tiranny of Princes they war without warrant that rebell against their worst kinges Were there neither authority deuine nor prophane to reprooue rebellion yet in their best quarrel destruction which is the ende of traitours sheweth their beginning to be naught God manye times suffereth both good and bad Princes to fall into the handes of their subiectes but woe be vnto those subiectes by whom either perishe We need no other torment to relish our present peace and prosperity then the remonstration of the ciuill warres bloudshed and manye grieuous calamities which for the space of 85. yéeres yea during the raignes of 6. kinges afflicted this small kingdome After the violent depriuement of king Richard the second from his crowne and dignity but in the end the Lorde hauing compassion of our manifold miseries séeing our priuate dissention ready to grow to publicke destruction euen when his wrath séemed to be moste hot euen then the beames of his mercy sodenlye comforted vs by the destruction of our arch tyraunt Richard the third who caused and committed more wicked saluadge murders then fiftéene of the most tirannous kinges of England But humbly confessing Gods prouidence with this old age Nullum violentum perpetuum This tiraunt that was giltye of the death of king Henry the 6. Prince Edward his sonne and his own naturall brother George Duke of Clarence and afterwardes within the space of thrée yéeres of his vsurped raignes caused his nephewes king Edward the 5. and Richard Duke of York his brother to be murthered in the Tower not caring for his alleageaunce towardes the one nor fearing to breake the sanctuary for the other who repudiated his owne mother offered to marry his brothers daughter as is a fore saide After these and many other murders without the procéeding of law this manifest monster the ende of Englandes ciuill misery was slaine at Boshworth field by that prudent Prince king Henry the 7. by Gods planting the root of Englandes happinesse and naked like a hog was carried vpon a bare horse backe to Lecester there buried who meriteth neither the monument of King nor Man CHAP. 3. A sommarie of the vertues of the prudent prince King Henry the seuenth THE fayrest buylding hath a foundation and the fruitfullest trée his root and albeit the beuty of either be in the outward attyre yet the strength of both consisteth in the inwarde substaunce And certainely in all discriptions the cause ought to be as well set downe as the effect that Anatomie is perfect that discouereth all the inward as well as the outward workemanship of man Uertue I grant conuayeth honor simply from a mans owne good actions yet the same is much inlarged if from desent to desent honor be issued from the monumentes of his auncestours vertues And sure the glorye of a man is much iniured or eclipsed that is blasoned but by his owne proper regardes when the same maye bee truely illustred by such auncient graces But touching my purpose some will suggest that as it is a needlesse labour to seeke a Diamonde with a torche which glimmereth in the darke so as bootelesse is the curiositie to deriue her maiesties glorye further then from her owne sacred vertues when her wicked enemies renowne her perfections and wilfully pursue their owne destruction through presumption that her excellencye is composed all of grace and mercye I am bounde reuerentlye to acknowledge that her maiesties perfection is the true discouery of imperfection and in this regarde absolute that enuye and the worste sworne enemies of God assault her prosperity yet if anye thing maye be added to extoll her name this meriteth regarde that the fruites of vniuersall comfort which her deuine and heroicall graces plentifully distributeth grow from the root of Englandes happines which no priuie conspiracy could vnplant euen king Henry the seuenth And of that gréene trée which the stinging Locustes could by no meanes wither king Henry the eight And doubtlesse who so shal zelously contemplate how that the prouidence of God euen in our greatest destructions alwaies sustained vs may easily perswade him selfe that God would haue his glory to sâ—…ine ouer the world next his word from the lights of this little Iland seperated as some write from the world or at the least ioyned to the outermost end thereof How easie a praye had we béene for the ambitious desire of some bordering king during the blouddye contention betwéene the two illustrous houses Yorke and Lancaster for imperiall dignitye but God would not our subuertion The history of Richard the thirds tiranny is a most lamentable cronicle yet the same considered by Gods prouidence assureth vs by that sharpe remembrance a remembraunce of his mercifull goodnesse in deliuering vs from a continuall calamity in she wing vs through the vnlawfull procéedings of the tirant a lawfull meanes to accord these two puissant houses But before this great blessing his incomprehensible wisedome so sharply scourged this realme as all her estates suppressed their priuate desires and hartely praied and laboured for this happy vnity who mercifullye regarding our patient bondage crowned king Henrie the 7. with title of both houses by taking to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to king Edward the 4. And albeit the end of our ciuill destruction in the beginning of his prudent raigne be sufficient alone to crowne king Henry the 7. name with euerlasting fame yet to gouerne vs right God indued this noble Prince with vertues answerable to so great a blessing as a general peace And certainly if Alexander surnamed Seuerus be reckoned among the number of the most wise emperors King Henry the 7. meriteth semblable title as the true imitatour of Alexanders gouernment King Henry the 7. entered vpon a kingdome no lesse disordered with continuall tumults then did Alexander with the vnmeasurable voluptuousnes of Helyogabalus the necessitye of time made him a seuere executioner of his lawes and testifieth the same to be deriued from perfect iustice he punished offences without respect of persons Honor was no plea for the mighty he iudged the trespasses of Lawyers with his owne knowledge of the law he onely pardoned ignoraunt offences and graciously relieued his poore subiectes oppressions he was thought somewhat too seueere in punishment But such murmuringes were no lawfull complaints to a fore that is deepe festered with corruption sharpe corsiues are to be applyed Euen so in a disordered common wealth seueere lawes are to be ministred He was a iust vertuous valiaunt and learned Prince a true distributour of peace plentye and prosperitye to his subiectes who in his life time had had a moste liberall portion of happinesse if in his dayes the Gospell of IESVS had had a free passage But leaue we Gods will therein who would not haue his outward temple builded in Dauids time but in his sonne Salomons and yet was Dauid a righteous man after the Lord in whose hand the harts of princes are had established a setled peace
reported that his notorious crimes exceeded the dayes of his age which I ouerpasse as examples necessary for other purposes and vnto this impious parte I will ioyne this following crueltie Upon a day one tolde this naughtie Emperour that his cosen Mamertius Antomenes resembled him in comelynesse of bodie and magnanimitie of minde vpon which report Commodus pronounced death both vpon the reporter and his innocent cousen holding it for reason that it appertained to no man to vaunt lesse to resemble him and in my opinion if Antomenes resembled him in deuilish qualities death was too easie a scourge for so lewde a life Mulla Abdula father of Moley Mahumet commonly called the blacke king in whose cause the mortall battaile betwéene the king of Portugall and Amoley Muluco king of Fees was fought the 5. of August 1578. as in the alteration of the latter common weales by enuy shal be more largely shewen vpon an enuious suggestion that his brethren by the priuity in nature and bloud loked to liue in greater liberty then subiectes by the assistaunce of a noble man of the countrey called Alcatho Alley caused the throates of a eleuen of his brethren to be cut in one morning Now to conclude these particular tyrannies of enuye vnto which millions of notorious examples may be enserted the monstrous murders of king Richard the third a tyrant of our nation is worthy note in whose wretched end yet worthy his wickednes the happines of Englande began againe to florish and enioyed her auncient renowne This tyraunt at such time as he was Duke of Glocester with an enuious eye behelde the soueranity of king Edwarde the 4. his brother and yet inforced by necessity obeyed him For annoynted kinges with weake policies are not depriued but vnable to hold his hand from their throates who for their dignities toke the vpper hand of him against the lawes of honor with his impious handes he stabbed Prince Edward to the hart beeing taken prisoner at the battaile of Tewksbury Next like an Alehouse ruffen with his dagger he slew the infortunate good king Henry the sixt in the tower of London Then heaping murder vppon murder he caused George Duke of Clarence his naturall Brother to be drowned in a Butte of Malmesey And last though not the least to rowle vp a number of noble subiectes endes with the death of king Edward the fift and Richard Duke of Yorke the kinges brother his nephewes whom he caused to be murthered in the Tower and buried without honor to infame the name of king Edward the fourth and his posterity he pronounced his mother like a filthy harpye to be a strumpet and that the sayd king Edward was a Bastard and him selfe onely legitimate as I think sonne of the diuel for it séemeth wonderful that so inhumane a creature should take life of humane séed CHAP. 3. Enuy originall of warre and capitall cause of the destruction of the first Monarchies MAny yéeres after the beginning euery king qui etly enioyed the countries in his own possession vntil Ninus king of the Asserians enuying the soueranity of his neighbour kings put him self in armes vnlawfully to inlarge his owne dominions by deposing other froÌ„ their kingdoms Thus byenuy froÌ„ the bottom of hell came war by war confusion of deuine humaine blessings the aduauncement of thousandes of diuelish iniquities For whereas lawes giue place to armes the honor of God is wounded his word is misprised Iesus Christ is blasphemed and persecuted his Gospell is reiected and his Sacraments are prophaned fire is put to the house of the lord Wolues are thruste into his stéepefolde and wilde Bores among his vines truth and equity is peruerted charity is cold innocents and the iust are oppressed youth bee ill instructed publicke orders are broken discipline and rules of good life are abolished ignoraunce is raysed knowledge is abased proud ambitious and men of leaste estimation doe gouerne the learned wise and vertuous are disofficed as ideots and men of no merite countries bee vnpeopled fayre Cities are burned peaceable citizens are murthered their wiues and daughters are rauished their groundes lye vntilled goods compassed by the trauels of a mans whole life in one hower doe become the spoyle of a riotous souldiour And to conclude though short of a number of other curses which follow warre vice mounted in her chariot of triumph arrogaÌ„tly treadeth pore vertue vnder foot therby they that shold cry out of this outrage against God and man are dumb and the reformers of these enormities deafe these vengeances by war the enuious eye and ambitious hart of Ninus bred in the worlde which died not with the destruction of Th'asserian monarchy Notwithstanding enuy the erecter was the destroyer therof For Arbactus leiftenant of the Meades enuiyng the soueranity of Sardanapalus a man more effeminate then a woman by the assistaunce of other lords gaue battaile vnto the king Sardanapalus discomforted â—…led into his pallas there enuiyng the fortune of Arbactus more to reaue him of the glory of his triumph then moued by sorrow of his own defeat Sardanapalus set fire of his Pallas his wealth him selfe so by the prodigall spoyle of his life recouered the reputation of a man for manhood is most truely tried by constancy in the trembling passage of death The like enuious part was committed by Ariathes king of Capidocia who being ouercome in battail by Perdicas one of Alexanders successors fled into the Citye enuiyng Perdicas good fortune more then he lamented his owne mischance caused the city to be set on fire incouraged his souldiers citizens to slay their wiues children holding it lesse euill to die by the violence of friends then to liue a seruile life vnder the controlment of their enemies And by this means in truth he reaued Perdicas of the spoyle of his victory but did both vnto him selfe and countrey an iniury against nature and reason against nature in committing wilful murder vpon him selfe posterity against reason in that time was able to repaire his ruines of fortune But to kéep an order in discoursing the actions of enuy by the victory which Arbactus had ouer Sardanapalus the empyre of Th'asserians was traÌ„slated into the Meades which corse most conquerors adopted Princes euer since haue taken to crown their natiue countrey with imperiall title to leaue the places conquered or by other meanes gayned to the tyrannye of leifetenants Well this monster enuy which mortifieth the naturall affection of a father robbeth dutifull obedience from the son made the one of these the cause the other the ouerthrow of this second empire For Astiages the last king of the Meades receauing answer of the Oracle that his daughters sonne should gouerne his empire as it were to despight the Gods that had fore destined this honor vnto his daughters sonne vpon an enuious thought first
the Iewes This Mahomet had a quicke spirite and easely learned what so euer he was taught who in his youth was solde as a slaue vnto a rich marchaunt named Adimonople who regarding the towardnes of the young man intertayned him as his sonne and in no pointe as his slaue who so well mannaged his masters affayres that in shorte time he returned Adimonople great riches and by reason of his great traffique both with Christians and Iewes he was well exercised in eyther of their lawes during this time Mahomets master dyed without yssue and left Ladigua his wife very riche who hauing before proued the sufficiencie of Mahomet tooke him to husband so of a bondman raysed him vnto the degrée of a riche Lord. In the Prime of Mahomets aduancement the forenamed Sergius ariued in Arabia who to be reuenged of the Cleargie that banished him Constantinople or more properly to shew his malice to despight God because he suffered him to prosper no better in his herestes in euery place he tormented the poore Christians with whose outward habite he was but lately attyred in the ende he lighted in acquaintance with Mahomet whome Sergius founde in abilitie and power great in witte quicke and subtill in minde proude and ambitious of disposition froward and enuious a great practiser of magicke and nigromancie and to bee shorte that hee was ignoraunt in no vice neither was there any lewde attempt that hee feared to enterprise who taking his best opportunitie counseled Mahomet to take vpon him the name of a Prophet and to giue him the greater credit by magicke and other diuelisâ—… practises hee illuded the people with some false myracles in somuch as his wife and most familiar friendes began to admire Mahomet and to reuerence him as a holy Prophet But were it the vengeaunce of God sent to abase his pride or the malice of the deuill by this plague to colour his impious enterprise Mahomet was many times stroken with the falling euill whose straunge passions much amazed both his wife and houshold seruauntes which Mahomet thus excused that the Angell of God oftentimes talked with him and vnable as a man to sustaine his diuine presence he entered into this agonie and alteration of spirit and that by this visitation he forelearned what was the almightie will and pleasure of God whose expresse charge he followed By these subtil illusions protestations he not only seduced his familliar friendes and allies but by his cunning and their false rumours he was admired and reputed through the greater part of Arabia as the Prophet of God Mahomet growing to be thus popular and after the death of his wife sole possessed of a great masse of wealth by the incouragement of Sergius he published abrode that he was sente from God into the worlde to giue lawes vnto the people and for that he was by his industrie learned in all lawes in the beginning till he had well rooted his damnable sect to reaue himselfe of many dangerous enemies in parte he accorded with the Iewes in part with the Christians and moreouer in many thinges he agreed with the heretiques which raigned in his time he denyed the Trinitie with the Sabellicans with the Macedonians he denyed that the holy Ghost was God and approued the multitude of wiues with the Nicolaites on the other part he confessed that our Sauiour and Redeemer was a holy Prophet and that he had the spirite of God with the Iewes he receyued circumcision and to be short being of no religion hee entertained the professours of euery religion but especially his wicked law tollerated al carnal vices wtout controlement Maâ—…omet being by these means strong and puissant he made his lawe named the Alcoran and for that he distrusted the goodnes thereof he generally forbad all men vpon the paine of death not so much as to dispute of his lawe In the beginning of these matters he was strengthened with the multitude and such as were seduced with his false perswasions Also there ioyned with him all the vicious and carnal men which in those dayes abounded through the world by whose ayde he assaulted the confines of Arabia and subiected a great part thereof His beginning was about the yeere of the Lord 620. in the time of the Emperour Eraclies who so soone as he had news of Mahomets proceedings as Platinus witnesseth he prepared a remedie perfourmed the same in part intertaining for this seruice with large promises the Scenits a warlike people of Arabia so that this new sect was in a maner stifeled for a time notwithstanding the Emperour greatly erred that he followed not his purpose vntill he had cleane plucked vp this wicked roote which brought forth such dangerous and damnable seed for in not continuing his enterprise he did much hurt in beginning of the same for because he kept not promise with the Scenites and payed them their accustomed wages they in despight thereof ioyned with Mahomet seeing that he was in great reputation holden for the Prophet of God they chose him for their captaine Afterwardes he and his people assailed the Empire of the ROMAINS and entering into Syria they conquered the noble citie of Damas with all Egypt Iudea the adioyning countries Mahomet then perswaded the Sarisens a people of Arabia that the land of promise belonged vnto them as the legittimate successors of Abraham and hauing thus fortunate successe in his enterprises he made warre vpon the Persians by whom he was at the first vanquished but in the ende he had the vpper hand To conclude after that Mahomet had compassed great and horrible matters he was poysoned in the 40. yeere of his age and as Sabellicus sayth in the yeere of our Lord 6 2. And for that Mahomet would often say that after his death he should ascend vp into heauen his disciples kept him aboue the ground vntill his bodie stuncke as badde as his soule which was then closed in iron and by his sayde disciples was carried into the Citie of Meque in Persia where he is worshipped of all the people of the East yea of the greater part of the worlde Califus succeeded Mahomet in the Empire and Hali succeeded Califus these two greatly augmented the secte of Mahomet and so from tyme to tyme by diuers meanes and successions and Principally for our sinnes and through the cowardlines of the Emperors of the East this pestilence continueth vnto our age And certaynely if Gods mercie and the diligence of the Emperour CHARLES the fifte had not stopped the passage and determination of the great Turke SOLYMAN Italie and all the West hadbene in daunger of this infection God be praised for his prouidence and when it standeth with his good will all good people doe desire that there may bee such vnitie among Christian Princes as ioyning their forces together they may be able to confounde the tyrannie of this enemie of many thousand millions of mens saluation
man the Emperour made many great offers to Megolo all which he refused and answered him that he was not come thither for the couetousnes of goods but for his owe the name of the Genowaies honour and that he demaunded of him none other thing then that in remembrance hereof he would build at Trebisonde a fayre shop for the marchandise of the Genowaies about which should be painted this historie which the Emperour accomplished and vsed the Genowaies with greater fauour then before and so Megolo returned to Genowaie gratified and receiued of euery man with great honour CAAP. 11. The contention that enuie set betweene the Emperour of Constantinople the Lord of Bulgarie and other Princes was the first grounde and sure foundation of the great TVRKES Empire THe puissant kingdome of the Turkes at this day so much renoumed and feared together with the linage and familie of their Ottomans and kings are of late yeeres sprung vp as a scourge sent and suffered by God for the sins and iniquities of the Christians It is not yet 300. yeeres since the first beginning of their kingdome which at this day is multiplied to the terrour of the whole world the name of the Turks are neuerthelesse auncient but to say that they came of the ancient Troians because they are called Teucres is a manifest errour Plinie and Pomponius Mela in the ende of his first booke say that their originall cōmeth frō the Sarmats which are of the confines of Scythia néere vnto the sea Caspia who in ancient times were called Turaci and now Turkes these Scythians or Turkes liuing before as sauadge men came forth of Scythia into Asia Minor which is by reason of their name to this day called Turkie where they robbed and conquered certaine prouinces these as barbarous infidell people receyued the damnable sect of Mahomet as the first that was presented vnto them which best agréed with their wicked customs these people wtout gouerner or head but being a multitude fiercely ioyning together setled thēselues in the lesse Asia in fine they chose one Soliman of the kingdom of Cilicia for their K. whom Godfrey of Bolloine other christian Princes vtterly ouerthrew so discomfited the Turkes that of long time after they had neyther K. nor captaine of account In the end Ottoman a man of base linage got the fauor of the people was made their K. and by vertue great valor somewhat inlarged their dominions he raigned 28. yéeres dyed An. 1308. whose K. continueth to this day in the ligne of the heire males Orkan succéeded his father Ottoman a man as valiant and more industrous then his father he was a great inuenter of militarie engins magnanimous liberal who after he had raigned 22. yéeres dyed of a hurt which he receiued at the assault of a city he had by the K. of Cilicias daughter a Christian whō he married a son named Amurat that sucéeeded him a man farre vnlike his father in vertues of the mind or strength of body yet very ambitious desirous to inlarge his Empire to compasse which enuy presented him a faire occasion at that time the E. of Constantinople was at controuersie with certain Princes his subiects which fauoured the L. of Bulgarie who charged the E. so hard as he was driuen to demaūd succour of this Amurat K. of the Turkes who sent him 15000. chosen men by the aid of whom the E. vanquished his enemies which done he kept the greater part of the Turks in his owne dominions Amurat vnderstanding the disposition of the coūtrie vnder the colour to ayd the E. against his enemies came into the dominions of the E. with 60000 footemen and a great number of horsemen in despight of the E. made himselfe L. of the cities of Calipoli Andronople he ouercame Marke the grandmaster of Bulgarie and Lazarus the despos of Seruia with a great number of Christians and Malgre the E. possessed himselfe of the gretest part of Thracia Greece in the end a slaue of Lazarus slew him when he had liued 23. yéeres which was An. 1373. Amurat left 2. sons Soliman Baiazet Baiazet slew his brother Soliman and made himselfe King in the beginning of his raigne he prepared great wars against the Christians to reuenge the death of his father and with a great armie he incoūtred in battaile with Marke L. of Bulgaria and with the greatest part of the nobilitie of Bulgaria and Seruia whom he slew and vtterly defeated 3. yéeres after this victorie he returned a newe vpon the Christians in Hungarie but chiefely in Albania and Valaschia and from thence sente many Christians slaues into Turkie and being possessed of the greatest parte of Greece to wit of the ancient countries of Athens Boetia and Arcania he laid siege vnto the great Citie of Constantinople which draue the Emperor in proper person to desire aid of the westerne Princes in which behalfe K. Charles the 7. succoured him with 2000. launces among whome there were two french gentlemen of great expectation who ioyned with Sigismond K. of Hungarie afterwards Emperour who for the same purpose raised a great armie with whome also ioyned the grandmaster of the Rhodes the Despos of Seruia and a great number of other christian Princes whereupon Baiazet leauing his siege at Constantinople sodeinly with 300000 men set vpon the Christians who were about a 100000. men betweene whom there was a most bloudy battaile in fine the Christians were ouerthrowne and the greater part slaine the King of Hungarie and the grandmaster of Rhodes hardely escaped by flight and the Frenchmen were neere all slaine or taken this battell was Anno 1395. vpon Michaelmas euen After which victorie Baiazet returned againe to his former siege of Constantinople and had surely won the same if the newes of Tamberlaines entrie into his countrey and that he had already gained many townes cities and prouinces constrained him to trusse vp his baggage and with his full power to go finde his enemie in Asia now two of the mightiest princes of the world encountered eache other in battaile where Baiazet was ouercome and taken who endured the most vile and hard prisonment that euer was heard of for Tamberlain still carried him with his armie in an iron cage and alwayes when he moūted vpon his horse he set his foot vpon his shoulders moreouer at meales he tyed him vnder his boorde and like a dog fedde him with fragments in this sorte ended this Prince his life who had bene the most aduentrous the most renowmed and the most feared Prince of his time The sons of Baiazet which escaped the battaile where their father was ouerthrowne in their flight taken vpon the seas by certaine galleis of the Christians and certainely at that instant a faire occasion was offered the Christians to haue kept vnder for euer their capitall enemie the Turke but their sinnes forbad
put the empire into his fathers hands now because of his inabilitie to gouern he alledged that of right he should returne it vnto him againe The old man was greatly perplexed with these matters especially with the disobedience of his sons this diuision of the brethren was the death of many of their adherents but Selim the yongest had euer the better hand who vnder the color to craue pardon of his father to defend him against his eldest brother Acomat so won the fauor of the Ianissaires the other men of war as by their help he tooke the empire from his Father banished him from Constantinople afterward poysoned him An. 1512. This traitour Paracide Selim caused him self to be crowned with great solemnitie which don he highly rewarded the Ianissaires men of war which strengthned him Soone after he went into Turkie againste his brethren where he slew the Children of his brethren which were fledde before his comming and with all so pursued his brother Corcut as falling into his handes he killed him Acornat the eldest by the helpe of the Sophy and the Soudan gathered a great power whome Selim ouerthrewe and tooke prisoner and afterward caused him to be strangled This wicked Paracide hauing thus slayne all those of his â—…loud was rid of the ielous feare of his Empire and disdayning the Soudan and the Sophy he confirmed the league with the Venetians and made peace with Ladislas king of Hungarie and so with a great power he went towarde the Sophy who nothing dismayed abid the battayle which was sharpe on both sides but in the ende the Sophy was vanquished hurt and driuen to flye greatly to the increase of the Turkes honor and reputation the yeare following the Turke make war vppon a great prince which gouerned vpon the mountaine Taurus whome he slewe and got possession of all his dominions this done Selim prepared his forces againste the Soudan and approching the coastes of Surie with his armye he caused a brute to be spead abroad that he would wage warre againste the Sophy But the Soudan suspecting his pollicie prepared a great power vnder the colour to suppresse the rebellion of a great Lorde in Surie In fine these two puissaunt Princes affronted each other neare vnto the City of Damas in Surrie and after many skyrmiges on either side their powers ioyned the 24. of August 1516. the same two yéeres after the ouerthrow of the Sophy This battaile was sustained a long time valiauntly of either partie in the ende the Turkes had the victorye and the Soudan was found dead hauing neuer a wound other then by treading of the horses beeing of the age of 76. yéeres after his victory he seased vpon all Surie the Palestine and Iudea those which escaped the former battail chose for their Soudan the gouernour of Alexandria named Tamonuey betwéene whom Selim was fought the cruellest battaile that euer was heard of notwithstanding ouercharged with the multitude of the Turkes Tamonuey was vanquished in th' end betraied into the hands of the Turk who caused him to be slayne after the death of Tamonuey the Turk soone tooke possession of the auncient puissant kingdom of Aegypt where as also in Surie he left a good order for the gouerment afterward in great triumph he returned vnto Constantinople where he died of an impostume An 1520. in the 8. yeare of his raigne 46 of his age this tirant was of so gret a courage as he was neuer known to be afraid of any thing Soliman his onelye sonne succéeded Selim who was crowned Emperour Soliman hauing subdued Gazellus that vsurped the segniorie of Tripoli and other domestick rebels the yeare following in proper person he made wars vppon the Christians and besieged Belgrade the port strength of Hungarie which with vaine successe had béen attempted by manye of his predecessours But Lewes then king beeing very young and gouerned by the Princes of his countrey by negligent defence suffred the City to be taken by the Turkes Soliman retyred from this exployte in proper person contrary to the mindes of his Bassas layde siege vnto Rhodes with an innumerable power of men and artillerie both by land and sea during this siege the notable feates of armes of either parties can not be sufficiently praised But at the 6. monethes end the Grand maister of Rhodes named Phillip de Villiers a French man was driuen to yéeld the City vnto Soliman who retourned to Constantinople proud of so great an enterprise Three yeeres after which was An. 1526. he entred Hungarie with a maruailous army with whom king Lewes ill aduised encountred with a small power betweene Buda Belgrade where the sayde Lewes was vanquished and founde drowned in a ditch after which the Turke tooke Buda and other bordering townes and as a conqueror retourned After this Soliman came with a huge army of sixe hundred thousand men into Hungarie and Astria with a desire and determination to conquer all Christendome to withstande whose enterprise Charles the 5. presented him selfe in proper person with lesse then halfe the number of the Turkes through feare of whome the Turke forsooke his purpose with the losse of many of his people as he did An. 1537. when both by lande and Sea he came into Italie and had taken certaine places in the kingdome of Naples Sultan Selim succéeded Soliman in the Empire During his raigne the Venetians loste the famous City Famagosta and a great part of the Isle of Cipres In which conquest of Famagosta there were slaine and taken prisoners a great number of Christian noble men and captaines amongst the rest the tiraunt Mustafa Bassa by the traine of fauourable vsage intrapped the noble Bragadino go uernour of Famagosta and contrary to his own faith the law of honor and humanitye he first caused his eares to be cut off and then to bee cruellye stretched foorth vppon the grounde to whome the tiraunt thus blasphemouslye spake where is now thy Christ that he helpeth thee not to which the patient Gentle man made no aunswere After this the noble Bragadino after manye vile and spitefull disgraces was in the market place tacked to the pillory and fleaed a liue whose skin béeing stuffed with straw was hanged vpon a bowsprite of a foyste and so carried along the port Townes of Siria Amurathe that now raigneth succéeded his father Selim by murther of fiue of his yonger brethren of him selfe he is afraid of the noise of armour and therefore committed the charge of his wars to his Bassas he is politicke and in the East wonderfully feared the Sophy occupieth him with harde warres and yet the king of Spaine from whom he hath won the kingdom of Tunis nor yet the Venetians whose seignorie he almoste possesseth dare not but be in league with him when he waiteth but oportunitie to spoyle not onely them but all Christendom I would to God his
the 1. 2. daies assault the 3. day the people fed with a vaine hope of mercy set open the gates and with their wiues children cloathed all in white hauing Oliue branches in their handes they humbly beséeched grace but Tamberlaine in place of compassion caused his squadrons of horsemen to tread them vnder their féete and not to leaue a mothers child a liue and afterwardes he leuiled the city with the ground At that time there was a marchaunt of Genowa somewhat fauored of Tamberlaine pittying the cruelty boldly demanded why he shewed such cruelty to those that yéelded and beséeched pardon whō Tamberlaine with a countenance fiered with fury answered thou supposest that I am a mā but thou art deceiued for I am no other then the ire of God and the destruction of the world and therfore sée thou come no more in my sight least I chastē thy ouer proud boldnes The marchant made spéed away was neuer afterwards séene in the campe And in truth Tamberlain although he was endued with many excellencies vertues yet it séemed by his cruelty the God raysed him to chasten the kings proud people of the earth In the ende this great personage without disgrace of fortune after sūdry great victories by the course of nature died left behind him two sons euery way far vnlike their father betwéen whō enuy sowed such dissention that through their incapacities to gouern the conquests of their Father the children of Baiazet whom they kept prisoners stole into Asia so won the people to disobedience as they recouered the goods possessions that their father lost The like did other kings princes whō Tamberlaine had spoyled in so much as in small time this Empire was so abased that many dayes agoe there was no remembrance left either of him or his linage saue that Baptista Ignatius a great searcher of antiquities saith that the successors of Tamberlaines sons possessed the prouinces conquered by him about the riuer of Euphrates vntil the time of king Vsancasan according to the opinion of some writers of the heyres of this Vsancasan was chosen the first Sophy who to this day to the benefit of all christendō maintaineth mortall wars against the great Turk But it séemeth that their empire was cleane ended for as it is set down in the chapter of the great Turke one named Ismaell a false Prophet gathered a multitude of the cōmom people together of whom by continual fauor of time and fortune the Sophy is growne of power to incounter the great Turke And herein although the lightnes inconstancy of the common people be heretofore noted yet occasion here and in sundry places ministreth matter to blame their enuious and froward dispositions there was neuer inuention so fantasticke nor captaine so wicked that they refused to follow they erected the tirannous empires of the Sophy the great Turk Tamberlaine and ouer threw the famous and prudent gouernments of Athens Lacedemonia Rome c. The Swizers enuying the authority of their nobility gentlemen by generall consent slew them al euer since haue bene gouerned by that base gouerment called Democratia where mecanical people haue the only segniorie a gouermēt which resembleth a monster with many heads yet they all haue neither will nor capacitie to cherish vertue learning worthy enterprises the beauties and strength of a good common wealth Neuertheles Iosua simler of zurich in his booke of the Swizers common wealth both for their militarie discipline in war and sound administration of iustice in peace compareth the gouerment of their Cantons vnto the common wealth of the Venetians time and necessity hath much reformed the same from their originall and yet how be it he greatly praiseth their iustice yet his owne report thus much testifieth of their weaknes that to martiall and gouern their wars they haue bene oftentimes driuen to obey and follow the direction of forraine captaines which lamenes in a common wealth can neuer be but an open blemish and a secret daunger For a perfect common wealth resembleth a well proportioned man wherof the military defence resembleth his handes which being maimed or cut off bring misery to the whole body CHAP. 13. The calamitie and seruile bondage of Portugall vnder the gouernment of Phillip king of Castile c. by the aduenturous battaile and death of Sebastian king of Portugal the 5. of August 1578. and especially by the enuious malice of Henry which succeeded in suppressing the lawfull title of Don Anthonio the now reputed king THe renowne of the kingdome of Portugall both for the commodities of the naturall countrey as for the wonderfull riches of the east and west Indies with diuers cities and townes in Africa subiected annexed to the crowne equalled of lateyéeres the fame of most christian gouernments and certainely at this day the calamity and bondage of the people by the conquest and violent rule of the king of Spaine requireth the compassion and reliefe of all true Christian princes the groundes and causes of whose miseries follow By succession of time and lawful decent Sebastian was crowned king of Portugal whose vertues outward giftes promised great honor vnto his kingdom but the inconstancy of worldly dignity is liuelye figured in his much lamented death king Sebastian being about the age of 24. yéeres vpon the earnest labour suite of Mulei Mahumet king as he pretended of Fez and Marocoes who by Mulei Maluco his brother was driuen foorth of the kingdome condescended with a puissant army to passe into Africa to restore this Mulei Mahumet to his kingdome the enterprise agréed with the magnanimity and greatnes of yong king Sebastians mind besides to relieue and restore this expulsed king among indifferent iudges was a matter of great honor and vertue so that resolutely to execute his promise king Sebastian departed with his armye from Lisbone in Iune 1578. and ariued at a port in Castile called el puerto de Sancta Maria where he tried the breach of the king of Spaine his vncles promise which was the ayde of 50. Gallies and 4000. armed souldiours neuertheles the sayd king Sebastian like as he was a magnanimous prince hauing a 1000. sayle of ships in a readines pursued his voyage landed his army in Africa to the number of 15000. fighting men and on the 5. of August in the same yéere in a plaine field called Alcazar there was a most fierce battaile fought betwéen him and the enemy wherin the yong king Sebastian and Mulei Mahumet whose part he tooke were both ouer come and slaine in the field Neither did Mulei Maluco the king their enemy escape for with sicknes wearines he died during the battaile a battaile very vnfortunate wherein neither party gained and most rare and worthy of remembrance that thrée kinges were slaine in the same and aboue 600. of the chiefest nobility and Gentlemen of Portugall After the death of king
and withall approoued his message with such grauitie learned and sounde reasons as he not only obtained a truce from the Athenians but ouercome with the power of Euxins Oration they gratified the Lacedemonians with the gift of the confynes which they had but lately conquered and of long challenged as their owne right by Euxin as assuraÌ„ce of loue amitie returned this leter The Senate and people of Athens greeteth the Lacedemonians with a hartie desire of health and peace WE call the Gods to witnesse that through the passed battaile we haue sustained more greefe to see you so bloodely vanquished then we haue receiued pleasure to behold our selues conquerours vpon iudgement that in the end the effects of war are such that to the vanquished the dammadge is certaine and to the vanquisher the profite doubtfull we would haue beene right glad that you had ouercome vs with Euxins words before we had vanquished you with our swords What pleasure would it haue beene to either if the chance had vnfortunately falne vpoÌ„ vs both sitheÌ„ce the rule is infallible that all that which the Gods haue ordayned may not be forestood by mans wisedome iudgement or power euen this you shoulde haue lost much by this war and we should haue gained no good by your losse You demaund of vs a truce for three monthes to this end that during this space there may be treatise of an accord betweene vs we answere you that the Senate of Athens haue not accustomed to make a truce afterwards to begin war againe but haue an auncient law either freely to accept of cruell warre or freely to accord to a perpetual peace we indeuour in the time of peace to attire our Accademies with wise men to strengthen vs with their counsell in the time of war and by theÌ„ are now aduised to graunt no truce vpon suspitious conditions and it seemeth to vs that their counsell is good for a dissembling peace is much more dangerous then open war The Philosopher Euxin your Ambassador hath so eloqueÌ„ly spoken in this Senat as it should be an vnreasonable thing to deny him what he demaÌ„deth also a more honest graunt sealeth a peace required with words then demanded with the launce Now we say and giue you to vnderstand that our Senate accordeth vnto you Lacedemonians with a right good will a loyall peace deliuering you withal from the suspition of war And to this end we do it that the world may know that the Athenians are so strong harted against the ouerproud and so great louers of wise men as they know how to chasten the foolishe Captaines and suffer themselues to be coÌ„manded of the wise Philosophers You know that all our contention is sprong for the possession of the townes seated vpon the borders of the flood Milin By this letter we certify you and by the immortall Gods sweare vnto you that we renounce and render vnto you all the right that we haue or pretend to haue in the said confines with charge that on the contrary part you bestow on vs Euxin your Ambassador for the happyâ—… Athenians esteeme more of a philosopher in their Academy then of a whole prouince for their common wealth And you Lacedemonians repute it not an act of lightnes to haue exchanged the Empire and segniory of many for the liberty to command one only man for this Philosopher shall teach vs to liue well where the possession of that Countrey may giue occasion to die euill And sithence of such auncient enimies we declare our selues such perfect friends we will not only deliuer you of this war and send you peace but in aduantage we will giue you councel to coÌ„serue the same for the medicin which preserueth health is of far more excellency then that which chaseth away sicknes now regard the remedy Vvhereas you greatly desire that your yong men should be exercised in armes so be you diligeÌ„t that your infants be in time instructed in good letters for as the one with blooddy launces raiseâ—… war so the other with sweete words obtaine peace Thinke not Lacedemonians that we perswade you this without cause for in neglecting the councell of the wise and in suffering idlenesse to grow among the people the same engendreth seditions and ciuill warres and so death to the one and other Vve would not that you should repute vs louers of much talke for our auncient father Socrates ordayned that the fyrst lesson that the tutor reade to his disciple in the Academie should be that he should not in two yeares after dare to dispute for it is impossible that anie should be prudent in speach that is not patient to holde his toong Let it then please you that Euxin remaine with vs and imagine you that if we hope for profite in his presence you may be assured that of the counsels which he giueth vs you shall receyue no dammage for it is a verie auncient lawe in Athens that the Senate may make no enterprise of warre vnlesse the Philosophers first examine whether it be iust No more vnto you but that we praie the immortall Gods yours and ours that they will prouoke both you and vs and that it will please them for euer to preserue vs in this peace for that only is euerlasting which is confirmed by the will of the Gods MIRROVR Lib 2. CHAP. 1. Of the blessings of Peace the scourge of ciuill warre and renowne of peacemakers PEace of the morall vertues is the soueraigne Queene Peace the christiline mirror is wherin is science seen Peace is the fountain next Gods word from whence doth goodnesse flowe Peace is the holie ground wheron all earthly blessings growe Peace is the trompe 〈◊〉 toong of law peace setteth iustice vp Peace measures right to euerie man yet with a seuerall cup For peace doth chastice wicked men and cherisheth the good Peace executes the paines of law but suckes no guiltles blood Peace open sets the citie gates that plentie enter may Peace leades and guides the traueller in safetie all the day Peace brings the Marchants wandring ship into the wished port Peace safety seales vpon the dores where strangers do resort Peace hangeth armor by the wall that men may ply the plowe Peace doth sustaine the poore mans neede that liues by sweat of brow Peace bringeth victuall to the towne for such as haue money Peace where she raignes makes the land to flow with milke hony Peace lends releeues and freely giues and keepes ynough in store Peace heapes these riches on the good and many blessings more Peace sheelds the wise from souldiers force and virgins vndeflowrd Peace lets the flocke to feed at large and saues them vndeuowrd The Citie of the mightie God sackt through his peoples crime Of blessed peace was Salem cald vntill king Iebus time God would not haue his Temple built but in the time of peace Christ was not borne vntil that war throughout the world did cease Christ his Apostles thus doth
authoritie or dissention Yea about this time that the fall of Antichrist might be visibly séene by the taking awaie of such Christian princes as were his setled supporters when as Lodowicke Guiccerdine reporteth ther was not any where either brute of pestilence or extraordinarie disease there died within the space of one yeare the Emperour Charles the fifth the Quéene of Hungary Quéene Mary of England two Kings of Denmarke Bona Sforza Quéene of Polonia Henry the third king of France Ierolme Priuli Duke of Vennice Hercules da este Duke of Ferrara and Paule the fourth Pope of Rome a change verie vniuersall wherein Gods prouidence is not to be ouerpassed with a light consideration whose will vndoubtedly was by the change of these princes the most of them drunken with Poperie to make a ready passage through Europe for the gospel of our sauiour Iesus Christ which vpon this change began to florish in most of the recited gouernements And albeit the fall of Antichrist in many places of the scripture be liuely presaged vpon the authority whereof there is sure and sound building when the prophesies and dreames of a number are but rotten foundations yet I hope I may without iust reprehension say that God many times acquainteth the minds of some good men with an imaginatiue knowledge of things to come which many yéeres after falleth out according to their presagement and for example belōging to our matter the reformation of the Church vnder her Maiesties raigne before her noble fathers death was set downe in this following prophesie Post H sequetur E post E quod mirum M M coronabitur breue confundetur Post M sequetur E vel A Et tunc conuertetur ecclesia In English E shall follow H next E with wonder M M shall be crowned and soone confounded Next vnto M E or A shall raigne Then shall the Church conuerted be againe Noble King Henry the eight first vnmasked this proude Pope King Edward the fixt the parragon of yong princes helped to vncase him Quéene Mary fauoured but liued not to strengthen him and now our soueraigne Elizabeth hath geuen him a mortall disgrace his painted Church abideth not the tuch Gods Church is vniuersally reuerenced The multitude are more delighted to reade a fewe godly sentences written vppon the Church wall then to sée his rarest rotten reliques layde vp in a golden chest Against her Maiestie he principally warreth as the chosen instrument of almightie God to abase his imperious mind to the wonder of the world and comfort of all good Christians CHAP. 8. Of the peaceable and honorable victorie that her Maiestie had against the french forces in Scotland which were raised with a determination for the inuasion of England the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne AFTER the death of Henry King of France his sonne Frances the second succéeded in the kingdome of France a prince of the age of sixtéene yéeres who being married vnto Mary Quéene of Scots and néece to the Duke of Guise suffered the affaires of the estate to be gouerned by the ambitious policy of the Duke and family of the Guises who hauing wished successe in their practises in Quéene Maryes dayes about the winning of Callice hoped and hungred after the spoile and conquest of England And the better to colour their purpose they intituled the King of France in the right of the Quéene his wife to the Crowne of England and knowing the difference betwéene the Quéenes Maiestie of England and the Pope in matters of religion they easily obtained of Paulus the fourth a disablement of the Quéenes Maiestie and an approouement of the Quéene of Scots right but King Frances had béene well aduised if he had not accepted this gift vntill the Pope had set him in possession of the kingdome which would haue troubled both him and his whole Colledge of Cardinals This depriuation by the Pope the Guises practised to moue the Papists of England to their part taking and arming theyr purpose by degrées to worke a feare in her Maiesties loyall subiects they wrote a booke of the weakenesse insufficiencie of feminine gouernement and by their owne reasons wounded the strength of their owne title which they deriued from the Quéene of Scots This scandale of feminine gouernemente was soundlie aunswered by an vnnamed authour in an english printed book at Strasbrowgh entituled A safe harbor for good subiects And truely although the soueraigne place of rule the chiefe credit of knowledge in Artes and Mecanicall craftes together with all other giftes of grace nature and education be giuen vnto man yet there haue béene women that in all maner of artes qualities and vertues which haue equalled the perfitest of men Innumerable are the testimonies of womens profound learning pure chastitie rare constancie patient martyrdome and a number most valiant whereof Chawcer reciteth nine Woorthies aunswerable to the nine Woorthies of men And touching regall gouernement from whence this question is deriued the Iewes recorde the sage gouernemente of Quéene Alexandra with more renowne then they did the tyrannie of her husband Alexander with reproch whose bodie they were determined to haue giuen vnto the dogs as also to haue murthered his two sonnes to haue rooted out Alexanders name if that her wisedome had not redéemed out either Theodosia the Empresse of Constantinople with admired prudence ruled the whole Empire during her life The gouernement of Senobia was no lesse renowmed Dydo the Amazones and many other were absolute Quéenes Semiramis enlarged the bounds of her Empire and Quéene Tomyris slewe Cyrus and his whole hoaste c. But if the enuy of men would suppresse and murther the worthines of women yet the diuine vertues of our soueraigne Quéene Elizabeth doth and will alwaies kéepe aliue their diuine memorie Of whome Guiccerdine in his Commentaries although all his writing defendeth the pope and reproueth Religion thus reporteth The good Queene Mary being dead without issue Elizabeth her sister was proclaimed Queene c. a Princesse of great learning and ouer and aboue the Laten and her mother toong she is possessed of the French and Italian language which she eloquently speaketh a yong Lady of a hye spirit wise and endewed with rare and noble qualities He might haue added the Greeke Spanish and some other ordinarie tongues with many extraordinary vertues which may as hardly be sampled by anie other lyuing Creature as the Sunne by the fairest of the Planets The worthinesse and strength of whose Gouernment euen from the beginning confuted the scandule of this lybell which was grounded vppon noe generall Lawe of God or man There haue béene priuate Lawes in some perticular Gouernments to take away and to disable the absolute gouernment of women when the generall Lawe possessed them with Imperiall authoritie As in Rome the Law Voconia so called because Voconius Tribune of the people pronounced the same In Fraunce the law Salique which they fetch from king Pharamond which bindeth the present
visible plagues which fall vppon your Pharao the Pope you sée that iustice by generall iudgement hangeth notable murtherers in chaines that they may rot consume by péece-meales euen so Gods iustice promiseth semblable vengeance vpon this Archmurtherer your pope the most infirmed eyes sée the lingring consumption of his riches reuerence and reputation he that sometime disposed forraigne kingdomes can not kéepe his proper lands out of the possession of his next neighbors There is no frée state in Italy but of late yéeres haue fléesed him nor any Christian Prince that is his best friend which paieth his auncient tribute He that sometimes commanded the persons goods roial powers of anointed kings is now driuen to waste his substance vppon Atheists secretly to murther his supposed enimies whose counsels for the most proue the halters which hang his executioners necessity constraineth him to be in league with all men saue the professors of the Gospell the Iewes haue their sinagogue the Grecians their proper religion euen in Rome strumpets haue good law to recouer the leacherous hire of their bodies their Ladies are his possessions for they pay him rent to abuse them Atheists traitors murtherers théeues and such as the lawes of all good gouernement would consume with the gallowes are his souldiers stipendaries and pentioners and what seruice do they him they shorten their owne daies in laboring his wicked practises all to a bootelesse successe seldome but yet sometimes his instrumentes execute hys bloodie purposes but hys Machiuillians neuer escape the hands of vengeance I haue shewne the example of Fraunce Iohn Ianregui the fyrst assayler of the godlie Prince of Orange was presentlye slayne and sundrye of hys confederates were executed the odious Atheist which wickedly murthered this good prince had a seuere death but yet too milde for his execrable offence but héere in England from whence came the Lion that first plucked the prowde Eagle of Rome by the throte c. what successe hath followed all his pollicies since the noble King Henry the eight shewed his rauening to the princes of the earth he hath vomited his poisoned enuy and mallice to the chiefe destruction disgrace and shame of him and his partakers his instruments of Rebellion murther and all inhumaine mischiefes had their fortune which rid the horsse Seian which was violent death they brought buls which gored themselues and pardons whiche turned into halters and hatchets which hanged and quartered their maisters I néede not name Felton Campion Parry and the rest you haue canonized them for Saincts and we haue Chronacled them for Traitors Since the beginning of her sacred Maiesties raigne whome héere in England haue your Popes cursses harmed I know his blessings haue brought many Englishmen to the gallowes from which God blesse all good men and then I meane not you without amendment If you haue not learned by the councels of scripture to forbeare the laying of violent hands vppon the Lords annointed yet the dayly experiēce of your companions falles and their frustrate attempts sufficeth to banish the very imagination of your and our most gratious soueraignes death which all good Christians beseech almightie God many yéeres to defer You are not so wise as the Philosophers disciples whiche in the water woulde followe their maister but to the chin for you follow the Pope ouer head and eares in two dangerous seas error and rebellion You may learne instructions of safetie of Mise which runne from houses which are readie to fall or of lice that will leaue the bodie of a dying man all the world séeth that your Popes kingdome leaneth vpon a few rotten props yea that the life of his glorie is at the point of death why follow you then your owne destruction in susteining of him whome vengeance will no longer suffer to flourish Nature counselleth you to haue care of your liues and charitie warneth your enimies from wishing your deathes if you would shunne the perils that vnpolitike creatures auoid but Pharao and his host would wilfully perish in the red sea the like is your stobernesse and expected destruction Pharao was plagued and well warned before and you Papists lacke neither punishment to feare you nor perswasion to win you and vnhappy are ye that neither can profit you Mahomet to continue his irreligion by his Alcoran forbad the people to reason of it a damnable policy to suppresse truth which by disputation breaketh out of cōtrouersies as fire out of Flint by the striking of iron The people to blinde all the world with ignorance appointed the Latin toong for matters of religion which the multitude vnderstood not if one language sufficed for a generall edifying the holy Ghost in the forme of clouen and firie toongs sate vppon the Apostles in vaine which instructed euerie one in their proper language it was a policie almost as dangerous as Mahomets which manie yéeres masked the hipocriticall blasphemy of the pope when his dreames shadowed the truth your mists of error might wel arise from ignorance but now that truth hath vnmasked his hipocrisy your blindnesse can be adiudged no better than peruerse wilfulnesse His policy forbiddeth you studiously to search the scriptures it is then like his wil is that you should reade his own monuments And I counsell you to reade Platinus Aeneas Siluius the golden Legend of the actes of popes Plutarke reporteth that an Atheist gouernour of Cilicy beléeued in God by an answere of the Diuell or oracle of Mopsus which reuealed a knowne secret and it may well be these popish historiographers will let you sée paltry stuffe that the best aduise will hardly perswade you to beléeue There is an old saying Orpheus can describe hell better then Aristotle raysed vpon a fable that he fetched his wife from thence and truly in knowledge is assurance and in report may be error They are Authors that write wonders of the Pope and if your iudgements are not blinde matters in common sense vnpossible you may by grace stumble on such grose errors as shall constraine you to looke vpon the plaine truth but you haue a commandement that forbids you to looke into the liues of your Popes because it can not be denied but that they trespasse dayly as men when in their doctrine can bee no error because the holy Ghost waighteth vppon their holinesse it may well be of their holinesse and yet farre ynough from the Pope Where was I pray you the holy Ghost when Pope Marcellus sacrificed vnto the Idols of the Pagans What office had he when Syluester the second when Iohn the ninetéenth and Gregorie the seauenth were a coniuring they were successors of Simon Magus and not of Simon Peter In déede Pope Ioane the eight erred not when she fell in labor in the middest of Procession Among your owne Authors it is reported that the virgin Mary told S. Brigit that most of the Popes are in hell a small signe then that the holy Ghost is very conuersant with them