him to the Dignity of Cardinal and in honour to his memory when he came to be elected Pope he called himself hy the name of Gregory XIV The Conclave in which he was chosen was very memorable as namely for the number of Cardinals there present who were fifty four also for the many pretenders to the Papal Dignity who were no less than sixteen all persons of great worth and merit also for the Leaders and Heads of Parties who were six and for the time that the Conclave continued being almost two months which at first according to the common Opinion was believed not to last two days all persons concluding that the Election would terminate in the person of Cardinal St. Severina one of great Learning and experience in Affairs and most zealous for the welfare and honour of the Papal Chair But he being a person of a morose humour and austerity of life was rejected and endeavours made for Cardinal Colonna a Prince of that high reputation and merit that at Rome his Election was generally believed and concluded to be certain but for want of some Votes both he and Mandovi who stood equal with him were laid aside Cardinal Aldobrandino was the next brought to the Scrutiny and after him Cardinal della Rovere but those who delighted to find difficulties in all matters rendered their Elections void like the former At length to bring things to a period seven Cardinals were proposed who were esteemed Men of that Integrity and of that general good reputation with all that none of them could be chosen amiss and that as it was believed the choice would come to terminate in one of them but upon a Scrutiny made the same difficulties occurred as in the former the like also happened to Paleotto and Santi quatro At length after divers and various turnings of Affairs Cardinal Montalto followed by many other Cardinals to the number of twenty six who were his own Creatures moved for the Election of Cardinal Cremona and with this train went to his Chamber where they found him on his knees at Prayers in which posture Montalto told him that he should prepare himself against the next day to receive his promotion to the Papal Chair and accordingly the next Morning early he raised him from his Bed and causing him hastily to cloth himself conducted him with seven Cardinals to the Chappel where Scrutiny being made Cremona was with common consent and suffrages of all elected Pope presently after which the Adoration was made with all the other usual Ceremonies So soon as he was promoted to this Dignity he made large Presents to many of the Cardinals giving a thousand Crowns to each telling them that it was to defray the charges they had been at during the long time they had resided in the Conclave He bestowed also great sums to pious uses and ordered that the domestick Servants of his Family should be clothed in new and rich Habits He provided against the scarcity and dearness of Corn and other provisions and restored those Romans to their Places and Offices which Sixtus V. had taken from them Howsoever the day but one after he was chosen finding himself indisposed he refused to give Audience either to Cardinals or to the Ambassadours of Princes yet notwithstanding on the 18th of December being the Feast of the conception of our Lady he forced himself in despight of his distemper to pass all the Ceremonies of his Coronation and on the 13th to take solemn possession of the Papal Chair at the Lateran all the streets through which he passed were
nam'd Sancta Maria ad Nives because that in the heats of the month of August it was revealed in a Vision to those who first founded this Church that they should build it in that place where at that season they found Snow which it seems appeared within the compass of that Church and gave measures for all the dimensions of it there being no Snow in any other part of all the City or Country And in regard the Vatican Palace was esteemed to be situate in an unhealthy Air and almost pestilential in the heats of the Summer it was accustomary for the Popes in the hot season of the year to remove themselves to a small House on the Mons Quirinus hiring to the great inconvenience of the Inhabitants several Houses for accommodation of the Servants and followers of the Court But this Pope Paul who was of a great and large Soul not enduring to be confin'd within so narrow a compass bought several Houses belonging to the Neighbourhood the which having pulled down he in the place thereof erected that large and stately Palace now called Monte Cavallo from the two Horses which are erected on a Pedestal before this Palace in memory of which Building on the Eastern side thereof there is this Inscription engraved Paulus Quintus Pont. Max. Anno Salutis MDCXI Pont. Sui VII There was no Pope that was ever more magnificent in Building than this or who delighted more in publick Works which tended to the common benefit of the City either for use or Ornament for he enlarged the ways on the Mount Quirinus leading to this Palace which were before very narrow and inconvenient and brought several Aqueducts to it with plentiful streams many streets of the City which were before crooked he made direct and streight with much Beauty and Ornament All that part of the City which is situate on the other side of the Tybur called at present Frastevere suffering much for want of Water he refreshed with admirable Streams flowing in great abundance Ex Agro Braccianensi which he brought by Aqueducts at thirty five miles distance partly under ground and part with arched Work which was divided into four Fountains or rather Rivers of Water falling from the top of that Hill where is now a Church and Monastery of Franiscan Friers and there they shewed us a Chappel built over that place where St. Peter as they said was crucified and the very hole where his Cross was fixed On the high Altar of this Church was that excellent and famed Piece of our Saviour's Ascension made by Raphael Vrbin he was himself so pleased with it and so much admired it that he ordered it should be carried next to his Coffin when he went to be buried Besides all these and many other publick Works which this Pope performed he was much to be commended for his charitable Gifts and Alms to the Poor amongst which it was none of his least acts of Charity that he established a Revenue out of which every month there was raised a convenient Portion whereby to bestow an honest and vertuous Maid in Marriage He was greatly pleased with Frescati a Village about ten miles distant from Rome called anciently Villa Tusculana where Cicero was much delighted and made it the place of his retirement and Studies and for that reason this Pope enlarged the Papal Palace there and brought it into great reputation with the Cardinals and Nobles of Rome During the Wars between the Emperour and the Count Palatine of the Rhine which happened in the Reign of this Pope he laid a Tax on all the Clergy towards the maintenance and support of the Catholick Cause and a new Order of Knighthood was created under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin St. Michael and St. Francis who entered into a Vow to make War against the Hereticks and extirpate them and the Heresies they professed And about this time began that great Controversie between the Jesuits and the Dominicans concerning the immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin which was rather smothered than decided Thus did this Pope Paul V. pass his time in Peace for the quarrel he had with the Venetians having given him some taste of the inquietudes of War he ever afterwards attended to a pacifick and reposed Life which produced those excellent effects of Peace such as great Structures and munificence towards the Poor which by unquiet Spirits are always diverted by the expences of War And thus having consumed his days he departed this life on the 24th of January 1621. and in the seventieth year of his Age having reigned fifteen years eight months and thirteen days he was buried for a while in the Church of St. Peter but his Body was in a short time after removed from thence to his Chappel which he had erected and added to the great Church of Santa Maria Maggiore During his Reign he created sixty Cardinals The Epitaph on his Monument is as followeth Paulus V. Pont. Max. Patria Romanus ex Burgesia Familia Cui perpetua Vitae innocentia sectata Virtus Bononiae Prolegato praefuit mox à Gregorio XIV Causarum Cam. Apost Auditor Creatus à Clemente VIII Ad Philippum II. Hispaniarum Regem de gravissimis rebus Legatus In Amplissimum Ordinem cooptatus inter Generales Inquisitores Adscriptus Et Vrbis Vicarius Electus cum omnes tantorum Munerum Partes Summa cum laude obivisset Ad Summum Pontificatum Leone XI è Vivis Erepto Florens Adhuc Aetate Incredibili Patrum Consensu Evectus Est Cumque Vigili Solicitudini Securitatem Annonae Copiam Justitiam Et Quietem Populis Ecclesiasticae Ditionis Concordiam Vero Et Pacem Vniverso Christiano Orbi Semper Praestitisset Religionem Summa Pietate Coluissit Vrbem Magnificentissimis Adificiis Ornasset Atque Gregoriis Omnium Virtutum Officiis Aditum Sibi Ad Immortalitatem Aperuisset E Mortalibus Raptus Grave Cunctis Sui Desiderium Reliquit Sedit in Potificatu Annos XV. Menses VIII Dies XIII Obiit Anno Sal. MDCXXI Die XXII Januarii GREGORY XV. THE Funeral Obsequies of Paul V. having been celebrated for the space of nine days according to the usual Form and Custom the Cardinals on the tenth day being the eighth of February entered the Conclave to the number of fifty to which two others were added who arrived at Rome a few days after the death of the Pope one of which was Cardinal Alexander Ludovisio Arch-bishop of Bologna who after many and various Factions and diversity of Opinions in the Conclave was chosen Pope the first and most antient Party was that of Montalto the second of Aldobrandino the third of Borghese the fourth was that of the Spanish Faction the fifth was of the French besides which were Bonti Sforza Farnese Medici and Este all which stood on their own bottoms and formed distinct Parties of their own When the first Scrutiny was made Bellarmine had far the greater number of Votes but falling short of two Thirds he
was excluded Campori made the greater bustle and so also did Aquino but great and strong Parties opposing against them vacated their Elections At length Cardinal Borghese naming Ludovisio was followed by a general concurrence of almost all the Cardinals almost we may say because Campori upon the news thereof turned pale and ready to fall into a swoon Aldobrandino also and Aquino fell sick and were carried out of the Conclave and Aquino having now lost all hopes of being made Pope took it so grievously to heart that in two days he departed this life Thus Ludovisio being elected he was conducted into the Chappel Parlina where he was vested in his Pontificalibus and acknowledged and adored for Pope on the 21th of February 1621. and took the name of Gregory XV. This Pope was born at Bologna on the third of January 1554. his Father was Count Pompeo Ludovisio and his Mother Camilla Blanchina he was in his youthful years educated in the Jesuits Colledg at Rome where he was instructed in all sorts of Humane and Philosophical Learning returning afterwards to Bologna he studied the Civil Law in which he arrived to the degree of Doctor and thence again setling himself at Rome he gained the friendship of three succeeding Popes by Gregory XIII he was chosen and created Principal Judg of the Capitol by Clement VIII he was made Referendary of both Signatures and presided in all Civil Causes in the place of Deputy to Cardinal Rusticuccio the Pope's Vicar he was afterwards assumed into Commission with the Auditors of the Rota which Office one of his Ancestors named Lodowick Ludovisio had about one hundred and fifty years before with great satisfaction and prudence admitted He was likewise by the same Clement VIII adjoyned in Commission with Maffeo Barbarini Clerk of the Apostolical Chamber who afterwards was Pope and sent to Beneventum to appease Tumults and Seditions arisen between the Officers of the Pope and those of the King of Spain And lastly Paul V. created him Arch-bishop of Bologna upon promotion to which Prelacy he wrote a Letter to his Diocesans full of Charity and paternal affection which was printed at Bologna and is extant at this day About this time a War was begun between Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and Ferdinand Duke of Mantoua grounded on certain differences about some places in the Dutchy of Montferrat which were the cause of great trouble in Milan and other places of Italy in regard that Philip III. King of Spain took part with the Duke of Mantoua to appease which disturbances and compose which differences Pope Paul employed this Alexander Ludovisio qualifying him with the Title of his Nuntio in those three Provinces to confer with the Ambassadours of France and Spain in which negotiation he so well acquitted himself and with such honour towards the Papal Sea that Peace being concluded and all Disputes ended the Pope in reward of the pains and prudence of Ludovisio on the 20th of November 1616. promoted him to the degree of Cardinal with which Title he resided in his Diocese until news came of the death of Paul V when he immediately repaired to Rome and entred the Conclave on the 8th of February with the other Cardinal and on the 21th of that month was himself created Pope Some few days after which being crowned in St. Peter's Church with the usual pomp he took possession of the Sovereign Power of the Church in the Church of St. John de Lateran which Ceremonies being past he published Jubilies and Pardons over all Christendom to all such who should with sincere minds pray for the prosperity and happiness of his Reign At this time a War began to be inflamed between the Inhabitants and Neighbours of the Valteline in which the Kings of Spain and France became involved the causes and original of which doth not appertain to this History Spain being desirous to interest Gregory in this Cause offered to deposite the Forts of the Valteline in his hands making great ostentations of their desires to Peace and quietness but in Rome the Opinions and Counsels upon an offer of such importance were doubtful and divided for those who penetrated the most deeply into matters of Policy were not willing that the Authority of the Church and Power of the Pope should be so far engaged or that the professed neutrality and mediation should run so much hazard for that being once accepted by the Pope the Conditions of Peace would be rendered more difficult and perhaps impossible for if in case an agreement should happen between two Kings of restoring all things to their former estate it would be difficult to conceive with what decency the Pope could restore into the hands of the Protestants whom he esteemed Hereticks those places which were committed to his Guardianship and custody The Venetian Republick being of the same Opinion sent Soranzo Ambassadour Extraordinary to Rome to disuade the Pope from lending his Name and Authority to the interests of Spain but he yielding an Ear to his Nephews who were overcome by Pensions and Benefices from Spain was possessed with an Opinion and belief that at the appearing of his Colours all the Arms of the Enemy would out of Veneration fall from their hands upon which the glorious memorial of Peace preserved and Religion protected would remain as an Ornament to his Name and a Crown upon his Sepulcre But the French shewed themselves displeased that Gregory had not expected the sence of that Crown upon the matter before he resolved to accept the Deposite howsoever in the French Councils the Opinion prevailed that the Pope should accept of the Deposite with certain limitations and reserves and it was declared that the Deposite should remain until the end of July it being now the month of May within which time the Forts being demolished and all restraints upon the Grisons and Armies removed which did oppress them affairs should be restored to their former State which not being performed the League should supplicate the Pope to join himself to their Arms thereby to obtain the effect In pursuance of these resolutions the Duke of Fiano the Pope's own Brother a dull and sottish Man was sent with fifteen thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to take possession of the Towns to be deposited but had been resisted in the Valley had not the Governour of Milan removed all obstacles but these matters came to no maturity for amidst these transactions the Pope departed this life In the year 1622. Lewis XIII of France was involved in great Wars against his Protestant Subjects and rendered himself Master of the Provinces of Poictou Xantonge Gascony Dauphino and Languedoc Philip IV. King of Spain was employed in Wars against the Hollanders likewise the Emperour Ferdinand II. waged Wars with the Protestants in Germany and with assistance of Marquis Spinola and the Duke of Bavaria despoiled the Prince Palatine of the Rhine of his Dominions and having the plunder of Heidelberg the Duke of Bavaria
punish his Nephew for having directed his love to a Princess of equal quality with himself whilest he himself was so besotted as to be given up to the extravagancy of an aspiring Woman permitting her to govern his Person Church State and Court with an Imperious hand and yet at the same time not to indulge his Nephew the love of a young Noble and beautiful Lady who brought a considerable Patrimony to the House of Pamfilio Nor was Donna Olympia more kind or less jealous of Nicolo Ludovisio Prince of Piombino who was married to her second Daughter on hopes that as Nephew to the Pope he should enter into Offices and Affairs for this Prince having been Nephew to Gregory XV. and Brother to that Cardinal Patron who since the time of his Uncle absolutely disposed of all the Affairs of the Church did now hope to find the same fortune and reap the same benefit under this Innocent X. But Donna Olympia was too wise to admit a Nephew into the privacies of the Pope or a Partner with her in business for she entirely bestowed all Benefices whether great or small the Officers of the Datary being charged to keep them in hand till she had fully informed herself of the value whatsoever Bishoprick fell void they that pretended to it were to address themselves to her Abbeys Canons and all other Dignities and Governments Ecclesiastical or Civil were all conferred at the pleasure and command of Donna Olympia there was no appearing with empty hands before her The Rates of all Places were set an Office of one thousand Crowns a year for three years was valued at one years Revenue and for six years at double and so proportionably if for life then it was valued at twelve years and the moiety thereof to be paid in hand Cardinal Panzirolo who was then the great Favourite of the Pope and who transacted all Affairs durst yet act nothing without the consent of this Lady for such an absolute Ascendant she had over the Pope that his Soul seemed to be animated with hers and his Will subservient to her dictates and strange it was to see her sit in Council with the Pope with bundles of Memorials in her hands to receive his Assent for formally onely unto that which she had already determined so that it is believed she had charmed him with some strange diabolical Arts Histories having never given us an Example of the like nature And now to give farther instances and miracles of her Power she introduced into the place of Cardinal Pamfilio who had laid aside his Scarlet to marry with the Princess Rosana a certain Nephew of hers Son to her Brother a youth of about eighteen years of age who was afterwards called Cardinal Maldochino Olympia intended once to have made him Cardinal Patron but he was so great a Sot and so stupid a Fool that he was uncapable of Business abhorred by the Pope and a shame to the College and Dignity of Cardinals The Office of Cardinal Patron was ever esteemed of great Honour and importance and when managed by a Wise and dexterous Person was of great ease and relief to him who sate in the Papal Chair for if the Pope were sick or absent he gave Audience to Ambassadours and presided in the Council subscribed Letters to the Nuntios Legats and Governours of Provinces But this help being as yet wanting to Innocent for want of a Cardinal Nephew endued with some tolerable understanding Olympia contrived to adopt Camillo Astalli Brother of Marquis Astalli who had married her Niece into the Family of the Pope with whom she so prevailed that he created him Cardinal Patron and gave him the name of Pamfilio though not of the bloud nor allied to his Family It was wonderful to the Court to see a young Man of twenty seven years of age raised on a sudden to so important a preferment 'T was true he was endued with a gentile behaviour and good address and with qualities of mind sufficient to make himself acceptable but yet neither his years nor his practice in Affairs enabled him to support the great burden of Church and State In making of this Creature as well Panzirolo as Olympia was believed to concur she with a design to advance the Brother of him that had married her Niece but he to have an influence over all his actions being well assured that this young Man would act nothing without his direction But whilest Olympia thus governed all Affairs the Court of Rome became scandalous nothing but libellous Jests to the disparagement of the Pope were daily put into the hands of Pasquin at Rome In the Courts of the Emperour of France and Spain the Nuntios seemed to lose much of that Reverence which was formerly given them and when any of those Princes were refused the demands they made and expected from the Pope it was often said with raillery That if Donna Olympia had made the request it would readily have been granted It was the common Discourse in the Pulpits of Geneva that a Woman was Head of the Church and the Universal Bishop and that now the mystery of the Whore of Babylon was plainly discovered In the Protestant Countries the Comedies and Farces represented the Loves and Intrigues of Innocent X. and Donna Olympia upon the Stage all which the young Cardinal Patron at the instigation of Panzirolo made known to the Pope who being conscious of the truth thereof and inwardly ashamed resolved often to forbid Olympia the Court and all concernment or intermedling in Affairs but knowing not how to come out with it his inward grief suppressed his words but at length taking courage and resolution he burst out into tears and therewith into words Interdicting Olympia all farther communication with the Court. After this Cardinal Astalli I should have said Pamfilio gained ground in the affections of the Pope and being guided by Panzirolo took daily deeper root in his esteem Panzirolo likewise himself kept in great credit and unshaken by his Adversaries but being tired with the burden of business and continual watches until after midnight in consultations with the Pope he fell sick and died Nature effecting that which his Enemies endeavoured The Cardinal Patron above all lamented his loss presaging thereby the mischief which afterwards ensued for now Donna Olympia began though Incognita to frequent the Court and by degrees to repossess her first Station But we shall for a while leave this Lady weaving her Webbs and managing Intrigues and return again to the Barberins whose Cause was taken into the defence and protection of France In the month therefore of January 1746. Cardinal Barberin and Taddeo the Prefect in compliance with the Pope's Brief presented their accounts having had but fifteen days time allotted to bring them in and in failure thereof were to forfeit five hundred Crowns a day for every day until they were delivered The Accounts being given the Pope cast his eyes upon them with much indignation
any who complained against his justice but was esteemed by all for a just and an impartial Judg. Being returned to Rome it was not long before he was dispatched to Cologn in quality of Nuntio which employment may serve for an evident proof of the great esteem which the Court of Rome conceived of him when in that conjuncture of affairs all the World being disunited and at variance there required a Minister of more than ordinary conduct and dexterity to manage the difficulty of Treaties then in action for having to deal between the Catholicks and Protestants he could not act with due Equity towards the latter without giving scandal to the former and granting that which was detrimental and derogatory to the Power of the Roman Church And though the Negotiations of Chigi for the Interest and in favour of his Master the Pope were such as rather obstructed than forwarded the conclusion of the Treaty yet the Emperour and King of Spain Hollanders and French growing weary with the troubles of a bloudy War agreed of themselves without being obliged to the Pope for his Offices of Mediation for on the contrary the Articles agreed were so detrimental to the Ecclesiastical State that the Pope was so far from having a hand in the making of them that he wholly disowned and protested against them by his Nuntio Ghigi who in that dexterous and discreet manner so well represented his Master's complaints to the Imperial and Spanish Ministers that they could not but allow the resentments of the Pope to be just for which they had no excuse but the unhappy state and urgency of their affairs but as to the person of Ghigi and his conduct every one remained satisfied giving him the character of a prudent wise and an able Minister These Negotiations at Cologne rendered him more capable to serve the Papal Interest at Munster in quality of the Pope's Legat in which he behaved himself with such equality of mind and good temper towards the Protestants without offence to the opposite party that with general satisfaction he acquitted himself in this great charge all which being observed and known to Innocent X. he was in reward of his many Services promoted to the degree of Cardinal and afterwards was made Secretary in the place of Cardinal Panzirolo deceased a person of that judgment and quickness of parts fit for business that his equal perhaps was not again to be found in any part of the World And yet Ghigi pleased the Pope as well or perhaps better than Panzirolo for Innocent being on his death-bed where Men commonly put off all disguises of dissimulation declared that of all the Cardinals there was none more fit to succeed him than Chigi Howsoever in the Conclave there was scarce any task or discourse of Chigi for the first three months until at length being named the whole Colledg concurred with unanimous Votes in his Election the news of which was received in the City of Rome with extraordinary joy and satisfaction of the People The first ten days after his promotion he spent in ordering the state of his publick and private Affairs giving Audience to Ambassadours and receiving Visits and Complements from Cardinals and Civil Magistrates And on the 18th of April he was Crowned after the manner of other Popes in the great Portico of St. Peter's Church after which Ceremony was ended he was publickly heard to use this saying Vivo Ego jam non Ego vivit verò in me Christus I live but not I but Christ who liveth in me which was the Motto he commonly inscribed over the Chambers of his private retirements In the next place he wrote his Letters to the Kings of France and Spain acquainting them with his promotion to the Apostolical Chair and having given them the paternal Benediction he persuaded them to Peace and Concord amongst themselves and so turn their Forces against the Turks for assistance of the Venetians who were a match unequal to contend with so mighty an Emperour But before we proceed farther it is to be expected that we should make an end of the Story of Donna Olympia who remained all this while between hope and fear in what manner Alexander would deal with her Prince Pamfilio was one of the first who went to congratulate with him and her Ladyship that she might not be the last to express her joy sent her Maggiordomo or Steward to pay her Respects declaring the great joy she conceived to see one created Pope to whom her Kinsman had opened the way by making him Cardinal and her joys were consummate in that she had always represented him to Innocent as a Person of extraordinary Abilities so that she could not but share with him in the advance of his fortunes The Pope answered little and in ambiguous terms so that to discover his more deep and real thoughts Cardinal Azzolini was employed who making great professions in her behalf endeavoured to draw from the Pope something of his intentions towards her But Alexander who professed always to do things leisurely was not very open in declaring himself which gave Olympia the first occasion of distrust and indeed she had very much reason for every day made new discoveries of the corruptions and abuses she had exercised both in Civil and Ecclesiastical matters The Datary was wholly corrupted by the Simonies she had introduced all Places sold no Treasure left besides a thousand other Villanies and mischiefs she had committed There was not a day passed but the Pope had his hands filled with Memorials against her so that his zeal for the Church could not without scandal fit still and let slip such horrid Crimes without Punishment At the report hereof the Lady trembling with fear sent Cardinal Barberino to discourse the Pope before matters were gone too far but the Pope was too zealous and wife to hearken to any smooth and eloquent Speeches in her behalf and therefore positive in his resolutions sent his express Commands to Olympia to leave Rome in three days and in eight to be at Orvieto which is a City about thirty miles distant from Rome from whence she was not to remove without new Orders from the Pope There was no opposing these positive Commands which were neither to be questioned nor delayed so that her Ladyship privately departed the City for fear of being affronted by the Rabble who every where made Songs and Jests of her the same day that her Ladyship quitted Rome the Pope began to take the examination of Witnesses for drawing up the Process but the work was too tedious to be speedily finished for so many several Charges and Impeachments came daily against her that there was no end nor could the Books be shut up though swelled to incredible Volumes Wherefore to make short work the Pope commanded ten of the most material Points to be filed against her to which she was in the first place to give answer before a subsequent Charge was to be formed and
the lustre of their Purple was so evident as needed no such mean Signal to make them known In fine Pope Alexander having reigned twelve years with frequent fits and agonies of the Stone at length being worn out with business and extremity of his Disease he died on the twelfth day of May 1667. in the sixty ninth year of his Age having reigned twelve years one month and sixteen days Some time before his departure out of this World he made a short Discourse to the Cardinals concerning the frailties of humane life from which the greatness of Popes was not exempted and which was more demonstrable in him by reason of the Chronical distemper under which he had for many years laboured concluding at the last with exhortations to elect such a Pope who might correct and make amends for those Infirmities to which he had been subject This Pope was naturally of a good habit of body but much weakned by a dissection which was made for the stone in his Bladder when he was at Colen he was lean and not very robust in his limbs but howsoever had such strength in the gripe of his hands that scarce any one could quit himself from him whom he had seized He was of a middle stature of a pleasant Air in his Countenance and of excellent grace in Elocution which was not much altered by the loss of his teeth which were loosened and falled out by a continual defluxion of rheum upon his gums He was very facetious and pleasant in his Conversation and delighted himself very much in reading the antient Latin Poets Wherefore when the Cardinals came to congratulate his Election to the Pontificate he made use of that Verse out of Virgil Dies quem semper acerbum Semper honoratum sic vos voluistis habebo This Pope was endued with natural parts in an extraordinary manner and was very polite in his dress and in his way of living howsover in the course of his years he gave an instance and example to the World what difference there is in those qualifications which are required to make up the virtues of a Prince and of a private Person or of a Pope and a Prelate For whilest he onely wore the Purple of a Cardinal he governed himself in such a mean between the defects blamed in the Pope that Reigned and the Virtues desired and expected in a Successour that he appeared the onely desireable Person in the World to whom with most confidence the Keys of St. Peter might be delivered But being arrived at the top and summary point of his Ambition of his desires and designs he lived with much less caution and industry than before and giving way to that vanity of Genius which he had formerly suppressed or disguised he so amused himself in the ostentation of Buildings that he neglected both the concernments of Princes and the care of his People And whilest he laboured to exalt and enrich his Nephews and Kindred he died unlamented and much abated in that reputation with which he entered into the Papal Chair CLEMENT IX THE Funeral Rites of Alexander VII being performed according to the solemn customs of former Popes and the Cardinals having held several Congregations at which Audience was given to the Ambassadours of forein Princes and the Chigi with other Officers of the Church and City being confirmed in their several places the Cardinals entered the Conclave on the second day of June 1667. But first and before they entered a great Dispute arose concerning the place where the Conclave was to be held for that the Vatican being seated in a bad Air was at that season of the year reputed almost contagious at least so incommodious by reason of the excessive heats of the Summer that it was judged pernicious to the health of all the Colledg and therefore Monte Cavallo was proposed as a situation more secure and which with the expence of two thousand Crowns might be rendered as commodious as the Vatican The Persons appointed to oversee this Work were the Cardinals Barberino Orsino and Este who having considered thereof made their report that the House of Monte Cavallo was not capable of being made convenient to receive the Conclave in such form as in the Vatican where after the manner of Conclaves the Cells of the Cardinals are all on the same floor the which and many other inconveniencies rendered that and all other places in Rome uncapable to receive the Conclave in such form as was ever practised at the Vatican and therefore it was the place chosen and appointed as formerly Notwithstanding the badness of the Air and the heat of the season which served to hasten the Election for though the Cardinals were divided into many Parties and adhered to their several Interests yet being wise Men they knew to prefer health and long life before other considerations whatsoever Wherefore the Cardinals entering the Vatican the third of June was the first day of the Conclave which was divided into five several Parties or Factions the first was that of the Chigi which was the most numerous of any consisting of thirty four Votes the second was that of the Barberini composed of sixteen the Spaniards of nine and the French of seven and lastly the Flying Squadron made up of the Pamfilians and other male-contents formed a party of about ten Voices of which Imperiale and Azzolini were the chief who joyning themselves to the Spanish Cardinals opposed at the first Scrutiny the election of Farnese in such manner that he seemed excluded from all possibility of being Pope howsoever his Party had certainly prevailed had not Barberino with his Associates opposed the Choice for though Farnese was a Person qualified with all the knowledg of Political Laws and Ecclesiastical Canons yet the memory of what had passed between his Uncle Vrban and the Dukes of Parma was too fresh to be in a few years so well reconciled as to engage the Barberini to that Interest Wherefore Barbarino casting his Eye on an other Person assembled all the Creatures of his Uncle Vrban VIII to favour the Election which he designed And having hereunto joined the Cardinals of the Flying Squadron with several others he went to the Apartment of Cardinal Chigi to whom in the name of his Party he gave him to understand that they were sufficiently sensible that the Power of his Enemy in the Conclave was such that none was in a possibility of being created Pope without his assent and concurrence and therefore they were come to know which of his Creatures he judged worthy of his suffrage To which Chigi after having returned thanks to Barberino made this Reply That all his Friends were beloved and esteemed by him with that equality of affection that he knew not how to prefer one before another or by the nomination of one to disoblige others Whereunto Barberino made Answer That since his Eminence was not pleased to name any he would propose Rospigliosi which Chigi seemed readily to accept
by the Venetian Ambassadour the Pope as is reported was so affected therewith that grief taking a deep impression in his heart he suddenly fell into a species of Apoplexy from which first Fit though he at present revived yet melancholy suppressed his spirits in such manner that in the space of one month following he on the ninth of December 1669. expired his last breath having lived seventy one years or thereabouts and governed the Pontificate two years five months and eighteen days He was universally lamented being a Man of a publick Spirit and great generosity so that his Family was rather impoverished than enriched by his advancement to the Papal Authority He was a Person not ambitious or desirous of the vain glory of this World of which that he might give a testimony at his death he forbad his Relations to raise any magnificent Monument in recommendation of him to posterity leaving behind him some few words for a short Epitaph to be inscribed on the Marble which was to cover him which were scarce sufficient to denote the Character by which he was to be known and recommended to Posterity to supply which his Successour Clement X. at the desire of the Publick and in gratitude to the memory of his deceased Friend and Benefactor inscribed on the pedestal of a Pillar which Clement IX at the foot of the Bridg Aelius had repaired at his own charge a brief Narrative of his life and having likewise erected a stately Monument with his Statue thereupon in the Church of S. Peter he adorned it with this Inscription Clementis IX Aeternae memoriae Pontificis Magni Cineres Ne absque ullo Sepulchri Honore Sicut Ipse jusserat Humi laterent Clemens X. Pont. Max. Benefactori Suo Et ob Spectatum Fidei Zelum Ob Egregiam Erga Omnes Beneficentiam Et Charitatem De Re Christiana Optime Merito Grati Animi Monumentum Posuit Anno Domini MDCLXXI This Pope being dead was generally lamented by all People of what Degree or Nation or Quality soever for he was of a most gentle and easie temper delightful and pleasant in his Conversation and studied sincerely the welfare of the Church without much regard to the advancement of his Family in his Diet he was very abstemious and lived much after the fashion of the Primitive Christians He was ever zealous of a good correspondence with Kings and Princes subjected to the Papal Sea and always endeavoured to reconcile them one to the other as appears by his endeavours at Aix la Chapelle where a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns of Spain and France And when the difference arose between the Queen Regent and Don John of Austria he interposed in such manner by his Nuntio Cardinal Borromeo that with much success he reconciled matters and diverted a storm which might have engaged Spain in ruinous troubles Though this Pope from the humility of his Spirit was not very forward to raise Columns of his own praise or engraven Inscriptions like other Popes on every fair Marble that was erected in the most publick and conspicuous places of the City yet the People of Rome did voluntarily and of their own accord supply several Euloges to the honour of his memory of which we shall add this one which is worthy to be rehearsed for being engraven in the Area of the Capitol on the Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus being a comparison of this Pope with that Emperour in these words Triumphale Septimii Severi Caesaris Nomen ne quaeras Lector Ad Orientem Clementis IX P.O.M. Majestatem obscuratur Quid prodeat Severus Vbi Clemens elucet Legationem ille Gallicam suâ ferociâ funestavit Hispanicam iste munificentiâ beavit suâ sibi purpuram ille cruore tinxit Hic sudore manu ille hic mente firmavit Imperium bellorum ille flammas accendit hic conatur extinguere Tributa ille auxit hic levavit uterque rei frumentariae Amplificandae studiosus sed ille Ambitionis Ingenio hic Genio Charitatis Supra Caesarem in cunctis Pontifex Spectacula ille Pop. Rom. dedit hic unum se Gentibus Omnibus adorandum Spectaculum fecit CLEMENT X. CLEMENT the Ninth dying as we have said on the ninth of December 1669. his Funeral Obsequies were celebrated with the usual Rites and Ceremonies practised in honour to deceased Popes After which the Cardinals entered the Conclave to make election of an other Successour to S. Peter but such were the difficulties which arose thereupon by reason of the many Candidates which appeared to the number of no lesâ— than twenty two all which both for years gravity wisdom and Auâ—hority seemed worthy of the Papal Dignity that until the end of four months and twenty days the different Interests could not agree and be reconciled and at length concurred in the Election rather out of weariness than satisfafaction in their Choice Cardinal Chigi was then at Florence when he received the first news of the death of Clement IX where entering into a private Cabal with the Great Duke and Cardinal Medici and with some other Associates of the Spanish Interest they pitched upon one of these four namely Elci Celsi Bonvisi and Vidoni but with especial regard to the exclusion of Barberino but as this was an account made up without their Hoast so it had a success accordingly and they forced to an other reckoning Chigi to strengthen his Party made his addresses to the French pretending great services for that Crown and in the mean time despised the interest of the Flying Squadron but the Duke of Scion being then arrived from France in quality of Ambassadour made scorn of the applications of Chigi so soon as he discovered his practices with the Spaniards and indeed his double dealing abated much of his reputation in the Conclave where he might have formed a strong Party had not his ambition to become sole Arbitrator weakened his Interest and brought all his words and actions under a suspition This Opinion of Chigi gave a beginning to a Combination between Barberino Rospigliosi and the Flying Squadron which strong Parties standing in opposition each to other fifty days were passed without any effect and so resolved were Chigi and Barberino that one said He would eat Cherries and the other Figs in the Conclave with which sayings all Parties growing warm Cardinal Este declared openly with exclusion against Chigi Retz against Medici and the French King against Elci with which Medici growing angry replied that if France excluded Elci that Spain should do the like by Vidoni Thus Factions daily increasing and new difficulties arising Chigi and Medici the two great sticklers in the Conclave grew more calm and less concerned for those whom they had once designed to promote and to make appear how disinterested they were put every Person that was qualified into some hopes of being chosen Amongst the rest they complemented Câ—rpegna one of the Spanish Faction and a favourite of the Great Duke
15th By his Death the See was vacant twelve days STEPHEN II. STEPHEN the Second a Roman Son of Constantine from one Degree in the Church to another ascended at length to the Papal Dignity although upon the Death of Zachary the People presently made Choice of another Stephen a Priest who on the third day of his Pontificate awaking out of Sleep and beginning to settle his domestick affairs was suddenly seiz'd with a fit of an Apoplexy of which he died After whom our Stephen the Second for we reckon not his short-liv'd Predecessour of that name in the List was unanimously elected by the Clergy and People in the Church of S. Mary ad Proesepe and being highly beloved by all was carried upon mens shoulders to S. Saviour's called also the Constantinian Church and from thence into the Lateran Palace He was a Person of extraordinary Piety and Prudence a Lover of the Clergy a Repairer of Churches a diligent Preacher and Writer of the Doctrine of Christianity a Father of the Poor a zealous Defender of Orphans and Widows and in going through with any thing he undertook hardy and resolute but not obstinate For Aistulphus now making Inrodes upon the Borders of the Romans he at first endeavoured by Persuasions and Presents to bring him off But that covetous Prince requiring the payment of a Tribute of so much a head yearly from the People the Pope thereupon was forced to seek for help from abroad and accordingly he sent Nuntio's to Constantine the Emperour of Constantinople to desire Aid of him against Aistulphus who gave disturbance to all Italy and had already taken Ravenna the Seat of the Exarchate and a great part of Romagna But finding no hope of succours from him he resolves to go to Pipin of France and therefore sends to that King to desire that he would prevail with Aistulphus to permit him safe passage through his Countrey which Aistulphus at Pipin's Request consented to Stephen now reaching the Borders of the Kingdom of France Pipin's Son Charles who from his mighty Atchievements was afterwards surnamed the Great in token of honour goes forth an hundred miles to meet him Pipin himself met him three miles from the City alighting off his Horse kiss'd his feet and led the Horse upon which he rode by the Bridle till he had conducted him into the City and brought him to his Apartment Aistulphus now fearing that the Pope was practising against him sends Caroloman a Monk to his Brother Pipin to persuade him not to make War upon the Lombards in Stephen's Quarrel which Pipin not only refused to grant but also confined the Monk to a Monastery in Vienne where not long after he died of Grief But it not being a fit season of the year to undertake an Expedition and Pipin allowing much to the ancient Friendship there had been between them he sends Ambassadours to Aistulphus to advise him to restore the Places he had taken or otherwise to let him know that he should be obliged in a short time to recover them by force of Arms. Aistulphus hearkned not to this good Counsel whereupon Pipin the Spring now approaching advances with an Army against the Lombards and having sent before some light-harnessed Soldiers to force Aistulphus's Guards to quit the Passes of the Alps he marches down into the Plain of the State of Milain and having without any opposition sacked and harassed all places he came to at length he invests Pavia the Seat-Royal of the Kings of Lombardy which Aistulphus and those that were in Garrison with him defended But Stephen moved with Compassion at the numerous Calamities which this obstinate man had brought upon himself and his People voluntarily offers Aistulphus a Peace upon condition he would restore what he had taken which Aistulphus at length consented to and promised upon Oath more than was demanded Pipin reckoning that the Pope had now satisfaction raises the Siege and returns into France leaving Varrenus the Arbitratour of this Peace between them Stephen and Varrenus go to Rome not doubting but that Aistulphus would in a little time perform his promise instead of which he presently mustering up from all parts what Forces he could with a tumultuary Rout rather than a just Army follows them and besieges Rome laying waste and burning the Suburbs and Places adjacent insomuch that the People of Rome suffered more Damage by the Outrages he then committed than they had received in three hundred forty four years before from the declining of the Empire Hereupon Pipin being again sued to by the Pope to aid the distressed City of Rome against the Perfidiousness and Cruelty of Aistulphus he with all possible expedition raises an Army for that purpose In the mean time the Turks willing to mend their Quarters over-run and conquer the Alanes first then the Colchians and Armenians after them the People of the Lesser Asia and lastly the Persians and Saracens An. Dom. 755. Some Writers tell us that these were of the Race of those Scythians whom Alexander the Great kept within the Hyperborean Mountains with Iron-Bars meaning by that Metaphor that he had shut up that wild Nation there as into a Prison But after much mischief done and received on both sides a Peace being concluded between the Saracens and Turks it was agreed that the Turks which dwelt in Persia should be called Saracens and by this means the Saracens did more patiently suffer the Turks to bear sway in Asia especially apprehending moreover that they might soon be brought to embrace the Mahumetan Religion But we return to Pipin who coming again with his Army into Italy was met by Gregory principal Secretary to the Emperour Constantine the fourth who desired him in his Master's name that is he should prove victorious over the Lombards he would not give the Exarchate of Ravenna to the Pope or the Romans it belonging of right to the Emperour To which Pipin answered that he came into Italy to do the Pope and People a kindness and that he should consult their advantage to the utmost of his Power After this he marched to Pavia and reduced Aistulphus to such extremity that he was forced to accept of the former Conditions of Peace Hereby the Exarchate was restored to the Romans together with all the Tract contained between the Po and Apennine from Piacentino to the Gulf of Venice and whateyer lies between the River Isara the Apennine and the Adriatick with all that Aistulphus had taken in Tuscany and Sabina Pipin stayed at the Foot of the Alps till Conditions should be performed having left Holcadus an Abbat with part of his Army to oblige Aistulphus to perform what he had promis'd and moved no farther till he understood that Aistulphus had died of an Apoplexy while he was hunting before the surrendry was fully made Upon his Death Desiderius Duke of Tuscany forthwith raises an Army of Lombards with design to possess himself of the Kingdom The same also did Rachis Aistulphus's
much out of hopes of success that upon hearing this ill news of the misfortune of his Friends and Allies he began to think of retiring to Rome though his coming thither was opposed by one John Cincio a potent Citizen and Senator whose intolerable arrogance yet was so curb'd by James Capocio another Roman Citizen that the Pope was received into Rome with great splendor magnificence This was that James whose name is yet to be seen and read in the little Chappel of Mosaic Work which was built at his charge in the Church of S. Mary Maggiore in which also was buried Peter Capocio who was a Cardinal of the Church of Rome and while he liv'd a bitter Enemy of this Schismatical Emperour Frederic at whose expence the Hospital of S. Anthony not far from the aforesaid Church and the College for Scholars at Perugia now call'd la Sapientia was also erected Gregory having quieted the minds of Men in the City again pronounces an Anathema against Frederic and declares him to have forfeited his right to the Empire and deprives him of it then he sends for the Ambassadours of the States of Venice and Genoa between whom there was so great a quarrel as it was fear'd a War would ensue to mediate their differences which he did so effectually as that he procur'd an Agreement between 'em to a Peace upon condition that without mutual consent neither of the two States should make Peace with the Emperor of Constantinople that they should be Enemies to the Enemies of each other and join their Forces upon every occasion for the common defence and this Treaty to be in force and complied withal for nine years by them both under pain of Excommunication to be denounc'd by the Pope upon the Infractor About this time died Baldwin who upon the Death of John had succeeded to the Empire of Greece and made shift to hold it for two years but with so great difficulty by reason of his poor Treasury that he could hardly defend himself from his Enemies being forc'd to deliver his Son for a Pledg to the Venetian Merchants for Money that he had borrow'd of 'em and to make Money of the Lead that belong'd to the Churches beside he sold to the Venetians who were wealthy and able to purchase 'em the Spear with which our Saviour Christ's Body was pierc'd and the Sponge which was reach'd to him to drink out of Frederic had a great spight at these Venetians because they were on the Pope's side and drove them into their Marishes where their City stands for security and did them great damage but in the mean while happened a general revolt of the Cities of Lombardy by the Procurement and instigation of Gregory Monte-longo who was Legat at Bononia and Ferrara which had revolted before from the Pope to the Emperour was retaken by them though Salinguerra a valiant Commander was in it and made a brave defence As soon as it was taken it was put into the hands of Azo of the House of Este who was a considerable Person in this Enterprize to be govern'd by him in the name of the Church An. Dom. 1240. This so alarm'd the Emperour who was then at Pisa that being under great uncertainty whom to look upon as Friends to himself or Wellwishers to the Pope he divided first the Cities of Italy into two Factions giving the name of Guelphs to those who were for the Pope's Interest and that of Gibellines to them that were for the Imperial These most pernicious names of distinction invented surely for the mischief of mankind were first made use of at Pistoia where when the Magistrates expell'd the Panzatichi who were Gibellines out of the City there chanc'd to be two Brothers Germans the one of which whose name was Guelph was for the Pope the other for the Emperour and his name was Gibel from which these two Parties were discriminated by those different appellations On the other side those of Arezzo and Sienna drive out the Guelphs whose example being follow'd by many other Cities of Italy gave occasion and rise to a worse than Civil War Several Cities after this revolted from the Pope as well in Vmbria as in Tuscany and particularly the Citizens of Viterbo threw off their obedience The Romans also would fain have been doing the same thing but that the Pope carrying the heads of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul through the City in Procession moved the People to commiserate the State of the Church and then making a most excellent Oration in S. Peters Church he had the power and good fortune by it to persuade even the Seditious who were ready to mutiny to take his part and to list themselves under the holy Cross for the defence of the Church of God These when some time after Frederic came in hostile manner before the Walls of Rome gave him a repulse which so enrag'd him that whatsoever Prisoners he had taken he put to death with divers tortures and retir'd towards Beneventum which City he took by force sack'd and dismantled it Then returning by the Via Latina with his heart full of fury toward the City by the way he plunder'd the Monastery of Monte-Cassino and turn'd out the Monks he destroy'd also with fire and sword the City of Sora formerly belonging to the Samnites situate at the head of the River Garigliano and pillag'd any thing that belong'd to the Templers wherever he could meet with it He was so great a Lover of the Saracens that he made use of them rather than any other People in his Wars made Magistrates of them and gave them a City for themselves which is call'd to this day Nocera di Pagani He threaten'd the Brother of the King of Tunis because he was come as far as Palermo to receive the Sacrament of Baptism By a sudden Onset he also made himself Master of Ravenna which appertain'd to the Church All which Gregory well considering he appointed a Council to be holden in the Lateran there to find out means to depose Frederic but the Emperour had so beset all the ways that with the help of the Pisans he took several Cardinals and Prelates as they were travelling both by Sea and Land and cast them into Prison Which so griev'd the good Pope that he liv'd not long after dying when he had been Pope fourteen years and three months There happen'd an Eclipse of the Sun a little before his death greater than ever was seen Raymund of Barcelona flourish'd in his time and assisted him in compiling his Book of Decretals whom many Authors so commend that nothing can be added to his Praise CELESTINE IV. CELESTINE the Fourth a Milanese of the Family of the Castiglioni Bishop of Sabina famous in his time for his exemplary life and great Learning being very old and sickly was yet chosen Pope in the room of Gregory but died on the eighteenth day of his Pontificate and was buried in S. Peter's Church to the great
disappointment of all Men who hoped to see much better times under his Government After his decease the Sea was vacant twenty one months for those who were then in the highest Authority in the Church of God did not think good to elect any Man to the Popedom so long as the Cardinals which were taken by Frederic were detain'd in Prison During this vacancy of the Holy Sea Frederic over-ran the Marca di Ancona and Romagna as far as Faenza and Bologna which after some resistance he took by force and transferred the University which was at Bologna to Padoua and beside gave many troubles and did great mischiefs to all those that were look'd upon as Favourers of the Churches Cause Then Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople despairing of managing the Asian Affairs to any purpose together with Raymund Earl of Tholouse came into Italy and what with his intreaties and by reason of the respect which Frederic who was then at Parma had for him he procur'd that the Cardinals and other Ecclesiastical persons who were kept under custody by him should be set free who in a little time after had a meeting at Anagni to consider of the Choice of a new Pope INNOCENT IV. INNOCENT the Fourth before call'd Sinibaldo of the Family of the Fieschi Counts of Lavagna was created Pope at Anagni at the news of which Frederic was not very well pleased for he knew him to be a Man of resolution and of a great Spirit they having lived together familiarly for some time before and he was very much afraid he would call him to account for his past actions So that when some of his Friends were complementing him upon this occasion he is said to have told 'em that Cardinal Sinibaldo was indeed his special Friend but now being made Pope he was his bitter Enemy Innocent having put on the Pontifical Robes comes to Rome where by the way he is met by all the Nobility and Men of note and receiv'd with universal Acclamations and having perform'd all the Ceremonies of the Consecration and Coronation which are usual in such cases he begins to discourse of making Peace with Frederic Baldwin also interposing his Authority to bring it about But the business met with many delays till after four months had been spent in negotiating the result was this that the Pope should remove to the City of Castellana and tarry there a while till the Emperor came thither also personally to treat about the Peace But Innocent receiving certain information that Frederic had laid snares and Ambushes for him both at Rome and in his way to that place he made use of some shipping of the Genoeses which then lay in the Port of Civita-vecchia and with a prosperous gale arriv'd in France where at Lions he was receiv'd very generously by all People and with great kindness and at that City he appoints a Council to be holden An. Dom. 1246. to which he cites the Emperour by Nuntios and Letters first and at last by an Officer for the purpose setting him under a penalty if he were disobedient In answer to this the Emperour onely sends thither a Civilian of Sinuessa to desire of the Pope some longer time promising shortly to begin his Journey thitherward and so much time as was fit was allow'd him But his craft appearing and that he onely sought an occasion to scandalize and ruine the Pope by universal consent he was declar'd to be depriv'd of his Title to the Empire and his other Dominions This Frederic took with so great indignation that he commanded the Houses and Palaces of some of Pope Innocent's kinsfolks who by his advice were remov'd from Parma where their Estates lay to Piacenza to be pull'd down and then making a League with the Duke of Burgundy he resolv'd to go to Lions and for that purpose he prepar'd a vast Retinue with which he came as far as Turin where news was brought him that those persons who had been banish'd from Parma were return'd and having defeated their fellow-Citizens near the River Taro had entred the City by force and made great slaughter of the contrary party This caused Frederic to break off his intended Journey and to return into Italy where gathering into one Army all his Forces which had been dispersed through the whole Country he made up a body of sixty thousand Men and with these he marches to invest the City of Parma which the associated Cities being solicitous to defend they put into it very great reliefs under the command of the Pope's Legat who having with great obstinacy sustain'd the Siege for two years at last making a bold sally when Frederic expected no such thing he utterly routed and destroy'd his Army and made himself master of his Camp which was plentifully stor'd with all manner of necessaries because Frederic had fortified it after the manner of a City with Out-works designing when he should have plunder'd and rased the City of Parma against which he had conceiv'd the utmost hatred to build a City in the place where his Camp stood and where he had already coin'd pieces of Money call'd Victorines and to name it the City Victoria According to some Authors himself had much ado to escape to Cremona from this great defeat in which he lost a Crown of inestimable value and several Vessels of Gold of huge weight but he durst not enter the Walls of Cremona for fear of the Cremoneses many of whose fellow-Citizens had lost their lives in that Engagement Innocent being advertised of this great blow given to the fortune of Frederic and that his heart was so broken with it that he let himself loose to all manner of voluptuousness and made himself Gardens of Pleasure where he kept a number of beautiful Women and Eunuchs he took pity upon the Man and dismissing the Councils without farther prosecution of him he dispatch'd Nuncios through France and other Countries to persuade the people to engage in the Holy War and to follow Lewis King of France who was preparing for an Expedition into Asia which he had promised and vow'd to perform when he lay under a great fit of sickness But the Tartarians put a stop for a while to this Journey who with two numerous Bodies of men had entred Europe and Asia where those who invaded the latter having pass'd through the Countries of Georgia and Armenia pierc'd as far as Iconium then the Royal Seat of the Turkish Princes the other party which entred Europe under the conduct of one Batto ravag'd all through Poland and Hungary and then turning toward the Euxine Sea they depopulated the vast Realms of Russia and Gazaria At the same time the Grossoni a people of Arabia by the instigation of the Soldan of Babylon set upon the Templars and put 'em to flight and without any trouble took Jerusalem which was before stripp'd of its Walls putting the Christians that were in it to the Sword and dishonouring our Saviour's Sepulchre with all
animosities arisen in the Kingdom of Naples For King Robert dying without Issue male bequeathed Johanna Daughter of Andrew his Nephew for a Wife to King Charles of Hungary's Son who came at that time a Youth to Naples But Johanna hating him for a dull fellow kill'd him by surprise in the City which was generally against the Match and was married to his Cousin German one Lewis Son to a former Prince of Tarento who was known to be Robert's Brother But Lewis King of Hungary and Brother of her first Husband resolving to revenge so great a piece of Villany came into Italy with a very well order'd Army and first attaqued the Sulmoneses who had the boldness to oppose him But in the mean while the manner of choosing Senators at Rome was alter'd by Apostolical Authority and Nicolas de Renty Citizen of Rome and publick Notary a man very earnest and high for Liberty when he had taken the Capitol gain'd so much good will and Authority among all the people that he could incline them to what he pleased And that he might work upon them the more effectually he used this Motto Nicolas the severe and merciful Patron of Liberty Peace and Justice and the illustrious Redeemer of the Sacred State of Rome With these great Words he created such an admiration of himself that all the people of Italy desired by their Embassadors to enter into League and friendship with him Beside that some forein Nations look'd upon the glory of the Roman Empire to be now reviving But his vain Boasting continu'd not long for whilst he was kind to some Citizens and an Enemy to others he all on the sudden was accounted instead of a Patron a Tyrant So that in the seventh month of his Government of his own accord without any bodies knowledg on a dark Night he went disguised from Rome into Bohemia to Charles the Son of John whom Clement a little before had made the Electors put in nomination for Emperor because he was so fine a Scholar besides that he had a mind to affront the Bavarian by setting up a Competitor So the Tribune i.e. Nicolas was taken by Charles and carry'd to Avignion for a Present to the Pope But Lewis having gotten into Sulmona after a long Siege makes himself easily master of the whole Kingdom since Johanna and the Adulterer Lewis were fled for fear into Narbonne and had left onely the Duke of Durazzo Nephew to King Robert to protect the Kingdom who was conquer'd and taken by Charles and put to Death But the Plague being very hot all over Italy Charles left sufficient Garisons there and return'd into Hungary in the third month after his arrival which was just about the time when John the Arch-Bishop a man of great courage and conduct received from the Pope the Lieutenancy of Millain upon the death of his Brother Luchino But Clement kept Nicolas in Prison and sent some Cardinals to Rome to settle the State of the City to whom Francis Petrarcha wrote persuading them to chuse Senators impartially out of the Commonalty if they would appease the Tumults since it did not sufficiently appear in Rome who were of the Senatorian and who of the Plebeian rank because they were almost all Foreigners and born of strange Parents Upon this Petro Sarra of Columna and John Vrsini were declared Senators At this time the Plague raged so all over Italy for three years that there was scarce one man in ten that escaped Nor is that any wonder for there was such a concourse of men from all places to Rome at the Jubilee which was then celebrated that they not onely brought the Contagion along with 'em but by the throng and bustle and sweating that was among 'em infected all places and persons At that time the Town of Colle and Geminiano were made subject to the Florentines and Bologna to the Arch-Bishop of Millain by the voluntary surrender of the Citizens At which the Pope being disturb'd sent a Legate into Italy to instigate the Florentines and Mastino Scala against the Viconti But when Mastino was dead the Arch-Bishop endeavour'd to draw Canegrande Son to Mastino and all the Gibellins in Romagna and Tuscany to make an Alliance with him and sent his Nephew Bernabos to Bologna to keep the Citizens in Obedience In the mean time the Florentines without any resistance set upon the Pistoians and the Prateses and at length reduced 'em by main force But after that being harrass'd by the Arch-Bishop's force under the command of John Aulegius they could hardly defend themselves within their Walls At that time Anguillara and Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro belonging to the Church revolted to the Viscounts and then also we read that the Genoeses and Venetians fought a Sea-Battel in which the Genoeses at first were conquer'd but afterward they were more victorious under the Command of Admiral Philip Auria and not onely took the Island Scio from the Venetians but kill'd a great many men in Vbaea now called Necroponte But Clement resolving at last to consult the quiet of Italy Decreed that Lewis Prince of Taranto should be King of Naples renew'd the Peace with the Hungarian bought the City of Avignion of Queen Joan whose Inheritance it was and paid for it by remitting of a certain Fee that amounted to rather more than the price of it and was due from her to the Church of Rome upon the account of the Kingdom of Naples But whilst Olegio Viconti besieged Scarperia in Muciallia those of Siena Arezzo and Perugia being affrighted enter'd into a new Confederacy with the Florentines against the Viconti The Pisans could not shew their friendship to the Viconti for the Gambacorti a Noble Family that were Allies of Florence who being now unable to withstand the Viconti alone call'd Charles the Emperor into Italy At this the Pope was concern'd and fearing Italy might be destroy'd with fire and sword as the Emperor threaten'd he deliver'd Bologni ro the Viconti upon Condition that they should pay the Church twelve thousand pound a year and made Peace between the Viconti and the Florentines upon these terms That neither of 'em should molest those of Pisa Lucca Siena or Perugia and that Borgo di Sancto Sepolchro should be subject to the Church and the Viconti should preserve the Liberty of the Cortoneses He also endeavour'd to compose the differences between Philip of France and Edward of England but in vain for they were so incens'd to fight that in one Battel Edward kill'd twenty thousand French and after eleventh months Siege victoriously took Calais by storm The same success he had against the Scots But the Pope having done the Duty of a good Shepherd seeing he could not advantage Christendom abroad he consulted how to do the Church some good at home For he chose excellent Persons for Cardinals especially Giles a Spaniard who was Arch-Bishop of Toledo Nicolas Cappocius a Roman Citizen Rainaldo Vrsina Protonotary of the Church of