Rhyne and entred the Gallia's there to seat themselues in regard of the goodnesse of the soile For the Teuthons broke into the Prouince of Gallia and were put to flight by Caius Marius the Consull Afterwards the Aruernes and Heduies quarrelling about principality the Germanes hired with pay from the Aruernes and Sequans marched thither at first indeed but with indifferent forces but increasing by degrees in Arcouistus their Kings raigne possessed a good part of the country but them Caius Caesar ouerthrew it battell and some yeeres after when he made warre against the k Inhabiting Lâ—ke beâ—ond Brabant Eburons a people of Gallia Belgica the Germanes againe march ouer the Rhyne with intent to beat backe the Roman Armie but were by him discomfiâ—ed at the meeting of the Riâ—er Maze and the Rhyne Many yeers following they contained themselues within their owne bounds because the Roman Emperours held them in play by warres yet as oft as they could lay hold on fitting opportunity slackt not their owne commoditie but continually wasted Gallia After this manner Gallienus being Emperour one no lesse carelesse then voluptuous they made an inroade and by little and little sprung vp to that potencie that the Emperour Probus had much adoe to repell them Iulianus also Constantius his Lieutenant made warre against them Afterwards when Honorius was Emperour the Gothes broke into Gallia to whom the Emperour detained by sundry warres granted the Country of Aquitania to inhabite On the other side the l Of Frankenlandt then Franconia in Germany French-Germanes making their way through m Holland Belgia vanquishing the n In and about Triers Treuires o Of Iuliers or Gulicke Menapians Eburons p Part in Flanders part in Picardie Morines q Of Turnay Neruians r of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Amtians Å¿ of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Bellouacans t of Picardy The beginning of the French Kingdome in Gallia about 421. Soissons seated themselues in that part of Gallia which retaines their name and is called France in which Country Paris is the chiefe Citie and not farre from thence stands San-Denis afterwards consecrated for the Sepulture of the Kings of France to this day After this manner inlarged hauing formerly possession of a good part of Germany euen all the Country betwixt the Riuer Maine and the Rhyne they easily repelled not onely offred hostilitie but also made warre vpon others Besides the Roman Empire in Asia and Affrica daily more and more sliding away and the Lombards wasting Italy they almost extended their dominions quite through Gallia and after many of their Kings had raigned there in successiue course at length the Crowne came to Pipin also and to his sonne Charles Charles Martel Pipins Father who was not king himselfe but onely one of the Nobles and Gouernour of the Pallace or as they are commonly called Majors of the house vanquished the Bauarians and Sueuians For as the writers of the French Annals deliuer it the Kings there for some yeers together had nothing at all besides their title the principalitie of gouernement belonging to the Gouernour of the Kings house For those Kings degenerated from the worth of their Predecessors and gaue themselues ouer to pleasure reiecting the care of the Common-wealth whereupon the Gouernour of the Pallace bore all sway and by how much greater the kings negligence was so much more hee augmented his authoritie At length vpon this occasion Pipin who was Gouernour in Childrickes raigne when the cause as they say came to canuasing before Pope Zacharie got the Kingdome Hereof is mention made in that decree which they name Gratians to wit that it is lawfull for the Pope to depriue Kings of their principalitie but the title and inscription of that place is false seeing there were two Anastatio'â— Emperours and it cannot be referred to either of them for the former raigned about 200. and the other 37. yeeres before this happened as also there was no Pope Gelasius in the later Emperors time I thought good to adde this for the Readers aduertizement that they may wisely and warily peruse the Papall records for it is not one place alone which discouers this to be their prime practice so to fasten an opinion of antiquitie vpon their lawes that they may carry the more weight and authority Pipin besides his repression of the Lombards in Italie at the Popes request as before mentioned commenced war also against the Saxons and afterwards against the Aquitanians whose Chieferaine he tooke and put to death not long after departing his life they forthwith rebelled and King Charles his sonne with much difficultie and infinite toile at length made an end of that double warre For he was in armes against the Saxons full thirty three yeeres during which warre hee made other also Bauaria likewise with their Chiefetaine Tassilo hee brought vnder his subiection and in two expeditions against the Lombards marching into Campania subdued all Italie and setled it with lawes and reduced into subiection those Cities of Gallia lying vpon the Ocean which Caius Caesar cals Armorica but now goe vnder the name of little Brittaine which refused any longer to pay yeerely tribute to the Kings of France In Hispaine also whither hee made an expedition with an Armie against the Saracens victorie attended him but in his returne vpon the Pyrene Mountaines by a stratagem receiued a fore ouerthrow from the u Of Gascoigne Vascones a people of Aquitane notwithstanding at last after eight yeeres warre hee ouerthrew the Hunnes then in possession of Pannonia and likewise by his Lieutenants composed Bohemia And his last warre was against the Danes or * For the Normans originally inhabited Norway Normans then with a great Nauie forraging the maritime coasts of Germanie and France By the atchieuement of those so famous exploits he gained his sirname the Great For whereas before him the French Kings onely held that part of Germanie lying betwixt Saxonie and the Riuer Danow and betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Sala to this he added Sueuia and Baâ—arta all Saxonie afterwards both the Pannonia's Dacia Istria Ireland and the midland Country of Dalmatia whereas also the French Kings had onely that part of Gallia lying betwixt the Rhyne and the Riuer Loire betwixt the Ocean and the x Against the Ilands oâ— Maiorqâ—e and Minuerque Balearique Sea hee added all Aquitania all the top of the Pyrene mountaines to the Riuer Iber and which should haue beene named first all Italie from the Alpes to the furthest part of Calabria And this done hee sets forward to Rome the fourth time where hee was proclaimed Emperour Augustus by Leo the Third and all the people after he had raigned thirty three yeeres Thus the Romane Empire in the West rent almost into peece-meales especially from that time when the Emperours made choice of Constantinople for their Court
Citie of Burdeaux Many of the prime Nobilitie were slaine in that battell The Annall-Writers record that the English were not aboue 7000. when the French made against them with many forces about 60000 strong This was in the yeere 1356. the XII of the Kalends of October The King was carried prisoner into England and died the feuenth yeere after Wencestaus being as historie speakes of him both by nature and course of life Wenceslaus 1379 an 2. m. 5. d. 28. very vicious quite neglected the Common-wealth Hee for a summe of money created Iohn Galeas of the house of the Viscounts a man both couetous and cruell Duke of Millaine and Lombardie In his raigne Iagello Duke of Lithuania or Luten was after King Lewis his death created King of Polonia by consent of the Nobles This King was great Grandfather to Sigismund the moderne King there and was the first that receiued Baptisme changing his name to Vladislaus Sigismund King of Hungarie was ouerthrowne in battell at Nieopolis by Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes the third of the kalends of October Charls the VI. K. of France sent a goodly troope of horse for aid into Hungarie vnder conduct of Iohn sonne of Philip the bold Duke of Burgundie which Iohn was taken in that battell and carried prisoner to the Turke where he stood at the next doore to death but yet escaped which as the French Writers relate happened thus There was a certaine Physiognomer one of that packe that professe to know the dispositions and natures of men by their body eyes countenance and face familiar with Baiazet who viewing the prisoner willed and perswaded the Emperour to dismisse him in safetie For hee should bee the man that after his returne home should kindle a most violent combustion which should set a good part either of Europe or of the Christian world on fire Vpon this perswasion the Turke dismisses him and the rest of the Nobilitie that were prisoners after they had paid 20000. crownes for their ransome After his returne into France hee began to quarrell with Lewis Duke of Orleans the Kings brother For he by reason of the Kings sicknesse which was in a manner desperate desired to gouerne the Common-wealth being nearest of kindred to the king But the Duke of Burgundie for that he was cousin-germane to the King and elder then the other challenged the gouernment his Father Philip being dead rather to belong to him This sore euery day more and more festering at length the Duke of Orleans was murthered in Paris in the night time as hee was going home from supper The murtherers were sent priuily by the Duke of Burgundie who was so farre from denying the fact that he maintained it This was in the yeere 1407. the ninth of the kalends of December The XII yeare following the Duke of Burgundy comming to a place appointed about a pacification in this cause was entrapped by treachery and murthered by certaine of the Duke of Orleans his friends that had sworne his death Charles the Dolphin the Kings sonne who was iudge in that controuersie being present at the fact This is the head-spring of the warre betwixt those two houses which hath so often broke forth euer since that time till within our memory Wenceslaus by reason of his negligence growne into contempt Robert 14â—0 an 9 m 8. d. 22. the Princes depriue him of the gouernment and elect Robert Duke of Bauaria Count Palatine He presently applied himselfe about reformation of Wenceslaus his misgouernment and would not ratifie the grant made by him to Iohn Galeas but contriued a new how to reduce Lombardy into the Imperiall dominions for which and other such like causes marching downe into Italy the said Galeas hindered and repelled him The State of Italy was in those times very troublesome cheifly by the Emperour Charles and Wenceslaus their default being too indulgent ouer that Nation For ouer and besides Galeas lately made Duke of Millaine The Venetians Florentines Genowaies made war vpon their neighbours and all right was swayed by the sword and violence Furthermore by reason of the Popes continuall absence nothing but factions and those dangerous ones swarmed at Rome Then also Galeas D. of Millaine made warre vpon the Florentines who to worke their owne reuenge solicite the Emperor by large proffers to march downe againe into Italy but when the Emperor was come to Padua Hee at request of the Venetians who likewise hated Galâ—â—a and withall perceiuing that their prouision was not answerable to their great promises retires into Germanie casting off all care of Italy whose estate afterwards grew more weake by its owne ciuill broyles To the Emperour Robert Sigismund 14â—â— an 26. m. 8. Sigismund the Emperour Wencestâ—us his brother King of Hungary succeeds At this time there were three Popes Iohn the XXXIII Gregory the XII and Benedict the XIII insomuch as by their factions almost all the Prouinces of Europe were at oddes For there was not one publike Councel at any time since Innocent the III. as their bookes testifie being 200. yeares and the state of the Clergie was most corrupt a kinde of bottomlesse sincke of vices and maladies hauing made an inundation which in a manner scorned to be stopped For Boniface the VIII was Pope in the interim who tooke vpon him both the Papall and Imperiall authority Then the next after him Clement the V. of Burdeaux at Philip the Faire the French Kings request forsaking Rome remoued his Court into France and after his death the Cardinalls falling into sharpe dissentions amongst themselues made a vacancie for some yeares but at length Iohn the XXII of Aquitaine was created Pope at Lyons The fifth Pope after him which was Gregory the XI when the Popes had kept their Court in France then for 71. yeares together returnes to Rome but after his death Vrbane the VI. a Neapolitan and Clement the VI. a Sauoysin contended for the Papacy The first whereof vpheld himselfe by the Italian partie and liued at Rome the other by the French and liued at Auinion After those two were dead the other there before mentioned were by seuerall factions chosen in their places the Papall Monster hauing then three heads At what time many worthy men both Italians and French deplored the State of the Church inueighing bitterly enough against the corruptions and vices of those times as farre as they could see in those dayes of darknesse Amongst the rest Petrarch was one who when the Popes and Cardinals lay at Auinion called that City the whore of Babylon Whereupon to determine that Controuersie a Councell was assembled at Constance in Germanie by order whereof those Three were deposed and Martin the V. elected At this Councell Iohn Hâ—â— and Hierome of Prague were burnt for heresie though they came thither vnder safe conduct from the Emperour Sigismund the Emperour is much commended for that He to benefit the Common-wealth went almost to all the Kings in Christendome to exhort them to
haue a care of the common good After the affaires were setled in Germany hee goes downe into Italy at what time the Venetians and Florentines were vp in Armes both by sea land against Philip Maria Iohn Galeas his son Duke of Millaine and so forward to Rome being there consecrated by Eugenius the IIII. and returned by Basil where then there was another Councell held Albertus Archduke of Austria Albertus II. 1437. an 1. m. 9. d. 27. King of Hungary and Bohemia was his successour whom the ciuill warres at home and forraigne abroad held backe from Italy About this time those wits were rouzed vp againe which beganne to polish the liberall sciences language and good letters the Italians indeed gaue the onset who were furthered by helpe of the Graecians and then after followed the Germanes French and other Nations and further when the inuention of u Printing wâ—s inuented in Germany in the yeare 1440 So Pollydor Virgill and others affirme Printing came to light so immense was the profit thereof that it is incredible what a happy and ioyfull progresse ensued For now this course of studie hauing beene constantly continued euer since that time It is aduanced so high that this our age may enter into comparison with the most learned ages in time past and in this regard is blessed aboue all the rest in that it hath pleased God to illuminate this knowledge of the best Arts and languages with the true knowledge of Him Whereas those Ancients furnished onely with the helpe of learning though men most eloquent yet they were plunged in depth of darknes and searcht in vaine after that quintessence of goodnesse whereof they writ so much To Albertus Frederick III. 1440. an 53. m. 7. d. 19. Fredericke the III. Archduke of Austria succeeded hee passed quietly to Rome and receiued consecration from Pope Nicholas the V. so returning home without drawing a sword in Italy In the fourth yeare of his raigne Vladislaus Vladislaus his sonne King of Polonia and Hungary hauing by Pope Eugenius the III. his instigation broke the Truce was ouerthrowne in battell and slaine at Varna or Dionysiopolis the XI of Nouember by Amurath the II. Emperour of the Turkes The IX yeare after this Mahomet Amuraths sonne Constantinople taken by Amurath the II. 1453. The Turkish Army at the siege thereof consisted of 400000. men tooke the City of Constantinople by force of Armes which his successors haue now held this * From 1453. when it was taken till 1556. when Sleidan writ this booke Maximilian 1493. an 25 m. 4. d. 25. The Moors chased cut of Granado in Spaine 1487. Charles the V. 1519. an 38. m. 6. d. 27. 103. yeares keeping their Imperiall Court there Casimiâ— Vladislaus his brother succeeded him in the Kingdome of Polonia and Ladislaus the Emperor Albert the II. his posthume sonne in Hungary To Fredericke the Emperor his son Maximilian succeeded A little before the death of this Emperour Fredericke Ferdinando King of Spaine chasing out the Moores annexed Betica commonly called the Kingdome of Granado to his owne Crowne Maximilian as he did many more made warre also vpon the Venetians Him the most puissant Emperor Charles being his grandchild by his son * Archd. of Austria Philip succeeded who now swayes the Scepter Thus out of that which we haue mentioned it clearly appeares after what manner the Romane Empire then which none euer was or will be more potent is now in a manner crusht in peeces For throughout Asia we haue not so much as a foot or a nailes breadth as the prouerbe is The Turkes Scythians and other Enemies of our Religon hold all there Wee haue lost all Africa but what hath beene recouered of late yeares by Charles the V. when hee wonne Tunis from Aenobarbe the Turkish Lieutenant archieuing a glorious victory and made the King there tributary to him as also the fifteenth yeare following besieged and tooke the Town of Aphricke Portugal Spaine France Britaine Denmarke Sarmatia Pannonia Illyricum all Greece with the adiacent Countries are torne away as also the Ilands of Sicilie Sardinia Corsica Maiorique and Minorique and Sauoy which Prouinces haue their peculiar Lords who hold full power in all matters and are not at a penny charge about any affaires of the Empire Now let vs looke vpon Italy the old ancient and first patrimony of the Romane Empire but wherein doth it participate with vs The Kings of Spaine by ancient succession hold Calabria Apulia Campania and Naples The Popes keepe in their hands the City of Rome formerly the Emperours Palace and Court Imperiâ—ll together with Marca de Ancona Romandiola and part of Tuscane who are so farre from acknowledging subiection to the Emperour that they hold the Emperours and their Deputies to bee bound to them Those Cities there of any strength either haue their proper Lords or else are swayed by factions and hauing nothing at all to doe with vs. Now for the Venetians what a company hold they not onely of goodly Cities and freeburrowes but also Prouinces they themselues in the interim being an absolute free-state and quite separated from the Romane Empire As for Insubria commonly called Lombardy that indeed belongs somewhat nearer to vs but it totters too neither receiue wee any certaine profit from thence For after that our Emperours had as abouesaid first constituted Viscounts there as they call them and afterwards Dukes how miserably was it rent to peeces and euer since that time how little did it benefit vs For our Emperours neglecting it in time of the warres there the house of the Sfortia's dispossessing the Vicounts seized vpon it whom afterwards Lewis the XII and Francis the I. Kings of France excluded the latter whereof held it for sixe yeeres till the Emperour Charles the V. recouered it Thus you see no reuenues come from any part of Italie for they neither repaire to our Diets nor contribute any thing at all to any publike vse or necessitie but what they doe voluntarily or in fauour to the Emperour onely Germanie remaines which alwaies repugned the Romane Empire scarce euer free from rebellion as before appears till at length it was gathered together by the Emperour Charles the Great and reduced into one body after which time when the power of electing the Emperours was committed to the seuen Electors as we haue formerly shewed it became the Emperours Court and Mansion place And here too wee must consider with what difficultie this little diminitiue body of the Empire congealed in Germanie could incorporate it self for when were we euer free from iarres and ciuill broiles So now whatsoeuer goes vnder the name of the Empire is incuded within the bounds of Germany for all forraigne places and those without the compasse thereof are fallen away Howbeit we see there are many euen within those small compast limits that flie backe and as much as they can withdraw themselues and their countries forth of the iurisdiction of the
And I doubt not of your owne voluntary propension that way as much as your age can beare and your Tutors their diligent vigilancie Wherefore Illustrious Prince proceed auspiciously and as you are borne to the gouernement of a Common-wealth so furnish your selfe with such ammunition as is both perpetuall and will affoord infallible aid and not onely extenuate the labour which you must sometimes vndergoe in gouerning an ancient Prouince but also make it easie and pleasant From Strasburg Anno Dom. 1556. IOHN SLEIDAN of the foure chiefe Mōnarchies OR The key of History The first Booke BEfore I treat of the foure chiefe and principall Monarchies of the world Babylon Persia Greece and Rome I must speake a word or two of the great difference about computation of yeeres from the beginning of the world for the Hebrewes Eusebius S. Austin Alphonsus and Mirandula doe exceedingly vary amongst themselues But because almost all the learned men of our times doe in this point follow the account of the Hebrewes I also seeing the case so stands will tread in their steppes And first of all that I may come to my purpose I meane the first Monarchie passing by those occurrents which happened in the a Gen. 1 2 3 4 5 6 chap. first age of all as also the narration of the Flood sit hence all those are contained in holy Scriptures and cannot be better exprest I le take start at that time when the race of mankinde being reduced to a very small number begunne after that the * Moles massie multirude of waters was againe dispersed and the earth made drie to increase anew The time of the Flood is referred to the yeere of the world 1656. and b Gen 5. Mathusalah the seuenth from Adam died at that very time being 969. yeeres of age c Gen 7. Noah Mathusalah his * Nepos Grandchild by his sonne Lamech being then 600. yeeres of age and by Gods especiall fauour preserued together with his familie now when the number of men begunne to multiplie by little and little was the first that caused his children and posteritie by remoouing into seuerall Countries to inhabite the earth and build themselues cities and afterwards about the hundreth yeere after the Flood allotted to each of them his proper Prouince At which time Nimrod Noahs Grand-childes sonne together with his retinue inhabited the land of the Chaldees but at length the multitude of men still multiplying many were necessarily inforced to remoue and seeke out new seats and Colonies They before their departure desirous to leaue their perpetuall memoriall behinde them did thereupon d Gen. 11. It is credible that hereupon the Poets took occasion to make that fiction of the Giants who beaping moantaine vpon mountain went about to ouerthrow the gods Michael Glycas writes that there were forty yeers spent about building of this Tower Nimrod being their Chief-taine beginne to build a Citie and within that a Tower of transcendent height And forgetting Gods wrath which had so lately swallowed vp the whole Globe of the earth whereof Noah without all doubt had very much very often and diligently preached to them intended to extend the fame of their owne names by vaineglorious and ambitious workes But God herewith offended made frustrate these their enterprises sending amongst them a confusion of tongues whereas before that time there was but one and the same kinde of language all the world ouer Thus being constrained to surcease their begunne worke they departed into seuerall parts of the world From this confusion of tongues the citie called Babell took the name frō the time I mean frō the 131. yeer after the Flood or therabouts the kingdome of the Chaldees Babylonians took the beginnings The first King thereof was Nimrod before spoken of who as it is written ruled 56. yeeres The Scripture stiles him the e Gen. 10. 1 Chron. 5. Mich 5. The land of Babylon is called the land of Nimrod mightie Hunter and attributes to him strength and puissance Others call him Saturne and report that in the 45. yeere of his raign he sent away certaine Princes of Colonies hither and thither as Assur Madas Magog and Mosech Those erected kingdomes after their owne names as Assyria Media f Suidas writes that the Persians were so called but Melanctho◠think them to be the now Turks Magog and Mosco the two first whereof doe wholly belong to Asia and the third and last to Asia and Europe The Scripture makes mention of this g Assur Gen. 10. Belus Assur and that Niniue was by him builded Iupiter Belus succeeded his Father Nimrod who as historie speakes possessed all the Country from the sunne-serting to Sarmatia in Europe and afterwards made warre against Sabbatius King of Saga whom not he by reason hee was preuented by death Ninus the first Monarch about 1905. of the world but his sonne Ninus subdued who extending his dominions farre and wide was the first that euer tooke vpon him a Monarchie Noah died 350. yeeres after the Flood and about the 18 yeere after his death b Gen. 11. Abraham the tenth from Noah so commanded by God left his Country being then 75 yeers of age and in i Gen. 17. 24 yeere after that God made a couenant with him by ordaining the circumcision In the k Gen. 21. 100 yeere of his age his sonne Isaac was borne vnto him hee liued after that 75. yeeres for the tearme of mans life was now much shortened The manner of his Grand-childe l Gen. 37. Iacobs life and vpon what occasion he went downe into Egypt and there dyed how afterwards his posteritie remained in Egypt for some ages oppressed with most grieuous bondage and by Gods fauour brought out and set at libertie by his seruant Moses the holy m From the 30 ch of Gen. to the 14. of Exod. Scriptures declare This departing of the children of Israel out of Egypt is referred to the yeere of the world 2454. that is 430 yeeres after the promise made to Abraham as n Gal. 3. S. Paul hath it After Moses the children of Israel were gouerned by Iudges till the daies of Saul whom Dauid another King of the same people succeeded Now let vs returne to the Empire of Babylon Ninus being dead his wife Semiramis succeeded him in his Empire Semiramis who in riches victories and triumphs was inferiour to no mortall Prince She inlarged the towne of Babylon and made it a citie of sufficient greatnesse adorning it with diuers faire buildings and inuironing it with a wall Shee subdued Aethiopia and made warre also in India Her sonne Zameis the fifth King Zameis performed nothing worthy of memorie Arius but Arius who next succeeded him conioyned the Bactrians and Caspians to his Empire It is written that Aralius his successor was renowned for his wit and prowesse Aralius but what he atchieued is not committed to writing The next
Ammonites and Moabites passed into Aegypt with an army where hauing got possession of all that Countrey afterwards begun his Monarchy In the second yeare of his Monarchy as the learned of our times collect he saw in his dreame a great Image whose head was of gold the brest and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse the legges of iron the feet part of iron part of clay When hee awakt and could not call to mind what he had dreamt but yet remain'd mightily astonisht calling together his Magicians and soothsayers charged them vnder paine of death to interpret his dreame Daniel a yong man Captiue with the rest of his Nation brought thither from Ierusalem signified that he could satisfie the kings desire being brought forth first hee shewed what the dreame was and afterwards interpreted the meaning therof The Image said hee signifies the foure chiefe Monarchies of the world which are to succeed in order and turning his speech to the King himselfe Thou said hee whom God hath inuested with supreame power and glory to whom he hath giuen rule ouer all men beasts of the field fowles of the ayre Thou I say art the Golden Head of that Image After thee another kingdome of siluer shall arise worse then this of thine afterwards the third kingdome of brasse which shall beare rule farre and wide but the fourth kingdome shall be of iron for as yron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all things so also shall the fourth and last breake in peeces all the rest and bring them in subiection to it This therefore is the first and formerly neuer heard of prophesie of the four Monarchies which God reuealed to vs by his Prophet Daniel A thing truly worthy to bee committed to memory because in a few words it comprises the historie of all ages vntill the end of the world as afterwards I am to speake of Now it sufficeth how at this time first of all God hath discouered to vs the order and successiue course of the Monarchies Dan. 4. That place in Daniel also manifests more clearly of what great puissance this Nabuchodonozor was where the Scripture compares him to a Tree whose height reached to heauen which as it were oueâ—shaddowed the whole earth whose leaues were very faire and most abundantly loaden with fruit whereby all creatures were fed and fatned in whose braÌ„ches boughes all manner of fowle dwelt and made their nests This therfore is the first Monarchy which as it was exceedingly amplified in this Kings raigne hoisted vp to the very highest steppe So also it fell away and in his Nephewes time was quite extinguished euen as God had denounced by Daniel and other of his Prophets This Nabuchodonozor raigned three forty yeares It would quite the cost if all mortall men especially Kings and Princes would read diligently consider with how dreadfull a spectacle and example God as Daniel sets it downe reuenged his pride Dan. 4. and 5. that so they might the more reuerence Gods diuine Maiestie Euilmerodach 2 King 25. Ierem. 51. and performe that office to the people which is committed to them His son Euilmerodach succeded him he raigned 30 yeares Assur Labassardach and his successor Assur three yeares Labassardach who raigned y Metasthener and others say but 6. euen yeares succeeded him After him Balthasar bore rule â—â—ue yeares Many reckon them after this manner but the learned of our time omitting two of them Balthazar put Balthasar next after his father Euilmerodach write that he raign'd 14. y. which is very necessary to make the perfect number of 70. yeares during which space the Iewes were in captiuity to the Babylonians sithence their captiuity begun in the nineteenth yeare of Nabuchodonozors raigne Those who obserue this order and leaue out the two Kings before spoken of follow the Tract of Scripture and especially the Prophet Ieremieâ—s testimony Ierem. 25. who prophesied that the Iewes should serue the King of Babell his son and his sons son but in this point let euery man haue his iudgement free to himselfe Howbeit Balthazar as the Scripture mentions was the last King of the Babylonians Dan. 5. and in this all Writers agree As for the manner of the taking of Babylon many Authors describe it Dan. 5. Daniel also mentions how God denounced to this King his imminent and euen present calamitie and relates how the gouernement of the Monarchie after that King was slaine was translated to Darius the Mede Darius then 62. yeeres of age Many Writers call this Darius Cyarxes who was the son of Astiages eight King of the Medes whom Daniel cals Assuerus Dan. 9. who hauing no issue male bestowed his daughter in mariage vpon Cyrus the King of Persia's sister sonne and being prouokt to enter into a warre with the King of the Assyrians sent for aid to Cyrus who leading his forces thither and being made Generall of the whole armie returned conquerour hauing taken that most powerfull z Babylon Dan. 9. Citie It is recorded that Darius liued not aboue a yeere after this victorie And then when Darius was yet liuing after the taking of Babylon and the children of Israel Ier. 25. and 29. Dan. 9. had by this time remained captiue in Babylon almost 70. yeeres God reuealed in more ample manner to Daniel according to his praiers in that behalf who made knowne the same to the Prophet Ieremie foreshewer of the captiuitie Cyrùs founder of the second Monarchy of the Persians when the first of the Assyrians had stood about 1538. yeeres this was about 3434. and did not onely confirme the nearnes of their freedome but also shewed what time the Messias should come who should satisfie for the sinnes of men After Darius his death the sway of gouernment was committed to his sonne in law Cyrus and this is the beginning of the second Monarchie for now Cyrus alone held in his owne hands Assyria Media and Persia euen to the Ionian sea as Thucidides hath it hauing before his winning of Babylon taken Craesus that most puissant King of Lydia So this Cyrus is first King of the Persians and founder of the second Monarchie This most renowned Prince hauing vanquisht the Babylonians made warre with the Scythians whether going with his armie and at length intrapped and inuironed by his enemies was there slaine In the beginning of his raigne after the taking of Babylon hee permitted the Iewes to returne home againe out of captiuitie 2 Chro. 16. that they might reedifie the Temple and the Citie of Ierusalem and to that purpose bestowed very liberally out of his own Treasurie Isai 44. and 45. God by his Prophet Isai had foretold him by name some ages before he was born Xenophon brings him in discoursing with his sons before his death about the immortalitie of the soule as Cicero hath it who interprets that place as all others very elegantly Cyrus reached the 70. yeere of
his age and raigned 30 yeers being 40. yeeres old at the beginning of his raigne His sonnes name was Cambyses Cambyses whom when hee went from home to the Scythian warre he set ouer his Kingdome He his Father being absent and in imploiments tooke Egypt In warre indeed hee was renowned but otherwise vitious and did not represent his Fathers vertues Among the rest of his filthie and sauage deeds he commanded his own brother to be slain trecherously Plato in his bookes which he writ of the Lawes reports how Cyrus was very much to blame for that he brought vp his sons effiminately amongst women who when they grew into riper yeeres being corrupted by flatterers for the most part abusing their cares did after their Fathers decease Darius the sonne of Histaspis indanger one anothers life Darius the sonne of Hystaspis succeeded Cambyces second King of the Persians who suruiued his Father but a short space And by reason that many of his subiects together with the rest the Babylonians did after Cyrus his death and so great an ouerthrow of his armie reuolt from the kingdome of Persia Hee tooke armes at the first steppe of his raigne and reunited them to his Empire hauing after a long siege taken Babylon also by helpe of a He mangled himselfe cutting off his cares nose and lippes faigning that Darius had so puâ—â—isht him for speaking in the Babylonians behalfe whe eupon they receiued him and by that policie hee got the Citie for Darias Zopyrus Within a while after he made warre against the Athenians who vpon a sodaine mustering vp their forces not expecting any aid from the Lacedemonians did at Marathon with about 10000. men Miltiades being their Leader ouercome his huge b It consisted of 600000. men armie Darius was aminded to renew the warre but death preuented him in his very first attempt whose sonne and successor Xerxes Xerxes in the tenth yeer after the battell at Marathon as Thucidides relates came with an c Some confine it to 1000000 but Justine extends it to 2000000 and Herodotus to more innumerable armie with intent to subdue all Greece Hereupon the chiefe managing of these warres was by common consent committed to the Lacedemonians because they bore greatest sway all ouer Greece but the Athenians followed Themistocles his counsaile quitting their Citie leauing their wiues and children in one place or other betooke themselues to their shippes and ioyning battell with the enemie at Salamina ouercame him That victorie was very commodious to all Greece in generall for Xerxes being also expelled their Country did by an infortunate and a dishonourable flight In a little Fishers boate returne home and the Grecians likewise after his departure But the Athenians hauing a Nauie of 400. saile or thereabouts coasting on further and pursuing their enemies tooke the towne of Sestos vpon Hellespont which the Persians held and there wintring afterwards returned home gathered together their dispersed wiues and children and repaired the walls of their Citie which the enemie burnt when hee tooke it and fortified the Port. This warre of the Persians or as Thucidides calls it of the Medes happened as Cicero writes almost at the very same time with the Volscian warre where the exild Romane Coriolanus was Generall Xerxes his warre An. Mund. 3488 and that was in the 266. yeere after the building of Rome Herodotus before Thucidides writ of this Persian warre Cicero calls him the Father of historie but reports that his writings are stuft with an infinite companie of fables The Lacedemonians were sore offended at this fortification of the Athenians but sith they could not tell how to amend themselues buried all in murmuring silence and both they as also the rest of the Grecians together with the Athenians ioyning forces tooke the I le of Cyprus and the Citie d Now called Constantinople Byzantium which the Persians held Among the rest of the Lacedemonian Captaines in this warre Pausanias was one who being condemned of treason after he was returned home and lay besieged in a certaine Sanctuarie was famished to death with hunger Themistocles also being in like manner accused fled Soone after this Greece was tossed vp and downe with sundry wars and dissentions partly forraigne and partly domesticall which Thucidides pithily relates But at length in the fiftieth yeere after Xerxes departure out of Greece as Cicero reports it after Thucidides that cruell warre sprung out when the whole Country of e Now called Morea Peloponnesus conspired against the Athenians Pericles Anaxagoras his scholler being their Leader in that warre who as Aristophanes reports lightned thundred and set all Greece on fire with his tongue For these in times past were the master-pieces of prowesse and eloquence On the other part Archidamus King of the Lacedemonians had supreame command Thucidides who writ of this warre was both equall to and emulous of Pericles Sophocles the tragicall Poet was as Cicero writes Pericles his collegue in the Generalship Now let vs returne to Xerxes He by reason of such his bad successe being growne into contempt was slain by his own subiects Artaxerxes Long-hand His sonne Artaxerxes Long-hand succeeded him To him fled the exiled Themistocles whom we spake of a little before and there f Poysoned himselfe because he would not goe with Artaxerxes to sight agaiâ—st his owne Country Darius Nothus ended his life was buried at Magnesia After Long-hand Darius Nothus raigned who married his owne sister In the beginning of this Kings raigne happened the aforesaid Peloponnesian warre And the Athenians though they had remora's enough besides yet in the fourth yeere of this warre as Thucidides recites in his third booke they sent a Nauie into Sicilie vnder pretence to aid the Leontinians against the Syracusans but their intent was to bring that Iland vnder their subiection that so they might more conueniently subdue Greece and afterwards when they were returned and fostered their owne factions Hermocrates of Syracusa was the first that moued the Sicilians to liue in peace laying aside all grudges for the Athenians had laid snares of bondage to intrappe the libertie of their whole country his perswasion tooke effect This was in the seuenth yeere of this warre Three yeeres after this the Athenians and Peloponnesians concluded a truce for fifty yeeres but it held not full seauen for euen then many outrages were broached and though the peace were not quite abolished and gappes of offences committed were euer anon stopt vp againe by truces yet in the 17 yeere they burst forth againe into open warre with full forces this second warre continued tenne yeeres Then the Athenians send ouer againe their Nauie most exquisitely furnished into Sicilie The chiefe Commanders whereof among the rest were Alcibiades and Nicias Nicias very earnestly declaiming certaine Orations to that purpose disswaded them from this voiage but Alcibiades perswaded the contrarie The Peloponnesians gaue aid to the Sicilians at
of any Senatour of the house of the Manlies should bee called Marcus After this Camillus was the seuenth time created Tribune of the Soldiers and being very old ended his life in the 389. yeere after the building of Rome the gouernment being a yeere before his death againe reduced to the Consuls The first whereof was a * One of the Commeueltie Plebeian In those times flourisht the most renowned Captaines of warre in that Citie such as were Marcus Valerius Corvinus Titus Manlius Torquatus Caius Martius Rutilius Publius Decius Mus Papirius Cursor Publius Philo Lucius Volumninus and others One of which namely Titus Manlius Torquatus one of the Consuls beheaded his owne sonne for that he contrary to his command and out of his ranke had encountred his enemie in a single combat although hee got the vpperhand Publius Decius Alus the other Consull in the battell against the Latines deuow'd and bequeathed himselfe to death for the Romano Armie when violently rushing into the thickest troopes of his enemies by his death re-established the tottering state of Rome His sonne of his owne name foure times Consull performed the like against the Galli-Senones forty foure yeers after that At the same before-mentioned time in the x Most Authors agree of 10. or 12. yeers before viz. Anno Mundi 3620. or 22. 420. yeere of Rome built Alexander the great founder of the third Monarchie as we haue aboue declared flourished and made his warres Titus Liuius compares Lucius Papyrius Cursor with him and extending his discourse as well for his owne as his Readers recreation shews that he was able to haue resisted Alexander if happily hee had led his forces into Europe after his conquest of Asia and made warre vpon the Romanes This before-recited Papyrius Cursor was indued with the very quintessence of valour for omitting other his valiant acts when Titus Veturius Caluinus and Spurius Posthumius Albinus the two Consuls together with the whole armie at the y Made of speares or iauelings stucke in the ground vnder which the conquered were to passe in dishonour Forks of Caudium were compelled by the Lamnits to goe ignobly vnder the yoke and had made a dishonourable peace with the enemie Hee being created Consull vanquisht the late conquering enemie and put him to flight as also when hee was Dictator made his owne Master of the Cauallery an example to teach what strict obseruance ought to bee had in militarie discipline In this age also and a little vpwards Greece brought forth men of transcendent learning for then flourished Socrates and from him as from a certaine fountaine Aristippus Plato Antisthenes Speusippus Aristotle Diâ—aearchus Xenocrates Heraclides Theophrastus Polemo and Strabo all of them Physiologers and as Cicero cals them Speculators and hunters of Nature Then also flourished most famous Oratours as Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus Hippias Isoerates Lysias Demostenes Hyperides Aeschines Phalerius Demetrius And Historiographers chiefly Xenophon whom Cicero cals a Socratist and Calisthenes Alexander the great his companion In this age liued Dionysius the Spracusan Tirant to whom when Plato came and spoke freely concerning the dutie of a Prince he put him in great danger of his life as Cicero relates This was hee who committed not the guard of his body to his allies but to certaine strangers and sauage and barbarous people hee who taught his daughters how to cut their haire that they should not aduenture their neckes vnder the Barbers hands who suffered them not to vse any manner of edge-toole after they were come to yeeres but made them cindge his head and beard with red-hot Walnut-shels who resorted to his wiues often times by night but first made sure to suruey and prie into all places who not daring to shew himselfe in the common Pulpits was wont to speake to the people out of a Tower who shewed Damocles one of his Parrasites what manner of felicitie that of his was which he had boasted of for as hee sate in the middest of his choisest delicates with abundance and superfluitie of all manner of pleasures he caused a glittering sword hanging by a bristle of a horses vpper lip to be let downe that it might hang ouer his necke About forty two yeeres after Alexanders death Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes came into Italie and made warre with the Romanes In his second yeeres warre he solicited the Senate about concluding of a peace and a league But Appius Claudius both old and blinde who as Cicero writes had beene twice Consull before that came into the Court and disswaded the Senate inclining to peace from making any league with him for euen in that case wherein he then was he had so much courage as not to shrinke from any either priuate or publike seruice The Oration which hee then pronounced concerning Pyrrhus when hee broke off the peace was extant in Ciceroes daies as hee himselfe witnesseth At this time Cains Fabritius Luscinus performed a worthy piece of seruice for the Common-wealth who being solicited by Pyrrhus to reuolt contemned his most ample gifts and large proffers nor onely so but also sent him backe againe a certaine captiued runne-away who had certified that hee could take away the Kings life by poison Cicero compares him with Aristides the Athenian Mannius Curius Dentatus gaue Pyrrhus an vtter ouerthrow at his second inuasion of Italie and triumphed ouer him This Pyrrhus was the first that euer brought Elephants into Lucania And till this time being almost fiue hundred yeeres continuance the Romans were in warres with the inhabitants of Italie onely amongst whom the Latines Veientes Aequies Faliscians Samnites Hetrucians resisted very stoutly sometimes conquered sometimes conquering who being at length subdued and a peace setled that most bloody warre against the Carthaginians sprung vp the z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. originall of which Citie is by euident testimonie prooued to be farre more z Iosephus writes that it was built within 143 yeeres after Solomons Temple The first Punicke or Carthaginian warre beganne Anno mandi 3697. ancient then Rome This warre begunne in the foure hundred eighty fift yeere of Rome built In which that noble act which hath report of performance by Marcus Attilius Regulus deserues singular commemoration who being taken prisoner by the Carthaginians and sent by them to Rome to treate of a peace and exchange of prisoners with condition except hee preuailed to returne to his bondage Hee when hee came thither perswaded the Senate the quite contrary way shewed that it was repugnant to the custom of the Common-wealth but yet holding it a point of honour to hold promise with his enemie returned to Carthage where hee was put to death with the most cruell kinde of punishment his eye-lids being cut away and so bound fast in an engine consumed to death by waking This warre proceeding the Romans had their first and
words which hee then vs'd Horace sets them downe in that Ode Horace l. 4. Ode 4. wherein he celebrates the fame of Drusus and his house which being most learned elegant worthily amongst other matters deserues commemoration by all of the yonger sort Thus the Romanes being at peace with the Carthaginians besides those warres wherein they were employed in Italy Istria and Lusitania The Roman warre with Philip King of Macedonia 3770. made sharpe warre against Philip King of Macedonia who infested the Countrey of Greece In this warre Titus Quintus Flaminius was Generall who at length getting the vpper hand of the Enemy did by decree of the Senate restore Greece to its former liberty and amongst other iniunctions prohibited King Philip from making war in any place out of his owne Territories without decree of the Senate The Roman wars with Antiochus King of Syria 3777. To this warre another succeeded against Antiochus King of Syria who passing ouer into Europe was ouerthrowne and expelled Greece by Mannius Glabrio Philip King of Macedon aiding the Romanes in that warre Those before recited Kings of Asia Syria and Macedonia descended from their posterity who as wee haue aboue related diuided the prouinces amongst them after Alexander the Great his death For Carthage being pacified and all Italy brought vnder subiection the Romanes hauing subdued their neighbouring Countries of Europe both by sea and land were now grown to that height that Kings and people farre remote implored their patronage After this manner the Egyptians whose King Ptolomy Epiphanes was a very young Prince and not of ability by reason of his non-age to gouerne them being brought into imminent danger by Antiochus the Great sent ouer their Ambassadors to Rome petitioning the Senate to vndertake the tuition of their young King Hereupon the Senate enioyned Antiochus to forbeare Egypt Hee hereat incensed but more especially when Hannibal who was fled to him and remained his guest very earnestly perswaded him to the warre strucke ouer with a Nauie into Greece and there as wee reported before was put to flight Whereupon the Romans setting forth with an Armado pursue him and striking ouer into Asia ouerthrew in a maine battell and beat him backe beyond the Mountaine Taurus Cicero relates how after this ouerthrow he was wont to say that the Romans had done him a very good turne for now being freed from too exceeding great gouernment hee would conteine himselfe within the moderate bounds of a Kingdome Lucius Cornelius Scipio Publius Scipio Africanus his brother was Captaine Generall in this warre thereupon surnamed Asiaticus After this Marcus Fuluius Nobilior vanquished the l A certaine people of Greece Aetolians and triumphed ouer them And Publius Scipio Africanus after his returne home out of Asia whither he was sent in Ambassage to his brother in time of this warre being crost by the m Officers appointed for protection of the Commons against the Nobles Tribunes of the Commons withdrew himselfe into his village of Liternum and there this man of transcendent worth ended his life being as many write 52. yeares old of the same age with Marcus Portius Cato In that Dialogue Sleidan as Meibomius notes mistakes Africanus for Quintus Fabius Cunctator whom Cicero speaks of which Cicero writ of old age hee brings in Cato speaking very affectionately and honorably both of his age and studies but most especially extolling his magnanimity howbeit Liuie writes that Cato was his enemy and was wont much to disquiet himselfe with the odious enuie that he bore against him for his fortitude Cicero commends him for his dexterous celeritie in dispatch of businesse At this time flourisht those Poets Ennius Plautus and Neuius After Antiochur his ouerthrow Hannibal fled to Prusias King of Bythinia and when the Romanes desired to haue him deliuered into their hand by a draught of poison finished his life Hannibal poisoneth himselfe An. 3786. To Antiochus his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded who likewise practised by treachery to haue seized vpon the Kingdome of Egypt for that he was vncle to Ptolomie Philometer King of Egypt who succeeded after his fathers death hereupon professing himselfe to be the yong Kings Tutor purposed to dispatch him and so transferre the sway of gouernement into his own hands but his plot being discouered the Romans whom the Egyptians had againe solicited for aide sent ouer to him in Ambassage Caius Popilius Laenas who comming to conference with Antiochus commanded him in the name of the Romans to depart from Alexandria which hee then besieged who desiring time to deliberate vpon it Laenas with a little rod drew a circle round about him in the place where hee stood and in flat termes charged him to giue his answer what he would doe before hee stirred out of that Ring Hee hereat dismaid and not being ignorant of the puisance of the Romans promised peace Those passages are onely for this purpose mentioned that it may appeare how the Romans from these small beginnings gathered ground step by step and climbed vp to the highest branch of gouernment For now their puissance hauing outstript the bounds of Italy made an impression into seuerall Quarters of the world but a great part of their labour yet remained towards the keeping in together the ponderous burthen of this their Empire whose circuit contained the chiefest part of the whole world as hereafter though briefly I le declare in order Philip King of Macedon he whom I formerly spoke of taking it very hainously that the Romanes had put him to such a straight was aminded to renew the warre but being preuented by death his sonne and successor Perseus hauing beene long before that incensed against the Romanes vndertooke this warre as it were a part of his inheritage but Lucius Aemilius Paulus the second time Consull Perseus K. of Macedonia with his wife mother Children led in triumph at Rome by Aemilius Paulus 3802. at length ouerthrew him in battell tooke him together with his wife mother and Children and led them in triumph for this cause surnamed Macedonicus and from that time Macedonia became one of the Prouinces of the Romanes The yeare next before this dyed Ennius aged 70. yeares as Cicero hath it Within a few yeares following Publius Cornelius Nasica subdued Dalmatia and not long after the third Punicke or Carthaginian warre begunne The third Punick or Carthiginian warre 3819. For the Carthaginians being impatient of peace and ease offer violence and hostility to the rest of their neighbours but more especially to Massinissa King of Numidia a confederate and friend of the Romanes The Romans being requested for their aid decreed to make warre in the 604. yeere of Rome built but herein they differed in their opinions whether it were better to raze the Citie or preserue it safe some were of opinion that it should not bee destroyed for that said they Carthage being taken away they should fall into ciuill warres and dissentions
without his aid and protection as concerning any danger he need not trouble himselfe For all of vs saith he doe not onely promise to watch about and guard Thee but also to interpose our owne sides and bodies But for all this after Cesars death hee reioyced wonderfully and boasted that they who had slaine him had obtained that glory which could scarce bee contained within the heauens This therefore is the fourth and last Monarchy in which place we must note how this citie which was built by Shepheards from most slender beginnings by little and little increased to the height of potencie and grew to bee Empresse of the whole world Now hereafter I will briefly as farre as I may declare after what manner it fell off by degrees from this most high estate vnto ruine The end of the first Booke IOHN SLEID AN of the foure chiefe Monarchies OR The key of History The second Booke CEsar being slain Octauius Cesar begun his raigue Anno mundi 3925. and raigned An. 57. his sisters sonne Caius Octauius hauing drawn about the militarie bands to his partie persecuted the murtherers most bitterly And at first seemed to take armes in defence of the Commō-wealth against Marcus Antonius but afterward diuding the Empire with him and Marcus Ledipus ordained a i Gouernment by three Cicero put to death An. 3926. Triumuirat in which Marcus Cicero was by Marcus Antonius whom he had very vehemently opposed put to death being sixty three yeers of age which was eight yeeres after Quintus Hortensius his death who was so many yeers elder then hee as abouesaid Cicero directly ouershot himselfe in his owne policies for when Marcus Antonius molested the Common-wealth after Caius Cesars death he with exceeding great praises commended to the Senate Caius Octauius Cesars kinsman a yong Gentleman of twenty yeeres of age and begunne to vrge to haue him created Consull without any regard had to his age producing examples of ancient times how it might be done and refuting such obiections as might seeme dangerous professing to be bound to the Senate vpon his honour that he should alwaies couernue such a Common-wealths man as he then was and such an one as they ought chiefly to wish and desire him to be but afterwards forsaken by him hee fell into Marcus Antonius his hands Marcus Brutus reprehends him sharpely for such his flatterie Then as it is common certaine grudges arising in emulation of the Empire when as Marens Lepidus for conspiracie against Octauius was formerly remoued out of the Triumuirat and banished Octauius made warre against Antonius his other Collegue and after his victorie at k A town in Epirus Actium ouerthrew both him and Cleopatra beforementioned at Alexandria forcing them both to kill themselues and made Egypt a Romane Prouince Authors report that in Ptolomie Auletes raigne the yeerely reuenues of Egypt came to 12500. talents which summe the learned of our times reckon to 7500000. crownes but when it came in subiection to the Romans they iudged it to be farre more rich in regard of the traffique with India and Aethiopia Antonius thus ouerthrowne and cut off Octauius alone gouerned the Common-wealth forty foure yeeres and in 29. yeere of his Empire and of the world 3954. Christ born An. mundi 3954. as most account was our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST borne Herod sirnamed the Great hauing seuen yeeres before most sumptuously re-edified the demolished Temple of Ierusalem Marcus Antonius was married to Caius Octauius his sister but afterward being intangled with Cleopatra's loue forsooke his wife and married her which partly was cause of the warre Both of them were exceeding riotous and Authors relate almost incredible stories of their banquets delights and pleasures but such as I before set downe was the vp-shot and end of their liues This Marcus Antonius was that most famous Oratour before-mentioned Marcus Antonius his Nephew In Caius Octauius his raign the Romans had their first war in Germanie within their own territories Caius Iulius Cesar indeed ouerthrew the Germanes twice but it was in Gallia to wit Ariouistus in the Country of the Celts and afterwards at the meeting together of the Riuer Maze and the Rhyne After this victorie he built a bridge and past ouer the Rhyne but resting there a few daies brought backe his Armie into Gallia and broke downe the bridge Two yeers after he passed again ouer the Rhyne on his second bridge a little aboue that place where hee formerly had led ouer his Armie and then fully intended to haue gone against the l Now of Pomerania in Germanie Sueuians but being certified by his Scouts of all affaires and fearing much difficultie and scarcitie of prouision returnes into Gallia breakes downe some part of the bridge and in the other part built a Tower and a Castle and fortified it with Cittadels that hee might not altogether free his enemies from the feare of his returne And this was all that Cesar did against the Germans as he himself writes But Octauius by the two brothers Tiberius and Drusus made warre against the m Germanes bordering on the Alpes Rhaetians and n Vandals Vindelicians and with o People about Colen Vbian forces who were confederates with the Romanes Quintilius Varus being their Captaine Generall inuaded that part of Germanie now called Westphalia howbeit Arminius Chiefe-taine of the p Germanes neere the riuer Elbe Cheruscans almost vtterly ouerthrew him betwixt the Riuer q Ems. Amasia and r Necchar Horat. lib. 1 Ode 24. Lupia Horaee in a most elegant Ode comforts Virgil lamenting his death Drusus died in Germanie leauing behinde him two sonnes Germanicus a most worthy soldier and Claudius Horace in another most elegant Ode as wee said before Horat. lib. 4 Ode 4. extols him and deriues his pedegree from Caius Claudius Nero who when hee was the second time Consull together with Marcus Liuius Saelinator slew Asdrubal Annibals brother at the Riuer of Metanrum as he was bringing ouer a supply of forces ſ Octauius so stiled in honour as much as Soueraign at this day Augustus also subdued the t Of Biscay in Spaine Cantabrians u Of Aquitane in Gallia Aquitanians * Hungars Pannonians x Inhabiting Wendenland in some parts Dalmatians y Of Sclauonia also or Wendenlond Illyrians z Inhabiting neere Lombardie Salassians and inhabitants of the Alpes It is reported that he often intended to lay off the weightie charge of the Empire but againe considering with himselfe that it would be rashly committed to many mens authority changes his minde In the thirty third yeere of his raigne deceased Herod the Great whom hee and Marcus Antonius in the third yeere of their Triumuirate had made King of Iudaea and in the eight yeere after his death his sonne and successor Archelaus was banished to Vienna a Towne in Gallia It is written that Octauius maintained forty foure legions of soldiers in protection of the Prouinces
Britaine in his iourney through Illyricum towards his intended warre against the Persians was trecherously slaine by his owne soldiers At this time the Common-wealth flourished peace being setled in all nations on euery side farre and neere in so much as Probus would sometimes say that the world would come to that passe shortly that there would be no need of Legions and garrisons but the souldiers offended at this his speech thought it best to cut him off After him followed Carus Carus 282. An. 1. and some moneths together with his sonnes Corinus Numerianus hee subdued the Sarneatians who now after Probus his death were growne more insolent and menaced euen Italie it selfe then making an expedition against the Persians tooke Mesopotamia and marching on further died His yonger sonne Numerianus serued in the warres with him his other sonne Carinus hee had set ouer the Gallia's Numerianus was slaine by his t Arius Aper Diocletian 284. an 20. wiues father and in his place came Diocletian with whom Carinus had diuers conflicts about obtaining the Empire but was ouerthrowne and slaine Diocletian in regard of the troubles and seditions in many places kindling tooke to him for his Collegue Maximianus He quiered the country of Gallia then in commotion as also Affrica and Diocletian Egypt putting the Authors of these broiles to death He recouered Britaina also in the tenth yeer after the reuolt and to the end that the state of the Common-wealth might be more firme and to auoid new commotions about succession hee adopted Galerius and Maximianus Constantius Chlorius Galerius being sent by Diocletian against Narses King of the Parthians had ill fortune in that warre losing the major part of his armie but afterwards commanded to renew the warre he ouerthrew the enemie in maine battell and marching on further in those places then any other Emperour except Trajan tooke Ctesiphon subdued all Assyria and recouered the fiue Prouinces lying beyond the riuer u Running through Armenia Tigris which had reuolted in Trajan the Emperours time Diocletian hauing setled the affaires of Asia returned into Europe where the Scythians Sarmatians * Almaines lying betwixt the Alpes and Ments as Carion supposes Alans x People of Sarmatia Bastarnans y â—welling about the Riuer Carpis in Scythia Constantius Galerius 304. an 2 m 3. an 7. m. 5. Carpies Chatties and Quadies were then all in peace Afterwards both hee as also Maximianus resigning their Soueraigntie inuest their Collegues before mentioned with the title of Emperours Constantius of the Gallia's Britaine the Hispaines Italie and Affrica and Galerius of Illyricum Greece and Asia Marcellus was then Bishop of Rome whose decree is extant prohibiting Bishops from calling a Synode without the authority of the Sea of Rome as also to condemne any Bishop who should appeale to Rome But Maxentius the Emperour persecuting him his estate as others before him was both meane and miserable Whereupon it may easily bee coniectured whether or no he in those perplexities and lurking corners could take so much vpon him as to establish such manner of decrees At length Constantius dying at Yorke Galerius adopted Severus and Maximianus In the meane space the Preterian souldiers at Rome elect Maxentius their Emperour After Seuerus was slaine Maximianus made choice of Licinius for his Collegue in the Empire Among those arose great troubles whereupon the Nobles of Rome call home Constantine Constantius his sonne then imploied in the Gallia's to rescue their Citie from the tyranny of Maxentius Constantine the Great 306. an 30. m. 9. d. 27. Hee marching forward into Italie with part of his armie in pitcht field got the victorie and afterwards quite defeated Maxentius his forces at the Citie of Rome After this hee fought against Licinius who being ouerthrowne in battell and almost growne into hatred with all men was at length slaine by his own souldiers Many write that the cause of this warre was for that Licinius did bitterly persecute the professors of Christianitie although he had been very often intreated and admonished to the contrary by Constantine For from the time of the resurrection of Christ vntill this age almost three hundred yeeres the professors of Christ were diuersly punished omitting those whereof the Scripture makes mention as of z Acts 7. Stephen a Acts 11. Iames the brother of Iohn b Acts 9. Peters imprisonment and inlargement by the Angel passing ouer in silence Paul likewise who grieuously persecuted the Church of God but after his conuersion escaped no kinde of punishment for Christs cause the Roman Emperours also as Nero Domitian Trajan Septimius Seuerus Decius Valerian Aurelian Diocletian and Maximian committed most horrible and outragious masfacres But Constantine comming to the Empire and imbracing the true Religion affoorded harbour and refuge to the Christians Then first of all beganne the Bishops of Rome to liue in safeâ—ie for till then almost all of them who from Peter whom they will haue to be their first are reckoned to thirty three were tormented with persecutions Their decrees are inserted in the bookes of the Councels but the greatest part of them are so sleight triuiall quite different from the sacred Scriptures as makes it credible that they were a long time after forged by some others But if they bee true and proceeded from them then indeed that which Paul by prophesie foretold 2 Thes 2. seemes most rightly to bee applied to this place that then that sonne of perdition and man of sinne beganne to worke the mysterie of iniquity That decree yet extant goes vnder Anacletus his name the fourth from Peter as they reckon wherein he ordaineth the Church of Rome to be by Christs command and institution the head of other Churches To Alexander the next after him is that decree attributed where he commands that the water should be consecrated with salt to purge the people and to auoid the snares of the Deuill But iudge I pray you how far those differ from that Maiestie of the Apostles how farre from the writings of S. c S. Ierom writes that he dyed in the 68 yere after the passion Suidas says that he liued 120 yeares Iohn the Euangelist who almost liued till this very time I haue onely set downe these two decrees that by them wee may iudge of the rest for they are almost of the same molde and cary open colour of ambition and not onely the speech wants the grace but also the matter it selfe hath no salt in it Colos 4. both which Paul requires in the Ministers of the Church And to this place also appertaines that decree of Constantine the Emperor which they haue inserted into their books for the foundation and bulwarke of their power For the cause and occasion of his excessiue d In conferring as they imagine the City of Rome the Empire of the West c. vpon he Popes liberality which is there set downe may out of history be disproued
and conuicted of falshood Further bee it granted that the Emperor was thus most exceedingly profuse perhaps for himselfe onely hee might herein abate of his own right but could not doe it for his successors authorized with coequal power and Protectors of the Common-wealth For hee who damnifies the freedome and liberties of his Empire ought not to haue the title of Father of his Countrey nor can he ordaine another to share with him in equality of authority or preiudice the same By Constantine the Emperors appointment The first Councell of Nice held in An. 325. continued 3. yeares a most populous Counsell was called and assembled at Nice a City in Bythinia wherein the heresie of Arrius denying Christ to be coequall in substance with his father was condemned It s recorded that many Bishops not onely out of Europe and Asia but also out of Egypt and Lybia met together there Amongst other one decree was that through Egypt Lybia and Pontapolis the ancient custome should be maintained that is all the Bishops there should remaine vnder superiority of the Bishop of Alexandria notwithstanding the vsurpation and withholding therof by the Bishop of Rome as also that the Church of Antioch and other Prouinces and Churches should each one entirely retaine their peculiar priuiledges After this Councell certaine Iewd opinions were vented one Eustathius being Author about shunning of mariage e In monasticall manner and some women artired in mens habite about a new and vnusuall kind of habit about forbearance to eate flesh and forsaking propriety of possessions And hereupon many husbands procuring a diuorce and seruants leauing their masters betaking themselues to this new and religious habite as they call it women likewise taking the same course forsaking their husbands and those who fed vpon flesh as also the Ministers of the Church that were maried being publikely contemned as persons impure and vnacceptable to God a Counsell was assembled at Gangra a town in Paphlagonia wherein those were condemned who either taught or held that opinion Constantine for reestablishing a peace in the Common-wealth being with most generall acclamation confumed both by the Senate and people of Rome turned himselfe wholy to forraine warres and after many battels ouerthrew the Gâ—thes and Sarmatians then forraging the Countrey of Thracia afterwards being strucken in yeares he proclaimed warre against the Persians who wasted the Country of Mesopotamia and in Asia where he was arriued with his Army after receipt of a medicine for recouery of his health breathed his last not without suspition of poison This is he by surname stiled the Great who named Byzantium a City of Thrace after his owne f His desire was to haue it called New Rome but vse preuailed and altered it to Constantinople name and thither translated the Imperiall Seat He began his g At Rome but hee raigned 6. yeares before in Brittaine and elsewhere raigne about the three hundred and twelfth yeare after the birth of Christ It is written that Comets of wonderfull greatnesse were seene before his death Hee left three sonnes Constantine Constantius and Constans amongst those was the body of the Empire diuided to Constantine part of the Alpes Gallia Hispaine Brittaine h The Iland of Orkney lying neer and belonging to Scotland the Orcades Ireland and i Now called Island lying beyond Scotland as some say others Hitland Constantine 337. An. 3. Constantius 337. An. 24 Conslaus 337. An. 1â— Thyle were allotted to Constans Italy Africa with the Islands Illyricum Macedonia Achaia Peloponnesus and Greece to Constantius Asia and Thrace Constantine not satisfied with this diuision made warre vpon his brother Constans and at Aquileia whither he was then come ioyning battell with Constans his forces lost both his Army and his life Constans who in the meane time was vp in Armes against the k The same who were afterwards called Gothes Carion Getes and Sarmatians in Dacia returnes into Italie and hauing gotten the Alpes inuaded Gallia and in two yeares space won all his deceased brothers dominions but was slaine within a while after by the treachery and crafty dealing of Magnentius Him the souldiers before hand allured and inueigled with rewards elected Emperour Constantius the onely suruiuing brother of the three vpon notice hereof deputing Gallus his vncles sonne and sisters husband his Vice-gerent ouer Asia marches with a strong Army into Italy and so into Gallia where in maine battell he ouerthrew the Enemy But Magnentius escaping sends his Ambassadors to sue for peace Whose suit the Conqueror rejecting he on a fresh wages battell again but with ill successe thereupon flying to Lyons where perceiuing his owne friends to conspire his destruction and not hauing any corner where to hide himselfe became his owne executioner Afterwards Constantius commanded Gallus his Cosin germane and Vicegerent for Asia as abouesaid who abused his authority and power to bee put to death when he could not otherwise remedy it After this he returnes into Asia with intent to prosecute the warre in Persia which by reason of Magnentius his faction aboue-mentioned he had broken off And in regard the Germanes about this time making an inroad into Gallia forraged the Countrey there hee adopted his other Cosin germane Iulianus Gallus his brother and to him committed the protection of Gallia Iulianus hauing had prosperous successe in his designes and in many battel 's gotten the vpper hand beat backe the Enemy beyond the Rhyne tooke many prisoners and rescued many Roman souldiers out of prison and at l Strasburg in Germany Argentine almost quite cut off the Enemies whole Army Hereupon the souldiers proclaime him not onely Caesar but also Augustus and set a Diadem vpon his head but against his will as hee pretended For in his letters to Constantius he indeauoured to remoue the envie of the fact froÌ„ himselfe But Constantius hereat greiuously offended ceasing his warre in Persia and liberally and kindly entreating the neighbouring nations that they might continue their allegiance sets forward on his iourney to reduce Iulianus to his duty but on the way whilst hee was yet in Asia being taken with a feuer ended his life first ordaining Iulianus his successor During Iulianus his raigne the enemies contained themselues within their owne bounds not raising any commotion in any place Julianus 361. an 1. m. 7. d. 23. He himselfe went out against the Persians and forraging Assyria hauing put the Enemies forces to flight marched forwards as farre as Ctesiphon At length returning home with his forces the enemy set vpon him in the rere where fighting in the midst of his souldiers in the maine battalia hee receiued a wound whereof within a while after he died an enemy to the name of Christ The souldiers hauing thus lost their Leader Iouinianus 363. m. 7. d. 22. being plunged in great distresse create Iouinianus Emperor at what time Iulius the first of that name was Bishop of Rome certaine of whose Epistles to
the Bishops of the East are yet extant in which he often presses it that to Him alone as Bishop saith he of the chiefe See by a certaine singular priuiledge and diuine ordinance belongeth the right of conuocating Generall Councells But it may seeme wonderfull with what face hee could write thus or they so boast of it when as before him Constantinâ— had cal'd the Councell of Nice and after him a hundred yeares full Martianus the Emperor called the Councell of Chalcedon To Him also alone as Primate of that City saith hee appertaines the cognizance of Episcopall causes and other matters of that kinde of more weighty importance This his arrogancy the Bishops could not endure But assembling at Antiech boldly reply That it was not fit that the sentence by them passed should bee repealed by him for that they were possessed of the same degree of dignity whereof hee was and the doctrine of Christ came from their Countries to Rome * Tandem at the second hand by the paines and ministery of the Apostles Wherefore in case he should proceed and make new decrees they would not obey them neither haue communion with him but would take such a course as the matter it selfe should require And in another Councell in the same City of greater concourse then the former amongst other decrees They limit the office of a Bishop as also of a Metropolitane about discussing matters of more weighty importance For they decreed that in case the Bishops concurre not the Metropalitane of the next adioyning prouince shall delegate certaine Iudges to determine the cause But if any Bishop bee condemned for an offence by common decree of the rest of the Bishops they ordaine that their sentence shall stand firme and not bee repealed by another They further establish that the Bishop shall faithfully dispence the * Bona sacra goods of the Church and distribute them to the vse of the poore and that hee himselfe if need require may take from thence as much as shall bee necessary for naturall sustentation For St. Paul saith 1 Tim. 6.8 We ought to bee content with food and â—raiment Which goods if the Bishop say they shall perchance conuert into his owne or his friends priuate commodity or commit the administration thereof to his kindred he is to be restrained by a Councell At length Ioninianus the enemy being at his backe concluded a dishonourable peace redeliuering those fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris wonne by Galerius as aboue mentioned as also part of Mesopotamia and afterwards couenanted that the Romanes should lend no ayde to the King of Armenia their friend and confederate Marching forth with his Army as hee was returning home dyed vpon the borders of Bythinia The soldiers forthwith create Valentinianus Emperour who soone after his comming to Constantinople Valentinianus 364. An. 11. m. 8. d. 32. together with his brother Valens tooke his brother Valens to be his Collegue in the Empire and commending those m Of the East Countries to his care marched into Germanie where hee subdued the Saxons bordering vpon the Ocean and soone after he had beene in Gallia n In Pannonia falling into a feuer by an excessiue straining of his voice in an angry reply against some offenders dyed as it is written vpon a vehement passion of anger By this time his brother Valens was arriued in Asia to represse the Parthians forraging the Country of Armenia and the King of Persia who breaking the league was falne into open hostility But after the Hunnes or Tartars and Scythians had ouer-runne Pannonia Epirus and Thessaly he returnes into Europe where in pitcht battell being ouerthrowne and as he fled wounded and carried into a little cottage which the Enemy setting on fire hee there dyed That Edict of Valentinianus the Emperor and of Valens is yet extant wherein it is prouided That those who betake themselues to a monasticall life and solitarinesse and in that regard escape warfare and publike impositions shall bee drawne out of their cells and either serue for their Country or else forfeit all those benefits afterwards conferred vpon them that vndergoe both paines and perill for the Common-wealth The Enemies not long after appeased by the Emperours gift and mony departed from Constantinople which they then besiged Saxony being at peace Valentinian the Emperour chose his sonne Gratianus for his Collegue Gratian 375. an 7. m. 9. d 9. With his son Valenâ—iâ—tan the Iâ— who after his father and vncle Valens their decease succeeded them both both But he the Common-wealth being tossed with diuers billowes of troubles assumed Theodosius a worthy Commander in warre and sent him into the Easterne Countries There at Constantinople he vaÌ„quished the Huns and Gothes and chased them out of the Coasts of Thrace After this Gratianus was treacherously slaine in Gallia by Maximus one of his Coronels who affected the Empire Ausonius of Burdeaux certaine of whose Poems are yetextaÌ„t was his Tutor for literature whom afterwards he aduanced to the dignity of a Consull His son Valentinianus also died in manner of the same death by the treachery of his familiar friend Arbogastus But the murtherers escapt not scot-free for both of them were slaine by Theodosius the Emperour Maximus was taken and put to death at Aquileia and the other acted that part himselfe Those Tyrants thus cut off Theodosius 378. an 16. d. 12. Theodosius possest of the Empire ordaines his two sons Honorius and Arcadius his Collegues to whom by reason of their nonage hee appointed Protectors or as it were Gouernors to Arcadius he assigned Ruffinus and to Honorius Siilico sand not long after departed hi life The second Councell of Constantinople An. 381. By his command a Councell was held at Constantinople wherein the heresie of Macedonius who derogated from the Diuinity of the holy Ghost was condemned The Fathers there assembled being as it is recorded 150 in number ordained Bishops both there as also at Antiochia which they stile the elder and truely Catholike Church at Ierusalem which they call the Mother of all Churches They transmitted those their proceedings to Darsasus Bishop of Rome who endeauoured to call them to Rome Saint Hierom when he was yong was familiar with this Damasus Hee was the Author of that memorable saying Wheresoeuer the Bishop is be it at Rome EngubiuÌ„ Constantinople Rhegium or Alexandria he is of the same demerit and Priesthood Theodosius hath the fame for a very godly Prince who being reprehended by St. Ambrose Bishop of Millane and prohibited entrance into the church tooke it patiently Arcadius gouerned in the East at Constantinople Arcad us 395 aâ— 13. m. 3 d. 15. Together with Honorius who raigned about 15. yeares after the death of Arcadius and Honorius at Rome But Ruffinus with intent to translate the Empire to himself vnderhand incited the King of the Gothes to make warre against Arcadius whose treachery being disclosed he was slaine by the souldiers
and seat as appeares out of that which we haue before mentioned was by the Emperour Charles redintigrated and as it were a new bodie re-assumed beautie and feature after so many and so great Prouinces were reduced into one mans principalitie Nicephorus the other Emperour in the East was much displeased hereat but Charles by his humanitie and kindenesse appeased him and interchanging presents both of them liued in amitie and the certaine bounds of each Empire were set out Besides other assemblies he had a Councell at Rhemes wherin amongst many others one decree was that Bishops should diligently peruse the holy Scriptures and Preach the Word of God There was a Councell also held at Mentz the yeere before his death and others some yeeres before at Tours Chaalons and Arles about reformation of the Church as they deliuer it that liued in those times Then constituting his sonne Lewis heire of his kingdome and of the Empire died at Aix a towne in Gallia Belgica aged seuenty yeeres in the yeere after Christs birth eight hundred and fourteene after hee had beene Emperour almost fourteene yeeres the first of any Germane aduanced to that dignitie In his time there were onely one and twenty Metropolitane Cities as they call them throughout Italie Germanie and France as Rome Rauenna Millaine Friuly Grado Cullen Mentz Saltzburgh Triers Roane Sens Besanson Lyons Rhemes Orleans Vienna Monstier Iuerdun Burdeaux Tours and Burges in Berry Pipin his Father committed the Exarchat taken from the Lombards into the Bishops of Romes hands as aboue said which indeed is so deliuered to memorie and it is reported that hee directly gaue it to them but that very many call into question Eginardus one very familiar with y Charles him and his sworne Scribe writes that hee more dearely esteemed of that Church which they call S. Peters in Rome then any other and that a great masse of gold siluer and iewels was transported thither and very many gifts sent from him to the Popes for herein he vsed extraordinary diligence that by his meanes and procurement the Citie of Rome might inioy her ancient authoritie and S. Peters Church might not onely remaine safe and secured vnder his patronage but also flourish in wealth aboue other Churches Thus much onely he writes but of the donation of so many and such potent Cities within the bounds of the Empire not a word nay it is written that after his fourth comming into Italie when hee was created Emperour he ordered not onely the publike affaires but also both ecclesiasticall and priuate concerning the Pope the Citie of Rome and all Italie For when he was not yet Emperour but onely King of France hauing vanquished Desiderius King of the Lombards as aboue faid he came to Rome and had a Councell in which as their bookes relate Adrian the first together with the whole Councell granted him the right and power of electing the Pope as also disposing of the sea Apostolique as they tearme it and confirming Bishops Eginardus attributes to this Charles many vertues worthie of a Prince as temperance modestie frugalitie loue to religion learning eloquence and knowledge not onely of the Latine but also of the Greeke tongue withall his exceeding care and diligence in educating and nurturing vp his children to the same course He also as it is written founded the Academie of Paris as well of his owne accord as also by the instigation of z Commonly called Alcoinus an English man so Bede and others Albinus his Tutor for learning of the arts as Eginardus reports He also gaue Germane names to the twelue moneths and to the windes which they now vse whereas before that time as the same writer relates the French vsed partly Latine partly barbarous names And thus farre in Preface-wise touching the Germanes and the Emperour Charles henceforward I le briefly run ouer and shew after what manner this part of the Romane Empire in the West hard and sharpe restored and recollected by Charles againe decaied which being diuided fell into many mens dominions who held the same as their proper right not acknowledging the fountaine from whence they flowed Insomuch as that Maiesticall and so much renowned sublimitie of the Romane Empire is nothing else at this day then a certaine slender shadow of a great bodie after it was shrunk from such an huge masse to Germanie one onely particle of Europe Last of all I le briefly explaine how Daniel foretold this interchangeable course of Monarchies and fall of the Romane Empire Now Lewis Charles his son Lewis l. 814 an 26. m. 14. d. 24. another Germane Emperour renewed amitie with Leo Armenius Emperour of Greece and Pope Leo dying in the third yeere of his raigne his successor Stephen the IIII. comming into France consecrated a Emperour him at Rhemes To this Pope Paschalis succeeded who by reason the Emperour interposed not his authoritie diligently and earnestly excusing the fact alledged that the Papacie was obtruded vpon him altogether against his will The Papall bookes haue it that this Lewis the Emperour confirmed to this Paschalis and to the rest after him both the possession of goods and also permitted a free election that whomsoeuer all the Romans should iudge fit for that dignitie he should be accounted Pope But I see not what credence can be giuen to such kinde of writings as these for they so iarre amongst themselues and are so patcht together without all method that it cannot bee vnderstood what should follow Lewis had three sonnes Lotharius whom hee elected Collegue in the Empire and his Kingdome Charles who succeded his deceased brother b In France Pipin he set ouer Aquitania and Lewis ouer Bauaria Vpon a rebellion raised The Emperour Lewis deposed by his owne sonnes an 833. hee being taken by his sonnes and deposed from his Kingdome was confined to a Monasticall life at Compeigne a towne of the Sâ—issons The French Annall writers report that the ecclesiasticall Prelates whose hautinesse and riot hee desired to restraine conuocating some assemblies at Aix stirred vp those broyles against him and prouokt his sonnes to put in practice this so impious a fact Restored the sixt moneth following But being set at liberty the sixt moneth following to the great contentment of the people hee recouered his Kingdome and all more Because the place serues let vs by the way take a view of the many Nationall Synods held in France for next after that beforementioned at Aix there was another at Troy in Champaigne after that at Rhemes Tours Digion Paris Lyons Vienna Auinion Vierron Orleans and many more in the same places for when the affaires of the Common-wealth so required the Kings themselues conuocated aswell the States Ecclesiasticall as others for reforming of publike enormities In like manner Lewis the twelth at bitter enmity wiâ—h Iulius the second assembled a Councell of his owne people at Tours and Lyons in the yeare of Grace 1510. and 1511. Now to the
purpose Lotharius 840. an 15. m. 3. d. 10. Lewis dying was buried at Metz and Lotharius then vp in Armes against his brothers succeeded which warre at length quenched and a new diuision made Germanie fell to Lewis and part of France from the Riuer Maze to the Rhyne to Charles France from the Brittish Ocean and Pyrene Mountaines to Maze Lotharius besides that he was Emperour held Italy and the Prouince of Narbon To him his sonne Lewis the II. succeeded Lewis II. 855. an 19. m. 10. who repressed the Sarazens breaking into Italy In his raigne amongst others Adrian the II. was Pope created as their bookes haue it contrary to the Emperours assent by the Romane Nobility Citizens and Clergy as they call them For although the Emperours Deputies were in the City yet were they not called to the Election who taking it in ill and discontented part receiued their answer that it was not done in any contempt against the Emperour but in caution for future times lest that custome of expecting the Emperours Deputies at the Popes Creation should grow vp as necessary They report that with this answer they were not onely well pleased but also in reuereÌ„ce humbly saluted the Pope Now here we may see a certaine wonderfull varietie and inconstancy in their writings for if Lewis the I. granted them a free election as they boast and as it is mentioned a little about why did Lewis the II. his grand-child take this for an iniury offered him But howsoeuer the case stands the title of that decree which is in Gratians Centons is euidently false for it is attributed to Gregory the IIII. whereas hee departed his life twenty and two yeares before Adrian the II. was made Pope Did he write a history when hee was dead of those things which happened afterwards Nicholas the I. was the next before Adrian A very long Epistle of his to Michael Emperour of Greece concerning his power ouer all Churches is extant For Ignatius was remoued from his Bishopricke at Constantinople and Photius placed without the Bishop of Romes consent as also the Images were throwne downe He therefore with all the vehemency hee could exclaimes against this Many of his decrees also are extant full of Papall Maiestie Charles King of France as abouesaid notwithstanding his other elder brother Lewis the King of Germanies resistance marches in all hast into Italy and is consecrated by Iohn the eight Pope of Rome In his second expedition into Italy at the Popes request Charles the Bald 875. an 2. m. 2. for repression of the Sarazens who had againe inuaded Campania he dyed at c Poisoned by Zedechias a Iew. Mantua His son Lewis surnamed the Stammerer was his successour Lewis the Stammerer 877. an 2. m. 6. d. 5. Charles the Grosse 879. an 8. m. 7. but he raigned onely two yeares After him the gouernment of the Empire came to Charles the Grosse son of Lewis King of Germany who his two brothers being dead held all Germany Italy and France and chased out the Sarazens who infested Italy The Normans first comming into Normandy in France for a while also making war against the Normans a people of Lower Germanie then annoying Belgia at length granted them that part of France which to this day retaines their name Next after him Arnulphus his brothers sonne was Emperour Arnulphus 887. an 12. m. 1. d. 19. a worthy Prince He marching into Italy to set Pope Formosus at liberty from his aduersaries takes Rome and tooke reuenge vpon the Authors of that sedition In the time of his raigne the Hunnes being chased out of Scythia breake into Pannonia and marching into Germanie Lewis the III. Arnolphus his son being then Emperour got a notable victory not far from the Riuer Laech and then ouerran Bauaria Sueuia d In Germany betwixt Sueuia and Hassia Francia and Saxony with bloodshed robberies and fire Arnolplus Emperor a Councell of two and twenty Germane Bishops was held at Triburia sometimes a towne vpon the banke of the Riuer Maine where amongst many other one decree was That no man should sell a burying place for the dead and that no Layman as they call them should bee buried within the Church About this time a mighty vproare burst-forth throughout Italy For Berengarius and certaine other Nobles of Italy loaden with multiplicity of fauours from Charles the Bald conspired against France at what time Charles the Grosse raigned but their attempts there prouing frustrate they bend their minds for Italy which by long and mutuall conflict as it is common they harraze with mercilesse outrages At length the victorie falling to Berengarius hee got the Kingdome of Italie where after hee had taken Lewis the Emperour he put out his eyes as histories relate About this time also that no parcell of calamity might be wanting the Sarazens Africans and Hungars most outragiously ouerrunne Italy Thus whilst the state of most beautifull Religion vnder the Berengarians Hugo Rudolphus Lotharius Albertus and certaine others was so dolefull and miserable and Lewis the Emperor dying in the time of those broiles the Germanes but more especially the Saxons and Francons proclaime Otho Prince of the Saxons and Thuringes Emperour but hee strucken in yeares perswades them to take Conradus Duke of Franconia Conrade I. 911. an 7. m. 6. who being created Emperour ordered all affaires according to Othoes direction and soone after Othoes death when he himselfe was very dangerously sicke calling together his prime Nobility requested them to acknowledge Othoes son Henry then absent for Emperour This was that Henry vulgarly called Henry the e Because of his great delight in hawâ—ing Falconer Henry the Falconer 919. an 17. Thus wee see after what manner the Imperiall splendor and dignity fell from the French and Charles the Great his lineage to the house of Saxony These two Emperours Conradus and Henry were not consecrated as they call it by the Bishop of Rome and for that cause are left out by many moreouer it is written that this Henry neglected the Popes offered ceremony of consecration and that hee should say that hee was content with the acceptance and suffrages of good men Within a while after this Arnolphus the Euill Duke of Bauaria intended to bring about the sway of gouernment into his owne hands whereupon forces being mustered vp on both parts when both the Armies stood in battell ray at Ratisbon the Emperour calls him out to priuate parley putting him in mind how he was created Emperour by the most part of the people of Germany and dehorting him from ieoparding the liues of so many thousand men most whereof were innocent and ignorant of the cause of the warre changed his intention and so broke off the battell In like manner Burchardas Duke of Suenia rebelled but shaken with the Emperours puissance came to composition The Hungars againe spoile Saxony but after their chieftaine was taken make a nine yeares truce The
towards them After Henries decease when the Electorall Princes could not agree there was an interreigne or vacancy a h For two yeares Conradus to 24. an 14. m. 10. d. 12. while At length Conradus Duke of Franconia succeeded He enforced Stephen King of Hungary to conditions of peace And hauing setled the affaires of Germany makes speed into Italy which was almost all ready to rebell And at first he laies siege to Millaine then going to Rome where consecrated by Iohn the XVIII hee 's proclaimed Augustus with the peoples acclamation Then impoâ—ing a mulct vpon those that attempted the innouation he composed Italy and returned into Germany But new troubles againe kindling in Italy hee marches thither and punishes the Authors of that Conspiracy the Archbishop of Millaine being one amongst the rest neither desisted hee till hee had brought it all vnder his subiection Hauing dispatcht there hee returnes home and dyed at Vtrecht a Towne vpon the frontiers of i Holland Batauia His son Henry of that name the III. succeeded him by consent of the Electorall Princes Hee supprest the Bohemians then rebelling and made them tributary re-inthronized Peter King of Hungary once or twice deposed by his owne subiects and quieted the whole Countrey though not without great losse of his own men At this time hapned an exceeding great vprâ— aâ—e at Rome for Three contended for the Papacy and what they attempted was all by sinister practices those were Benedict the IX Siluester the III. and Gregory the VI. The Emperour hereupon marching thither hauing after a siege taken the City he calls a Synod and constitutes Suitgerus Bishop of Bamberg Pope who changing his name was called Clement the II. from whom soone after the Pope receiued consecration Then againe the Citizens tooke oath not any wayes to meddle with the Popes Creation without the Emperours assent Italy thus set at peace againe soone after the Emperours returne into Germany Pope Clement dyed and was buryed at Bambergh The Emperor vpon notice hereof creates Boppo Bishop of Frisingen Pope This was Damasus the II. who holding the place but 23 dayes Leo the IX Bishop of Tull supplied the deceaseds place A certaine parcell of an Epistle of his is extant wherin he saies it is not lawfull for a Bishop Priest or Deacon to forsake his wife for Religion sake but it is fit they should find her with such necessaries as belong to naturall sustentation notwithstanding in case she vse carnall copulation it is not lawfull sithence Paul saies He had power aswell as the other Apostles to lead about a wife 1 Cor. 9. which place he thus interprets That the Apostles had their wiues alwayes with them for this intent that they should be maintained together with them by those whom their husbands instructed in the Christian Religion and faith and not that they should exercise the office of wedlocke or lye together therefore Saint Paul thought fit to vse the word lead about and not lye with In the yeare 1050 Leo going from Rome assembled a Councell of 42. Bishops at Mentz wherein the Emperor sare President He dying within three yeares after Gebehardus Bishop of Aisten by the Emperours assent succeeded him this was Victor the II. The Emperour marching into Italy after hee had setled the affaires there returnes into Germanie comes to treaty with Henry the first of that name King of France dyes in Saxonie and was buried at Spire the Pope and many other Nobles being present at his death He had a sonne called Henry very k Seuen yeares old Henry IIII 1056. An. 49. m. 10. d. 3. yong but was constituted Emperour a little before notwithstanding his Mother and the Bishop of Auspurge gouerned the Empire Within a while after Pope Victor the II. dyes after hee had held the Papacy little aboue two yeares To him Fredericke of the house of Lorraine called Stephen the IX succeeded Hee also within few moneths after dying at Florence One Benedict of that name the X. by helpe of his friends and without the Emperours assent sets vpon the Papacie The Romans liked not well of this prancke who to acquit themselues dispatching their Ambassadour to the Emperour proffer the same fidelitie to him which they had performed to his Father and intreat him to constitute a lawfull Pope Benedict hereupon depriued the Emperour gaue them Gerhardus Bishop of Florence this was Nicholas the II. The Princes of Germanie grudged much that the Common-wealth should be gouerned by a woman the Emperouâ—s mother as aboue said vpon which occasion a meane was inuented to draw away her sonne from her whereupon the Archbishop of Mentz and Cullen had the prime managing of all affaires to them the Archbishop of Bremen one in exceeding great fauour with the young Prince was now and then conioyned who alone ouer-ruling him disposes of Ecclesiasticall promotions to himselfe and his friends especially Abbeies and to keepe the flame of enuy lower perswades the Emperour to conferre them likewise vpon other Princes In the meane space Nicholas the II. dies in whose place the Emperour constitutes the Bishop of Parma but hauing not at all acquainted the Senate of Rome herewith and in that regard some troubles likely to insue Alexander the II. Bishop of Luca was elected Betwixt those two a sharpe controuersie followed but Alexander hauing the longer sword carried it The Archbishop of Bremen onely bearing all sway with the Emperour incensed his fellow Bishops against him by whom at length he was depriued and though shortly after restored to his place yet hee long suruiued it not And the Emperour necessity constraining him sith all in a manner complained of the state of the Common-wealth requested Anno Archbishop of Cullen to vndertake the Gouernement But he seeing insolencie and iniquitie bore great sway excusing his age and sicklinesse afterwards resignes vp his office to him This young Emperour now grown to two and twenty being by nature prone to vice beganne to increase his lasciuiousnesse and despising his wife Bertha kept many Concubines Then raising Castles all ouer Saxony intended to bring them into seruitude and restrained not his officers who vsed much excesse and insolencie Hereupon the Saxons as well the Nobilitie as Clergie knitting a league betooke themselues to Armes in vindication of their libertie which after much adoe and long intercession they lay downe againe he first satisfying their demands and making a narrow escape by flight in the night time Alexander the II. dying the Romane Nobilitie without the Emperours assent set vp Hildebrand called Gregory of that name the VII The Emperour vpon notice hereof expostulates with them by his Ambassadours and withall admonishes the Pope to giue him satisfaction herein Hee makes answer that hee was drawne to it against his will and when hee neuer dreamt of it and that he would not haue beene inaugurated before Hee and the rest of the Princes of Germany had approued of his election Thus hee appeased the Emperour and
expell the Emperous Deputies hanging some of them vpon gallowes The Emperour hereupon returning into Italy fought a hazardous battle with them The Pope was Copartner in the warre who fled to Venice At length when peace was concluded by truce he makes an expedition into Asia against the Enemies of the Christian Religion where going into a Riuer to wash himselfe was by force of the streame ouerwhelmed and drowned His sonne Henry Henry VI. 1190. an 8. m. 2. d. 22. of that name the VI. was his successor He after William the sonne of Roger King of Sicilies death hauing beene twice in Italy conquered Apulia and Calabria and taken Naples subdues Sicily placing strong garrisons there in regard of the inconstant disposition of that Nation Then hee constitutes certaine Nobles ouer Rauenna and Ancona and throughout Apulia and Hetruria soone after hauing assigned his son Fredericke as then an Infant for his successour in the Empire hee went into Sicily by consent of the Princes of Germany and there ended his n Falling into a burning feuer by a poysoned potion giuen him as it was supposed by his wife life Fredericke his son being as aforesaid in respect of his age but a Childe all men in a manner deemed it fitter to take his vncle Philip but Innocent the III. Pope of Rome most vehemently withstood that Howbeit the Princes disagreeing in their choice when some would create Philip others Otho Duke of Saxony a great vproare thereupon ensued especially about the coast of the Rhyne But Philip partly by force of Armes partly by his exceeding humanity drew on his aduersaries into subiection and forthwith made his peace with the Pope whom by experience he had found a bitter Enemy Not long after Otho IIII. 1208. an 4. he was murthered in his Chamber and Otho Duke of Saxony beforementioned was his successour who incurred the Popes displeasure being formerly his most entire friend and was at length excommunicated by him whereupon a Diet assembled the Electorall Princes solicited by the Pope to create another call home out of Sicilie Frederick the King thereof Henry the VI. his sonne to whom as a little aboue it is mentioned they had giuen allegiance being then an Infant Him the Emperour Otho meets with an Army at the Rhyne to stop his passage but was discomfited and returning into Saxony dyed as it was supposed of griefe Fredericke the II. 1212. an 11 And thus was Frederick made Emperour of that name the II. Grandchild to Frederick Aenobarb or Red-Beard by his sonne Innocent the III. before spoken of had a Councell at Rome called the Laterane there amongst others those decrees passed That the Chrisme and Eucharist which they call the Hoast should bee kept vnder Locke and Key That a priuate confession of sinnes should bee made once euery yeare That an election made by the ciuill Magistrate in spirituall promotions should be of no force That those of Ecclesiasticall Order should not without cause promise fealtie to those that are called Lay-men That the Lawes made by Princes should not preiudice Churches That Ecclesiasticall persons should bee exempted from all contribution That Tribute should not be paid before Tenths That the Reliques of Saints should not be showne forth of a Casket About these Decrees there followed a great dissention betwixt the Greekes and Latines for the Greekes would not touch those Altars whereon the Latines had offered vp the Hoast till they had washed and expiated them as also of a new baptized those whom the Latines had baptized Hereupon it was decreed that they shold returne to their mother Church of Rome whereby there might be one Fold and one Shepheard in case they obeyed not to bee after excommunication degraded from their Order The Emperor goes to Rome and is consecrated by Honorius the third Hee subdued those Rebells which were spred all ouer Italy and proscribes some of them Many whereof fled to Rome and implored the Popes ayde This gaue occaon of great discord for the Emperour tooke it most hainously that his aduersaries should haue their harbour and habitation there The rancor raging hotter Hee by consent of the Princes assignes his sonne Henry his successour in the Empire and summons the Princes to a Diet at Cremona but being hindered entrance there by the Pope and the Lombards factions returnes into Apulia and within a while after the Pope dyes to whom Gregory the IX Frederick the II. excommunicated by Gregory the IX three times succeeds who excōmunicates the Emperour for not performing his expedition against the Turkes whereto he had bound himselfe by vow The Emperour deprecating this offence and purging himselfe when nothing could preuaile hee marches to Rome deposes the Pope and inflicts a heauy mulct vpon his Complices then calling another Diet at Rauenna is hindered by the fugitiue Pope who had stirred vp enemies against him in euery place At length the Emperour after his wife was dead that he might performe his promise and prouide for the Common-wealth sets forward on his expedition into Asia But the Pope whilst he was absent makes warre and seizes vpon Apulia The Emperour hauing good successe recouering many places and amongst the rest Hierusalem being certified of the state of Italy concluding a ten yeares truce with the enemy returnes with his Army and recouers his owne Countries The Pope fortifies himselfe by a new league with these Nobles of Italy on whō the Emperour had set a mulct and then againe excommunicates him for entering into truce with the enemy The Emperour louing quietnesse by his Ambassadours treats for peace which with much a doe he obtained and so hee returned into Germany But the Pope not able to leaue his old guise dismantling Viterbo againe excommunicates the Emperour who hereat incensed beyond measure posts into Italy in raging and wrathfull manner and punishes all the Rebels throughout Hetruria Vmbria Lombardy and the Countrey bordering vpon Po whereupon the Pope ingeminates his excommunication and conioynes in league with the Venetians The Emperour coasting through Italy hauing in a manner reduced it all into his subiection layes siege to Rome and not long after Pope Gregory dyes hauing first summoned a Councell of his owne adherents at Rauenna whither notwithstanding they could not haue accesse all passages being blockt vp by the Emperour insomuch as certaine of them were taken This was the Pope that patcht together the Decretall Epistles as they call them which are a great part of the Pontificiall Law loaden with multiplicity of Commentaries wherein it may seeme wonderfull that such men there should bee that will take so much paines as to adhere to those not onely inconuenient triuiall foolish but also ridiculous workes as fast as if they were a kinde of Oracle and spend all their labour and time in interpreting explaining and garnishing them as though they were hired to that end to defend other mens folly and error with their best vigilancy and industry and to lose the reputation
of their owne modestie in other mens impudency That decree which goes vnder Gratians name in diuers places amongst other passages hath these The Rule of the Church of Rome which is the blessed Apostle S. Peters seat must bee followed It is not lawfull to hold a Councell without permission of the Bishop of Rome The Lawes of the Church Rome are to bee obserued as pronounced by Peters owne mouth What yoke the Church of Rome imposes though it be not tolerable it must be endured The Ministers of the Church ought to vow chastity that is they should not mary It is lawfull for him that hath not a wife to haue a Concubine If the Pope bee negligent and remisse in his office hee may hurt indeed aswell himselfe as others notwithstanding he cannot bee iudged by any man because he himselfe is to iudge all men The Emperour ought to be ruled by and not rule ouer the Pope All mortall men besides may be iudged by men but the Pope Peters successour by God alone It is lawfull for the Pope to release subiects from their loyalty and oath whereby they are bound to their Prince In Gregories Decretall Epistles and in Boniface his sixt booke of Decretalls the Clementines and Extrauagants as they call them it is set down there amongst other things That the Popes authority is not subiect to the Decrees of Councells It belongs to the Pope to approue of the elected Emperor or to reiect him if hee bee not fit There are two great lights which gouerne the world the Sunne and the Moone The Pope is in stead of the Sunne and the Emperour of the Moone Bishops may deale more mildly with those that haue offended by adulterie and other such crimes as being of lower nature The Pope onely hath cognizance concerning the priuiledges of the Church of Rome The bones of excommunicate persons already buried ought to bee digged vp and throwne away The Pope may depose the Emperour from his place and Magistracy The Emperour is bound to performe allegiance and fealty to the Pope by oath It is iust that Ecclesiasticall persons should be exempt and free from all cost molestation and charge A man may bee declared an Heretique after his death and his goods be confiscated The sonnes of heretiques ought not to bee admitted to any place of gouernment either ciuill or ecclesiasticall It is necessary to saluation that all men bee subiect to the Pope of Rome Those few places onely are drawne out of an immense heape and what kind of stuffe they are there 's no man that is well in his wits but may perceiue The Law is that men of deepest learning should define the same Soueraigne reason is grafted in Nature which commands those things that are to bee done and forbids those that are contrary And all lawes ought to haue reference to the common good And the Law-maker ought to haue the like affection towards the people and Common-wealth that the father hath towards his owne Children but what likelihood hereof is there in any the beforementioned places but for them not onely to excuse those fopperies but also to garnish adorne and illustrate them with new Commentaries and rather to babble out any thing then suffer their dignity to bee impeached I pray you what grosse impudencie is this but â—â—eâ—sting no deeper If pride auarice ambition of bearing rule and ignorance of learning drew them on to make such decrees if they themselues vary in opinions nor will one bee tyed to anothers lawes because endued with equality of power pray thee why doest thou macerate thy selfe in straightning those crooked and contrarizing decrees I omit that Ocean or rather sincke I meane that part of the Papall law containing the sale of benefices as they cal them and consecrated goods for who is able to reckon vp their deceipts and collusions no not they themselues that haue beene factors many yeares together in this kind of trafficke do sufficiently vnderstand and know all the trickes when new ones are daily inuented But this argument requires both another time and a booke of purpose now therefore let vs returne to our purpose As Frederick the Emperour so also Lewis the IX King of France inuaded Syria and Aegypt with an Army who afterwards o Of the plague dyed at the siege of p In Africa where formerly as some say Carthage stood Tunis City in the yeare of Grace 1270. In his raigne William Bishop of Paris raised a question about Ecclesiasticall Benefices which cause being publikely discust his opinion tooke place that it was not lawfull for any man to hold more then one but it is sufficient to haue spoken onely and writ down such decrees as those To Gregory Innocent the IIII succeeded vpon whom as it were by hereditary succession the Emperours displeasure fell Wherupon calling a Councel at Lyons he summons the Emperour excommunicates him for not appearing depriues him of his dignity exhorting the Princes of Germany to choose another and this his decree which amongst others is in priuate as also certaine of the Emperours Epistles to seuerall Kings are extant wherein he demonstrates at large the Popes iniquitie and his owne innocencie The Emperour was minded to goe to Lyons and trie his fortunes but a new rebellion breaking forth throughout Italie turnes all his forces that way where good successe failing him he returning into Puel began to languish and at length died Some say hee was poisoned others strangled by his bastard sonne Manfred who afterwards inuaded Italie At that time liued the famous Lawier Azo after whom the whole streame of Writers followed who violating that sharpe and seuere edict of the Emperour q Commanding his Code onely into which as abouesaid the whole law was contracied to be bserued Iustinian filled the world with an innumerable companie of Books from whence we must now seeke those points which those Ancients handled most copiously and learnedly For one man compiles anothers workes so that there is no end or measure of writing and all ouerflowes in contrary opinions in so much as the old mans saying may properly take place here who hauing asked three Lawyers their aduise you haue done brauely saith he I am a great deale further to seeke then before I omit the quiddities which are daily deuised in abundance for the Comedians saying falls right here that craft starts one mischiefe in the necke of another Cicero complaines that many worthy ordinances were setled by lawes but those for the most part were corrupted and depraued by Lawyers inuentions What if hee were now liuing and saw those Pyramides of bookes and our moderne practice and that sacred repositorie of the lawes thus filthily polluted miserably contaminated Howbeit as God indeed hath within our memorie brought all other Arts to light againe so hath he raised vp many men who being furnished with the help of good learning thinke those paines taken in this behalfe not to be repented of being to restore this