decrees and to coÌ„firme that auctoritye which the Church had gotten Amonge many other enormities he coÌ„cluded that no priests sonne shoulde be capable of orders He made the archbishop of Toledo primate of Spaine vppon condition that he should sweare fealtye to the Pope so by that meanes he broughte Spaine vnder his winge He cursed the kinge of Fraunce for imprisoning a bishop He caused all that should take order to sweare with this clause So God helpe me and the holye Euangelistes finally he standing in awe of one Iohn Pagan a Romaine did hide himselfe for two yeares in the house of one Peter Lion where he dyed Anno 1099. And his bodye was conueyed by nighte ouer Tiber for feare of his foes the same yeare also dyed Clement the thirde who had seene in his time the death of three Popes Of the former Hildebrand and this Vrban his scholler Theodor Bibliander writeth thus to Princes of al estates Hildebrand sayth he by sturringe vp the Greeke Emperour against the Turkes did sowe the seede of the voiage of Gog Magog vppon-whom the bloude of the Church cryeth vengeaunce that was shed wyth the sworde of his tongue But this Vrban by causinge Christians to goe warre vppon Pagans with vaine colour of fighting for the holye Lande for Christes Sepulcher hath caused more Christian bloud to be shedde of all Nations then can be esteemed and did it onelye to oppresse Clement the second and his faction the while to restore himselfe to be Pope In the time of this VrbaÌ„ VVilliam Rufus kinge of England was sore combred with the proude prelate Anselmus archbishop of Canterbury who wheÌ„ he was commaunded to aunsweare to his misbehauiour did auoide it in appealinge to the Courte of Rome both against the liking of al the bishops in Englande and in spite of the kinges harte went to complaine to the Pope 101. Paschal the second PAschal the seconde was an Italian called before Rainerus hee was made Cardinall of S. Clements by Hildebrande his Scholemaister succeded Vrban He when he sawe he shoulde be chosen woulde not take the place vppon him vntil the people had cryed thre times S. Peter choseth thee worthie man Raynarde Then hauinge a purple roabe vppon him and a Miter on his head he was brought vppon a white horse vnto Lateran where hee receyued the Popes Scepter and had the gyrdle put about him wheron are hanged seuen keyes and as manye Seales All the time he raigned he was continually busyed in warres and â—editioâ—s attemptinge by all meanes possible to aduaunce yet hier the estate of the Popedome He draue out furiouslye from their places all those bishops and abbots that were established by the Emperour At this time there was a certaine prelate called Fluentinus who seinge the greate enormityes that presently choaked the Christian Church held opinion that Antichrist was incarnate and borne and that he was reuealed herein And therefore sayth Sabellicus the Pope held a councel against him with the bishops of Italy and Fraunce in Rome amonge other canons he concluded it heresye to denye obedience to the Pope and made a canon for paying of tenthes to priestes concluding it siane against the holye Ghoste to sell the tenthes He renued and published the excommunication against the Emperour and caused the bishop of Mentz of Collen and of VVormes to thrust him froÌ„ his estate taking his Crowne from him with al princelye title dignitye and honour Yea and which is horrible to be heard not content with this he did prouoke and arme his onelye sonne Henry the fifte to rebell against him being his naturall father A lamentable and pitifull case to see the onelye child of so good noble a father not beinge prouoked by any iniurye on the fathers part not onely to despise to forsake and reuolt from his father denying to ayde him but also to assault hym by force of armes to enclose him with his armye as he did and toke him entrapped by treason spoyled robbed him of his royal estate and forced the wretched and miserable man captiue to his owne child to dye a double and dolefull death Thus could the Pope put the sworde in the sonnes hand forsing him to sheath it in his fathers bowels Neither could this vnnaturall death of the good olde man cause the vnnaturall rancour to dye in the Popes breast but for further reuenge he coÌ„maunded that the Emperours carkasse should not be buryed but first be cast out of the Church and be caryed from Leodos to Spira where it rotted fiue yeares without any Christian burial But lo what a wonder God wrought in the meane time To testify sayth Abbas Vspergensis the Popes tyrannye it rayned bloud at Spira It were a lamentable thing to tell at large the maner of the Popes vnmerciful dealing with this good Emperour For first the forenamed bishops comminge to him to Hilgeshem they coÌ„maunded him to deliuer vp his Diademe his Purple roabes his Signet and other like ornaments belonging to the Empyre WheÌ„ he required a reason thereof they aunsweared partly for sellinge spirituall liuinges but chiefely for the Popes pleasure Wyth that the good Emperour sighing saide Ye know you receyued your bishoprickes at my hande that I gaue them freelye and am giltye of no suche cryme and yet do you thus quite my curtesye But the vnthankful prelates moued neither with allegeaunce oath nor benefite prosecuted their purpose and first yelding him no reuerence they plucked froÌ„ him sitting in his place of estate his Crowne Emperial and his Purple roabe and his Scepter He beinge thus stripped out of his royaltye and forsaken sayde pacientlye Let God see and iudge They leauing him bestowed these things vppon the sonne creating him causing him forthwith to pursue his father forcing him to flye but wyth ix parsons to the Dukedome of Limborough where the duke beinge his deadly ennemye did also make speede to apprehende him The Emperour perceyuing himselfe thus entrapped and fearing death submitted himselfe to the duke beseaching him rather to shewe mercye then vengeaunce Herevpon the noble harted duke thoughe the Emperour had whilom displaced him of his Dukedome yet pityinge his miserye he both forgaue him entertayned him curteously in his Castel and w t an armye conducted him to Collen where he was well receyued But the sonne hearinge thereof besieged the Citye but the father fled by night to Leodium where so manye louinge hartes resorted to him that he bad his sonne a battaile and ouerthrewe him and still desyred that if his sonne were taken he should be saued harmelesse Yet the sonne ceased not but renuinge the battaile preuayled and so dispossessed his father whoe in the ende was brougth to such penurye that he craued of the bishop of Spire to giue him but a prebende to liue vppon in the Church But the earle forgetting the benefites receyued of him in his prosperitye denyed him flatlye and said by ladye ye get none here Thus after he
Italy hee began to consider howe he might aduaunce the dignitie of the Popedome whiche before that the Emperour might counte him holy he refused He put downe Iohn Archebishop of Rauenna for maintaining the olde libertie of his byshoprike and brought that churche into perpetuall bondage Among many decrees he concluded that no seculer prince no not the Emperour him selfe should be so hardye as to come in among the Prelates in their counsayle onlesse they were debaiting matters of beliefe then the Emperour should execute those whome the Pope iudged to be heretikes Also he decreed that the layetie should not take vpon them to iudge the life of the Clergie neither to dispute of the Popes auctoritie power Also he decreed that Christian magistrates should haue no auctoritie ouer a prelate because saith he the pope is called God Auton Tit. 16. He coÌ„maunded that the Clergie should not be warriours but study howe to talke and perswade He commaunded agayne that diuine seruice should be sayde in Latin But yet graunted the Sclauonian and Polonians to haue it in their owne tongue by dispensation He added the Sequencias to the masse He added Gloria in excelsis to be songe to the masse on Maundy thursday He added the terme of Apostolicall auctoritie to the Popes decrees He commauÌ„ded mariage to be openly soleÌ„nised he allowed that the sacramentes might be receiued of euill ministers He firste bounde the Clergie to single life But Huldericus bishop of Augusta controlled his wickednesse herein by a sharpe epistle he died Anno. 867. 43 Hadrian the second HAdrian the seconde the sonne of Talaris a bishop was by the people and the Clergie made Pope before the Emperours Embassadours could come thether For then the Romaines did by force take vpon them the election of the Pope whiche when the Embassadours tooke in euill part they were thus aunswered that the wyll of the multitude could not be brideled in such a tumult But yet they had done happely because they had appointed such a good man The Embassadours euen of compulsion seing there was no remedie to abrogate the election did against their willes pronounce him Pope being confirmed he bestowed muche on the poore He sent three Legates bishops all Leopart Syluester and Dominicus that were bredde and brought vp in his kitchin to kepe the Bulgarians and Dalmacians within his dominion whom Nicolas had brought to the yoke before But the Bulgarians hauing had proofe of his tyranny draue out the Italian priestes and receiued the priestes of the Greke churche This enkindled hotte coales betwene the Latins and the Grecians Hadrian died Anno 873. Before whose death it rayned bloud three dayes at Brixia and all Fraunce was miserably troubled with Locusts Alfredus king of England toke his crowne of this Pope and was anoynted whiche neuer any king of Englande did before But afterwarde he was called the Popes adopted sonne 44 Iohn the ninth IOhn the ninth was excellently learned bothe in Latine and in Greke He in his soueraintie crowned three Emperours Charle the baald Charles Balbus and Charles Crassus Carolus Caluus vnderstanding that the Emperour was dead hied him to Rome to Pope Iohn whome with his bribes he allured to satisfie his desire and so was made Emperour by him and receiued the crowne Emperiall But about a yeare after he was poysoned at Mantua by one Sedechias a Iewishe phisition an enchauÌ„ter Iohn hearing of his death beÌ„t al his force to make Charles Balbus to succede his father but the Romaine Lordes withstoode him and made Charles Crassus Emperour The Pope standing obstinatly in his frowarde purpose was taken of the citezens put in prison because he would not relent but being released by his friendes helpe he fled into Fraunce And bestowing the imperiall crowne on Balbus saluteth him Emperour In the meane time Crassus hauing gotten the citie of Rome causeth Iohn with terrour to retourne from Fraunce Who returning to Rome willeth the Emperour to let him returne in safetie maketh him Emperour and setteth the crowne on his head Iohn at his being in Fraunce sommoned a counsell at Treca wherein he condemned certaine contentious persones and made many lawes to the aduauncement of Popery Afterwarde he wrote to Lewis Balbus that the priuiledges of the Church of Rome could not be abrogate without a prescription of an hundreth yeares Also he made it sacrilege to take any holy thing of any vnholy persone or any vnholy thing of an holy persone He excommunicated these that were gilty of sacrilege but in suche sorte that for money they might be dispensed withall Hee gaue to many men sainctes reliques for great iewels He confyrmed the liberties belonging to ecclesiastical persones cloysters church goodes monasteries and clarkes He prepared an army against the Saracenes and droue theÌ„ out of Italy and Sicil. He died Anno. 883. At this time the Empier was translated from the Frenchemen to the Germaines by Carolus Crassus 45 Martin the second MArtin the second was a Frencheman whose father was a Necromancier and coniuring prieste he gate to be Pope not by honest meanes but by crafte ill artes They saye that by this mans subtell enticement the foresayde Iohn was apprehended and layde in pryson and so constrayned by his frendes ayde to flye into Fraunce to saue his life At the electioÌ„ of this Martin the Emperours auctoritie was not loked for nor demaunded to his admission Thus proudly by little and little the Popes shooke of the Emperours power whereby they might the better treade them vnder their feete But he raigned not longe about a yeare and certaine monethes he died Anno. 884. 46 Hadrian the third HAdriaÌ„ the third was of such a proude stomake hawty courage that as sone as he had gotten into the Popedome he made a decree that the Emperours auctoritie should no more take place in creating of Popes but that the voyces of the people and Clergie of Rome should be euer free to do it The Emperour at that time warred against the Normans Thus saith Cranzius these Prelates and the lewdenesse of the Romaines durst contemne their Empier vntill the force and strengthe thereof decayed Whereby this one Pope was now deliuered and brought to bedde of that monster at ones trauelling wherof so many of his auncetours had traueled that is to cut cleane of the Emperours auctoritie For Nicolas the fâ—irst had attempted it but brought it not to effecte Lo here good reader howe by this decree all the Emperours right and title whiche they had ouer the Pope and citie of Rome is wrest from them whereby the Pope with great triumphe hath gotten the victory and vpperhande Thou shalt se him yet creepe hier and attempte greater matters ceasing not vntill he haue aduaunced him selfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped 2. Tit. 2. Whereby his flatterers may saye Who is like the beaste or who is able to fight with it Apoc. 13. But after this he lyued not longe he died
and â—yre Oft to rebell whose burning breath set all the world on fyre Who hath blasphemd our glorious God w t thousand mischiefs more Loe to be briefe such is the beast of whom I spake before Which earst discouered was by Bale among the rockes of Rome And by the painfull penne of S. is into England come That euery man may know the same and learne to shone the beast Who while she lorked close did spye mankinde by East and Weast Accept therfore my friendes good will that thus his trauell spent Prayse God for it and him for payne that this vnto thee sent FINIS THE FIRST BOOKE of the Pageant of Popes S. Peter not bishop of Rome FOR so muche as the Bishops of Rome haue claimed and doo still clayme their vsurped supremacy by right of inheritaÌ„ce and succession from Peter because he as they pretend was bishop of Rome at the least .xxv. yeares and so tied all this dignitie and prerogatiue whiche they fight for to his chayre for euer It shal be therfore nedeful to consider how likely it is to be true that Peter continued bishop in Rome according to their boasting This matter shal be the better displayed if these three pointes be layde open to the readers eye that is the yeare that Peter came to Rome the yeres that Peter sat at Rome and the death of Peter ¶ Of S. Peters comming to Rome Touching the time of his comming to Rome their own histories doe wryte so vncertainly that it semeth more certaine that he neuer came there First their legendary of saintes liues called Passionale counteth that he came not there till the xiii yeare of Claudius and that should be the 55. yeare of the incarnacion of Christe and 22. yeare after his death Platina saith that in the second yere of Claudius being the xi yeare after the death of Christe Peter cam to Rome being the head of the worlde partly because he perceiued that this was a seate pontificali dignitati conuenientem fit for poÌ„tifical dignitie partly because of Simon Magus Thus he maketh that partly ambicion and dignitie drewe Peter to Rome there to take his ease contrary to the duty and doing of the poore paynfull and godly Apostle who as he had in charge by Iesus Christe trauailed stil from place to place not for the dignitie of a bishop at Rome but to plant the Gospell throughout the worlde Orosius sayth he came soner euen in the beginning of the raigne of Claudius lib. 7. cap. 6. Fasciculus temporum saith he came not till the fourth yeare of Claudius Eusebius saithe that by Gods especiall prouidence he came to Rome Euestigio sub ipso Claudij imperio Out of hande vnder Claudius his raigne Peter came to Rome because of Simon Magus Vspergensis saith some reporte that he came in the beginning of the raigne of Claudius some saye not till the seconde yeare Other saye that he came not till the fourth yeare of his regiment Againe some thinke that he came in the beginning thereof but toke not vpon him to be byshop till the fourth yeare of Claudius Other thinke that he was bishop forthwith as sone as he came Sabellicus saith that he came to Rome altero anno regiminis eius Claudij in the second yeare of Claudius his regiment Naucler saith that he came to Rome in the fourth yere of Claudius and began his bishoprike the same yeare in Rome in secunda generatione vol 2. It were to long to recite all the opinions of Peters coÌ„ming to Rome and his enstalling but by these it may appeare howe the Romaine Iury can giue no certain verdit vpon suche vnconstant euidence ¶ The continuance of Peter in his Bishoprike S. Ierome sayth he raigned xxvii yeares Beda sayth he sat at Rome xxix yeares Fasciculus Temporum hitteth it iump and misseth not one daye saying he was martyred by Nero after he had bene bishop of Rome xxv yeres vii monethes viii days The moste do agree to this accompt as Vspergensis Platina and other that he raigned not aboue xxv yeares ¶ Peters death NIcephorus sayth he was buried in the xxxvii yeare after the death of Christe Of these premisses this is to be gathered that Peter came to Rome at the furthest in the fourth yeare of Claudius and that is the xiii yeare after the death of Christe and raigned there xxv yeares at the least and was put to death there in the last yeare of Nero being the 38. yeare after the death of Christe This semeth to be moste probable and in taking this tyme we shall seme to deale most fauourably with the papiste who would so fayne deriue this bastard brauÌ„che of Romain prelates from the holy Apostle so that if it can be proued that Peter sat not bishop of Rome these xxv yeares then must the Pope seke out a new petagrewe for his succession falsely fathered vpon Peter his auncient continuance of hundred yeres being disproued by the scripture being more auncient can proue nothing for lawfull regiment but rather improue him of vnlawefull vsurping for so long time And therfore for the more euideÌ„t vnderstanding hereof it shal be moste coÌ„uenient to conferre the yeares of the Emperours with the yeares of Christ his incarnation and death whiche for the more ease I haue set foorth in this table folowing wherein appeareth that our sauiour Christe suffered death in the 33. yeare of his age in the 18. yeare of Tiberius who raigned in all 23. yeares therof v. yeres after Christes death The next is Caligula raigning three yeares x. monethes viii dayes Then succeded Claudius for 13. yeares 8. monethes and 28. dayes Last was Nero continuing 13. yeares 10. monethes and 18 dayes all whiche time being added together doth make almoste 37. yeares whiche is the time that Peter lyued after the death of our sauiour as Nicephorus testifieth The yeares of Christes incarnatioÌ„ The yeares after Christes death The yeares of the Emperours The yeares after Paul conuersion 33 Christ died Tiberins 18  34 1 19  35 2 20 Paule con 36 3 21 1 37 4 22 2 38 5 23 3 39 6 Caligula 4 40 7 2 5 41 8 3 6 42 9 4 7 43 10 Claudius 8 44 11 2 9 45 12 3 10 46 13 4 11 47 14 5 12 48 15 6 13 49 16 7 14 50 17 8 15 51 18 9 16 52 19 10 17 53 20 11 18 54 21 12 19 55 22 13 20 56 23 14 21 57 24 Nero. 22 58 25 2 23 59 26 3 24 60 27 4 25 61 28 5 26 62 29 6 27 63 30 7 28 64 31 8 29 65 32 9 30 66 33 10 31 67 34 11 22 68 35 12 33 69 36 13 34 70 37 14 35   Galba  Whether Peter were bishop of Rome before the death of Christe seing there is no question to be made it nedeth not to be spoken of for the time after his death it followeth that for the first
sodainly Anno. 886. 47. Steuen the fift STeuen the fift gat to be Pope at such time as Fraunce was inuaded by the Normans England by the Danes Pannonye by the Hunnes and Italy by the Sarracens He liued in much trouble and anguish of the mind all the time of his being Pope because Italy was so vexed with warre and the Romaines were not at his commaundemente enoughe yet he employed himselfe to the most of his endeuour daily to encrease their Babilonical trumperye and that none of his decrees might be defaced for as Gratian writeth Distinct. 6. Enimuero he decreed that all the Cānons of the Church of Rome ought of necessity to be kept The same Pope sayth he forbad anye Christians to condemne any to be put to death with hot iron or scalding water which was thē vsed Cau. 2. quest 4. He caused a lawe to be made howe to order such parents as do either ignorantly smother their children in theyr beddes with thē or els do choake them or murther them He dyed Anno 892. 48. Formosus the first FOrmosus the first being bishoppe of Portua fearing the crueltye of Iohn the ix forsoke Rome because hee was thought to be giltye of Iohns imprisonmente this name Formosus signifying beutifull whiche beinge made Pope he choose and toke vppon him sheweth sayth Cranzius that he was a proude parson This Formosus for those former causes vowed and sware an oath that he would neuer returne to his bishopricke nor to Rome both which he had forsaken so he gaue ouer his orders forsoke priestcraft and became a layeman but the nexte that succeded did absolue him frō the oath which he had sworn to Pope Iohn and for moneye did restore him After the death of Steuen this Formosus so monied the matter that hee purchased Peters chayre but as not with out bribes so not without great brauling by meanes that one Sergius a deacon wrestled for the same place For the appeasing wherof he calling Arnulphus sonne of Carolomannus into Rome made him Emperour who to gratify him for his curtesy stroke of the heades of them that were his chiefest aduersaries He raigned vi yeres did almost nothing he died Anno 896. And at the length for these quarrels cōtinuing amōg his successors his bodye and bones were taken vp by Sergius the third the ninthe Pope after him and throwne into the riuer Tiber. After this Formosus the Popes did so dispatch one another that within nine yeares there were xi Popes 49. Boniface the sixt BOniface the sixte was Pope but a while after Formosus and therefore he could not shew of whether faction he was in such great debate among the Cardinalles the people He liued but 25. dayes Pope as Anselmus saith to be remembred for nothinge but for his quiet election happye in nothing but in raigning but a while 50. Steuen the sixt STeuen the sixt succedinge Boniface was so enflamed against Formosus that at the first hee disanulled his decrees cancelled his actes And althoughe Formosus had beene beneficiall vnto him before in making him bishop of Agnina yet this curtesye could not cause this vnthankful prelate to forbeare his malicious purpose but because that this Formosus had before preuēted him in the Popedome and by getting it disapointed him would not suffer him to keepe concubines he conceyued such deadly rancour against him euen after his death that to reuenge his quarrel vppon the dead bodye he sommoninge a counsaile first toke the karkasse of Formosus out of his graue then put al the Popes pontificall robes and attyre vppon it and plucked it of againe and so as it were spitefullye to disgrade him put on layemans apparell vppon him finallye cutting of those two fingers of the right hande wherwith hee vsed to hold the Sacrament and throwinge them into Tiber he commaunded to burye his bodye againe but not among spiritual mens bodyes but among laye men Thus after one yeares raigne he dyed Anno. 897. 51. Romanus the first ROmanus a Romaine by name and byrth though some thincke he were a Spaniard did nothinge worthye of remembrance but whereas he fauoured Formosus he allowed his doinges and did abrogate the decrees actes of Steuen But because he liued not longe hee coulde not proceede farre in his factious doinges which tainted the Romaine prelates shamefully at this time especiallye He dyed the third month of his Popeship Anno. 898. 52. Theodorus the second THeodorus the second euen at his entraūce followed the examples that Romanus had set to him But there is no notorious thing mentioned of him because he liued but a while sauinge that as Stella Venetus sayth he also walked in the seditious pathes of his forefathers He had no regarde of Gods cause but was a maintayner and vpholder of Formosus quarell and cherished those that were of that faction but his shorte time preuented his farther doinge He dyed the xx daye of his Popeship Anno. 899. 53. Iohn the tenth IOhn the tenth succeded Theodorus as well in manners as in place for wheras these seditions were almost buryed he in his time renued the scab againe and made it sorer then before Iohn sayth Barnus mindinge to restore Formosus doinges whollye he sturred a great tumult because the people did resist and withstande it and when hee sawe that it woulde brast into open warre he gotte him to Rauenna and sommoning thither a conuocation of 74. bishops he restored all Formosus his decrees euen to the vttermost and did openlye condemne the actes made by Steuen because he had done so reprochfullye against the dead carcasse Also he burnt al the writings that were to be gotten of that Synode against Formosus but he proceeded no further in these broyles for wante of breath Hee dyed Anno. 901. 54. Benedict the fourth BEnedict the fourth is reported to haue done no notable thinge in these iarres and braules In this age sayth Stella it happened that as wel through the hedds meaning the Popes set all on sedition as by the bodye addicted to slouth al vertue withered away Likewyse sayth Platina when the Church through her wealth wexed wanton and riotous and none of the head of the clergye cōtrolled vice then forthwith wickednes hauing gotten liberty brought forth and yelded vs these Popes being as it were mōsters and mongrels which encroche Peters place by ambition and briberye Benedict dyed Anno. 904. 55 Leo the fift LEo the fift being made Pope euen in his dignitie was taken by strong hande and cast into prison violently by one Christopher seking to make him selfe Pope being but a prieste and chapleine to Leo one whom he had brought vp in his owne house Whiche thing sayth Platina coulde not be done without great seditiō and the slaughter of many And of what auctoritie the place was now it may wel appeare when as firste harlottes bare sway and ruled the Popes then a priuate persone durst and could thus within so shorte a
misbegotten sonne murthered the louer of the olde harlot her mother Theodora by the helpe of her husbandes seruauntes But because the people of Rome and the Clergie had not agreed vpon the election of this subordined Iohn the xii the selfe same yeare of his election he was deposed againe And thus the same Iohn of whome being set vp by force by and by thrust downe againe Carsulan Platina Stella and others do make mencion because they knew not the true story of him whiche Luthprandus wrote the ignoraunce whereof bredde muche coÌ„fusion for some toke these twoo Iohns to be both one and some the one for the other 61. Leo the sixt LEo the sixt after that Iohn the xii bastarde of Marozia the harlot and Sergius the Pope was deposed obtained to be Pope by the election of the Romaine people and clergye being in great tumult This Pope did nothinge commendable but the establishing of peace in Italye after he had raigned vii monethes he was poysoned by Marozia wherby she might establishe her sonne againe Anno 930. 62. Steuen the seuenth STeuen the seuenth did as Leo had done he medled with nothing for after he had liued Pope ii yeares in peace securitye and liberty of the fleshe at his owne ease hauing the blinde worlde readye to bende at his becke he toke his death in a cup wherewith as they saye he was poysoned For sayth Crantzius it is a straunge thinge that so manye Popes at this time dyed so soone in their dignityes which is a great presumption that they were poysoned as the moste part of them were knowen to be 63. Iohn the xii IOhn the xii the bastard impe of Pope Sergius the third and of the famous concubine Marozia was now againe made Pope after much sedition At this time a fountaine in Genua flowed with bloud very plentifully prognosticatinge the wrath of God that immediatlye followed for the Aphricans Sarracens and Hungarians wasted and spoiled all and slue a houge nomber of people There are some wryters as is said before that make ii Iohns of this one the one going before Leo and Steuen who they said neuer enioyed the Popes Albe or Rochet the other this which nowe was set vp after Steuen of whom they saye the historyes write nothing Againe there are other some that make this beinge borne in Rome the other borne at Rauenna all one amonge whom Platina sayth that either of them was sonne to Pope Sergius but Anselmus deceiued by Platina sayth the one was brother to the other but other writers do make him a seuerall parson from the other two saying he was not knowne of the Cronographers because he did nothing worthie of memorye But Luthprandus in his thirde booke and xii Chapter wryteth thus of the mother of Iohn Marozia a shameles concubine and mother to Pope Iohn after the death of her husbaÌ„d Gui doth send messengers to his brother Hugh king of Italy a Burgundian borne to desire him to come to her and to receiue of her the noble cittye of Rome vvhich she sayd vvithal she could not do vnlesse he would take her to be his vvife For whiche her incestious desire Luthprandus wrote thus against her in Uerse VVhye broyling thus vvvith Venus brand Marozia doest thou raue Thunlavvfull loue and vvilt thou of thy husbandes brother haue Dare bucksom dame Herodia tvvo naturall brethren vved Lo Ladye blinde Iohn Baptists lavve is quite out of thy hed VVho did forbid that brother vvith his brothers vvyfe should meâ—l And Moses Lavve doth not allovve thy doing to be vvell VVho did commaunde the brother rayse vnto his brother seede If that the former by his vvyfe had issue none in deede But that thy husbande children hath by the can be declarde T is so saye you but dronken loue doth nothinge it regarde Kinge Hughe euen as an Oxe to death for thy desire is brought Vvhose mind not for to gaine thy loue but rather Rome hath sought VVhat boteth it thou cursed dame this noble man to spoile For seâ—king thus by sinne to gaine a Queenely place a vvhile Iehouah iudge doth make thee leese both Rome and all the toile Uppon the said message the king leauing his armye aloofe came to Rome who being honourably receiued passed forth vnto the stronge hould S. Angels castell and so into the bedde chamber of Marozia After he was established in vncesteous mariage with her he began to coÌ„temne and despise the Romaines at which time Marozia had a sonne named Albericus brother to Pope Iohn but begotten by Marques Albericus While this Albericus at his mothers bidding gaue water to king Hugh washinge his handes the king because he did it not handsomelye gaue him a blâ—w on the face Herevppon Albericus to reuenge this iniurye callinge the Romaines together spake thus vnto them The honour and dignity of Rome is brought to such doultishnes and follye that it is nowe controlled euen by harlots For what is more abhominable what more shamefull then that Rome should be brought to obeysaunce throughe the incest of one woman and that the Burgundians whilom slaues to the Romaines shoulde now be lordes ouer them If he beinge yet especiallye but a new come gest take vppon him to dashe me on the face being his verye sonne in lavve hovve thincke you vvil he deale vvith you in processe of time Knovve ye not the pride of a Burgundian c This being sayde without any delaye the Romaynes all defyed king Hughe chose the same Albericus to be their Prince King Hughe being driuen into this terrible feare was compelled to forsake Rome and leauinge Marozia fled to his owne companye Then Albericus and his mother Marozia did only enioye the Monarche of Rome and his brother the Popedome who spendinge fiue yeares in Popishe practises dyed Anno 937 while the harlotte his mother ruled as well the estate temporall as spirituall in Rome 64. Leo the seuenth LEo the seuenth succedinge Iohn because hee desired to liue quietlye medled wyth no matters but as a slouthfull parson did nothinge worthye remembraunce In his time sayth Luthprandus the said kinge Hugh forsaking his wyfe Berta loued especiallye three concubines Bezola Roze Stephana and because they were such notorious harlots hee gaue them the names of three Goddesses callinge Bezola Venus Roze Iuno and Stephana Semele by Bezola he had a sonne called Bozones whom hee made bishop of Placentia by Stephana he had Theobaldus made Archdeacon of Millain Churche and by Rosa he had another greate prelate of the Churche and a doughter beside In those dayes many sawe bloude rayne oute of the Sunne as Masseus wryteth and after it followed a great pestilence amonge men Leo dyed An. 941. 65. Steuen the eight STeuen the eight a Germaine obtained y Popes chayre after this Leo yet this seemeth straunge to many how it should be doone because no Emperour out of Germany procured it But Steuen being notwithstandinge Pope was so vexed with ciuill seditions among the
to estimation and many straunge monsters were seene and diuers terrible earthquakes 83. Iohn the 20. IOhn the 20. called Fasanus after that Iohn the 19. was poysoned by magicke coniuringe gat to be Pope For from the foresaid Syluester till Gregorie the seuenth a notorious parson all the Popes were famous enchaunters by theyr charming they sturred vp walking spirits bugs goblins fierye sightes diuers terrible goasts shapes of thinges with howlinges and gro aninges aboute deade mens graues perswadinge the simple people that they were deade mens soules And those spirites beinge coniured vp by priestes deluded men dessemblinge that they were the soules of the dead complayning theyr vntollerable paynes in Purgatorye fyre and craued to be released by the meritorious deedes of theyr frendes kindred bestowinge dirges masses and trentalles on them But to returne to this Pope Iohn hee sayth Platina beinge giuen to idlenesse did nothinge worthye remembraunce He dyed after he had beene Pope .iiii. yeares Anno 1009. 84 Sergius the 4. AFter this Iohn came Sergius to be Pope by the like meanes who also in his Popedome exercised the same sorcerye still by which he obtayned the seate Yet some of the flatterers of Rome do highlye commende him as one that in all his Popedome did no one thinge to be misliked An vnmeete prayse for the prelates of that corrupte time wherein the light of the Gospell was extinct without the which nothinge can be pure and perfite Amonge other praises this is one that he had he was a very pleasāt meerye and familiar companion In his tyme was great pestilence and famine in Italye and in Loraine a fountaine turned into bloud He dyed Anno 1012. 85 Benedict the eight BEnedict the eight was borne in Thusca the sonne of George bishop of Portua brother to Albericus and Iohn was a layman He had a nephew called Theophilactus which was the scholer of Syluester and by the magical charmes of this Theophilact Benedict gatte to be Pope and obtayned the place so longe as Henry Bauarius liued whose ayde defended him because he had bestowed on Henrie the crowne Emperiall But after his death the Cardinals enuyinge him deposed him and set vp another and herevppon arose a cruel debate Yet afterward he compounded for money with his aduersaries and so the vsurping Pope being put out again Benedict is restored w t great pompe He graunted to the foresaid Henrie as Barus testifyeth to make at Bamberg builded by Henry a cathedral Church but with this condition that the same Church should paye to the Pope yearely vnder the name of tribute an hundred markes in siluer with a white horse furnished with trappings He dyed Anno 1023. Peter Damianus cardinall of Hostia sheweth as it is also written by Platina Carion and others that this Benedict or an euill spirit in his likenes appeared rydinge on a blackehorse and came vnto a bishop of his familiar acquaintaunce who amazed at this sight asked him Art not thou Pope Benedict whom wee know to be dead He aunsweared I am the same vnhappy Benedict And howe do you sayd the bishoppe I am cruellye tormented but I may be eased quoth Benedict And therefore go to my brother Iohn who nowe is Pope and bidde him repayre to such a place naming it and take the treasure that is there hiddē and distribute it to the poore And likewise he appeared to Pope Iohn saying I hope to be deliuered and I would to God that Odilo would pray for mee Thus the deuil deluded this age bearing them in hande that the distribution of moneye and not the death of Christe might bringe saluation to soules to the great aduauncement of Purgatorye and masses 86 Iohn the xxi IOhn the xxi brother of the former Benedict and sonne of Gregorie bishop of Portua beinge as yet but a laye man yet likewyse by the enchauntmente of his nephewe Theophilact gat the Popedome as Benno a Cardinall wryteth For the coniuring and charmes of these mē Theophilact Iohn Gratian Laurence Malsitan Brazutus and other like wrought and ruled all thinges at Rome according to the deuils appointmente the aucthor of theyr artes For sayth Benuo Theophilact vsing to do sacrifice to deuils in woods on mountaynes caused women to runne after him whom he with his enchauntments bewitched to loue him And this appeareth to be true by certaine bookes of his which after his death were founde in his chamber This Pope Iohn crowned Conradus Emperour and was by him defended from the violence of the Romaynes who had longe troubled him the Emperour threatned to destroy the Romaynes vtterly if they should practise ought agaīst the Pope and by this meanes he continued Pope xi yere The latine Church doth highly commend him but shewe no good workes that deserued it He commaunded Princes to keepe a solemne kinde of geuinge almes he appoynted priestes to say masse and the people to fast In his time began the superstitious fastes of S. Iohn Baptist S. Laurence Of the counsell of Triburia Anno 1030. began in Fraunce a sect of fasters who said that it was reuealed to them from heauen that to fast Saturday with breade and water was sufficiente for remission of all sinnes if so that they had made a vowe to keepe it But the bishop of Camera did ouerthrowe this blasphemye as derogatorye to the passion of Christe Pope Iohn dyed Anno. 1034. 87. Benedict the ix BEnedict the ninth who before was called Theophilact the sonne of Albericus and nephewe as is said to the former Pope Benedict Pope Iohn as he by coniuring and diuelishe artes did first aduaunce his vnkles so nowe by his magicke he brought to passe that he succeded them He beīg Pope did greatly aduaūce euē next to himselfe as his chiefe and secret counsellers Laurence Iohn Gratiā for that they were notorious coniurers broughte vp with him vnder Pope Syluester He with these companiōs had vsed before he was Pope accordīg to the cursed ceremonyes of their sorcery to call vppon theyr euill spirites in woods and forrests and to bewitch by his cunning any woman that liked him to couet his carnall companye But sayth Benno as on a time he wyth these his mates was comming from the woods to the Church a nomber of birds beinge together a sparowe made a merye and pleasaunt kinde of chirping This Laurence being both captaine coniurer also a southsayer curious in the obseruation of byrds was demaunded what it was that the birde prated The byrde quoth hee calleth other birds to the great gate where a countreymans carte is broken and his meale spilte which was caried in it and therefore she wyth her much chattering biddeth them to come thither to eate and fil themselues Which being harde diuers of them that stoode by ranne in all poast hast to the gate to try the matter and whē they came there they found it so in deede as Laurence had sayd Theyr cunninge in south saying and coniuringe was such
and that he that had deuorced other men from theyr wiues and honest matrimonye liued in whoredome with another mans wyfe Also this Gregory iudged to death three men before they were conuict or confessed theyr cryme without the sentence of anye seculer Iudge and caused them to be hanged forthwith Another time he cast Centius the sonne of a Senatour into prison being his especial friend caused him to be tormented rolled in a barrel of sharpe nayles till he was almost dead But Centius escaping apprehended the sayde Hildebrand and mighte haue quitted his quarrel yet the people disappointed him but the Pope ere he were deliuered sware openlye that he would forgeue him and the rest that had apprehended him But being at libertye contrarye to his oath he reuenged it causing Centius and ix of his company to be hanged for it the other he condempned to banishment and among them the sonne of a widow who after the yeare of his vanishment was expyred did returne was led with an halter about his necke by his mother to Gregorie whoÌ„ the mother for full satisfaction desired to take her sonne and deliuer him againe as a new purged maÌ„ But Gregorie had hanged him but that the Iuâ—tices â–ª coÌ„sidering the penaunce that he had done were more iuste and wyse and refused to do it and therefore Gregorie in a rage commauÌ„ded one of his feete to be cut of wherof the yongmaÌ„ dyed wythin fiue dayes to the great griefe of the poore wydowe his mother Abbas Vspergensis other write thus It is manifest say they that this Hildebrand was not chosen by God but intruded himselfe by money guile who tossed the ecclesiastical estate vpside downe and troubled the kingdome of Christen Empier practised to murther the quiet Prince defended oath breakers fostred debate sowed discentioÌ„ raysed offences made deuorcemeÌ„ts and disordered euery thing that seemed to be well among the godlye He was the first that put the ministers of the Church from their wyues by excommunicatioÌ„ He moued broyles through Fraunce Germany and Englande tedious to be tolde This deuorcement of ministers wiues did offende a great nomber of learned men at that time for in Germanye and Fraunce there were yet xxiiii and more bishops who wyth the clergye of theyr Diocesse were then maryed and did stoutly maintayne theyr mariage still beside those that were in England Italye Amonge other things Gregorie commaunded the Saturday to be fasted He canonized Pope Liberius sainte who was an ArriaÌ„ heriticke also he apointed an holye daye in reuerence of him He toke awaye the Crowne from the kinge of Poland He condemned Berengarius opinion againste reall presence was the first that is noted to haue established the doctrine of transubstantiatioÌ„ He condemned a layman of sacrilege that should reape the commoditye of tenthes as of impropriat parsonages but condemned him of heresye that inuested a priest and him of Idolatrye that should take a benefice of a layman These and other like attemptes gaue Hildebrand whereby hee made the Popes leaden blade to hew asonder almost the Emperours iron sworde Many of the clergye as 14. Cardinals beside diuers bishops other did so abhorre the detestable treachery of this coniurer Gregorie that they forsoke him for shame his villanyes were so manye and so monstrous encreasinge dailye In steedâ— of God he serued the deuill of Princes whom he shoulde honour hee made worse then slaues finallye as his name was Hildebrand so in deede he was an helly brande to all Christendome tormoyled by his meanes with rebellions treasons murders c. But at the length Henry the Emperour began to set himselfe against the Popes practises and in the yeare of Christ 1083. in a Synode at Brixia layinge his treacheryes to his charge hee did depriue him of his place and appointed another in his steede whom hee called Clement the thirde He sent his armye to Rome to driue out Gregorie and to establishe this Clement and by his longe siege he brought Rome to so great penurye that they were compelled to sue for peace But Hildebrand because he would not come in the Emperours sighte beinge reiected forsaken of the Romaynes fled to Salerne wher he ended his wretched life in great miserye Anno 1086 Antonius and Vincentius shewe that this Hildebrand euen at the latter gaspe called to him a certaine Cardinal and confessed to him that he had haynouslye offended because at the deuils enticemeÌ„ts he had sturred vp hurlye burlies hatred and warres among many and bad the cardinal go to desire the Emperour to pardon him Diuers meÌ„ wrote against him his vile life as CaÌ„didus a Cardinall VValramus bishop of Niemburg Venericus bishop of Vercellen Rowland priest of Parmen Sigebertus Gemblacensis Also of this Gregorie it is said that he neuer weÌ„t without a booke of coniuring about him 99. Victor the thirde VIctor the third abbot of Cassa was made Pope not by the election of the Romaynes or Cardinals but was thrust in by the ayde of his harlot Mathilda and the Normans that were of his faction He being established began to defende Gregories prankes against the Emperour and Clement appointed by him but the hastines of hys death shortened his mallice who as Hermannus Contractus Carsulanus Praemonstratensis and sondrye other testifye was poysoned by his deacoÌ„ who at masse time put the poyson into the challice against that Pope should receiue it Diuers wonders are reported to haue happened at that time as of tame birds geese cockes hennes pigions pecocks flewe into the mountaynes and became wild houge store of fishe died in the Sea diuers Cityes were so shaken w t earthquakes so as the greater Pallas at Syracuse falling downe did slaye all that were then in the Church sauing a couple 100. Vrban the second VRban the seconde an Hetrurian borne called Otho before was made Pope by the harlot Mathilda and the Norman Lords in Apulia in dispite of the Emperour This is a scholer of Hildebrand whom for followinge his maisters steppes Benno calleth a blind guide a sciesmaticke an heriticke and companion of Liberius the Arrian hereticke He watred those graftes of mischiefe which Gregorie had planted and was therefore called the turmoyler of the world by descantinge of his name and in steede of Vrban calling him Turban He excommunicated Clement the seconde established by the Emperour and also the Emperour for establishinge of him procured manye forsworne rebels both nobles and commoners to conspire againste him and likewyse the same Clement as being Pope did againe excommunicate him as an vsurper wherevppon it moued many reasonings amonge both spirituall temporall who should be right Pope And these controuersyes were tossed both in Germanye and other countryes But when Vrban would absolue none whom Gregorie had excommunicated he was fayne for feare of his life to flie by stealth from Rome He held fiue couÌ„cels in sondrye places and all for the establishing of Gregories
FINIS 118. Honorius the thirde HOnorius the thirde a Romaine borne was made Pope at Prusium at what time the Cardinals distressed for want of foode did there dispatch the election of him Who byinge to Rome as fast as he coulde toke order about the warre in Asia to maintaine it stil knowiÌ„g how auaylable it was to their matters wroughte heare at home in Christendome forth with Iohn Columna a Cardinal of Rome was appointed to proceede as ambassadour with that armye which Innocentius had prouided for that purpose He crowned Frederick the seconde sonne of Constance the Nonne Emperour against Otho the fourth whom notwithstanding afterward for vsinge his owne right in the coastes of Sicil Apulia the Pope excommunicated Yea this Honorius sayth Marius was so enflamed against this Emperour Frederick that hee did trayterouslye maintaine Thomas and Mathewe Earles of Thuscia with other rebels that put themselues in armoure against the Emperours maiestye whereby the Emperour coulde not punishe them as they deserued which sayth Vspergensis caused him much to complaine that the Sea of Rome did euer maintaine traytours and rebels which presumed vpon that refuge Also he discharged his barons of their fealty to their Lorde which mischiefe was yet for a while stayed by the meanes of Hermannus maister of the flemings of Zeland He coÌ„firmed the orders of Dominican Franciscan friers deuised in the time of Innocentius He maintayned the white fryers and Augustinian fryers that they should vphould transubstantiation against the Valdenses who then began to defye the Church of Rome in many matters for the Dominicans forged that Pope Innocentius a little before his death had a vision wherin was reuealed vnto him that Lateran Church should fall vnlesse their patron Dominicus shoulde bolster it vppon his shoulders whereof Mantuan deluded with such fansyes maketh mention Al. so he wryteth of another dreame for the Franciscan fryers of which though they dreamed as necessarye yet I omitte as vaine and fonde In this Popes time while these thinges were doing there were seene in the ayre strauÌ„g sights testifying the horror of Antichrist encreasing in his members as shall appeare by the Popes following While the ChristiaÌ„ estates were turmoyled abrode fighting for Hierusalem the Pope in pompe and ease at home was at leasure to build sondrye sumptuous Pallaces and gorgeous Temples dedicating them to diuers Saincts He published Epistles decretall and decreed that vnlearned parsons should not be made priestes He commaunded that when the singinge cake was heaued and lifted vp the people should fal downe on their knees and that it should be caryed in comlye order to the sicke with a burning Taper before it He grauÌ„ted Archbishops power to giue pardons faculties dispensations dualities pluralities wtin their diocesse Anno 1223 one Adam CathaneÌ„sis a bishop in Scotlande as Boethius wryteth was burned of his own neighbours in his owne kitchin because he had excoÌ„municated certaine of them for with holding theyr tythes the Pope knowing of this murther neuer ceased till to reuenge the same foure hundred of these men were hanged and their children gelded by king Alexander A sufficient reueÌ„ge for the death of one man Furthermore this Pope warred vppon the Emperour in Apulia and condemned the Earle of Tholos for an hereticke geuinge his landes to the French kinge and finallye would not suffer his bodye to be buryed like a Christian. At length the Pope died Anno 1227. of whom Mattheus Parisius in the 8. booke of his Chronicle wryteth thus Pope Honorius sent his Legate Otho to require to haue Prebendes giuen vnto him throughe all England For sayth the Pope the naturall children must assist their mother in pouertye Therefore he required ij prebends of euery Cathedrall Church one of the bishops stipende and the other from the charter And so he â—raued diuers porcioÌ„s out of the religious houses At this time the Pope was sicke of the spiritual dropsye so that by his Legat he drancke vp the treasures of the clergye and cloystermongers and vsed straunge tyrannye amonge them for Hugh VVells bishop of Lincolne to recouer his bishopricke paide an hundred markes to the Popes Legat and a thousande markes to the Pope At this time it rayned bloude for the space of three dayes in Rome whereuppon one wrote these two Verses O pater Honori multorum nate dolori Est tibi dedecori viuere vade mori O Pope Honorius borne thou werst to mischiefe many men Thou liuest with shame conuaie with speede thy boones to deadly den 119. Gregorie the ninth GRegorie the ninth borne in Campania was nephew to Innocentius the thirde He maintayned the quarell of his predecessour Honorius against the Emperour This Gregorie as Marius wryteth was more maliciouslye disposed toward the sayd Frederick for he accused him because he woulde not fulfill that vaine promise to the needelesse sheddinge of Christian bloud which he made to Honorius for the vnprofitable recoueringe of Hierusalem And therefore this Gregorie did excommunicate him before the Emperour coulde be hearde to speake or were conuicted by reason neither woulde hee suffer the Emperours Embassadours to come to his presence nor heare them in the councell which came to alleadge good and reasonable excuses in the Emperours behalfe as his owne sickenes at his settinge forward caused him to staye besides the death of the Lautgraue Therfore sayth Vspergensis this Pope like a proude man began in his first yeare to excoÌ„municat and curse the Emperour for certaine foolish and false causes neglectinge all order of iudgement as the Emperour sheweth in excusinge himselfe in his epistle to the Princes of Almanye openinge to them because the Pope refused to heare it his innocencye and vpright dealing And therfore certaine noblemen in Rome namely of the house called Frangentes panem when the Pope did the second time excommunicate Frederick they caused the Pope to be driuen oute of the Citye with foule shame so that he ranne awaye byding at Peruse al that yeare the yeare folowing Yet no meanes could asswage his furye but he prouoked Iohn kinge of Hierusalem the foresaid Earles of Thuscia rebels to the Emperour and manye other Princes to trouble him The Emperour appointed a day of assembly for diuers Christian Princes at Rauenna and the Princes were making speede thether to obeye him but by the Popes commauÌ„dement they went backe againe and certaine souldiours wearing the Crosse by the Emperours appointment for the voyage to Hierusalem were robbed and spoiled of all their prouisioÌ„ The Emperour seing this sought to appease the Popes furye and to get his goodwil prepared his iourney according to his promise to Hierusalem he tooke shippe and sayled into Cyprus and afterward to Acon and striued much against the Soldan for the Christian fayth with great paine and trauell In the meane time the Pope seing the Emperours absence seruinge his turne gat Apulia to be vnder his obeisance and forbad that the souldiours wearing
Pope that bare such rough sway ouer the Romaynes sayth Crantzius He had no learning but coueted to encrease the pompe of his estate and therfore deuised a lawe whereby he purloyned the soueraintye of the world that is that it should not be lawfull for anye of the clergye to enter on a benefice which he shoulde obtaine vnlesse he payed the first fruites to the Apostolicall excheaker or the Popes Chamber He put downe the Banderesians a noble estate amonge the Romaynes also he compelled the Romaynes by a cruell lawe to fetch home their forreine Senatour Malatesta of Pisauria He strengthened the Citye for his owne purpose with fortresses and bulwarkes but making warres with the Uicountes he loste Bononie He caused Ladislaus a yong gentleman sonne to Charles king of Naples to be Crowned kinge in his fathers Realme by the Cardinall of Florence whereupon Sigismunde kinge of Hungary thinkinge himselfe greatlye iniuried greate warres ensued to the myserable slaughter of Thousands burning and spoyling of Cittyes townes monasteryes castels in Hungarye So great a thing it is to dispossesse a kinge Boniface also canonized S. Brigit borne in Sweueland He gaue to his cosens and kinred the aduauntage and commoditye of the Iubelye He offended and sinned much in parcialitye and because he subscribed graūted certaine abhominable indulgences and pardōs he ran into great infamye He kept the Iubelye at Rome Anno 1400. where manye straungers were robbed and greate Ladyes rauished by the pezantes of the Popes court Finallye Anno 1404. he dyed of the collicke and stone The Summer before that Boniface dyed there happened horrible tempestes boisterous winds hayle thonder lightninges And in the night a certaine house new builded by Boniface of square stone very costlye wherein for the time he vsed to blesse the people had the roofe of it blowen downe by the violence of the storme and the timber hurled to the earth Also the strong pinacles of Angell castle were throwne to the grounde with much other mischiefe and ruine Also another night appeared such terrible and vehements lightning and thonder all night long that all men beinge in a desperate feare thought surely the Citye woulde haue beene ouerwhelmed withal Another time also there was in Rome an earthquake which though it did no hurt yet it amazed al men Theodoricus lib. 2. cap. 33. This Pope rooted out a superstitious sect called Albes and burnt a priest of them who came with a great traine of that sect both men and women downe from the Alpes into Italy for Boniface seing him come thus with his companye all in white for that which cause they were called Albes was afraid as some write least his Popeship should be taken from him by the said priest But some sayth Platina say that the man did purpose no harme but that the Pope did imagine this to put away the rumour that went how the priest was for spite and mallice taken and put to death 146. Benedict the xiij BEnedict the xiii was a Catalan borne and called Peter of the Moone this mā euen in the time of the sciesme duringe was chosen Pope to succede Clement by those Cardinals which continued at Auenio This fellow while he was but Peter of the Moone not Benedict Pope of Rome did dispute against the auctoritye of the Pope and of his clergye and said that it was not to be feared and for this his true saying notwithstāding he became Pope yet afterward he was and is still condemned by his successours for an hereticke While he was but Cardinall being sente by Pope Clement Embassadour to Paris and other places he vsed often to boast that if he might be chosen to succede Clement he would spare no meanes to procure that this longe sciesme mighte cease And therefore the Cardinals abused with his great protestations did chose him in deede to succeede the other but before the election they sware all and he among them that whosoeuer shoulde be chosen Pope should be cōtent at any time to resigne giue it vp againe if the Cardinals thinkinge it meete would require it But afterward whē it came to tryal he defying his oath would not yeld one iote no though the Cardinals diuers Princes did exhorte him to it and chargde him with his oath and councels conclude against him that he was no Pope But certaine estates of Fraunce moued with his troublesome obstinacy did set vpon him by force of armes toke him priner and kepte him so three yeares and yet could not make him giue ouer but that he would first dye ere he would deminishe his dignitye so that they being wearye of him deliuered him againe at the end of the three yeares By his lawes it appeareth that being Pope he woulde that euen the wronge sentence of condemnation vttered by him and his sonnes shoulde be feared Hee abode in his place sayth Crantzius till the time of the councell of Constance and he swarued much in the auctorizinge of it finally he began to be hardned being cast of in that coūcell He continued in his obstinacye with his Cardinals who also after his death endeuoured to continue and maintaine this strife by putting vp another to be Pope but they were forbidden Amonge other thinges this Pope gaue to the kinge of Fraunce Charles the vi the tenthes of the Church partly to hyre the kinge to maintaine him in his quarel partly that he might take part of this great lucre and sayth Theodoricus he sawe it stoode him vpon He at length followed Boniface his practise in bestowing benefices geuing dispensatiōs tolleratiōs exemptiōs totquots pardōs and such like enormityes according to the saying If thou sawest a theefe run thou did dest run vvith him This he did to allure men from the obedience of Boniface to himselfe the better to maintaine his quarrel against him Whē this Pope Benedict abode plāted himselfe stronglye in his countrye and auouched that he himselfe was the true vicar of Christe he was shamefullye reproued by the auctoritye of the said general councell And yet he sommoned and helde a Synode in Perpinian and created manye Cardinals At the length he dyinge at Paeniscula Anno 1424. commaunded these his Cardinals to choose another in his steede forthwith and they forthwith choose Giles Munyos canon of Barchynony calling him Clement the eight who out of hand at the motion of kinge Olphonsus did both create newe Cardinals and toke vppon him to do those thinges that appertayned to the Pope But when Pope Martin the fift came in fauoure with kinge Olphōsus this Giles at his commaundement yelded vppe all the righte and estate of the Popedome being appointed bishop of Maiory and in like maner they whom hee had made Cardinals did likewyse giue ouer their Cardinalship 147. Innocent the seuenth INnocent the seuenth was borne at Sulmo called Cosmarus of Peruse he being Cardinal of the holy Crosse while all Italye was in an vprore he was made Pope to
a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest and at length was put to death cruelly Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue where he hid him selfe an Epistle touching God and the incarnation of the sonne of God 9. Pius of Aquilia PIus borne in Aquilia is reported to haue done many godly dedes in the church vnder Antonius Verus And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 159. 10. Anicetus ANicetus a Sirian was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred Anno. 169. 11. Sother SOther borne in Campania as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus serued vnder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe both by doctrine and example of life And in the ende confirmed the Gospell whiche he had faithfully preached with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 177. 12. Eleutherius ELeutherius a Grecian was also a carefull and vigilant pastour in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe yet Masseus saythe he was beheaded Anno. 191. 13. Victor VIctor borne in Aphrica did succeade Eleutherius This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed vsurping authoritie vpon straungers sought to haue an oar in an other mans boate In the former byshops saith Vincelius the spirite abounded but in these that folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled Policrates bishop of Ephesus and Iraeneus bishop of Lions did bouldly reproue this Victor for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō because in keping Easter day they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome So that the churche was then rent in twayne by meanes of his obstinacy He died Anno. 203. 14. Zepherinus ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne a man as writers do testifie more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God then to the cure of any worldly affayres Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode he first did alter that and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse And yet he did not this vpon any supersticion as thinking woode to be vnlawefull or glasse to be more holy for that vse but because the one is more comly and semely as by experience it appeareth then the other And yet some wooden doultes do dreame that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him because that part of the wine or as they thought the royall bloud of Christe did soake into the woode and so it can not be in glasse Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads that thus both deceiue them selues and slaunder this Godly martyr Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnder Aurelius In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into curious and subtile questions 15. Calixtus the first CAlixtus borne at Rauenna when persecution began to wexe hotte againe did like a constant Christian hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina al thinges were kept close and hidden because the persecution was so great euery where yea their churches and places of assembly were in corners and caues for the moste parte But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus and was beaten with coodgiels pent in prison afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte 16. Vrbanus VRbanus a Romaine liued vnder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure and with his sinceritie of life and excellencie in learning he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull he was martyred by cōmaundement of Seuerus Anno. 233. 17. Pontianus POntianus a Romaine in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus being one of Christes ministers and a distributer of Gods misteries suffered both banishement punishement for the Gospell and the churche sake For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache the worde by the princes commaundement being set on by the Idolatrous priestes he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia where after many miseries and sore tormētes he was put to death Anno. 239. 18. Antheros ANtheros was borne in Grece a man of God if any wer He preached Christe stoutely euen vnder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche whiche with his woorde he had fed before 19. Fabian AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne who as Eusebius witnesseth as he was returning home out of the fielde and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop there was a pygeon sene standing on his head and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche whiche he loked not for While he liued he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written and that burying places should be prepared for them who afterwarde vnder Decius that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren ended his life with most glorious death Anno. 150. 20. Cornelius COrnelius a Romaine being in the time of Decius accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe his church had a Godly care ouer the safetie of his neighbours He entertayned curteously and restored to the churche as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes did yet repent thē of their deede afterward O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop O worthy minister of the Gospel for although this mā of God Cornelius was caried away into banishemēt yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth did yelde his necke vnto the sworde of Decius 21. Lucius LVcius a Romain being a faithful seruant in the lordes house and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus the persecutour of Christianitie was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters And at the lengthe after Gallus death euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome enriched the churche with healthful doctrine and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud he pearced the heauenly paradise
being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of the Gētiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the groūd and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching ▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the Christiās gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstād The ioyful dayes of